Oh the possiblities!

I had so much fun doing a review for Build a Sign! Once I was on their website I realized just how endless the possiblities were for creating a masterpiece-- so off I went to make my own sign. With Max's birthday quickly approaching I thought what better way to greet guests then a giant Happy Birthday Max sign! Here it is:
I actually chose from their "Jumbo Cards" section and expected a jumbo card on regular card paper but what we got was so much more than what we expected. In the mail we got a seriously "Jumbo" card on a super high quality board type material that is so sturdy and durable with a coating that will ensure that this board lasts, I am sure we could even use this outside if we wanted to. I was so happy because I can hold onto this as a 1st birthday keepsake and I know it will stand the test of time. Not only was the quality so high but creating the card was SUPER simple. They have a bunch of designs on the page that you can choose from and from there they are also highly customizable. I chose one and then was able to insert my own image, font, change colors etc... It actually only took me a few minutes after I chose which design I wanted to go with. Then it was printed super fast and arrived to me in no time. I am overly happy with the product I got from Build a Sign and recommend you check them out they have everything from Bumper Stickers to Banners.

Promises, promises and a GIVEAWAY!

Have you heard of or seen the Soda Stream machine? It is now pretty mainstream so I have seen it over and over when out shopping which is why I am so glad to get the opportunity to get to review this nifty (and thrifty) machine. So here are the soda stream claims:
Making carbonated water and soft drinks is simple! Turn tap water into sparkling water in under 30 seconds, with no clean-up. Enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade soda and protect the environment at the same time. No heavy bottles to carry, store at home or throw away. Fizz to your taste and add the flavor of your choice to make your favorite drink. Simple to clean and reuse. With a variety of colors and silhouettes, you'll be sure to find a soda maker to match with any decor.
Lets go through this step by step: It was totally simple, much easier than I thought it would be and while it took me a bit longer than 30 seconds I am sure that after I get the knack of it I will be faster. There is no clean-up as promised.
It was very fresh as I used water just from the tap versus water that has been sitting in plastic bottles for who knows how long. I also filled it right into the resuable bottles thus protecting the environment from all those nasty bottles and cans.
No heavy bottles to carry, store or throw away although I willl still have to shop for, lug home and store carbonators and flavorings.
Flavor of your choice-- they have you covered in this department everything from energy drink flavor (fantastic by the way) to diet grapefruit. There are also water enhancers if you don't like soda quite as much.
Simple to clean and reuse-- yes.
My soda maker does match my decor (silver and black) but is not quite as sturdy as I expected. It looks heavy and of high quality but is actually plastic.

Overall, this machine is a great purchase for many reasons-- it is cost effective and is eco-friendly. Some aspects are not quite as appealing like you do have to actually make your own soda dnd would not make a huge amount at a time. On the flip side, I think this will be fun for my son and I to do together when he is a bit older.
The moment you have all been waiting for-- the giveaway! Another simple one of course, email me the flavor you are dying to try by SodaStream and also let me know that you follow my blog. The lucky winner will be chosen at random on Sunday the 30th. Good luck! (Please make the subject of your email SodaStream Giveaway).

Rock It!

Its like Christmas around here with all the great giveaways! And this one is sure to top your kiddo's list this year so read on... I was given the amazing opportunity of reviewing and personally testing out the "Original" Rockboard Scooter. WOW!

So did I plan on taking this puppy for a ride myself? Not at all but once we took it out of the box (it came fully assembled which was a huge plus) and got the full scope of everything it was capable of, I was game. So I don't exactly do well on two wheels but amazingly I was able to get the Rockboard Scooter going and off I went! What a great ride-- this scooter can move and with very little effort on my part. Your "rocking" motion sets this scooter on fire and will reach up to speeds of 10 mph. The "Original" scooter (designed for ages 8+ but capable of holding up to 200 pounds so great for adults too) can go into three modes:

Rockboard Mode-- where the board of the scooter is at an angle, Kick Mode-- allowing you to have a flat board and Folded in which it folds very compactly for easy storage. They have simply thought of everything with this scooter. They also have a "Mini" for your little kids to enjoy as well. I am not sure who would not want this under their tree so I am sure the competition is going to be fierce for this giveaway but here we go. To enter send me an email telling me who you would love to give this scooter to (or yourself of course) and make sure you follow my blog. Thats it! The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night, the 30th, so act quick!

Bottlehood Review and COOL Giveaway!

Get ready for this one! I feel so lucky to have gotten to do a review and a giveaway with Bottlehood. They make hands down the coolest recycled glassware I have ever seen. Here is a little about what they do:
"BottleHood’s recycled glassware is made from wine, beer, liquor and soda bottles recycled from restaurants, bars, homes and events in the community. Our repurposed tumblers, juice glasses, vases, pendant beads and light fixtures are all eco-friendly products. Created out of a passion to create local jobs, stimulate our local retail economy and help our environment, BottleHood’s success is a reflection of neighborhood sentiment and support for what BottleHood stands for… a pride in our neighborhood, our local craftsmen and entrepreneurs, and our social responsibility."

So lucky me (and possibly you) I was able to score this cool Patron bowl:

Not only is this bowl so neat because it is made right out of an actual Patron bottle, it is a recycled one giving this glass one more go-around. The "bowl" has been designed from the bottom of the bottle and carefully molded to ensure a smooth edge. This particular one is a good size and will be great for bar snacks, keeping tabs in or just about anything else you can think of. The folks at Bottlehood are letting you in on the fun too! They have up for grabs the best set of tumblers I have seen in a long time made from recycled (of course) Red Stripe Bottles-- sure to make that Red Stripe drinker very, very happy.

So you want these? Email me right now! Tell me something you learned from the Bottlehood website and make sure you follow my blog. Thats it! You have until Sunday the 30th-- good luck!

Hank Player USA Review & Giveaway!

I have posted a few times on here how I love finding cool clothes for Max that are not coated in puppy dogs and teddy bears. Its just precious seeing him in a trendy little pair of jeans and matching top. That is why I was so excited to have come across Hank Player USA. You see, Hank Player has the hippest tees and gifts for babies, infants, little boys and even some for the grown up boys. I was more than happy to review one of their vintage graphic tees for Max. They have quite the selection to choose from so lucky for me the folks over there were nice enough to do the choosing, it would have taken me a while. So here is my Max in his tee-- keep in mind I ordered big for next summer. He looks stinkin' adorable in this:
I tried 8 buzillion times to flip this picture so sorry if you have to turn your computer a bit. I am having all around technical problems! But back the shirt-- it is oh so soft and has that vintage look with a washed out brown color on a high quality tee with great priting. He has the "Rock Paper Scissors" one on. So you want to get you paws on your own Hank Player shirts? Well you can hop onto their website and order them up- they have a free shipping deal posted on the first page or you can try your luck at my giveaway. HP is generously offering up the winner 2 tees in their choice of size. All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter (one entry) found on the bottom of their homepage, you can also get additional entries by liking them on facebook and following them on twitter. Simply send me an email and let me know how many entries you are eligible for and you will be in the drawing set to end this Sunday the 30th. GOOD LUCK!

You need this!

When I found out I was going to be reviewing the SKOY cloths I was so excited because sadly we go through tons of paper towels in our house. I say sadly because not only are paper towels expensive but they are a huge waste and such an environmental burden. So what sets SKOY cloths apart from your regular run of the mill reusable cloths or towels? How about the fact that they can replace more than just paper towels and can be used as a washcloth or a sponge? Or that they are made of natural cotton and wood based cellulose pulp making them 100% biodegradable and earth friendly? I loved that these cute cloths are SO absorbant and EASY to take care off-- just pop it into the dishwasher or washing machine and you are starting fresh with a germ-free SKOY cloth.
 
So do you want win your very own set of these fabulous and functional SKOY cloths? Well let me know! Just send me an email letting me know (please make your subject SKOY giveaway) what you learned on the SKOY website (there is a lot) and what you would use your cloths for. Its that simple! The giveaway will end on Friday October 28th and the winner will be chosen randomly. GOOD LUCK!

PlasmaCar Review AND Giveaway!

Check out this cool ride-on toy made exclusively by PlasmaCar:
Not only has this "car" won numerous awards from great sources like disneyfamily.com, Learning Express, Fat Brain Toys and on and on its now an award winner in our house! Why? This fun "kid powered" car does not require the constant use of expensive batteries and provides endless play time simply by turning the steering wheel back and forth-- zoom off you go! As a mom, I love that the ride is low to the ground and stable in my opinion all while being FUN at the same time! Easily assembled (did it myself), inexpensive and kid approved this would make an awesome present under the tree! The PlasmaCar comes in an array of vibrant colors sure to attract your little one and made of high quality durable plastic for a long lasting toy staple. So you want to try to win your own PlasmaCar? Great! You are eligible for two entries-- like them on facebook and follow them on twitter. Email me and let me know you did these things and you will be in the drawing, its that simple. Make sure you do this quick-- the giveaway will be ending Friday, October 28th. Good luck!

FAKE Bake

When I got pregnant I stopped tanning in the tanning bed-- I know I mentioned that a few times here on my blog. When my doctor insisted on it, I was heartbroken-- seems dramatic but I LOVE the bronzed look. Ever since then I have been searching for a dark, yet natural looking self-tanner. I do not have to look any longer, I have found Fake Bake (love the name).
Post-pregnancy I had every intention of returning to tanning but had no clue what life would really be like-- take an hour away to run to the tanning bed leaving my baby behind? Not a chance(plus the dangers of tanning). There are tons of items in the fake bake line from a variety of bronzers to a multitude of self-tanners based on your preferences. I am currently using the "Flawless" self-tanning liquid that comes with a mitt, is fast drying and non-sticky. I love that this liquid has a bronzer built in both for an immediate look and so that you know where you are putting it on for a good application. The instant, golden brown tan that my skin got from the liquid instantly won my heart, it has a great rich color that lasts for a very long time. I skipped a day of using and did not notice a decrease in my color which is unusual for self-tanners. Not to mention this liquid has an awesome smell (rare) that is infused with a tropical scent. I noticed a lot of great promotions going on their website if you visit now-- buy 1 get 1 tanning body butters, free shimmer bronzer with purchase of the flawless liquid that I have etc... Browse around and let me know what you find!

LIVE WELL. SPEND LESS.

I love this motto! I love quality, organic, natural products that are eco friendly and cruelty free but sometimes the premium gets so expensive. After discovering this website- Natural Value- I am OBSESSED with all the great products I can get under their Natural Value umbrella. To start off with, its not just food. They have everything from garbage bags to baby wipes to wax paper to pet food and sooooooooo much more. I HIGHLY recommend their olives and coconut milk-- both affordable and among the best I have ever had.

That doesn't even begin to cover all the food products they have. From quality peanut butter to organic green beans and diced tomatoes you name it, they have it. You could seriously live off this website and never visit the store again-- wouldn't that be fabulous? There is something great about shopping in your pj's. You can order directly from their website or find Natural Value on Amazon, Greenfeet, Greenlinepaper, Lets Go Green, Greencupboards and Nutricity. I had the pleasure of speaking with Gary (Natural Value's president) and reading his blog-- check it out here or go ahead and like them on facebook!

Jedidiah-- Clothing for the Greater Good

I LOVE Jedidiah's hot clothing line for both men and women featuring "Surfwear & Streetwear Supporting Humanitarian Causes". The cool folks (read the profiles here) design their own apparel brand to help those in need with care, support and financial resources. Jedidiah chooses a different non-profit group to work with each season to raise funds and awareness for that specific cause. The clothing is artistically designed to tie to that cause and raise awareness for the organization. The beauty of the clothing is unmatched-- each piece is unique and you will find it hard to choose an item from their array of funky t-shirts, stylish jackets and modern accessories. They even have a holiday collection that would make perfect presents. We chose the "Grain Slate T-shirt" and I was overly impressed with what we got, the picture just does not do this tee justice.
The shirt has a "marbled" effect to the print with a multitude of different grey shades throughout. I have never seen a print like this one before. The cool design is inspired by their partnership with Stand Up For Kids who's mission is to "improve the lives of homeless teenagers and at risk youth". So if you are looking for some trendy wardrobe additions and you want to make a difference check out Jedidiah for your next purchase.




Beach Bash!

I know I just rave about Enjoy Life Foods but I just love their cookies, granola, bars, chocolate and snacks! Now I have found another hot snack of theirs called "not nuts"-- there are two kinds of this amazing trail mix -- beach bash and mountain mambo. Both are outrageously good mixes so delicious you will never even think of the missing nuts. So what are in these delicious bags? Lets start with my fave-- mountain mambo:

Raw sunflower seeds, pumkin seeds, raisins, dried apples, CHOCOLATE chips and cranberries. Obviously the chocolate is what pushed it over the edge into being my favorite. The combination works perfectly together to give you that awsome sweet and salty mix. The sunflower and pumpkin seeds provide a great crunch and the apples and cranberries balanced this perfectly. There was nothing I did not like about this mix!
So how about the beach bash? First off, I love the name! Anything that can take my mind to the beach even if just for a minute has a place in my heart.
Again, a perfect combination of salty and sweet with a very unique and crazy good combination. This bag contained raw sunflower kernels, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and apricots. I have never had a fruit mixture like this but loved how the pineapple, cranberries and apricots tasted together-- it was very tropical and fruity. This mix is perfect for the beach or just about anywhere you want a great and good for you snack.

Brainy Toys

What mother does not want to watch their child having a great time playing with their toys but also know that they are learning and developing from all the fun they are having? I honestly put thought into every toy that I get for Max. I know what he will and won't like but beyond that try and give him educational fun. Mindware has educational (and fun) toys for kids of all ages from the amateur player to 12+ years. Max falls into the beginner range but he sure loves his toys. I spotted this cool "Click Clack Caterpillar" for ages 1 and up -- it is a sights and sounds caterpillar that teaches little ones cause and effect as well as hand/eye coordination all while entertaining them with colorful balls and cars, melodies, funny sounds and lights.
Max simply loves this fun caterpillar! He shoots the balls right down the tracks and laughs as the lights come on and the sounds and music play. It also comes with roller type cars that he will learn to use as he gets a bit older, the balls are perfect for his little hands right now. I love that it is a toy that he will grow into and can use now so its worth every penny at an affordable 59.95. The product is sturdy and generously sized, the balls flow smoothly down the tracks and it is uniquely fun. I see SO many things on Mindware that I would love to get Max. They make it super easy for you to shop by allowing you to select by age range or categories like books, building toys, games, science, history and MANY more. Personally I spotted things on the site that I would like for myself haha! I would love to play this LineUp Board Game or do the All Natural Day Spa. Kids of ALL ages will love Mindware!

Bummas!

Just what are Bummas? They are incredibly soft, reusable, super absorbent baby wipes. Being a cloth diaper user myself for Max it only made sense to look into an eco-friendly alternative to all the waste of constantly using standard wipes. You can use Bummas multiple ways-- either by using simply as a drying cloth before diapering to avoid wetness and rash OR you can wet Bummas a bit and replace the wipes you normally use. These cute multi-colored wipes are so functional and can be used to prevent sneak attack squirts while changing (they will soak up an entire pee) or really any sort of baby care that requires wetting, drying or cleaning all with softness unmatched by commercial diaper wipes. I also love that being a cloth that you just launder there are no hidden ingredients because if you are changing and drying your baby right you should not need added powders, lotions etc... Here is what they look like:
They have other sets of vibrant, baby friendly colors as well-- would make a cute shower gift too! So if you are interested in saving your babies butt and saving a little bit of cash check out Bummas! I love this idea, I am always trying to keep a dry something around to blot before re-diapering so this will be perfect. Want to get your own set of Bummas? Visit their store online or use their store finder and you can also try to win a set by liking Bummas on facebook then let me know you did this for an entry into my randomly drawn giveaway ending one week from now-- Sunday October 23rd. Good luck!

Fashionably Green

Here is another great new find and right before the holidays! Cangles is a fashionably green company that designs jewelry including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, hair accessories and more from recycled aluminum cans. Their story is actually really cool if you want a good short read and they have some pretty cool things going on that coincide with their jewelry making including partnering with Save the Earth Foundation, making donations to various charities like the Ronald McDonald house (via the can tabs) and monetary donations to The Wounded Warrior Project and Susan B. Komen. Impressed already? Wait until you see their cool stuff. Who would have guessed THIS was made from recycled cans?
Or THIS:
But what did I get from Cangles? Not jewelry at all actually-- although I really wouldn't mind getting my hands on some! I chose this COOL "Toolshed License Plate Dustpan". I am obsessed with license plate art- wouldn't this be the perfect gift for that guy or even gal who has everything? I betcha they don't have one of these and its only priced at 9.99, I am actually shocked it can even be made for this!

My Michigan state dustpan arrived and was every bit as cool as the picture looks. Carefully molded into a dustpan shape with a perfectly coordinating handle, this will be great "functional art". Brilliant! How would you like to get your hands on your own Cangles work of art? They are generously offering one lucky reader a 25.00 gift code to use on their website towards whatever you desire! How do you win this? Simply send me an email telling me how you would spend your gift code, then "like" Cangles on facebook and be sure you are a blog follower and then one lucky reader will be randomly chosen. The giveaway closes one week from now-- Sunday October 16th.

Simply Colors Birthday Tee

As my little Max's first birthday approaches (sigh) we are trying to put together the details of his upcoming birthday bash. From picking the date, theme, cake and even what he is wearing-- its all a big deal for his special day. I really want him to have a personalized birthday shirt and also one that we can hold onto as a keepsake from his first birthday. So we found a really cool t-shirt company that makes custom kids shirts in just about any fashion you can dream up.

Its called Simply Colors and here is how it works:
  • First choose from their-- t-shirt, onesie, polo shirt, rugby shirt, hoodie, dress, tank tops, underwear, pants, sweat pants, pants, baby hats and sleep sacks
  • Then choose your color/size
  • The fun begins! Do you want just text? Just an illustration? Or a little of both?
  • Once you have that down you can personalize to your hearts desire choosing from great clip art and your wording with a huge variety of fonts and colors to print on to your shirt. They even have rhinestones and silveir lettering-- very cool possiblities!

I got Max a blue tee with the birthday cake illustration and his full name underneath. It turned out so stinkin' cute! And the tee was of extremely high quality, nice and thick with a great baby blue color and very professional printing-- it looks perfect. The pricing varies on what you choose but is very reasonable.

Off The Mat

This cute halter, the OTM halter, I got from Yoga Hyde reads "Off the Mat, Into the World".

Off the Mat, Into the World is an organization that Yoga Hyde has partnered with to design this halter. Their mission is to "inspire conscious activism and ignite grassroots social change. founded by seane corn, this organization encourages yogi’s and yoginis alike to take their practice ‘off the mat’ and into the global community". Your purchase of this tank from Yoga Hyde benefits this great organization by donating 10% of the proceeds-- so its a purchase you can feel good about. But onto the tank-- I LOVE the fit and feel of this tank. My tank is the plum color but they also have it in black, navy, cream, eggplant, loden and amethyst (which the model above is wearing). The fit is incredible from the nice wide halter straps for great support to the side slits and the longer length which I appreciate being tall. The material is oh so soft made of 92% organic cotton and a touch (8%) of spandex to keep its shape and hug you just right. The top is so cute its not just for your workouts, it could be paired with any one of their drawstring pants or even a pair of jeans. Yoga Hyde has more than just a few tops and pants, they have an extensive selection of outerwear, shirts, pants and mats-- they even have a pair of mens drawstring pants (there is a guy around here who would really love to get his hands on a pair of these). Browsing their site I notice that all of their clothing is functional, beautiful and still affordable.

Leave Nothing Untouched

Until I found out about Zinn beauty products that are handmade in Morocco I had never heard of Argan Oil. Zinn has a luxurious collection of products that will beautify your hair, face and body. Argan oil is the most nutrient rich oil in the world and contains minerals, vitamins and antioxidants to liven and nourish your body and hair. This beauty collection is totally organic and the argan oil is imported directly from Morocco where it is harvested. The collection by Zinn only contains four products so its simple to get started and will replace most everything else you have in your cabinets.


Organic Moroccan Argan Oil:

Exceptionally rich in vitamin E, essential fatty acids, carotenee, squalene, ferulic acid, and powerful antioxidants, Organic Moroccan Argan Oil delivers the deepest nourishing care for your entire body.
A total-body natural beauty aid, Argan Oil minimizes the signs of aging, softens dry skin throughout your entire body, diminishes the signs of stretch marks, heals scars, treats split ends, and softens nailbeds and cuticles.
Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream:
The secret to younger, firmer skin lies in Zinn Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream, a uniquely formulated cream that will dramatically diminish fine lines, restore elasticity, and regenerate new skin cells.
Zinn Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream actually works beneath the skin’s surface, delivering powerful antioxidants and nutrients to the skin’s cells, stimulating cellular renewal and neutralizing free-radicals. Nourishing ingredients like 100% pure organic argan oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, rosehip seed oil, and sweet orange oil keep skin radiant and luminous.
Smooth Body Milk:
Hydrate and restore your skin with Zinn Smooth Body Milk, a lightly-textured body milk that offers respite for rough, dry skin, lavishing nutrients on your skin and making it luminous.
With a blend of Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Rosehip Seed Oil, essential fatty acids and tocopherols, this luxuriously hydrating milk softens cuticles, soothes cracked heels, diminishes stretch marks, and helps heal scars. The Zinn Smooth Body Milk promises to leave your skin silky smooth, beautifully soft to the touch.
Velvet Facial Cleansing Milk:
Refresh and cleanse your skin with Zinn Velvet Facial Cleansing Milk, an all-natural cleanser that gently removes dirt, toxins, and makeup from your skin.
Infused with essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation, phytosterols to help promote collagen, and sebum regulators to reduce acne, the worlds richest natural source of vitamin E, Zinn, will awaken tired dry skin cells, smooth wrinkles, fade discoloration, and diminish dark circles for a flawless, even-toned, radiant, more youthful complexion visible after each use.

All of the products have exceeded my expectations so far-- I only started using them this week but I can say I already can not imagine life without the Smooth Body Milk-- smells delicious and works instantly leaving my skin smooth and soft and the Velvet Facial Cleansing Milk-- my face looked more vibrant and awake after using this product and it was soft and gentle. Zinn has graciously offered to send a reader the full collection of Zinn Velvet Cleansing Milk, Zinn 100% Moroccan Argan Oil, Zinn Anti-Aging Face Cream and Zinn Smooth Body Milk (a 114 dollar value). So how do you get your hands on this? Send me an
email with the following information: a fact you learned from the Zinn beauty website and let me know you follow my blog. A winner will be randomly chosen next Friday 10/14-- good luck!

Indian Summer

Wisconsin is having a touch of warm weather and we have NO clue when our luck will run out so when I saw that the thermometer was going to hit 70+ degrees today and I called up my brother so we could run over to our favorite course for possibly our last game of the year. This year was a little different since I had Max with me but he loves being outside, riding in the cart and seeing his Uncle so it was just the perfect day. We also got to try out our new to us but used golf balls that I have been talking about. My brother was actually making fun of me being so concerned about recycling, buying used, using less etc... that he said if I could get used golf balls I would and I did just that. Used Golf Ball Deals really has the best deals I was able to find online for golf balls. After he took a peek at my Titleist PRO V1 golf balls he could not believe that these are refinished golf balls, honestly they look brand new. Now if I could just replace my clubs... that will be many years from now I am afraid.

Made the Old Fashioned Way

Dear GLEE GUM,


Thank you for your all natural ingredients, a gum base that conserves the rainforest instead of ruining its beauty, all your delicious flavors and your good looking mascot. As an avid gum chewer I like to grab a piece of gum to hold me over, freshen my breath or just have something to chew on. I really appreciate that you have no preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners and that you are all natural. I really enjoy your spearmint, cinnamon, tangerine, triple berry, bubble gum and “wee glee” (mini-fruit flavored gum bits). You are so yummy, I am hooked! Keep up the good work. Oh and you fellow eco-foodies—grab some gum you can feel good about!
Bonus-- Glee Gum has added a giveaway to the mix! Here is what is up for grabs:
1 Mini Glee Variety pack (21 4-piece) & a coupon
Trust me you want this, Glee Gum is delicious. So how do you win? Shoot me an email and tell me what flavor sounds the best to you, follow my blog and cross your fingers. The winner will be picked at random next Friday 10/14.

Kid Friendly Top Ten

Kids know what taste good so when I had the chance to sample a couple of items from Kashi's kid friendly top ten list I was oh so excited! Both of the items I got from Kashi are new-- number 1 on this list is TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate layered granola bar. There is a reason this ooohey gooey bar is number 1:
"It's peanutty. It's chocolate-y. It's #1! Our latest layered granola bar tops our kids' list for a reason. Make that five tasty reasons: chewy granola, real peanut butter, roasted peanuts, and real fruit mixed with dark chocolate."

Once you have one of these you will know why they are number one on the list. The chewy granola bar is topped with a real fruit spread that is mixed with dark chocolate-- it tastes like a layer of fudge. Then on top of that there are dark chocolate chunks and peanuts. This will knock out even the biggest sweet tooth without the guilt. Love this bar.

Second on the list is the Cinnamon Harvest Cereal:
"Rise and shine! Cinnamon Harvest cereal wakes up sleepy taste buds with bite-sized organic whole-wheat biscuits lightly sweetened and baked with real cinnamon. Delicious and nutritious, it comes in at #2!"

I have always loved shredded wheat type cereal and cinnamon so this cereal was perfect for me. The organic wheat biscuits were just the perfect size and had a great hint of cinnamon with a touch of sweetness. I could put this cereal in my regular rotation and would for sure feed this to Max with its great nutritionals like:
  • 47g whole grains
  • High fiber
  • Low fat
  • Sodium free
  • USDA Organic—Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International
Each Kashi item has a cool store locator by zip code button right on the page so you can easily find your favorites! Great feature!

You buy a tee, we plant a tree

Is the motto over at Ban T-shirts. Their tee's come in a wide variety of slogans from environmental, political, ocean, religion and more. Not only is there a huge array of tee's to pick from they also come in various sizes so you can get the perfect fit-- they have men's, women's, childrens and even some long sleeve t-shirts which tend to be hard to come by and are my winter favorites! So what did I choose?

"Environmental planet Earth T-shirt. There is no planet B, there is no backup plan and there's no backup planet. This is it, Earth is our home, so let's look after it. Wear this tee and help spread the message about global warming."


I love the message this t-shirt sends and hope that it gets people thinking-- there really is no planet b. So not only do I love what this shirt says I love that the shirt was a very high quality, organic cotton black shirt with high quality printing on the shirt. It arrived super quick AND remember for every t-shirt Ban T-shirt sells they plant a tree!

Enjoy Life With a Cookie!

Just a couple short weeks ago I posted about Enjoy Life Foods gluten-free and allergen friendly snacks here. I just love that they are a company that makes snacking enjoyable for those with allergies or food intolerances but they are great for anyone who just loves to snack as well. I tried their new Crunchy Cookies and love these hand-crafted crispy cookies. When they say "crunchy" it is a good crunchy, not like they crumble into pieces but more like crispy if you ask me. I can not get enough of the Double Chocolate Chip cookies. Oh my-- they are made up of a deep chocolate cookie and sprinkled generously with rich, smooth chocolate chips.
With these being my favorite they have still have 3 other kinds that are also delicious. Another great thing about thses is that two BIG cookies only had 110 calories, I did a double take on this since they tasted so good. All the cookies contain no trans fat, no artificial ingredients, are kosher, gluten-free and casein-free. In order of my favorites there are the Vanilla Honey Graham (like a graham cracker cookie--yummm), Chocolate Chip (classic chocolate chip) and Sugar Crisp (simple goodness).  I've noticed that a lot of my local stores carry Enjoy Life Foods but you can do a store locator search here OR print out this store request letter and hand right to the store manager!