Enjoy a healthy snack with Gnu Foods

Gnu Foods

A while back I shared a review with you about Gnu Foods, the company that packs 12 grams of Fiber into one small sweet and tasty snack bar.  They use only all-natural ingredients, mill the entire grain kernel rather than processing or milling it like other fiber product companies tend to do,  and the end result is a great snack that leaves you feeling wonderful inside and out!

Today, I am happy to tell you today that Gnu Foods has come out with 3 great new flavors:  Blondie Bar, Carrot Cake Bar, and Blueberry Cobbler Bar.

The Blondie Bar is simple decadence with all the health benefits combined.  It tastes very similar to a Blondie brownie; however, there is definitely still a healthy taste to it.  Very yummy and one Max, my 13 year old has asked me to add to the flavors I purchase at the store.

I can actually see the carrot bits in the Carrot Cake Bar which is only missing the cream cheese icing in order to taste like the carrot cake mom used to make growing up.  It is my second favorite of the bars.

The Blueberry Cobbler Bar is hands down my favorite because I am wildly in  love with most things blueberry!  It has a great fresh blueberry flavor that is like eating fresh blueberries, but with added fiber.  There are even whole blueberries in the bar!

Check them out for yourself on the Gnu Foods website, use the link to find a retailer in your area who carries Gnu Foods, or connect with them onFacebook to stay abreast of the latest and greatest in the Gnu Foods world!

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Gnu Foods for the products I received to facilitate this review.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when making decisions on purchasing something. 

Complete transformation in Minutes with Wall Pops!!

Wall Pops 

I love Extreme Makeover:  Talented Decorators, Carpenters, talented people, a few days away, and I get to have a totally different home.  Seriously though, who wants to subject themselves to a house full of camera crews, a bunch of random people helping out, and while the transformation may be in fact awesome, it's permanent.  That is, unless you have thousands of dollars to change it all when you grow tired of someone else's vision of what you need.

How about transforming your home with a complete makeover in minutes?  I know I'm down with that, especially if I can get some great inspiration and all the materials I need from one website.  Well, the answer is WallPops, a line of peel and stick wall art by Brewster Home Fashions.   They offer everything from pretty florals, cityscapes, wall word designs and so much more.  It comes in an easy kit that has everything you need to transform your walls into a great new space!

I received the Zsa Zsa Dots kit to facilitate my review.   The Zsa Zsa Dots came with Four Blox, Four Flowers, and a package of Stripes. I am not uber creative, but I decided to wing it when decorating my girls room rather than doing an identical version of the pictures on the packages.

The WallPops are super easy to use.  Literally it's as simple as peel and stick to whatever and wherever you want.

I love that the Flowers came with crystals so that after I put up the flowers, I could apply crystals to make them really "pop."  I apologize I couldn't get a better up close picture to show you.  We live in an older log cabin and upstairs the lighting is mostly from bulbs, and it's just hard to capture details this way!

I decided to use the stripes as a border to separate the actual walls from the logs, and the end result looks amazing!  

The bottom line is that if WallPops can transform my super old vintage two story log house into a young trendy space for my tween girls, imagine all the great things you can find for your space!!

You can find this great kit along with many more wonderful designs on the WallPops Website. For all my Pinners, you can see many of their wonderful ideas on Pinterest as well as connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + .

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to WallPops for the products  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!

Enjoy Cheese Fondue with Emmi Roth for Nation Cheese Fondue Day!!

National Cheese Fondue Day!!!

What are your plans for National Cheese Fondue Day?  Will you enjoy a nice Cheesy Meal at home with your loved ones?  Will you go to a fancy Fondue restaurant with your significant other, or perhaps cook an amazing Fondue at home with your fabulous foodie friends?

Me, I am enjoying a great fondue at home with my children and husband compliments of  Emmi Roth USA.  Thanks to Emmi Roth's Fondue Original, I can enjoy all the great tastes of wine, cheese and spices at home without having all the fuss and muss of running to the store to purchase all the different ingredients, then home to prepare it all.  With Fondue Original, everything I need is in the box, all I have to do is provide the bread cubes, crackers, and heat the fondue, and Viola! Fondue!

So, go ahead and skip over to the Emmi Roth USA website and find some great cheese recipes or purchase some amazing cheese products for your next social gathering or family fun night!

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post.    The opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!   

Sign up and Earn money to Shop til your fingers drop!

Ebates

If you haven't signed up yet, you are so missing out!  I have already received my first Big Fat Check to the tune of $150!!!  What did I have to do to earn this?  Nothing more than shop. At. Stores. I. Already. Shop. At. On. A. Regular. Basis.  Stores like Walmart, JC Penny, Sears, Old Navy, and hundreds more stores.  With four kids, I have to shop for everything from food, to essentials to clothing and shoes.  Why not earn money while doing so?

Want to earn money while you shop too?

Follow this link to sign up today!

Who Let the Dog's Out? The Dog House!

The Dog House and a Day at the Park!

My baby boy was having the hardest time yesterday:  his sisters and brother were home from a week of visiting relatives, and when he woke up, they were already on the school bus!  It was just a Jonah kind of day for sure!  Daddy, who was trying to sleep with no success due to the sobbing "but I wub them berry berry much!" decided on an impromptu trip to Fed Ex and a little surprise when we were done to distract the sad 2 year old.

We ended up at The Dog House, a little stand we have been wanting to try for two years now, but since we rarely eat out, we just haven't.  

Mika and Mama think the fire hydrant trash can is hilarious!  Please note the Spongebob Squarepants swim trunks that are way too big.  The only size we could find that day and he HAD to have them!

I love this face.  He was amused by the "Puppy Dog" Daddy ordered him for lunch!

My German Shepherd Dog! 

 Only with a NC Redhot wiener of course!

We love slides!

This is the most kissable ketchup covered, dirt stained face!!! 

Get your nutrients with Fruit & Fruit Review

Fruit & Fruit

I have to admit, I have pretty great kids when it comes to eating healthy food, especially fruit.  They have no problems whatsoever eating what is given to them.  The problem comes in with the allergies we have here.  My oldest is allergic to Pecans which means he can't eat anything that was processed with nuts.  My middle daughter has trouble with her eczema eating many acidic fruits, but she enjoys them although she can't eat them.  And my youngest has trouble with certain items due to his tree allergies.  Bottom line is I know what fresh fruit each can eat, but when it comes to packaged snacks I have to read the labels carefully.

Fruit &  Fruit Bars made by YourBarFactory  are all natural.  They are vegan, preservative free, sulphite free, contain no artificial ingredients, and are gluten-free, peanut-free and made in a nut free-facility!  All my allergies solved by one company!

Each Fruit & Fruit Bar contains two portions of fruit, and although they are in bar form, these taste just like you are eating fresh fruit! I received a box of fruit bars containing several flavors:  coconut & raisins, apple & berries, and mango & pineapple.

 I love that they are the convenience of a bar that I can throw in a tote bag or my purse for emergency snacking, but I don't have to worry about bruising a banana or apple, or peeling an orange or mango!

Also, with a 2 year old and a borderline diabetic 13 year old, I always have to have snacks and some form of sugar on hand.  While eating a piece of candy will help my son when his sugar drops, it is better to drink a half a cup of milk or pick up a piece of fruit and get his sugar up with natural sugars.  I have the same ability with these bars, and they are so easy to carry around.  I have even given my son a few to carry in his backpack in the event he needs to eat a snack at school or on the bus to keep his sugar from dropping too low.

You can find them on Fruit & Fruit and YourBarFactory and discover the fruit goodness for yourself!

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Fruit & Fruit for the products  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!   

Banish Wrinkles with Elite Serum Review PT. 1!

Elite Serum

As I get older, one of my main concerns are wrinkles.  Any way I look at it, my skin just doesn't look like it did when I was 20 years old.  I have to perfect solution:  Elite Serum.

Elite Serum is an anti-aging serum that combines Argireline with other powerful ingredients to treat deep wrinkles, crow's feet, dark circles, sun damage, and enlarged pores around the eye area!  In this article, Dr. Oz even claims that Argireline "works just like botox"  and recommends a concentration of 5-10% in skin creams to stop wrinkles.

Argireline is a safe, non-toxic ingredient that works like botox in numbing the facial muscles to stop wrinkles.    Skin Pro, the makers of Elite Serum are pioneers in using Argireline in skin products and have been educating people about it's wonders since 2009! Their solution, Elite Serum is cruelty-free, never tested on animals, and is a combination of Seaweed Extract and high doses of Hyaluronic Acid and contains peptides proven to stimulate DNA Rejuvination.  

I was blessed to receive my own Elite Serum.  A month's supply came in a large syringe (no needle) and after using it morning and night for a week I saw some great results within a week on my fine lines around my eyes. 

 At 36, I do have some lines around my eyes, but I want to see what it will do with more defined lines.  Yesterday, I saw my children's Nana who lives 6 hours away and on a whim I asked her to use this serum for a week, take before and after pictures, and do an interview with me in a week.  She agreed, so stay tuned next week to read Part 2 of my review and see for ourselves the real life results of a sixty-something 39 year old grandmother!

You can read more about Skin Pro, makers of Elite Serum at their website, and you can purchase Elite Serum on the Elite Serum Official Website.  

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Skin Pro for the product  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!   

Brighten your Wardrobe with Apparel Dynasty Review

Apparel Dynasty 

All of the sudden this year, my girls are no longer little girls.  They are now 8 & 9 years old, and they aren't really into playing with toys anymore.  Another big shock:  all of the sudden what they wear matters!  Now, mind you, my girls have always been adorably dressed-Always neat, always clean, always girly with occasional lace, pretty sparkly shirts, lots of bling.  Now, they are coming into their own style.  One is still quite girly, wanting to wear 30 bangles at a time, nail polish, dresses, sequins, and tiaras (yes, she takes after me)!  The other one is girly in a Punky Bruster kind of way.  She prefers black nail polish, Jordan sneakers, and heaven forbid, she is NOT going to put a dress or skirt on her body.  I bought her one for Christmas to the tune of $89, and it still has the tags on it.  Her response to not wearing it?  "Mom, you know I don't wear dresses, so you should sell it at a yard sale to someone who might like it."  I think I am going to have to force myself to buy her Christmas ever again.  I am joking.  Maybe.

The point is, she is her own person, and no matter how much I love tiaras and sequins, she doesn't.  So we are gradually adding to her wardrobe in her style an item or two at a time.  I stumbled upon Apparel Dynasty, and I knew immediately this was the store for my daughter.  For that matter, I know many teenagers and even people in their 20's and 30's who will love their styles.

They offer shoes, handbags, graphic tees, scented posters, scented shoe laces, accessories and so much more in the most brilliant colors and styles!  I received several items to review:  Zap! ballerina flats, scented shoe laces, and a scented bracelet.  

The Zap! ballerina flats were just perfect.  They are made of quality materials and are geared to "zap out any bad day."  They are brightly colored in blues, oranges, yellows, and hot pink!  These are perfect for Suzannah who wanted every pair on the page, and I had to reign her into choosing one pair.  She immediately put them on when she got home from school, but then decided to save them for Easter at Nana's house.

The Tropical Fruit Scented Shoe Laces we received were just so cute.  I was afraid they were going to be strong scented like the stickers from elementary school, but they had a nice scent to them:  not too strong, but strong enough to smell them.  Gracie loved her laces, and of course we stopped what we were doing to put them in her Nike's so she could wear them to school the following day!

Lastly, we received a Scented Scratch and Sniff Bubble Gum Hair Elastic/Bracelet which my girly-girl Gracie claimed as her own.  It is like the shoelaces in that it is scented, but not so much that it is overwhelming.  She put it on her arm and was "Vogue-ing" enough to make Madonna proud!

I like the quality of these products, all are sturdy and have proved to be able to sustain even the harsh life my girls put them through.  Also, they are quite reasonable.  The Ballerina flats were only $29, and they also sell stilettos as well as sneakers.  

Check them out for yourself on their website where you can purchase items from.  You can also connect with them Socially on Facebook and Twitter.  

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Apparel Dynasty for the products  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!  

Solve all your Nursing and Full-Figure Bra woes with Leading Lady Review

Leading Lady

I think as an adult woman, one of my biggest frustrations for the past 16 years has been finding a bra that fits me properly.  The problem is, companies assume if you need a full-figure bra that you also need a lot of extra inches around.  I went to a popular bra company in the mall to be told they don't sell larger than a D cup and that I would need to go to the plus sized woman's store to purchase a bra with a larger cup.  Well, I am full-figured, so I trotted to the other end of the mall to find out they don't have a 40 DDD, they have a 50 and up DDD.  I almost cried.  So I went to Walmart, Kmart and Target to find out they don't sell larger cup sizes either.  I finally found them at the major department stores in the mall to the tune of $75, which meant I could only buy one at the time (hey I was young, and just starting out in a career) and it lasted less than a month before it tore up, and I did cry.

It has been the same story over the years, and the few times I did find a full-figure bra elsewhere for cheaper, they looked like something my then grandmother in her 80's wears.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Grandma, but I didn't want to wear her lingerie!  I have finally come to the end of my frustrations thanks to Leading Lady, and I would like to share my findings with you so that you can stop the seemingly futile search!  

Leading Lady began over 70 years ago when the bra company Frank Farino worked at shut down.  For severance pay he received two working sewing machines and $240.  So he did what any young entrepreneurial young person without a job and with a few clients names would do:  He began sewing bras and selling them.  When resources were scarce, he discovered that maternity and nursing bras were considered a medical need rather than lingerie, so he began a nursing bra line, and before long, business was flourishing again!

Fast forward to today, and the Leading Lady company also has a line of full figure bras to add to the nursing bra line.  I received the Molded Padded Seamless Wirefree Full Figure Bra in nude from Leading Lady to facilitate my review.  As we ladies know, I chose nude because it is the only color that doesn't show through most clothing including white.  I haven't worn a padded bra since I was in junior high school for the obvious reason, and I remember the last one being super itchy so I was nervous to try one now.  

This bra is latex free and made out of Nylon and Spandex which makes it the softest bra I have ever owned!  Also, I usually buy wired bras for added support so I was skeptical about lift, but this bra has really good support and lift without the uncomfortable wires that are usually digging into my skin!

It also has a row of four hooks on the back of the bra which prevents indentations and also prevents the bra slipping further up my back.  

Lastly, the bra has slightly wider adjustable straps which are attractive yet sturdy.  I have literally had straps in the past snap off because they were just too flimsy to handle full-figure, and it is obvious Leading Lady knows it's stuff when they construct a bra!  I have worn this bra exclusively for a couple of weeks, hand washing it every night and hanging to dry, and it still looks as great today as it did brand new.

Most of all, I love that the cups are seamless so that I don't have marks or lines showing through my clothing.  The prices at Leading Lady are super reasonable.  The bra I received sells for $38 which means I have no qualms purchasing it, and I can even buy two for the price of the bras that were tearing up in less than a month.    Also, I noticed that many of the nursing bras sell for less than my bra did, and they even have several full-figure nursing bras.  I am done having babies, but I well remember having to wear regular bras when I nursed because full-figured nursing bras just weren't to be found, so I know this fills a much needed market!

You can look at the wide selection of bras at the Leading Lady Website, and connect with them Socially on both Facebook and Twitter.  

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Leading Lady for the product  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!    

Say no to Harsh Chemicals in Pet Products with Earth Bath

Earth Bath:  Totally Natural Pet Care!

All of you know me well enough by now to know I am striving towards being completely Earth Friendly and only bringing products into my home that I feel comfortable being around my children.  I don't bring in harsh cleansers, I have recently made the switch to making my own laundry detergent, and I like to use all-natural hair, face, and body products.  Why then do I want to use harsh chemicals when washing my pets Kimbo and Ruby?  Simply put, I don't.

In 1995, Paul Armstrong started a company called Earth Endeavors with several friends, and while they came up with great earth friendly pet products, the company just was another story.  Well, Paul didn't give up since he knew he had a great product on his hands and that is how Earth Bath came about and is now a booming business!  This California based company only uses the finest natural ingredients in their products which makes for super happy pets while staying environmentally aware!  They offer products for cats, dogs, and horses.

Today I am reviewing a variety of dog products from Earth Bath. The Oatmeal and Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo reminds me of baby powder in smell, but all the ingredients are natural and readily identifiable.  When I used this on Kimbo who has a hereditary skin disorder many Akitas have, it helped soothe his itchy skin and gave him some relief!  Even better he smelled like a baby!

The Tea Tree and Aloe Itch Relief Shampoo smells wonderful too.  It reminds me of my mother's homemade lemon meringue pie, and also did a great job soothing Kimbo.  Again, all the ingredients are readily known, there is no lanolin, and I love that it is all natural.

I used the Mango Tango Shampoo and Conditioner in One on Ruby who is an Australian Blue Heeler and has a bit longer hair.  This shampoo is perfect for coats of all kinds, and gave her coat such a beautiful shine and she smelled like the tropics!

The last shampoo I tried was the Puppy Extra Gentle Shampoo which is tearless and pH balanced.  Ruby is only a year old and still very hyper, so we used this shampoo on her.  She was so soft and great smelling, and although neither dogs get excited over bath time, she seemed so happy when she was smelling beautiful again.

Lastly, I received three different Grooming Wipes to try:  Green Tea Leaf Fragrance, Especially for Puppies, and Mango Tango Fragrance.  These are designed to wipe away dirt and smell in between baths, and work wonders.  Ruby is always poking her nose into something here in the country and coming home smelling weird, and at least twice like a skunk.  I love being able to grab a wipe and have her smelling all pretty again without having to haul her upstairs to the bathtub for a full scrub. (Yes, getting sprayed by a skunk got her a full blown scrubbing!)

The bottom line is these products work great.  They get the dogs nice and clean, leave them great smelling, and I love how well the ones designed for itchy skin work.  The best part is I can feel great about buying them for my pets.  I know they won't hurt them, won't exacerbate Kimbo's already sore skin, and I am not bringing in harmful chemicals into my home!

I encourage you to check out their other products on the website, find a location near you that sells their products, and stay socially connected with them on Facebook.  

Disclaimer:  Many thanks to Earthbath for the products  I received to facilitate my review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Please do your own due diligence when deciding to purchase!