Saturday, January 14, 2017

Ez Squeezees Refillable Pouch Review


About EZ Squeezees

Developed in the open air farmers markets of Baltimore, EZ Squeezees is dedicated to helping you conveniently serve nourishing food time and again. The creators search to feed their own toddler well-balanced meals led them to one conclusion: their desire for convenient and nutritious meals was being capitalized on by the manufacturers of processed foods. They found themselves compromising on nutrition and paying an extortionate amount for the convenience of pre-packaged purees.
 


On a daily basis they have experienced the frustrations of feeding a toddler at meal time. They know what it’s like to waste money on jars and pouches of pre-made foods that may or may not be the flavor of the day. They knew we had a good idea in EZ Squeezees after easily feeding their daughter healthy, nutritious purees made from affordable foods.
 



 Conversations at local coffee shops, farmers markets and restaurants, combined with their formal market research, fueled their passion to bring this product to life. Although the intent was to simply feed their own child homemade meals, they quickly realized the potential for this reusable pouch. They began filling it with mashed potatoes while out to dinner and simply buying large jars of applesauce or yogurt with which to fill the pouch. Its ease of use was matched only by the money saved on their monthly grocery bills.
 


My Thoughts 

I love EZ Squeezees. They have saved my family and me so much money since getting them. I really like how the side unzips to let you fill the pouch. It makes it easier to use than the pouches that you fill from the top or bottom. The opposite side also has a large gusset that expands, allowing you to fill the pouch extremely full (6.5 oz full!). I found that this pouch was super easy to clean, which makes me love EZ Squeezee even more. They are dishwasher safe, though I don't own one. No worries though, as EZ Squeezee pouches are easy to clean by hand as well. I really like how they give you a space on the back to write what is in the pouch. This makes it easy to make a bunch of snack squeezes in advance and freeze them, take them on picnics, etc. You can even write a different name on each pouch to not get them mixed up. I am not sure why, but EZ Squeezees carries both the small and large caps. I have never seen that in a product, as it is always one or the other. I actually really dislike the larger caps. They are hard for me to unscrew. The smaller ones seem to twist off super easily. I was sent the large caps, but found that the small caps from other products fit the EZ Squeezee (although, I may just have to purchase some small EZ caps.. I have a problem with the caps being yellow and the pouches being white.) I found several must-try recipes on their webpage, and cannot wait to try them. I really want to try their recipe for Strawberry-Beet Squeezees.

Connect with EZ Squeezee

Giveaway coming soon!

Disclosure: I received the above item in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.  
 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Party! Party! Party!- Eco-Friendly Party Favors by Jute Frog


Who doesn't love a good party!?

I especially love kids parties. They are so colorful and seem like so much fun. Sadly, I have noticed a certain trend. Literally every single party favor I have ever came across was junky plastic with some random chemical smell. I never noticed it as a kid, but I do now. What goes into making these throw away toys? Why are they so popular? Where are natural options when it comes to throwing a party for the kiddos?! That is where Jute Frog comes in.

Jute Frog sells eco-friendly party favors!

I have NEVER seen an eco-friendly party favor company before. So you can imagine how excited I was to review some of Jute Frog's Embroidered Colorful Vintage Headbands. Not only are these headbands adorable and well made, they are handmade with vintage fabric by Indian artisans. Since they are handmade, each one is unique! I love that! The headbands fit almost anyone, and come 8 to a pack in a canvas sling bag!

Jute Frog also sells Vintage Handmade Paper Notebooks (bound in beautiful fabrics!), Vibrant Silk Thread Beaded Necklaces, Colorful Silk Thread Necklaces, and Embroidered Sling Bags!














 
Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Shea Moisture Review

About Shea Moisture

Shea Moisture creates award-winning, all-natural, face, hair, bath, body, shave, waxing and baby care remedies, from age-old family recipes carried down through the generations.

Sofi Tucker began selling shea nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone in 1912. By age 19, the widowed mother of four was selling her shea butter and African black soap all over the countryside. Sofi Tucker was their grandmother, and SheaMoisture is her legacy. The folks at Shea Moisture proudly create culturally-authentic, time-tested skin and hair care remedies from family recipes using all-natural and fair trade ingredients.
SheaMoisture products don't contain Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, DEA, PABA, Synthetic Fragrance or Artificial Color. Their company does not participate in animal testing. All products are tested by family members and friends. 


My Thoughts


My family and I were sent several Shea Moisture Products. I am not sure why we were sent mostly products from the Kids line, but we still enjoyed them. If given the choice, I may have went with something more suited for me.


The first product I tried was the Kids Conditioner. We were sent two of them (I am thinking they meant to send a shampoo instead of double conditioner?) I used a different brand of shampoo and followed with the Kids Mango and Carrot Extra Nourishing Conditioner for dry, delicate hair. I was a bit skeptical of how a kids conditioner would smell, but oh my goodness this product smells amazing. I couldn't believe it the first time I unscrewed the cap. It smells so amazing! I detest mangoes, so luckily that was not the scent I was getting. It was very refreshing and uplifting, and made my hair smell amazing all day. The first thing I noticed after using this conditioner for the first time was how it made brushing my hair super easy (well, at least compared to how it usually is.) I was able to get the tangles out smoothly without help and without pulling all of my hair out. 



I also got to try out the Kids Coconut and Hibiscus Extra Moisturizing detangler. It contains Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Extract for smoothing. I love how mild this product is and how it restores luster to dry, dull hair while leaving it conditioned. It can be applied to wet or dry hair and doesn't need to be rinsed out, making it very easy to use. The scent reminds me of summer, smelling so sweet with hints of coconut. 


I did in fact get to try (and fight over) a Shea Moisture product designed for adults, the Coconut and Hibiscus Body Butter. It contains gluten free vitamin E to protect the skin form radical damage, coconut oil to nourish and firm the skin, and Hibiscus Flowers as a natural emollient to treat dry, rough skin and improve skin tone. The scent is smooth and fragrant, lasting for a good while. 



Shea Moisture also makes bar soaps. I got to try the Indian Hemp and Shea Butter Inflammation Therapy Medicated Cleansing Bar. It worked perfectly on my sensitive skin, relieving the irritation while soothing and moisturizing. This soap contains homeopathic medicines (Calendula Extract, Neem Oil, and Tea Tree Oil) to naturally remedy any inflammation, redness, or other minor skin irritations. This soap never fails to leave my skin soothed and calm. Perfect for use before bedtime, as I often find my skin to be itchy while trying to fall asleep.



I also got to try the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Eczema and Psoriasis Therapy Medicated Cleansing Bar. It calms, clears, and heals skin using homeopathic medicines. It is specially formulated with certified organic Shea Butter and natural ingredients known to promote healing skin affected by symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. No one in my immediate family experiences these problems, but I do personally have rather sensitive skin. It works great and keeps my skin from being dry and itchy after a shower.

Connect With Shea Moisture


 


Disclosure: I received the above item in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Holiday Review/Giveaway slots available!

Just in time for the Holidays! 

Are you a company/crafter/PR firm looking to have reviews done for the Holidays? 
I still have several slots available, and am open to doing reviews, giveaways, Amazon reviews, YouTube videos, Instagram tags/posts/shoutouts, as well as reviews, tags and features on my social media pages (Twitter, Tumblr, Youtube, Google, Amazon Prime, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.)

I have over 100 pets (mostly rescues) from dogs to ducks who are always eager to test and review products.  

We have a HUGE family with kids and adults of all ages, so rest assured almost any product you need reviewed has a space on our blog (as long as it is something we love and fully support, we will feature it!) 

I am currently looking into doing more reviews for: baby/toddler, children with disabilities (mainly autism), and cats/dogs. 

Feel free to email me at samnac88@gmail.com !

Sunday, November 27, 2016

School of Wash Review


About School of Wash

School of Wash, one of the first Mommy and Munchkin businesses was born by summer camp sales. Literally! Without her knowledge, Rebekah's 11-year old daughter sold the bath products she was making just for her to all of her summer camp friends. The parents loved the fact that the products were handmade, contained no dyes and were safe for the most delicate of skin. The kids loved the 245 different scents they were able to choose from to customize their bath product line. The feedback was so positive that she decided to start School of Wash. 

They are a mom/daughter owned company, right here in the USA, making a difference in their market by bringing the FUN back into bath time. As a family owned business they feel it is important to treat their customers like family. They use all their products in their own bathrooms because they feel they are the best on the market. For them, this is a family affair! 

The inspiration for School of Wash™?  One evening as Rebekah's daughter drudged towards the bathroom she exclaimed, “You know Mom, I’m not a baby anymore why do I have to use shampoo with a baby on it?”  Sometimes the logic of a child is so simple it is brilliant. Why shouldn’t bath time be COOL?  After months of trial and error to find just the right name and products to peak her interest, they found a way to not only keep her bath time COOL but allowed her to be the creative force in the brand and product design.
Their products really are “KID TESTED AND KID APPROVED”!

My Thoughts


I was so excited to get to try the School of Wash products of my choosing. With at least an hour spent on making a decision, I ended up choosing the Sugar Cookie scented Room and Linen spray as well as the I need More Perfume roll on 4pk in Gummy Bears, Caramel and Sea Salt, Amber Amore, and Bubblegum. All of these scents were delightful and ridiculously spot on! 


The Sugar Cookie Room and Linen spray was fantastic. I can see myself running out of this very quickly. The scent lingers in the air for a nice while, creating a soft aroma almost as if I were actually baking. The roll ons were a bit of a daring leap, but I really wanted to try something I am not used to. I always tend to choose woodsy, earthy scents. 


This time, since given the option of 245 different scent choices, I chose something a bit more creative than I normally would have. The Gummy Bear scent brought me straight back to my childhood, almost as if I had just walked into a candy shop. The Bubblegum was reminiscent of my childhood as well, bringing back memories of contests of who could blow the biggest bubble, always forcing as many pieces of gum into my mouth as possible. Drooling everywhere, getting everything sticky no doubt. The Caramel and Sea Salt scent is rather unique. I really enjoyed it, though it was not a very strong scent. The Amber Amore was not what I expected, making it quite a surprise. The scent was fantastic. Arguably better than the most expensive of perfumes. I could wear this scent all day, and it is easy to layer with other scents. School of Wash has made it easy to create your own unique scent combination, mixing and matching all sorts of scents.

Not only do I love the products I got to try, but I love the whole idea of School of Wash. Their mother/daughter story is touching as well as inspiring. They have joined forces with a great organization called Lily Pad, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving victims of physical and sexual abuse. School of Wash makes bathtime fun and less stressful by catering to my specific aromatic needs. They make an extensive amount of products for Kids, Him, Her, and even for the Pets!  I personally cannot wait to try their pet products as well as other scents of Room/Linen Spray!

Connect with School of Wash


  Disclosure: I received the above item in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Jewelry With a Twist! Featuring- Twisted Sisters' Designs


When it comes to jewelry, I tend to pick pieces that are unique, standing out as much as I do! Or pieces to remind me of memories, distant but not forgotten.

I have a vibrant personality, and I am in love with colors.
I love all things earthy and celestial.

When I pick jewelry, I pick pieces that speak to me.

I really appreciate jewelry that is handmade, allowing you feel the love and effort that was put into it. This is why I love the gals at Twisted Sister's Designs, and the wonderful jewelry their beautiful minds dream up. 

I was sent the most gorgeous pendant.
Hand painted, and full of love.








Be sure to check out their website! 
Twisted Sisters' Designs offers many one of a kind pieces!

Connect with Twisted Sisters' Designs

Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Antioxidant Rich Raw Chocolate Smoothie

Since my other smoothie recipe was such a big hit, I decided to share another one with you guys! I actually came up with this recipe before the Energizing Lemon Blueberry Smoothie recipe, but didn't think about sharing it until now!

I try to pack as many servings of fruit, veggies, vitamins and antioxidants as possible into each smoothie I make. It is a ridiculously easy way to get all of the nutrients you need without having to think about it too much. Plus, if you consume the smoothie in the morning, it is an excellent jump start to your day! I can really tell the difference in my day to day depending on if I had time to make and enjoy a smoothie before my day starts.

One of my favorite smoothie combos are blueberries and chocolate.
For this specific recipe, I went with mixed berries 

Blueberries are high in antioxidants and they taste friggin' delicious!
SO delicious in fact, that when I spilled my pint of fresh organic blueberries last week, I simply rinsed off the dog hair and debris, and happily munched out on them anyway.. 
(The five second rule quickly turned into a 5 minute rule when I had to fight off three dogs to capture my precious berries... They love fruits and veggies!)

Blueberries are also known to improve memory function and reduce the effects of aging!

Raw Cacao Nibs are amazing! They are yummy straight out of the bag, on yogurt, in salad, or anything your beautiful brain can think up.
Like blueberries, cacao is FULL of antioxidants! But what Cacao is most know for their flavonoid content. (Also found in berries, as well as tea and grapes!!) Studies suggest flavonoids may help prevent things like cancer and Alzheimer's.


I hope you learned a couple things, and are inspired to make some healthy decisions today!
Smoothies are so much fun, as you can really vary the recipe any way you want!

Feel free to use some honey for added sweetness.
I also drizzled organic chocolate syrup around the inside of my jar.