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

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter

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.  

 

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!

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

 

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. 

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

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

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.

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

Website

Facebook

Twitter

  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. 

Kicking Horse Coffee Company Review and Giveaway

 About Kicking Horse 

"What are you two schmucks going to do with your lives? Sell coffee from your garage?" once said Elana Rosenfeld's mother.

And so in 1996 Leo Johnson and Elana Rosenfeld did precisely that! In the Rocky Mountain town of Invermere, B.C., Canada, they began roasting coffee in their skivvies when it was hot out, balancing babies and experimenting with different products.

In 2003 Kicking Horse Coffee made the conscious decision to discontinue all conventional coffee and focuses efforts only purchasing and roasting 100% Certified Organic coffee beans.

By 2007, despite increasing pressure to source more green beans, Kicking Horse Coffee commits to discontinue the purchase of all non-Fair Trade coffee and develops our current 100% Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade only, 21 blend product offering.

My Thoughts 

Kicking Horse Coffee sent me their Kick Ass variety of whole bean coffee. In fact, most of their coffee comes whole bean, which I love. Nothing better than freshly ground coffee to start off my mornings! If given the choice, I most likely would have chosen the Smart Ass to try, but the Kick Ass is definitely my next choice (they are both dark roasts.) It is sweet, smoky, and audacious. It is made from a great mix of Indonesian and Central American beans that is guaranteed to kick some sense into you. I love the can and the little donkey on the front. I cannot wait to reuse this for something else. The coffee itself was bold and delicious! I loved it by itself, never adding any milk or sweeteners. The Kick Ass coffee is definitely one of my new favorite coffees, and I cannot wait to try the other flavors Kicking Horse Coffee has to offer.I love that their coffees are organic AND fair trade. Those are two really important factors when it comes to choosing the perfect coffee beans.

Connect with Kicking Horse Coffee

Website

Facebook

Twitter

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.  
 

Bongo Java Giveaway! ends 5/15

 Bongo Java Giveaway

I was recently sent a delightful variety of fresh roasted coffee beans from the Bongo Java Coffee Roasting company. I will be reviewing them here on the blog shortly, so stay tuned! To kick things off and to make up for my absence, I am hosting a huge giveaway! This is just ONE of my many wonderful sponsors, so make sure to check back for updates, recent reviews, and lots of fun giveaways.

ENTER TO WIN!

Bongo Java is offering one of my lucky followers some of the fresh roasted coffee beans. 

 Open to US residents 18 years of age and older. The giveaway will end on 5/15/16.The winner will be chosen randomly, and will be contacted by email. They will have 48 hours to contact me back to claim their prize. Living the Paisley Life is not responsible for lost prizes or prizes that are not received.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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. 

Coffee of the Day-Old Chicago Coffee Co. - Review and Giveaway

I was recently sent a bag of freshly roasted Mezzo Roast Colombian Coffee from Old Chicago Coffee Co. It was pretty bold, but was still very enjoyable black, without anything added. I could drink this coffee day after day. This coffee is strong and definitely packs a punch! This is a milder Colombian than the Blackened Roast Colombian coffee. Flavor retaining, it tastes the same as it cools. This medium roast Colombian coffee is superb, offering a generous flavor of vanilla and chocolate together with a fruity taste and a sweet aroma of flowers. This 100 percent Arabica coffee has a citrus acidity, more along the lines of lemon, and it is a very lively coffee with an aftertaste of sweet butter.

 Old Chicago Coffee Co. is offering one of my luck readers a bag of their Mezzo Roast Columbian Coffee. (Ground or beans!)

 Open to US residents 18 years of age and older. The giveaway will end on 1/21/14.The winner will be chosen randomly, and will be contacted by email. They will have 48 hours to contact me back to claim their prize. Living the Paisley Life is not responsible for lost prizes or prizes that are not received.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  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. 

Blanchards Coffee Review and Giveaway

Blanchard's Coffee Company is an independent, family-owned craft coffee roaster located in Richmond, Virginia. Certified Fair Trade and Organic, Blanchard's Coffee Co. is committed to roasting the very best, sustainable and delicious coffee possible.
 
They strongly believe that coffee roasting requires a thoughtful balance between science, art, observation and intuition. With that in mind, Blanchard's roasts in small batches—no more than sixty pounds at a time—with a hands on approach ensuring each batch’s quality, consistency and attention to the character of the coffee.

Confession: I am addicted to coffee. Okay, maybe not literally, but I do drink a lot of it. My whole family does. I have always enjoyed the taste of coffee, flavored, with cream, black, cold, whatever. I am in love with coffee! I prefer a dark roast, piping hot with nothing added. Sometimes though I prefer a simpler, lighter roast. Although it may not be the healthiest,it doesn't contain many calories, and it makes me smile. 

I was recently sent a bag of Blanchard's Coffee Co.'s Breakfast Blend. It is a classic, semi-bold Latin American breakfast blend. Strong enough to help you handle a groggy morning without kicking you halfway down the street. I rather enjoyed this coffee. It wasn't too strong, but it definitely woke me up! I chose to have it ground. It was really fresh when I opened it, and it remained fresh for days after. I enjoyed it several times (not always for breakfast!)

The first thing I noticed about Blanchard's Breakfast Blend was the scent. I love to squeeze the scent out of the one way valve, and this time I was certainly not disappointed. You could tell this coffee was fresh by the way it smelled. It had a nice, smooth acidity with enough bite to make your lips smack. Boy do I love a bold coffee first thin in the morning! I noticed a medium body, although it was never too heavy or overpowering. The aroma during and after brewing gave my initial aromatic experience with this coffee a run for its money. The fresh grounds smelled fantastic, but in the cup!? Don't even get me started. My mouth is watering just thinking about how good this coffee smells. Every sensory experience was one that I enjoyed. Meaning I loved this coffee through and though. Blanchard's Coffee Co.'s Breakfast Blend is overall, a very well balanced brew!

 Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blanchard's Coffee Co. is offering up one bag of the same coffee I received to ONE lucky Living the Paisley Life reader.

Open to US residents 18 years of age and older. The giveaway will end on 2/17/14.The winner will be chosen randomly, and will be contacted by email. They will have 48 hours to contact me back to claim their prize. Living the Paisley Life is not responsible for lost prizes or prizes that are not received.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  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.

I Missed You Guys!- a BIG Giveaway!!

I know, I know.

I am not the best at being consistent. But I try my best, I promise! Although I have been blogging, I haven't hosted a giveaway in quite some time. I decided why not make it up to you guys by hosting a giveaway with multiple AWESOME prizes?! I hope you can forgive me :)

In my absence, I started a new blog! I wanted to separate my homestead life from my blog life to make it easier on me and my readers. If you would like to check it out, please follow the link below:

Homestead Houston

Feel free to leave a comment below letting me know you entered! 
Thanks so much for stopping by! It means a lot :)
Especially since these prizes are coming out of my own pocket this time!
(I heard paid bribery works!)

Good luck! And I hope to see you on my new blog!

Open WORLDWIDE to everyone 18 years of age and older. The giveaway will end on 3/31/15.The winners will be chosen randomly, and will be contacted by email. They will have 48 hours to contact me back to claim their prizes.  

Prizes are as follows:

1st Prize- $50 VISA Gift Card
2nd Prize- Susan Meier Quartz Line Necklace
3rd Prize- $25 VISA Gift Card
3rd & 4th Prize- $10 VISA Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

My collection grows.. FlowBands Non-Slip Headbands

So you all know of my headband addiction by now.. If not, you should!

I recently discovered Flow Bands, and was super excited when they sent me a great selection of headbands to try on and review for myself. They have A TON of unique styles, something for everyone. I personally think they would make great gifts for an girl or woman in your family or circle. I love that Flow Bands (and Zenheads) were created by someone who loves headbands as much as (if not more!) than I do. These headbands are made with love in Columbus, Ohio. 

These headbands do not slip. I repeat: DO.NOT.SLIP! They were created out of frustration with the slippage of normal headbands, and will stay put on even the silkiest of hair. I loved wearing them while hiking and doing yoga. I even fell asleep with them on numerous times, only to discover that they did not budge at all during my sleep (despite being the type that thrashes about all night long..)

Another day.. Another slew of shameless selfies.. :)

I wanted to get creative with some of the cool things we have here at home. I only have an iPad, so taking the photos isn't as easy as if I had a camera. **Hint hint** to any family reading this (my birthday is December 15).

Click on the photos to be taken to the FlowBands website to make a purchase!

Connect with FlowBands

Website | Facebook

Keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway to win some FlowBands of your own!

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.