Monday, February 29, 2016

Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat





I honestly don't know much about Chrissy Teigen. The title of the book is what actually caught my eye. I mean surely there has to be some good recipes in a cookbook called Cravings. I was at least hoping for one or two that I would crave.

Wow, not only is there just one or two recipes but at least 3/4 of the book looks delicious! OK, it might be even more than 3/4. This book is that good. It's real food too. Many of them look easy to make also. I mean, I don't even know where to start but a few that stick out are the Dutch Baby Pancake, King's Hawaiian BLPTS, Shrimp Summer Rolls, Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts, and the entire Thai Mom section. I could go on and on. I'm really impressed by this book. Big time!

The pictures are also beautiful and I have to say that she did not over do it with too many pictures of herself & her husband John Legend in the book. Most of the pictures are of food! I get turned off when a cookbook has more people photos than food. Thankfully this is about the food and she knows what good food is.

The recipes are easy to follow and the format easy to read. Most ingredients are pretty basic but the end results look amazing! Love her little stories at the beginning of each recipe too. She's rather hilarious.

If you're looking for a cookbook that you'll actually want to cook from and like the food then you can't go wrong with this one. It's a keeper for sure.

* I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. Opinions are my own.



Saturday, February 27, 2016

NordicNordic - Hand Picked Chaga Mushroom Tea






I enjoy trying new teas and this NordicNordic - Hand Picked Chaga Mushroom Tea did not disappoint. They offer a few different varieties and I choose the cinnamon. I love the flavor of this tea. It's smooth and has just the right amount of cinnamon. It smells lovely also.




At first I was surprised how small the container was when it arrived but after reading the instructions I learned that you can use each tea bag multiple times until no more color is released. I've gotten 3 uses out of one tea bag so that is nice.




This Chaga Tea is caffeine free and contains no artificial additives. Chaga contains one of the highest antioxidant levels of any plant on earth. It helps protect the cells from damage caused by free radicals. It increase the body's resistance to stress while also boosting energy and stamina levels naturally. All those wonderful benefits and it tastes good too!

You can find NordicNordic - Hand Picked Chaga Mushroom Tea on Amazon.

* I received this product for free for my honest review. Opinions are my own.


Skinfood - Nourishing Hand Cream





My hands are always so dry from constantly washing them, doing dishes, and cleaning. The cold winter makes them even worse. This Skinfood - Nourishing Hand Cream helps to make them soft again. I've been using this hand cream about twice a day. It soaks in quick and doesn't leave a greasy feel. It has a nice light and clean scent. It's not overpowering. My hands feel so good after using it. No more dry cracked hands.




Skinfood is a New Zealand made skincare. It contains nourishing New Zealand manuka honey & avocado oil which give you soft and supple hands. It contains no parabens and is cruelty free. It is perfect for dry, itchy, irritated, or flaky skin.

You can find this Skinfood - Nourishing Hand Cream on Amazon. They do offer a range of products so be sure to check them out.

* I received this item for a discount for an honest and unbiased review.








Into the Soul - Book Review




Into the Soul is an interesting read. It's not a quick read. At least it wasn't for me. It was a lot to absorb because it deals with the author's personal journey at the beginning of the book and then goes into her work with her clients and their spiritual healing process.

They all have different reasons for needing to find what I think is closure or understanding of their situations. It's really hard to explain because they all have their own issues to work on. I think it's really about opening your mind to allowing things to let go and accept things.

You can find Into the Soul on Amazon.

* I received a free ebook version for my honest review. Opinions are my own.



Friday, February 26, 2016

120 ML Essential Oil Diffuser for Aromatherapy



I absolutely love having a diffuser in the house. This is my first one and I don't know how we lived without one for so long.

This 120 ML Essential Oil Diffuser for Aromatherapy is the perfect size. It's small enough to sit on a coffee table or shelf but gives out a really good amount of mist and scent. I've been moving it around different floors in the house to freshen up the rooms. I currently just have peppermint essential oil which smells lovely. I'm looking forward once my other oils come so I can switch up the scent depending on my mood.

This diffuser is quiet, it has a waterless auto shut off, and an adjustable mist mode. It is a cool mist. Another really cool thing is it has changing colored LED lights.


7 colors to choose from.


Works great for a nightlight. 




This diffuser is easy to use. The top part twists off and it also comes with a measuring cup so you don't over fill it. Then just add your 2 drops of essential (not included) and twist the top back on. Plug it in and turn on and you are all set.




You can find this 120 ML Essential Oil Diffuser for Aromatherapy on Amazon.

* I received this product at a discounted price for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

JUMBO Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws






These Jumbo Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws are so fun! They are BPA free and non toxic. They are made from slightly hardened 100% food grade silicone. They are thick enough though that they don't just collapse in while you are using them.


These straws are huge!



They are great for smoothies, milkshakes, & cold coffee drinks!





The straws come in a six pack with a variety of colors. They also come with a small cleaning brush. I find it to be too small to really clean them well. I just be sure to rinse them out right away so nothing hardens inside. I do have another bigger brush on hand if I end up needing to scrub them on the inside. I do really like the fact that these are reusable and we are not being wasteful by using so many plastic ones that are only good for one use. Plus these colors are so fun!

You can find these JUMBO Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws on Amazon. 

* I received this product at a discounted price for my honest review. Opinions are my own. 

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

All Weather Windshield Cover





The All Season Windshield Cover gives your windshield year round protection from the outdoor elements. The black side helps keep it from icing over in winter and pull heat in to keep it warmer. The under side is silver and used in summer to help reflect the sun and keep the interior cooler.

The cover comes in two sizes. The car windshield cover is 48" x 60" and the SUV windshield cover is 50" x 70".  We needed it for our truck so ours is the bigger size. It is made from a water-resistant polyester and durable mesh that flexes without tearing.




It is easy to put on. It was a bit windy today so it was easier to have two of us. It does have magnets on the edges so it attaches almost instantly but you can easily pull the cover and move it to were it needs to go. It also has a little flap on each side so you can shut it in the door to keep it in place in case of a strong wind or to keep anyone from taking it. 

Our weather is actually pretty decent at the moment but snow is in the forecast in a few days and we still have several weeks of winter yet so I will do an update on how it's working. 

You can find this All Weather Windshield Cover from HOLAUTO on Amazon. 

* I received this item at a discount for my honest review. Opinions are my own.




Monday, February 22, 2016

Prefer Green 7 Piece Portion Control Containers





We all know that over the last several years our portion sizes have greatly increased. What we think of as normal is sometimes 2 or 3 times what it should be. I sometimes have a hard time picturing the "palm sized portion" or "card deck portion". I thought that these Portion Control Containers might help get me on the right track.

I must say I was a bit surprised how small the containers are. I thought I'm going to starve if this is all I get to eat! Not the case though. The little guide that comes with the containers shows you how many of each color you should be eating every day. For example I should fill the green one, which is equal to 1 cup, with veggies and eat that amount 3 times in a day.

I do like the color system. I think eventually I'll get the hang of it. At least especially to get correct portion sizes. I do feel like these would need to be constantly washed and filled throughout the day if you use them for each meal.

The containers are BPA free and are safe for the dishwasher and microwave. They are also comparable to the 21 Day Fix system.




This portion control kit will definitely help to get you used to what a healthy and normal portion is. You can find these Prefer Green 7 Piece Portion Control Containers on Amazon.

* I received this product for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Herb Scissors by Marky Products




I love to cook with fresh herbs when I can and these Herb Scissors makes cutting them up so much faster. They are made with premium stainless steel and are comfortable to hold while chopping.





These scissors work for all types of herbs. You can even use them to shred paper if you have any top secret documents you might need to destroy. :)




They come with a little cleaning comb that easily pushes out any little pieces that are stuck in the blades. They are also easy to wash up and are safe to put in the dishwasher.

All clean!

I am really looking forward to using these especially this summer once my herb garden can grow again!

You can find these handy herb scissors by Marky Products on Amazon. 

* I received this item for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Mate Gourd Décor Holiday Ornaments 'Butterflies' by NOVICA





I know the holidays are over but it's never too early to start planning for next year! It was a somewhat decent day out today so I wanted to show how pretty these Mate Gourd Decor Holiday Ornaments look up against the somewhat green trees outside. They will look even better on my really green Christmas tree in December.



All four ornaments.




These ornaments are handcrafted in Peru with butterflies and flowers by Emilio Hurtado. They are created from dried mate gourds and are engraved and painted by hand. Because they are from natural mate gourds the sizes and shapes do vary. I love the variety that came in my set. They are just beautiful!

These ornaments are an original NOVICA fair trade product. They also come with an official NOVICA story card certifying quality and authenticity. 


Love the detail.



NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, works with artisan designers from around the world to promote their beautiful pieces. Their mantra is to spread global happiness. They offer a wide variety of items including jewelry, clothing, and items for the home. 

You can find this beautiful set of Mate Gourd Decor Holiday Ornaments 'Butterflies' on Amazon. I know this is thinking in advance but this set would be a really great hostess gift at holiday time! Be sure to check out their other items also. 

* I received this set at a discount for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Food Storage Containers 10 pcs




I am always in need of storage containers and I love ones that have lids. I don't like fighting with plastic wrap and worrying about things spilling in my fridge. I am very happy with this set of Food Storage Containers. It comes with 10 different sizes of containers. Five are square and five are rectangle. Each container also comes with a locking lid. It latches on all four sides.


 Largest rectangle container.


The photo above is of the largest rectangle container. I was able to fit one head of broccoli and one head of cauliflower (both regular sized minus a couple bad pieces) cut up and the lid was able to close. 

The containers are BPA free. The plastic feels like a good quality plastic. The containers are safe for the microwave, freezer, and top rack of the dishwasher. The seal on the lid is made of durable silicone and is air and water tight. 

You can find these Food Storage Containers on Amazon. 

* I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Colored tissue paper from Aspicio Products #aspicioproducts




We use a lot of tissue paper at our house. Whether it be for gifts, art projects, or other things, it is so nice to have on hand. This package of Colored tissue paper from Aspicio Products has 100 sheets. It has a whopping 25 different colors and 4 sheets of each color. You will have no problem finding a sheet to match any gift bag you might need it for!

Each sheet of tissue is 19-2/3 by 29-1/2. So they are pretty large. They also have a thicker feel to them.


Such bright colors! (bags not included)



There are so many uses for tissue paper and this would be a great pack to have on hand. You can find this Colored tissue paper from Aspicio Products on Amazon. 


* I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.