Category Archives: Food and Drink Products

NeoCell: Beauty Bursts Review

NeoCell: Beauty Bursts Review and Giveaway

Beauty BurstsIt is funny how one moment can not only change your look, but also your life – let me explain. For some unknown reason, about 6 months ago I decided it would be a good idea to cut my hair – no problem right? Wrong, I decided to take my scissors in the bathroom and grab a clump of hair and began cutting. The big problem is that I have no training, formal or informal, for hair design. What resulted was about 9 inches eliminated and my husband asking if we needed to go to the salon in the morning to repair the damage I had caused.

There have been few times in my adult life that my hair is short enough to sit on my shoulders. This has been an adjustment because I was fond of tying my hair up in an easy knot. My hair is growing back, but not at the speed or length I prefer. I am always looking for that added supplement to give my body the bump it needs.

Back in December of 2015 I had the opportunity to review NeoCell Laboratories Biotin Bursts, and I have seen such positive results that when I was approached for another review I accepted. I got the opportunity to review NeoCell Laboratories Beauty Bursts Chewable’s in Super Fruit Punch flavor.

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Crafted Gluten Free Monthly Subscription Review

Crafted Gluten Free Monthly Subscription Review and Giveaway – 1st Box

Crafted Gluten Free Upon OpeningOne of the things that I love about monthly boxes is the constant sampling of items and the opportunity to support a business that otherwise may go unknown.

The other thing that I really love about monthly boxes are that many times they are supporting the small businesses by providing product but may times the box itself is a small business themselves. I appreciate local items and the reason for this is that i live in a small town within a large city and to keep the appeal and the “funkiness” of our town, small business must prevail. Even my husband works for a small local business, and while part of a multi-location company, they are also supporters of other small business.

The way I see it, for the cycle of commerce to spin, all spokes must be turning at once. It takes companies and monthly boxes to assist in bringing awareness and support to other small companies and it takes consumers purchasing the boxes supporting the small companies. It all spins and all comes back together with the overriding theme of support.

I love when I am approached by a company or box subscription service that I have not previously heard of. I also love when I receive the box and it exceeds my expectations. I recently received the first months box from Crafted Gluten Free. Let me just say that this is not your typical box offering. The first box you will receive from Crafted Gluten Free will include 9 full size items that will range from snacks, to main dish to dessert.

Crafted Gluten Free was generous enough to send me the first  box that you will typically receive to sample and review.

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Mettle Energy Review

Mettle Energy Review and Giveaway

Mettle Energy DrinkI am not a morning person, and I really do not like to be woken up suddenly. I am lucky that I am generally a sound sleeper, which makes the alarm clock “alarming” when I hear it in the mornings. It takes me a while to wake up, and generally I am best avoided for the first 20 minutes after wake up. There is one caveat to this, and it is if a cat wakes me up – that I can handle and never snap at them, just cuddles.

On top of my poor wake-up habits I have a confession – I am an energy drink addict. Each day I follow the same routine which includes a lemonade flavored drink. Not only is this a daily need, but it is an expensive need. Each drink costs us anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00 per can, and on some days two are consumed.

Jason and I have had discussions about cutting back my drinking of these, and despite my best efforts I find I need the energy jump in the mornings. The problem is that most high energy solutions are expensive and there is little cheap options  – that is until now. I came upon a new powder based energy drink called Mettle Energy. Mettle Energy are drinks and shots, that are available online and for people like me who need many servings without the many price.

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That’s How We Roll Cookie and Waffle Crisp Giveaway!

Mrs. Thinster’s: Cookie and Waffle Crisps Giveaway

Waffle Crisps and Cookie ThinsAs winter progresses, the nightly dessert treats that we have lean more towards the homemade. One of this houses favorite desserts are macerated fruit, with a cookie layer on the bottom, homemade whipped cream and cookie crumble topping.

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Crickers Crackers Review

Crickers Crackers: Cricket Flour Crackers Review & Giveaway

Cricket Crackers TrioRegular readers will know that many times I get my review items from items I see on television (what can I say, the television is on a lot around here with me being a blogger). One night Jason and I were watching a show called Food Fortunes and saw a company that was making crackers from crickets. All of a sudden Jason began to give me random cricket facts.

I will be honest when I tell you that I know little to nothing about crickets other than their 150 decibel noise that the make, which is the males mating call for the female. I decided to do some research about crickets and I learned a couple more interesting facts. One of the things that I learned was that you can hear a cricket chirp up to 500 meters away and they can

I have noticed a trend that is leaning towards the sustainable food, and the renewable nature of certain ingredients. When we saw crackers made from cricket flour we knew we had to try them. Crickers Crackers come in 3 varieties and are surprisingly tasty.

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Salba Smart Natural Products Review

Salba Smart Whole Seeds – Review and Giveaway

Salba ChiaOne of my favorite things about doing reviews is hearing Jason’s initial reaction because more often then not they are funny. I am happy to say that this review was no exception, but more mainstream than I expect normally. The first question that I was asked was if we could grow these into a pet of some variety, then the song that we all know was heard in his sarcastic tone.

While I had to break the news to Jason that these were not the chia seeds that could sprout green stems, these are the seeds that will replace our current supplements. Chia has been around since around 3500BC and the Aztec’s thought of it as a superfood.

I had recently tried a chia based drink and I was interested in a different delivery method of the chia since I could see the benefits. I was sent a 12.7 oz bag of Whole Salba Chia Seeds from Salba Smart Natural Products. Salba Chia is an amazing seed that contains so much goodness in each tablespoon.

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World of Munchies Red, White & Blue Snacker Box Review

World of Munchies: Red, White & Blue Snacker Box – Review & Giveaway

Red, White and Blue Snacker BoxI have mentioned in the past that we are a snack house, and we have yet to meet a snack that we do not like. The problem is that we are 2 different people with unique and individual tastes and we do not always crave the same thing. Every once in a while we both want the same treat or ice cream, but I am a “miner of yummies” in ice cream so Jason now wants his own.

This constant back and forth of taste buds can get expensive quickly, as well as being very unhealthy. I have often thought it would be nice to get a box once a month that would provide us with a sampling of the things we love, while keeping portions in the realms of affordable.

World of Munchies has created a new box called the Red, White & Blue Snacker box. World of Munchies was started by the mind of an 11-year-old entrepreneur. Each month with the Red, White and Blue Snacker box you will receive 7 items in each box, selected from various snacks that you know and love.

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Zevia Zero Calorie Soda Review

Zevia Zero Calorie Soda Review and Giveaway

Zevia shiftedJason and I have a ritual each night – shortly after he arrives home we get our drinks for the night and each one of us has a Cherry Coke. This is a horrible habit and we know how bad it is for us. We pad that with a lot of water and even sports drinks, yet we know we have to change this habit soon!

I was speaking to my father about this predicament that we are in and the topic that arose was that the come down from the daily caffeine jolt would make us irritable and grumpy. I figure a little irritability in exchange of our health was a fair deal. We began to cut our daily coke out, and replaced it with milk, juices and other drinks. Admittedly, Jason still has a morning coffee and I still have an energy drink now and again, but we are on the path.

During the initial discussion with my father, he mentioned that he had discovered a new soda that had all the flavors I knew, without the sugar and preservatives. The company he discovered was Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, founded in Seattle Washington in 2007. I reached out to them for a review sample and they generously sent me a case including 2 cans of 12 different flavor’s.

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BuddhiBox Monthly Subscription Review – December 2015 Box

BuddhiBox Monthly Subscription Review  – December 2015 Box

Buddhi Box December 2015 BoxWhen we are children we do not think that the words that people say to use can hurt us. The sad part is that words many times words can hurt more than the largest weapon. Each night we watch the news, and each night we marvel at the amount of crimes and stories that could have a different outcome had words been used instead of the alternative weapons.

I was a young girl when I learned that words can hurt and to choose my words wisely. I apply this to each aspect of my life, and I am blessed that my husband does the same. We were both bullied in school and now how kind words can make a world of change and mean words can ruin your day. That is one reason I look forward to my monthly BuddhiBox – these are messages that are important in the yoga and real world.

I recently received the December BuddhiBox and I am again pleased and thrilled. Earlier in the year, I had the opportunity to review previous boxes (click here) and they are always a fun adventure in the yoga/healthy living lifestyle. The message is always one of compassion, and understanding and living a pure life.

This month we are back to the familiar bright green tissue paper carefully covering this months treasures. This month came with 4 cardboard information cards that are in full color and on thick glossy card stock. The first card was the Yoga pose of “Garland Pose” that shows the pose in full color, as well as the benefits and directions about the pose. These pose cards are made especially for BuddhiBox by a company called Yogicards. There is a recipe for a “Broccoli Hemp Potato Salad” that is made using 15 ingredients – 6 being spices that when put together creates a fresh, healthy and flavorful salad. The final information card included was a box manifest and on the other side the following quote:

The heart that gives, gathers.  – Lao Tzu Continue reading →