SunRidge Farms Review
May 31, 2013

SunRidge Farms Review

SunRidge Farms is a company that sells different kinds of nuts, trail mixes and dried fruit. For my review, I chose some of each of their types of products to try including turkish organic apricots, deluxe trail mix, pine nuts and cranberry harvest mix. As I have posted before, I love dried fruit. A bag of dried fruit does not stand a chance in my house. This was the first product that I tried. These were soft and fresh. They are darker in color that the ones at most stores which I have found is typical for organic dried apricots. These were tasty. I may chop some up and throw them in my oatmeal or in some oatmeal cookies. Another product that I was excited about was the pine nuts. These little nuts can add so much flavor to your meals. Of course, they are a common ingredient in pesto but can also be used for more. I like toasting them lightly in a pan and tossing them in a fresh, flavorful summer pasta dish. The trail mixes make perfect snacks for on the go. I like to ke

Raw Crunch Bar Review and Giveaway
May 30, 2013

Raw Crunch Bar Review and Giveaway

How I first found Raw Crunch bars was by the recommendation of another blogger, Food Babe. She is against processed ingredients and only recommends very healthy foods. She stated that this is the only pre-made bar that she would recommend to clients. When I heard this, I wanted to try the Raw Crunch bars for myself. The bars come in four different flavors: blueberry, goji berry, cranberry and chocolate. These bars use all raw ingredients and are unprocessed. They are hand made fresh for each order and are dehydrated. The only ingredient that is not raw is the organic dark chocolate pieces in the bars. They are gluten free, GMO free and dairy free. These are the only ingredients in the bars: either cranberries, goji berries, blueberries or chocolate, cashews, sea salt, sesame seeds, flax seeds, honey, macadamia nuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. They literally have no bad or artificial ingredients. How do they taste? They are very tasty! I enjoyed the blueberry Ra

Bai 5 Review
May 29, 2013

Bai 5 Review

Bai 5 is a company that makes low-calorie fruity beverages. Each serving contains only 5 calories and is full of flavor. The Bai 5 beverages come in 9 different flavors. I was sent one of each to try and review on my blog. My favorite flavor was the limu lemonade. It was very refreshing on a hot summer day. I had to drive from my first job to my second job and drank this on the way. It gave me some energy from the 35 milligrams of caffeine per serving and was refreshing. I did add some water to mine since I like my drinks only lightly sweetened. My husband's favorite beverage was the Bai 5 dragonfruit. He said that it tasted very unique and flavorful. He could not tell that it only had 5 calories per serving. They do contain artificial sweetener which I think is okay to drink on occasion. I believe that you have to pick your battles between sugar and artificial sweeteners. Here is some information about Bai 5 : All of our beverages are 100% natural, coffeefruit-infused,

The Sneaky Chef Review
May 29, 2013

The Sneaky Chef Review

The Sneaky Chef had a great idea when creating these products. She hid a bunch of vegetables in her pasta sauce so that picky kids would eat their vegetables without knowing. I believe that if a kid does like vegetables, of course you don't need to hide them but if you have a child that refuses to eating vegetables, these products are for you. These products were created by Missy Chase Lapine, New York Times bestselling cookbook author of The Sneaky Chef. The Sneaky Chef Pasta Sauces are available in Cheesy Red and Smooth Red. Each half cup of sauce has a serving of vegetables. These sauces do not contain any preservatives or unnatural ingredients. Ingredients include tomatoes, sweet potato, olive oil, carrot, red bell pepper, cauliflower, zucchini, onion, celery, salt, garlic, squash and spices. It is very tasty and you cannot tell that there are all of these vegetables in the sauce. I think that this is a good way to introduce picky eaters to more vegetables. I would give

Who Needs a Vacation?
May 28, 2013

Who Needs a Vacation?

This post brought to you by Las Vegas Vacations . All opinions are 100% mine. Like I posted recently, life has been very busy. I enjoy it this way but at the same time, it is good to take a break sometimes. This summer, my husband and I have a mini-trip planned for the end of June. I graduate with my Master's on June 29th (woo hoo!!), and we are going on vacation right after that. We are spending a couple of days in West Michigan on the beautiful Lake Michigan. Also, we are planning a trip to Cedar Point which will be fun. While I love a local trip, it would be fun to really get away as well. Southwest Vacations is offering some good deals this summer as well for traveling. If you are interested in getting away for a fun trip away from the kids, this is for you. You can save $100 when you book your hotel and flight to Las Vegas. Use the code Vegas now through May 27th to get a deal. You can save $50 on a vacation package from $500-1000. You save $75 on a vacation from $100

Balsa Circle Review and Giveaway
May 28, 2013

Balsa Circle Review and Giveaway

Balsa Circle is a neat company that sells tableware for weddings and special occasions. What interested me about them is that they sell nice tablecloths at an affordable price. I have a wood dining room table that needs to be covered at all times and am always on the lookout for quality tablecloths. The eggplant tablecloth seen in the photo about is only $8.39! It is pretty good quality, not amazing of course for that price. I like it with the gold table runner that I was sent. The brown table runner is only $3.99! I cannot believe how affordable the prices are. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a great deal on tableware. My brother is getting married and if he needs some fancy tableware, I will direct him to this company. They have most colors of tablecloths and many different Damask and other patterns of table runners. They also sell many different products such as kissing balls, chair covers, cake stands, measuring spoons to give to guests, cen

Kō Denmark Review and Giveaway
May 27, 2013

Kō Denmark Review and Giveaway

Kō Denmark is a company that sells beauty products made with jasmine and other flower oils. They sell body lotion, body wash, roll on perfume, body oil and face serum. For my review, I was sent the lotion and the roll on perfume. These products have a beautiful flowery scent. The roll on perfume stays on for a long time without fading. The lotion is moisturizing and has the same jasmine scent. Some of the flowers that make up the scent of kō denmark’s products. Here is some information about the company: kō denmark’s featured ingredients, indian jasmine, tunisian neroli and bulgarian rose flower oils, are coveted for their anti-aging powers and soothing scent. jasmine, neroli and rose flower oils are known for soothing the skin, improving elasticity and stimulating new cell growth. It takes 1 ton of flower blossoms to produce just 16 ounces of oil. kō denmark’s vegan beauty products are free from paraben, sulfate, artificial fragrance, pegs, teas, deas, glycol, phthalate

The Republic of Tea Iced Teas
May 26, 2013

The Republic of Tea Iced Teas

The Republic of Tea makes an astonishing number of teas. I have tried about 15 of their teas so far and love them. Check out some of my other Republic of Tea reviews . This time, I was sent four of their iced teas to try. My husband has been loving iced tea in this hot weather and has been having a glass or two every night for dinner. Here is what we both thought: Hibiscus Sangria - This is the best iced tea that I have tried! No joke! It is very naturally sweet and tasty. It tastes like a diluted fruit punch and is yummy. It is bright red in color and does not need any sugar or sweeteners added. I will be drinking this throughout the whole summer. Watermelon Mint - This tea was very interesting. I'm down to try any flavor combination and this was one of the more unique ones. I ended up not liking this tea though because the watermelon flavor tasted like watermelon Jolly Ranchers which I do not like. My sister enjoyed this tea though. Limon Black - My husband love

Ask the RD: Nutrition Tips and Multivitamins
May 25, 2013

Ask the RD: Nutrition Tips and Multivitamins

As a registered dietitian, I know the importance of good nutrition. When people ask me some general nutrition tips and guidelines, I always include the following information. 1. Choose tons of fruits and vegetables - fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Due to their high fiber content, they can help to keep you full for longer than other foods. They are also delicious and have tons of different varieties out there. 2. Pick whole grains - whole grains have a lot better nutrition profile than refined carbohydrates. Some of my favorites are wheatberries, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread. 3. Focus on protein - along with fiber, protein helps to keep you full and helps resist extra snacking throughout the day. When choosing dairy which is protein rich, look for low-fat varieties. Excellent choices include Green yogurt, string cheese and skim milk. When choosing meat, look for lean varieties. I love grilled chicken, BBQ pul

Pulled Pork and Greens Frittata
May 25, 2013

Pulled Pork and Greens Frittata

I love creating new recipes and made quite a delicious one. My husband had made BBQ pulled pork and we had a bunch leftover for meals during the week. I created a very tasty frittata that is full of vegetables and can be eaten for any meal of the day.   I was sent a bunch of organic greens from OrganicGirl to try. This recipe includes a package of the baby kale.   Pulled Pork and Greens Frittata Serves : 4 Prep and total cooking time : About 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 large green pepper, chopped into bite sized pieces 2 roma tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup tomato sauce (preferably no salt added) 1 package greens (I used OrganicGirl baby kale 3/4 cup BBQ pulled pork (can be omitted or substituted for turkey sausage or chicken) 5 eggs 1/4 cup skim milk 1/3 cup cheese (I used brie but sharp cheddar is excellent too) 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Directions: 1. In a nonstick pan, add chopped green pepper and tomatoes with a bit of water. Cook for a few minutes until s

Tree Hut Shea Review
May 24, 2013

Tree Hut Shea Review

I just found a new site that pays you to run a giveaway on your blog for them! Check it out here . I just signed up and can't wait to see what great giveaways they have for me to share with all of you. ___________________________________________________________________________________ I love trying out new body products, especially ones that smell great. I was recently sent two products to try from Tree Hut Shea . They sell all kind of body products. For my review I was sent the tropical mango body scrub and the coconut lime moisturizing lotion. I love both of these products! The mango scrub smells amazing. I have really dry skin that needs to be exfoliated often and this is perfect. In the summer, I want to have smooth skin and this helps me to get the result that I want.  The lotion is wonderful as well. It contains certified organic shea butter and natural coconut and lime extracts. It is very rich and moisturizing. The smell is amazing and perfect for summer because

Cloud Star Dog Review and Giveaway
May 23, 2013

Cloud Star Dog Review and Giveaway

I have another pet product review and giveaway for you today. The dogs have been lucky lately! I was recently contacted by Cloud Star to have my dogs try their Dynamo Dog pet treat line. Of course I had to say yes for my puppies! They come in 4 different kinds including skin & coat, tummy and 2 kinds of hip & joint. It is great that these focus on the specific needs of the pet. The treats that I gave to my dogs is the tummy products which are made with pumpkin and ginger. I love that these use real ingredients to help keep our pets healthy. The dogs loved them of course! These treats have added probiotics, vegetables, fruits and herbs. They are grain free, gluten free and made in the U.S. I love to be able to give my dogs little treats and these I believe are a healthy option for them. I just have to limit the treats because they would eat all 4 bags in one sitting and then go looking for more ; ). Giveaway The giveaway will be for four bags of Dynamo Dog treats

Dogtails Shampoo Review and Giveaway
May 22, 2013

Dogtails Shampoo Review and Giveaway

 I could probably go on and on all day long about how much I love having dogs but I'm not going to do that today. As you know, I have two mini dachshunds, Jaxen and Ava and they are my world! They are actually very good about getting a bath which surprises me. Jaxen getting a tan! I was recently send a bottle of Dogtails shampoo to try. I gave both of the dogs a bath after a muddy day and really liked it. It is a natural clarifying shampoo that does not contain harsh chemicals. It is more expensive than most pet shampoos ($16 for a 16 ounce bottle) but seems to be good quality. My lady Ava chilling. This shampoo gave my dog's coat a nice shine to it and made their fur soft. It is also good for dry and itchy fur. Both of my dogs loved it (haha).   Giveaway The giveaway will be for a bottle of Dogtails shampoo ($16 value). 

Muesli Fusion Review
May 22, 2013

Muesli Fusion Review

My typical morning breakfast of choice is Greek yogurt or oatmeal. I recently found Muesli Fusion and became interested. They make different muesli mixes which sounded good for breakfast. I decided to take a bag of the classic Swiss muesli and toast it in the oven. I decided to use this bag as cereal to toss over my Greek yogurt. I toasted it in the oven for about 15 minutes or so until it was golden brown. It turned out really good and gave that flavorful toasted taste that I enjoy. These products contain many good-for-you ingredients including oats, Organic Raisins, Organic Chopped Almonds, Organic Cranberries (organic cranberries, organic cane sugar, organic sunflower oil), Organic Golden Flaxseed, Organic Dates in Organic Oat Flour and Organic Whole Grain Rolled Rye. They do not have any unknown ingredients that people do not know what they are. These cereals can be oaten cold with milk or heated. I tried the athlete fuel muesli cooked like oatmeal and loved it. The

Bella Ella Boutique Review and Giveaway
May 21, 2013

Bella Ella Boutique Review and Giveaway

I was recently contacted to review some clothing from a store called Bella Ella Boutique . I shopped around the store and realized that there is many items that I absolutely love from their clothes. The company currently has 6 stores open in Utah and is going to be opening up another one soon. They sell modern, beautiful clothing. Right now, most of their clothing is in bright spring and summer colors which is perfect for this time of year. For my review I chose these items: aqua lace skirt, lace front apricot cardigan and the turquoise chevron dress. My favorite items are definitely the skirt and the sweater. I love the apricot color of the sweater and think that the color is so pretty for this time of year. It is well made and I like that it is lace in the front and you can wear whatever tank top you want underneath it. The skirt is perfect for work and church. It is long enough to be worn in a professional environment but still cute. I think that the aqua color is v

Yogi Clothing Review
May 20, 2013

Yogi Clothing Review

Yogi Clothing is a company that sells all different types of clothing for yoga lovers. I was able to pick two items for my review and chose the following:  Yogi Clothing Dip Rain Wash Maxi Dress and the Yogi Clothing Double Layered Cardigan. I absolutely love both of these pieces! They are so soft and comfortable. I have worn the maxi dress twice now and think that it is perfect for summer. I wore it when I had my family over for dinner for a BBQ one night and to work for a luau party. The dress was perfectly long enough for my 5'6" frame. The material feels like very good quality and does not get too hot on hot summer days. My favorite part is the back of the dress that gathers in the back. This is only my second maxi dress ever and I was nervous to see if I would like it and I can honestly say that I love it! The cardigan is different than any other that I have had in the past. It is very loose which is fun for these summer nights where it is slightly co