Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Winners Announcement!!


Rudi's Gluten-Free winner...Rafflecopter Entry #110 Keara B!

Tiny Prints winner...Rafflecopter Entry #52 Dawn S!

Albion Fit winner...Rafflecopter Entry #349 Carrie P!


Winners have been contacted by email! Congratulations to you all!
 
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Nutritious Organic Superfoods from Navitas Naturals & Superfood Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe {PLUS Giveaway - Ends 6/4}


Today I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite superfood company, Navitas Naturals. Their mission is to provide the finest organic superfoods that increase energy and enhance health through their delightful line of certified organic ingredients, snacks, trail mixes, and smoothie blends. High quality, sourced directly from farmers, cultivated sustainably, and using fair trade practices, Navitas Naturals is truly offering up foods for the modern life that are healthy, real, delicious, and powerful.

There are many amazing foods out there that are considered nutrient-dense superfoods like chia seeds, acai, hemp, dragonfruit, and lots more. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with most of them, but thankfully Navitas Naturals has an abundance of recipes so you can get get creative with their superfoods! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to review three products from Navitas Naturals, all of which are certified organic, kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, and gluten-free. The goji berries and cacao nibs are also considered raw. 


Goji Berries - A Himalayan superfruit, these sun-dried berries are a deliciously crunchy treat and oh so good for you. Goji berries are packed with protein, amino acids, trace minerals, and are a great source of vitamins A, C and Iron. It's actually one of the most nutrient-rich foods on earth and has been used in Asian herbal medicine for over 5,000 years! They taste a bit earthy, sometimes a little bitter, and end with a chewy note like a raisin. They're perfect in oatmeal, smoothies, tea, granola, yogurt, and probably in salads too.

Coconut Sugar - An Indonesian sweetener, this is a highly recommended sweetener option even from the infamous GMO fighter, Food Babe (love her!). This sugar is made by harvesting and then evaporating the nectar from coconut palm trees. I'm slowly getting away from refined white sugars and switching to just honey, maple syrup, and a few select unrefined sugars like this coconut palm sugar. It has a low glycemic index, and actually has nutritional value to speak of, unlike refined sugars. This is unbleached, unfiltered, and is high in minerals and vitamins. It has a rich taste that is really unique, and to me it smells like graham crackers (go figure)! I've baked with coconut sugar in the past (from another brand), and my gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe turned out delicious!   

Cacao Sweet Nibs - A Mayan superfood, cacao contains plenty of antioxidants to fight free radicals, magnesium, flavanols, polyphenols, and fiber. These nibs are crumble-sized pieces of cacao that have been very lightly sweetened with organic cacao liquor and cane juice to bring out it's chocolate richness. It's very dark chocolate at it's finest! I could literally eat these straight out of the bag!

On a bit of a whim I decided to throw them all into oatmeal one morning. What came out has become my favorite breakfast! It's a delicious way to start my morning off right. I prefer to eat mine cold (I never dreamed in a million years I'd eat oatmeal this way!), but hot is fine too. Buddy loves this for breakfast also, but he prefers his warm.


Superfood Oatmeal Breakfast

1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Quick Cooking Oats
1 TB Goji Berries (heaping)
1 TB Coconut Sugar
1/2 TB Cacao Sweet Nibs
1/4-1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
Organic Whole Milk or Almond Milk (cold or hot)

Combine all ingredients, stir and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips
-For hot milk, warm the milk first and add to the ingredients for best results.
-The amount of milk is your preference. I prefer to just cover all the ingredients, so the milk will just barely pool up on the sides.
-Unsweetened cacao nibs work just fine as well, especially if you're concerned about the additional amount of sugar.
-The ground cinnamon is a main player in this recipe. If you don't have one of the superfoods on hand, you'll still get the gist of the flavor without one.
-This makes for a great small meal or snack while on the go or out of town. I throw all the ingredients (except for the milk) in small mason jars and just grab a carton of milk or bring some in a separate container. You may try it with water instead of milk too in a pinch!

Buy It: Check out NavitasNaturals.com to order today or find a retailer near you! (Check your Whole Foods Market!)
 
Win It!
One winner will receive the same products I reviewed - Goji Berries, Coconut Sugar and Cacao Sweet Nibs!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Green Kid Crafts :: Earth Friendly Craft Boxes Delivered Monthly {Review}



We are huge fans of monthly subscription box services. I've reviewed over a dozen in the past year, and I'm always ready to try another. There's something about getting mail that's just so exciting for kids! Green Kid Crafts is a monthly discovery box geared towards kids age 3-8. Each box is environment or nature themed and features three kid and parent approved projects that are related to that theme for a well-rounded, engaging experience. 

Green Kid Crafts is a mom-owned, green company founded by Penny Bauder, a mom of two and an environmental activist from Alaska. The company operates a virtual office, employing a network of passionate team members based across the US from California to Alaska to Connecticut. Green Kid Crafts is certified carbon neutral, Green America Approved, a member of 1% for the Planet, and has won numerous awards and designations for its responsible business practices.  
We received Discovery Box #10 which has an World Music with the following projects inside: Tambourine, Rhythm Bells, Spin Drum, and a bonus Box Guitar activity. My son was thrilled to see a Horn sticker from Box Play For Kids to put on a paper towel roll. Poor thing had to wait a week for the paper towels to run out so he could use it!

 I'm a bit of an organizing perfectionist so I loved opening the box to reveal the three main projects mostly contained within their own plastic bag. This makes it especially easy to quickly grab a project to be completed at Grandma's house or anywhere else if desired. Each project includes a card with instructions on how to complete the project, along with extra project or activity ideas you can easily complete at home with things you probably already have around the house.
We started off with the Tambourine project. This was an excellent test of patience for Buddy, as well as a great use of fine motor skills with the threading of the yarn through the bells and cardboard tambourine. The yarn did have plastic at the ends (similar to a shoelace) so it wasn't too difficult. He felt so accomplished when he was done! This project included a box of 8 soy crayons that seemed to apply easily on the top side of the tambourine for decoration. Buddy opted for an orange car and the use of all colors through quick scribbles (he couldn't wait to get to the next project!). 
The Rhythm Bells project used a lacing cord, natural wood beads, three included colored pencils and two bells. This bracelet/anklet was the perfect complement to the tambourine for some major music-making fun in our house. This project also put Buddy's threading skills to the test, along with the added challenge of coloring on the rounded surfaces of the beads.
 The Spin Drum project was Buddy's favorite. This is actually his first experience with water colors (I think?), so it was fun to see him get so serious about his creativity in this way. Assembly was quick and easily, and he quickly figured out how to spin the drum between his hands to play it.  
What a great use of all the materials in the box! After cutting off the lid of the box and putting the five included rubber bands over it, we had a simple guitar. Introducing music through these four instruments proved to be a wonderful afternoon of learning!

I like that the focus of Green Kid Crafts is on projects and materials related to the learning, the environment and nature. In this box we found cardboard and wood materials that are easily recycled, the soy crayons are made from 100% renewable resources, and the plastic bags which held the projects are biodegradable eco-bags. Music is a universally important language in cultures around the world, so this theme is a great open door to teaching kids about the world around us, and not just what's in our home and community. We definitely enjoyed this box from Green Kid Crafts, and would definitely recommend their service to parents.
 
Subscription Options: Month-to-month, 3, 6 and 12 month durations at just $19.50/month (includes shipping). Great for gifts too! Order now at www.greenkidcrafts.com.

Connect with Green Kid Crafts for great crafting, green living, and balanced parenting ideas, as well as special contests and promotions!
Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
 
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review for free. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Albion Fit :: Fitness & Leisure Apparel -- Review, Exclusive Discount & Giveaway {Ends 5/26}




I love it when an apparel company understands what women want when it comes to fit, comfort, and functionality. With the fast pace of today we need clothing that works for a variety of tasks, therefore limiting the need to change our outfits several times a day. From a quick jaunt to the grocery store, a coffee break with friends, or a low-impact workout, Albion Fit has you covered for morning until night.

"Albion's mission is to provide women with the most luxurious, flattering, and hassle-free fitness and leisure apparel on the market."

I originally stumbled upon Albion Fit while looking into modest swimwear companies. What I found was not only some adorable one-piece suits and adorably feminine tankinis, but stylish workout clothing from a family-owned company. They are also committed to the environment and community through green manufacturing processes, and fair labor practices for a sustainable work environment.
I had the pleasure of receiving the review the Go Long Crew with Thumb Holes in Jade to review from Albion Fit. Just like this top's description, the Poly/rayon/spandex blend material is definitely a silky texture and is really comfortable against your skin. I requested an XS although I could've easily gotten away with a Small size for a more free flowing fit. However, as a lightweight layering top I prefer the more fitted look, although the material is still plenty stretchy so I can move freely during any activity. The length of the body is plenty long, a feature that can be difficult to find in tops. I also like that the crew neck isn't too high or constricting.
This top has a lot of versatility, so I'm excited to get lots of wear out of it. It's great as a cool, transitional top as the weather warms up, but also as a layering piece for cold weather. On cooler, brisk morning walks this summer, the Go Long Crew will be perfect for throwing on over a camisole or sports bra for more coverage, without adding extra bulk or weight. Going casual or for a more fitness apparel look is so easy!

My entire life I've always been one to get cold easily, so I tend to always pull long sleeves half way down my hands. I'm to the point where I purposefully buy long-sleeve tops that have extra long sleeves so I can easily do this! With the Go Long Crew, the addition of the thumb holes is quite simply genius. It quickly solves my problem of shorter sleeves that don't keep my hands warm. I have long arms and yet didn't feel like it was difficult or a stretch to pull the sleeves down to put my thumbs through. I can also still wear the Go Long Crew without my thumbs in the holes if I don't want to.
I realize that computer monitor settings can cause major variations in color, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the color Jade actually be darker and more like a deep teal with a green tone than a lighter aqua blue like I thought it would be. It's a beautiful color among a great variety of colors available in this style. Through editing I think it's going to appear more blue than it actually is (I tried to get it right!). It's definitely more of a teal green to me.

Needless to say, I love my new Go Long Crew from Albion Fit. It's well made, definitely afforable, and a great versatile piece for your wardrobe whether you workout often or just enjoy lounging in comfort with a nice book. Next time you're in the market for women's fitness and swimwear, be sure to check them out!

Price: Go Long Crew with Thumb Holes - $28
 
Buy It: Check out AlbionFit.com to shop all the colors of the Go Long Crew and lots more!

**Exclusive Discount :: Use code reyoldsmom15 to receive $15 off your $50+ order! {Code Expires 5/25/13}
 
Win It!
One winner will receive a Go Long Crew with Thumb Holes in Jade! {$28 RV}

Social Media & Customer Service {Infographic}


Have you used social media to connect with a company? I know I have! Chances are that you've used Facebook, Twitter, or other forms of social media to ask a company questions about a product, troubleshoot an order, or provide feedback. This is fascinating and provides a lot of insight into how customer service has changed in recent years.




 
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Tiny Prints :: Baby Shower Invitations & Birth Announcements {PLUS $50 Giveaway - Ends 5/21}



Special occasions call for special invitations and announcements. A new baby is certainly no exception! I remember my baby showers with my son and what a wonderful time it was to share the joy of my pregnancy with loving friends and family. With Tiny Prints, you'll be ready to celebrate and spread the word with premium modern stationery. They have a beautiful assortment of unique baby shower invitiations that are sure to go with any shower theme you're going for.
Tiny Prints also has plenty of birth announcements to show off that new bundle of joy once they arrive! With my son we didn't get around to sending out birth announcements (so regretting that!), but I'm definitely keeping Tiny Prints in mind if we are blessed with another baby in the future. They're a great way to share the news with friends and family, especially those that don't live near by.
Of course you can order a lot more from Tiny Prints! They create so many beautiful trend-forward stationery designs that you'll have a hard time choosing. You can also order matching address labels, thank you cards, gift tags, and gifts too.

Attend Tiny Prints' Pinning Party!
Join the fun with Tiny Prints and @ResourcefulMom during the #TinyPrintsBaby Pinning Party™ on May 20th at 8 PM ET!
 
Win It!
One winner will receive $50 off their total order at Tiny Prints!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Winners Announcement!



Krill Oil winner...Rafflecopter Entry #261 Natalie P!

Bona Dea winner #1...Rafflecopter Entry #120 Amy R!

Bona Dea winner #2...Rafflecopter Entry #28 Leann L!

Conscious Box winner...Rafflecopter Entry #879 Krystal D!



Winners have been contacted by email! Congratulations to you all!
 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery :: NEW ‘Happy Camper’ Gluten-Free Kid's Camp Scholarship Contest! {PLUS $100 Camping Gear Giveaway -- Ends 5/19}


Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery is celebrating Celiac Awareness Month by kicking off a brand new contest!
 Parents with eligible children, ages 8-17, can enter Rudi's Gluten-Free ‘Happy Camper’ Camp Scholarship Contest on Facebook by submitting a 200-word essay from their child explaining what going to a gluten-free summer camp would mean to them. From these entries Rudi's Gluten-Free will be awarding 10 gluten-free summer camp scholarships to 10 kids that will receive a week-long gluten-free camp experience, including travel!

Do you have fond memories of summer camp as a kid? I have several wonderful summer camp experiences that were absolutely priceless as a teenager and a class camping/cabin trip in elementary school that I'll never forget. I think all kids should go to summer camp at least once! For kids with gluten issues, however, that is a whole lot tougher to accomplish but I was thrilled to learn that gluten-free camps actually exist. This contest will prove to be a really awesome blessing to 10 gluten-free kiddos!

Win It!
To kick off this new contest, Rudi's Gluten-Free is offering one winner the following Camping Prize Package which includes a tent, camping chair and mat! {$100+ RV}

Friday, May 3, 2013

Celiac Awareness Month :: Pure Bar Giveaway! {Ends 5/6}

  
Did you know that May is National Celiac Awareness Month? Although I do not have Celiac disease, I do eat gluten/wheat-free so I can understand the severity of symptoms that can occur for Celiacs. It can be difficult to find delicious, healthy foods and snacks to eat! With that said, I'm excited to bring you this giveaway from Donna’s Deals and More and Robin’s Sweet Confessions who have teamed together with Pure Bar and some fabulous bloggers!
Pure is dedicated to helping everyone live a pure, healthy life. They are passionate about creating delicious, innovative products made with simple, wholesome ingredients. They share their knowledge and ideas to inspire people to live a purer, healthier lifestyle, and give back to the community in a meaningful way. They are giving away 12 assorted flavors of their Organic and Gluten Free Pure Bars to one lucky fan!

Win It!
One winner will receive 12 assorted flavors of their Organic and Gluten Free Pure Bars!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beau-coup :: Tea Forte Coconut Tea Sachet Collection & Tea Trays {Review}




When it comes to celebrating life's most important events, Beau-coup.com has you covered. With a mission of making the process of planning a party a little less stressful, they hope you'll find their excellent selection to be competitively priced and full of high quality products. From bridal and baby showers to graduations and birthday parties, they have all the supplies, invitations, party favors, decor and gifts you'll need to pull off one heck of a celebration.

I had the pleasure of receiving a couple products from Beau-coup to check out and review, free of charge. Since I'm still a relatively new tea drinker (well, I haven't drifted far from just a couple loose tea blends so I'm still a newbie!), I jumped at the opportunity to check out the Coconut Tea Sachet Collection Assortment and Tea Trays, both from Tea Forte.
Upon opening the box to the collection, I received a delicious whiff that resembled a coconut, cocoa aroma. It was really quite heavenly so I immediately decided to try the Coconut Chocolate Truffle first. This was actually my first experience with a black tea and I absolutely loved the chocolate, nutty flavors. The Coconut Chai Latte is also a black tea, but I didn't actually enjoy this one as much. It has tones of various spices, but lacks sweetness on it's own. The Coconut Mango Colada is a green tea that is quite tropical and fruity. I'm a big coconut fan so it was fantastic to taste the creamy notes of coconut in each one. 

The Coconut Tea Sachet Collection includes a total of 20 tea sachet infusers in the three flavors mentioned. I think the shape of these tea sachets are darling which makes drinking tea a special occasion all in itself with the unique triangular shape and ease of use. The Ceramic Tea Trays are a really fun addition for serving tea to guests since they'll need a clean place to put their infuser when they're done!

These two products are a wonderful choice to consider when looking for party favors. Whether it's a wedding, bridal shower, or an actual tea party, Beau-coup provides an elegant, fun option with tea products from Tea Forte and a multitude of other party favor options.

Price: Coconut Tea Sachet Collection Assortment - $25.22, Tea Trays (set of 2) - $5.62
 
Buy It: Check out Beau-coup.com for these products and tons more!

 
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review for free. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.