Amy Adele ~ Flat Card Review

Amy Adele offers a large selection of stationery, invitations and gifts using whimsical designs and personalization options. They pride themselves in their high quality paper products, fabulous customer service, and their care for the environment.

I was given the opportunity to select a 24 Flat Cards from their Flat Card Stationery category which currently has 173 designs to choose from. I don't have any parties or occasions coming up where some designs would be appropriate (boy, I sound boring!!), but I was excited to see a few choices available for recipe cards. I received the Blonde Baker Recipe Card. It's a bit funny, because I'm actually a Brunette. I should have chosen the Brunette Baker Recipe Card, but that's my fault. :)

One of the first things I noticed when I received these was the high quality.

The printing is sharp, and very well done. I especially love the cartoon cook on the side! Each 5" x 3.5" one-sided card is printed on paper made of 100% Post Consumer Recycled Fiber (just like all Amy Adele paper products), can be personalized with your own text and includes an envelope. The cards are noticeably thick, are a bright white color and the envelopes are also very thick. They're so thick that there's no chance you'll be able to try and look through and read what's written on the card inside. That's quite the pet peeve of mine when I buy stationery so I appreciate the quality of Amy Adele products very much.

Flat Cards are great for a variety of occasions. There are designs with various themes and subjects that are perfect for invitations, announcements, thank you notes, just just to say "hi" to and old friend. They're also just fun! Since my recipe cards came with envelopes, it's really easy to send off a favorite recipe to someone and include a little note on the back or something. I need to get my recipes organized, so I'm hoping once I get a good chunk of free time I'll be able to sit down and transferring my recipes onto these fun little flat cards!

Price: Each Flat Card style varies in price, and by how many you purchase. The more you buy, the cheaper price per unit. The Blonde Baker Recipe Cards start at $1.39 per card, and can go as low as .79 each if you buy 64 or more.

 
The Verdict: I really enjoyed the high quality, and distinct, recognizable style of Amy Adele Designs. I feel they are a bit pricey (especially if you're not buying a ton), but I appreciate that they are printed on recycled material and are thick compared to lots of competitor's stationery. For those reasons, I would recommend Amy Adele for the next time you need customized note cards.

Buy It: Check out AmyAdele.com to view their selection of Flat Cards and so much more!

 Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. 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.

(Closed) Household Traditions: Powdered Dish Detergent Review and Giveaway Ends 8/19

While I'm thankful I have a dishwasher that works, I'm paranoid about the chemicals in the detergents I've been using. I've tried several big brands and have never been impressed. Well, Tropical Traditions has a whole line of non-toxic household cleaners at Household Traditions, and recently had the opportunity to try their detergent for comparison.

What I'm most concerned about is detergent residue all over my dishes, particularly my son's sippy cups. I KNOW it's not all washed off from the rinse cycle because I can smell a distinct chlorine-ish smell on my "clean" dishes. That can't be healthy to ingest! Despite the many brands I've tried, I always smell this same chemical scent, and often find visible residue too. It's not the dishwasher either. I had the same issue even with our last dishwasher before we moved in March. So, after running the washer, I end up hand-rinsing all my dishes until the smell is gone! Ridiculous, I know, but I didn't know what else to do. Then, I received this...

The Powdered Dishwasher Detergent With Enzymes from Household Traditions. This detergent has restored my sanity!

This ultra-concentrated detergent comes in a huge 5 pound container with a scoop included. It contains no chlorine, phosphates, fillers, or added fragrances. Most household cleaners are toxic, but the entire line of Household Traditions is made using non-toxic ingredients and with no harmful by-products upon decomposition. Did you know that the use of phosphates in automatic dish detergents have been banned or very limited in many states? I've seen a lot of detergents at the store that now say "phosphate-free" here in California, but even those detergents STILL leave me with smelly dishes.

Although the ingredients used in this detergent do create a strong scent, I'm SO excited to report that my clean dishes DO NOT SMELL with this detergent! No scent, just nothing-ness! There is also NO residue, and my glass cups are shiny and everything is sparkly! I REALLY love the Household Traditions line from Tropical Traditions and I'm even more convinced of their commitment to safe products. In the past year, I've learned a lot about why using non-toxic cleaning products is better. By eliminating the harsh chemicals found in regular cleaners and going non-toxic, you are protecting yourself, your children, your home's air quality, and the environment. I'm SO glad I learned about this detergent! You will love it too!

Price: The 5 lb. container of Powdered Dishwasher Detergent With Enzymes is $32, but right now it's on sale for $19.99!

The Verdict: The Powdered Dishwasher Detergent from Household Traditions is completely safe, and leaves you with scent-free, residue-free dishes for my family. I'm SO excited about this product! It's eliminated my worry AND given me clean dishes again!

Buy It!

Check out HouseholdTraditions.com for all their wonderful products!

Win It!

One winner will also receive a 5 lb. container of Powdered Dishwasher Detergent from Household Traditions!

Voda Swim Winner!

The winner of a fabulous new swimsuit from the Voda Swim giveaway is...

Rafflecopter Entry #313 Kris!

(comment #30 on the giveaway post. There were 2 Kris' that entered!) 

How to Eat Cheap on Vacation

You're on a fabulous vacation, but you're probably also in a touristy area with high mark-ups and ridiculously expensive meals, right? You have mouths to feed but you don't want your wallet to suffer. You also don't want fast food for every meal (which isn't always cheap anyway!), and sit down venues eat up your budget quickly. I've compiled my top 4 money-saving tips that saved us lots of money during out recent vacation to Monterey and Santa Cruz, Ca. Yes, we spent money on yummy desserts, delicious foods, and tourist attractions a few times (Quicken.com can help with setting a budget). BUT, we saved a lot on food and still had full bellies! In a tourist area, you've got to find ways to stretch every penny, and food is an area that this is absolutely possible! Be prepared, bring the cooler, and check out my tips!

Tip #1:

Bring your own breakfast!

Although we got an incredible deal on a hotel room (from a very generous family member who has hookups!), the hotel did not include any sort of breakfast. To just eat a continental-style breakfast AT the hotel was a whopping $16 per person! I don't think so!! We brought fruit, juice, milk, yogurt, oatmeal, and cereal. We also brought a cooler for cold items and just replaced the ice each day at the hotel's ice machines (for free!). We also found a grocery store each night before (we had a Safeway near by), and picked up freshly baked muffins in the bakery. A 4-pack of muffins for $1.99! Just remember to bring along some utensils and bowls if necessary.

Tip #2:

Save your leftovers and eat them the next day!

After walking in and out of a Sushi restaurant that was charging an arm and a leg for dinner, we decided to walk over to Round Table Pizza! We had the BEST Farmer's Market style pizza EVER! It was covered in cheese, pepperoni, basil, organic tomatoes, and a vinaigrette drizzle on top. This pizza is a new variety and was on special for only $15 for a large. We had quite a bit left, put it in their smallest to-go boxes, and saved it in our hotel room's fridge. We ate it for lunch the next day!

Tip #3:

  Frozen meals are your new best friend!

Again, utilize local grocery stores for your meals. Okay, okay. So you don't want a TV dinner on vacation. I get it. But have you checked the frozen meals out lately?? They're getting healthier, and better tasting. Kashi meals are amazing, and Amy's Organic meals are fabulous too. Safeway even has an O Organics line now. Who wants to eat fast food for every meal, or have a sit down meal and pay an arm and a leg. Not me! Just head to the store, have each person grab a meal, and microwave it back at the hotel!

Tip #4:

Bring your own snacks and drinks!

 This is really a no-brainer, but really, don't forget! There's always a store on the side of the road, but not without paying more than you would have if you had brought your own. By planning ahead, you can score more for your money when you combine sales and coupons. Don't get caught with the little ones (and Hubby, hehe) begging for a snack or a cold drink at the most inopportune times. Sorry, but 7-11 is just way too expensive. Honey, check the cooler! :)

Have another great tip? Share it! I hope you save a ton on your next vacation!

(Closed) Artisana Review and Giveaway Ends 8/17

I love natural, pure foods and enjoy trying brands I've never heard of. Artisana is a line of organic nut and seed butters from Premier Organics and has certainly delighted my tastebuds!

Creating unique, delicious, healthy, gourmet food is a work of passion for us, blending together nuts and seeds like the vibrant colors of an artist's palette. Handmade with care, our organic live foods are crafted using a special low heat process that always preserves the life-essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and enzymes. Artisana: Raw life-energy from Sun to Plant to Body.

-Artisana's Website

Artisana is committed to creating 100% organic, unique, high quality, raw and pure nut and seed butters. With minimal processing, no added sugar or salt, no GMO's, or anything artificial, I was sold before I even tasted anything. The result is a delicious line of all-natural, organic products that are packed full of essential fatty-acids, vitamins, and minerals.

I was sent 8 oz. glass jars of Artisana's Organic Raw Almond Butter, and Organic Raw Cacao Bliss, and 10 of their Squeeze Packs in each of their flavors.

I am so impressed with everything I received! I had so much fun trying each one, and really enjoyed tasting the raw, pure flavors. Trust me, you won't miss the sugar and other additives found in other nut butters! You'll find high quality, raw ingredients in each one. Artisana Products are...

Organic
All-Natural
Raw
Vegan
GMO-Free
Gluten-Free
Peanut-Free
Dairy-Free
Cholesterol-Free

Although anyone can enjoy these all-natural nut and seed butters, Artisana products are a fabulous alternative for families with special diet restrictions or allergies to gluten or peanuts. Because no refrigeration is necessary, these won't take up extra space in your fridge either!

The Squeeze Packs are 1.19oz and are great for sampling a flavor before committing to a full jar, and are also great for a quick snack at work or school. The creamy yet slightly chunky texture of some of these nut butters were just so rich and flavorful, and so FRESH. They tasted like they were just made seconds before! I really enjoyed the Chashini Butter (raw cashews and raw sesame seeds), Almond Butter, and Cacao Bliss the most, although I really enjoyed each one for it's distinct flavor.

I want to highlight the Organic Raw Cacao Bliss for all you chocolate lovers out there. Cacao Bliss is a spreadable raw chocolate coconut butter, and is absolutely DELICIOUS! Now, I don't think it's for everyone (it's certainly a unique flavor), but it satisfies my chocoholic cravings and leaves me wanting more every time I eat it. My hubby thinks it's hilarious to watch me indulge in Cacao Bliss apparently...I like it a lot! It's main flavor is not just chocolate though, it's actually mostly coconut. The combination creates a fascinating flavor I've never even come close to experiencing before.  It's rich, creamy texture is perfect, and it's cacao is naturally rich in flavonoids that have great health benefits.

The coconut oil definitely gives Cacao Bliss a very interesting texture. It actually tends to "dry up" just a little on top after spreading on bread (it would be great on top of homemade chocolate cookies!) and requires stirring between use due to oil separation. I've enjoyed this on whole wheat and naan breads, and even in yogurt. I prefer a plain base with Cacao Bliss so I can really taste the flavor, but by the spoonful is almost too strong. It's FABULOUS! 

Artisana suggests trying Cacao Bliss (and other varieties) on fruit, bread, cakes, cookies, crepes (YUM!), energy bars, and in smoothies too!

Price: The 8 oz. jars range from around $12-15 depending on the variety and retailer mark-up. Squeeze packs can be found for around $1.49 each. 

The Verdict: Each flavor is delicious, fresh and so good for you. Artisana is a brand I will certainly buy in the future! I absolutely LOVE the Cacao Bliss - Artisana makes you feel good about your choice to indulge in a little chocolate too! Natural nutrition at it's best!

Buy It!

Check out the various online retailers that sell Artisana!
(I know you can buy some products at health food stores, but these are not currently listed on their site!)

Win It!

One winner will receive an 8oz jar of Coconut Butter and 10 - 1.19oz Squeeze Packs (one of each flavor)!

Our Summer Vacation

Last week I was soaking up the sun in Santa Cruz and Monterey with my little family. We live only a couple hours from the beautiful California coast, but sadly, we rarely have the chance to go! Hubby hasn't taken a week off work for vacation since before Buddy was born, so it was definitely time to plan a trip. After 5 days breath-taking coastal views and lots of fun, we definitely want to go back soon! Even on a budget, we were still able to enjoy ourselves and have a blast. Some money-saving tips while on vacation are coming soon! Until then, check out some photos of our vacation!

{Most photos removed for privacy reasons}

We found a beautiful secluded beach just north of Santa Cruz. Buddy LOVED it! You can see his shorts were already soaked from the incoming waves and he kept "hiding" his feet in the sand. It was too cute!

Buddy was fascinated with the Santa Cruz Beach Train that passes by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We'll have to ride it next time!

We also traveled down south about an hour to Monterey. We loved the area and really enjoyed the scenery and historic Cannery Row. We took a whole day to check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium too. We experienced tons of amazing sea life and spent over 5 hours looking at every...single...exhibit! 

This is a seahorse. Yes, really! Did you know the males seahorses are the ones that get pregnant?

The Kelp Forest Exhibit is amazing! It's the first living kelp forest exhibits of it's kind in the world. At 28 feet tall and with a surge machine to maintain constant motion like that of the ocean, this exhibit is a must-see. Not only that, but twice a day you can watch a live presentation as a diver hand feeds the sharks and fish. 

The touch-pools at the aquarium were pretty cool too. I touched a starfish! There was so much sea life you could touch if you wanted. Buddy just liked the cold water. He wouldn't touch anything else!

We certainly had a relaxing, MUCH-needed vacation. Buddy was such a trooper, and Hubby and I really had a great time. I hope you enjoyed seeing a few photos of our adventures! 

The Willow Store ~ Sprout Change Diaper Review

The Willow Store is absolutely committed to reusable products. As they put it, the Earth is not disposable, so why should we treat it that way? They recognize that reusable products are best for the environment, our economy, our children, and ultimately, our future.

The Willow Store offers several product lines of reusable products for every member of your family, for every stage of life, and for all your natural, organic, and eco friendly needs. One of those is Sprout Change. This line offers reusable diapers, training pants, and accessories. I'm excited to share with you a bit more about the Sprout Change diaper system that consists of a reversible, one-size shell, and reusable inserts for those first couple diapering years in your child's life.

I received the Organic Super Saver Starter Kit in the CherryBerry color. This kit includes a shell and 3 Organic Super Saver Inserts. This All-in-2 style diaper system is very easy to use, requires no stuffing like a pocket diaper, and gives a custom fit from 5 - 40+ pounds. Simply adjust the waist and legs, lay an insert inside the shell and you're ready to put it on your child.

The shell acts just like a diaper cover, only reversible! Yes, that's right! There are 2 layers of PUL and the design allows you to reverse the cover to use either side. I really LOVE that the laminate waterproof sides of the PUL are completely inside the diaper and never touch baby's sensitive skin like some diaper covers. That can be an issue for some babies!

With natural or synthetic fiber options for the inserts, this system is a fabulous option for many parents who aren't sure what will work best for them yet. The Organic Super Saver Inserts feature organic cotton fleece over organic hemp/cotton fleece. I love the natural fibers in this insert, and how super absorbent they are! Although I feel they could be a little wider, they are meant to work for newborns too. They've also been great for other diapers in my stash as a booster for naps and night time without adding too much bulk like other inserts. You can also purchase the StayDry Super Saver Inserts. These feature soft micro-fleece on top of microfiber to help keep baby feeling dry and comfortable and cost a little less than the organic inserts. The shell can also be paired with prefolds or fitteds if necessary since it's essentially a diaper cover.

A unique feature of the Sprout Change shell is the adjustable legs and waist to accommodate every child from newborn to potty training. On each tab, there is a little pocket with a snap closure. As you can see above, there are 2 small buttons and 2 elastics inside this little pocket - one for the waist, and one for the leg on the side you are working on. Simply pull the elastic out until you have the right fit and put the buttons through the appropriate elastic hole. Once I figured out how to adjust the waist and legs through the tabs, it was super easy. I actually didn't need to make the legs or waist smaller since Buddy is a big kid (largest setting in the second photo), but obviously I needed to know how it worked for you all!!

You get both side-closing, and front-closing options with this diaper! The shell is reversible, and it's purpose for that is to give you 2 color options and closure options. I definitely prefer to have the blue on the outside for the cover I received for a couple reasons. First, the little snap pocket on the blue side to access the adjustable elastics lays right against baby's skin if the blue is on the inside. I really hate red marks! Also, the tag in the back is on the blue side, so if it's against baby's skin, it could be irritating as well. This is especially true for Buddy since the insert is short for a larger child, and won't quite reach up that far in the back to cover the tag. I suppose you can just cut off the tag if you need to. So, we use the blue on the outside! :)

When I first received the Sprout Change system, I thought there was no way it would fit my son. It was already on the largest setting, and looked very short in the body. I wondered how in the world it would cover his bottom and actually stay up on his waist too! At 35 pounds, lots of cloth diapers we have are getting too small and too snug, so I was very skeptical. I was surprised to see it actually fits him very well, and gives him a very trim fit. It's not a bulky diaper at all! It's a fantastic fit! Because the waist and legs are adjusted independently, you get a very customized fit for EVERY body type, without going to extremes and snapping on crazy settings to get it just right. Although it is a little low in the rise, it still fits well, and that's what matters most!

The Sprout Change shell comes in a variety of cute color combinations. It's definitely an economical choice since the shells can be used mutliple times before washing (if not soiled of course). Another great thing about the The Willow Store is that all their products are made here in the USA, supporting work-at-home moms. They also strive to obtain American made materials whenever possible!

Price: The Organic Super Saver Starter Kit is $33.75 (that's 3 diaper changes!). Individual shells are $16.95. Individual Organic Super Saver inserts are $5.75 each.

The Verdict: Sprout Change is a unique cloth diaper system with a natural fiber option, all at a reasonable cost! Very well made and get a great fit EVERY time too. You can't beat this!

Buy It!

Check out The Willow Store for the Sprout Change diaper system and so much more!