Trudeau Stress-Less Review

     I was super-excited to get to test a set of stress-less kitchen gadgets from Trudeau. I was given six different products to test out. The stress-less products are touted as putting less stress on your hands as other products with similar functions. 

     1. Stress less Safety can opener--This can opener works differently than the can opener that we grew up with. It was a little confusing at first, but I eventually got it. It uses a hand crank instead of the little knob you use your fingers to twist. I couldn't say that this one was better or worse than the traditional can-opener--just different. 

     Another difference is where the can opener cuts. With the traditional can opener, the cut is just inside the lip of the lid. With the Trudeau can opener, the cut is under the lip of the can. I couldn't tell it was cutting at first, until I smelled the contents and looked more carefully. A down side to this can opener is that it makes it more difficult to drain liquid out. I'm used to pressing down with the lid to drain excess liquid, but the way the Trudeau ca opener cuts makes it harder to get all the liquid out. 

     2. Stress Less Garlic Press--This garlic press really works the same as the other garlic press I own. One difference is that it comes more apart, which makes it easier to clean. 

     3.  Stress Less Easy Grind Salt and Pepper Mills--My husband was thrilled with these. They turn with a crank and the salt and pepper come out super-fine. So fine, you have to look carefully to see it and make sure you don't over salt! This is the kind of salt you would put on fries. So we really love these! 

     4. Stress Less Pizza Cutter--this really didn't work any different from me than any other pizza cutter, but still nice.

     5. Stress Less Rotary Cheese Grater--The rotary cheese grater is a "grate" product. Haha. No really, I like the rotary cheese grater, and I've never had one. My mom used to have one. You put the cheese in the grater, crank and get lovely shredded cheese. Much easier than the traditional flat cheese grater. This was probably one of my favorites--along with the salt grinder.

     These are really great, high quality products and I hope you will check them out! You can see these and other great products Trudeau has to offer on their website. 
    
     *I received a complimentary set of Trudeau's Stress Less products for this review. I received no further compensation and all opinions expressed here are my own.*

Fundamentals Product Review

     I recently had the opportunity to review Fundamentals, an educational DVD geared toward very young children (infant to preschool). As the name suggests, the Fundamentals DVD teaches the basics, like shapes, colors, letters and names of common objects.

     Honestly, I myself did not find it exciting at all. In fact I found it rather boring. The video consists of a lady naming objects or actions as they appear on the screen. She speaks very short, clear sentences like "This is blue star" and "Let's have fun."

     However, that being said, my two year old seems to like it. A lot. She especially likes the stars. There are 12 different colored stars that appear in the video and help illustrate what is being discussed. My daughter stays glued through most of the video. This very simplistic approach to learning these basic concepts is optimal for a very young child just learning language. It is much like it would be if you were going over these concepts with your child. 

     The package also included a disc that is for parents. It goes over how parents or caregivers could incorporate these principles with their children themselves. I found that disc very interesting and inspiring, even though it did have some of the same content as the main disc. 

     Most of the concepts on the disc are the things you could do on your own, but if you want it done in a ready-made video, then this would be a good, basic one to start with. To get more details or to purchase, go to the website here. 

*I received this product for free using Tomoson.com. However all opinions expressed are my own.*

My First Cravebox

     I received my very first Cravebox this weekend. Cravebox is a subscription box service that comes from the same founders of She Speaks. I was not part of the "beta testing" group, but I heard great things about Cravebox from those who were. 

     The Cravebox is $10 a month and I would say it is probably the best "deal" as far as subscription boxes go. This is the first time I paid full price for one of these boxes, but the full price of a Cravebox is in the same neighborhood of the discounted prices I've paid for other subscription boxes. The regular price of a Bluum box is $12 a month, and it only contains sample sizes of products. 

     The down side is only a limited number of subscriptions are available (I think it's something like 500) and so many people wanted one that they had to do a drawing to see who would be allowed to subscribe. And there's a waiting list in case anyone decides to drop out. They may expand further in the future--but I don't know for sure.

     Now, for my $10, here is what I got: 

     Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar body scrub--This is a FULL-size product! I love sugar/salt scrubs, but rarely buy them, so I am excited about this product! 

     Skintersection Intense Repair Cream--I live in dry Texas, so I'm sure I will be using this. 

     Guylian Original Belgian Chocolate Shells--I looove chocolate. This wasn't the most spectacular chocolate I've ever had. Of course, the fact that it had melted into a blob may have done something to the precise combination of the flavors. 

     Sunsweet Plum Amazins--Diced dried plums. I'm not a huge fan of dried fruits, but I like plums, so i will give them a try. And I'm sure my toddle will like them--she loves raisins! 

     Lipton Tea and Honey To Go Packets--This is just one sample, but I'm sure that will be enough to see if I like it or not. 

     So, there it is. This one I may keep for a while, since it is pretty reasonably priced for what you get. And if you're interested, go ahead and put your name on the list. You may be able to get in if they open more spots!

    

Skillet Bacon Jam Review

     I recently got the opportunity to try out Skillet Bacon Jam through Tomoson.com. Though I'm not a fan of bacon, my husband is, and there are certain things (like green beans or cornbread) he thinks should have a piece or two of bacon in them for seasoning. I don't mind a hint of the taste in some foods, but I don't like the strong smell of cooking bacon. So i thought this would be great to try--the flavor without cooking. 

     Skillet Bacon Jam is pretty much what the name says. It is a rather gelatainous, bacon-flavored condiment you could use as a spread or flavoring. It contains the flavors of bacon, onions and spices and you can smell it when you open the jar! 

     My husband refused to try it as a spread, but liked it when I added it to the green beans. Green beans are a staple vegetable around here, but I think I cook them a little too bland for his taste. Usually I just add a little salt and onion, but the last couple of times I added the Bacon Jam. 

     The first time I used it I just tried to cook the onions in the Skillet Jam. The onions seemed to soak it all up, however, and I was afraid it wouldn't be enough to add the flavor, so I still ended up adding a little extra to the green beans. 

     The second time, I was in more of a hurry, so I just used dehydrated onions and added about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the Skillet Jam to a can of green beans heated on the stove. Both times they turned out pretty good. I didn't taste too much of a bacon flavor--maybe I will up it to 2 teaspoons next time--but my husband liked them, and so did I. 

     If you would like to find out more about Skillet Bacon Jam and their other products, check out their website here. You can also direct any inquiries to them at eat@skilletstreetfood.com

*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.*

Potty Cover Review and Giveaway

     I recently got the opportunity to try out and review "Potty Covers", which was great because I have been wanting to try these since I have seen other blogs post about them!

     I have a daughter who is potty training, so these are great for her. But the package says they can be for adults too. And why not, since they do cover the whole seat? And they don't only cover the seat, like the cover you can get in public restrooms (if they're even stocked), but they cover the sides and front, too. Basically anything you would possibly touch. And sometimes kids grip the seat--especially small children who feel like they might fall in! But with the Potty Cover, they're not touching nasty public toilets. 

     I also like that they are individually wrapped. So you can just stuff one in your purse for a quick trip into the store, whether it's for you or your little one. 
     You can get them at various retailers, including Amazon, Ebay and Buy Buy Baby. They retail for about $5.99 and there are 6 in a package.  So be sure to check them out! 


*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.*

My Teethe Me Box

     Plum District recently had a half-off deal for a month's subscription to TeetheMe, a subscription box site for baby/toddler products. A normal month of TeetheMe costs $24, so it was $12 for me. And since I had $5 of Plum credits, I only paid $7, which I thought was a great price.

     Like other subscription boxes, you subscribe and get a box of "surprises" that are allegedly worth much more than the monthly subscription fee. With TeetheMe, you enter your baby's birthdate and they send you a box based on the child's age. For ages 0-3. My only problem was that I have 2 children in that age range, so I wasn't sure which one to put in. In the end, though, I put in my 2 year old daughter, since I figure she would get more enjoyment out of the product than my 3 month old son can at this time.

     Though I didn't know what to expect from this box, I was pretty happy with it. Here is a picture of the contents, followed by a description: 

     Earth Mama Angel Baby Hand to Toe Wash--This was a foaming body wash, which I liked. It said it was lavendar vanilla and I don't really smell either of those scent. But my daughter really liked the foaminess of the soap too. 

     Nurture Me baby food--This is a really neat concept. It is basically dried baby food that need to be mixed with formula, water or breast milk for baby. Or if you have a picky toddler like me, you can mix some of the veggie ones into another food she likes so she gets the nutrient. The trick is finding out what she likes for the day! 

     Green Sprouts Baby plate set--This plate set is bio-degradable and compostable. Only thing is it seems to be of limited use. The little info card I got said something about 10 uses if you wash it in the dish washer, but it lasts longer if you hand wash. The set includes a sectioned bowl with lid, 2 sippy cups (not spill proof!), 2 small snack size containers, 2 forks and 2 spoons.

     Dr. Robin's Sunscreen for Children and Daily Moisture Cream--These were both small, one time use packets. All natural and chemical free products for children. 

     Greenleaf Scented Sachet--The scent in this thing was strong! It smells good, but it was a little overwhelming at first. It's just an air freshener of sorts. 

     Bridgewater Candle--This scented candle also had a fairly strong scent.

     Decal that says "Teach your child...to love" Not sure what company this from. It was just in the box. 

     So, there was some pretty cool stuff in the box. Not too sure I'd pay the full $24 for it, though. I will have to see what next month's box is like and will report back. :-)

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine

     As a member of BzzAgent, I recently had the opportunity to try out Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine shampoo and conditioner. And these were full-size bottles! Not hotel room size stuff. So if you like trying new stuff, you should sign up for BzzAgent! You don't even have to be a blogger.

     Anyway, I was happy to try it, since it promised to improve dry, frizzy and/or unmanageable hair. My hair is almost always frizzy and we live in a very dry climate. And Garnier is a pretty affordable brand, so I was glad to see if it it really improved my hair. 

     Well, I love the smell. A nice fruity smell. The conditioner was really thick--thicker than most conditioners I've tried. But I figured that was a good sign--like it would add volume. End result--not bad, but not spectacular. I think maybe it did improve the smoothness of my hair a little bit. The closer to my roots, though, the more frizzy my hair still seems. Weird, huh?

     I really like the smell and thought it did a decent job on the smoothing. I was pretty happy with it. But I'm a simple, low-maintenance gal!

I received this product for free as a member of BzzAgent. This in no way influenced my opinions on the product.

Product review: Wholesale Halloween Costumes

     I recently had the opportunity to review a costume from Wholesale Halloween Costumes. I chose the Olympic goddess for my review. There were a lot of neat costumes I really liked, but many of them were above the dollar limit we were to select from. I chose the Olympic goddess because it seemed like it could be more versatile than some others. 

     The costume included the dress, the medallion pin, which you can see attached to the shoulder strap, and a tie-able headband. The headband doesn't look as good on me because the model had a lot more hair. Or maybe it was a wig--I don't know. The page also makes accessory suggestions if you decide you need more "bling." :-)

     I ordered a 2X because many times costumes run small. Also, I was a little concerned about how my upper body would fit into the costume. I was right, because I was barely able to get it on! So, that is something to keep in mind if you decide to order a costume! 

     Another thing I didn't realize when I ordered this particular costume is that one shoulder is bare. I didn't know this, because the model in the picture had hair covering the bare shoulder (like I do in my pic below) and I had just assumed both sides were the same. So, if I do wear this to a party, I will have to get some kind of sash to go over it. I don't think a purple or red sash would look out of place on this costume. 

     Here is a closer look at the headband. 

     Wholesale Halloween Costumes has many different costumes in different price ranges. There are costumes for men, women and children and from all kinds of categories. 

     I really like my costume, even I do need to modify it a bit and I would also be interested in trying a different type of costume from them. I feel their prices are reasonable for the most part. As good as any costume store that pops up around Halloween. So if you or anyone in your family will be needing a costume this year, make sure you check them out! 

*I received a this product for free in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.*

Product Review: Potty Time DVD

     I recently got the opportunity to review the Potty Time DVD through Mom Blog Society. I was really excited to get this DVD to try out, as we are currently trying to potty-train our daughter and she is being very stubborn about it. 

     This was a cute little video hosted by Rachel Coleman, who you might have seen on the PBS show Signing Time. The DVD not only teaches children about knowing when to use the potty, but also teaches a few basic signs for things like potty, wash, help and others. So this video would even be good for a potty-training child who might be a little slow in building their vocabulary, so they can express with signs what they need to do. 

     I haven't had the DVD very long so I can't say for sure how much it will actually help with the potty-training, but my daughter really likes it and she tries to do a lot of the signs when she's watching the video. One con: If you watch this video with your kid, especially multiple times, the songs will probably get stuck in your head! 

     My daughter does like the video and she actually asks for it by name. The DVD also comes with a CD of the songs used in the video. I really hope this DVD will prove helpful in the long run! 
     If you would like to purchase the Potty DVD yourself, you may do so here. You can save 50% off the Potty Time reminder watch with purchase of the DVD. 
     Also, check them out on facebook and twitter!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

*Update* My daughter has suddenly picked up really well on the potty training over the last few days! It could be coincidence, but I really do think this DVD has helped give her the encouragement she needed, so thanks Potty Time!

Product Review: Quaker Oatmeal Squares

     As a BzzAgent, I recently got an opportunity to try the new Honey Nut flavor of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal. I was sent a full size box and I only actually got one bowl of it, because my husband and daughter liked it so much. 

     To me, it tastes decent, as far as "healthy" cereals go. It has 5 grams of fiber in a serving, and fiber is something I really look for when I'm choosing a cereal based on nutritional value, rather than taste. Sorry, but when it comes to taste, the sugar cereals are it--but they aren't so great on the nutrition. 

     My two year old daughter is a picky eater, so I am really glad to find something with whole grains and fiber that she actually likes. My husband also liked it, but he's not as picky as my daughter is. I also bought a box of the Cinnamon Oatmeal Squares (the store didn't have Honey Nut) and my daughter likes those too. I must say I like the Honey Nut ones better, though the cinnamon squares are ok. 

*I received this product for free as a member of Bzzagent. All opinions expressed are my own.*