Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Review and Giveaway

I've been cloth diapering Baby Z for almost two years now and I had never used Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent before. How is that even possible?! So, needless to say, I was very excited to get a chance to try it! I absolutely love it and I wonder how I cloth diapered this long without it. I even tried it out on our regular laundry!

Rockin' Green was started by a mom who was fed up with the mis-labeling of supposed "green" cleaners and she strived to make products that could meet the demands of every family but also be gentle on sensitive skin and environmentally-friendly. I say she succeeded! I was very impressed with just about every aspect of this brand. I love how eco-friendly there are, how clean my clothes came out, how they are completely chemical-free, and the scents!

Let's talk about the smells... Oh the smells! I was really impressed with the scents. They smelled wonderful without being overpowering. My favorite is the Smashing Watermelons but the Lavender Mint Revival was a really close second. Can I just mention again that I was really impressed with the scents? Because I was!

Pros:

• Smell amazing!
• Biodegradable
• Gluten and Vegan Friendly
• Biodegradable
• Made from natural essential oils
• Completely Free Of:
• Enzymes
• Phosphates
• Optical Brighteners
• SLS
• Parabens

Cons:

• I only got to try the sample sizes! lol

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Woolzies Dryer Balls Giveaway Winner & More Giveaways!

Thank you so much for entering this giveaway!

The winner of the Woolzies Dryer Ball Giveaway is...

Congrats, Sheila! Check your email!
You have 48 hours to reply or I have to choose a different winner. 

(Please don't make me do that!)

Didn't win? That's ok, I have a ton more giveaways for you to enter below!

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Blogger Opp: Halloween Giveaway Event

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Blogger Opp: Black SodaStream

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Blogger Opp: Kindle Fire HD

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Tasty Bite Review

My sister (Erin) and I are both gluten-intolerant so when I was asked to try some GF Indian dishes from Tasty Bite, I just knew that this was something the two of us would enjoy together. Erin loves Indian food and eats it all the time whereas I have never had it before so this was a completely new experience for me. I was also happy that her boyfriend, Joe, showed up in the middle of it all so he could join us for not only a male perspective but for a non-GF perspective as well.

Before I tried the food, I wanted to get to know the company a bit and I love what I found! Tasty Bite was started in 1995 and currently offers Indian entrées, Asian Noodles, rice, and meal inspirations. I have so much respect for this company for its efforts to help their communities and for trying to better the world we live in. Tasty Bite is a shining light among the greedy companies we see in the world today and I am proud to have them on my blog.

From their website, “Tasty Bite has a disaster relief program, where food is moved to provide relief in the case of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Asian Tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti.  Tasty Bite also has unique programs in energy and agriculture.  Today, 80% of the energy used in the Tasty Bite factory comes from renewable sources such as sugarcane byproducts and food and crop waste.  Also, the Tasty Bite farm is used as a demonstration farm to educate community farmers on high yielding, sustainable agricultural methods.  As we work toward delivering great-tasting flavors of the world to you, we strive to make a difference in our own community as well.”

Erin, Joe, and I were lucky enough to try (6) 1-Step Entrees from Tasty Bite! I love that each one is all-natural and contains nothing artificial. I was also pleasantly surprised at how authentic each and every one of the dishes tasted but out of the 6 entrees and rice packages we tried, I think my personal favorite was the Bombay Potatoes; they were the tastiest potatoes I've ever eaten. The flavor was just exquisite and they tasted great with brown rice but I imagine they would taste awesome in a tortilla shell with some cheese on top!

Erin said her favorite was the Channa Masala and although it wasn't my favorite, it was still very good. Erin usually doesn't like lentil but she tried the Madras Lentils anyways and we both agreed that it tasted really good mixed in with rice but it definitely needed the rice for a texture boost.

The day after our Indian feast, I saw a post on the Tasty Bite facebook page about lentil and cheese on top of a tortilla chip and it looks amazing! I will buying more of the Madras Lentil so I can try that!

Joe had shown up after everything was already made and was surprised when we told him it was all microwaved; the food tastes so authentic that he thought we had made it from scratch! His favorite was the Ginger Lentil Rice and he even said, “I could just eat a whole bowl of this and be good.” Ha! We all agreed that we love the bold flavor of the Ginger Lentil Rice and it was gone within minutes.

I think the most surprising one to me was the Thai Lime Rice, it had such a delicate, light flavor. I actually really enjoyed it even though I wasn't very excited to try it. I think it would be a really great side dish for a bold flavored entrée.

Overall, everything tasted delicious and the flavors were astounding. We all decided that these are completely worth the money and we would gladly buy them. You can buy them online at their website for $3.29 a piece or you can buy them at any major retailer! I have seen them at my local Walmart!

You can find Tasty Bite on Facebook, Twitter, and their website.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I was provided samples to review and all opinions belong to Erin, Joe, and I.

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Spicy Cheesy Chicken Rotini Recipe

I'm so excited to be a part of the Red Gold Summer Grillin' Party! I received a wonderful variety of Red Gold Tomatoes products and I knew just want I wanted to make with it!

This is one of my favorite dinner recipes that I've adapted from my sister’s blog here. I love the Red Gold Tomatoes with Green Chilies in it (it gives it an extra spicy kick) and I add more Velveeta than the original recipe because we like it better cheesier!

Ingredients:
1 & 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
2 cups water
3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
1 package frozen broccoli
1 can of Red Gold Petite Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
1 lb Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Directions:
1. In a fry pan, cook the chicken until it is no longer pink.
2. Add the 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then add the pasta.
3. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 10 min or until the Pasta is tender.
4. Then stir in the tomatoes, Velveeta, and broccoli.
5. Cook covered until Velveeta is completely melted. Stir frequently!

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Kinderglo Portable Night Light Review, Coupon Code, and Giveaway

My daughter and I are night owls and sometimes she is even worse than I am! She has been this way her whole life and I count it as a good night if she goes to bed before midnight! I had been looking for ways to help calm her down and I am so glad to have found KinderGlo Night Lights!

KinderGlo LED Night Lights are by far the coolest night lights I have ever seen! They are portable and safe so your child can touch and play with them. They are completely free of phthalates, BPA and lead so you don't have to worry about them being unsafe. My favorite quality is that they are rechargeable and they last for 8-10 hours on one charge! I also love the options you have for the night light: You can choose for it to continuously change colors or stay one solid color (red, blue, or green) and you can choose whether to have it auto-off after 30 minutes or have continuous lighting.

I believe every kid should have a Kinderglo Night Light! They are all so cute that I couldn't decided whether to get the Quarter Moon or one of the adorable animals and it took me (no exaggeration) 35 minutes to decide. In the end I chose the Quarter Moon but I think I would've been happy with any of them. I do have to say that I think the Quarter Moon Light is perfect for my little girl! It is beyond cute and has a little carrying handle that is perfect for her little hands! Baby Z squeals with delight whenever she sees it and is so proud that she can turn it on by herself.

The real test was when we took it my in-laws' house this past weekend. Baby Z proudly showed it off to her grandparents and at nighttime, I would lay down in bed with her and the nightlight and she'd be asleep within minutes. She went to bed THREE TIMES before midnight this past week!! This little nightlight has been a huge blessing to us and calms our little night owl right down. Oh and I'm pretty much addicted to them now and I'm looking forward to collecting them all!

Kinderglo Night Lights would make a great Baby Shower or Christmas present! In fact, I will featuring them on my Christmas Gift Guide later this year! 

Z cuddling with her Quarter Moon as she naps! 

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TWO Giveaway Winners Announced and More Giveaways!

Thank you so much for entering these giveaways!

The winner of the Pampers Kandoo Giveaway is...

AND

The winner of the Boogie Wipes Giveaway is...

Congrats, Cyndy and Doreen! Check your email! You have 48 hours to reply or I have to choose different winners. 

(Please don't make me do that!)

Didn't win? That's ok, I have a ton more giveaways for you to enter below including a BRAND NEW one for a Kinderglo Night Light!!

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HUGE sales at Gymboree this week!!

I cannot believe the Back To School Sales at Gymboree and Crazy 8 this week!

Take 30% off Regular Price Items at Gymboree

AND

Extra 40% off Already Reduced Items at Gymboree 



Hurry though because these are only valid 8/26-9/2... while supplies last!





This post contains affiliate links.

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Banana Bread Recipe

I absolutely love baking. I'm always searching through cookbooks and asking people I know for their favorite recipes. I got this recipe from an old friend and this is by far the best banana bread recipe there is, I promise! I make it at least once a month, usually more often than that. Throughout the month, I throw all of my really ripe bananas into the freezer instead of throwing them out because they make AMAZING banana bread. Sometimes I make it with mini-chocolate chips but most of the time, I make it plain! 

The Best Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:
3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt (only if using unsalted butter)
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour (I use GF)
Optional: chocolate chips or nuts

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large mix the melted butter into the mashed bananas with a spoon.
3. Then mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla.
4. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.
5. Add the flour last, mix. (if you add chocolate chips or nuts, add them in here)
6. Pour mixture into a 4x8 inch loaf pan.
7. Bake for 1 hour.


That's it! If you try it out, please let me know what you think! :)

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Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat Giveaway

Hosted by: Everything Mommyhood
Co-Hosted by: My Four Littles and Easy Green Mama
Sponsored by: Safety 1st

I'm so excited to be a part of this giveaway! Thank you so much, Everything Motherhood, for allowing me to be a part of it! I just knew that some of my readers could benefit by entering this giveaway! I wish you all the best of luck!! -Shannon

Check out Everything Mommyhood's Safety 1st Elite 80 Car Seat Review.

This information is directly from Safety 1st's website:
Super-extended weight range, Rear-facing 5-40 pounds, Forward-facing 22-80 pounds, and Belt-positioning booster 40-100 pounds. Air Protect® advanced cushion system protects your child’s head, where it’s needed most GCell HX™ patented foam with hexagonal shapes inside the seat provides superior body protection. TOGETHER they provide full body side impact protection

• Easy to identify color-coded belt paths and installation labels
• Durable, steel-reinforced metal frame
• QuickFit™ Harness system with Center Front Adjustment
• 10-position headrest grows with your child
• No re-thread harness
• 4-position recline for an optimal fit to your vehicle
• 2 integrated cup holders on other side of car seat
• Push button LATCH

One Lucky Winner will receive a Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat, valued at $229.99.
US Residents, 18 and up only.
One entrant per household.
All winning entries are verified.
Winner will be picked randomly through the Giveaway Tools entry form. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

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HUGE Sale on ADORABLE Children's Clothes Today on Zulily!

Head over to Zulily today because they are having a sale on really cute Children's clothing items from Rugged Bear for as low as $5.99!! But hurry because these are sure to sell out quick!

Click here to go to the sale: Rugged Bear – from $5.99

While you're there check out the other deal events they have going on:

Calvin Klein Jeans (Kids) – up to 55% off

Hurley – up to 50% off

Oakley – up to 55% off

Homejoy - up to 55% off

This post contains affiliate links.

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Diva For A Year Giveaway {$145 worth of hair bows, clippies, and headbands!}

Welcome to the Diva for a Year Giveaway hosted by Stay a Stay at Home Mom and sponsored by Diva Jordan's Boutique.

Diva Jordan's Boutique offers the best and most affordable selection of unique & stylish boutique hair bows, baby headbands, hair clippies, flower headbands, baby bows, toddler bows, little girl's bows, tutus, legwarmers, and much more! Our products are using the highest quality materials available, paying extra attention to each and every last detail. We work hard to make sure to have all the latest fashion accessories and prints for your little darling. Your sweetie deserves the best and we make sure you get the best! Never settle for anything less than the best... Diva Jordan's Boutique!

Visit Diva Jordan's Boutique

One lucky winner will receive a year's worth of products from Diva Jordan's Boutique, shown in this image: (total retail value $145)

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Bkeepsake Personalized Book Winner Re-Draw

Unfortunately, the first winner of the Bkeepsake Personalized Children's Book didn't reply back to me so I had to choose a new winner.

The new winner is....

Congrats, Mihaela! Check your email! You have 48 hours to reply to my email or I have to choose a new winner (and PLEASE don't make me do that again!!).

Didn't win? That's ok, I have a ton more giveaways for you to enter below!!

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DaddyScrubs Winner and More Giveaways!

The winner of the Perfect Gift for Dad: DaddyScrubs Giveaway is...

Congrats, Katherine! Check your email!
You have 48 hours to reply or I have to choose another winner. 

(Please don't make me do that!)

Didn't win? That's ok, I have a ton more giveaways for you to enter below!!

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Visiting Las Vegas, NV and The Day I Met Ice-T

To put it simply, we love Las Vegas! This past June, we went to Vegas with my Mom. She grew up in Vegas and we stayed with family that lives there. I cannot believe how much fun we had. Next time we go, I really want to get a hotel room on The Strip for at least one night though just for the experience (not that I don't love staying with my family!).

New York New York Roller Coaster

We happened to be there for our second wedding anniversary (it was just a coincidence!) so my husband and I celebrated by going to a show. We went and saw Coco Austin in the Peepshow, which is something that I have wanting to do for years (even when Holly Madison was doing it)! Although the show was AMAZING, the best part of the whole night was when I met ICE-T! After we sat in our seats for the show, Ice-T sat down RIGHT in front of us. He shook our hands, congratulated us on our anniversary and we had a conversation about being married, but best of all... I told him about my Dad. Meeting Ice-T meant so much more to me than just "meeting a famous person." The last couple years of my Dad's life, he couldn't do much so he watched a lot of TV. Law and Order SVU was one of his favorite shows and we would watch it literally all day long. I have many happy memories watching SVU with my dad, so meeting Ice-T made it feel like my dad was with me that night.

I was in Heaven during the show; I had just met Ice-T, I was in Las Vegas, I wasn't completely sober, and I was about to watch my first Burlesque show and then it hit me... I wasn't going to be able to run home and tell my Dad that I had just met Ice-T. I wouldn't be able to watch his face light up as I shared my excitement with him. It was a bittersweet moment for me and I missed my dad more than ever. I didn't let it damper my Vegas experience but I may or may not have sobbed on the phone with my mom inside a crowded elevator.

ANYWAY, if you're planning a trip to Vegas, here are some helpful tips!

M&M World on The Strip

MUST-DO list:
- Go to a show.
- Bellagio Fountains.
- Bellagio Garden.
- Zipline down Fremont Street.
- Walk down The Strip (duh).
- New York-New York Roller Coaster.
- Eat at In N Out. (We don't have them in Michigan but I would give my left leg to get one here!)
-And if you have a kid, you HAVE to feed the fish at Lake Mead. So much fun!


Things to avoid:
- The Mob Museum. (They had a shirt there that read, "I didn't see anything at the Mob Museum" and no truer words have ever been written)
- The men (and women) shoving hookers ad in your face (on the strip mainly).

Bellagio Garden Conservatory

Feeding the fish in Lake Mead!

Overall, we had a GREAT trip. Baby Z loved watching the people everywhere we went and my hubby and I loved shopping for souvenirs and sightseeing! We cannot wait to go back and do even more. I really want to see Claire Sinclair's show "Pin-Up" and I really want to see Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat!

Have you ever been to Las Vegas? What was your favorite thing to do there?

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Blogger Opp: Safety 1st Elite 80 Air Car Seat

Prize: Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat $229.99 Retail
Requirements: Must have 1000 Facebook FansDates: 8/24-9/14 (3 weeks)
You must promote 4x per week on Facebook & Twitter
Limited to 50 bloggers
Giveaway open to US Only
One free Twitter link WITH announcement, or pay $5 waiver
(GET ANNOUNCEMENT HERE)
Co-Host $10, Extra Links $2 each, Daily Vote $4, Email $4

Most Referrals will get a FREE Daily Comment Entry.

--------------SIGN UP HERE---------------

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Bkeepsakes Personalized Book Winner & More Giveaways!

The winner of the Personalized Children's Book from Bkeepsakes is...

Congrats, Julie! Check your email! You have 48 hours to reply or I have to choose another winner. 

(Please don't make me do that!)

Didn't win? That's ok, I have a ton more giveaways for you to enter below!!

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Copy- Kids DVD Review and Giveaway

As parents, our daughter’s health comes first and that includes eating healthy. Unfortunately, Baby Z is the world’s pickiest eater. If you put veggies on her plate, she'll move them right off onto the floor even if she’s never actually tried them before! So, we were excited to get the chance to try the Copy-Kids DVD. This Award-Winning DVD has 12 easy to navigate Chapters, one for each vegetable and fruit. Each chapter features several cute and entertaining kids aged 9 months to 4 years happily eating. The idea of the video is to “encourage positive habits in young children, by watching and copying other kids.”

Our first attempt at this DVD, we tried Raspberries and Carrots. We started with the raspberries and Baby Z LOVED the kids on the video. She just smiled and watched them as they ate their raspberries. Every once in awhile she would look down at the raspberries on her plate and then look back at the TV. At the end of the video, she brought the raspberries to me, one by one, to try and feed them to me. “Those raspberries are for you!” I exclaimed. She was not buying it…

So, we decided to try carrots and we sat her down with a big plate of baby carrots. A couple minutes into the video, she picked up a carrot and slowly put it in her mouth. She nibbled on it a bit and then spit the little pieces she had in her mouth out. She did this repeatedly but even that is just so much improvement. She usually won’t even keep them on her plate. We watched both videos twice. By the end, she had pretty much had enough and ran off to play in her room. So, we decided to try again later.

A few days later, we tried again with the carrots. She was so excited to see the kids again and she tried to strike up conversations with them and waved at them with her carrots. This time, she picked up her carrots repeatedly and always had at least two in her hands but she did not eat them. I decided to play the chapter one more time and I’m SO glad I did! BABY Z ATE CARROTS! She nibbled on them a little and slowly she started to eat more and more. There are just no words to express how thoroughly impressed I am with this DVD! I will be playing it often to help my picky eater try some fruits and veggies. The next time I hit the grocery store, I'm looking forward to picking up a bunch of fruits and vegetables!

If you have a picky eater, I highly recommend this DVD! The idea is so simple yet powerful-- Kids copy other kids. Don't worry that you will always have to have the DVD running to get them to eat because they will mimic the behavior from memory once they have watched and eaten with the DVD.

Still not quite convinced? Check out the "What Is Copy-Kids?" video below!

To learn more or buy the Copy-Kids DVD visit their website here.  You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Youtube!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a DVD for review purposes only. All opinions are my own.

One lucky I'm No Domestic Goddess reader will win a Copy-Kids DVD below! 

This giveaway is open Worldwide!

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SelectAware.com Review

Have you ever heard of SelectAware.com before? As an avid couponer, I'm pretty embarrassed that I just recently found out about it.  SelectAware is a FREE online coupon portal where you'll find 8,279 exclusive coupons listed for 1,555 of the most popular online stores! No matter what you're looking for; clothes, books, music, movies, or toys, you can find it for a bargain on SelectAware!

From the SelectAware Website: “SelectAware.com began in late 2005 during the Christmas shopping season and saw instant support for what we do here. Our thinking is that you can save money easily on your purchase, so we try to reach as many online shoppers as possible to show them how. Saving is as simple as knowing the right place to buy or clicking on a link or entering a coupon code, and almost always there is no catch (but we'll let you know if there is).”

One of my favorite aspects of Select Aware is how organized it is and how easy it is to navigate around the site. There are organized tabs at the top of the page to help you find exactly what you are looking for. I also love that you can "save" coupons to your account so they're easily accessible later. 

I think my favorite tab is the "Coupons by Store" tab, where it lists all of the stores that have deals and coupons in alphabetical order. I was pretty overwhelmed by how many stores they have on there! Some of the big name ones that stood out to me were Amazon, Toys R Us, Barnes & Noble, and Office Depot but the list truly goes on and on. Coupons are updated every day throughout the day and are continuously checked to make sure they are still valid.

I think SelectAware is going to be a great tool during the holiday season when looking for deals online! From now on, before I buy something online, I’m going to check SelectAware to see if they have a coupon I can use!

As if all of that wasn’t a good enough reason to sign up for this site, EVERY MONTH they give away (5) $25 Amazon Gift Cards to their email subscribers! Who can say no to that?? Sign up for the newsletter here for your chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

You can also find Select Aware on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and their blog!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I was given a $25 gift card of my choice to use on their site for review purposes only. All opinions are my own!

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Woolzies Dryer Balls Review and Giveaway

I had been wanting to try Woolzies Dryer Balls for awhile so I was really excited when Soft By Nature Inc. gave me the chance to try them out! I've been using them for a few weeks now and I have to admit, they are truly amazing. Made from 100% New Zealand Wool, Woolzies soften your laundry naturally without any of the chemicals of conventional fabric softeners!

As an eco-conscious family, we really appreciate that this product is 100% eco-friendly and can cut down overall drying time by 25% to save time, energy, and money on our electric bill! I have noticed a big difference in drying time, especially for towels. I've also been pleasantly surprised for the lack of wrinkles in the clothes even if they have been sitting in the dryer for awhile!

Why Woolzies?

- Hypoallergenic

- Reduces drying time by 25%

- Reduces static

- Help eliminate wrinkles

- Chemical free

- Safe for people with wool sensitivities

- Handmade from fine New Zealand wool

I think the real question is "Why not??" because I HIGHLY recommend Woolzies Dryer Balls! They soften your clothes, dry them faster, are environmentally friendly, and they are safer alternative for your family! At $35 for 1000 washes, they are really cost efficient at only $.03 per load!  That is FAR less than dryer sheets or fabric softener. I'm actually thinking of buying more to give as Christmas gifts!

You can find Woolzies on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website to purchase your own set of 100% natural wool dryer balls!

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Pampers Kandoo Review and Giveaway

Pampers Kandoo generously sent me a package of their Flushable Wipes and a bottle of their 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner! These two products have been so great for Baby Z because they are easy for her to use by herself as she works on becoming more independent!

Pampers Kandoo Flushable Wipes are so perfect for potty-training! I find that when toddlers are potty training, they tend to be wasteful with toilet paper but with Kandoo Flushable Wipes, it’s easier for them to understand just one or two will get the job done! I also think the Flushable Wipes are great for when you're out on the go. They also come in an easy container where you can pull out one wipe at a time and the lid closes so that it is air tight and won't dry out the wipes!

I also go to try the Kandoo 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner! I love that it is shaped like a frog and fits perfectly in the corner of the tub! I really love the pump feature as it encourages my daughter to try it out herself and its one step closer to her becoming independent!


Kandoo 2 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo is:

- Hypoallergenic. No parabens or SLS
- Tear Free. Dermatologist Tested
- Contains Vitamin E and Natural Fruit Extracts to clean and condition hair

Meet the new Kandoo Clean Crew frogs and take the Oath to keep yourself super clean at www.pamperskandoo.com. They will be giving away 1000 Super Power Clean Kits each month! Look for the new and improved Kandoo Personal Care line, including Shampoo, Body Wash, and Hand Soap at most major retailers and online.

They also have a new website, coming soon – www.kandookids.com - visit now, and you can download a $1.00 off coupon for any Kandoo Personal Care item!

You can find Kandoo on Facebook and Twitter, be sure to give them a follow!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review. I was given the above mentioned products for review purposes only. All opinions are 100%  my own.

Kandoo has generously offered one of my readers a pack of 42-count Kandoo Flushable Wipes and one Kandoo Hand Sanitizer or Kandoo Handsoap.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada!

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Butterscotch Chip Cookie Recipe

My husband had been begging me for days to make these cookies and I finally gave in. These are the chewiest, sweetest cookies I've ever had and my husband and little one LOVE them! I doubled this recipe in case we had company so we had enough to share but needless to say, we ended up eating them all ourselves! Haha

Ingredients:

1 cup flour (I used GF)

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup Sugar

½ tsp Baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

4 tbs softened butter

1 egg

1 cup butterscotch chip

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until everything is blended evenly.
3. Use a tablespoon to drop cookies on a greased (or tinfoil wrapped) cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
5. Remove cookies from oven and let sit on cookie sheet a few minutes before placing cookies on cookie rack.

**These tasted better the next day than they did right out of the oven and they are really, really addicting. **

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Boogie Wipes Review and Giveaway

In this house, I feel like every season is “allergy season,” which is why I was so excited to try Boogie Wipes! Boogie Wipes are gentle, moist wipes that contain saline which aids in the removal of dried snot from around your child’s nose.

Boogie Wipes are hypoallergenic, super soft, and gentle enough for all ages.  They are also pediatrician recommended and contain no additives like phthalate and paraben. They're are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Magic Menthol, Simply Unscented and Boogieberry. My favorite is the Great Grape flavor because it smells amazing and Baby Z loves it too! Rest assure, that I actually think all of them smell amazing. The Magic Menthol is a little strong for me but I think it will be so perfect for those rough colds that make it difficult to breathe through your nose!

The thing Baby Z and I love the most about Boogie Wipes is that they contain absolutely no alcohol so they will not sting an irritated nose. In fact, their unique formula of natural saline, chamomile, vitamin E, and aloe dissolves mucus while moisturizing! These wipes are going to be incredibly useful during Michigan's cold, dry winters. I'm not dreading wiping Baby Z's nose anymore and she's not fighting me about it anymore!



Here’s ‘What’s Up’ at Boogie:

JUST RELEASED! PUFF’s Fresh Faces, from the makers of Boogie Wipes – is now available at Target and drugstore.com!  Puff’s Fresh Faces comes in Fragrance Free, Light Lavender, Vicks Menthol, and Fresh scent.  Visit Puffsfreshfaces.com to receive your $2.00 coupon!!

NEW BOOGIE WIPES! 90 count Simply Unscented canisters are now available now in most major retailers like Target, Walmart and BabiesRUs. They also have a new 10 count pack (Fresh and Grape) available at most major retailers in the US and Canada!

COMING SOON! Cotton Candy scented Boogie Blasters 12 count pack.  Boogie Mist – saline mist with a twist!

You can find coupons for Boogies Wipes on their website and dont forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review. I was given the above mentioned products for review purposes only. All opinions are 100%  my own.

Boogie Wipes is generously offering one of my readers (2) packs of 30-count wipes (fresh, grape, menthol, or unscented– combination varies).  This giveaway to the US, Canada and Australia.

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Let's Talk About Eating Gluten-Free & The Best Gluten-Free Brownies

I don't think I've mentioned it yet but recently I found out that I have a gluten intolerance (the correct medical term is "non-celiac gluten sensitivity"). As defined by the NFCA website, "Non-celiac gluten sensitivity has been coined to describe those individuals who cannot tolerate gluten and experience symptoms similar to those with celiac disease but yet who lack the same antibodies and intestinal damage as seen in celiac disease."

It has surprised me how many people are misinformed about what a gluten-free lifestyle means. Eating gluten-free is not a fad diet by any means and you should not expect to lose weight from eating gluten-free unless you pretty much cut out all processed foods (most contain gluten) and eat clean (fresh fruits, veggies, and meats). I personally struggle every day with eating gluten-free. My love for [processed] food makes it downright miserable sometimes. Even though I wouldn't say I eat gluten-free every day, I feel much better when I do.

Gluten-free or not, let's talk baking. I LOVE baking. I'm all for baking from scratch as long as it tastes better than the packaged stuff. Enter Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Brownies. These brownies are by far the best brownies I've ever had, gluten-free or not! Of course because they are gluten-free, the price is double what you can expect to pay for gluten brownies but it is soooo worth it.


A newer mix is Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownies! I was so excited to try these and they were just as good (if not better) than the regular Betty Crocker brownies! I'm so excited to see Betty Crocker stepping up and realizing there is a need for more gluten-free choices, I only wish the GF price would be comparable to the gluten brownies.


Please note that just because these brownies are amazing, does not mean that all gluten-free brownies are amazing. I've tried some other gluten-free brands and some just don't live up to my expectations. In fact, one brand tasted like chocolate was missing from the recipe, had a very odd aftertaste, and a really grainy texture. There is no excuse for that! Gluten-free doesn't mean that we have to give up our flavor and yummy foods!

In conclusion, not eating gluten is really hard (at least for me!) but if you're going to do it, don't make your tastebuds suffer! Namaste Food Gluten-Free Brownies helps make the transition to gluten-free so much more delicious!

I bought my Namaste brownie mix at my local Meijer, you can click the "where to buy" tab on their website to find out where it's sold near you or just buy it on Amazon! Keep up to date with Namaste Foods by following their Facebook and Twitter pages and keep an eye for giveaways they post!

Do you have a gluten sensitivity? Have you tried any gluten-free brownies?

I was not compensated for this review in any way. All opinions are entirely my own.

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