Sambazon Smoothies. YUM!

Several months ago the lovely people at Moms Meet hooked me up with three free samples of Sambazon Smoothies. Along with a fun bowl and spoon as a little "thank you" for agreeing to review them on my blog.

 Since we are huge smoothies fans, we were super excited to try them out. But then I couldn't find them in stock at any of our local stores. Sad!

And then we moved. Again. For the second time in five months. We're gluttons for punishment. 

And then I forgot about Sambazon Smoothies. 

And then I remembered! 

But I couldn't find the coupons amongst the moving boxes.

And then I found them! 

And found a store that carried them! 

And actually had them in stock! (Woo hoo!!)

So we gave them a try. And they were good. REALLY good! 

 

The end. 

Just kidding. About the end part. Not about Sambazon Smoothies being good. They were fabulous!  We tried three varieties: Supergreens with Kale and Ginger, Acai with Blueberry and Pomegranate and an Energy blend with Acai Berry, Yerba Mate and Guarana.

 

Sambazon was started by two surfers who were looking to share the goodness of superfoodswith the world. And in a way that mattered. They started Sambazon based on a philosophy called the Triple Bottom Line. Which not only measure economic success, but also social and environmental success. They only used organic, non-GMO ingredients and support fair trade. All in all, a great company that makes fabulous products.

[insert pic of Acai with Blueberry and Pomegranate...oh wait. It disappeared.]

Chris and the girls tried the Acai with Blueberry and Pomegranate. I am not a blueberry person, but I knew that one would be right up their alley. It must have been because they polished it off and tossed it in the recycling before I could snap a picture. Chris said it was "really smooth, not too sweet and very refreshing." Olive and Penny said "YUM!" and asked for more.

 

I snagged the Supergreens with Kale and Ginger before anyone else could down it. It was SO good! I was worried that the ginger would be overpowering, but it wasn't. It was there, but very subtle. It was very smooth and easy to drink. A touch sweet, but not overly so. Very refreshing. I will definitely buy it again.

 

The third variety we tried was the Energy blend with Acai, Yerba Mate and Guarana. I decided to enjoy it one morning instead of my usual cup of coffee. I have to say, I was impressed! Not only did it taste good (sweet, slightly...earthy?) but it packed a nice punch of caffeine that got me going. A nice alternative to coffee. Plus it's full of antioxidants! I also want to try the Mocha Java variety. Sounds delicious! 

Thanks again to Moms Meet for providing me with this sampling opportunity! Sambazon, you've got a fan in me. 

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from  the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. 

Softcup Menstrual Cup Review

Yes, you read that right. I am going to talk about a menstrual cup. Which means, I will be talking about all things menstrual. So if that's not really your cup of tea, feel free to peruse my other posts. Maybe this one?

Several months ago I was invited to review the Softcup Menstrual Cup. Let's just say I did not jump at the chance. I wasn't all that excited about talking about my period on the internet. 

But then I thought, meh, why not. 

So here we go. 

(Last chance to leave before things get interesting...)

Let's talk periods. Not the kind at the end of a sentence. I’m talking about the kind that visits monthly and ruins your life. Ok, maybe that's a little drastic. But maybe not. I think it's safe to say that 'Aunt Flo' and I are not BFFs. In fact, I wouldn't even say we're "frenemies". We're flat out enemies.

My cycle is anything but regular. It's always been wonky and I have a feeling it always will be. It is irregular, painful, and awful. So I have spent a lot of time (and money!) trying different menstrual products with varying success. My go-to solution is a combo of tampons, ginormous pads and ibuprofen. And chocolate. And potato chips. Wine never hurts, either.  You would assume after 15+ years of having my period, I would have things under control. But no. You know what they say about assuming things. It only makes an...well, you now how the saying goes.

Anyway, back to the Softcup Menstrual Cup. I have always thought of menstrual cups as kind of....gross. I didn't really want to remove a used cup, if you know what I mean. But I like the idea of using something that you can wear for 12 hours, is safe to wear (free of toxins that can cause Toxic Shock Syndrome among other things) and is comfortable. Oh and you can have sex while wear the Softcup Menstrual Cup.*  

So what exactly is the Softcup Menstrual Cup?

 "Softcup is a flexible cup that is worn internally, around your cervix. It collects, rather than absorbs menstrual flow. It's hypo-allergenic, latex-free and completely safe when used as directed." (softcup.com)

Well, the time came to give it a whirl. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! They were very easy to use and comfortable. I was able to wear one cup longer than I would a tampon.

But, that being said, there is definitely a learning curve. It took a few tries to get in inserted correctly and comfortably. The key is to relax and keep it level; tilting it up once it is inserted all the way. A little different than using a tampon but once you get the hang of it it's easy. 

And then comes removal. I will admit, I was not overly impressed with this part of the process. As you can imagine, there is the potential for a mess. You remove it by hooking your finger under the lip of the cup and pulling it out, keeping it as level as possible. And as hard as I tried to do this slowly while keeping it level, I still managed to make a bit of a mess. Fortunately I was at home during removal and had access to the sink so it wasn't a big deal. But I can't imagine doing so in a public restroom. Although I am sure the more you use the cups, the better you'll get at it. It's not a deal breaker for me, just takes a little more thought and effort than a typical menstrual product like a tampon or pad. Steady hands are crucial too. 

So overall, I think the Softcup Menstrual Cup is a great option in menstrual care products. If you're looking for a new solution to your monthly problem, I suggest giving it a try! But maybe try it in the comfort of your own bathroom before you head out into the world of public bathrooms. 

Thanks, Moms Meet for giving me the chance to review the Softcup Menstrual Cup! You can learn more about Softcup Menstrual Cup on their website and Facebook page.

 

*We don't need to tell our significant others about that now do we?

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of  the product.

Got Food Allergies? (giveaway!)

Have I got a cookbook for you!


Thanks to Moms Meet and Kiwi Magazine, I have my very own copy of Allergy-Friendly Food for Families to peruse and drool over. It is chock full of recipes that are allergen free and family friendly. Can't do gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs or soy? They've got you covered, with 120 tasty, allergy-friendly recipes.

We are very fortunate to not have any true food allergies in our family. Pen and I are sensitive to dairy products, so I try to limit and avoid them as much as possible. But it is not a life threatening allergy and something we can easily choose to avoid. Not everyone is so lucky though! We know several families that have children with food allergies and I know they struggle with finding wholesome recipes that the whole family can enjoy together. This cookbook is just what they need! And, Allergy-Friendly Food for Families is not only a great cookbook, but also a great website! It is a wonderful online resource for allergy-free cooking recipes and ideas.

Allergy-Friendly Food for Families is really, a well put together cookbook. The recipes are broken down into; Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Snacks and Parties (so fun!). Each section offers a multitude of family friendly recipes that are truly drool worthy. Within each section, each recipe is clearly marked with colorful tabs that indicate which allergens the recipe is free of. And if there are substitutions available to make a recipe safe for that allergen, the tab will also say "option". SO user friendly. There are fabulous food pics scattered throughout the book too, that really enhance the drool factor.

Here are a few recipes that I can't wait to try:
No-Cream of Broccoli Soup (gluten, dairy, nut, egg and soy free)
World's Best Kale Salad (gluten, dairy, egg and nut free)
Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies (dairy, nut, egg and soy free)
and pretty much everything in the dessert section...like Cherry Chocolate Sorbet (gluten, dairy, nut, egg and soy free) *swoon*.

And while some recipes are a little more involved than others, most have pretty short ingredient lists and little prep. Because let's be honest, who wants to slave away in the kitchen for a meal that will be devoured in 8 minutes flat? Oh, that's right. No one.

Another really nice feature of this book is a section titled "Building a Natural, Allergy-Free Pantry". It is full of great suggestions and ideas to keep your pantry well stocked with allergy free ingredients. A very handy resource to have in your kitchen!

I highly recommend this cookbook not only to those who are dealing with food allergies, but to anyone who is looking for healthy, family friendly meals. There really is something in here for everyone. It would make a great gift for a family with food allergies!

Would you like to WIN your very own copy of Allergy-Friendly Food for Families? Leave me a comment and you'll be entered in my giveaway! I will draw a winner on Wednesday, August 22nd. Good luck!


And remember, I am hosting a giveaway for free Almond Breeze Almond Milk! Go check it out!

Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Blend....NOT creepy.

Thanks to Moms Meet, I was recently given the opportunity to sample Blue Diamond's new Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Blend.

 It is a nondairy milk that is a lactose free blend of almond milk and coconut milk. I have issues with dairy products (read: me + dairy = no go. Unless I want to be bloated and in pain for the rest of the day. FUN! Not.) so I jumped at the chance to be part of their sampling program for their shelf stable product.

I was familiar with Almond Breeze and their Almond milk. I purchase and drink it on a regular basis (again, me + dairy = no good.). But I've always purchased the refrigerated product. And occasionally the Chocolate refrigerated product. This bad boy right here:

Let me be honest here, I was a bit hesitant when I read the words "shelf stable". Not gonna lie, it kind of creeped me out. But then the good people at Blue Diamond, informed me that it just means

"Almond Breeze is ultra pasteurized (a high temperature heat treatment) that ensures food is free from harmful bacteria and packaged in sealed sterile cartons with special barrier layers that keep out light, moisture and air."

Oh. That's not so creepy. Actually that's kind of nice. I can stock up when it's on sale and not worry about it going bad. Sweet.

When the package came in the mail, I was excited to see two FULL size cartons of Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Blend, one unsweetened, one sweetened. I also got two cookbooklets, "The Secret to a Great Smoothie" and "The Perfect Blend of Flavors" which has lots of great recipes and ideas for incorporating the Almond Coconut blend into your every day cooking. I am totally making the Coconut Curry Chicken Skewers later this week. YUM.

So then, it was time. I cracked open the carton of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Coconut and poured myself a little glass. I took a sip. And....it was great! Very smooth, creamy, slightly sweet and just a hint of coconut flavor. I was worried the coconut flavor would be really strong and take over, but it doesn't. It compliments the almond milk nicely. The girls wanted to try some too, so we all had a little "milk" break. Olive wasn't a fan, but Pen asked for more! Which was nice to hear, since she seems to suffer from the same dairy issues I do. And since Almond Breeze Almond Coconut has more calcium than cow's milk, it is an easy way to get our calcium in.

The real test came the next morning. I poured a bowl of cereal, topped it with Almond Breeze Almond Coconut and dug in.......



Raisins and bran flakes have never tasted so good. The cold, creamy Almond Breeze Almond Coconut added a bit of the tropics to my breakfast that morning and it was wonderful. So then I just went crazy. I added it to my coffee (yum). I added it to the girls' oatmeal (double yum) and later on I added a splash to our smoothie (Y.U.M.).

So, long story short, if you are looking for a nondairy, calcium enriched milk alternative, I highly recommend Almond Breeze Almond Coconut Blend. Shelf stable (remember, not creepy), tropical goodness in a carton. Awesome. You can check 'em out on Facebook too.


What's that?

You ARE looking for a nondairy milk alternative that's calcium enriched? Well, my friend, you have come to the right place. Thanks to Moms Meet and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, I have THREE vouchers to giveaway, each good for one FREE carton of shelf stable Almond Breeze. Just leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win! I will choose three winners on Friday August 17th. Good luck! And may the force be with you!




(I don't know. It sounded good.)

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. And all that jazz.