May 18, 2012

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Lunch Boxes with pizazz – Reuseit Blue Avocado Chil Clutch Review

May 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Growing up my lunch box was a paper sack.  It was utilitarian yes, but also brown and boring.  Reuseit has not only created a smorgasbord of lunch boxes with pizzaz but they’re also eco-friendly.

I selected the Blue Avocado Chil Clutch insulated lunch tote to review.  First off, I love the colorful design of the bag.  It’s a sizable  bag able to hold several large items and still do its job of keeping your food hot or cold for up to 3 hours.  It has a handy zip closure and is machine washable.  It folds flat for compact storage and has an extra pocket to house your belongings.  It’s amazing that parts of the bag had a earlier life as  plastic bottles.

I decided to take it on a test drive on our outing to a local parade.  I packed some cold beverages and snacks since it was a scorching 85 degrees.  While the Little might not appreciate a cold beverage, Mr. Bejelly and I sure do.   After snagging a spot along the parade route we settled in for the festivities.   Our beverages stayed consistently cold during the entire parade.

The Blue Avocado Chil Clutch makes the perfect lunch box for a picnic or if you’re grabbing some items from the grocery store that need to be keep cold.    This has become my go to bag for outings and again, I can’t say how much I appreciate the stylishness of the lunch box.

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.

Filed Under: Blue Avocado Chil Clutch, lunch boxes, resuseit, RVW

Royal Berkey Water Filter Review and Giveaway

May 9, 2012 By 54 Comments

 

I’m an eco-conscious mama so,  of course, I’m concerned about the quality of water we’re drinking.  You can’t turn on a media outlet without hearing about the degradation of our water sources.  I’ve drooled over the Royal Berkey Water filter system for a year so you can imagine that I jumped at the chance to review it.

The Royal Berkey Water filter is a portable, gravity water filter capable of filtering everything from your standard tap water to raw water from sources such as lakes and streams.

The two purification elements that come with the system are capable of filtering 3000 gallons of water a piece for a total of 6000 gallons.   If you go through 10 gallons of week, you won’t have to replace the filter for 11.5 years.  This particular system can house up to four elements.

I LOVE that you don’t have to replace the filters regularly as I am terrible at remembering to buy purification elements.   The purification elements are the cream of the crop and remove a host of viruses, pathogenic bacterial cysts, parasites, trihalomethanes, radiologicals,  VOCs, heavy metals and more.  Visit here to learn more about what it can remove from your water.

I was giddy as a school girl when it arrived and quickly set it up.  It was fairly easy to do and took me 15 minutes.  You will need to prime the purification elements before you install them by running them under your faucet.  This helps remove any left over manufacturing dust which can make the water taste off.  I also dumped the first couple of gallons as a precaution but this is not necessary.

Don’t be afraid to tighten the spigot down.  I was afraid to do it tight enough and I had leaks that disappeared once I broke out some elbow grease and did it correctly.

The system is 23″ tall and 9 1/2″ wide so it’s not going to fit under your standard kitchen upper counters.  We don’t have a lot of kitchen counter room so I bought a simple water stand to display it in its glory.

It’s made from 304 Stainless steel, which not only offers the durability to hold up over the years, but it’s darn pretty to look at.  It sits directly on your counter so you have to pull it far forward or place it on a stand if you want to set it back from the front of your counter top.

 

The Royal Berkey also has the handy feature of being able to slide the upper chamber into the lower chamber to make it easier to travel with – Hello camping trips.

My first taste of water was everything I expected:  Clean, crisp and fresh.  I love this system and if your family wants to invest in a high quality, dependable, low maintenance water filtration system this is the one to buy.  It’s an amazing bargain when you consider the quality and length of time each filter lasts.

Visit BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com to learn more about the Royal Berkey Water Filter and buy one for your family.  Also be sure to check their Facebook and Twitter.

One lucky reader has the chance to win their very own Royal Berkey Water Filter System.  Enter via the form below.  Good Luck! Open to the US and Canada.

Disclaimer: ig Berkey Water Filters provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Big Berkey Water Filters, GVY, RVW

Neatnik Saucer Review and Giveaway

April 25, 2012 By 19 Comments

 The Little has taken the simple meal and turned it into an art exhibit and sporting event.  I can barely comprehend the many uses of peas or bananas but in the hands of a 9 month old food deconstruction master, it’s magic.  A magical mess that is.  I’ve avoided eating out at restaurants because I didn’t want to “that parent” who leaves a mess that takes the staff an hour to clean up after we leave.   Enter the Neatnik Saucer, a combo high chair cover and baby place mat.

There are a couple of things I love about this product right off the bat.  First it completely covers restaurant high chairs.  I didn’t realize that in addition to becoming a mother, I would become a germ freak who carries around 3 different types of disinfectant.   I no longer have to worry about wiping down a high chair and can easily deep clean the Neatnik when we return home.

It’s also 28″ round when open, so it can catch a serious mess, but it folds up and fits easily in its 12″ x 12″ carrying case.   The Neatnik Saucer  comes equipped with suction cups to help keep it attached to the table and handy velcro straps to attach toys  for play during your meal.   I reviewed  the Cambridge model and I adore the vibrant argyle styling.

Joy Behar, of  The View, recently shared her love of  the Neatnik Saucer on OpenSky. “When I’m feeding my grandson, it’s like I’ve got projectile food coming at me from all directions. That’s why I like these little saucers.”    I think that her grandson must be a food artist of the same caliber as the Little to call for such a statement.

I did run into two issues with the Neatnik Saucer.   The high chair was lower than the table so, while it provided a nice ramp for the menu, it also meant any food would slide down into the Little’s lap.   Also, it was a little tough figuring out how to contort the saucer to fit in its carrying case.   The technique to “close it”  is similar to the how you close a sunshade you put in your vehicle but here’s a handy video with great instructions.

The Neatnik saucer retails for $32.95 and I would recommend it for the family that dines out regularly or, the “germ aware” mama such as myself.   Connect with Neatnik Saucer via their website and learn more about them on their Facebook page.

One lucky reader has the chance to win a Neatnik Saucer of their own.  Enter below via the Rafflecopter form.  Good Luck!

Disclaimer: Neatnik Saucer provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Filed Under: CGVY, Neatnik Saucer, RVW Tagged With: ,

Making Toy Magic with Happy Toy Machine Review and Giveaway

April 11, 2012 By 21 Comments

 

When we finally decided it was time to sleep train the Little, I knew that I wanted to get a Lovie for him to cuddle on during the night.   I was lucky to have the chance to review Happy Toy Machine so I could create a custom plush toy for him.

“Happy Toy Machine lets you create your own cool, cute, and crazy custom plush (stuffed) toys. Design as many toys as you want for free, share them with your friends, and only buy one when you’re ready. When you order we’ll make your one-of-a-kind custom toy and ship it straight to you.”

When I logged on to the website, I clicked on “create a toy” and was given the option of an animal, alien, monster, robot or surprise shape to start with.  

Then you move into the design center were you have a plethora of choices to customize your plush toy. You can customize the head, torso, arms, legs, wings, ears and facial features such as eyes, eyebrows, and more.  You can also add decorations and text to personalize it even further.   They are currently developing the feature of adding clothing and sound.

I had so much fun creating this toy for Little that I spent over an hour just working through all the options.   I loved that with the paintbrush tool you could paint each area a different color if you chose.   After many revisions, I finally came up with the perfect toy, paid and waited for it to ship.

Shipping was fairly quick , less than 2 weeks.   When it arrived, I was happy to see how similar it looked to the on-screen image.  The only difference from the screen shot was the color of the yellow torso.  I had expected it to be butter yellow but it’s closer to a gold color.

The plush toy is sewn together well and all the elements  are embroidered which is a great safety feature.  I also love that this toy is made in the USA.

The Little took to his new bunny friend immediately so I imagine years of fun ahead of them.  The other added bonus about using Happy Toy Machine to create  a Lovie is that if we should ever lose it, we can remake it and avoid the heartbreak of a lost toy.

To learn more about them you can visit their website and follow them via Facebook and Twitter.

One lucky reader that the chance to win a promo code for a regular size toy and free shipping.  Enter below via the Rafflecopter form.  Good Luck!  Only open to  US mailing addresses.

“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”

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Filed Under: CGVY, Happy Toy Machine, RVW Tagged With: , ,

Nutty for Nuttzo Review and Giveaway

April 6, 2012 By 20 Comments

When I removed grains from my diet, I found myself turning to nuts and seeds to snack on during the day.   I quickly discovered my love of cashews, hazelnuts and the simple peanut.   Nuttzo combines everything I love about nuts and seeds into a tasty butter with the added bonus of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Nuttzo was founded  by Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi.  She created this organic Omega-3 Seven Nut and Seed Butter as a way to nourish her two adopted children who, at the time,  were nutrient deficient.  Nuttzo was also featured on The Dr. Oz show and ranked #1 in The Secret Thing Dr. Oz can’t live without.  Nuttzo’s nonprofit champions the cause “Project Left Behind” which provides        fundamental items to orphans around the world.

I was sent three flavors to try: Nuttzo Orginial, Nuttzo CHOC, and Nuttzo Peanut Free.  Nuttzo Orginal has the flavor of your favorite peanut butter.  I loved the how chunky the nuts were in the mix.  Nutto Peanut Free had the warm taste of hazelnuts with a nice pop from the flax seeds.

 My favorite was the Nuttzo CHOC.  It was lightly sweet with the rich taste of dark chocolate and also has a nice pop from the flax seeds.   The seven nut and seed butters all come in 16 oz jars and are all organic and provide 50% – 75% of your daily value of ALA Omega-3 per serving.

To learn more about Nuttzo visit their website and also follow them via Facebook or Twitter.

One lucky reader has the chance to win a $58 prize package from Nuttzo that contains 1 jar of Nuttzo Orginal, Nuttzo CHOC, Nuttzo PF and a women’s tank.   Enter below via the Rafflecopter Form. Open to US and Canada only.

Disclaimer:  Nuttzo provided me with  a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

 

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Filed Under: CGVY, gluten free, grain free, grain-free, Nuttzo, RVW Tagged With: , , ,

Simply Bath Salts Review and Giveaway

March 18, 2012 By 20 Comments

 

 

I’ve dreamed of  an uninterrupted hot bath for the last 8 months and getting the chance to review Simply Bath Salts finally gave me the chance to make it happen.

Simply Bath Salts is a small business dedicated to creating the finest natural bath salts,  made only with organic oils and scents, on the market.  As an aromatherapy buff, I know that pure essential oils evaporate over time and with exposure to light, so the fact this company takes the extra step of packing the salts when you order so you get the freshest quality product puts it in a different class.

The Lavender bath salts are made with all natural ingredients.  Altantic Sea salt, Dead Sea salt, Epsom salt, organic Jojoba oil, and organic Lavender essential oil make up the product and the package comes in a 24oz size.  Simply Bath Salts also carries a variety of oils and offers customization at no additional cost.

When I tried out the bath salts I immediately noticed the lovely Lavender scent in addition to how soft my skin felt afterwards.  I convinced Mr. Bejelly to enjoy a foot bath using 1 tablespoon of the bath salts.  He loved it! He wasn’t crazy about the petals but hey, it looks pretty.

You can purchase Simply Bath Salts at http://www.simplybathsalts.com/ and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

 

One lucky reader has the chance to win their own 24oz bag of Simply Bath Salts in the scent of their choice.  Enter via the Rafflecopter form.  Sweepstakes is only open to US and must be 18+.
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Filed Under: CGVY, giveaway, review, RVW, simply bath salts Tagged With: , , ,

A must have for Tea lovers – Libre Tea Glass’n poly Mug Review and Giveaway

March 12, 2012 By 30 Comments

I have 12 different types of tea in my cupboard so getting the chance to review the Libre Tea Glass’n poly Mug was Kismet.

Right off the bat there are a lot of things I love about this mug:

1) It’s BPA free.

2) It’s a loose leaf tea infuser and I can drink tea on the go.

3) It’s pretty darn nifty to look at.

Libre Tea was founded by Wendy Weir in 2006 .    The company’s core values are people, planet and profit.  It’s hard not to support a company that makes it a priority to advocate and work with companies that are committed to following social and environmentally responsible  principles.

My first brew in this mug was loose leaf raspberry tea.   It brewed up easily and stayed nice and hot  due to the  polycarbonate exterior that houses the glass mug.   While the tea was the perfect temperature, the outside of the mug was cool to the touch.

The stainless steel fine tea filter prevented any little bits from passing through.   I didn’t have any leaks either and I tested that out by screwing it on tight and handing it to the Little to shake around like only an 8 month old would do .

I’m completely digging this mug and it truly makes a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life.

Here’s a link to a video showing you how to brew tea in your mug.

To learn more about Libre Tea  visit their website and  check out their other snazzy glass n’poly mugs.  If you sign up for their newsletter on their website you will receive a free iced tea recipe booklet.  Don’t forget to find them on Facebook or Twitter.

One lucky reader has the chance to win a Libre glass’n poly mug ($32.50) of their own.  Enter the form below and good luck! Only open to the US and Canada.

Disclaimer:  Libre Tea provided me with  a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Filed Under: CGVY, Libre Tea glass n ploy mug, loose leaf tea infuser, RVW, tea on the go Tagged With: , , ,

Himalayan Salt Shop Salt Crystal Lamp Review and Giveaway

March 10, 2012 By 60 Comments

There is something so soothing about the soft glow of Himalayan Salt Shop‘s Salt Crystal Lamp.   The organic wabi sabi shape of the lamp brings to mind all the amazing shapes of nature you would see spelunking though a cave.

I’ve had my eye on these lamps for quite a while I was so excited to get the chance to review it. I was sent the 4-5lb Crystal lamp and I loved that it had a nice wood base.  It also came with an electric cord and bulb.  You can use a tea light with the Salt Crystal lamp if you want to forgo electricity and use it in your bath area.   My mother-in-law’s birthday is next weekend and she would just love this so it makes a perfect gift also.

So besides being beautiful, how does it work?  The lamp is made from natural salt crystals mined from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains.  The salt crystals are millions of years old and have a high mineral content.  When the bulb heats the lamp, it releases negative ions in the air which combine with the positive ions (pollutants) and it cleanses the air.  People with allergies, asthma and other aliments have reported that these lamps helped relieve symptoms.

Being that our house has been closed all winter, I love that it’s refreshing the air in our home.  It’s also a fantastic alternative to candles which I am not allowed to own since I am the most forgetful woman on earth.   Himalayan Salt Shop carries an assortment of lamps in different shapes and sized as well as a variety of natural salt related products.  I already have my eye on the pyramid lamp.

You can visit them at www.himalayansaltshop.com.  Don’t forget to check out their two Facebook pages here and here or Twitter.

One lucky reader has the chance to win their very own 4 -5 lb lamp.  Enter the form below.  Only open to US.  Good Luck!

Disclaimer:  Himalayan Salt Shop provided me with  a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Filed Under: CGVY, himalayan salt shop, RVW, salt crystal lamp Tagged With: , , ,

Auromere Ayurvedic Neem Balm Review

February 27, 2012 By 2 Comments

Auomere neem balm review

 

I’m a big advocate of holistic medicine and natural remedies.   I have a huge selection of herbs, essential oils and tinctures in my cupboard and I am always on the lookout for a new balm or ingredient to add to it.  Auromere sent me a jar of their Ayurvedic Neem Balm to review and I was happy to give it a try.

Auromere Ayurvedic Imports is volunteer run and owned and operated by an Integral Yoga community.  100% of their profits goes to support non-profit projects in the US and India.   They carry the highest quality products that are cruelty-free, Eco-friendly and most importantly Ayurvedic.

The ingredients that go into this balm are a powerhouse of healing.  Neem oil is the main ingredient and the Neem tree is known throughout India as the “village pharmacy”.   Neem has historically been used  for the treatment of skin diseases and research is now showing it helps relieve pain and fights off certain fungal infections.

The first thing I noticed after opening the jar was the light sandalwood scent.  I’m very scent sensitive but I love how delicate and woodsy it smells.  The addition of sandalwood oil doesn’t just make it smell nice, it adds it own skin healing properties to the Ayurvedic neem balm.   Sandalwood is excellent for for helping balance skin issues like acne, wrinkles and rashes. Amla oil, mango ginger oil, olive oil and beeswax make up the rest of the balm.

So how does it work? I have very sensitive skin on my hands due to dealing with chemicals in previous home remodeling projects.  I have an irritated patch on my right palm that is flaring up and I’ve been using the balm on it since Friday.  I forgot this morning and it was zinging me so I  rubbed on the balm and instant pain relief.  I’ll come back and update this review in a month and report any other benefits I’ve experienced with the Ayurvedic neem balm but so far it’s a winner.

Right now Auromere is offering free sample sizes of any product for the readers of A Girl Worth Saving.  Contact them via their contact form on their website.   Check out their Facebook page and Twitter for more information.

 

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

 

Filed Under: Neem balm, RVW Tagged With: , , , , ,

A New Addiction – The GoodOnYa Bar Review And Giveaway

February 24, 2012 By 37 Comments

 

bejelly eating good on ya bar

Mr.Bejelly has been nagging me for the last month to make him some sort of quick energy bar and I have been dragging my feet.  One, while I love making everything from scratch, sometimes I just want the simplicity of grabbing something from the store.   However, since we follow a grain-free/gluten-free lifestyle it’s insanely hard to find something that doesn’t have grains in it, taste like a bowl of candy and most importantly, has an ingredients list that I don’t need to look up on the internet to understand.   Sometimes the universe just puts you on the right path as I stumbled across The GoodOnYa Bar.

Based in Encinitas, CA,  the company makes conscious choices about every aspect of the bar from utilizing solar power in their manufacturing process to  using real gmo-free ingredients.   The bars are all soy-free, a good source of protein and made with raw ingredients (roughly 54% – 74% depending on the bar).

goodonya

Mr. Bejelly was circling the bars the moment they arrived so I knew I had to get on them before they mysteriously disappeared.

They currently have three flavors : The Breakfast Bar, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Honey.   Each bar was moist and tasted fantastic but the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate was my favorite.  With organic ingredients like peanut butter, raw honey, sprouted flax, raw sesame seeds, raw hemp seeds, dark chocolate, Celtic sea salt and organic vanilla you can’t go wrong.   Mr. Bejelly promptly destroyed them and gave me the “buy more” eyes so I know that I’m going to have to keep them stocked in our cupboard to keep him happy.

You can learn more about The GoodOnYa Bar via their website or Facebook or Twitter.

Right now they are offering Free Shipping(not valid on sample pack)  on your order when you use the promo code Girl.  Try them out, you wont be sorry.

One lucky reader of A Girl Worth Saving has the chance to win a sample pack of their three flavors for themselves.  Enter the form below. Sweepstakes and promo code only good for the US.

 

 

Good Luck!Disclaimer:  The GoodOnYa Bar provided me with  free samples of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

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Filed Under: CGVY, gluten free, GoodonyaBar, review, RVW Tagged With: , , , , ,
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