Great Grains Granolas and Snack Mix Review

One of my goals for 2015 is to get healthy. As 2014 was rolling out and 2015 rolling in, I thought about how I would accomplish this goal. I knew I was done with fad diets and the prepacked diet programs. I had tried several of them over the course of the years, and I was not successful on any. I knew the first step toward my goal to get healthy was accepting the fact that it would require a lifestyle change. 


It’s funny how things work out, I was contacted shortly thereafter and asked to join Great Grains and the Fad Free pledge. I gladly accepted, it had never worked for me anyway. Another incentive for taking the pledge was Great Grains donates $3.00 for every pledge taken to AmpleHarvest.org. This is a non-profit organization that empowers home gardeners to donate fresh produce to local food pantries. This is a great incentive for me to plant more veggies in the garden this year, eat more veggies and help families that can’t afford fresh produce.  


In addition to taking the pledge, I reviewed Great Grains granola in Blueberry Flax and Super Nutty. The timing for this review was perfect. It was a great addition toward my healthy eating change. I’m now eating fruit and yogurt for breakfast instead of sausage biscuits, doughnuts and croissants. I sprinkle the granola on top of my Greek Yogurt and it is delicious. I actually like both flavors. Once these bags are gone, they will be added to my grocery list as they will become a staple in my home.  

Next, I tried out the snack mix. I received them in Dark Chocolate Nut and Cranberry, Nuts and Seeds. I love both. Vending machine junk food has been replaced with trail mix and granola bars, so the boxes of snack mix were perfect. It’s actually a healthier replacement for the trail mix. I like both flavors, but I love the Dark Chocolate Nut. 






The snack mix comes in these convenient packets. They’re great to throw in your purse when you’re on the run or take to the office for those mid-morning or afternoon hunger attacks. I’m glad I took the Fad Free pledge and I encourage you to take it with me. 


I will be giving 1 follower an opportunity to try these great products from Great Grains.  Here are the rules:


Take the pledge to be Free of Fad Diets and come back and leave me a comment letting me know that you’re committing to healthier eating.  The give away ends February 1, 2015 at mid-night. The winner will be randomly selected, contacted by email, and will receive the granola and snack mix shown in the review.  Good Luck!

Disclaimer – I received the above products for review; however, all opinions are my own. 

I See Me Sponsored Post

personalized books, personalized children's books

This post contains sponsored links from I See Me.  Looking for a personalized book or other gift for a child? Check out I See Me, they specialize in personalized gifts for children. I was so excited when I reviewed their site and saw the diverse items they offered. My initial response was wow. I love giving unique gifts. If I have to choose between a big box store versus a specialized on-line store, I choose the latter.   


The adorable ballet place mat above caught my eye. I immediately thought about my granddaughter. She loves to dance and wants to take ballet lessons. I know she would love to eat her meals with these beautiful ballerinas. I don’t think they’re powerful enough to get her to eat peas, but they sure are cute. I wish I had found this site before the holidays, but this place mat will definitely go on my gift list for her. They also have princesses and fairies that you can choose from. Every little girl’s dream. 


Not only does I See Me have a large selection of personalized items to choose from, their themes are great. In addition to the ballet, princesses, and fairies you can find things that go, garden, and farm animals. This isn’t half of the themes that are offered, there are many more. This company understands children, and they have created products that will appeal to their little minds. You’re not limited to personalized books either. They have lunch boxes, puzzles, and growth charts to name a few.     

  

I remember my grandson spending hours playing with dinosaurs. His favorite was T-Rex, so these little dinosaurs have a place in my heart. This site is perfect for bundling items in the same theme. You can purchase the lunch box and place mat or a book and puzzle. Wouldn’t this lunch box be great for a backyard picnic or day at the park with mom or dad? What about a Back To School lunch box like the one below. I See Me offers designs that you won’t find on the shelf at your neighborhood store. What are the chances of another child having this lunch box at school and if they do there won’t be a mix-up because they’re personalized.  

  

personalized books, personalized children gifts

My grandson has started playing organized football and basketball, so I added this book to my list of gift ideas for him. The book can be made for a boy or girl. I had a personalized book made for him when he was born, The Three Little Pigs, and he loved for me to read it to him when he got older. Kids love reading about themselves. There are also books on pirates, knights, and outer space. What makes these personalized books different from what I purchased previously is I See Me focuses solely on one child. You don’t have to add other names to the story. Your child is the star, score! 


personalized book, personalized children's gifts

The gift ideas are endless on this site. They have been endorsed by Town and Country Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Parents.com. The site also has hundreds of reviews from parents. Whatever the occasion, you will be able to find a special and unique gift here.  Head over to I See Me and check out their personalized gift ideas for children.  


I received compensation for this post; however, all opinions are my own.  

Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolate Review

Mrs Cavanaugh's Chocolates

Don’t they look scrumptious!  When I was asked to review a pound of

Apparel N Bags – Ladies Laptop Tote Review

I received an offer to review a product from Apparel N Bags, and readily accepted once I reviewed their site.  I decided to check out the Port Authority Ladies Laptop Tote to review. I was leery about the quality of the bag since the site contained very low prices on their apparel and bags, but this site proves once again that you should never judge a book by its cover.  


I decided to go with a color other than black so I choose the Espresso.  I love anything chocolate, that includes food, clothing and accessories.  Why not a laptop bag. I was pleasantly surprised when my package arrived, the color was fabulous and the quality of the bag was great. My response was , OMG.  This bag was $18.00 and it’s just a great as my pricier laptop bags.  


Also, when I ordered the bag I wasn’t sure if my personal computer would fit.  It’s 15 inches so I had my business computer which is much smaller in mind when I selected the tote.  I was happy when I tried placing both computers into the bag and both fit with ease. When I’m not carrying my laptop, I use the bag to carry a pair of flats, drinks and snacks to the office. It’s quite roomy. I also love that the the bag is stylist.  Check out the zipper on the back and the contrasting handles.  It has a great shape too. Another plus for this bag, it’s machine washable and you can tumble dry it.  How awesome is that!  


Apparel N Bags has a large selection of apparel, which includes Nike and Adidas golf shirts, Nike hats, business shirts and a host of other items.  The prices are unbelievably low. I suggest that you head over and check out this site for yourself. They have a great selection of bags in an array of colors. I highly recommend it, and will purchase from them in the future. I’m thinking Christmas gifts, but it’s also a perfect place to pick up a birthday gift or items just for you.    


Note:  I received the laptop tote to review for this post; however, my opinions are my own.     



The Bouq Company Flower Review – Peace Bouquet

Check out this bouquet of of white roses.  Aren’t they beautiful. The bouquet is called Peace and is from The Bouqs Company. I love fresh flowers in my home and was thrilled when they contacted me to review one of their products. They didn’t disappoint. This is a $40.00 bouquet, and the shipping was free.  They arrived within days by FedEx packaged well and fresh.    



The roses arrived as buds.  It gave me the opportunity to watch them slowly open into these beautiful roses.  What makes the Bouqs Company unique is that they ship flowers from an active volcano in South America. If you’re a buy American only person,they can shipped from sunny California too.  The flowers are cut only when an order is placed to ensure freshness and shipped directly to your door. This process eliminates flower shops and wholesalers, which eliminates an expensive price tag.  They will last longer once they arrive too because they having been sitting in a floral shop or warehouse.  


I love that the flowers can be ordered on-line and they have a variety of bouquets to choose from. I had a hard time deciding on an arrangement, The Bouqs Company sells forty different arrangements. The $40.00 price tag for a dozen of fresh, quality roses can’t be beat. You can also choose the Deluxe for $50.00 and the Grand for $70.00 from the Volcano Collection or choose from the California Collection starting at $50.00. The arrangements are perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, new moms, girlfriends, or to pamper yourself.  If you want to surprise someone at the office or have a beautiful center piece on your table for the holidays, one of their arrangements would be perfect.  


Besides the Peace Bouquet, other favorites were Cotton Candy, Diamonds, Earth, and Milkshake. Check out The Bouq Company and select an arrangement today.  The Bouq Company has been featured on The Today Show, Forbes and endorsed by Oprah, Courtney Cox and  Lauren Conrad.  They are stunning!  


Disclaimer:  I received the Peace Bouquet as compensation for this post and accepted a position as Bouqs Ambassador; however, all opinions are my own.  

Chicken Soup for the Soul – Home Sweet Home Give Away







This book give away is perfect for moms who work diligently to make their house, condo, apartment or townhouse a home.  It’s full of stories that will make you laugh, touch your heart or make you re-assess your current thought process on what is a home.  As a Soup-er Blogger for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Blog Network, I wanted to give my readers an opportunity to win a copy of this book.  We all need a little inspiration at times, especially when you’re raising children, running a home, managing your career and figuring out what’s for dinner.  What better way to look for inspiration than in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Home Sweet Home books.   

Home Sweet Home will take you back to childhood and make you think about what truly makes a house a home.  Grab your favorite beverage and check out the stories on those house hunting, decorating and remodeling, dealing with unwanted house guests, and home improvement disasters. I’m sure you can relate.    


Mother 2 Mother is giving away 3 copies of Home Sweet Home. Here’s how you can win:

  • Like my Facebook Page and leave a comment that you have liked the page. 
  • Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment that you are following me
  • Connect With Me On Google+ and leave a comment that you have connected
  • Leave a comment on one of my post and let me know what post you comment on.  
  • Tweet this Give Away (You can tweet daily and enter daily)
  • Check out the Chicken Soup site and let me know what other book you would be interested in winning.  

This contest will end September 21, 2014 at mid-night.  The contest is open to US and Canada residents 18 or older. The winner will be selected by Random.org and notified by email. Invalid email addresses will be disqualified and another winner drawn.  The book will be sent directly to the winner from the sponsor.  

Note:  I am a member of the Soup-er Blogger Network and have received a copy of Home Sweet Home for review; however, my opinion of the Chicken Soup products are my own.   

Char-Broil Stainless Steel Fire Pit Review

I purchased this fire pit from Amazon and I love, love, love it.  It is exactly as shown.  It’s quite large and will hold quite a bit of wood for toasting marshmallows and hot dogs with the kids and taking the chill off during those fall evenings.  It’s going to create a cozy adult atmosphere in the evening while relaxing with a glass of wine too.  Yes, I need me time.  

This is perfect for those occasions, and I found it for $30.00 less on Amazon versus Wayfair.  It was easy to put together and will look perfect in front of my Adirondack chairs once I get them painted.  

If you’re in the market for an outdoor fire pit, check out this Char-Broil Pit.  Great look and great value.  

Oral B’s Disney Timer App Review

Disney Princesses

I was contacted to review the new Oral B Disney Timer App.   If you’re unfamiliar with the App it was designed by Oral B, Disney and Crest to help children brush for 2 minutes, which is the recommended time frame by most dentists.  With a 2 and 5 year old I jumped at the chance.  I thought this App could make brushing interesting.  They may spend more time brushing rather than playing in the water.  As parents I know you can relate.  


The App features Disney and Marvel characters, which is perfect.  Zarriah loves all things Disney and Xavier loves the Marvel characters.  Another feature of the App was that it rewarded the children for brushing for 2 minutes with stars and stickers.  


Our Oral B and crest products arrived, and they were adorable.  I received age appropriate toothbrushes from Oral B (Winnie the Pooh and Cars) and Crest toothpaste featuring Disney Princesses in Bubble Gum and Cars in Fruit Burst.  We’re off to a good start.  

It’s time to download the App and get this party started.  The App is available on Google Play and the App Store.  I checked out the directions at the Oral B Disney Timer site and decided to download the App on both the ipad and my Android phone.  The App is quite large and takes quite a bit of storage, so it is recommended that it be downloaded using Wi-Fi only.  




I was unsuccessful downloading the App to my phone.  It looked like it was installing, but it never downloaded.  First time for this issue.  We moved to the ipad and downloaded the App successfully.  We were able to scan the products as instructed, however the App freezes before the timer starts.  We have yet to use it successfully.  The concept is great, but it needs some work.   Thankfully the kids love the new toothbrushes and toothpaste, so it wasn’t a total disappointment.    
I’m a big fan of Oral B, Crest and Disney, so I’m hoping they will work out the bugs and promote this App again.  It could a vital tool for parents in getting their kids to brush appropriately.  I think the idea is one of the best since sliced bread.  They came up a little short on this endeavor.  It’s like having an empty sandwich.  


Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Multitasking Mom’s Book Give Away

Chicken Soup Books
This book give away is perfect for the multitasking mom.  If you’re a mother, you learn to do multiple things, handle the kids, the household, the husband, your career and the list goes on . Chicken Soup for the Soul:  The Multitasking Mom’s Guide is scheduled to be released March 18. As a Soup-er Blogger for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Blog Network, I wanted to give my readers an opportunity to win a copy of this book.  We all need a little inspiration at times, especially when you’re raising children, running a home, managing your career and figuring out what’s for dinner.  What better way to look for inspiration than in one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.   

The Multitasking Mom’s Guide has 101 stories by busy moms.  The book is filled with words of wisdom, lessons learned, funny moments and juggling success.  When you feel that you can’t go on or don’t know how you can do another thing, reach for this book and get a little inspiration.  I challenge you to read a story each day, meditate on the story and learn the lesson.  As a mother, grandmother, leader, manager, and mentor, I will be using this book to inspire me on my journey.  

Mother 2 Mother is giving away 3 copies of the Multitasking Mom’s Book Guide to 3 of our lucky readers.  We want you to be inspired too.   Here’s how you can win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest will end April 27, 2014 at mid-night.  The contest is open to US and Canada residents 18 or older. The winner will be notified by email and selected by Rafflecopter.   Invalid email addresses will be disqualified and another winner drawn.  The book will be sent directly to the winner from the sponsor, you will be contacted by email. 
Note:  I am a member of the Soup-er Blogger Network; however, my opinion of the Chicken Soup products are my own.   

J C Penney Portrait Review

J C Penney Portraits

I’ve been wanting to have photos taken for years.  Since I don’t photograph well I was always reluctant.  When I was offered an opportunity to have photos taken at J C Penney Portraits, I accepted the offer.  It was the perfect opportunity for me to have business and casual photos taken.  We take the kids to J C Penney Portraits for many of their photo sessions and we’ve always been pleased, so I believed that I had a chance at getting at least 1 good picture.  I ended up with so many, I had a difficult time selecting my package.  


Booking the session was easy.  I went on-line and selected a date and time that fit into my schedule and received an email confirmation.  As the date got closer, I received a call from the studio to confirm the date.  Additionally, we discussed the type of photos that I wanted to take and any props that I wanted to include.  I wanted a dressy photo to use for business and one that was more casual to give to my family.  

When I arrived at the studio, I was greeted by the receptionist who was quite professional.  She helped me select the backgrounds that she believed would work best with the color of the clothing that I would be wearing.  She was right, I love them.  The photographer had a great sense of humor, and helped to make me feel at ease.  She didn’t rush through the session and gave me an opportunity to have input on poses and the result of each shot.  
From there the receptionist helped me select my package, which was fun.  It turned out to be a positive experience and I love, love, love the photos.  


J C Penney Portraits would like to offer you an opportunity to experience a photo session at their studio too.  The offer includes:


  • – 1 free traditional 8×10 ($10 value) and 1 free sitting fee ($9
    value).
  •   – Plus get 23
    portraits of your favorite pose for $7.99 or 3.99 traditional sheets (reg $10)
    plus 20% off portrait collections.
  •   – Valid till
    3/31/14

For more information, check out their exclusive offer by clicking on the link.  I was quite impressed with the photos they had on display in the studio, they were stunning.  After seeing them, I plan to have a portrait taken with my children this summer.    


J C Penney Portraits offers several packages that will fit into many budgets, which is great since most people have a tight reins on their finances.  Book your session today, it’s a great time to make memories with a spring portrait.      
  
Note:  I was compensated by J C Penney Portraits with a gift certificate for this review; however, the assessment of the studio session is my opinion alone.