I have been trying to eat better. By better, I don’t mean like less chips and crackers. I mean by paying attention to what I am actually eating. I have heard over and over that it is too hard to stay to budget and eat things that are good for you. I just don’t buy it. I haven’t gone all out organic, but I am trying to pay attention. I figure every better choice I make along the way,the better.
I am starting to pay attention to labels. So this Thanksgiving, I decided to try some recipes that used the “better” version of an item I already was using.
I started with my banana cake. One of the main ingredients in the banana cake was Whipped Topping. For years I have been using Cool Whip, when I found out it had the same ingredients as condom lube, well game over! Bye Bye Cool Whip.
So I reached out to a company called Peak Foods to see if they would be interested in letting me try their TRUwhip, as a subsitute. I told them I would try their product and review it honestly.
I like their ingredient list better:
Water, organic tapioca syrup, expeller-pressed palm kernel oil, organic cane sugar, organic palm kernel oil, contains less than 2% of each of the following: organic soy protein concentrate, sodium caseinate (milk protein), natural flavors, organic soy lecithin, xanthan gum, guar gum. Contains milk and soy.
The texture was about the same as other products. I did find that TRUwhip was slightly less sweet than the other. So the big test was how would my mini banana cakes turn out. This is something I have made time and again, so I would be able to tell if they were “off”.
The mini banana cakes turned out perfect, they just a tad less sweet, next time I will use a little extra sugar. I will take less sweet for zero transfat and no hydrogenated oils.
TRUwhip is currently available at Whole Foods and the pricing is competitive with other major brands.
by Shannon on November 28, 2009
I am trying to kick a very bad diet soda habit. I have been trying for a long time. I know drinking 6 cans of diet soda a day is terrible for you. I switched from regular to diet when I put on the freshman 15 many years ago in college. Prior to that, I couldn’t stand the taste of artificial sweeteners. I guess over time you adjust to the taste, but it never really tasted good or sweet like sugar, actually somewhat bitter.
In the past I have tried Stevia leaf as a natural sweetener. It was WAY to sweet. I was afraid that Truvia would have that over-the-top sweetness too. Truvia is a natural, zero calorie sweetener made with rebiana, part of the stevia leaf, which is 200 times sweeter than sugar. I was a little fearful that Truiva would have that bold taste when I first took at sip. To my surprise, it wasn’t as nearly as sweet as I thought it would be.
Truvia is still plenty sweet. However, the sweetness is much less than Stevia and much crisper tasting. I can’t think of a better way to describe it. Some things should be tasted in a recipe, but the recipe should not taste like the ingredient. Stevia is one of those ingredients that if I put it in a cake to sweeten it, the cake tasted like Stevia in the form of a cake. Truvia does not have this same quality. It just sweetens what you are baking or eating.
Even though I continued to drink diet soda sweetened with artificial sweeteners for all these years, I know there are potential risks. I love that Truvia is from a natural plant. Although, it is not quite as sweet at Stevia, I must use less of it then suggested. The box indicates that one package of Truvia is the same as 2 teaspoons of sugar. I am going to say that I can get by with using just a half a package of Truvia in my drinks. This is not a problem, less money I have to spend to get the same desired results.
As aside note, I thought it was interesting that Truvia’s packages are the only sweetener that used food grade inks.
So I went from pink to blue to yellow and I am now team Green!
I plan on making this great recipe this weekend you can check it out HERE.
WIN IT
Truvia is giving FIVE For the Mommas winners a Truvia Giftpack consisting of a Reusable Tote, Truvia and gardening gloves! To enter, simply tell me what recipe I am going to make (hint you have to read the review to find out!)
Rules: Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years & Older. Giveaway ends12/01/09 at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified via email. Winner is responsible for responding within 72 hours or a new winner will be picked. The email will come from: info@forthemommas.com. Please make sure this is marked as a non spam email.
by Shannon on November 16, 2009
Winner is : Lorie B.
I love clothing!
Even more, I love quality clothing at a reasonable price . Cute baby clothes at a reasonable price, I can’t help myself.
I am all about my little girl having the cutest clothing, so when I saw this First Impression layette set, I thought it was so adorable. I was happy to add it to little Hailee’s clothing collection. Even my husband loved it!
The duckies and yellow make it a very neutral outfit and can be used for both boys or girls. The clothing is very soft. All of the colors stayed vibrant and it held up very good even after washing. The bib got stained while she was eating and it came out by just washing it with her normal Dreft detergent.
The nicest thing about this particular set is it can be used at any time during the year because it has so many different pieces to it. You can use just the onesie in the summer, or you can put the pants onsie and hat on for winter and the sleeper can be used for winter or the cool summer nights.
The set is a little big on Hailee, but I can’t wait until she can wear the whole set together! This is definitely a very adorable outfit – I would highly recommend First Impression Layettes to anyone who is looking for a layette set for a baby shower, a newborn gift or even for your own little one. First Impressions is available exclusive at Macy’s. This high quality, affordable line starts at just $9.99. A just right price for new moms with great quality!
If you are like me, and like baby’s clothes to be versatile and cute, check out Macy’s for First Impressions clothing line.
WIN IT
I am excited to host my first giveaway, First Impression has so graciously offered one lucky For the Mommas reader a complete layette set!
To enter, simply fill out the form below telling me what you look for most in your baby (or when you shop for a baby) clothes!
Rules: Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years & Older. Giveaway ends 11/23/09 at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified via email. Winner is responsible for responding within 72 hours or a new winner will be picked. The email will come from: info@forthemommas.com. Please make sure this is marked as a non spam email.
The winner is Dedra!
Matchbox meets Legos meets Tinker Toys = Automoblox
When I saw this toy, that is immediately what came to mind. A matchbox that went together like Legos made out of Tinker Toys. You get the building aspect of Legos, the fun car play of matchbox and the creative play of Tinker Toys, without buying all three.
I have never seen anything like it before, I was intrigued. My husbands initial response was the same as mine, that is just cool. He said it reminded him of the toys he used to make as a kid with his Dad. My 7 year old son’s response was simply “That is wicked”. Translation: This toy is really cool!
The Automoblox Mini line is a scaled down version of the traditional Automoblox car. The Mini line of cars have a universal connector system that enables the a quick interchange of part – you can create one big car from all three, your imagination is the limits!
Evan spent an hour taking three of these cars apart making different variations of the car. He was totally enthralled with it. He kept saying “Mom, look what I made!” He even was able to go and register his car on Automoblox’s website . He likes to race them across the kitchen floor — the nice thing.. NO black marks from the tires like matchbox cars.
The full sized Automoblox are just as “wicked”. These are the original larger versions of the Automoblox. They are interchangeable and just as fun to play with!
As both a parent and teacher, I love the Automoblox. There are no loud noisy and beeps, so I appreciate that! I also am happy to find a toy that Evan will play with more than once. I spend my hard earned money on his gifts. Automoblox is something he will be able to play with for quite some time and continue to add to the collection.
From a teacher perspective there is a great educational side to these toys. They help with the development of fine and gross motor skills. Not to mention, these toys help with creative play. I think Automoblox would be a great tool for children who are delayed or struggling developing fine and gross motor skills as well. The
My son is still at an age where he is learning to explore what he can do. I think he enjoyed these because he was able to create so many unique cars. They were all his ideas. His face lit up when he thought of a new creation.
Did I mention that these are not just for boys? Deep down every girl wants a pink sports car (or is that just me?) This pink C9 Automoblox is a great for a little girls. My niece would rather play with cars than dolls. I know I am always thinking what can I buy her for her birthday. She would totally love this car.
You can get printable coloring pages for FREE right HERE. There are Automoblox designs for your inspiring artist to color! These great cars are available at Automoblox.com and there are exclusive cars you can ONLY buy online!
Want to Win
One lucky For the Mommas reader will win an original full size Automoblox.
Visit the Automoblox site HERE and then come back and leave me a comment with which car you like best!
Rules: Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years & Older. Giveaway ends 11/17/09 at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified via email. Winner is responsible for responding within 72 hours or a new winner will be picked. The email will come from: info@forthemommas.com. Please make sure this is marked as a non spam email.
I am all for a deal. There are somethings that I will only buy if they are free. You all know I am all about value. Sometimes this value doesn’t come in the form of a dollar.
There are some things that I spend as much money as necessary to get the highest quality product available. One of those items is a car seat. You see, in 2006 I was involved in a very serious accident, where my SUV rolled twice.This was the scariest moment of my life.
Fortunately, my baby wasn’t in the car. From that point on, I knew that I could only have the best car seat available to protect Evan. No matter what the cost, my cargo was far to precious not to have the best. I know we often think it can’t happen to us, until it happens to us.
If you have a minute and want to hear a incredibly story of God’s grace and how the right car seat can make a difference, you have to listen this families story HERE.
Get a tissue, you will need it. It is just an amazing testament to the real value that the Britax car seat provided.
Fast forward to 2009, and my baby is no longer a baby. He is a vibrant, active 7 year old. We all seem to take car seat safety for granted once our child gets a little older. You still need a quality seat once they are age 6+
My problem is Evan is still just a little guy. While the laws all say age 8 to not need a carseat, he is no where near ready to be out of a car seat. I still believe he needs a five point harness. There aren’t many seats that are comfortable enough for him, even though he still meets the height/weight requirements. Enter the Britax Marathon CS. I wish I would have purchased this seat before. It really is super versatile. He is comfortable and will be able to be in this seat until he is 65lbs. (At this rate, when he’s 14) Ok, so he may just outgrow the 49″ height limitation, but he is really quite far off from that now.
The Marathon CS fits children rear facing from five to 35 pounds and children forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 65 pounds. Both positions can accommodate a standing height up to 49 inches. This car seat has more flexibility than any other car seat I have used, including other Britax models. While the safety features are all there on other Britax models, the Marathon CS offers it all. I say its the Volvo of carseats, safety and comfort all rolled up into one.
The Britax Marathon CS offers:
- HUGS system for maximum safety.
- Easy-to-use push-button release LATCH connectors.
- Five-point harness for a secure fit.
- The Marathon’s LATCH system is easy to adjust.
- Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator, which is an audible aid that provides extra assurance when the harness is within range of appropriate snugness.
Even though the Britax might be slightly more expensive than some other car seats, it has tremendous value. Amazon currently has them on sale for $186.57, which is a huge discount over the list price of $289.00, you can check it out HERE
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Is a car seat something you are willing to spend on ? I would love to hear your thoughts.
The winners are Mary G., Lindsay M., Tracy P., Andrea D. & Melinda A.
I like to cook. No, make that I love to cook. Hopefully, you have checked out some of my recipes .
When I learned about the Thai Curry Challenge, I was all in. Here is the thing, I cook alot. I have never made a Thai meal in my home. Mystery Husband loves spicy, ethnic food. I always figured leave it to the pros. The problem is, we live rural. No Thai cuisine around here. In fact, no real cuisine here!
I was delighted to take on the challenge! Simply Asia sent me the Thai Kitchen ingredients to make Red Curry Chicken. I made it for dinner last night and it was fabulous!
You can see the full recipe HERE. This recipe took all of 25 minutes start to finish!
I started with this and 1 lb of chicken (not shown).
This was my first time ever working with Thai ingredients, and honestly, I don’t know what I was so afraid of. It was actually easier than most of the meals I make.
I followed the recipe and within a half hour, we had a super tasty Thai meal! My husband was totally impressed and honestly, so was I. I have always shied away from this type of food because of thinking it was so complex to make -WRONG. It was super easy and had a delicious taste to it. I don’t know about you, but I am always saying how I am looking for something different for dinner!
I put the Red Curry Chicken over the Jasmine Rice and served with snap peas. It had wonderful sweet flavor with a the traditional kick of curry! My 7 year old son ate this so fast and even asked for seconds. I know something is good when he wants more!
If you are going to try this great recipe, grab this coupon:
$.50/1 Printable on any Thai Kitchen Product
Win A Thai Kitchen Giftpack!
Five lucky For the Mommas readers will win a Thai Kitchen giftpack, consisting of:
- Thai Kitchen reusable shopping bag
- Thai Kitchen cookbook
- Apron
- Coupon for a free Thai Kitchen product of your choice
To enter simply visit www.realasianmadesimple.com and leave me a comment with what recipe you would like to make! If you don’t cook on a regular basis, this is a great place to start. I was just simply amazed at how easy it was to make this recipe!
Rules: Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years & Older. Giveaway ends 11/08/09 at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified via email. Winner is responsible for responding within 72 hours or a new winner will be picked.
by Shannon on October 27, 2009
The Winner is Andrea J.
YO GABBA GABBA is all the rage these days with the toddlers! I can’t believe how quickly this show has taken off. It has only been on the air a little over 2 years and is wildly popular! Brobee, Foofo, Muno and Toodee like to rock out! This little CD will be your friend forf yo
To celebrate the release of Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome
, one lucky winner will win a copy of theYo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome and Christmas in Gabba Land Book. This will make a great holiday gift for your little YO GABBA GABBA! fan.
Did you know that YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY TOUR will kick-off in Los Angeles on November 14 and will head from LA to New York and Chicago. The first tour dates sold out immediately and more were added. You can check to see if the tour is coming to your city HERE.
YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY is the first live U.S. touring show for the hit children’s program! The live-action U.S. stage production, is inspired by the award-winning television series, with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of characters – Brobee (the little green one), Foofa (the pink flower bubble), Muno (the red Cyclops), Plex (magic robot) and Toodee (the blue cat-dragon) will rock out to their favorite songs from the groundbreaking series, while special guests show off their “dancey dance” moves. This state-of-the-art production is an interactive experience that will offer audience members of all ages the chance to bring the characters to life when they say the magic words, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”
YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY
Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall
Saturday, November 14, 2009 11AM and 3PM
Sunday, November 15, 2009 11AM and 3PM
New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM – 2PM – *5 PM
Chicago, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
Saturday, December 5, 2009 11AM and 3PM
Not sure what YO GABBA GABBA is?
This show premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The award-winning series is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN.
Wanna win the the CD & Book? Simpy enter the form below.
Rules: Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years & Older. Giveaway ends 10/30/09 at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified via email. Winner is responsible for responding within 72 hours or a new winner will be picked.
There is something about a movie like Snow White that takes me back to being a little girl.
I remember watching it and being so afraid of the Queen, yet so in love with Snow White. I remember standing in the mirror saying “Who is the fairest of them all”. Of course, the mirror never did answer me!
It is hard to believe that this movie has been around since 1937! I wonder how many little girls have wished they could be Snow White over the years.
Even though we tend to think of Snow White as a girls movie, my son has always loved this movie. When we received our copy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition, my son couldn’t wait to put it in. From the time he was three years old, he has been infatuated with this movie. I thought for sure he would of lost interest by now. However, at 7 he is still just as interested as ever. He is intrigued by the Queen and the Witch. He loves the dwarfs and of course Snow White is pretty! So this movie definitely isn’t just for girls!
I was really glad to see that Disney packaged the Blu-ray and DVD together for this release. If you are like me, you still have DVD players in most of the house. This combo package allows you to play the movie in both your DVD player and Blu-ray! I know many people still don’t have a Blu-ray player yet, but in the future we probably all will. This combo pack is nice because you won’t have to buy the Blu-ray someday when you do upgrade your player.
Snow White on the Blu-ray is just great. I can’t believe that they took this 1937 movie and made it look so great. Not to mention, Blu-rays are much more scratch proof than DVDs. I don’t know about you, but my kiddo has the tendency to scratch all of his DVDs which makes me crazy!
So what is new with this release? There is better picture and sound – it is the first time in high definition 7.1 Sound. There are some family fun features included in the Disney Family Play including Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. You can checkout backstage Disney and see the story behind Walt Disney’s movies and the possible sequel that Disney was planning. Of course, there are all the classic bonus features too!
You can check out more about the new release of Snow White HERE. If you are looking for a great deal to purchase Snow White, visit HERE.
One2One Network has given one of you the opportunity to win a Snow White Blu-ray DVD combo pack along with a plush set of the Seven Dwarfs.
To enter, simply fill out the form below. Giveaway Ends 10/13/09 at 11:59 PM
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Disclosure:
I received a copy of Snow White Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for my family to view from the One2One Network.
All opinions are my own and are no way influenced by One2One Network. Please do not substitute my opinions for your own.
Does your home smell fresh and crisp? Is it fruity and sweet? Or is it like mine – De La Doggy mixed with Eau De 7 Year old boy? I am always trying to find something new to cover the smell of my 70 lb Golden Retriever and my bath fighting 7 year old. Finding a fragrance for my home is hard for me because I have asthma. I adore the smell of traditional candles and have found that many “candle substitutes” are far to strong. When Febreze asked me to try their new Febreze Home Collection, I was anxious to see how these would be and could they make my home smell fresh and clean.
The product line features a Flameless Luminary -a product that looks like you have a candle burning, smells like a candle burning, but NO burning. How genius is that? I put it in my family room in place of a candle I had there before. I though it looked great and smelled fresh. My favorite fragrance and color is the Green Tea Citrus. It really did a great job eliminating the odor, without the smell of a candle burning.
In addition to the luminary, the reed diffuser and the soy candle all provide a pretty decorating touch with a great smell. Even the canister for the spray is decorative and stylish.
Currently the Febreze Home Collection includes these scents:
*Cranberry Pear
* Green Tea Citrus
* Cranberry Pear
* Willow Blossom
Want to try the Febreze Home Collection?
Just tell me how you would use your Febreze Home Collection by entering with the form below.
Giveaway end 12:01 AM EST on 10/09
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Disclosure: 
I received this gift pack and product sampling as part of the review. All opinions are mine (please do not subsitute my opinions for your own) and have no way been influenced by MyBlogSpark. I received no compensation for this review.
It’s the 7th of September!
Here is your opportunity to win another Sun & Earth Gift Pack.
This month’s giftpack includes:
1) 22 oz All Purpose Cleaner
(1) 4 oz Concentrated All Purpose Cleaner REFILL (refills 22 oz bottle)
(1) .338 oz On the Spot Instant Stain Remover [Pen]
(1) 4 oz 2x Laundry Detergent
(1) 4 oz Xtra Dishwashing Liquid
Featured Product: All Purpose Cleaner
The All Purpose Cleaner works great at removing grease, grime and dirt in your kitchen, bathroom and all around your house. Its natural, non-toxic and free from petroleum-based solvents. We only use plant-based surfactants so you have the added peace of mind knowing you are not exposing your family, children or pets to harmful chemical residues or fumes. Because our all purpose spray cleaner is all natural and completely biodegradable it is safe for septic systems.
Works Well on:
- Greasy Stove Tops
- Refrigerators
- Pet Areas
- Kitchen Counter Tops safe for granite and corian
- Tile Floors
- Baby Changing Table
- Children’s High Chair
- School Desks
- Bathrooms safe for marble
- Sponge Mopping Floor: Mix 1 part to 10 parts wat
My son loves this stuff! It smells like oranges so he thinks it is the coolest thing to clean with oranges!
Want it now? You can visit Sun & Earth HERE.
Sun & Earth Promos this Month:
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Buy 1 .338 oz pen NEW! Sun & Earth “On the Spot”
Get a free .338 oz pen size of NEW! Sun & Earth “On the Spot”
(Offer expires on September-30) |
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Order $ 75.00 or more
Get a free 50 oz. Bottle of Sun & Earth Deep Cleaning Laundry Detergent
(Offer expires September-30) |
| ——————————————————————————————————————————— |
 |
Order $ 40.00 or more
Get a free 2 Pack Refill Bottle of New – All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate (2 Pack)
(Offer expires September-30) |
Win It Here
Simply leave a comment to be entered. Contest ends 09/11/09 at 12 midnight EST. Goodluck!
About Dropps: Dropps is an innovative liquid detergent that makes laundry “laundr-easy”. Its super-concentrated formula fits in tiny,pre-measured “toss-and-go” dissolvable pacs. Once unleashed in your washer, it’s tough on dirt, but easy on your favorite garments.
I received the Dropps sample in an envelope via the mail. Immediately, I knew this was a different laundry detergent. I opened the sample up and behold, a very small plastic pouch that looked like this:
Immediate impressions of the product were:
* I was impressed how little packaging there was. The detergent pouch dissolves right in the washer, so the only waste is the plastic pouch the product is shipped in. This too is biodegradable.
* The detergent is phosphate and enzyme free.
I did 4 loads of laundry using this product.
* The Dropps were super convenient. I simply threw them in and put the clothes on top. No measure, no pour, no mess!
* My husband can do the wash now! He fills the cap of the detergent up to the top, totally disregarding the lines for each size load. He could use the Dropps because they don’t require measurements and there is no wasting unnecessary detergent!
* Dropps would be perfect for travel to laundry mat or on vacation.
There were two samples I tried were scent + dye Free and fresh scent.
* Neither scent triggered any of my asthma symptoms.
* The scent free version was truly scent free. The clothes smelled clean, but no scent!
* The fresh scent just smelled clean. No floral, candle shop smell.
The Dropps really surprised me. They actually did a great job cleaning my clothes.
* I did loads on hot and cold, both cleaned equally well. My son had a shirt with dirt all over it (you know the I am a seven year boy and played real hard dirty shirt), that was spotless after the wash.
* The packaging recommended to pretreat the clothing with nasty stains, but I opted to try it without!
I also only used 1 Dropp in each of my loads. I am not sure that you need two. This would be the only disadvantage that I see with this product. You would have to use two if you had a large load and could not adjust the amount of the product.
After drying without any dryer sheets or fabric softener, the clothes were relatively soft. They were definitely softer than if I used my other detergent alone. I would honestly continue to use softener, as I like my towels and sheets like butter! I probably could skip the softener on our clothing.
Overall, this little product packs a big punch in the washer but with little impact on the environment. I am loving Dropps and will most definitely be giving them another shot.
I know all of you want to know where to get a coupon to try these right? Well, you are in luck! Dropps is giving away a 3 months supply of Dropps Detergent to a For the Mommas Reader! ** I am adding that they are HE compatible. In fact, I have an HE washer.
To enter, just leave a comment about what you think you would like most about Dropps. To get a second entry, subscribe via email or reader and leave a comment. Giveaway ends Monday, July 6th.
