Salt Water and Potato Battery STEM Lab Kit Review

Disclosure: I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

With summer vacation here and literally no where to go, the kids have a lot of time on their hands. STEM Lab offers kits that teach science and engineering in a fun, hands-on way.

We were given the opportunity to review the Salt Water and Potato Battery Kit.

This kit includes:

  • 6 Copper Nails
  • 6 Zinc Nails
  • 6 Cups
  • 12 Packs of Salt
  • 2 Wires with Clips
  • Fast Color Blinking LED
  • Slow Fading Color LED
  • White LED
  • Jumbo LED
  • 10 plain wires

Salt Water Battery

I liked how the everything you need is provided in the kit (aside from water and potatoes). n was able to follow the detailed directions and make the light bulbs work all by himself. It is recommended for ages 8 and up, and I would say that is accurate.

Potato Battery

The idea of a battery powered by potatoes is such an interesting concept. It is difficult to see the small LED light in this picture, but it really worked. However, I’m not sure it would be practical to use as a nightlight as suggested-ha! The direction booklet also suggests different experiments that can be done by using various fruits and vegetables such as lemons or tomatoes. The direction booklet also has a kid-friendly explanation of how batteries work which I also found informative. STEM Lab kits are great learning tools for kids who are curious about how things work.

Where to Purchase

STEM Lab kits can be purchased through their website here or Amazon.

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MiSOgood Is So Good {Giveaway}

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

If you have been to a Japanese restaurant, you have probably enjoyed a nice steaming bowl of miso soup to start your meal. MiSOgood makes it super easy to enjoy miso (and all of its health benefits) at home.

MiSOgood products are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan. As for health benefits, miso contains essential minerals, various B vitamins, vitamins E and K, and folic acid. Because miso is a fermented food, it provides the gut with beneficial bacteria that keeps the gut healthy. (Information taken from the MiSOgood website).

MiSOgood is available in 6 different flavors that can be used for soups and sauces:

  • Sweet and Savory Miso
  • Brown Rice Miso
  • Soy-free Miso (made with fermented rice)
  • Teriyaki Miso
  • Spicy Miso
  • Sesame Miso  

MiSOgood sent us two of their products to try: Sweet & Savory White Miso and Sesame Miso.

First, I tried the Sweet & Savory White Miso as a soup base to make a bowl of miso soup.

Just add 3/4 c. boiling water to 1 T. MiSOgood miso, and you’re set! I added some tofu and green onions.

The miso soup had a nice rich flavor. My family loved it! It will be a nice addition to a quick lunch or dinner at home.

I also wanted to try the Sweet Miso Salad Dressing recipe I found on the MiSOgood website. We eat a lot of salads in the summer, so this is a good dressing to have on hand. It has a nice tang and adds umami at the same time.

Finally, I made a quick stir-fry with the MiSOgood Sesame Miso. Just saute some tofu and add 2 T. of the MiSOgood sauce. Add some vegetables and rice and you have a complete meal in minutes. The Sesame Miso has a nutty flavor with a hint of spice from red pepper and ginger. I can’t wait to try it with chicken or salmon as well.

Where To Purchase

MiSOgood products can be purchased on their website here and they offer free shipping!

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a MiSOgood Summer Soup & Sauce Variety 3-Pack, which includes Miso Teriyaki, Sweet & Savory White Miso and Sesame Miso!

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The Edge of Everywhen Book Review

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Both of my kids are avid readers, so we are always on the lookout for quality kid lit. The Edge of Everywhen, by A.S. Mackey, is a recently published book that combines fantasy with real and valuable life lessons. This novel tells of how the main characters, Piper and Phoenix mourn the loss of their mother, how they learn to overcome their tough circumstances, and how they don’t lose hope in reuniting with their long, lost dad. Even though the book was a little scary when describing the state that their imprisoned dad is in, the story was intriguing, held my interest, and made me keep wanting to read more. I liked how the book provided many unexpected twists and turns, the plot was well thought-out, and how the whole story came together at the end. I think this book would be suitable for kids around the age of 11 or 12.

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Good Man Book Review

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Good Man, by Nathan Clarkson, immediately caught my attention because I am a big fan of his mother, Sally Clarkson. I have read her most of her books and even attended a few of her conferences. Sally Clarkson’s books are about motherhood, and I was always impressed with the accomplishments of her four children, (who are all now young adults). It would be easy to have an impression that the Clarksons are the “perfect” Christian family, but we all know that everyone has struggles. Nathan Clarkson’s book offers a glimpse into some of his personal struggles, and it is quite eye-opening. Just because someone was raised in a strong Christian household that cares deeply about education does not mean that they will automatically become a “good man”.

Clarkson writes about his journey to becoming the man that God wants him to be by weaving personal stories and passages from the Bible. The chapters of the book each address a different attribute of what he believes a good man should be (e.g., heroic, honest, emotional, authentic, wise, etc.) Clarkson also comments on the current culture of manhood and explains how it differs from God’s desire for him as a man. He explains why it is important for young men to recognize this dichotomy and not to succumb to sin or settle for mediocrity. I will be saving my copy of Good Man for my son to read when he is a little older, perhaps in high school.

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Add Pop to Your Summer With Poptime Snacks {+Huge Giveaway!}

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Judging by the popularity of some of my recent posts, my readers enjoy snacking as much as we do! Poptime Snacks is another company that I missed seeing at Expo West this year. They currently offer four different lines of snacks, and today I am excited to have the opportunity to share about ALL of them with you!

Poptime Popcorn

First up is Poptime Popcorn. Our family has been having a lot of movie nights recently, so popcorn is always a good snack to have around. Poptime Popcorn comes in six delicious varieties:

  • Honey BBQ
  • White Cheddar
  • Butter
  • Spicy Jalapeno
  • Sea Salt
  • Sweet & Salty

You can munch on this popcorn without the guilt because it is non-GMO, cholesterol-free, contains zero trans fat, is gluten, dairy and nut-free, and contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.

Our family especially liked the white cheddar flavor. To me, it had just the right amount of cheesiness/saltiness. I was also impressed that there were hardly any unpopped kernels or popcorn “crumbs” that you often find with bagged popcorn.

Poptime Creations

For those who like exciting flavor combinations, check out the different varieties of Poptime Creations popcorn:

  • Sriracha & Lime
  • Marshmallow & Cinnamon
  • Truffle Herb & Parmesan Cheese
  • Chocolate & Vanilla

Don’t these flavors sound amazing?

This is the popcorn to choose when you want an “elevated” popcorn experience. The fun flavors would be perfect for a picnic or a party! Pop Creations popcorn is non-GMO, dairy-free and kosher. This line of popcorn also contains no artificial ingredients, trans fat, or preservatives.

Poptime Popped Chips

Poptime Popped Chips are “popped” potato chips, and they come in the following flavors:

  • BBQ & Honey
  • Sea Salt
  • Jalapeno
  • Truffle

These snacks are non-GMO, cholesterol free, gluten free, dairy free and nut free. They contain zero trans fat, no added sugar and no preservatives or artificial flavors.

These Poptime Popped Chips are so good! They are light and crispy and full of flavor. They are exactly the type of snack that my kids like to pack in their school lunches. I like that they are a lower-fat alternative to regular potato chips.

Big & Bold

Sometimes you just want a big bag of popcorn. That is when you need Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn. These large bags come in the following flavors:

  • Salt & Pepper
  • Butter
  • Sea Salt
  • Sweet & Salty

Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn is vegan, dairy-free, kosher, non-gmo, has 0g trans fat, and contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

This popcorn definitely lives up to its name! Each bag contains several generous servings, and the flavors are definitely bold. Sometimes air-popped popcorn can taste like nothing, but that is not the case with Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn.

Where To Purchase

Poptime Snacks can be purchased through their website and Amazon.

Giveaway Time

Poptime Snacks is generously offering a giveaway prize of one bag of each of their snacks–18 bags total! You will be all set for summertime snacking!

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Let’s Try Lebby Chickpea Snacks {Giveaway}

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Lebby Snacks is another company I missed seeing at Expo West this year. When I first heard about their sweet chickpea snacks, I was intrigued. I think most people associate chickpeas with savory foods, such as hummus. However, after trying these dry-roasted chickpea snacks, I can say that Lebby Chickpea Snacks are a satisfying sweet and crunchy combination.

Lebby Snacks come in four flavors:

  • Sesame Honey
  • Mocha
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Milk Chocolate

For me, my favorite is a two-way tie between Mocha and Dark Chocolate. I found them addictive! The Sesame Honey reminds me of honey roasted peanuts. The Milk Chocolate would be sure to please any chocolate fan.

Lebby Chickpea Snacks start with a dry-roasting process that gives the chickpeas a delicious light and crunchy taste and texture without any oil, salt or additives. They are gluten-free, non-gmo and kosher. So far, I have only tried eating Lebby Chickpea Snacks out of hand, but I can also see trying them on top of ice cream, yogurt or as part of a trail mix or cheeseboard.

Where to Purchase

Lebby Chickpea Snacks can be found through their website, at a store near you, or on Amazon.

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a 12 ct. variety pack of Lebby Chickpea Snacks!

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Say Happy Father’s Day With Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts

Disclosure: I received sample product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite parts about blogging is connecting with small business owners. I enjoy being able to support them, as I have always admired the entrepreneurial spirit. Today I want to introduce you to Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts, a small business based in Leavensworth, Washington.

This company specializes in premium fresh nuts that they roast in small batches. Almond Blossom offers a wide variety of flavor combinations, from sweet to savory to spicy. D and I had the opportunity to try six of the flavors, shown below:

Photo May 20, 9 27 20 AM

First of all, I was really impressed with the freshness and quality of all of the nuts we tried. The small-batch roasting process really brings out the nutty flavor.

  • New York Style Bar Mix: Consists of cashews, pecans and almonds with a rosemary sweet/salty glaze. The variety of nuts in this mix is really nice and the fresh rosemary adds a wonderful flavor. This was D’s favorite.
  • Cinnamon Vanilla Almonds: Almonds are probably my favorite type of nut, if I had to choose one. This flavor combination reminds me of Christmas, and was my favorite.
  • Curry Coconut Cashews: I am a fan of both curry and coconut, so this interesting flavor appealed to me. Their recipe also contains lime juice and black sesame seeds, and the combination is superb!
  • Cinnamon Vanilla Pecans: Eating pecans seems so decadent to me, maybe because of their larger size. Pecan lovers will really enjoy these.
  • Maple Chipotle Almonds: Perfect sweet-spicy combination!
  • Thai Chili Lime Cashews: This is another unique flavor with just the right amount of heat.

Where to Purchase + Discount!

Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts can be purchased on their website here. They also offer a variety of gift options where you can mix and match different flavors in an assortment of containers and have them shipped. (Supporting a small business AND no-contact shopping, yes!) Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts would make a thoughtful gift for Father’s Day, birthdays, teacher appreciation, etc.

Use code DAD20 through 6/21 at check out for 20% off your entire order AND they ship to any U.S. address for only $4.95!

Giveaway Time

Almond Blossom Roasted Nuts has generously offered to give away one 4-compartment gift wheel of nuts to THREE different winners! Be sure to enter the giveaway below:

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Add Zing With Zubi’s Salsa and Dips

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Zubi’s was one of the brands featured in the latest #NewHopeBloggerBox. Zubi’s is unique because they make salsa and dips that are free from the most common allergens.

Zubi’s generously offered samples of their salsa, crema and queso for us to try.

Zubi’s Salsa

Our family loves salsa, so we were eager to try this one. I like how it contains all natural ingredients:

  • Tomato Sauce (water, tomato paste, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper)
  • White Onion
  • Water
  • Cilantro
  • Lime Juice
  • Hot Sauce (aged red cayenne peppers, vinegar, salt)
  • Jalapeno
  • Garlic
  • Kosher Salt
  • Cumin

This salsa had a nice, fresh and bright flavor. It definitely has a kick, but it is not too spicy. It would definitely add “zing” to whatever you add it to, such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, etc.

Zubi’s Crema

I was wondering how Zubi’s Crema could be dairy-free. Look at this clean 6-ingredient list:

  • *JalapeƱos
  • *Safflower Oil
  • *Onion
  • *Lime Juice
  • *Garlic
  • Kosher Salt 
  • *Organic Ingredients

It is amazing how creamy Zubi’s Crema is, considering there is no cream! I am still not sure how they do it. Although the main ingredient is jalapenos, it is not overly spicy.

Zubi’s Queso

Again, I was somewhat skeptical of how dairy-free queso would taste. It contains the following ingredients:

  • *Yellow Onion
  • *Sweet Pepper
  • *Safflower Oil
  • *Lime Juice
  • *Garlic
  • *Nutritional Yeast
  • *JalapeƱo
  • Kosher Salt
  • *Cayenne 
  • *Organic Ingredients

My son, who is a big fan of regular queso (or anything with cheese, for that matter), really liked this version. I think the onion and sweet pepper give it a sweeter taste. If anyone has had to go dairy-free and misses queso, I would recommend trying this product. We microwaved it and drizzled it on top of tortilla chips and carnitas, along with the Zubi’s crema and salsa.

Loaded nachos!

Where to Purchase

Zubi’s salsa and dips can be purchased on their website, at a store near you, and Amazon. It is shelf-stable (refrigerate after opening), which makes it easy to order online.

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Go On A Flavor Adventure With Baja Jerky {Giveaway}

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

As I mentioned before, I really missed being able to attend Expo West this year. However, I am grateful to still be able to connect with some of the companies that were supposed to attend. One such company is Baja Jerky, which is a local Orange County company specializing in premium beef jerky.

Baja Jerky comes in five unique flavors:

  • Churro
  • Sweet Orange
  • Salsa Fresca
  • Lime & Serrano Pepper
  • Traditional

My family was immediately impressed with the thick cut of this jerky. Pictured here is the Churro flavor. Yes, Churro! You can see the cinnamon sugar, and it is sure to appeal to anyone who likes the savory-sweet combination.

If you are more of the traditional jerky fan, they have that, too!

Baja Jerky is a snack you can feel good about eating. It does not contain added nitrites, nitrates, or MSG and it is gluten-free.

Also, the beef used has no added hormones. Each serving contains 8 grams of protein.

The Salsa Fresca flavor is a definite winner! Just a hint of heat and the salsa flavor really complements the beef.

In addition to 2.5 ounce bags, Baja Jerky also comes in a Snack Pack that contains ten convenient 1 ounce size bags. They would be perfect for lunchboxes or for on-the-go snacking.

Where to Purchase

Baja Jerky can be purchased through their website and Amazon. Hopefully it will become more widely available at stores soon!

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Snack Pack flavor of your choice (ten 1 oz. bags) AND a 2.5 oz bag of each flavor!

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Support Your Child’s Brain Health With Brainiac Kids Applesauce

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for an palatable way to increase Omega-3s in your child’s diet, consider Brainiac Kids Applesauce. After hearing about all of the research about how Omega-3s are vital for optimal brain nutrition, our family has been trying various foods and supplements to up our Omega-3 intake.

Brainiac Kids Applesauce contains Omega-3 DHA/EPA, Omega-3 ALA, and Choline, all of which have been found to support brain health. I was a bit curious to see if the applesauce would taste “fishy”, as many Omega-3 supplements do, but it did not! There is no added sugar, but the applesauce still has a nice naturally sweet taste. I think even the pickiest eaters would approve. My whole family gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up!

Brainiac Kids Applesauce comes in a convenient pouch that is easy to pack in a school lunch or on the go snack. Of course, with everyone home, there is no need to pack school lunches right now, but applesauce is still one of the kids’ favorite at-home snacks.

Music + Books + Brainiac Kids Applesauce = Brain Power!

Brainiac Kids Applesauce comes in three flavors:

  • Apple
  • Apple Cinnamon
  • Apple Strawberry

Where to Purchase

Brainiac Kids Applesauce can be purchased on their website here. Brainiac Kids products, including their yogurt, are also available at a store near you.

Giveaway Time

 Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win two boxes of Brainiac Kids Applesauce, a canvas bag & free Brainiac Kids Yogurt coupons!

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