Book Review, Sponsored

Never Too Early: 100 Bible Stories for Children Review

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Disclosure: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

According to Deuteronomy 11:18, we are to “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”  Therefore, it is never too early to start reading Bible stories to your kids!  100 Bible Stories For Children, recently published by Tyndale Kids, is an excellent resource for parents looking to introduce or reinforce the lessons of the Bible with their children.

The stories in this book are told in the order of the Bible.  The first 53 stories come from the Old Testament, and stories 54-100 are from the New Testament.  According to the back cover description, it is geared to ages 5-8, but I think it would keep older kids engaged as well.  Each story is a couple of pages, so this book would make a good read for a daily devotion.  In addition, the illustrations that accompany each story are beautiful works of art and help to bring the Bible stories alive for young readers.

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. 

 

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

A Sweet Selection: Japan Candy Box Review + Giveaway

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

As a Japanese-American, I have always been fascinated by Japanese candy.  The packaging is so kawaii (cute) and the flavors and varieties are quite different from what is available in the United States.  When Japan Candy Box gave me the opportunity to review one of their monthly subscription boxes, I was so excited (and so were my kids!)

The box comes with a handy guide that has a description of all of the products in English.  Each box has a theme, and this month’s theme is Ice Cream Carnival!

These are the items that came in our box, along with some of our thoughts:

1. Glico Caplico Mini Ice Cream Snack

This is an ice cream snack that does not melt! It really does look like a mini ice cream cone.  The filling is interesting, like aerated frosting.

2. Coris Cola & Soda Soft Candy

I was not quite sure what to expect from this candy, which is described as a “rope shaped candy [with] two layers, one tastes like cola and the other like soda!”  I do not know what flavor “soda” is, but it tasted like Sprite or 7Up.  I cannot think of any American candy that is similar.

3. Calbee Sapporo Potato Chips BBQ Flavor

This is a light and crispy snack made from Sapporo potatoes.  The BBQ flavor is more subtle than American BBQ chips.  It is nice that they added a couple of savory snacks to the mix.

4. Fujiya Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate

It is a little strange (but fun!) to see an American company (Baskin Robbins) featured on a Japanese product.  The individually wrapped pieces of chocolate were very “melty” when we opened them so we put them in the freezer before eating.  The dark chocolate outer shell is a nice contrast to the minty sweet middle.

5. Yaokin Little Gang Popping Candy

This one is similar to Pop Rocks, but the kids liked it better because of the sour flavor.  I have never thought about putting popping candy on ice cream, but we tried it as suggested on the package.  It is definitely a party on your tongue!

6. Coris Hiyarinko Ice Gum

I am personally not a big fan of gum, but I do like penguins!  I only let my kids have gum on occasion, so this was a special treat.  These gumballs have a slightly hard outer shell and are filled with softer cooling xylitol that freshens your breath.

7. Meiji Panda Yan Yan Biscuit Sticks

The kids liked the DIY aspect of this snack.  They had fun dipping the not-too-sweet biscuit sticks (with Japanese writing!) in the chocolate and then in the sprinkles.

8. Baby Star Shinkansen Ramen Maru

The Shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan is truly a marvel to behold, but it still seems odd for it to be a featured image on packaging for a crispy noodle snack–ha!  n really liked these little savory and crunchy nuggets.

9. Koala’s March Biscuits Soft Ice Cream

We have had Koala Biscuits before, but only in flavors like chocolate and green tea.  This soft ice cream flavor is a limited edition.  We put them in the freezer before eating for the “full taste experience” as suggested in the pamphlet.  I like how the koalas come in so many designs, and the vanilla flavor did remind me of soft serve ice cream when I ate it cold.  This was my favorite item of the box!

10. Kabaya Kakigori Shaved Ice Gummies

I enjoy shaved ice, but I have never heard of shaved ice candy!  How cute are these gummy candy snow cone tops??  These soft gummies are unique and fun.  The sugar crystals make them really look like snow cones, plus they add a nice little crunch.

A subscription to Japan Candy Box would be a delightful gift to yourself, or for anyone you know who would be interested in trying out a variety of Japanese snacks and candy for $19.90 per month (with free shipping!).

Now for the exciting part…Japan Candy Box is giving away one of their boxes to one of my readers!  This giveaway is open worldwide, and is open until August 9.

 

LimByLim Japan Candy Box Giveaway

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Adorbs x 2: Cutie Stix Bracelet Collector Pack Review + Giveaway

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

I would consider both of my kids to be “makers”; they like to make things with their hands.  These Cutie Stix Friendship Collectible Bracelets packs by Maya Toys come with everything you need to make two utterly adorable bracelets.

I like how each pack makes two bracelets so that there is one to keep and one to share with a friend.  Each pack comes with two bright pink cords, two sets of clasps and a variety of Cutie Stix to collect and trade.

The recommended age is 6 years and up, but these 11 year olds enjoyed making them too!

These Cutie Stix Friendship Collectible Bracelets packs can be found at Target and retail for $4.99.  Series 2 will be launching in Fall 2018.  How cute is the Target-exclusive avocado??

These bracelet packs would be a fun summer activity, party favor, or stocking stuffer.

Maya Toys has offered to give two Cutie Stix Collectible Bracelets Packs to one of my readers!

 

 

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Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Make Your Own Ice Pops: Zipzicles Review + Giveaway

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Disclosure: Samples were provided in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Summer is in full swing, and we like to have frozen treats on hand.  It is a good idea to make your own, since a lot of store-bought frozen treats have artificial colors and flavors, not to mention high fructose corn syrup.  Have you heard of Zipzicles?  They are sealable BPA/BPS/Phthalate-free plastic pouches that let you make your own portable ice pops.

They also offer Ice Pop Sleeves to “Keep hands warm & ice pop cold”.  Ingenious.

These are the Zipzicle flavors that we made:

There are plenty of ice pop recipes that can be found on the Zipzicle website, along with Pinterest, etc.  However, we kind of just winged it with some ingredients that we thought sounded good.

n cut up the strawberries and we blended it with lemonade to make the strawberry lemonade flavor.  We did the same with some blackberries that my parents gave me from their backyard.

For the mango lemonade flavor, we used frozen mango chunks from Trader Joe’s.  So easy–no prep!

For the root beer float flavor we simply blended root beer and vanilla ice cream.  (Confession: we used “regular” root beer so there were some not-so-good-for-you ingredients in that one, but you could easily use a natural brand!)

For the cold brew coffee flavor (for D and me) we used cold brew coffee, milk and sweetened condensed milk.  The beauty is that you can make it as milky or as sweet as you like it.  This would also be a good way to use up any leftover coffee that you may have, as well.

Once we blended the ingredients, we found it easiest to use a funnel to fill the ice pop molds.  There is even a “fill line” marked on the pouch so you know when to stop. (Since liquid expands when it freezes, you don’t wan’t to overfill it!)

We froze them upright, as recommended on the website.  We just used another ice pop set that we already had but you could use a cup or anything that would hold them upright.  They did not take long to freeze–maybe a couple of hours.

So excited to have a stockpile of these Zipzicles in our freezer!

The kids had so much fun both making and eating their Zipzicles!

Zipzicles can be ordered here.  They are also available at Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart and Amazon.

I am also excited to announce that Zipzicles is offering one of my readers a chance to win their own set of ice pop molds and ice pop sleeves!

Welcome to the Summer Lovin’ Giveaway Hop brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers!

Hosted By: Mama’s Geeky & Women and Their Pretties

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

If you’re a blogger looking to connect with brands: Join The Hopping Bloggers database and get started today!
If you’re a brand looking to work with a network of professional bloggers: Check out the creative campaigns The Hopping Bloggers has to offer!

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Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Nona Lim: No Nonsense Noodle Bowls + Bone Broth [Review + Giveaway]

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

Nona Lim is yet another company that I discovered through Expo West.  Obviously, the name “Lim” immediately caught my attention, although we are not related that I know of!  I was interested in trying their line of Asian-inspired products, which are gluten-free, dairy-free, preservative-free, additive-free, low-sodium and low-sugar.

I was especially excited to try their new Noodle Bowls, which come in three flavors: Chicken Pho, Thai Coconut Lime, and Green Curry.

This is the Chicken Pho Noodle Bowl, deconstructed.

The prep could not be any easier.  Empty the noodles and broth into the paper bowl and microwave for 5 minutes.

We added some jalapenos, scallions and herbs, but you could add chicken or other vegetables for a heartier meal.

First off, the broth smelled amazing; I felt like I was in a Vietnamese restaurant!  The rice noodles turned out to have a nice texture; not too firm or mushy.  The broth had a lighter flavor than I am used to, but that is probably due to fact that it is not overloaded with sodium and MSG.  It was still delicious–I think it is good for our palates to adjust to what “clean” eating should taste like.

I was also curious about these Heat & Sip Bone Broth Cups.  The flavors include Ginseng Chicken, Vietnamese Pho Beef, Tumeric Chicken, Shiitake Beef, and Thai Coconut Lime.  I have been hearing a lot lately about the benefits of bone broth, including better digestion and healthier skin, hair, nails, joints, immune system and metabolic functions.  Sounds good to me!

In addition to the nutritional benefits, the Nona Lim Bone Broths have wonderfully complex and nuanced flavors that are warm and comforting.  I had D take the Ginseng Chicken Bone Broth to work for an afternoon pick-me-up.  It was so easy for him to heat it up in the microwave and enjoy in his office’s “hub”.

The Heat & Sip Bone Broth Cups also fit perfectly in my car’s cupholders.  I could see taking one of these along when I need nourishment on the go, which seems to be often for me these days!

Nona Lim products can be found at select markets, including Whole Foods.  Go here to find a store near you, or you can order their products online.

I am also excited to announce that Nona Lim is generously offering a $50 gift card to their online store for one of my readers!

 

 

 

 

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Food, Reviews, Sponsored

#NewHopeBloggerBox Highlights

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I received samples of these products as a New Hope Blogger. 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.

I received my second New Hope Blogger Box filled with natural products, and it did not disappoint.

Here are the products that I received, along with my opinions regarding some of the products.

  • Bellucci Organic 100% Italian On-the-Go EVOO Squeeze Packs: I have tried this brand before, and it is an excellent brand of olive oil.  The squeeze packs are convenient if you want to make salad dressing on the go, like D does at work for lunch.
  • Casa de Sante Mild Chunky Salsa: This brand does not contain any onion or garlic, which I guess some people cannot tolerate. It also does not contain any additives or preservatives. I liked that you can see and taste the real chunks of tomato in this salsa.  It was mild enough for the kids.
  • Colorado Hemp Honey Sticks
  • Crunchsters Variety Pack (Sea Salt, Smokey Balsamic, Beyond Bacon):  These were a surprise hit!  They are mung bean sprouts, and each portion provides 7 grams of protein and 5 grams of prebiotic fiber.  n especially liked the Beyond Bacon flavor.

#MOLDIV

  • Cybele’s Free to Eat Superfood Green Rotini Pasta
  • Emerald Health Bioceuticals ENDO BLISS
  • Enjoy Life Foods Crispy Grain & Seed Bars (Maple Sweet Potato): I appreciate that this brand is nut-free due to our kids’ allergies.  This flavor was interesting; I think I might like other flavors better (maybe Chocolate Marshmallow?–ha!)

  • HumanN SuperBeets Energy Plus
  • Innovix Pharma Inc. High Absorption Curcumin
  • Motherlove Herbal Company Motherlove Green Salve for bites, bumps & bruises: We tried this on some mosquito bites that n and k had and it seemed to help.
  • Nature’s Fusions Essential Oils
  • Nature’s Truth Ultra Beet Root Powder
  • Olivida Soap Company Olive Oil Soap: This is a nice soap in that it does not leave a film on your skin and the scent is subtle and not overpowering.

  • Papa Steve’s No junk Raw Protein Bar (Peanut Butter Choco Chip & Peanut Butter Crunch): These are some hefty protein bars!  I had never heard of this brand before, but I like that there is no refined sugar and 20 g of protein.  It tastes like a bar that you would make at home (if you had time!)

  • SoTru Organic Fermented Beet Powder

So, those are some of my thoughts for this round of products.  Can’t wait to see what is in the next one!

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Giveaways, Restaurant Reviews, Sponsored

Not Your Ordinary Fast Food Burger: The Habit Burger Grill + Giveaway

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Disclosure: A gift card was provided to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own.

When our family wants to go out for a casual meal, we have a handful of “go-to” places.  One of those places is The Habit Burger Grill.  It is definitely a step-up from fast food, but the prices are still reasonable.  You order at the counter and they give you a pager that lights up when your food is ready.  The service that we had was very friendly and sufficiently efficient considering that the restaurant was pretty crowded when we went.

The original Habit Burger Grill opened in Santa Barbara in 1969.  Since then it has been steadily expanding and they now have locations from California to Dubai!  See locations here.

It is evident that The Habit is more than just another regular hamburger joint by their drink selection.  Sure, they have the normal self-serve soda machine offerings, but they also have agua frescas and other unique drinks for the same price of a fountain drink, with free refills.  We tried both the Peach & Ginger Nectar (peach puree, fresh ginger, lime juice and fresh basil) and the Strawberry Limeade (strawberry puree, limeade, and fresh cucumber slices) (large drink, $2.19).  The signs say that these drinks are handmade daily, and we could definitely taste the freshness!

We ate a late lunch that day, so we could not wait to dig in.

The kids’ usual order is the Charburger with cheese ($4.19).  It comes with lettuce, caramelized onions (yum!), pickles, and mayo on a toasted bun.  I appreciate that they grill their patties over an open flame (hence, the “burger grill” part of their name).

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We usually split an order of fries and onion rings.  Their fries are pretty good, but I really enjoy their onion rings.  The batter is not too thick or thin, stays on the onion, and adds a lot of crunch and flavor ($2.59).

For this visit, we decided to try the tempura green beans ($2.99).  The batter was more flavorful than I expected, and the green beans still had a nice snap.  They went really well with the ranch dipping sauce.

The Santa Barbara Cobb Salad ($8.19) has iceberg and romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, bacon and egg, tossed in a red wine vinaigrette, with grilled chicken breast.  This salad is definitely a filling meal!  Sometimes D and I like to split a salad and a Charburger or sandwich so we can get more veggies in.

The Santa Barbara Char is a Double Char with cheese and avocado on grilled sourdough bread ($6.39).

The kids split this one this time, and it was enough!  The grilled sourdough bread and avocado really elevate this burger.

I like the “California active lifestyle” vibe going on with the decor.

For dessert, we treated the kids to their $1 vanilla soft serve cones.  This was our first time trying out the ice cream, and it was a sweet way to end our meal!  We have yet to try their shakes.  Maybe next time…

Have you been to The Habit?  What do you like to order there?

Thank you to The Habit, for generously offering a $25 gift card to one of my readers!

 

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Reviews, Sponsored

Telestrations: Large Group Laughs! #Telestrations #usaopoly #tryazon

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Disclosure: Tryazon provided us a free product in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.

It can be difficult to find a game that is fun with a large group of people.  Telestrations is one of those games!  It is a combination of the game Telephone and Pictionary.

There are two versions: 8 player and 12 player.

As you can see, the game comes with everything you need to play.  I like that the dry erase pens and the cleaning cloths work really well in conjunction with the individual sketch books.

Each player starts with a word from the cards and sketches it.  The players pass the sketchbooks after one minute and then guess what the word is.  Then they sketch their guess, and pass it until everyone ends up with their original sketchbook.  It is hilarious to look through the sketchbook to see how the pictures evolved.

This would be a good icebreaker game because there is not a lot of pressure on each individual player.  Everyone is drawing at the same time, with a lot of laughs at the end.  I also like that emphasis is not so much about winning as it is about having fun!

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.

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Creating a Brand: StickerYou Review + Giveaway

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

As you may have noticed, recently I have been working a lot on improving and promoting this blog.  At the beginning of this year, I had business cards made, which is important for blogger conferences and face to face interactions.  I have been thinking that it would also be nice to have some other LimByLim branded items that I could use as a conversation starter (“LIMBYLIM? What’s that?”) So when StickerYou contacted me about trying out some of their products, I knew it was the perfect opportunity.

StickerYou offers a wide array of products that can be personalized, including stickers, labels, temporary tattoos, magnets, decals, etc. You can upload your own images to the site or use their templates.  The possibilities are truly endless.

Here is one of my LimByLim refrigerator magnets:

I also made glossy white vinyl labels, which are durable, waterproof, and have a removable adhesive.

I used the label to make a personalized thermos!

I also ordered iron-ons and personalized this tote bag.  I think I need to make a LimByLim t-shirt too!

StickerYou makes products that are useful for small businesses as well as for personal use.  For example, my mom is a talented cook, so I thought she would appreciate these food labels.

Wouldn’t these make nice Christmas gifts?

How about making labels for kids so that their things do not end up in the Lost and Found?

I am excited to announce that StickerYou is also offering one of my readers a $50 promo code to use on their site!  What would you make?

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Reviews, Sponsored

Desert Essence Restored My Hair #momsmeet #desertessence

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I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

Desert Essence is a line of body, skin, and hair care products that has been around since 1978.  Their hair care products are made from natural ingredients such as Jojoba and coconut oils, aloe, and saw palmetto.

The Anti-Breakage Shampoo and Conditioner contains a special formula of Keratin and Pro-Vitamin B5 to fortify each strand and minimize the breakage that causes split ends.

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I recently dyed my hair for the very first time because my grays were really beginning to multiply.  I like the color of the balayage, but I notice that now my hair can tend to look and feel frizzy and brittle.  The Desert Essence hair products that I tried restored my hair’s shine and moisture!

 

To find Desert Essence Shampoo and Conditioner in your area, visit: desertessence.com/store-locator. Get 20% off Anti-Breakage and Smoothing Hair Care Products on desertessence.com with the promo code DELovesMomsMeet

 

 

 

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