Reviews, Sponsored

Kill Germs And Preserve Good Bacteria With Desert Essence Hand Sanitizer

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Disclosure: 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

I currently work in a kindergarten classroom, and as a result I have become hyper-aware of all the germs that my hands come in contact with. Consequently, I have been trying to wash my hands more frequently and have not caught anything yet (*knocks on wood*). I have been also trying to use hand sanitizer more often, as it is not always possible to wash my hands in the middle of classroom time. Therefore, I was excited to try a line of probiotic hand sanitizers from Desert Essence.

The Desert Essence Hand Sanitizer comes in three scents:

My favorite scent is the Tea Tree Oil & Lemongrass–so refreshing and uplifting!

I have heard various warnings about using anti-bacterial products, since they usually kill both good and bad bacteria. However, the Desert Essence hand sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs, while delivering “good bacteria” found in Kefir, which nourishes and conditions the skin. This hand sanitizer also uses natural ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil, Thyme, Elderberry and Echinacea to help reduce bacteria.

I also like how these hand sanitizers come in a mini size, which is perfect for taking with you on the go.

Use promo code DEprobioticpower and receive 30% off Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizers when visiting desertessence.com. Visit https://www.desertessence.com/store-locator for a full list of locations.

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Crafts, Giveaways, Sponsored

Gift A Green Kid Crafts Box To Your Favorite STEAM Kid

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

I am loving all of the different subscription boxes that are available these days. Green Kid Crafts is a company that offers a wide variety of STEAM-focused boxes for kids ages 2-10.

We had the opportunity to review the Soaring Into Flight box. This box is full of fun projects, including:

  • Homemade Hovercraft
  • Bernoulli’s Experiment
  • Wooden Airplane Kit
  • Glider Kit
  • DIY Paper Airplane Kit (with 3 different designs)
  • Dragonfly Spinner Kit

The box also includes a booklet that has instructions for the projects, as well as kid-friendly scientific explanations regarding how they work.

n always enjoys making paper airplanes. I like how this kit challenges kids to make a “control” airplane and then modify the other airplanes to show how the center of balance and stabilizers can change the flight pattern.

Another project in this box has kids compare the flight distance of a glider, dragonfly spinner and a wooden plane. The project includes a measuring tape, and the booklet has a log to record data.

n’s favorite project in this box is the homemade hovercraft . We had actually recently seen a demonstration of this project, but we did not have all of the necessary supplies. I like how this box includes everything you need for each project–instant gratification!

Green Kid Crafts offers monthly subscriptions, as well as individual boxes with various themes that range from music to chemistry to animals. Keep this site in mind when shopping for gifts that are both educational and fun!

Green Kid Crafts is generously offering my readers the chance to win a 3- month subscription!

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Book Review, House, Sponsored

M.O.M. Master Organizer of Mayhem Book Review

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book 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.

Organizing my house and life seems to be a never-ending battle. When I came across this book, M.O.M. Master Organizer of Mayhem, the title immediately spoke to me. Mayhem is the perfect word to describe the state of my house on many days. I have read countless books about organizing that offer various tips, but the difficult part is actually implementing them on a consistent basis.

Kristi Clover, the author of M.O.M., offers her organization advice in three phases. Phase I is about “Ten Simple Rules That Will Change Your Home Life”. Phase II talks about six “Systems That Will Make Your Home Efficient”. Phase III is entitled, “Bringing It All Together to Create a Home You Love!”

Clover’s advice is based on first-hand experience regarding what has worked for her own busy household. However, I like how she emphasizes that every family has different needs and phases of life. She does not claim that there are certain organizing techniques that work for everyone. She encourages the reader to persist through the trial and error phase and not give up altogether. One little tip that I am trying with my own family is to write out a list of to-dos for each family member instead of constantly nagging. It will be interesting to see if it works in the next few weeks! If you are looking for inspiration to kick-start an organized life, M.O.M. Master Organizer of Mayhem is a good place to start.

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Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Cozy Up With a Cup of Chai Using Zulay Kitchen Tools

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Disclosure: I received sample products 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.

I am so excited to welcome the first week of fall! Although it seems like I will have to wait a few more weeks for the temperatures to cool down around here, I am looking forward to cozy afternoons at home with a warm drink in hand. One of my favorite hot drinks (other than coffee, of course!) is chai tea. The following is a simple tutorial for chai tea using a couple of handy kitchen tools from Zulay Kitchen.

Pictured here are the Zulay Kitchen Milk Boss Electric Milk Frother and Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher. I had so much fun testing out these high-quality kitchen tools-they made me feel like a real barista! Both the milk frother and pitcher can be used to make various drinks, including coffee, matcha, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate. and chai tea.

Chai Tea Tutorial

First, make a chai tea mix using sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom (exact recipe below).

Store the chai tea mix in a labelled air-tight container to keep on hand in the cupboard.

Brew a strong cup of your favorite black tea.

Measure out cold milk (could also be warm) in a frothing pitcher. The measurements inside the Zulay Frothing Pitcher are quite useful!

Froth the milk using the Zulay Milk Boss Electric Milk Frother. This battery-operated frother could not be easier to use. I also like that it comes with its own stand.

Within a few seconds, you will have a small pitcher full of frothy milk!

Top off your cup of tea with the foamy milk.

Enjoy your cup of chai tea!

Instant Chai Tea Mix Recipe

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. ground cardamom

1/2 t. ground cloves

Stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Store the mix in an air-tight container.

Brew a cup of black tea. Add 1-2 teaspoons of the Instant Chai Tea Mix to the cup of tea (depending on how sweet you want it) and stir well. Froth 1/4 c. of milk (can be hot or cold) and top off the cup of tea with some of the frothy milk (this should be enough frothy milk for two cups of tea). Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Check out some of the other innovative kitchen products that Zulay Kitchen offers here.

Giveaway Time

I am excited to announce that one of my readers has the opportunity to win a Zulay Kitchen Milk Boss Electric Milk Frother & Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher!

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Crafts, Family Field Trips, Sponsored

Celebrate Fall & Support Local Artists At A Harvest Festival Near You

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Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Our Family’s Experience At The Costa Mesa Harvest Festival Art & Craft Show

This past weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to visit the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show in Costa Mesa. The event took place at the OC Fair & Event Center. This was our first time, so we were not quite sure what to expect.

Upon arrival, we saw that there were two large halls with vendors selling a wide variety of products. (Unfortunately, there was a sign prohibiting photographs of the merchandise, so I cannot post any pictures of the booths). There were vendors selling a wide variety of unique handmade products. We saw everything from massage pillows to baked goods to wreaths to clothing and jewelry.

Between the two halls there were food stalls and family entertainment.

The booth that ended up catching our eye (or maybe it was more like our nose?) was Thru The Garden Window. This company sells lovely handmade wreaths, garlands, and potpourri with dehyrdated fruit, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks. We ended up purchasing an Orange Blossom Garland. I love how it adds a touch of fall to our staircase, and the warm citrus/spicy scent is an added bonus.

Shopping at arts and craft shows like this is a great way to support local artists. Plus, they offer products that you will not find at the big box stores. Keep this show in mind if you want to kickstart your holiday shopping!

Ventura Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show Is Coming Up October 4-6!

For the real deal in handmade handiworks, don’t miss the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds October 4-6, featuring more than 24,000 original creations from hundreds of trend-setting artisans and crafters.

Festivities will be in high gear for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Ventura showcase, a treasured tradition recognized as the west coast’s largest and most prestigious indoor showcase, with live entertainment, strolling performers, mouth-watering foods, a Kidzone and pumpkin patch, contests, crafter demonstrations, and more.

Live entertainment adds to the festivities with entertainer Captain Jack Spareribs and the Hyjinx Band, joined by the Jack Kalvan Jugglers and other strolling performers.

Rancho Ventura Conservation Trust hosts a nature interactive in conjunction with the pumpkin patch, co-sponsored by Green Thumb Nursery. The Ventura County Star is the official newspaper. The annual Grand Prize Giveaway is a $200 Amazon gift card (register to win on site at the event).

General admission tickets are $9, Seniors (62+) and military are $7, Youths ages 13-17 are $4, and kids 12 and under are FREE. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Hours are Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm; and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Go here to get $2 OFF your entry:

https://bit.ly/2L0NEXa

To see a full a list of Harvest Festivals near you, visit: https://www.harvestfestival.com

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Book Review, Sponsored

Nice: Why We Love To Be Liked And How God Calls Us To More {Review}

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review.

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.

Before reading Nice: Why We Love To Be Liked And How God Calls Us To More, I never really thought about being “nice” as a problem. However, according to the author, Sharon Hodde Miller, God did not call us to be merely nice people. Miller explains how niceness can become an idol, and defines niceness as “the ways we make ourselves pleasant, agreeable, acceptable, or likable in order to get something.” When a Christian’s ultimate goal is to be “nice”, Miller shows how the result can be inauthenticity, corruption, cowardice, cynicism, self-righteousnes, or sentimentality.

Miller is careful to emphasize that as Christians, we are still called to kindness, gentleness and love. In no way is she advocating that we abandon niceness in favor of harshness, meanness, mud-slinging or name-calling. I really admire how the author is able to weave personal stories as well as stories from the Bible to illustrate the ways in which striving to be “nice” can actually lead to strife. Nice is a book that really made me reevaluate my own motives and ultimate goals for being nice. I would encourage anyone who thinks of themselves as a “nice” person to read this book and see if it challenges his or her notions of niceness as well.

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Reviews, Sponsored

At-Home Coffeehouse Experience With Keurig K-Duo Essentials Coffee Maker

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Disclosure: 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.

I have been in the market for a new coffee maker for a while now, so I was super excited to have the chance to review the Keurig® K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker. The one feature I really like about this coffee maker is that it allows you to brew both a carafe of coffee with grounds, as well as an individual cup using K-cup pods. Therefore, it is good for daily use as an individual and for those occasions when there are multiple guests to serve.

This is one good-looking machine! A well-designed coffee machine is important since it is usually constantly on display on the kitchen counter.

This machine is simple to operate. There are not too many buttons to over-complicate things. For the carafe, there is a choice between 8, 10 or 12 cups, and for the K-cup pods, you can choose between 8, 10 or 12 ounces. There is a large 60 oz. water reservoir in the back that automatically dispenses the amount of water according to the size you choose. The water heated up quickly and to the perfect temperature for my taste. If you like your coffee strong, choose the 8 ounce option!

I had fun setting up my own little fall-themed coffee cart to accompany our new coffee maker. I like to add a little flavored syrup and foamy milk to my coffee when I am feeling “fancy”. Do you like to add anything extra to your coffee, or do you drink it black?

The Keurig® K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker can be purchased exclusively on Walmart’s website for $99, which I think is a reasonable price point for a machine like this. Click here or visit momsmeet.link/keurig.

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Teach Tech With Zivko The Robot: Review + Giveaway

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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.

My ten year old son is a big fan of building things with his hands. He especially likes the Snap Circuit sets (like this one), which emphasize STEM skills. When I found out that Elenco, the company behind Snap Circuits has a new line of Teach Tech robots, I knew they would be something he would be interested in.

Elenco sent us Zivko the Robot to test and review. Zivko the Robot is a Hexiped robot that introduces kids to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

When we opened up the box, I have to admit that the amount of little parts seemed a little overwhelming to me. However, n was up to the challenge and went right to work. He was able to put Zivko together without my help, but it was a challenge for him (which is a good thing!) This kit is recommended for ages 10 and up, and I can see why.

Zivko operates in two modes, “follow” or “explore”. When Zivko is in follow mode, it will follow you around like a pet. When Zivko is in explore mode, it is able to explore on its own and avoid obstacles along the way. With all of its lights and sounds, Zivko does have a personality of his own. I like how the learning continues even after Zivko is fully assembled.

The Zivko The Robot is available on Amazon, along with other members of the Elenco Teach Tech Robot family. Gift-giving season is just around the corner, so keep these robots in mind for the STEM-loving kids you know!

GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway below to win Zivko The Robot!

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Food, Reviews, Sponsored

Fit FITCRUNCH Into Your Snacking Routine

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Disclosure: 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.

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.

If you watch the Food Network at all, you have probably seen Chef Robert Irvine on one of many shows, including Chopped and Worst Cooks in America. Well, did you know that he has also created a snack called FITCRUNCH Cheddar Cheese High Protein Puffs?

These high protein puffs are loaded with 20 grams of protein, which is 40% of the recommended daily value. They also contain only 2 g of Total Carbohydrates. The ingredients include milk protein isolate, sunflower oil, whey solids and cheddar cheese.

These FITCRUNCH puffs look similar to other cheese puffs that you may find at the store. However, they are made with actual milk and cheese, and no artificial colors. Both my kids and I loved them at first bite! They are cheesy, light and crispy, and are great to snack on straight from the bag. Other suggested uses are to add them in salads, soups, tacos, wraps, etc.

Save $5 when you purchase FITCRUNCH Cheddar Cheese High Protein Puffs on Amazon with the promo code 50FF4FITMOM. Offer ends Novemer 14, 2019.

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Reviews, Sponsored

Kawaii in a Box: Yume Twins Review

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

This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Yume Twins is a subscription box dedicated to Japanese cuteness. I received the August 2019 box, and the theme was “Totoro Picnic”. Totoro is a popular Japanese anime character created by Hayao Miyazaki. It has been a while since I watched “My Neighbor Totoro”, but the character has become an icon.

I was quite impressed with the contents of the box:

  • My Neighbor Totoro Lunch Box Set (comes with two lunch boxes!)
  • My Neighbor Totoro Cup
  • My Neighbor Totoro Mini Towel Set
  • My Neighbor Totoro Bamboo Chopsticks
  • My Neighbor Totoro Picnic Sheet

I like how all of these items are practical and cute at the same time.

I am always on the lookout for cute food containers, and these Totoro boxes are a great size to take on the go. The Totoro chopsticks are also fun. k can’t wait to bring them to school for her lunch!

The Yume Twins subscription box would make a wonderful gift for anyone who appreciates everything kawaii!

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