Keep Healthy Snack Bars Review

I homeschool, but still love to have snacks on hand at home and traveling when my family members get a little peckish. I try to find snacks that are healthy and wholesome, but sometimes I cave into my cravings and the kids want for sugary sweets and unhealthy confections. I am only human! Fortunately I was given the opportunity to try something in the snack food world that is good for my family.

Keep Healthy Inc. is a company that produces healthy snack bars. Their bars have no artificial ingredients or preservatives. The ingredient list on each bar is short and sweet. Every ingredient is pronounceable and fairly simple! All of their bars are gluten free, Non-GMO, kosher, and made in the USA. They also do not use refined sugar or high fructose syrup - just fruit and nuts. I love that these are easily packed in a lunch or on-the-go snack when we have field trips and outings. There are 6 different types of bars including: Original Date Bars, Chocolate Covered Date Bars, Original Fruitkies Bars, Chocolate Fruitkies Bars, Organic Protein Bars, and Organic Low Glycemic Bars. Keep Healthy is also a proud sponsor of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. 2% of sales are donated with a minimum donation of $10,000 in 2016/2017.

Some of the Keep Healthy variety of snack bars.

Keep Healthy Inc. sent me a variety pack of 16 individually wrapped bars to try. In it each bar was a different flavor...so as you can imagine I didn't have time to try them all. Every bar I did sample (which was actually quite a few) was really yummy though.

The Original Date Bars have a base of dates, the fruit superfood that is high in fiber and antioxidants. Dates are also great for anti-inflamatory benefits.These are all gluten, dairy, and GMO free. Includes 4 delicious varieties to try including: Apple Walnut, Apricot Coconut, Cashew Date, and Pecan Date. I loved the Apple Walnut one the most from this section.

The Keep Healthy Chocolate Covered Apricot Coconut Date Bar is my absolute favorite!!

The Chocolate Covered Date Bars are their original date bars covered in dairy free chocolate. Includes four delicious varieties to try: Chocolate Covered Apple Walnut, Chocolate Covered Apricot Coconut, Chocolate Covered Cashew Date, and Chocolate Covered Pecan Date. I love chocolate, so these were my favorites out of the date bars and my absolute favorite was the Chocolate Covered Apricot Coconut.

The Original Fruitkies Bars have only three kinds of ingredients: fruit, nuts, and brown crisps. These are in their health bar section because the sugar is lower than the snack bars. Still they are sweet enough to gratify the hankering for other things. These come in 9 delicious flavors which include: Blueberry Pecan, Cherry Fig, Cherry Walnut, Cranberry Pumpkinseed, Macadamia Date, Mango Almond, Papaya Cashew, Pineapple Coconut, and Strawberry Apple. I love the Pineapple Coconut and Mango Almond one. So delicious!

The Chocolate Fruitkies Bars are better for you than any regular candy bar or cookie. They are so luscious and guilt free! They come in 8 flavors including: Chocolate Covered Apricot, Chocolate Covered Blueberry, Chocolate Covered Cherry, Chocolate Covered Cranberry, Chocolate Covered Mango, Chocolate Covered Papaya, Chocolate Covered Pineapple, and Chocolate Covered Strawberry. I got to try the pineapple and mango one. Both were really yummy!

The Organic Protein Bars are new to the Keep Healthy Health Bar collection. Each provide 15 grams of plant based protein.These are a great to replenish protein right after a workout. These are also USDA organic as well. There are 6 flavors including: Almond Vanilla Crisp, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Chocolate Cherry Crunch, Chocolate Coconut, Chocolate Fudge, and Strawberry Banana Crisp. I love the Apple Cinnamon Crisp the most out of the ones I received.

Delbin enjoying the Keep Healthy Banana Nut Organic Low Glycemic Bar.

My oldest son, Delbin, has Type 1 Diabetes, so when he has a low blood sugar I like to have healthy snacks on hand that will supply him with the proper things he needs. I hate having only sugar-filled or overly processed snacks to offer him. Keep Healthy Bars have the perfect bars for his low blood sugars and they also have Organic Low Glycemic Bars that won't radically change his blood glucose levels. These particular bars help him be fueled with all natural, plant based ingredients and keep his blood sugar stable. Besides diabetics watching their levels, these bars are great for Great for: busy lifestyles, the sugar conscious, weight management, and before or after a workout (12 grams of plant based protein!).There are 5 different flavors of the Low Glycemic Bars including: Banana Nut, Chocolate Cherry Mint, Coconut Crunch, Lemon Zest, and Sea Salt Brownie. My favorite of these was the Coconut Crunch and Lemon Zest.

Keep Healthy Snack Bar Varieties.

I love these snack and health bars. Keep Healthy Inc. offers a wonderful variety of yummy flavors that you are sure to love. These are perfect to satisfy those cravings and energize you throughout the day. They are the perfect snack without the guilt and great to refuel your kids for an after school snack or brain food if you homeschool.

BUY IT
You can purchase the bars from the online store on Keep Healthy Inc.'s website. A box of 16 bars is $23.84 to $39.84 depending upon which bars you select.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Garden Lites SuperFood Veggie Cakes Now at Northwest Costco Stores! Garden Lites Review

Garden Lites are delicious and healthy snacks, muffins, and entrees that are packed with vegetables as the first and main ingredient. These nutrient-rich, heart-healthy foods are vegetarian and GMO free. A lot of their products are also gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, and/or allergen free (look at packaging to make sure). Most do contain eggs. Look for Garden Lites at many stores across the US in the refrigerated section, including local to me stores like: New Seasons Market, Whole Foods Market, Target, Walmart, and now Costco!!

Garden Lites products we received.

We got to try Garden Lites: SuperFood Veggie Cakes, Chocolate Muffins, and Blueberry Oat Muffins. I love the fact that they are all easy to heat up and take with you on-the-go. These are also great for a snack or side dish. These were all very yummy and I'd definitely buy them if I saw them in the store.

Garden Lites SuperFood Veggie Cakes are small veggie-rich cakes that are only 100 calories per cake and have a Weight Watchers PointsPlus value of 3. These are vegetarian, GMO free, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free. Like all Garden Lites, vegetables are their first ingredient. They are packed with a super food veggie blend of carrot, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, onion, red bell pepper, and zucchini! These are available exclusively at Costco in the refrigerated section as a box of 12 veggie cakes. These should be kept refrigerated or frozen until eaten.

I found these very tasty and easy to make. Since it has been hot here and the oven heats up my house my preferred method was popping them in the microwave for about 25 seconds. You can also cook them in the oven or toaster oven on 250 degrees on a baking sheet for 12 minutes. These cakes reminded me of a Japanese recipe I have made in the past called Okonomiyaki (vegetable pancakes) or a vegetable filled quiche/souffle. I love these for breakfast, snack, or with a meal. I can easily pack them for lunches when my family goes on outings too. I love how healthy and delicious these are and that I can understand all the ingredients on the packaging.

Garden Lites SuperFood Veggie Cakes and Muffins.

Garden Lites Muffins come in a assortment of flavors with seven different variations. These are great at getting vegetables into your family's diet without compromising the flavor and if your kids are picky eaters these might just be the ticket to a healthier snack alternative. Comes individually wrapped in BPA free plastic and the box contains 4-6 muffins depending upon the variety. These should be kept frozen until eaten.

We got to try their Chocolate Muffins and Blueberry Oat Muffins. They are both packed with fresh zucchini and carrots. They are both: a good source of fiber (3g) and whole grains (5g), vegetarian, GMO free, allergy-friendly, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free. At 120 calories per muffin these have a Weight Watchers PointsPlus value of 3. These have 4 muffins per package and are easy to pop in the microwave bag and all on high for 10 seconds if defrosted or 35 seconds if frozen (although microwaves do vary and mine seemed to want an additional 10-35 seconds so the middle wasn't still cold). You can also defrost at room temperature for about 4 hours if you aren't in a hurry to eat them right away.

The Chocolate Muffins are similar to lava cakes I've eaten. They are moist with a gooey center of melted semi-sweet chocolate chips. The very first two ingredients are zucchini and carrots and you can hardly taste them! They are hidden and you won't even know they're there. My kids and I liked them and ate 'em up.

The Blueberry Oat Muffins are delicious and moist with plump blueberries filled inside. You can see the shredded carrots and zucchini if you look, but these are delicious anyway. They also have gluten-free oats in them along with other gluten free ingredients. My kids and I liked these best because blueberries are one of our favorite berries!

SOCIAL • CORNER
Go to the Garden Lites website to see what other products they have.
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BUY IT
You can now find the Garden Lites SuperFood Veggie Cakes at Costco Stores across the country, including Texas, the Southeast, the Southwest, the Northwest and the Northeast regions. You can order these online if you live in the Continental US with free shipping at Healthy Goodness. You can also locate a store near you to purchase the other Garden Lites products.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Trudeau Valentine's Day Review and Tips For a Perfect Breakfast In Bed

Heart shaped chocolates made with Trudeau chocolate molds. Heart shaped egg and pancake made with Trudeau Egg Ring.

I received the Trudeau products free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The best way to make Valentine's Day super special this year is making your loved one breakfast in bed. Your loved one will appreciate being catered to while being able to sleep in. Nothing is better than waking up to the smell of something yummy cooking in the kitchen! Go ahead, spoil your significant other rotten and don't overlook this treat!

Sometimes it is hard to get up early and keep it a surprise, though. I have some tips below that will help with making the breakfast in bed perfect. Making the breakfast with Trudeau's kitchen gadgets makes it more fun and even more extra special too because it is all in the little details that counts!

Tips to Make Breakfast in Bed Perfect:

• Timing is Important: Make sure your loved one doesn't have to eat and run. It is better to pick a time and day that they have plenty of time to leisurely enjoy breakfast in bed and savor the experience.
• Get a Bed Tray: Buy a tray with sides so that the food will stay contained and not spill onto the bed or floor. One that has folding legs is nice as well so that the food will be raised up off of the person's lap. It is easier to eat this way. You can also use a small laptop desk if you can't find a tray.
• Presentation is Everything: It is the little things that make it extra special for someone else. Get out the fine china and pretty silverware. Use flowers as decoration: a single flower on the tray, flower petals sprinkled around the plate, edible flowers (you could even get crystallized candied edible flowers or make your own) placed on the plate. Use cloth napkins: You can fold these into all kinds of fun romantic shapes and some come in pretty floral or heart patterns. Make a card with a nice note on it or menu of the food to go with the meal. Decorate with a pretty placemat, paper doilies and/or confetti. Use heart shaped containers like bowls, reusable cupcake liners, etc. Sometimes the food can be formed or cut out into romantic shapes too!
• Know What You Are Making For Breakfast: There are a lot of great choices out there and it does help to know your partner's favorites. Plan ahead and make sure you have all the ingredients, etc. before the big surprise. Don't forget the salt and pepper or cream and sugar, if needed.
• Prepare the Breakfast Like a Ninja: If you sleep in the same bed as your partner get up early and sneak away stealthily. If they wake have a good excuse to make sure they go back to sleep. Make the breakfast as quietly as possible so you don't wake your partner prematurely. Sometimes you can also chop or mix the ingredients the night before. If you don't want them spoiling the surprise you can also put a towel in the crack under the bedroom door so they won't smell the evidence. Also try to clean up any messes before they are served so you can spend time with them and not kill the mood by having a messy kitchen.
• Serve Drinks Only ¾ Full: Pouring beverages, especially the hot ones, ¾ of the way full will make sure they are not easily spilled when the tray is in transit.
• Make Them Comfortable: When bringing the tray of food to your love, set it aside so you can prepare their area. Puff up the pillows and add extra pillows so they can sit up comfortably in bed. Straighten out the covers so that the tray can be on a flat surface. Add a towel, folded table cloth, or small blanket under the tray when you place it to catch any crumbs.
• Get Them In The Mood: Play some nice music, give them a good book or the morning paper to read, watch a favorite show on TV, or just have a nice conversation while they eat.
• Clean Up After: After they are done with their breakfast pamper them by taking the tray and cleaning up. While doing the dishes run a luxurious bath for them to relax in. While they are enjoying that don't forget to make the bed too.

4-Inch Silicone Egg Ring, Red Heart:
This Heart Shaped Egg Ring is made of non-stick, heat resistant (up to 428°F-220°C), and and BPA free silicone and is top rack dishwasher safe. This also doesn't scratch your pans like the metal egg rings. It is wonderful for making 4-inch diameter heart shaped eggs (use large or extra large eggs) and pancakes! These work better to if you make sure the Trudeau logo is right side up because the lip on one side is thicker than the other and it is easily flipped around. The thicker edge on the bottom helps with keeping the egg and pancake inside the ring. Also, since it is 4-inches it is slightly too big for a piece of bread or English muffin. The adjustable, metal bar grip handle is great so that you can lift the ring up without burnt fingers after one side is done to be able to flip the egg or pancake over. It also swings around so that you can place it flat in a drawer. 5 year warranty. - MSRP $5.99

Set of 3 Chocolate Silicone Molds, Heart Shaped:
These chocolate heart molds have 15 cavities each and come in a set of 3 in different colors. They are made from flexible, heat resistant  (up to 428°F-220°C), and BPA free European grade silicone that is easy to clean and are top rack dishwasher safe. These effortlessly release the chocolate from each heart shaped cavity. Great for making chocolates, ice hearts, gelatin/homemade fruit snacks/gummies, candies, small candle/wax crayon melts, soap samples, etc. I used my double broiler pot to melt the dark chocolate melts and butterscotch chips. I had fun experimenting and swirled the two in some, layered them in others, and put red hots in some of them too. My kids had fun helping as well. These are super easy to use. Approx mold size; 2.5cm/1" diameter each x 1.5cm/0.5" deep. – MSRP $11.99

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BUY IT
You can purchase all items from Trudeau.  Or you can help me out by purchasing on Amazon with my affiliate links. Thanks...


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Mrs. Cavanuagh's Chocolates Review

This review is sponsored by Mrs. Cavanuagh's through USFG.

I love getting chocolates as a gift, but really, who doesn't? Mrs.Cavanaugh's Famous Chocolates have been a family owned and operated business since 1964 and proudly made in the USA. I received 1 LB (a box of assorted chocolates and 4 different bars) of Mrs.Cavanaugh's Famous Chocolates FREE with FREE shipping to try out and review on my blog. These were all scrumptious! You can tell they package these with love.

The boxed chocolates was their 9oz Most Famous Milk and Dark Chocolates (Mixed Chocolates). They came in a fancy gold and burgundy box. These fine chocolates also came with a sheet that said what each chocolate was if you didn't want to be surprised. The boxed chocolates are to swoon for! They are really the best boxed chocolates I have had! I was so pleased with the quality and variety. This assortment is great for everybody who loves chocolate confectioneries because of its wonderful variety of dark, milk, and white chocolates as well as ones with nuts and other fillings. My favorites in the boxed chocolates were the coconut ones.

I received 4 bars: Milk Chocolate Mindy Mint, Milk Chocolate Caramel, Dark Chocolate Roasted Almond, and White Chocolate Almond Coconut. These were very crunchy and chewy. I don't care for white chocolate too much, but I liked it with the coconut and almonds. My favorite out of the bars, though, was the dark chocolate one. I love dark chocolate the best and wish this one was the coconut one instead of the white chocolate.

My readers receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates use promo code: usfamily2014 http://www.mrscavanaughs.com/

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this complimentary chocolate as part of my participation in The US Family Guide Blogging program. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. No other compensation was received.

Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates Offer

US Family Guide provided me with this promotional information and giveaway to share with my readers. I am getting something for free in return for posting this information.

Time was when Marie Cavanaugh spent hours in her South Dakota farmhouse each Christmas season making pecan rolls and homemade chocolates for holiday gifting.

"It started when my aunt sent her pecan-rolls recipe," Mrs. Cavanaugh recalled. "I gave the recipe my own touch and started making the yummy specialties. Then I began dipping chocolates. Our friends and neighbors loved these treats, encouraging me to start a candy business. Finally, I decided it might be a good idea.'"

Her husband George and children Carla, Lorraine, Calvin, Colene and Genise rallied, helping Mrs. Cavanaugh fill demands for her homemade sweets.

...In 1972, the family moved to Utah, leaving good friends and their beloved cattle ranch.

"It was a difficult decision, especially for George," Mrs. Cavanaugh said. "He was excited about making our new venture, which we chose to call Mrs. Cavanaugh's Candies, a great success. We felt Utah was blessed with good chocolates and that we would enjoy - and could compete with - those who pride themselves on making excellent chocolates."

Millions of pounds of chocolates later, Mrs. Cavanaugh's candies have earned a reputation for unquestionable excellence....

Ask chocolate aficionados. They will direct those seeking the best chocolates to the popular Mrs. Cavanaugh's Candies.

My readers receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates use promo code: usfamily2014 http://www.mrscavanaughs.com/

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates Offer I am getting 1 LB of Mrs.Cavanaugh's Famous Chocolates FREE with FREE shipping. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free chocolate. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Dark Chocolate Multigrain #Cheerios Cereal Review #PlatefullCoOp #spon

The information and product have been provided free by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. to facilitate this review.

Introducing new Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios®! With a touch of rich dark chocolate taste in every bite, new Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios® cereal offers a perfect balance of multigrain goodness and a delicious touch of chocolate taste in every bite.

These are naturally flavored with real cocoa. It is packed with 5 whole grains (whole grain corn, whole wheat, whole grain oats, whole grain barley, whole grain rice). It has 110 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 9g Sugar, and 15g Whole Grain per Serving (All Cheerios cereal varieties have at least 14 grams of whole grain per serving. At least 48 grams recommended daily.)

My kids and I loved this new Multigrain Cheerios! It is perfect for the chocolate lover and Cheerio lover in all of us. I loved the combination of the Cheerios with chocolate clusters that crunch with every bite.

I am not sure if these, like regular Cheerios, are becoming GMO free, but I would love it if General Mills products all became healthier for all of us. I applause General Mills for making regular Cheerios GMO free and I hope that they do not stop there.

Cheerios.com | Like Cheerios on Facebook

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: The information and prize pack have been provided free by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. I received products and information for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review and promo.

Newman's Own Organics Treats and Snack Food Review and Giveaway

When Nell Newman and business partner Peter Meehan started Newman’s Own® Organics: The Second Generation® in 1993, they were sure there was a market for organic snack foods, but they couldn’t have anticipated just how fast the demand for their products would grow. What started with pretzels and grew to include other snack foods has now expanded to many other organic items: coffee, tea, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, organic dried fruit, and pet food. The partners anticipate adding a number of new items each year in all these areas. Newman’s Own® Organics’ products meet all the requirements of the USDA’s National Organic Program.

The sale of Newman’s Own Organics products generates money for the Newman’s Own Foundation to give away. Since 1982 Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation have donated more than $350 million dollars to educational and charitable organizations worldwide.

Our Thoughts:
We received a large box of snack foods and treats from Newman’s Own® Organics. The company was so generous in giving us a large selection of their products to try out for free for this review. The box was packed full with all sorts of wonderful looking snacks and treats. When my kids saw me open the box they all got wide eyed and excited.

We really love organic food because of it being healthier and try to buy it when ever we can. Organic snacks and treats seem like they are harder to find, but when they are found they usually turn out to be a treasure. We hadn't seen the products from Newman’s Own® Organics in the stores, so this was a real treat. We tried all the the many things they sent us and everything tasted yummy, but like everything we did have our favorites. We are now going to search out our local grocery store to see if they carry our favorites and if they don't we will be requesting they do.

Cookies
The first things we tried from the box were their Family Recipe Cookies. We received two of their flavors to try out: Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate Chip. These were really good and among my favorites. They were small, but packed with flavor and chewy chocolatey goodness. These also come in resealable bags with a tape tab so they are great to travel with. These come in: Chocolate Chip, Orange Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, Ginger Snaps and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.

Then we tried their chocolate flavored Alphabet Cookies and these were small crunchy squares with ABCs on them. My kids loved these and the older ones loved trying to spell things out with the handful of them they took out of the bag. My 4 year old daughter, Teela, immediately started singing the alphabet song while munching the cookies :) These also come in Vanilla and Cinnamon Graham.

We received both the Ginger-O's and Newman-O's. They both have creamy filling sandwiched inside two round crunchy cookies. The Ginger-O's have a wonderful ginger taste...I only wish the ginger was stronger because I love ginger! The Newman-O's we received were the chocolate creme filled chocolate cookies. These cookies also come in these flavors: Original, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Hint O' Mint Ginger 'n' Cream and Wheat Free Dairy Free. They are best when dipped in a glass of milk, in my opinion.

Hermits are another of my favorites. We received the original flavored ones. These cookies are soft and shaped more like cookie bars. These cookies are filled with plump delicious organic raisins and sweetened with organic molasses. These spice cookies have a wonderful flavor. My husband and I hope Newman’s Own® Organics makes more cookies similar to these because we loved their moist, soft texture. These come in: Original, Cinnamon, and Ginger.

Pretzels
We received both their salted Pretzel Rods and traditional Pretzel Thins. These are both a wonderful salty snack. The rods seemed to hold together better than the thins since the thins were mostly broken in the packaging. The rods were thick and easy to hold one at a time in a little ones hand like Zari. The thins were pretzel shaped, thinner and crunchier than the rods. The rods were more flaky of a crunch and very yummy too. These come in: Salted - Rounds, Sticks, Thins, Rods; Unsalted Rounds, Spelt, High Protein, Mighty Mini, Honey Wheat and Thin Sticks.

Dried Fruit
We got to try their dried cranberries. We loved their sweet tangy flavor. These are infused with organic cane sugar and lightly coated with organic sunflower oil. I thought these were better than their non-organic counterparts. I think I will try to find these in my local grocery store so that I can make some cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies or some Cranberry Bliss Bars. These also have a resealable zipper pouch to keep them fresh. They also have: Raisins, Pitted Prunes, Apples, Apricots and a Berry Blend.

Chocolate Bars
We received three of their luscious chocolate bars to review. These are all premium organic chocolate. The Espresso Dark Chocolate has organic ground coffee in the chocolate and 54% cocoa. This is so yummy especially for the coffee lover. The Orange Dark Chocolate has natural orange flavor in the chocolate and 54% cocoa. It smells and tastes like one of those delicious chocolate oranges you get during the holidays. The Super Dark Chocolate has 70% cocoa and is richer than the others. I personally loved all of them because I am a huge chocolate fan...but who isn't?! I get so many cravings for chocolate during the week that I need some of these bars stashed away where my kids can not find them. The chocolate bars come in: Dark Chocolate, Super Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa, Mocha Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Espresso Dark Chocolate and Orange Dark Chocolate. I think they should do a mint one and one with bits of crystallized ginger in it.

Chocolate Cups
We received three of their wonderful chocolate cups to review. The Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cups were my favorite of the three. They reminded me of a peppermint patty except with a crunchier chocolate outer shell in the cup shape. I also loved the Dark Chocolate Caramel Cups which had the gooey, creamy caramel center that oozed out into my mouth. Yummy! The last ones were Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and since I am not much of a peanut butter fan (unless I get cravings...which do occasionally happen) these were not my preferred chocolate cups. These come in: Peanut Butter in Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Caramel cup in either Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate.

Licorice
We received three of their delicious licorice twists to review. I love licorice and have ever since I was a little girl. Their Sour Apple and Sour Cherry flavors were my favorite. They have organic sugar and sour crystals, derived from natural citrus sources, on the surface of the twists. These are sour and sweet at the same time and so yummy! Although they do get sticky with the little ones. Last we tried the Pomegranate. This is such a unique flavor for licorice, but I really liked it. These come in: Sour Strawberry, Sour Cherry, Sour Mango and Sour Apple, Black, Strawberry and Pomegranate. I think I need to find the other sour flavors to try because all sound so good.

Mints
These come in pretty decorative tins that I am going to re-use for small objects when I am done eating all the mints out of them. I received the Cinnamon and Peppermint. If you open the tins the mints look exactly the same...no artificial dyes or coloring. I love cinnamon anything so I tried these first. These have a wonderful spicy cinnamon taste. The peppermint is like a blast of fresh cold air. These will keep your breath fresh and are only 1 carbohydrate apiece. This made my type 1 diabetic son, Delbin, very happy. These come in: Cinnamon, Ginger, Peppermint and Wintergreen. The same flavors are available in a convenient pocket size .75 oz roll and a four roll multi-pack bag with the familiar American Gothic style logo of Nell and "Pa" Newman. Since I love ginger so much I am going to try to hunt this one down to try.

BUY IT
Purchase the Newman’s Own® Organics products locally in and around Portland Oregon at New Seasons Market. If you live other places you can search to see where they carry them near you. You can also go to Amazon.com and search for the products there too. They have a great selection of them.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a Newman’s Own® Organics Prize Pack. One winner will receive 4 of our favorite items and some other surprise items. Prize pack will include: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, Hermits, Sour Apple Licorice and Pretzel Rods!

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to review and the opportunity to host a giveaway for some additional product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars Review

Kashi makes some of the most wholesome all natural cereals, snack bars, cookies, chips, crackers, waffles, frozen entrees, pizza and pilaf. Their products are all free of highly refined sugars, artificial additives, and unnatural preservatives. They also think that taste is important because great taste and healthy food don't always go hand in hand. They want you and your family to enjoy their foods so that you and your family will also eat better while eating Kashi products and know their foods are good for you and delicious.

I have tried many of their exceptional products including their GOLEAN Crunchy! Bars, TLC Cereal Bars, TLC Chewy Granola Bars, TLC Crunchy Granola Bars, GOLEAN Cereal, Heart To Heart Cereal, Kashi Squares cereal, TLC Pita Crisps, TLC Crackers, TLC Cookies, etc. My favorites so far are their Cherry Dark Chocolate TLC Chewy Granola Bars, Fire Roasted Veggie TLC Crackers, and Oatmeal Raisin Flax TLC Cookies. I would love to try their Kashi Granola Mountain Medley, Kashi Granola Summer Berry, Cherry Vanilla TLC Cereal Bars, Dark Mocha Almond TLC Chewy Granola Bars, Dark Chocolate Coconut TLC Layered Granola Bars, Happy Trail Mix TLC Cookies, all Kashi Frozen Entrees, and Mushroom Trio & Spinach Kashi Thin Crust Pizza. They all sound really good to me!

I was given the opportunity to try their TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars. These bars start with the chewy granola bottom that has peanut butter and peanut chunks along with other granola pieces. Then they spread a layer of real soft fruit mixed with gooey dark chocolate on the granola with a sprinkling of peanuts and dark chocolate pieces on top of that.

These bars are:
• Free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and unnatural preservatives
• Full of real nutrition: made with a blend of 7 whole grains, has 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein from peanuts and soy crisps

I liked the TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars, but they were not my favorite Kashi product. I am not a big fan of peanuts so I found myself picking them off the top of the granola bar and the chocolate that was mixed with the fruit was good and probably my most favorite part of the whole thing besides the granola, but  it was a bit unusual too. My kids; however, loved them and I shared some with the neighborhood kids and they seemed to enjoy them as well. I also shared them with my moms group and they had mixed feelings on them. Some really loved the flavors and some didn't really care for them at all. The packaging was very nice and presented the product very well. However; if I had my way the individual wrappings for the bars could be in more of an environmentally friendly packaging. If you love peanuts, peanut butter, chocolate and granola then these will be just the ticket!

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BUY IT:
Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars retail for $3.89. Find them at most major grocery stores nationwide.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Nutella Hazelnut Spread Review with MommyParties

If you have never tasted Nutella you are missing out tremendously! The delicious Nutella spread is made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa.

This luscious and heavenly nut butter can be spread onto and mixed with all sorts of things, but eaten by the spoonful is my favorite way of eating it :) My kids love it on whole wheat toast, English muffins, waffles and bagels. It a great way to get your kids to eat whole grains. We also love to bake and cook with it! It is wonderful on banana splits, ice cream sundaes, and in healthy smoothies! Just enjoy this yummy confection in moderation because it is loaded with fat and sugar!

Nutella hazelnut spread is a terrific option for individuals with peanut allergies. The spread does not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing. It also doesn't contain any artificial colors or preservatives.

In conjunction with MommyParties and Nutella we received a free party kit that included:
26.5oz Jar of Nutella hazelnut spread for use during my party
(10) Nutella spread sample packs and coupons for guests bags
(10) Nutella spread guest bags
(10) Nutella spread tumbler mugs
(10) Nutella spread spreaders
(10) Nutella spread tip cards for guests
Recipe ideas
Party activities - Everyday Breakfast Tips and Trivia

I threw a MommyParty and everyone had a great time! We had banana splits with Nutella on them and played a game of Bananagrams. We also had fun with the trivia and thinking up other imaginative ways that we could use Nutella. The Eco-Wave tumbler mugs we found even cooler than others we have seen because it is a Gordon Sinclair BIODEGRADABLE Tumbler! When disposed of into a microbial environment this tumbler breaks down in only 1-5 years and all of it is nontoxic to the environment.

Tweet @ #Nutellaparty

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to MomSelect, BSM Media and Nutella for providing me the Nutella Hazelnut Spread MommyParties Kit to test and review for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

S'mores The Ultimate Summer Treat

S’mores made with Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate bars, Honey Maid® Graham Crackers and Kraft Jet-Puffed® Marshmallows are a centerpiece of summertime fun. Part of what makes preparing S’mores so special is creating memories while making them—whether you are off in the great outdoors or in your own backyard or kitchen.

My family loves making S'mores! We love making them outdoors around a campfire, but we have also made them indoors too as a special family treat. We love them paired with milk and even love to change it up a bit and put Hershey®’s Special Dark or Cookies 'n' Cream Chocolate bars in them instead of the Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate bars. We love the wonderful gooey sweetness and crunch of all the ingredients put together! So yummy and the perfect tasty confection for your sweet tooth during the summer...or anytime!

DISCLOSURE: I wrote this blog post while participating in a contest for a S’mores prize pack (The first 100 Mom Bloggers Club members who participate will win a Hershey’s and Kraft S’mores prize pack complete with Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate bars, Honey Maid® Graham Crackers, Kraft Jet-Puffed® Marshmallows and a special S’mores skewers kit. (US only)) as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club. For more information on how you can participate, click HERE.

Pepperidge Farm Strawberry Milano Cookies Review

I am a Milano Maven :) What is that, you ask? Well, I have been given the opportunity to review for free Pepperidge Farm's new Strawberry Milano cookies and tell you about their Facebook sweepstakes, "Share Your Milano Moment".

New Strawberry Milano cookies are heavenly and very irresistible! They pair scrumptious strawberry filling with rich, dark chocolate to create the perfect cookie. Milano cookies are one of my absolute favorite cookies! They always satisfy my sweet tooth right away!

Are you a fan of Milano cookies? To celebrate the yummy new treat, Pepperidge Farm wants fans to share their favorite "Milano Moment" on their Facebook page to enter to win the Grand Prize of a "bushel" (case) of irresistibly delectable new Strawberry Milano cookies! You could be one of 1,000 winners!

Here is what I entered on their wall as my Milano moment: I am a mom of 3 kids plus we are expecting in October. I homeschool and am a stay at home homemaker and wife. My jobs are expansive and exhausting! I love to have "me time" and Milano cookies are my absolute favorite to snack on while I am relaxing.

Also, for being a fan of the Milano cookie on Facebook you can get a coupon for 55¢ off a bag of the new Pepperidge Farm Strawberry Milano cookies OR your favorite Milano cookies. Just click on the coupon tab.

You can also spread the word on Twitter by including #MilanoMoment in Tweets about the product. Follow @PepperidgeFarm on Twitter too.



DISCLOSURE: Thanks to DeVries Public Relations and Pepperidge Farm for giving me a free sample of Strawberry Milano cookies and information about the "Share Your Milano Moment" Sweepstakes. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares Review

Valentine's Day is coming up on February 14th and what better way to celebrate than giving chocolate. I just had these fabulous Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Filling Squares that I was able to try from SheSpeaks for free. These have a milk chocolate outer shell and a yummy peanut butter inner filling. They are delicious and I recommend them to anyone that loves both chocolate a peanut butter together. Ghirardelli chocolates have been around for more than 150 years. I was savoring every last little bit of these squares and although peanut butter isn't my absolute favorite filling for chocolate these were really good.

Indulge yourself...The Ghirardelli filled squares also come in these other flavors... Milk Chocolate with Caramel, Dark Chocolate with Mint, 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Caramel, Dark Chocolate with Raspberry. Yummy!!

You can buy these at local retailers, such as Target, Walmart, Borders, Walgreens, CVS, as well as online and at Ghirardelli retail stores. They are about $3.49 for a 4.69 oz-5.32 oz bag.

Have an iPhone? Download the NEW Ghirardelli app and enjoy 15% off your first purchase of $20 or more. Enter promocode "shespeaks15" to redeem. Expires 1/31/2010.

DISCLAIMER: As a member of SheSpeaks, I received a sample of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Filling Squares, as well as six coupons for $1.50 off any Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter bag. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Mom NEEDS Chocolate by Debora M. Coty FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Debora M. Coty

and the book:

Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood

Regal (April 1, 2009)

***I have not yet received the review copy yet from Rebeca Seitz of Glass Road Public Relations, LLC, but want to share this FIRST Wild Card Tour with you all. When I do receive the book and have read it I will post a review of it. Thanks!***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debora M. Coty is the author or contributor to several books, including Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood. A resident of Florida where she lives with her husband, Coty raised two children and enjoyed a dedicated career as an Occupational Therapist before beginning to chase her God-given dream of writing. She is known for communicating sound biblical concepts with a refreshing, light-hearted style. Her writings can be read in her monthly newspaper column, Grace Notes: God’s Grace for Everyday Living.

Visit the author's website.



Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Regal (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0830745920
ISBN-13: 978-0830745920

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

My Cups Runneth Over

Pregnancy

A baby is an inestimable blessing and a bother.

Mark Twain

As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.

Genesis 9:7, NASB

There are a few things I’ve learned while fulfilling the “be fruitful and multiply” mandate.

Pregnancy draws you closer to your spouse. During an emergency stop in our driveway while I tossed my cookies in the grass, my husband, Chuck, tried to comfort me. Soon we were throwing up side by side. It was the most romantic thing he’s ever done. Those two brown spots on our lawn were the envy of all my friends.

Childbirth classes are invaluable informational sources. At the country hospital we’d chosen, one young farmer raised his hand the week after we learned about Braxton Hicks false labor contractions. He earnestly addressed the nurse instructor, “Ma’am, my wife’s been miserable all week. Could you tell us again about them Briggs and Stratton things?” He was the same strapping fellow who confided the first week, “We ain’t ever had any babies, but we’ve birthed a lot of cows.”

The budding momma’s swelling belly and the ledge over her innie-turned-outie navel aren’t the only evolutions in the body’s profile. Average-sized breasts become huge globes that bump into everything. It’s like having volleyballs attached to your chest. These alien chest globes take on their own personalities. I called mine the Bobbing Twins, Freddie and Flopsie. I addressed them directly: “Freddie, stop bouncing around or I’m going to fall off this bike,” or “Flopsie, you’re gonna have to squeeze into this DDD cup—there is no E.”

Finally, you’re in your ninth month. Ah, but the surprises are not over. After hours of sweating, teeth grinding and PUSHing, you are rewarded with a tiny screaming miracle. The little bugger has a surprisingly strong sucking reflex, and when he latches on, it feels like a vice grip to this incredibly sensitive part of your anatomy. You’re awfully glad you did that desensitization with the washcloth beforehand. I once commented to Chuck after performing this unpleasant ritual that rubbing myself with terrycloth made me empathize with that old table he was sanding.

“Hmmm. Yes, dear,” he answered, only half listening. I later overheard him inform his sister on the phone, “Debbie uses sandpaper on her chest to get ready for the baby.” No wonder his family thinks I’m weird.

Shortly after giving birth, my friend Julia (also a nursing mother) and I decided to take a well-deserved tennis break. Leaving the babies with their daddies, we headed for the courts. The blissful quiet was shattered by a wailing infant in a passing stroller, triggering that mysterious internal milk breaker switch. Julia and I simultaneously clutched our chests like gunshot victims at the incoming flood.

“Stop it, Freddie! Not now, Flopsie!” I pleaded with the Twins as two dark, wet spots appeared in strategic locations on the front of my white tennis shirt. Julia and I mopped ourselves between points with a soggy sweatband, bringing strange new meaning to the term, “bosom buddies.”1

Son of Man, thank You for the blessing of family and the miracle of babies. Make me more like You because they may end up being like me.



Note

1. Adapted from “My Cups Runneth Over” by Debora M. Coty, first appearing in Today’s Christian Woman, November/December 2004 issue. Used by permission.

Free Chocolate Friday!

It's Free Chocolate Friday! Mars chocolate is real, 100% cocoa butter chocolate. Sign up at Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act to get your coupon sent to you in the mail for free chocolate. Limit: one (1) Coupon per email address per Friday and four (4) Coupons per household during the Offer Period. Make sure to get all four of your free coupons for chocolate! I’ve already gotten some of my coupons in the mail and the best part is that I can register every Friday for it. Don't forget to tell your friends about it and spread the word!

Some restrictions do apply: Offer valid from 9:00:00 AM ET to 11:59:59 PM ET on the Friday only of each week beginning 5/8/09 and ending 9/25/09 ("Offer Period"). You have 5 minutes to complete your registration or you forfeit your coupon. Limit: 250,000 Coupons per Friday. See terms and conditions for details.