Easter Cooking with Del Monte #10minutewow

I love a good excuse to cook for a crowd: birthday parties, holidays, summer barbeques.  It's a great time to combine tried and true recipes with some exciting new ones.  With Easter coming up, I am gathering recipes and ingredients to make some delicious sides to go with the huge dinner my mom is preparing.

Ham is always on our menu at Easter, so corn casserole is a must.  Over the years, I've tried several variations on the recipe.  This year I'm planning to make Del Monte's Cheddar Corn Casserole.  It combines sweet corn with savory flavors to create a rich dish, perfect for the holiday table.  Thankfully for us, there are lots of vegan cheeses and gluten free stir-ins I can substitute in the recipe to make it a dish all of us can enjoy.

If lamb is on your menu, Del Monte has a recipe for Peas 5 Ways, that is easy to customize to ensure a great pairing.  The Asian-style sweet peas, with teriyaki and almonds, sounds like it would be a hit in our house.

Making salmon for Easter?  Try Del Monte's Lemon-Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Crumbs.  It's a lighter alternative to green bean casserole, using lemon juice, garlic, and bread crumbs.


There's only a few days left until Easter, but Del Monte has your side dishes covered with their #10minutewow recipes.  Easy to make and minimal ingredients, they'll help you serve a delicious Easter lunch with plenty of time left to hunt Easter eggs with your little ones.

Product was provided for review.  All opinions are our own.

4 Ingredients Gluten-Free Cookbook Review

Even though I've been gluten-free for two years, I still have moments where I struggle to come up with a meal plan. Gluten-free eating can be so simple, but sometimes I want to recreate those recipes (filled with gluten) that I grew up with. So, it's great to have a few gluten-free cookbooks on hand for inspiration.

The cookbook, 4 Ingredients Gluten-Free, by internationally bestselling authors Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham offers more than 400 recipes using 4 ingredients (or less) that are compatible with a gluten-free lifestyle.
4 Ingredients Gluten-Free discusses the basics of eating gluten-free and offers a range of recipes including dips, breakfasts, appetizers, salads, and veggies, plus an assortment of main courses and desserts. It also includes a section featuring kid-friendly recipes and one for babies and toddlers.

Since I had an abundance of buckwheat flour on hand recently, I decided to try the Buckwheat Pancakes recipe. They were delicious (even to my gluten-eaters)!

Buckwheat Pancakes
Serves 2

1 cup buckwheat flour
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
tablespoons pure maple syrup

In bowl, mix all the ingredients together with 1 cup water. Add a bit more water if the batter seems too thick. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Dollop in the batter and cook the pancakes for 1 minute. Flip them over and cook for another minute.

We have plans to try the Tangy Chicken Tenders and the Apple Bars soon too.

I love that 4 Ingredients Gluten-Free offers meals that fit my dietary restrictions, but are also flavorful and easy to prepare. The fact that they use minimal ingredients, most of which I have on hand, is an added bonus. It's so encouraging to see a cookbook full of delicious recipes that are quick, taste good, and are completely gluten-free.

Buy It: 4 Ingredients Gluten-Free is available for under $15

You can also watch Kim McCosker demo her recipes on the 4 Ingredients YouTube Channel.

A copy was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

To What Miserable Wretches Have I Been Born? Book Review

I haven't had much time to read lately. Well, no time to read something beyond Goodnight, Moon or Pokemon handbooks. So I was excited to pick up To What Miserable Wretches Have I Been Born? Revenge Poetry for Babies and Toddlers by Suzanne Weber.
It's been said that To What Miserable Wretches Have I Been Born? does for kids and babies what Go the F*** to Sleep did for exasperated moms and dads. The book contains a collection of hilarious poems, written from the point of view of babies and toddlers.

I have to admit, I laughed out loud reading through the poems. I loved that I could read one here and there, letting me feel like I was actually reading a grown-up book again, without taking too much time away from the kids. Reading the poems was the perfect stress reliever.

To What Miserable Wretches Have I Been Born? touches on subjects like swaddling, playdates, co-sleeping, and pacifiers, with humor. For example:

Nipple Confusion
You didn't give birth to an idiot.
I'm not confused.
I just know what I like.

The book is not for the faint of heart (in a good way). There's cursing, brutal honesty, and, it plays on fears we all have as parents, that we're not perfect, and we don't always know what we're doing. It makes you laugh at yourself and see that things don't have to be flawless to be okay.

This book would make a great gift for a new mom or for Mother's Day.

Buy It:
To What Miserable Wretches Have I Been Born? is available for pre-order at about $11

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are me own.

Seriously, Just Go To Sleep Book Review

A few months ago, I heard all the controversy surrounding a book by Adam Mansbach. While I found it funny, I can see why some parents could be offended by a book called Go the F*** to Sleep. Seriously, Just Go To Sleep is the G-rated version of the first book. Chronicling a young child who wants to do anything but go to bed, it contains the same humor and sarcasm, but in a kid-friendly way.

The flowers doze low in the meadows
And high on the mountains so steep.
My life s absurd. This is taking forever.
Stop messing with me, please, and sleep.

At 7, Little Man knows it drives me crazy when he thinks of 24 different reasons why he can't go to sleep yet, so he giggled through the book. At one point he stopped me and asked if I really thought the sometimes. And, of course, he thought it was hilarious when I admitted I do.

We loved reading the book together as a family. Little Man was old enough to get the point of the book and laugh about it, while Babycakes loved the rhythm. I've been running on about 5 hours of broken sleep for 7 months and am exhausted by nightfall, so it was nice to know I'm not the only one frustrated at bedtime.

I highly recommend this to any parent needing a good laugh.

Buy It:
Seriously, Just Go To Sleep is available for around $10

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure: Review

Little Man has been sick on the couch for the last 4 days, so our DVD player has been running nonstop. When A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure arrived, we were excited to have a new movie to watch.Based on the true course of a sea turtle's life, Sammy's Adventure follows him from a hatchling as he makes a fifty year journey through the ocean. Sammy, an extraordinarily cute turtle, fights his way to the ocean, makes friends, has run ins with sharks, and searches far and wide for his one true love, Shelly.

The animation in the movie is amazing, making you fall in love with all the little sea critters. The soundtrack is upbeat, and the voice talents, including Melanie Griffith, Kathy Griffin, Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, and Stacy Keach, give each character such personality and spunk.

Rated PG, A Turtle's Tale makes for a great family movie. My 7-year-old dubbed it "awesome," and my hubby and I enjoyed it as well.

Buy It:
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure is available on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack April 3rd.

A sample was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Beanfields Nacho Bean & Rice Chips: Review

Last year we were excited to find out about Beanfields chips. Made from beans and rice, the chips are free of all the top 8 food allergens (plus are corn free).

Until recently I didn't realize just how many people have to deal with food allergies. I've been gluten free for quite awhile, but in the past 5 months have become dairy free as well. It can be so hard to find quick snacks that still taste good.

Beanfields chips are a yummy, filling snack, that are easy to grab on the go. The newest addition to the Beanfields line are their Nacho Bean & Rice Chips. They offer 4 grams of protein per serving, as well as 4 grams of fiber. Plus they are Non-GMO and vegan.I had to laugh when my (non-allergy suffering, hater of all my "free-from-everything" foods) hubby announced how good the chips were. He is by far the biggest snacker in the house, and the hardest to please, but he loved the nacho chips. They have a great flavor and texture.

Buy It:
You can buy Beanfields chips at a natural food store near you or order online. They retail for $2.99-$3.99 for a 6oz bag or $1.19-$1.49 for a 1.5oz snack size.

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

DiaperPods

Ever been out when your baby decides it's time to fill a diaper? Happens to us every single time we go somewhere. Which really wouldn't be a huge ordeal, except for the fact that I never remember to take a trash bag with us to contain the stink. And I'd feel way too guilty throwing something that potent into a public trash can.

DiaperPods are an innovative solution to the stinky, stuck without a bag situation. The trash receptacle is actually built right into the back of the diaper. It's completely sealed, to maximize safety, but easy for a grownup to access, allowing for easy disposal of a dirty diaper.Want to try DiaperPods? Well, they need your help. DiaperPods aren't in stores yet, but can be, with your vote in Walmart's Get on the Shelf contest. The contest will help three new products land on shelves. Voting is going on now until April 3rd. You can vote for DiaperPods up to twice a day.

A sample was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

SnoreRx Review & Giveaway

Closed: Congrats to LUCKYLADY48

For months, I've gotten very little sleep. Babycakes has been fighting relux, and nights really take their toll on us. Add to that the fact that my hubby snores so loudly, he often wakes himself (and us) up, I am exhausted.

When I was introduced to SnoreRx, I was excited to give it a chance. There was no way it could make things worse. But, I had my doubts. Over the years, we've tried snore strips, the tennis ball trick, and a good swift kick every now and then. None of them worked.

SnoreRx are liners, infused with eucalyptus, neroili, marjoram and other essential oils known to relieve snoring symptoms, that you place inside your pillowcase. As you sleep, SnoreRx naturally enhances the air you breathe, opening up your nasal passages.

Each liner is high pressure-infused so it is completely dry, and because it adheres under the pillowcase, it is the first completely non-invasive delivery system for essential oils. It’s also hypoallergenic and safe for children.The first night hubby put the liner inside his pillow at bedtime, I was skeptical. He fell asleep in seconds and started snoring away. But within 30 minutes, the snoring stopped. For the first time in years, our bedroom was peaceful. SnoreRx has made a huge difference for us. We are now on night number 3 of silence. And it is so nice to finally get a decent night's sleep (even if I'm up every few hours with the baby.)

Buy It:
SnoreRx is now available to order. A 30-day supply (10 liners) can be purchased for $29.99

Win It:
One very lucky reader will win a one month supply of SnoreRx (10 liners)

Mandatory entry: In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week, tell us what your husband’s snoring sounds like. (Mine could easily rival a freight train.)

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

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Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 3/25 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen with Random.org and notified via email, so be sure to leave a way to contact you. Open to US only.

Samples were provided for our consideration. All opinions are our own.

NurturMe Review

NurturMe recently partnered with Feed the Children to create the Open Your Hearts, Nurtur For Nutrition collaboration. NurturMe, who produces the first and only quick-dried, organic baby food, is donating one 18-serving variety pack to Feed the Children for every one purchased by a consumer.

The donations will benefit Feed the Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan with a goal of donating over 100,000 meals to children and families between February and August. Consumers can also elect to donate their purchase at time of check-out, thus doubling the donation to 36 servings directly to Feed the Children.

The Feed the Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan has helped more than 335,000 families across the country since it began in 2009. Feed the Children’s tractor-trailers deliver a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of personal care items and a box of Avon products to families in need. The boxes are designed to help a family of four for up to one week.
NurturMe is such an innovative product. Each pouch contains quick-dried, organic fruits or veggies. All you have to do is add breastmilk, formula, or water. What's great is you can easily add as much or as little liquid as you need, eliminating the need for various "stages" of baby food. Plus, I can get sneaky and mix a little into my 7-year-old's food for added nutrition.

I also really love the pouch itself. They are easy to toss into my diaper bag when we're out and about and weigh very little. Since my diaper bag typically weighs more than Babycakes himself, I'm happy to not add the weight of baby food jar too.

NurturMe flavors include Plump Peas, Hearty Sweet Potatoes, Scrumptious Squash, Sweet Bananas, Crunchy Carrots, and Crisp Apples.

Buy It:
Order NuturMe online for $10/8 pouches or find NuturMe at Whole Foods, Target or other select retailers

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

SNAP Infusion Candy: Review

Everyone in our house has a definite sweet tooth. While we try to satisfy our cravings with fresh fruit or other healthy desserts, sometimes we just want candy. And really, who can blame us?

SNAP Infusion candy is a "supercandy." It's loaded with B vitamins to boost energy, antioxidants to support the immune system, and electrolytes to balance hydration. SNAP candy comes in four flavor varieties Mel, Bean, Tart and Gum.
We tried the Mel, Bean, and Gum. The Mel is a chocolate covered caramel, which was a hit with my son. While he rarely needs a boost in energy, I liked that I could offer him an all natural, low calorie candy.

Hubby was a fan of the Bean. He loves jelly beans and enjoyed the fruity flavor of SNAP. He was sure to let me know that if I didn't want my half of the pack, he'd be happy to take them off my hands.

My favorite of the three was the Gum. The citrus flavor was light, but offered a punch of pep in the middle of my afternoon. And what mom couldn't use that?

Buy It: You can find SNAP at select stores or order online.

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Jolly Rancher Crunch 'N Chew

I grew up loving Jolly Ranchers. They were my go-to candy and I would sneak one any time I had the chance. I was so excited to see that they recently introduced a new product to the Jolly Rancher line, the Crunch 'N Chew.

The Crunch 'N Chew has a crunchy outer shell and a soft, chewy middle. Like the original Jolly Rancher, it offers bold, sweet, fruity flavors, plus the chewiness of Jolly Rancher Chews. Flavors include watermelon, blue raspberry, cherry, and green apple.To launch the candies with a bang, Jolly Rancher Crunch 'N Chew partnered with Poptent, an online videographer community. Community members were asked to create a video spot highlighting the candy. More than 200 submissions have now been narrowed to the top three finalists. Voting for the top spot is being held now, and you can cast your vote daily through February 15th.

The Crunch 'N Chew has become a favorite in our house, and I've caught hubby stealing them to take to work. We love their sweetness and the combination of textures. I think I'll be buying him his own personal bag for Valentine's Day!

Buy It:
Find the Crunch 'N Chew at your local grocery, drug, or convenience stores

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

201 Organic Baby Purees Review

Seven years years ago, when my oldest started eating solids, I never even considered making his baby food. I was young and it seemed so complicated and time-consuming. After all, didn't baby food come out of a glass jar, smelling almost like something you could consider edible?

When Babycakes came along, I realized just how simple making baby purees could be. Our first attempt yielded us over 30 meals worth of apples and sweet potatoes at about 10 cents a serving. (I love getting good deals!) And, it only took me about 20 minutes of work time. Ah-mazing.201 Organic Baby Purees, by Tamika L. Gardner, is the first baby cookbook I've used. And I have to admit, it will likely be the only one. Not only does it offer recipes for first foods through 12 months and more, it covers the basics of preparation and storage. The recipes range from simple to complex, but all sound like yummy flavors and combinations for little palates. I can't wait to try Avocado-Pumpkin Mash, Cinnamon Peas Galore, and Plummy Potatoes with Babycakes. I have even added a few of the recipes to next week's meal plan for our entire family. Cheesy Corn Nuggets and Mika's Rainbow Corn Medley sound too good not to try.

201 Organic Baby Purees is not only about purees. In addition to the 201 purees, it offers healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy together. I love that it suggests flavor combinations I wouldn't have created on my own and tells me which recipes will freeze well. It's a great cookbook to keep on hand well beyond baby's first year.

Buy It: 201 Organic Baby Purees is available for under $12

A copy was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Puppet Heap Review

My son loves to make up stories, act out things, and write down tales. I never fail to be impressed by his imagination. Sometimes I really can't imagine where he gets his ideas from. Since I really want to encourage him to be creative and hope he continues with his story-writing, I'm constantly looking for ways to keep him interested and active.

I was recently introduced to the Puppet Heap. The Puppet Heap is a very unique puppet and character design company. They recently launched the "Puppet Heap Playthings," a line of hand puppets that are creatively based on their short film productions of Mother Hubbard and I Knew An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

My son was able to create and act out a story using Lucy, a bad-news cat from the town of Spudbottom. Lucy's "the one with the bum eye playing the fiddle for pennies by the bus stop...She's in with that shifty band of alley cats who caterwaul behind the music shop at all hours of the night."Lucy is so well-built and able to withstand the rough and tumble play that comes along with a 7-year-old boy. But both my son and I also love the details of Lucy. She has an almost realistic look to her, achieved through the careful attention to her facial features and coloration.

Puppet Heap Playthings are perfect for kids (and grown-ups) who love to preform or create their own stories. They have attitude and spunk, we're talking major attitude. Plus, they are amazingly high-quality and each puppet comes with a unique code that unlocks a secret window into that character’s world at the Puppet Heap Playthings website.

Puppet Heap Playthings puppets, including Lucy, can be purchased for around $20 at Amazon.

A sample was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

The Deep Black Pond: Book Review

I'm so used to reading non-fiction books with my 7-year-old, that when I first heard the title The Deep Black Pond, I automatically assumed it was a book about fish and other water critters. But after reading more about the book, I learned it was a very imaginative tale by Morgan Kostival.The Deep Black Pond is the story of fantastic critters living in a pond in the middle of a tropical island. You won't find your typical animals on this island. However, you may find a fish with a glowing eye, a queen with a mask of solid gold, or a warrior with an entire village of Peewees on his shoulders.

It's one of these Peewees that becomes the star of the story. When little Mimi falls off the edge of the city, she changes everything in the pond. She brings the characters together and gets them to cooperate after years of distrust.

Kostival not only authored the book, he also created and photographed the images throughout the story.

Buy It:
The Deep Black Pond is available for $18.00

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure House Party

We've seen commercials for Skylanders Spyro's Adventure many times in the last month, and every time my son has told me how much he wanted to play it. When I heard about the Skylanders Spyro's Adventure House Party, I jumped at the chance to be a host.

Our party kit included a Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack, game posters, figurines, and an educational DVD. The starter pack is made up of the Wii game, 3 figures, 3 trading cards, and the magical Power Portal that allows the figures to come to life within the game.
The game is perfect for kids 6-12, but apparently just as popular with grownups. Our party included kids of all ages, and every single one had a blast playing. The kids took turns using their figures and when they weren't playing on the Wii, they were playing a game of imaginary Skylanders on the other side of the living room.
To get in the party spirit, my 7 year old helped me make snacks for all his friends. We had Camo Krispies (aka Rice Krispie Treats), Eruptor's Fire Balls (cheese balls), and Chop Chop Cookies (chocolate chunk cookies). To drink, we offered Cynder Cider (apple cider) and Prism Break Punch (Hi-C).
I heard yesterday from another mom that Skylanders Spyro's Adventure was her daughter's new favorite game. And after our House Party was officially over on Saturday, I caught my hubby and another dad playing the game on their own.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure has been called one of the hot toys for Christmas this year, and I can see why. With so many fun and intriguing characters, the kids never get bored, and there's so many different elements to it: the figures, the video game, which offers adventure or battle mode, and an online game. My son has added many Skylanders' figures to his Christmas list, and I have a good feeling many of his friends will be asking for the game or figures as well.

We received items to facilitate our review and party. All opinions are our own.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates DVD Review

My son loves to get up early in the morning to watch cartoons. Since momma's not nearly as excited to be awake bright and early, I always make sure that I leave the tv on an acceptable channel. Disney Channel is one of Little Man's top choices, as he loves the shows on Disney Junior, especially Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

We were so excited to hear that Jake and the Never Land Pirates was coming to DVD for the first time this month. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away is a 2-disc combo pack, which includes the DVD, a CD of 7 songs, and an official pirate eye patch.
Episodes included on the DVD include:

• Hats Off to Hook!/Escape from Belch Mountain
• Hide the Hideout!/The Old Shell Game
• Izzy's Pirate Puzzle/The Never Land Games
• Off the Hook!/Never Say Never!
• Cubby's Sunken Treasure/Cubby's Goldfish
• Happy Hook Day!/No Returns!
• The Sky's the Limit!/Bucky Makes a Splash

Plus bonus features:

• "Pirate Party" Music Videos
• Pirate-oke Sing Along
• Yo Ho, You Ready to be a Never Land Pirate?

I love watching the adventure- and music-filled episodes with my son. He is always entertained with the adventures of the young pirate crew, and ready to help them out, through the interactive treasure hunts during the show.


Disney has also released a Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack. It contains 18 exciting songs from the show, each performed by Loren Hoskins and Kevin Hendrickson, aka Sharky and Bones.

Buy It:
The Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack went on sale September 20, 2011. The Jake and the Never Land Pirates DVD and album sampler went on sale today, September 27, 2011 for $19.99.

A copy of the DVD was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

To Be Sung Underwater: Book Review

Growing up in Nebraska, Judith Whitman learned about independence, friendship, family, and love. To Be Sung Underwater, follows Judith's journey at 17 in Nebraska, as well as 25 years later, living in Los Angeles.As a teenager, Judith fell in love with a blue-eyed, easy-talking carpenter, and as the years go by, she finds herself looking back on what could have been. Entering middle-age, Judith discovers her husband may be cheating and questions her role as a mother. Though she doesn't understand her own actions, she fabricates a fake identity, buys a storage shed, and recreates her teenage bedroom there. All the while, she carries a photo of her teenage love hidden in her wallet, and finally decides to find him again.

The story is both captivating and graceful. It is a story of love and heartbreak, confusion and wonder. Anyone who has ever asked themselves "what if?" will find themselves relating to Judith, pondering what other paths may have led to, what other dreams could have been followed.

To Be Sung Underwater is written by Tom McNeal, a critically acclaimed author of several short stories and the novel, Goodnight, Nebraska.

Buy it:
To Be Sung Underwater is available for under $14 at Amazon.

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Little People Animal Sounds Contest

At the beginning of the month, Fisher-Price, along with celebrity zoologist and children's show host, Jarod Miller, announced the launch of the Little People Animal Sounds Contest. The contest invites parents to submit a video of their child making their best animal imitations. Everything from squawks to roars to growls are welcome!
The winner will receive $10,000 and a trip to Fisher-Price headquarters in East Aurora, New York for a special photo shoot and a chance to be featured on a Little People product or website.

In addition, ten first prize winners will receive a Zoo Talkers toy prize pack and all successful submissions will be entered for a chance to win one of 100 Zoo Talkers Safari Trucks.

To enter, grab your camera, encourage your little one (ages 1 to 5) to use their imagination and get a little wild and loud. Then visit the Animal Sounds Contest page to submit your video, or submit it through the iPhone or Android App. Videos must be under 20 seconds and feature your little one making one of the following animal's sounds: lion, tiger, elephant, bear, penguin, rhinoceros, leopard, whale, polar bear, hippopotamus, monkey, seal, gorilla, alligator, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, dolphin, snake, or bird. After submitting your little animal lover, be sure to share the site link for your friends and family to go vote for your video.

The contest has already started and will run until November 30, 2011.

Little People Animal Sounds Zoo
In conjunction with the Little People Animal Sounds Contest, Fisher-Price recently released the brand-new Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo. Zoo Talker toys are designed to teach your little ones animal names and sounds. The Animal Sounds Zoo contains a zoo play set, a zookeeper, polar bear, lion, and gorilla. When the animal figures are placed on the paw pad in the zoo hut, your child can hear the animal's name and sound. The play set has lots of features to keep little ones engaged, including a water slide to push animals down, a treetop swing, and a hippo that opens his mouth and snorts.

The Animal Sounds Zoo was a huge hit with my 3 year old nephew (as well as my little guy, who though older than the recommended age, had no problem playing alongside his cousin.) They loved that the play set talked to them and offered several different places to play. With a polar region, treetop, lake, cave, ticket booth, and hut, they both had their own space to pretend in. Perfect for those moments when they don't feel like sharing.

Buy It:
The Animal Sounds Zoo is available for $40 and additional animal figures can be purchased for $3 each.

Product was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Orchard Bars Review

With this pregnancy, I am constantly snacking. I rarely feel like eating a huge meal, but am more than happy to eat snacks throughout the day. My fridge is full of string cheese, fruit, and carrots. The only problem I have is finding gluten free snacks that are easy to eat on the run or in the car.

I was recently introduced to Orchard Bars. Orchard Bars are fruit and nut bars that cater to many special dietary needs. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and vegan. Orchard Bars are low in sodium, high in Omega-3, and a good source of protein. They contain no preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors, and no cholesterol or saturated fat.
So how do they taste?

That is always my first question when I find a new gluten free snack, because often times the taste doesn't live up to my expectations and I find myself throwing away the rest of the box or pawning it off on my husband.

With Orchard Bars, I wasn't disappointed. They are fruity and sweet, without being overpoweringly so. As soon as you open the wrapper, you can smell the fruit. You can taste the fruit, nuts, and sunflower seeds, and the texture is a great combination of chewy and crunch.

Orchard Bars are available in 3 flavors:
Blueberry Pomegranate & Almond
Pineapple Coconut & Macadamia
Strawberry Raspberry & Walnut

I'm absolutely in love with the Strawberry Raspberry & Walnut flavor. Delicious!

The only thing I don't like? No stores in my area carry them! However, Orchard Bars can be purchased online or in some brick and mortar stores. Plus, they are coming to more stores soon.

Buy It: Orchard Bars can be purchased online for $14.95 to $25.95 for boxes of 12-20.

Check them out:
Follow Orchard Bars on Twitter
Like them on Facebook

Product was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

FyrFlyz Review

A few weeks ago, my son won one of those cheapy glow sticks at our local fair. He had such a blast waving it around in the dark to see how the lights changed and made patterns in the air. So, when I heard about FyrFlyz, a new spinning light toy, I knew it was something he would adore.

FyrFlyz allow kids to create their own light shows by swinging a multi-colored LED light connected by two strings on either side. By tightening or loosening the strings, the pattern of the lights changes, as it creates different designs, such as figure eights, rings, or stars.
There are tons of patterns or tricks kids can perform. Several trick ideas can be found on the FyrFlyz website, and include moves such as Shooting Stars, Black Holes, and Moon Craters.
My son was very excited to try out FyrFlyz. Since it was the middle of the day, we turned out all the lights and closed the curtains and he started creating a light show for me. He was amazed at how easily he could create different light patterns just by applying or releasing tension on the strings. Some of the tricks were tough for him to copy, but he had a lot of fun trying and was thrilled when he came up with moves of his own.

I like that the light portion of FyrFlyz has safety tips on the end, as well as an on/off switch to conserve battery power. I also love that the toy inspires creativity and helps improve my son's motor skills.

Buy It:
FyrFlyz are available for under $10 and come in a variety of colors

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.