Reviews Archives - Page 33 of 33

#NewHopeBloggerBox Highlights

June 27, 2018 1 Comment

I received samples of these products as a New Hope Blogger. All opinions are my own.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RawFusion Plant-Based Protein (Vanilla Bean)
Restore
Rise-N-Shine Wake Up On Time
Simple Mills Fine Ground Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers: These reminded me of healthier Wheat Thins. Because they are made from almond flour, they are gluten-free and contain more protein.

SoTru Organic Fermented Beet Powder

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

Reviews, Sponsored

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

June 24, 2018 1 Comment

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

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

There are two versions: 8 player and 12 player.

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

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

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

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

Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Creating a Brand: StickerYou Review + Giveaway

June 22, 2018 26 Comments

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

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

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

Here is one of my LimByLim refrigerator magnets:

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

I used the label to make a personalized thermos!

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

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

Wouldn’t these make nice Christmas gifts?

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

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

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Reviews, Sponsored

Desert Essence Restored My Hair #momsmeet #desertessence

June 20, 2018 No Comments

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

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

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

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

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

Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Screen-Free Playtime With #GoliathGames + Giveaway

June 15, 2018 48 Comments

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

When my kids get bored, it is natural for them to gravitate toward the iPad, a tablet or our Xbox for entertainment. While I think that is fine in moderation, I have been trying to encourage them to play screen-free games as well. Goliath Games is a company I have found that has a wide variety of “traditional” games that appeal to kids of all ages. Today I am reviewing two of their most popular games.

The first game is Pop the Pig:

n has speech therapy at school to help him say his “r” sounds. His speech teacher incorporates a lot of games into his group sessions, and this is one of them. He was excited to play this game at home with k.

It looks like k was excited too! To play, players take turns rolling the die. Then you pop “hamburgers” into the pig’s mouth and push down on his head. The more you pump, the more the pig’s belly grows until it suddenly pops! Pop the Pig is designed for ages 4 and up, 2-6 players.

The second fun game is Catch the Fox:

First you roll the die to see how many chickens to add into the fox’s pockets. Then, you push his head one time. Like magic, the fox’s pants disappear and the chickens will roll everywhere!

Once the fox’s pants drop, it is a mad dash to pick up the chickens one by one and place them in the coop.

A victory dance! Catch the Fox is for 2 to 4 players; ages 4 and up.

Both of these games are available on Amazon:

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 excited to announce that Goliath Games is offering one of my readers the opportunity to win both Pop the Pig and Catch the Fox!

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Reviews, Sponsored

A Fun Way to Develop Fine Motor Skills: Giggle Wiggle Review #GoliathGames

June 12, 2018 No Comments

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

I work as a special needs paraeducator at my children’s school, and I have witnessed firsthand how games can be used to develop certain skills. Giggle Wiggle is an example of a game my school uses that makes working on fine motor skills fun!

The concept is really simple:

Players race to place their colored marbles on the caterpillar’s hands while it sways to the music and spins.
The first player to get all their marbles on in a row wins!

It is nice that it comes with 7 marbles for each color, even though only 6 are needed. The marbles really roll around, so it might be best to play on a carpeted area. Also, the marbles look like candy, so make sure toddlers who still put things in their mouths are not in the vicinity. The game requires 3 AA batteries, not included.

The music and giggling is cute, but I do wish there was a volume control–ha! This game is designed for 2-4 players, ages 4+. However, as you can see, my son enjoyed the challenge of placing the marbles on the caterpillar’s hands all by himself, too!

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.

Reviews, Sponsored

Fast-Paced Fun: Color Smash Review #GoliathGames

June 9, 2018 No Comments

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

Summer vacation is here, and that means the kids will be looking for things to do at home.

Color Smash is a fast-paced, simple game. You flip the cards, and if the color word on the card matches the color of the card, you slap it and you collect the stack. If there is no color word, you leave the pile alone, and if the color name does not match the color of the card, you do not slap it. If you accidentally slap a card, you place five of your cards back into the pile.

This is an easy game to teach to young kids, and it is small and portable. Screen-free entertainment is always a good thing!

Color Smash is recommended for ages 5 and up, and 2-6 players.

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.

Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Cleaner Cleaning: Quinn’s Pure Castile Organic Soap Review + Giveaway

June 4, 2018 50 Comments

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

I have been on a quest to reduce the toxic chemicals in my home by evaluating my stash of personal care and cleaning supplies. Quinn’s makes an organic castile soap made with certified organic argan, jojoba and hemp oils. It is made with 100% biodegradable ingredients, so it is better for you and for the environment.

This 32 oz. bottle of Quinn’s Unscented Pure Castile Organic Soap is pretty hefty. (I love the cute design of the packaging as well!) There are so many uses for this soap. A handy list is printed right on the box. I am seriously going to keep this picture on my phone and save it as a reference.

I started out by making Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray by mixing 1/8 cup castile soap with 2 cups of warm water. I poured it into a spray bottle and made a label with my trusty label-maker.

I personally like that this version is unscented. If you prefer scent, you can customize it with your favorite essential oil. I think a citrus essential oil would also be nice for this multi-purpose cleaning spray.

Quinn’s products are sold exclusively on Amazon, and as you can see, I am not the only one giving this soap rave reviews.

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.

Quinn’s has generously agreed to give away a bottle of their castile soap to one of my readers!

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Family Field Trips, Reviews

Circus Vargas @ The Orange County Great Park

July 5, 2016 No Comments

I won tickets to opening night for Circus Vargas at the Orange County Great Park. Unfortunately, D was traveling for work, and it was a school night (Thursday), but I took the kids anyway. We only stayed until about 8:30, so we missed the Grand Finale, including the Flying Trapeze, but it was fun.

The tent was not too large, which was great for sight lines, but poor in terms of air circulation. It was especially stuffy while we were waiting for the performance to begin, but seemed to improve once the show started.

Second row seats!

There was some amazing talent and stunts that made us cringe. We missed D’s loud reactions/funny comments.

Family Field Trips, Reviews

Review of Fish Fest 2014

June 24, 2014 No Comments

On Saturday afternoon we went to our second Fish Fest concert. The last time we went was three years ago. Looking back, I wonder what we were thinking bringing a two year old and a four year old. Last time we sat in the lawn area. This time we were in the Terrace, which is the section just in front of the lawn (the tickets are the same price). I think I liked having seats better, although it really is just luck as to who you are sitting next to. n ended up on my lap most of the time, so we were able to have an extra seat “space cushion”, if you will.

One big improvement was that Verizon Amphitheater now allows you to bring a 1 gallon plastic bag with food per person, and 1 sealed plastic water bottle (20 oz. or less). This saved us a bunch of money, as we were able to bring dinner (sandwiches) and snacks. We saw a lot of people upset about their blanket policy, however. The security guards were saying the blankets had to be less than 4 feet by 4 feet, which is not stated on the website. Not many blankets are this size, aside from baby blankets, but it is a good rule to keep in mind if we go again.

I will also note that when I saw D put a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt into the car, I made fun of him. However, when we arrived, I realized we had forgotten k’s sweatshirt. I let k borrow my sweatshirt, so I had to take back what I said when D was able to lend me his shirt to wear at night.

As for the show, here are my opinions of the various performances:

Dara Maclean–not really familiar with her. Her voice seemed “off”, not sure what was going on there. Her songs were pretty good, though.

Jonathan Maclean—American sounding guy who claims he is from Sweden. Nice keyboard playing and voice.

Plumb—Wow…they really “pumped up the volume”, and not in a good way. I seriously thought I was going to go deaf. I had to cover n’s delicate ears. I had forgotten about their song called “Stranded”, which I used to like back in the day. The lead’s performance was quite dramatic and engaging.

Graham Saber—Introduced a little hip hop flavor into Fish Fest, which I enjoyed. A little cheesy, and a couple of the lyrics did not seem too “family-friendly” to me.

Tenth Avenue North—They sang a lot of familiar songs, and the lead singer is quite the talker. I was thankful that they were not over-the-top loud in volume even though they had the full band.

Jeremy Camp—My favorite of the night! His set was worth the ticket price alone, in my opinion. He has so many good songs, at the end I was wondering “Why don’t I have any of his CDs?” (I promptly added them to my Amazon wish list). I must admit, I have become a *little* obsessed. I’m planning on checking out his autobiography from the library. His faith in God is very evident and inspiring, and he got quite emotional on stage, remembering his first wife (who died of cancer four months after they got married).

Mercy Me—We made it through the first three songs, and decided to go home since it was getting quite late. They have a lot of energy, but I have never been too into their songs. **(EDIT)** [D would like me to revise this statement and go on record to say that Mercy Me actually does have quite a few songs that we like; I just did not realize they were sung by Mercy Me.] It ended up being a good thing that they were the last act, in that we did not feel bad leaving early and avoiding being stuck in traffic trying to get out of the parking lot.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Rob Wagman, one of the Fish DJs did a little stand up comedy routine that had D chuckling louder than I have heard him laugh in a long time. Although this particular DJ is not my favorite on air personality, I must admit he was pretty funny.

The next day, k said that “The concert was more fun than I thought it would be.” I’m not sure if that just means she had really low expectations, but I am glad that she enjoyed it too.

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