Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
I find it interesting that eating seaweed has recently become a lot more mainstream in the United States. If anyone brought seaweed in their school lunch when I was a kid, it was considered weird. Now I see kids munching on seaweed as a snack and no one bats an eye.
Nora Seaweed Snacks uses seaweed to make a unique, bite-size, munchable snack. Seaweed makes a good snack because it is high in vitamins A, B6, and B12, as well as protein, iron, and fiber. Nora Seaweed Snacks are also non-gmo, vegan, contain no trans-fat and no artificial flavors.
Nora Seaweed Snacks come in three flavors:
Crispy Original Flavor
Tempura Original Flavor
Tempura Spicy Flavor (we did not find this flavor too spicy).
Nora Seaweed Snacks are light crisps that are SO delicious! Seriously, my family is addicted. If you like salty snacks, Nora Seaweed Snacks are worth a try!
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a variety pack of 24 grab and go packs – 8 Crispy Original Flavor, 8 Tempura Original Flavor, and 8 Tempura Spicy Flavor!
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Have you been noticing Sambucol Black Elderberry products on more and more store shelves like I have? Elderberries have been used for centuries because they contain an extremely high concentration of certain flavonoids called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system. I do not want to make any unfounded medical claims, but I think we can all agree that having a strong immune system is always important.
I have come to the conclusion that my kids will pretty much try anything if it is in gummy form. Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies are so tasty, I do not have to remind my kids about taking them. Instead, they actually request them!
These gummies contain no artificial flavors or colors, are gluten-, soy-, dairy-, nut- gelatin- and egg-free, and are vegan/vegetarian. In addition, each gummy only contains 1 gram of sugar. They are a dietary supplement that I feel comfortable giving to my kids, which makes me a #SambucolMom.
Southern California recently experienced a serious heat wave, so this recipe for Refreshing Mango and Peach Iced Tea with Elderberry Ice Cubes sounded appealing. I made the Elderberry Ice Cubes simply by mixing water with Sambucol Elderberry Syrup and freezing it in an ice cube tray. I took a shortcut and brewed some mango iced tea that I already had at home.
I like that the Sambucol Elderberry ice cubes added a subtle fruity elderberry taste without being overpowering. The syrup form also makes it easy to add to smoothies, juice, yogurt or even as a pancake topping (that sounds interesting!)
Where to Purchase Sambucol Black Elderberry Products
Sambucol Black Elderberry products are available to purchase at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Ralphs, Vons, Safeway, and Kroger. They are also for purchase online through Amazon.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Everyone in our family enjoys spicy food. Sometimes I am actually surprised at how much heat my kids can handle! Recently, I took a closer look at the bottle of hot sauce that we usually use and spotted some questionable ingredients. I immediately went to the internet to try to find an alternative. My search led me to Kitchen Garden Farm.
Kitchen Garden Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm located in Sunderland, Massachusetts. Kitchen Garden Farm uses some of their organically grown vegetables to make salsas and srirachas, as well as other products.
Kitchen Garden Farm Salsa
Kitchen Garden Farm Salsa comes in two varieties:
Tomatillo
Roasted Chili
The Kitchen Garden Farm Roasted Chili Salsa was the perfect addition to a breakfast burrito. I am so impressed by this clean ingredient list: Organic tomatoes, organic chilies, organic onions, organic garlic, organic lime juice, sea salt. It had just the right amount of heat, and you could taste the freshness of the tomatoes and chilies.
If you like your salsa on the spicier side, the Kitchen Garden Farm Tomatillo Salsa is for you. This salsa also has an admirable ingredient list: Organic tomatillos, organic onions, organic chilies, organic garlic, organic lime juice, sea salt. My family loves to snack on chips and salsa, and we all enjoyed the extra kick that this salsa added.
Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha
Kitchen Garden Farm also makes three different types of sriracha:
Ghost Pepper Sriracha
Habanero Sriracha
Sriracha Chili Sauce
We use sriracha several times a week, so we were excited to try out these different varieties. I was especially curious about the Ghost Pepper Sriracha since I had seen this pepper on various foodie television shows, but had never tried it before.
I tried out all three srirachas as an accompaniment to a chicken teriyaki bowl. The Ghost Pepper Sriracha definitely delivered the heat, but it was a tolerable heat for us. The Habanero Sriracha contains sweet orange peppers, which adds a fruity note to the spiciness. Finally, we also loved the spicy sweet tang of the Original Sriracha Chili Sauce. The Kitchen Garden Farm website suggests that their sriracha is delicious on eggs, rice, noodles, in soup, on grilled meats and fish and fried chicken. I have a feeling we are going to be adding these sriracha sauces to even more of our food now!
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha and Salsa Set. The set includes 3 bottles of Sriracha (Original, Habanero and Ghost Pepper) and 2 jars of Salsa (Roasted Chili and Tomatillo).
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Drinking coffee is an enjoyable part of my (almost) everyday routine. Pocket Latte has taken coffee and made it into an edible square that can literally fit into your pocket.
Love the fun packaging! Would be such a fun gift for a coffee lover.
Pocket Latte coffee bars are made from real coffee. Eating one square has the same caffeine boost as drinking one cup of coffee. These bars definitely pack a punch! Pocket Latte coffee bars are made in the USA, and contain all-natural ingredients.
Pocket Latte comes in four delicious flavors:
Dark Roast
Cream + Sugar
Lavender Vanilla
Hazelnut
The flavors are all amazing, but I would have to say that my favorite is the Cream + Sugar.
Enjoy your Pocket Latte at the beach!
Pocket Latte is an ingenious idea that delivers coffee in a perfectly portable form. If you are searching for a natural energy boost, this is a tasty way to accomplish your goal.
Disclosure: I received these samples as a New Hope Blogger. All opinions are my own.
It is always exciting when a New Hope Blogger Box is delivered to our doorstep. I have my son dig through the box to find all of the new natural products that are waiting to be discovered.
34 Degrees Sweet Crisps Vanilla: These really thin cookies reminded me of flat and crispy fortune cookies. They are not overly sweet and very munchable.
Be Well Nutrition Iconic Protein Drinks: D is the resident protein drink connoisseur in our household. He approves of this Cacao and Greens flavor!
HempFusion Stress, Sleep and Energy CBD Hemp Extract: I will be giving this to one of my friends who uses CBD products.
Human Power of N SuperBeets: This powder is supposed to be mixed with water for a superfood drink.
Natural Factors Nutritional Products Anti-V Formula: This dietary supplement provides immune system support, something that we all need right now.
Nutra Food Ingredients, LLC Collagen Maximizer: This collagen supplement is for mixing with a smoothie, coffee or water.
Probulin Probiotic Skin Therapy: This skincare’s line use of probiotics is interesting. It contains probiotic lysate that is supposed to help brighten skin and visibly healthier.
SBS America Propolis Raw Honey Throat Spray: Thankfully, I have not had the need to try this out yet, but it is nice to have on hand if we do need it. I have heard about how honey is a good natural remedy for a sore throat, so I am interested to see how this throat spray works.
Zubiate Foods Zubi’s Organic Queso de Jalapeno, Crema de Jalapeno, Zubi’s Salsa:
Finally, I was excited to see Zubi’s salsa and dips included in the box. As you may recall, I did a full Zubi’s blog review post not too long ago. True story, the box included a sample of Zubi’s Crema, Salsa and Queso, but my son could not wait to eat it again before I took the picture above. That is why there is only one jar left for the picture!
Here is a picture from my blog post showing how we used Zubi’s salsa, as well as the dairy-free Crema and Queso to make carnitas nachos-yum!
Disclosure: I received sample products in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
As summer slowly winds down, we are still spending a lot of time at home. Our school is online (soon to be hybrid), and our weekends still do not involve many of our usual activities or outings. Having time to play games together as a family is one thing that I appreciate about our time spent safer at home.
In Hues and Cues, players describe colors with non-color words such as “lemon”. Other players are supposed to guess which of the 480 colors matches the description.
Hues and Cues is unlike any other game we have played. The large, colorful game board is visually appealing. This game is a good exercise in thinking outside of the box to find words that can accurately describe colors. It is funny to find out how other people may interpret colors differently from you. Hues and Cues is for ages 8+ and 3-10 players.
Telestrations Upside Drawn is a twist on a drawing game. In this game, one player draws, but the person who knows the word controls the board by moving it. The player with the pen is the one who guesses the word.
This is definitely a challenging game! It is not easy to direct someone else’s drawing. Also, the words and phrases that are supposed to be drawn are not obvious. This game would be fun with a group. Telestrations Upside Drawn is for ages 12+ and can be played with 4-12 players.
Where to Purchase The Op Games
The Op Games can be purchased through their online shop, or at major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart and Barnes & Noble.
The Op Games Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Hues and Cues and Telestrations Upside Drawn. There will be TWO winners!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
You cannot beat the convenience of having a stash of soup cups in your pantry. I consider them “insurance” for those days when you just need a quick lunch or snack. Therefore, I was excited to hear about Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups. Boil some water and three minutes later you have a delicious cup of soup!
Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cup Flavors
Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups come in six unique flavors:
Red Miso
Spicy Kimchi*
Hot & Sour*
Tom Yum
Garlicky Veggie*
Masala Curry
*Includes Freeze-Dried Chunky Veggies
Instant ramen has gained a bad rap because it often contains not-so-healthy ingredients. These Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups contain just organic whole grain brown rice noodles and spices and veggies. They do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives and they are also Non-GMO Project Verified.
We enjoyed the unique chewy texture of the organic brown rice noodles. Our favorite flavor was the Garlicky Veggie. I cannot wait for the weather to cool down so that we can enjoy soup season to the fullest!
Where to Purchase Lotus Foods Products
Lotus Foods offers an expansive line of products, ranging from rice to crackers to rice noodles, all of which can be ordered online through their website.
Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a variety of Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Soup Cups (over $25 value!).
Disclosure: I received samples of Lakanto by being a #Tryazon party host. All opinions are my own.
Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener seems to be gaining in popularity quite rapidly. This is not surprising, as many people are searching for ways to cut down on sugar. Monkfruit is all-natural, FDA-approved and does not cause spikes in blood sugar. Look up Lakanto on Pinterest, and there are plenty of recipes to choose from, such as muffins, cookies, and smoothies. Not too long ago, I also noticed that Costco was selling this sugar substitute in the baking aisle.
While I believe that I have tried some energy bars with monkfruit as an ingredient, I had never tried baking with it. Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener is extremely easy to bake with because it is a 1:1 sugar substitute. No math calculations or guessing necessary! I made these chocolate chip cookies using a combination of the Lakanto Classic and Golden Monkfruit Sweeteners. The cookies came out a little thicker than my usual cookies, but they had a good taste and texture.
I must include a warning that some people may experience gastro-intestinal or other side effects from monkfruit. If you already know that monkfruit is something that your body handles well, I would definitely recommend the Lakanto brand. If you have never tried monkfruit before, I would go easy at first and see how your body responds. Lakanto Monkfruit Sweeteners allow you to enjoy the sweet things in life without the sugar.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Poptime Snacks have become our family’s official go-to snacks this summer. A couple of months ago, I did a full review of their wide variety of popcorn and popped chips. We are big fans of Poptime Snacks because they come in unique and delicious flavors, but do not contain any of the unhealthy ingredients often found in other snack brands. Poptime Snacks are vegan, cholesterol-free, preservative-free, GMO-free, nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, trans-fat free and artificial flavor-free.
Poptime Snacks Are Available In Variety Packs
Today I am excited to announce that Poptime Snacks is now offering Variety Packs of each of their snack lines: Poptime Creations, Big & Bold Popcorn, Poptime Popcorn and Poptime Popped Chips. Each Variety Pack includes six full-size bags and are a great value. I like the Variety Pack option because it allows serious snackers to easily try an array of wonderful flavors!
Summer Adventures With Poptime Snacks
Here are some places where Poptime Snacks have accompanied us on our adventures this summer.
Can you watch a movie without eating popcorn? Not too long ago our family went to an outdoor movie. There were socially distant tables and they encouraged everyone to bring their own food and snacks. The Chocolate & Vanilla Poptime Creations Popcorn was a nice treat to munch on while watching a movie al fresco.
Next, we brought along Sweet & Salty Kettle Big and Bold Popcorn on our camping trip to Big Bear.
It was the perfect snack to pack for our picnic lunch by the lake.
Hiking always makes us hungry. This time the snack of choice was Poptime Popcorn.
Finally, we packed Poptime Popped Chips for a relaxing day at the beach.
Poptime Snacks Variety Packs can be purchased on the Poptime Snacks website (with free shipping on all orders!) or Amazon.
Poptime Snacks Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Variety Pack of Poptime Creations, Poptime Popcorn, Big & Bold Popcorn and Poptime Popped Chips. (That’s 24 full-size bags!)
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
I have not been to a salon since we started staying at home due to the pandemic. One thing that I miss about going to the salon is how healthy and hydrated my hair feels afterward. I find that it is difficult to replicate that feeling with my usual shampoo and conditioner. Recently I had the opportunity to try MasamiMekabu Shampoo and Conditioner. I was eager to see if the results would be salon-worthy.
Love the premium packaging!
I had never heard of Mekabu before, so I was curious as to what it is all about. According to the Masami story, Mekabu is an ingredient that comes from beneath the Wakame leaf. Masami sources Mekabu powder from a family-owned seaweed company in Japan. Mekabu contains ocean vitamins and minerals that provide natural hydration for hair. Who knew?
After washing my hair with the Masami Mekabu Shampoo and Conditioner, the first thing I noticed was how soft my hair felt. In addition, I was amazed at how my hair and scalp felt so nourished and hydrated. This is especially important since my hair tends to feel dry and brittle now that I color it. Both the Masami shampoo and the conditioner have a light scent that is derived from natural ingredients. The scent is difficult to describe, but I found it quite pleasant, both while washing my hair and drying it. I only needed to use a small amount of both products for my hair to feel cleansed. My hair did indeed feel like it does after a trip to the salon!
It is also worth noting that Masami hair care products do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, alcohol, or silicone, and are cruelty-free and vegan.
