Millions of Americans have lactose intolerance, so they have to avoid dairy products. My daughter Grace is lactose intolerant, so I am very familiar with the condition. She has to avoid most dairy products, and if she has some she will usually suffer days of stomach upset. Unfortunately avoiding dairy can have health consequences. Most dairy products are rich in the bone building nutrients of calcium and vitamin D, which are hard to get in other ways. Grace is a vegetarian, so for her dairy would also be an easy way to get protein. [Read more...]
Yoplait Lactose Free Yogurt Review and Giveaway
February 21, 2012 By 8 Comments
Arm & Hammer Ultra Last Clumping Cat Litter Review
February 20, 2012 By 4 Comments
I am sure most cat owners would agree that the worst part of owning a cat is cleaning the litter box. Our cat Soda is an important part of the family, and the children love him, but when it is time to change the litter strangely there are no volunteers. We keep Soda’s litter box in the laundry room, which works out well because it has a linoleum floor and plenty of space. But the laundry is right off our kitchen near the kitchen table, so we notice right away when the litter box smells. The smell of a cat box is not a good one, and when we are eating it is not what we want at all.
My kids are responsible for cleaning the cat box. While this is good in terms of teaching them responsibility, it means the job doesn’t always get done as often as I think it should. It seems to be the one chore that gets “forgotten” the most often, or provokes the most discussion about whose turn it really is. The result is that our cat box is not always as fresh smelling as it could be.
Claro Acne Clearing Device Review
February 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
My children are 19, 15 and 12, so I deal with acne a lot in my house. So I was thrilled to get the chance to test out the Claro, an at-home handheld device to clear acne. This device is designed to treat mild to moderate acne by providing intense, pulsed light directly to the blemish. There are 3 wavelengths of light given off by the device, and each attacks the acne in different ways, but the bottom line is the device is supposed to reduce inflammation and redness and accelerate the healing process by killing the acne bacteria.
Chili Champ Review and Giveaway with Pork Sausage Chili Recipe
February 19, 2012 By 37 Comments
I love chili, especially this time of year. Chili is the perfect wintertime food, because it is warm and filling and spicy. Plus there are so many recipes and variations I rarely make it the same way twice. Sometimes I make Cincinnati Chili, sometimes I make Texas Chili, sometimes I make White Chicken Chili, and sometimes I make it vegetarian. The possibilities are endless. To help celebrate Chili season and its variations the Chili Appreciation Society International and Bruce Foods sent me some Mexene Chili Powder and Louisiana Hot Sauce to review.
No Mark Upon Her Review and Giveaway (US, Can)
February 16, 2012 By 24 Comments
By Deborah Crombie
No Mark Upon Her is a mystery story featuring 2 Scotland Yard detectives, Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, as they try to solve the case of a rower who drowned. The rower was a fellow Scotland Yard detective, and it not immediately clear if the drowning was an accident or murder. The dead woman was an accomplished sculler and an Olympic hopeful, so the idea that her death was accident doesn’t seem plausible, and the investigation becomes very complicated. The detectives want to discover what happened to their colleague, but there is plenty of pressure from above not to discover anything that could embarrass Scotland Yard.
Heart of Haiti Review and Giveaway (US)
February 14, 2012 By 27 Comments
I am sure all of us remember the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti just over 2 years ago. Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake, and the damage made conditions in the country even worse. To help Macy’s developed the Heart of Haiti collection, a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative designed to help Haitian families rebuild their lives and create income. This collection features local Haitian artisans who use raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, paper-mâché and stone to create decorative home items. [Read more...]
Max Clarity Acne Treatment Review
February 14, 2012 By 5 Comments
My 15 year old daughter has acne, like many 15 year olds. Her acne is made worse by the fact that she is inconsistent about washing her face and using an acne treatment. No matter how great a product is, if she doesn’t use it, it won’t work. I recently got the Max Clarity Acne system for her to test out, and she loves it. It is a product that she is willing to use consistently and it has helped clear up her acne.
Girl Land Review and Giveaway
February 13, 2012 By 1 Comment
By Caitlin Flanagan
This is a book about teenage girls and the trials that they face growing up in today’s society. Flanagan talks about the passage from girlhood to adulthood, and how it has changed over the years. I certainly remember my teenage years as a confusing time, and since I have two teenage daughters I was interested in reading this book and getting someone else’s perspective. Flanagan makes a lot of good points, like about how the culture is overly sexualized, and girls are pressured by self esteem issues.
Peeled Snacks Review
February 10, 2012 By 6 Comments
I reviewed Peeled Snacks last year, and they are still a favorite of mine. Dried fruit is a sweet snack that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating. Last year I had to order Peeled Snacks online, but now they are available in one of my local stores, which is convenient. I had a little trouble finding them in the store, since they were with the fresh fruits and vegetables, which was not where I thought they would be!
Flirty Aprons Review and Giveaway (US)
February 10, 2012 By 54 Comments
I love to cook, so I was thrilled to review this cute Blue Chocolate Flirty apron. I have always thought of aprons as being boring, utilitarian items, but this one is not at all. I love the patterns on the fabric and the fact it has two huge pockets which are perfect for holding tools, spices or just anything I happen to need. Many times when I cook I carry a pen around to make notations on the recipe for things I change, and with this apron I can stop searching the kitchen, because I have everything right in my pocket. Plus it has a cute ruffle around the bottom and it looks fun and sassy.
It is works for keeping my clothes clean too, which is the whole point of an apron. It is made of cotton, and it is double layered so it is thick. I was curious how the sizing would work, because it is one size fits all. But the straps are long so you can tie the apron as tightly or loosely as you need to get the right fit. It looks fine on me, and I had my super skinny 15 year old try it on too, and it looks great on her. They really did an excellent job of making an apron that works for all shapes and sizes. [Read more...]
