WIN a ZeroWater 23-Cup Dispenser

December 20, 2017 by 115 Comments

Do you consider yourself a healthy person? Maybe you take vitamins daily, eat a balanced diet of whole foods, or even buy only organic. That’s great, but you might be overlooking the biggest factor to your health: the water you drink. It’s recommended that we drink 8 glasses a day and maybe you always hit that mark, but have you ever stopped to think about what’s in the water you’re guzzling down and giving to your family?

A recent study found contaminants that can be harmful to health in tap water of every state across the country. Shocking, right? Even more so is that one in four American’s tap water is unsafe or has not been properly monitored for contaminants in accordance with federal law.

While you can’t control what’s in your tap water, you can take action to protect you and your family by buying a filter. However, it’s important to know that not all water filters are created equal. That’s why you need ZeroWater, the filter that gets more out of your water.

While other pour-over filters on the market use two-stage filters, ZeroWater utilizes a five-stage dual ion-exchange filter that removes 99.6% of total dissolved solids (non-organic impurities) from water. It’s also one of the only pour-over filters that is NSF certified to reduce lead.

If you want to make the health of you and your family a priority, the answer is easy. Choose ZeroWater.

ZeroWater’s 23-Cup Dispenser is the largest capacity dispenser on the market and features a convenient push-to-dispense spout. Plus, it fits perfectly on a refrigerator shelf giving you and your family easy-access to clean, pure water at all times.

  • BPA-free
  • One-handed push-to-dispense spout
  • Easy-access flip-top lid for refilling
  • Comes with a TDS meter to read water quality level
  • $39.99 at www.zerowater.com

One of you can win one of these systems as well, feel free to enter by using the RC code below. Good luck! Ends Jan. 3, 2018.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: review Tagged With: ,

Holiday GIft Guide- Hot Toys For kids

December 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment

With only about a week to go, you will be on the lookout for the hottest toys for the little ones in your life. These are a few we think will make those kiddos shriek with delight as they tear off the wrapping paper.

Last year’s hit toy, Hatchimals, are back with an ever bigger surprise inside. The all new Hatchimals Surprise have let you hatch two sweet and cuddly Hatchimals out of the same egg- that’s right, you get twins. As you play with and hold your colorful egg, the Hatchimals inside make all sorts of sounds to let you know they are trying to hatch. When they are about ready, you will see their rainbow eyes and they will begin to “push” their way out of the egg. Even though they are twins, they are unique in personalities. As you interact with them, they learn new tricks and habits, like how to talk, dance, sing, tell jokes, play games, repeat what you say, and more. They also interact with each other, both being sweet and occasionally arguing, like any siblings will. Get yours for around $60 in stores and online.

Did you ever want your own droid? I know I have. Now you can, which is very cool and interactive- Droid BB-8 . It is pretty lifelike in scale, at 16 inches tall (19 inches with antenna) so it will feel like you are a true Jedi or padawan. BB-8 glides about just like his movie counterpart and can have pretty realistic interactions, as well as lights and sounds. Put on the “Follow Me” mode and have him roll next to you. You can use voice recognition (which is pretty sticky sometimes) and it has remote control capabilities as well. Hero Droid BB-8 is a great gift for any Star Wars fan, young or old, new to the films or long time aficionado.  Grab yours quickly (these run out at times) for about $150 in stores or online.

 

Family Game Night a big deal in your house? Have you ever tried Headbandz? This fun game is great for all ages- though for non readers, you will have to whisper their “who” in their ear for them. At the start, every player gets three chips and a card with a personality on it to stick in a headband. When it is your turn, turn the timer and ask “Yes” or “No” questions to guess who you are. If you are right, hand in a chip and go again. If you are wrong, you lose your turn. The winner is the first person to hand in all their chips. It is a fun, not too challenging game that will have everyone laughing and trying to figure out who is who. Get yours in stores or online for about $12.

Another fun Family Game Night option is Escape Room The Game from Spin Master. This fun game brings all the fun of the physical “escape the room” craze into your living room, and you and your family can play together and as often as you would like.  You all work together to solve each puzzle and to find hidden clues before your time runs out. The “Chrono Decoder” counts down from 60 minutes as you play your choice of four different adventures.  Pick yours up in stores or online for about $35.

 

If you want to play your kid one on one, or teach them some fun strategy, check out Othello. It is a two-player game that has you outsmart your opponent to win. Your goal is to trap and capture your opponent’s pieces in a game that is decided so play by play, the winner often isn’t decided until some of the last pieces are left on the board. This is available in stores or online for about $15.

If you and your children like hands on projects, building, or robotics, this toy will be your fast favorite. The latest Meccano robot, M.A.X., has both Artificial Intelligence and customizable programming so that you get to build a pretty one-of-a-kind robot.  Little hands build upon or start their knowledge of programming and robotics as they give their robots flair and personality. M.A.X can be controlled using voice commands, buttons in his MeccaBrain, or via free included app.

M.A.X., a S.T.E.M. robot, has expressive facial graphics that are designed to engage kids. He is both a learning tool and tons of fun. Some of the other items M.A. X. comes with are a gaming platform, he can tell jokes, has built-in infrared sensors thatcan avoid obstacles , and so much more. If your child loves to learn, and has hands that like to be kept busy, she will love M.A. X. You can grab yours for about $99 in stores or online.

 

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, review, toys Tagged With: , , ,

Laguna Beach Textile Company Review

December 19, 2017 by Leave a Comment

High Quality Towels with Style.

Laguna Beach Textile Company is the perfect example of a young entrepreneur taking personal experience to create an amazing product. Lets face it, not all towels are created equal. Softness, durability, absorbency, all play a role. These factors make the experience of our daily towel use what it is, or in the case of Laguna Beach Textile Company what it can be.

I was most interested in their signature product, beach towels. I know this is not traditionally the season for it, but when you want to give luxury and quality in a product that will get a lot of use any opportunity to gift is ideal. So I picked out their Midnight Blue and Seafoam Cabana Beach Towel. The company’s owner was himself a cabana boy working at a resort in Laguna Beach so I expected to be impressed and I was! These towels are thick, beautifully made, and ultra absorbent. There are a few design options, all of which make a stylish addition to any home.

For those that are looking for something more daily use they also have bath towels or a new line of Turkish Towels. The bath towels are made from Aegean Turkish cotton and fun new fact, there is a special measurement to gage towel thickness, GMI. Most towels rate 600 GMI, but Laguna Beach Textile Company Towels are 800 GMI, 33% thicker than average towels. Colors are limited, they come in White, Midnight Blue, and Pewter Gray. Any of these is a great mainstay for your regular use towels and you can always throw in an accent towel if you want to tie in your bathroom decor.

I am also in love with the Turkish Towel. One side is smooth cotton while the other is looped terry cotton. You get the absorbency of a cabana towel on one side and the sleek look of a Turkish Towel on the other. The fringe also adds a nice touch to the appearance. A plus to this towel is that it gets softer with every wash so very user friendly.

For all of you picnickers and beach goers there is one more item to consider. The Newport Picnic & Outdoor Blanket, which is a combination of fleece with a waterproof fabric backing that will keep you dry no matter where you set down your picnic basket. If you enjoy going to parks, outdoor events, or yes, the beach, this is a must have item. It comes with its own carry case and adjustable strap so transport is easy and hands free.  The waterproof backing is the feature that puts this over the top for me, plus when at the beach by having both this and your beach towels you can keep the towels sand free and sit on the blanket.

Take this opportunity to upgrade your home with comfort and quality from Laguna Beach Textile Company or improve your picnic basket and beach gear.  You can find out more about the company on their website – Lagunabeachtextileco.com

Or check out Laguna Beach Textile Company on Social Media – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

 

Filed Under: home, review Tagged With: , , , , ,

Win Holiday Books for the Family

December 18, 2017 by 56 Comments

With the holiday right around the corner, you will be looking for fun gifts for the family and for friends. If you are looking for great books for little ones, check out these fun titles- these classics will be read and re-read for years to come.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Crochet (Thunder Bay Press; $24.99; Ages 3 and up): From bouncing Bumbles to Yukon gold, you’ll love these adorable amigurumi figures from the classic television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! This cheerful kit contains all the materials you’ll need to create Rudolph and Santa. Colorful photos and step-by-step directions in the 76-page instruction book will also guide you through crafting the Bumble, Charlie-in-the-Box, Dolly, Spotted Elephant, Hermey, Moonracer, Mrs. Claus, Clarice, Sam the Snowman, and Yukon Cornelius. Warm up your crochet hook for this group of charming holiday characters!
T.E.A.M. Rudolph and the Reindeer Games (Silver Dolphin Books; $17.99; Ages 3-7): We all recall the most famous reindeer of all. But how much do you know about the story of the Reindeer Games and the other eight reindeer? Well, now you can know the whole story, meet the rest of Santa’s trusted reindeer, and learn what it means to be on T.E.A.M. Rudolph!
 
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Pop-Up Book (Silver Dolphin Books; $19.95; Ages 3-5): Start a new holiday family reading tradition with this delightful pop-up retelling of the beloved Christmas story. Just in time for its 50th anniversary, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is now a stunning pop-up book, a treasure for generations to come. All of the classic characters join Rudolph for his North Pole adventure: Hermey the elf/aspiring dentist, Yukon Cornelius, and the doe-eyed Clarice. The impressive large-scale pop-ups re-create classic scenes using actual movie stills. Fly along with Rudolph, join in the reindeer games, flee from the Abominable Snow Monster, visit the Island of Misfit Toys, and save Christmas one foggy night. Most importantly, be touched by the timeless story of acceptance and the true meaning of the holiday spirit.

One of you can win copies of these great books- just enter using the RC form below.
Good luck, ends Dec. 26, 2017.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: book review, family, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, holidays, review Tagged With: , ,

Holiday Gift Guide- For the Home

December 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Getting ready for the family and/or friends to head over for some holiday celebrations? If you are like us, you are. Here are some items we are loving right about now as we deck the halls and cook too much.

The Ninja® Intelli-Sense™ System with Auto-Spiralizer is perfect for meal prep, and has a “smart” base with a touchscreen that lets you choose between four high-performance appliances. Intelli-Sense Technology lets you use a Smart Menu of choices for each appliance on it’s base, and it’s both easy to clean and durable enough for regular use and wear as well, so you don’t need to worry that because it’s high tech, it’s super delicate- it’s not.  It also comes with a recipe book with creations by chefs you can make at home using your new machine(s). Choose from items like home made pastas, margaritas, pizza dough, fresh salsa, and much more. You can pick yours up at retailers nationwide for about $269.99.

The Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™  is another fantastic four appliances built into one machine- you get the ever-useful slow cooker, a stove top, a steamer, and an oven you can use for baking. One of the cooler aspects of the Auto-iQ is that it lets you choose from more than 80 pre-programmed recipes (as well as whatever other recipe you choose). All you have to do is add the ingredients, select a recipe from the included cookbook, and the Auto-iQ will cook it.  Really. If making meals in one pot weren’t easy enough, doing it at the push of a single button makes it almost too easy- almost. Pick yours up wherever kitchen gear is sold for about $149.

Gatherings mean extra cleanup- and you will love The Shark® IONFlex™ 2X DuoClean™ Cordless Ultra-Light Vacuum. Yes, the name is a mouthful, but it also describes what it does. It’s  cord-free vacuum with DuoClean™ technology, that comes with two rechargeable ION batteries so that you can be charging one while using the other- never any downtime. It also has MultiFLEX Technology which gives it a flexible reach for under furniture but also easy for storage. The DuoClean Technology means that it has a bristle brush for a deeper clean in carpets as well as a soft brushroll to pull in bigger floor gunk- it covers all it’s bases. It also has a handheld vacuum so you can clean hard to reach spots, the couch, ceiling, take it out to the car, or wherever it’s needed.   It also comes with lots of extras, like an Anti-allergen dust brush, MultiFLEX under app wand, cradle, and more.

UPDATE- after about 2 months of use, this vacuum was totally useless. It stops working constantly, overheating, clogging, dirt etc won’t go to the correct space to empty, shuts itself off,  etc. I have sent it back for replacement, which was incredibly difficult and time consuming. Customer service ran me in circles. After I got the replacement, guess what started happening? If you guessed the exact same problems, you’d be right. Don’t waste your time and money on this one.

laser tag

You will want to keep the kids busy while you are getting the house ready- and you can even get them outside if the weather is cooperating at all- with the new Laser X laser tag game. The new Laser X has an updated, technologically-advanced laser blaster system that features sophisticated electronics and optics which gives players up to 200 feet accuracy. The game only needs two players, but can have many more then that. The system knows when the players are being hit, shooting, hiding, running, or more- though from what we can tell, if you “hide” too long, it tells you to “run!” and gives your spot away- not a good hide and seek buddy, haha.  It is available in sets that equip two players for $49.99 or that equip one player for $24.99.  The Long Range Blaster ($39.99) and Gaming Tower ($39.99) are also available.  Gets yours at GetLaserX.com.

laser tag toys

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, home, review, toys Tagged With: , , ,

Zenhaven Mattress by Saatva Review

December 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment

A great nights sleep every night.

Let’s face it, we all spend a lot of time asleep. Many of us wish for that time to be longer most nights, but we spend more than 2 days out of the week in bed so that bed should be the best possible match for you. Not always an easy order, and now with all of the delivery mattress companies out there it can be even more confusing. That is why I was so excited to find Zenhaven by Saatva.

I honestly wasn’t too sure what kind of bed I wanted. Traditional spring mattress, memory foam, or something more. Finding Saatva was a total bonus because they cover all of the options with their different lines. Saatva makes a super affordable coil centered mattress with organic cotton cover and a euro pillow top. Their Loom & Leaf line is eco-friendly foam with cooling gel for maximum comfort. The one I chose was something I had never even heard of which is the Zenhaven natural latex mattress. By having all of these options with one company their customer support was able to guide me through the selection process and answer all of my questions. It was a reassuring experience and truly pressure free. They made picking a mattress a dream and I could not be happier with my choice. I could not be happier with my choice. It’s not just me, there are many Zenhaven mattress reviews praising the quality of the product.

So here is a little bit of info incase a Latex centered mattress is new to you too. The benefits? A mattress that is naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial because we have all heard the stories about what unseen horrors can develop inside your bed. Healthier sleep starts at the center of this mattress and works its way out with the organic wool layer, and the organic cotton cover. Their whole operation focuses on Eco Purity in every stage of production. Sustainable harvesting, CO2 reduction, no harmful byproducts, and built eco-responsibly in America. What could be better?

Here was what got me. Yes I LOVE that the mattress is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, mold resistant and naturally breathable with organic layers. What I was stuck on in contemplating an online mattress purchase is how firm do I like my mattress. I honestly wasn’t sure. Best part of the Zenhaven bed is that each side of the mattress is a different level of softness. You get two options with one purchase! The softer is the Luxury Plush side, the other, Gentle Firm, is 18% firmer. Now be warned, if you like a truly firm option this is not the mattress for you as the firmer side is still a decently soft sleep. For me this could not have been better.

You have 120 days to try your mattress and I have used that much time, trying both the Luxury Plush and Gentle Firm sides of the bed. I love it now even more than the first night I slept on it. The gentle but firm support is wonderful for my sore spots and some old injuries. I am sleeping better at night now and whenever I am away I look forward to coming home to my Zenhaven mattress. If you are in the market to upgrade your sleep situation definitely talk to the reps from Saatva. The value of buying direct is clear and your mattress won’t arrive in a tiny box for you to set up. They take care of all of that for you. Find out more about all of their products Saatva Mattress, Loom & Leaf, and Zenhaven.

You can also find out more on Social Media – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Instagram

 

Filed Under: home, review

Win a bag from Fricaine – Great for travel

December 11, 2017 by 5 Comments

Looking for the perfect gift for the traveler or purse addict in your life? Take a look at Fricaine.

Fricaine is a celebration of humanity and the special fabrics that are essential parts of identities worldwide. These high quality, fashion products from globally-sourced exotic fabrics that accentuate the tastes and preferences of a global marketplace are sure to be a hit.

All of their products are nurtured by expansive global travel – in Europe, Africa, Asia and throughout the U.S. It is also inspired by the beautiful, traditional and eclectic expressions of identifiable native fashions from these areas.

Their wristlet is great for travel as all in one evening bag: This sophisticated wallet can hold your money and your phone making it the perfect evening out bag… you can even throw in a lipstick should you want to.

I have taken mine out to several functions where I didn’t want to bring a larger purse, as well as days out where we were doing a large amount of walking and I needed my hands to be free. It was pretty, which is nice, and also functional. I got quite a few compliments- and my phone was handy, haha.

You can also get larger bags, like carry ons.

The unique and perfectly sized carry-ons are embroidered handbags are specially built by combining custom-made high-quality micro-fiber leather with proprietary multi-colored embroidered pieces that are native to the protected Miao tribe.
One of you can win one of these beautiful bags. Please feel free to enter by using the RC form below.
Good luck- contest ends Dec. 27, 2017.
Filed Under: giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, review

Onyx Youth Magnet Mask Review #MagnetBeauty

December 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Pull impurities out for younger looking skin.

We all want that magic wand to help keep our skin looking clear and even better than it did years ago. There are a lot of options out there, but Onyx Youth Magnet Mask stands out. One reason is that it comes with a wand to work some magic, the other is the quality and science behind the product.

Many of us spend our day with different products on our skin, those and the dirt we pick up just walking around and our own dead skin is hard to remove. Life is full of contaminants getting into our pores and we need more than just soap to get this off. Onyx Youth Magnet Mask uses a combination of all natural ingredients in their cream and the power of their magnetic wand to draw the impurities out of your skin while all of the botanical oils, volcanic minerals and amino acids give back healthy revitalizing benefits.

Please excuse the strange screengrab- it’s a new phone, LOL.

First you apply the darkly colored cream to your face, then use the magnetic wand to wipe it off. The magnetic elements in the cream bond with or surround contaminants on your face and in your pores then are pulled out by the wand. This spa like experience at home will leave your skin feeling nourished and hydrated. The cream has Vitamins A, E and C, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and more.

 

Volcanic ash is a key ingredient in the Onyx Youth Magnetic Mask and also give it the distinctive color. This works as a natural cleanser to exfoliate skin and even works on those with very sensitive skin. The ash, or Scoria, has six elements to help rebalance your skin, protect it from the sun, and fight free radicals. All of this comes together to make a product that is innovative and effective.

Give Onyx Youth Magnet Mask a try and get 20% off using the link below and the code bemagnetic when you check out. Get your Onyx Youth Kit HERE.

Filed Under: beauty, health, review Tagged With: , ,