Frito-Lay Chips Review and Quick and Easy Giveaway

Recently I joined the Frito-Lay Fan Program because I love me some chips and well some of my faves happen to be Frito-Lay brand. A few days after joining I did not expect what I found waiting for me at my front door. A package filled with goodies from Frito-Lay. Score!

I received a branded reusable shopping bag filled with an eco-friendly water bottle, a chip clip, 3 large bags of chips and a coupon good for a free bag of any Frito-Lay brand chip. The perfect surprise for a chip addict like myself. Here is a breakdown of the chips that I received:

Tostitos Scoops- I love these tortilla chips because like the name says they are perfect for scooping salsa, cheese and any other dip you like.

Lays Lightly Salted- This was my first time trying these. I enjoy the regular Lays but had never tried the lightly salted ones. They were good! Still crispy and full of flavor like the original but with 50% less sodium.

Sun Chips Original- It had been awhile since I had these chips and after trying them again I question why. These are good! I had no idea that they came in "The Worlds First 100% Compostable Chip Package".

Check out a few facts about Frito-Lay brand chips I learned.

• They start with fresh, farm-grown ingredients, making many of their chips with just 3 ingredients. Potatoes or corn, all-natural oils and salt. No preservatives here!
• They were the first major food company to remove partially hydrogenated oils from their cooking in 2003. Yay for 0 grams of trans fat!
• They have begun to use all-natural seasonings to flavor some of their chips.
• Many varieties provide whole grains a good source of fiber.

So you see it's still possible to snack on yummy chippy's (what we call them in my house) and not be completely unhealthy. Just an FYI my favorite Frito-Lay chips are Lays Kettle Cooked Jalapeno flavor and Funyuns and Cheetos Flamin' Hot and on and on...I really am addicted to chips.

If you would like to stay in the know about Frito-Lay you can follow them on Twitter or read their Snack Chat blog.

Now on to my quick and easy giveaway. I mentioned earlier that Frito-Lay generously included a free product coupon good for any of their chips so I thought I would share this with one of you. The first person to leave a comment with their favorite Frito-Lay chip will get the free product coupon. Hurry!

***Monica***

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Ecoland Organic Pajamas So Soft Review and Giveaway

If you know me, you know I love PJ’s. I don’t wear them often because I rarely find a comfortable set. I also hate washing more clothes than I need to wash, but if I find a comfortable pair of PJs I will wear them like crazy, especially in the colder weather. I don’t care about looking sexy; I just want comfy PJs that keep me warm and comfortable in my sleep. Recently Ecoland Inc. sent me their organic spa gift set for review.

Trying these pajamas on was a real treat. They are some of the most comfortable pajamas I have had in a very long time. The cotton is sooooo soft. They fit like I like pajamas to fit on my body. The sleeves fit like gloves around my arms (I hate loose sleeve pajamas). The pants fit loose around my legs, but not too loose that my legs will not keep warm.

There is also a soft drawstring the gently ties around my waist. In all, there is absolutely nothing uncomfortable about these pajama’s: no skin irritation, no uneven warmth, no tightness, no too loose it gets in the way or bunches up feeling, nothing. They look good too, presentable.

So, if I were to slip outside to take the trash out in the morning or watch my kids get on the bus, I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in them nor would my kids be embarrassed to have me seen in them. Because they are solid white I can also wear my crazy fuzzy socks with the PJ’s to keep my feet warm and the colors won’t clash. Have I mentioned how soft these pajamas are?

The set also comes with an organic head band and wash mitten. These too were wonderful treats.

Unfortunately, because my pajamas are solid white I fear they will look dingy after a few uses. I have 3 messy kids and I’m pretty clumsy too. Soon enough a stain or two or more will find their way onto my pajamas. Lazy washer that I am, the stains won’t come out and my presentable PJs wont be so presentable anymore, but they will still be comfortable and that is what counts.

Holiday gift idea! This organic spa gift set  would definitely make a great gift. It even comes in a beautiful cardboard box with a satin ribbon & gift tag.

The Giveaway: One lucky winner will win a set just like this. If you would like a chance to win this planet-friendly prize visit the Ecoland Inc. website to see what other eco-friendly products are available. Then leave me a comment letting me know what you have tried or would like to try. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments. Deadline: This giveaway will end on Dec 20, 2010. I will choose the winner using Random.org. US entries only. Please make sure your email is on your profile or leave it in your comment. If you win and I cannot contact you then the prize goes to the next person. Please respond within 48 hours.

Disclosure: I received organic spa gift set for free for review from Ecoland Inc.

Mondays with Monica- Wasa Flatbread Review

So how was every one's Thanksgiving? Mine was great and the dinner came out fabulous thanks to the tasty recipes I used. Are we tired of leftovers yet? I have one more idea for you to use up any turkey you may have left. How about a healthier turkey sandwich using Wasa's new Flatbread, Thin & Crispy crackers. That's right the worlds largest producer of flatbread has introduced a new line of whole grain crackers in Original, Sesame and Rosemary. Made with all natural ingredients these healthy alternative to regular crackers make a great bread alternative as well. Spread some cream cheese, a little cranberry sauce and a strip of turkey and you got a healthy turkey sandwich.

When I received these new flatbreads I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy them or not and actually the husband was the first to open a box and start munching away. Since he is a bit more pickier then I am I knew if he liked them that I would as well. We tried the Sesame ones first and they have a great flavor. Lately my little girl Penelope has been asking for cheese and crackers a lot so I tried these out on her. I spread some cream cheese and topped with some sliced cucumber and she loved them. They are low in fat and high in fiber so I feel good about giving them to her. Next we tried the Rosemary flavor. These were my favorite! They taste good plain but I also topped them with some grilled chicken  and balsamic tomatoes and it was delicious. The Original ones were light and crispy like the other two but a little plain on their own. I like peanut butter and jelly on crackers so I tried this on the Original flatbread and it worked! Basically you can pretty much top these thin & crispy flatbreads with anything your heart desires and have a healthy snack or meal. Check out Wasa online for some recipe ideas. You can purchase Wasa Flatbread, Thin & Crispy in stores nationwide for around $2.99

Until next time...

***Monica***

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Bob’s Red Mill Organic Pancake & Waffle Whole Grain Mix Review & Giveaway

Most weekdays mornings our breakfast consists of organic cereals or fruits with toast and milk. Breakfast has to be quick and convenient during the week if we want to get out the door on time. On the weekend though, we can slow down and my husband or I can make our kids something they love, pancakes. Pancake mixes are usually not healthy, so I was happy when I was given the opportunity to try Bob’s Red Mill Organic Pancake & Waffle Whole Grain Mix.

I received a box of pancake mix to taste test and review. A box of Bob’s Red Mill Organic Pancake & Waffle Whole Grain Mix contains four packets of pancake mix. One packet made 3 breakfast meals for a family of five (plus scrambled eggs and bacon). That is 3 days worth of pancakes for my family. Each serving contains 5 grams of fiber, stone ground whole grain flour, stone ground oats, wheat germ, oat bran, wheat bran and flaxseed. Certified organic by QAI.

The first time I made the pancakes exactly like directed on the package. The mix was a little thin and the pancakes cooked thin too. My first taste test of the first pancake made from the mix was bland and had a bit of a grainy texture. I served the pancakes, with scrambled eggs from the local CSA and two strips of bacon.

At the table everyone added syrup (we prefer agave, but we were all out of agave). The overall opinion… They pancakes were okay, a little bland and thin. I like thin pancakes but these were too thin.

The second time I made pancakes from this healthy mix I used milk, instead of water, as suggested on the package for fluffier pancakes. The pancakes did thicken up some. This also improved the flavor. I served the pancakes with the same syrup as well as CSA eggs and pieces of uncured, but broiled CSA bacon. The overall opinion for this batch of pancakes was…much better.

The third time I made a batch of pancakes from this mix I used milk again, but then I also added a bit of cinnamon to the mix. Had I had blueberries I would have added that too. We love blueberry pancakes. The cinnamon was a nice touch. This time we had agave. Served with scrambled eggs again, but this time no bacon (all out of bacon). The overall opinion of this batch….much much better. It took a few batches to make, but I think we found the perfect way to make pancakes from this healthy and eco-friendly pancake mix.

The Giveaway: I was given a box of four pancake mix packets, two packets to try and two to giveaway. So I am giving one lucky winner the other 2 packets. If you would like a chance to win this planet-friendly prize visit the Bob’s Red Mill website to see what other healthy and eco-friendly food mixes they have. Then leave me a comment letting me know what you have tried or would like to try. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments. Deadline: This giveaway will end on Dec 15, 2010. I will choose the winner using Random.org. US entries only. Please make sure your email is on your profile or leave it in your comment. If you win and I cannot contact you then the prize goes to the next person. Please respond within 48 hours.

Disclosure: I received these pancake mixes free from Bob’s Red Mill Organic Pancake & Waffle Whole Grain Mix. 

Super Quick Eco-frugal Tip

Carpool to your Thanksgiving gathering. Everybody chips in for gas.

Deal Alert!

I've got another Thanksgiving sale to share with all of you! Growing Treey Toys is offering 15% off  on your entire order. This offer is only good between Friday the 26th and Sunday the 28th. Just enter the discount code MBBTVL at checkout to receive some great savings. In addition to receving money off your order every 100th order placed on thier site will be FREE! That’s right, if you are lucky enough to win they will contact you and refund you for your entire order! Growing Tree Toys carries a variety of toys for all ages. Use thier Gift Finder to find the perfect Christmas gift for the kiddos in your life.

***Monica***

Deal Alert!

Ecomom wants to thank all their customers by offering a Thanksgiving Sale. You will get 33% off all items purchased by using the code 33OFF. This is valid from today through 11/29 so go check out the many items they have. They carry everything from organic and Eco friendly diapers to natural bath products for the whole family. You can also find toys and books that would make great Christmas gifts for little ones. Happy shopping!

***Monica***

Giveaway for L'Bri Cosmetics

 CLOSED

Winners:

#4

#8

#18

#58

Many of you already know how important skincare is to me, especially skincare that is eco-friendly and chemical-free. I am a huge promoter of natural products! L'Bri has a line of face and body care products that will work wonders for you. Whether your skin is sensitive, prone to breakouts & blemishes or is in need of some serious moisture L'Bri is there to serve you in improving your skin. L'Bri products are aloe-based rather than water-based and do not contain pore-clogging waxes or skin-drying alcohols.

Most people have skin problems because of the very products they use to correct those skin problems. Other products contain pollutants and chemicals that dry out skin or just hover over our skin instead of allowing nutrients to be absorbed. By choosing a natural line of products you will gently correct the problems you've been dealing with.

So let's chat about my skin. I'm a very fair woman but my T-zone is prone to dryness and my cheeks are prone to getting red (rosacea). I also have enlarged pores on my cheeks. I don't have breakouts for the most part but I can get uneven skintone. I began using the L'Bri system for improving those minor imperfections and I am blown away by the results.

The system is five steps: Cleanser, Masque or Peel or Exfoliator (you alternate these), Refreshener Spray, Eye Repair Gel and finally the Moisturizer. It sounds like a lot but honestly it is so quick and I especially love spraying my face with the Refreshener after cleaning and exfoliating my face. The moisturizer at the end leaves your skin visibly soft and non-greasy. I also love that the products smell fresh and clean.

L'Bri sent me their entire line of facial care products as well as some sample packets of lotions. My hands get so cracked and dry in the colder months and none of the over-the-counter junk works. In fact most of those products make it worse. I put some hand lotion on one evening after my poor hands started getting red and cracked from the cold air. The result was almost instantaneous for me. The redness calmed down and my skin just soaked up the moisturizing lotion but was not greasy in the least. I abhor greasy lotions.

As for my face? My pores are tighter thanks to the Eye Repair Gel (I apply that to my eye lashes, lids and cheeks to tighten the skin), my T-zone is not dry and no more red rash on my cheeks! These products are extraordinary and a must-have for every woman's cosmetic collection.

Pssssssst! One more thing. After using L'Bri for several weeks I decided to break out my Aveeno face wash and scrub to see what would happen. My skin felt so dry and crackly after using a supposed natural over-the-counter product and I was so disappointed I threw the Aveeno in the trash!

You can get FREE samples by clicking HERE! And you can view the online catalog as well!

WIN IT:

FOUR winners will be selected to each receive:

Facial Masque
Rejuvenating Facial Peel
Pure and Natural Body Wash
The Ultimate Hand and Body Lotion

To Enter:

MANDATORY:
You MUST do this entry FIRST or your entries will not count. ONE comment only.

Visit L'Bri and browse around. Come back here to leave me a comment about their product ingredients!


OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
For 1 extra entry per item below 
(please leave a NEW, separate comment for each one):
-If you follow Girly Girl Giveaways blog publicly, Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
-If you follow @girlygiveaways on Twitter
-If you are a Girly Girl Giveaways fan on Facebook
-If you have my Girly Girl Giveaways button on your blog


OPEN to USA contestants !

It will end at 12/9/2010

A winner will be chosen at random and will have 48 hours to respond.

Please make sure you have a way for me to contact you (email in profile or in comments).

The opinions expressed in this review are based on my personal experience with the products described. I am an honest person and have provided an honest account of my findings. I received free skincare products for the purpose of reviewing it.

=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=
Joy is a stay-at-home-mom to three daughters. She is the wife of a worship leader & youth pastor. She runs her own Etsy shop selling handmade, hand-stamped sterling jewelry. Joy has taken courses in journalism, play writing, poetry, was in Honors English throughout school and has had small publications made of her work (mostly poetry).

Giveaway for Bebe Au Lait

One of my favorite accessories as a nursing mom is a nursing cover. But a good quality nursing cover is hard to come by if you don't know what you're going to need. Here is what I look for in a nursing cover:

-it is adjustable
-ties around my neck comfortably
-stiff opening to easily view baby
-size matters; how large the cover itself is
-soft, breathable fabric that keeps me covered

Bebe Au Lait offers nursing covers that cover all of that and more! They were generous to send me a nursing cover of my choice. It arrived very quickly which always means a lot to me because I want to use my product right away. Before I received my Bebe Au Lait nursing cover I owned one of those free nursing covers you just paying shipping for online. The old cover was usable enough but nowhere near the quality of Bebe Au Lait.

The Mint Chocolate cover is the one I chose and I love it!

Let me explain further by comparing the two nursing covers. Old Nursing Cover was thin yet stifling hot and it was small. And by small I mean that I could barely keep myself covered. It also tied around my neck but wasn't very secure and often baby could pull it off. Now comes in Bebe Au Lait! The Bebe Au Lait cover is a thicker cotton fabric but it is very lightweight. I don't find myself or baby getting overheated. It is also larger by about 2 inches which may not sound like a lot but oh the difference! I can nurse baby and keep myself modestly covered.

Another great feature of Bebe Au Lait is that it does tie securely around my neck and there's no way baby can pull it off. The Bebe Au Lait nursing covers also feature terrycloth pockets on the underside which I personally find useful for wiping baby's mouth but you can also store your Lanolin and a couple extra breast pads in there to keep all your breastfeeding items handy!

Stiff opening allows you to see baby easily!

And finally- just look at the fabric choices. They are chic and hip. You don't have to be frump mom when it comes to nursing baby! You can be stylish and modest. I don't believe moms should have to leave and hide away in another room or a public restroom to nurse! I have used my Bebe Au Lait nursing cover in church service, at Starbucks and in restaurants without anyone being the wiser or feeling awkward seeing a woman nurse her baby. It's a win-win for everyone!

Don't forget Bebe Au Lait carries Hooter Hiders nursing covers, hooded towels, burp cloths and bibs as well!

Visit this YouTube video to see the nursing cover in action!

If I could rate this product I would give it 10 stars. I am so happy with my nursing cover. And now one of you can be equally as happy as I am with a nursing cover of your choice!

 WIN IT:
One random reader is going to win a Bebe Au Lait nursing cover of their choice, a $35 value!

To Enter:

MANDATORY:
You MUST do this entry FIRST or your entries will not count. ONE comment only.

Visit Bebe Au Lait and browse around. Come back here to leave me a comment about which nursing cover you'd choose if you won!


OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
For 1 extra entry per item below 
(please leave a NEW, separate comment for each one):
-If you follow Girly Girl Giveaways blog publicly, Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
-If you follow @girlygiveaways on Twitter
-If you are a Girly Girl Giveaways fan on Facebook
-If you have my Girly Girl Giveaways button on your blog
-If you follow Bebe Au Lait on Twitter
-If you follow Bebe Au Lait on Facebook


OPEN to USA contestants !

It will end at 12/8/2010

A winner will be chosen at random and will have 48 hours to respond.

Please make sure you have a way for me to contact you (email in profile or in comments).

The opinions expressed in this review are based on my personal experience with the products described. I am an honest person and have provided an honest account of my findings. I received a free nursing cover for the purpose of reviewing it.

=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=
Joy is a stay-at-home-mom to three daughters. She is the wife of a worship leader & youth pastor. She runs her own Etsy shop selling handmade, hand-stamped sterling jewelry. Joy has taken courses in journalism, play writing, poetry, was in Honors English throughout school and has had small publications made of her work (mostly poetry).

Canvas 4 Life

You just caught the perfect picture on your camera... all the kids are looking, Fido isn't a blur of fur and your husband has a genuine smile on his handsome face. Or maybe the majestic mountains you just visited would look perfect displayed above your fireplace. How can you showcase your best picture yet? At Canvas 4 Life you can take those special memories and have them transferred to high-quality canvas.

Canvas 4 Life let me choose a canvas to review. I uploaded a picture of my three daughters and then chose a canvas size of 20X30 (and from the picture below you can see that is quite a large canvas!). Their technology was able to detect if my picture had high enough resolution to be printed in several seconds. From there I was able to choose the color, the depth and the bleed for my canvas to customize it per my desire. The end result was an amazing, large print of my three girls.

My canvas arrived incredibly fast! And Canvas 4 Life kept me apprised of my canvas via email so I knew when to expect it. When it arrived it was wrapped in tons of bubble wrap to protect it. The only thing it didn't have was a hook. I had to go to the store and buy hooks to hammer into the wooden frame at the back of the canvas which was only about $2 for a half dozen hooks.

We had Zoë's first birthday party at our house and everyone noticed the picture and wanted to know where it came from. My in-laws were incredibly impressed with the quality and how clear the picture is on such a large canvas!

Our canvas is the large photo to the left of the couch!

This holiday season surprise a loved one with a memorable gift they will cherish for years to come! To learn more about why you should choose Canvas 4 Life click HERE! And don't forget that FREE shipping is always a bonus which you will get at Canvas 4 Life.

Use promo code GirlyGirl10 to receive 10% off your purchase!

Canvas 4 Life donated a canvas for this review. 
It is no way affected my honest 
review of their product.

=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=
Joy is a stay-at-home-mom to three daughters. She is the wife of a worship leader & youth pastor. She runs her own Etsy shop selling handmade, hand-stamped sterling jewelry. Joy has taken courses in journalism, play writing, poetry, was in Honors English throughout school and has had small publications made of her work (mostly poetry).

Mondays with Monica

How was every ones week? Mine went by fast! Can you believe Thanksgiving is just 3 days away and Christmas....well I don't even want to think about that right now. With everyone busy planning their Thanksgiving meal and getting ready to spend some time with loved ones, how about if I share what's on the menu at my house? Since it's just going to be my husband and little girl this year I decided I would make a turkey breast rather then a whole turkey. To be honest I would rather have ham I am not a big turkey fan but the husband has to have his turkey on Thanksgiving. I was trying to convince him to let me make a duck or something, anything but a turkey but he wasn't having it. Heck I don't know what I would have done if he agreed on the duck, I've never even ate duck in my life let alone cooked one. It just sounds so much better then turkey. So to go with my roasted turkey breast I am making Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes. Did anyone happen to catch her on Throwdown with Bobby Flay? Her potatoes looked goooood. I wonder who else has decided to add them to their Thanksgiving meal after watching the show. I am also going to be making this Sourdough Bread Stuffing. Made it last year and it was delicious. Of course another side the husband has to have is Green Bean Casserole. I never had this growing up and was only first introduced to it about 9 years ago when I was living in Texas. It's now become a permanent fixture at our Thanksgiving table. And you can't have a Thanksgiving meal without cranberry sauce and rolls. The rolls unfortunately will not be homemade. I am hoping that this is the year I will get the Kitchen Aid I have been wanting for Christmas so that I can learn to bake. If it is then we will be having homemade rolls next year. We will finish off this meal with the obligatory pumpkin pie. I know there's nothing exciting about the menu I have planned but it is sure to satisfy a hungry husband and growing toddler. So what will be on your dinnertime Thursday?

May you all have a wonderful holiday! Until next time...

***Monica***

Super Quick Eco-Frugal Tip

Want a new book that doesn't leave behind a heavy carbon footprint ? Join a book swap group.

Tickly Octopus Review and Giveaway

*CLOSED*
WINNER #10 Tracy66 CONGRATULATIONS!

Lately Penelope has been getting more into doing crafts. She loves creating things with her little hands. I have been trying to find things that she can do with little help from me and that she will enjoy. When I heard about Tickly Octopus I knew it would be something she would love. The creator of Tickly Octopus was inspired by a playdate in 2006. After seeing the creative crafts her friend was making with her daughters she came up with the idea of a T-shirt design kit that children could have fun with and put their imagination into. Creating a one of a kind T-shirt that they could wear and show off to the world. This do-it-yourself T-shirt design kit includes handmade peel and stick appliqués of animals and shapes, letters and adornments along with an organic T-shirt canvas. Each appliqué is made with fade resistant felt with a peel and stick adhesive backing. And because each appliqué is handmade they will have a slightly different look adding to the uniqueness of your little ones creation.

Why organic? From the Tickly Octopus website:

Each T-shirt is made from one hundred percent organic cotton saves one-third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals. Cotton is one of the most intensively sprayed field crops in the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 53 million pounds of pesticides and 1.6 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to cotton fields in 1996. Organic cotton is good for you; grown and processed without toxic chemicals; minimized damage to soil, water and air. Choosing sustainable children’s clothing is everyday action one person can do to save planet. One choice at a time.

This T-shirt design kit is the perfect craft for toddlers and young kids, it is also very easy. You just peel off the back to reveal the adhesive and place it anywhere you wish on your shirt. Press down firmly and then throw in the dryer for 15 minutes to seal your design. Penelope had so much fun with this!

She also couldn't wait to put on her new shirt. Check out her finished product.

This would make a great gift this holiday season! You can get your Tickly Octopus T-shirt design kit  here. Also be sure to check out Tickly Octopus on Facebook. 

Tickly Octopus has offered one of our readers a chance to win their very own kit.

To Enter: Please leave a comment letting me know who you would give this kit to. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC or Subscribing via email. 

Deadline: This giveaway will end on November 30, 2010. I will choose the winner using Random.org. Please leave a valid email address if it is not visible in your profile. US entries only.

***Monica***

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Mondays With Monica

So last week I shared the cookbook 5 Ingredient Fix with you. Although I thought some of the recipes looked pretty good I was honest and told you that I would probably make very few of them. This week on the other hand I am going to share a cookbook that I absolutely love.

The Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook by Dede Lahman & Neil Kleinberg. This cookbook comes from the owners of the restaurant of the same name. Clinton St. Baking Company is a popular brunch spot in Lower East Side Manhattan and boy do I wish I was in New York right now after taking a look at all the recipes in this book. I literally want to make every single one! According to the book people wait in line for hours to get a bite at this place. When you take a look at some of the items this eatery has to offer I think you will see why. The pictures in this book make the food look sooo good, I love a cookbook that makes you drool over the food. My favorite meals of the day are breakfast and lunch and this book offers some great recipes like a  Spanish Biscuit Sandwich made with their homemade biscuit recipe and a Corn and Clam Chowder that looks and sounds delicious. This cookbook contains a total of 10 chapters with all the recipes you need to make a perfect early meal for your family or friends. From savory breakfasts to sweet desserts, yummy sandwiches to their specialty fried chicken and even some drink recipes like a Hot Buttered Cider which I could totally go for right now in this 20 degree weather. I am anxious to start tasting these dishes that the Clinton St. Baking Company has grown famous for but I am waiting for Chris to get home from work so I can impress him. :) I am definitely recommending this book and if I am every in the New York area this place will be on the top of my list to visit. Just out of curiosity any of you ever eaten there? You can get your copy of Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook on Amazon.

***Monica***

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Super Quick Eco-Frugal Tip

Save on money and help the environment. Use cloth napkins at the dinner table instead of paper napkins

Mondays with Monica...the Late Edition

For those of you who do not know I am obsessed with cookbooks, I have a ton! My collection consists of all sorts of ethnic specific, diet related, food type, and even some vintage cookbooks. I have to say some of my favorite are those that offer family friendly recipes or promise quick meal ideas with few ingredients. Even though I love to cook their are some days when I want to make something fast and effortless. When I received an email about reviewing a cookbook titled 5 Ingredient Fix: Easy, Elegant, and Irresistible Recipes, well I just had to check it out.

The author of 5 Ingredient Fix is a Food Network star with a show of the same title, she is also star of  Food Network Challenge. Her book promises to simplify elegant meals and make them more budget friendly by using fewer ingredients. I have to be honest with you I have never seen Claire Robinson's show so her style of cooking was new to me. At first glance this cookbook looked like a book that would sit on my bookcase but would never get much use. I have certain cookbooks that I keep because the photos are beautiful and while the recipes look delicious I would probably never make them. That was my first impression of this book. After giving it a more thorough look I actually did find some recipes in it that I am anxious to try. For instance there is a recipe for Edamame Hummus that I am going to be making really soon. Penelope loves Edamame and Hummus so she is sure to enjoy this combination. Another recipe that I am going to try is Buttermilk Pecan Chicken, it sounds sooo yummy. I had my husband Chris take a look at the book to see what he thought and he is begging me to make him the Pork Roast with Hard Cider Gravy. While not all the recipes in this book are only 5 ingredients they each do have very few ingredients and seem pretty simple to create. They also are not your ordinary recipes and are elegant as promised in the title. In my opinion most of the recipes would be great to make if you were trying to impress some guests without spending a fortune. I don't think I would make them on a regular basis. In any event this book is going to make a great addition to my collection and I would recommend it to anyone that loves to cook or enjoys cookbooks like I do. You can get your copy of 5 Ingredient Fix: Easy, Elegant, and Irresistable Recipes on Amazon.

***Monica***

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

That Time Already?! Shutterfly Review

Can you believe it's already November? Christmas is just around the corner, time to start thinking about this years Christmas card. We have the perfect setting for our photo this year being that we are living in the same state as Santa now. A white Christmas, Yay! As you can tell I love this time of year and I am so eager to start sending out those cards to all our friends and family that are far away. Like last year we will be using Shutterfly again, they always do such a great job and they have so many nice Christmas cards to choose from. I especially like this Holly Frame design and I can already picture Penelope frolicking in the snow while I snap away trying to get that perfect shot. Are you planning a party this Christmas? How about creating your very own Christmas party invites, Shutterfly has several designs to choose from. I am so bummed that we won't be with family this year but I am excited about our first Christmas in our new home. Since we will be sending gifts in the mail this year I thought these Christmas gift tags would look nice enclosed in each package. My favorites are the Beary Merry and the Goody Garland. All this talk about the holidays has got me feeling all warm and fuzzy now. Time to hit the store for some candy cane ice cream and is it too early to go tree shopping?

***Monica***
Shutterfly will be providing me with a promo code good for 50 free holiday cards for writing this post. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not influenced in anyway.

Ecoware Forks Review and Giveaway

 CLOSED

I pack my kids school lunches 4-5 times a week. A cloth napkin serves as a sandwich wrap and something to wipe their hands with. Reusable containers allow me to neatly store their veggies and fruit in their luncbox. I serve their drinks in reusable bottles. More often then not their food is finger friendly, but every now and then I want to serve them some sort of tuna, pasta or fruit salad. That’s when I have to decide if I want to give them plastic utensils or silverware from home. After loosing a lot of my silverware I began a search for eco-frugal utensils. Ecoware agreed to let me review some of their wooden cutlery.


I received a retail pack of 25 biodegradable and certified compostable Ecoware wooden forks. The forks are made from FSC (www.fsc.org - the global standard for sustainably harvested wood products) certified all natural Birchwood and without chemical additives. The forks are produced in China and imported by Ecoware Biodegradables Inc. who provides cutlery wholesale for $39.99 for a 1000pc box (plus shipping) or retail $4.50 a pack.

My review: Right away I noticed how lightweight and thin the forks are. After several uses I also noticed that they are durable and because they are not bulky like some plastic utensils, they travel easily too. I also noticed that the forks have a wide handle. Why is this important to me? 1. It’s easier for my kids to hold, good grip. 2. If I wanted to, and I do and did, instead of trashing these eco-friendly disposable forks after a single use (or more since I hand was mine to use again) I can collect them and then label them and use them as plant label. Prong side down I can easily dig them into the dirt to help me label the plants in my garden.

The forks can also be used on picnics and at camp. I’d love it if my kids’ cafeteria also took to them. According to Amber, Co-Founder, Ecoware Biodegradables Inc., they can also be used at weddings. Look at how elegant they look in the picture above.

Unfortunately, the texture of the fork was a bit course to my children and me. I found that I needed to wet the forks before using them in order to make them smoother to use. Once wet the coarseness was gone and they were great to use. If these forks could be made so that their texture was smoother, maybe coated with an eco-friendly oil, I think they would be a big hit in lunch boxes, at weddings, on picnics, parties, girl scout meetings, at camps and in purses everywhere.

The Giveaway: Want to try Ecoware wooden cutlery for yourself? Wonderful! Ecoware is giving away a 25pc pack of each utensil - fork, spoons and knives to one of my lucky winners. In case you missed it each pack retails for $4.50. They are available online at Green Planet Parties for purchase: http://www.greenplanetparties.com/category_32/2/Tableware.htm

If you would like a chance to win this planet-friendly prize visit Ecoware to see what else they do that’s green and then leave me a comment letting me know how this prize would help you. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments. Deadline: This giveaway will end on Dec 6, 2010. I will choose the winner using Random.org. US entries only. Please make sure your email is on your profile or leave it in your comment. If you win and I cannot contact you then the prize goes to the next person.

Disclosure "I have received these forks free from Ecoware Biodegradables Inc.".

Still Down

I have a chance to get online briefly and wanted to let everyone know that my computer is still not fixed. Time, money and whatever else can get in the way has gotten in the way of getting it fixed. Our van decided to not start a couple of weeks ago and medical bills poured in so we had to take care of those things first. I'm hoping to set up a way I can use my in-laws' computer or just go to work with my husband and use his computer because I have got some awesome giveaways lined up and feel horribly that I haven't been able to get them up for these wonderful companies.

Thanks for the patience! Send some prayers my way that we get the money to fix the computer and I hope to be back really soon!

Joy

=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=+=*=
Joy is a stay-at-home-mom to three daughters. She is the wife of a worship leader & youth pastor. She runs her own Etsy shop selling handmade, hand-stamped sterling jewelry. Joy has taken courses in journalism, play writing, poetry, was in Honors English throughout school and has had small publications made of her work (mostly poetry).

Soapnut Review Winner is....

The Winner of the Soapnut Review Giveaway is Kate! Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. Keep an eye out for future eco-friendly product reviews and giveaways. Remember to please make sure it is easy for me to contact you or I wont be able to let you know you are the winner and the next person in line will get the prize. Either have an email on your profile or leave it on the comment.