I’ve had my eye on the Elk and Friends products for a few years. Many people I know use and recommend them, and I thought they would be the perfect addition to our kitchen.

We have been transitioning away from plastic and other harmful materials in our home to more eco-friendly and safe products. We use a lot of glass and stainless steel, which is often times more expensive than others. This is one reason I was drawn to Elk and Friends. Their products are glass and stainless steel, and they all come in multipack – perfect for homes with many children. The bundled price they offer really cuts down on cost and makes their sets more affordable.

Elk and Friends offers a few different styles of cups that are glass or stainless steel. They have multiple sizes available – 8, 10, 12, and 16 ounce. Their silicone straws are very sturdy and well made, but better yet, easy to clean. The straws also have a stopper on them that really helps out when giving the cups to a young child. Each cup comes with two lids – one with a hole for the straw to fit in, and one with an air tight, leak proof seal.

I was given two sets to use and review. One set we use for the kids and the other set I use, I call them my mom cups.

The “mom set” I was given is perfect for moms on the go.  They are 16 ounce glass cups with a silicone sleeve on them. The best part though, I love the straw. I have learned over the years that I drink much more water when I have a straw in my cup. It’s just easier, and I need easier during the days. These 16 ounce drinking tumblers are perfect for water, smoothies, and more.

I am a bit disappointed that there are only two plastic seals that came with the set. I like to use them as storage containers, but I can only use two at a time. This is certainly something that is not a deal breaker, but it is a bit inconvenient.

The cups are so stylish and the muted color tones of this set are perfect for a mom. The colors are pretty neutral and they can be mixed and matched too. These would be a great Christmas gift for someone on your list!

I love the colors that Elk and Friends provides; they are so bright and really perfect for any child. Most of their sets are gender neutral but there are a lot of sets that could be used specifically for boys or girls. They also have many neutral colors that aren’t super bright and colorful, too. These, I feel, are more geared towards parents, moms specifically. They are really cute earthy tones, perfect for homes with boys and girls in the family.

These cups have really surprised me with how durable they are. My one year old likes to take them out of the drawer and often times he throws them on the floor. Although I don’t love that the cups occasionally get thrown on the floor, I am [obviously] grateful for the durability.

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The first downside that I came across with these cups is that they need fully disassembled in order to get fully washed. This is by no means a reason for us to stop using the cups, but just takes a bit more time when washing. We take the silicone sleeves off of the glass jars and wash them separately, as well as the silicone seal from the lid.

As you can see in the photo above, the silicone is dirty where the glass and the silicone were touching. The remedy to this is nothing outstanding, but it’s just something we needed to learn for ourselves. This is certainly not something that will stop us from using these cups. We still love them!

One other downside that we have experienced with the cups is with the straws. For the most part they are pretty stop-proof, but my kids have been able to pull the straw out of the lid, despite the stoppers best efforts. The straws have a stopper on them that stops them from being pulled up out of the lid. This is super helpful when you have younger children who don’t understand yet. My one year old has not been able to pull the straw completely out of the cup, but my strong four year old has. He is at an age where he understands though, so we had a conversation with him about it, and it hasn’t happened again. Just something to keep in mind.

In all seriousness though, we are really liking the Elk and Friends cups and I do recommend them to any family who has children.

Gaucho Ninja is a very unique shoe company that is based out of the UK. The company strives towards giving people a good balance between doing activities barefoot and wearing restrictive shoes. The handmade shoes that Gaucho Ninja crafts are beautiful pieces of art that are worn on the feet. They are made with very high quality materials and are very well put together.

Many of us are used to the restrictive and damaging shoes that are basically what everyone wears these days. These shoes, as mentioned, are damaging to the foot because they prevent the correct development of the muscles that make our feet strong, flexible, and healthy.

Our feet are happy and healthy when they are moving freely with the ability to feel and touch the earth. Gaucho Ninja offers protection while also giving flexible, spacious, and stylish comfort. There are ‘28 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles’ in our feet; they need to move freely. They are there to support our whole body, literally.

The leather is a by-product that would be wasted if not used for something like this – shoe creating. The leather that Gaucho Ninja uses comes from 6 artisan tanners out of Spain. It is tanned traditionally with traditional tools and methods. Every piece is different and unique, so no two pair of shoes is exactly the same. The thread is from Germany and is made from recycled plastic bottles. Many of the shoe soles are Vibram – an Italian brand that molds them by hand.

This DIY Leather Kit is such a cool concept and a really fun way to purchase a pair of shoes. I like that I put my hard work into making these moccasins, so I am really going to hold them on a pedestal compared to the other shoes I own.

Making these moccasins, I’m going to be honest, was very difficult. The method of sewing that is used in the making of the shoes is called saddle stitching. It is difficult for someone like me – someone who doesn’t make custom, tailored shoes for a living. I had to make some modifications when putting them together, which just made the process a bit longer.

All in all it took me about three weeks to find time to make the shoes. When adding up the time in total, it took about 3-4 hours.

Not having the proper tools like would be in the Gaucho Ninja shop made it so I had to get creative on exactly what to use. This wasn’t a huge issue, but if I had proper tools, it would have made it much easier.

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Gaucho Ninja is a great company, I highly recommend their products. Although their shoes are quite expensive, they offer incredible quality and will last for years. They have a pretty large selection of shoes to choose from, so finding one that suites you wouldn’t be difficult. The DIY leather kits are a great way to get your feet wet and experience the quality and durability of the Gaucho Ninja shoes.

Having snacks in the house during the summer is a necessity with kids around. It’s not necessarily a must, but having new snacks can really be a game changer. Getting kids excited about eating, especially when the food they’re eating is good for them, is super important. If they think the food they are going to eat is fun and cool, they are more likely to eat it; and be willing to try it.

I am a huge advocate for healthy snacks, so when I come across some, I love to share them with others. Many of these snacks I would purchase again to have in our home.

Without a Trace Foods

The snacks that Without a Trace Foods makes are all free of the top 8 allergens. Available are cookies, granola bars, and power bites. For someone who has allergies, these snacks are the perfect option. No one in our family has any food allergies, but we have eaten all the snacks we were given. My kids especially love the power bites, and honestly I do too. These bites have a lot of flavor to them and are the perfect snack to bring on the go. We like the granola bars too. They are a bit chewy and really get stuck in teeth, but the taste is good. We tasted the cookies and were not super impressed with them. Again, we don’t have any food allergies, so we are not in need of allergen free chocolate chip cookies. We are kind of chocolate chip cookie snobs. I would imagine though, if we did have food allergies in our family, these would be such a great option.

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All Clean Food

Organic pasta box meals are such a perfect way to do dinner during the summer. Free of the top 14 allergens, this pasta is seriously so impressive. Our whole family ate these pasta boxes and didn’t think they tasted any different than a normal pasta meal. The flavor of them was incredible. These pasta boxes are super easy to make and take less than 30 minutes. There are 4 different varieties available which include taco, creamy garlic, savory Italian, and porcini mushroom. We were able to try the creamy garlic pasta and the savory Italian pasta. Both are very good, but my husband and I like the creamy garlic pasta the most. We were astonished by the flavor that was packed inside the box. The savory Italian pasta is good too, it’s similar to spaghetti but more flavorful. I highly recommend All Clean Food’s pasta dinners. So if you are a fan of all things Italian or just pasta-based, then this may get your tastebuds tingling for more, if that’s true, you might want to check out an italian restaurant jacksonville eatery like Toscana Little Italy, or one in your local area, for you to enjoy yourself inside and outside the house.

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Undercover Snacks

These yummy snacks are so good. Not only do my kids love them, but we shared them with lots of friends and they all approve of them too. The snacks are made with quinoa that is super crispy and is dipped in chocolate. All the ingredients are all-natural, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Lots of different flavors are available including pomegranate, blueberry, currant, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. You can purchase the treats individually wrapped or in a re-sealable bag.

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Kubeba Life

These granola bars are great for on the go trips. Something that I actually love about these bars is the colorful packaging of them. Colorful packaging for kids is super helpful because in most cases it get them excited to eat the food. The Kubeba bars are packed with protein. 12-13 grams of protein in one bar is very impressive and almost unheard of in the healthy, allergen-free food family. These bars are such a great option for people who need allergen free snacks. I felt that these granola bars are pretty tough to chew and really get stuck in the teeth. I wouldn’t recommend giving these bars to young children due to choking hazards.

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Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R.

The Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. mixes are Some of the best dessert mixes that I’ve ever made. The name of the brand defines just how free of allergens these mixes are. Take a look what these mixes are free of: grain-free, additive-free, nightshade-free, gluten-free, soy & legume-free, tree-nut & seed-free, egg & dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. My husband and I for sure tell a difference between these desserts and most. We did really both like the Oatmeal Schmoatmeal cookies and thought they were a good option for a dessert. We do have many family members who are vegan and they all approved these desserts. My mother in law, who is vegan and gluten free, was thrilled to be able to eat these desserts.

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Handzies

All natural wipes are perfect for on the go. Since they are individually wrapped they are perfect to throw in the diaper bag or lunchbox, you could even keep a few in the car. Made with minimal ingredients, these wipes are just a cloth with Castile soap, water, and essential oils. There are no artificial or harsh ingredients in these wipes, so using them on children is no sweat. The wipes are compostable and biodegradable, so there is no need to worry about harming the environment when using them either. Free + clear and tangerine scents are available and 30, 24, or 100 count packets that are individually wrapped.

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Sago Mini is a great company that puts kids first. The core values of Sago Mini are centered around laughter and learning. Activities that are open-ended allow for creativity and play, which is where learning begins.

Three different products are available from Sago Mini – their boxes and the school and world apps. All of their products are designed to foster a learning environment. What is unique about the company though, is that they want to get kids to laugh and have fun while doing so.

There are three different questions that Sago Mini uses to guide their product design. The questions are:

1. “Does it encourage kids to explore, imagine, and discover?”
2. “Is it intuitive, beautiful and fun to play?”
3. “Does it meet our high standards of quality and safety?”

Seeing this list, I am encouraged. A lot of thought really goes into designing the products, which is great to know when purchasing or allowing our children to play with them.

Sago Mini Box is a subscription program that delivers activities directly to your doorstep. The creative activities offer a make-and-play scenario that kids can play with for about a month, or until the next one is delivered.

The Sago Mini Boxes are good for ages 3-5. They encourage sensory, exploration, and constructive play.

The process is simple. Just choose a theme on the Sago Mini site, pay monthly or annually. Get the boxes delivered to your door every month. Then allow your kiddos to discover, learn, make, play, and more.

Every month there are new themes and activities available that can be delivered. You can head over to the Sago Mini Box website to see some of the different box themes.

In each box there are three activities that all build upon each other. Everything needed is in an envelope with specific instructions for those specific pieces. The envelopes are all numbered, which is another great learning opportunity.

There are fine motor growth opportunities from punching out the little pieces of cardboard, to placing small pieces into a box. Many of the boxes include building something, so there are following directions skills being developed too.

Every month the box itself transforms and becomes part of the scene that the kids are creating. Each and every aspect of what is sent in the mail is being used in the creating, learning, and playing process. Pretty cool!

In the box there is also a Sago Mini friend that kids can collect. This little character is to be played with in their scene and used while imagining. The characters are pretty heavy duty, so I anticipate my children’s friends being played with well beyond the box and activities.

Something that I was disappointed in was that our boxes were delivered on a day it was raining. They were placed in a place we couldn’t see so they were sitting in the rain for many hours. Since the box and all the contents in it are cardboard, it was very soggy, wet, and, once dried completely, warped. This is not something that Sago Mini had any control over. I completely understand that this was a delivery service error. Just something to keep in mind when expecting the box. It is cardboard, so if it gets in weather, it could be affected.

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Earth Runners is all about rewilding peoples lives. There are lots of issue in life that have been created just because of the modern, domesticated lifestyle. Rewilding is a term used to bring individuals that are strong, healthy, and resilient back into everyday society.

Life these days is so far from what it used to be. Incorporating a more simple and natural lifestyle as opposed one that is filled with modern technology and practices. The Earth Runner sandals look to bring the original relationship between nature and us – people.

Earth Runner sandals are very unique and much different than other footwear on the market. They are made very well and are great for wearing on rough terrain, which is incredible for the simple design they have.

These minimalist sandals bring your feet to the ground, almost literally. Keeping your feet secure but also free, they are the perfectly designed sandal to protect the feet with feeling barefoot.

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The Lifestyle Sandal from Earth Runners is a great all around sandal.  It is ideal for hiking and walking on all terrains, and it is also a great everyday wear sandal. While it is a great sporty option, it is also an excellent option for casual wear. Dress it up with a cute dress, or dress it down to go on a hike, the Lifestyle Sandal from Earth Runner can do it all. 

Not only is it a versatile sandal, it is also durable, comfortable and flexible; the latter being a staple in the barefoot shoe world. This sandal has room for wide toes and the Lifestyle Sandal, in particular, also has a stylish canvas base that compliments the straps. 

One aspect I love about Earth Runners is that they are sustainable with their shipping. The sandals come in a single box, and the box has directions to adjust the straps printed on it – how efficient! To adjust the straps, it can take a bit of getting used to. I managed to get the strap out of the ankle clasp and found it difficult to get it back to where it needed to be. After looking on the Earth Runners website I found they had helpful tips to correct it and get the straps where and how they should be. Click here to view the page with lots of tips and helpful information. 

When it comes to adjusting and breaking in the Lifestyle Sandal, slow and steady definitely wins the race. The canvas footbed can be rough on parts of the foot at first, but it is easy to break in. The strap that stretches across the top of the foot does take some getting used to.  Along with going slow and steady when breaking these sandals in, I also found it helpful to wear the straps loosely. As your feet become accustomed to the sandals, tightening the straps becomes more and more comfortable. 

When searching for the size of the Lifestyle Sandal, I found the sizing guides on the Earth Runners website to be most helpful.  The sizing chart provides foot measurements, as well as directions for how to properly measure your foot, to ensure you find the best foot for you.  My favorite aspect of their sizing chart however, was the option to print a template for each shoe size.  The template provides directions on how to properly use the guide, as well as examples of what is a “good fit” and a “too big” fit.  This printable template feature was a key factor in finding the right fit. 

Earth Runners are such a versatile shoe. They can be worn in almost any circumstance and can be dressed up or dressed down. The sandals are very comfortable once they are broke in and the strap, once you get the hang of it, is really easy to loosen and tighten. Although I really like the color I choose, they have many other options to choose from. I highly recommend these minimalist, barefoot shoes as an addition to your shoe collection. Whether you are just hearing about barefoot shoes, or have known about them for awhile now, Earth Runners is a trusted, well established company that creates high quality shoes.