Category: Reviews

Banza Mac and Cheese

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Banza noodles are one of my favorite ways to sneak extra protein into my children’s diets. My kids are your typical picky toddlers. Their diet consists of buttered noodles, poptarts, chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. When I heard that Banza was coming out with a new nice of Mac and Cheese I was thrilled!

Banza’s noodles are not your average noodles. They are made with chickpeas, which packs them full of protein and tons of other nutrients. Banza noodles ditch the empty carbs found in traditional grain based noodles. With their chickpea based noodles you get 4 times the fiber and nearly half the carbs in each serving.

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Banza’s new Mac and Cheese comes in 4 new varieties.

All four of Banza’s Mac types have 18g protein, 8g fiber and 28g net carbs! Banza mac is high-fiber, high-protein, lower carb, gluten-free, and rBST-free.

Mac and Cheese

 

Banza Mac and Cheese products are slightly different from other mac and cheese brands you have eaten in the past. This is due to the use of chickpeas as the base to the noodles compared to a grain product. The chickpeas give it a thicker and more filling quality. This can make the noodles feel ‘cheesier’ as my 4 year old described it. If you want a less thick feeling I suggest adding a little but more milk to the dish, but not too much. Too much will water it down. I loved the White Cheddar the best. I felt that with the chickpea based noodle it paired very well. While each was fun and slightly different I would suggest grabbing a case of the White Cheddar to start with of not the variety case.

Here is my two cents on each of the new varities:

  • Mac and White Cheddar – smooth and rich white cheddar flavor.
  • Mac and Cheddar – original mac and cheese goodness. I added more milk to thin out the cheesiness.
  • Mac and Cheese Delux – cheese comes in a yellow sauce form (not powdered like the others) giving it a rich and more adult like texture. My personal favorite.

Keep your eyes opened because NEW Banza products are on the way!

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Infant Acid Reflux Disease

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Infant Acid Reflux Disease

All babies reflux or spit up food in the first year of life. But one in three babies will develop significant symptoms. When symptoms develop it’s considered infant acid reflux disease (GERD; GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease). Since it’s so common, doctors may suggest, “they will outgrow it”. We hear Moms cry for help all the time and know how frustrating it can be. Especially when you’re watching your baby suffer, cry non-stop, refusing to eat or worse. It’s not acceptable to allow an infant to suffer in pain. It affects everything from development to weight gain and the possibility of changes in the esophagus that may lead to the future likelihood of lifetime GERD.

What are the symptoms?

Common/Moderate

  1. Spitting up with crying. Crying is often from the acid in the spit up. Small to large amounts projectile in nature. Parents may call this vomiting, however, vomiting involves retching.
  2. Back arching. While feeding the acid refluxes in the esophagus, the infant arches the back instinctively to try and relieve the pain.
  3. Recurrent Hiccups or wet burps. Due to acid and/or pressure affecting the nerves near the esophagus and the diaphragm. Wet hiccups occur when there’s spit up during hiccupping.
  4. Irritability during feeding. Screaming or crying suddenly while feeding is due to acid causing esophageal irritation and causing pain.
  5. Refusal to eat, difficulty swallowing. Caused by acid coming back into the esophagus
  6. Gagging or choking. Caused by reflux coming into the esophagus and moving up into the upper esophagus.
  7. Difficulty sleeping. As the infant is lying, gravity works against them. Acid moves into the esophagus and is painful.
  8. Not gaining weight. Due to above symptoms. In fact, an aversion to feeding can be learned and can be challenging to unlearn. Parents attempt to get enough ounces into their infants including feeding during sleeping. This is good for baby; however, a physician think the baby is gaining weight and assume reflux isn’t bad.

Severe symptoms

  1. Purple baby syndrome – Can be frightening and very serious. The infant has trouble breathing, they stop breathing and the lips and face turn purple or blue because the oxygen is not moving throughout the blood. This can lead to what is known as an Apparent Life Threatening Event (ALTE).
  2. SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Consider an ALTE but the infant doesn’t spontaneously start breathing on their own. This is SIDS.
  3. Asthma Like symptoms. If an infant has asthma like symptoms the first thing to consider is acid is the cause. Acid vapor can move up from the esophagus, cause sufficient inflammation and lead to apnea and asthma like symptoms. If your child has these asthma symptoms is also possible your child could be suffering from silent reflux which is a different kind of acid reflux. Check out this article for more information on silent reflux
  4. Recurrent ear infections. Acid is refluxed up to where the Eustachian tube drains into the esophagus. This acid then inflames the tissue and with the resultant swelling the normal flow of secretions from the middle ear can’t occur. Bacteria then overgrows and causes infection in the middle ear. Treating with antibiotics (without treating the reflux) leads to bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
  5. Laryngomalacia. Can be congenital (at birth) or develop soon after. Either way, reflux plays an important role. Significant control of infant acid reflux can lead to a reduction of inflammations, which can improve symptoms.
  6. Coughing without a cold, noisy breathing, wheezing. These symptoms occur when the acid affects the upper esophagus and airways. Along with recurrent ear infection and sinusitis aka – Extra Esophageal manifestations of reflux, ENT-related manifestations, or LPR (LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux). These symptoms can be more difficult to control as very few reflux events are required to keep symptoms from continuing.
  7. Sandifer’s Syndrome. Isn’t dangerous! The problem is it’s mistaken for seizure or a neurological disease. Extensive neurological studies may be undertaken and seizure medicine may be unnecessarily started.

There are many other symptoms related to GERD. This is why it is important to have a list to report to your physician. This is why the Infant Acid Reflux Questionnaire is very helpful because it allows you to follow the progress of your baby when you make changes to diet, formula, and medicine. (A reflux diary).

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Treatment

H2 blockers can develop tolerance (also called tachyphylaxis). The H2 blocker, which was working, just seems to stop working. Increasing the dose or changing to another H2 blocker won’t help.

Proton Pump Inhibitors or PPIs Prilosec®, Prevacid®), Nexium® are extremely successful inhibitors of acid secretion. They work by blocking the final pathway for the production of acid. Tolerance can’t develop however, it’s important to use the correct dose. After approximately 4 weeks of age, infant’s metabolism of many medicines is at it’s best. The half-life of PPI medicines (half-life – time required for the amount of medicine in the body to be reduced by half) was shorter by 3 times faster than adults. Meaning, infants metabolize the PPI’s 3 times faster than adults.

A: Infants Have Shorter Half Life for PPI’s.

  1. Flavored Lansoprazole Suspension in Pediatric GERD.
  1. PPI Dosing Information for Your Doctor.

Study C showed that, infants benefit from two or more doses per day of a PPI. The younger the infant the more likely they benefited from three doses per day. Studies using single doses of PPIs per day showed no differencw than placebo, yet this small dose is often used in treating Infant GERD. Insufficient doses showed symptoms persisted or worsen and can create the long-term symptoms.

We know what you’re thinking. “I don’t want to give my baby medication.” It’s a hard pill to swallow, literally. Consider this, “Would you give your baby asthma treatment if needed?” “Of course!” Then why wouldn’t treat a baby with reflux if it works effectively and safely? It’s not a life style choice. It’s treatment to treat a temporary situation and keep them out of pain. Most babies outgrow infant reflux or GERD in the first year of life but don’t wait and lose those precious years of life. Don’t wait to get your baby out of pain.

Deuter – Kid Comfort Air

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review-photo The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is a gem nestled in Northeast Ohio and I am lucky enough to be surrounded by it, it’s literally in my back yard. My husband and I have always enjoyed hiking and once our daughter joined our family we loved taking her with us. With so much information on hiking now, it’s so easy to get out there and reap the benefits. For example, you can find some great hiking tips and advice at Outdoorcommand’s website if you’re new to it or wanting to take a big step in your hiking adventures. She got joy from being outside and seemed to love all of the beautiful views. She got all of the benefits of hiking with none of the effort, so my husband and I set out to find a carrier that minimized our effort and allowed us to continue to enjoy our CVNP with our daughter.
For trail hikes when she was little we used a stretchy wrap or a soft structure carrier. These worked great for us when she was first born. My husband and I weren’t taking long hikes or staying out in the heat too long. As first time parents, our feeling towards infants and the elements was the less exposure the better.
Now that our daughter is one, and we realize that kids aren’t made of glass, this summer we have been spending more time on the trails. As this summer got warmer we quickly realized that our soft carriers were not meant for hiking. My husband sweats enough on his own, add a fifteen pound heating pad to his back, and he might as well jump in a pool. This definitely meant we were due a new hiking carrier. I guarantee though a more sturdy one that won’t make us sweat like crazy, will put our balance off a lot too. However I’ve already sorted that one out by searching up the best hiking poles to use so we don’t topple over!d-5-edit
So when my husband said we were vacationing with his family in the Smoky Mountains, I was on the hunt for an actual hiking carrier. We were obviously excited to be spending time with his family in such a beautiful location, but we needed to consider our daughter. We would be hiking, as the smoky mountains are known for the beautiful trails and scenery, so we did need to work out where we could get a carrier from. Whilst we did that, we were also looking for different places to eat in the national park. Luckily, there are a number of different restaurants in the area. This is good news for us and the rest of our family as everyone will want different meals each night. As soon as we find a hiking carrier, we’ll be able to actually plan some more aspects of the trip, then I can really let myself get excited for our vacation in the Smoky Mountains. The plan was to spend most of the vacation on the trails, so I needed my husband to stay dry for more than a mile. I perused my options on the internet and found The Deuter Kid Comfort Air and I couldn’t be happier it helped make great memories on our vacation and kept my husband comfortable and dry while hauling our little sack of potatoes.

About Deuter

“Years of experience and constant development have made Deuter a market leader”
Deuter was founded in 1898 by Hans Deuter in Augsburg-Oberhausen Germany, making them one of the oldest backpack manufactures in the world. Deuter started out supplying the Bavarian Mail with mailbags and post sacks and providing backpacks for the military. They slowly moved into manufacturing mess tents, belts and more. Since the early 1900’s Deuter has used the experience of alpinist and mountaineers as influence for product development.
Deuter has a patent Aircomfort System allowing moist air to escape from 3 sides and is the most popular back support system in the world. Athletes using the aircomfort system sweat 25% less than using conventional backpacks systems. You don’t need to be a athlete to enjoy the 3D Airmesh lining since every pack they make has either the Aircomfort System, Aircontact System or Airstripes System. With Hydration packs, Day packs, Hiking/ Trekking, Biking, Snowsports, Kids packs, Travel packs Deuter is sure to have whatever your adventure requires whether it be a hike through your local parks or tackling Mount Everest. Talk about one stop shop for hiking gear.
From the quality of my Deuter Kid Comfort Air, I can tell you they’re a company that takes pride in every aspect of their products. I don’t think I’ll ever need it, but Deuter offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all their products. It covers against defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product.

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This Mamas Experience

360x500-6507-kid-comfort-air-grey-green Although the carrier is large, don’t let it fool you; it is not heavy (the website says it’s 6 pounds and I didn’t believe it. No false advertising here. I took it to the scale to see for myself and it does weigh 6 pounds, but it feels so much lighter). The Kid Comfort is comfortable for your child but also extremely comfortable for the person wearing the carrier. Features of The Kid Comfort Air that make the baby hiking experience better:
  • The Kid Comfort Air has a sturdy aluminum frame with a kickstand. The stability it creates makes loading your child safe and easy especially with the side access.
  • A padded 5-point safety harness that will adjust to the size of your childd-4-edit
  • Adjustable seat. You are able to adjust the height and width of the seat.
  • Adjustable foot rest, to add to your child’s comfort, although my daughter didn’t use these much since she on the small side, I see the benefit for longer legs.
  • Two grab handles at the top of the carrier. These handles make getting the carrier on and off extremely easy whether you are doing it by yourself or with the help of someone.
  • Adjustable hip belt.

The carrier itself adjusts to the person wearing it easily, simply pull the hip belt forward and it will securely slide into place. Between the grab handles and the easy to use hip belt we were able to effortlessly switch the carrier between my husband and I on the trails without slowing down. I have always dreaded readjusting my other carriers from my size to my husband’s size. It is is a tedious task that just makes me want to invest in our own carriers. Deuter has somehow designed the perfect hip belt.

d-3-edit This carrier has storage too. Our soft carriers lacked the storage this pack offers. It has a convenient zippered pocket on the hip belt, which was perfect for my camera and car keys. There are two elastic mesh pockets on either side. They came in handy to hold snacks, sunglasses and my daughters sun hat; anything we wanted to be able to grab while hiking. My favorite is a large compartment under the seat. It was enough space to pack extra diapers (and cloth diapers take up a bit more room), wipes, a blanket, a water bottle and even our lunch.

The Deuter Kid Comfort Air added to the pleasure of our trip to the Smoky Mountains. Our daughter was able to go to more remote places with us, and my husband and I were more comfortable hiking with her on our backs. We are looking forward to using it on all our adventures and when our family grows again our next hiking carrier will be a Deuter.

Easy Canvas Prints

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Easy Canvas Prints has decided to extend a 80% off offer to our readers so be sure to take full advantage of this great pricing.

If you’re like me, I love decorating my home with canvas prints! Back when we lived in Australia, we had our ‘go-to’ Canvas Prints Brisbane supplier! They were pretty amazing! In fact, even though we’re back in the USA we may still occasionally order from them! Recently, we’ve been looking into how we can get canvas photo prints that make our home unique and have a personal feel. I have always loved the look of a gallery wall with canvas prints but I had no idea how easy this look was to achieve and that I could get my canvas prints cheaper than the cost of printing photos and buying a frame. Canvas Photo Prints makecanvas edit 2 thoughtful gifts, some of my first canvas prints were a Christmas gift to my brother and his wife of pictures of their children at my wedding. Last year my husband got me a 3 canvas wall display (this meant more to me than anything, since it appears that he does listen when I talk and that he chose one of my favorite wedding photos and my favorite newborn photo of our daughter). It means so much more to me to have my house decorated with my photos and my memories.
If you’d like to share these memories with family members and friends, there’s many places you can buy a range of refurbished photocopiers cheaper than new, and in just as good condition!

This Mamas Experience

Easy Canvas Prints makes designing your prints so simple, their website navigates you through the whole process . FirstECP photo deciding if you want one print or a wall display. I have used both options, the nice thing about the wall displays is that they help you design the layout and they even provide you with a blueprint to make hanging easy (including telling you exactly where to place your nail, we all know I have a fear of unneeded nail holes). If you choose to do a single print they have 10 different sizes to pick from or you have the option to customize your size. Next choose your wrap, standard .75″, Gallery 1.5″ (all my canvas prints are gallery wrap). You also have the option of getting your canvas framed or the option of stretching the canvas yourself and just get your print on a rolled canvas. Easy Canvas Prints makes choosing a photo simple by giving you the option to choose from your library of photos ECP 2on your computer or accessing albums on Facebook or Instagram. They let you know of your image quality and make “editing” easy with user friendly zoom options as well as choosing which direction your canvas will hang. Finish your order by choosing the display options (I chose open back) and your border. I like the mirror border, so my image is wrapped around the sides of my canvas without loosing some of my photo. Be sure to double check your image after adding the border, especially if you choose to have it wrap the sides.

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My canvas prints from Easy Canvas Prints are stretched onto a wood frame and are high quality. The prints themselves are clear and beautiful, not pixelated (which is always my fear when blowing up a photo, that’s why I love the image quality check that Easy Canvas Prints offers).

I must say that Easy Canvas Prints is simple straight forward website (I would trust my not computer savvy mom to be able to navigate this site and be able to order a canvas). Although I did receive a canvas print in exchange for this review I assure you that I have purchased from Easy Canvas Prints in the past and will continue to order from them. Next I think I will use their Instagram feature and print one of my vacation photos on a 8×8 canvas.

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Charlie’s Soap

Everyone wants their laundry to smell fresh and clean, am I right? Well friends, I’m here to tell you that Charlie’s soap will not disappoint. The first time I used Charlie’s soap I have to admit that I was skeptical. How could a soap clean so well AND not even have a scent? But, I pressed on and went for it. When the soap came in the mail I knew exactly what my first load would consist of – my kitchen towels! For the past couple of months our towels have had this smell on them that I just could not shake. I had washed them so many times trying to get the smell out, and I even tried using vinegar, and still no luck. But after using Charlie’s soap, the smell is gone! In fact, now there is no smell at all; they’re just clean.

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Based out of North Carolina, the makers of Charlie’s soap provide products that are safe for their customers and for the environment. All of their products are tested by a third-party, so there is no favoritism; just real, raw cleaning power! Charlie’s has received multiple ratings and certifications which prove their products’ LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

All of their products are made with natural minerals and biodegradable ingredients. If you would like to see specific ingredient lists for any of their products, click here.

Here’s what they sell:
  • laundry liquid
  • laundry powder and packets
  • laundry booster and hard water treatmentcharlies soap
  • kitchen and bath natural cleaner
  • indoor/outdoor surface cleaner
  • laundry pre-spray
  • oxygen bleach

 

As instructed on the packaging my first load with the soap consisted of one laundry packet and old rags. I washed them with hot water on high agitation, with the most water I could use (super plus). After that load I washed my kitchen towels three separate times, each time adding a new laundry packet. When all the loads were done I smelled my towels, and they were stink free! I was ecstatic (the things adults get excited about)!

PicMonkey Collage - Charlie's soap

 

The instructions are pretty straightforward, which I obviously like. Just throw one laundry packet into the washer BEFORE you put your clothes in, and you’re done; no measuring or scooping needed.

One aspect of my laundry washing that I was unsure about (and the packaging was not very clear on) was the size of load in comparison to the number of packets to use. I didn’t know whether I should add two packets to a super plus load, or just stick to one. In the end I did what the packaging instructed and use one packet, and my clothes came out clean and smell free. Seriously, I’m so impressed! If you have the opportunity to try out Charlie’s soap, do it!

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Sophias Style Back to School

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With Back to School season here parents are scrambling for all the essentials. This includes backpacks, stationery supplies, shoes, and of course, uniforms. However, buying all of this soon adds up! Before starting to shop, I like to browse the School Uniform Shop Online as well as stationery stores to work out how much everything will cost be and we can have a back-to-school budget. Plus, by browsing, we get to see what’s on offer and what kind of styles will suit my daughter best. I remember going to school with tops too big for me and I hated it so I’m glad we can find more suitable options nowadays. I am so glad that I know the key to many parent’s success: SophiasStyle.com! At Sophia’s Style you can easily order items like backpacks & clothing. They feature a beautiful selection of school uniform polo’s, tops, cardigans, sweaters, shorts, pants, dresses, skirts, socks, jumpers, accessories and more, all at discount prices. They are sure to carry just what your school requires. They also have a huge, I mean huge, selection of everyday dresses and other play clothing.

Sophia’s Style even offers the special service of custom embroidery! Their uniform shop is opened 24/7, always giving us access to update our child’s wardrobe and the freedom to shop when we want to. Their super low prices make them a leader in children’s uniforms.

Sophias Style Pics

Their website is very easy to navigate, and their search bar is super helpful. You can find all types of fun children’s clothing and accessories with Sophia’s Style. From basic school uniforms to Holiday dresses and pageant dresses, you will have so much fun clicking around and drooling over all their amazing pieces. You can shop by brand, style or clothing size. They feature clothing for preemies all the way up to size 16 in teen (even women’s clothing too!), helping families find the perfect outfit.

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If your daughter is looking for a 1st day of school outfit, then I highly suggest Sophia’s Style’s ABC Dress! Being 4 years old, she is all about the ‘princess dress’ look. We have been talking and talking about the excitement of a new school year and when she saw this ABC Dress from Sophia’s Style she instantly fell in love with it. It fits perfectly with some room to grow, and all parents understand the importance in that. It’s comfortable and easy to wear & wash. The skirt portion of this dress is a print of hundreds of crayons, giving it a youthful and whimsical look that really makes it pop.

1st day of school dress

My daughter is very much into mermaids and was ecstatic that this year she will be sporting this Wildkin’s Backpack from Sophia’s Style. It’s the perfect size for toddlers and young elementary students. Often backpacks are too large on smaller kids, causing them discomfort when trying to wear them. These Wildkin Backpacks are not only the perfect size, but have 2 huge pockets, allowing you to fit in a full size folder and all the other books/essentials your child needs to put in their backpack. I had never used this brand before, but I am all about them now.

I’m not going to lie though, as much as I have grown to love this brand, I really wanted my daughter to have a personalized photo backpack as it would help her to identify which bag was hers, as you find that most children have a similar sort of style these days. I was just thinking about her being able to find her backpack without being overcome with worry. But I wanted her to stay true to who she was and what she liked. So the mermaid backpack it was. And I’m glad it was from this brand.

Mermaid Backpack

Santevia Gravity Water System

Santevia Gravity System Review

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Clean water is a blessing! I often think about how many people go without clean water. Just contemplating my clean water at home makes me feel so grateful. While I live in an area that the tap water is safe to drink, I feel like I need to filter my drinking water before consumption. With scary media stories of towns with lead leakage, you can never be too safe. Earlier this year I discovered Santevia, and I am totally hooked on all of their water filtering products. It’s great looking for ways to make your water clean, having a water filter adds a little more safety to that. There are so many different types of water filters; all you have to do is search for water filters for home to find a few examples.

The Santevia Alkaline Gravity Water System restores your tap water to a clean, great-tasting, mineralized and alkalized state, using the power of gravity instead of chemicals, artificial materials, water pressure or electricity. Every drop drips through the complex 8-stage system of natural filters, which cleans and infuses your water with earth-derived minerals. The result: great-tasting, mineralized alkaline water that helps your body stay pH-balanced, healthy and hydrated. A great way to keep the entire family healthy. – Santevia’s Website

Santevia Counter Top Gravity SystemSantevia is not your typical water filter. Instead of just filtering out the ‘bad’ things from your water, it also adds in helpful minerals as well as balancing the pH levels. I bet you never thought about wanting your water to do that, but you really should. If you have the ability to help your body gain more from the water you drink, why wouldn’t you? I know that my kids are not the best eaters. Okay, they suck at eating healthy. They are picky toddlers and I will take what I can get when it comes to meal time. Even my 2.5 yr old won’t eat vitamins, so I was at a loss on how to get him to boost his bodies mineral intake. With Santevia I can give my children filtered, clean water that is simultaneously getting them additional minerals! Can I get a heck yeah?!

Water that has been filtered by a Santevia filter does not taste different. I mean that you cannot taste the added minerals. It tastes like filtered water. Some people can taste difference in water (I am slightly), but I cannot tell any difference in the Santevia. I can only taste crisp clean water that tastes smooth and refreshing. The best part about this system is that it require no electricity. You can place this system on any flat surface and filter away. No cords involved & no added cost of electricity. This is the gravity aspect of this system. If you live in an area where water can be unsafe to drink at times or in a area where natural disasters occur causing you strain on getting clean water, then this is a system you want to look into.

Santevia Counter Top with Sunflowers

I followed the easy to follow step by step instructions which can be watched here. You need to filter the whole tank’s worth of water 2 times before you can drink the water. After my 2 filters I noticed some white, milk, cottony like floaters in the very bottom of the tank (where the loose rocks are). I contacted Santevia and they assured me that my assumption was correct – it’s just minerals! It is safe to drink and it’s nothing to be concerned about. If you get those little floats feel free to drink them or removed them – whichever you are most conformable with. As my children are now starting to drink filtered water, I also think that it is important that they now shower in filtered water to keep their hair and skin healthy, along with all the other advantages that filtered water comes with. I will be looking to kick start the professional water filter installation process as soon as possible.

8-Stage Filtration Process

Stage 1: Ceramic Pre-Filter

Constructed from highly compressed and fired diatomaceous earth with a pore size of 0.3 of a micron, this pre-filter removes rust, sediments, bacteria, germs and parasites.

Stage 2: Granular Activated Coconut Carbon

Highly porous coconut carbon charcoal offers an astounding 65 acres of purifying surface area. It filters chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, trihalomethanes (THMs), heavy metals, organic chemicals, odour, taste, colour and particulates. This stage also contains a KDF filter medium that inhibits the growth of bacteria in the filter and neutralizes heavy metals. Magnesium granules improve the Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP).

Stage 3: Volcanic Mineral Zeolite

This stage inhibits bacteria and neutralizes heavy metals including lead, nickel, cadmium and mercury through an ion exchange process. It filters detergents, ammonium, certain radioactive ions, agricultural chemicals and other toxins.

Stage 4: Mineral Stone Infusion

Highly porous Maifan mineral stones infuse ionized minerals into the water that aid in oxygenation and alkalization.

Stage 5: pH Mineral Balls

Mineral ions encased in diatomaceous earth add calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals to fortify the water and increase the pH.

Stage 6: Energy Balls

Constructed from highly compressed and fired earth and mineral oxides, the energy balls assist with pH balancing and emit beneficial infrared energy into the water.

Stage 7: Mineral Stone Immersion

During this stage, mineral stones continuously release easily absorbed, ionized minerals into the water, including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and other trace minerals.

Stage 8: Magnetic Energy

Embedded in the Santevia water spout, aligned magnets are suspended in the water, simulating the magnetism emitted by the earth’s core and the forces created as water flows over magnetic, mineral-rich rocks in nature. The magnetic energy breaks the water molecule clusters into smaller structures for greater bio-availability and maximum absorption.

The Lovely Raindrop Review

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Finding a classic piece of jewelry is like hitting the jackpot. I have recently discovered The Lovely Raindrop, a shop on Etsy, that features necklaces that are affordable, durable and beautifully delicate.

The Lovely Raindrop Packaging

 

The Lovely Raindrop has been a booming Etsy shop since it’s debut back in 2008. In 2010 the owner Morgan began to sell her handmade necklaces. They were an instant hit and have been selling fast for years now. Always on top of the latest trends in fashion, you are sure to find the most modern, hip and hottest jewelry. Updating her shop constantly, you will see fun new pieces to ‘heart’, buy and gift to your friends and family. If reading this has inspired you to start making plans to open up your own Etsy store, don’t let not having enough followers on social media put you off. Hopefully, as your business takes off, your followers will grow too. With that being said, if you want to create a better first impression, you can always get free instagram followers online.

The Lovely Raindrop neckalces 1

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The style and theme of The Lovely Raindrop, in my opinion, is the delicate, light & airy feel. Each piece is made to softly lay against your skin in such a way that you forget you are wearing it. I love the simple and easy way all of my The Lovely Raindrop necklaces lay. Having toddlers I cannot tell you how often I have had a necklace ripped off. I am not saying that these necklaces are ‘rip-proof’ by any means, but they are not flimsy. If they were to get caught on your purse strap they are strong enough to hold together. Don’t let their light and delicate look fool you, they are solid pieces of jewelry.

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Whether you need a piece for everyday wear or a special event, you will be pleased with the entire selection that The Lovely Raindrop has to offer. Head over to their Etsy site now and be sure to heart/follow them so you can always keep up with the latest and greatest designs.

Boolik Easy Roll Parchment Paper

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I have a serious love for parchment paper. I enjoy nothing more than cooking and baking and trying new recipes but hate having to clean up the kitchen afterward. So when I found out parchment paper could not only save me time cleaning up but save my sanity over scrubbing my baking sheets, cupcake pans and my glass baking dishes I was hooked. Since then I have found even more uses for parchment paper (thanks to pinterest).

I have tried so many brands and I must say Boolik Easy Roll stands out for so many reasons. Let’s start with the nicebox end this cardboard packaging. There is nothing worse than a cheap box that buckles under the pressure of trying to rip out a piece of paper. There are also push flaps on the sides of the box that lock the paper in place making ripping a even piece easy. The parchment paper itself is the thickest I’ve ever used and has a extra layer or silicone making it truly nonstick, I feel this is why I love it so much. It is FDA approved and microwave and oven safe for clean baking and healthy cooking.

Now let me share some of my favorite ways I use my Boolik Parchment Paper. Obviously I use it for baking. I line all my cookie sheets in parchment paper, not only do I not need to grease my pan anymore my clean up takes seconds. Bonus Boolik Parchment Paper is top of the line, I’m able to use the same sheet a few times.

I didn’t stop with baking sheets, I stepped it up a notch and us my Boolik Parchment Paper to line my glass baking dishes as well. I do spray the bottom of my baking dish with cooking spray to keep the paper in place. This works beautifully for casseroles, meatloaf, lasagna and especially brownies since you can pull the brownies out with the paper and easily divide; no more crumbly misshaped brownies.

muffin editOne of the cutest ways to use parchment paper I discovered by accident. While baking cupcakes late one night I ran out of cupcake liners. Since I hate nothing more than prying cupcakes out of the pans I searched pinterest for cupcake liner alternatives. That’s when I found it, Parchment Paper! Why hadn’t I thought of it myself. There’s no looking back, I am able to make my cupcakes or muffins look like they came straight from the bakery. Making cupcake liners is easy, I cut my parchment paper into 5×5 squares and mold them over the top of a small glass, then simply place in my muffin pan and fill.muffin liner

A few of my other favorite uses are:

– Dividing meat into freezable portions. Placing parchment paper between chicken, burgers, pork chops (you get the idea, also works great for freezing cookie dough), this makes separating so much easier.

-Covering dishes in the microwave. Years ago we stopped using paper towels  and using parchment paper to cover dishes in the microwave cuts down on splatter messes.

snack cone-Snack Cones are perfect for serving anything from popcorn to french fries. Simply cut parchment paper into 10×10 squares and roll into cones. Use tape or stapler to secure (I found hot glue doesn’t hold).

-Reheating pizza, placing a piece of parchment paper  under your slice of pizza before microwaving helps keep a crispy crust.   chicken dinner

-Mess free dinner with parchment paper pouches, a easy way to cook chicken or fish. Rip a large piece of parchment paper, fold in half and cut into a half circle. (I made mine with squash, chicken and tomatoes.) Crinkle up the sides to make your pouch and to keep all liquids inside. Bake, serve, and save time on your clean up!

As you can see the sky’s the limit with the uses of parchment paper and with Boolik Easy Roll you have 42 square feet to work with. This is a 100% risk free purchase and Boolik will give you a full refund if it does not meet your demands. But trust me your going to love Boolik Easy Roll Parchment Paper as much as I do.

Oakiwear Womens Boots

Oakiwear Womens Boots Review

With fall right around the corner and back to school season here, I have been stocking up on all the essentials for my kids. I got their new clothes, new backpacks, new supplies….but wait a moment…what about me?! As a mom I often let my own wardrobe slip. This past year I have been trying to remember myself and to give myself the treats I want and the essentials I honestly need. I have been lacking in the shoe department, which you may find funny. Most women love to collect shoes and love to change things up in their shoe collection. I have totally let this area of my life fall to the wayside. Although I definitely need some help finding booties that are on the more fashionable side that I can wear when I go out with my mum friends or on a day to day basis, I have been really needing a pair of rain boots. Having kids I seem to be outside more now than I ever have been in my life. Perhaps they need a pair of winter boots for kids too, to help them through the season. I love letting them play outside, but I hate getting my gym shoes all gross and mucky. Rain boots are really an essential in any moms wardrobe.

Oakiwear Womens Boots Collection

Oakiwear is a staple in the footwear world. They are made with such high quality materials and are affordable for any budget. Having been a leading shoe for kids, they have now branched out into women’s shoes. And boy, am I glad! Oakiwear boots are made with 100% rubber, allowing your feet to stay dry. What I love about 100% rubber boots is how easy they are to clean and fast to dry. I don’t have time to monkey around with cleaning shoes, I have dinner cook! With Oakiwear boots I can spray them off with a hose and call it a day.

Their huge selection of women’s rain boots range in sizes, designs, prints and colors. They really have something for everyone. Whether you like the more classic, traditional look or something funky and modern, Oakiwear has the perfect pair of boots for you.

Sizing Tip:

When choosing a size to buy you will want to measure the insole of a current pair of boots you own. Pull out the insert and use a measuring tape or ruler to see how long a current pair you own is. This really helped me find the right size. I thought I was going to need one size but after measuring my current pair of winter boots’ insole I ordered a different size and I am glad that I did.

Standard free shipping at $50

Oakiwear Womens Boot Collage

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