Crystal Wash – Review

Crystal Wash Review

Crystal Wash Review

The smell of all the chemicals in laundry soap grosses me out! I switched to making my own laundry soap a few years ago when I had my first child. Learning about all the harmful chemicals and dyes honestly freaked me out. My husband was not on board with our switch but he eventually hopped on board. We have been on the look out for a new, even safer, laundry alternative. I recently found out about Crystal Wash. I am so excited about this product!

Crystal Wash is able to wash your clothes without the use of chemicals, detergent or dyes. Crystal Wash uses a fine balance of Bio Ceramics (various minerals with very effective antibacterial and anti-oxidant properties which come from the earth) to create 2 benefits in the laundry’s water: deep cleaning and disinfecting. By deep cleaning they mean, “They produce far infrared rays that effectively reduce negative ions in the water of your laundry machine, which raises pH level to 8.5 or greater. This process shrinks the water molecule clusters to a size that allows dirts and soils to be soaked free naturally.” and my disinfecting they mean, “Additionally, the Bio Ceramics create Hydrogen Peroxide which disinfects the clothes, kills bacteria and odor.” “The pH level of laundry water impacts the wash greatly. If the water is overly acidic or alkaline it can damage delicate clothes and fabrics, cause colors to fade and cause clothing to still seem dirty even after washing. Most detergents on the market are a pH level of 6.5 – 9, but they use chemicals to achieve these levels.”

HE Washer Safe!

No Dyes No Chemicals No Perfumes
No Dyes No Chemicals No Perfumes

Not only does Crystal Wash save your family from harsh chemicals but it also saves you money! One of the other reasons that I switched to making my own detergent was to save my family money. As a SAHM I try to do what I can so help the financial situation of my family. A store bought detergent will cost you about $300 for 1,000 loads of laundry. Crystal Wash is only $50 for 1,000 loads! What a sweet sweet saving. Plus, is doesn’t contaminate your water supply. Living in the country, and having a sub-pump, my water goes into my backyard. That is the yard where my children roll around and where I grow my garden, which supplies my family with their food. I don’t want to think of all the gross chemicals that could get into my garden. YUCK!

I do a TON of laundry. My kids seem to go through at least 2 to 4 outfits a day. They seem to find ways to get food, paint, dirt, chalk, play-doh….anything really, on their clothes. Having to wash their clothes way more frequently then intended can cause the colors to fade and loose their brightness. But not with Crystal Wash! It keeps my kids clothes looking sharp, and keeps their integrity.

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in washer

 

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No soap or spot treatments were used in this example!

 

Directions:

Crystal Wash can be used with both top and front loading machines. At the beginning of your wash simply drop the 2 spheres into your washer along with your clothes. No need for detergent. Harsh stains and messes still require an advanced stain remover (darn you blueberries!! ::shakes fist::). If you would like a scent you can add a cap of fabric softener. To ensure effectiveness, every 2 to 3 weeks, you will want to recharge the bio-ceramics contained within the Crystal Wash spheres. To do this, simply place the spheres in the sun for an afternoon.

Once you make the switch you are going to never look back at laundry detergents again. The smell of those soaps literally makes me ill now. Be sure to tell your friends and family when you make the switch. Crystal Wash is also on KickStarter, so please pop over and help them out. Helping them helps our planet and our families.

Crystal Wash 2.0
Crystal Wash 2.0

You can buy this amazing product here for only $49.99!

Check them out at KickStarter

Leg of Lamb Ragu

Leg of Lamb Ragu

Leg of Lamb Ragu

Ingredients:

  • olive oil (approximately 1 to 2 ounces)
  • leg of lamb (3-5 lbs)
  • fresh mint
  • 6-10 fresh garlic cloves
  • 2 cans of diced tomatoes
  • 1 yellow onion, medium
  • elbow noodles (half of a box / around 300 g)

1.) Preheat oven to 200 degrees

2.) Dice your onion.

3.) Place cans of tomato, with juices, into a dutch oven (or another large oven safe pot) along with the chopped onion and the olive oil.

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4.) Peel garlic and chop any large pieces of garlic in half. Remove mint leaves from the stems.

5.) Take the lamb and remove any netting it might have come in. Take a sharp knife and make deep holes throughout the lamb.  Stuff all the holes with the garlic and mint leaves. Can mix both in the hole or just put mint or garlic in the hole.

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6.) Place lamb on top of the tomato/onion mixture.

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7.) Cook (covered) for 3 – 3.5 hours. Every 30 minutes spoon some of the juices on top of the lamb. In the last 40 minutes add the noodles to the tomato/onion mixture. Mix the noodles so they are in with the juices.

8.) Enjoy!

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Pancake Muffins

Pancake Muffins

How to make Pancake Muffins (in only 12 minutes!)

This is a super easy & quick breakfast to spice up your week.

  • Make your pancake batter as you normally would.
  • Pour the batter into greased muffin tins 1/2 to 3/4 full.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes.
  • Top with fruit, chocolate chips, or whatever pancake topper you typically love.
  • Drizzle with syrup

System Knife Sharpener – Review

Knife Sharpener DragSys

System Knife Sharpener

As a home cook I am always looking for ways to sharpen my techniques and skills. Now I found a super-easy way to sharpen my knives too (okay okay that was beyond stupid and cheesy just soak in the awkwardness)! I was recently asked to review System Knife Sharpener from DragSys.

This particular system is to be used for kitchen knives, fruit knives, hunting knives, etc. I usually take my knives to a mobile sharpening company and that has worked really well for me over the years. GoSharpening.com is a mobile knife sharpening in NYC and it’s similar to the local company I use. I wanted to try a system knife sharpener for a change, so here are my thoughts.

It has a suction cup design, which is safer and convenient, and ideal for one handed sharpening. It has 2 stages for coarse and fine-sharpening. It features a unique sharpening wheel design that is convenient to sharpen back and forth.

Instructions for stainless steel knives:

Step 1: Course Sharpening

Suitable for blunt knives. Place the Vertoku knives in the sharpening slot. Using slight downward pressure, run the blade from its heel to its point though the slot. Repeat three to five times. Sharpen tools every six months or when necessary.

Step 2: Fine Honing

This is a necessary step used to eliminate burrs on a knife and to polish it. Place a knife in the sharpening slot. Using slight downward pressure run the blade from its heel to its point through the slot. Repeat three to five times. Normally, it is recommended to sharpen a knife once a week to keep your blade sharp at all times.

Caution:

Please keep in mind that this sharpener isn’t suitable for serrated bladed and scissors. This sharpener can also be used for ceramic knives, but only for coarse sharpening (step 1). Do not put this sharpener in the dishwasher and always keep it away from children’s reach.

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Knife Sharpener DragSys
Knife Sharpener DragSys

This knife sharpener is available through Amazon.

The Natural Dentist Kids Toothpaste – a review

The Natural Dentist Kids Toothpaste

My children’s health and safety are two of my largest priorities. I want to provide them with the best I can offer. I like to take them to the dentist when I can and I hope that other parents feel the same. There are loads of dentists that you could pick from (for example, you could take a look at going to someone like this Dentist Fort Wayne but it’s up to you). It is also worth having the contact details of an emergency dentist handy, just in case you or your child ever need an emergency appointment. More often than not, an emergency dentist can be hard to find so you want to make sure you have their details ready so that you don’t have to waste time searching for a phone number. It’s not just the dentist that is important, but also picking the right products. By choosing the right products and the right companies I am feel that I am moving in the right direction. One of those important products would be my children’s toothpaste. I recently was exposed to The Natural Dentists Kid’s Toothpaste. I was curious to learn more about the company and product line. I am thrilled at all of the amazing information I learned. In order to help you, let me share some of the information I found most beneficial.

The Natural Dentist’s Plan: “Use kid-friendly packaging and fruity (not-yucky) flavorings to make the brushing ritual a fun activity for both you and them. As with all of our adult toothpastes, this product does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors. Dentists generally recommend the use of a fluoride toothpaste, to help strengthen teeth and prevent cavities starting at about 2 years old. We recommend that you use it on a child-size toothbrush in small amounts and work with your child to teach them not to swallow excessive amounts.”

The Natural Dentist Toothpaste
The Natural Dentist Toothpaste

No artificial sweeteners

No artificial coloring

No preservatives

No SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)

You might be thinking, “why would it matter if my toothpaste is all-natural?” Great question. You should know that many products contain artificial and harsh ingredients, dyes, preservatives and alcohol, which can be absorbed through the soft tissue in your mouth. The Natural Dentist has equal or better results using natural ingredients and will contribute to the overall health of your body.

All products by The Natural Dentist are made in the US. As for GMO’s this is what they have to say, “It is not our intent or our policy to source any plants altered by genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, agricultural experts believe that many American crops have been unintentionally affected because there are ultimately no barriers to cross-pollination. Therefore, we cannot certify that our US-cultivated plant ingredients have not been affected.” Which I think is fair enough.

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Allergies are a hot topic now-a-days. If your child has an allergy to strawberries you will want to avoid their Berry Blast and the Orange Zest flavors. You are safe with one of their mint varieties or Groovy Grape. People might also wonder is their products are gluten free? Dairy free? Soy free? Corn free? What about MSG? Their products are free of any soy, MSG, dairy, wheat or gluten based ingredients. However, several of the ingredients in our toothpastes and rinses are sourced through the hydrogenation or fermentation of corn and corn oil. If you have a sensitivity to corn, we suggest that you ask your doctor before using The Natural Dentist products.

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My daughter is 2 and is now able to have tiny amounts of fluoride in her toothpaste. The ADA says, “consult with a child’s dentist if considering the use of toothpaste before age 2.” If you are not able to give your child fluoride and need a safe and effective toothpaste then The Natural Dentist’s Fluoride Free Toothpaste is the way to go. I am now able to give the fluoride free version to my 1 year old and the versions with fluoride to my 2 year old. I love that I am able to buy both kinds in the same great flavors so my 1 year old doesn’t get jealous of my 2 year old.

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For a complete list of ingredients click here.

Look for The Natural Dentist at your local retailer. Click here to find your closest retailer who carries The Natural Dentist; here is a link to some coupons.

I was talking to a friend the other day who worked in marketing and he was telling me that it would be good idea to get my dentist in touch with an agency that understands the business. I care about local businesses because they take care of my childrens teeth so I recommended them some dentist marketing strategies.

If you would like to purchase some organic toothpaste right now? Here are some Amazon links:

The Natural Dentist Cavity Zapper Fluoride Toothpaste, Groovy Grape

The Natural Dentist Cavity Zapper Fluoride Toothpaste, Berry Blast

The Natural Dentist Cavity Zapper Anti Cavity Rinse

Check out The Natural Dentist on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Try to win a trio of The Natural Dentist’s Toothpaste here

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Fall Off the Bone Ribs Recipe

How to cook Fall Off the Bone Ribs

Have you ever had that moment when you are eating ribs and they just melt off the bone? Where you just put them up to your lips and its like they are jumping into your mouth? Making a slab that can do this is way easier then you might think. It’s all in the timing and temperature. Below I will show you how you can achieve that fall off the bone rib you desire.

You will need:

1. Cut the slab into sections with 3 or 4 ribs per section.

2. Cover your 9 x 13 casserole dish with several layers of tinfoil (this will be important for steaming).

3. Sprinkle an ample amount of Adolf’s Meat Tenderizer all over your ribs.

 

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4. Rub some of the BBQ sauce on the ribs by hand.

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5. Add a small about of water to the bottom of the dish.  I typically add around 1/3 to 1/2 a cup of water. Some people like to add more but I feel like that is plenty.

 

6. TIGHTLY seal the top with tin foil.

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7. Cook at 450 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Then loosen the tinfoil cover a tiny bit.

8. Lower temp to 275 degrees. Cook for 2 hours.

9. Lowers temp to 225 degrees. Cook for 1 hour.

10. Add more sauce if desired.

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Why Ohio? Things to do in Ohio

Are you looking for things to do in Ohio?

Then you have come to the right place. Ohio is such a beautiful and family-oriented state. I moved here approximately 15 years ago. Before living here my honest opinion of Ohio was, “it has a lot of hills and colleges.” That’s it. End of my brain energy on Ohio. Now I see Ohio for that it really is. A beautiful state filled with rolling hillsides, open country, booming cities, strong small business growth (with some even managing to begin investing in marketing experts for tree care providers, to name but one example of how far their reach has grown), and more than you can imagine doing. For those that are planning on moving here, a word of advice, make sure you have all your important documents and needs sorted before you move to your new home, you don’t want to get there and a disaster happen to find out you’re not fully covered yet. There are companies such as First American Home Warranty that deal with Ohio housing needs in this area, to make sure your belongings are safe within your home.

* This page will continuously be updated and changing so please come back often to see what is new!

If you are looking for places to eat I would suggest:

Here is Cleveland.com’s 50 Things to Eat and Drink in Cleveland in 2015

Here is Clevland.com’s Best Pierogi’s in Cleveland

If you are looking for things to do with your children I would suggest:

If you are looking for places to shop I would suggest:

If you are looking for something to buy I would suggest:

Mexican Meatloaf Recipe

This is one of my husband’s favorite recipes I have created. I typically use an all beef mixture. You can use the normal beef/pork/veal mixture or any combination. Just a warning – if you use the all beef mixture it will be heavy and dense! We like this version occasionally but others might not like how heavy and thick it is. This is a personal preference. Please choose your meat accordingly.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lb beef (or any meatloaf combo you like)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 bag of shredded Mexican cheese
  • 1 can (rinsed) black beans
  • 1 taco season package

ingredients

1. Whisk your eggs.

egg

2. Mix egg and breadcrumbs with meat mixture.

3. Add in taco seasoning, salt, pepper and can of rinsed black beans.

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5. Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the shredded cheese.

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6. Place mixture into a greased loaf pan

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7. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese on top.

raw cheese

8. Cook at 375 for 45-60 minutes. Times will vary based on your meat mixture and oven.

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9. Serve with taco toppings you and your family love.

Suggestions:

Sour cream, green onions, taco sauce, can of Rotel, Spanish rice, refried beans, black olives, hot peppers, salsa.

AYL Silicone Grip Gloves – A Review

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Cooking is not only a large part of this blog but a key part of my life. I love to cook. Finding new ingredients and gadgets is what a cook lives for. I was chosen to review an amazing product that is so versatile that I am sure you are going to pop over to Amazon to grab a pair for yourself.

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AYL (Accessorize Your Life) is a top seller over at my favorite place to shop, Amazon.com! The item which I have fallen in love with are their Silicone Grill Gloves. These gloves come ready to use right out of the packaging. They are 100% premium grade FDA-approved silicone. They are non toxic and odorless which is so helpful because I can be okay with the smell of rubber, but I don’t want my beautiful meal to be tarnished by a rubbery smell which other inferior gloves can do. The gloves are super easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Best of all the can easily withstand heat up to 425 degrees!

My husband was thrilled when he saw me with our new Silicone Gloves the first time I used them. He immediately asked, can we use those on the grill?! I laughed and told him yes. His response, “I am going to stick my hand right into the fire!” Such a guy…I reminded him about the heat limits but yes, babe, you can briefly stick your hand into a fire.

These gloves are perfect for everyday kitchen use. I have always used name brand oven mitts ::cough cough William Sonoma cough:: but I have now made my switch to these AYL glove.  I have used these gloves on everything from your standard fry pan to a super heavy ceramic stock pot. Every cookware item these gloves have touched not only allowed me to grip with strength but with delicacy as well. I can hold tightly to a very heavy stock pout but also tenderly pour water out of a tiny pot. I thought that holding onto the handle of a fry pan in these gloves would be difficult or awkward due to the finger style instead of a mitten style that I am accustomed to. Every time it was smooth and safe.

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I grabbed my gloves just yesterday to use them when my oven was off. No oven this time, just a defrosted can of broth. I make my own bone broth from scratch and freeze it so I always have chicken stock on hand. When you defrost a jar of liquid the top is always crazy hard to unscrew. The seal gets too tight after storage and if you forget to wipe the lid (and I’m a very forgetful gal) then that reopening in going to be a beast. I instantly thought of my new Silicone Gloves and BOOM! I was able to open it on my own! That was a thrill for a weakling like me. Besides opening stubborn jars, these gloves can be used for changing a light bulb, camping, fishing and for tons of other ways too.

AYL gives their customers a lifetime warranty. They promise to take care of their customers 100%. That is a guarantee I can groove with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Smarty Preschool Adventure App Giveaway


All kids love technology. It is alluring and memorizing. They want that screen time. They literally scream for the screen!

I limit what I let my children play with and watch on the TV, iPad and all types of devices. I try to find the best educational apps for my kids to use when I do allow them those minutes on the tablet. If they are going to be on there they will at least bear fruit in the process.

I was able to review the game Smarty Preschool Adventure and it was such a pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed the app and more importantly, so did my 2 year old. She loves playing with it and has gotten much much better at recognizing all types of colors and shapes. It’s a very good part of her Incremental Games collection for her age, and hopefully she’ll be enjoying it for a time to come. To find out more about the game please read the full review here.

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Smarty Preschool Adventure is for children ages 2 to 6. It teaches colors, shapes, counting and matching. When registered it is also available in the following languages: Spanish, Italian, Russian, French, German, Portuguese, Greek, Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian, Polish, Bulgarian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Chinese.

Check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/smartykids

For your chance to win a free download of this awesome educational game please see the form below (may take a moment to load, please have patience).

 

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Smarty Preschool Adventure App Giveaway