#Review - Camino Fair Trade #Chocolate Candy Bars

I received some delicious Fair Trade Candy bars from Camino to sample and review. The creaminess of this chocolate is second to none. It certainly doesn't taste healthy, not that it tastes bad... quite the opposite really it tastes absolutely incredible. I got to sample a few different flavors!

Almond and Raisins: Hail the raisin and its chocolate dreams! Every time I munched on a raisin while eating this bar, I found myself reminded of my childhood. A full fledged flashback to a pint sized me and my little red wagon, carefully picking chocolate covered raisins out of a box of Glosettes while I played in the yard. I loved them so much as a child. I certainly preferred them to chocolate covered peanuts and those were quite tasty as well. I really enjoyed this bar a great deal although I found it lacking in the raisin quantity department. 

Peanut Butter: This tastes like a slightly healthier version of your classic Reese Peanut Butter Cup only it is made with Cane Sugar and other organic ingredients. Perfect for those little cravings we all have on occasion.
Almond Butter: This one pleasantly surprised me. I was not anticipating an Almond version of the Peanut Butter bar... I was expected a creamy almond flavored bar with a super creamy consistency. Yummy!!

Hazelnut Butter: Unfortunately, I didn't get to try! My husband found it in the middle of the night during his sweet cravings. He must of enjoyed it because there was nothing left to it when I awoke in the morning, just a wrapper on the night stand and a happily snoozing hubby.

Puffed Rice and Quinoa: This tastes like one of those rice Chocolate Easter Bunny, so if you are looking for an alternative with healthier, non-toxic ingredients; this is the bar for you. Perhaps the great Easter Bunny will bring you treats. Remind him to stop by my house as well when you see him. Busy fellow.

You can connect with Camino on their Website, Facebook and Twitter.

#Review - Clif Bar - Original Energy Bar

If I had 1 tip to pass on to each of you in regards to the Clif bar, that would be to wait until the warm up from being out in the cold before you eat them. They will be much easier to eat and then you will truly get to  appreciate the splendor that is the Clif Bar. You might remember my review of the Luna Bar last week, a nutritional bar designed for women. This bar was designed by a company called Clif bar. They have a vintage looking website and over 25 Clif Bar - Energy Bars to choose from. I was sent 3 flavors to review.

The Clif bar is made with 70% organic ingredients and is made without trans fat, hydrogenated vegetable oils and high fructose corn syrups. They are also commited to using non-gmo ingredients. Upon opening each wrapper I noticed that each bar has that homemade cookie/square look, taste and texture. The Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch bar tastes like a peanut butter granola square. It is made with Brown Rice Syrup and Protein Blend and various other yummy ingredients like Apple, Oat Fibre, Milled Flax Seed, Fig Paste and much more.

The Cool Mint Chocolate reminds me of the holiday season and winter in general. Do you remember the chocolate mints with the cookie bottom? I'm not certain of the name but this treat is what immediately comes to mind when thinking of a comparable flavor and texture. The Peanut Toffee Buzz bar was delicious, however I found that unlike the other 2 bars the flavor wasn't immediate. You had to wait and the toffee and peanut taste both arose in time.

You can connect with Clif Bar on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

Disclaimer: I received 3 Clif bars in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I received no other additional compensation for this post.

#Review - Dr Lucy's Gluten Free #Cookies

I was sent 3 boxes of Dr. Lucy's Cookies to review and they are tremendously delicious. Crisp and light, they texture reminds me of certain brands of Oatmeal cookies that I have had in the past. I prefer soft, chewy cookies and although these were crispy, I didn't mind. It wasn't long before the Maple taste formed in my mouth. The Maple Bliss Cookies are wonderful and I recommend them to anyone who is a fan of Maple. My husband gets late night food/sweet cravings and I had been waiting for one of them so I could get his honest opinion of the product, before I ate them all myself.

The Ginger Snap Cookies were my favorite. I swear, I could taste whole ginger pieces. I examined the cookies and couldn't find any... [I've since accepted their invisibility] I did some research and found out that the secret to the spiciness is chipotle seasoning. How clever! My husband enjoyed the maple and the ginger cookies and was very impressed with the quality of Dr. Lucy's cookies. I think it surprised him that they were gluten free and vegan and it didn't taste as though anything is lacking. These cookies are also Kosher. The Chocolate Cookies were yummy as well but they were bland in comparison to the deliciously sweet maple and spicy ginger.

Dr Lucy's Cookies are allergy friendly and cooked in a dedicated bakery. They contain no-gmo's, no peanuts or tree nuts.

You can connect with Dr Lucy on their Website, Twitter,  Facebook and You Tube.

#US/CAN - #Win a Libre tea Mug - Brew loose tea on the Go

The very first time I read about the Libre tea mugs I was both curious about the product and excited to test it out. I love tea and prefer loose tea when ever possible. Did you know that loose tea has a smaller eco footprint than teabags because of its bulk packaging? Sometimes I am only interested in brewing a cup and I usually end up brewing an entire pot. The mug is made from poly on the outside and glass on the inside for a fresh taste with each use and it would allow me to brew a cup and then reuse my loose leaves if I would like a second.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly without rushing towards the future. ~Thich Nat Hanh  [quoted on the website]

In the morning, I selected a nice black tea to perk me up and I brewed it upside down like the video suggests for Black tea. I was not careful however. I didn't let it sit long enough with the cover off before I tightened the lid so I ended up with leaks on account of the steam. Fortunately, no one was scalded. There are various warnings on the website and in the video but I find the instructions inside the package could perhaps have a little more emphasis on the same cautions that they mention on the website. A groggy person never having used this before might have an accident.



All in all, the mug works well and does what it says. Depending on the variety of tea you are using and how fine the leaves, you might still get some leaves in your mouth. I personally don't mind that too much.

Until February 29th, 2012 if you make a purchase you will receive 15% off and a free month of My Yoga Online with the code:  Valentine15%

I have a Libre Mug to giveaway to one reader from the US or Canada, who promises me that they will be extra careful following the instructions.

#US Only - #Win Angell Organic #Candy Bars

Angell Organic Candy Bars are made with Organic, Fair Trade Ingredients. They come in a variety of flavors including Angell Crisp which is a Gluten Free option, Snow Angell which is made with creamy white chocolate and Coconut and last but not least Dark Angell which is a dark chocolate and Almond Vegan treat.

The folks at Angell Organic have donated 1 Box of Angell Organic Candy Bars to a US Music and Mommies reader. Sorry to everyone else!

Dance Abby! #CrystalPorterMusic

Yesterday, I created a new YouTube channel for my solo stuff. I made the decision to look through all of my old videos and tape recordings and over time put some of that online. Accepting that while some of these things are very silly and foolish, they are innately me. So for those of you who are interested, you can follow Crystal Porter Music on YouTube.

Here is a sample tape recording that I just uploaded today, I was trying to keep a baby entertained on a midsummer afternoon in the sun on a blanket. I had a bongo and a banjo and my disposal. I improvised a song with both to keep her happy. Since it is hard to make out the words, I captioned them... Don't mind the spelling error... I'm apparently playing a bonjo haha... oh dear.

So I present to you.... "Dance Abby"

#Review - Luna Bars, Designed for Women

I had the privilege of trying out 3 different nutritional supplement bars that are designed specifically for women. Made with 70% organic ingredients, the Lemon Zest flavored Luna Bar has 9 grams of protein, 320 mg of Potassium and is jammed packed full of Vitamins and Minerals. They taste pretty good too! I really loved the Lemon flavor and the delicious white chocolate coating gave this soy crisp bar a slight rice dipped granola taste.

The Nutz Over Chocolate Bar is high in Calcium and Folic Acid and rich with flavor and antioxidants. The Luna bar is low on the Glycemic Index as well, making it a balanced snack choice. For those of you who may think this is a meal replacement bar, put the bar down.... go eat something and come back later. This is only meant to supplement an active lifestyle.

The Caramel Nut Brownie remind me of Baileys Irish Cream without the Alcoholic bite. With a drizzling of caramel across the top and a bottom coating of chocolate this bar is very flavorful. If Bailey's obsessed Old Gregg from The Mighty Boosh were of the womanly gender, this would be his bar. He might

The Luna bars are manufactured and distributed by Clif bar, a company that believes in sustainable business practices.

Disclaimer: I received 3 bars for the purpose of my honest review and I did not receive any additional compensation. 

US/CAN - #Win a Ginger Balm from The Ginger People

You might remember my a review I did a few months back on a Ginger Syrup made by a company called The Ginger People. Well I just recently discovered that this wonderful company has a Skin Care Line as well! I feel as though I had food driven tunnel vision the last time I looked over their product catalog.

For those of you who do not know, I'm a big fan of ginger and its health benefits. I often indulge in a mug full of a fresh ginger and cayenne tea [It is often lovingly referred to as Crystal's Fire Water!] for its health benefits. I retain toxins quite easily and this helps me sweat it out when necessary. Not to mention, I love the smell of ginger in all forms. Especially fresh ginger!

I received a Ginger Balm from the Ginger People's Skin Care line. It can be used to help heal, smooth and reduce the irritated appearance of scars and blemishes. It works great on cuticles and split ends and soothes sore muscles. I had a couple blemishes that were flaring up and I put a dab of the angry little spot and sure enough within minutes it stopped throbbing and itching. Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antiseptic properties. This balm has organic cocoa seed oil and organic shea butter acting as a protective barrier for you skin and hair.

 

Because of our local climate, I sometimes straighten my hair. I have been putting a tiny amount of this balm on my fingertips and rubbing it in my hair for some added natural protection against the straightener, especially on areas that might be damaged or slightly dry. It is effective and smells great! It is also soothing and warm on my sore neck and shoulders.

The ginger people have offered a ginger balm to one of my US or Canadian readers!

Conversational Distractions - The #Mommy Machine

So the youngest is sitting at the dining room table working on his homework right now. Well... honestly, I think he's doodling while he chats with me. He has a difficult time staying focused on the task at hand. I can't be the only one though... Does this sound familiar to you?

"Mommy...Mom... this game that I like..."

"Stay focused on your homework, we can talk after." He can talk for hours too [refer to this post], if we scheduled chatting before homework, I don't think it would ever get done!


[sound of scribbling/cursive writing]

"Mommy, at Keegan's birthday party..."

The husband emerges from the basement, "You're not going to get your homework by saying mommy all day long are you?" He could hear the dialogue from his man cave. Mat and I exchanged a few small words, after which he left the room and went back down stairs.

"Mommy, I know one thing that..." the worst thing about it is I truly dislike muting him. Although if I don't the behavior worsens and the focus becomes scarce. Some days he focus's wonderfully, other days it is like pulling teeth. Equally, it is important to gauge my own levels of frustration, patience and calmness. I do not want to feel like I am limiting his expression but it is equally important that he develop focus and where it is a weakness, extra practice is necessary. 

When his homework is done, he has no interest whatsoever in having a conversation with Mommy. lol

A #Pinterest #Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you beautiful souls drifting about the lands. I thought to celebrate Valentines Day I would post some Valentines Day appropriate pins that I found over the last couple weeks. Today would be the perfect day to gather together as a family, or couple... or group of friends, or alone and make some memories!

I thought this was a neat idea, you can make heart shaped crayons. The kids love making them, giving them and receiving them.

Source: thequeenofswag.com via Crystal on Pinterest

These look very interesting, Velvet Brownies. I'm not sure what the ingredient list is but they certainly look the part.

Source: thenovicechefblog.com via Crystal on Pinterest

This is adorable and something that I really would like to know how to do. Creating shapes inside cakes and soaps amaze me.

Source: madewithloveby.me via Crystal on Pinterest

#Review - NuGo Organic

These protein bars are dipped in chocolate and they remind me a great deal of all the chocolate dipped granola bars that I had growing up except these ones are made with soy crisps.

Nugo has many different varieties of bars, they sent me some of their vegan candy bars that also have the advantage of being a protein bar as well. I received 3 flavors from the Nugo Organic line to review:

Dark Chocolate and Almond is a beautifully balanced combination of a nice dark bitter chocolate and sweet nut taste. The dark chocolate is filled with Antioxidants.

Double Dark Chocolate while a wonderful bar was my least favorite. Although it would be any chocolate lovers dream, I personally prefer the subtle sweetness's and how it intermingles with chocolate that dark.

Although I certainly have no objections to chocolate in any form I must say the real winner was the Pomegranate. The dark chocolate and the fruit flavored splendor mixed together in such a way that it teased my pallet.

You can connect with Nugo Organic on Twitter and on Facebook.
 
Disclaimer: I received 3 bars for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and I received no additional compensation.

#Kindermom - March Break, Crafty Fun Family Time

March break is fast approaching and the kids will be home from school for the week. It is closer than you might think! I'm not sure what happened to January. I blinked and it was gone. February has been following the same example and quite frankly, I am afraid to blink.

The family is long overdue for some quality time together. Weekends in this house can be very hectic, between sleepovers, birthday parties, band practices, performances and other events. Christmas time was the last time the children were home from school and it was so hectic. By the time we were able to relax the children wanted to have sleepovers at various relatives. Who am I to say no?

One of the easiest things for us to do together as a family is play Wii or PS3 together. We have Little Big Planet and the entire family loves to play. We regulate our game play to a couple days a week. We found that by not forcing a gaming schedule they would overindulge. Then when they weren't able to play, they suffered terrible withdrawal. So, this March break, I would like to do activities with my children that help reconnect them with their imagination and creative selves. I would also love to boost each child's confidence. Both of them are closet hams and shut themselves off completely over the thought of taking their acts in front of others. I have been trying to subtly encourage them to practice performing for fun in front of others as a demonstration of courage.

Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Crystal on Pinterest

I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest as of late and I often stumble upon interesting craft ideas that I could do with the kids. Both of my children are creative and I think that spending time together being crafty over the break would be a great way for us to bond and even catch up on each others day to day lives. Sometimes it seems as though suppertime is the only time I really get to chat with my children. I am kind of excited to see what works will be created between us all.

Source: illusion.scene360.com via Crystal on Pinterest

As you might have noticed underneath the Kinder button I have proudly displaying on the left side bar, I have been accepted for a second #KinderMom campaign on behalf of Kinder Canada and Mom Central Canada. This means more kinder inspired posts. I do enjoy writing with a topic at times as it helps me be a little more expansive with my writing. Don't forget, Kinder Canada has monthly contests on their Facebook page. Why not stop in, enter to win and maybe even jazz up a photo or two with the "My Kinder Moments" app.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation for this post in the form of a Visa Gift Certificate and a box of Kinder Eggs to share with friends and family. I was provided optional topics of discussion, however all opinions are my own.

#US/CAN - #Win a 6 pack Mini Pops Sampler

Mini Pops is an organic, gluten-free and kosher certified snack company. They are made from Sorghum which is the 5th most harvested cereal grain and requires less water to grow than corn. Farmed in the United States, a portion of the revenue from the sales of Mini Pops are donated to family farm charities. These charities help sustain family farms throughout the US.

One lucky Music and Mommies reader will receive a 6 pack Mini Pops Sampler. To enter simply like them on Facebook and fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Lots of ways to earn additional entries as well.

#Review: Deliciously Raw Food bars from @Larabar

Larabar has a wide assortment of food bars designed for vegan, raw, kosher and gluten-free diets. All of their bars are vegan except for their bars containing chocolate chips. The chocolate chips are dairy free which is a vegan requirement, but since they are manufactured in the same factory as dairy chocolate chips there is the potential for cross contamination. Thus, the chocolate chips can't technically be called vegan. Other than that, the Larabar is made entirely from plant based food sources. I received 4 flavors from Larabar to sample:

Made with real fruit, nuts and spices, the Key Lime Pie was my least favorite of all the Larabars I had sampled. I had a hard time getting past the coconut. I did however enjoy the taste of lime but found it a little too bland in comparison to the taste of the dates with is the dominant ingredient. While it wasn't my favorite I could imagine it being a rather delicious cookie filling. My husband enjoyed it, he is the bigger coconut fan out of us both.

Blueberry Muffin bar was delicious. This was the second bar I tried and I was a little worried that I wouldn't care for it too much after being a little let down by the Key Lime Pie. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. I grew up on my grandmothers homemade blueberry muffins and I must say the addition of cashews is interesting. I do not object.

The Ginger Snap bar was to my liking. I can't seem to get enough ginger these days, I nearly inhaled the bar it was so delicious. I almost didn't get to experience the wonderful hint of cloves. I love cloves, especially this time of year. I usually have cloves and cinnamon simmering in a pot on top of the wood stove to add moisture to the air and a nice aroma. My husband did not get to try this bar.

As previously stated: dates are the first ingredient, so I really wasn't expecting the Chocolate Chip Brownie to have the taste and consistency of an actual brownie. I frequently found myself in disbelief that this was in fact, a fruit and nut bar. I love that this bar is made with fair trade certified chocolate.

You can connect with Larabar on Twitter, Facebook or by signing up for their newsletter.

Disclaimer: I received 4 bars to sample for the purpose of this review. No additional compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

#US/CAN - #Win 1 of 2 Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Power Snack 2/27

At Navitas Naturals they have all kinds of foods and snacks to supplement any raw food diet. Jam packed with nutrients these Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Super Food Power Snacks will give you a dose of fiber and vitamin C. These Power Snacks are made with nutritional essentials like cacao, maca, chia and camu-camu. These bite sized cubes have no refined sugar, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors and are organic, vegan, raw and gluten-free.

The lovely folks at Navitas Naturals have provided some Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Super Food Power Snacks to 2 of my lovely readers.

#WorldWide - #Win an Assorted Prizepack in Celebration! Ends 2/23

Congrats to Building Carpenters for reaching 5000 Facebook fans!! Here at Music and Mommies we are helping her celebrate such a amazing milestone! Happy 5000 more :)

Below is a note from Building Carpenters and a giveaway to help celebrate!

"Building Carpenters has reached 5000 Facebook fans!!! Thanks so much for your support of my little bloggy venture!  In order to celebrate, we will be holding a little giveaway here on Building Carpenters.

I also want to thank some great bloggers who are helping me celebrate (as well has helping me become a better blogger!)  Don't forget to visit their pages as well."

Mom Does Reviews

Powered By Mom

Emptynester Savings and More

Relax n' Save

Music and Mommies

Mommy and We

#US/CAN: #Win Household Cleaning Products from Ecover

As you can imagine, I receive a lot of parcels. One thing that impresses me is a company that reuses newspaper for shipping instead of packing peanuts. I was pleased when my parcel arrived from Ecover containing their Ecological toilet bowl cleaner and 2 different dish washing liquids, one in Chamomile and Marigold and the other in Grape Fruit and Green Tea packaged in shredded flyers and newspapers. I like it when they actually don't shred the newspaper as well. Sometimes, I find it enjoyable to read those newspapers. It is a slice of life from away and when you can hold it in your hand and feel its tangibility... it is special.

So, upon discovering the cleaning products beyond the shredded flyers. I immediately read the instructions on the Ecological toilet bowl cleaner and used it on my own toilet. The consistency is thinner then about every toilet bowl cleaner I have used previously. While my husband says thinner isn't always better, with this product I disagree. I found the thinning allowed it to spread around the bowl easier. I will say though, that I dislike the design of the nozzle. Since the consistency is thin, extra care is needed to keep the product in the bottle. If every the packaging gets redesigned I would personally recommend a smaller sized nozzle to offer more control to the consumer. I do love the pine scent, it is a nice fresh scent for a toilet. This cleaner succeed wonderful in the Quick clean test. The real test was when I left in on the toilet overnight to see if it helped with tough hard water stain. While it didn't remove it completely (only 1 has come close) it did manage to shrink it down in size. I am pleased.

I tried the Herbal Dish Soap in Chamomile and Marigold and it was miraculous. I only needed one single drop in the water.... at first there weren't any suds but then I agitated the water and I was very surprised to find that I got a lot more suds than I anticipated. Now, I should state that the dish soaps do contain surfactants and that is a grey area for some groups of people who feel that surfactants (or detergents) aren't natural as they have a tendency to deplete the skin of its natural oils (and more depending on what the surfactant in question). Other groups believe that unless it contains a detergent it doesn't actually clean.Two entirely different schools of thought and neither is any more right than the other. Many of you are going to be excited to find that this product's surfactants are plant based, not synthetic and are available at a very comparable price to those available in your local supermarket.

I must say, I really enjoy the scent of the Grapefruit and Green tea Dish Soap the best. The Chamomile and Marigold smells good but the smell of the grapefruit is very uplifting. That is nice, especially considering how dismal it has been weather wise around my area so far this year. Ecover has offered one of my readers exactly what I reviewed. So you will receive the toilet bowl cleaner and both dish soaps to try out for yourself!

#Organic Tea, Winter Wonderland Nights with Joy's Teaspoon

Last night, I enjoyed the company of a dear friend who has been living in the city for the last few months. Not only is she a dear friend but a fellow music maker and I miss her presence in my life while she has been going back to school. It was nice to see her last night if only for a few hours. While she was here I put on a pot of Winter Wonderland from Joy's Teaspoon. It was a perfect evening for a tea that spoke of Winter. A fire was lit in the wood stove and the smell of this tea fresh in the tin and in the pot was mesmerizing. It was deep and calming with a hint of magic. There is chocolate in this coffee, chocolate... like it didn't already have me hooked. We were both very impressed with the deliciousness of this tea.

Past reviews of products from Joy's Teaspoon:

Teas:
Mahalo Green Tea

Spices:
Four Peppercorn Blend
Oregano

You can connect with Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest. 

Disclaimer: I received 3 teas and 3 spices from Joy's Teaspoon in exchange for my honest review. The opinions on this blog are my own. 

Pacifica Donates Percentage of Island Vanilla Sales to the Ocean Futures Society

I'm a night owl. I can often be found awake on the internet blogging away into the wee hours of the AM. I've been trying to keep ahead of the game by scheduling my posts in advance which is a fantastic notion as it keeps me proactive and I am less likely to feel overwhelmed or pressured to create content. If I find myself whisked away on a songwriting spree, I can stay focused without feeling guilty. Sometimes I find myself immediately inspired to write because of my first product impressions! This was the case today... by the time you read this however it will be Saturday.

I received a couple items to review from Pacifica. The first one I am will review today is the Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On. Right now a portion of proceeds from the sale of all Island Vanilla products goes to the Ocean Futures Society. The product packaging is beautifully designed with various tones of pink, swirls and butterflies giving it a distinctly feminine branding; essence of an island tropical paradise complete with lush fields and exotic flowers. Upon removing the roll on from the box you notice that the artwork continues on the bottle. I unscrewed the top and was whisked away by the captivating, sweet smell of Vanilla.  The perfume is 100% vegan, cruelty free. It is free from parabens, phthalates and propylene glycol. I encourage you to purchase this delightful scent and support this wonderful cause!

The second product that I'm reviewing today is the Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint in Blood Orange. Like the Island Vanilla I am really fond of the packaging. The tube that it comes in is fully recyclable and I love the fact that the product is 100% vegan. I absolutely adore the scent of this product. I do however have a product suggestion. I would love to see alternative sources for coloring other than dyes that many people (myself included) have developed sensitivities toward. I personally could still utilize the product in moderation if I choose so, however people with higher sensitivities who might be drawn to the company for compassionate reasons might turn away. So great overall but I would love to see healthier coloring alternatives. Having said that, I do really like the color and how it looks and feels on my lips.

 

If you would like to purchase either one of these products they are available exclusive at Sephora stores, Sephora.com and Pacificaperfume.com.

Disclaimer: I received both of these products in exchange for my honest opinion. These opinions are my own.

#Yummy Me: Beanitos - My Hearty Bean Chip Friend

Lately, I have been watching a 5 year old girl after school along with my own children. She gets off the bus with my youngest son every day after school and I watch her until just after supper. It has been quite comical to observe her each day. The contrast between her and my boys really is like night and day. I am very glad that they get along so well. Today, I had a multipack filled with 4 varieties of Beanitos arrive. With the children soon to arrive on the bus, I couldn't think of a better opportunity to collect tiny, yet valuable opinions.

I sat down with the children and explained that some chips are made with potatoes, corn, spinach and these ones are made of beans! I've never had bean chips before... have you? Both of them shook their heads. Would you like to try them with me. Considering it was snack time, it suddenly made their afternoon quite fun.  There were 2 different varieties of chips made from different beans in a regular version and a flavored version. So the choices were: Regular Black Bean Chips, BBQ Chipotle Black Bean Chips, Regular Pinto Bean and Flax Chips and last but not least Cheese

The little lady, my son and I plowed through those first 4 bags and I think my son could have finished off the rest of the multipack if I would have let him. As filling as they are, his stomach does not come equipped with a flashing red sign that says: "I am FULL, Food Denied". Every bag Ty tried was his new favorite. The tiny visiting lady claimed both the regular Pinto Bean and Flax Seed bag and the Regular Flavored Black Bean chip and placed them on her lap on the couch and snacked away."These are mine, okay." She's comical.

When my oldest son came home I thought it was only fair that I open up another 4 bags for him to try. He compared ingredients! I was so impressed with the awareness he was placing in his observations of the product. He loved the taste of the BBQ Chipotle and said it was probably the best tasting barbeque chip he has had in a long time. He asked me if I could pack a bag in his lunch tomorrow. I just might, I wonder how many of his friends will try them.

I asked him to save half out of each bag so I could bring them downstairs into the jam room for my husband and his visiting friend to try. I then closed the door behind me and proceeded to grab some wood to put in the wood stove and I could over hear them discussing the chips and comparing them to the stout of beers. Wonderful beer drinkers analogy. They are certainly the potato chips dark, hearty, nutritious friend.

Although there is more fat (good fats) in the Pinto Bean and Flax then in the Black Bean, the calories are quiet reasonable especially when you compare them to other chips of any variety. I personally prefer the taste of the Pinto bean over the black bean but they are both delicious. I certainly wouldn't argue to eating a bag of either one of these varieties, flavored or unflavored. There is a lot more sodium in the BBQ Chipotle but that is to be expected. No GMO's, high in Omega 3's, Gluten Free, High Fiber, a great source of protein this chips are packed with nutrition. What makes them really unique? These chips are certified low Glycemic which is just fantastic!

Not only are these chips great on their own but I feel they would be the perfect dipping companion to a nice bowl of guacamole or other dip of preference.

Right now I have quiet kids with happy bellies and I don't think any of them even realize supper is coming... except maybe Ty!

US/CAN #Win 1 of 2 Mixed Boxes of The Simply Bar - So Much Protein, So Little Sugar, So Good! @TheSimplyBar

The Simply Bar are a milk free, gluten free, low sugar, vegan protein bar. The bars contain more fiber than sugar, so they fill you up and keep you satisfied without all the empty calories. All of the bars are made with soy crisps so they are very easy to digest but they are a little crunchier then traditional granola so they take a little more work to chew. I had the privilege of sampling the various flavors of the simply bar and they were all very tasty... very tasty. I had a difficult time narrowing it down to my absolute favorite because I appreciated all of then for different reasons. However, two of them in particular really grabbed my attention. Those two were the Cocoa Coffee and the Lemon Coconut bars.

 

The Cocoa Coffee bar is made with real organic coffee beans and it is absolutely delicious. It was as though I was eating chocolate covered coffee beans with soy crisps. Oh, I could eat it buy the jarful... I was banned from chocolate covered coffee beans as a teenager. It was for my own good. True story.

The Lemon Coconut surprised me and grabbed more than just my attention, it blew my mind. I am allergic to Tartrazine which is also known as Yellow #5 and disguised as Color on many product labels. A rule of thumb for me has always been if it is yellow, orange or green and has color on the label don't eat it. My allergies aren't severe but it does leave me uncomfortable and sometimes a little sick to my belly depending on how much I have ingested and how good my body is functioning that day.  Over time I have learned to taste that chemical in my foods so you can imagine how I've conditioned myself overtime to be repulsed by the idea of eating anything with lemon in it. Except there are no chemical ingredients in these bars it was like eating a lemon meringue pie. I don't even normally like the taste of coconut all that well unless I'm in the mood for it but these large coconut shavings were so yummy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I received various flavors of The Simply Bar to sample in exchange for my honest review. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Greek Salad Adventures with #Organic Oregano from Joy's Teaspoon

 

Every week we make a large bowl of Greek Salad. We make it large enough to last a family of 4 about 3-5 days depending on our appetites. We started this weekly tradition about 5 years ago, what started off as a basic Greek salad has evolved over the years into a Mediterranean dream salad! We don't use lettuce, instead we use spinach because it offers a much more nutritious base for the salad. From there we add capers, onions, cucumbers, sweet peppers, celery, plum tomatoes, green apples, black olives, green olives, feta and when the mood strikes... some cheddar cheese. Everything is finely diced. One of my husband's pet peeves is vegetable chunks in a salad. If we chop things any finer we might as well start using a food processor. We topped the salad off with some dried organic Oregano from Joy's Teaspoon, my husband was impressed with the scent and flavor of the oregano. We do not use it sparingly in this salad, in fact both the homemade Greek dressing and the salad rely heavily on oregano as a seasoning. Joy's Teaspoon did not let us down!The end result was a delicious and rather beautiful salad.

To read previous reviews about the various teas and spices available at Joy's Teaspoon, follow the links below.

Teas:
Mahalo Green Tea

Spices:
Four Peppercorn Blend


You can connect with Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest. 


Disclaimer: I received samples of spices and teas from Joy's Teaspoon for the purpose of review. All opinions are honest and my own.