Archive for All Natural Products

Tidy Cats Pure Nature

kittenandno

We are always on the look out for new products to try, especially products that are all natural (REALLY all natural and not just hiding ingredients under that label). When we heard about Tidy Cats Pure Nature kitty litter I knew it was something we had to try.

Tidy Cats Pure Nature is 99.9% natural. It’s ” made with corn cob by-product sourced from seed corn production, and cedar and pine recycled from construction, furniture, and window manufacturing whenever available.” We like that about this product, how it’s made out of recycled material.

All four of our cats liked the Tidy Cats Pure Nature. They seemed to stake it out and sniff around to check it out. It smells good, well as far as kitty litter goes, right? I am truly not sure what else to say about cat litter but it works and our cats like it so if they are happy, we are happy. ;)

To end this review, there’s a cute video below that is a comical take on Michael Bolton as he runs away from a concert and runs into Tidy Cats’ fictional folk group Cedar, Pine and Corn, who help him “get back to nature”.

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Mommy’s Bliss

Establishing a soothing bedtime routine for your child is the best way to encourage a deep, restful sleep.  I have always thought this way and even do certain routines myself to wind down for the night.  Ever since my son was about a month old we would give him a bath, massage him with cream, read stories and say prayers, and have a bottle.  Now that he is three, we still do the exact same routine except he has a small snack instead of a bottle.  I have always believed that having this bedtime routine and sticking to it, has not only made him a good sleeper, but has helped him to fall asleep on his own.  We even play an ocean sound machine in the background and dim the lights throughout the routine.  I was anxious to try Mommy’s Bliss products, since they would only enhance our bedtime routine.

MommysBliss1

Mommy’s Bliss has three products to encourage a wonderful night sleep for babies.  They include a Sweet Slumber 3-in-1 Baby Wash, Sweet Slumber Massage Cream, and Sweet Slumber Mist.  All three products contain soothing extracts of lavender, chamomile, and ylang ylang that are associated with relaxation and sleep.  Begin with the Sweet Slumber 3-in-1 Baby Wash.  This can either be added to warm bath water to make a soothing bubble bath, or added to a washcloth as a shampoo and/or body wash.  My son has sensitive skin so I am always cautious as to what I bathe him in.  I used it as a shampoo and bodywash for him and loved how easily it lathered and rinsed off.  It is a very gentle and mild wash.  Once dry, I applied the Sweet Slumber Massage Cream onto his skin.  It was a very soft feeling cream that made his skin feel silky smooth.  It was also very gentle on his sensitive skin.  Finally, I sprayed the Sweet Slumber Mist on his pajamas, blanket, and pillow.  He asked me why I was doing that, and I told him the sweet smell would help him relax and fall asleep.  He loved that idea!  I even sprayed it on my pillow and felt relaxed immediately.

MommysBliss2

All three Mommy’s Bliss products smell amazing.  They have a sweet and calming smell that is not overwhelming or overpowering.  The next morning his bedding still had the lavender aroma.  Mommy’s Bliss products are 100% vegetarian & vegan, contain no artificial fragrances or petroleum, contain no alcohol, parabens, or harsh chemicals, and are free of gluten and soy.  These products can be purchased at Walgreens. I am looking forward to using all three Mommy’s Bliss products on my newborn to begin a relaxing and soothing bedtime routine from early on.

For more information visit their website:

http://www.mommysbliss.com/

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Divine Mama Bars

Divine Mama Bars are great tasting bars designed for breastfeeding moms to maintain an abundant milk supply. They are 100% all-natural, are created with milk-producing ingredients, and have no artificial sweeteners or processed starches.

Divine Mama bars come in two different flavors, Datey Apricot Cashew and Macnut Chocolate Chip. The Macnut Chocolate Chip was a little sweeter tasting, which is why it was my favorite!  The bars contain fresh ingredients such as macademia nuts, flax seeds, almonds, cashews, and apricots, which are recommended for increasing milk supply. They are a great snack choice for any mom breastfeeding, and would make an excellent gift for a new mom!

Check out their website for more information:

www.divine-mama.com

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

 

 

 


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Baby Gourmet…mmm good!

Baby Gourmet is a healthy, organic, and nutritious food for your baby.  They come in three different stages.  Stage 1 is for babies 6 months and older, stage 2 is for babies 7 months and older, and stage 3 is for babies 8 months and older.  All of their foods are organic, contain no thickeners or fillers, contain no added sugar or salt, and are kosher.  Each stage of foods has three different flavors to choose from, for a total of nine different products.

My favorite feature of this product is their packaging. It’s in a resealable pouch that can be served warm or cold.  It does not require any spoon, just squeeze and feed!  It is so convenient to throw in my diaper bag when I know I’m going to be out, and I have a meal already prepared and ready. I can’t wait to bring them with when we go for long car rides.  Rather than pulling over to feed my baby, or trying to feed her with a spoon in the car, I can just feed her the pouch while we are on the move.

I cannot say enough positive things about this product. They taste fantastic (Tropical Banana Bliss was the favorite in our house), are extremely convenient, and are a healthy choice for babies and even toddlers on the go. Here’s their website for more information and to find out where you can buy them:

www.babygourmet.com

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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eco.kid Organics for Kids

The company, eco.kid, is a company dedicated to making healthier choices for our children and our environment. Their products contain no synthetics, no silicone, no sulphate, no artificial preservatives, no artificial fragrances, and no artificial colouring. They have an entire line of products for children’s hair, skin, and body. The products are most suitable for kids ages 3-12. I was able to review five of their products, in which I was extremely impressed.

Prevent and Prevent Sensitive Daily Shampoo

Prevent and Prevent Sensitive are shampoos that contain a botanical complex of Australian essential oils opposed to sulphate detergents. The goal of these shampoos is to make the hair unattractive to head lice, which is a common problem in children ages 3-12. I found both to be very gentle on my son’s scalp. Both shampoos were easy to lather and easy to rinse out. They had a citrus like odor, and left the hair shiny and soft.

Daily Tonic Leave-In Conditioner

Daily Tonic is a leave-in conditioner enriched with organic moisturizers and ultramarine biopolymers that assist in detangling hair while adding strength and shine. I had a friend of the family try this on her 6 year old daughter’s very curly hair. She raved and raved about how amazing the product help detangle her hair. She was amazed, too, at how shiny her daughter’s hair was even the next day. Daily Tonic has a very light plant-like odor to it, and a little goes a long way.

TLC Hypo-Allergenic  Hair and Body Wash

TLC hypo-allergenic hair and body wash is a gentle, “no tears,” formula for extra sensitive skin.  This was by far my favorite product.  It can be used on both the scalp and the body. My 3 year old son is very active, so switching back and forth between a shampoo and body wash is not the ideal situation. I loved that I could use this on his entire body and not worry if it should happen to get in his eyes. My son has sensitive skin, and TLC was so gentle on his skin. It lathered nicely, and rinsed away easily. It left his skin very soft and smooth. I liked that I only needed to use a small amount of it, too.

Outback Jack Aussie Outdoor Spray

The final product I received from eco.kid was their Outback Jack aussie outdoor spray, also called Bug-a-Bug. This is an organically certified hypo-allergenic insect repellent spray.  It soothes the skin and at the same time repels insects. It is a very light feeling spray that smells more like lotion than a bug repellent. It would be a great product for any family that spends lots of time in the outdoors, or even just going to the playground or beach.

Finding quality organically made products for children is a very arduous task. It makes it that much more difficult when your child has sensitive skin. Eco.kid products do it all. Their products contain all pure plant essences and certified organics and many of their products are designed for sensitive skin. These would definitely make great stocking stuffers.

For more information or see the other products they offer, visit their website.

www.ecokidUSA.com

We will be hosting a giveaway a week from Friday so be sure to come back and enter!

 Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

 
 
 
 
 


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Kombucha Tea

A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo with a “Science in a Jar”….it was Kombucha. The object inside is called a “scoby”. Kombucha is made out of tea. We are making a baby scoby now through what is called the fermenting process. Kombucha tea has many health benefits, not the least of which is that it is a great probiotic and liver cleanser. Flavored Kombucha tastes very good. We originally learned about Kombucha tea last fall when we attended a fermenting class hosted by a friend.

My daughter found a great website that explains it all. Check out the Kitchn on How to Make Kombucha Tea.

Everyone but my one daughter and I thinks Kombucha tea is “scary” or is “just plain wrong”, but they haven’t tasted it yet so we are really hoping to convert the rest of the family to partake in this nutritious drink! I’ll let you know how it goes. We have to wait a week before our mama scoby makes a baby scoby so we can make some flavored Kombucha for the rest of the crew.


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ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Bars Review

A few weeks ago we received samples of ZonePerfect’s Perfectly Simple bars. Protein bars are one of our weaknesses. We “simply” cannot refuse them! There haven’t been many we haven’t liked, unless it’s been the ingredients. We try to read the labels carefully but sometimes we miss things. For this one it’s the soy protein isolate. We know there’s a lot of controversy surrounding soy products, but we are still learning.

ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Bars Review

There are three kinds of ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Bars: Toasted Coconut, Peanut Butter Crunch and Cranberry Almond. All three are free of gluten, preservative and artificial coloring.

We really liked all three bars. They were tasty and we liked them. The only complaint we have is there wasn’t enough of them!

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Wordless Wednesday – Science in a Jar?

Hee…hee…what is that? Science in a Jar? I don’t know (well I do but you know what I mean, right?), but can anyone guess what it is? Happy Wordless Wednesday!


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Grow with the Grain ~ National Bread Month

November is National Bread Month!

National Bread Month is a great way to remember to put whole grains in your diet.

We try to eat as many whole grains as possible… from bread, to pasta, to cereals. How do you incorporate whole grains into your lifestyle?

Here are a few things to remember:

Bread and grain foods provide many essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy and help fight diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and birth defects.

  • Whole grains are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates – and are naturally low in fat.
  •  Enriched grains are also a good source of complex carbohydrates and are one of the major sources for iron and folic acid in our diets.

A big key to maximizing your health and energy is taking a look at your diet – including how you “fill your plate.”

  • The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating six one ounce servings of grain foods each day.
  •  Grain-based foods like bread, buns, bagels, tortillas and crackers are not only healthy, they’re convenient and affordable.

About White Bread/Enriched Grains:

White bread – whether it be sliced or as rolls and buns – is enriched, meaning that B vitamins including thiamin, and riboflavin have been added back in approximately double the amount of whole grains and niacin has been added back in its original amount.

Folic acid is fortified to over twice the amount found in whole grains.

Enriched grains are the primary source of folic acid in Americans’ diets and, according to the CDC , have been credited with a 36 percent reduction in birth defects since the FDA mandated fortification of enriched grains in 1998.

Enriched grains are also a major source of iron in the diets of most Americans and are a good source of complex carbohydrates.

About Whole Grains:

Whole grains are a good source of complex carbohydrates, numerous vitamins and minerals, and are naturally low in fat.

Whole grains are a good source of fiber and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium.

Whole grains may lower risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes as well as other disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the sandwich! There are many reasons to love sandwiches:

    • Sandwiches are one of the easiest, most versatile and convenient ways to make a healthy meal for individuals or families.
    • Bread is the most important ingredient in making a healthy and delicious sandwich; it is the foundation of a great meal any time of day.
    • The complex carbohydrates in bread and other grain-based foods provide lasting energy the human body needs on a daily basis.
The sadwich shown above is the Avacado BLT…the recipe can be found here http://www.gowiththegrain.org/recipes/recipe.php?recipe_id=1144&featured_order=1

My children LOVE their sandwichs…favorites include Ham, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Grilled Cheese. Although Peanut Butter and Jelly is the GO TO favorite hands down for lunches!

  • Do you send your kids to school with sandwiches? What’s a go-to sandwich for you to include in their lunch bags?

 

I recently discovered Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio who has created some delicious recipe creations. They range from traditional to interesting. Definitely worth a look see! You can check them out here: http://bit.ly/t9woak.

Chef Bryan is definatley a sandwhich innovator to learn more about his history please visit this link: http://bit.ly/REO3uL

For more information on National Bread Month and Whole grains PLEASE visit http://gowiththegrain.org/
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”


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Xlear SparX Review

I had never heard of Xlear SparkX until we sampled it last week. Xlear Sparkx is a natural candy sweetened with xylitol, which is a plant-based sweetener that even dentists approve and recommend. Apparently xylitol has been proven to improve dental health and even strengthen tooth enamel – the first I’ve heard of that and definitely a plus if it rings true. Xylitol does have some controversy surrounding it and I believe it’s simply because of the sources providing it so a word of caution to determine the source of the xylitol before buying a product. Since Xlear SparkX has plant based xylitol it’s pretty probably safe in moderation like all other sweeteners.

Quick Tips About Xlear SparX

• Xylitol is not suppose to interfere with the body’s blood sugar levels or insulin production, making it safe for kids and adults on a sugar-controlled diet.
• Xlear SparX Candy free of artificial colors and flavors and is available in Berry, Citrus, and Fruit varieties.
• Xlear SparX Candy retails for $1.49 for one tube.

About Xlear Inc.

Xlear, Inc. has a number of natural products on the market besides Xlear SparX candy, like the following:

1. Xlear® Nasal Spray a patented saline and xylitol solution
2. Spry Dental Defense System® brand – a line of dental products
3. XyloSweet® – Raw xylitol crystals used as a sugar substitute


Xlear SparX Review

We all liked the taste and texture of Xlear SparX candy. We preferred the taste of the Citrus flavor over the Fruit flavor. The Fruit Flavor did not taste as sweet or as good. There was something different about it but we couldn’t pin point it.

I’d definitely recommend Xlear SparX to family, friends and all of you looking for a natural candy free of artifical flavors and colors. My children really enjoyed this candy. I think $1.49 is a little on the pricey side but for a treat and a healthier alternative I am usually willing to pay more. I’d say we will be purchasing this candy again in the future.

I didn’t thoroughly research all the ingredients but they look ok.

You can find Xlear SparX on Facebook too.

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer, Xlear, Inc. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.


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