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New Balance Running Shoes

Posted by html404 on March 31, 2013
in Products for Dad, Reviews, Shoes & Footwear, Shopping, Sports

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.

Remember this photo?

My husband needed new shoes so I got him some New Balance running shoes to review. New Balance has a proven track record for us. They wear well, they last, they are comfortable and we like the look of them. They are actually one of our favorite shoe brands.

These are the ones I got for him:

New Balance 940 Optimum Control

Robert says these New Balance running shoes are very comfortable. More comfortable than other shoes he has tried. He’s kind of tough to buy for though. Not to be repetitive, if you remember a previous shoe review he did, but Robert has a high arch so finding a shoe that fits well and accommodates his arch is difficult. We usually cannot buy online, he has to physically be there to try them on. Unless it’s New Balance running shoes because he knows his arch supports will work in them.

He loves his New Balance 940 Optimum Control running shoes!

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PROBAR Review

Posted by Professor on March 28, 2013
in All Natural Products, Exercise, Food and Treats, Health, Health and Nutrition, Organic, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews

The PROBAR Company’s goal is to change how the world thinks when it comes to real, whole food. PROBAR products are proof that a food maker can wholeheartedly commit to quality, sustainability—and sheer deliciousness. Part of the Simply Real® promise is sourcing the finest all-natural, 100% vegan organic ingredients from growers who believe in these things as well. As you check out their products, they all have one thing in common: they start with only the best raw ingredients.

There are 4 PROBAR products to choose from:

PROBAR Meal ~ This PROBAR weighs in at a solid three ounces of fruits, nuts and seeds with enough nutrition to make a fresh, tasty, satisfying meal replacement. It’s rich in raw ingredients and the right nutrient-dense calories for lasting energy and nourishment.

PROBAR Core ~ Looking for a protein bar that resembles nature rather than a science experiment? Good…because they have packed 20 grams of plant protein and plenty of real, recognizable ingredients into this bar. And it does more than build your strength – it boasts chia seeds for hydration and recovery too.

PROBAR Bolt ~ These organic chews step up your game right when you need it. They’re packed to power you from morning workouts to race days. Plus, they’re loaded with electrolytes, B vitamins, antioxidants and complex carbs for fast fuel-ups that last through the home stretch.

PROBAR Fuel ~ Go ahead, dig in and fuel up with this gluten-free bar’s superfruits, cashews and oats. It’s soft, chewy, and it’s a full serving of fruit – a scrumptious snack for action packed days. We balanced this blend with chia seeds to regulate hydration and raw oats for easy-to-digest energy.

PROBAR Halo ~ Satisfying your sweet tooth with zero grams of guilt. Introducing PROBAR Halo™, the delicious between meals treat that’s designed to do your body good. With natural whole food ingredients and heavenly taste, these bars have such big flavors they take on a personality all their own.

Our PROBAR Review:

We received the following products from PROBAR: PROBAR Meal (Superberry and Greens), PROBAR Core (Peanut Butter Chocolate), PROBAR Bolt (Raspberry).

These are VERY good bars. I enjoyed the flavor and quality of each type of bar.

PROBAR Meal (Superberry and greens)

This bar goes beyond what I thought it could do…it REALLY fills you up! When they say a meal replacement they mean meal replacement! I was surprised when I opened the package and saw how green the bar was…I was glad because I know I do not eat enough “greens” and this bar is packed full of vital nutrients! As for taste… I enjoyed the flavor of the bar… for some it might be an acquired taste if you have never had a meal replacement bar. But, if you have had meal replacement bars before this one stands out in quality and flavor. The texture and balance of the ingredients was very nice on the tongue! This product is NON-GMO product verified.

Check out the ingredients and nutritional information here: PROBAR Meal Replacement Superberry and Greens

PROBAR Core (Peanut Butter and Chocolate)

These are EXCELLENT! I am a chocolate lover… so I was pleased to see a protein bar in my favorite flavor! I have tried other protein bars before and these surpass the other brands in quality and taste. They are very flavorful and pack a punch of 20 grams of protein. I was not disappointed. This product is Gluten-Free!

Check out the ingredients and nutritional information here: PROBAR Core (Peanut Butter & Chocolate)

PROBAR Bolt (Raspberry)

This was a very nice alternative for fast fuel ups for workouts! I enjoyed this flavor immensely! These are not a bar but a “chew” reminiscent of a “gummy bear”. These are wonderful performance aides. Since I am not an avid runner or workout aficionado … I gave some samples to my brother who is a power lifter and he attested that they are a great way to boost a workout!

Check out the ingredients and nutritional information here: PROBAR Bolt (Raspberry)

OVERALL… I was delightfully surprised at the taste and texture of the products along with the nutritional values contained in the product. I do also have to add that the products are 100% Vegan ORGANIC … how wonderful!

To learn more about the PROBAR company and their products, please visit their website www.theprobar.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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Ecigarettes Giveaway

Posted by html404 on March 15, 2013
in Giveaways, Products for Dad, Products for Mom

As you know, my mom is here, and yes we are having a great visit! Mostly staying at home and spending time together, but we have spent Saturdays thrift store shopping. The children are asking, “Why do you have to leave?” She leaves on the 24th. Anyhoo, last week Mom received a box of ecigarettes to try – they even arrived right on her birthday! Great timing, eh? So she’s been using them and our review will be forthcoming later in the month or in April. For now, please feel free to read the Green Smoke review on ecigarettereviewed.com

My hope is that Mom will use ecigarettes to slowly reduce the strength of the nicotine and eventually quit! Her quitting smoking has been my wish since childhood though, so we’ll see where that goes. At least she’ll be able to smoke in public places that doesn’t allow smoking, keeping her out of the cold in the winter.

The purpose of this post is to share an opportunity for those of you who have loved ones who smoke or who are trying to quit, so you can share with them this ecigarettes giveaway and they too can use them to reduce the amount of nicotine they smoke.

Ecigarettes Giveaway

Ecigarettereviewed.com is giving away 8 Green Smoke starter kits between 3/15 and 3/31. #GSGiveaway

About the Green Smoke Pro Starter Kit

– The Green Smoke Pro Kit offers a long and short battery, two packs of cartomizers, a USB charger (with car and mains adapters) and a USB cigarette.

– It has three varieties of tobacco flavor, Absolute Tobacco, Tobacco Gold and Red Label Tobacco (which is modeled after Marlboro Red), as well as Mocha Mist, Menthol Ice, Vanilla Dreams and Smooth Chocolate.

– Green Smoke cartridges are available in five different strengths. The most nicotine-heavy option has a concentration of 2.4 percent (Strong), going down to 1.8 percent (Full), 1.2 percent (Light), 0.6 percent (Ultra-Light) and Zero.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a partnered post on behalf of ecigarettereviewed.com.

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SuperPretzel Pretzel Dogs

Posted by Brande on February 10, 2013
in Food and Treats, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Uncategorized

What do you get when you combine a cocktail hot dog and a pretzel? A lot of happy Super Bowl fans! I had a small family gathering for the Super Bowl and served SuperPreztel Pretzel Dogs. Besides my lack of mustard, they were a hit! So much so, that when I was done making sure everyone was settled. They were GONE!

SuperPretzel Pretzel Dogs come in 3 flavors – Originial, Cheddar Cheese, and Jalapeno. They are beef hot dogs and are very easy to make!

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees, Place your 12 Pretzel Dogs on a cookie sheet and let them thaw for about 15 minutes. This is a VERY important step. I probably only let mine thaw for 5 minutes and they were not done after the 8 to 9 minutes of baking time. I just baked them a few minutes more until they were done. However, the next time I make these I will let them thaw as the box suggests. There are also instuctions to cook them in the microwave which SuperPretzel recommends over the oven.

Your little ones will love these Pretzel Dogs, they are easy for small fingers to handle and fun to eat!

SuperPretzels Preztel Dogs can be found in your local stores freezer section.

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When a Loved One Smokes

Posted by html404 on February 9, 2013
in Family Stuff, Health, Home, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Safety

My mom is coming for a visit from Nova Scotia, Canada in March. We haven’t seen her in four years. Yikes! We know. Kind of sad. Usually she prefers not to come visit us in the winter because we are NON-smokers and of course there is no smoking in our home so my mom has to smoke outside. Brrrrr…..It’s not going to be the warmest in March here in Chicagoland. Nah-uh. She asked me to tell the children to figure out a way for her to stay warm when she goes outside to smoke. We have yet to come up with anything. It’s hard when a loved one smokes and you don’t.

Both my parents smoked all during my grown up years. My mom says she couldn’t tolerate smoking while she was pregnant with me because it made her sick, so even from the womb I didn’t like cigarette smoke! My mom was always more conscientious about rolling down her window etc. than my dad was when they were smoking in the car. She’s still like that today. She doesn’t like the children to stand right next to her when she’s smoking and will tell them to move away so they don’t breathe it in. It’s kind of hard for them to stay away from their grandmother for very long when they only see her every several years – she’s not tech savvy so there’s no skype-ing or Facetime going on around here to stay in touch between visits. That’s something we have to work on.

My mom and dad both tried to quit smoking numerous times when I was a child, even trying hypnosis, but to no avail they couldn’t break the nicotine habit.

When my mom comes in March I am hoping to present her with an electric cigarette in hopes that when she tries it she may feel motivated to try to quit smoking again and just maybe, just maybe, that smokers cough will improve too.

When a loved one smokes and you don’t what do you do?

This is a compensated post.

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Twitten Valentine’s Day Gift Idea

Posted by html404 on February 6, 2013
in Clothing, Gift Ideas, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Seasonal Stuff, Uncategorized

February is here and so is Valentine season. A couple of weeks ago I shared 5 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas, but I have one more to add to that list. It’s a cutsie kind of gift idea that you could give any couple or yourself.

You remember how Bambi was twitterpated? Perhaps you are “twitten” with your sweetie? Twitten you say? Yes well that’s a new term to add to your vocabulary this winter and Valentine’s Day.

Twitten is a pair of mittens, but better than a pair of mittens when it comes to holding your sweetheart’s hand, as it allows you to really hold their hand and not deal with the bulk of a glove or mitten between your hands. Novel idea, eh? Told you it was a cute gift idea.

Twitten is handmade in Peru. It is hand washable as it is made of 50% Alpaca, 30% Wool and 20% Acrylic. They are very soft. They run a bit large for my hand but they are “one size fits most couples” so as to accommodate many sized hands.

Not only does TWITTEN offer the Twitten, but they also sell Texting Gloves, Texting Mittens, Fingerless Gloves, Hats and Scarves. There are many different colors and patterns to choose from.

I actually love these products. I really want the Texting Mittens! We haven’t had a chance to wear our Twitten or wash it but I am grateful for an extra set of mittens in our house as they tend to slowly disappear as winter goes on.

About TWITTEN

TWITTEN is a women-owned and operated business. 20% of profits go to the Bodhi Fund. The Bodhi Fund is a worthwhile charity administrated by the New Mexico Community Foundation. These two organizations offer support to families of children who need to receive life-saving treatment at the Cancer Center of Excellence and must travel out of state to receive their treatment.

He who twittens never twittens alone.

Prices vary.

So are you going to twitten your honey?

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Nike Dual Fusion Running Shoes

Posted by html404 on January 28, 2013
in Products for Dad, Reviews

Feet need proper care, at least mine do and I know my husband’s do too. Part of how we care for our feet is to wear comfy shoes that offer great support. My husband desperately needed new shoes. I think we must have already thrown out his old, hole-y running shoes because we cannot find them. I wanted to show you a photo of them…oh well…if we find them I will try to post a photo of the decrepit things!

It’s hard to buy Robert shoes because of his high arch. He has to wear arch supports and prefers running shoes or basketball shoes over walking or cross trainers.

So when I saw these Nike Dual Fusion Running Shoes I thought I’d surprise him and see if XLS Medical would be willing to let us do a review of them. Thankfully they said yes!

Here’s what the product description says about the shoes:

“The Nike Dual Fusion Mens Running Shoes feature Dual Fusion cushioning to the heel for fantastic shock absorption along with a durable rubber outsole featuring a waffle traction pattern with natural flex grooves for enhanced movement in your stride. These Nike running shoes benefit from breathable mesh panels to the upper coupled with mesh ventilation panels to the sides for outstanding comfort when on the run, finally the Nike Swoosh sweeping down the sides finishes the look.”

Nike Dual Fusion Running Shoes Review

Robert found the Nike Dual Fusion Running Shoes very comfortable, felt good and had good support. They looked good on too, especially with his zebra pants. He’s on his feet a lot during the day when orders come in at work so if these passed the “standing all day” test that says A LOT!

He’s only had these running shoes for a short time so we cannot say how well they hold up over the long haul but we can say that his feet are thanking them for a comfy stride.

P.S. Still working on our photograhpy shots….my oldest has a much better eye than I do for it!

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TOY DOZER Review

Posted by Professor on January 23, 2013
in Encouragement for Moms, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Home, Houseware, Kids Stuff, Organization, Products for Dad, Products for Mom

A CHORE NO MORE!

THE TOY DOZER MAKES TOY CLEAN UP FAST, EASY, AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!

January is National Organization month so what a better way to celebrate but with a product to clean up toys! Our house is overloaded with toys…especially with Christmas just past…we are busting at the seems! This product gives an innovative way to clean up toys with a “scoop” of the wrist! More importantly this is a toy that teaches…by involving children in clean up time, children learn the importance of responsibility. I know that responsibility is a value I am trying to instill in my children…so I am very happy that a “toy” can assist in that venue!

The Toy Dozer is a great product that helps parents and kids clean up all of the toys that we can find overwhelming and exhausting to clean up…just a little more fun! Check out the product in use in the video below:

What exactly is the Toy Dozer? It is a simple yet GENIUS invention! The product is similar to a dustpan … but instead of a broom to “sweep” in messes you have a handy little scooper. The one thing I like about this is the “scooper” Velcro’s inside the dustbin portion of the dozer. This is great… since I would hate to loose part of the product. Do you know how many times I have just wanted to use a broom to sweep up the toys my children have strewn all over the floor? But really…who want s to use an icky broom to clean up messes? The Toy Dozer created a clean way to get at those big toy messes!

My children are HUGE Lego fans! My son builds legos almost everyday…and my girls just got into the Lego friends series of Legos so our house was constantly strewn with the little parts. I was constantly picking up pieces and putting them on building plates or in Baggies. WELL… with the toy dozer pick up just got easier. I have to say that this is a great invention for these little pieces. All I have to do is use the scooper and sweep them all into the receptacle container and I easily have cleaned up a huge mess and then can bag the Legos as needed in seconds! This is a time saver for moms and dads! The kids love the product too! Usually the fuss about having to pick up ALL the Legos…but now the chore is fun and fast!

I do have to say that I also think this product has worked will in our house for beading crafts! My daughters received some bead kids for Christmas and after we were all done with the craft we were able to use the Toy Dozer to effectively clean up the beads in one swoop! I think this will be a great addition to craft days in our house as well…. Since it picks up those little pieces that I am forever using a plate or piece of paper to clean up messes.

We have used this product so many different ways… I do not think you will be disappointed. I have to honestly say that at first I thought it would be a Lego picker-upper only…but we have used it for many other things, including Barbie accessory, crayon, and Doll clothes clean up. I hate to say this but my girls’ room often looks like a tornado went through it (I know I am not alone) …but the Toy Dozer has sincerely made clean up easier!

Overall, I am thrilled with this product! It has made a difference in our “Lego” world! What a blessing to have been able to review this product!

The Toy Dozer comes in a variety of colors: Blue, Red, Purple, and Yellow.

Toy Dozer is also MADE IN THE USA!

To find more out about the Toy Dozer please visit: http://www.toydozer.com/

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

Posted by html404 on January 17, 2013
in Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Safety, Travel

Aside from my extreme excitement of being offered the opportunity to do a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport review – a brand new car – for a week (less than 5000 miles were on it when it arrived at our home), I love these things about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:

Love the push button start

Fast key entry system

Love the sporty look and color – Laguna Blue

Love the tilting feature of the headlights

Love the smooth ride

Better gas mileage than most SUVs

4WD/AWD came in handy when we had lots of ice

The interior light was located at the front between the two visors and not in the middle of the ceiling so I didn’t have to stretch back my arm, which I have to do when I drive my mother-in-law’s car

Panoramic sunroof!

My husband loved:

Nice, bright headlights, cool dial to adjust headlights (they moved down)

Running lights on the sunroof was a neat feature, didn’t offer much lighting just a cool affect

Satellite radio – I avoided it but my husband liked being able to listen to CNBC and buisness news in real time listen to the programs

Nice stereo system! Hidden CD Player…see video above

Heated front seats! I liked the back heat especially

This little car had a decent amount of trunk space considering its size. I was pleasantly surprised and was even able to transport 4 bags of horse feed, as well as 5 bags of chicken feed. Not all in one trip, though I probably could have, it just happened on two different shopping excursions.

Funny story about my first day driving the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport….I’ve been driving since I was basically 16 and know all about a gear shift, right? Well, the first time I drove the Mistubishi Outlander Sport I drove in second gear! In the picture above you’ll see how the gear shift is jagged rather than straight. It messed with my head royally. lol! I wasn’t even looking at the dashboard to see the P, D, R, N, 1 or 2. My daughter and I were wondering why on earth the car was so loud. Yes, I was completely oblivious that first day. I finally clued into the fact that I had the gear shift in second gear and laughed. Gave my husband a laugh too. Certainly a blonde moment.

Additional Specs for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Comes in six fancy colors: Quick Silver, Mercury Gray, White Pearl, Laguna Blue (my favorite), Rally Red and Labrador Black.
26 MPG average fuel economy. 24 MPG city. 29 MPG highway. $1350 savings in fuel costs over 5 years, compared to the average new vehicle. Or $270/year.
Has a 7/10 Fuel Economy & Greenhouse Gas Rating. Only a 5/10 Smog Rating.
It has an 4 star government safety rating.
It has a 60/40 split fold down back seat, with a very easy to push button.

A nice two cup console in front and back seats.

Rear camera for backing up, which my nine year old son loved making faces in and asking me if I could see him!

Large sunroof with running lights, very cool at night.
Heated sideview mirrors, which I completely missed using.
Handsfree link system with USB port, which I didn’t use this time around.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror, which is another feature I completely neglected to use!
Anti-theft alarm system, which actually went off on my son once!
Active Stability control

Plus a whole slew of options and features that will be listed here:
www.mitsubishicars.com

I loved driving this little car. That’s the thing, it is little for our family as it only seats five. We’d need two of them to seat all of us!

Editor’s note: I originally called this vehicle a hybrid. It is not. Chock it up to another blonde moment on my part.

I was loaned the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport car for a week with the agreement to feature of it on my blog, this post is done to fulfill that agreement. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Yardenit Cosmetics Review

Posted by Professor on January 3, 2013
in Eco Friendly Products, Family Stuff, Girl Stuff, Health, Personal Care Products, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Seasonal Stuff

Yardenit is the celebrated baptismal site on the sacred Jordan River in Israel. They embrace Pilgrims from the four corners of the earth who come to the Holy Land and to Yardenit for a specific purpose: to walk in the footsteps if Jesus and to be part of the baptismal ritual of following their Savior through the waters of baptism.

You do not have to travel to the Holy Land to experience Yardenit specialty products. You can visit their online store and shop for Holy Land souvenirs, Christian and Jewish gifts, inspirational jewelry, food items eaten during biblical times, music, books, clothing, cosmetics, and toys.

Our Review:

I found this was a very interesting website and web store. I had never actually sought out a store in the Holy Land so I was not aware that one existed. This is a rare gem! The web store offers so many products for both Jewish and Christian guests. They offer a vast array of products… from cosmetics to clothing!

We were privileged to review two of their cosmetic products. We were sent AYA Natural Nail Oil and Olea Essence Lip Balm. Both products are all natural which was a plus! I was concerned about getting a package from overseas … as I was not sure if it would ship well…especially with cosmetics enclosed. But I assure you Yardenit packaged their products beautifully and safely. They were packaged very tight and wrapped so that nothing would break or spoil. I was very impressed.

AYA Natural Nail Oil:

This product is made of 100% AYA natural Oil blend that may have antifungal properties. Nourishes, Moisturizes, and promotes healthy nail growth.

Ingredients: Extra Virgin olive oil, Sweet Almond oil, Tea Tree oil, Jojoba oil, Wheat Germ oil, Geranium, Rosemary, Lavender, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

*** We liked this product… the overall packaging was very nice. The oils come in a little dropper like bottle. You then apply right to the nail and rub into the cuticles daily. I used this item for a week and found that it made a difference to the overall health of my nails and cuticles. My cuticles are generally very dry … but this product improved them ten fold. I find that they are no longer peeling after use of this product. My oldest daughter also used this product. Sometimes her nails are prone to peeling …after using this product I can honestly say that her nail structure has improved. It seems that her nails are healthier and stronger and no longer peeling.

Just as a side note… the description states that it “may” have antifungal properties. I believe this is because one o the ingredients in the product is Tea Tree Oil, which is a known antifungal agent.

Olea Essence Lip Balm:

This product is made of all natural ingredients with no preservatives. It is Olive oil based and enriched with jojoba oil, wheat oil and avocado oil. It restores damaged and chapped lips.

Ingredients: Olive oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Bees Wax, Jojoba oil, Sesame oil, Caster oil, Wheat Germ oil, Avocado oil, Tea Tree oil, and Lavender oil.

*** This product was also a hit in my family. We are currently in the winter season and chapped lips are the norm around our house. This product came nicely packaged in a little pot …so it is easily applied with the finger. So I could easily use this on more than one person if needed (unlike a stick lip balm … where it would be limited to one person). The person who benefitted most from this product was my son. He is prone to chapped lips and often licks the top of his lips so the area right above the lip is red and chapped. We have a hard time finding anything except Vaseline that will do the trick because he says that the products we have tried “burn” his skin. Well, we have a new favorite in this product! This has done wonders for his skin and it is gentle and does not burn! It has cleared up his redness and chapped lips…I am so pleased! I did in turn use this on myself and found that my lips feel smooth and not as dried out as they usually feel this time of year! Very nice product!

Overall, we were very impressed with the Yardenit products we received. The only thing I do have to mention is that since the products do have Tea Tree oil in that particular oil seems to take over as the scent of the product. It is not a bad scent… some call it medicinal or a clean scent. It does not detract from the product… but it does take over the other oil scents that are ingredients in the product. I must say that since the Nail oil had the ingredient of Almond oil I expected an overall “almond” scent since that oil seems to be a powerful scent… but the Tea tree Oil is stronger. In the Lip Balm the Tea tree oil was not as strong… but it was still the main scent. I attribute the scent not being as strong in the Lip balm because it is a solid rather than a liquid like the oil. But generally the scent is not bothersome; in my experience it is rather pleasant.

On a side note: I was interested in another product and was worried about shipping to the USA from Israel (I thought it might be expensive) when I enquired with the company I found that their sipping rates are based on weight. The product I was looking at was their hand lotion, which is 150 ml or 5.1 fl oz.; the shipping on this product would be about $ 5.00. I found that this shipping cost was comparable to an average online store. So I was pleased.

Yardenit is currently having a sale on some of their merchandise…so take a look around their store! You can find a link to the store here: http://www.yardenit.com/store

For those interested in the Yardenit site on the Jordan River or for more information on Yardenit in general feel free to visit their home page here: http://www.yardenit.com

If I am ever in Israel I think this would be a neat place to visit and a great place to purchase souvenirs!