The Trip: Little Critter Reading Adventure {A Review}

We are always looking for apps that are educational as well as fun for our two year old daughter, Rowan.  She's a pretty active toddler, but there are times when she wants nothing more than to sit by me on the couch and play on the iPad.  I don't want her to be a mindless zombie so we are pretty picky about the apps we choose.

I've always liked the Little Critter series of books.  So I was excited when I was asked to review the app, The Trip:  Little Critter Reading Adventure.  While I know there is no substitute for a good book, at this age book apps are the way to go for us.  All the goodness of the book without worry about torn pages or liquids being spilled on the pages!


I love that there are two options.  One is a simple read to your child option that was great for us.  The other is a cute interactive adventure that includes having the story read to your child, flash cards, and pop-up activities.




I really like the interactive features! I think the app is a little advanced for my little one (she's just turned two), but it is recommended to begin at three years. With a little time and patience, I think she will get the hang of it fairly quickly.  This app works great for us to sit down together and "read" the book while doing the different activities together. Which, in my opinion, is how these early learning apps should be used anyway. I can really see older kids enjoying this app as it will definitely hold their attention. It's interactive without being overly busy and distracting.

Overall, I would recommend this app.  I believe we will get much use from it now as well as in the future.

App recommended for ages 3 to 7.  Available in the Apple App store, Google Play store, as a Nook app, and the Amazon Apps for only 99 cents!

*I was asked to review this app.  All opinions are my own.

BISSELL and the Baby

Every parent knows the joys of stepping on a wayward LEGO or little green Army man.  Who knew that such a small little brick could cause so much pain to ones foot.  But who can resist building with them?!  Even at 34, I love to sit down and build a town, a car, a plane with the LEGOS we've collected over the years.

How often have I accidentally vacuumed up a LEGO?  A few times, but more often than not, the brick would get stuck in the brush.  Loudly stuck in the brush.  I've never searched through the bag or, when I went bagless, the receptacle for that rogue brick.  So when I was contacted about trying out a BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo, I was curious.  They said that it was great at picking up those little rogue bricks.  I was skeptical.



It worked!  Later that day my daughter spilled half a cup of her cereal.  I immediately grabbed the BISSELL and swept them right up!  The debris container is easy to remove so clean up was easy!

I've been using it every morning to quickly sweep up my kitchen floor.  It really is a handy tool.  It's lightweight, easy to use, and has a great rechargeable battery.  Our 20 month old loves helping out and sweeping up with it.
Mom's Little Helper from Christine Bewley on Vimeo.
Excuse the messy kitchen (and the oven timer)! At least the floors are clean!

Find out more about BISSELL on their webpage, Facebook, and Twitter.

*I was provided with a sample of this product.  All opinions are my own.

Time to Start Eating Healthy!

And I have the perfect way to start!

I was giddy with excitement when Ashley from Applegate contacted me again! Back in July I had the opportunity to try and then review their Super Natural Beef Hot Dogs.  I was not disappointed.  I'll never eat another brand of hot dog.

But this isn't about hot dogs.  Or beef.  This is about BACON people.  Yummy bacon goodness.  

Applegate's Sunday Bacon was all that I expected it to be.  Hickory smoked with just the right ratio of contents.  Let's begin by what you get with the pork Sunday Bacon.

• Casein Free
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Antibiotic Free (Applegate's family of farms never use antibiotics with their animals!)
• No Nitrites or Nitrates added
• 2 pan fried slices yield about 60 calories
• Ingredients: Pork, Water, Sea Salt and less than 2% of Evaporated Cane Syrup and Celery Powder.

Take another look at those ingredients.  Five.  Five ingredients, all of which we can pronounce.  All of which we know what they are.  I feel you can tell this in the flavor.  Everyone in the house must have felt the same way because I could barely keep it cooked fast enough!

I like to slice the bacon in half because it allows it to cook more evenly.

Now let's take a look at their Natural Turkey Bacon.  I've tried several brands of turkey bacon in the past.  I'm supposed to be on a low cholesterol diet and that just doesn't include bacon, but like most other people, I cheat.  I've been forced to cheat because all the other turkey bacons are quite frankly gross.  The consistency and flavor just isn't comparable.  This is NOT the case with this turkey bacon. 

Let's take a look at what you get with this product.

• Casein Free
• Dairy Free
• Gluten Free
• No Nitrites or Nitrates added
• Antibiotic Free (Applegate's family of farms never use antibiotics with their animals!)
• One slice yields about 35 calories
• Ingredients:  Turkey, Water and contains less than 2% of Sea Salt, Celery Powder, Maple Sugar, Onion Powder, and Spices (cayenne pepper).

Just seven ingredients!  Now I will admit that this isn't pork bacon.  There really is no substitute for that.  HOWEVER, I could definitely see myself eating this turkey bacon on a regular basis.  It has a wonderful flavor and the consistency is more like "regular" bacon.  Everyone agreed that it was better than we expected.  The lone hold out was my 11 year old daughter.  I won't put much behind that though because she's picky, that one is... but still the turkey bacon gets a 4 out of 5 in our house!

Aren't sure if Applegate products are sold in your area? Click here for their store locator. In addition to bacon, Applegate also has hot dogs, sausage, chicken, cold cuts, and cheeses!  I highly encourage you to try out this brand!  You will not be disappointed!

What a great way to start your new year off by eating healthier!  To give you an extra incentive, Applegate is giving three lucky readers free product coupons!  Just enter the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was given a sample of this product for review. All opinions are my own.

A Punch of Flavor

I came across a product that I'd not heard of before, Onion Crunch, and was given an opportunity to try it out.  Onion Crunch is a crispy onion topping for, well... just about anything!  I was happy to see that Onion Crunch contains only four ingredients:  Onion, Palm Oil, Wheat Flour, and Salt.

We've tried it on mashed potatoes, green beans, and pizzas.  All were big hits!  But my favorite is a recipe I found right on their website!  Lately we've been super busy.  Two kids attending middle school that are in all sorts of organizations and play sports means we do a lot of running from here to there.  This also means we don't have much time for elaborate dinner festivities.  Enter a recipe with four ingredients.

Onion Crunchy Chicken

• 2 tbls all-purpose flour
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 egg
• 2 cups Onion Crunch

Crush the onions slightly (or not if you're in a hurry!).  Rinse and pat dry chicken, dip into beaten egg, then place on baking sheet.  Bake in 400 degree oven for 20-25 mins.

Simple, easy peasy recipe.  The Onion Crunch gives the chicken such a good flavor!

Interested in trying some Onion Crunch?  Visit their website for more recipes and use their store locator to find where you can buy their product!  

*I was given a sample of this product for review. All opinions are my own.

Natural + Organic = HOT DOG!

I know what you are thinking.  The same thing I was thinking when I was contacted about giving Applegate Farms hot dogs a try.  I was skeptical.

Like most people, we enjoy grilling.  Burgers and  brats are staple items on our grill.  We don't often purchase hot dogs.  Admittedly, I try not to think about what's actually in them.  'Cause we all know what's really going on inside that hot dog package.

We've been making a real effort to eat better meat.  I've been purchasing locally and humanely raised meats from our local farmer's market.  When I read up on Applegate I was looking forward to trying their product.

Their animals are raised on an all vegetarian diets with no animal by-products, never given antibiotics or growth hormones.  They are humanely raised and allowed to roam the fields of over three hundred small family farms.  Applegate uses minimal processing and use celery and sea salts to preserve their products, never nitrates or nitrites.  The Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dogs are gluten, casein, and dairy free plus are low in carbohydrates.  One dog only has 2 grams of saturated fat!

You have to try these hot dogs!  Their flavor is something I can almost not describe.  No processed greasy feeling while eating these dogs.  The texture was great.  The ingredients list is small and has completely pronounceable words in it.  No added junk.

• Beef
• Water
• Sea Salt
• Paprika
• Dehydrated Onion
• Spices (Black pepper, Coriander, Mace, and Nutmeg)
• Nutmeg Oil
• Celery Powder

That's it and wow... can you really taste it!  I'm so excited to have found a hot dog that tastes excellent and I can feel confident in feeding my children.  

Aren't sure if Applegate products are sold in your area?  Click here for their store locator.  In addition to hot dogs, Applegate also has bacon, sausage, cold cuts, and cheeses!

*I was given a sample of this product for review.  All opinions are my own.

Empower Yourself

{Advance warning - This is a post about sanitary napkins or pads or whatever you want to call them and I WILL be talking about my period.  Just thought I'd give y'all a heads up!}

I was contacted back in March about giving Empower Pads a try.  I was lucky enough to not have a need for them yet as my period had not yet returned since giving birth to Rowan back in July of 2011.  I replied, let them know the details, and said I'd be happy to try their product as soon as I could.

To my surprise, I not only received an encouraging email, but I also received a whole box full of samples!  Three packages of Ultra-Thin Pantiliners (20 ct.), three Ultra-Thin Day Pads (10 ct.), and three Ultra-Thin Night Pads (8 ct.) to try out.  Secretly I hoped it'd be a while because, let's just be honest here, I wasn't really looking forward to having a period again.  I hadn't had to deal with that business since October of 2010.  I wasn't in a hurry to give it a whirl again.

Then BAM! last week out of nowhere... cramps.  I was like, "NOOOOOOO!!!", but I knew it was inevitable.  I'm happy I was able to make it ten months.  I would have been happier to make it a little longer, but what is a girl to do?  Then I remembered that I had some new pads to try.  A tiny little bright spot in the menstrual whirlwind.

Right out of the box I noticed a difference from my regular sanitary napkins.  I think they should definitely be in stores, but they are a bit on the pricey side.  You can order directly from their website here or on Amazon here.

Pros for me:
- Anti-bacterial properties
- Same size, shape as other pads
- I did notice or rather DIDN'T notice any odors.
- Absorbency after first day of cycle (see below) was excellent.
- Cotton-like surface is nice and soft.
- Breathable bottom layer worked nicely.
- Adhesive backing stayed put well.
- Wings have large adhesive area and help keep pad in place.

Cons for me:
- At the beginning of my period, I had/have a heavier flow.  I almost encountered a leak with the daytime pad, but was able to avert disaster by just getting to the bathroom in time.  The pads didn't absorb quickly enough to keep up with my flow.  (Again I should mention that this is my first period since giving birth ten months ago.  Next months flow may be entirely different.)
- Made in China.  However from doing a bit of research, most menstrual products aren't made in the US which is great for the women of the country that they ARE made in, but not for me.
- Excessive packaging.  This is both a plus and a minus.  I like the fact that each pad is sealed well and is completely blocked from outside contaminates, but that's a lot of trash going into a landfill somewhere and I've never had an issue with other products being contaminated by an outside germ.


The Anion strip is said to help relieve cramps, decrease bloating, and increase energy.  I didn't notice any of these things in my experience.  I had the same level of cramps that I remember having months ago.  I'm still battling a post-baby belly so it may actually help with bloating, but I feel bloated all the time anyway!

Bottom line:
I would probably use these products again.  In fact, I will.  We only use products like this for a few short days every month.  What we use for those few days makes a difference.  I'd like to know that the product I'm using might give me extra benefits.  I think it's worth trying.  Visit Empower Pads at their site or on Facebook to learn more about this product.


I was provided a complimentary package of product in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  No other compensation was made.  All opinions are my own.

Sibu Beauty Review

I was recently given an opportunity to try out a product that I was unfamiliar with, Sibu Beauty's Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser.

I must admit that I'm usually pretty lax when it comes to washing my face daily.  I don't wear makeup very often and find that I just skip the whole face routine more often than I should.  I'm in my early 30's though and need to get a regular skin care routine started.  With that being said, I have found where I'm going to start!

Sibu products are made using sea buckthorn, a berry from Tibet.  Sea buckthorn is full of anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins.  It's also paraben and sulfate free.

The bottle states to "apply a generous amount of the balancing facial cleanser to moistened hands".  To start, I used three pumps because that is what is required with my other cleanser.  Whoa!  That was way too much.  I found that only one pump is enough to wash your whole face.  Making it economical as well because you don't have to use much to see results!

The first thing I noticed was the wonderful smell.  A very citrus-y and awakening aroma.  I found I looked forward to the routine of washing my face every morning because the smell felt bright and eye opening.

After a full week of use, I can definitely see and feel the difference.  My skin feels smoother and looks brighter. The micro-particles offer a gentle exfoliation and I noticed a more evenness in my skin.

What to know more?  You can find Sibu Beauty products here, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

*This post was sponsored by Sibu Beauty.  A free sample of the product was provided.  All opinions are my own.

I Covet the Bella

No, not THAT Bella.  The Tiny Tush Bella print!

I told y'all in my first ever diaper review that Charlene is awesome sauce with a cherry on top, but she really is on top of her business.  Not to mention an all around good person.  I want to bake her cookies and give her a big hug.

She read my review and noticed my "funky bubble".  She said it was a flaw with a temporary PUL supplier. I was only the second person in 11 years to have this problem!!  Talk about a great product!  I wish I could say I only had two problems in 11 years with other things I have around the house!  She wanted to switch out my funky bubble for the beautiful Bella!

I haven't tried it out yet because I just got it today, but I had to gush over it.  It really is a beautiful print.  The colors are perfect, bright yet subtle.  And soft? Oh it's so soft!  I am so excited to try this one out!  Head over to Tiny Tush to get your Bella or Bubbles, Camo or Bots, or one (or more) of the 13 other solid colors available.  I promise you that you will not be disappointed with one of these diapers!

Wipe On, Wipe Off

When I got my Perfect Wipes, my first reaction was, "Ewww! No way I am going to wipe poop with that!"  We began using them as spit wipes instead.  Some where along the line though, I decided to give it a whirl.  Probably because I realized that I was using about a gajillion disposable wipes per poopy diaper.  Wipe, fold, wipe, fold. Repeat.  It dawned on me that I was being a bit ridiculous.  All about the cloth diapers and the impact on the planet, but I was still throwing away wipe after wipe after wipe.  

One day I had just had enough so I grabbed a cloth wipe.  Not knowing a thing about cloth wipe solutions, I just wet it with some warm water.  Wowza!  I used ONE wipe and all the poo was gone.  I had noticed when using disposable wipes that Rowan's bootay would look a bit stained.  No matter how many wipes I used, she would still have a yellow tint to her behind.  I always felt like she was not getting clean.  Not an issue when using the cloth wipes!  I think that she is getting much cleaner now.  

Staining of the bootay was not the only staining issue.  Since the wipes are white I did have to sun them often to keep the stains at bay.  (That Sun!  Got to love it!)  So when I ran across an 18 pk of wash cloths at Wal-Mart for only $4 in these mix of wonderful Autumn colors and white, I had to buy some.  Great inexpensive way of masking those poo stains!  The yellow ones are almost hard to use though because they match the mustard-y color of Rowan's poo's so well that I cannot always tell if I am using the "clean" side!             

I still use disposables periodically at home and, of course, when we are out.  Just like my first worries about using cloth diapers, my fears of using cloth wipes were un-necessary.  I think I may look into making some cloth wipe solutions.  This site has tons of different solutions to make yourself.  I would really like to try the Chamomile 'N Honey solution because it doesn't have any oils so I can still wash my wipes right along with my diapers.  Here's the recipe:  for every cup of boiling water, brew one chamomile tea bag, and add a teaspoon of honey.  Sounds easy, right?  I've many different ways to add solutions to your wipes.  Some reuse an old disposable container, some just pour on the wipes as needed, and I read of filling a peri-bottle with the solution.  I saved my peri-bottle from the hospital for some reason and now I have an actual use for it!

How many cloth wipe users are out there?  Do you have any tips or tricks for your wipes?

Tiny Tush Review

My first cloth diaper purchase was six Tiny Tush Elite diapers.  First selling point that got me was they are made in the US.  Second point... at the time, they were having a sale so I jumped on it!  Buy 5 diapers, get one diaper free plus a bonus 12 pk. of Perfect Wipes.  I decided to get all white for the color.  On hindsight, what the heck was I thinking?  Well, I'll tell you what I was thinking at the time.  I wanted her cloth diapers to be all matchy-matchy with her clothes so I figured if I got all her diapers in white I'd be good to go.  Ugh... I shouldn't have listened to myself.  Tiny Tush diapers come in so many colors!  I could kick myself for only getting white.  I covet the Bella print, but I'll have to sneak that one when the hubs isn't looking!  Anyway, moving on...

This is our current setting.

Right out of the box, I was impressed.  Not only did I get my 6 diapers, I received my pack of Perfect Wipes, but I also got 3 hemp wipes too!  A bonus on top of a bonus!  After pulling all of my goodies out of the box, I grabbed the receipt from the bottom of the box.  What did I see on it?  A hand written thank you from Charlene herself!  Instant wow factor.  I'm sure she does this will all orders, but it felt personal and I appreciated that attention to detail.

See?!  Awesomeness!

The shell of these diapers are made with a waterproof PUL on the exterior and a polyester micro-fleece on the inside.  There are four sizes available for the rise with the snap down systems.  I have the "original" Elite diapers, but now Charlene has made a few improvements and the Elite 1.1 is available.  The new Elite's have color coordinated snaps and a crossover snap on the tabs.  The website says they are designed to fit babies 7-35lbs.**, but I'll be honest and say (for us) it was more around 10 lbs. that Rowan began to fit in them.  (Now they have the cutest, teeny tiniest Elite Mini for babies 4-15lbs.!)

This is fastened at the largest setting.

Inside view.

Love this feature!  You can tuck the insert under here and no mess!

Outside view

Snaps

Snap flaps... ha!

These are my absolute go-to diapers for nighttime.  They are roomy without being too bulky and give lots of room for me to be able to double up Rowan's inserts.

All in all they have been and continue to be some great diapers.  I did notice a little separation of the laminate from the fabric on ONE diaper.  One.  Out of six, that are in constant rotation on a nightly basis.  For the last 4.5 months.

I only add this because in the interest of full disclosure I don't want to leave anything out.  HOWEVER, I do want to point out that this had been a NON-ISSUE when it comes to waterproof-ness.  We've had no leaks due to this and since it's only 1 out of the 6 I purchased I figure it's just a fluke and go on using it anyway.

You can find all of the Tiny Tush products here.  They are also on Facebook, Twitter, and on their blog.

**As a side note, most one-size diapers claim the 7-35lbs. range and most would be better saying 10-35lbs.**

*All opinions are my own.