Moana Saves RAVE: Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter

Once in a while we come across a product that deserves another shout out.

Thus, a Moana Saves RAVE.

As in, not just good, or great, but we really do want to rave about you!

And, this time, it’s Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter. 

 I posted a review HERE about a month ago, 

and it really is something worth indulging in. 

It's quite addicting, and it's good for you! 

You can't beat that! 

Organic coconut and peanuts combined into a spread that is just lovely. 

I've had numerous recipes floating around in my head that I could create using this unique and fun find!

Congratulations to Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter for reaching RAVE status here at Moana Saves!

Check out recipes on their webisite HERE, 

and gosh-by-golly go get yourself some HERE!

(be prepared to bookmark the page, because you'll probably be back!)

*I was not paid, nor did I recieve extra product to write this rave. We don't rave about something unless it really is worth raving about!

Custom Choice Cereal Review and Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

What an incredible IDEA, a gluten-free cereal you create...BRILLIANT! When I was given the chance to try a gluten-free cereal from Custom Choice Cereal, we were thrilled. We had a delightful time creating the cereal online, starting with a corn flake base or a granola base & then adding fruit or nuts of even chocolate chips. It was very exciting & we even got to name it: Tropical Sunrise Cereal.

Here is some info from the Custom Choice Cereal website:

Through our easy-to-navigate website, everyone can design their perfect cereal with only the ingredients they love. Design your personal mix from over 2.5 billion combination possibilities and watch a nutrition label update instantaneously as you add ingredients to your perfect cereal.  We help you to have the perfect start into your gluten-free day without compromise on taste - Enjoy Your Gluten Freedom!

All cereal and ingredients are stored in a dedicated gluten-free facility and carefully hand-mixed before we ship them conveniently to your doorstep.

The cereal came in a 12oz re-sealable package, with a cute label showing your chosen name. Gluten-intolerant Hubby was delighted to see the cereal & couldn’t wait to try it out, even at 3 pm. Pouring as much as he could in his large bowl, he devoured it. This is what he said about Custom Choice Cereal: “The texture of the flakes were much better than expected, especially being gluten free. I enjoyed the cereal so much I ate the whole bag in one sitting, I couldn’t get enough.” He doesn’t get to have cereal very often.

The delightful time creating the cereal, the excitement of receiving cereal in the mail & the enjoyment of eating the cereal--overall it was a FABULOUS experience. For the cost I am just too cheap to purchase this on a regular basis, but I can definitely see myself ordering this for special occasions or my hubby's birthday.

FIVE FABULOUS POINTS

*Fun experience Creating Cereal

*Package delivered to home & was adorable with own Custom Name

*GREAT Quality of Cereal

*Good amount of add-ins. Some in every Bite!

*Very YUMMY

SHOP: To order your custom cereal go HERE.

WIN: The folks at Custom Choice Cereal are giving one lucky Moana Saves reader an opportunity to create a custom cereal of her/his own! To earn a mandatory entry in the Custom Choice Cereal giveaway, leave a comment below telling us what your favorite cereal add-in is. 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow Custom Choice Cereal on Twitter.
5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win your own gluten-free custom cereal from @customcereal and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/14 http://bit.ly/e5QlmA
6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

8. Like the Custom Choice Cereal Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Monday, 3/14/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Gorton's Seafood Review

My parents, the ones whom I thought would never grow old, are old enough to be a part of the 'multiple tablets a day' generation. Included in their daily regimen are fish oil tablets. Unfortunately, these tablets are not a favorite as they are large and tend to leave a bad taste in your mouth. When I asked my dad why he takes these he explained that his cholesterol levels were borderline dangerous and his doctor gave him the choice to either take more medication or eat more fish. This is where Gorton's comes in! Why not eat fish for your health (not icky tablets) and enjoy your time doing so!

Seafood is a natural source of two healthy omega-3 fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Studies show that a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids may have one or more of the following benefits:  (this information is from a flier I received from Gorton's Seafood)

• Decrease blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels
• Improve arthritis and joint pain
• Lessen symptoms of depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Support eye health
• Enhance brain growth and development
• Aid brain growth in unborn babies, infants and kids
• Decrease the risk for certain cancers
• Reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
• Promote heart health

Who wouldn't want all of those benefits?  The American Heart Association recommends that we eat fish at least two times per week.  Gorton's offers a range of healthy seafood options, including all-natural grilled fillets, tilapia and salmon fillets. Their website is very useful as you can view each product they sell, download coupons, find recipes and even read the nutrition facts for each product.

My family and I really enjoyed our taste of Gorton's. The seafood tasted fresh and definitely flavorful. My husband liked the Shrimp Risotto I made from shrimp scampi while my very picky toddler went crazy over the popcorn shrimp. My personal favorite was making a fish wrap with lettuce or cabbage coleslaw and tarter sauce. I've made all sorts of homemade tarter sauces from a more gourmet recipe that includes plain yogurt and dill to a simple kid-friendly mayonnaise and relish sauce. Below is the recipe for a 'made in 5 minutes' kid-friendly tarter sauce that includes ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It's easy to whip up and children love it!

Kid-Friendly Tarter Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet relish
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and serve!


The recipe next on my list to try is Down Home on the Ranch Fish Canoes. The Gorton's site has so many recipe options to choose from! Be sure to visit your local grocer and pick up your own package of Gorton's seafood, trusted since 1849.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a product sample to facilitate the original review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

InstantPeel Review

I used to be very aware of how my face felt & I took extra care of it each morning & night. But with each child I had, my morning & night routine got shorter and sometime didn't happen at all.  I haven't had the chance to really search out a good face exfoliator, so when given this opportunity to try INSTANT PEEL, I was more than willing.

Some info from the InstantPeel website about the product:

Peel and Reveal with the Natural Exfoliator

InstantPeel^TM naturally and gently peels away dead skin cells, debris and impurities to reveal skin's true vibrancy. InstantPeel isn't a facial scrub. The gentle action comes from InstantPeel's unique combination of proteins and enzymes, and is proven safe for even the most sensitive skin. InstantPeel is a natural exfoliator and an effective alternative to facial scrubs, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, which can cause irritation. You can't overuse InstantPeel. Once the dead skin and debris are peeled away, InstantPeel stops working, revealing a youthful glow.
Using the InstantPeel the first time I saw IMMEDIATE results. The product worked just as described; I rubbed the dead skin off & my skin felt softer. I have family members who have had chemical peels--through the pain they got a younger looking skin. I was hoping that as I got older I would find an alternative to the abrasive route.  InstantPeel can give you that result without the irritation. What a Find!

 You can buy InstaPeel here.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Winners, Winners . . .

Some winners to post today:

For the King Arthur Flour Pizza Party, the winner is lucky #27, Laura!

For the Five Little Bunnies Read & Sing Along Die-Cut Book, the winner is lucky #26, debijackson!

For the Carolina Pad Organization Products giveaway, the winner is lucky #141, Sherry!

And, finally, our MS Paypal giveaway winner is lucky #50, xmd5!

winners, check your inbox for my email!

Review and Giveaway of the Dot Girl First Period Kit

Sponsored by Tomoson.com As a woman in my early forties, I’ve come to realize that most women have “war stories”—the kind of suffering we went through having children, what nursing was like, etc.  Sometimes even the stories of the first time we got our periods are war stories.  I remember sitting through a girls-only class about our developing bodies in the fifth grade, becoming intensely curious about menstruation and then window shopping at Thrifty’s for feminine hygiene products.  My actual period didn’t come until the summer when, to my horror, it showed up while I was at 4-H camp.  Thank goodness my mom had come with us that year.  I really needed her to help me deal with the reality of my first period.  Because I remember my intense feelings at the time, I prepared First Born for getting hers.  Several times--including a few talks over girls-only shopping trips.  I was nervous about it and felt completely cheated as a mom when she went on an overnight field trip and got it without me there.  Because I’d talked to her, however, her experience was very matter-of-fact.  She knew it was coming.  It was just a matter of when.

The Dot Girl First Period Kit prepares a girl in the same way.  It contains everything a girl needs to prepare for that landmark moment when she becomes a woman and it does it in a way that nurtures and comforts her.  To begin with, it comes in an adorable (yet-under-the-radar) pink pouch so a girl feels special.  Some info from the site about what’s inside the pouch: The kit includes The Dot Girl Period Answer Book® which answers twenty common questions about menstruation including: How many days will I bleed? When will I get my first period? How do I track my period? What about cramps? What is a period anyway?  Written in an easy-to-read and positive tone, it covers the basics of menstruation in one compact booklet.  It fits neatly inside the reusable case so girls can refer to it over and over again.  Included also are five feminine pads and five disposal bags, and the Dot Girl Warm Pad, a reusable gel heating pad that everyone loves so much for soothing cramps.  Two hand wipes complete the kit ensuring girls that they'll be prepared in any situation.

What a cool gift for a girl to celebrate the changes she’s going through!  I’m not the only one who thinks so: the Dot Girl First Period Kit® is a Mom's Choice Awards® Gold Recipient.  I showed the kit to Second Born who just turned nine and is not developing yet.  She had no interest in it.  As a mom, I’m incredibly relieved to have the kit in the house so that when she does ask, I can take it out and we’ll read the Answer Book and go through the items in the pouch.  The Dot Girl First Period Kit is a tool to make a girl feel special and loved through this transition.  It effectively transforms this time from a “war story” to celebrated milestone and doesn’t every girl deserve that?

The folks at Dot Girl Products are giving one lucky Moana Saves reader a Dot Girl First Period Kit for the special girl in her life.  To earn a mandatory entry in the Dot Girl First Period Kit, head to over to their Facebook page and become a fan then leave a comment hear saying you’ve done so. 
To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow Dot Girl Moms on Twitter.
5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a Dot Girl First Period kit for the special girl in your life from & @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/12 http://bit.ly/hHJbXT

6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Saturday, 3/12/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Purely Pleasures Face & Body Scrub Giftset GIVEAWAY

The fabulous folks at Purely Pleasures are offering a second giveaway to one lucky Moana Saves reader. But this time, the prize package is their luxurious Face & Body Scrub Giftset (pictured), which will include the following:

• One 4 oz. jar - Oat Face Polish
• One 4 oz. jar - Sea Salt Body Scrub
• One 4 oz. jar - Sugar Body Polish

The winner will get to customize each of their scrubs with up to 2 added pleasures. You can read my review of the aforementioned products here.

To earn a mandatory entry in the Purely Pleasures giveaway, head to their website and subscribe to the newsletter on the Purely Pleasures Giveaways page (plus you'll get the scoops on their products and sales!).

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

4. Follow Purely Pleasures on Twitter.

5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win all natural face and body scrubs from @purelypleasures & @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/31 http://bit.ly/eH5FFE

6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).

7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

8. Like the Purely Pleasures Facebook page.

9. Subscribe to the Purely Pleasures Youtube channel.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Thursday, 3/31/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

Aloha Friday #175

from Kailani's blog:

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too.

Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

I'm in the mood for some self love and I think you should be, too.  Tell me one thing you love about yourself.  It can be a physical attribute or a personality trait. Go.

Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name by Timothy Battle: A Book Review and Giveaway

Mr. Bo's arrival could not have been more timely. A couple days before receiving a copy of this book, my 7 year-old and I were discussing adoption and what that means. She had just watched a program with my husband in which a young boy from Brazil was adopted when he was an orphan baby by an American family and thereby afforded a more opportune life. We have several stray cats in our neighborhood, but I hadn't even thought of applying this principle to animals until we read Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name. The book is told through the eyes of Mr. Bo (aka Linus), a stray cat awaiting adoption. He faces rejection and despair, yet remains positive and strong in the face of adversity, sure that his dreams will come true -- invaluable life lessons I hope my daughter will emulate in her own life. My daughter was happy to read that Linus was adopted and given a new home and a fun new name - Mr. Bo.

She was even happier when I told her that this was a true story. She is now much more concerned about the stray cats in our neighborhood and is determined to help them all find a better, more comfortable life. I just love when books influence my children to do better and be better. Hooray for Mr. Bo (pictured right)!

This paperback, published by Tate Publishing, is a fun, inspiring read for your first or second grader and is available at mrbobooks.com, as well as other bookstores and Amazon.com. The book also comes with a free audio book digital download for listening pleasure! 

SHOP: Head over to the mrbobooks website to purchase an autographed copy of the book or watch a brief video about mr. bo!

WIN: The author of Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and New Name is offering one Moana Saves reader their very own signed copy of the book!  To enter, "like" the MrBoBooks Facebook page so you can get all the latest updates about Mr Bo!

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do: 
 
1. Become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect in the sidebar.  
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar). 
4. Follow Mr Bo on Twitter.
5. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
6. Tweet (once a day max): #Win a signed Mr Bo book from @mrbobooks and @moanasaves ends 3/12 http://bit.ly/hKDJbF
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Friday, 3/12/11 HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

This post was written for Family Review Network & Mr. Bo who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

February Coupons about to Expire

These Coupons.com coupons may no longer be available by the end of this month. Some may come back. Some won't. This may be their last chance to print some of these. They could be removed anytime between now and March 1st. Get 'em while you can!

• $0.50 off 3 pkg or 1 BUNDLE PACK of KLEENEX
• $1.00 off on any size Truvia™ natural sweetener
• Free Portrait Package & 50% OFF
• $3.00 off on any K-Y Brand Product
• $1.00 off 1 Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
• $1.00 off Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner
• $0.50 off Chex Mix OR Chex 100 Calorie Snack
• $1.50 off Wanchai Ferry Frozen Entrée
• $0.50 off Fiber One Chewy Bars 90 Calorie Bars
• $0.40 off Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
• $0.50 off Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
• $0.75 off Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal
• Buy One Get One Free single Greenies Dental Chew

King Arthur Flour - Review and Giveaway for National Pancake Week

How many of you are on Twitter? Confession: I'm a little slow jumping on that bandwagon...until now! I've joined Twitter. Woah! What a new and confusing world of social networking. The good news is that now I'm more aware of what all my favorites are up to including my all time favorite flour company, King Arthur Flour. This weekend I saw a tweet from KAF saying it's National Pancake Week. Well that was a good enough reason as any to pull out the white whole wheat flour sent to me by King Arthur and whip up some pancakes for my family.

The link that KAF tweeted took me to their Pancakes with Panache post where I read that malted milk powder is one of their secret pancake ingredients. I have got to get my hands on some of that malt! (It looks tasty as well.) 

The recipe I used for our pancakes was KAF's Homemade Whole-Grain Pancakes.  This whole-grain recipe is great because: a) it includes whole wheat flour and oats, two grains in one sweet breakfast treat and b) you can mix the dry ingredients ahead of time, store them in an air-tight container and use when you're ready for a healthier pancake mix. My only addition with this first batch of whole-grain pancakes was 2-3 over-ripe bananas that I mashed to a runnier consistency and added to the wet ingredients. The resulting pancake had a light consistency with a delicious nutty taste.

SHOP: Purchase your own white whole wheat flour and other products HERE.

WIN: King Arthur Flour is offering one Moana Saves reader their very own 5 pound package of white whole wheat flour!  To enter just answer this question: "What is your favorite breakfast food?"

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do: 
1. Become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect in the sidebar.  
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar). 
4. Follow King Arthur Flour on Twitter. 
5. Like King Arthur on Facebook.
6. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
7. Sign up for special offers through King Arthur's e-newsletter (bottom right of page)
8. Join King Arthur's new online community, The Baking Circle

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on 3/10/11 HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this giveaway although I did receive samples of products to facilitate the original review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

Motherlove Breastmilk Supplements: A Review

I wish I were a superhero.

Specifically “Cowman” Otis (from “Back at the Barnyard”), except maybe minus the cow part.  All he had to do was shout “Super-Lacto powers, LACTIVATE!” and out would come a generous flow of milk, which he could use as he saw fit, you know, to put out a fire or whatever. (I know, a male cow with udders? Really?)

When you’ve just had a baby, are a million hours behind in sleep and you don’t know what day it is, you find these things hilarious.  Anyway, being that I am NOT a superhero (or a cow for that matter), and my milk doesn’t come in with a simple command to lactate, this time around, I’m taking supplements.  Motherlove Breastmilk Supplements to be exact.

I always get to a point after my milk comes in when it starts to wane.  I’m chasing 5 kids, and many times I’m too tired or too stressed and my milk decreases. In order to keep my milk flow, I have to eat like a horse (or a cow... as it would seem).  I also hate taking anything while I am pregnant or nursing because I know that whatever I eat or take, goes into my breastmilk.  However, Motherlove Supplements are 100% vegetarian, all organic herbal supplements that I feel comfortable taking.

I was recommended and sent More Milk Plus to try, and I have been very pleased with the results. I take one capsule up to 4 times a day, and it really has helped my milk stay in strong. More Milk Plus contains fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle, and fennel seed, all known to help with the production of breastmilk.

Motherlove has over 10 different organic herbal supplement formulas to meet the needs of all kinds of nursing moms.

I am also very impressed with the fact that they work incredibly hard to be sure that each bottle they manufacture can be tracked, and that all of the ingredients inside are certified organic, tested for bacteria, and all herbs are checked for color, smell, and strength before they are approved for use. All product package and office materials are made from recycled materials.

Over 10% of all Motherlove profits are donated to organizations like The Maternal Wellness Center, Realities for Children, and The Mountain Park Environmental Center. They are also certified by unbiased third party organizations such as USDA, OTCO, Kof-K (certified Kosher), PETA (cruelty-free), among others.  Their goal is to be a better business example in being green, and they are filling the role well!

To purchase Motherlove products, including breastmilk supplements, oils, salves, sitz baths, nipple cream, etc. go HERE.

*I was not paid to write this review, but I was given a bottle of Motherlove More Milk Plus supplements so I could take them and be all that much closer to being a nursing superhero.

Winner for the Couponizer

Here's me trying to keep up with drawing winners for MS giveaways.  So far, so good!  The randomizer picked lucky #24, Cathy W., as the winner of the Couponizer!  Congrats, Cathy! Watch for my email!

Pambra's Nursing Pads: A Review

Nursing a baby is the one time in my life where my very small B size cups graduate up to full D’s.

It’s a proud moment…

Until I look down and realize that they are highlighted by patches of breast milk that has haphazardly escaped and formed big round splotches on the front of my shirt.  All it takes is a baby crying in the grocery store from 6 aisles over, and BAM.  Then I wish they would shrink down to size A’s, and I could run and hide.

Enter: nursing pads. A necessity for most any nursing mom, and there are so, so many choices.  I have used reusable nursing pads before, but none like Pambra’s.  Pambra’s Reusable Nursing Pads are made of cotton and are a full 6” in diameter. They are comfortable, don’t have lint that sometimes can cause the pad to stick to tender breasts, and because of the size, they don’t move around! (Hallelujah!)

As with any liner, I suggest wearing them with a shaped bra like THIS ONE, and if your milk flow is like mine this time around (thanks to THESE), you may need to double them up.

Pambra's reusable nursing pads are great! I love that they are green (you aren’t producing any waste), and you don’t have to fumble with packaging to get a clean one. You simply throw them in the wash with your next load of laundry, and they are small enough; it’s not going to change the amount of water and soap you use. Talk about saving in more ways than one!

Pambra's is also a proud sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure/Ozark, and with every purchase, they give back.  Pambra’s Nursing Pads are sold in sets of 5 and can be found HERE.

*I was not paid to write this review, but was provided with Pambra’s Nursing Pads to try so I could review them and save you from the afore mentioned scenario in the grocery store.

Review and Giveaway of RelaxZen Day and Night Shots

I have a confession to make: I’m a diet Pepsi-aholic.  To keep everything going, I’m multi-tasking nearly every waking minute of my life and, whether it offers a physiological sense of comfort or a placebo, the DP is what I need to get through most days.  After hearing some good online buzz about RelaxZen shots, I was curious to try them!  Maybe this could be my new liquid crack diet Pepsi!

Here’s some info from the website about RelaxZen shots:
RelaxZen DAY is formulated with the highest quality ingredients to relax you, yet keep you focused and on-task during your day. While other relaxation shots can make you feel drowsy, sleepy, and emotionally distant, RelaxZen DAY eases everyday anxiety and stress while allowing you to stay at the top of your game. RelaxZen NIGHT was crafted to allow people to fall asleep quickly and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle their day. RelaxZen NIGHT is designed for people who often have difficulty falling asleep to help de-stress their minds, increase their focus and balance their mood. For more information about RelaxZen, visit http://relaxzenshots.com.

About RelaxZen Day
Some of the benefits of RelaxZen Day: Reduces stress and fatigue, increases focus and alertness, balance mood and enhances productivity.
My big question was what ingredients are included in the Day shot and the list includes L-Theanine, L-Threonine, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, GABA, Passion Flower Extract and Acai Extract. (sounds much better than caramel coloring, carbonated water and caffeine!)
My opinion of RelaxZen Day: This shot is supposed to be relaxing without being tiring and supposed to help with concentration and alertness.  I didn’t feel a difference with the Day formula—maybe a slightly improved mood.  I realize that this may be due to my DP addiction preference but I was as productive and busy as I usually am at work and at home.   I enjoyed the fruity flavor of the shot!

About RelaxZen Night
The benefits and ingredients for RelaxZen Night are the same as what is listed on the site for RelaxZen Day except for the ingredient additions of Chamomile Extract and Pantothentic Acid (Vitamin B-5).
My opinion of RelaxZen Night: This shot was incredibly effective.  It made me sleep well.  I recommend taking it an hour before you go to bed or you may end up feeling tired in the morning.  The berry flavor was great—non-carbonated and tasted like juice!

Since I only got one sample each of RelaxZen Day and RelaxZen Night, my experiences are not conclusive.  I was impressed by how well the Night shot worked and both shots taste yummy enough that I wouldn’t mind experimenting with them for a week or two to see if my long-term mood and energy are improved with them.  At the very least, they taste *way* better than some other energy drinks I’ve tried and I know they would provide a healthy alternative to the hooch DP.

SHOP: You can buy RelaxZen Day and Night shots here. For 10% off, plus FREE shipping on an RelaxZen product, you can use the code SMILE at checkout.  Also, on the Facebook page for RelaxZen, click on the sweepstakes tab to enter to win RelaxZen products for a year.  This will include 24 (12 count) boxes of RelaxZen products!

WIN: You can win a set of RelaxZen Day and Night shots for yourself to try!  The folks at Smile.ly are giving 3 sets of RelaxZen Day and Night shots to 3 lucky Moana Saves readers!
To earn a mandatory entry in the RelaxZen Day and Night, become a Google Connect Follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar) and leave a comment saying you are.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Tuesday, 3/8/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive free samples of RelaxZen Night and Day shots from Smile.ly.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

Whoops! Forgot one winner . . .

For the SnackTAXI giveaway, lucky #17, Cathy W. is the winner!

Cathy, watch your inbox for my email!

Finally more winners!

For the Thera-breath dental pack giveaway, we have three winners!  The first is lucky #9, ElizaBeth!

The second winner is lucky #2, Alice H.! 

And the last winner for the Thera-Breath giveaway is lucky #21, Keely!









The next winner to announce is for the 20 page Mixbook.  Lucky #13, Ricki!

Next there are the Vlasic free product winners.  Lucky #15, Yona Williams, is the first Vlasic winner!

Vlasic #2 winner is lucky #12, Jessyca!

And our final Vlasic winner is lucky #38, Laura!

 Congrats to everyone and watch your inbox, Moana Saves winners!

Purely Pleasures: Natural Comforts & Cosmetics - A Review

Purely Pleasures can best be defined by a portion of their mission statement:

"Combine one girl's love for beauty with another girl's interest in natural living, and you get Purely Pleasures: Natural Comforts & Cosmetics. We are dedicated not only to providing our customers with quality products at significantly reduced prices, but also 100% natural products that truly heal, soothe and transform for truly luxurious pampering and beauty. We believe that beauty begins with health."

After reviewing several of their products, I wholeheartedly agree with the above statement. Knowing that their products are 100% natural is one thing, but actually feeling their natural goodness is even better! There are no synthetic preservatives, dyes or chemicals and most products are 100% vegan! Okay, now to the goods... I received the following products (all pictured) to review:

• Oat Face Scrub: I have tried many different types of facial cleansers/scrubs and more often than not, these products really dry out my already very dry skin. Not so with the oat face scrub! I love this stuff. It leaves my face smooth and feeling so fresh! It really does "polish away dry, dull skin and reveal a smooth and soft complexion...." One night I even forgot to apply my moisturizer, which doesn't happen too often because I can FEEL my skin cracking when I do forget, and my skin was fine.
• Polishing Sugar Scrub (Raw Honey & Poppy Seed): This is for daily use "to polish and keep your skin as soft as silk." Applying this stuff was a little distracting because it smelled sooo good, I kind of had the urge to bite my shoulder mid-shower. After rinsing the scrub off, I did feel like I still had an oily/honey-ish coat still on me, so I simply washed off with soap/body cleanser. When I stepped out of the shower I couldn't believe how luxurious my skin felt. It felt so hydrated, moisturized, delectable. I love that you can customize your scrubs with various "added pleasures" they have available, like honey and poppy seed in my sugar scrub.
• Exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub (Rose & Chamomile): This is for weekly use (deep exfoliation). You can feel this stuff working to rid your body of dull, dead skin. After using, this too left an oily coat, so I also washed off with soap afterward. At first, I was discouraged by the oiliness, but have now realized that this is the key to my skin feeling so vibrant and wonderfully moisturized post-shower. Other scrubs I've used make my skin feel clean, but extremely dry as well, unlike these Purely Pleasures scrubs. And, I know these oils are all-natural, not harmful chemicals that are bad for my body.
• Lip Lush Organic Hydrating Balm (Peppermint): LOVE! I'm a lip balm/moisturizing freak, so I was so excited about this. It has a cool, soothing peppermint tingle while working its hydrating magic.
• Bath Powder (Ground Orange Peel): Unfortunately, I have no tub to soak in, but I'm sure it's as wonderful as the rest of the Purely Pleasures products.
• and my FAVORITE... Mineral Eyeshadows in the following colors: Evil Queen, Emerald City, Stardust, Ancient Orchid, and Stormy Skies: I love makeup and these mineral pigments did not disappoint. The colors are so vibrant and fun and provide great coverage. And, there is no creasing or fading. I really liked the versatility of the eyeshadow -- I could tone down the eyeshadow for a day at work (Stormy Skies pictured right) or really glam it up for a night out with the hubby! You can also use it dry (normal eyeshadow wear) or wet (for eyeliner and a really dramatic effect).

Overall, I was very happy with the Purely Pleasures products. They have even more products on their website--from sugar waxes to finishing veils--and everything is so affordable! Affordable, luxurious, natural, refreshing, glamorous!! If nothing else, you have to check out their mineral pigments (eyeshadows) because if you don't see a color you love at first sight, you can create your own custom color here!!! After you're satisfied with the color, you get to name it yourself and they will feature it in a special spotlight section of their website. How cool is that?

Shop
You can shop for affordable, luscious Purely Pleasures products HERE.

Win
One lucky Moana Saves reader will win a Purely Pleasures prize pack! Up for grabs are 5 full size Purely Pleasures mineral eye shadow jars (winner will choose their colors), one mineral eye shadow brush, one mineral eye liner brush, and one organic Lip Lush (winner will choose either peppermint or original).  This giveaway is valued at $25.50.

To earn a mandatory entry in the Purely Pleasures giveaway, head to their website and subscribe to the newsletter on the Purely Pleasures Giveaways page (plus you'll get the scoops on their products and sales!).

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter. 

4. Follow Purely Pleasures on Twitter.

5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win all natural mineral eye makeup, blushes & lip balm from @purelypleasures & @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/7 http://bit.ly/gV4Emi

 

6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).

7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

8. Like the Purely Pleasures Facebook page.

9.  Subscribe to the Purely Pleasures Youtube channel.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Monday, 3/7/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a product sample to facilitate the original review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

Reviewing the Reader #2

As in what have I read in Google Reader recently?  When I'm stuck somewhere with time to kill, I open Google Reader on my Evo and devour blogs.  I subscribe to a wide variety--from frugal living/budgeting hacks to up-close-and-personal peeps I know.  Here are some great blog posts in no particular order:

Plan the Blog;  Blog the Plan / Pro Blogger
Is it already time to revisit New Year's resolutions and check your progress?  If you want to succeed, it is!  Blogging is a dynamic venue where its easy to see how far you've come--most enjoyable if you set goals along the way--

3 Children's Movies that Made Me Weep / Life as Mommy
This is a blog that draws me in for the recipes and meal plans.  Then I end up staying for more.  Like this movies list.  I've only seen one of them--and it didn't make me weep.  But I enjoyed this list! (and stayed to read Create Easy Meals that Share Ingredients.)

Basket of Organizing Love Giveaway / Organizing Junkie
This looks like a fun giveaway! (Linds, this is for you, hon!) Go for the organizing love, people!

What's the Deal with Open Source? / Lifehacker
Lifehacker to my rescue as usual.  And an astute explanation complete with innovative use of non-sexist pronouns!  Which of course led me to stay and read Silent Time Automatically Silences Your Android Phone Based on the Time of Day.  And download the app.

I joined Weight Watchers / Annette Funnyjello
This is my round-about way of saying I've joined WW this year as well.  I'm on my fourth (but first deadly-serious-about-following-the-plan) week.  Wish me, Annette Funnyjello and her BFF some luck!

What interesting blogs do you subscribe to?  Any great blog entries?  Leave a comment and talk up what's in your reader!  Peace out--

Bravo for Bravado! A Nursing Bra Review

This is definitely not your grandma’s nursing bra!

The first thing I noticed when I opened the Bravado! box was how pretty and stylish the nursing bra was. The Bravado! Bliss Nursing Bra has a silky satin finish, with small embellishments (nothing over the top) in the center front and on the straps, and it was low cut.

I seriously felt like I needed to shower before putting on such a nice bra! (And I did!)

I received it a few weeks before giving birth and started wearing it immediately. It was perfect for my changing shape during my last trimester of pregnancy, and also now that I’m breastfeeding.

The next thing I noticed was the under-breast support. It is called the Flexi-Fit support channel, and gives you the support and shape of an under-wire without the wire! (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost a good bra to a runaway under-wire that pokes through the fabric!) You don’t have to worry about that with this bra.

The bra is super comfy and it is the only bra I have that gives me proper support and comfort, especially at night when I’m sleeping and getting up all hours to nurse.

I also loved that it came with a bra extender so as I gained weight before giving birth, and now that I’m losing weight post-partum, the bra always fits!  (Sure beats buying 3-4 bras just to get through all the transitions!) The clips hold securely, and I can open them with one hand. The foam cups are seamless, have a little stretch to allow for changing shape, and hide nipples and nursing pads.

Finally, someone invented a nursing bra that works during all the changes our bodies go through!

This bra is absolutely wonderful and I would definitely recommend it!

So, there you go.

Bravo for Bravado!

To purchase Bravado! Nursing Bras, Tanks, Undies, and Accessories go HERE.  Click HERE to find out more about the twitter party Bravado is hosting on 2/24. Chat with the Bravado! bloggers, make new friends and win prizes!

I was not paid to write this review, but was provided with a Bliss Nursing Bra so I could review Bravado! My opinion here is definitely my own.