CardiWrap: A Review

My sister-in-law came into the house last week looking thoroughly anxious.

She had a blind date.

Her first blind date.

Ever.

I don’t blame her for being nervous. I hate blind dates, and for good reason.

You don’t know whom your going to end up spending the evening with.

It could be the most stomach-churning event ever,

it could be fairly pleasant,

or it could leave you gushing and swooning over the man of your dreams. 

No matter which, the suspense and anxiety will kill you before you even walk out the door.

She told me she scolded her friend for not giving her time to lose 10 lbs. and find something to wear!

While I couldn’t help her in losing 10 lbs in 24 hours (she doesn’t need to anyway), I did remember that I had a CardiWrap in my closet!

I whipped it out and she looked at it curiously. I gave her the little book and accessories that came with it, and told her to go play with it. She came back very excited, and needless to say, quite a bit less anxious.

The first thing we both noticed was how comfortable, breathable, and light the fabric is (which we appreciate living in a place where it’s hot 24/7). The CardiWrap by Kymaro is made of 100% viscose, which has a silky feel, drapes beautifully, and doesn’t wrinkle. (Yeah!) We also loved the 50+ ways that you can wear it! She was stoked on the hoodie and jacket versions, while I was excited about the scarf and wrap variations. She’s young and fabulous, and I just had my fifth child. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fabulous, there’s just more of my fabulousness than I’m used to...) ;)

Luckily, the CardiWrap can be worn in so many different ways; it complimented both of our body types. It’s incredibly versatile. The CardiWrap comes with 3 bangles, a bow pin, and a flower pin that you can use to create more looks, and accent the wrap.It is truly a classic piece that can be altered to go with any season, fashion trend, or body type.  I received the CardiWrap in Charcoal Grey and it really does goes with anything. You can wear it with your most comfy chillin’ jeans or your favorite dress and high heels.

The CardiWrap comes in seven different colors and has a 30 day money back guarantee.To learn more about the CardiWrap or to purchase it go HERE.

It a wardrobe investment!

*I was not paid to write this review, but did receive the CardiWrap to test drive! I can feel the wind in my hair. Totally. Mahalo nui to the Family Review Network for providing this opportunity.

Some Winners

I've got some winners to announce so here we go:

The winner for the Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace Meditation CD is lucky #22, ktgonyea!

 

The winner for the Cover Your Hair $25 Assorted Hair Accessories is lucky #101, Kat. F!

The winner for the Lovable Labels Book Worm labels is lucky #21, lewalk!

Winners, watch your inbox for my email!

Camelbak Bottle: A Review and Giveaway

I love drinking water. My favorite drink is ice cold water and I always bring a bottle of water to work. I have that huge 32 oz Nalgene Brita bottle from when it was advertised on The Biggest Loser. As much as I love that bottle, I think I'm gonna switch loyalties to the Camelbak.

Available at HeartRate Monitors USA, the Camelbak is 500 mL which is equivalent to 16 oz. I like the fact that it's smaller. It's a more manageable and lighter. It's not as bulky as my Nalgene. My absolute favorite thing about this bottle is the built in straw and the bottle bite valve at the top. With my other bottle, I had to get my own straw and put it in the bottle. (I really like drinking with straws!) When I got the bottle to review, I was super excited and thinking about riding my bike and being able to drink my water at the same time because now all I had to do was flip the valve on the top and drink. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try that out. 

My kids on the other hand LOVE the bottle. They constantly ask for it since it's so much easier for them to drink from it. My three year old can flip it easily and drink. My one year old can drink, leave it on the ground and if it gets knocked over, no worries, the water won't spill since the valve is only opened when you drink from it. AMAZING! 

The one thing that I didn't like was the short straw...I still had some water left and I couldn't get it! I had to take my cap off. But I guess it's a sign that I need to refill! This spill proof, BPA free bottle, makes it easy to stay hydrated on the go.  You can check out all of the great reviews on this bottle HERE.

I think I drink more water with this water bottle! I'm even considering getting my family their own bottles, especially for my kids so they won't keep stealing and drinking from my bottle!

SHOP: You can shop online on at Heart Rate Monitors USA to get the Camelbak bottle as well as other products to help you get and stay healthy. There's also a coupon code for you to use: Use "CLBK" at the checkout for 5% off all Camelbak products. Be sure to check out their blog as well for great lifestyle tips and previews of upcoming products.

WIN:

You can win a Camelbak bottle of your very own from Heart Rate Monitors USA!  For your mandatory entry, become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).  This is the mandatory entry for this giveaway and must be done before all of the additional entries.   

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 Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.  

3. Follow Heart Rate Monitors USA on Twitter.   

4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following: #win a Camelbak water bottle from @HRM_USA and @moanasaves ends 6/1 http://bit.ly/ks9Wrp
5. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar). 
6. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

7.  Like the Heart Rate Monitors USA 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 6/1 at 11:59 PM PST (Pacific 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 my review.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

The Black & Decker Ultimate Sandwich Contest

If you haven't noticed, I have an affinity for Thai food. 

Ever since baby number five came along, I can't get enough of it. 

When I was given the opportunity to enter Black & Decker's Ultimate Sandwich Contest, my brain went straight to it. I am also from Hawaii and l.o.v.e. Hawaiian sweet bread. Have you had it? You need to.

How do you put Thai food and local Hawaiian fare in a sammy and utilize a fabulous toaster oven? This is definitely a "fusion" recipe where East (Thai curry) meets West (pulled pork) and we get to enjoy the culinary collision.

I was inspired by a number of things. Blog posts, magazine articles, food photography, and here's the result:

Thai Curry Pulled Pork 

(with Fresh Mango and Cilantro Dressing on a Toasted Hawaiian Sweet Roll)

Ingredients:

1 pork rump roast approx. 3 lb.

1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk

1 tablespoon green thai curry paste

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 mango, peeled and sliced in to 1/2" strips

1 small red onion, sliced into thin strips

1 package fresh mixed spring greens 

(I love our local Nalo Spring Greens, from Waimanalo, Hawaii)

1 package Hawaiian sweet roll sandwich buns

Cilantro Dressing:

1 1/3 cups sour cream

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 small bunch cilantro, stems removed

1 package ranch salad dressing mix

1/8 teaspoon Tabasco 

2 cloves garlic

juice of one small lime

Mix in blender until smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix coconut milk, Thai curry paste, red chili flakes, brown sugar, and oyster sauce until well combined. Place pork roast in a crock pot, and pour coconut mixture over it. Turn crock pot on high heat for 6-8 hours or until pork is fork-tender, and pulls apart easily. Shred the pork, making sure to keep it moist. 

In your Black & Decker toaster oven, toast a large Hawaiian sweet roll sandwich bun until golden brown. 

Add pulled pork to the bun, and spoon some of the drippings from the crock pot onto the pork to keep meat moist and flavorful. (and more chili flakes, if desired). 

Add freshly sliced (chilled) mango, red onion, a handful of fresh Nalo spring greens. 

 Add one tablespoon cilantro dressing to the top inside of the bun. 

(A little goes a long way here, trust me!) And if you have picky eaters, this sammy tastes just as good without the cilantro dressing.

Voila!

The ULTIMATE sandwich!

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a Black and Decker toaster oven to enable the development of my recipe.  Any and all opinions here (and recipes!) are my own.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, A Prize Pack Giveaway

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES sails into theaters May 20th, 2011 in Disney Digital 3D™. Are you excited?  We are!  Carol is going to an advance screening a few days before it opens and will write a review of the movie for you.  Here is a brief synopsis of the fourth Pirates adventure:

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

WATCH: Here's taste of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, argh!

WIN: Disney Pictures is giving away a Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Prize Pack to one lucky Moana Saves reader!


ITEMS FOR GIVEAWAY:

1 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES T-SHIRT in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL

1 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES bandana in black

2 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES temporary tattoos

For your mandatory entry, become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).  This is the mandatory entry for this giveaway and must be done before all of the additional entries.

   
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 Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.  

3. Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter.   

4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following: #win a Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides prize pack from @disneypictures and @moanasaves ends 5/24 http://bit.ly/mGVp2Y 
5. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar). 
6. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

7.  Like the Pirates of the Caribbean 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 5/24 at 11:59 PM PST (Pacific 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.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

Feeling Campy? (A Review)

Summer! My kids are counting the days until school gets out. Do you have big summer plans? Are your kids going to summer camp? Some of my favorite and least favorite childhood memories are of summer camp. What made camp great for me was the daytime activities, the campfire songs and the cute crafts. On the other hand camp can be lonely and the bugs...the bugs can be miserable!  Bravery in a Bottle has a great solution for both of these camping blues. Their "Feeling Campy" aromatherapy spray with essential oils creates an actual soothing effect and a natural bug repellent. This bug away blend includes the following ingredients:

citronella

eucalyptus

catnip

cedar wood

lemongrass

lavender

litsea cubea

tea tree

patchouli

These essential oils have so many benefits. Antidepressant, fungicidal, insect repellent, heals insect bites & stings, treats headaches, etc. The best part? It's natural! No more spraying harmful chemicals on your kids. Just the thought of my kids spraying Deet on their sensitive skin night after night at camp makes me cringe. (As a side note, I'm so happy to spray this on my toddler because who knows when her little deet covered hands might make it in to her mouth. Yay!) 

My kids use "Feeling Campy" every evening when they venture out to play. An added bonus (besides no bug bites) is that as my children repetitively use this spray they subconsciously associate the spray with home and pleasant feelings. This way I can pack "Feeling Campy" with my kids once they're old enough for over-night school camp-outs and they will have a scented remedy to homesickness that actually has therapeutic benefits to combat fear and anxiety. I was especially curious whether about the smell of this spray and if it would smell too 'woodsy'. The verdict? It does have a fresh outdoorsy smell but it's light and my kids like it.

As Bravery in a Bottle says: "The best way to solve childhood fears is to give children the feeling of control and power over what is frightening to them." I love this idea of a 100% natural essential oil spray that is multi-functional and empowering for my children. I reviewed the Monster Vapor in March but Bravery in a Bottle also sells Courage Concoction (a well-being blend for those days with big fears like tests or competitions) and Storm Squashers (clarity blend for overcoming those nights with thunderous spring showers). Head on over to their site to purchase your own bottle of a perfectly "scent-sational" solution to some of your child's biggest fears.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive free product to facilitate my review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

STIKINS labels Review

I love to label all sorts of things, but finding a label that STAYS ON clothes is such a hassle. I've used a few different kinds & they either come off too easy or if they do stay on they leave a yucky residue. I was anxious to try out LabelLightHouse.com's Stikins labels.

Here is The LabelLighthouse.com story

When Lena Grierson’s oldest daughter started school, and returned home one time too many without a glove, it was time to start labeling her daughter's things. Mrs Grierson was surprised to find that there was no fast and easy way of doing that.

“Why not a peel-and-stick label?” she thought.  Why not, indeed! Thus LabelLighthouse.com was born. Mrs Grierson and her company are the exclusive distributors of Stikins™ self-sticking name labels in North America. The Stikins™ self-sticking ID label is a very easy to apply clothing, shoe and item label. The label sticks on to the wash care label of the garment and is washer and dryer safe. It couldn’t be any easier. And that of course is the idea. 


   
Eager to try these labels out I put them on whatever I could find: water bottles, lunch sacks, hats, clothes. AND they stuck. They stick fabulously! And they are a perfect size. Not too small & not too big, just the right size to see but not be too annoying.  I like that they have tons of colors & sizes, so the label can be perfect for whatever you need.  I think these labels would be a great gift idea for any MOM, Labels are a Mom's Best Friend!




To PURCHASE: 
Visit LabelLighthouse.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas a Minneapolis SEO and Web Design firm. 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.