Tropical Traditions Coconut oil review and giveaway!

I am so excited I found this product! When I started looking into whole traditional foods I had links and links of good healthy foods such as kefir grains, and coconut oil websites appearing before my eyes. 

This company ROCKS! And I am not afraid to say it! You have to watch this video on how their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is made. If you want traditional food here is one for you that is chocked full of good nutrition. 

This is truly amazing coconut oil. I made two batches of bread, one with an Organic supermarket "unrefined" coconut oil, and one made with Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil (GLVCO- Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil). The bread made with GLVCO has a much better flavor. GLVCO doesn't leave an after flavor of coconut in your mouth. (some people like that, but I am not a big fan of coconut flavor to begin with.)

This is straight from the Tropical Traditions website:

"Laboratory tests show that this Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a very high quality coconut oil, with very high antioxidant levels. A study done in Malaysia and published in the International Journal of Food Science Nutrition also reported that the wet-milling fermentation method produced the highest amounts of antioxidants, and another study completed in Sri Lanka in 2011 confirmed the result. This oil is not mass produced, but made by hand just as it has been done for hundreds of years. The coconuts are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. In addition, all of the coconuts are hand-picked within 24-48 hours of harvest. Only those nuts that produce the highest quality coconut oil are chosen, while the rest of the crop is sold to copra dealers. Because of the extremely selective procedure for choosing the coconuts, a higher price is paid to the farmer. Almost all other virgin coconut oils on the market are mass-produced and do not take this kind of attention to detail that begins with choosing the right nuts. Also, the coconuts used to make our Virgin Coconut Oil are grown in very rural areas, generally far away from metropolitan areas. Since coconut trees grow just about everywhere in the Philippines, most coconut oils on the market are harvested from trees in metropolitan areas, because there is less cost to transport them to the place of manufacture. Many of our producers are in areas so remote, that if they did not use their coconuts to produce Virgin Coconut oil for us, no one would buy their coconuts because it would cost too much to transport them to manufacturing plants. In these areas, the coconuts generally just fell to the ground unused until we started training people to make our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

In spite of the success and growth worldwide of this unique product, we still produce our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil by hand in small batches by family micro enterprises. Most of them have been producing Virgin Coconut oil for over 10 years now. They have learned what it takes to produce the highest quality oil, such as how to hand pick the best coconuts from each harvest. One of their discoveries occurred in 2007 when certain groups in rural areas had problems with water sources. Water is needed to make the coconut milk from which the oil is extracted. Using true Filipino ingenuity, they started collecting and using the pure nutritious coconut water from inside the organic coconuts instead. They noticed that the water separated from the oil much quicker, that less heat was needed at the end, and that less filtering was needed also. The end result was a higher quality and better tasting Virgin Coconut Oil. Independent laboratory analysis shows that this new method produces even higher levels of antioxidants than first tested in 2006 by Professor Dia! (See below.) So we now require all of our Virgin Coconut Oil producers to use the pure coconut water from their coconuts instead of boiled or purified tap water. This enhanced Virgin Coconut Oil with the highest levels of antioxidants is now our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil."

If you are not convinced that this is a great product why don't you sign up for this giveaway for a chance to win one quart of GLVCO. That is a $40 value! And let me tell you this company has super great customer service. When I was informed I would be receiving a jar to review I got an email saying it had shipped the same day I was informed of this opportunity, AND it arrived the next day! That was amazing!

Related links: 

o How to Use Coconut Oil: There are hundreds of uses! http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/how-to-use-coconut-oil.htm


o Buy Coconut Oil: A guide to buying coconut oil online http://buycoconutoil.com/ 

o What is Virgin Coconut Oil? http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/what_is_virgin_coconut_oil.htm

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided with free product to review. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

{{CLOSED}}Martha Stewart Microbeads Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

This giveaway is now closed. The winner will be notified via email.

Thank you to all who joined in with the fun. Your comments are greatly appreciated. 

Stick around for weekly giveaways!

Here it is as promised, a Martha Stewart Microbeads review and Giveaway. 

Before I get started I need to tell you that this review and giveaway is in no way endorsed by Martha Stewart. I am doing this all on my own. The giveaway prize is actually from part of my Christmas present. I just love them so much I wanted to share them with lovely crafters like you. :) 

The microbeads I am reviewing are from Martha Stewart Crafts. They are available in 15 different colors. I unfortunately only have 14, the store I ordered them from did not have Onyx and it did not seem worth paying more for the shipping of Onyx than the sale price of the color it self.                                                                       I don't really know what to say other than I think the quality of these beads are great. Of course I don't really have any thing to compare them to. I have read that you can change there color with some other product that I do not remember what it is called. I know for my purposes they are perfect. I am sure you can find some that are cheaper and not as big of quantity if you want to. But I just loved the look of the jars so much that I thought I just had to have them. And if you have an extra spice rack laying around you can have a custom storage shelf for them. (see previous entry).  Microbeads are easy to use. You use them just like glitter and the create dimension, luster and texture on scrapbook pages, cards, gift tags and anything you want. 

They are great and they look really cool in the jars or rolling around on a paper plate. (don't ask)

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

One lucky reader will receive a sample of every color... except onyx because I don't have that. and it is a decent amount. I have seen on Etsy people are selling this amount for 2 or 3 dollars a baggy. So if you add that all up that is about $42.00. Wow! (maybe I should have thought this through) Just kidding!!! I am doing this because I love y'all and I think this is something everyone who crafts will enjoy.

To Enter all you have to do is:

1. Comment below saying what you plan to use the Microbeads for. (1 entry)
2. Follow the blog. And leave a comment saying you did so. (1 entry)
3. Share this blog post on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr or your own blog and leave a comment with a link saying you did so. (1 entry per post... up to 4 entries there!)

Make sure you leave your email address so I can know how to contact you.

Giveaway open until next Thursday, January 12, 2012 9:00 PM Central Time.

Good Luck and Happy Crafting!

My Memories Suite v3 Review and GIVEAWAY!!!!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by the company My Memories. They said they had seen my blog and were wondering if I would like to do a review of their product MY MEMORIES SUITE v3. I was totally psyched! Not only would this be my first product review where I was contacted, but I would also be able to do my first GIVEAWAY! How exciting! 

Here is an infomercial of the first My Memories Suite. Remember this is from 2009 so there are two other versions of My Memories Suite before the one that this review is about today. 

Any-who, on with the review. This review will be totally unbiased even though I was given a free copy of the software to keep. When I first downloaded My Memories Suite v3 I was having a problem because it would start up but then halfway through the start up it would stop and send a message saying it needed to shut down and quit working. I was bummed. So I did as any customer would do and contacted the My Memories support team. Wow, what a fast response. They proceeded to tell me how to try fixing the problem. Turns out there was nothing wrong with their file it was in fact me who had the problem. My QuickTime was out of date. That's it. Once I updated QuickTime I opened My Memories Suite and it worked great. 

User Friendly - My Memories Suite is completely user friendly. I had never used a scrap-booking program other than Photoshop Elements, but that is not strictly for scrap-booking, and technically neither is My Memories Suite v3. I loved the ease of adding embellishments, adding shadows, using the papers and figuring out where on the page I wanted things. It was extremely easy. 

High Quality - The things (papers, embellishments, customization options, etc.) are all of high quality and great resolution. You are given the chance to re-size pretty much everything. And if you re-size something to larger than what it was made for My Memories Suite v3 will send you a little warning letting you know that you may be in danger of creating a very pixelated image. 

Extremely Addictive -  If there is one con that I need to really point out is that My Memories Suite v3 is extremely addictive. Especially if you love scrap-booking. Or even if you don't like scrap-booking you can still use this product to create things such as banners and buttons for blogs, websites, etc. You can also use My Memories Suite v3 for things like business cards, letter heads, gift tags. With all the kits at www.MyMemories.com you are bound to create something beautiful. Plus there is a special button to take you to the FREE kits page. There are so many free kits that you may not even know what to do with them all. Some are Quick-pages where all you do is insert your picture and you get this beautiful page for your scrapbook with out the work of creating from scratch. And if you don't find something you like in the Free kits page the prices of the kits are really great considering how much you get from each kit. 

Environmentally Friendly - So I love all the scrapbooking embellishments that are found at Michaels and Joann however, they are expensive. And like in the infomercial it can become something you don't even really want the kids to look at and I don't think that is what the whole idea of having a scrapbook is about. They are made to be shared and enjoyed. I am just loving the fact of all the paper and money I am going to save. 

Here is something I created using mostly free kits, and a few elements from purchased kits to create a Christmas presents for the Grandparent type people of my family. (lets hope they don't read this)

You have to remember not all the photos are in yet because a few things have not happened yet. :P 

If you would like to try the Trial version of My Memories Suite v3 you can go HERE. 

Or you can Enter the Giveaway!


That's right I have the honor of giving away one complete full version of the My Memories Suite v3 software to one lucky winner. 


Here are the ways to enter: 


**For each entry please post a comment saying you completed the task. 


1. Follow this blog. 
2. Like my page on Facebook 
3. Visit My Memories and comment on what your favorite Kit is. 
4. Like My Memories on Facebook
5.  Follow the My Memories Blog. 
6.  Follow My Memories on Twitter. 
7. For a double entry Share this blog entry with all your friends & Family via Facebook, twitter, your own blog or website, etc. 

This giveaway will end on December 24 at 9 PM central time. A winner will be announced on December 25 at 8 AM Central time.


If you can't wait for the giveaway and would like to purchase the My Memories Suite v3 you can use a special code to get $10 off the Suite and receive a $10 dollar coupon for a future purchase. Here is the code:

STMMMS19027

I would recommend copying and pasting this directly so you don't miss a letter. 

Review Thursday-Swiffer Wet Jet

Today I have a review for you. It is on the Swiffer Wet Jet. When I got mine I did not realize there were other more environmentally friendly versions out there.

I like the way the wet jet cleans up the sticky spots that get left on the floor from little hands preparing his own sandwiches and snacks. I actually do love it quite a bit. Especially since I learned how to turn the non-refillable bottle into a refillable bottle that I can add my own Earth friendly concoction to. I am still trying to come up with something for the disposable pads which makes me really think back to the diapering age, and when I didn't own a Diva Cup (next week's review).  They are just so wasteful I really cannot stand it. Hopefully I can find out some way to make some type of washable cloth pad that stays in place and is reusable. If not I might just have to switch to a product that does not require all these extra expenses. Which brings me to the fact that you need to buy batteries. I don't like batteries. Especially when they don't last too long.

Over all the Swiffer Wet Jet is a good product that just needs to upgrade its Environmentally friendly/ cost conscious aspect of the product.



Next Week:  I review the Diva Cup. 

Review Thursday- Proctor Silex E160BY Coffee Grinder

Most of you know I don't drink coffee, so one may wonder why I have a coffee grinder. Well you see in that picture over there >>>>>>  behind the pic of the grinder is a circle with a picture of herbs. Yep. This is my go to grinder (the Proctor Silex E160BY Coffee Grinder) when I am mixing incense, making powders or just trying to crunch up barks. I love this. It is inexpensive and does the job. Sometimes depending on the herb I can't  get it to be a complete powder depending on the type of herb I am using. But if I need it to be a completely smooth powder it is usually for my commercial products so it would be a bigger quantity.

I actually used this when I made my spice rub for the Turkey today. It is the best for the price. You obviously have to use common sense and not just hold the button down but pulse. This is good for the herbs too, not just the grinder. When you grind an herb constantly it heats up, therefore breaking down the vital  nutrients and healing properties.

The only complaint I have is that the compartment size a little small. But if you are going to be doing a lot more that what size is provided you should probably have a larger grinder. If you need to do two or 3 times more than the cup size it is really simple to remove the cup and empty the contents, load it with fresh herb and grind away again.

One of the best features of this is the build in cord retraction. IT IS SO COOL! All you do is twist the bottom of the grinder and watch the cord wind in or out. depending on what you need. It is really great to keep the cord out of the way when you are not using it. I actually wish all the appliances we had this.

I would definitely recommend this product to any herbalist, chef, etc. 

Review Thursday- Ninja Professional Blender #BL500

With Christmas Just around the corner I thought I would share some of my favorite products that would also make great Christmas Gifts. 


This weeks review is on the Ninja Professional Blender #BL500. This blender features the knob for on, off, and pulse. Which is exactly what my husband and I were looking for when we were searching for a blender. Here are some of the other features that are great about this blender. 


Ninja Professional Blender:

Pulse, on, and off

72-oz BPA free plastic pitcher (more than half a gallon)

Easy-pour spout built into the lid

Sturdy, non-slip base

Ninja blade technology

Drain holes

Easy control dial

Includes instructions and recipe booklet

900W

Cord storage box

Model# BL500

Notice how it says Ninja blade technology. I know the picture above does not do it justice since you cannot even see the blade) on showing what exactly that means, so here is a low resolution picture of the "Ninja Blade".

This blade is like a shaft going straight through the blender meaning you have blades all the way through your food. IT IS AWESOME! 


This model is the 900 Watt meaning that it is the "smaller version" the others are 1000-1100 watt, so it is not THAT much of a difference. I have not had a problem with it. This blender will make smoothies that are as thick as the Concrete Blizzards from Dairy Queen. If you like them a little runnier you will need to add a little water, which is the way my husband likes them. 


Another cool feature is that the pitcher is BPA free. THIS ROCKS!!!! And the lid locks on and the blender will not run without the lid being locked. Which means no more messes!!! SWEEET! 
There is a space in the back of the base that allows for cord storage. Totally cool for when it is not in use. 
It is easy to clean because the blade comes out and all parts minus the base are dishwasher friendly. Another Plus. 


As for price it is in the range of 80-100 dollars. To me I think this right up there with the Blendtec Blender (maybe even better). If Blentec wants to send me a blender to do a product review on I would be completely willing to do so. (wink wink)


I honestly don't know if I can think of any cons for the Ninja Professional Blender. 

Review Thursday- Wilton Candy Melts.

Well, I won a giveaway about a week ago. It was for a whole mess of Wilton Halloween kits. I figured it would be the best time to review a part of it. So I chose their candy melts. I think for someone who is concerned about the health of her children this is a good product for that purpose. Yes I know a diet rich in chocolate is not the best thing for a kid. But some chocolate is better than others. The first thing I did was give the ingredients list a look. My eyes were huge. There were way too many ingredients that I could not pronounce in that list for my liking. But in good product reviewer spirit I continued to make the kit. Yes, my son and I enjoyed doing the project together. But the after effects of that many chemicals in our system at once was repulsive. For a piece of candy to be made out of that many ingredients and chemicals it was enough to send my four year old into a hyper active sugar rush that he is still recovering from. Now, I am not one to say that sugar is bad for you, we all know it. However, I am a strong believer in the fact that alternative sweeteners, like Splenda or High Fructose Corn Syrup are far worse for you than regular  sugar.

One good thing that I found with the Wilton line of candy melts was there was no High Fructose Corn Syrup. However I did not enjoy the flavor. It tasted very fake. So for my candy making activities we will more than likely celebrate with a natural and organic chocolate.

Now don't get me wrong, I do still love Wilton and their lines of cookie cutters and decorating things. Just not the actual "food" items. I still like their sprinkles, since there is not nearly as much consumption of them.

Hope this does not turn anyone away from the Wilton products, this is just a review from a "crunchy" mom, looking for "crunchy" food and no offense but Wilton is no where near "crunchy".

I am in no way affiliated with Wilton.

Review Thursday-Pure Citrus Orange Air Freshener

Everybody loves a fresh smelling room. What I don't like is those "fake"  Glade, or Fabreeze smells. They hurt the nose and are not the greatest thing to be putting into your air. Well, my mother-in-law was on the quest for a natural air freshener that works and actually stays in the air. (yes, I know you can get a diffuser and use essential oils. I do that too. But the oils are expensive! Besides, this is a review on Pure Citrus.) So she found this, Pure Citrus Orange Air Freshener; now supposedly it is made from 100% natural, delightfully fragrant oils found in fresh oranges. So If it is just orange oil and a non-aerosol propellent Woo Hoo! However I am not pleased with the ingredients list. Because it does not say what the propellent is or if there are any other ingredients. It smells great, you don't need a lot to freshen a room. I think I would definitely recommend this to other people in search of a fresh scent.

Review Thursday- Flip Mino HD

Well, I have joined the bandwagon and am starting product reviews. My goal is to help women (men too i guess :P) in providing quality reviews for products or services I have tried.

Today I present a review on the Flip Mino HD. Now I have to tell you I am not a representive of Flip nor am I associated with them in anyway.

I bought a flip about 2 years ago when I wanted to start documenting my journey to self sufficiency. When I bought this one it was the latest. It has 1 hour of footage and 2 hours of battery life. They also have a 2 hours record time as well.Oh and the HD video I think it is swell. If I were to compare sound to video I think The sound might be a little better than the video. But the video is still great. It has an internal Lithium Ion Rechargable Battery which is awesome, no spending money on regular batteries.  You can zoom to a certain extent on it and you can customize the skin of your camera.  It is easy to upload/share your videos. All you need is a USB.

I would recommend this to others. I have not had any problems with it.