good2grow

Look at these beautiful kiddos showing off their good2grow juice caps (well, two of the kiddos, the third just couldn't seem to keep his Perry juice bottle in frame for me).  We've all seen these things in the stores...we've all heard our kids beg for them ("but mom, I really want the drink with ________ on it...please, just this one time!?!".  My kids have begged me a million times for them and a million times I have firmly told them no.

Why have I told my kids no a million times?  Well, that's easy, like just about everything else I have become accustomed to two things with characters on them; stuff that's too darned expensive and stuff that so full of sugar and other junk that I wouldn't let my kids have it.

Well, now I get to be the "cool" mom and say yes.  Why, because the price isn't too bad and the juice isn't sugar-filled nonsense, it's real juice (100% apple juice, 100% juice fruit punch blend, veggie blend, even organic).  I can't tell my kids they can't have organic juice.  I can't tell them they can't have apple juice.  And I really can't tell them they can't have a veggie juice blend (goodness knows even my eaters need more veggies in their lives).  Plus good2grow has hit every point that makes parents like me smile--no GMO's, no sugar added, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.  So, the health argument is shot.

That only leaves me with the price issue.  See, for years I have hated the juices with characters on them.  It seems like such a waste to spend $2 or so on something that I'm just going to trash at the end of the day because it's useless (yes, I know, the kids could always play with them, but we have too many small toys cluttering up their toy boxes).  Well, good2grow has me covered here.  No longer is that bottle useless (okay, the bottle is, it goes straight to the recycling pile) but the cap, that one thing that makes the kids freak out for the juice isn't useless.  The kids get done drinking their juice, they rinse their cap, and it goes in the dishwasher.  Then, we buy 6 packs of the bottles that the caps screw onto.  No need to continue buying bottles with caps unless it's your kid's favorite character.  So,  after the initial investment for the "must have" caps we are paying no more than we would for juice boxes.

The best thing about the caps is that there is such a variety of choices.  They have every character my kids could want.  Bob the Builder, Scooby, Ninja Turtles, Hello Kitty, Cars, Marvel.  Seriously, the list just keeps going.  In our collection we have Perry (from Phineas and Ferb), several Hello Kitty's, Strawberry Shortcake, Thomas the Tank Engine, Raphael (the Ninja Turtle), The Incredible Hulk, Mater, and a few Disney Princesses.  Everyone in the house has their own cap plus extra for friends).  Which, of course, means I know which drink belongs to whom.  And did I mention they're spill-proof?  They really thought of everything.

So, the kids are happy, they get the awesome drink...or caps as the case may be (even the older kids have their own caps...my 13 year old and her friends love the Hello Kitty caps).  My pickier juice drinkers will drink as much juice as I will allow just so they can use their favorite cap.  I'm happy because I get to be the cool mom and give them something they want and something I can afford.  Seriously, these things are great.  I'm just sorry that it took me so long to realize they make refill packs, because they really are the greatest thing ever.

A great big thank you to BzzAgent and good2grow for the chance to try our household's new favorite juice.

Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips

So, we were recently given the opportunity to try the Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips.  We were given bags of two different kinds, Roasted Veggis Tortilla Chips with Zesty Cheddar and Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips with Sea Salt.  Boy were these things a huge hit.

First, let's talk about the Zesty Cheddar Chips.  Well, first I had to try them before letting the kids get their hands on them.  They are cheesy and crunchy and everything someone would want in a tortilla chip.  There's a bit of zest to them but that is not to be confused with them having a spicy kick.  I hoarded the bag to myself for a few days before letting the kids and the mister demolish them (boy was I glad for my own personal "mommy hiding spot").  They are really good.

Now, the sweet potato chips are where my family really got into trouble.  You see, I had a few sample bags and let grandpa and the kids get into one.  They went nuts (even my picky eater liked them a lot).  So, it was our turn to host the family gathering (because what's more fun that 20 of your closest relatives plus their children and grandchildren seeing what isn't nailed down in your home...I love hosting these things but could easily live without the whirlwind mess that they leave in their wake upon leaving).  So, I decided to bust out the bag of sweet potato chips to see what the whole family thought.  Next thing I know, my 84 year old grandpa is in the doghouse with the family for handing over chips to the little ones (before dinner of course).  So, I had to rush to his aid (complete with the bag for the nutrition facts) to save him from the angry crowd.  The parents and I have all come to the same conclusion: the chips aren't super-healthy (and their not supposed to be) but they are a touch healthier than the normal chips we give our kids on occasion.  Plus, they have more nutrients than most others.  So, when we are doling out snacks, these seem like a perfectly acceptable alternative to the normal potato chip.

I will say that I  never expected the kids (mine especially) to like the sweet potato chips.  They don't much care for sweet potatoes.  However, my kids are adventurous eaters who will try anything (no matter what it's called or looks like) before they say they don't like it.  Knowing that they don't like sweet potatoes didn't stop them from trying these chips and I honestly think they like them more than regular potato chips.  They have the salty flavor the kids love but they have something other than the nothing flavor of regular potato chips.  I don't want to say they taste like sweet potatoes, but they do have a different flavor than normal potato chips.

These things have both earned their way into our snack cupboard.  The kids love them and I am happy to see them eating salty snacks that have more nutrients.  They are a winner in our book.

As always a special thank you to BzzAgent and Green Giant for the opportunity to try and review these chips.  My kids are eternally grateful.

Progresso Recipe Starters

So, I recently had the opportunity to try out Progresso Recipe Starters in Creamy Roasted Garlic flavor.  So, one random night when I was in a hurry I pulled out the can and got to work making my version of Shepherd's Pie.  The best thing about this dish is that it feeds at least 4 people and is made almost entirely with leftovers (because we all know they never get eaten).  One thing to note, is when I make this there are no cut and dry directions.  Many things are eyeballed because, well, I don't cook using real directions.  Here's how it's done:

First, I took some leftover meat (beef roast although I have made this with leftover chicken or pork.  Just cut whatever meat you have into bite sized pieces you'll want anywhere from 1-3 cups of meat) added it and the can of Progresso to a pot and cooked it down a bit (this step wasn't really necessary, but I felt the urge to do it anyways.  It gives the meat more opportunity to absorb the flavor from the Progresso).

After that, I took my favorite cake pan and put a layer of leftover mashed potatoes in the bottom (a very thin layer).

Next add whatever veggies you have sitting around (we freeze all leftover veggies for use in this, just throw them all in a jar or baggie and keep adding to it until you're ready to use them).  Or, in a pinch we will throw in a bag or can of mixed veggies.  Seriously, whatever you have on hand will be fine, don't overthink this step.

Then add the meat mixed with Progresso Recipe Starters.

Cover liberally with shredded cheese of your choice (we like a good sharp cheddar, but whatever cheese you either have on hand or love will be wonderful in this).

 Then, take some biscuit mix (the powdered stuff that makes pancakes, shortcake, biscuits, etc) and ignore all directions on it.  Instead, what you'll do is add about 2 cups to a bowl and add enough milk to  make it an easily pour-able consistency (thin but not quite like water).  Pour this on top of everything else.

Throw the whole thing in the oven at 350 (or so) for about 20 minutes.  You're looking for the biscuit layer to be a nice golden color and a bit firm.

Pull it out of the oven and dish it out.  Don't let anyone eat it right away though since it will be very hot.

So, there you have it.  My wonderfully complicated recipe that only requires the purchase of a single ingredient.  The star of the show is the Progresso Recipe Starters.  One can of Progresso makes this recipe so simple it's ridiculous.  Of course, there are many other things you can do with a can of Progresso Recipe Starters.  If you are in need of more inspiration for what to do with any of the five varieties, just take a look here for more than 80 recipies. 

A special thanks to BzzAgent and Progresso for the opportunity to test out a can of the Recipe Starters.

Family Night with Kroger

So, I had the awesome opportunity to try some good eats from Kroger.  Now, the best part of this for me was that we were able to make dinner in no time and it gave us plenty of time to be together without the distraction of cooking (let's be honest, we cook 6 nights a week usually, so time to eat together and spend extra time playing is a bonus).

In preparation of this, I went ahead and made up a big batch of pico, using stuff fresh from our garden.  Of course, we all (especially the kiddos) dug straight into the goodness using Kroger's Tortilla Cupz.

Needless to say, the chips held up wonderfully.  Little did the kids know that for dessert, I had whipped up a surprise using the Cupz as well.  I dusted them with a touch of cinnamon, and baked them just long enough to get the cinnamon to stick.  Then using a spoon I dipped a bit of fried ice cream flavored ice cream into them.  I put them in the deep freeze so that the kids wouldn't see them until I pulled them out.  Just for the record, they were a huge hit.

Also, the next day for lunch, I laid out a whole bunch of these things onto a cookie sheet, put in a little bit of Mexican rice, a little shredded beef roast, a touch of salsa, and some shredded cheese.  I baked them at about 350 for 5-7 minutes.  Finger food at its finest.  The kids loved my experimentation with the Cupz.  Seriously, play around with these things, they can be used for so much more than simply dipping into salsa or cheese.

We also had The Truly Awesome Pizza with pepperoni and sausage:

It was good.  It's not something that will blow your mind and make you want it for every meal, but it is a good solid cook-it-in-the-oven pizza.  The one thing I did love was that it has directions for those of us who hate crispy pizza.  The pepperoni to sausage ratio was excellent.  The toppings to sauce and cheese ratio was solid as well.  The pizza is definitely worth a shot.

We tried two other things as well.  Kroger's vitamin enhanced water and Kroger's frozen Fruit Bars (in Pomegranate, because mom deserves a treat too).  The vitamin water was promptly grabbed out of the fridge after hours of street hockey by my little girl.  Of course, by the time I realized she had grabbed it.  She couldn't tell me any particular details that I love, but suffice it to say that she drank the whole thing in no time at all and I had no guilt about the nutritional level of her drink afterward.  She certainly had no complaints about it.

The Fruit Bars are AMAZING (I can't stress that word enough).  Now, this is a good thing and a bad thing. Of course, I love whole-fruit bars for my children.  However, I intentionally got a box that I didn't imagine they would like as much.  Of course, I was wrong.  I guess when you raise children to be fruit and veggie eaters that they will eat things in those categories that you would prefer to keep for yourself.  However, I did manage to get my hands on a single bar out of the six count box.  These things are old-school popsicle big (which is great).  It has a great sweet-lightly-tart flavor.  It is serious grown-up childishness.  Of course, my kids just think they're yummy and cold (something great with the summer we've had).  Once again, my kids can eat them and I don't feel that guilt that I have when I'm letting them go overboard on the junkfood.

So, all the items we tried from Kroger were total winners for our family.  Perhaps most importantly, they gave us a chance to relax together without having to worry about making dinner.  Together, as a family, we munched on the chips and pico while the pizza cooked.  Then we ate the pizza and watched a movie.  Then we finished out the night with my surprise dessert.  It made for a wonderful night (without enough dishes for mom to have to worry about).

A super-huge thanks to BzzAgent and Kroger for the opportunity to try these products to review.

The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale 

So we all know I am a bit of a book junkie.  I devour nearly anything in print.  However, after looking at some of my reviews (here and elsewhere) I have realized that I tend to judge each book on its own merits, which leads to some rather biased reviews.  In order to rectify this, I have decided to judge each book on several criteria which, hopefully, will allow me to be more objective.  My new reviews will contain those things we are taught in elementary creative writing to look for: Plot, setting, conflict, characterization, point of view, and show and tell.  If you are unfamiliar with these concepts, trust me, they will be made clear by the reviews.

Before I begin to tell you about The Dark Monk, I must impress upon you the need to read The Hangman's Daughter first.  I am not normally someone who tells others that they need to begin a series in the beginning (especially since I frequently do not), but in this instance, I strongly encourage starting at the beginning to gain a much better feel for the characters, time, and setting.  As with most historical fiction, the place and time is so vital to the story that the background provided in The Hangman's Daughter is almost necessary.

The plot of The Dark Monk is one that flows very fluidly.  When one considers the time, place, and characters the plot is entirely plausible and almost seems to fit.  A group of undesirable citizens along with the sister of a murdered priest are the ones who must discover who the culprit was.  However, finding a murderer is never as simple as it would sound, and discovering the reasons for a murder is even more difficult.  However, Potzsch manages to make this story so much more than just a whodoneit novel.

The setting of The Dark Monk is amazing.  Of course, we will expand setting to include time in this instance as well.  The novel takes place in a town in Bavaria called Schongau in the 1660s.  Now, this is not my particular area of history, much too late and in a different part of the world than what I am familiar with.  However, the descriptions of this novel force two separate reactions within me; first, it makes me want to hop a plane and go for a visit.  Second, it makes me feel as if I have already been there.

The conflict within this story is very well done.  There is physical conflict, personal conflict, and conflict between characters.  This conflict is not so overdone that it seems unlikely, but it is there in amounts that would be expected within the parameters of the setting.

The characterization is very well done.  The characters are so real.  Each has their own positives and negatives, virtues and vices that are shown.  There is nothing I hate more than a hero without a weakness, and all of the characters in this novel have enough weakness to be realistic.

The point-of-view is tricky in this story.  The novel does jump between main characters, however it is not done in such a way as to be distracting.  The only point of view problems I had within this book were that there seemed to be a few flashback sequences that don't add much to the story (in terms of characterization or conflict explanation).  These I could do without, however, they were rare enough that they did not cause any problems.

The show-and-tell within this story is amazingly done.  There is enough description within the story that you know how everything looks and feels.  However, there's not so detailed of descriptions that the reader will grow bored.  There is a nice balance here, which is something I was very fond of.

One other thing which must be discussed when dealing with this book series is that it is translated from the original language.  As many would agree, books can either be very well translated or very poorly translated.  This series seems to have a wonderful translator.  Rarely have I seen so many modern translations which don't contain the random "let's add something for the English-speaking reader to make them feel at home in the story".  I suppose translating within a historical fiction setting would make it easier to relate to an audience without having to pander to them.  But, honestly, this translation is spot-on.

All things considered, I would give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.  It is a wonderful read that will captivate the reader and keep them interested until the end.  There are enough plot twists to ensure that you will read from digital cover to digital cover.  The fact that the author has written historical fiction based on real people in his family is daring and something he does a very good job at.

Seriously, go give these books a try.  They are available both in print and in all of the standard e-reader formats with the third book in the series coming in January of 2013.  You can check out the books here at the author's Amazon page.

I would like to thank BzzAgent for the opportunity to review these stories.  I did receive a complementary copy of these books to review, however, the complementary copy did not influence my review.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine

So, I was recently offered the chance to try and review Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner.  Everyone who knows me (and my hair) is not surprised by how quickly I jumped at the chance.  My hair is unmanageable to the extreme.  First, I have hair that is really long (I love long hair).  By long I mean I shut it in the car door when I'm not paying attention, look up while sitting and accidentally sit on it, and regularly have strangers walk up behind me touch to make sure it's real long (okay, the last one's a bit creepy).  Aside from being so long it has a ton of curl.  Now the curl is a great thing and a horrible thing.  If I am willing to spend tons of time I can have a single night of beautiful curls.  Now this takes a myriad of hair products and will only last about 6-8 hours before the weight of my long thick hair pulls out the curl.  For special occasions I love the option of a head full of curls.  For daily use this isn't feasible though.  I have to go to school, make breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, go to sports practices, drive the car pool, take care of the garden, help with homework, clean the house, the list is endless and I don't have enough time to concentrate on my hair.  So, for daily use I brush the curl out of my hair while it's still wet.  The side effect of this is that my hair frizzes and (perhaps most importantly) creates a build-up of static electricity.  Dealing with these issues is something that causes me much grief.

As a result of these issues, I am willing to try anything that offers a glimmer of hope.  With a name like Sleek & Shine, I figured I didn't have anything to lose.  In the interest of full disclosure, I am somewhat familiar with the line of products.  I have a bottle of the Sleek & Shine hair serum that I use on particularly frizz-laden days.  However, I have never tried the matching shampoo and conditioner.

In typical me fashion, when trying something new I start with the outside and work my way in.  So, I get my bottles in the mail and look at the packaging.  The bottles are nice.  They're not made of that almost waxy plastic that some other companies use.  Reading the label I discover that they are made using recycled material (30%) and are made to be a fair amount lighter than the old bottles were.  Of course, the hippy in me jumps for joy realizing that this small step is a great one for the environment and over time can make a huge difference.  Aside from that, as a Mountain Dew addict it's nice to look at my shampoo and think that the bottle may contain part of my soda bottle recycled last year.

There is a funny little button on the front of the bottles which help to open them.  When checking this out not in the shower this little step makes no sense.  However, when you're in the shower this button makes perfect sense.  I hate when I go to open a bottle of shampoo and my nail bends because it is wet and the bottle is so darned difficult to open.  The little green button makes it so your nails don't have to go anywhere near the opening while they are at the weakest by being submerged in a hot shower.

The shampoo smells heavenly.  I almost can't describe how heavenly it is.  It's fruity but not in a manufactured way (if that makes sense).  It's very natural smelling, which is something I really dig.

It is important to note that, at least for someone like me, there will never be super-model shine in my hair.  I accepted this long ago and encourage anyone with curly-wavy hair to simply accept it as well.  It doesn't matter what products I use, my hair is never going to be the straight and silky hair that I wanted it to be as a youth (of course people with that silky-straight hair can't get their hair to hold a curl for even a short while, so I guess we all want to look on the other side of the drive).  I don't go into a new product expecting results that aren't feasible for my hair type.  Instead, what I want is some shine and for something to limit the amount of frizz I am dealing with.  Of course, I have to be more careful what I am using in the winter or in a particularly dry summer (like this one is turning out to be).

So, what I discovered with Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner is that my hair loves it.  Yes, there is still some frizz but it is more easily controlled than it is using most other shampoos.  Of course, I can control minor and even moderate frizz with products used after crawling out of the shower, but the less frizz the less often I have to apply said products.  Of course, the less I have to apply other products the less frequently I need to wash my hair (which I won't wash more than three times a week due to the length, although my ideal is twice a week so that some of the good natural oils can reach the tips of my hair before I strip them out again).  This combination of shampoo and conditioner doesn't require that I use three other steps after washing to be able run out the door to watch a softball game.  Even more important to me than the time I save by not having to mess with my hair too much to tame it is the fact that not a single time since I began using Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner have I watched little lightening bolts fly from my fingertips to another object.  Even when I don't add anything to tame the frizz it isn't so bad that I have to worry about shocking myself due to my hair.  The idea of not having to worry about it is, pardon my pun, shocking.

As always, thanks to BzzAgent and Garnier Fructis for the opportunity to try and review this product.

Hills Science Diet

Ideal Balance Cat Food

So, this is The Mix-matched Angel (aka Fluffy, Fluffer-Doodle, The Princess, Move Cat!, and Awwww).  Pretty little Angora mix who was rescued from a busy parking lot (okay, I had no intention of taking it home with me, I was going to simply pick her up and move her to the cemetery so she didn't get run over, but she melted my heart and found a home).  I have two other fur-babies as well, Crash (aka Stupid, Stupid-Head, and The Evil One) is a Siamese shelter-kitty who is almost 13 years old that I love dearly (even though everyone else thinks she's the most evil thing on the planet).  And we have Burn (aka, Sissy, Bug, and Bug-A-Boo) who is a standard black domestic short haired cat that was rescued from a horrible home life where she was being left outside 24 hours a day and denied basic vet care.

We all want what's best for our fur-babies.  From the best vet care to the best food and treats.  I, as the proud mom of three fur-babies in different stages of their lives am no different.  When looking for a cat food, I have to find one that meets the needs of each of the kitties.  From something that is gentle on the stomach for the Siamese to something that comes in really small bites for the Angora (she's so tiny that she has trouble eating some cat foods).  Of course we want shiny, healthy coats on all involved and nutrition that will make them live as long as possible.

Enter onto the scene Hills Science Diet Ideal Balance cat food.

We opened the bag and mixed it with their current kitty food since we don't want to shock their systems by completely changing their food in one step (see, they really are spoiled).  They go running ("Hey, mom's feeding us from a new bag, I get to be the first to taste it!").  And they start to eat.  Of course the pretty princess Angel was the first to take a bite.  And another, and another.  I look a few minutes later and she had picked out all of the Ideal Balance and left all of the other food (rotten cat).  So, I know we have a winner here.  I mix more in and two of the three have picked out just the Science Diet food and left the other.  The third cat (Burn) just demolished food not paying any attention to what foods are in the bowl (nothing new, she's a bit of a piggy).  So, I must say that we have a winner as far as my babies are concerned.

So, we do away with the old food and go buy another bag of the Ideal Balance.  We all know that kitties have no say in what their food is (although what they prefer does play a role in mom's decision making process).  By the end of the second bag (which took a while) I saw a difference in my babies.  My Siamese has not reverted back to her stomach issues (which I won't get into, but let's simply say that litter boxes are no fun if her food doesn't agree with her).  Burn doesn't eat too much of the Science Diet (Did I say she's a piggy?).  My little Mix-Matched Angel is where I see a huge change.  Her coat is so much more glossy (which is good, more gloss equals less matting, equals less time being tortured by a matting comb, equals less scratches on me).  The one thing that I was most hesitant about was the cost, but I found that the cost isn't much of an issue.  Since they're getting better nutrition they are eating a whole lot less and the food actually ends up costing me about the same as their old food.  Perhaps more importantly, I don't have to go twice a week to the store just for kitty food.  It's available at all the pet places and most vet offices (go for the pet places, it's too darned expensive to buy it from the vet).

Now, I have three suggestions for all who are going to rush out and try the Ideal Balance line (they make dog food in this line as well).  First, decide if your cat would do better with regular or grain-free (remember, cats aren't actually supposed to have much if any grain and some are more sensitive to it than others).  Second, make sure to put the cat food away from the doggies (I had to move theirs out of reach of the dog because he just won't, or can't, leave it alone).  Third, and by far most importantly, go here to print a rebate form so that you can try a bag (up to a 12.99 value) for free.  Hey, why spend money to take my word for how great the food is when you can try it for free and decide for yourself?

As always, thanks to BzzAgent and Hills Science Diet for the chance to let my furbabies try something new. I received a complementary bag of food in exchange for my reviews.