I am the Voice of Hyland's

 If you have read my previous blog posts, you probably already know I am a huge fan of Hyland's Homeopathic products.  I was first introduced to Hyland's when my oldest son was 6 months old.  His gums were inflamed and I could see not 1 but 4 teeth on the verge of popping through.  He was MISERABLE!  I kept hearing about Hyland's teething tablets from my friends and finally gave them a try.  They are now my go-to teething relief product.  I have used them with both my boys and have never disappointed. 

When I was approached to be a Hyland's Ambassador, I jumped at the chance.   It was just a great opportunity for our blog but also for you, which I will get back to in a bit so hold tight. You won't be disappointed.

Hyland’s was founded in 1903 as a Los Angeles pharmacy. At that point, homeopathy was standard medical practice in the United States.  I think we are coming full circle, don't you?  Throughout the decades, Hyland’s continue to focus on natural medicines that were strong in relieving symptoms but gentle in the way they worked.  Their products are designed to help aid our body's natural defenses. This is one of the main reasons I was drawn to their products.  

As a nurse, I try very hard to balance conventional medicine with other alternative and natural approaches for both myself and my family.   My family eats a well-balanced real food diet and live active lives.  We help build our body's defenses through diet and use natural products to help give our body's an extra boost when we are sick. There are lots of different homeopathic products out there but I rely on Hyland's because I find the company very trustworthy. They go to great lengths to offer their consumers effective products that are safe.

I know I talk a lot about their teething tablets but my family has used a variety of their products.  The most recent product we have tried was the Hyland's Muscle Therapy Gel with Arnica.  My husband and I both run.  We alternate nights so that someone is always home with the boys.  A couple weeks ago my husband started taking nights off because he had a constant cramp in his calf.  He tried stretching and resting but it just kept coming back.  He started using the muscle therapy and it helped a lot.  He wasn't quite sold on the smell but he was glad to have some relief. 

Ok so back to the good news for YOU... 

 
 Hyland's is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway and 1 lucky reader will win approximately $80 worth of products!  The products included in the "I'm the voice of Hyland's" giveaway are...

Hyland’s Baby Vitamin C Tablets
Hyland’s Baby Tiny Cold Tablets
Hyland’s Cold n’ Cough 4 Kids
Hyland’s Complete Allergy 4 Kids
Hyland’s Calms Forte
Hyland’s Leg Cramps
Hyland’s DEFEND Sinus
Hyland’s DEFEND Cold & Cough
Hyland’s Muscle Therapy Gel with Arnica

Hyland's wants to hear from YOU! To enter, you must share why you choose Hyland’s products on Hyland’s Facebook page, Hyland’s website, and/or Amazon by leaving a comment/review.  Once you do that leave a comment or review on one of those pages, come on back and make sure to finish rafflecopter in order to make your entry official and to earn bonus entries. One winner will be chosen at random to win the gift basket.

It is very important to Hyland's to get consumer feedback so please leave comments about their products.  They really want to hear from you!

Good luck!!! 

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EasyLunchboxes Review (and Giveaway!)

I first came upon EasyLunchboxes by following “100 Days of Real Food” on facebook. And while I was more than willing to take advice from Lisa of “Real Food,” I wasn’t about to remake my entire kitchen and pantry to match; I was neither financial able nor willing to just throw away all my plastic storage containers. Then along came all the reports about BPA and, suddenly, I found myself tossing out every canned food on my shelves and looking with disdain at the contents of my food storage cabinet. All I could think each time I opened that cabinet door was “danger!!!” So, I did my research while I also did some virtual window shopping on amazon.com. Ideally, I was looking for stainless bento-type containers to send with my husband and daughter to work and school, respectively. But goodness! I was not about to take out a second mortgage in the name of environmental and health consciousness! When I stumbled upon EasyLunchboxes again that day, it was a no-brainer. Four individual containers, each with a bright colorful lid and compartments for different meal components, and BPA free all for less than $15 - shipped!

I liked them from the moment I opened the package. The lids are easy to put on and take off, the boxes conveniently nest within each other (even the lids stack nicely on top of one another) and they were labeled dishwasher-safe. Out of nowhere, I just wanted to come up with cute and healthy meals to pack for my family. And, before I knew it, that’s just what I was doing every day (well, cuteness is in the eye of the beholder...I certainly think my lunches are at least cuter than they used to be). 

My youngest daughter testing the product durability.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that EasyLunchboxes go everywhere with me on an almost daily basis. I have a four-year-old who seems to be on an endless quest to burn off every single calorie she consumes, so she’s constantly running on empty, and a 15-month-old who can’t go more than an hour without some sort of snack since she is always trying to keep up with her older sister. And when the toddler doesn’t get what she wants, she lets everyone know - not so cute during library storytime. So, these boxes make my life easy by being a good fit in my lunch tote (although, since the lids are not leak-proof, the tote has to be carried flat on its side as opposed to by the handles) and very lightweight.

We all know that nasty brownish red hue that our plasticware tends to take on after being used for spaghetti sauce or similar foods. We all hate it, too. After I used my EasyLunchboxes to hold marinara, I fully expected to see that dingy color when I pulled it out of the dishwasher. To my delight there was nothing of the sort. They were as clear as the day I got them. I even stored diced beets in one of the boxes and still there was no discoloration after washing!

Whole wheat rotini with sauce, organic unsweetened applesauce, stove-popped popcorn, and a spinach/carrot brownie.

The most beneficial aspect of owning the EasyLunchboxes is that, upon their arrival, I automatically felt compelled to come up with healthy and delicious snacks and meals to pack in them. I no longer had to figure out what packaged foods would hold up to my daughter’s tendency to spin and throw her lunch bag around...I could simply throw together individual elements in these boxes. The compartments encourage me to provide my family with a variety of foods, not just wrap up a sandwich with an apple and call it a day. I’m now able to safely pack noodles with meatballs, carrots, and applesauce all in one lunch. I can quickly put together a good dinner for my husband when he works nights, as well. This makes the EasyLunchboxes a healthy choice all around.

Stove-popped popcorn, fresh berry skewers, leftover whole wheat pasta with carrot/beet puree sauce, and a pumpkin cream cheese egg roll for my daughter.

In the past few weeks, I’ve begun to see more and more of them around town - at the park and my daughter’s gymnastics class. Obviously, people are having the same positive experience with EasyLunchboxes as I have had. I love seeing them popping up everywhere as these were created by a concerned mom who saw a need and came up with a solution. Kelly Lester, EasyLunchboxes’ owner and creator, aimed to make something that could hold enough to satisfy an adult hunger but lightweight and easy for a young child. Good on her for having the gumption to get it done!

Now is your chance to feed your family with less waste and more creativity...FREE! Enter our giveaway starting May 10 to win a set of four EasyLunchboxes PLUS one lunch tote in the color of your choice (a $21.90 retail value)!!

This giveaway is open to US residents only!

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LÄRABAR review

I remember the first LÄRABAR I ever had.  My family just finished walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the cure in memory of his mom and before leaving, my husband grabbed a sample bar.  I hadn’t eaten since 5:30am and it was getting close to noon so I pulled out the nursing mom card and snagged the bar..  I loved it and went searching for it in local stores.  I couldn’t remember the name so I ended up picking up a couple different brands in error.  I couldn’t find them anywhere and eventually forgot about them.

When I started making the switch to unprocessed food, I knew I would need something that was convenient. When I am at school, I seem to be constantly moving and by mid-afternoon, I am hungry for a snack.  Thanks to Lisa at 100 Days of Real Food, I become re-acquainted with LÄRABARs.  I found the lemon bar at my local health food store and as soon as I bit into it, I recognized it.  I have tried a couple different bars over the last couple months and lemon is still by far my favorite.

LÄRABAR was generous enough to send me four different bars to review.  I received the box last Friday and within two days, they were all gone.  In the box, I found Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte, and Tropical Fruit Tart. 

He claimed Key Lime Pie first.

I made sure that everyone got a taste of each bar.  I thought my husband’s favorite would be Key Lime Pie but he loved Tropical Fruit Tart.  When I first opened the package, I could smell the pineapple but when I took a bit, I noticed it was balanced well with the other ingredients.  I am not a huge fan of coconut but it really worked well.  My children ate every bar and had absolutely no complaints.  I think in the end, my favorite was the Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte.  I could totally see myself eating this as a late night desert without feeling guilty.

They look calm but if I was closer to the ground, they would have been fighting over each piece.

Pros

·      The ingredients in LÄRABARs are food as my friend would say.  They are ingredients that when you read them, you know exactly what you are eating.  Some of the bars have as little as two ingredients.

·      No added sugar!

·       They are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher.

·      They are delicious and have a variety of flavors.  It is easy to find one you will love. Check out their website to see the variety of flavors they offer.

·      Many of the bars are on the softer side.  I think this is great because it is soft enough that I can give it to my 15 month old, who is still cutting molars, and he has no problem eating it.

Cons

·      The one complaint some of my friends have is that they are expensive.  I have noticed a range of prices when I have been out shopping.  The local health food store near me sells them at $1.89, which is the most expensive I have seen them.  Trader Joe’s sells them for $1.29 but they only have 5 flavors and they never seem to change.  One of the other Greenola Girls has spotted them at Target for 5/$5 but I have yet to find them, which is partly because I was looking in the wrong spot.  If you find a bar you really love, you can order them on Amazon.  Some bars even have a subscribe and save option… hello Lemon bars delivered right to my doorstep… yes please!  You can also save that way because the bars average out to be about $1.13 each.

Want another option?  How about free?  LÄRABARs has graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway through Greenola Girls!  Keep your eyes peeled.  The giveaway will start April 25th, 2012.  Want a sneak peek?  Check out the LÄRABAR giveaway page!

LÄRABAR Giveaway

LÄRABARs are a great convenient, whole food snack.  They are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher.  Haven't tried them yet?  You are in luck!  LÄRABAR has graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway through Greenola Girls. Want more information?  Check out my review or LÄRABAR's website.


The winner of the giveaway will get a mixed caddy of 16 LÄRABARs!

 This giveaway is open to US residents only.  The giveaway begins April, 25th at 12:01am and will end April 30th at 12:01 am. Good Luck!

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Greening up your laundry: Wool Dryer Balls

I have not bought dryer sheets in 3 years… yes you read that right… 3 years. When my first son was born, I decided to cloth diaper and dryer sheets are a big no no with cloth diapers.  I knew I needed to find something to replace the dryer sheets because well walking around with a dress (pants, shirt, whatever) riding up from static is just not fun.  I started to hear tons and tons of information about wool dryer balls so I set out to figure out what they were and what they were supposed to do.

They are pretty much exactly what they sound like.  They are wool yarn wrapped into a ball that is felted. You put them in your dryer instead of dryer sheets.   

What do they do…

1.   Improve drying time but helping agitate the clothes so the air can circulate better and dry your clothes more effectively and efficiently

2.   Decrease but not necessarily eliminate static (I will talk about this later) 

3.   Fluff up your clothes

I figured they were worth a try so I started looking into buy some. The first thing I noticed was the price… $9 to $15 for a ball of yarn! Oh and I forgot to mention you are supposed to use 4-­‐6 balls in your dry so now we are talking $36-­‐$90 (not counting shipping). I know over time they would be cheaper than buying dryer sheets once a month (or more) because as long as they are felted well, they last forever but I was determined to make my own.

When I came across Goodmama’s tutorial for wool dryer balls, I grabbed some of my worsted wool yarn and went to town. The first couple balls took me FOREVER to complete and they never really felted up as much as I would like. I made about four and gave up.  I bought a two more through a co-­‐op and just left it at that until some started disappearing.  One drawback of wool dryer balls is that kids 1-­‐3 years of age enjoy playing with them so they tend to disappear. It can be for a day or two or forever.  I revisited the Goodmama's tutorial.  A couple of friends were interested in how I did it so I made up my own tutorial with a couple changes. 

What you need… 

 

1. 100% wool yarn-­‐ While you can use any 100% wool yarn, I found that wool roving is MUCH easier and faster to use.  I used Paton’s classic wool roving ($6.99 Jo-­‐ann’s) because I almost always have a 50% coupon so I ended up paying around $3.50 for one skein. 
2. Scissors  
3. Sock or hosiery-­‐ I used an old knee highs that had a run in it but you could use a cotton sock like a tube sock.
4. Crochet hook  
5. Acrylic yarn-­‐ potentially optionally  
6. Measuring tape-­‐ Also not necessary if you don’t mind not having them all the same size. You can always just eyeball until you have the size you want

 First start winding the yarn into a small ball

 

As you can tell from the picture, I am not winding very tightly. Once you get a small ball, pull the end through with the crochet hook and make sure the loose end is tucked in. 

To get the ball ready for the initial felting, stick it in your sock/hosiery and use the acrylic yarn, because it doesn't felt, to tie it off. You can then put another ball in.  

While I tied this one off, I find that sometimes the yarn still gets knotted and can be hard to get off. I have also just tied a loose knot in the stocking between balls. This will work with smaller balls but if you have a 10-11cm, the weight may pull the knots tighter in the wash.  If you wash with other clothes, it could get tangled around other clothes and pull the knot tighter also (just an FYI if you try it)

Wash your dryer ball on HOT. It can be done alone or just thrown in with other clothes that you plan on washing. Once the washer is done, throw it in the dryer also on hot. It will help felt the ball. It may also shrink it a bit. My dryer ball (in the stocking with the yellow yarn above) shrank about 1 cm.

Take the ball out of the sock and it should look something like this

If you wanted small dryer balls, you could stop here but I usually try to make mine between 10-­‐11cm.

Start winding more yarn around the felted ball

Once you get to your desired size, again use the crochet hook to tuck in the loose end of the yarn. I took a picture of my dryer ball next to my coffee mug so you can get a gauge of the size. It was about 11.5 cm.

  
Again, wash in hot water and dry on hot. I did this twice because I didn’t think it was felted enough after 1 wash/dry cycle. If you use hosiery, some of the wool fibers may comes through the stocking, you can try clipping them if they are really long but usually I just very carefully pull the ball out. If you use a cotton sock, you might not have as much of an issue removing the ball.

Finally the end product!!

I can make about 3 dryer balls with 2 skeins so in the end 1 dryer ball is going to cost you slightly less than $3.50 (if you shop with coupons!) and it only took me about 30 minutes (combined between the two winding sessions) to wind the yarn. I am not counting the wash/dry times since I don’t have to be present during that whole time. 

While I really do love my wool dryer balls, there are some drawbacks. If you have a family member with a significantly allergic to wool, this may not be a good choice for you. As I mentioned above, they are supposed to decrease static but they don’t always completely eliminate it. For the most part, I find the static to be pretty minimal even with things like sheets and towels that is if I have all my dryer balls (7) in the dryer. Although I have found that even with 7 dryer balls, you will have static in fleece fabrics like fleece zip-­‐ups or fleece pants. Oh and if you are looking for a quiet drying experience, wool dryer balls will not help you achieve that. 

Now onto the good news, you have a chance to win the 3 dryer balls pictures in the end product snapshot above! You should be able to start to see a difference with just three but remember you will see more of a change in drying time and reduction of static with more dryer balls.

*Please note that I am not a professional dryer ball maker.  Each dryer ball is unique and they may differ slightly in size but they are all around 10-11cm.