Tag Archives | reviews and giveaways

Blue Orange Games Make Excellent Holiday Gifts + A Giveaway

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Are you getting excited for the holidays? I know my family is! We all love the extra time we get to spend together, the fun seasonal activities, and delicious foods that come along with the holiday season. Of course, there are some additional stresses at this time of year—party planning, attending events or taking your kids on various outings, finishing end-of-year tasks, preparing to host family, and gift shopping, to name a few.

If you’re anything like me, coming up with gift ideas ahead of time takes away some of the pressure surrounding the holidays and makes everything more enjoyable. With that in mind, I thought I’d share a great gift idea for the kids or other families in your life! You may have seen me talking about Blue Orange Games before, because they’re a great company and their games are always a hit with Eben and Mr. Sweet Greens. With a chance to win a game from them in this blog post, hopefully they’ll become a favorite with your family, too!

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Why Blue Orange Games Make Great Gifts
These games get my seal of approval for gift giving for many reasons. The games produced by Blue Orange are heirloom quality, so you can pass them on to younger generations in the family when your own kids outgrow them. These games are also eco-friendly, made from high-quality materials that gets replenished by the Blue Orange Games commitment to plant 2 trees for each one used in creating their products. That kind of commitment to sustainability and keeping the planet green for our kids and grandkids makes you feel good about buying their games as gifts.

Beyond the basic facts of sustainability and good design, these games are my favorite ones to play with my family. They’re fun, they make you think, and they’re a convenient length to squeeze in between homework and dinner, or in between activities on the weekend. Many of the Blue Orange Games are also designed with families in mind, being fun to play with a small but flexible number of people; often 2-4 makes for a great gameplay experience (it’s great too because Eben and I can play together when Mr. Sweet Greens is at work!) Plus, they work on your cognitive skills, memory, creativity, fine motor skills, and more, so you’re getting some real benefits from playing!

I purchase a handful of these games every year to gift to Eben and Mr. Sweet Greens as our family gift. I always pair it with some of our favorite organic snacks and hot cocoa. It gives us something new and fun to play as a family during winter break, and is a really positive way to spend some of the extra time we have together. This year, I am also giving Blue Orange Games as gifts to my sister’s family, I’m hoping that her and her family will love them as much as we do!

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Enter the Giveaway
Want a chance to win your very own game from Blue Orange Games? I’m happy to be able to give away a copy of Flash! to one lucky winner. Flash! is a super quick and exciting dice game with multiple play variations and 8 challenges to complete. It has a fun element of competition and is great for all ages, from 7 to 97! It is a huge hit in our home and it will make a great holiday gift for your family.

Leave a comment below to enter. Tell me which game you’re most interested in, or what your family enjoys doing together over the holiday break.

For extra entries, follow Sweet Greens and Blue Orange Games via your favorite social media platforms and leave a separate comment for each!

Blue Orange Social Media Channels:

Facebook: Blue Orange Games USA
Twitter: @BlueOrangeGames
Pinterest: Blue Orange Games
Instagram: @blueorangegames

Sweet Greens Social Media Channels:

Facebook: Sweet Greens page
Twitter: @SweetGreens
Pinterest: Sweet Greens
Instagram: @SweetGreens

 

US winners only, please. Sorry to my international readers! Winner will be announced on December 13th!

Cameron’s Specialty Coffee: BetterBrew Eco Coffee Pod Review

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Love the convenience of single-use coffee pods but not their environmental impact? Me too! Today I am excited to share a more eco-friendly alternative to a traditional “k-cup”, which I think will be of interest to any of you readers who regularly spend time in locations which only offer Keurig-style coffee machines. I, myself have enjoyed using this alternative when traveling, it really is the only option other than going out to a coffee shop and getting an overpriced latte in a disposable cup. No thank you!

Cameron’s Specialty Coffee had the earth in mind when they designed a compostable alternative to the plastic pods which are so regularly used by most brands who offer these single-serve coffee pod options. It was the next logical step in Cameron’s commitment to being one of the greenest coffee roasters in the world. I took three of their BetterBrew Eco Coffee Pod flavors: Kona Blend, Organic French Roast, and Vanilla Hazelnut with me on a recent trip to Montana. I was excited to see a company thinking about how to make these disposable products a little less damaging.

Traditional plastic k-cups are starting to fill up landfills around the world, despite being a relatively recent innovation. They’re one of the fastest growing types of disposable plastic waste products; current levels of production make enough K-Cups in one year to circle the planet over 10 times! Cameron’s Specialty Coffee has introduced these single serve pods that work in your Keurig-type machine and use compostable materials—from the lid made from paper to rings made from corn, beets, and wood rather than plastics. These materials will return to the earth within 90 days, which is an incredible improvement from the decades or centuries it can take some types of plastic pods to break down!

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Instead of plastics which can also leech chemicals into your coffee when hot water is forced through them, the BetterBrew Eco Coffee Pod uses a filter, just like the way a standard percolator coffee is brewed. Beyond coming up with a more eco-friendly single serve pod, Cameron’s also roasts their beans in the most energy efficient ways. They’re dedicated to eliminating as much water waste in production as possible, which is definitely more ecologically responsible than the average coffee company.

One of the things which most interested me in the BetterBrew Eco Coffee Pods was the fact that they’re organic. Cameron’s also invests in sustainable sourcing by buying Organic, Rainforest Alliance, and Shade Grown coffees sourced from farms in some of the most remote areas of the world. Most places that I stay when traveling only have Keurig-type coffee makers, and I like to be able to still have organic coffee when I’m on the go. The fact that these are also compostable really won me over for my travel coffee needs.

What do you think? Would a greener alternative to plastic coffee pods be useful in your life? Would you visit Cameron’s Coffee and make the #BetterTasteLessWaste pledge to reduce plastic waste?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

This post is sponsored by Cameron’s Specialty Coffee – all opinions expressed are my own.

Laptop Lunches Bento Box Lunchbox Giveaway

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I have another fantastic giveaway for you today! A giveaway that is perfect for the kiddos in your life. The prize is away 2 Laptop Lunches Bento-ware lunchboxes – which means there will be two winners!

Laptop Lunches Bento-ware lunchboxes are mix and match with three lidded water-tight containers and two unlidded containers. These are fun lunchboxes that are BPA free and perfect for those school lunches! Eben used his Laptop Lunches Bento-ware boxes all through elementary school. We were a big fan of them because they were very easy for him to pack and open himself.

Laptop Lunches offers a lot of fun menu ideas and recipes on their website too – which just making packing lunch even more fun!

To enter leave a comment telling me who you will give your laptop lunches bento-ware lunchbox! The winner will be announced on December 10th!

Gluten-Free Cookbook Library Giveaway

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Today’s giveaway is a great one for gluten-free gift getters on your holiday list! I have gathered a trio of my favorite gluten-free cookbooks for this giveaway.

This giveaway includes:

  1. Gluten Freedom by Susie Flaherty
    Distinguishing scientific fact from myth, Gluten Freedom explains the latest research, diagnostic procedures, and treatment/diet recommendations, helping consumers make the best choices for themselves and their families. Gluten Freedom also discusses gluten and its impact on symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and “foggy mind,” as well as behavioral conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder and schizophrenia.
  2. The Complete Series: Gluten Free by Lola Workman
    Cooking is not only about presenting great food on the table, but it is also about sharing the occasion with family and friends. With the Complete Series, you ll find simple recipes that taste sensational and are easy to prepare, leaving you with plenty of time for life s little pleasures.
  3. Gluten-Free Family Favorites by Kelli & Peter Bronski
    Cooking and sharing meals is something every family should be able to enjoy together—even if one or more family members eats gluten-free. If your household is avoiding gluten, this book will lead the way to recreating your family’s old favorites, and introduce you to a few new ones, too!

To enter, check out these great gluten-free cookbooks and leave a comment below! The winner will be announced on December 10th. Good luck!

Huge Healthy Cookbook Library Giveaway

Sweet-Greens-Holiday-Giveawcookbook-library-1Today’s giveaway is for all of you foodies out there! I know you’ll go crazy for it! It’s a huge healthy cookbook library – with 13 beautiful cookbooks worth over $300!

This cookbook library includes a variety of excellent recipes for everyone’s palette. Here is a breakdown of the amazing cookbooks this library includes.

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  1. Better Food for Dogs (A Complete Cookbook & Nutrition Guide) by David Bastin, Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Grant Nixon, D.V.M.
    People want their dogs to have happy, healthy and long lives and providing the best nutrition is one of the most important steps you can take toward achieving this goal. The problem is most of us aren’t nutritionists and there are so many conflicting opinions about dog’s dietary needs that feeding your dog can become an overwhelming challenge. Better Food for Dogs is an invaluable reference that will guide you through this nutritional puzzle. It also provides you with all the information — complete with tasty recipes, tested and approved by dogs — you need to feed your dog a natural home-prepared diet, one of the best investments you can make in his/her health.
  1. The Complete Coconut Cookbook by Camilla V. Saulsbury
    Coconut is all over the news — and the shelves of supermarkets. Formerly relegated to the role of decadent treat, coconut is now embraced with an enthusiasm that borders on obsession. And it’s no wonder, given its smooth, creamy texture and the compelling health and nutrition benefits of pure coconut. Everyone from hardcore health-foodies to recreational cooks — and everyone in between — will enjoy these all-natural, high-energy, top-notch, easy-to-make coconut dishes. The 200 innovative recipes cover a broad spectrum of fresh flavors and provide delicious and dependable results.
  2. The Smoothies Bible by Pat Crocker
    Drinking smoothies is the fastest, easiest and best-tasting way to achieve good health. In addition to its original 250 smoothie recipes, this new edition of The Smoothies Bible introduces 100 fresh, new recipes with even more antioxidant fruits and vegetables — even classic cocktails with and without alcohol. However, Crocker retains her original premise: smoothies are a delicious part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
  3. 200 Best Panini Recipes by Tiffany Collins
    The fresh, robust flavors of Italian grilled sandwiches. A panini is an Italian-inspired pressed sandwich enjoyed throughout Italy and, increasingly, in North American cafés, restaurants and kitchens. Italians regard panini as fast food thanks to its easy preparation, which also accounts for its success in North America. Sales of panini makers have skyrocketed, with small appliance manufacturers releasing new models each year.
  4. 150 Best dips and Salsa by Judith Finlayson & Jordan Wagman
    Packed with mouthwatering recipes, this book is all you’ll ever need to get any occasion off to a memorable start. Dips and salsas are the most sociable of recipes. They’re a great catalyst for getting a party off to a good start because they encourage guests to congregate around while scooping and munching.
  5. Tasting the Seasons by Kerry Dunnington
    Tasting the Seasons includes an impressive variety of fast and fresh, irresistible, user-friendly recipes: family-oriented one-dish wonders, updated classics, and creative gourmet entrees – all presented with a steady focus on how to identify, select, and prepare foods using ecologically sound principles. Gathered in a highly readable and entertaining format with humorous culinary-related stories are nearly 250 recipes for superbly seasoned, beautifully presented meals to serve as the center of any occasion, from an intimate family dinner to a large holiday celebration.
  6. The Healthy Slow Cooker by Judith Finlayson
    The first edition was incredibly successful having sold close to 95,000 copies! Definitions of healthy eating have changed quite dramatically since The Healthy Slow Cooker was first published in 2006. In those days, it was one size fits all — low fat, low calorie and no saturated fat. Since then, there’s been a shift in thinking. Many leading experts now feel that many of our modern diseases are directly associated with the consumption of wheat and advocate reducing carbohydrates. Another significant development is that the evidence against saturated fat has been gradually diminishing.
  7. The World’s 60 Best Salads Period
    In The World’s 60 Best Salads… Period, discover main dish and entrée salads that are colorful, easy to prepare, and absolutely delicious, as well as the best ingredient combinations, new techniques, and foolproof tips and tricks, accompanied by stunning photos that will tempt your taste buds.
  8. The World’s 60 Best Lunches Period
    In The World’s 60 Best Lunches, discover fun-to-eat lunches for kids and adults alike, great packed lunch options to make your midday meal something to look forward to, and original ideas for eating lunch on the go, as well as the best ingredient combinations, new techniques, and foolproof tips and tricks, accompanied by stunning photos that will tempt your taste buds.
  9. The World’s 60 Best Recipes for Students Period
    In The World’s 60 Best Recipes for Students, discover creative, delicious ideas for limited budgets and big appetites and recipes for every occasion, as well as the best ingredient combinations, new techniques, and foolproof tips and tricks, accompanied by stunning photos that will tempt your taste buds.
  10. The World’s 60 Best Skewers
    In The World’s 60 Best Skewers… Period, discover the very best kebab recipes, original side dish and presentation ideas, and sure-fire methods for making the tastiest marinades, as well as the best ingredient combinations, new techniques, and foolproof tips and tricks, accompanied by stunning photos that will tempt your taste buds.
  11. The 100 Best Decorated Cookies by Julie Anne Hession
    Hand-crafted cookies from your kitchen are perfect for any occasion! Whether you’re an occasional holiday home baker or a seasoned pro, you’ll absolutely delight in Julie’s designs and ideas. This fun and creative book features tempting cookie decorating ideas for a wide array of occasions and holidays.
  12. Organic: Farmers and Chefs of the Hudson Valley by Francesco Mastalia
    The Hudson Valley, New York has become an epicenter for the local, organic, sustainable food movement. With its rich agricultural land, the awareness for sustainable living, and the growing demand for local, organic food, the farm-to-table, locavore movement has become a way of life in the Hudson Valley. Organic spotlights the Hudson Valley as a region at the forefront of this movement and features the portraits and words of the dedicated farmers who are committed to growing and producing food using sustainable methods, and the chefs who echo their beliefs and pay homage to the food they produce.

Visit the links above to check out these fantastic books and leave a comment to enter – I’d love to hear what items you will pick out if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on December 17th. Good luck!