good2grow Juice Review

If you guys have been with me for awhile, you may remember me talking about BzzAgent. I get a sample or a coupon for a product to review and I also get coupons to share. (For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post.)  When I think it might be something you would be interested in, I blog about it too!

My latest Bzz Kit was a juice drink called good2grow. I had noticed the brand at the store with a 6 pack of juice bottles and also single bottles with character toppers. The bottles were next to other topper style bottles that were full of added sugar, so I had passed them by. However, when the BzzAgent offered a chance at a drink to "help make drinking healthy fun", I was excited to have the boys try it. I was even more surprised that it was a juice that I had seen before.

The boys first tried the strawberry-kiwi and loved it! I had one Capri Sun Super V (Fruit Punch) left and asked them which they liked better. They picked the good2grow. When I asked what if the V came in a bottle and topper too, they said they would still like the good2grow better. 

The boys are at an age where (most of the time) they can hold the juice pouches/boxes and not squeeze too hard and squirt juice all over. However, they still liked the caps since it is easier to drink from a smaller hole than just an open bottle. The caps are supposed to be leak-proof and dishwasher safe, which is nice.  

If you remember my cereal comparison post, we are trying to eat healthier and are reading food labels. I had been giving the boys Capri Sun Super V juice. I figure that on the occasions they are going to drink juice, it might as well have a serving of veggies/fruit with it. Both the Capri Sun Super V Fruit Punch and the good2grow Tropical Fruit Medley claimed to provide a combined serving of fruits and vegetables in one serving of juice. I had also just bought an Honest Kids Fruit Punch (organic). My ideal juice would be made without GMO's, no corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup, no artificial sweeteners, and would have a serving of veggies/fruit, and also be organic. (Not too picky, right?) Usually the boys get milk and water for their drinks and juice is for special occasions (birthdays, playdates, parties). I wanted to take a closer look and see which juice would provide the biggest benefit for my kids. 

My comparison chart (click to enlarge)

I love it when I can understand the ingredient list and not have to look up what something is. However, there was one ingredient in the Capri Sun Super V that I wasn't sure on: Soluble Corn Fiber. I had to look this one up. According to webmd.com "Soluble corn fiber, which replaces traditional sweeteners as well as adding fiber, is also turning up on ingredient lists." I still had no idea what it really was. It was not easy to find, but some sites claim that "soluble corn fiber" is really just relabeled corn syrup! I found it hard to find a straight answer, but finally found something on Promitor's website, a large manufacturer of soluble corn fiber. On one of their information pages, I found this information: "Can be labeled as “soluble corn fiber,” “corn syrup” or “corn syrup solids,” making it extremely consumer friendly compared to other fibers currently on the market". I was annoyed at myself for not reading the label better before and at the company for renaming corn syrup. I felt like they were trying to hide it in the ingredient list. 

I wanted to be sure the boys were picking their favorite juice based on taste, not on cool character tops, so I decided to do a blind taste test to see which they really liked better! I marked blue plastic cups with numbers 1, 2, and 3. I marked the matching number on the juice container. I poured a little bit in each one and let them taste. The good2grow came out victorious. I tasted them all as well. Both the good2grow and Capri Sun Super V had a pretty good taste. The Honest Kids had a very, very faint flavor. It tasted more like water with a hint of watermelon.

From what I read, my label comparisons and the taste test, I think the good2grow is a great juice to offer my kids. I am going to stop buying the Capri Sun due to the corn syrup (aka soluble corn fiber) that is in the drink. The Honest Kids offers another good alternative, but it doesn't state that the juice contains a serving of fruits/veggies. 

BONUS!: If you have tried good2grow and liked it, they have a giveaway right now. You can enter at http://win.good2grow.com/bzzagent for a chance to win a birthday party with your choice of caps and $500!

NOTE:The good2grow single drink with the topper was $2.59 and the 6 pack refill pack $3.49 at my local grocery store. 

LINKS:
Capri Sun, Kraft 
good2grow
Honest Kids Fruit Punch, Honest Tea
American Academy of Pediatrics Juice Recommendations


*In the interest of full disclosure: I received free products for this review, as well as coupons to hand out to friends and family. However, the views presented are my honest opinions and receipt of product did not affect my views/opinion.

Ingredients/Nutrition Facts

The Picture Keeper: A Review

I am slightly addicted to taking pictures. I always have a camera with me because I never know when the kids are going to do something crazy or we might stumble upon something fun. I also try to keep the pictures backed up in a few different locations (computer, online, and a USB drive) in case the computer crashes or my USB drive breaks or malfunctions. Both of these have happened and I have lost many photos from our earlier years of being married.

Recently, I was asked by www.MailPix.com to try out a new product that they partnered with. It is called the Picture Keeper and it is a PC and Mac compatible USB device that automatically finds photos on your computer and stores them on the device. Whenever you download new pictures to your computer, you just plug the device in and it only adds the new pictures. (Right now MailPix is offering a free Picture Keeper 4 with an order. You do however pay the shipping of the Picture Keeper.)

The Picture Keeper comes in various sizes of storage. I received the PK-4 to review, which is the smallest device and costs $29.99. The largest one is the PK-Pro which costs $189.99. It was pretty simple to use. You plug the device in and either click the Open Folder To View Files on the AutoPlay box that pops up or find the device under My Computer. Next, click the LaunchPictureKeeper (it has the Picture Keeper logo picture). Once the box opens, click Start Backup.

I had 2389 pictures on my computer, which varied from 17 KB to 3.97 MB in size (I use an iPad and a 16 MP camera). The PK-4 held 1155 of my pictures, which took 11 minutes to copy to the device. If I wanted to backup the rest of the pictures, I would need to purchase an additional Picture Keeper. The new device is supposed to pick up where the other one left off. For my uses, I would need a larger sized Picture Keeper because I have lots of pictures and they tend to be larger in size. For someone who doesn't use a larger sized megapixel camera or take a lot of pictures, a smaller sized device would work well. To find out which size you need, click the Start button on your computer. Right click on Pictures/My Pictures and then click on Properties. Look for Size On Disk or Size Of Files In Library to see how much memory your pictures are using.

I also have pictures on my iPad, which does not have a USB drive on it. Picture Keeper has an app at the App Store for $1.99 that will take pictures from your iPhone or iPad and send them to your computer (search for "picturekeeper"). However, your computer must have the free Picture Keeper Helper software downloaded first. Their website says that an Android App will be coming soon.

The great thing about the Picture Keeper is that you can use it on multiple computers, as well as a PC and a Mac. Picture Keeper also offers a download to purchase so that you can buy your own USB device and save the software and pictures to your USB. After you download pictures to the Picture Keeper, you could also use it in digital photo frames! I've had mine for a few weeks and so far have been able to access the pictures without any problems. The Picture Keeper is a thin USB, so it doesn't take up as much room as a separate hard drive and I think it would make a nice backup option for your pictures.

Caffinated Review: Green Mountain Coffee Review

I recently received some free samples of Green Mountain Coffee. I am a BzzAgent; I get a sample or a coupon for a product, along with coupons to share. (For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post.)  

I had heard of and seen Green Mountain Coffee before, but had not bought it. I love coffee. I probably drink a pot of coffee a day. My husband also drinks coffee, although maybe not as much. We go through a lot of coffee. Normally I buy *gasp* the store brand, or name brands when they go on sale. However, we are buying more organic and natural foods when we can. When I got the invitation to try Green Mountain, it seemed like a great fit.

Green Mountain Coffee offers a large variety of Fair Trade Certified coffees. What's the big deal about Fair Trade? Well, it helps the farmers with improved working conditions, a fair price for their goods, supports the local community (roads, schools, water), and also helps protect the environment. Not all of Green Mountain's coffees are Fair Trade Certified, although they have a large variety that are. They do offer organic coffee as well, and according to their website are trying to increase consumer awareness of organic, Rainforest Alliance, and Certified Fair Trade coffees.

I know, all that is great..but how did it taste? I received a sample of the House Blend. The coffee smelled great and made a nice cup of coffee. It was slightly stronger than the store brand House Blend, both in color and taste. Hubby seemed to like it too; in fact, I think he got more of the coffee than I did!

It is available at local groceries stores and on Amazon.com. It comes in a lot of different styles and flavors. There is the whole bean and ground bag coffee, Keurig Vue packs, as well as the Keurig K-Cup packs. The packs vary in price based on the size of the box. A 12 ounce bag costs about $8 at my local grocery store.

This was just my taste opinion. If you try it, please post your feedback in the comments section!

Here are the links to the K-Cup packs on Amazon:
Breakfast Blend
Breakfast Blend Decaf
Dark Magic (extra bold)
Nantucket Blend
Caramel Vanilla Cream
Hazelnut
Hazelnut Decaf
French Vanilla
Wild Mountain Blueberry
Half-Caff
Vermont Country Blend
Colombian Select
Sumatran Reserve (extra bold)
Kenyan AA
Double Black Diamond (extra bold)
Pumpkin Spice, seasonal
Spicy Eggnog, seasonal
Gingerbread, seasonal
Golden French Toast, seasonal


LINKS:
Green Mountain Coffee, Wiki
GreenMountainCoffee.com

Glade Expressions Review

I recently received coupons for a free Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser starter kit and a free Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist starter kit. I am a BzzAgent; I get a sample or a coupon for a product, along with coupons to share. (For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post.)  There are several different Glade scents available. For the Oil Diffuser, I chose Lavender & Juniper Berry. For the Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist, I chose the Fuji Apple & Cardamon Spice.

My Glade Expressions Selections

I placed the Oil Diffuser in the bathroom (I live with hubby and 2 boys after all). The Diffuser was easy to assemble and had a nice design to it. At first, it smelled a little like the Linen scent, with a hint of lavender. The smell did travel throughout the adjacent rooms. I can be sensitive to strong scents, especially floral scents. They can give me a headache. I found this to be the case with the Lavender & Juniper Berry Diffuser. I ended up having to get rid of the diffuser and my headache stopped almost instantly. It may work better for someone less sensitive to strong odors.

I then placed the Mist in the kitchen for use in the rest of the house. I loved the Apple and Cardamon Spice scent! It reminded me of Fall; kind of like a spiced cider smell. I really liked the scent, and will be buying the mist again. The Mister also has a sleek design; you can remove the outer wrapper so your air scent mister blends better into the surroundings and doesn't stand out too much.

UNREAL Candy Review

I was recently given a coupon for a free piece of UNREAL candy. (I am a BzzAgent; I get a free sample or a coupon for a product, along with coupons to share. For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post!) I had seen the colorfully wrapped candies at some of the local stores, but hadn't tried them before. I also didn't know too much about them, so I went on their website and did some reading. The UNREAL brand is made with less sugar and the colors come from natural plants (purple and red from beets, orange from achiote tree seed, yellow from turmeric root, blue from cabbage, green from cabbage and turmeric root). It also has no preservatives, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, GMO's (genetically modified organism), artificial colors or flavors.

I chose the UNREAL8 ($1.19 at Michael's), the equivalent to a Snickers. I also bought a Snickers bar to do a side by side comparison (purely for research purposes only, of course). The Snickers bar was slightly bigger and definitely had a sweeter taste. The UNREAL8 bar had more of a subtle sweetness. You could taste more of the flavors instead of just a super sweet taste like the Snickers. I cut the bars up and gave a piece of each to the boys. They loved both of the candy bars; they didn't even notice a difference between them! I will definitely buy the UNREAL candy again and can't wait to try the other varieties!

Here's a chart of the nutritional information:

Here is an adjusted chart of nutritional info. I adjusted the info to make the UNREAL8 bar the same size as the Snickers.

LINKS:
http://getunreal.com/unreal-candy/unreal-54/

*These are just my opinions. I receive free samples from BuzzAgent, but am in no way compensated otherwise.

Be. Wine Review

I am a BzzAgent; I get a sample or a coupon for a product, along with coupons to share. (For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post.)


Recently, I received a Bzz kit for Be. Wines. The kit came with some Be labeled products (lip gloss, nail file,  mints, and a small mirror) and mail in rebates for the wine.

There are 4 varieties for the Be. Wines:

• Be. Flirty Pink Moscato: "rich berry and delicate floral notes"
• Be. Bright Pinot Grigio: "sun-ripened citrus flavors and zesty hints of citrus"
• Be. Fresh Chardonnay: "crisp green apple flavors and zesty hints of citrus"
• Be. Radiant Riesling: "tantalizing fruit flavors and bright floral notes"

I was in the mood for something sweet, so I picked the Pink Moscato and let it chill for a couple hours until dinner. (Ok, so it didn't really pair with dinner, but I really wanted to try it.) It is definitely a sweet wine. It is great for sitting around, sipping while talking with hubby or friends, or reading a good book. It leaves a nice slightly sweet aftertaste, nothing too strong. Most of the time when I read wine descriptions, I can't taste whatever they described. (I always fall for ones that state chocolate in the taste description and am pretty much always disappointed.) This time, I could actually taste berry type of flavors in the Pink Moscato! 

This is one wine I will definitely be buying again! If you like sweet wines, give it a try :)

It must be good! The bottle's almost gone and I usually
don't drink that much!

*These are just my opinions. I receive free samples from BuzzAgent, but am in no way compensated otherwise.

Mozaik Product Review

My Samples

Have you heard of Mozaik? I hadn't until I received a sample from a BzzAgent campaign. (I signed up to be a BzzAgent a few years ago. If you want to know a little more about it, check out my Freebies for Adults post.)

Mozaik is a band of disposable (plastic), yet stylish, party ware. They sell bowls, platters, silverware, plates, and serving utensils. In my sample I received an 8 person service set and 24 appetizer forks. The 8 person set included dinner plates, salad/dessert plates, forks, spoons, and knives for 8 people. The 8-service set runs about $9.99 on Amazon. The plates were white with two silver edges, and the silverware was...well...silver. I usually have several parties or other events a year, but didn't have any coming up in the next month or so. We did,however, have plans to go to a picnic with some good friends of ours, so I brought the plates and silverware along!

Our friends grilled some amazing burgers. We brought a salad, snacks, and some containers of applesauce and fruit. The plates held up really well under the weight. The kids picked out the small plates and appetizer forks to use for their dinners! I think it made the picnic seem more special with "fancy" plates than just plain paper plates we usually use.

I wish I knew about these before; they really resemble my china pattern! (I have used my china exactly once since we were married for a Thanksgiving dinner. Hand-washing all the china and silver was a pain in the butt and I haven't used it since.) I will definitely be buying these again, especially for special dinners like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Pepsi Next Review

I am a BzzAgent. I signed up for free several years ago, and now get free samples of products to try and review. I usually get a sample of the product or a coupon for a free item and coupons to share. (For more info on BzzAgent, check out my Freebies For Adults post.)

This week, I received my bee covered box for Pepsi Next. It's supposed to have 60% less sugar than regular Pepsi. Inside my box was a can of Pepsi Next, a coupon for a free 2 liter of Pepsi Next, $0.50 off coupons to share, and a pen (Woo-hoo! I am a pen freak. I love pens, especially ones with a comfy grip. I know..I'm a little weird).

It seems to be a mix between regular and diet soda. Diet soda of course has 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugar. Regular soda...not so much. Pepsi Next has 60 calories, 16g carbs, 15 g sugar. It has high fructose corn syrup and aspartame listed under the ingredients. It tastes smoother than diet soda, although I did notice an extremely slight bite like a diet soda. (I probably wouldn't even notice it except I was concentrating on the taste to review it.) After trying it, I would be willing to buy it again for special occasions like parties. However, I probably would not drink it every day due to the aspartame. I have been trying to steer away from products with aspartame in the ingredients due to some of the long term health concerns that have been linked to the artificial sweetener.

These are just my opinions. I receive free samples from BuzzAgent, but am in no way compensated otherwise.

My Relationship with Laundry

I HATE laundry. Well, the actual throwing in and out of the washer and dryer is fine. I really don't like folding for some reason (hence why the "sock basket" never seems to completely folded). I also really, really don't like sorting. My Mom sorted laundry and I remember having to sort the darks and lights as a kid, but now I just don't see the need. I tell myself it's a cost saving option (it's cheaper to wash in cold water than to heat up the hot water to wash), but really I just don't like doing it.

I received a free sample of the Shout Color Catcher Sheets awhile back, but hadn't used them yet (because colors generally don't run in cold water). I decided to give them a try though because I was curious. I threw in some of my husband's white T-shirts, a red shirt, a few black shirts, a pair of blue jeans, and a few other random items. I washed on Hot on the Heavy Soil option. When I pulled the laundry out, the white shirts were still white and the sheet had turned from white to grey. I still have one sample left, and I may buy a few to have on hand. That way, if I do occasionally throw a load in on hot, I won't turn my husband's white socks pink again.

I Love Mr. Clean!

Have you ever had the feeling it was too quiet? I had that feeling the other day and decided to check on my son, who was supposed to be napping. He apparently had decided to sneak a crayon (of course he managed to find one of few non-erasable ones we have) into his room at nap time, which I found on his bedroom door, closet door, and wooden bedframe.

My normal go-to's of cleaners and even diaper wipes (they clean amazingly well) did not work. I found a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser hiding in the cleaning box and gave it a try on the crayon marks. It worked! My new goal, other than checking his pockets before he goes to bed, is to always have a magic eraser in the house.

Yesterday, he made this mess, which cleaned up with just a diaper wipe (this time it was an erasable crayon).