Ripple Pea Milk - product review

Here I go trying another Ripple product. Based on my last encounter with the Ripple Greek Yogurt Alternative, I was not hopeful. That yogurt was gross! I guess I was feeling adventurous or something and thought, why not. I am happy to report the the Ripple Nutritious Pea Milk was better. It still wasn't absolutely delicious, but much better. I tried the chocolate flavor milk. I can't speak for how the regular milk would taste.

So, here are my pros and cons of the product. Pro: It smells good when you open it, just like chocolate milk should. It doesn't have a strange color cause it is brown from the cocoa. I think the regular milk is a strange light brown color. It has a really smooth and silky texture. Basically the same texture as regular chocolate milk that you would buy premixed at the store. For the most part it tastes good. It has great nutrition. And now the Cons: There is still a bit of pea aftertaste. That is just really hard to get past for me. It isn't cheap. Overall, for someone who follows a vegan diet or someone who is lactose intolerant, this could be a good alternative for them if they like chocolate milk.

#RippleMilk #MtMAgazineSharing #FreeSamp

Anything For Your Pet - product review

*Disclaimer: I received products for free in exchange for my review. The opinions expressed are completely mine.

Thanks to Kroger's MyMagazineSharingNetwork I received some free products for my cats. I received1;

• ONE (1) Free Meow Mix® Simple Servings™, 2 pk., 2.6 oz.
• ONE (1) Free Coupon for Purina® Friskies® Party Mix® Gravy-licious Cat Treats
• ONE (1) Free Coupon for Purina ONE® True Instinct Cat Food

So, let's just go down the list and I'll share my thoughts on it. First, the Meow Mix Simple Servings. I thought I would try these out when I was trying to get the cats to stay in one place while I applied their flea medication, they aren't fans of getting the med. My plan however failed. They didn't seem to care about the food at all. Usually they only get soft cat food as a treat, so I assumed they would be all about it. Guess not. I left it unattended for a minute though and the dog got it. She thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Second, the Purina Friskies Party Mix Gravy-licious Cat Treats, these are ok. Just another typical cat treat, nothing special. My cats like these and will eat them. 

Last, the Purina One True Instinct Cat Food, this is great. There are several things to like about this cat food. It is grain free, no fillers, made in the USA, and my cats loved it. I have tried other grain free cat foods in the past and they have not been fans, They are this one right up. I would definitely consider buying this cat food for them more often. 

#ForYourPets #MyMagazineSharing #FreeSamp

Dr. Praegers Black Bean Chipotle Pollock Burgers -- product review

*Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are completely mine though.

Unlike the last product that I reviewed for the MyMagazineSharingNetwork (Ripple Greek Yogurt Alternative -- bad, just bad), Dr. Praeger's Black Bean Chipotle Pollock Burgers were super yummy. I was skeptical before I even tried this product. It seems like, for myself at least, frozen seafood product can be a hit or a miss. I like fish and I am trying to eat more of it on a regular basis because it is so good for you. I have tried some other fish "burgers" in the past though and have been disappointed in them. So, when I tried these, I was pleasantly surprised. In fact I scarfed down my whole burger, and not just because I was hungry. It was that good!

Now, I haven't tried any of the other products from Dr. Praeger's, so I can't tell you they are all good. But, based on the Black Bean Chipolte Burgers I would be more than willing to try more of the products. They have other good things going for them besides the great taste though, such as: sustainably caught fish, several gluten free products, good for you ingredients, individual packaging for the burgers, and the list goes on. I would highly recommend Dr. Praeger's products.

Ripple -- product review

*Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product in exchange for my review. The opinions expressed are all mine.

Thanks to the MyMagazine Sharing Network I have had the opportunity to try and review a lot of great product. And then there was this one. This product review is for Ripple Greek Yogurt Alternative. This may be my first not so positive review.

Fist off, I love Greek yogurt. I eat it often. Ripple Greek Yogurt Alternative is a little different though. Here is a quick overview of the product. It is dairy free (great for people with dairy issues), it has plant based protein (vegan friendly), gluten free, and has the same benefits of Greek yogurt. Those things are all great if you need that in your diet. I however do not require any of those.

Here is the down side (in my opinion at least.) The taste is terrible. Pea protein is the main plant based protein that is used, and you can taste it. This tasted like peas mixed with yogurt. It was not good at all and it let a very unpleasant aftertaste. I tried both the vanilla and strawberry flavor and could not eat a whole container of either one. I tried several bites of the vanilla and just one of the strawberry. I just could not get past the taste.  Ripple is a no-go for me.

#mymagazinesharing #ripplegreekyogurtalternative

MTN DEW ICE -- product review

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliated links. I received a free product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are completely mine.

First of all, these days I do not drink very much pop. For the most part I have cut it out of my daily diet. I will occasionally have a pop when I am really craving it, when I get fast food and it comes with the meal, or when there is really good root beer involved. Secondly, I very very rarely drink MTN DEW. Now, back in the day, I was a regular, multiple times a day pop consumer. And this included just about any kind of pop.

Through Kroger's MyMagazine Sharing Network I received the opportunity to try the new MTN DEW ICE. So, I received my free sample and I did drink the whole bottle of it.

 

So, here is what I thought about it. Initially, I liked the taste of it. It was a crisp lemon lime flavor, much like most other citrus type sodas. Cool, crisp, and refreshing just as it should be. It does have the added bonus of caffeine (a signature of MTN DEW.) Most other citus sodas do not contain caffeine. So, it you want that extra boost, but like lemon lime pop, this is a good choice. Here is what I didn't like about it, the aftertaste. To me the aftertaste was very artificial or chemically. I'm not sure if I noticed this because I don't usually drink MTN DEW at all or because this is just how it tastes. Overall, I think if MTN DEW is your thing then give the new MT DEW ICE a try.

#MTDEWICE #MYMAGAZINESHARING #AD 

Kroger's New Spa Line, Facial Masks -- product review

Kroger has a new line of spa products out. As a member of the MyMagazineSharingNetwork, I was given a free sample of the facial sheet masks and under-eye care product to try. I like beauty products and don't get to pamper my self with things like face masks as much as I would like to, so I was all up to try these out.
 
I have now tried two of the products. First, was the Brighten Under Eye Care. These were easy to use. Just two little patches that you place under the eye area and leave on for 20 minutes. When done, peel off and pat in any leftover liquid. They felt a bit weird, but not too bad. Let's be honest, as a mom of a toddler who still doesn't sleep through the night, I can use some under eye care. I don't know that these made a huge difference, but the area under my eyes was a bit brighter or shinier after using the product. I would possibly try these again.

Next, I tried the Deep Clean Facial Sheet Mask. This was my first time using a mask like this. It was an interesting experience. I don't really know that I would be up for using another one of these. First of all it was cold on the face. That may have been nice in the summer, but in the winter, no, Second, it just felt awkward on the face. You are suppose to leave it on for 20 minutes. I lasted maybe 15, and was done. Third, I looked like something from a scary movie. Seriously. Good thing my toddler was still sleeping when I tried this out.
 
I don't think my skin felt any cleaner when I was done. It does fell smooth and moisturized though, that is good. Overall, not sure the facial sheet mask is for me. I think some people would enjoy it though. They are inexpensive, so it is worth a try.

There are other products available in Kroger's New Spa Line as well. I think I would really enjoy some of the other products, like the Epson salt bath soaks, or the relaxing lotion. Those sound really nice to me. I'll pass on the facial sheet mask though. #KrogerSpaLine #MyMagazineSharing

Baby my Baby - product review

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliated links. I received free samples of products and coupons for products in exchange for my review. All statements and opinions are my own.

Through Kroger' program MyMagazineSharingNetwork I received a group of products and coupons for products all baby related. These products are perfect for my house considering I have a toddler and we are still in the diaper, wipes, and baby food phase. The main question they are wanting answered is this: How do you baby your baby? I've com up with some of the go to item that we use and love. I'm also including some non product related ways that I baby my baby.

We are now at a stage that we generally use the same kind of diapers on Kizzy consistently. When she was younger it didn't seem to matter as much and I went with what was on sale and what I have good coupons for. I still try to catch sales and use coupons, but we use mainly these diapers.

• Huggies Little Movers Slip on Diapers. Kizzy doesn't like to hold still for diaper changes and these make it so much easier. 
• Pampers Baby Dry diapers. These are great for night time. Kizzy can go all night without being changed and not have a leaky diaper. 
• Huggies OverNights diapers. These also work well for night time diapers. 

Food is another area where we have some favorite items.

• Similac formula. When Kizzy was on formula as her only food source we gave her Similac Advance and it worked great for her. 
• Yogurt Dots or Yogurt Bites. My child loves these! We don't have a specific brand that we get. Gerber and Beechnut make some good ones though. They also have some that are fruit and veggie dots. We like those too. 
• Spaghetti-Os. Maybe not the healthiest thing, but Kizzy will actually eat them. Kizzy has been very slow to eat solid foods, so any food that she will eat well is a winner for us. 
• Food Pouches. Again, there are a lot of great choices. When Kizzy first started eating baby food I thought I would make her food myself. Well that didn't last long. Making your own is great cause you know exactly what goes into it, but sometimes convenience wins. Now days there are so many great options in the world of baby food and it is pretty affordable as well. One in particular that Kizzy seems to enjoy a lot is Kroger's Comforts for Baby Banana Blueberry and Oat food pouch. 

Other products that we love and use.

• Johnson's Baby Shampoo with Lavender. Not only is this relaxing for evening baths, but it leaves Kizzy's hair smelling so good. 
• Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller. Easily the most used item we bought for Kizzy. I use this stroller daily. It has held up great and it is super easy to maneuver. It is also quite affordable compared to other jogging strollers. 

Others ways that I baby my baby.

• Plenty of play time. I believe that this is important for Kizzy's development. 
• Daily walks. We all need the fresh air. 
• Reading to her. I want her to have a good vocabulary and to be a reader herself. 
• Learning and play time outside of the home. I have recently started taking Kizzy to a weekly Preschool Play time at our local library. Look into your local libraries to see what activities they offer. 
• Plenty of snuggle time. Kizzy is a snuggle baby and she gets plenty of snuggles every day.

So, there are just a few of the ways that I Baby my Baby.

#BabyMyBaby #MyMagazineSharing

Nature's Recipe Dog Food -- product review

*This post contains affiliated links. I was given a free sample of the product in exchange for my review. The opinions stated are all mine though.

Thanks for Kroger's MySharingNetwork I had the opportunity to try a new dog food by Nature's Recipe. Ok, my dog was the one who gave it a try. I'll pass on sampling dog food. My toddler would b more than happy to try some though. Thankfully my dog liked this food so much that Kizzy didn't have to chance to sample it.

We tried Nature's Recipe Grain Free in the pumpkin and salmon flavor. It was a hit! Previously, like since we got our dog, Kona, seven years ago, we have mostly fed her another popular brand of dog food. Most of the time she will eat it ok, but sometimes gets picky. It was not a grain free dog food though. And while grain free dog foo tend to be a bit more expensive due to them not having a bunch of filler product, they are worth it. 

Kona suffers from doggy allergies and dry skin, which makes her an itchy mess. We get her an allergy shot once a year to take care of that issue, but her vet recommends that we give her fish oil daily for her dry skin. This dog food contains Omega 3s and with it I don't have to put fish oil on her food everyday. So, because of how good this food is for Kona and how much she likes it, we are making the switch to Nature's Recipe. 

Private Selection -- Product Review

*This post contains affiliated links. I received these products for free in exchange for my honest review.

Summer is upon us, and with that comes summer food. Cookouts, salads, watermelon, ice cream, and the list goes on. Kroger has a line of products under the label Private Selection. I have tried many of the Private Selection items before as I am a regular Kroger shopper. With their #MyMagazineSharing program I was able to try two more products. I received full sized samples of their Green Chile Ranch Seasoning Rub and their Texas Inspired BBQ Kettle Potato Chips.

First, lets talk about he potato chips for a quick minute. I generally do not pick BBQ flavored chips if I am buying chips. I do really like kettle style potato chips though. These Texas Inspired BBQ Kettle Potato Chips were very tasty. There was a bit of tang to them. I don't know if that is generally true of Texan BBQ as I am not a Texan, not even close. I did eat my share of these chips, but my husband was the one who was really into them. He finished off the bag. (Please see the above picture of the crumpled bag that I dug out of the trash in order to get a picture of it.) So, these chips passed the taste test at our house and I would purchase them again.

Second, the Green Chile Ranch Seasoning Rub. Ok, I do not usually cook with a lot of spice mixes. I just use my general spices most of the time. Their is some convenience to spice mixes or rubs though. I actually tried this out two different ways. I first tried the rub on some chicken breasted that I just roasted in the oven. That turned out just ok. The second time that I tried the spice rub it 1 used it in my Southwest Chicken Salad. The flavor went great with the salad and was really good. Here is what I put into my salad, which is a quick summer favorite around this house.

Southwest Chicken Salad

• chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 can of drained and rinsed black beans
• 1 can of drained corn, can also use fresh of thawed frozen
• 1 tomato sliced
• 1 diced avocado
•  2 chicken breasts grilled and sliced. Use whatever seasoning you would like. 
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Southwest ranch dressing
• Optional things that you can add to the salad are croutons, green pepper, onion, tortilla strips, cilantro, salsa, sour cream