Monkey Mat: Product Review

I'm that girl who keeps a stack of blankets in her trunk. I mean, you never know when the mood to hit the beach, watch some fireworks, have a picnic, or see a concert might strike—and I believe in being prepared. That's carried over from young adulthood to slightly-older adulthood. However, we're not always in my car when that happens. Or maybe we are and, as much as we love them, just don't feel like lugging out the big blankets.

Simple Loose Leaf Subscription Tea Box Review

Last month I briefly introduced you to Simple Loose Leaf, a monthly subscription box for tea drinkers. I told you that I'd be back with a review once I had the chance to try it out, so as promised - here is that review. With a Simple Loose Leaf membership, each tea box that you receive will include at least 4 different loose leaf teas - a black, a green, an herbal, and a surprise or two, plus 2 reusable muslin tea bags.

Each box also contains a beautifully done card with information about the products in your box. Along with descriptions of each type of tea that you received, it also tells the proper steps for making a cup of loose leaf tea, which I think is important, especially for those less familiar with loose leaf...like myself. Knowing how much of each tea to use, what temperature the water should be (because it's not the same for all types), and how long to let it steep can be a bit daunting if you've only ever used prefilled tea bags.

Simple Loose Leaf - a subscription box for tea drinkers!

Simple Loose Leaf is like having a personal tea sommelier—it's the perfect partner in your pursuit for a healthier and happier you (or so I hear)! How does it work? Well, each month a box containing 4 to 5 loose leaf teas, 2 reusable muslin tea bags and a beautiful card detailing your month's tea selection is shipped right to your door for just $17. After you've tried the tea, you can order your favorites and more from their store with a 50% member's only discount.

I'll be trying this service out over the next few months and will report back with my thoughts on the service and the products - stay tuned! Until then, Simple Loose Leaf is offering my readers a
25% off of a gift membership or ongoing subscription signup by entering code 25HOLIDAY when ordering from their website, so visit Simple Loose Leaf to place your order today!

'Karma Effect' Upcycled Carafe and Glasses, a NOVICA review

I have a thing for recycled glass water carafes—I always have. The funkier and more original, the better. Which brings me to the one you see featured here today. When I shared my thoughts and past experience shopping at the online global retailer NOVICA in November, I mentioned that I'd be back with a review of another of their beautiful handcrafted products. After much browsing and saving of items, I decided that this fun Recycled glass carafe and glasses set titled 'Karma Effect' was what I needed in my life right now.

The carafe and drinking glasses are crafted by upcycling sparkling water bottles that would otherwise pollute Bali. The artist/shop that it comes from within NOVICA is Peduli Bali, or Bali Recycling, founded by Olivier Pouillon (born and raised in Washington D.C.) and his Indonesian business partners. As a firm believer in karma, the names etched into the set and fact that contributing to the preservation of the environment were a big factor in my choice.

Ecocentric Mom Subscription Box Review

Just over a month ago, I featured the Ecocentric Mom Subscription box and told you to be on the lookout for an upcoming review. Well, guess what today is? You guessed it (you're so smart) — review day! I wanted to wait until a couple of boxes into my subscription to share my thoughts.

I'll start out by saying that I think subscription boxes are a fun way to get acquainted with a company or product by allowing you a taste of what "could be" were you go all-in. I like trying before buying, so I get a little giddy when I open up my mailbox to find a box of goodies waiting for me.

For each of the two boxes that I'm about to show you, I'll list the products that they contained, a brief description of those products, and my thoughts and/or experiences with them. Oh, in in case you don't remember (or didn't see) my other post, I should tell you that there are 3 types of subscription boxes available through Ecocentric Mom: Pregnancy, Mom & Baby, and Mom—because mama deserves a little pampering at any stage. Pampering!

Stylish On-The-Go Thermos Choice, a Libre Tea Glass Review

Last month I introduced you to the Libre Tea Glass, a pretty, practical, and convenient on-the-go glass with a removable filter for leaf tea. It's 100% BPA free, has a glass interior, and keeps drinks hot or cold. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on the glass after using it for a couple of weeks.

Appearance: It's definitely a looker. I ordered their 14-ounce Classic Glass Tea Infuser. It's very sleek and sophisticated with shades of tan, gold, and silver. The outer material is a durable poly, while the inside is glass.

Feel: Substantial...and this is a good thing. The glass has a bit of weight to it, which in my mind means that it's not going to flip over or blow away if I'm outside in the park, at a ball game, etc.

Win a $25 NOVICA Gift Card - it's holiday shopping time!

This post is sponsored by NOVICA in conjuntion with US Family Guide.

I'm very excited to once again be partnering with NOVICA, an online global marketplace that features handmade and fair trade products, to offer one of my readers a $25 online gift code just in time for holiday shopping season! NOVICA offers a beautiful site full of artisan-produced treasures that range from cocktail rings to table and glassware to clothing to chess sets and unique gifts for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life—all crafted loving by artists whose profiles you can actually read and get a feel for. They live by one simple (but all-important) mantra...SPREAD HAPPINESS.

In this world of mass produced products that we often have no clue of the conditions of their origin, NOVICA gives us the choice to choose products that we, as consumers, can feel good about. They operate a transparent system where artisans have control to raise or lower their own prices, put their own products on sale, or even remove their items at any time. Basically, it's like going to a local farmer's market (if we consider this beautiful world of ours as our neighborhood).

But NOVICA goes even further by offering 0% interest loans to artisans looking to expand their business and bring more income to their wider communities. If you'd like to read more about their mission, you can do so here.

I admit that I want more than I'll ever be able to buy when I visit their site. A few of the things I've purchased from NOVICA in the past are this Talavera Plate that these Carnitas are on...

...and the Confetti Festival Highball Glasses and Recycled Glass Pitcher that are featured in my tutorial for making Cheater's Horchata.

Enter to win a $25 Gift Code to NOVICA by visiting the NOVICA website, looking around, and then coming back and leave a comment on this post letting me know what you would buy first (although I won't hold you to it)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to check the box in the rafflecopter widget after you leave your comment for the mandatory entry - this will also open up more ways to enter. This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere - but please note that shipping charges (and any taxes or duties) are your responsibility if you are overseas. Submissions will be accepted through Tuesday November 24, 2015 at 11:59 pm. A winner will be chosen from qualified entries within 1 week of the close of this contest and the gift code will be sent to them electronically.

Can't wait? 

Save $7.00 off your first purchase at NOVICA right now using code: Save7Novica

Click HERE to start shopping!

Libre Tea Glass: feature + discount code

[sponsored conversation]

Most of us want to lead healthy, active lives and inspire our families and friends; now we can enjoy a tea moment anywhere anytime with the stylish and convenient solution for teas, herbs, and fruit infusions on-the-go.

The Libre tea glass is a pretty and practical choice for convenient leaf tea on-the-go. Its removable filter keeps all the leaves, or the bag, in the glass away from your mouth; also great for fruits or soothing herbal elixirs. You can create your own flavorful beverage and enjoy. Wonderful herbal teas are a great way to wind down at the end of a long day. The "how to" video (at the bottom of this article) shows three ways that you can use the Libre tea glass.

The 100% BPA free Libre tea glasses keep drinks hot or cold, are durable, and ensure a fresh taste every time due to their easy-wash glass interior - it's the only to go thermos you'll need at the soccer field, yoga class, on a hike, the morning dog walk, or curled up on the couch. We love to inspire tea moments anywhere, anytime - take a sip, watch your tea leaves dance, and enjoy relaxing tea moment for yourself.

This holiday, give your friends and family an inspired and unique gift you can use all year round. Choose from their Classic Collection - sophisticated metal trim with gold detailed lids, or their Libre Life Collection. They have great deals on 6-piece Holiday Gift Paks for all the tea lovers on your list. My readers get to save (great for holiday gifts, calm moments, and traveling)!

Get 10% off until November 15, 2015 by placing your order HERE and using code: USAMoms10.

Read my Libre Tea Glass review!

Save on a new ECOCENTRIC MOM Box Subscription!

[sponsored conversation]

Ecocentric Mom is a subscription box discovery service created just for moms. As a mom-owned business, we know how busy you are. As much as you care, you don't have time to research and shop for the healthiest and best products for yourself and your family. Each month, we will introduce you to brands and products that we know use only the best ingredients and none of the worst. You'll receive home care items, kid-friendly snacks, wellness and green beauty items that we think are both useful and fun. Plus, every box has a "keeper" item that you will use again and again rather than 'use up'- what's more eco than that?

Subscribers choose between the pregnancy, mom & baby, and mom subscription box, and switch to the next box when they are ready. The pregnancy box features pregnancy care items, as well as items to help you prep for the big arrival - and doesn't contain anything that is potentially harmful to your growing bump. The mom and baby box includes goodies for the new mom and her little, and is a great solution to navigate the demands new mommyhood from your sleep-deprived fog. The mom box is mostly about pampering you, mom, and a little bit about helping you pamper your family.

Your Ecocentric Mom subscription is about more than helping you be "green" or be a mom - it's about making you feel special each month. We think it's time someone takes care of mom for a change!

My readers get to save! New subscribers will receive a 3-month subscription for $50 using code: USFamily! 

Click HERE to subscribe.

Check out my review of the Ecocentric Mom "Mom" Subscription Box HERE!

Get Lost in the Shipshewana Corn Maze!

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I think part of that has to do with growing up in the midwest. There's a moment when the thick oppressive summer heat gives way to the crisp, cool fall air; one deep breath and all is right with the world again. It also means the start of some of my favorite things—football, apple picking, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and corn mazes. I love that each of these activities is family-friendly and that they can be found within a short distance of home here in northwestern Indiana.

This past Friday after my two youngest got home from school, we all jumped in the car, excited to spend the evening at the Shipshewana Corn Maze. Shipshewana, located in the heart of Northern Indiana Amish Country, lies about 45 miles east of South Bend and about 55 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. Even though its population is just under 700, the charming streets of Shipshewana always seem to be bustling with excitement. But more on that another day, today I'm going to focus on the corn maze itself.

Family Fun at the Shipshewana Indiana Corn Maze + $1 coupon!

Shipshewana Corn Maze

Looking for some place in Indiana where the whole family can have fun in a safe and relaxing environment? Check out the Shipshewana Indiana Corn Maze, located in the downtown area of Shipshewana, home to lots of good restaurants, 16 historical murals, and 100 shops. The maze is good, quality fun that also gives the next generation an understanding about how corn is grown and used in our food today.

The unique design and idea of the corn maze came about after the owners were discussing area events and attractions at a family gathering. After a little research, they found Mazeplay, a company which has designed many mazes across the country so that thousands of people can enjoy them every year.