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.

PlanetBox Launch Review

I've been resisting saying a certain "three little word" phrase out loud so far this summer, but as the calendar, store shelves, and tv commercials are constantly reminding me, I can't put it off any longer—BACK TO SCHOOL. Eek...too soon! But seriously, it is time to start thinking about it again.

This past school year, my two youngest kids decided that they only wanted to bring lunch from home from now because the school lunch had gotten too "gross". Sadly, I had to agree with them (but let's not go into that). We already had a small collection of lunch bags, boxes and accessories that we'd accumulated over the years, but I wanted to find something that matched their needs now that they're older and hungrier.

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.

Whole Roasted Duck

Aside from my love of cooking, do you want to know two things that inspire me in the kitchen? Beautiful ingredients and beautiful cookware. Today I'm sharing a recipe that is special enough to grace any holiday table, yet simple enough to prepare on any given Sunday. Plus, when it's in the oven, it fills your house with scents of warmth and comfort. I had to run to the store while it was in the oven and opening the door to the scent of this and freshly cut pine was intoxicating.

Let's start with the ingredients. I've been in the mood for duck lately. I used some duck sausage to make sausage rolls a few days ago, but I had a Maple Leaf Farms All-Natural duck raised without antibiotics just calling to me from the fridge. The duck, some sunny orange clementines and some fresh green herbs were just the ingredients that I needed to inspire me.

Mashed Butternut Squash and Potatoes w/ Roasted Garlic, Smoked Gouda & Bacon

There was a time when I did all of my potato-mashing by hand...and then I discovered the hand mixer method. At first I was resistant, perhaps even a little indignant. I gave my friend the cautious side-eye as she plunged the beaters into a pot of drained potatoes. I'd been mashing potatoes with the pure power of my arm for 22 years (okay, I didn't mash potatoes straight out of the womb, but it was close), why did I need a machine to do it for me?

I didn't say anything then, I just tucked that novel idea into my back pocket for another day. You know, a day when I actually owned a hand mixer. Fast forward a few years to dinner preparation in my own kitchen, steam rising up from a giant pot of potatoes that were ready to be mashed with warm butter and milk.

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!

Silky Parsnip-Potato Soup with Bacon

Although I'm a year-round soup kinda girl, I'm especially happy to enjoy a bowl of warm comfort during the seasons when my fingers and toes never seem to lose their chill entirely. In other words, right now. After a month-long flurry of planning, prepping, and eventually enjoying my favorite meal of the year, all I really want to do is make a big pot of soup and relax with a good book (or movie or tv series).

Today I want to share not only a perfect bowl of soup, but also the perfect pot in which to make it. I've mentioned the fact that, as a whole, All-Clad makes my favorite pots and pans. If my kitchen could be stocked with them, life would be so much easier. I'm working towards that goal. While I did receive the soup pot that I'm sharing with you today at no cost, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

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.