Let me take a second to tell you guys about"Recyclebank". They get the award for being the best all around program I have ever seen to help out with this non-recycling people epidemic! As you allprobably know, this blog focuses a lot on doing our part to make the earth more green. As well as talks about sustainability, organics and upcycling. I'm not perfect by any means, nor do I expect you to be. But I do know that I have even tried to talk my neighbors (ahem*and my town more importantly) into it, with little success. What sucks (excuse my language, but no other word will suffice) about being here is when we lived in Groton, Connecticut I actually got introduced to Recyclebank.
It's a neat idea.. more like coolest thing since sliced bread! It makes recycling easy for the resident. You get a blue large trash can, to place beside your regular trash can. There's no seprating required and it's even picked up on the same day as your regular trash pickup. You just put anything that they tell you can be recycled into that can. That's right! No separating glass, plastics, and bottles. Even more incentive besides having a healthy earth for our children's kids? They pay you to do it in forms of printable coupons, online coupons, and mailed coupons as well as gift cards.
Once I remember gathering up phone books in navy housing people threw out or were placed on doorsteps of navy houses that were empty.. I put them all in my bin. Ooohhh weee! I got so many points for that. See, they weigh your can as they pick it up and points are deposited into your online account, which you then login and spend accordingly. Even better? Even though I no longer live there- I still get points for participating in their learn and earn activities.
I have tried to call my city and talk to them about recycling. They do not even offer any curbside.. much less Recyclebank. But to no avail. They said the town hall meeting voted against it. Maybe I should go to one and present an argument. But I am not really the best debater. Maybe I should leave that to my mega intelligent friend Beth Wood. I bet she could convince a rock it was a fossil. In any case. I have lived here for two years and am highly disppointed in this community for not stepping up to the plate. If anyone has any suggestions on how to help this situation out, I am open to them. Thanks!~ Casey Colette
PS! If just 25% of homes used a hybrid water heater, that would be like taking 360,000 cars off the road, as they cut your homes energy useage by 62%! WOW! Also, bet you didn't know that a hot water heater is the 2nd biggest energy monster in your home. (Only second to the HVAC!) It would also save you upwards of 320$ a year! You would also get a federal tax credit if installed by the end of the year! Something to chew on! PLUS.. G.E. is offering a 200$ mail in rebate from now until the end of Nov 2011. Jump on it! (The mail in rebate is printable on Recyclebank available from Sears and Lowes!)
Yum yum! Nom Nom! OK, I will just admit it. I have never heard of this peanut butter before. But I can't keep my little spoon out of this jar! I am a sucker for chocolate and I have a real sweet tooth. Each jar have suggested uses for that flavor printed on the label! The texture is very neat because it's not quite creamy, but not quite crunchy. Warning! This stuff is highly addictive!
Giana and Devonny most like the White Chocolate peanut butter, and I have about polished off the Dark Chocolate. It's funny, because when it arrived in my mailbox, I posted a picture to my Facebook mobile uploads, of it and immediately got several comments about it! My friends already knew of (and tried ) it. Some friends, they didn't even tell me!
Well, no worries kids! I am telling you so you know! Poor Noah, since he's not here! He is a peanut butter monster. I can't even keep it in the house when he's home. It wouldn't have lasted five minutes with him around. He eats out the jars with the BIG spoon!
What, so I live under a rock or something? How did I not know? Even more shocked was I to discover this brand makes a cinnamon raisin plus a honey, a maple, a spicy, portables.. Not just limited to peanut butter spreads alone, and not to be outdone by it's competitor, "Jelly" they also sell jelly as well! In addition to, shirts, gifts and other snacks, baking mixes, and other merchandise. I hope I didn't leave anything out! What am I going to do when I run out? Possibly cry, and when I get over it, I will probably buy some more! At only 6$ a jar it's an affordable healthy indulgent treat! (Buy 12 for $5.10 each )
I am very glad I picked the flavors I did, because I know they would be the ones we would enjoy most! Which flavors do you think you would like?
The peanut butter not once separated (which I loathe) and also boasts this:
"Who didn’t grow up eating peanut butter sandwiches? We’ve taken it up a notch with our yummy all-natural line of ten amazing flavors. Try one, try all…we’re sure you’ll be dazzled and go back for more. Our peanut butter is kosher, gluten-free and vegan (except for The Bee’s Knees which is vegetarian)."
Great on a sandwich, but just as wonderful spooned over ice cream, spread on fruits, or simply eaten out of the jar. It's equally delicious as an ingredient in your all-time favorite baked goodies like chocolate cake and bread pudding. The original peanut butter sandwich shop - now with ten varieties of all natural gourmet peanut butter available at over 10,000 stores in the USA!
*Disclaimer* The product above was sent to me for free for review purposes. Other than the product being sent, I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are 100% mine.
I love little protein bars. Lets get that out of the way first! I think they are great to toss in your purse and eat on the run. I usually am on the run. I love that these bars pack in a ton of vitamins and nutrients to help refuel your body to give you the energy to chase after two kids! I will be the first to admit. I have had some pretty bad experiences with bars. I don't want to throw any companies under the bus (none I have done a review with) but I have bought- and tried, numerous brands and flavors of all sorts of bars. I usually only like crunchy bars. Bars are usually either chewy (which I loathe) or crunchy. I much prefer crunchy. So when I realized these were "chewy" I immediately figured I wouldn't like them at all. Boy was I wrong! Even though they sent three boxes.. it wasn't enough! They are almost all gone. Very sad. Ironically when I am about to write up a review on this blog for a company- a product I have never noticed ever will suddenly see it in a store. It happened with my Miche Bags.. it happened with my Smart & Sexy review. Then, it happened last week with Supreme Protein.
Crazy, huh? Guess where I saw them? At the cash register with the candy bars at Wal_mart! They even had the flavor that I like so much! The Peanut Butter Pretzel Twist flavor! (It has actual pretzels and caramel sitting on top of the chewy protein and covered in chocolate.) Pretty cool! So that means I can get more without having to order them online and pay to have them shipped. They sell them right down the road. But I need to ask for them to carry the best bar they sent me, the Peanut Butter & Jelly bar. This bar has actual Peanut Butter Coating on top of a chewy protein and jelly inside too! Soooo yummy!
Even though these bars are chewy- they are crunchy too, so the chewy is not overwhelming. When their PR coordinator told me "Get ready to have your socks knocked off." Boy was she right. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these bars! I am not going to fib with you- I was leery of the peanut butter and jelly. It just sounds weird. But actually- of the 3 flavors I was sent, this one was surprisingly my favorite. They also sent me a Caramel Nut Chocolate bar. Giana loved it, I thought it was just OK. If you see the bars out and about- I highly suggest you try them. They are so good. I don't eat meat nearly often enough, so I am forever trying to supplement my diet with more protein. I just found a good tasty source. Making note to ask Walmart to carry the PB & J! I see they have other flavors I am terribly interested in trying! Cookies & creme? Me thinks so! Perhaps in a few months or next year - I can work with them again further down the line and do another review? I seriously am digging these little protein bars!
I have great news! I get to giveaway the same number of boxes I received. I got three and I get to giveaway three! So three winners means even more sick odds for you- my reader! There will be three winners and each winner will receive only one box. I don't think you get to pick the flavors, but I am certain whatever they send to you- you will love!
PS - I somehow forgot to mention, each box contains nine delicious protein bars!
How do you win?
Follow this blog publicly via GFC & comment that you do! (Mandatory!)Leave an email address if it's not listed on your blogger profile.
All you have to do is "like" me on Facebook(1 Extra Entry) Follow me on Twitter@1caseycolette(1 Extra Entry) Follow Supreme Protein on Twitter @Supreme_Protein(2 Extra Entries) "Like" Supreme Proteins Facebook Page(2 Extra Entries) Tell me what you think your favorite bar would be? (1 Extra Entry) Follow me on the Networked Blogs widget to the right (2 Extra Entries) Grab a button and place it on your blog/site. (3 Extra Entries) Blog about this giveaway. (3 Extra Entries) Tweet this : " Enter to #win a box of #supreme #protein #proteinbars from @1caseycolette! 3 #winners! http://1caseycolette.blogspot.com/2011/10/supreme-protein-reviewgiveaway-3.html" (you may tweet once daily, one extra entry er day you tweet, share a time stamp of your tweet!)
This giveaway will end on OCT 25 noon eastern, three winners will be chosen for 1 box Ea. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to winning email with shipping address to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen!
If any kid needs calmed down it's Gigi! Her feet hit the floor in the morning running! She is a ball of energy! Not that it is a bad thing, but she is a normal six year old little girl. Talkative, bubbly and hyper!
She loves being a big girl and taking vitamins. After reading up about how healthy this is, I was as excited as she.
This vitamin talks about magnesium deficiencies. Low levels of this important nutrient may be a common link in migraines, asthma, allergies, fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, ADD and more.
I can say I gave it a quick taste test and it tastes like a chewable Flintstones vitamins I used to take as a child. I quite liked the taste of it, but Giana didn't. She gags trying to get it down.. which I think is quite silly. it tastes like a vitamin-y orange dreamscicle to me. I still make her take it though. I think she is over exaggerating slightly. :)
I am glad I got the opportunity to review it. The bottle is quite large and has a months supply in it! I have included the nutrition information for those of you who are interested below.
Even if she thinks it tastes bad. I don't. She also thinks the Flintstones chewables taste bad. And they don't at all! In fact- I have to buy her the "gummies" vitamins because she will gag and spit the chewable ones onto the floor of my house. She always has. So please don't let her opinion deter you from purchasing it for yourself or your child. I can't say it calmed her down any. But I wasn't expecting a miracle either. The consistency is smooth and creamy and you cannot taste the Omega-Supplement in it and leaves no aftertaste in your mouth either.
Omega is essential to heart health and is important to get not only it, but magnesium in your diet everyday.
In addition to providing you with healthy children's nutrition like this, Natural Vitality can also be looked to for other things. The site has a lot of resources such as articles about trending topics like organic debates, education, environment, and sustainability, plus expert advice from dietitians.
One if their supplements is called NutraRev!, which received a Best of Supplement Award from Better Nutrition magazine, provides an exceptional combination of antioxidant energizer and anti-aging supplements in a great-tasting, fast-absorbing and economical liquid. It is popular because of its energizing effects as well as its anti-aging benefits. That sounds like something to look more into!
If you are looking for a great site for information about health and supplements, then I think I might've helped you strike gold with this site! I liked it a lot and even if she won't take it, I can probably sneak it into her orange juice in the morning. I am sure she won't notice!
Click here to find a store near you! Kids will like the organic fruity splash flavor, sweetened with organic stevia and organic agave. Simply mix with an equal amount of water or add to juice.
MAGNESIUM-DEFICIENT KIDS It’s not just adults who can get anxious because of magnesium-deficient diets. Our children are also susceptible when their favorite foods are magnesium-deficient—hot dogs, pizza, and soda. The stress in their lives—from peer pressure, academic and athletic performance pressures, worries about body image, the changes and hormonal fluctuations of puberty, exposure to negative events and violence through the media—also contributes. Even playing in a band can be a risk factor! Children are underdiagnosed when it comes to magnesium deficiency, but they can have magnesium deficiencies for the same reasons as adults.—Carolyn Dean, MD, ND Author of the book The Magnesium Miracle
Please "like" & "follow" these pages. Each one counts as one entry! Total 4 entries!
Before you do them, please make sure you follow this blog via GFC by scrolling to the top of the right sidebar and clicking"Join this site" then, follow this blog publicly.
You do not have to do all of them, but if you do Facebook "likes" you must do both. If you chose to do only the Twitter "follows", you must do both.
For an extra entry you can tell me something you learned on the site using the links in the post, and also anotherextra entry by telling me which other product you think you would most like.
The winner will receive the exact same thing I received one 30oz bottle of Kids Natural Calm Multi!
This giveaway will end on 10/14 at Noon Eastern time. US + CAN Winner will have 48 hours to respond with shipping address or a new winner will be chosen. Winner must be a public follower via Google Friend Connect of this blog; Locomotion of Expressions. Thanks for being a reader of this blog! More great giveaways planned soon!
Disclaimer: Naturalvitalitykids.comprovided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. They will also be responsible for shipping the winners prize, though I will expedite communication between winner and sponsor. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
Polyphenols are what makes the Zone diet by Dr Sears so successful! In the end this diet plan didn't help me lose any weight. But it was tasty, if a little overpriced for 2 boxes or two weeks of bread and 14 days of omega 3 pills and Polyphenols.
The Debate on the Zone Diet The Zone Diet has neither been rejected nor endorsed by health organisations. Some health experts see some elements of the Zone Diet as favourable, especially the low-fat content. The ADA (American Dietetic Association) sees the Zone Diet as just another fad diet. Some health experts argue that there are safer diets such as the ‘5 A Day’ program (which encourage people to consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day).
The Zone Diet: For:
The Zone Diet features good amounts of fruits and low starch vegetables and is low in saturated fats;
Restricts low nutrition carbohydrates; and
If followed correctly allows for steady weight loss.
The Zone Diet: Against
Complicated and scientific;
Restricts calorie intake means it’s hard to stay on
Eliminates some essential vitamins and minerals found in certain founds;
Expensive to follow
Time consuming and inconvenient
Author: Barry Sears, Ph.D. in Biochemistry Review by Mitzi Dulan, RD Certified Personal Trainer, ACSM
The Basic Calories are distributed as 40% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 30% protein at every meal and snack. In contrast, most "healthy diets" recommend calories be distributed as 55-60% carbohydrate, 12-20% protein and 20-30% fat.
How A Person Can Lose Weight On This Diet Calories eaten must be below calories needed to maintain weight (i.e., low calorie). This is a low calorie diet. The higher protein level of the Zone Diet can also provide more satiety with meals and snacks. High carbohydrate food portions and sweets are restricted, so blood sugar surges after a high carbohydrate meal or sweet do not occur. This also helps control appetite.
Meal Plans Protein needs are based on your lean muscle mass and physical activity level. Then you divide your protein into blocks, each block of protein equals 7 grams of protein. Once you know the required number of protein blocks you give yourself one carbohydrate and fat block for each protein block. Each meal has the same number of blocks for carbohydrate, protein, and fat. For example, lunch may include 3 blocks of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. You must keep this ratio for all meals and snacks. One block of carbohydrates is equal to 7 grams of carbohydrates while one block of fat is 1-½ grams.
Special Concerns People who engage in endurance exercise are at risk for poor energy levels and muscular fatigue due to an inadequate carbohydrate intake.
Alcohol The Zone recommends that alcohol may be good for you if taken in moderation (~1 drink per day) preferably red wine.
Claims
To be in the Zone you need a diet that is exactly 40% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 30% protein at every meal and snack.
Insulin causes people to gain weight.
It is easy to lose weight on the Zone diet with "easy" rules.
A moderately active, 5-foot, 4-inch woman weighing 125 pounds with 23 percent body fat should eat just 775 calories per day.
Pros
Promotes eating fat and protein in the diet.
Addresses the importance of drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Recommends exercise in combination with diet for weight loss.
Recommends snacking throughout the day.
Promotes low-fat protein foods.
Cons
Limits many grains (pastas, cereal, breads, potatoes), fruits (bananas and orange juice), and vegetables (carrots and sweet potatoes).
Complicated rules govern the diet. Dieters must calculate protein requirements based on complex charts and tables. Must also follow the "macronutrient block method" to determine how many "blocks" to eat per day and when to eat them.
Strict, controlled diet which does not work for the fast-paced lifestyles of today.
Recommends that for the average person a Zone-favorable diet should contain no more than 800 to 1,200 calories a day.
Food is treated like a medical prescription. "You must treat food as if it were a drug. You must eat food in a controlled fashion in the proper proportions- as if it were an intravenous drip."
Truth
Excess calories cause weight gain not specific carbohydrates.
Not one of the studies that Sears conducted to prove his diet works has been published.
Diets recommending less than 800 calories may be dangerous and should be medically supervised.
Anyone on a low-calorie diet is likely to lose weight.
May impair athletic performance.
My FAVE!
What You Can Eat on The Zone Diet
The Zone diet does not recommend that you eat fewer calories than you're currently consuming, just different ones. Although the book has a more complicated and exacting measurement of what to eat, it can be simplified as:
A small amount of protein at every meal (approximately the size of your palm or one small chicken breast) and at every snack (one in the late afternoon, one in the late evening)
"Favorable" carbohydrates twice the size of the protein portion -- these include most vegetables and lentils, beans, whole grains, and most fruits
A smaller amount of carbohydrates if you have chosen "unfavorable" ones -- these include brown rice, pasta, papaya, mango, banana, dry breakfast cereal, bread, bagel, tortilla, carrots, and all fruit juices.
Dairy products are not verboten, but The Zone diet devotes little time to them, except to explain how quickly they release glucose. Sears prefers egg whites and egg substitutes to whole eggs, and low-fat or no-fat cheeses and milk.
The Zone diet keeps saturated fats to a minimum but includes olive, canola, macadamia nuts, and avocados. Certain unfavorable carbohydrates are restricted because they release glucose quickly: grains, breads, pasta, rice, and other similar starches, a deviation from conventional definitions of a good diet. Overall, the diet is higher in protein and fat than traditional diets, which would have us eat nearly three-quarters of all calories as carbohydrates.
Sears is fairly rigid about the amount of protein/fat/carbohydrate each of us needs, and takes the reader through a short course in determining our protein need, based on size, age, and activity, which then determines the amount of fats and carbohydrates we should be eating.
Happily for those of us who would be depressed at the thought of forgoing desserts for the rest of our lives, his list of allowable foods includes, among others, high-fat ice cream. Why high-fat? Because the fat retards the rate of absorption of carbohydrate into the body, according to Sears. Alas, the recommended portion is a mere half-cup.
Food For Thought
The 40-30-30 ratio of The Zone diet applies to all meals all the time, and a broad range of foods are allowed, so there are no confusing schedules or conditions that need to be memorized. Though dieters should find it easy to follow, nutritionists give The Zone diet mixed reviews.
Pros: great idea for healthy bodies. Cons: Nothing everyone shouldn't already know.
The Zone Diet is pretty muck just a book that will tell you what you should already know. Eat right and exercise.
How lucky am I these days? I get to interact with all of these great brands! One namely being O.N.E Coconut Water!
I have tried O.N.E. coconut water before. I can find it in my local Publix store.. plus my other favorite store online is Amazon.. you can get free shipping on most everything and some pretty sweet deals too! See, back when I was doing surveys all the time... Most of the companies paid in Amazon Gift Cards (What I will be using to award one winner a 50$ GC to Amazon for my Locomotion of Giving contest! ) That was the first time I decided to try them. I got the O.N.E Coconut Water with Passion Fruit and it was delicious! I got them for a great deal too! I think they were $15.52 with free shipping for a 12 pack, making them around one dollar a piece!
(My O.N.E. Coconut water shipment!)
You know what my favorite thing about O.N.E. Coconut Water is? Not that it's good for you, although that doesn't hurt. I most enjoy the smaller containers. Anyone who knows me and reads my blog knows if it 'aint coffee or tea (which I love as much as coconut stuff!) and sometimes even if it is.. it's super hard for me to drink more than like 2-3 glasses of liquids a day. Days go by where I don't drink at all, because I am not thristy. It's weird and unhealthy. But it's just me. So a lot of the time.. I pour a drink and it goes to waste. O.N.E. plain coconut waters (which I didn't get, but would LOVE to have!) have resealable lids. Like twist off! But even though I didn't get those I can always order them later.. and probably will!
The variety I was sent is pictured below!
Pink Guava. I have never had fresh or flavored Guava anything. I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But I did! I do know that the Passion Fruit flavor is better. In my opinion- but this one was just as good!
I'm off track, the best part is how little they are. Most people would be turned off by that, But I love everything about the container. I love the shape, the little aluminum (plastic?) pull tab to insert a straw OR drink from. I like the metallic shine of the paper on the drinks. I even like the color and shade of blue used. I like the way it tastes mostly. I just like it head to toe. You know- if it was bad, I'd be the first one to tell you!
Now lets get into what the sent to Giana and Devonny. The kids O.N.E. Coconut Waters! They actually sent four 8 packs of kids drinks. That is awesome. I wish these were more widely available at every store. Maybe soon. Hopefully. Well, Devonny loves the coconut water (w guava) and the Kids variety they sent. The drinks to be honest... I don't like it at all! However- Giana hasn't said a word about not liking them. The regular O.N.E. drinks are much better, but the kids drinks were definitely not my forte.
The Kids O.N.E. has four varieties: Apple, Fruit Punch, Raspberry Lemonade, and Orange. Giana liked Fruit Punch and I liked Raspberry Lemonade! Devonny liked them all!
Giana likes juice boxes, and these fit that need, a typical fun kids juice box with straw! No different on the outside to the child. They don't realize its "good for them". But inside, much much different than the massive juice overload at the store. My issue with juices nowadays is this: you can buy a flavored juice, and the juice is 75% apple and/or apple & pear! You know why? It's cheaper because it's crops are more resistant.
It has an average retail price of 48.55 on Amazon.. but it is the 32 drinks, The 4 packs of 8 packs, just like what I was sent. That makes each drink average about 1.50? I am pretty bad at math, but that looks about right to me. That seems a little steep, especially for us to be packing in Giana's lunch for school everyday. But on their website you can also buy coconut water, and the same waters are $21.44. I guess it's supply and demand with them rather than a set price. The prices seem to rise and fall a lot with them online. So you never know, looking at their online store with all the prices laid out, some cost significantly more- and some way less. That is a good though! That means if you check it often, you might chance out on a really good deal! Right now, they have a really good deal going on too! But I am grateful we didn't pay for them. Thanks so much Lucy! I wouldn't feel guilty spending Amazon Gift cards I had earned or won on them... A few other webstores sell the drinks for 5$ for an 8 pack. That's a much better price, but I would question it's freshness being sold second hand. When it comes to buying food/drinks online- I'd much rather but it straight from the company! Paying for private school + uniforms doesn't leave much room for things like this. Water is free. :)
I can't believe I just said that-- no really? Ican!
Anyway, it was good and the kids love it. I love knowing the kids are drinking something that is 100% good for them with no bad stuff whatsoever... There aren't many drinks that they can drink around here or that can be bought at the store that are that whole nutrition. They all seem to contain something bad.
Even Orange juice is bad nowadays. Read the disgusting truth about orange juice. So yes, expensive, but totally worth it. Just remember, you get what you pay for. And when it comes to your life, your health, and especially your kids life and health... It would be more worth it in the long run to be proactive about their health now. There is nothing more healthy than coconuts. :)
So there it is:
You guys know I am coconuts for coconut stuff.
In fact, I have several blog posts about Coconuts already! It's a yummy food. My secret guilty pleasure is an Almond Joy!
The O.N.E. Commitment to Healthy Kids
O.N.E. is a "Trusted Partner" of Healthy Child Healthy World, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating healthy environments where children and families can flourish. They educate parents, support protective policies and engage communities to make responsible decisions, simple every day choices and well-informed lifestyle improvements.
Research shows that our daily fluid intake behavior (spontaneous drinking) is established during the toddler years. So while they are young, teach your children to enjoy drinking water and natural low-sugar beverages like O.N.E. Coconut Water to keep them healthy throughout their life.
Recommended fluid intake for children:
0-6-month-olds — 0.7 liters per day
7-12-month-olds — 0.8 liters per day
1-3 years old — 1.3 liters per day
4-8-year-old kids — 1.7 liters per day
Adolescents — more than 3 liters per day for males, and 2-2.7 liters per for females
NOTE: One liter is about 34 ounces
Other Ingredients: Organic Coconut Water From Concentrate, Filtered Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Pear Juice Concentrate, Lime Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Orange Juice Concentrate, Ascorbic Acid and Cherry Juice Concentrate
Maybe I can do another review with them in the future because this is blowing my mind right now! Coffee Berry? Cashew? Amazon Acai? Are you kidding me? that sounds delish!
Disclaimer:O.N.E. Coconut Water provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
