Review AND Giveaway - Manna 20oz Insulated Retro Bottle

Hi Readers!

I've got a nice surprise for you, the chance to win your very own 20 ounce Retro Bottle like the one in the picture below from Manna where they have a HUGE array of assorted hydration bottles!

I love the many different styles as well as designs Manna has! You're not stuck as I was, reusing a plastic bottle until it's almost out of life! I find it's easy to handle and if you follow their directions on how to keep it clean (attached on the bottle), you won't find that gunk at the bottom that is always hard to get at. Also, the 20 ounce size is really more than enough if you're like me who takes water on my walks - and I'm a heavy drinker when I'm walking! 

I haven't tried putting anything hot in it, but it does keep your cold beverages cold which will be a blessing come summer!

I am very pleased as it does do the exact job as advertised and would recommend for that reason. Please see their site for complete specifications etc., HERE

The only down side to it is, I can see that after MUCH use, it will show age. Will it scratch? Probably. I, myself, love flowers AND pink, so even if it does scratch in the future, I know I will still enjoy the look and quality for years to come. The price is affordable, not going to break the bank, but I wouldn't pay more for it - regardless of brand, as I am forever losing stuff and I'd hate to lose this one.

Now, onto the giveaway. the nice people at Manna are offering THREE, yes...THREE of our readers their very own! The giveaway starts TODAY and will run until Saturday, March 31st.

Must be in the US

Must be 18 or over

And must be able to respond to the winning email within a 24 hour period if notified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclaimer: Manna provided me with a free product to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products, and received no monetary means to do so)

Blog Giveaway  BlogGiveawayDirectory.com

Product Review: Melt, Vegetarian Butter

We were lucky enough to be chosen to review #Melt brand vegetarian butter - it didn't go well. I used it to 'butter' our english muffins. Some things (like butter), should never be replicated or replaced!

My short note/review on #Melt is this:

I picked up the Melt product for review and my family didn't like it.  I suppose it's because it IS dairy free, you simply cannot duplicate the real deal. Although I give kudos to companies who TRY, not all companies hit the mark though and this is one of those times.  #Melt IS creamy, but rich? no... I appreciate the opportunity to try melt and I thank #SocialNature for the opportunity, I would have loved to given this a thumbs up, but it's not a good fit for families who really enjoy the taste of dairy products. I appreciate this being a vegetarian food, I do, but vegetarians miss out on SO much by trying to fake up the good stuff. Good try though.

#trynatural and #GotItFree

CLOSED - NuNaturals Newest Products Review AND Giveaway

I am so excited to share with you NuNaturals newest products as well as a GIVEAWAY to FOUR lucky readers!!! That's one wonderful thing about Ron, The "SUGAR-FREE POPPA", from NuNaturals - he's not only a wonderful representative of NuNaturals, he's also very generous.

Through the years, I've been blessed to review and offer giveaways of NuNaturals NuStevia (you can see HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE that I really enjoy NuNaturals NuStevia!), but what makes THIS review and giveaway different is, they've broadened their product line and all I can say is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!

Are you a low-carber? Are you on a gluten-free diet? Are you wanting to eat better? Well, NuNaturals is the site to see. Not only do they offer a great and many NuStevia product line, they also offer information, recipes and great customer service.

For this review, we were sent some familiar products as well as ones I had never tried before and that's where I got excited to crack into for this review and am grateful to offer you readers the chance to win THIS prize pack:

 (4) four readers will recieve one bottle of the Vanilla Alcohol Free NuStevia Liquid, a  bag of  NEW  NuNana Banana Flour, & a package of the NEW COCOA POWDER, PLUS a 50 pkt. box of our NuStevia NO-CARBS Stevia Packets. In addition, each of the winners will also receive a FREE BONUS  item. The total retail value of each package is $ 70.00.

If you are new to what banana flour is, you can find a great explanation at wikipedia HERE. Also, I'd like to add that the new NuStevia NO-CARBS Stevia Packets, I really, really like!

Due to Honey Bear's health and my personal carb addiction, I have to find delicious alternatives to some of our favorites. Thanks to the NEW COCOA POWDER and the NEW NuNana Banana Flour, I found a brownie recipe that is beyond delicious! I surfed through my saved pins and settled on THIS Paleo brownie recipe (because I had the ingredients already).

My alternative ingredients that resulted in a fudgy brownie with the same consistency as a name brand packaged brownie (hint: has a girl as their logo):

1/2 cup minus 1 Tbs. NuNana Banana Flour (use the "dip and sweep method" to measure or use a kitchen scale and measure 50 grams of the flour)
1/2 cup COCOA POWDER
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. butter, melted
3 eggs, at room temperature (egg substitutes WILL NOT work)
12 pks NuStevia NO-CARBS Stevia Packets
6 drops of Vanilla Alcohol Free NuStevia Liquid, optional
(these are the quantities that work for ME, add more or less per your own tastes)

Preheat oven to 300. Grease a glass baking dish (8x8 or 9x9-there's not much difference in finished product). Mix together all ingredients by hand or with an electric mixer. Pour into the baking dish and bake for 30-35 mins or ttil a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes before cutting or removing from the pan. These store well at room temperature or in the fridge for a few days. Make sure you keep them in an airtight container.

As with all stevia products, you must find your own sweet spot - some find the sweetness level they like using less and some find it using more. I like just enough sweetness. I am one of those people who taste the after taste of stevia but Honey Bear doesn't, so as always, find your own level and always start small and work your way up in quantity.

There's recipe after recipe I'd love to try out before this post, but seriously, I am enjoying these brownies to the point that my sweet treat craving is completely satisfied. The next recipe that I intend to give a go at is Low Carb Doritos using the banana flour - an item I am enjoying greatly!

Pinterest and NuNaturals both have a wonderful selection of recipes using banana flour and stevia - have fun finding your favorites!

Our giveaway is running for TWO WEEKS. It will start 5/6/2016 and end 5/20/2016 at 12:01 am. Must be 18+, World Wide, No PO BOXES. Winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Winner must provide name, address and email address when requested.

Not only do you have the opportunity to win the above prize pack, but you can receive SPECIAL DISCOUNTS on all orders placed at NuNaturals . When you get to the checkout page, use the DISCOUNT CODE of  BLG0616 and you will receive a  - 15% DISCOUNT on your entire order. (NOT to be combined with any other discounts) This discount remains EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2016. Online ordering customers may also receive FREE SHIPPING to the CONTINENTAL U.S. on all orders exceeding $ 35.00 after discounts.

Enter the giveaway on rafflecopter, click the link if the box doesn't show up or refresh the page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Of all stevia products out there, I have found none I like greater than NuNaturals brand.

(Disclaimer: NuNaturals provided me with free samples of these products to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)
All Things Bloggy  Sweepstakes at Sweepstakes-Search.com   ContestHeat.com  Giveaway Monkey - Free Online Giveaways  Win Free Stuff

Product Review: Chobani® Family Yogurt

Chobani® Family basically stands for the assortment of yogurts that Chobani® offers for each member of your family. Chobani® and BzzAgent have offered us the opportunity to receive and review four of their assorted types of yogurt: 

I chose to review the above pictured yogurts

From the yogurts I chose, they were:
Chobani® Greek Yogurt-- delicious, smooth, everything you want a Greek yogurt to be. 
Chobani Simply 100® is the first and only 100-calorie yogurt made with only natural ingredients*, and honestly, I didn't notice any difference between the regular and the 100. Personally, which ever is on sale would be my buying choice, 
Chobani Flip™ is part mix-ins, part yogurt. As you can see in the picture, I chose coffee and biscotti. Oh there were other flavors, but come on...a coffee nut HAS to choose a coffee yogurt. It was...interesting. It did take me three spoons to convince my senses that I was eating my coffee. It was good. Would I buy it again? Another flavor, absolutely. 
And all-natural Chobani® Kids Pouches. Always delicious and always made with only natural ingredients, Without looking to see if we were to roll the drink container first before drinking/eating, the whey drink was a bit of a turn off, but the flavor was there and would have it again but AFTER mixing it somehow in the package first.

The four different types are equally delicious in their own rights. Thick, rich, delicious assortment of flavors, with the exception of the kids grape, I'm sorry, but it's a real hard 'sell' telling any one to try grape!

Here's some awesome information that BzzAgent, Kroger And Chobani have provided for you:

Spoon Up the Facts

• Only natural ingredients that are not genetically modified (non-GMO)
• No artificial flavors or sweeteners
• No preservatives
• Made with milk from cows not treated with hormones like rBST*
• Feel good that there’s less sugar, fewer ingredients and more live and active cultures
• Try new flavors like Coffee and Mixed Berry
• Provides a delicious and healthier afternoon snack option
• Takes snacking to the next level with mix-in toppings like pistachios, chocolate chunks, almonds and toasted coconut flakes
• Feel good that every ingredient is natural and never artificial
• Snack on the go with perfectly portable pouches that are freezable for lunchboxes, too

Chobani® cares about how they make their yogurt, so each cup is crafted using only natural ingredients. That means the fruit you taste is real fruit; the honey is real honey. The nuts, the chocolate, the milk — yes, all natural. And they refuse to use any preservatives. What else is there to like?

*According to the FDA no significant difference has been found between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST treated cows.

Where does Chobani® fall into your day? Take a closer look at the options to discover how you and your loved ones can break for yogurt more often.

Any way you scoop it, Chobani® Greek Yogurt is a smart way to start, improve or end your day:

Chobani Simply 100® offers a range of delicious, naturally sweetened Greek yogurt that’s full of flavor and only 100 calories. Plus, it provides 12g of protein, 5g of fiber and 75% less sugar than regular yogurt!* Snack happy with the delicious combinations found in Chobani Flip™: With 25% less sugar and twice the protein compared to the leading kids’ yogurt**, Chobani® Kids Greek Yogurt keeps the whole family smiling:

Look for Chobani® Greek Yogurt, Chobani Simply 100®, Chobani Flip™ and Chobani® Kids Pouches at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores.

Disclosure:
 I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent or the brand. #Kroger Co, #Chobani, #thx @Kroger #GotItFree 
(Disclaimer: BzzAgent & Kroger provided me with this free product to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)

Do You Use Purex and Run A Blog?

Apply to be a Purex Insider HERE

If You/re An Amazon PRIME Member And Want To Write A Product Review, This Post Is For YOU

Prime members - completely free, NON-prime members pay S&H:

Organic Products

Free product for review on Amazon:
Kerala Herbs® Garcinia Cambogia Super CitriMax® Patented Brand

Amazon Prime members will receive completely free, non-Prime members will have to pay shipping+handling.

You MUST meet the following requirements in order to participate:

1. You must email us your product review after using
2. You must be an active Amazon.com product reviewer
3. You cannot have already participated in this promotion
4. You must be an Amazon Prime member in order to get Free Shipping.

To sign up, send a Private Message to our Page with your full name and email address AND post the comment, "opt-in" in the comments below.

You may only sign up if you meet all of the above requirements.
We'll email you the coupon code once we have verified you meet all the requirements.

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Review

While I was offline, I had the WONDERFUL opportunity to review Manitoba Harvest's RAW SHELLED HEMP SEEDS. 

Ok...so we all know what hemp is, right?  If not, the site LIVESCIENCE has put together a good explanation: "The marijuana plant has many uses apart from drug use. A distinct variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, known as hemp, can be grown to maximize the fibers in the stalk of the plant or to maximize seed production" . 

I had never eaten hemp seeds and since we like raw food, I was doubly looking forward to this review! Wow wow wow! If you like nuts, you WILL enjoy Manitoba Harvest Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds. The taste they say on their site is similar to sunflower seeds or pine nuts and I personally, found them to taste between sunflower seeds and raw cashews. Either way, they are DELICIOUS! 

When I knew I was going to receive the Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate them into a recipe, but I did:) 

One of our favorite foods is pesto and another is hummus. I had the ingredients on hand for hummus, and thankfully, I was able to trial and error a couple times until I got the right taste WE enjoyed. Do you like hummus? If you do, you'll know all great hummus's have tahini. I decided that since tahini has sesame seeds, why not try to make it with hemp seeds. The size of each hemp seed is basically the same as sesame seeds, that hit an explosion. My first batch of tahini made with the exact measurements using hemp hearts was a bit too strong for my taste. Oh it was still delicious, just too much nutty taste. So, I remade a batch of tahini using HALF the amount of seeds, but the regular amounts of everything else and that, my dear readers, was the perfect match. If you're unfamiliar with tahini, all it is, is a bunch of sesame seeds with olive oil and a pinch of salt.....you can find a whole explanation and recipe HERE.

I've even taken a spoonful out of the bag when I needed that sunflower seed craving filled and had none on hand! But honestly, where ever you would use nuts, you can use these Hemp Hearts, like salad instead of sunflower seeds or cashews or pine nuts is a great topping alternative. I haven't tried it on anything sweet, I'm not a big sweets/nuts person, so I can't give you the heads up on that one, but the possibilities can be endless.

(Disclaimer: Manitoba Harvest provided me with this free product to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)

Better SHEA Butter Review

Are you familiar with Shea Butter? It's smooth, soothing, and feels like..well, thick lotion until it touches your skin and your body heat melts it luxuriously all over!

I had read many articles on the benefits of RAW, shea butter - in it's natural form - but hadn't had the opportunity to try it out for myself until Isabella, (The Shea Butter Lady), at Better SHEA Butter sent us a block of their Ivory Shea Butter to review:

Just as you see in the picture, it was a block....ok, so I wasn't expecting that. Remember, I hadn't had the opportunity to ever try it before. So, I pulled off chunks, which are like compacted brown sugar--stays together with a few straggle crumbs. I took the chunks, put them in ziploc bags and placed them in different areas like one for my purse, one in the bathroom and even gave one to Honey Bear to use while he was working.

Wow!! We were definitely pleased. Mind you, this is shea butter in it's natural state: no pretty perfume smells, no easy to squeeze or pump bottle, etc. Although Honey Bear likes it unscented, I admit I would prefer SOME aroma...but...be that as it may, it smooths on with your body heat and eases the driest of skin.

Since I hit menopause a couple years ago, two of the areas of major concern for me are my hair (it's turning into straw, I swear!) and the skin on my legs. I haven't found any product at all, to ease me of either issue, until....you got it, Better SHEA Butter.

For my skin: while my skin is still warm from my shower, I dry off for the most part, not completely, but just so I'm not dripping water every where, and I scoop a piece of Better SHEA Butter and just run it all over my dry areas and let it just soak into my skin. That's another bonus to Better SHEA Butter, it soaks in and does NOT leave any oily residue.

For my hair: I don't know what else to do with my straw hair. I'm at the point of cutting it all off and see if it will grow back full and luxurious. Yeah, I know....won't work, but that's how frustrated I am. Do you or have you ever just put straight coconut oil on your hair and let it soak in? I have. It works but two showers later and poof, gone. It IS the same way with shea butter, but the shea stays in place, I don't have to worry about it getting on my t-shirt before I jump into the shower.

Oh, and another benefit to Better SHEA Butter is, my Honey Bear has terribly dry feet. I love to massage his feet and when I used the Better SHEA Butter, all the dry was gone! I leave his feet kind of oily and then put on a clean pair of cotton soaks on his feet, when he wakes up and takes his socks off, his feet aren't dry any more! When he lets me do this daily, it DOES erase the dry. I don't have that problem, so I have to use him as a guinea pig LOL.

You can go to their site Better SHEA Butter and read up on how to use shea butter as well as when. I highly recommend shea butter in it's natural form like what Better SHEA Butter has to offer and have added it to our all natural home. And the best part, for me any way, I can mix in any scent 'I' want and I can keep some unscented as Honey Bear likes it. Win win!

(Disclaimer: Better SHEA Butter provided me with free samples of these products to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)

Winter's Got Me Down - NuNaturals NuStevia Review and Giveaway

I don't know about you, but for me...I'm not so fond of the winter season we're having. Just yesterday, more snow...bummer. What better way to beat the winter glums then to host a review and giveaway!

So, with that said, I think we can ALL use a pick-me-up and thanks to Mr Ron Redding (The Sugar Free Poppa) at NuNaturals, once again we are pleased to announce a review AND giveaway with FOUR LUCKY WINNERS of their AWESOME products!!!

I have had the honor of reviewing NuNaturals NuStevia™ products in the past and I have never been disappointed - sweet without a drop of sugar, natural without a drop of mechanically engineered products and delicious with their large assortment of flavors. As you can see by the package we received, they have MANY items on their site and these are but a few:

Due to diabetes and high blood pressure in our home, we watch product labels a lot. You'll find that you can have these ailments AND enjoy the sweetness of sugar without the sugar or imitation flavorings through NuNaturals NuStevia™ products!

Just a couple of examples of how I use NuNaturals NuStevia™ are: adding 1/3 dropper of Orange NuStevia™  to a cup of tea brings it to a whole new level or drizzling the Cocoa Syrup over a bowl of ice cream - a little syrup will go a LONG way in sweetness AND flavor! My personal favorite is vanilla ice cream (hey, I'm cutting back on the sugar in the topping LOL) and drizzle the Cocoa Mint Syrup over the top - tastes the same as a name brand mint chip ice cream!

We use the NuNaturals NuStevia™  packets in lieu of other sugar substitutes in our coffee but we use LESS packs to reach that same fulfilling flavor which is VERY cost beneficial. Everyone has a different opinion of the ratio sugar to stevia has, but for me personally, I use LESS stevia to accomplish the same level of sweetness. You will have to find your own sweet spot and trust me, once you do, you are hooked! 

Also, the dropper bottles are easy to transport anywhere so you will find a Vanilla NuStevia™ dropper bottle in the glove box when we want a 'gourmet flavored' cup of coffee on the road without the cost OR sugar.

I juice around here for the detoxing benefit it brings, but I don't let those scraps go to waste -- nay nay! I make a quick bread out of them, even muffins. What I do is, I take a cup of scraps (freeze the rest), and add it to my favorite banana bread recipe, using only 1 banana and before adding the egg, I start putting in the NuStevia™ . I change it up though, I sometimes will use the loose NuStevia™  and sometimes the drops, depending on what sounds good and I taste test it until I reach the desired sweetness. Then I finish the batter as it states. Mind you now, that if you do NOT add ANY sugar, you will NOT get a browned finish because it's the sugar that does that. The texture and taste will remain the same.

With it being winter time, trust me, NuNaturals NuStevia™ tastes GREAT on oatmeal!!

Here's another idea for you: Do you like soda water? I love it! If you buy any cherry, lime or lemon flavored or even plain flavored, take the Cherry NuStevia™  and drop by drop, add it to your soda - it's like drinking a regular soda with a cherry kick!

And in homemade sugar cookies - the Cherry Vanilla adds a real treat flavor while you cut back on the sugar! You WILL need SOME sugar to brown the cookies, but MUCH LESS and that's AWESOME goodness in your oven!

Have you tried any stevia products in the past? I have found an after taste in the ones I've tried. I do NOT, however, find an after taste using NuNaturals NuStevia™ . That's why I am a firm supporter of their products and Mr Redding, The Sugar Free Poppa, is a real great guy. If you have ANY questions or comments, he is easy to talk to.

You can find more of what I love about NuNaturals NuStevia™ by going to my last review HERE.

Also, you can receive DISCOUNTS on all orders placed on their website:  www.nunaturals.com

When you get to the checkout page, enter the discount code: BLG0615 and you'll receive a 15%  discount on your ENTIRE ORDER. This discount remains EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2015
Online ordering customers may also receive FREE SHIPPING to the CONTINENTAL U. S. on all orders exceeding   $35.00 after discounts

Now, on to the giveaway:

FOUR LUCKY WINNERS will be chosen 

EACH to receive:

( 1 ) one bottle of the Orange Flavored Stevia Liquids, a 50 pkt box of NuStevia White Stevia Powder packets, PLUS a bottle of the new Cocoa Syrup, and a bottle of the new Cocoa Mint Syrup. Each of the 4 winners will receive the complete product selection of all 4 items with the retail value of $54.00, PLUS A FREE BONUS PRODUCT!

NuNaturals WILL SHIP DIRECTLY to the winners and is open to our WORLDWIDE audience. They CAN NOT SHIP TO P O BOXES. You must be 18 years of age or older.Winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to contact me with their name, address, phone number and email address.

This giveaway is available for ONE WEEK ONLY - so spread the word! Running February 13, 2015 until 12:00am February 21, 2015. 

In order to be eligible you must Like NuNaturals on Facebook and spread the word about this giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclaimer: NuNaturals provided me with free samples of these products to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)
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Book Review: Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic

Wow is all I can truly say about this book! What encouragement! I have read his book, watched his movie, http://thebutterflycircus.com/ and have followed him in the news - a beautiful wife and now a beautiful baby!

Here you have a man without his limbs who has grown to be a well known public speaker encouraging others they can make it through anything! Nick had to concur and survive through many adversities and when you can't see a way through, he pulled through!

Never doubt what you can do ever again, as Nick is living proof that there is NOTHING impossible for God to do in and with your life.

An awesome read, I highly recommend this book to all teenagers and adults alike.

Thanks to Blogging For Books, they made it possible for me to read such an amazing and encouraging book!

Disclaimer: I did receive a full size product from either Blogging For Books or the company as compensation for this review. I post honest, tried and true reviews with my complete open minded opinion either negative or positive is completely mine alone.

REVIEW: FRESH FOODS MARKET CHICKEN TENDERS AT KROGER

Working through Bzzagent again, we were able to review Kroger's Fresh Foods Market Chicken Tenders and a bottle of Coke.

I'll begin with the coke part. It came to have with the tenders which I completely appreciate!

Ok, so I was suppose to have given up on soda as I've been a diet soda addict for hmmmm, 35 years...yes, that makes me too old to admit LOL. But any soda drinker will tell you...those carbonated bubbles sure do feel good! Diet coke was my choice....and it was goooood :)

As for the Kroger Fresh Foods Market Chicken Tenders: I've seen them in the deli cooler area, never hot and ready in my own local Kroger, so I'm not sure how they taste fresh, hot and ready.

Do you have a Kroger near you? Ours is about a mile away, and it's our quick one stop shop instead of driving out to the local mega mart.

When I went to Kroger to pick up the tenders and soda, there weren't any hot tenders (as usual), there wasn't any plain flavored either - it was BBQ coated or bust - BBQ tenders were my choice for this review.

Ok, so there isn't any comparison to these tenders to homemade:
8 breasts sliced into tenders, 2 c. italian bread crumbs, 1/4-1/2 c. parm cheese, dashes of cornstarch, garlic powder, oregano, italian seasoning, oregano and black pepper - give a good stir.
Can coat with mayo (YES MAYO!), slather it up all over the meat, bread well and can bake at 425 on a sprayed baking pan or pan fry...OR beat 2 eggs with a little milk and press into crumb mixture and fry on both sides til done

But...if you're looking to grab REAL CHICKEN BREAST tenders without the mess or time, yes...these are a GREAT choice because they ARE real chicken breast meat. And if you put them side by side with a fast food chain, they hands down, are a better choice and are REAL food! They are a bit pricey though, right around $7-$8 a pound - but, ONE Big M** is what....close to $4? A pound of tenders will feed two adults or 3-4 kids.

The down side to the ones I bought, (BBQ), is they are simply coated in a BBQ sauce - not a mind blowing sauce, just a mild, eh flavored sauce. Not impressed AT ALL. Flavor wise was ok. I tried to crisp them up under the broiler a bit after trying them as they came from the store, which helped in flavor (burning the sugar in the sauce always helps!). Some pieces were a bit stringy and dried, other pieces were spot on, but it was basically a hit or miss. Here's a pic of them on the broiler tray to show you size, BBQ sauce and quantity you can expect in a pound:

The average tender was about 4" long, a half inch thick - some shorter, some thicker. All in all, a good size.

Kroeger and Bizagent state:

1: Forgo fast food in favor of a meal that's just as fast, affordable and made fresh each day - I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT

2: Part of a hot chicken offering that includes everything from baked and rotisserie chicken, tenders and wings to 8-piece fried chicken dinners and 250-piece party packs - I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT AS I SAW ALL BUT THE PARTY TRAYS

3: Available exclusively in the deli department at the Kroger Co Family of stores - I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT....Many stores offer their own VERSION of tenders. In my humble opinion, take the hit of having to toss some out just to offer them fresh and hot throughout a specific time period, like maybe 11 am to 7 pm, or something like that so when someone wants to grab something from the deli instead of cooking a meal or running to the nearest fast food, they CAN grab these instead of finding them in the cooler area like I always have and as I'm sure, hot and ready probably DO taste better (taste wasn't the problem, tough and stringy WAS the problem)

4: Whether it's for weekday meals or casual celebrations, Fresh Foods Market Chicken Tenders from The Kroger Co Family of Stores are sure to please for three simple reasons--they're fresh, never frozen and always hand breaded in your local store. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT - when I went to my local Kroger, like I said, at that particular time, they ONLY HAD BBQ drenched tenders. I asked the girl behind the counter for a pound of just plain ones to have and she said they had to be cooked, etc...THAT THEY WERE FROZEN. So I cannot state with all certainty, they are never frozen.

I was also offered a couple coupons to give out to my friends for $1 off the coke and 1 lb tenders for them to try as well - I WILL recommend they use the coupons IF THE TENDERS ARE HOT, FRESH and ON SALE,

Disclaimer: I did receive a full size product from either BzzAgent or the company as compensation for this review. I post honest, tried and true reviews with my complete open minded opinion either negative or positive is completely mine alone.

Product Review - Charmin Ultra Soft Mega Roll

Charmin Ultra Soft Mega Roll 4 pack - Definitely worth it

I admit that I am a die hard Scott Toilet Tissue user - I never buy any other brand for our home. I've had horrible experiences with Charmin, Northern and other brands trying to find one that I liked. Between the pilling and tearing, I just wasn't confident or comfortable buying anything us - until now.

Being a BzzAgent, I receive products to review from either them or straight from the company and am compensated by the product to review. I almost passed up this opportunity because I do not buy or use Charmin. Something told me to give it a shot and I'm glad I did.

Ok, here's your facts:
The texture is a mix between cotton ball and lotion type kleenex. Soft, quilted and very slightly fragranced. I used it, Honey Bear used it and we are BOTH pleased with the durability and the lack of a perfume smell like some brands use. The MEGA rolls are worth the value as well. Mind you, they ARE double plied and quilted so their mega roll does not equate to Scott, but the comfort is so much better. Not only did we use it in the bathroom, but Honey Bear has a seeping wound and I forgot to buy gauze squares for him. Knowing in advance how toilet tissue usually sticks to any wound and when you go to remove it, it usually sticks to the wound. Not this one. It covered the wound, soaked up what needed to be soaked up and did NOT stick to the wound.For me, this was just another positive experience.

I'm still choosing Scott tissue as my go to brand as that's what we have used for many years, but Charmin Ultra Soft Mega Rolls are my choice in a pinch!

Disclaimer: I did receive a full size product from either BzzAgent or the company as compensation for this review. I post honest, tried and true reviews with my complete open minded opinion either negative or positive is completely mine alone.

CLOSED/WINNERS ANNOUNCED! NuNaturals NuStevia Review and Giveaway Featuring New Flavors!

UPDATE! I know folks that I've posted this giveaway thru August 31, 2014, but due to a family situation, I need to cut it short. A winner will be chosen just after midnight tonight, 8/26/14 Thank you for entering AND understanding!

Hi again readers, I've got the second surprise I mentioned a few days ago ready for you. This last surprise is AMAZING!!!

For the past few years, I have had the honor of reviewing NuNaturals NuStevia products for a great company called NuNaturals (NuNaturals.com ).

Every year they come up with incredible NuStevia products. This year they really hooked me BIG TIME. How you ask? COCOA SYRUP!!! You heard me :) Imagine the guiltless satisfaction of adding this to your next sweet treat - mind blowing....

I didn't know where to start or what to try first, THAT'S how excited I was with their new products. Cocoa Syrup, Cocoa Mint Syrup, and Simple Syrup just to name a few.

The first thing I can't stress enough of though is, you must find your sweet happy spot - the ratio of sugar or artificial sweeteners is not equal to stevia, but NuNaturals NuStevia is the only stevia brand I find easy to work with. Here is a small measuring guideline that I've found helpful. You may want things more or less sweet then I do, but at least you'll have a general idea:
     1 tablespoon of sugar = 6 to 9 drops of liquid NuStevia extract
     1 teaspoon of sugar = 2 to 4 drops of liquid NuStevia extract
     1 packet of NuStevia = 1 packet of Splenda = 1 packet of Equal = 1 packet of Sweet'N Low = 2 teaspoons of sugar
     1 packet of Sweetener = 4 to 5 drops of liquid NuStevia extract
     1/4 cup NuStevia liquid = 1 cup sugar

Ok, so let's start with one of your giveaway items:

NEW NuStevia Cocoa Syrup: This is one of those 'greatest wonders of the world'....just kidding. My first thought was over ice cream, but there's none in the house. My second thought was chocolate milk. Now that I can make. 2 c. milk (we only use whole milk now since I found out my favorite skim milk is basically milk watered to the point of them adding 'garbage' to make it look and taste like milk - so what's the point). Anyway.... 2 c. milk and started with 1/4 tsp NuStevia Cocoa Syrup. I ended up using 1 tsp cocoa syrup and for me, it was just the right sweetness and delicious!

To be honest, even before I made the chocolate milk, I put a dab on the palm of my hand...good, hmmm, needed another taste....it IS sweet, but seriously, if you just need a little oomph of something sweet and don't want to eat a candy bar, slice of cake or dig into a dish of ice cream, this is your answer! A little drop will hit that chocolate fix in a heartbeat. I licked that drop off the palm of my hand like it was melting chocolate and IT WAS GOOOOOD!

Now the next item for your giveaway had me a little stumped, Cherry Vanilla Stevia Liquid (mmmm, the scent emulating from this bottle.....) - I immediately thought about a bowl of Cherry Garcia, but that wasn't an option....     I wasn't sure how this flavor would work in anything other then soda or ice cream - the only two areas that I'm used to, so I surfed the net and found a recipe called: Easy Apple Bread with Cherry Vanilla NuStevia . I chose trying this recipe because we all have these ingredients in our home (basically): 

Makes 2 large loaves

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 8 oz cinnamon applesauce
• 2 medium, over ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 peeled, cored and small chopped apple
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 10 to 15 drops Cherry Vanilla NuStevia
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup cacao nibs (raw cacao is high in antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. The essential fatty acids found in chocolate may help the body to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.)

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Spray 2 large loaf pans with non stick spray. Blend the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside. In a blender, mix the applesauce, banana, sugar, NuStevia, and oil.. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the flour mix and blend until just combines.  Stir in the apples and cacao nibs just to combine. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 1 hour 5 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Allow to cool before removing from pans. Just as the author of this recipe posted on her page HERE, 

I found this to be a very moist, flavorful bread. The drops she lists are 10 to 15, I chose 15 for a stronger flavor and personally I did not have cacoa nibs, so I used dark chocolate chips which I did have and it was everything I wanted the taste to be, (kind of like the texture and sweetness as you would find in a zucchini bread)

Next, while cruising NuNaturals for recipes, my eyes immediately set upon Homemade Vegan Nutella Sauce using the 50 pkt box of NuStevia White Stevia Powder packets (now I don't care if it's vegan or not, Nutella is a sit on the couch, watching a good movie, spoon in jar sweet treat I choose way too many times!)

Heather is the creator of this recipe and you can find more NuNaturals recipes HERE or more from Heather HERE

· 2 cups hazelnuts ( I used raw, but roasted would probably work better )
· 2 TBSP dark cocoa powder
· 2 packets of NuNaturals NuStevia™ White Stevia Powder
· ½ tsp. vanilla
· pinch of Celtic Sea Salt

Process the hazelnuts in your food processor, continually scraping down the sides until you start to achieve a nut butter consistency. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth and creamy. Enjoy as a spread or blend with 1 cup of your favorite non-dairy milk for more of a Nutella sauce. (Thanks to Heather for this AWESOME creation! I find the flavor was SPOT-ON with regular/roasted nuts).

NuStevia Simple Syrup: Are you familiar with Simple Syrup? You add it to alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages. The only alcoholic drinks we make at home that includes sugar are mojitos and those are made with brown sugar, so I couldn't attempt it - yet. So, what's another use? Lemonade!! It's still summer time, it's still warm enough for a good, old fashioned glass of ice cold lemonade. The best recipe for homemade lemonade is easy to remember: 1c. sugar, 1 c. water, 1 c. lemon juice (squeezed, not bottled!), 3-4 c. cold water to dilute. The sweetness equivalant for NuStevia Simple Syrup to sugar is 1/4 c to 1 c. sugar. So, I made the perfect pitcher of lemonade using 1/4 c NuStevia Simple Syrup and sure enough, we have a pitcher half gone already of The Perfect Lemonade.

If you haven't tried stevia before, I prefer to use NuNaturals brand as I am confident of their products, awesome flavor and decent prices. If you have tried stevia products before, as I have, I truly feel you'll enjoy the flavor of the assortments of flavors and ease of use just as enjoyable as I have.

NuNaturals Giveaway

FOUR winners will each receive ( 1 ) one bottle of the Cherry Vanilla Stevia Liquid, a 50 pkt box of NuStevia White Stevia Powder packets, PLUS a bottle of NEW NuStevia COCOA SYRUP and a bottle of the new SIMPLE SYRUP.  Each of the 4 winners will receive the complete product selection of all 4 items with the retail value of $ 52.00 , PLUS A FREE BONUS PRODUCT!

In order to be eligible you must follow NuNaturals on Facebook or Twitter. Then, below this entry box are further options

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can earn bonus entries by doing any of the following and enter which you choose to do in the comment area below:

Subscribe to Be The Heart Of Your Home Newsletter

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Twitter

I'll announce the winner September 1, 2014 and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a replacement will be picked.

(Disclaimer: NuNaturals provided me with free samples of these products to review and I was under no obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free products)

I just listed my #giveaway at Blog Giveaway Directory.  You can list yours too for free!  http://bloggiveawaydirectory.com
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