Boylan Bottling Company soda review

Here's a review of something I really enjoyed: Boylan Bottling Co. Soda.
I'm not much of a soda drinker. They are so strong and I always seem to end up with the hiccups. Until now!
Boylan is a really amazing company. They don't use any ingredients that you can't pronounce. Just the same great things they've been using since they started back in 1891. Their website actually has a very interesting account of their history which is what originally caught my eye. Their first product was called Birch Beer. Later they began making and serving other flavors. They originated and stayed in New Jersey, though their sodas are now sold in 20 twenty states and on 3 continents.
So why am I now liking Boylan soda more than any other I've tasted? Well, it's just like they say on their website:
"And while the packaging varied greatly over the years, from fountains to barrels to kegs and bottles, and the flavor lineup expanded dramatically, what never changed was Boylan’s commitment to making sodas the right way, from home grown recipes and the best quality ingredients for maximum flavor... Our Sodamasters use home grown recipes to make Boylan’s sparkling beverages from only the highest quality ingredients. Real ingredients…the kind you can even pronounce. We still use pure cane sugar which not only tastes better but also enhances the flavors of our sodas rather than masking them with the cloying syrupy sweetness of high fructose corn syrup. And our thick glass bottles perfectly preserve flavor, freshness and carbonation, making for a markedly superior tasting product."
The flavor and taste is smooth but strong. I don't feel overwhelmed by the thick syrup taste that often comes from other sodas. And I don't get the hiccups from drinkingt it! My personal favorites so far are the Creme Soda and Black Cherry. Boylan Bottling Co. was kind enough to let me try some of their flavors so that I could write a review and share it with you all! Creme soda is my all time favorite and no one has even come close to the excellent taste that Boylan did.

Now their soda might cost a little more, but everything gets put back into making sure you are experiencing the best. They have Creme, Root Beer, Black Cherry, Ginger Ale, Orange, Grape, Creamy Red Birch Beer, Original Birch Beer, Cane Sugar Cola, as well as diet flavors, seltzers and mixers.
I would definitely suggest them as a soda worth trying! Oh and one final note - glass is recyclable. So drink your soda down and don't forget to toss it in the recycle bins!
You can check them out at their website: http://www.boylanbottling.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/boylanbottling
Twitter: http://twitter.com/boylan_bottling
Pin them on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/boylanbottling/
Or even sign up for their newsletter: http://www.boylanbottling.com/newsletter/

Journey Bar review

Lately I’ve been on the hunt for healthier living - for me and my family. Especially for travel snacks that are not going to clog our arteries, make a huge mess (especially in this Texas heat) or sweeten my kids up to the bounce-off-the-walls point. Nutrition bars happen to be something I prefer, but most of them out there are sweet. Drizzled with chocolate, chocolate chips mixed in… If I wanted chocolate, I’d just carry cookies and a case of diaper wipes with me. So, to the internet I went – in search of other options. And I found the Journey Bar. These are savory bars ready to go wherever you go! Their ingredients are organic whole grains and authentic spices from around the world. Such a different experience than what most people are using these days. Journey Bar offers these great flavors: Coconut Curry, Pizza Marinara, Rosemary (crunchy), Hickory Barbecue, and Parmesan Romano (crunchy).



Journey Bar sent me a sample bar of each flavor to try so I could review it for you all. I even brought a couple of them to the manager’s office here at our apartment complex to try with me. She first tried the Coconut Curry (I’m not a big fan of coconut). She said the sweetness of the coconut offset the tangy curry flavor in a good but hard to describe way. Then we had some of the Parmesan Romano bar. It was definitely crunchy and tasted a bit like pizza. She says that bar for sure would be perfect to have on hand for days when you are tempted to have pizza but know you shouldn’t! We even shared these two flavors with the office worker and some residents to get a more rounded opinion. By far the vote leaned to favoring the Parmesan Romano. A tangy “pizza” flavor that was satisfying. These are definitely a great and tasty alternative to the widely used, sweet nutrition bars that you sometimes wonder - are they really that healthy for you…



Then came the ultimate test – my kids! I decided to let them try the Pizza Marinara bar with me. And to my pleasant surprise, my 3 ½ year old was smiling and begging for more after the first bite!!! He’s a really picky eater who hardly ever wants anything healthy besides fresh bananas or strawberries. My 2 year old son was too busy watching a movie at first to give me his opinion, but after a while he came running in asking for more “pizza”. 8-) So now I know they are also something that my family can enjoy together! I count this as another win for healthy living in my home.



I also enjoyed reading about how they got the idea and started up this business. Two friends doing lots of traveling around the world - looking for something better than the widespread sweetened nutrition bars to grab on the go. They use herbs and spices from places they have travelled to, to season these bars with. And believe me – you can definitely taste the wholesome flavors. The grain in these is mostly amaranth. It’s seedy, but chewy and dissolves in your mouth. It’s not like most bars that have oatmeal (that’s so chewy you look like a cow trying to get it down).
They have these bars in stores all around the United States. Just check their website to see if they have a store that carries them near you. If not, order online! Another great thing about them – FAST SHIPPING! I spoke with them Friday and received the samples Monday morning. Not many companies out there can boast such fast service.
100% natural ingredients, flavors that give your taste buds a pleasant change in pace, and satisfy you while out and about without the mess. I look forward to carrying these around with me. Want to know more about them? Check out the links I’ve included below.
You can check out their website here: http://www.journeybar.com/
Follow them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/journeybar.france
Follow them via Twitter here: http://twitter.com/journeybar

snackTAXI review and giveaway

Looking to save money or even go green? How about both? And let's add a little fashion to it while we do! You've probably heard of and even use the reusable shopping bags every time you go to the store, right? I know I do. Between having my kids trying to put plastic shopping bags over their heads or my city considering charging for each plastic bag a customer uses, I began using reusable shopping bags. Well, have you ever considered having a reusable snack bag as well? Think about it. We buy plastic bags that end up in landfills after just one use of carrying our snacks and sandwiches. Not only is this adding waste to the environment, but wasting your hard earned money in a dropping economy. So what if there was a bag you could use over and over for just that purpose? I'm happy to announce - there is! I was given the opportunity to try a snackTAXI sandwich-sack out and review it for you.

*The one on the left is the sandwich sack and the one on the right is the snack sack*

snackTAXI makes these cute snack-sacks, produce-sacks, bread-sacks, and sandwich-sacks that you can use over and over. No more wasted money or waste for landfills by buying plastic baggies. Fill 'em up, take them on the go, and then wash them when you are done! There are so many cute designs on soft material to choose from too. I like how the front is sealable with Velcro. It makes it so much easier to get them open when your kids want a snack quick. My kids love the colors and design on it. So now we can save money, keep the planet greener, and look cute doing it.

*Easy open and close with Velcro*

snackTAXI also offers bamboo sporks that are cute, just the right size for carrying along on trips or for little hands. Or how about trying the make-your-own-taxi kit – which includes a set of 4 snack-sacks and 4 markers? Let your kiddos decorate their bags any way they choose and make it all the more fun to carry them! They also have reusable napkins and everyday aprons.

This is an American-based company started in 2003 in Massachusetts, by a mom who had three kids going to school and realized one day just how many plastic bags were coming and going through her home then on to the landfills. It truly is a wonderful idea and one that I think we should all be considering just a little more. These products are lead, phthalates and BPA-free as well as machine-washable and made here in the USA by local sewers. As snackTAXI says: Be a snacktivist – add the original reusable bags for snacks and sandwiches to your life on the go! Check out http://www.snacktaxi.com/ for more information and let’s keep our world greener.

Lastly, I’m offering you, my readers, a chance to win a snack-sack! Enter through the Rafflecopter options below and good luck! *The one pictured below is the one I will be sending the winner.*

***I was given these products free for the purpose of reviewing and sharing only. I was not paid to write anything I said, these are strictly my opinions.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OOFOS Shoe product review and giveaway

Who loves shoes?? I know I do. I love comfortable shoes that look good. Particularly shoes that look with more than one outfit. And here in Texas where it’s HOT at least 8 months out the year, I like shoes that are open and let my feet breathe! Recently, I was given the chance to try a pair of really amazing shoes from OOFOS. And as they like to say, I can definitely “Feel the OO!”

Being 9 months pregnant and having to chase my 2 little boys around, I need shoes that offer support and comfort over several hours at a time since I am on my feet a lot. Before trying the OOFOS, I used a cheap pair of flip flops that weren't much better than a couple pieces of cardboard tied together with a thong. After trying OOFOS, I'm walking on clouds! They are super comfy - but offer great support! I prefer the OOriginal Sandals (they stay on my feet better when I have to chase my little guys) and I love how these fit so well. No pinching like new shoes normally do. They have thick soles that contour to your feet.

They are lightweight, water resistant, machine washable (in cold water only – don’t put them in the dryer!), reduce the body impact using revolutionary comfort designs, and have underfoot support.

OOFOS are available in men’s and women’s sizes. They have 2 styles to choose from: OOriginal Sandals and OOahh Slides. Colors that they have for the OOriginals are Black, Mocha, Fuchsia, and Tangerine. The Slides only come in Black, Mocha and Fuchsia (for now). These are shoes – not just sandals that can be purchased online at the Insole Store http://www.theinsolestore.com/insoles-store-brands/oofos.html.
You can also follow OOFOS on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/oofosfootwear, Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/oofos and Pinterest http://pinterest.com/oofos/ to see what they might come out with next!

So do you want a chance to Feel the OO!? I’m happy to offer you, my readers, an OOFOS giveaway! Just enter via the Rafflecopter options below.

***I received these shoes for free for the sole purpose of a product review. I was not paid or otherwise endorsed to write this, it is strictly my opinions on the product unless otherwise stated.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jonathan's Wild Cherry Spoons Review

As a mom, I spend several hours a day in my kitchen. So, when it comes to my utensils - I choose things that are durable and useful - as well as pleasing to the eyes. Recently I was granted the opportunity to try out an amazing spoon from Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoons. They are made of cherry wood or maple wood - which if I'm buying any real wood products, cherry is what I prefer! It's durable, soft to the touch, and naturally beautiful. This particular spoon is no exception. It’s also handcrafted in America which is a big plus for my family.  

I chose to review the Spiral Slim Spoon. I love the unique design of swirls on the spoon part and scribble going down the handle. The tag that came on the spoon says, “Spiral Spoon Progressive circles signifying growth and balance in a world gone crazy.” How true! I also love the feel of the wood as I’m stirring food. It’s comfortable, warm and easy to grip. It is also very sturdy - I don’t have to worry about it feeling like it’s going to break like most wooden spoons I have used before.

I also love that while communicating with various members of Jonathan's Wild Cherry Spoons (including Jonathan himself), everyone was very friendly and helpful. They have extremely good customer service.

This is a card that explains more about caring for your spoon (top) and a book mark that gives information about Jonathan and how he got the idea to start his business that came with the spoon.

There are several types of designs to choose from such as; Original, Cat Tail, Flame Blackened, and the Scribbles, Spirals, and Spots. It’s not just spoons though! Spoons, spatulas, ladles, spootles, pasta forks – the list goes on. Each one is something useful but unique to have around your kitchen. The Lazy Spoons collection offer you the chance to simply rest your utensil on the edge of the pot, giving you easy access to it while continually returning to stir whatever you happen to be cooking. It’s a really neat idea. Keeps your cooking space clean too!

Caring for your spoons:

You can easily wash them with a Scotchbrite® pad using soap and water. The owner of Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoons also included the following recommendations on his website: “Occasionally oil them when you want them to look their best – natural coconut oil is my favorite! I do not recommend using a dishwasher for any wood, as the drying cycle dehydrates wood too rapidly which can cause it to crack, and cleaning agents may age the surface of the wood. Other than that, people say my spoons survive their dishwasher’s just fine. The color of my spoons will deepen with use, and with age their beauty goes beyond skin deep, becoming the cherished utensils that we always reach for – embodying the internal beauty of usefulness.” (A side note about the coconut oil – Not only is it good for the spoons, but it’s actually good for you too!)

And as a final plus: they come in left-handed as well as right-handed utensils! So if you do happen to be a lefty and find it hard to get cooking utensils suited more to you, Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoons is the place to go!

How to order your own:

You can order from Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoons online at this website - http://www.woodspoon.com/. Or you can check on his website and possibly find a show or shop nearby that carries his wares. My husband already told me which he wants me to order or find: the Scribble Cheese Board!

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to follow my blog. I’ll be adding more reviews and possibly some giveaways next time.

***The views expressed in this review are strictly my own; I was not paid or given any incentive to write the way I did. I simply received a free spoon to review and wrote my honest opinions on it.***

Blogger reviews

I recently read some posts on a forum about bloggers making requests to review products and there were a lot of negative comments about it. For those of you that don't know, this is how it works: A blogger sends a request to review a product. If accepted, the company sends them a free product to try and review. The blogger then takes 1 to 2 weeks to try it out, take notes and write the review. They post it on their blog and tell you what they think. Sometimes the company will even host a giveaway through that blogger so you can win and try the product too.

What does this accomplish? For the blogger - it gives them a chance to try new things for free, build their fan base, and share the things they learned with their readers so the readers can make a more informed decision on products before making a purchase. For the company – it means more interest in their websites or place of business. Which then, can lead to more sales and growth.

Companies or individuals who decide to take a chance and give away something for free could get more sales and growth. There are no guarantees though. Are bloggers really just looking for handouts and freebies? Some of them might be. You can tell a good reviewer by the reviews. The more details put into it, the more time taken to make sure it’s well written and easy to understand = the more they care about what they are doing and saying.

What does all this mean for the readers? You can see for yourself pictures of the product that aren't touched up or photo shopped, read what a real person who has used it, thinks and knows about it, and make a decision that's more informed about the product or company. Most people buy things based on what they hear about it right? Your friend tells you, "Hey I just found this amazing deal on a super pair of shoes at So and So's." They show them off and maybe even let you slide your foot in to get a feel. What are you likely to do? Well, if you need or love buying shoes - you will probably head to that store and spend money there. Basically, you will be listening to a review.

That's what review bloggers are supposed to be about. Helping you see and experience something before shelling out your hard earned cash on something that might not be worth it to you later. So if you are a skeptic about review bloggers - I hope you can see them in a new light and maybe understand why some of us do what we do and ask for things like we do. And the rest of you readers out there - I hope this makes things a little more clear on what my purpose is when it comes to reviews. I will be completely honest about things. I won't write a rave review just because something was given to me free. Nor will I endorse something I don't believe is worth it. Hopefully soon, as my numbers of readers and followers grow both here and on my Facebook Fan page, you will see more reviews and maybe I can even start giveaways. Thanks for reading!

Looking to boost your income?

If you are like me, the economy these days may be prompting you to seek extra income here and there. I recently found an article that was in Woman’s Day magazine way back in 2009. My mom had given it to me right after I had gotten married and was struggling to make ends meet. I’ve pulled some helpful tips from the article to share with you guys. As of right now, I haven’t tried all of these for myself (though I definitely plan to try a few more) so if you try them out and would be so kind – please share some feedback and let me know how it went for you!

Sell your books:

Have books lying around that you can’t seem to sell or don’t need anymore? Check out Cash4Books.net. It’s a family-owned book-buying and selling company that has been going since 2004.

1.      Type in the book’s ISBN number (on the back cover or on the copyright page in the front) and it will tell you if they are buying that book and how much cash you can get for it.

2.      Complete the transaction online.

3.      Print out a prepaid mailing label.

4.      Pack up those books and send them in.

In just a few days, you should either receive a check in the mail or a deposit to your PayPal account. But you don’t have to stop there. If you scour garage sale and thrift stores – you might find more money-making books. Be sure to check which books are selling before you buy though. If your mobile phone is internet-enabled, you can check cash4books.net/mobile while shopping.

*WARNING* While you might hit the jackpot buying a book super cheap to resell at a high profit, remember there are condition requirements. So get familiar with them before you head out.

http://www.cash4books.net/

Join e-clubs:

Most retailers, restaurant chains, supermarkets, drugstores and travel-related companies offer some kind of rewards program to encourage customer loyalty. These rewards come in the forms of discounts, rebates or even free products. So if it’s free – join it! Most times you get something special on your birthday. Check the websites of your favorite restaurants and retailers to sign up. Also look at PriorityClubRewards.com where you can earn points towards free night stays at IHG hotels, air miles, cruises, electronics and more. http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/home

Cold Stone Creamery gives you a rewards card and will send you a promotion for free ice cream on your birthday. http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/promotions.html

DisneyParks.com – you might get a free entrance to a Disney theme park for your birthday. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/

*WARNING* Merchants and service providers use e-clubs for sales and marketing purposes. This means you’re likely to receive a LOT of emails from them, so you might want to consider getting a separate email account just for the e-clubs.

Freelancing:

Elance.com is an online workplace where small businesses connect with qualified professionals to get small jobs done. Writers, programmers, graphic designers, marketers or whatever skills you might have to offer – you can bid on jobs and get paid to do what you do best. https://www.elance.com/

Yahoo! Voices (previously known as Associated Content) is an open content network that lets anyone submit content on any subject. If the editors like it, they’ll pay you for it and give you bonus payments based on the number of views the article receives. http://voices.yahoo.com/

*WARNING* Make sure, if you have a daytime employer, that they don’t have any restrictions on you freelancing.

 Auto Insurance discounts:

If you have a teenage driver that is bringing home great report cards, check and see if your auto insurance company offers discounts for such a thing. They might knock as much as 10% off the top if your teen maintains a GPA of 3.0. Or perhaps someone in your household is a teacher? Some insurance companies give discounts to credentialed teachers (too bad they don’t recognize homeschool moms as teacher’s right??) and educational administrators. Some insurance companies might even have a discount for those that have a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science related field. And lastly, most insurers will give a discount for having all vehicles on the same company policy.  

*WARNING* Don’t assume that the insurance company will automatically give you every discount available. Speak up and ask about anything you think you might be qualified for that they could offer. Ask for a complete list and remember that not all companies offer the same things.

 Sell your Cell:

Most Americans these days tend to get a new cell phone every 12 months or so. But how can you get money back for the ones laying around the house taking up space? You might be able to sell it on eBay.com or list it on Craigslist.com. But there are other websites out there you might try. For instance – Flipswap.com. Just input the brand and model to see the buyers are willing to pay. You might try CellForCash.com too but I couldn’t get it to pull up on my computer. Both sites are supposed to let you print a prepaid mailing label for sending in your phone. http://flipswap.com/

*WARNING* Before you mail it, make sure you remove the auxiliary memory card, reset the password to 0000 and delete all of your information from the phone or remove its SIM card.

 Selling CDs, DVDs, and video games:

Check out SecondSpin.com. http://www.secondspin.com/ I don’t know much about how their program works. I think it’s similar to the cell phones and books websites.

My mother sent me some other helpful sites that might interest you about saving money and helpful hints:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/

http://frugalliving.about.com/

http://www.livingonadime.com/

 Hope this was helpful! Keep reading and following for future tips and possibly reviews to come.