Giveaway: Let's Potty Potty Training Board Game

This week's giveaway is especially for parents and caretakers of young children !  Back in December, our reviewer, Anne Cone, tested out the Let's Potty Potty Training Board Game with her son.

Her review shows how this game is not only a fun activity for parents and toddlers, but is also a training tool that gives children the concepts and vocabulary necessary to a successful potty training experience.

Potty training is almost universally regarded as a difficult, unpleasant, and tedious for both adult and child - but it doesn't have to be.  Let's Potty helps create a positive and fun environment for learning.

Aim High Games, Inc. has generously offered to give one of our readers a board-game of their own!  If your child is not yet ready to be trained, tuck it away for the day they show interest.  We hope it will prove to be helpful as your child works through this milestone!

This giveaway is open only to those in the US, and will end at 12:00 am EST on March 11, 2014.  Good luck and happy Monday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tabasco Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Kale

I dont know about you, but these cold winter days make me crave warm, hearty food.

Okay, so its 70 degrees here (one perk about living in the desert), but just watching the news of all the havoc the weather is wreaking in the South makes me crave warm, hearty food.

Also, I love anything with Tabasco.

I came across this recipe during one of my late night Pinterest trolling sessions, and it intrigued me. Tabasco? Chickpeas? Kale? Either it would be a success of epic proportions, or it would be a complete, albeit healthy, disaster. Either way, you only live once.

I absolutely adore food blogs and Pinterest recipes. The only problem is that I never know if the recipe is going to work in the “real” world, or if its going to fall flat without Photoshop and 10 thousand kitchen tools that no one actually has.

The good news is, this recipe delivered (plus some). I have nothing fancy in my kitchen, and I cook on a strict budget. We are a one income family, so there is no room for waste, or for 25 ingredient dinners. Not only is this recipe incredibly easy, it was also an out of the park hit with the family.

Tabasco Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Kale 
(adapted from Foodie Crush, orginal recipe can be found here.)

Ingredients:
(I have listed what I used, for a pantry and budget friendly dinner. You will find a slight alteration from the original)

1 lb chicken thighs, skin removed

salt and pepper

1 tsp onion powder

2 x 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes

1 x 15 oz can of garbanzo beans

2 cups chopped kale

1 tbsp Tabasco

½ cup water

1. Most people use oil to cook their chicken thighs, so here is where I should tell you to season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until just done over oil. I actually go old school (and save some calories in the process) and boil my chicken thighs until the meat is loosening off the bone. Boiled chicken isn't for everyone, but I much prefer the tenderness that it creates in the meat.

2. Remove the thighs from the water, sprinkle with salt and pepper OR if you used the oil method, set them aside. 

3. In a large skillet or pot, combine the tomatoes, beans, kale, Tabasco, and water. Add onion powder (you can certainly use fresh onion, but it tends to throw my boys off of a good meal because they don't love it). Stir so that everything is distributed evenly. 

4. Add the chicken thighs to the mixture. Make sure they are set deep (not floating on top).

5. Simmer over a medium heat (depending on your stove, we cook on a gas range). Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the ingredients are cooked to your liking. A simmer lets the flavor distribute nicely, but you don't want it hot enough to scorch. 

6. Scoop and serve! I served over a scoop of brown rice, but really anything would do - noodles, a steamed veggie medley … or even just as is.

I cannot tell you how amazing this dish is. I scoffed at the recipe because it didn't have a ton of spices in it, but that Tabasco lights it up. Its not overly spicy, but it does have a kick, so be cautious if you're serving to little ones.

My husband asked for seconds … and then asked when we could eat it again. This is going into the file labeled "Pinterest recipes that actually work". 

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Review: Bulu Box December

I cannot tell you how much I love subscription boxes. Every month the mailman delivers really awesome samples and new items right to my door! I love trying new things and I get to see what works for my family before committing to it with my money. And, most boxes offer you discounts or points toward purchases for things you were going to buy anyways.

I received my second Bulu Box right before the craziness of the holidays hit. We were headed out the door for vacation, so I tucked it away to break into after the first of the year - conveniently, right at the time when weight loss resolutions are in full swing!

Bulu Box offers two different subscription boxes - original, and weight loss. Last month I reviewed the original Bulu Box, so this month I decided to take a look at the Bulu weight loss box.

While the original Bulu Box provides premium samples for health and nutrition, the weight loss box lives up to its name by providing products that are targeted toward losing weight. There couldn’t be a better box for my New Year’s resolution to get back into shape after baby!

Creative Bioscience: 30 Day Diet is a blend of African Mango and Raspberry Ketones that is meant to give your diet a kickstart and assist you in ditching your cravings for bad food! I have heard that once you “detox” your body from sugar, grease, and other foods that we come to crave, its easier to say no to them in the future. This sounds like a really great way to give yourself an extra boost, especially after the overindulgence of the holidays (or was that just me?).

Mestrength is described as “clean, efficient fuel for your body”. It provides pre- or post- workout hydration with no caffeine and the addition of creatine. My husband works out at the gym five days a week and he snapped that right up! 

The box came with two samples - he just added the packet to his bottle of water. He said the taste was decent and he definitely felt more awake during his lifting, so this product gets a thumbs up. When you subscribe to Bulu Box you earn points for reviewing the products in your box, which can be used like cash in the store! I think our point cash will be going towards a box of these.

Barleans Omega Swirl is a delicious alternative to Omega 3 pills. Omega 3’s are amazing for energy, healthy, and weight loss. They have also been proven to help hair, skin and nails! This product got great reviews in the Bulu Shop, and it didn't disappoint. Technically this is a fish oil but you’d never know that by the taste. It went into my morning smoothie and was a great way to get some of the nutrients without taking another pill.

Tapaz 2 Go is by far my favorite product in this box. It's a single serve pouch of lentil crackers with a tub of hummus. It is gluten and GMO free, and incredibly easy to take with you anywhere! We love hummus in our family (even our two year old will eat it, if you can believe that) and this would be such a great snack to take on the go with us, or to even leave in the car for the times you are on the run longer than you expected. It certainly beats drive through food.

Once again, Bulu Box delivered some really great items that I fell in love with, but would have never thought to buy on my own. If you love to discover new products that help you feel great and lose weight, Bulu Box is definitely for you! All the products you see here, plus a large selection of other products, are available full size in the Bulu Box Shop.

Bulu Box is offering a limited time code that will give 50% off any subscription order.  If you go to Bulu Box and select your subscription, enter the code: BULUGAN589  . You can get a one year subscription for just $55. That works out to $4.50 per box SHIPPED! That's a great deal. Even if you don't love every sample you receive, you can give them to someone in your life - and its always fun to get mail no matter what! Here’s to a new year! 

*** 

I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.

Review: Let's Potty Game

Reviewer: Anne Cone 

Ugh, potty training. Just say those two words and every parent groans inwardly. There is absolutely nothing fun about the process … but, Let’s Potty is attempting to change that!

My middle kiddo is as stubborn as the day is long. I dread potty training him(he definitely calls the shots in my house), but it must be done! His preschool is starting to ask when we plan on potty training, and I don't think I can put it off much longer.

I heard about Let’s Potty and I was intrigued - making potty training a game? Yes please, tell me more!

The game arrived in the middle of the week (it came incredibly fast from Amazon!) and I set it on the counter for the weekend family night. 

My toddler was intrigued by the box - it’s so bright and looks like something fun. He kept trying to pull it off the counter before we were due to play with it. 

I was happy about that though, because then it was something that he was looking forward to doing (although he did get a small bit of snack on the top!).

Finally we had Saturday family night! Daddy was home, and we ordered up a pizza and sat around the table. 

The board is just like the outside box - full of bright colors and a lot of activity. We let our toddler point out different things on the board before we started - he saw the things we have in our house, like the daddy reading, the puppy, and the school bus.

One thing I love about this game is that its very simple. Each player chooses a character. There are 2 boys and 2 girls.

We, of course, let the little man go first. You choose a card from the stack, and follow the instruction. Each card has a short little saying to read and a very simple direction to follow.

My husband and I used these cards as conversation starters about potty training. We would say things like how big kids get to go forward when they keep their pants dry, talked about getting big kid underwear, and asked him questions about the potty. 

It was a lot of fun to actually have time together as a family where we were talking and hearing our son’s two year old take on things. We even taught him a “potty dance”, which I highly recommend!

The game keeps going until everyone’s character reaches the potty. Its a very simple game, but it gives a lot of opportunity to engage in the potty training dialogue that you need to before starting training.

We had so much fun with the game that well be trying it again next weekend! We have also discussed making the game a model for a potty training rewards system! 

Now that our toddler has some of these things in his vocabulary I really think it'll be easier to transition him off the board game and using these things every day. 

I think one of the biggest potty challenges is that kids see it as “scary” or as “hard work” and I'm hoping that playing Let’s Potty has made it look like fun instead!

One thing of note is that although this is a very simple game, it does seem to be best for kids who are able to understand the cause and effect of it - I pick up the card, I read the card, I do what the card says. The game’s recommended age is for 2+ and that sounds about right to me!

Even after my 2 year old is trained, I'm going to keep Let’s Potty in the closet for when his younger sister is potty training. I can’t imagine how fun it would be to have my toddler join us in playing with his “potty wisdom”! 

The game is fun in itself, but the added bonus of having TV off family time is what makes it a really wonderful buy.

You can find out more information, and purchase the game, at: Let's Potty or Let's Potty on Facebook! 

*** 

This post was originally posted at WAHM Review and is being cross posted here by the original author.  I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.

Review: Mia Tempo Subscription Box

Reviewer: Anne Cone

What is every busy woman’s favorite phrase? “You deserve a break”!

As a busy mom of three, I was intrigued by Mia Tempo’s tagline - “Treat Yourself and Take a Break”. I wondered how I could possibly make use of a box that was intended to give me some time for ME?

I decided to check out their website (Mia Tempo) to see what this was all about. They send you a monthly “care package” of spa and beauty products. 

As a bonus, these products only come from companies that are socially conscious. That sounded pretty good to me, especially because I love finding products that are from small businesses and eco-friendly companies.

The box itself was plain brown, but when you opened it up, you found a thick envelope laid on pretty tissue paper. Inside the envelope were two cards, printed on heavy cardstock. The cards remind me of a formal invitation! 

The first card tells you all about Mia Tempo’s box and their philosophy on how important it is for women to have “me time”. I couldn't agree more! This card also lets you know that for every box you buy, the company makes a donation to a non-profit that helps women. What a great bonus!

This is the “Treatment Menu” on the next card. This is important, because it’s what makes Mia Tempo different from other subscription boxes! This card takes all the guess work out of your “me” time - it gives you step by step instructions on how to give yourself the entire spa treatment in your own home.

As I’ve mentioned, I am quite a busy mom. It’s not often that I get to designate time to myself, mostly because I always feel like I have something more pressing that needs to be done.

The night after my box arrived, I put my kids to bed and proceeded to go about my nightly chores. As I did, I spotted my Mia Tempo box on the counter and I decided that there was nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow - that box was sent for me to relax and I was going to use it!

I grabbed the treatment menu and opened up the box. The tissue paper was a rich brown and aqua, sealed with an embossed brown seal. The attention to detail in the Mia Tempo box is such a treat. Every part of it, from the tissue paper to the treatment cards is luxurious and high quality. It gives you the feeling of a decadent splurge.

What a pleasure to open this box. The smells of the products aren't overwhelming, but you can pick up a hint as you unwrap the paper.

 Step one was to make a cup of the tea, light the candle, and use the bath salts. I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I brewed a cup anyways and took everything into our bathroom. I lit the candle and stuck it on the ledge near my head (so I could smell it, but far enough not to burn my hair off!), and used 2 oz of the bath salts. I also took my book in with me because I was not going to pass up some time to read in quiet!

To my surprise, the tea was delicious. It was Kiwi Lime Ginger, a sweet and fruity blend unlike any tea I've ever had. I would drink that every single night.

The candle had a hint of rose, and I am surprised how much the scent helped me to relax. It was something different and made you feel like you were sitting somewhere besides just your bathroom.

The bath salts were Amber and Fig, lightly scented. The actual salts do have some herbs and dried flowers in them so you will see them floating in your tub! It was a really fun, out of the norm way to feel pampered. I let myself have a relaxing bath while I sipped my tea and read a book I've been dying to catch up on. Thats like a paid vacation to a mom!

Next step is to use the fig body scrub and the wild rose face mask. The mask needed to be pre-mixed with honey and water, so it was nice and set by the time I was ready to use it. I let that sit while I used the body scrub, which was thick and creamy and smelled incredible. After rinsing off the scrub and the mask I felt like a million bucks! Its been so long since I treated myself to products like that.

Step three is to finish off after bath with amber and fig lotion and wild rose eye cream. The lotion was just as sweet smelling as the bath salts! The eye cream was luxurious and felt great. I also noticed how soft my skin was the next morning.

I cannot believe what a difference that hour made in my attitude the next day. I felt rested and refreshed - like I had pressed the reset button for myself. Not only are the products in the Mia Tempo box amazing, but the very idea of receiving a box that is specifically meant to give you a time out is incredible.

Mia Tempo offers monthly subscriptions, or you can buy a single box anytime you’d like. At first glance, they seem a bit pricier than other subscription boxes ($39.95 per box, discounts offered for multiple months purchased together via a Mia Tempo Membership), but when I do a cost analysis these boxes are actually LOWER priced than what I would expect to spend on products like this shipped to my door. Every item in the box I received was a deluxe sample or a full sized product, and each one will give me multiple uses. Not to mention that you get free shipping, which makes the price of a box pretty incredible.

Mia Tempo also offers a Give a Gift option that is incredible. For the same price ($39.95 a box), you have a beautifully wrapped gift sent to the door of the receiver. There is not a woman that I know (and some men too!) that would not be ecstatic at receiving this box as a gift. The price is amazing for the products, wrapping, and shipping - and the ease of sending cannot be beat! All you have to do is fill in the information and just like that - your gifting is done. I know a few ladies in my family who are getting these boxes for Christmas, and I cannot wait to give them! This is the most fun and unique gift I will give this season.

Gentlemen, please allow me to make your life easier for one moment. If you are wondering what to give your wife for her birthday, anniversary, Mothers Day, you name it, look no further. Hand your wife this box, take the kids for an hour or two, and you will be the husband of the year. It simply couldn’t be easier!

In a market that is full of subscription boxes, Mia Tempo certainly raises the bar. Check them out - I promise you will not be disappointed!

Mia Tempo Website
Mia Tempo Facebook

*** 

This post was originally posted at WAHM Review and is being cross posted here by the original author.  I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.

Review: Bulu Box November

Reviewer: Anne Cone

When I found out I was getting the opportunity to review Bulubox, I was incredibly excited. I’ve recently started hearing about subscription boxes everywhere.  Companies charge you a monthly fee and send you a box full of goodies to try. You get to discover items that revolve around your interests, with the bonus of getting mail every month!

Bulu Box was the first subscription box geared towards health, fitness, and weight loss. Every month they send out a fun orange box filled with 4-5 premium samples that help you feel your best - some samples are from well known companies, some are from new to the market brands. All samples are chosen to help you discover amazing products that you might just fall in love with. The best part about these boxes is that you get to try before you buy!

Bulu Box offers two different types of boxes. The first is the original Bulu Box. In this box, you’ll find a wide variety of samples that are health and nutrition related. The best part is that you never know quite what you’re going to get each month, and you often receive samples that  you never would have thought to try on your own. Bulu calls this box a “feel good discovery”.

The second box option is the Weight Loss Box. All the samples in this box are chosen for their ability to aid you on your weight loss journey. Both boxes contain the 4-5 samples; as a bonus, Bulu often includes special offer coupons good towards full size products purchased on their website (Bulubox.com).

For this review, I chose the Original Bulu Box. When I saw the mailman take out the orange box I ran outside to grab it from him! With a box that is as unique as this, its hard not to get excited about what's inside.

All of the items were wrapped in vibrant orange tissue paper. Its just as fun as opening a birthday gift! My Bulu Box contained 5 good size samples, plus two information cards about the products.

I was incredibly excited to see Flapjacked Protein Pancakes in my box! I have heard wonderful things about these from friends. This mix comes in three different flavors (Buttermilk, Cinnamon Apple, and Banana Hazelnut which is seen here). This pancake mix takes an old favorite and puts a healthy spin on it by being high in fiber and fortified with protein. As a mom of three, I am trying hard to eat healthier and I am so looking forward to having pancakes for breakfast again! A full size 28 ounce package retails for $18.99.

How cool is this product? Rootology is a natural alternative to over the counter allergy medication. It is formulated with different herbal extracts to relieve runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, and sinus pressure! I am most excited about this for my husband, who has suffered with terrible allergies for as long as he can remember. Now that we live in a dry and dusty area, he will be incredibly grateful to lay off the OTC meds and try something natural. A bottle of 40 capsules retails for $14.99.

Im a sucker for anything chocolate, so I almost didn’t care what this product did if it was delicious. The good news is that not only does it taste great, but it is also meant to use its vitamins and natural ingredients to boost beautiful, firmer skin from the inside out. The box contained one chew, but I can confidently say that as good as they taste I wouldn’t mind eating one a day to look for a difference! A bag of 60 chews retails for $19.95.

This product made me squeal a little with delight. My favorite thing as a kid was getting to take a gummy vitamin - I remember thinking that I was getting away with something when I got to eat “candy” in the morning. Someone very smart took that idea and ran with it straight to the adult vitamin aisle. Not only are these Smarty Pants vitamins incredibly good (I absolutely ripped into them straight after this picture was taken), but they are also a great source of Vitamin D, they contain no High Fructose Corn Syrup, they are gluten free, and they are naturally flavored. A bottle of 120 retails for $29.95, and contains a mix of Lemon, Orange, and Strawberry Banana flavors.

More chocolate! Slimming Smoothie portion packs are meant to be a great on-the-go snack that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and calories. You just mix with water or milk - the pack is pre-measured so no need to deal with that when you’re on the go. Slimming Smoothies are sweetened with stevia and gluten free as well. These will be great for those days that I do errands and cannot get home to make a snack - or, on days when the kids won't give me time to eat! A box of 12 portion packs retails for $39.99, and comes in Chocolate Truffle or Vanilla Bean.

Unwrapping my Bulu Box was the most fun I’ve had all week. I love getting things in the mail, especially when there are surprises inside! All of the products that come in Bulu Boxes are available to purchase on their website, in full sizes. The other thing that I learned about Bulu Box is that you earn points that can be spent like cash on full size products! When you sign up for a subscription you receive points that are kept in your account bank. In addition, you earn points for every review you leave on their website of products in your boxes. Every 50 Rewards Points = $5 to spend on products. That can add up quickly, especially when you shop their sales.

Bulu Box also gave me a coupon code to share with our readers. If you go to  Bulubox.com and use the code BULUGAN589 you will receive 50% off any subscription! A year of boxes is currently $110 - if you use the 50% code you will only pay $55 for an entire year of Bulu Boxes delivered to your door once a month. That equals out to around $4.50  a box, and that is a GREAT deal. Also, Bulu Box makes a fun and unique gift, and it is something that will continue to make someone smile for an entire year!

Bulu Box is a fun and inventive way to discover new health and fitness products. I have often walked into a health store and been overwhelmed by my options (and the prices). With Bulu, I can try a few things at a time and get great discounts on the things that I love - and not waste money if the product isn't for me.  

Bulu Website

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This post was originally posted at WAHM Review and is being cross posted here by the original author.  I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.