Pom Wonderful *review*

I recently was given the opportunity to try Pom wonderful juice.  I had always walked by the refrigerated beverage aisle and often saw those fancy looking shaped bottles of pomegranate juice but never actually picked on up.

I was really excited to try this juice because I am always hearing about the antioxidants in pomegranates and benefits of them in your diet.  I don’t know if its all true, but I thought I would give it a try to see if I actually like the flavor of it.  I vaguely remember trying the actual pomegranate fruit when I was younger and just remember it being these little tiny bead like fruits that came from it, that you could eat.

The juice itself was a little tart for my liking and is probably meant to drink in smaller amounts.  It isn’t a beverage that I would just guzzle down on a hot day, I don’t think.  They have some flavor combinations such as pomegranate blueberry and one with tangerine too.  I actually really lliked the pomegranate tangerine and had no trouble finishing off the bottle.  The tangerine in it seems to negate some of the tartness making it something I might readily go to if it was in the fridge.

All in all I would say the juice is good in small amounts but it is definitely a little tart, but if you are one that likes a little of that than Pom Wonderful may be something you might like to try!  Even in moderation you can still get some of the health benefits from drinking it without downing an entire bottle.

Keurig Platinum Brewer *Review and Giveaway*

We are huge tea and hot chocolate drinkers in our house, and I like to enjoy the occasional decaf flavored coffees.  I know that we are lightweights here in the house, but we always have coffee available for our family members when they come to town.   My one big problem with a coffee maker is that it makes a whole pot of coffee, or you don’t get to have any options on what you get to make.  So when you have guests in your house or you and your husband drink something different you are confined to making large batches of coffee, or making separate messes in the kitchen for two small cups.

I was recently given the chance to review the Keurig Platinum Brewer and I must say that I already love the functionality of this coffee, tea, and hot chocolate brewer.  Yes, I did say all three!  What is so wonderful about having the Keurig Platinum Brewer is that you can choose what you are having and brew your own individual cup and then the next person that comes along can choose something totally different.  I can remember over the holidays having a large amount of family here and all of them drank or preferred a different kind of tea or coffee and I surely needed the Keurig then, but I didn’t even know that such a thing existed.  When I received the Keurig Platinum Brewer and tried it out I was excited that I had a way to make myself my hot chocolate or tea and then my husband could have something different if he wanted.

Another great feature is that you can pick which size cup of coffee or tea you want to brew and it even has an option for making an iced beverage.  You can set your brewer to turn on or off when you want it too, so that makes it nice for when you get up in the morning.  The brewer is incredibly easy to use, and you will have a fresh cup of tea or coffee in less than a minute.

Nothing about the Keurig Platinum Brewer is difficult, right down to cleaning the unit.  I haven’t done what they call a purge on the system yet but that looks like a fairly easy task.  You can remove the drip tray and put it in the dishwasher, and the k-cup holder is easily removed to clean it.

Features

The Platinum offers the full spectrum of features including Auto On/Off, Digital Clock, Adjustable Temperature Control and the “Set Your Favorite Cup Size” option. The largest available 60 oz. removable water reservoir holds up to ten cups before refilling and the removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning and the use of travel mugs. The sleek, award-winning design is a unique footprint among Keurig’s line of home brewing systems and includes both a blue lit water reservoir and blue lit LCD display.

• 5 cup sizes 4 oz, 6 oz, 8, 0z, 10 oz and 12 oz cup size options
• Removable 60 oz water reservoir
• Fully Programmable Features
• Blue Backlit Display
• Quiet Brew Technology
• Award Winning Design

About Keurig

The word “keurig” is derived from the Dutch word for excellence. Excellence guides everything they do at Keurig from their patented single-cup brewing technology, to the gourmet brands of coffee and tea that are packaged in their K-Cup^® portion packs, to their customer service.

Today, Keurig^® is the leading single-cup brewing system in North America-for both At Home and Away From Home. Now, you can enjoy a fresh cup of gourmet coffee or tea, and hot cocoa Keurig Brewed^® in less than a minute, without any set-up or clean-up. Keurig’s popular coffee, tea and hot cocoa brands offer hundreds of K-Cups^® to choose from, so everyone can have their favorite variety.

I was amazed while browsing their site at the huge selection of coffees, teas and hot chocolates, and they also have some really nice accessories to go with your brewer as well.  They have water filters available, racks to hold all your k-cups so they are nice and neat and easily accessible on your counter, and they even have a special My K-Cup adapter so you can brew a cup of your favorite tea or coffee that you are used to drinking.

I love the versatility of the Platinum Brewer because you can make several cups of anything you choose and you don’t have to worry about the mess or making more than you can actually drink, just to enjoy one cup of coffee or tea.  It is incredibly easy to use and I love the blue backlit display because it makes it easy to see.  The temperature preference is also nice because you can pick how hot you want your drink to be, I am one of those people who likes it somewhere in the middle.    The one thing that you have to be careful with is to remember to have your cup in place before you start brewing or you will have a mess to clean up.  I would definitely recommend chucking that coffee pot for a Keurig Platinum Brewer because it is a one man show when it comes to making hot beverages for yourself, for your husband or for visitors.  You’ll never have to rinse out the coffee pot to set it up for something different ever again.  I get excited just to go make a cup of tea or coffee now. I LOVE IT!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!

Would you like to win a Keurig Platinum Brewer? I know you would.

Keurig would like to give DoubleBugs readers a chance to win a Keurig Platinum Brewer of their very own!

Here’s What You Gotta Do

*Mandatory For Entry*

Visit the Keurig website and tell me what you like about Keurig and what kind of K-cups you would like to try

For Additional Entries (leave a separate comment for each)

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Blog about this giveaway with a link to my site (5 additional entries gained)

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Contest Starts August 2, 2009 and Ends September 7, 2009

Good Luck!!!

*Winners Chosen via Random.org*

My Husband Says It’s Evolution

Do you ever get this response from your dear husband?  I swear that this is the reason given for everything that goes on in our house and sometimes I just have to flat out tell him that he is full of crap.

In this house everything is somehow related to evolution.  House cleaning isn’t something he knows how to do because according to evolution men are hunters and gatherers.  This is why he doesn’t know how to clean the toilet. *rolls eyes*

The funniest one yet and the one I laugh at daily is why men cannot find things that are right in front of their face.  I am convinced that my husband doesn’t want to take the time or effort to actually look behind things or for things when he can pester me and I just get up and go find it.   My husband is always asking me where his things are, and I tell him it’s wherever he left it.  He states if he cannot see food in the refrigerator that he doesn’t know its there.  Hello!  Look for it.

Here is the theory…are you ready?  According to evolution there is a reason why men cant see things.  Unless the item is moving a man will pass over it, since by nature they are hunters.  So unless his wallet is doing a little jig he cant find it!  Unless the can of green beans isn’t shifting repeatedly in the pantry, nope he can’t find it.  Same thing for the hamper and his clothes.  I guess the next time you visit me all our stuff will be swinging from the chandeliers.  The note on the door will read:

WATCH OUT FOR FLYING OBJECTS DUE TO EVOLUTION IN PROGRESS

I wonder what’s next in the chain of evolution.

Wordless Wednesday

My Little Gardener

Kellogg’s Cinnabon Snack Bars *Review*

I have always  loved Cinnamon rolls of almost any kind and I usually have to refrain from eating them, otherwise I tend to over indulge.  I had always walked by the Cinnabon stores in the local malls, but never actually stopped to give them a try and I finally gave in on a day where, I was starving and had a craving for something sweet.  I sat down with my drink in hand and this huge cinnamon roll, and took my first bite.  That was when all those happy joy endorphins started partying like it was 1999 and I had found one of the best cinnamon rolls I had ever had.

I love to head to Cinnabon when I can, but that isn’t always possible with our busy schedule and having two toddlers, makes it next to impossible to just head to the mall whenever I feel like it.  I was delighted to find out that there was a way to enjoy that favorite Cinnabon flavor in a snack bar.  Mom Central offered me and my family a chance to give Kellogg’s Cinnabon Snack Bars a try so, I quickly accepted because I was eager to see if they tasted just as good as the Cinnabon rolls that I bought in the mall

The Kellogg’s Cinnabon Snack Bars can be eaten right out of their package or warmed slightly in the microwave.  I prefer to eat mine a little warm so I microwaved mine for about 10-15 seconds.  After taking a bite, I was pleasantly surprised.  Although, they aren’t quite like a sticky gooey Cinnabon Cinnamon roll, they are pretty yummy.  They are perfect for the kids too, and excellent when you want to give them a snack, or you need something to bring when you are on the go.  They are a little heavy on the cinnamon which I don’t mind since I love cinnamon, so the more their is the better.  Each bar is an amazing 150 calories, so  you can indulge and not feel guilty about having a treat.

If you haven’t tried them yet, they are a perfect treat to share with the family or keep to yourself.  I found them in the breakfast isle next to all the granola bar type snacks.  Kellogg’s Cinnabon Snack Bars are a really yummy alternative to the same old boring granola bars.

Blogher and Having A Blast

Just doing a quick fly by because I haven’t had much time to post.  I am  having so much fun here at Blogher here in Chicago.  I have been meeting some really great people and having so much fun.  The amount of things to see, and all the wonderful SWAG is almost overwhelming.  I feel like a kid in a candy shop and even more importantly, it is so great to get out and be around other like minded people.  Networkiing is so much fun!   I will have more updates after I get home from my whirlwind trip.  Until then thank you for all your wonderful support!

Wordless Wednesday

Hard to believe they will be turning 3yrs old this week!  I can remember how sad I was that they turned one in these pics that I took.  I surely miss their littleness!

Happy Birthday to My Babies!

1yr Photos

Swamped With Things To Do

I haven’t made it to my blog for very long this week since I am in preparations for Blogher in Chicago this week.  Sometime I wish that if I wiggled my nose everything would pack and organize itself.  To make matters worse the boys are extremely whiny and that makes getting things done next to impossible.

I can tolerate the shining for an hour or so but then that noise they make sort of reaches the core of your body and sound like nails on a chalk board  LOL!  They are about to turn 3 and they fight like siblings do.  The other day I was in the restroom and of course you never get a moments privacy, and they were arguing about one looking at the other.  Ahhhh hes looking at me! *rolling eyes*  Here I am trying to go to the bathroom, and I just tell them to close their eyes, then they go ahhh you’re looking at me!  Then I closed my eyes, now can someone please beam up please.

So I have not begun to pack yet for Chicago on Thursday, and I probably will be doing that at the last minute.  I have so much to accomplish, that its that paralysis by analysis thing, all I can do is stare at it all and feel overwhelmed.

On another note, one of my twins has successfully used the potty twice today  YAY.  I knew the no pressure to go potty would pay off.  I think kids do so much better when they are ready and express interest in doing it themselves!  It will definitely be a relief and save us about $100 a month!

Making Life Better

Summer is always a great time for us as a family, and we spend a lot of time outdoors taking walks in the evening or just playing with the boys.  No matter what though, I tend to spend time doing all the things around the house while my husband takes the boys outdoors during meal preparations and I almost never seem to be caught up with everything.  Family time is incredibly important and helps children with a sense of security and their confidence, and I place a high value on that, so I try and get as much time with my kids as I can.

One of the things I seem to dread is figuring out what is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Let’s face it, as a Mom, things can become overly routine and you start to get bored with the same meals every day and the same routines.  You have to start to get creative and to help you do that, there is a great resource for family meal planning.  Unilever has  teamed up with Jennifer Bushman, the author of the “Kitchen Coach” cookbook series,  to create the ultimate Family Fun Book.  This book is filled with great recipes and affordable meal ideas that help bring family together.

Bushman recommends making meal time “family time.” Some ways in which she recommends are allowing the kids to help with meal preparations, keeping a well stocked refrigerator/freezer and pantry with versatile ingredients. In addition she wants you to be creative and make meals fun by incorporating a theme.  One of my favorite ideas that she suggests is a carpet picnic right in your living room.  I know that we always are sitting at the kitchen table, so the change in scenery and the way we eat would be exciting and fun for the boys.

The Family Fun Book can be downloaded for free and it is an excellent resource for bringing families together and is loaded with creative ideas to make meal time special for you and your family.  MakingLifeBetter.com offers the Family Fun Book, but their site also has tons of valuable information as well, so gather up some meal tips with the Free Family Fun Book, and then have a look around, and I bet you can find some really useful information!

***I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Unilever/Making Life Better. Mom Central sent me a gift card and a copy of the Family Fun Book to thank me for taking the time to participate.***

Skin Free Great For Sensitive Skin *Review and Giveaway*

Both me and my boys have very sensitive skin, so much so that I have had to change the laundry detergent that I use in order to prevent theri skin from breaking out.  In the winter months I am combating eczema, which almost never seems to go away on its own.  I always have a hard time finding skin care related products that I can actually use, because half of them are loaded with fragrances and a at on of other stuff that can wreak havoc on sensitive skin types.

I received several wonderful items from Skin Free to review and I was a little apprehensive to try them out at first.  I received the Extra Moisturizing Liquid Soap, The Sweet and Smooth Sugar Scrub, and the Niaouli Scrub for Blemish Prone Skin.

The Sweeet and Smooth Sugar Scrub is absolutely fabulous on dry skin.  I used it in the bath on my elbows, knees, and on my face and I couldn’t believe how good my skin felt afterward and not only that I didn’t have any weird reactions to it, so that is always a plus.  You can use it sparingly on your face to slough away all the dead skin cells to leave your face with a nice clean glow. It has nothing weird in it either and when they say its fragrance free they mean it!  You know how some thing tout that it’s fragrance free and it still has an odor to it, well this stuff doesn’t and I like that.

The Extra Moisturizing Liquid Soap, is fabulous if you have your hands in the water often like I do when cleaning and working with my kids.  My hands tend to dry out in the colder months and sometimes in the warmer weather, so washing with this soap totally eliminated the feeling of having to put lotion on after I washed my hands.  I love the fact that all the moisturizing I need is in my soap and I don’t feel like Im washing away essential oils in my skin when this is there to replenish it.  The package said that it is used for your face and rest of your body, but it can also be used as a good hand soap!

And for my blemish prone skin, I tried out the Niaouli Scrub and I love it!  Once a month it is inevitable that I get acne and here I was Naive to think that it would go away as an adult.  The Niaouli Scrub gently washed and cleans your face and helps to remove those excess oils that are culprit in causing acne.  Skin Free products felt so good on my sensitive skin and all of their prices are reasonable.  I know there are skin care products out there that claim to be free of irritants and hypoallergenic and my skin would beg to differ, but with Skin Free, I had no issues at all. This is some really great stuff if you or your family has skin issues or eczema prone skin.

Would you like to try Skin Free for yourself?

Skin Free and DoubleBugs would like to offer you the chance to try out Skin Free products with a $30 gift certificate!

Here’s What You Gotta Do!

*Mandatory Entry Requirement* All you have to do is visit their site and come back here and tell us about your skin woes and what products you would like to try from Skin Free!

Additional Entries

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Contest Starts July 17, 2009 and Ends August 12, 2009

Good Luck!

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