GIVEAWAY & Review: Boulder Granola

Are you ready to "Unleash your Inner Hippie" and try some granola by Boulder Granola? 

Unleashing my inner hippie wasn't too far of a stretch for me. My friend Janna calls me her most hippie friend; I call her my most Godly friend. Love you Janna! :) But if I can unleash my inner hippie a little further by eating a very tasty granola, then I am all IN! And It's Earth Week! So, let some of your hippie out!

Not only is it USDA Certified Organic, but it is also "the most rockin' primo granola ever!" Seriously, you have to read From the Heart of Boulder on the front page of their website, it is full of catchy sayings to catch your attention and get a feel for their company. To read more about Boulder Granola and how they got started almost one and half years ago, check out  Boulder Granola's History.

Our family sampled a large bag of granola and received small bags of the original, chocolate chip, and gluten-free. Yes! You read that correctly, they have GLUTEN FREE granola. Our family doesn't need gluten free products, but we are friends with plenty of other families that are and I know I have many readers who require gluten-free products.

One of the company philosophies that I love is that they believe in the 100-Mile Diet Theory and purchase many of their ingredients locally within 100 miles. Unfortunately, for me to buy their granola I need to have it shipped further than that, but I feel good knowing that all ingredients are from the US, with the exception of sesame seeds.

Topping my yogurt with granola is my favorite way to way to eat it,
but my husband likes to eat it as a cereal with milk.

"Wake Up Your Mojo!" & BUY some Boulder Granola, but first ENTER TO WIN YOUR CHOICE!!!


Want another chance to win some Boulder Granola? Head on over to the Boulder Granola Blog and enter to Win a Bag of Limited Edition Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Granola.

Try It Tuesday - Recycled Earth Art for Toddlers

In the spirit of Earth Week, why not create your own Earth for display in your home with your toddler using recycled materials.

I simply used a cardboard pizza box that I drew a circle on and cut out. Then I used some blue and green tissue paper than I saved from gifts or packages we had received; tore up pieces of the blue to cover the circle and some green "continent" pieces (or at least my best ripped representation of some of the continents.) And finally, I created a paste out of flour and water which we used to glue the tissue paper to the cardboard circle.

With a small amount of foresight and an even small amount of prep time, I had a simple craft to do with my toddler son as we kicked off our Earth Week.

GIVEAWAY and Review: Eco-Lips Lip Balm

Our house is comprised of some lip balm addicts, so ECO-LIPS was something we were very excited to review.

I was able to choose the 4 different lip balms that we would evaluate and review and to be able to give the best overall review of the the ECO-LIPS products I chose products from all different varieties. I chose the  Honest Kids Goodness Grapeness lip balm, so that my daughter could help participate in reviewing the products. The ECO-LIPS Gold Premium lip balm, which is an unscented lip balm that my husband enjoys, was another choice. Finally, the choices for myself include the ECO-Lips SPF 15 Mint lip balm and the Eco Tints Plush Red lip balm.

All of us loved each one of these. My daughter is crazy about the grape scented lip balm and when I smell it I can't help but want to put it on my lips as well. I feel good about letting my daughter use this lip balm since it is 100% edible (for those times you lick your lips because you are curious if it does taste like it smells), USDS-certified organic and petroleum-free.

My husband commented that he thought the ECO-Lips Gold he was using was smooth and very soft feeling, which is good. There is nothing more annoying than lip balm that is sticky or hard.

I actually decided to put the carabiner clip on the ECO-LIPS SPF 15 Mint lip balm, so that I could clip it on the strap of my gym bag. My gym bag is often with me since I am at the gym or a fitness class or meeting a friend to bike/run daily. I find that I feel more comfortable if my lips have lip balm on them while I exercise and I like the idea that I am helping protect them if I am exercising outside.

My last tube to evaluate is of the ECO-Tints. I have to say that in the past few years I have become much more fond of tinted lip balm instead of lipstick. I find that some lipsticks feel caked on, can be drying, and offer a much more dramatic color than I desire, whereas tinted lip balm feels smooth, light and nourishing and offers just a tint of color. Tinted lip balm is perfect for my lifestyle at this stage in my life.

ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN THEIR CHOICE OF LIP BALMS. 

Please review the many choices on their website before entering and commenting, because the choice you make in the comments is what you will receive if you win.

Make It Monday - Banana Blueberry Bread (Clean Eating Recipe)

Blueberry Banana Bread
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour

1 tsp. cinnamon
1 T ground flax seed
1.5 tsp basking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt
3 mashed large bananas
2 egg whites
1/4 C honey
1/2 C raw sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract (or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract)
1/4 C coconut oil
3/4 C frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, flaxseed and salt.
In a large bowl,  beat bananas until smooth. Add egg whites and beat until combined. Gradually mix in sugar, honey, extract and coconut oil. Mix dry ingredients into banana mixture; Fold in blueberries.
Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until browned on top.

About to be put in the oven to bake

GIVEAWAY and Review: Curious Critters (Book)

I can't begin to tell you how absolutely beautiful the pictures in Curious Critters are. It is worth buying this book just to look at these gorgeous photographs, but then you add in the witty things that each of these creatures says and you have the makings for an artistic and creative book to read to your kids.

The top picture is a picture I took of the front cover of the book. Just check out the detail, every skin fold, those sticky feet pads and the beautiful contrast between the black and yellow in his eyes. Let me introduce you to the Gray Treefrog, who is also joined in this book by his cousins the American Bullfrog and the American Toad. All three of those critters we see at each of our visits to the RAD Zoo. Other creatures we see at the RAD Zoo, as well as in Curious Critters are the Fox Snake, Spotted Salamander, Eastern Box Turtle, and the Easter Spiny Softshell Turtle.

I wanted to share one other creature in from Curious Critters, by David FitzSimmons, with my readers and that is the Chinese Praying Mathis. After catching bugs for our own praying mantis (from an egg case & kit we bought from InsectLore) for 6 months last year - we still have yet to purchase one this year, but plan to soon before they are gone), I have found this to be such an interesting creature. Other insects in the book include a Bush Katydid, a Red Flat Bark Beetle, a Black Swallowtail, and a Monarch Caterpillars (which these we usually get a chrysalis of every year and watch emerge and then set free.)

There are even more critters in this book to learn about. They are the Ohio Craw fish, Goldfish, Blue Jay, Southern Flying Squirrel, Eastern Screech Owl, Red-Eyed Vireos, a Jumping Spider and Virginia Opossums.

Kick off your Earth Week by buying a copy of Curious Critters and sharing it with your family.

ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN A COPY OF CURIOUS CRITTERS!

Enjoy a FREE WEEK of Entrance Fees at National Parks

In honor of National Park Week and  Earth Week, there will be no entrance fees at National Parks April 21-29. Earth Day is on April 22nd. Earth Week is April 16-22.


Mark your calendar for these fee-free dates in 2012:

• April 21-29
  National Park Week
• June 9
  Get Outdoors Day
• September 29
  National Public Lands Day
• November 10-12
  Veterans Day weekend

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

“Rockin' Green” 4/22

I've teamed up with NaturalHairLatina to bring you this awesome giveaway for Rockin' Green eco- friendly cleaning products.


One lucky winner will receive a 45/90 load bag of detergent in the winner's choice of scent/formula.
Giveaway goes live at Midnight on April 15th and will run until April 22nd!

Good Luck Everyone!!