Loving 'Love Child Organics'

My kids love, squeezy, squirty fruit snacks and I love whole, natural, minimally processed foods; fortunately Love Child Organics satisfies everyone. I admit the very first time I saw soft pouches of applesauce I worried about sticky spills in diaper bags if the kids didn't finish eating them; that was in vain however since neither Bolt or Simba ever has leftovers.  When presented with Love Child Organics, my boys gobbled them up before I could even grab my camera.

I love that EVERY pouch contains one of my all time favourite super grains, Quinoa as well as acerola fruit which provides a natural source of vitamin c.  Add to that nutritional powerhouse a variety of organic fruits and veggies and local Whistler residents John and Leah Garrad-Cole have finally created a packaged food that I want to feed my children.

And perhaps more importantly, my kids can't get enough. The second I showed the boys' the squeezy pouches of goodness they were begging to eat them and surprisingly neither of them expressed a preference among the flavours. We tried out three of the six flavours; 'Mangoes and Apples', 'Blueberries, Apples and Bananas' and the 'Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Apples and Blueberries' and I promise you, not one single drop was spilled.

For all of us living an allergy-friendly life, I love that Love Child Organics are produced in a nut-free facility and are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher. I remember travelling around Asia looking for gluten-free, dairy-free baby food for Bolt when he was eight months old, it was a total nightmare. You'd be amazed how many of the non-fruit baby foods include at least one of the two.

Just in case you're worried, the packaging is all BPA-free and although only the cap is recyclable, the packaging is still a sound environmental choice.

Our pouches use 80% less material than many alternative forms of packaging. An independent audit of the life cycle of our pouches has shown that the energy used, and the environmental impact made, when making, transporting and destroying them is significantly less than PET plastic bottles, Tetra packs and glass. When compared to the glass jars commonly used for baby food, our pouches can use as little as 8% of the energy requirements.

You can find Love Child Organics in Wal Mart Stores and you can also check them out on their Website, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter and Pinterest.

Have you checked Love Child Organics out? What did your kids think?

I received three packages of Love Child Organics products for the purposes of this review; all opinions are my own.

Kaia Foods | Review & Giveaway

Anyone who eats gluten-free knows that finding pre-made snacks that are delicious, is not only a challenge, it’s practically a hallelujah moment when you find one that you love. For me, Kaia Foods has recently filled that niche for me. I only wish that their products were available here in Canada; fortunately I have access to an American mailing address so Kaia foods are only a few mouse clicks and a short drive across the border away.

Kaia foods creates 'raw foods' (never heated above 118 degrees) that are naturally gluten and dairy free. I had the opportunity to test out the Cocoa Bliss Buckwheat Granola, the sprouted sunflower seeds and the fruit leathers, and one of our readers (must be delivered to a US address) will have a chance to test out a product of their choice too!

The product I was most excited about, and rightly so, was the Cocoa Bliss Buckwheat Granola. I still long for the crunchy sweetness of granola sprinkled on yogurt, and although there are gluten-free alternatives, until now, none of them have even come close to satisfying that craving.

Cocoa Bliss is so delicious, I haven’t even eaten it with yogurt, or milk, I simply cracked the package open at my desk at work and have been noshing on, it as is, straight out of the bag. Cocoa Bliss is chunky and a little softer than regular granola, but has a great crunchy texture from the healthy combination of buckwheat, raisins, coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and more. Seriously, this stuff is heavenly and at $6.99 for 12 ounces, it's a steal.

I also tried out Kaia sprouted sunflower seeds, which are sprouted, seasoned and dehydrated at low temperatures to maximize the nutritional content.  The process also enhances the flavour, and managed to provide a crunchy, flavourful snack without leaving a dry and pasty feel in my mouth (which I find traditional sunflower seeds do).

I was very intrigued by the sweet curry flavour and I was pleased to discover that the seasoning was sweet and mild and accented the seeds rather than overpowering them.  The sprouted sunflower seeds are also a fantastic price, only $3.99 for a 5 ounce package.

Finally, the boy and I tested out the organic fruit leathers made without additives, sugar or concentrates.  Unlike traditional fruit leathers, Kaia's are composed of a very thin (not-sticky) piece of dehydrated fruit wrapped around itself in the package, about three layers thick.  We tested out the vanilla pear flavour, which the boy loved and gobbled up.  Personally, I would have enjoyed the addition of a little cinnamon but pear is a mild flavour, so it makes sense this product would be as well.  Kaia Foods organic fruit leathers are $1.89 for a 0.5oz strip.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoy Kaia foods; the products are tasty, nutritious and best of all, able to meet both the boy and I’s dietary restrictions.  They are great gluten-free, dairy-free products that are available at prices that won’t break the bank. Interested in testing some out for yourself? Check out our Momma Stuff Blog giveaway below.

Enter to Win

One Kaia Foods Product of winner choice

(Winner must have a US Mailing Address in the continental US - not Hawaii or Alaska)

First Entry:
Visit the Kaia Foods Website and leave a comment sharing which product you'd like to try
Please make sure you include your email address if its not in your profile otherwise I won't be able to contact you if you win!
Additional Entries:

Please leave a comment for EACH additional entry

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Kaia Foods - Raw Organic & Natural | #gf #dairyfree #giveaway #review | @mommastuffblog @kaiafoods #CMTT http://bit.ly/cyn3h5
 

Giveaway closes Sunday November 28th at 8pm.  Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.

Contest now closed.
Congratulations to our winner, Comment #17 Ashlei

Funny Hunny Bunny Organics Toddler Tee Review

Before the boy was born my mother-in-law had never really shopped organic; she bought the boy beautiful bamboo sheets and couldn't help remarking how plain and boring all of the organic products in the store were.  I explained that the natural dyes used in sustainable clothing is often less vibrant than traditional dyes.  That doesn't mean however, that sustainable clothing is boring.

Funny Hunny Bunny Organics (FHB) proves just that point, with their fun alternatives to the 'same old' organic clothing.  The products are adorned with adorable, hand-painted/printed images that just make you say aww.  With one simple t-shirt your child can instantly be transformed into a doctor or a rockstar.  We chose to try out the Daddy-O tee, I can't resist a little man in a tie!

All FHB products are made from 100% certified organic cotton in sweatshop free conditions.  Each design is hand painted/screened using non-toxic paints, and those products that are coloured, use non-toxic dyes and/or food grade hydrogen peroxide.  All of these actions support the company's "main goal...to provide a healthy garment for children that's stylish, fun and has a positive impact on the environment. We hope that in doing so, it will peak people's interests in buying and learning more about organic cotton so that our environment can become a safer place to live & grow."  Personally, I love a company that takes the education and outreach component of green living to heart.

We tested out the Daddy-O tee and when it arrived all beautifully wrapped with tissue and a hemp bow, I almost didn't want to put it on the boy, knowing it would be covered in drool in mere minutes.  I found that the tee was generous in size, in particular I found it long.  The cotton is extremely soft, though quite thin.  The tie painted on the tee is bright and vibrant and shows no sign of wear after a couple cycle's through the washing machine.  And of course its environmentally friendly and absolutley adorable.  The boy wore his Daddy-O tee at my birthday bbq and was definitely the most handsome man in attendance.

FHB was created by a woman looking for the perfect, environmentally-conscious gift for all her new momma friends; when she couldn't find it, Funny Hunny Bunny Organics was born.  They carry certified organic onsies, tees, hats and shoes.  At $30 for a single t-shirt, the price is on par with other sustainable clothing lines and when you consider that the products are all hand painted/screened the price isn't a total deal-breaker.  I'd definitley buy a FHB Tee as a gift, though I might have a slightly harder time splurging on the boy, but I'm cheap and that's just me.  The Funny Hunny Bunny Organics Daddy-O tee rates a 4/5!

Don't forget to check out Funny Hunny Bunny on Facebook and Twitter!

Soapwalla Body Oil & Deodorant Cream Review & Coupon Code

I have always had sensitive skin, as a child I would frequently have red, inflamed and itchy skin.  I was around 8 when I first went to the dermatologist, he told me to wash my face with distilled water and that I should use Cetaphil as a cleanser.  To this day, I still use Cetaphil, it is the only product that I can consistently use on my face without breaking out in acne or a rash.  I've only ever had one facial, for fear of a skin reaction, and sadly it didn't go well.

That being said, I am older and wiser now and am always on the look-out for high quality natural skin care products.  I am always cautious when I try a new product and occasionally I find something fantastic.  I recently had the opportunity to test out some Soapwalla products, for the purposes of this review, and was more than impressed.

Soapwalla is created by the Soapwalla Chef, Rachel in the comfort of her home, using organic, food-grade ingredients and pure essential oils.  The products were borne out of necessity, as Rachel also had trouble finding products for her sensitive skin.  When I asked her how she learned about making personal care products, she informed me that just like I would have done, she scoured the internet, bookstores and libraries, reading everything she could and watching every video she could get her hands on before starting Soapwalla.  Gotta love a resourceful woman!!

I had the opportunity to try out the Soapwalla Luxiurious Moisturizing Body Oil and the Soapwalla Deodorant Cream.  Soapwalla Luxurious Mouisturizing body oil is all natural, vegan and smells absolutely amazing.  It's not too floral (that would make me sneeze) and not too citrusy, its just slightly sweet and left me sniffing my hands after applying it on the boy.  I used the body oil primarily on the boy's scalp; it is very dry and prone to eczema, if I don't moisturize before bed each night, he will have a very flaky and itchy scalp in the  morning.  Unlike straight grapeseed oil (which I often use) the Soapwalla moisturizing oil didn't leave the boy's hair greasy and seemed to absorb quickly. 

I have tried various natural deodorants, including a salt rock, but they've never really been strong enough to take care of my sweat and odour.  I don't sweat profusley, but unlike many people I know, I do sweat. Soapwalla Deodorant Cream "utilizes superfine vegetable powders, clays, and lavender, peppermint and tea tree essential oils to absorb moisture, inhibit bacteria, and ensure a long-lasting and highly effective experience."

Soapwalla Deodorant Cream smells minty and delicious, is vegan and free from chemicals, aluminum and petroleum, so you can feel good about slathering it on your armpits and let me assure you, you will need to slather it on.  The first few days I wore Soapwalla deodorant cream, I started to find that I had the slight stench of sweat as the day came to a close, but after generously applying it to the entire armpit (as suggested by Rachel) I found that it was much more effective, apparently I had been a little stingy with the product the first few days.

Overall, I found that both Soapwalla Luxurious Moisturizing Body Oil and Deodorant Cream I tested out lived up to their claims, smelled great and worked well.  Rachel was super helpful and happy to provide any additional information or guidance I needed.  I had a great experience with Soapwalla and rate them a 4.5/5.

Coupon Code:

Want to try out some Soapwalla Products? Save 10% off your purchase (valid through July 15) by entering coupon code MSB10 in the comments section on the Etsy purchase page.

Benefits of Essential Oils:

Rachel was kind enough to provide the following details about the benefits of some of the essential oils used in the Soapwalla Luxurious Mouisturizing Body Oil and Soapwalla Deodorant Cream.  As a knowledge junky, I found this information very useful, I hope you do too.

Lavender: renowned for its skin healing properties and antiseptic properties. Benefits a host of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, rashes, scars, etc.

Tea tree: an incredibly potent antibacterial and antiseptic oil. Tea tree is unique in that it is active against all three varieties of infectious organisms -- bacteria, fungi and viruses. Heals skin rashes, balances oily skin, reduces dandruff.

Evening primrose: a rich source of gamma linoleic acid, an Omega 6 fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Anti-aging, nourishes and balances the skin.

Carrot seed: Remedies and moisturizes dry, mature, or wrinkled skin. Some believe that it removes wrinkles and rejuvenates the skin by removing toxins. Reduces skin irritation and balances redness.

Sea Buckthorn: A miracle oil, typically used to treat sun-damaged skin, ulcerations, scar tissue, wrinkles, eczema, burns, etc. Some small studies have proven its ability to combat wrinkles, acute dryness and other symptoms of prematurely aged skin.

Rosehip Seed: rich in Vitamin A, essential fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids, and Vitamin E, all of which reduce pore size, diminish the effects of skin aging and result in firmer, smoother, and more youthful skin with greater elasticity.

Jojoba: Jojoba oil is actually a wax,  not an oil, and absorbs easily into the skin. Jojoba is also non-allergenic and non-comedogenic (non-clogging), which makes it ideal for those with sensitive skin as it won't irritate the skin. 

Lemongrass: tones skin and acts as a gentle antiseptic. It's a natural insect repellent and can reduce headache and other muscular pain.