My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Review & $10 Coupon Code (No Expiration)!
Something I love about digital scrapbooking is being able to pick and choose what I actually want to print. There's no need to use paper most of the time. That's perfect for me because I enjoy creating pages or cards and emailing them to family. The program I use to do this is My Memories Suite v4 (coupon code below). With this software you can do more than just create scrapbook pages. You can make items such as calendars, cards, and photo albums. I even like to make digital wallpaper with this software.
I've always enjoyed scrapbooking, but now I have so much more at my fingertips. I can choose to get a whole kit or I can buy individual papers, lettering, and embellishments. I can also customize the size of my projects. And I really like the fact that I can rearrange my scrapbook pages easily if I change my mind since there's no glue involved. Not to mention the trees saved by keeping most of my projects in digital format, although you can certainly print projects as well.
My most recent project was a holiday card:
I've always enjoyed scrapbooking, but now I have so much more at my fingertips. I can choose to get a whole kit or I can buy individual papers, lettering, and embellishments. I can also customize the size of my projects. And I really like the fact that I can rearrange my scrapbook pages easily if I change my mind since there's no glue involved. Not to mention the trees saved by keeping most of my projects in digital format, although you can certainly print projects as well.
My most recent project was a holiday card:
It was really fun to make because I was able to add music to it as well. There's also an option to record and add narration. Pretty cool, huh? There are lots of other possibilities too for any kind of project, like adding a web site link, saving as a DVD-video, or even sending to your iPod!
This digital scrapbooking software already comes with lots of papers, page elements, and templates. But you can also get additional items for free or for purchase at MyMemories.com. They even have a Friday Freebie on their Facebook page for download every week too. Personally, their Dollar Store section is a favorite of mine!
If you don't feel like creating a page yourself they have Quick Pages that are all set and ready to go. All you have to do is add your photo. And don't forget to visit the my Memories Suite Blog for video tutorials.
Here's an example of one of their Quick Pages:
By using coupon code STMMMS12535 you can get $10 off My Memories Suite Version 4 Scrapbook Software, and a $10 coupon code for the MyMemories.com store comes in email after software purchase. No expiration date on coupon code!
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The Glass Baby Bottle: Wildkin Nap Mat Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)
If you follow anything baby or toddler online it's no doubt you've heard about the importance of avoiding parabens, phthalates, and PVC. I started to learn about these toxic chemicals while I was pregnant and now I avoid them for any purchases I make for my family. One place I find safer items is The Glass Baby Bottle. They have a lot of wonderful items such as organic mattresses, stainless steel bottles, organic baby wraps, lunch boxes, cloth diapers, trainers, kid's feeding gear, delivery gowns, organic skin care, and more.
I've recently had the chance to try out one of their Wildkin Safe Nap Mats for my son. It's a nice padded mat that has an attached blanket and removable pillow. It also folds up and has a carrying handle. We all want our children to have a safe non-toxic environment no matter where they are including daycare, school, or even grandma's house. To me, that includes sleeping on a mat that is free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead. The Wildkin Nap Mat is made from cotton and polyester that is not treated with chemicals and is naturally flame resistant. It does not off-gas like toxic foam mats.
My son picked the Under Construction mat. It looks more yellow in the photos but is actually a yellow-orange to my liking. The inside of the attached blanket is a soft blue flannel. And the blanket is padded like the rest of the mat which makes it feel cozy in combination with the flannel. The nap mat is also a good size (20in. W x 50in. L) with room to grow for a 3 to 4 year old.
Another really great feature about this mat is that it's washable. That's a must of you ask me. Now, the washing instructions say to wash in a commercial front-loading machine. That's not possible for a lot of us unless we take it to the laundromat. That works out well if you normally wash your clothes there, but if you wash your clothes at home it can be inconvenient. Personally, I have an Energy Star top loading machine that senses what the water level should be based on the load as well as other energy saving features. My husband is not a fan of front loaders so this is what we have to work with.
I have no problems washing the Wildkin mat on gentle in my top loader (take caution if you try this in your own home washing machine as I can only speak for my own). It fits okay in my washer's tub (machine size: 4 cu. ft.) and it came out just fine. Then I laid it out on a clothes rack to dry in my kitchen.
My little guy is very pleased with his mat. I feel better knowing that he's not going to be breathing in toxic fumes while napping. It's convenient to take on the go and it's really cute too!
My little guy is very pleased with his mat. I feel better knowing that he's not going to be breathing in toxic fumes while napping. It's convenient to take on the go and it's really cute too!
One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Wildkin Nap Mat
from The Glass Baby Bottle!
(Winner's choice of any In-Stock style)
Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter (only the first entry requires a blog comment):
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Maia's Mineral Galaxy: NEW Products!
If you've visited my blog before you know that I've been using Maia's Mineral Galaxy makeup for the past year. I try to avoid nasty toxic chemicals as much as possible. And one way I do that is by choosing my makeup and skin care cautiously. I appreciate products that don't contain parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals (too many to be named really). So I often turn to Maia's Mineral Galaxy.
Here are some of the NEW products out in their line:
Mineral Foundation with Organic Arrowroot Powder — If you're going the natural but non-GMO route this foundation is a good choice. Usually, I can't use powdered foundations because they react to my natural facial oil and either get too dark or turn orange. But that's not the case with this powder. I use the Egg Shell shade without a problem. It's a light coverage foundation when used dry. I feel that's all I personally need but if you like medium coverage you can use a wet application.
Here are some of the NEW products out in their line:
Mineral Foundation with Organic Arrowroot Powder — If you're going the natural but non-GMO route this foundation is a good choice. Usually, I can't use powdered foundations because they react to my natural facial oil and either get too dark or turn orange. But that's not the case with this powder. I use the Egg Shell shade without a problem. It's a light coverage foundation when used dry. I feel that's all I personally need but if you like medium coverage you can use a wet application.
Lip n Cheek Stain — This is my favorite new product by far!!! I absolutely adore the shade Holy which is a very light pink. As a lip stain, I find it to be more opaque than a lip gloss and it seems to last longer too. As a blush, I definitely enjoy this more than a powdered blush because it's quicker and easier to use. Plus, I like that my lip and cheek shades match.
Aquamarine Eye Shadow — This is an absolutely gorgeous shade! Since it is a lighter shade I always put some kind of primer on my eyelid first to get the full effect. It's very lovely in combination with the Holy Lip n Cheek Stain.
Antique Jade Eye Shadow — I don't usually wear green eye shadow but this shade changed my mind. To me, it's a gold-like green and I think that's why I like it so much. Also, since it's a darker shade I don't always need a primer when I wear it.
Gentle Exfoliating Cleansing Cream — If foaming facial cleansers are too drying for your skin you'd really like this cleansing cream. It removes makeup and is very moisturizing at the same time. It does contain aloe leaf juice and witch hazel so I did confirm with Maia's Mineral Galaxy that neither of these ingredients contains parabens or phenoxyethanol.
Anti-Fatigue Foot Cream — It's good to have a foot cream that's moisturizing as well as contains soothing essential oils such as lavender and roman chamomile. I'm a big fan of shea butter and I always think that makes for an incredible moisturizer. The scent of this cream is very relaxing too.
Extreme Firming Eye Gel — I've started using eye gel a bit as a preventative measure. It's easy to spread a couple of drops of this gel around my eyes after cleansing my face. It contains moisturizing and anti-oxidant ingredients to reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. A little does go a long way too.
I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the product(s) mentioned above at no cost for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.
©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.
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Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)
What we put on our skin should be of super importance to each of us. After all, our skin readily absorbs whatever we put on it. When it comes to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, those are the last things I want absorbing into my skin. So naturally I always gravitate toward skin care products that use organic ingredients.
One skin care line that uses natural, organic, and wildcrafted ingredients is Annmarie Gianni Skin Care. After researching natural skin care products, Annmarie Gianni learned that most skin care products that were supposedly organic and "natural" had hidden preservatives and nasty additives. On the other end, she was also frustrated when many of the truly natural products weren't up to her standards of quality and effectiveness. So she started her own skin care line.
Annemarie Gianni Skin Care offers items such as cleansers, scrubs, mists, moisturizers, facial oils, facial masks, and products for anti-aging. I really adore that the products I received come in tinted glass containers. The fact that they are tinted is important because it protects the quality of the products.
Here are the three products I tried:
Aloe-Herb Facial Cleanser — This is a very gentle cleanser that won't leave your skin feeling dry. I know particularly in the colder months some people are not able to use their usual cleanser because it dries out their skin too much. This would be a great alternative. It has the most delightful citrus smell too! I love an uplifting and natural scent in a facial cleanser. It's truly refreshing!
Dead Sea Facial Scrub — Made with Dead Sea Clay, this is a natural alternative to microdermabrasion. A facial scrub is a must for me! I need it to slough off dead skin cells to treat or prevent blackheads. What I particularly like about this scrub is that it's gentler than sugar facial scrubs. And you can make it even gentler if you want by adding some of the Aloe-Herb Cleanser to it, but I use it alone. It can also be used as a remineralizing facial mask. So it's acts as a two-in-one product.
Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin — This oil is a lightly astringent blend and acts as a light moisturizer. All you need to do is dab a little on and blend. As I often say when I talk about facial skin care, "Oil dissolves oil." This works as long as it's a natural oil and not petroleum-based of course. If you're still feeling hesitant, give it a try overnight to start.
If you're interested in Annmarie Gianni Skin Care and want to try out some sample products first, check out their 3 Skin Care Samples deal. It's $10 including shipping. You can mix and match to find out which products you like the best. It also comes with a coupon code so you can't go wrong.
One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win an
Annmarie Gianni Travel Kit
for Normal Skin!
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Fair Trade Finder App Review & Fair Trade Gift Bag Giveaway (***CLOSED***)
You'd be surprised by the places you can find fair trade items. Like some of your favorite places to eat or even the local pharmacy.Who would've thought that, right? To make finding fair trade items in your area easier, Fair Trade USA has launched a free new app to help consumers find out where they can purchase Fair Trade Certified products nearby. The Fair Trade Finder app is available for Facebook, Android, and iPhone.
The Fair Trade Finder app also lets us act as a community by adding where we find Fair Trade Certified items ourselves. It's a great way to help each other learn where to locate fair trade products locally. Hopefully, we can all chip in and add products to help further the function of the app. By helping each other find fair trade items we are also helping the farmers and workers in around 58 developing countries that provide us with items such as coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, and more.
There's this nice little tea place in my area that sells a lot of fair trade certified teas. As soon as I get the chance I'm going to go take some photos to add to the Fair Trade Finder app. I'm very excited to share!
One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Gift Bag Full of Fair Trade
Certified Products!
Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter (only the first entry requires a blog comment):
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Enjoying Some Organic Pumpkin Pie Tea While Contemplating Loose Tea Water Temperature
I'm not a tea connoisseur by any means but I am learning more and more. Especially about loose tea. I didn't previously know that each kind of tea should steep at different water temperatures. All I ever knew before was how to boil water in a kettle and add a tea bag to it (fancy, I know...lol).
There's a local tea house in my area that serves a great variety of loose teas. As much as I should probably try a different tea every time I visit, I usually end up getting the Organic White Peach tea. I'm extremely fond of that one. But the last time I visited the tea house I noticed an Organic Pumpkin Pie tea on my way out. My mother graciously bought me a sample bag to try it out.
The Organic Pumpkin Pie Rooibos tea consists of rooibos, honeybush, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and natural flavor. If this sounds appealing to you there's a similar one online. The only differences are the addition of one ingredient, the water temperature required, and the steep time.
I wasn't disappointed in the tea at all. It's quite wonderful actually! It's also easier for me to heat the water for it versus my white tea because it can steep at a higher temperature (212 degrees F). I don't have any way of telling exactly how hot the water temp in my kettle is. So for white tea (around 175 degrees) I just wing it. I would really like to find a good way to make sure the water temperature isn't too high though so the white tea leaves don't burn and make the tea taste bitter.
I know there are electric kettles that heat the water to the exact temperature it should be for each tea. I haven't had a chance to research the materials they are made from yet though. And plastic inside anything I need to heat is not an option for me.
My mother has a glass kettle that lets you tell the temperature by the way the water looks as it heats and boils. She has a gas stove so it works well. But I have a fear of using glass on our electric coil stove top. Lets just say there was an unfortunate incident with a glass pie plate and one of our electric burners one time. That's a story for another day.
One thing my mother did suggest to me was to get a candy thermometer to test the water temperature. That's something that might work.
©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.
There's a local tea house in my area that serves a great variety of loose teas. As much as I should probably try a different tea every time I visit, I usually end up getting the Organic White Peach tea. I'm extremely fond of that one. But the last time I visited the tea house I noticed an Organic Pumpkin Pie tea on my way out. My mother graciously bought me a sample bag to try it out.
The Organic Pumpkin Pie Rooibos tea consists of rooibos, honeybush, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and natural flavor. If this sounds appealing to you there's a similar one online. The only differences are the addition of one ingredient, the water temperature required, and the steep time.
I wasn't disappointed in the tea at all. It's quite wonderful actually! It's also easier for me to heat the water for it versus my white tea because it can steep at a higher temperature (212 degrees F). I don't have any way of telling exactly how hot the water temp in my kettle is. So for white tea (around 175 degrees) I just wing it. I would really like to find a good way to make sure the water temperature isn't too high though so the white tea leaves don't burn and make the tea taste bitter.
I know there are electric kettles that heat the water to the exact temperature it should be for each tea. I haven't had a chance to research the materials they are made from yet though. And plastic inside anything I need to heat is not an option for me.
My mother has a glass kettle that lets you tell the temperature by the way the water looks as it heats and boils. She has a gas stove so it works well. But I have a fear of using glass on our electric coil stove top. Lets just say there was an unfortunate incident with a glass pie plate and one of our electric burners one time. That's a story for another day.
One thing my mother did suggest to me was to get a candy thermometer to test the water temperature. That's something that might work.
What is your favorite tea and how do you check the water temperature?
I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.
©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.
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Book Review: Super Immunity by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
If you had a way to prevent becoming sick you would take advantage of that, right? I know I would. Even having a cold sets me back by draining my energy and dampening my mood. But what if you could also decrease your chances of getting a disease like cancer? It would be even more difficult not to take advantage of that!
There's no doubt that we've become accustomed to eating highly processed foods with complicated chemical ingredients. They are cheap and convenient. Unfortunately, those foods only lead to obesity and health problems. They do not help our body to function as it is meant to function. As a result, we become more vulnerable to illnesses. That's why I decided to read a new book that encourages wellness through eating habits called Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free by Joel Fuhrman, M.D..
What we eat has everything to do with our health, and, unfortunately, too many of us are living with a severely depleted immune function. Our dietary choices are making us sicker, shortening our lives, and costing us billions of dollars in doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. But Dr. Fuhrman doesn’t believe more medical care is the answer. Rather, he explains the solution is to change the way we eat. The standard American diet is nutrient deficient. We are eating too many highly processed foods, foods with added sweeteners, and animal fats and protein. At the same time, we are not eating enough fruits, beans, seeds, and vegetables, which leaves us lacking in hundreds of the most important immune-building compounds. By changing our diets and combining foods that contain powerful immune-strengthening capabilities, we can prevent most common modern diseases.
I was very intrigued by this book and kept wanting to read more. I felt the science was easy to understand and my eyes were definitely opened to some new ideas regarding diet. I can admit that although I have an organic diet I probably still don't eat well enough to boost my immune system to it's full potential. After reading this book I realized there's more to just eating healthy. That it's the combination of specific foods together that makes our bodies perform the way they should.
I really enjoyed the book as a whole but I did have some favorite parts. The first two involved the coffee question and the soy debate. These are two things I was very interested in learning about. There has been a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, about soy lately. So I found the information on soy extremely helpful.
My other favorite part explains how if you do get sick with the cold or flu, that you can get better faster with the right diet. I'm going to say that this book does challenge some of the things we've always believed to be true. Like how chicken soup will make a cold better. Instead, Dr. Fuhrman explains how vegetable soup is a better option because your body has to work harder to digest the chicken protein which can actually set you back while you're sick. I don't believe he's saying that vegetable soup will cure a cold, but that it is a better option when sick than chicken soup. As much as I'd love to hold on to old ideas and eating habits, I know change doesn't happen unless we embrace new knowledge. So I took the challenge to old beliefs in stride.
Super Immunity is all about making food work toward health. But it doesn't leave you hanging and wondering how to put the program to work. There are 85 immune-boosting recipes and a two-week eating plan included in the book. Some of the recipes are: Very Berry Smoothie, Spinach Salad with Strawberry Sesame Vinaigrette, and Acorn Squash Supreme. Those sounds pretty delicious in my opinion.
I found this book to be both educational and practical. I learned a lot from this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle and be well. It's totally worth the read!
For more from Dr. Fuhrman, be sure to visit his web site, www.drfuhrman.com, and follow him on Facebook & Twitter!
You can also Text keyword "SUPERIMMUNITY"
to READIT (732348) for bonus content.
to READIT (732348) for bonus content.
I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with a copy of the book free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.
©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.
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