OFF!

OFF! Skintastic Family care Smooth & Dry and the OFF! Powerpad Lamp are our newest products up for review. The Smooth & Dry is all sorts of DEETful, so of course I didn't try it. This new type is supposed to be all soft and not feel gross on your skin like "those other bug repellants". I wouldn't know, 'cause I'm against toxic chemicals on and around my family, and I refuse to even try it. A friend of mine tried it, and just fell in love, however, and took it with her family camping several times.

I had never heard of the main ingredient in the OFF! Powerpad Lamp; "d-cis trans allethrin", so I looked it up. Needless to say, this chemical is also horribly toxic, and I won't allow that around my family either. Off is right, off it goes to it's new home!

My friend also tried the Power Pad Lamp, and really liked it's effectiveness, but not the prevading scent. The basic conclusion is that it is fine for regular outdoor play, but not so much for dinner parties, as the smell could interfere with the smell and taste of the food.

As far as the chemicals go, This web site says it short and sweet;

"D-cis/trans allethrin: eye and skin irritant. Can cause sudden swelling of face, eyelids, lips, mouth , and throat tissues, as well as hay fever-like symptoms. Neurotoxic. Used in some pet flea-control products.

Deet: Eye and skin irritant. Sensitizer Neurotoxic. Readily absorbed into skin. Used in mosquito and insect repellents, as well as pet flea-control products."

Senseo

I have been loosing myself in cup after cup of delicious, frothy goodness for the past two years, all because I own a Senseo coffee maker.

The Senseo is, above all, a gourmet coffee machine that saves you money and time. Making 1-2 cups of creamy, frothy coffee in less than a minute, and starting at as little as $30 (with a coupon), it is one of the most frugal deals in fine home beverage creation. I literally have not had a better cup of plain, simple coffee, even at a gourmet coffee house.

It also has two different size inserts available for your machine so that you can adjust the strength of your brew by varying the number of pods you use. The buttons have pictures instead of words under them, and the process is so simple that even a child could use it. We also like to use it to heat water for hot cocoa, hot vanilla, and spiced cider.

Heating the water only when needed, only in the amount needed, and turning itself off automatically saves electricity too.

I was truly amazed by how easy it is to clean! All of the removable parts are dishwasher safe, and the silver drain cover comes off to reveal a reservoir for spilled coffee that can be easily removed and dumped without having to drag the whole machine across the kitchen or office. The outside of the machine can easily be wiped down with a damp rag.

There were some things I didn’t like about the Senseo, don’t get me wrong. The default reservoir is bit too small for my liking, holding only 4-6 cups worth of water. When the button says one cup, it means one cup, the measurement. I have to push the button for two cups under it to fill my huge mug of morning coffee.

After a year or so of use, the printing on the machine started to come off, making the coffee-creation process require verbal instruction for folks who have never seen one before.

I'm frugal to a fault, so when I saw that you had to buy specially made pods for the Senseo, I decided there had to be another way. I must have frothy tea too, I reasoned, I don’t want to pay that much for coffee when I can’t have my own custom blend, and I want my own preferred gourmet coffee to be brewed this nicely. I needed to create a reusable brewing pod for my machine!

Luckily, I wasn't alone in my idea. On a trip to the dreaded big box store, I found the Presto Mypod, a holder for your coffee that fits into your Senseo machine! Unable to resist, I bought it as well as the 100 pack of Mypod filters . It's a great adapter, low priced, and super-easy to clean like the rest of the Senseo, but I missed my 1/4" of froth at the top of my beverage. It is great for non-frothy things like simple teas, but it doesn’t have the “frothing chamber” that the Senseo brand parts have, so I renewed my search.

I found the coveted large water tank for making more gourmet coffee with less trips to the sink (a must for entertaining), the Quick Cup refillable pseudo-pod that replaces the premade pods for the machine, and the Ecopad . The Ecopad is what I was really looking for. The idea that started the search in the first place. It is refillable, easy to clean, and replaces the Senseo pods seamlessly, allowing the full joy of the Senseo to shine through, froth and all.

I eventually expanded my search for the perfect, inexpensive cup of coffee, and discovered a milk frother and a travel version of a frother that could be handily carried in a purse or travel bag. Add in some heavy cream, natural cane sugar, and a flavor shot, and we’re getting into some seriously high-end coffee enjoyment that I suspect would rival even the most decadent coffeehouse treat.

They make a great gift for yourself, your best friend, local community center, or even your boss, so buy the Senseo with gift pack that comes with extra gourmet coffee pods, a thermal travel mug, and other goodies today, and save stress and time this holiday season.

I know I sound a bit gushy here, but this machine just keeps getting better all the time. Example: melting rich dark chocolate into your coffee while it brews for a rich dark mocha...

Starting with amazing on first sight was pretty hard to beat, but the people at Senseo know what they are doing. The introduction of new gourmet flavored coffee pods on a regular basis, tea pods, and more, have made owning the Senseo an experience worth bragging about.

Tags: senseo single serve coffee single serve coffee machine coffee pod gourmet coffee coffee frother coffee froth hot cocoa hot vanilla spiced cider review product review energy saving coffee refillable coffee pod reuseable coffee pod refillable tea pod reuseable tea pod free senseo machine free senseo free senseo coffee sumatre blend free freebie free stuff free coffee

Review & Giveaway: Listerine White Strips

Our whole experience with the Listerine White Strips can be summed up with an old-time mockery of a toothpaste jingle.

In my mother's time, there was a toothpaste called Pepsodent, that was supposed to whiten your smile remarkably better than any of the others on the market, or so the commercials stated, but popular opinion was a different matter, at least among the smart alek teenagers of the time, so the jingle commonly ended in a second verse not heard on the commercials.

"You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent" was the jingle, and the teens of the day added the second verse; "You'll wish you had the yellow back, when you find your teeth are turning black.".

Of course Pepsodent doesn't turn your teeth black, but that's another matter entirely. We're here to talk about these whitening strips.

The Listerine whitening strips are supposed to fully dissolve in your mouth, abolishing any need for a rinsing or a brushing after the whitening is complete, making it easy to whiten on the go, but that's not what we found when we tried them. The dissolved all right, into a frothing mass of annoyance that made me constantly want to spit. Not so good for being in public and seeming like a lady of any quality, so the whitening must be done at home. Also, it leaves a film on your teeth that not only cannot be rinsed off, but must be brushed off with a toothbrush.

They are supposed to leave a fresh minty flavor in your mouth. If overpowering is what you call fresh and refreshing, then they're right.

It works great for whitening. Let me tell you, the Listerine whitening strips showed a significant difference in the whiteness of my family's smiles within 2 uses! Amazing, yes, fabulously effective, no doubt, behaves as advertised, of course!

There's just one teeny problem; the fact that it eats away at the enamel around your gums, creating yellowish pockmarks that require a lot of expensive dental work to correct.

Not exactly an effect you want to pay money to achieve, now is it?

For the giveaway; I wouldn't dare to inflict these whitening strips and the subsequent tooth enamel erosion on anyone, so I'm giving away a tube of Pepsodent! The first three people to comment will win a tube of Pepsodent! Contest ends this coming Wednesday, so get to commenting!

J.K. Rowling's New Potterverse Book Coming Soon!

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling is set for release on December 4th this year, and it's now available for pre-order!

A book of fairy tales, which was written to supplement the Harry Potter series comes in two distinct versions for your reading pleasure. Buy the standard version for the kids, and for daily reading, and get the special collector's edition for your own personal collection.

The Standard Edition features all five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a new introduction by J.K. Rowling, illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book, and commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

The exclusive Collector's Edition includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition.

Remember, collector's editions are an investment in the future, and look fabulous on the shelf.

I'm so excited to see her publishing another book in the Harry Potter universe, aren't you?

Review: Febreze Fabric, Carpet, & Air Refresher

Recently, the folks at Febreze offered me the chance to try out their new fine mist fabric, carpet, & air refresher, and having seen the commercials, not to mention being a true and loyal fan of Febreze in general, I leapt at the opportunity.

I usually use the regular, unscented variety of Febreze, as it brings back great memories for me, and when my sample kit arrived, I was excited to open it up and try it out.

I don't like artificial scents and perfumes, so I was a bit disappointed to discover that Febreze had sent me their Lavender Vanilla & Comfort scented spray. I was apprehensive to say the least, and let the bottle sit for a few days before I tried it, fearing that the smell would be overpowering and cloying like other air fresheners, despite the trusted brand name. I not a big fan of lavender scented things in general either.

When I finally got the time and gumption to try it out (meaning we had no guests I could offend with any potentially strong odors), I gave it a spritz and waited a few seconds for the full scent to develop. Boy was I surprised!

The Lavender Vanilla & Comfort scent was surprisingly mild, leaving the entire room smelling clean and lightly scented; a very pleasant departure from other so-called air fresheners on the market. The addition of vanilla to the mix magically cut the usually overly-sweet tones of lavender that I do not enjoy, transforming what I thought would be a horrid perfumed tangle of odor into something my whole family enjoys.

As I have come to expect from Febreze products, this new spray refreshed the house of even the worst smoking, kitchen and bathroom odors effortlessly. In the air, the spray still fell rapidly, but not any differently than any other supposedly fine-misted pump spray air freshener. In actuality, I wouldn't really call the spray fine, so much as I would no longer call it large droplets, as I have seen finer sprays created for household deodorizing. However, the spray particles are smaller, stay in the air a moment of two longer, and it does have a better dispersal range overall than Febreze original, and other household sprays.

On fabrics, the spray did an even better job than Febreze original, as the broader spray and finer particles did not leave wet speckles on the upholstery, nor weigh down my sheer curtains. Even sprayed on walls, (painted & paneled walls retain odors too), the spray did not run or drip when sprayed from a reasonable distance.

The new Febreze is available the following scents:

• MEADOWS & RAIN™
• LINEN AND SKY™
• LAVENDER VANILLA & COMFORT™
• CITRUS & LIGHT™
• SPRING & RENEWAL™

Febreze also has a new design of bottles for certain scents. Amazingly classy looking, and perfect for open display, the Décor Collection is pretty enough to be an accent piece in your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere! No longer do you have to hide your Febreze where company won't see it. The Décor Collection is currently available in these scents:

• MEADOWS & RAIN™
• LINEN AND SKY™
• LAVENDER VANILLA & COMFORT™
• SPRING & RENEWAL™

I plan on buying a bottle or two and refilling them incessantly, as we usually keep a bottle of Febreze in every room of the house for convenience sake, and have a bit of trouble finding a place to put it where it is relatively out of view of guests. Now we won't have to worry about looking like we have cleaning supplies everywhere constantly.

All in all, I have to say that at close to $4.50 , the price is just as economical as original Febreze, making it an astonishing value, as the dual purpose nature of the finer-mist spray means you will never have to buy more than one product to freshen the home again. It also saves valuable storage space throughout your home. Of course, if you are like me, and plan to buy the more decorative bottles, you won't have to store anything in your cabinets at all, freeing up room for other things.

Useful tip: To spread the droplets farther in a room, thus achieving maximum deodorizing and freshening effect, spray it high into the air, then blow on the tiny droplets as they fall, pushing them about the room for a broader coverage area.

Here is a free Coupon pack from Procter and Gamble, which includes coupons for the new, improved, finer-mist Febreze for fabric, carpets, and air.

For the worst odors, try the Febreze Eliminators; heavy-duty products for the strongest and most stubborn smells, such as those ground in pet smells, the baked-in ones found in your automobile, & general household odors. Febreze also has a deep penetrating antimicrobial formula that's great for cleaning up odors in trash cans and other high-germ areas.

Review & Giveaway: Pledge Multi-Surface Cleaning Wipes

Let's talk automotive windows and surface cleaning.

I've tried sprays to clean the inside of the car before. The dashboard, door handles, and most of the windows work just fine with a regular spray cleaner on normal, everyday jobs, but not the inside of the front and back windshields, or the steering wheel. Nope, sprays just sort of drip onto the upholstry, possibly discoloring the interrior in a horrid speckled pattern if you aren't really careful, and/or if you don't wash it off immediately. The extra care needed to do this just right isn't something many of us have the time for these days.

The folks at Bzzagent sent me some Pledge multi-surface wipes to try, and they work great on those spots that regular sprays are a pain to use, making the whole automotive cleaning chore a lot quicker and easier. Not only that, but you can use them on all of the surfaces inside the car instead of needing a bunch of different cleansers, which saves a lot of time and storage space as well.

Marker marks from the kids on the dashboard, fingerprinty or tar-stained windows, grime on the door handles and armrests, and even the sensitive screens on the electronics in modern vehicles like your GPS, stereo, or portable DVD player can be cleaned beautifully and easily with these wipes, without any extra polishing needed to get that ever-elusive streak-free clean.

For smokers, cleaning the inside of the windshields of the car is even more of a pain. The tar from the smoke forms a film on the inside of the window that makes it harder (and more time consuming) to get condensation and fog off of in incliment weather. The average window cleaner does not work for tarry windows, and requires that you repeat the washing action at least two times to get even a passable clean, but with the Pledge multi-surface wipes, a quick once-over is all you need for perfect clarity. That's because it isn't made just for windows, but for everything, which gives it the extra cleaning power needed for tough stuff like tobacco tar, soot, and grease. No matter what you do, from car repair to smoking, having a few packets of wipes in the glove compartment can really save the day.

Pledge Multi-Surface Cleaning Wipes work great on metal, wood, plastics, glass, and sensitive electronics*.

The wipes are ideal for the inside the car, since sprays are so awkward, but in most other applications, the disposable wipes are rather wasteful because of the excess packaging, so if there's no worry about dripping or overspray, I'd still suggest you stick with the Pledge multi-surface spray and a washcloth or cleaning rag, as it puts less waste into our landfills, and conserves resources.

Giveaway Surprise: Everyone who comments gets an entry in a giveaway to get one of three sample packets of Pledge multi-surface wipes to try in their own home. Even if you don't like the idea of disposable wipes, you'll still get a good idea of how effective the spray is, as it is the same cleanser, just in different application formats. Contest ends Friday, October 3rd.

Win an Amazon.com Gift Card! BuzzAgent wants to see how far the conversation goes, and they need your help. Visit ChatThreads.com and enter the conversation ID# 101 754 2729 to tell them about what I've said here and what you thought of it and enter to win up to $500 in Amazon.com Gift Certificate or learn how you can have ChatThreads donate up to $5 to charity. If you talk to anyone else about the Pledge wipes, give them the URL and number too so they can have a chance to win as well.

* Do not use on leather or marble.

Review: Pledge Multi-Surface Cleaning Spray

Cleaning all of the windows and surfaces around the house usually requires an armada of cleaning supplies in a bucket, dragged from room to room, several different tools, and a lot of time, but no longer!

Pledge has just come out with a single product that does all of your household surfaces, and does them amazingly well, and thanks to the folks over at Bzzagent, I was able to get some to try out so I could let you know if it's worth spending money on.

Pledge Multi-Surface Clean & Dust is just great. Like all of the other cleaning products we test, we waited until things were good and nasty before trying it. The computer desk hadn't been wiped down in a week, the computer and television screens were covered with finger smudges and dust, the walls and doorknobs were grimy with scattered finger prints, the kitchen table had just undergone a cooking lesson with the kids, and one of the walls had been markered on by a friend's toddler during impromptu art play.

With very little effort, and a single washcloth, we were able to wipe all the electronics screens in the house to a beautiful streak-free shine, and using our first, plus another washcloth, finished the storm windows. We all know how filthy those storm windows can get, right? I never knew we could get that much light into the living room! There was no extra polishing needed to acheive true streaklessness like you usually have to do with other cleaners.

A new washcloth was used on the walls, and the washable marker, fingerprints, and even a rust spot that we hadn't been able to remove for a month came off with ease. Someone had spilled some coffee on the desk and cigarette ashes had made their way into the sticky spot, but one spritz of Pledge multi-surface and three seconds later it wiped clean easily, and cleaned the rest of the desk too.

The same happened with the food particles left on the kitchen table. We had decided to wait a couple of hours to clean it instead of wiping it up immediately like we usually do to see if we could make a harder job for the spray, but it didn't work out as we'd planned. Even dried tomato juice with seeds came up easily after a sprits and a three-second set (the shortest amount of time we would ever do for something dried-on)

Don't get me wrong, it smells like a cleanser, and it's no different in scent strength than 409, Fantastic, or any of the other cleansers meant for windows, surfaces, or whatever, but it's nice to only have one smell instead of a bunch of conflicting ones throughout the house on cleaning day.

One of my friends had a mild allergic reaction to this spray as we were cleaning house with it while she was visiting, so if you have allergies, be sure to check the label before you buy.

Review: Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber

I think we've all tried SCJohnson's Scrubbing Bubbles products before, and while they do work about the same as most of the other cleansers available on the market, you still have to scrub your arm off to get rid of the really tough grime. Honestly, I've usually been able to get similar results with some baking soda, lemon juice, and a dash of good dish soap. When the folks over at BzzAgent asked me if I'd be willing to review the newest product in the family, the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber, I was a bit apprehensive.

The Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber is a bright green foam handle with some Velcro, which you attach a scrubby pad to with a press & wiggle motion.

The trial kit I received from BzzAgent included one firm-yet-flexible, durable green foam handle, one reusable storage tub for the scrubbing pads, and four disposable cleaning pads. What I received is exactly what you can buy in the store, and refills are available, cutting down on packaging and landfill waste.

Would this be hard to clean with? Would I be sore after using it? Would it smell horribly chemical? Would it be safe for my enamel tub and vinyl shower surround? Would the pads fall off all the time? How many pads will I have to use to get my shower truly clean in the worst of messes? Are they reusable? Will it rinse clean and not leave any filmy residue? Will it leave a nice shine? Those questions and many more ran through my head, but I figured it would at least be worth a try, and I'm really glad I accepted their offer to try it out.

The short and sweet; it's a really great product, and almost does more than what it advertises. Definitely a good buy.

Now for the details.

You know I'm not one to test a new product without making it run the paces and testing it on the hardest jobs I have, so I waited three weeks without washing my tub or shower, so I could see how good these thin little scrubby pads would work on my family's worst messes. We haven't been able to get the shower truly clean since we move in in May, and heaven only knows how long it went without a true clean before we got the place, as it was covered with soap scum and hard water stains when we moved in. With less abrasion than my usual cleaning utensil and products, I assumed it would be a harder scrub just to do the job we'd been doing, and quite the workout to get the shower and tub truly clean like I was hoping for.

Not so! After getting the pad wet, we used a simple circular wiping maneuver with a little pressure, it formed a rich, non-gritty foam, and most of the grime was gone immediately. It was a quick once-over, and over half the job was done. But we had let it sit and accumulate, and you know that second layer, and all that hard water and soap scum was going to be harder to remove, right?

Not by much. Yes, the second go-over needed a little elbow grease, but not nearly what I'd been used to using. It was even able to get into the hard-to-reach spots. A little pressure on the tough spots, and we were done, soap scum and all, leaving a beautiful, freshly-installed look to the entire bath area. That's one scrubby pad!

My arms and back didn't hurt, my hands weren't cramped up like they usually are after the bathroom chores, and it took about 1/2 the time it usually does to finish the shower and bathtub.

A week later, we used the same pad again, and it still had enough soap on it to use it again with great results.

We've reused it again a third time, as it still smelled like it has some cleanser on it, and it easily managed a third go-round in the tub.

The pad stayed firmly attached throughout the cleaning process, and it was really handy to not have to have to juggle a separate cleaner bottle and dedicated bathroom scrubby for the job, so it saves on storage space too.

As for smell, it does smell like a bathroom cleaner, but it's not anywhere near as strong as anything you have to spray or squirt onto a pad or the shower surround, because there's no mist or residue floating around in the air, getting sucked into the ventilation system, and traveling into the kitchen or other areas of the house. The smell all but disappears as soon as you do the final rinse, leaving the entire bathroom smelling fresh and clean, but not overly chemical.

The biggest bonus to the Action Scrubber though? The kids enjoy using it when they get out of the shower, so that's one less chore for mom or dad to do!

Regular price is about $6.68 for the starter kit, and $4.17 for the refill pack of 6 extra cleaning pads.

Just for you: Save $2.75 on the scrubbing kit with this printable coupon.

Want to save money and have it delivered right to your door? Get a starter kit for only $4.99, or a refill pack for as little as $3.29 and save yourself the time and trouble of making a stop at the store!

Fly Fusion Pentop Computer

The new Fly Fusion Pentop Computer from Leap Frog is the best educational toy available for it's target age group (middle school & high school). When I was offered the opportunity to get this from BuzzAgent, I jumped on it, as I knew it was going to be a superb piece of fun & educational technology.

The only "toys" that make noise we allow in our home are made by the Leap Frog company, but this one has the added bonus of a headphone jack so you won't disturb people nearby while using it! You can only barely begin to comprehend my glee at this discovery.

In addition to all of the educational software available, the ease of use, the games, music maker program, translation software, and recording capabilities, it is also really durable. My 13yo has been dragging it everywhere with her in her junk-filled purse for the last 8 months, and it still works like new, despite a couple of small scratches. For additional protection, you can buy a Fly Fusion carrying case, but the pen is so sturdy, we haven't bothered. On the other hand, with all the other crud she carries in her purse, it keeps getting turned on on accident, so it may be a good idea just for the sake of not having a magically talking bag. *chuckle*

I really like that the handwriting recognition insists on basic legibility like proper letter formation and spacing between words. This pen has been the only thing in the past six years that has made my daughter want to practice her handwriting. Thanks to the Fly Fusion, I can now read and understand what she writes!

When you hook the pen to your computer via it's USB cable, it starts charging the battery automatically, and you can sync with the included pen management software (upload pen info to comuter). You can choose to either keep the handwritten look by saving it as an image, or let the software digitize it and turn it into a word document.

The FLY World application is included with the pentop, and is how you manage your notes by viewing, saving, printing or even e-mailing your notebook pages. Transferring your data is seriously simple; just plug in your pentop and upload your notebook pages. After your pages have been uploaded, they are permanently deleted from the FLY Fusion.

The way the FLYWorld application manages your notes is incredibly slick. For example, when converting a page that includes handwriting and drawings, you can highlight the drawings to tell it not to make those areas text. FLY World has a search function which will search your notes for keywords too, which is really handy.

If this wasn't amazing enough for a "kids' toy", the Fusion does tons more. It can do basic and advanced math problems, translate Spanish and French to English (and vice versa), play mp3s, and more. The available programs list is very comprehensive, and they are adding new stuff all the time. To find out more about the software offered, check out the FLY fusion website at www.flyworld.com, where you won't only get the info, but you can also buy and download various software titles. Some of the software is included with the pen and preloaded for use straight out of the box, and some you have to purchase. I strongly recommend getting the subscription to the fly download store when you get your Fusion. You will be very glad you did. There are programs for all ages available, and new ones being added constantly.

You can upgrade the memory on the pentop with the Fusion memory expansion cartridge so that it can hold nearly every program currently made for it, and you need no technical expertise to do so, because it just snaps onto the back of the pen. You can also easily replace the ink/writing part of the pen with no mess or fuss, and inks come in several colors.

The high-powered internal battery lasts about two days on a full charge with constant use, and recharges either with the cord that comes with the pen to hook up to the computer, or you can charge your pentop with the AC wall charger, automobile charger, or dynamo-style hand-cranked charger with adapter set 1, made for a Motorola RAZR phone. It is the same charger-type and plug, and with how often my kids forget to do important things like recharge their toys before they leave the house, it is a real bonus to have an on-the-go option for powering up the pentop.

Like most Leap frog products, the Fly Fusion Pentop Computer is fun and educational for a lot wider age range than it's target demographic. The 7yo had a blast with it playing games, and we parents refused to give it to my daughter until about an hour after we removed it from the box, when we were temporarily done playing with it ourselves. As an adult, I can honestly say that I want one of these for myself to do scheduling, notes, doodles and more without having to drag my notebook computer everywhere.

It does have some negatives: You have to use special paper that the Fusion recognizes (160 page notebooks run around $8), and the pen is a bit bigger than your average fancy writing utensil. I don't think you can reload your notes back onto the pen from your computer once you have synced. It also only works on PCs for now, with no mac or unix support, but I'm sure they're working on that.

Product Review Update: The Fly Fusion has No Lead paint!

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Dare "Real Fruit Gummies"

Dare Brand "Real Fruit Gummies"
www.darefoods.com
We tried the flavors; "Fruit Medley", "Orchard Fruits", and "Tropical Fruits". With no artificial colors or flavors and real fruit juice, we were sure they would be tasty, but were not prepared for how delightful these little fruit treats really were. Seriously true to the actual fresh fruit flavor (from fresh pureed fruits and fruit juices), and packed with juicy goodness.

This is the ONLY kind of candy you would ever want in your backpack for hiking. It contains sugar in surprisingly small quantity for a candy (19g), salt in amounts I would expect having experienced it's ability to induce salivation, and thus enhance the flavor (5mg), and a very surprising protein count of 2g. (Measurements are per 8 piece serving)

Price: 1.89 per 6.4oz bag
Where to buy: Grocery store

These are a must have for any household that likes gummy treats or real fruit flavor.


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La Loo's Goat's Milk Ice Cream

La Loo's Goat's Milk Ice Cream Company
www.goatmilkicecream.com
Flavors tried; "Deep Chocolate" and "Vanilla Snowflake"
No artificial colors or flavors and a simple recipe unite to make one of the richest frozen treats we have ever tasted. The chocolate was similar in flavor to the Hagen Das "Mayan chocolate" without the cinnamon, only richer with a somewhat creamier texture. A robust and solid nearly dark chocolate flavor that explodes on the tongue.

The vanilla on the other hand is a serious case of creamy goodness. Exceedingly rich and bursting with flavor, it is almost buttery, a truer vanilla than any I've ever tasted, and completely irresistible.

60-85g of cholesterol, 50-55g sodium, 17-18g sugar, and 6g of fat make this ice cream a daunting treat for the health conscious, but the protein count of 5g per 1/2 cup serving is a surprising benefit to an otherwise health-bomb of decadence.

The first time we tried this, we sampled it in the car and downed the entire pint between the two adults within 15 minutes. To top it off, we were eating it slowly, savoring it while I drove us around town on errands. It is simply that amazing! We had to buy another pint for the kids to try later, and they devoured it as quickly as we did.

My personal suggestion would be to serve this at a dinner or cocktail party as a delicate dessert. A melon ball sphere of this ice cream on a natural brownie would be a prepare-ahead frozen delight few could (or would) resist.

Price: $7.90 a pint
Where to buy: Health food store, Online

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