Wick of Hope — Non‑Toxic Candles With a Mission

If you love clean‑burning candles and supporting companies that actually make a difference, Wick of Hope is a brand that instantly stands out. They hand‑pour non‑toxic soy candles using safe ingredients, beautiful reusable containers, and a mission‑driven business model that gives back with every single purchase. Through Greenspark, each sale triggers a meaningful donation, whether it’s cleaning the oceans, planting a tree, or supporting women in need. You’re not just buying a candle; you’re contributing to something bigger.

They also have a fun Find Your Scent Quiz, which helps match you with fragrances based on your personality, mood, and vibe. It’s quick, cute, and surprisingly accurate; perfect if you’re indecisive or just want to discover something new. You can try it here: Find Your Scent Quiz.

The Unboxing Experience

The unboxing itself was such a treat. Wick of Hope packages their candles with the kind of care that makes the whole experience feel special from the moment you lift the lid. Both candles were nestled securely, the glass jars gleaming even before I pulled them out, and the wooden lids gave everything that elevated, boutique feel. Check out the full video below.

@authorlauradeluca @Wick of Hope Soy Candles 🕯️ Unboxing #unboxingvideo #candles #unboxing #fyp ♬ original sound - Laura Deluca

My Review 

Wick of Hope sent me two candles to try: Warm Summer Nights and Blossoms at Dusk. Both arrived in gorgeous glass containers with wooden lids, the kind you reuse afterward for cotton balls, crystals, office supplies, or whatever little treasures you hoard. The packaging alone feels gift‑worthy.

Warm Summer Nights

This one is cozy, nostalgic, and has that soft, warm glow of a late‑evening breeze. It’s the kind of scent that makes your whole space feel calm and lived‑in.

Blossoms at Dusk

Light, floral, and elegant without being overpowering. It smells like a garden right after sunset; soft, romantic, and clean.

Both candles burn beautifully. Soy candles are known for being cleaner, longer‑lasting, and less sooty than paraffin, and these definitely live up to that reputation. I’ve been burning Warm Summer Nights for over a week, and it’s still going strong with an even melt and no tunneling.

Final Thoughts

In the end, Wick of Hope really delivers on every level. Their candles are made with non‑toxic ingredients and long‑lasting soy wax, so you get a clean burn that feels good to use in your home. The jars are beautifully designed and easy to repurpose once the candle is finished, which makes them feel like part of your décor rather than something disposable. The scents are thoughtful and elevated, and the fact that every purchase contributes to a meaningful cause through Greenspark adds an extra layer of purpose to the experience. It’s a brand you feel proud to support and a candle you genuinely enjoy burning.

Connect with Wick of Hope

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Protecting Your Child’s Health: Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions - #Giveaway

 "Practical information to help build the best possible future for your child." —from the foreword by Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, author of What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City

As a parent, you know your most important job is protecting your child. But, you may not know as much about the numerous environmental hazards your child encounters every day. In a sea of "natural" products and questionable online experts, where can you find information you can trust? Protecting Your Child's Health offers clear guidance on assessing and preventing the risks where your children live, learn, and play. Written by experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics, this practical Q&A guide offers evidence-based answers to questions about food and water safety, air pollution, radiation, pesticides, and more, helping you keep your children safe from the day-to-day environmental dangers in your home, school, and community.

Excerpt

Question:  My 7-year-old daughter is due for her annual physical exam. I have seen news stories about the potential health effects of plasticizers and possible relationship to early puberty. She likes to use nail polish and lotions with fragrance. Given that she already has early signs of puberty, I would like to know what this means for her health.

Answer Generally, puberty is occurring earlier in girls. Specifically, the age at onset of breast budding is occurring earlier, although the age at first menstru- ation is thought to have remained stable over time. Increasing obesity plays a role in earlier maturation. A variety of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been shown to either cause delay or promote early development of puberty. Research is ongoing to enhance our understanding of the role of EDCs on growth and development and on puberty because the early onset of puberty is a risk factor for development of breast cancer later in life. Until we know more, it is wise to take a precautionary approach and reduce exposures to EDCs in foods and other products.

My Thoughts

I have four children, but even with twenty years of experience, I still have a million questions when it comes to their health and safety. The world can be a dangerous place, and while we can cover things like stranger danger and alcohol awareness, the every-changing environment is an area where I felt I needed a little more education. The book covers a variety of topics ranging from the best choices when you're feeding your newborn to how to handle all the complexities of puberty. There are also tons of tips on how to eat healthy foods, like avoiding foods with antibiotics and the safest way to store your foods. One of my favorite sections covered home safety and how to keep your home free of harmful chemicals.

This book provided a great deal of valuable information about the health hazards children face every day of their lives. I thought at first it might be a little too wordy or boring, but the question and answer format makes it a quick and easy read as well as an educational one. I would recommend this book to mothers everywhere, whether your kids are newborns or teenagers. There is something in here for everyone. When you finish reading, you'll come away feeling armed with all the information you need to keep you children safe.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of this amazing book. To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on 11/15/20. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Open to the US only  Thanks again to the author for offering this fantastic prize.

Entry-Form

Review: Kids 'N' Pets Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover Wipes

Paw prints. Finger prints. Food and drink smudges. In your house, stains and odors are more consistent than the delivery of the newspaper, often appearing out of thin air and trailing your kids and pets wherever they go. That’s why we created a brand new product that combines the effective, non-toxic, enzyme based formula of our most popular spray product with the ease and flexibility of a wipe. KIDS ‘N’ PETS new Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover Wipes eliminate tough stains and odors at home and on-the-go by simply wiping it away.

Not a butt-wipe, not a bleach wipe! Our biodegradable, multipurpose formula can be used on any water safe surface to clean up messes fast while tackling smelly surface stains safely and effectively – neutralizing and eliminating the odor instead of masking it with a different scent like many other solutions on the shelf.

Car seat cover full of food smudges? Wipe it away! Show up at work with fingerprints or make-up on your blouse? Wipe it away! Muddy paw prints on your pants or carpet? Wipe it away! Mysterious stain on your sofa? Wipe it away!

Created by a parent and pet owner – for parents and pet owners, KIDS ‘N’ PETS is proud to be a winner of the Women’s Choice Award and Parent Tested, Parent Approved Seal of Approval, an honor given to products that meet PTPA’s high quality and safety standards.

Purchase KIDS ‘N’ PETS Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover Wipes on Amazon, and visit their social media:
www.kidsnpetsbrand.com
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Our Thoughts
Kids 'N' Pets products are a staple in our household with a child and dog.  Although, it's mostly stains from the dogs over the years rather than the  one child.  Mostly. :) I do have one cream-colored upholstered chair I am rather fond of that has gotten fairly dirty over the years and I was contemplating the best way to go about cleaning it, especially the place where he-who-shall-not-be-named spilled his cappuccino on it.  Most of it was mopped up, but the hidden part was not. Seems there was plenty of dog hair and a piece of a chip down there too!

The wipes are meant to be pulled thru the small opening in the lid for maximum evaporation protection, but honestly I found it easier to just remove the lid entirely and take the wipes out from there.  There is no excess liquid in the container and due to that natural phenomenon called gravity, the wipes are much more saturated down at the bottom than they are at the top.  I found that to clean this old, dried cappuccino stain, I needed to use the saturated part first and scrub pretty hard.  It took 3 wipes for this area to come clean.  And I realized while scrubbing the best part about these wipes: they don't shred!

If you look closely at the top right of this photo you'll see a stain line I still need to clean up.  It's hard to judge when the fabric is wet with cleaner whether or not you've gotten it all.  It's easy enough to simply let it dry and tackle it again another day if you need to.

Since we somehow didn't happen to have any accidental spills in the duration of this review, I tackled some other older stains I'd been neglecting. The top front half as well as the vertical front part of the chair's cushion was dingy from years of use; I did find it harder to saturate, then scrub using just the wipes, so I grabbed my trusty spray container of Kids 'N' Pets (which I purchased at Walmart), sprayed the area, let it sit a few minutes, and used the thankfully non-shredding Kids 'N' Pets Wipes to clean it.  Again, it's a little hard to see if you got the area clean when the fabric is wet, so be sure to inspect it after it dries and see if you need to re-apply and clean some more.  The below photo is after the first round of cleaning.  I think I got it about 80% clean, but even still it's a huge improvement over looking at a plainly dingy chair!

Another item I attempted to clean was our couch.  With his sensory needs, our son always has his hands in his mouth and subsequently gets drool in the same 3 places on the couch thanks to his saturated hands.   Like the chair above, I sprayed the area first, let it sit, and then scrubbed with the wipes and was even more thankful for their non-shreddi-ness (is that even a word??). I went thru a pile of the wipes cleaning the couch.  That's a cleaning project I'll be repeating over the years until he can fulfill his sensory needs in a less-wet manner.

I also used the KIDS ‘N’ PETS Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover Wipes on our big front window - I figured the "cleaned" window would have smears, and it did, but that wasn't my concern.  Our son's wet hands are frequently in contact with the window which leads to a buildup of drool.  Glass cleaner can remove it, but it takes some scrubbing.  The wipes cut right thru the dried drool easy as pie and then I just finished up the window with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution to clear the smears.

The adorable, now house-trained puppy in the above photo is responsible for two small stains on the 8 year old carpet that I have as yet to be able to fully remove using Kids 'N' Pets nor any other carpet cleaner (actually there's 4 carpet stains, 2 of which were from a dog that spent a week here). Next time I attempt it, I'm going to take their suggestion from their "Spill It" Q&A on their Facebook page, where they recommend using a half or even a FULL bottle on one stain and letting it air dry.  I hadn't tried using near that much, so next time we're going on vacation, I'll dump a whole lot on the stains and they can air dry while we're gone.

Again, Kids 'N' Pets products are used often in this house - highly recommend!

Review & Giveaway: Green Tree Jewelry by Ecolissa

Green Tree Jewelry's earrings are laser cut and made from a very thin strong multi-layered sustainable wood. The coloring is stained into the wood with a Non-Toxic Natural dye. All earring findings are silver-plated surgical steel and nickel-free for sensitive ears.  Made in the USA.

Hollander Earrings, available in Kelly green

Dolphin Earrings, available in aqua marine

Organic Earrings, available in green

About ecolissa:
Ecolissa.com launched Sept. 1st 2010. Ecolissa carries only fashionable eco friendly and vegan woman’s clothing and accessories made of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, soy, and hemp. Many of our products are also made in the USA or fair trade. We specialize in casual dresses and easy to wear separates.

We carry many popular brands including Green Tree Jewelry, Ecoskin, Toggery, Stewart + Brown, Smartglass, Goodsociety, Indigenous, and Elroy.
About our packaging
Ecolissa is mindful of the impact shipping has on the environment. We use the smallest amount of packaging possible to deliver your items safely. Our shipping containers are either reused boxes or 100% recycled and recyclable boxes. We also use natural rubber packing tape and 100% recycled paper.

Everything sold on ecolissa.com is both eco-friendly and vegan.
At ecolissa we prove that you can look amazing and be fashionable in clothing that is kinder to the environment and the animals.

What is eco-friendly clothing?
Eco-friendly clothing is made from sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, modal, tencel (fabrics made from wood pulp), lyocell, and soy. It can also refer to recycled and/or fair trade materials.

What is vegan clothing?
Vegan clothing does not contain any animal products. This includes leather, suede, fur, wool, silk, down feathers, etc.

Why do I want vegan clothing?
It is a more compassionate and ethical choice. While the cruelty in leather and fur is apparent, it is not so obvious in wool, silk, and down feathers, but these materials can be just as inhumane. For example, 3,000 silkworms are killed (by being steamed alive) to make just 1 pound of silk", down feathers are cruelly plucked from live geese, and the raising and shearing sheep for wool can be exploitative and cruel. 

Domestic orders All US Continental shipping is only $5! Purchase from ecolissa online, and visit them on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for their newsletter and be entered to win a $100 Ecolissa.com Gift Certificate! 

Use coupon code NAM20 to get 20% off your order!

______________________________________________

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive a pair of

Green Tree Jewelry Earrings

in their choice of style & color!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OUR THOUGHTS
Ecolissa generously let me choose Green Tree Jewelry's Blossoms Branch earrings for review.  True to their word, they arrived in eco-friendly packaging!  Very well packaged, too!  The earring backing board (is that what it's called?  what the earrings hook into when you're not wearing them) is nice and solid (also made of sustainable wood) and has a cute little tree cutout for hanging!

Blossoms Branch earrings

I'd been looking for a pair of earrings to match one of my new favorite shirts, and these were perfect!  To me they could resemble either branches or antlers.  I love that not only are they overall a high quality product, but the actual design is made of sustainable wood and colored with a non-toxic natural dye.

I wore this pair of earrings all day yesterday.  I think my favorite aspect aside from the quality and gorgeousness, is they are so nice and lightweight you barely know they're there.  Even if I swung my head around, I barely felt them! Heavy earrings tend to annoy me by the end of the day, so the lightweight part is a nice bonus for me. And they don't noisily clink around when talking on the phone like heavier metal earrings do.

Ecolissa's Green Tree Jewelry line has so many beautiful earrings I would be thrilled to own and wear!  I'm having a hard time choosing my favorites!  At $12 each, these are incredibly reasonably priced, too!

With only $5 shipping, pick some up for yourself or give some for holiday gifts this season!

Upcycle in Style with Indosole #SolesWithSoul

The ever-growing amount of waste is a situation we've all helped to create, but it's nice to find a company that's working to correct the problem of over consumption. Indosole began after a trip to Indonesia. The founders were struck by the environmental issues the people faced. By taking cast-off items like old tires and re-purposing them in a chemical free environment, they found a way to combine style and function. 

 I was lucky enough to get a chance to try out a pair of women's Indosole sandals and I was really impressed with the style and durability. They are very comfortable and well-made. The straps are sturdy, but not too hard in between your toes. They have a great no slip tread and are the perfect flip flops for the beach because they are easy to clean off and are water resistant.  They come in a variety of colors for both men and women, so your whole family can walk in style and comfort. In addition to their flip flops, Indosole also offers some trendy shoes, clothing, and accessories that are the perfect way to make a statement. Here are just a few of the other styles I love:

Sandals are easy enough to find and you might think they are  pretty much all the same, but Indosole shoes offers a unique concept. Of course they are cute and stylish, but that's only the beginning.  When you slip Indosole shoes onto your feet, you're helping to take steps (literally and figuratively) to create a greener life style. If you'd like to learn more about Indosole and all the fabulous styles they offer, visit their website. Also be sure to follow their social media.

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 Vimeo

 

Healthy Breakfast Tips & Tricks - Avocados From Mexico

Healthy Breakfast Tips & Tricks - Avocados From Mexico

The USDA states 44% of Americans eat breakfast every day. This means over half of the American population skips the most important meal of the day! According to a recent study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, “Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time.”

So, if you’re just looking for new tips to jump start your day and boost your metabolism, author and host of Pati’s Mexican Table, Chef Pati Jinich, showcases unique quick and easy recipe ideas for spring time breakfasts with a very special ingredient: Avocados! From eggs and pancakes, to parfaits and smoothies, fresh avocados from Mexico can be incorporated into any of your morning go-to meals. They’re an extremely versatile fruit that adds creamy, rich texture and nearly 20 good-for you nutrients taking your morning favorites to the next level.

We interviewed Pati about healthy breakfast tips & tricks, using avacados from Mexico ~ she gave us her personal replies in this YouTube video!

Pati also answers some questions:

Q: Are avocados considered a fruit or a vegetable?
A: Avocados are considered a fruit.

Q: How can you incorporate avocados from Mexico if you are following a specific diet?
A: Fresh avocados fit a variety of different meal plans because of their nutritional content. Avocados are nutrient dense and are sodium and cholesterol free. They can be used in recipes to replace dairy and address lactose allergy or vegan lifestyle.

Q: How do I know when an avocado is ripe?
A: You can spot a ripe avocado from Mexico by its green-black pebbly textured skin. When you hold the avocado, it should feel heavy for its size and have no mushy spots. Avocados mature on the tree, but they soften and develop their fullest flavor after picking. You can count on a firm green avocado to ripen within three to four days. If the skin is a mottled color – green with black patches – it will be ready to use in a shorter time, two to three days.

Q: How can I store an avocado?
A: Whole avocados can be stored at room temperature in an area with good circulation to continue their ripening. For speedier ripening, keep avocados in a closed paper bag. To slow down ripening, refrigerate them until a few days before use. When saving part of an avocado for later use, cover the exposed flesh with plastic wrap to slow oxidation.

Q: How do I slice an avocado?
A: There are several different methods of slicing an avocado and even specific tools to do so. Personally, I like to slice the avocado straight down longitudinally. Then, twist it until it separates into two halves, strike the pit with your knife, and pop the pit from the center of the avocado halve.

Q: Are avocados good for you?
A: Avocados are nutritious and contribute good fats to your diet. One ounce or 3 slices of an avocado has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, making it a good choice to help meet nutrient needs. Avocados are also sodium and cholesterol free and using them in place of common “bread spreads” may help reduce your intake of saturated fat, sodium and calories. 

Q: How can I encourage my kids to eat healthfully and incorporate avocados into their diet?
A: There’s nothing better than setting an example for your children – if your children see you eating and enjoying nutritious ingredients that you want them to eat, they are more likely to want to delve into the experience. Another tip I have to encourage kids to eat healthily is to make dishes that they can help assemble in a fun way so they feel that it is their choice to add those elements into a dish. Kids also love rolling, stacking, and dipping while cooking, so with that in mind, I love to use avocado in those formats. An avocado smoothie is a great way to give your children something that tastes delicious and is good for them.

Q: What do you think the biggest obstacle is for getting people to choose a healthy breakfast over fast food? Time, convenience, taste, or something else?
A: I think the biggest obstacle to get people to choose to eat healthy is that not everyone is aware of how easy it is to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your breakfast and other meals.
Q: What advice would you give to parents of picky eaters?
A: My advice to parents of picky eaters is to set an example for your children. When they see you eating something, they’ll likely want to try it as well.

Q: Sometimes my son doesn’t want to eat breakfast. How do I motivate him when he’d rather be sleeping than eating?
A: Make him something delicious, like and avocado, mango and berry smoothie, or oatmeal, avocado and agave pancakes! He’ll receive all the nutrition while enjoying something super tasty! If you let your children participate in the kitchen with you (kids love making a mess in the kitchen), they’ll be more eager to participate and eat.

Q: What is your favorite way to prepare avocados?
A: I prepare avocados in so many different ways that it’s hard to pick a favorite! I especially love to incorporate fresh avocados from Mexico into my breakfast meals, because it’s a great way to jump start your day. One of my favorite ways to use avocados is topped in sandwiches or rolled in tortillas, like in the Melted Cheese Scramble & Avocado Breakfast Burrito.

Q: How can you save money on food while traveling with kids?
A: You can save money on food while traveling with kids by preparing ahead of time and bringing food along with you. I always pack some fresh fruits and veggies so I’m always prepared when we are on the go.

Q: Can you share your favorite recipe for guacamole?
A: One of my favorite guacamole recipes is a Mango Guacamole: http://www.patismexicantable.com/2014/01/mango-guacamole-with-grilled-tortilla-wedges/

Breakfast Recipies:

Chopped egg & avocado sandwich 

Cheese scramble

Avocado, mango, and berry smoothie
 
Avocado, oatmeal, and agave pancake

Enfrijoladas


  

About Pati Jinich:
Pati Jinich was born and raised in Mexico and comes from a family of accomplished cooks. She is the host of a highly popular PBS series called Pati’s Mexican Table, a culinary program which consists of cooking demonstrations, tasting dinners and workshops, and has appeared on The Chew, The Talk, The Better Show, The Today Show. Jinich has also been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Eater, and The Daily Meal.

You can also find more great recipes and tips on www.avocadosfrommexico.com!

Visit Pati at Pati's Mexican Table, on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


Our Thoughts:
I love avacados (in fact, I just finished eating half of one before I started typing!) so I was happy to interview Pati Jinich about healthy breakfast tips & tricks involving avacados fresh from Mexico! Pati answered my breakfast/avacado questions to her in a customized Youtube Video, and is full of great nutritional information. 

I think one of my favorite ways to eat a fresh Mexican avocado is to mash 1/2 an avocado with 1 ripe banana and about 1/4 c unrefined coconut oil, topped with fresh or frozen fruit.  Or, use coconut milk instead of coconut oil, add some spinach and make a smoothie!  Filling, delicious, and nutritious! Enjoy!

 

Easter Gift Guide - Fill Your Basket with Earth's Best!

Skip the sugar crash this Easter  with delicious treats from Earth’s Best. The perfect size for school treat boxes, these great alternatives that will bring a smile to any kids face this Easter. Plus, these snacks will make parents happy as well!

·         Earth’s Best Smiley Snacks burst with vanilla flavor while also providing 2 grams of protein and fiber as well as 12 grams of whole grain per serving. 

·         Earth’s Best Crunchin Crackers are an excellent source of ion, zinc and six B vitamins. They also make snacking fun with Big Bird and Elmo in every bite.

My Thoughts 

From infants to toddlers, Earth's best can help you fill your Easter basket with healthy choices this spring. They offer a variety of organic treats that kids will love.  I have two toddlers in the house and they really enjoyed both the snack bars and the cookies. The images of their favorite Sesame Street characters encouraged them to eat them before they ever opened the package and the great taste kept them coming back for seconds.

In addition to the cookies, Earth's best also offers a full line of baby foods in all stages. Their pouches are made with only real fruits, vegetables and meats and the convenient containers allow kids to suck them right down without any mess.  But of course the best part about Earth's Best is that all their products are made with only USDA certified organic ingredients. When you feed your family Earth's Best, you can feel good about the choices you're making for your children.

Review: Uncle Goose Alphabet Wood Blocks

*** Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review. ***

Uncle Goose sometimes feels like that eccentric yet eloquent friend of yours that seems to have stepped out of an O. Henry short story from the late 19th century. After all, ours is a company that stepped back over one hundred years in time to hand-manufacture classic wood alphabet blocks in an era of computer games and digital toys.

We labor over our products with the work ethic and artistry of midwestern elves from the 1800’s. Other than Santa, very few people you know personally still hand manufacture wood toys. We seem to be pressing against an invisible boundary that lies between what is possible and what is practical.

As modern business people, we realize that hand-manufacturing toy blocks is seen as an unlikely and maybe even unfashionable thing to do. It’s passé. It’s outmoded. It’s out of step with our fast-paced, high-tech world. But as artists, not creating blocks seems completely unreasonable... and maybe even dangerous.

We can’t even imagine living in a world without alphabet blocks.  If Uncle Goose didn’t bother to craft them, this iconic toy might very well become extinct.

We simply couldn’t stand to live in that world. Blocks inspire. In particular, our blocks are fascinating to those who long to feel inspired by sensual participation in the physical realm.

We’re really in love with learning, design, and creativity. And we love blocks. So this is what we do, and how we approach our craft. It’s simple, creative, old-fashioned, and maybe a little quirky; but that’s the essence of Uncle Goose Toys.

Visit Uncle Goose on their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter!

Our Thoughts

I chose the Classic ABC blocks for review and was very excited when they arrived because they are so gorgeous!!!  I love the designwork around the letters.  This set features 4 full alphabets, numbers, math symbols, and picture words, all of which my son is really into right now.

Wood blocks are such timeless fun!  While my son is enjoying exploring and stacking them, my husband had fun playing with the blocks too! He even commented how nice these blocks are in comparison to some we already have.  They are handmade; the colors and designs are sharp and crisp - this is how wood blocks should be made!  The ink is free of heavy  metals and every gallon of ink is tested before use.

Something else I think is really cool about Uncle Goose blocks is that they have blocks in different languages, and even have special needs blocks with braille on them!  They also have simply decorative blocks which are in my opinion, beyond gorgeous!

When our son is much older, I'll still be using these blocks to create words like "Family", "Love", or even some holiday sayings and put them on display.

Big huge thumbs up from me!  I wish I'd known about Uncle Goose sooner, because I wouldn't have bothered with the cheaper blocks!

*** Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Linwoods Super Foods

*** Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review. ***

Fit, Heart, and Smart this Summer! Linwoods Superfoods Blends are a Summer Triple Threat!

Sprinkle a Spoonful onto Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner for Summer Vitality!

Longer, warmer summer days means more activities and smaller outfits. However, long days at the pool or family soccer games in the park are often coupled with empty calories such as sugary frozen treats and syrupy drinks. That’s where Linwoods comes in to fill nutritional gaps! Linwoods delicious range of flaxseed-based superfoods blends, are all-natural, nutritionally-dense, and easy additions to any summer day!

The Linwoods range of delicious, nutritious ‘Super Foods’ is the perfect solution for those who want to ensure that their diet comprises the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that can add such quality to life and living.  

    

Our range of ground seeds, nuts and berries can add that healthy boost to almost everything you eat. Importantly all our products are GLUTEN FREE and have NO ADDED SUGAR.

What are Superfoods?

Super Foods are also known as Functional Foods or a food that delivers a Structural or Functional health benefit. Our Super Foods range offers you a wide variety of health benefits due to the vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that are found naturally in these foods. When used daily, they may help maintain a healthy heart, boost your energy and support a well-balanced diet and active lifestyle.

About Linwoods:

Based in Northern Ireland and established in 1965, Linwoods is a family owned company that manufactures a range of Premium Bakery, Fresh Dairy and Healthy Super Foods.  Linwoods products are sourced in their raw form from around the world and are selected from the best suppliers and growers to ensure the highest quality and standards.  All ingredients are natural, organic and turn any meal at any time of the day in to a tasty and nutritious meal bursting with essential fatty acids, protein, iron, calcium, magnesium and essential vitamins and minerals.  Linwoods Super Foods products are found in supermarkets and specialty food stores on such as: Whole Foods; Bed, Bath & Beyond; HyVee’s; Shaws; Fresh Market; and Bristol Farms. Your Link to Good Food.

Website: Linwoods
Facebook: Linwoods
Twitter: Linwoods Foods
Pinterest: Linwoods
Instagram: Linwoods


Our Thoughts:

I was happy to try out Linwoods products, they compliment our way of eating!  I love shelled hemp seed - especially lightly toasted, oh YUM!!  I hadn't used flaxseed for a few years but had previously enjoyed it and was looking forward to trying it again.

Linwoods Super Foods come in 6 varieties ranging from $8.99-$14.99 and are available at stores such as: Whole Foods Market; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Shaws; HyVee; Fresh Market; Bristol Farms; and other natural food retailers.

• Ground Organic Flaxseed
• Ground Flaxseed, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, & CoQ10
• Ground Flax, Sunflower, Pumpkin, & Sesame Seeds & Goji Berries
• Ground Flaxseed, Cocoa, Strawberries, & Blueberries
• Ground Flaxseed & Goji Berries
• Shelled Organic Hemp

It was nice to see at our local HyVee that they do indeed carry Linwoods products!  Like I said, I love shelled hemp seed and Linwoods hemp seed is great quality.  I gave some to my son in his breakfast this morning, and had some in my paleo chocolate pudding this afternoon.  The taste is mild and compliments just about any dish. And did I mention shelled hemp seed is SUPER tasty lightly toasted?

Now, the items with flaxseed . . . I really wanted to love them, but as is normal with paleo, tastes change over time.  And having not eaten flaxseed for several years, I was surprised to see that I no longer care for the flavor.  I think I could add them to my "Nuffin" (Nut Muffin) recipies and not really notice the flaxseed flavor in there, though.  My mom uses flaxseed, so I know she'll love these!

I do want to point out that although they are a gluten free food, for those sensitive to corn products, the  variety with Ground Flaxseed, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, & CoQ10 does have cornstarch in it as an anti-caking agent.  Also, for those sensitive to nightshade foods (as are my son and I) goji berries, while a superfood, are a nightshade food.

Now, since the flaxseed varieties come already ground up, you could add them to just about anything - smoothies, yogurt, or baked goods. They even have a recipes section on their website! Great ways to add in some extra nutrition!

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***