>U Mom Knows Best: February 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015

How To Make A Green Tea Latte With Enzo 100% organic Matcha Tea Powder


Green tea lattes are a popular item at the coffee shops. I see a lot of people ordering these green drinks. Green tea lattes not only taste good but are good for you. These yummy green tea drinks are loaded with antioxidants. See the end of this post for a recipe. Making this green tea latte is so easy and it will save you so much money.

The main ingredient in a green tea latte is Matcha. So what is Matcha? Matcha is green tea leaves that have been made into a powder. This green tea powder has 137 X more antioxidants than brewed tea thus giving you more benefits.


Enzo Matcha powder is 100% organic and contains  polyphenol EGCG, a well-known formula to increase metabolism and helps you to burn fat faster. It also  is a great source of catechin polyphenols, awell-known antioxidant to protect human body from cancers, cardiovascular diseases and great for skin health to make us young and beautiful. Also Matcha is high in chlorophyll, which detoxifies your body and remove all toxins.

Green tea Matcha is also great for you mood and memory as it is rich in amino acid L-theanine.

   I love using Matcha in my smoothies my morning smoothie as it helps me to be able to focus better to get my work done. I also love drinking a green tea latte made with Matcha in the afternoon before I go running. I have lots more energy that way. All it takes is one teaspoon of this green tea powder and the taste is not bitter like hot green tea.

      Click on this link to get more information about Enzo 100% organic Matcha Tea powder.


The price may see high, but this bag has 24 servings in it, thus making it $1.00 per drink.



                                     Green Tea Latte

                             1 cup milk or milk substitute like soymilk
                                            1 teaspoon Enzo 100% organic Matcha Tea powder
                                            2 teaspoons sugar 
                                            4 ice cubes
             
                   Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. You can use other sweeteners like Stevia or vanilla syrup and add more sugar if you want it sweeter. 

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product to write an honest review."

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Pura d'or Hair & Body Care Products Are Artisanally Handcrafted


 Sponsored Post by BrandBacker


  I try to do good by my body so I can look and feel my best. I eat natural foods so why not use natural products on the outside of my body too. I don't want chemicals in my body so I need to stop putting chemicals on my skin and hair.

  I was sent three Premium Organic products for my hair and skin from a company called Purador. Their products are made with at least 95% organic ingredients. These products not only smell great but did a good job of making my skin and hair look nice.  I just love their Vision and Mission statements.

Our Vision
All our ingredients are grown on trees, not in test tubes. Our products are artisanally handcrafted by a hybrid team of artists and scientists, not by machines. Some say that this is a step backward, but we believe that this is a step in the direction of how things should be.


Our Mission
For more than four years, Pura d'or has been growing a culture planted on a natural set of values and beliefs. But when all is said and done it comes down to one unified mission—to create organic personal care solutions that naturally work.


Here are the products I received

 Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo

+ Prevents Hair Loss 
+ Strengthens Hair
+ Adds Volume
+ All Natural and Organic 
+ Vitamins for Hair Growth 
+ Paraben, SLS and Gluten Free
+ 12 DHT Blockers

Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Conditioner, Lavender Vanilla

+ 99% Vegetable Base Ingredients
+ Manages Frizz
+ Enhances Shine
+ Argan Oil Based
+ Paraben, Sulfate and Gluten Free

Pure and Organic Argan Oil

+ Diminishes wrinkles
+ Stimulates skin cells
+ Reduces appearance of scaring and stretch marks
+ Creates softer smoother skin
+ Reliefs for eczema and psoriasis
+ Restores nutrient content to skin cells

  I loved that I was able to use natural products in my hair. I had to get use to how the shampoo worked because it was free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the chemical that makes a rich lather, I had to get use a no lather clean. The conditioner had a great lavender scent to it and it made my hair easy to manage and soft. 

The Argan Oil had an enjoyable light scent and made my skin fell smooth. The Argan oil, being a natural oil, did take longer to absorb into my skin, but the softer skin made it worth it.

So if you want better beauty products made from ingredients that are all natural with no harsh chemicals and animal cruelty free, try Pura d'or Hair & Body Care Products.



"These opinions are my own and I received the above mentioned products to write this review."




Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Vegetarian Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe's Made With Jiva USDA Organic Whole Moong (Mung) Beans




  I have a wonderful meatless recipe for sloppy Joe's and the awesome thing is that it is made in the slow cooker. This is an easy recipe to start in the morning before and dinner is ready when you come home. This meatless recipe uses Moong Beans for the protein source and tastes just like sloppy Joe's.

    So what is Moong Beans? Moong Beans are a green legume, also known as mung beans. These beans are used in Indian cooking to prepare Dal and Curry. These beans can also be sprouted to make bean sprouts. These little green beans contain no cholesterol and very little fat, making them a healthy addition to those seeking a high-protein and fiber addition to their diets.


       I was sent a package of  Jiva USDA Organic Whole Moong (Mung) Beans and I could not wait to cook with them. These beans are USDA Organic Whole Moong Beans grown in certified organic farms in India and are a perfect complement to vegans and vegetarian lifestyles.I love that a serving of these beans contain nearly half of the daily recommended intake of protein per serving and 47 percent of daily iron. 

 I have used bean sprouts, sprouted from the Moong Beans, in my cooking to make Egg Foo Young but I have never used the Moong Beans in the original form. I had to cook up a batch of the beans to see what they look like. They were easy to cook*. Below is how the green beans look before and after they are cooked. Once cooked the  beans are ready to use in many recipes.



This is what the Moong Beans look like when they are sprouted. These are sprouts that I had bought from the store but I have heard of people sprouting them at home. The bean sprouts are yummy in in dishes like Egg Foo Young and salads. 


To buy these Jiva USDA Organic Whole Moong (Mung) Beans so you can make this recipe or try sprouting them, just click on the below link.



Vegetarian Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe's


1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 cup Jiva USDA Organic Whole Moong Beans
one 15-16 ounce can chopped tomatoes
3 cups water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper


1. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 3-5 minutes until lightly brown. Add the chili powder, stirring to coat.

2.Transfer the onion mixture to your slow cooker. Add the Moong beans, tomatoes, water, soy sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Serve on toasted buns or English muffins. These can also be served in bowls.



*Cooking instructions for Moong Beans

Soak 1 cup beans overnight in 2 cups water. Drain water and place beans in a pot with 2 cups water. Bring the beans to a boil and then cover pot, lower temperature and simmer for 1 hour. Drain the water and the Moong beans are ready to use in recipes.



"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product to write this review."


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

My Daughter Is Getting Married And I Need Beautiful Skin




    My daughter is getting married next week and I want to look beautiful for her special day. I have a pretty dress and shoes to wear to my daughters wedding. I also want to have beautiful skin as I want to look great. One way to make sure my skin is picture perfect for my daughters wedding is to use a mud mask on my face. 




        I was sent a jar of Hello Cutie Mud Mask from Glam Essentials and I knew this mud mask would help my skin look great for my daughters wedding. Hello Cutie Mud Mask is no ordinary facial mask. This mask has ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, DMAE, Vitamin B3, Pomegranate and Green Tea Extract, Cucumber, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Chamomille in it to make your skin beautiful. The mask was easy to apply and did a great job of cleaning my pores. My skin felt refreshed and tighter after I used the mud mask. 


 Don't I look pretty with my mask on? I just had to kiss my boys, they thought I was a zombie.


    I love that Hello Cutie Mud Mask contains no parabens, petroleums, sulfites, or other harmful ingredients in this cute little jar. This mask is great for acne, eczema, and dry dull skin. The mask will Leaves your skin healthy, clearer, firmer, tighter and brighter. The mask is a all natural and hydrating mud mask and formulated to specifically detoxify environmental toxins, shrink pores, clear acne and repair damaged skin. This mask is perfect for the T-zones and will not dry your skin out. You can use it on your whole face or as a spot treatment.


Hello Cutie Mud Mask will give me beautiful skin for my daughters wedding.



Use  promo code Glam3333 for a 30% discount 

Watch a video of my mask experience.



"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product in exchange for a review."


Turn Your Favorite T-shirts Into A Blanket With Project Repat


       I had a lot of t-shirts that I now longer wear as they were too big, worn out, or had stains on them. These shirts all had special meaning to them and I just could not part with them. Project Repat allowed me to keep my shirts and enjoy them in a new way. They made them into a blanket that is so cool. I can now snuggle with all my memories.

How does Project Repat make a blanket out of my shirts?

Step 1 
Visit http://www.projectrepat.com/  and choose the size of blanket you want and the color of the fleece that goes on the back. The blanket size will determine how many t-shirts you will need.

Step 2

Pay for the order and then Project Repat will send you instructions on how to get the shirts to them.

Step 3

Gather all your t-shirts and send them to Project Repat.

Step 4
 Project Repat takes all your t-shirts and makes them into a blanket.

Step 5

Enjoy your blanket.



I received a lap size blanket, which is great for snuggling with while you watch TV. Project Repat makes blankets from a lap size to a king size. I just love how soft my blanket is as the t-shirts I sent in were soft. This blanket makes a great gift. You can make a blanket out of all those cute baby clothes or out of shirts from all those races you ran. A sports person would love one made with his favorite team shirts This would make a great baby shower gift to a new mom. The possibilities are endless and you can use sweatshirts too. 

Another cool thing is, the fleece backing of the blanket is made out of recycled plastic bottles. Each yard of fleece is made from 23 plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Check out how you can turn your t-shirts into a blanket.






"These opinions are my own and I was sent a gift certificate to order a blanket with my shirts."

Monday, February 23, 2015

Quicklids Silicone Suction Lids And Food Covers Do More Than Cover Food



     What are these? Are these something you throw around the yard? No, these are a item that you will want in your kitchen. Quicklids sent me these Silicone Suction Lids And Food Covers and I am loving them! These lids will save you money and frustrations from messes.

   So what are Silicone Suction Lids And Food Covers? These are lids that you place over bowls, pots, pans , or containers and work for many different things from cooking to storing food. These silicone lids come in three different sizes to fit small to big bowls.They will save you money and space. Here are some of the ways to  use these silicone lids.



REHEAT and COOK
   I place one silicone lid over food when I am microwaving food, as they are microwave and oven safe up to 375 degrees. No more spaghetti sauce splatters in the microwave. I am also able to cook my veggies faster as the water heats up quicker when the container is covered. Now I can cook my oatmeal in the microwave and not have to worry about it spilling over.

KEEP FOOD WARM
These green circles are great for keeping food warm. Just place one over your bowl and it will keep the food warm. This is great if hubby is running late at dinner time.

STORE FOOD
   No need for foil or plastic wrap. No need to transfer leftovers to containers, instead use the Quicklids Silicone Suction Lids to create a water and airtight seal on any container for any leftover food! The Suction Lids work on everything from plastic to glass, stainless steel to ceramic, containers! These lids also do not take up much space. These lids are also dishwasher and freezer safe.

COOKOUT AND PICNICS
Bring the silicone lids to your next cookout and keep the bugs and dirt off your food. 


      I love that the Quicklids Silicone Suction Lids And Food Covers have a hole in them so I can hang them on a hook next to my stove. They are always ready to use and my family will use them when reheating food in the microwave. The lids have a great suction on them when placed on a bowl. I was able to lift the bowl up. 

They are also a great price too and come with a 100% money back guarantee.


What will you use these awesome lids for?

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product to write this review."

Take A Shower With Colored Water And HotelSpa® Spectrum Ultra-Luxury 7-setting / 7-color LED Hand Shower And Giveaway


    How would you like to take a shower with colored water? This sounded awesome to me so I agreed to review the World's Only Chrome-Face 7-setting 7-color LED Hand Shower! This shower makes shower time more fun with water in 7 different colors. This shower was easy to install and made my shower feel like a spa with its 7 different settings.

HotelSpa turns a boring shower into an exciting shower with its Spectrum Ultra-Luxury 7-setting / 7-color LED Hand Shower. The cool thing is it is powered by water, so no batteries are needed. 

Here are the cool facts about the shower

• Luxurious 7-setting High-power LED Hand Shower 

• Can be used as Overhead or Handheld shower 

• Extra-large 4.25" Chrome Face 

• 7 Settings include Power Rain, Pulsating Massage, Hydrating Mist, Mist/Massage, Rain/Mist and Water-saving Economy Rain & Pause modes 

• 3-zone Precision SpiralFlo Dial with Rub-clean Jets & Click-action Lever 

• LED light colors change automatically every few seconds softly blending into each other

• LED lights have long life of 100,000 hours (over 10 years of heavy daily use) 

• Includes Angle-adjustable Overhead Bracket and Super Flexible Stainless Steel Hose with Dual Conical Brass Hose Nuts for easy hand tightening 

• Connects in minutes without Tools 

• 1-year Warranty

Here is what the shower looked like out of the box and installed in my bathroom shower.




Watch a video to see it in action.


To see more photos of this cool HotelSpa® Spectrum Ultra-Luxury 7-setting / 7-color LED Hand Shower and to purchase one, click on the below links.



Now for the best part! I have a HotelSpa® Spectrum Ultra-Luxury 7-setting / 7-color LED Hand Shower to giveaway to one of my readers. Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below and good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older. No entry is mandatory. Chances of winning giveaway depends on number of entries. All entries will be verified. Winner will be notified within 24 hours of end of contest and will then have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. Sponsor is responsible for shipping out prize. Void where prohibited.


"These opinions are my own and I received the above mentioned product to write this review."

Friday, February 20, 2015

Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set Looks So Awesome With Its Adjustable Ceramic Knife Stand


   I love to cook and got so excited when Ozeri asked me to review there Ceramic knives and stand. Cooking is so much easier when you have the right knives. I find that when I use cheap dull knives, cooking is frustrating. It is hard to chop and cut when the knives don't work, making the job more difficult. It can be down right dangerous when you cut with dull cheap knives. A dull knife slips and slides while a sharp knife is easier to control as it requires less effort. A knife with ergonomic handles also makes cutting less dangerous.

   The Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knives are sharp looking knives that are ultra-sharp 100% ceramic knives. These knives not only look cool but also do a great job in the kitchen. I just love the matching Adjustable Ceramic Knife Stand to store the knives in. You can't have one without the other.



   Let me tell you why the Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knives are so special in my kitchen. This 3 piece set knives are 100% ceramic and last longer than traditional steel blades. Ceramic blades are close to hardness like diamonds. Unlike metal knives, the Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knives do not corrode, rust or leach metal ions from long-term exposure to moisture, oils and acids in common food.



  These knives will slice through everything from fruits, vegetables and boneless meats with ease. The handles are ergonomic and feel great in your hands to make chopping and dicing so much easier. The knives are also very light in weight, weighing less than half of an equivalent metal knife which helps reduce  fatigue and pain associating with preparing big meals and repetitive cutting.





   The Ozeri black ceramic knives look awesome in the sold separately Adjustable Ceramic Knife Stand that makes the knives easily accessed when stored on your counter top. See how wonderful the stand looks next to my stove. This stand has separate spaces for the 3", 6", and 9" Ozeri ceramic knives. The protective enclosures prevent blade damage from contact with other knives. I love that the enclosures are adjustable so you can store the knives in different positions for a cool look. The stand has slip-resistant rubberized feet and is made of durable acrylic with a reflective black veneer. This stand will look awesome on any kitchen counter! This stand was designed for the Ozeri Elite Chef 3-Piece Ceramic Knife Set, but will store other knives too.



   This 3 piece knife set and stand makes a great wedding gift. I was going to give this set to my daughter for her up coming wedding but my husband loves them and wants to keep them. I guess I will have to order a set for my daughter.


To look at different views and angles of the Ozeri Elite Chef 3-Piece Ceramic Knife Set and stand, click on the below links.

                           Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set
                                   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BITA6GU

                            Ozeri 3-Piece Adjustable Ceramic Knife Stand
                                  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KJ1HHOM



"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned products to write this review."









Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Green Chef Review


    I was offered a free trial of https://greenchef.com/ and they sent me fresh organic ingredients to make 3 meals for two people. I liked that the ingredients came in box that kept everything at the proper temperature. The ingredients were all labeled too. The order came with step by step instructions on how to turn the ingredients into a yummy meal. I loved that I could choose vegetarian or meat meals. You can also choose both. I choose 2 vegetarian meals and 1 seafood meal. They have different menus every week to choose from.

I was sent these recipes.

Blacked Yellowfin Tuna 
Cumin-scented rice, cucumber radish salad with jalapeño & lime
Pumpkin Ravioli
Walnut-mushroom béchamel sauce, sautéed kale
Collard Green Burrito
Peppers, onions, quinoa & black beans, carrot crema, guacamole


This is what the ingredients for each recipe looks like.





I had fun making the Pumpkin Ravioli and they came out so yummy.






I Will Be Rejuvenating My Neck With Ageless Derma Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream + Giveaway



   The worst part of getting older is what happens to your skin. As I age, I am noticing lines on my face and neck. I do not like the appearance of the lines that I am seeing on my neck and I am going to do what I can to make them less noticeable. I also not want those lines on my neck to get bigger.nor do I want saggy skin. When Ageless Derma asked me to review their Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream, I of course said "send it to me!"



   I am going to use Ageless Derma Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream to fight back against my neck problems. Ageless Derma Anti Aging Neck Lift and Firm Cream targets my neck area with advance ingredients to help with wrinkles and sagging skin to repair and rejuvenate the skin. The firming cream will work on restoring moisture, smoothing lines and wrinkles, and tightening sagging skin on both neck, décolleté and throat areas.

    Ageless Derma Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream contains the patented French ingredient Matrixyl®, a peptide formula that can re-stimulate collagen production to return elasticity and firmness to this delicate skin area. It also contains shea butter which moisturizes and calms the skin. I just love the delicate orange citrus fragrance that makes using the cream enjoyable. This cream makes my neck feel soft and firm after I apply it. I am looking forward to my rejuvenated neck!





Click on the below links for more information on Ageless Derma Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream.
    http://www.agelessderma.com/ageless-derma-age-defying-neck-lift-and-firm-cream-2oz.aspx

                                                 Ageless Derma on Facebook

                                                   Ageless Derma on Twitter

                                                    Purchase on Amazon





I have a bottle of Ageless Derma Age-Defying Neck Lift and Firm Cream to giveaway to one of my readers, so you too can rejuvenate your neck. Just enter on the form below and good luck.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older. No entry is mandatory. Chances of winning giveaway depends on number of entries. All entries will be verified. Winner will be notified within 24 hours of end of contest and will then have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. Sponsor is responsible for shipping out prize. Void where prohibited.

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product to write this review."
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Mom knows best