>U Mom Knows Best: November 2021

Monday, November 29, 2021

Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum Makes Cleaning Simple

 The Dreametech Cordless H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum is a game-changer for cleaning floors. This device replaces your broom, mop, and vacuum. It is a pleasure to push.

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases I received a Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum to facilitate this post.

 We recently replaced the carpet in our house with new floors. Two years ago we ripped out all the carpet downstairs and had ceramic tile installed. Then this year we tore out the carpet on the stairs and upstairs. This time we decided to install vinyl on the floors. The carpet was over 20 years old and it was a pain to keep clean. So my husband and I selected flooring choices that were easier to maintain. 

 Another reason that we decided to not install carpet was due to all my allergies. While my high-quality air purifier was helping, my asthma symptoms were still present. So not having carpet in the house on the floors made sense as it would help me continue to manage my asthma naturally without prescription medicines. Carpet tends to trap dust and all those allergens, so I was glad to see the carpet being replaced.

 Since we replaced the carpet with vinyl floors in the bedrooms, my sleep apnea symptoms have even stopped. I am loving the new floors in my home and the part that I love most is how easy the floors are to keep clean. I no longer have to vacuum or steam clean carpets. My maintenance for my new floors only requires a broom, vacuum, and a mop. My cleaning routine has become easier without having carpet in my house. Even spills are easier to clean up.

 Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum Makes Cleaning a Breeze

 I loved that I did not have to lug out the big vacuum and plug it in. My routine for cleaning my new floors was using a stick vac followed by a wet mop. A cleaning routine that I thought was simple. That was until I received a wet and dry vacuum that was a huge game-changer in my daily cleaning. The Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum was a more convenient and fun home cleaning experience.

 This unique cleaning device vacuums and mops at the same time. So I was able to replace my mop, broom, and vacuum with the  Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum. The Dreametech vacuum was even fun to use. Yes, you heard that right cleaning was fun with this vacuum.


Erases household messes, both wet and dry

 + One pass. All clean.

+ Cleans up wet and dry messes at the same time.

+ Self-cleaning on the roller brush as long as it is on.

+ Automatic mess detection for deep cleaning.

+ Long runtime for cleaning large homes.

Easy to use

 The Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum was super simple to put together from the box. My teen simply connected the handle to the vacuum and then install both the clean water tanks and the dirty water tanks. The vacuum came with a charger base so this vacuum was a cord-less vacuum. I liked that the charging base was not bulky. So it fits perfectly in my kitchen.

 After the Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum was fully charged, I was ready to have fun cleaning my floors. A push of the button was all it took. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this wet/dry vacuum was to push. It was a self-propelled vacuum that had two different modes of cleaning ~ standard clean and deep cleaning mode. The fully charged vacuum was able to clean all the floors in my house on a single charge. I was also surprised that I did not have to refill the clean water tank.


Deep clean. Up to 2,152ft

No longer need to refill the water tank over and over. The Dreametech H11 comes with a clean water tank of 0.23gal that covers up to 2,152ft² in the lowest water flow mode.

Deep cleans floors

 I like clean floors and I usually mop my floors daily. I also enforce the no-shoes in the house rule. So my floors stay clean for the most part. So the first time I used the Dreametech H11 Wet & Dry Vacuum, I was amazed at how dirty the water was in the used water tank. I realized that my old way of cleaning the floors with a mop was just pushing dirty water on my floors. So while my grey floors looked clean, they were not clean. 


 My downstairs floors are ceramic tile so they have grout lines. The grout on my floors is grey as I selected that color to hide the dirt. The Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum sure did show me that my floors did a great job of hiding the dirt. The water in the used water tank was black by the time I was done cleaning the floors.

 I decided to clean the floors a couple more times with the Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum and the water still was dirty. I was amazed at how well this wet vacuum cleaned my floors. I was even able to vacuum up the sand that was by the front door. This vacuum handles both wet and dry messes. So it made cleaning up all the crumbs in the kitchen a breeze. Next time my son spills milk and cereal, the Dreametech H11 will make clean-up so simple.

Self-cleaning roller brush

 Another awesome feature of the Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum is the self-cleaning of the roller brush. Once you are done cleaning the floors, you place the vacuum back on the charging base and press the deep-cleaning mode. The deep-cleaning mode thoroughly cleans and drys the brush roll so there is no need to manually wash it. I love that I don't have to touch a dirty roller brush.


 This wet and dry vacuum has changed the way that I keep my floors clean. Since the Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum has a clean modern look to it, I keep the vacuum in the corner of my kitchen. The charging base keeps the vacuum fully charged so it is ready to use. So that means I am able to clean the daily food crumbs and kitchen messes. My floors have never been this clean.

 So the next time my son bakes the best Christmas sugar cookies with way too many sprinkles, he can use the Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum to clean up his mess. With cleaning the floors made so simple, I just may let my son do more baking. No longer do I have to dread kitchen messes when I have the power of the Dreametech vacuum.


Check out some more information about the Cordless Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum

 + Sucks up all the dirty messes in one path, combining the actions of a broom, mop, and vacuum in one. 

+ Using a separated two-tank design, the 900ml clean water tank sprays out fresh water and a cleaning solution onto the roller brush while the internal dirt separation system removes dirt water out of the brush and sends it to the dirty water tank in real-time. 

+ The self-cleaning of the roller brush in real-time, you can try the deep-cleaning mode by putting it back onto the charging base for a thorough cleaning and fast drying of the brush roll, no need to manually wash it.

+ The smart LED screen display and intelligent voice assistant provide clear and accurate operation guidance.

+ The convenience of a cordless system like this requires getting it back on the charging base at the end of use but the smart screen on top will tell you battery power.


Buy the Dreametech H11 Wet and Dry Vacuum on Amazon 



Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Celebrate The Holidays With Teleflora Loved One Contest + $100 Giveaway #loveoutloud

Teleflora is excited to celebrate the holidays of 2021 by reuniting 21 families through a social media contest in which winners will receive roundtrip airfare this holiday season.


 I look forward to the holiday season as it means getting together with friends and family. Last year the pandemic meant that most people could not celebrate the holidays with family members who lived far away as traveling during a virus outbreak was tough. So this year Christmas is going to be extra special for most people as they will be able to travel to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

 Last year both of my sons were overseas for Christmas but this year they will be home for the holidays. I am one happy mom as all five of my kids and my two grandchildren will be here for Christmas. It will be a joyous time. I just wish that my mom could be here to celebrate the holiday season with all of my kids. 

 Last was a tough year for my mom and so many others with all the shutdowns. We all had to get creative in how we spent the holidays with others. I just loved the Teleflora 2020 holiday campaign, “The Impromptu Choir,” that harnessed the power of song and holiday magic as a neighborhood comes together to bring cheer to their neighbor, Carol. who was unable to be with her family. This year Teleflora is back with an awesome holiday video and a wonderful contest. Keep reading to find out more.

Celebrate The Holidays With Teleflora Loved One Contest

 I am sure there is someone in your life that you wish that you could celebrate the holiday season with but they are unable to travel for many reasons including the cost of traveling. Teleflora wants to make the holiday season a bit more joyous for 21 people with an awesome contest. 

 To celebrate the 2021 holiday season, Teleflora is giving away 21 roundtrip tickets for people to reunite with their loved ones, plus a year’s supply of flowers.

 Teleflora’s newest campaign, “Nana,” embodies the nostalgia of the holidays and reminds us that being with loved ones is what’s most important. Launching today, the spot follows a little girl after she receives a Teleflora bouquet from her grandma. She is saddened her Nana won’t be there for the holidays and brings the flowers everywhere, symbolizing her Nana’s presence—while playing tea party, reading bedtime stories, and everything else. On Christmas Day, she is overcome with joy when Nana surprises her at her door and they are finally reunited. 

 Extending the campaign’s theme of togetherness for the holidays, Teleflora is excited to celebrate the holidays of 2021 by reuniting 21 families through a social media contest in which winners will receive roundtrip airfare this holiday season. Information on the social media contest and how to enter can be found on our Instagram page, @Teleflora

 So make sure to enter this awesome contest with Teleflora as being able to travel to visit those you love with be the best Christmas present. Imagine the joy on your loved one's face when you tell them that you are coming home for the holidays. So, enter the contest and then head over to Teleflora to see all the beautiful flower arrangements that they have for the holidays. 

 Teleflora is the best place to order Christmas flowers. Flowers are great for Christmas gifts and great for holiday centerpieces for your holiday table. Teleflora has the best Christmas flower vases along with the freshest flowers. Flowers just make the holiday season a bit brighter.

Teleflora $100 Gift Card Giveaway

 The gift-giving with Teleflora continues and they are giving away a $100 gift card to spend at Teleflora.com. So one lucky Mom Knows Best reader is going to win $100 to spend on their choice of beautiful flower arrangements. Entering is simple. Just enter on the below giveaway form and good luck. Happy holidays!

The giveaway ends on December 7, 2021. The winner will be selected 24-48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winner's email before a new winner is selected.

How to Throw a Terrific Themed Party

You don't have to choose a theme in order to throw a great party, but having a central idea to tie things together always enhances the fun. Whether you pick a holiday, a movie, or a location, you can easily make almost every aspect of your party on-trend.

Choosing Food and Drink

 A table spread with treats should be a central part of your shindig. Start with specific items that fit your theme. For a Sex and the City party, obviously, you’ll need a Cosmo drink, while an Oktoberfest bash requires pretzels and sausages and a Mardi Gras celebration calls for gumbo and a pitcher of Hurricanes. You can get creative with Halloween witches’ brooms and Valentine’s Day bacon roses, or you can save time by buying pre-made snacks.

 Once you’ve got the must-haves, start thinking more generally. Choose foods and beverages that come in relevant flavors and appropriately colored packaging even if there’s no actual reference to your theme. Make sure your overall spread is balanced and varied: proteins such as cheese, nuts, or charcuterie as well as carbs, a range of non-alcoholic drinks in addition to an assortment of alcohol and mixers, fresh fruit and veggies along with chips and cookies. Fruits and vegetables can be arranged to form an Irish flag for Saint Patrick’s Day or a US flag for July 4th, or you can simply buy based on color (purple plums, gold pineapple, and green grapes for Mardi Gras, or rainbow baby carrots for a tropical tiki party).

 Tableware should also fit your theme. If you’re serving chili or stew, choose coffee mugs rather than bowls because the handles make them easier to hold and a spoon can rest securely inside rather than balancing precariously on the rim. Before you rush to buy brand-new items, check thrift shops for reusable mugs and serving dishes; you might even find unopened packages of disposable plates or napkins in the perfect color or pattern.

Decorating

 Here you’ll also want to start theme-specific and then use color. Paper cut-outs for windows, garlands over doorways and along mantlepieces, and confetti or miniature shamrocks or seashells scattered over tables make easy and attractive decorations, but don’t stop there. Your Valentine’s Day guests will be impressed by details such as a bar of heart-shaped soap and a rose-printed hand towel in the guest bathroom (especially if you use a pink or red plastic bag to line the wastebasket). A pumpkin-shaped soap dispenser at the kitchen sink works for both Halloween and Thanksgiving, while a clear dispenser can be filled with liquid soap in any color or scent. Washable or disposable tablecloths and pop-up disposable trash cans make clean-up easier while providing yet another opportunity to emphasize your theme.

Being a Good Host

 Always keep in mind the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. While guests’ clothing can help enhance your theme, make flexible suggestions rather than demanding a specific dress code. For a tiki party, for example, go with “if possible, please wear bright colors or tropical patterns” rather than “women wear full-length muumuus and men wear aloha shirts.” Provide wearable favors such as fabric leis for tiki parties, beads, and masks for Mardi Gras, or a mix of costume accessories for Halloween. If children will be attending a mostly adult party, put out some small toys or have a TV showing kid-friendly cartoons. Ask guests in advance about dietary restrictions; while you don’t have to make your entire menu vegan or gluten-free, it’s easy to provide a few specialized foods or to set aside a mug of chicken jambalaya for your shellfish-allergic friend so there’s no chance of cross-contamination from the seafood gumbo.

 A theme is an excellent way to upgrade your party and to make the planning even more fun. Get creative and have a blast!

Monday, November 22, 2021

Gift Avenger Has The Best Gift Ideas For Everyone

Gift Avenger is on a mission to stop bad gifting. Their team of gift avengers can help you choose the perfect gift and put an end to fake smiles on your loved one's faces.


 Does your Christmas gift list drive you crazy? I bet your holiday gift list is filled with many people and it can be overwhelming to figure out the best gift to give. Even the best holiday gift list doesn't help. So you head to the store with good intentions to buy the perfect gift and once you get to the store you are faced with too many choices. So you end up buying your dad another tie or your mom another pair of slippers. Why is Christmas shopping so hard?

Help is on the way with Gift Avenger

 Before you head out to the store to do your Christmas shopping or sit down to buy Christmas presents online, head to Gift Avenger. This awesome gift shopping idea website can help you buy the perfect gift that will bring a smile to your loved one's face.

 Gift Avenger curates gift ideas for all situations and people. They have 100s of curating gift lists for Moms, Dads, brothers, sisters, kids, and even friends. Gift Avenger even has gift lists for all kinds of hobbies and interests like Corvette lovers and embroiderers. Right now Gift Avenger is doing a campaign where they are donating 90% of our revenue to the Make A Wish Foundation. Simply read the gift ideas that appeal to you. If you purchase one of the recommendations on sites like Amazon and others they'll donate the revenue they receive to Make A Wish. Since you're gift shopping now anyway, you could get some great ideas and help fund a child's wish at no cost to you. Their goal is to fund one (at least) critically ill child’s wish this Christmas.


 So head over to Gift Avenger and check out one of their many gift guide lists. My favorite is the Food and Cooking category. I just love the Gifts for Coffee Lovers Under $20. Coffee is one of my favorite gifts to give and receive. So find some gift suggestions to go with that bag of coffee beans is always a good thing. You can't go wrong with coffee as a gift. 

 If the person that you are shopping for does not like coffee, no worries as Gift Avenger has many other gift ideas for everyone on your list from grandma all the way down to the brand new baby in the family. So stop stressing and stop wasting money on gifts for Christmas that are not the right fit. End the cycle of gift returns and regifting. Worst yet having that gift you gave your aunt end up in next year's white elephant gift party.

 Put some joy into holiday shopping and let Gift Avenger help you select the best gift for everyone on your holiday gift shopping list. The best part is all your shopping with Gift Avenger can be done online so you can avoid the crowds and the huge lines. So you will have lots of extra time to make the best Christmas sugar cookies.


Friday, November 19, 2021

Morphee Is The Best Screen-Free Sleep Aid

  Morphee delivers natural sleep-inducing programs while keeping the bedroom tech-free.

I received a Morphee to review 

This post contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through the links will not cost more money but I will earn a percentage of the sale. Please support my website by making your purchases through the links.

 I am no stranger to sleeping issues and I frequently have trouble falling asleep. I have tried many of the best sleep tips and sleep devices, only to discover that they do not always help me fall asleep. On any given night, I go to bed with expectations that I will quickly fall asleep but that rarely happens. Most nights it can take me 1 hour or more to fall asleep. 

 Then once I fall asleep, my asthma-induced sleep apnea likes to wake me up several times a night, and then it can take a while to fall back asleep. So sleep is not something that I look forward to and I have to force myself to go to bed as I know that my body needs sleep. 

 So when a company reached out to me and asked me to review their tech-free sleep device, I decided to give another sleep aid a chance, in hopes that it would be different. That it would not be like those annoying sound machines that keep me awake instead of helping me fall asleep. You know those sleep sound machines that have unrealistic nature sounds that play the same sound over and over again. I think the last sound machine that I bought even kept my husband, who falls asleep in 5 minutes, awake! 

The Morphee Sleep Device is not another sleep app 

 If I were to mention my sleep problems to my friends, they would tell me about a sleep app that helps them fall asleep. I would then tell them that I don't bring my phone to my bedroom as it disturbs my sleep. I think part of the reason that most people don't get enough sleep, is that we don't know how to disconnect from our phones. Or people are worried about someone needing to reach them in the middle of the night.

 While sleep apps might come off appealing for being inexpensive and somewhat science-based (REM cycles, brain waves, etc.), they come at the cost of increased blue-light exposure that reduces melatonin and adds the risk of doom-scrolling by having your phone at reach.

 Right away the one thing that I liked about the Morphee Sleep aid was it had no lights or needed to be plugged in. The Morphee sleep thing does not even need batteries! I also loved how small the Morphee meditation device was. I could use the Morphee next to my pillow and not disturb my husband.

Designed for relaxation, stress relief, and sleep, Morphee features more than 200 audio sessions 

 I liked the natural wood base that the Morphee had but the metal keys had me thinking this was not a typical sound machine. It took me a while to figure out how to best use the Morphee but it was simple to operate and I did not need any instructions. I just played around with the 3 keys, along with a couple of buttons and switches, on the Morphee relaxation device. 


First key ~ Eight sleep themes: Body scan ~ Breathing ~ Movement ~ Visualizations ~ Cardiac coherence ~ Napping ~ Relaxing music ~ Nature sounds

Second key ~ Choose your session: Each theme contains 8 different sessions

Third key ~ Choose the duration of your session: 8 or 20 minutes

Switch ~ Allows you to select a male or female voice. Play button

 These three keys and the switch gave me over 200 different audio sessions that offered me ways to relax. I liked that I had an option to listen to someone talk, listen to music, or listen to sounds like birds. If I selected voice relaxation, I could select from a male or female voice. 

Buy the Morphee Sleep Aid on Amazon

The Morphee gave me options for how I wanted to relax

  Everyone has different ways to relax and the Morphee delivers natural sleep-inducing programs with so many options. Some people may like a guided voice telling them to take deep breaths while others can be soothed to sleep with music. Then there are those who love hearing the sounds of nature to help them fall asleep. This sleep aid gave me plenty of choices and I liked that I could easily switch between the sessions to find the sleep session that was comforting to me.

 The first time that I used Morphee was on a night that I slept downstairs. My husband had a bad cough and I decided to not sleep in the same room. I knew that his cough would keep me awake. So I grabbed the Morphee relaxation device and the futon mattress to sleep in my office. This was a night that I needed help falling asleep since I was not going to be in my comfortable bed.

 My body does not like change when it comes to sleep. When I travel I always have difficulties falling asleep. So those are the times that I use CBD for sleep. So I decided to see if the Morphee would help me relax better than my CBD gummies. 

How to use the Morphee for the best sleep

 I turned the Morphee on and adjusted the volume. Then I started listening to the different sleep relaxation sessions. I started with the nature sounds and liked that I had many choices from birds, crickets, water, and even a crackling fire. Then I moved the keys to listening to music and discovered some relaxing bell sounds. 

 I liked that the bell sound session started with the voice telling me to take deep breaths. I always forget to breathe deeply while sleeping, so having reminders is good. While the voice was talking, I could hear the sounds of beautiful bell music. The voice part was short and then the session was just the bells.

 I could feel my body relaxing and I started to feel tired. I must have fallen asleep within minutes as I don't remember the Morphee turning off. I liked that it shuts off after the selected session. I also like that this device is small enough to place by my pillow. That way if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can use the Morphee to fall back asleep.

 With no screens or waves, Morphee delivers natural sleep-inducing programs while keeping the bedroom tech-free.

Other features of the Morphee

+ Battery life ~ three hours

+ Charging Time ~ 2 hours

+ Includes ~ USB charging cord and charging block

+ Includes ~ Light birch wood cover for storage and travel

+ The Blue Book of Sleep ~ A booklet filled with device info and sleep tips


 The Morphee can be used during the day to destress or for meditation sessions. This portable sleep device is also great for traveling. I love that it charges with a USB cord and it has a headphone port. This sleep product won't take up much space in my suitcase so I can use it when I travel.

The Morphee is a sleep device that I will be using. It has many benefits over other sleep machines. I like that I can keep it next to my pillow and adjust the sound so it won't bother my husband. The metal keys make this sleeping aid easy to operate even in the dark. Then of course with the variety of over 200 sleep and relaxation sessions, I will always find one that suits my mood. 

Buy the Morphee Sleep Aid on Amazon

To discover Morphee and how it can benefit your sleep ~ Click HERE



Thursday, November 18, 2021

The Best Holiday Gifts For Almost Everyone On Your List

 Looking for holiday gifts for friends and family? Check out some of my favorite gift ideas for almost everyone on your holiday gift list.

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I received samples of the mentioned products to facilitate this post.

 Buying Christmas gifts can be fun but it can also be stressful as there are so many people on your holiday gift list. From your kids all the way to friends and coworkers, that Christmas gift list can seem overwhelming. Sometimes all the stress of Christmas shopping can make one want to run away for the holidays to take a winter vacation. From shopping at busy stores to dealing with empty stores shelves, holiday shopping is not always at the top of my list. 

 So I created a Christmas gift list of some of my favorite holiday gifts for almost everyone on your wish list. The best part is all these Christmas presents can be purchased online. So you can put on your comfy jammies and do your holiday shopping from home. No need to leave the house. If you need to send holiday presents, some stores even offer gift-wrapping services. So check out this Christmas gift list of my favorite gift ideas.

Hot Cocoa Bomb Mini Set

 https://handstandkitchen.com/collections/i-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F-cocoa-bombs/products/cocoa-bomb-mini-set

 Hot cocoa bombs are the newest craze and it seems like everyone is selling these chocolates that make a delicious glass of hot chocolate. While these hot cocoa bombs are delicious and fun, they can also be pricey. So give the gift of a Hot Cocoa Bomb set to the person on your list who loves cooking or crafting.

 The Hot Cocoa Bomb Mini Set is perfect for gifting. This 3-piece mini kit features an embossed cocoa bomb mold, brush, and scraper. So you can make two deliciously decadent cocoa bombs! The mold is reusable for endless cocoa bomb fun! Hot chocolate cocoa bombs are fun to create! Once you make the chocolate bombs, just place them in a mug and pour steaming milk over the top …watch it burst open to reveal hidden treats inside!

Purchase the Handstand Kitchen 18-Piece Ultimate Hot Cocoa Bomb Making Set 

Volcanica Coffee Gifts 

https://volcanicacoffee.com/

 Coffee is my favorite gift to give and to receive. Almost everyone loves coffee. Gift giving is the time to splurge on fancy gourmet coffee. Give the coffee lover a pound or two of coffee beans of their favorite coffee roast or give a coffee gift set. 

 Volcanica Coffee has coffee gift baskets and seasonal flavored coffee for the holidays. The Volcanica Coffee gift boxes and holiday flavored coffee are available at all price points for the perfect gift or stocking stuffers. Volcanica Coffee offers more than 150 exotic coffees sourced from volcanic regions around the world, including Costa Rica where the family-owned business was inspired.

Purchase the Low Acid Coffee Blend 

Sea Kelp Hair Care Products

https://noughtyhaircare.com/

Almost everyone on your holiday gift list has hair. So a beauty gift basket with Sea Kelp hair care products would be a nice gift to give. Beautiful healthy hair is always a good thing. So think of your best girlfriend, your mom, a niece all the way to your favorite aunt when buying this gift.

 Noughty Wave Hello 97% natural formal is packed with vitamin-rich sea kelp extract and avocado oil, to help keep curls defined, silky soft, and super-conditioned. This haircare product also strengthens hair, adds shine, hydrates, and smoothes hair strands for silky soft, frizz-free curls. While Care Taker Scalp Tonic gives sensitive scalps a little extra care. This leave-on treatment instantly relieves dry, irritated, or itchy scalps. The fragrance-free, 97% natural formula contains calming and soothing bisabolol and oat extract, to provide rapid relief. 

Purchase the Noughty Wave Hello & Care Taker Scalp Tonic

Safe Travels Kit

https://www.safetravelskit.com/

 For the person on your list who likes traveling, the Safe Travels Kit is a perfect gift. This travel set will help them stay healthy when traveling by plane, train, or bus. The travel kit is easy to pack in your carry-on luggage and can protect you from germs that may be on a seat.

 Upgrade your seat by bringing this handy kit along for a safer and more comfortable travel experience. The patent-pending antimicrobial air protection kit includes a hypoallergenic reusable seat cover and pillowcase that are simple to slip on and off in seconds. The seat cover fits both Economy and Business class seats. They are great for trains too.  Antimicrobial and Hypoallergenic properties are good for sensitive skin and protect against germs or bedbugs that are lurking on the airline seats. Machine wash the items up to 40 times.

Purchase the Safe Travels Kit 

CaniBrands Wellness Products

https://cani-wellness.com/product/all-day-spray-bundle/

 Everyone can use wellness products and these pocket-size wellness sprays are perfect for gift giving. They are perfect for a Christmas stocking stuffer or to add to a gift basket. 

 This all-natural, best-value four-spray combo includes Cani-Boost (for focus and energy), Cani-Mend (for post-party recovery), Cani-Fresh (for relaxation), and Cani-Sleep (for rest). The range of solutions helps you get the most out of every day, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. Take Cani-Boost in the morning to supplement or replace your morning coffee. Take Cani-Mend during or after a late night. Keep Cani-Fresh with you while you’re on the go and leave Cani-Sleep on your bedside table. Having these four convenient sprays handy at all times means you’ll never feel less than your best.

Purchase CaniBrands Wellness Sprays 

Zip Top Food Storage Containers

https://ziptop.com/products/cup-set

These eco-friendly containers can be given as gifts or used to give the gift of holiday treats. These freezer-safe silicone containers are so easy to use. Fill them up with cookies or candy for an awesome gift. It is the gift that is useful even once the treats are gone.

 Zip Top has revolutionized kitchen food storage containers with a 100% platinum silicone container that stands up, stays open, and zips shut! Made with a patented, award-winning one-piece construction (no glue or seams!) the durable containers are food-grade, microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe. Organize your fridge and freezer with these eco-friendly, reusable containers!

Purchase Zip Top Food Storage Containers 

Morphee Sleep Aid

https://www.morphee.co/

 Everyone can use the gift of better sleep. The holidays can be super busy and stressful, making it hard to fall asleep at night. This tech-free sleep aid not only helps people fall asleep easily but also helps them enjoy a night of deep and restful sleep. The small compact size makes this sleep device easy to take with you where ever you are. 

 It’s time to switch to a non-connected alternative – one without blue light or waves that can interrupt your sleep pattern.  Introducing Morphee, a non-digital, stunningly designed sleep aid that combines meditation and sophrology techniques to help you drift off more naturally.

 Designed for relaxation, stress relief, and sleep, Morphee is reminiscent of a retro music box. Users choose from one of the seven sleep themes: breathing, cardiac coherence, nature sounds, and relaxing music exercises. The unique device allows users to choose from more than 200 audio sessions. With no screens or waves, Morphee delivers natural sleep-inducing programs while keeping the bedroom tech-free. See my full review HERE.

Purchase Morphee Sleep Aid

Splendid Spoon Plant-Based Meals

People are busy and don't have time to make healthy meals. So give the gift of a plant-based meal box. Splendid Spoon makes delicious vegan meals that are ready to eat. So none of that having to create meals from a box of ingredients. These are single-serve meals that are perfect for meals at home or on the go and they are made with fresh clean ingredients. I love their protein smoothies and noodle bowls.

 The best part about ordering meals from Splendid Spoon is these vegan meals are so delicious.  Splendid Spoon creates vegan meals with clean ingredients that are bursting with flavor. This plant-based meal delivery company has so many vegan food options for all your meals. From delicious smoothies to soups and grain meal bowls, Splendid Spoon has over 56 meals. All the tasty meals are made with plant-based ingredients. So you can have healthy meal options for all your meals. 

Get $90 off the most delicious plant-based meals

NIRA Skincare Laser 


Younger-looking skin does not have to be expensive. NIRA Skin uses the same laser technology as dermatologists for a fraction of the cost. I love my NIRA and it is my secret for beautiful skin at 56 years.

~ This simple device gives you visible results with only minutes a day.

~ 83% of users saw improvements in their skin

~ This device really works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. 

~ Say goodbye to wrinkles

~ If you don't see results in 3 months, Nira will refund your money

~ It is so simple to use ~ 5 minutes a day and the best part is this antiaging device is 40%

~ Use code MOMKNOWSBEST10 ~ save 10%

Purchase NIRA Skin Resurfacing Laser Device

Nuzest Clean Vegan Protein


 If you have a friend who uses protein powder or has food allergies. Then give them the gift of a healthy vegan protein powder that is allergy-friendly. I love Nuzest protein as it is so delicious. I use it daily in my protein shakes and in many recipes like these delicious Gluten Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownies. Trust me on this gift for your fitness friends as I would love to receive a pound of protein powder for a gift. 

Place the Nuzest protein in a basket with other healthy goodies. The gift of health is always a great gift to receive. Nuzest comes in many delicious flavors and all of Nuzest USA products are 100% vegan and free of common allergens, chemicals, additives, and preservatives. 

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

Regular Girl


Give the gift of a healthy gut. Regular Girl is an amazing fiber supplement that once people try it, they keep buying it. Stick some of these pink packages in the Christmas stockings or in a basket with other healthy goodies like a water bottle and healthy snacks. This would go great with the above protein powder.

 This pink packet is more than just a fiber supplement ~ it is a kiss those tummy troubles goodbye. One tasteless packet in the morning mixed into smoothies, coffee, or any other liquid means I go like clockwork every morning. It means saying goodbye to a bloated belly and having a great day.

Use code MOMKNOBEST10 to save 10% at Regular Girl

Neato Robotics Robot Vacuum

 Give the gift of a clean house. I am not talking about giving someone a gift card for a maid service. I am talking about having a robot to clean your floors, whenever they need cleaning. The best part is you do not need to tip the robot. You give the orders and it cleans your floors without even complaining.  

The Neato Robot vacuum would make a great gift for almost anyone. This D-shaped vacuum has LaserSmart navigation and cleans with precision, even in the dark like those hard-to-reach places under furniture. You can control the vac from anywhere. So you can clean your floors even when you are not home. The Neato is the ultimate cleaning machine and comes in different models, depending on the size of your house. Neato reaches where round robots can't. The best part is the Neato is having amazing deals on all their vacuums for the holiday season.

Black Friday Deals

Save $200 On the Neato D10 Robot Vacuum from 11/21- 11/27. No code is necessary.

Save $250 On the Neato D9 Robot Vacuum from 11/21 - 11/27. No code is necessary.

Cyber Monday Deals

Save $100 On the Neato D10 Robot Vacuum from 11/28 - 12/11. No code is necessary.

Save $200 On the Neato D9 Robot Vacuum from 11/28 - 12/11. No code is necessary.

Save $250 On the Neato D8 Robot Vacuum from 11/26 - 12/11. No code is necessary.

Cushion Lab Pillow


 Give the gift of awesome sleep with a new pillow. Did you know that having the right pillow can make a huge difference in your sleep? Most people sleep on pillows that do not offer the right support for their neck the proper support and that can result in so many things beyond not sleeping. That sore back or neck can be the result of your pillow. So treat someone to a comfortable memory form pillow that gives their neck the best support. 

Cushion Lab has a variety of pillows to meet the needs of different sleep positions. From side sleepers, back sleepers, to stomach sleepers, their amazing pillows offer a new level of comfort. Face it, most people do not splurge on themselves when it comes to a pillow. So having a new pillow, that offers amazing comfort will be a gift they will love. Cushion Lab also offers comfort-inducing products such as lumbar support cushions, travel pillows, weighted blankets, and more. Their products are Climate Neutral certified and made with mostly organic or sustainable materials & packaging.

Save 10% sitewide with code COMFORT10 through 12/31/2023

Nebula Genomics DNA Testing

 Have you always wondered about your ancestry? Do you have questions about your race and where your relatives came from? The United States is a huge melting pot and composed of so many different races. So many races, that people wonder what country their ancestors came from. So many people want to test their DNA to get these answers and more. So Give the gift of a DNA testing kit. 

 Nebula Genomics DNA test is different from all the other DNA tests. It is a genetic test that decodes 100% of your DNA and fully unlocks your genetic blueprints. Other DNA testing companies only decode less than 0.02% of DNA. Check out my review here.

Save $50 with code SAVE50 on the Basic Whole Genome Test until 11/30.

Riverside Designs Metal Art

Riverside Designs Baby Turtles Metal Wall Art

 I am obsessed with Riverside Designs and may have hinted to my husband to buy my Christmas presents from this metal art store. This metal art design store has a huge variety of metal artwork and I just love all the colors that they offer. From gold, several shades of blue, red, and many more, you can choose the color of the art. 

 I recently bought this cool Wacky Sun metal art design as I needed something to place above my new refrigerator since we had to remove the cabinet. I really love the blue color that I selected. Riverside Designs has metal art with words, coastal designs, and so many other cool designs. The metal art is durable and can also be used outside. So go take a look, I am sure that you will find one that you love.


Riverside Designs has amazing holiday deals to take advantage of throughout the season. From now until December 10th, use code GIFT40 to save 40% sitewide plus free shipping on their amazing metal art decor! This is perfect for early or last-minute gifts of beautiful wall decor for your partner's home office or a neighbor's front door

 Bacon Scented Gift Wrapping Paper & Tactical Stocking


 If you're looking to spice up your man’s stocking, the personalized Tactical Stocking will make a great Christmas gift. Make sure to wrap his present in Bacon Scent gift wrap for an extra treat. The bacon gift wrap smells just like bacon and the stocking is a great gift for someone in the military or is a sportsman.

 I have two sons who are in the Navy and I know that they will love this unique stocking with all its many pockets. The heavy-duty handle and 2 swivel carabiners add character to the holiday stocking. My boys also love bacon, so they will love the bacon-scented scratch and sniff wrapping paper. The stocking also has plenty of places to velcro patches.

Save Big on Black Friday+Cyber Monday SALEbration!

 Enjoy the biggest sale of the year by scoring awesome deals of up to 30% on Manly Man Co.'s participating products that include: Beef Jerky Bouquet, Meat Card™, Christmas Stocking Kits, and Bacon Scented Wrapping Paper. Check out Manly Man Co.Black Friday + Cyber Monday Deals now.

Early Black Friday Deals

+ Bacon Scented Gift Wrapping Paper - Promo Code: SMELLTHEBACON - Discount: 25%

Promo Valid: Nov-16-2021 to Dec-11-2021

+ Personalized Tactical Christmas Stocking - Promo Code: STOCKINGS30  - Discount: 30%

Promo Valid: Whole Day of Black Friday

Purchase Bacon Gift Wrap & Tactical Stocking https://manlymanco.com/collections/holiday-gifts-for-men

Natura Advent Calendar

 This Advent Calendar from Natura would make a great gift for almost anyone on your holiday shopping list. The beauty advent calendar is filled with 12 beauty items and is a great way to celebrate and count down the days until Christmas. Natura’s 12 Days of Care Advent calendar is filled with 12 individual surprise gifts that include their best body care, hair care, and skincare favorites. Experience beauty from the Amazon, with unique biodiversity ingredients from the Amazon forest, made with safe ingredients, 100% vegan, no animal testing, and eco-logical packaging. 

The Natura Advent Calendar includes these 12 holiday treats:

+ Castanha Nourishing Hand Cream 40g.

+ Açaí Hand Cream 40g.

+ Maracujá Hand Cream 40g.

+ Breu Branco Hand Cream 40g.

+ Tukumã Hand Cream 40g.

+ Ucuuba Hand Cream 40g.

+ Patauá Shampoo 30ml.

+ Patauá Conditioner 30ml.

+ Murumuru Restoring Shampoo 30ml.

+ Murumuru Restoring Conditioner 30ml.

+ Energizing Face Cream 30+ 15g.

+ Firming and Radiance Face Cream 45+ 15g.

 All the above items are formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, PABA, petroleum, triclosan, DEA, and animal ingredients. This is a fun beauty gift that gives the gift of soft skin and beautiful hair. Natura has an awesome sale this month with their 12 Days Of Care:  Save 35% on select beauty products each day from now through 12/14. Make sure to visit Natura Each Day For A New Surprise Offer!

hope you enjoyed my selection of holiday gifts and you are able to find some amazing presents. So get in your comfy clothes, grab a cup of hot chocolate and get shopping.



Wednesday, November 17, 2021

How To Make Cranberry Sauce From Dried Cranberries

Homemade cranberry sauce is a must for Thanksgiving. While fresh cranberries are the best, you can also make a delicious cranberry sauce from dried cranberries. 


 The Thanksgiving meal is not complete without homemade cranberry sauce. None of that canned cranberry sauce, that looks like a blob of jello for me. While the cranberry sauce that comes out of the can may be easier to prepare, it does not compare to fresh homemade cranberry sauce made from fresh cranberries. A Cranberry sauce recipe that you make yourself tastes so much better and is not made with corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Yep, that canned cranberry stuff is loaded with unhealthy amounts of sugar. 

When you make cranberry sauce at home, you can control the amount of sugar. If you are looking for a low sugar cranberry sauce recipe, check out my recipe for low sugar cranberry sauce made in the pressure cooker. This is the easiest way to make homemade cranberry sauce ever. Once you see how easy it is to make cranberry sauce, you will never buy store-bought cranberry sauce again.

Can you make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries?

 The past 18 months have made grocery shopping a challenge. First the virus pandemic panic shopping, then shortage of workers, and now supply issues. You just never know what is going to be out of stock at your grocery store. The other day my store had no packages of baby carrots and store shelves had bare spots. So if you are unable to find fresh cranberries, you can make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries and the taste is the same. Dried cranberries were once fresh cranberries so they cook up the same when making a DIY cranberry sauce. Even the texture is the same.

When life hands you cases of dried cranberries

When you run a food pantry, you sometimes get an abundance of food items that may be hard to give out. So you have to get creative with the government surplus food that you receive at the food pantry. I have shared my adventures of carrot recipes from the pallets of carrots we received last year and recently all the different ways I cooked beets beyond homemade beet powder. So when we received 4 cases of dried cranberries, in single-size servings, I had to figure out how to make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries.


 We gave out plenty of the dried cranberries at our last food pantry and we had about 800 small packages of cranberries left in the food bank. Since this month's food pantry is near Thanksgiving, I knew that cranberry sauce would be a good item to include in the food boxes. In the past, we would have the cans of cranberry sauce to giveaway but this year, the food pantry shelves had none. So I decided to get creative with the dried cranberries and make packages with the ingredients to make homemade cranberry sauce. One of the food pantry rules, for food safety, is we can't give away homemade food. So I had to figure out a way to make a simple recipe to make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries.

Ingredients for cranberry sauce made from dried cranberries

+ Dried Cranberries

+ Lemon Juice

+ Sugar

+ Small Orange

+ Water


Unusual food pantry items we giveaway

 Like I said earlier, we get an abundance of food items from our food pantry deliveries that we can't always give away. One of those unusual items was single-serve lemon juice packages, those little ones that you get with your tea. Last year, a member of our church, who has a trucking company, donated a load of institutional food items. This donation included 10 cases of those little lemon juice packages. I knew that these would be perfect for the cranberry sauce recipe packs.


 Then I had several coupons for free Halos that were about to expire. So I purchased the Halos Mandarins and sandwich bags. Then I got to work creating the recipe using the dried cranberries and lemon juice packs. Five of the small packages of cranberries equaled a cup and 4 lemon juice packets equaled a tablespoon of lemon juice. 

Sweetened or unsweetened cranberries

 I had sweetened cranberries but you can use unsweetened, just make sure to increase the sugar to a cup.  I like using sweetened cranberries as they already have sugar in them. So I did not have to include sugar in the packages for making cranberry sauce. That is a good thing as the food pantry client may not have sugar in their pantry.

Water or juice

 I decide to make my cranberry sauce recipe with water as I felt the dried cranberries had plenty of sugar in them. Also, I wanted to have an easy recipe for cranberry sauce for the folks receiving the food boxes, so they would not have to buy any additional ingredients. You can replace the water in this recipe with cranberry juice or orange juice for a sweeter taste.

Do I have to use add an orange to the recipe?

I made a batch of cranberry sauce from the dried cranberries without the orange and while the flavor was delicious, the cranberries were too chewy in the sauce. The small orange helped the dried cranberries become softer and also added a nice flavor to the cranberry sauce. The orange slices blended in well and you could not see them in the sauce.

Welcome to adulthood, you now have a favorite spatula. Pat is made from eco-friendly beechwood and is the perfect compliment to all your chef-driven recipes. Pat can be used on all cookware surfaces.

How to make cranberry sauce made with dried cranberries

+ Add all ingredients to a saucepan

+ Boil

+ Cook

+ Cool in fridge

 Making homemade cranberry sauce is quite simple. You simply place all the ingredients into a large saucepan. Why a large saucepan for a small number of ingredients? While this recipe only makes about a cup, you want a large pan since you will be bringing the ingredients to a boil, that way the sauce does not splatter on your stove.

 Then you bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 8 minutes. Once you are done cooking the sauce, you pour it into a container and place it in the refrigerator to cool. The cranberry sauce will further thicken as it cools down. The cranberry sauce is ready to eat in a couple of hours.



Uses for cranberry sauce

+ Thanksgiving dinner

+ Add to a turkey sandwich

+ Spread over beet waffles

+ Add to smoothies

+ Spoon over ice cream

+ Stir into homemade yogurt

+ Stir into oatmeal

+ Spread over no-peel apple crisp

 This delicious cranberry sauce recipe has many other uses beyond Thanksgiving dinner. The leftover cranberry sauce can be used as a sweet preserve sauce and makes a great taste over ice cream. If you love the taste of cranberry sauce, make sure to double this recipe!

Check out these other delicious recipes for the holidays

Roasted Rainbow Brussels Sprouts 

Honey Whole Wheat Bread 

The Best Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

No-Bake High Fiber Breakfast Granola Bars 

Sugar-Free Vegan Cinnamon Rolls 

Make sure to pin this recipe on Pinterest!

CRANBERRY SAUCE FROM DRIED CRANBERRIES

CRANBERRY SAUCE FROM DRIED CRANBERRIES

Yield: 1 1/4 cup
Author: Mom Knows Best
Homemade cranberry sauce is a must for Thanksgiving. While fresh cranberries are the best, you can also make a delicious cranberry sauce from dried cranberries.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 small orange, peel and sliced into orange segments
  • 1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients that are included in the bag with the sugar and water in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once it boils, stir frequently and cook for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a container. Place the cranberry sauce in the fridge to cool. The cranberry sauce will thicken. Makes about 1 1/4 cups
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Mom knows best