Friday, February 26, 2021

#WelcomeSpring with Gardening Books from Quarto Publishing!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Quarto Publishing for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 


As we welcome Spring, it's time to get out in the garden and get our hands dirty!  Here are a few of our favorite books to help usher in the warmer weather and longer days:

The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants

The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants is a beautifully illustrated and giftable gardening reference book, which combines exquisite botanical illustrations with practical self-help projects. Every day sees a discovery in the press about the new uses of plants, and it's certain that most of our most important drugs are derived from plants. From willow (used to procure aspirin) to periwinkle (used in chemotherapy to treat lymphoma) many common garden plants have provided cures in modern medicine. In this book readers can discover more than 200 life-saving plants and 25 home-grown remedies to make themselves. Each home cure is described and illustrated with step-by-step photographs to show how you can be a gardener and heal yourself.

The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants is a great resource if you are looking to find natural ingredients for wellness from plants and is full of great gardening information.

The Eco Hero Handbook
Simple Solutions to Tackle Eco-Anxiety

As we face a global environmental crisis, The Eco Hero Handbook addresses all your eco-anxieties and dilemmas to empower you to become part of the solution.

Looking behind the slogans and exploring the myths, this handy guide offers a clear and balanced exploration of the major eco-debates, enabling you to make decisions based on facts. Featuring practical steps for positive action in all areas of your life, find solutions to all your environment-related challenges, including:
How can I keep my house clean but low impact?
How can I reduce my overall energy use in the home?
How can I protect my plants without using chemicals?
Which transport choices will help cut carbon emissions?
Is it okay to eat any meat?
Organised by area of life (home, out and about, work, food and activism), each issue is paired with a practical solution and the evidence to back it up.

From recycling to eating sustainably, ethical fashion to being an eco-conscious tourist, this book is the essential guide to the little changes that will make a big difference.  The Eco Hero Handbook is full of helpful information that you can actually use to be more friendly to our beautiful Earth!

The Complete Language of Flowers
A Definitive and Illustrated History

The Complete Language of Flowers is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 1,001 flower species.

Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the flower's scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry.

For centuries, symbolic flower meanings have fascinated readers, writers, poets, and suddenly smitten couples alike. Extremely popular during the Victorian era, these floriographies flourished and versed the public on the hidden meaning of popular flowers such as:
Purple Tulip—Eternal love
Amaryllis—Adventurousness; Enthusiasm; Passion
Daisy—Beauty and innocence; Cheer; Childlike playfulness
Sunflower—Ambition; Constancy; Devotion
Together with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common flower name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to arrange the perfectly bespoken wedding bouquet or to understand what the yellow rose you just received from an admirer means (friendship), this updated floriography is a visual delight.

Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.

The Complete Language of Flowers is a lovely book full of great information for any flower gardener and also includes a lot of fun and interesting history on many, many types of flowers.

The First-time Gardener: Growing Vegetables
All the know-how and encouragement you need to grow - and fall in love with! - your brand new food garden

Homesteader Jessica Sowards, the warm and energetic host of YouTube’s Roots and Refuge Farm, is the perfect teacher for new gardeners, offering not just know-how but inspiration and time-management tips for success.

Before you sink your hands into the soil, she’ll answer all those questions rolling around inside your head:
Where do I put my new garden?
How do I prepare the soil?
What vegetables should I plant?
Is it better to start new plants from seed or should I buy transplants?
What about watering, feeding, and taking care of my garden?
What do I do if bugs show up?
There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. Not only will you learn how to prepare, plant, and tend your first vegetable garden, you’ll also learn:
How to design an eco-friendly layout
How to grow with the seasons
How to maximize your harvest, even if you only grow in a small space

Jessica wants your first food-growing experience to be a positive one, and she’s prepared to go the distance to make sure tending the earth becomes your new favorite hobby.

A single growing season is all it takes to fall in love with growing your own healthy, organic, nutrient-dense food. With Jessica as your guide, you’ll soon discover all the satisfactions, challenges, and great joys of growing your own food garden.

This book is part of The First-Time Gardener's Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers. Each book in The First-Time Gardener's Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that's presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

I'm a bit of a fan girl when it comes to Roots and Refuge Farm and the Sowards family.  I've been following their YouTube channel for years now and it is full of amazing, useful information no matter what type of gardening you're doing or where you're doing it.  Jess presents this wealth of information in a warm and endearing way; she makes you feel like y'all are best friends.  Her gentle spirit makes her super approachable and relatable and she can help build the confidence of any gardener.  This all translates incredibly well from her YouTube videos to this amazing new reference book. The First-time Gardener: Growing Vegetables is a must-have gardening guide for every gardener.  It contains a plethora of knowledge and support to help you on your gardening journey!  My garden would not be nearly as awesome as it is without Jess's inspiration and know-how.  If you are a gardener or interested in the homesteading way of life, I highly recommend both this book and the Roots and Refuge Farm YouTube channel! 

Check out Quarto Publishing for these and many more fantastic titles to help you welcome a bountiful Spring!




Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

#WelcomeSpring with Rip Van Wafels, A Better-for-You Snack!

 

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Rip Van Wafels for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

We are huge fans of the stroopwafel.  If you've never had one, we highly recommend it!  If you happen to be looking for better-for-you snacks this Spring, we have the perfect wafel snack for you...Rip Van Wafels!


Rip Van Wafels are everything we love about these tasty treats, but made with better-for-you ingredients than typical wafels!  We tried the Dutch Caramel and Vanilla flavor.  They are delicious, crispy & chewy caramel filled wafel sandwich cookies that are prebiotic, high in fiber and have only 3g of sugar. Each wafel is individually wrapped for your convenience and are great for snacking on-the-go.


Rip Van Wafels are made with nutritious ingredients like chicory root, monk fruit extract, vanilla, cinnamon and chamomile.  All ingredients are simple, clean and non-GMO.


These yummy wafels are both kid and adult approved and a great way to welcome Spring!




Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

#WelcomeSpring with Yummy Chai Lattes At Home from QuikTea!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to QuikTea for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Y'all know our love for tea by now, but did you know I have a special place in my heart for chai lattes?  Any time we visit a coffee shop, chai lattes are my go to since I don't drink coffee.  My beloved chai lattes have become few and far between since we've been trying to stay in more and haven't been visiting coffee shops lately.  It can be tricky to make your own perfectly balanced and delicious chai latte at home, but recently we got to try out QuikTea and their awesome line of instant drink mixes and now I can once again enjoy the deliciousness I love! 


QuikTea features so many great chai latte flavors including Ginger, Cardamom, Masala, Lemongrass and Turmeric Ginger.  They even have an instant Madras Coffee mix!


These little packets of mix are perfectly portioned, just add hot water and stir!  They are creamy and delicious and packed with amazing spices just like a chai latte should be!  They are way more affordable than those coffee shop lattes too!  QuikTeas make lovely drinks, hot or iced and will be a staple in our pantry from now on.


You can also find these QuikShake cans at QuikTea:


They are ready to drink, shelf stable and super yummy!

QuikTea only uses all natural ingredients that are non-GMO, Kosher and Halal Certified.  If you've been missing out on your favorite latte, give QuikTea a try!  I bet you'll love them as much as we do!



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Daily Goodie Box...It's More Than Just Free Samples! February 2021

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Daily Goodie Box for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

I just found one of the easiest ways to get great free samples...Daily Goodie Box!

It couldn't be much easier.  You sign up and the folks at Daily Goodie Box will send you a box of free goodies.  All they ask is that you let them know what you think of the products. Shipping is free and no credit card required.  After your first box, you are more likely to be chosen for another box if you have reviewed your goodies.

Have a look at a typical Daily Goodie Box:


Looks awesome right?  Check out the products we received: 


Clean teeth candy?  What the what!?  The kids were super excited to get to try these!


OMG!  Perfect for s'mores or just for snacking!


An easy way to get your vitamins every day!


What an interesting snack! We had never heard of Lupini Beans before, but really enjoyed them! 


The most flavorful sunflower seeds ever!  Yum!


Goes on smoothly and moisturizes dry skin!


Love Real Chemistry products!  This serum is awesome!


These were inhaled as soon as they were spotted by the kids.  Super tasty!

A variety of pamphlets with info and discount codes for the products in this month's Daily Goodie Box:

Daily Goodie Box is more than just free samples though.  You get money-making opportunities thanks to surveys and review opportunities too!  Daily Goodie Box has a very user-friendly portal to help you keep track of all of these great opportunities as well as chances to win Bonus Goodie Boxes along with your regular Daily Goodie Box!  This is a really fun and easy way to try out free products for very minimal effort on your part:)  Check it out and if it sounds interesting to you, get signed up...easy peasy! 

Explore Daily Goodie Box

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#WelcomeSpring 2021 Product Roundup

 


It's time to gear up for Spring and we have a great selection of products that are sure to come in handy! From fashion, home goods, food, pet products and more we will be putting the whole list here for easy reference.  As we find these awesome products, we'll be adding them to this post along with pictures and a link to our review of the product.  This listing will be updated daily, so check back often to learn about some really fun products to welcome Spring 2021!

Have a product you'd like featured in our round up?  Contact me at christinbanda (at) yahoo (dot) com

Fashion

CHI Footwear

Review Link

Purchase Link

Food

Sweet Chaos Popcorn

Review Link

Purchase Link

High Key

Review Link

Purchase Link

Amarumayu

Review Link

Purchase Link

gimMe Seaweed Snacks

Review Link

Purchase Link

Rip Van Wafels

Review Link

Purchase Link

Ricante Sauces

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Serenity Mountain Foods

Review Link

Purchase Link

Don't Go Nuts Snacks

Review Link

Purchase Link

Melissa's Produce Baby Vegetable Basket

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Pork King Good Snacks

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Good Dee's Baking Mixes and More

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Foods Alive

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Emmy's Organics

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Pets

Doggy Do Good

Review Link

Purchase Link

Books

Mango Publishing

Review Link

Purchase Link

Quarto Publishing

Review Link

Purchase Link

Picture Books for Kids

Review Link

Kid's Activity Books from Dover Publications

Review Link 

Purchase Link

Beauty and Home

NummyLife Dishes

Review Link

Purchase Link

The Tea Pot Tea Ware

Review Link

Purchase Link

Splatz Hand Soap

Review Link

Purchase Link

Anova Precision Sous Vide

Review Link

Purchase Link

Savvy Planet Glass Spray Bottles

Review Link

Purchase Link

Plant Therapy Essential Oils

Review Link

Purchase Link