Gyro Bowl Review and Giveaway...

About the Kid-Proof Gyro Bowl:
• Inner Bowl Rotates 360 Degrees
• Virtually Indestructible
• Saves Time, No More Cleaning
• Use it for Non-Food Items
• BPA-Free Plastic
• Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
• Not Microwave Safe

What we thought:  This is a pretty cool bowl.  We have been wanting to try one of these since we first saw the ads on TV and I think the kiddos were probably even more excited than I was to get to review one.  The "review" process for the Gyro Bowl was a lot of fun too.  We tried really hard to get the contents to spill and with vigorous shaking and flipping we succeeded, but we REALLY had to try:)  With regular use by a toddler, it would be pretty tricky to get this bowl to spill, which makes this the perfect dish for younger kiddos who are, shall we say, easily distracted:)  You will definitely be cleaning up a lot fewer messes from spilled bowls if you introduce your kiddos to the Gyro Bowl.  Plus, its fun for them to use, which is an added bonus:)  This bowl would make a great gift for both kids and adults alike this holiday gift giving season because of its durability, functionality and entertainment value:)  ABCD Diaries gives the Gyro Bowl an A+!

Buy It: You can find the Gyro Bowl at mass merchandisers nationwide.

Pretend & Play Pro Chef Set Review and Giveaway...

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Children, ages 3-5

About Learning Resources:

"Learning Resources® is a leading manufacturer of innovative, hands-on educational materials for classrooms and learning toys for the home. For more than 25 years, the company has been a trusted source for educators and parents for quality, award-winning educational products. Headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL with a European office based in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England, Learning Resources markets and distributes its products in over 80 countries around the globe."

Pretend & Play® Pro Chef Set
Ages 3-5
"Get cooking with top-chef gear designed to look like the real thing!
Features lots of pieces to encourage imaginative play and build fine motor skills
Includes deluxe stock pot, saucepan, 2 lids, skillet, spatula, wooden spoon, oven mitt, play food (chicken leg, carrot, corncob and fried egg) and write & wipe Activity Guide
-Wipe clean with a damp cloth
-Largest pot measures 5.5"L x 2.75"H
-Grades PreK+"

What we thought:  The kids really enjoyed this set.  The activity book was a lot of fun to use along with the other items...the kids called it their "cookbook":)  The pans were super lightweight, but surprisingly durable and very realistic.  There are just the right amount of pieces in the set for your beginner chef and this would make a fantastic and fun gift this holiday season.  ABCD Diaries gives the Pretend & Play Pro Chef Set an A+!

Buy It: You can find the Pretend & Play Pro Chef Set at Learning Resources!

Bee-Free Honee Review...

 2011 Holiday Entertaining Guide: Cooking

"Bee Free Honee is a unique sweetener with a slightly tart flavor. It is "apple honey" in that it is made from apples rather than by bees! We use only three all natural ingredients, apple, vegan quality sugar, and lemon juice. There is nothing artificial, no added color and no corn syrup.

Just as you would have more than one flavor jam in your refrigerator, this gives you a new flavor for your pantry. It is an apple syrup for your pancakes as well as an all natural sweetener. It is great for kids and it is Minnesota made while strictly using Midwest apples. It is Bee Free Honee and if your co-op or grocery doesn't carry it, then please be sure to ask for it!

Bee Free Honee is great for:
-Vegans
-Small Children, as there is no fear of Botulism
-Those allergic to traditional honey
-Foodies looking for a new flavor
-Those looking for stable pricing against the fluctuating costs of traditional honey due to the decline of the bee population."

What we thought: Mmmm...this is really good honee...especially when you consider there are no bees employed to make it!  It makes a great substitute for regular honey and works really well as an alternative to sugar to sweeten things up.  We've had it in hot tea, over pancakes and used it as a baking ingredient.  It is very versatile and super tasty:)  Bee-Free Honee could be a great addition to your pantry when it comes time to entertain those holiday guests, whether used as a sweetener or an ingredient in cooking or baking.  ABCD Diaries gives Bee-Free Honee an A+!

Buy It:  Find Bee-Free Honee at a retailer near you or online.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a sample for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

"See Mix Drink" by Brain D. Murphy Review...

2011 Holiday Entertaining Guide: Beverages

See Mix Drink: A Refreshingly Simple Guide to Crafting the World's Most Popular Cocktails
Brian D. Murphy
Publication Date: October 19, 2011
"Have you tried mixing a Mojito? What about a Rusty Nail? Or a Cosmopolitan? With See Mix Drink, the first-ever cocktail book to offer instruction through info-graphics, making the drinks you love at home is as easy as, well, See, Mix, Drink.
This unique, illustrated guide graphically demonstrates how to make 100 of today's most popular cocktails. For each drink, color-coded ingredients are displayed in a line drawing of the appropriate glassware, alongside a pie chart that spells out the drink's composition by volume for intuitive mixing. No other cocktail book is this easy or fun. Instantly understandable 1-2-3 steps show exactly how each drink is prepared, and anecdotes, pronunciation guides, and photographs of the finished drinks will turn newbie bartenders into instant mixologists."

What we thought:  This is a fun and in depth look at mixology.  It is easy to read and the illustrations are great!  I love the colorful photos and the huge variety of drinks to cover every taste.  The index is in an easy to read cross reference style which makes finding the perfect drink a breeze.  This book would make a great gift for the mixologist in your life or a great addition to your bar if you're planning on serving lots of holiday drinks over the next few months.  ABCD Diaries gives See Mix Drink an A+!

Buy It:  Find this book at your favorite bookdealer today!


Brian D. Murphy Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a copy of this book for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Mighty Leaf Iced Tea Review and Giveaway...

2011 Holiday Entertaining Gift Guide: Beverages

"Adored by tea lovers as well as fine dining restaurants and resorts, Mighty Leaf Tea (www.mightyleaf.com) is pleased to launch its new and all natural Mighty Leaf® Iced Teas. Containing hand-blended, whole-leaf teas, luscious fruits, and aromatic herbs, Mighty Leaf’s eco-friendly Iced Tea Pouches brew half-gallon pitchers of thirst-quenching iced tea in minutes."

Below are some description of the new Mighty Leaf Iced Teas

o Ginger Peach Iced Tea: A blissful and lightly sweet black iced tea infused with sun-swelled peaches and delicate ginger.

o Calypso Mango Iced Tea: A sweet and cooling black iced tea with an indulging blend of South Indian black tea leaves, luscious mango, and tropical fruit.

o Organic Black Iced Tea: A flavorful black iced tea made of refreshingly rich and smooth South Indian organic black tea leaves hand-picked on the dewy slopes of the Nilgiri Mountains.

o Sunburst Green Iced Tea: A cool and vibrant iced green tea that delivers mountain-grown Chinese green tea leaves brightened with the crisp taste of ripe oranges and sweet citrus. The lowest in caffeine among all four flavors.

What we thought:  These iced teas were fantastic!  I loved that they come in the perfect size to make a pitcher of tea...you don't have to use a bunch of individual tea bags, just one bag that is made to allow for perfect brewing.  All 4 flavors we reviewed were so yummy, but we especially loved the Organic Black and the Ginger Peach teas.  We like our tea to be "southern" sweet, but the fruity varieties had a little bit of sweetness to them before even adding sugar to them.  These teas would be perfect for entertaining those holiday crowds that will be visiting in the coming months...for those of us here in Texas, iced tea is a beverage we like to enjoy year round:)  ABCD Diaries gives Mighty Leaf Iced Teas an A+!
Buy It: Find these fantastic teas at Mighty Leaf!

DISCOUNT: Mighty Leaf is offering our readers a 15 percent site-wide discount on www.mightyleaf.com. The unique discount code is: coupon code: summertea15

Clean+Green Pet Odor Eliminator Review and Giveaway...

2011 Holiday Entertaining Guide: Clean Carpets

"Clean+Green natural pet stain and odor removers use a patented Advanced Encapsulation Technology(tm) and an Advanced Eliminator3 Formula that naturally encapsulate and eliminate stain and odor on contact - even skunk odor! - by naturally biodegrading the stain/odor source. The all natural formula - ingredients are cane sugar derivatives, a proprietary blend of botanical extracts, hydrated cellulose, purified water and a natural aerosol propellant (nitrogen) delivers instant results in a safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly solution. For more information, please visit www.odorandstainremover.com "

Dog Urine Odor and Stain Remover Clean+Green

"CLEAN+GREEN® dog urine stain and odor remover is made from organic and biodegradable ingredients and packaged so you can recycle the container. You now have an environmentally friendly, natural carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning solution for urine removal, odor removal and stain removal.
Clean+Green dog urine stain remover and odor remover will positively work to remove any dog urine stain, dog urine odor, dog smell and dog feces, vomit and any other dog accident.
You can now have an eco friendly home for your dog, and recycle our product packaging to protect the environment - clean green and use our effective, non toxic, organic odor and stain remover!

CLEAN+GREEN, your natural pet stain + odor remover:
•Works Instantly and Easily
•All Natural Ingredients
•Powerful and Effective
•Safe for Pets, People and the Planet"

What we thought: We were pretty impressed with this cleaner.  It is easy to use and works instantly.  There is virtually no odor or stain after use on carpet!  Of course another fantastic reason to use Clean+Green products is that the are safe, not just for the family and pets, but for the Earth as well:)  This cleaner could be a really helpful tool in getting your carpets and upholstery ready for those holiday guests:)  ABCD Diaries gives Clean+Green an A+!

MyFraiche Bath Swizzles Review and Giveaway...

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffer

"At Fraiche, we understand the need to use all organic ingredients when making our soaps. In fact, all of our handmade soaps are completely devoid of any fillers or harsh chemicals. We also use natural oils, organic in nature to soothe the skin and to help gain back what is lost to the world around us every day. Our bath bomb swizzles add enticing fragrance of course a sense of wonder as you watch them completely dissolve and fill your tub with shea butters and oils that help to relax you and to soften your skin!

Discover the art of bathing with Fraiche soaps and bath bomb Swizzles."

"Our bath bomb swizzles add enticing fragrance of course a sense of wonder as you watch them completely dissolve and fill your tub with shea butters and oils that help to relax you and to soften your skin!"

"One reason that our natural soap is so popular is because it not only helps you to be and feel beautiful it is also beautiful in and of itself. Each of our soaps hand sculptured to be miniature forms of art."

What we thought: The bath swizzles we reviewed were lovely!  The smell was wonderfully relaxing and aromatherapuetic.  The fizzing action really added to the relaxing atmosphere and the swizzles infused the bath water with wonderful oils that left the skin feeling super soft and moisturized.  These would make excellent stocking stuffers this holiday season!  ABCD Diaries gives MyFraiche an A+!
 
Buy It:  Find these fabulous soaps and bath bombs at MyFraiche!