Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Thankful Thursday 6/52

This week has been pretty chilly so I have been especially thankful for my collection of warm, cozy socks (even if some of them are Christmas themed:)  


Have a great week and try to stay warm wherever you are:)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Headphones Review

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



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Kid-Friendly Headphones
Sakar’s TMNT Kid-Friendly headphones are designed to fit over children’s heads, preventing slipping, dropping, headaches, and overall uncomfortable listening experiences. Additionally, Sakar’s kid-friendly headphones include a volume control feature to protect little ears from loud sounds.

Availability: TRU, Kohls, Amazon.com
SRP: $19.99

What we thought:  D is loving his new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle headphones!  They are holding up pretty well through his rough and tumble lifestyle:)  I love knowing they are keeping his ears safe and he says they are super comfortable.  Tey don't slip off his ears like most one-size earphones do.  These headphones come in fun characters that kid love including Hello Kitty, My Little Pony and Spiderman and would make a great Valentine's Day gift!  ABCD Diaries gives Sakar's headphones an A+!


Keep up with Sakar:
@SakarIntl

Mike And Ike's for Valentine's Day!

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


"Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a big box of candy for your loved ones!  Sweeten up Valentine’s Day this year with MIKE AND IKE® Passion Mix and HOT TAMALES® Cinnamon candy."



What we thought:  We love Mike And Ike candies!  These cute full-sized boxes would make the perfect gift for the kiddos or to give to teachers or co-workers and they make super affordable gifts that everyone can enjoy!  My favorite is the classic Hot Tamales flavor, but the kiddos really loved the Passion Mix...all the pretty colors and fruity flavors were a huge hit!  Pick up your Mike and Ike candies in time for Valentine's Day:)

Naked Heart Candle by CARR Review

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

"Set a sexy tone throughout your bedroom with renowned Texan designer, George Carr's Naked Heart by Carr candle. Exclusively sold on Opensky, this candle is made in France and draws aroma from star anise, coriander, cut grass and cardamom.
The scent captures the raw emotion of the Southwestern terrain encompassing its colors, independence and romance. Carr says, “Naked Heart by Carr is just that—an expression of the fire in your heart burning to connect."
What we thought:  I really like this candle!  The blend of scents creates a very masculine and welcoming aroma.  It reminds me of a nice cologne.  It has warm tones and really sets a comfortable mood.  This candle would make a great gift for Valentine's Day.  Whether you are trying to set the mood or just enjoy the ambiance of a great candle, Naked Heart by Carr has got you covered.  ABCD Diaries gives this candle an A+!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

SiliconeZone Heart-Shaped Pan Review

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



"The one holiday that calls for the sweet to deliver the sweet is Valentine's Day.  Plan ahead for the showstopper dessert when you cook a meal made with love: a personal expression of love, given from the heart.  Siliconezone is in on the action this Valentine's Day with their sweet, sentimental and always appropriate pink (of course!) heart-shaped silicone cake mold/pan.  Choose your pleasure — chocolate or lemon cake, white or carrot…Siliconezone's flexible, high heat tolerant heart cake pan is ready for its closeup.  Silicone allows for even cooking and its flexibility makes for easy, fluid de-molding of the cake from the pan and ready for decoration or frosting. 


Features of the SiliconeZone Heart-Shaped Pan:
  • Made with Pure, FDA-Approved (a much higher grade of silicone that required by the FDA) silicone, the bakeware is manufactured and engineered to commercial and professional standards
  • Oven-, microwave- and freezer-safe it can go from –58 F up to 675 F
  • The high gloss, non-stick finish ensures a smooth, non-porous surface enhancing the non-stick properties without adding any additional coatings. However, we always recommend following the recipe's directions for greasing or flouring
  • Cooks and browns evenly; cools down quickly; easy to clean and dishwasher safe
  • Can be folded for convenient storage and the flexibility makes removing baked goods easy (though not required, placing the cake pan on a cookie or baking sheet adds stability for the user to lift or transport the cake pan from oven)
  • SRP: $18.99
  • PINK color; small size also available

What we thought:  What a cute pan!  We loved the results of baking with our heart-shaped pan from SiliconeZone.  It worked really well, baked our cake evenly and our dessert popped out easily and cleanly.  The presentation was gorgeous!  If you want to add some holiday flare to your Valentine's Day dessert, the SiliconeZone plan can do the job!  ABCD Diaries gives the heart-shaped pan from SiliconeZone an A+! 

Follow SiliconeZone via Twitter at https://twitter.com/SiliconeZoneUSA

Purchase the Heart-Shaped Pan at:



iCoffee with SteamBrew Technology Review

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

"Remington introduces iCoffee, the first new coffee brewing technology in over 50 years.


According to inventor Bruce Burrows, iCoffee took seven years and over 1,257 prototypes to perfect. iCoffee's patented SteamBrew™ technology makes it the first coffee brewer ever to utilize steam jets inside the coffee brew basket. The SteamBrew™ jets first pre-steam the coffee and then stir the coffee throughout the brewing process so each of the coffee grounds is completely suspended and surrounded by hot water at the perfect brewing temperature. Next, a rich coffee crema forms, indicating the elimination of bitter and acidic aftertastes.

“What we’ve done is redefine coffeemaking,” said Burrows. “The ‘i’ in iCoffee stands for innovation, which is what we strive for in all our products. With iCoffee, we’ve found a way to use all the goodness of steam to release the locked-in flavors of your favorite coffee grounds, just like steaming rice and vegetables. This eliminates any bitterness and the result is impossibly smooth tasting coffee. There’s never been a machine in coffee brewing history that uses this technology. The difference in taste is unprecedented.”
iCoffee also features an exclusive brew viewing window, which allows coffee lovers to watch the SteamBrew™ process in action, including the formation of rich coffee crema.
According to Burrows, because SteamBrew™ technology enables maximum flavor extraction, users should experiment to determine the optimal ratio of water to coffee they prefer. “For the first pot, we suggest using the amount of coffee you normally add per cup when brewing. After the first pot, you can adjust the amount of coffee used by adding more or using less coffee in the SteamBrew™ basket to achieve the strength and flavor you prefer. Many people find they need less coffee than they did when using other coffee brewers.”

Burrows also notes that with iCoffee, finely extracted coffee essence, or sediment, may be visible after brewing. “This is normal and a result of our patented SteamBrew™ extraction technology,” he says. “Presently, coffee drinkers have a choice of using a reusable goldtone filter or disposable paper filters. Goldtone allows more coffee essence, paper allows less. It’s a matter of personal preference. If you prefer less finely extracted coffee essence, we have included an optional filter that provides a paper filter experience.”

iCoffee is available in more than 800 retail locations in the U.S., including major national chain stores, local independent retailers, Home Shopping Network and online via www.icoffee.com."

What we thought:  We've been using the iCoffee for a couple of weeks now and it really does live up to the claims above.  The coffee is richer and smoother, not nearly as bitter as our previous brewer provided.  The iCoffee is stylishly sleek and has a great keypad that is easy to use.  I especially loves that it "sings" a tune when it begins and once it's finished brewing.  What a pleasant way to start the day:)  The goldtone filter isn't as easy to clean as the paper filter, but it does seem to make the coffee taste better, so I'd say it's worth the extra minute or so of cleaning time.  The price tag of the iCoffee might be a little steep at $169, but if you are a regular coffee drinker who actually enjoys the rich flavor of a good cuppa joe, I would definitely say the iCoffee is a great investment!  ABCD Diaries gives the iCoffee an A+!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Glysonna Sleep Aid Review + Giveaway!

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



"You’ve stopped drinking caffeine. You exercise. You cut off all electronics by 9PM and play soft, soothing music in your bedroom to try and lull yourself to sleep. But, still, you’re awake night after night, staring at the ceiling wondering why on earth you can’t get to sleep.

Relying on over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids might make the problem worse. Many of these products simply knock you out and prevent you from reaching a deep sleep and REM sleep. You wake up feeling groggy, cranky and exhausted.

You may be experiencing straight insomnia – or maybe just a temporary problem sleeping. Surprisingly, though, roughly 50% of people who suffer from insomnia also suffer from sleep apnea (largely undiagnosed).

And if you have sleep apnea, the last thing you want to do is take a medication that knocks you out! The gasping and choking that sleep apnea causes is your body’s survival mechanism kicking in. Your body is waking you up to tell you that you need to breathe! This natural survival mechanism can be repressed when taking a prescription drug.

Glysonna is a drug-free sleep aid, glycine fortified with added wellness nutrients which helps you to reach restorative sleep by:

a) Triggering relaxation.
b) Sustaining sleep.
and
c) Initiating the natural sleep process.

For more information, please visit BuyGlysonna.com."


What we thought:  I often find myself tossing and turning and unable to fall asleep which doesn't just affect me, but my husband as well.  I usually use an over-the-counter sleep + pain aid, but I don't like to use it if I don't actually need pain relief.  Not to mention the fact that I always take a lot longer to actually feel awake the morning after taking it.  I was definitely interested in trying Glysonna since is is an all-natural sleep-aid that is drug-free.  It really did help me fall asleep faster and waking up the morning after taking it was a lot easier.  The taste isn't terrible either which is definitely a plus.  I tend to prefer pills over liquids that taste so bad they make me gag, but Glysonna was easy to swallow.  Overall, I would give Glysonna an A+ for effectiveness!

Keep up with Glysonna via Facebook and Twitter:

facebook.com/glysonna

Enter to win a bottle of Glysonna below: