Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Uncommon Goods Review and Giveaway...

Uncommon Goods has a huge selection of cool gifts for all of the awesome people in your life.  I always have a hard time finding gifts for the men in my my life...the kiddos and women are easy peasy, but for some reason the men aren't so easy to shop for.  Then I found Uncommon Goods.  They have a ton of great gift ideas for men.  Something you might want to check out the next time you're looking for a unique gift for one of the men in your life.  I mean what guy wouldn't want to rock this paper deer head on the wall in his man cave?!  Seriously, the wide selection of sweet gift ideas is pretty impressive and definitely worth a look:)

Here are a few other fun items we found at Uncommon Goods:


On The Rocks
"Skip the ice; Serve your drinks on the rocks.
These innovative soapstone cubes were designed by Andrew Hellman, a big fan of single malt scotch, who wanted to chill his spirits without diluting them. After much research, he came up with the idea of using natural soapstone to chill drinks due to its softness (won't scratch the glass) and its unique ability to retain temperature for extended periods of time."

These actually work!  B uses them in his favorite scotch and says they are great:)

From Head to Tail
"Corn on the cob is all dressed up with nowhere to go but on a plate of yummy barbecue. At last, a favorite cookout food finds the perfect holder. The cute piggies aren't a statement on your table manners, but a clever way to keep fingers clean, while the original weenie dog finds itself in a familiar shape nestled next to a hot dog. Dishwasher safe with stainless steel prongs, these fun holders will soon become a backyard party staple."

The kids love to use these holders to make "corn dogs" :)  They really do make eating corn on the cob easier and more fun. 



                                                      Bag Lady-"Winner of the 2005 Pratt Product Design Competition, this clever trash can allows you to store and reuse the plastic bags that you collect from shopping in a neat, organized way. Simply loop trash bags around the cut-out sides and push them all the way down, creating a visual of stacked handles all along the side. When you are ready to use one, just move it up to the handles and hook so that it won't fall in on itself. Made in the USA."  
Check out more gifts for men here!

"La Bella Stella" CD Review and Giveaway...


FROM EARTH TO THE STARS LA BELLA STELLA THE NEWEST “CELEBRATE EARTH” CD
FROM RECESS MUSIC

"Recess Music, an award-winning company that strives to awaken kids to the magnificence of our planet through albums of Earth-friendly music, looks forward to the March 27 release of La Bella Stella, the fifth in its “Celebrate Earth” series of CDs (Big Round Records, $12.99, for ages 4 - 11, run time 41 minutes).

Available in time for Earth Day 2012, La Bella Stella goes beyond the Earth to celebrate galaxies, solar systems, and other wonders of our universe with 15 tracks showcasing a variety of contributions by a sampling of today’s most gifted kids’ musicians, including Rocknoceros, Charity and the JAMband, and AudraRox.

The songs on La Bella Stella speak especially to those children ages four and up who have quick, engaging minds and an inveterate curiosity about life. The album is filled with music that will encourage kids to think about the natural setting of their lives, providing a much-needed balance to the “virtual” world with which many of them are occupied.

La Bella Stella is available online at www.recessmusic.com, amazon.com and its international affiliates, iTunes, and brick and mortar retailers throughout the U.S.
CD Details: LA BELLA STELLA
For ages 4 - 11.
Label: Big Round Records
SRP: $12.99
Run time: 41 minutes.

What we thought:  This was a really great CD!  It educates kiddos on our beautiful Earth and the rest of the galaxy without them even knowing it!  The CD features a wide variety of voices and musical talent that is really refreshing.  Children and adults alike will appreciate these songs and their deeper importance, especially with Earth Day approaching.  A was super excited to have another CD filled with fun music to share with her Kindergarten class, that is, if we can get 3 year old D to let her take it to school for a day...he is absolutely in love with it and requests to listen to it nearly every day!  ABCD Diaries gives La Stella Bella an A+!

"Girl Land" by Caitlin Flanagan Book Review...

Girl Land by Caitlin Flanagan
Publication Date: January 12, 2012

"Caitlin Flanagan's essays about marriage, sex, and families have sparked national debates. Now she turns her attention to girls: the biological and cultural milestones for girls today, and how they shape a girl's sense of herself.
The transition from girl to woman is an experience that has changed radically over the generations: everything from how a girl learns about her period to how she expects to be treated by boys and men. Girls today observe these passages very differently, and yet the landmarks themselves have remained remarkably constant-proof, Flanagan believes, of their significance. In a world where protections of girls' privacy and personal freedom seem to disappear every day, the ultimate challenge modern parents face is finding a way to defend both."

What we thought:  This was a very interesting book full of eye-opening topics and issues today's young girls are faced with.  Some of the writing seems to ring true of the young girls I know, however some of the generalizations don't seem to apply.  I also think more credit and responsibility should be given to young men when it comes to how they act and react to our daughters than Flanagan gives them in this book.  Overall, she brings up some great issues that are sure to get you thinking about the world today's girls are growing up in compared to previous generations.  ABCD Diaries gives Girl Land an A.



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.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Bormioli Rocco Nettuno Glassware Review...

"Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just for those who are romantically involved. The single and happy girl, for instance, should consider rounding up all of her unattached girlfriends and having a “Ladies Night In” celebration.
Restaurants are going to be completely packed so have a potluck with you and your gal pals and have a relaxing evening at your place serving a delicious dinner in Bormioli Rocco’s’ chic and modern Nettuno dinnerware, a conversation starter on their own."

We were able to review two pieces of glassware from the Nettuno collection:

Bormioli Rocco Nettuno Small Bowls, Set of 12 (Available in blue and clear)
$62.04 at Amazon.com
Bormioli Rocco Nettuno Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Set of 4, Blue (Available in blue and clear)
$24.20 at Amazon.com

I also loved the colorful look of these bottles:


Bormioli Rocco Giara Bottles (Available in fuchsia, lime green, red, orange, sky blue and violet)
$10.00 each Bloomingdales.com

What we thought:  Our bowl and glass were pretty great.  The kiddos really enjoy using the bowl since it is clear.  I love the sleek and stylish design.  It seems like a "grown up" bowl compared to some of the dishes we use now that we have kiddos:)  The Double Old Fashioned glass has been put to good use as well.  B says it holds a good amount of any cocktail (at least double a regular rocks glass:) and it feels good in his hand.  These pieces would be really great for a dinner party or every day use.  ABCD Diaries gives Bormioli Rocco Nettuno Glassware an A! 


Disclosure: 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.

Whole Grain First Ingredient General Mills Cereal Review and Giveaway...

"Ringing in the New Year often means new eating habits. We know whole grain is important to you, and the Dietary Guidelines recommend choosing products with a whole grain listed as the first ingredient. Now every cereal with the white check has more whole grain than any other single ingredient with the same great taste. You will see "whole grain" as a part of the first ingredient on the ingredient list, indicating that whole grain is the first and most prevalent ingredient.



According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of "The Doctors," identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for nutritional cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting enough whole grain. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words "whole grain" are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here´s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient:

With all the health messages facing grocery store shoppers, it can be confusing to translate what appears on food labels into nutritional needs, and hard to determine which foods have a meaningful amount of whole grain. Dr. Stork has some additional recommendations to help you include whole grain easily into your diet. They include:

Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day´s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.

Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.

Don´t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don´t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

To help with choosing products with whole grain, General Mills developed "Fast Lane for Whole Grain," an online educational game. Consumers can navigate virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, with the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check. Make a commitment to add more whole grain to your diet by simply pouring a bowl of cereal with the white check including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios® and Total®. For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the "Fast Lane for Whole Grain" sweepstakes, visit www.WholeGrainNation.com


What we thought:  Whole Grain Nation is awesome:)  I love this idea...it makes it so easy to know what you are buying for your family is actually good for them...it takes out all the guesswork:)  We eat a lot of cereal and it feels good knowing I can give my family cereals they love that are actually not loaded with sugar and that ARE full of the goodness of whole grains!  ABCD Diaries gives General Mills cereals with the white check an A+!

“Talenti Talent Search” Video Contest...

“Talenti Talent Search” Video Contest details:

Talenti Gelato e Sorbetto is challenging you to show us how Talenti brings music into your life. Use Talenti containers to show off your greatest talent, and enter for a chance to win 52 free pints of Talenti Gelato!

Submissions could riff off the Talenti-produced video, “Talenti Gelato Makes Music”, or any other exciting interpretations that involve Talenti and music…creativity is encouraged!

We’re already accepting entries on Facebook HERE. The grand prize winner will be announced on March 19th—enter while there’s still time!!

Dale and Thomas Valentine's Day Sampler Review and Giveaway...


Looking for a sweet Valentine's Day gift?  Check out the sampler Dale and Thomas put together below:

Valentine's Day Six-Bag Sampler $29.95
"What better way to send your heartfelt Valentine's greetings than with our Six-Bag samplers? That special someone will love each delicious bag of gourmet popcorn stuffed into a beautiful Valentine's Day Six Pack! All of our popcorn is gluten free and kosher OU-D. Click on Gift Contents to see more information on our decadent assortments."

What we thought:  You really can't go wrong with popcorn varieties like Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Drizzle, Twice-As-Nice Chocolate Drizzle, Cinnamon Creme Drizzle, Black & White Biscotti, Double Chocolate Drizzle, and Dark Fudge with Praline Almonds.  I mean, seriously, this sampler is a chocolate lovers paradise!  Dale and Thomas always provides delicious, crunchy popcorn in delectable, mouthwatering flavors and the Chocolate Delight sampler is perfect for Valentine's Day!  Surprise that special someone or take a scrumptious treat to the office that won't soon be forgotten, or better yet, treat YOURSELF to this delicious sampler!  ABCD Diaries gives Dale and Thomas Popcorn an A+!

Check out the other samplers and find out more at Dale and Thomas!