Pretty Peacock - Holiday Gift Ideas

Disclosure - free sample provided.

I am always looking for unique holiday gift ideas.  I love gifts that are personal and mean something.  Check out Pretty Peacock for great holiday gift ideas.

In a little studio located just north of Seattle, we create jewelry that is created to tell your story. We like to mix in things like gemstones, texture, even a little geekery from time to time so that you can tell your story in new and creative ways.

There is a lot of thought and love that goes into each of our handmade pieces - you'll be able to feel the difference from the moment you open up one of our sparkly, purple packages.

Life is a story: write it, share it, change it, wear it - with jewelry by Pretty Peacock.

My readers get to save big! Pretty Peacock: FAMILY2015 and for 30% off the entire site valid until 12/31/15! National and Abroad .@usfg

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Cold, Allergy and Flu Season with Xlear and Kids Relief

Disclosure - free sample provided.

Oh goodness how I dread the cold, allergy and flu season with children.  My 8 and 10 year old suffer from seasonal allergies.  What do you do to ease your child's discomfort during allergy season?  I also dread cold and flu season.  We do everything we can to avoid getting sick during this season, but unfortunately sometimes it happens.  

Xlear is a great nasal spray.  They make Kid's Xlear.  This is great to use during allergy season.  It is great to use when your child is sick and has a cold too.  It is an all natural saline based nasal spray  I even love this product for myself.  This helps provide fast relief for stuffy noses.  It helps you or your child breathe easier.  It also helps clean your nasal passages while it soothes and protects.  

Kids Relief offers a great selection of products for cold and flu season.  These are great if you like to try more natural cold and flu medicines.  These are safe.  They have no side effects.  They have no drug interactions.  They are dye free, gluten free and sugar free homeopathic medicines.  Kids Relief offers a cough and cold syrup.  It has a pleasant taste that we use when my kids are feeling sick from a cold.  Kids Relief also offers Flu Oral Liquid.  This is great to keep on hand in case your child comes down with the flu bug.  it can help fevers, chills, aches, pains, and feeling run down.  

What kind of natural remedies do you use to fight off seasonal allergies, colds and the flu?  I would love for you to comment with your suggestions!  

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Ruffleclaw - by Cornelia Funke

Disclosure - free sample provided.

We are always looking for great chapter books for my kids.  I have an 8 and 10 year old.  What do I look for when I am looking for a book for them?  I look for something that will hold their interest.  I love books for my 8 year old that are simple chapter books.  These types of books push her to read longer, but they also can make reading fun.  Cornelia Funke's Ruffleclaw is a fun early chapter book that my daughter loved.  Cornelia Funke is the bestselling author of Inkheart too.

I really like that Ruffleclaw is a book that not only gets your child interested in reading chapter style books.  This is great for children that are ready for a little more of a challenge when reading.  Ruffleclaw also incorporates some illustrations by the author.  This makes reading a longer style book a bit more fun for them too.

Ruffleclaw is an amazing story about a monster.  This book is about a monster that is tired of eating bugs.  Ruffleclaw is a fun loving character.  Tommy wants to keep Ruffleclaw as a pet.  Ruffleclaw is messy.  He is silly and likes to drink shampoo.  He really is a funny character.  My daughter and I really fell in love with Ruffleclaw.  We didn't want to stop reading about him.  

You can learn more about this book by visiting the Random House Kids website here.  

You can also connect with Random House Kids on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

French Toast School Uniforms Review 11/10 CLOSED

Disclosure - free sample provided.

This is the first year that my 8 and 10 year old have had to wear school uniforms.  I will be honest, and I like it.  It definitely makes getting them going in the morning easier.  There are a number of choices when it comes to school uniforms for children.  I started looking around early this school year.  However, I did notice that not all uniforms are made with the same quality.  My kids can be rough on their clothes.  I need something that is really going to last them a long time.  French Toast offers a great selection of uniform tops, bottoms, jackets, and more.  

French Toast offers school uniforms that are made with great quality materials.  You really can tell that these are made to last.  My son tends to be rough on pants and busts holes in the knees easily.  Did you know that French Toast offers uniform pants that have knees that are reinforced?  This is wonderful for kids like mine! 

My daughter is also very slim.  I love that French Toast offers bottoms in slim sizes.  They also offer bottoms that are adjustable.  Why do I like this?  This means my child doesn't have to wear a belt, or roll the top of the pants over to get them to stay up.  The adjustable bottoms allow your child to grow, but not grow out of their pants a month after you purchase them.

They also offer a great selection of cute skirts and skorts.  This is a great alternative to wearing pants or shorts all the time for girls.  French Toast also offers a great selection of stylish shoes to go along with their great uniforms.  They offer jackets too.  It is starting to cool down in Vegas, and it is almost jacket season.  French Toast also offers a variety of uniform tops at reasonable prices.  

These are just some of the fashionable, comfortable, and durable uniform items that French Toast has to offer.  You can visit their website.  You can also connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube too!

Giveaway - Enter to win 2 items from French Toast of your choice.  (Limited to items and sizes in stock).

Open to US residents 18 years of age and older.  The giveaway will end on 11/10/15 at 8:59 PM PST.  The winner will be chosen randomly.  The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to contact me back to claim their prize.  Mommie of 2 is not responsible for lost prizes or prizes that are not received.  Bloggers that have reviewed for this company are not eligible to win.  One winner per household - no matter how many blog you have entered on.

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

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Peanut Butter and Co. Celebrates Fall with Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter!

Disclosure - free sample provided.

Oh how I love the Fall season.  It seems like when Fall arrives that pumpkin spice flavored everything is available.  This is a favorite of mine.  Do you love pumpkin spice flavored foods?  Did you know that Peanut Butter and Co. is now offering Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter?  Yum!  How would you serve this?  There are so many tasty ways to enjoy this delicious pumpkin spice flavored peanut butter. 

I personally love Peanut Butter and Co.'s Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter on toast in the morning with a great cup of coffee.  It is great for topping graham crackers, dipping apples in, or using in your favorite PB cookie recipe.  This peanut butter has a great peanut flavor, but also a great pumpkin spice flavor.  It has a good balance of both flavors, but it isn't overwhelming.  Peanut Butter and Co. also has some great recipes on their website that use this delicious peanut butter.  Some of them include . . . 

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Bread

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Cookies

and more!

You can learn more about this tasty peanut butter by visiting the Peanut Butter and Co. website.  

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

#Oatober with Peanut Butter and Co. and Bob's Red Mill

Disclosure - free sample provided.

I love peanut butter.  I have fell in love with Peanut Butter and Co.'s peanut butter over the last few years.  It is great on a sandwich, or even incorporated into recipes.  Peanut butter is always a great snack too during back to school season.  What are some of your favorite peanut butter recipes?  Have you ever tried to incorporate peanut butter with oats?  It is so good!

I recently came up with a super easy recipe.  My peanut butter and oat granola bars are the perfect snack.  They are tasty, and nutritious.  You can even mix in your own favorite ingredients that your family likes.  These bars use very few ingredients.  They are great to have on hand for busy days.

PEANUT BUTTER AND OAT GRANOLA BARS 

Ingredients

1 cup Peanut Butter and Co. Peanut Butter of your choice

4 cups Bob's Red Mill Oats

1 cup honey

1 pinch of salt

Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Mix until smooth.  Press very firmly into an 8 x 8 greased pan.  Chill for 4 hours.  Remove from the fridge and cut into bars.  These can be wrapped individually and stored in the fridge.  They can also be frozen, and then taken out a few hours before eating.

You can learn more about all of the great products that Peanut Butter and Co. has to offer by visiting their website. 

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

Mirassou Wines - Review

Disclosure - free sample provided.

I was introduced to Mirassou Wines a few  years ago.  I fell in love with this winery as soon as I tasted their wines.  I am still a huge fan of their Sunset Red.  I was recently given an opportunity to try some of their other varieties of wine too.  Have you tried any of Mirassou's wines?  What is your favorite?  It is really hard for me to choose just one because they offer so many that are excellent!

2014 Moscato

Mirassou's 2014 Moscato is a sweet white wine.  It is light and refreshing.  This is a wine that is paired well with desserts too.  I also like this wine with meats like chicken and pork.  I really like this wine for entertaining because it is easy to drink, and it really pleases everyone.  This wine retails for about $12, and it is a great wine for the price.  Below is an excellent recipe provided by Mirassou that pairs well with their 2014 Moscato.

Crispy Wonton Salmon over Cabbage Slaw

Prep time: 20

Cook time: About 20 to 30 minutes total

12 square wonton wrappers

Olive oil cooking spray

3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

3 tablespoons Mirassou Moscato

2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)

1 tablespoon each: soy sauce and sesame oil

4 cups thinly sliced purple cabbage

1/4 cup each: shredded carrot, julienned red bell pepper, sliced green onions and

fresh cilantro leaves

4 salmon fillets (about 1 1/2 lbs.)

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut wonton wrappers into 1/4-inch strips and spray well with

cooking spray. Toss and spray again; spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake

for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned, tossing once or twice to cook evenly. Stir

together honey, chili garlic sauce and ginger in a small bowl. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons

of mixture into a medium bowl and stir in Moscato, rice vinegar, soy sauce and

sesame oil. Add vegetables and toss well to coat; set aside. Place salmon on an oiled

baking sheet and spoon reserved chili garlic mixture over the top of each fillet.

Coarsely crumble wonton strips and pile over salmon, reserving a handful of whole

strips for garnishing, if desired. Bake for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness

of the salmon. Spoon slaw onto 4 plates and top each with a salmon fillet and wonton

Makes 4 servings.

Make ahead tip: Wonton strips, chili garlic mixture, dressing and vegetables may all

be prepared in advance for speedy assembly of this dish

2014 Pinot Grigio

Mirassou's 2014 Pinot Grigio is excellent.  It is now one of my favorite white wines.  This is a dry white wine.  It has a crisp flavor.  It has a fruitiness to it, but is in no way sweet.  This is an excellent wine to pair with a variety of dishes too.  What would you pair it with?  It is great served with a fruit and cheese plate.

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a great wine for those of you that enjoy a really rich red.  This wine is made with 89% Cabernet grapes.  It is blended with Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  This wine is loaded with bold flavor, but I found it to have a smooth finish.  It pairs perfectly with red meats, and red pasta sauces.

You can learn more about all of the wines that Mirassou offers by visiting their website. 

Disclosure - I received a free sample to facilitate my review.  No monetary compensation was provided.  All opinions are completely my own.  My participation is voluntary.   I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.