May 10th, 2010

Product Review: Freschetta FlatBread Pizza

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a New Yorker, pizza is a very important staple in my diet. We have some of the best pizzerias in the world and it is very hard for me to eat anything that does not come from a NY Pizzeria. So to be fair, I decided that I would only compare Freschetta FlatBread pizza to other frozen pizza and to chain pizza (like Domino’s and Pizza Hut). I say this because nothing compares to a real NY slice of pizza and that needed to be cleared up from the start.

Now let’s get to it. Freschetta FlatBread pizza comes in four varieties: Zesty Italian, 5 Cheese, Roasted Garlic and Spinach, and Pepperoni. We tried all but the Pepperoni.

In terms of taste, Freshcetta has a very tasty crust. Unlike many frozen pizzas, the crust is crispy and very well flavored. Not only was it tasty, the crust was sturdy and did not fall apart. My husband and I also enjoyed the sauce. We both like very light sauce on my pizza and the flat bread pizzas had just enough to keep the topping on without overpowering the pizza. Unlike Domino’s Pizza, Freschetta’s sauce tasted homemade and not canned. And unlike Papa John’s pizza, the sauce is not sweet. all of the pizzas had a significant amount of cheese on them and I did not find the need to tackle my husband for the cheesy slice.

My favorite of the three that we tried was the Zesty Italian. There was a perfect mesh of pepperoni, salami, sausage, and two cheeses. I don’t like a lot of toppings on my pizza and very rarely order pizza with meat toppings, but this was really good.

My husband loved the 5-Cheese pizza the most. He said the cheese tasted like a high-quality cheese and it was not salty or oily. The funny thing is that my husband usually likes meat pizzas and I normally go for the cheesy ones.

The Roasted Garlic and Spinach was our least favorite because it was too salty and the garlic sauce overpowered the tasted of everything else. I also would have loved more spinach on this one.

My daughter on the other hand, liked them all!

With the price of pizzeria pizza being so high now, I will probably turn to Freschetta for our weekly pizza nights. We were presently surprised that this pizza was so good and we definitely enjoyed them more than we have every enjoyed Domino’s, Pizza hut, and Papa John’s. One pizza was a perfect lunch for 2 adults and one 4 year old.

But don’t take our word for it, head over and get a coupon for $1.00 off.

May 2nd, 2010

Review: Easing Your Baby’s Sore Butt with Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

I can’t help but be relieved that my daughter is potty trained and no longer suffering from the horrors of diaper rash.  As a baby she was in pain all the time and it seemed like nothing would work. We tried everything from home remedies to a number of various products sold in drugstores. At one point we even attempted to go diaper-less all day and all night. As you can imagine it was one disaster after another.

After about the 9th visit to the Pediatrician she recommended Boudreaux’s Butt Paste (you can get a free sample). I’m sure that she could tell the my husband and I were unbelievably stressed about these rashes. At first I was very hesitant to try it because worried about using products with boric acid in them and at that point we had tried so many products. However, after asking practically every doctor in the practice as well as my mother who has been a RN for years if it would be OK, I agreed to use it- but only at night.

Truthfully, that really was all we needed because she was in her diaper the longest at night. The thick paste was perfect for preventing any additional irritation. Using Butt Paste at night and exposure to air as much as possible during the day became our go to remedy. And while I know I will use cloth diapers if I have any more children, I will always keep a tube of Butt Paste on hand just in case.

November 28th, 2009

Product Review: Hess Toy Truck Gets a Makeover

1987 18-wheeler bank

As a child I was far from a girly-girl. I hopped fences, climbed tress, played Voltron, stormed the brigade as a GI Joe, and crushed miniature cars as a monstrous destroyer of worlds. I played basketball, volleyball, softball, and threw the discuss, And when my mother gave me Barbies or Cabbage Patch Kids, I cut their hair off and turned them into short stops and power forwards. I was rough and tough!

When it came to my Christmas wish list, there was always one item that I wanted but Santa never brought: a Hess truck. The first one that I remember asking for was the 1984 oil tanker bank but it was the 1987 18-wheeler bank that stole my heart.  I begged Santa for it and when I awoke Christmas morning I just knew that it would be under the tree. It wasn’t. That was the year I learned that Santa did not exist and that my mom refused to buy me boy toys. I vowed that I would never confine my daughter to dolls and nail polish (although I’m sure that came out something like, “girls toys are just stupid”).

2009 Race Car and Racer

So, imagine my delight when I was offered the 45th edition Hess Toy Truck model to review.  Now imagine my excitement when I actually received it and saw the amazing race car pictured at left. It is beautiful and once again, I find myself enamored with a Hess toy.

The 2009 Race Car and Racer comes equipped with 29 lights with an optional flashing mode, 3 realistic sounds (ignition, acceleration and horn), alloy-look racing wheels, chrome detailed rear view mirrors and air vents, low profile headlights (a first for a Hess Toy Truck), and features a touch-release canopy compartment that opens to reveal a hidden compartment with a smaller, faster race car.  The smaller race car uses a pull-back motor, has its own set of 15 flashing lights, and has many of the same features of its larger counterpart. They are both simply beautiful.

The 2009 Hess Race Car and Racer.

But the real test was seeing my daughter (3) play with the cars. She was just as excited about them as I. The moment we took it out of the box she figured out just how to open the compartment to find the smaller car. She demanded that we play racing and we spent the better part of the evening sending the cars- lights flashing and all- down the hall. I was a beautiful sight and I remembered why I was so fascinated by the trucks.

So while I am not doing a gift guide this year, I will say that the Hess Toy Truck definitely makes the cut.

October 29th, 2009

Product Review & Giveaway: Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

Contest closed. AFD you are the winner. Please send me your address.

Recently, MyBlogSpark provided me the opportunity to try Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters. I am always on the look our for a healthier snack that still taste good and have long been a fan of Nature Valley’s Granola Bars, so I was excited about this review.

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters are a mixture of granola clusters, nuts, and a little honey. They come in four flavors: Roasted Cashew, Nut Lovers, Roasted Almonds, and Honey Nut Peanut (which was my favorite). Truth be told, I loved them all so much that I barely shared them with my husband.

As far as nutritional value goes, a serving size of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters (about 1 oz) ranges from 140 to 160 to 140 calories depending on which flavor. While it’s very easy to eat the whole bag in one sitting (seriously, they are really that good), the resealable bags are great for those who have more self-control than I. My 3 year old daughter didn’t like them because they were too hard for her to chew, but my husband enjoyed the Roasted Cashew the most.

Not only did I receive 4 bags of the Granola Nut Clusters, I was also sent  a backpack, binoculars, battery/generator flashlight, and a stainless steel water bottle. And one of my readers will win one too.  My daughter loves the flashlight and binoculars. We  used them to complete our Autumn Scavenger Hunt as part of our homeschooling curriculum.

Giveaway Ends November 9, 2009

Main Entry (Required)

Leave a comment here telling me what you do to stay energized during the day.

For an extra entry:

Tweet the contest and leave a comment with the URL to your tweet. You can use this easy tweet below.

What do you do to stay energized all day? Share & you may win a Nature Valley Granola Clusters Prize Pack http://ow.ly/xkR0 @momontherise