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Hadaki Bags – Be Bold

March 30, 2012 By 1 Comment

A few months ago I saw my friend Bobbie post a picture of the cutest computer bag I had ever seen.   I asked her about it and she told me about Hadaki - a chic, affordable bag company based out of New Orleans.  I, of course, had to check it out.

Hadaki has “a print for every personality.”   With over 20 different styles and colors you are sure to find a bag that matches your needs, as well as your style.   Whether you are a student or corporate executive, Hadaki has a product you will love.  From handbags to messengers to rolling luggage to tote bags - my favorite – you can fit any personality, and need and any lifestyle.

I received a Cosmopolitan Tote in Jazz Cobalt which I have turned into my computer/beach bag.    I immediately put a picture on Facebook and got tons of comments asking where they could get one.  I love the versatility of the bag – being my work bag that totes my laptop and files during the week, and then easily carrying a beach towel, suntan lotion, and water bottles on the weekend.   The Cosmopolitan Tote is large enough to carry everything I need, but doesn’t weigh down my arm – which is especially good with all of the weight training I have been doing lately.  (ouch)

I have never been much of a “print” person, and have always carried solid color bags, but this Hadaki has changed my mind.   My friends are all big fans of Vera Bradley, which of course is known for big bold colors, but once they see that the fabric and quality of the Hadaki is much more durable and reasonable for people on the go, they are certainly taking notice.   The Hadaki totes all have water repellant interiors and exteriors, making it perfect for Moms as well.   (*ahem* to my friend who is still mourning the loss her beloved VB that her toddler spilled her bottle in!!)

You can see all of the designs and bags Hadaki has to offer on their website, and also be sure to check out their Facebook Page for all of the latest news and updates.

Disclaimer: I received a Hannah’s Tote for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was offered.  The opinions above are 100% my own.

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Colman’s Mustard Review

January 30, 2012 By 2 Comments

And the importance of reading the label.

I am not a big fan of hot dogs – the whole “processed meat” thing – but every once in a while I get a craving that is hard to surpass.  So when I was given the opportunity to review Colman’s Mustard – I knew the only way to give a good, accurate review was testing it on a fresh steaming hot dog.

In 1814 Jeremiah Coleman took over a mustard manufacturing business and mustard in England was never to be the same again. With it’s zesty blend of brown and white mustard seeds, Coleman’s has delivered the finest quality, gourmet mustard for almost 200 years.

Since we have begun Eating Clean this year, mustard has really been a staple in our diet – practically replacing all other condiments.  I chose 100% chicken hot dogs and loaded up with my favorites – ketchup, relish, and Colman’s Mustard.  As I turned to take the picture – thankfully – Mike stuck his finger into my hotdog to taste test the mustard.  Gotta love men.  His response - “WOOOOOOOAAAAAA you better watch that.”

See, I had not read the label beyond “mustard” and expecting it to be a better version of French’s mustard which we normally use,  I proceeded to layer my Colman’s Mustard on my dog just like normal.  To Mike’s – and my – surprise, Colman’s Mustard is INCREDIBLY spicy.  Like think wasabi kind of spicy.

Now, spicy is not my forte, but thankfully it is Mike’s and we promptly switched dogs before he had dressed his up with the mustard.   He thoroughly enjoyed the Colman’s Spicy Mustard and even went back for a second hot dog.   I continued to be thankful he stuck his finger in it, thinking my sinuses would never have been the same had I taken a great big bite not expecting it to be spicy at all.

I am going to try a few of the recipes I have found with the Colman’s Mustard – such as the Maryland Crab Cakes which I knew are supposed to have a bit of a “kick” to them.  Until then, the Colman’s has officially been dubbed “Mike’s Mustard” since neither the girls nor I prefer anything that spicy.

I asked Mike to give his review on what he thought of the Colman’s Spicy Mustard and his response was “It’s good if you like it spicy.”  Ahhh my man of many words….

From now on, I will be reading the labels…

Disclaimer:  I was given a sample of Colman’s Spicy Mustard to try for this review.  No other compensation was accepted and all opinions are 100% my own.

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Clearly Fresh Bags Review & Giveaway

January 26, 2012 By

Photo Credit: www.ClearlyFreshBags.com

Sooo … you wanna know the not-so-great part about Eating Clean?   Trying to keep all those fruits and veggies fresh and tasting great more than a few days.     I do not like to go to the store more than once a week if I can help it, and my favorites like bananas, strawberries, and lettuce go funky after 2-3 days… leaving the rest of the week with nothing really “fresh.”   I have tried a couple bags from the store that claim to extend the life of foods with absolutely no luck, so I was a bit skeptical when I was offered a free package of Clearly Fresh Bags to review.

Clearly Fresh® bags are large clear zip bags (12” X 14”), with a breathable 3 inch square membrane on one side. Each pack contains 10 bags. These bags enable you to keep your fruits and vegetables fresher longer for less waste and more savings. Its large size, allows you to store an entire bunch of bananas or a whole head of lettuce with room to spare. PLUS the bags are re-closeable and recyclable.

My new favorite snack since beginning to Eat Clean has been avocados with Season Salt on them – sliced up like an apple.  They are FANTASTIC.  However… avocados are huge.  I can never eat an entire one in one sitting, so I am always putting a half back into the fridge.   Usually by the next day, the leftover avocado has gotten mushy (I like them really firm) and has these reddish brown lines in them.  I was SO impressed to see that two days after putting my avocado into the fridge in a Clearly Fresh Bag, it looked as fresh as the other half had been – just like that picture above shows!

I also used them for my bananas – which Mike likes really firm.. almost still green.   The Clearly Fresh Bags website says you can keep bananas fresh for up to nine days – well mine didnt last that long before they were eaten, but Mike normally doesn’t eat them past the first day since they ripen so fast, and he snacked on them until they were gone this time.

What makes Clearly Fresh bags unique is the use of BreatheWay technology. BreatheWay allows fresh fruits and vegetables to create their own ideal atmospheres for natural storage life extension. Simply place fresh produce items in the Clearly Fresh bag when returning from grocery shopping & store in your standard fashion (i.e.: lettuce in the refrigerator, bananas on the counter).

I am very impressed with the Clearly Fresh Bags and will be getting more to help keep my food fresh.    I am excited to offer three packages away to my readers, so you can check out first hand how long you can keep your fruits and veggies fresh!

Giveaway:

I am excited to offer three readers of MoscatoMom.com a package of ten Clearly Fresh Bags!

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Comment below telling me your favorite fruit or veggie snack that you would put in the Clearly Fresh Bags if you win them!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow MoscatoMom on Twitter {2 extra entries}
  • Tweet about giveaway {up to 3 times per day 1 extra entry each tweet} –
    “Win a pkg of ten #ClearlyFreshBags from @moscatomom #food #storage #eatclean http://wp.me/p1FWxe-U7 Ends 2/9 US Only #giveaway“
  • Follow me on Stumble Upon and stumble this post {1 extra entry}
  • Comment on another post on MoscatoMom.com {2 extra entries}
  • Become a “Fan” of Clearly Fresh Bags on Facebook

Make sure you leave 1 comment for each entry to get credit!! Contest ends February 9, 2012.

Disclaimer: I received a package of ten Clearly Fresh Bags for the purpose of this review and no other compensation was received.  All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

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Get a Head Start On Your Resolutions with USANA

December 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

USANA Health Sciences is one of the Worlds leading companies in the field of health and nutrition.  Founded by Dr Myron Wentz in 1992, USANA develops and manufactures high quality nutritional supplements, healthy weight management products, and self-preserving personal-care products.

I am no stranger to weight loss supplements and meal replacement shakes, so I was excited when I was asked to try USANA for a review.   The first thing that caught my eye was the Nutrimeal, a meal replacement shake that I received in “French Vanilla.”  Since I drink meal replacement shakes often, I mixed this up the same way I do my “cake batter like” shakes – with Vanilla Silk Milk.  WOW I should have read the instructions that tell you to mix it with WATER – it was soooo thick.   I added water to get it to a better consistency, and I have to tell you… I like it better.

The USANA Nutrimeal was not as sweet as the other shake that I am used to, which I like.   Since I am not really a “sweets” person, I have struggled with replacing two meals a day with what tastes like straight dessert.  I have even reached out to try to find recipes that would give more variety – and only found things that would make them even sweeter, which of course is the opposite of what I was looking for.   I also liked that the USANA Nutrimeals come with more variety – chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and even orange creme.  Yes you can add things to make the other shakes have a flavor, but not without adding calories and sugars and stuff.  With USANA Nutrimeals mixing with just water, I was also excited to not add additional calories and sugars with the Silk Milk.

The Usana Nutrimeal Shake kept me feeling “full” until after lunch time (which doesnt happen with the “other” shake either), when I decided to just have a Nutrition Bar instead of a full meal – I wasnt hungry enough to cook a full meal.   I had an Oatmeal Raisin Nutrition Bar which I was pretty skeptical about trying.  Besides the fact that I am not a fan of oatmeal raisin, most nutrition bars taste like cardboard.   It was chewy but firm, and had more flavor than most other bars I have tried.   It was also filling – I barely finished it.  My favorite part though was that like the shake, it wasnt overly sweet, so I felt like I was actually EATING, not just indulging in a sweet snack.  It kept me full till dinnertime where I ate a healthy meal and felt very good about my nutrition choices for the day.

I also tried the USANA Essentials Pack which I have been using daily for a full two weeks now.  I am embarrassed to admit that I do not take vitamins daily- mostly because of the zillions of vitamins out there, I do not know which ones are right for me, or even how to find that out.  The USANA Essentials Pack includes a Mega Antioxidant and Chelated Minerals.  This pack continues to be rated as one of the top supplements by the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements.    I will be honest – I am not even sure what exactly I am taking, but I can tell you that in two weeks I feel like I have more energy and just feel better in general.  We have had some crazy weather – from highs in the 70s to highs in the 40s in the same 48 hours – and I have felt the same regardless.  I used to joke that the weather was a recipe for the Flu, but I have felt great no matter what.   Now, I cant make the claim that it is because of the USANA Essentials… but it is the only thing I have done differently, so you decide.

I will be ordering USANA from now on over the other shake.  The taste, the fact that I was full longer, the fact that I can mix with water and not add the additional sugars with other mixes, and the variety of flavors has me sold.    I am not waiting until January 1 to start my New Years Resolutions.  I am starting right now.

Check out USANA’s full line of products at www.USANA.com

 


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Alexia Foods – Sweet Potato Fries

December 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I LOVE sweet potato fries.  Way more than “normal” fries.  They just seem to have more flavor.  The fact that they are better for you than normal fries is just an added bonus.   But the problem has always been having to go to a restaurant to get sweet potato fries!  When our local Times Grill closed I was crushed – it was the only place I knew that served them!  Few meals are better than a nice hot cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and ranch dressing to dip in.  Mmmm…

I was so excited when I was asked to review Alexia Foods Sweet Potato Fries and Puffs.  FINALLY – sweet potatoes at HOME!

Alexia is an all-natural food company best known for their wide range of delicious appetizers, breads, fries, potatoes and sweet potatoes in the freezer section. From classic Oven Crinkle Fries seasoned with sea salt and cracked black pepper to Alexia’s newest Sweet Potato Puffs made from farm-fresh sweet potatoes, all of Alexia’s gourmet-inspired side dishes pair perfectly with any dish and go from freezer to table in around 20 minutes-great for any family meal!

Of course I had to try the sweet potato fries paired with a cheese burger – just to compare to our usual Football Sunday meal from Times Grill.  They were PERFECT!  Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside – even from the oven!  And they had the great restaurant flavor that I love.  The girls gobbled up every last one of them.

Alexia Foods can be purchased at many grocery stores around the country.  To find one near you, use their Store Finder on their website. You can even print a coupon to take with you to check them out.

I am so excited to get to make my favorite Sunday Football meal from home from now on