Lunch Bag Hango - Set of Two Sizes (Small & Large) Review #hangobags

I am a lover of containers! I have tote bags, lunch bags, insulated cooler bags, market bags. I've got big, small & in-between sizes. I've got cheap ones & I've got some that probably cost too much. And I was lucky enough to get the chance to review these lunch bags so now I've also got Hango Lunch Bags that come with both a small & large lunch bag.

These lunch bags come packaged inside of a white cotton drawstring bag, so you really get 3 bags when you buy this product. The lunch bags are made of high density polyester which makes them very easy to wipe clean. The have a handle attached to the top & close with a stainless steel zipper. The inside of each bag is insulated to keep your food cold. Or warm.

The large bag measures 6Lx 6Hx10W & the small bag measures 5Lx5Hx7.5W. The large bag is perfect for taking a full day's lunch & snacks plus a drink. The smaller one is great for a sandwich, chips, fruit & a drink. With an ice pack, our food stayed cold for from the time we packed a lunch in the morning until noon when it was time to eat. We haven't tried these with hot food yet, so I can't say how long your food would stay warm.

After each use, I just wipe them clean & fold them up. They store nicely in the cotton bag provided. You could also use these bags to store sewing supplies, arts & crafts, or even use them as toiletry bags when you travel.

The only problems that I've had with these bags are the strong smell when I first opened them & the fact that when they are empty it's a bit harder to close the zipper because the sides are collapsible. To address the smell, I left them outside to air out for a couple of days & the smell almost disappeared. Then I cleaned the insides of each bag with a homemade lemon cleaner & they are just fine now.

So. If you need lunch bags that are sturdy, durable & will keep your food cold, you can purchase these bags on Amazon right here. They come in both pink & black. I chose black so that my husband could use them too. 

#hangobags

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Fresh produce! What I got from Bountiful Baskets last weekend!

It's been a few weeks since I contributed for a produce basket from Bountiful Baskets, my local produce co-op where I've been contributing & volunteering since last April. When I first discovered this treasure trove of wonderful produce, I was contributing for a basket almost every week. But now I've slowed down to about once every 3 weeks, unless I see something that I just can't resist!

The way that this co-op works is that their website opens for contributions on Mondays & closes on Tuesday night. Then you pick up your produce at your local site at the end of the week. My site has pick-ups on Saturday mornings. You only contribute when you want to, there is no contract.

So here is what I picked up last Saturday morning!

This is my regular basket: Romaine lettuce, cauliflower, bell pepper, 16 mini-Heirloom tomatoes, 4 purple onions, 3 yellow squash, 2 beets w/greens, 2 celery, 9 apples, 3 mangoes, 4 oranges & a cantaloupe. The regular basket is usually 1/2 fruits & 1/2 veggies, but you won't know what is in the basket until you arrive for pick-up. I love surprises!

Easter Hostess Pack (add-on item): Pineapple, asparagus, 5 pounds of potatoes, celery, 4 carrots, yellow onion, garlic, 2 bunches radishes, 15 mini-Heirloom tomatoes, fresh Rosemary.

Tropical Pack (add-on item): Pineapple, coconut, plantain, starfruit, 4 oranges, 2 mangoes, 2 vanilla beans, fresh mint.














I got all of this for only $42.75 (which includes $3.50 which is added to each order to contribute to the fuel cost for the trucks). And I'm excited about getting to try a few new things. We tasted a Starfruit for the first time. And we are going to open the coconut for the milk & then have freshly grated coconut for yummy desserts. I am also making my own Vanilla Extract for the first time!

Since finding Bountiful Baskets, we have been eating & enjoying more fresh fruits & veggies than we did before. And trying new things is something that we look forward to as well.

Go here to see if there is a site in your area & read the FAQs for a full explanation of what it's all about.

You can also check out their Facebook page for more info & great information.

Until next time....

Francois et Mimi Roll-Top Stainless Steel Breadbox Review #StainlessSteelBreadBox

I've never had a breadbox for my kitchen. I've always wanted one, but just never did actively look for one that I like. Right now, I've got an etched metal serving tray that I inherited from my Mom. I keep my toaster & bread products on the tray. It's not really what I want, but it's what I've got. But now I've got this Francois et Mimi Roll-Top Stainless Steel Breadbox to keep my bread & bagels hidden away & my countertop looks much tidier.

This stainless steel breadbox is a nice large size. It measures 15.25" X 10.5" and the inside height is 5" at the middle point. It rolls open & shut very easily. There are rubber feet on the bottom of the breadbox at all 4 corners so that it won't scratch your countertop.

Right now, all I'm storing in my breadbox are some bagels & a partial loaf of bread. They fit with lots of room left in the front for smaller items or a long loaf of French bread. We usually have a lot more bread because it's one of our favorite foods & as soon as I do my shopping for the week, this breadbox will definitely be filled up!

So. Here is what I think about the Francois et Mimi Roll-Top Stainless Steel Breadbox: I'm so happy that I've got this breadbox so that my breads are hidden from view & my countertop looks nice. I like the roll-top on this breadbox because it doesn't take up any space when it is open. I like the look of this breadbox & it is easy to wipe clean.

This is the 2nd product from Francois et Mimi that I have tried (you can see my review of their French Press right here) & I am happy to display them in my kitchen!

You can purchase this Roll-Top Stainless Steel Breadbox on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Francois-Mimi-Roll-Top-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00UB2DDUG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1428432905&sr=8-4&keywords=francois+et+mimi+roll-top+stainless+steel+breadbox

#StainlessSteelBreadBox

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

BTipsy Professional Jumbo Lemon Squeezer Review #BtipsyLemonSqueezer

Squeezing juice from citrus fruit isn't really all that hard, but I'm always ready to try a product that will make my life easier! This BTipsy Professional Jumbo Lemon Squeezer has definitely made this task easier.

I use lemon juice & lime juice in my water, iced tea, when I'm baking & in cocktails. And we also like fresh orange juice when we get some big juicy oranges. Sometimes I go to the trouble of getting our old manual juicer out, but twisting the fruit around on it doesn't always get all of the juice out. Then I resort to wringing what's left out of the rind like I'm wringing water out of a washcloth! And I have to pick out the seeds & bits of skin that came out with the juice.

This lemon squeezer takes all of the hassle out of juicing citrus fruits & it's so easy to use. Just cut the fruit in half, place it with the rind face up (if you cut off the tip of the fruit, you'll get more juice),  then just squeeze. It's very easy to squeeze the handles & doesn't take a lot of force, but it's sturdy & well-made so don't worry if you have to give it a bit of extra "oomph" to get all of the juice from your fruit.

I've used my Jumbo Lemon Squeezer for limes, lemons & oranges so far. It really does a great job of getting every drop of juice so that all I have to do when I'm finished is drop the rinds in my garbage disposal so that my sink & drain smell good! I wash & dry the squeezer after each use & it's ready to go for next time. But it is also dishwasher safe so you can just drop it in when you use the dishwasher.

So. Here is what I think about the BTipsy Professional Jumbo Lemon Squeezer: I like that such a simple design is so easy to use. I like that I get all of the juice from the fruit with very little effort. I like the larger size of this squeezer. I like that it is made of stainless steel so it will not rust.

And I like that the company stands behind their product with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.

You can purchase this product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Citrus-Juicer-Stainless-Squeezer-Btipsy/dp/B00MFDINVI/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

#BtipsyLemonSqueezer

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpener Review PLUS Giveaway! #kitchengadgets

I've been looking for a new kitchen knife set for a couple of months now. I just haven't found the perfect set yet. So in the meantime, every time I complain that one of my old knives isn't sharp enough, my husband takes the knife out to his work shed in the backyard & comes back with a sharpened knife. I don't know what he does, I just know that I'd rather be able to sharpen my knives myself in the kitchen. This Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpener lets me do that!

This knife sharpener is really easy to use. Just make sure that it is on a flat surface & that the knife you want to sharpen is clean. There are directions on the box for Stage 1 Coarse Sharpening & Stage 2 Fine Sharpening. If you're sharpening a dull knife, start with Stage 1 for sharpening & then proceed to Stage 2 for polishing. If your knife is not so dull, go ahead & start with Stage 2.

This knife sharpener has a handle for you to hold while you are sharpening a knife that makes it easier to operate & makes sure that the sharpener doesn't move around while in use. You can see the 2 different sharpening slots in the photo below, one for coarse & one for fine. I sharpened our knives with no problem at all & it's so much nicer & easier to use them now.

So. Here is what I think about the Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpener: I love that I can sharpen my knives so easily & will not have to go through the expense of replacing them now. I like that it is just as easy to sharpen a really dull knife as it is to sharpen one that is not in such bad shape. I like that the handle helps me to steady the sharpener so that I can use it with no worries. I like that it is easy to clean this sharpener with a damp cloth (do not rinse it with water!).

You can purchase this product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R0BEA3K/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1428204760&sr=1&keywords=Deluxe+Diamond+Knife+Sharpener

So. Do you want a Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpener in your kitchen? One of my lucky readers is going to win one!

GIVEAWAY RULES

You must be 18+ in order to win.

This contest is open only to Residents of the U.S.

This Giveaway will end on April 14.

One winner will be randomly chosen & will be notified by email.

The winner will have 24 hours to respond with their shipping information.

The prize will be shipped by the sponsor. I am not responsible for shipping.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#kitchengadgets

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

April Free Stuff Giveaways at Allure

It starts today! Take a look at what you have a chance to win this month:

Monday, April 6th: Le Couvent des Minimes Silky Shower Cream

Tuesday, April 7th: Wet brush in Pastel Green

Wednesday, April 8th: Hard Candy Eye Shadow Primer

Thursday, April 9th: Eau Thermale Avenue Ultra-Light Sunscreen SPF 50+

So be sure to go the Allure Free Stuff page at Noon ET each day to submit the form for your chance to win these great products. The first 500 to sign up each day will win! This is a great way to get to try new beauty products.

Good Luck!

Organic Dandelion Root Tea Review #dandeliontea

I was born & raised in Texas so I've always loved iced tea. But my husband has always loved hot tea so I've learned to love it as well. When I got the chance to try this Organic Dandelion Root Tea, I knew he would be happy to try it with me.

This product comes packaged with 5 boxes of tea, 20 tea bags in each box. So we've got a LOT of this tea to sample! This tea is made with Organic Dandelion Root to help support healthy digestion, Hibiscus to support normal blood pressure maintenance, & cinnamon to help control blood sugar. Raw Dandelion Root is rich in Vitamins A, C, D & B-complex as well as Iron, Potassium, & Zinc.

When I opened the box to get a tea bag, I got a whiff of an earthy floral scent which I'm assuming is dandelion. I dropped the sachet into my cup & filled it with hot water. After steeping for about 7 or 8 minutes, I tasted the tea. It has a pretty lavender color in the cup & a wonderful earthy/woody taste with an underlying hint of floral & a bit of cinnamon. None of the flavors is overwhelming & they blend nicely together for a warm comforting treat.

So. Here is what I think about Organic Dandelion Root Tea: I like that something that tastes this good is also so good for me. I like that this organic tea is naturally caffeine-free. I like the aroma from this tea not only while I'm drinking it but while it is steeping. I'm happy that everyone in my family likes this tea because we can all use more healthy organic products in our daily lives.

And I like that this organic tea is USDA Certified Organic & is backed by a Lifetime Guarantee.

You can purchase this Organic Dandelion Root Tea on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Dandelion-Root-Tea-Detoxification/dp/B00NFYLN18/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

#dandeliontea

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.