Archive for Houseware

BiteSizers

Posted by 278Wife on February 9, 2015
in Family Stuff, Houseware, Kids Stuff, Parenting, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Uncategorized

Meal time is always crazy at my house. With a growing 5 year old boy and an almost 2 year old girl (going on 15), preparing meals is always hectic. I try my best to have them eat what we eat, but sometimes it’s hard. Trying to cut food up into small enough pieces for their liking while they are yelling “I’m hungry, “Is it ready yet”, etc. can make any mom struggle to have a smooth meal time. Anything that makes this part easier, I’m signing up for!

Thank goodness for BiteSizers! Upon first opening they look like everyday scissors. I thought to myself, they’ll probably work the same as kitchen scissors. Guess what? They work a whole lot better! Way better than using a fork a knife. Who would have thought?! Simply take whatever you are eating, use BiteSizers to cut pieces to your liking, and that’s it! I was honestly amazed at how easily it cut through this quesadilla.

I then went on to cut up some cantaloupe. Usually I use a fork and knife to cut fruit up. Using BiteSizers was a whole lot easier. I went from cutting a quesadilla to cantaloupe, and then I cut up a PBJ just for fun. They work on any food that I would ever feed my kids. I love that it has a Snap-On cap to keep the blades good and for easy travel. I can throw them in my diaper bag easily. There’s even a handy built-in sizer guide so you can cut food to the size recommended by experts as best for children.

Since I started using BiteSizers both of my kids have tried more foods than ever. It’s just so easy to cut a little bite off of whatever I’m eating and share with my kids. BiteSizers are available exclusively at

www.mixedpears.com and www.amazon.com

I would highly recommend them to anyone with young children.

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Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review & Giveaway

Posted by Brande on August 16, 2013
in Appliances, Home, Houseware, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

What’s one of the worst things about washing dishes, baking, canning, or folding? Standing on the hard floor! By the time I get out the kitchen my back is aching and my feet are barking.

Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review

I was super excited to review Chef Fabio Viviani Comfort Mats by Smart Step Home. The first time I stepped onto the mat it was a dream to my feet. This nearly indestructible mat will not curl and is trip resistant. It is puncture, heat and stain resistant and is non-toxic. In addition it is super easy to clean and is non-skid.

In this picture you can see I do my kitchen work in heels. lol…….nah. I’m just showing you how thick this mat is. I’m putting my weigh into the heel of this shoe, the product did not puncture. When I got off the mat, it popped right back in place, you didn’t see when I dug my heel into it. I LOVE IT!

Here’s what Smart Step Home says about the comfort of their mats….

“Our proprietary polyurethane composite (STP) effectively suspends body weight and reduces the impact on the back, legs, and feet, while encouraging proprioception (rebalancing). The result is consistent comfort, improved circulation and less fatigue on joints, limbs and muscles.”

I have been using my mat for the past few days and my body doesn’t have the aches as it did last week. I highly recommend this Smart Step Home Mat for people who stand most of the day. I have a friend that owns a flower shop and she is planning on buying them for her shop.

It’s available in a few different colors and also comes in a 6 foot size! Click here to order yours today!

Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat Giveaway!

Now you can enter to win one of your very own Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat in the giveaway form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Longhorn Steakhouse – Take Dad on a “Steakcation”

Posted by Brande on June 6, 2013
in Family Stuff, Food and Treats, Gift Ideas, Guest Post, Holidays, Houseware, Products for Dad, Restaurants, Reviews, Shopping

Written By Guest Dad Blogger – Scott

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for LongHorn Steakhouse. I received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”

Father’s Day is coming! Is your Dad a “cut above the rest”? Forget the tie! Your favorite Dad really wants a “Steakcation” at Longhorn Steakhouse!

Come on down, grab a cold one and let Longhorn Steakhouse grill experts take care of Dad this Father’s Day. With a choice of 7 different cuts of steak at any temperature, it will be hard to decide which to cut choose.

After you decide which cut to choose (18 inch bone-in Outlaw Ribeye, Flo’s Filet, sirloin, strip, flat-iron, T-Bone or porterhouse). You need to choose a side; you can even upgrade your side to roasted corn on the cob (available for a limited time off the “Peak Season Menu”).

Hungry yet?

This was my family’s first visit to a Longhorn Steakhouse and we were very impressed. Here’s what we ordered.

When the waitress took our drink order she dropped off honey wheat bread that was still warm. Very tasty, my daughter ate most of it before her dinner came out.

Appetizer – Parmesan Crusted Asparagus (New off the Peak Season Menu)

The asparagus had a great favor, was crunchy, and the batter was light. It had a few parmesan shavings on top and was served with a delicious red chili ranch sauce.

Lunch –

I had the Prime Rib – My dinner also came with a choice of salad and side. I chose a garden salad and a side of vegetables. I prefer my steaks to be rare and it was cooked perfect! Served with au jus and horseradish sauce. The broccoli was nice and green and the carrots still a small crunch.

My wife had the Bold Balsamic BBQ Sirloin, She also got the garden salad, but upgraded her side to the roasted corn on the cob. She ordered and received her sirloin medium to well done. Her sirloin was topped with roasted garlic cloves and a smooth balsamic bbq sauce.

My daughter had a grilled cheese sandwich and fries off the kids menu. There was a great variety on the children’s menu which was great. We have a picky eater and that can be a concern when going out.

We really enjoyed our afternoon out. The food is very good and cooked to your expectations.

We ate so much that we did not have room for dessert. I took a look at the dessert menu and the offerings were very intriguing. The Chocolate Stampede which has 6 different chocolates in a piece of cake and is served with vanilla ice cream. Another dessert that caught my eye was off the Peak Seasons Menu, The Very Berry Grilled Pound Cake (I’m going back just to get this dessert), it’s a piece of lemon pound cake grilled and served with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream!

Stomach Growling? Mine is!

So, your favorite Dad is not into going out for Father’s Day. He prefers to say at home and do his own grilling? Here is Longhorn Steakhouse’s Tips on “How to Grill a Great Steak”.

You still need to get Dad a present too! My suggestion is the Longhorn Steakhouse Knives – Available at your local Longhorn Steakhouse for $29.99. The Knives are made with high carbon steel and serrated blade. Stop tearing your steak and cut it with these fabulous knives.

Click Here to find your nearest Longhorn Steakhouse to purchase your knives or a great Father’s Day Meal!

Happy Father’s Day!

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PackIt Personal Cooler

Posted by Professor on April 9, 2013
in Family Stuff, Gift Ideas, Home, Houseware, Reviews, Uncategorized

Introducing PackIt – the freezable personal cooler that keeps your food colder, fresher, and safer for longer than you could ever before – up to 10 hours! There’s no need for ice that melts or for bulky, toxic ice packs. Simply store your folded PackIt in the freezer until you’re ready to PackIt and go!

The Original Cool.
Thanks to PackIt’s patented freezable gel-liner you can keep your lunch cool – for up to 10 hours!

The Personal Cooler is perfect for school, work, the field or anywhere! Simply store the cooler in your freezer for a 12 hour period, pack with the items you want to keep cool and enjoy!

Features:

Keeps food and drinks cold up to 10 hours.
Patented freezable-gel is permanently built into the liner.
PVC/lead-free, non-toxic, earth-safe, & reusable.
Folds compactly in the freezer for storage.
Dimensions: 8” x 10” x 5” (8” x 5” x 2” folded)

PackIt Personal cooler is available in a variety of patterns and colors.

Reasons to LOVE PackIt

Cooler

PackIt keeps its contents cooler longer – up to 10 hours in fact – and it eliminates completely the need for ice or gel packs

Safer for both you and the environment

PVC-free, BPA-free, lead-free, non-toxic, earth-safe and reusable

Lift a burden off your budget

Over a 30-year career, a person can save nearly $100,000 by packing a lunch

Trendy with the times

Save money, eat healthy and look good while doing it
Download PackIt’s 30 day Meal Planner on their website.

Versatile and durable

Perfect for school, work, sporting events, golf, the beach, baby bottles and so much more!

Our Review:

We were pleased to review the new PackIt Personal Cooler in purple.

We must admit we LOVE our PackIt! I have 2 older versions of the PackIt lunch bags…but like this new personal cooler option much better! The primary difference is in the handle. In this new version the handle has a strap that can attach to other bags. It has a convenient lock clasp on the handle, which I use to attach the PackIt to my daughters lunch bag. This is SUCH A NICE NEW FEATURE! Since I have 3 children and 3 PackIts…I may have to upgrade the other 2 PackIts to this new handy version!

PackIt not only stores lunches effectively but also folds nicely for storage in the freezer. The bag conveniently folds up and takes little space in the freezer.

One other added bonus is cleaning! Cleaning is a breeze! The instructions say “Hand wash with mild soap and warm water. Allow to air dry completely with flap open before freezing to prevent frost from forming on cooler. Do not use bleach. Please note that PackIts are not washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, or microwave safe.” We found that these instructions keep the PackIt clean and tidy and have not had any issues thus far.

What about keeping lunches cold? This product is AWESOME!!! There are many times when my children bring unfinished content from their lunches home and after a long school day the items are still cold and fresh.

One feature I do like is that there is no sweating… when I used to pack the traditional ice packs in our old lunch bags the ice packs would sweat as they dethawed and make a wet mess all over the contents and the lunch bag… PackIt does not sweat! AWESOME!

Overall, we are PackIt fans! We might have to try some of their other products aside from the lunch bags…as there are so many options…from wine coolers to picnic bags.

For more information about PackIt and other variations of the bag please visit:

http://packitcool.com/

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TOY DOZER Review

Posted by Professor on January 23, 2013
in Encouragement for Moms, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Home, Houseware, Kids Stuff, Organization, Products for Dad, Products for Mom

A CHORE NO MORE!

THE TOY DOZER MAKES TOY CLEAN UP FAST, EASY, AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!

January is National Organization month so what a better way to celebrate but with a product to clean up toys! Our house is overloaded with toys…especially with Christmas just past…we are busting at the seems! This product gives an innovative way to clean up toys with a “scoop” of the wrist! More importantly this is a toy that teaches…by involving children in clean up time, children learn the importance of responsibility. I know that responsibility is a value I am trying to instill in my children…so I am very happy that a “toy” can assist in that venue!

The Toy Dozer is a great product that helps parents and kids clean up all of the toys that we can find overwhelming and exhausting to clean up…just a little more fun! Check out the product in use in the video below:

What exactly is the Toy Dozer? It is a simple yet GENIUS invention! The product is similar to a dustpan … but instead of a broom to “sweep” in messes you have a handy little scooper. The one thing I like about this is the “scooper” Velcro’s inside the dustbin portion of the dozer. This is great… since I would hate to loose part of the product. Do you know how many times I have just wanted to use a broom to sweep up the toys my children have strewn all over the floor? But really…who want s to use an icky broom to clean up messes? The Toy Dozer created a clean way to get at those big toy messes!

My children are HUGE Lego fans! My son builds legos almost everyday…and my girls just got into the Lego friends series of Legos so our house was constantly strewn with the little parts. I was constantly picking up pieces and putting them on building plates or in Baggies. WELL… with the toy dozer pick up just got easier. I have to say that this is a great invention for these little pieces. All I have to do is use the scooper and sweep them all into the receptacle container and I easily have cleaned up a huge mess and then can bag the Legos as needed in seconds! This is a time saver for moms and dads! The kids love the product too! Usually the fuss about having to pick up ALL the Legos…but now the chore is fun and fast!

I do have to say that I also think this product has worked will in our house for beading crafts! My daughters received some bead kids for Christmas and after we were all done with the craft we were able to use the Toy Dozer to effectively clean up the beads in one swoop! I think this will be a great addition to craft days in our house as well…. Since it picks up those little pieces that I am forever using a plate or piece of paper to clean up messes.

We have used this product so many different ways… I do not think you will be disappointed. I have to honestly say that at first I thought it would be a Lego picker-upper only…but we have used it for many other things, including Barbie accessory, crayon, and Doll clothes clean up. I hate to say this but my girls’ room often looks like a tornado went through it (I know I am not alone) …but the Toy Dozer has sincerely made clean up easier!

Overall, I am thrilled with this product! It has made a difference in our “Lego” world! What a blessing to have been able to review this product!

The Toy Dozer comes in a variety of colors: Blue, Red, Purple, and Yellow.

Toy Dozer is also MADE IN THE USA!

To find more out about the Toy Dozer please visit: http://www.toydozer.com/

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Fall Table Top Ideas

Posted by html404 on September 18, 2012
in Home, Houseware, Products for Mom, Reviews, Seasonal Stuff

Fall is pretty much here and lately in our state we have been experiencing cooler weather and all the stores have begun to stock fall goodies. A great way to celebrate the coming of the new season is to use some great fall table top items from Bormioli Rocco – an Italian glassware company that offers modern designs with classic twists.

The first item on our list are the Bormioli Rocco, Sorgente Fuchsia Glassware that come in a set of six. I really like the two glasses sent to me. They are cool looking and a great addition to our glassware collection. I have been using them almost every day and the frosted color is very cute.

With the fall season you are sure to have guests over for a football party or just a fall dinner and these glasses are a great way to showcase some color and fall style without going overboard. You can find the Fuchsia Highball Glasses for $46.00 per set at Macys.com

The other item that is perfect for fall are the Bormioli Rocco Quattro Stagioni 8 1/2 Ounce Canning Jar, Set of 12 $32.55 at Amazon.com

This jar set is really cute and even though I haven’t used the one I received it’s pretty safe to say that I will probably put jam in it. If you don’t do fall canning you can also use these jars to organize meals for the back to school season. You could also use these jars for table top decorations or candle holders.

You can find these products at Macys.com and Amazon.com

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Zero Water Review and Giveaway (2 Winners)

Posted by Brande on March 30, 2012
in Cleaning, Coupons, Deals, Family Stuff, Gift Ideas, Giveaways, Health, Health and Nutrition, Houseware, News Worthy, SALES, Saving Money

STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER!!! ZeroWater is here to help save the Earth with it’s water filtration system. ZeroWater has a “patented 5-stage water filter system and is the only system certified to meet the Food & Drug Administration’s standards for Purified Bottle Water.”

Let’s talk water and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) – TDS is the substances in your water that make it “taste salty, bitter or metallic.” I live in the Northeast and have well water.

I used the TDS water meter provided

I tested our tap water and here’s the results.

That meter reads 126 as the glass stood there for a few minutes it went up to 129. Which in my area of the world is normal for tap water. Most of the US falls into the 051-200 meter reading. The ZeroWater filter will produce about 24 to 40 gallons of water for my area. As the meter reading rises the gallons of water reduces, because the filter has more substances to clean.

I buy bottled water for my family to drink. If I drink my current tap water from the faucet, frankly it tastes like dirt. I’ve tried other filtration devices and they haven’t worked.

Here’s what happened to the meter when I put my tap water through the filter.

The meter dropped to 001! WOW!

For the heck of it – I tried bottled water.

That one was 046!

The Pitcher -

It fits well in the fridge, has a place on the lid to put the TDS meter and a little spout on the bottom. I don’t even need to take the pitcher out of the fridge! My only concern in the future would be a leak from the spout. So, far all is well an no leaks! Hooray!

The Taste – It improved my water taste tremendously! No more dirt water and I can finally stop buying bottled water! ZeroWater recommends that you change your filter when you TDS meter reads 006.

World Water Day was officially on March 22!

Visit ZeroWater’s Website or on Facebook to learn more about their products!

Want more!? Use the following code MC30 for 30% off your own 10 Cup ZeroWater Pitcher !

My Review – Great product. As I said earlier my water tasted terrible. With the ZeroWater Pitcher, I don’t have to buy bottled water anymore! I can save money and the environment!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

There’s a giveaway! No, wait there’s 2 GIVEAWAYS!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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First Alert Facebook Giveaway!

Posted by Brande on March 10, 2012
in Appliances, Family Stuff, Free Stuff, Giveaways, Home, Houseware, Safety

Head to First Alert’s Facebook Page – Enter for a chance to win 1 of 100 Prize Packs! You have until March 12th (Monday)!

Don’t forget to change you clocks one hour ahead & smoke alarm batteries!

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Review ~ KitchenKuffs

Posted by Professor on February 13, 2012
in Cleaning, Clothing, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gardening, Handmade Items, Home, Houseware, Products for Dad, Products for Mom

KitchenKuffs Keep your sleeves up

KitchenKuffs is a great product designed to keep your sleeves out of the way of everyday tasks! I was very excited when I received my KitchenKuffs…I can honestly say that this product has so many uses! Basically the product slips over your sleeves near the wrist area and helps keep your sleeves out of the way of dirt, grime, water, muck…etc. No more continual pushing sleeves up after they slide down…KitchenKuffs keep them up!

I have used KitchenKuffs around the house in so many capacities…especially cooking and washing dishes… they have been invaluable in these two tasks! Once the weather gets warmer I cannot wait to use them while I garden and put up preserves and vegetables in the fall!

I received two pairs, a medium size and an adjustable size. When you visit the website they have a fitting guide so you know which ones to order! When in doubt order the adjustable!

I used the adjustable ones and actually gave the second pair (medium) to my mother. My mom owns an ice cream stand and when I showed them to her she was practically begging me to let her try a pair…so of course I did. She was so excited about how they worked. She usually uses a rubber band to keep her sleeves up when she works serving ice cream and now she has a more comfortable, more fashionable way to keep her sleeves up. Mom also said that she liked that if they got dirty she only had to wash the KitchenKuffs and not her whole jacket!

What a Myriad of uses …KitchenKuffs come in handy in work, play and everyday!

You can find out more about the product here:

http://www.kitchenkuffs.com/

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ClosedHello Kitty Lamp Review and Giveaway

Posted by html404 on July 29, 2011
in Contests, Faith and Family Reviews Friday Giveaway, Girl Stuff, Giveaways, Houseware

And the winner is………comment #39…..Brande!

!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

We where recently sent a adorable Hello Kitty lamp to review. This Hello Kitty lamp is simply adorable! You should have seen my youngest daughter’s face when she first saw it! She gave a HUGE smile and said “A Hello Kitty lamp?!” She was very pleased!

I on the other hand, am very pleased with this lamp. It is adorable and goes great with my daughter’s room decor. It would make a great gift for your little girl.

To sum this review up, my daughter and I are both very pleased with this lamp. As the picture shows you it is simply adorable and I love that it is very well made!

Giveaway!!
Enter to win a Hello Kitty lamp!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me why you want to win.

Extra Entries;(Please be sure and leave a comment and link for extra entries):

1 Entry: Tweet about this giveaway. Include a separate comment for each and your tweet url with your comment:

Enter to win a Hello Kitty lamp! @faithandfamilyrewv http://bit.ly/olsGzC #giveaway

1 Entry: Follow Faith and Family Reviews on Twitter

1 Entry: Like/Friend Faith and Family Reviews on Facebook.

10 Entries: Blog about this giveaway and link back this post. Be sure to leave me a link.

1 Entry:For every comment you leave anywhere else on this blog, but please leave a link with your comment!

2 Entries: Follow Faith and Family Reviews on Google Friend Connect (on the our right side bar).

Details:

This giveaway will run from July 29th, to August 12th, 2011 at midnight CST. The winner will be chosen through Random.org. Hello Kitty will send one winner their prize. Winner will be contacted via email on or before August 12th, 2011 and will be asked for their contact and other pertinent info. Winners will have 48 hours to send me their e-mail at [ffr] [giveaways] [at] [gmail] [dot] [com] (without spaces and parenthesis). Please note: This giveaway is offered to USA only.

Thanks and have fun!

A big thank you to Hello Kitty for providing me with the featured product to review and for providing the winners gift card.