Faith and Family Reviews - Product reviews you can trust!

Bambo Nature

Posted by 278Wife on September 9, 2013
in All Natural Products, Baby Products, Diapers and Accessories, Uncategorized

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.

If you are looking for the best eco-friendly diaper that is also the safest for your baby, look no further. Bambo Nature is the only company that is certified 100% free of dangerous chemicals and known allergens. This means no chemicals were used during raw material sourcing or production and there are absolutely no chemicals or additives on the diaper itself. Their diapers have one of the least environmental impacts, so they are very eco-friendly! Bambo Nature diapers are clinically tested for skin irritation and allergy, which means your baby has a very slim chance of getting a rash while wearing them. They are so open and transparent that they publish a complete list of their ingredients. Nothing is hidden.

I was very impressed by the softness of Bambo Nature diapers, they reminded me of a feathery pillow. They are very flexible, not stiff or itchy. The diapers are also unbelievably thin, yet extremely absorbent. My daughter always has a very full diaper in the morning and these diapers still kept her feeling comfortable. No leakage or wetness on the outside, either. The diapers are 100% breathable so they will release heat, humidity, and moisture. My daughter received absolutely no irritation or rash while wearing these diapers. She has had problems with some of the other big brand named diapers, so this was a big deal for me!

Another great feature of these diapers is the handy carrying handle on the top, how smart!

Bambo Nature has received many prestigious certifications, eco-labels, and awards including the Nordic Swan Eco-label and the FSC label. They come in 10 different sizes to accommodate premature babies all the way through potty training. So if you are looking for the safest, most absorbent, greenest, and reasonably priced disposable diaper for your baby, try Bambo Nature. You will not be disappointed!

http://www.bambo-nature.com/

{10 comments}

Book Review ~ Love to Stay

Posted by Professor on September 6, 2013
in Books, 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.

Falling in love is easy, but staying in love takes courage, hard work, and lots of grace.

In this book, Adam Hamilton explores how, with God’s help, we can make love last. Drawing upon a survey of thousands of couples and singles, interviews with relationship and marriage therapists, the latest research in the field, and wisdom from the Bible, Hamilton looks at what it takes to create and sustain healthy, meaningful romantic relationships across the course of a lifetime. Contents include: More Than a Piece of Paper; What She Wants; What He Wants; The Significance of Sexual Intimacy; Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal; Clothe, Bear With, and Forgive; A Love That Lasts a Lifetime.

About the Author:

Adam Hamilton is senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. The Church Report named Hamilton’s congregation the most influential mainline church in America, and he preached at the National Prayer Service as part of the presidential inauguration festivities in 2013. Hamilton is the best-selling and award-winning author of Why? Making Sense of God’s Will, 24 Hours that Changed the World, The Journey, The Way, Enough, When Christians Get It Wrong and Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, all published by Abingdon Press. Learn more about Hamilton at AdamHamilton.org.

OUR REVIEW:

I must admit to you that I was very hesitant to accept this review. I am Catholic and was very hesitant to read a book from an author of a different faith. The author is a senior pastor fro the United Methodist Church. But let me tell you this book will resonate REGARDLESS of your faith! This is a wonderful book… and I am VERY PLEASED to have had a chance to review the text!

Author Adam Hamilton has done much research in the compilation of his text…it is very biblical and practical at the same time. I wish I could give each of my blog readers a copy of this book because the information within its pages is very relevant to those who are in a relationship. I mean the title of the book says everything about the inner text… LOVE TO STAY: Sex, Grace, and Commitment.

The text goes through the good times and bad times of a relationship and gives little tidbits on how to help or strengthen a relationship. If your relationship is currently strong or currently faltering I think that this is a good read. The author gives many different aspects of a relationship…ANYONE can benefit from his words and findings.

Each of the chapters resonates with a part of a relationship that each person deals with and sometimes struggles with…for example chapter 2 “what she wants, what he wants” … this chapter delineates what men and women of different ages want in a mate and a relationship. To tell you the truth I never thought that what people want would be broken down into age categories… but it makes sense! This chapter is very relevant for everyone it even includes honest answers from real people.

Perhaps that is what I enjoyed the most from the book is that its pages are laden with thoughts and comments from people that the author surveyed …it is not just random thoughts that the author was thinking but real people based!

My favorite chapter is the very last portion of the book… Appendix B: Advice from Couples Married 50+ years. I think this is a great addendum to the book. I always LOVE to read what couples have to say that have made it so long in a relationship!

This is definitely a book that everyone in a committed relationship should read. I enjoyed reading the text and hope you will too.

To find out about this book or other books by the same author please visit www.abingdonpress.com

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Trapped by Irene Hannon

Posted by html404 on September 5, 2013
in Books, Gift Ideas, Products for Mom, Reviews, Uncategorized

Trapped by Irene Hannon is the second book in the Private Justice series. It is a romantic suspense novel about a woman named Laura Griffith and her half sister, Darcy, who runs away because her sister’s rules are too much for her to live with. When Darcy goes missing Laura not only contacted the police but also hired a PI (Private Investigator) named Devlin, to find her and bring her home.

I always enjoy Irene Hannon’s books. I like how she keeps me hanging and wanting to read more to find out what happens. I like that there are usually a few elements of surprise and suspense in her storylines.

However, the romantic interest always seems way too predictable. In Trapped and Vanished it seems that the main characters fall in love at first sight as much as they try to fight their attraction. I’m not one for love at first sight, neither is my husband, who says he believes in infatuation at first sight, I tend to agree with him. It must start out as attraction and infatuation, not love. How can you fall in love with someone you don’t even know anything about?

I do like that Dev maintains his professional relationship and does not pursue romance until his work on the case is complete. That is an example of professional integrity, something the real world is lacking.

Nevertheless, because Trapped kept me on my toes I give it two thumbs up.

For more information visit http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/trapped/338190

Irene Hannon’s website, twitter and facebook:

http://www.irenehannon.com/

https://twitter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irene-Hannon/426433004084567

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

{12 comments}

Early Holiday Gift Ideas

Posted by html404 on September 4, 2013
in Gift Ideas, Holidays, Seasonal Stuff, Shopping

This is a featured post.

It’s never too early to think about Christmas shopping, right? There has been many a year that I started my holiday shopping right after Christmas during all the end of season sales. Then I’d continue throughout the year to buy gifts so we would never have a huge Christmas bill to pay for after the holidays. It would all be paid for up front. Free and clear. Makes for a stress-free holiday season.

Holiday Gift Ideas

I just wanted to share a few little holiday gift ideas to get you started on your Christmas gift list.

There are always Christmas gatherings and holiday celebrations to attend. What better way to say thank you than a nice little festive hostess gift. These little holiday gift towel sets are so cute!

Holiday Gift Towel Sets

We have always made Christmas ornaments and decorations a part of our gift giving, especially for our children. When we got married we barely had any Christmas decorations or tree ornaments. We had to buy it all. Good thing I worked at a craft store and had a discount, plus I’d use coupons to reduce what we spent even more.

I’ve always purchased my husband ornaments of his favorite sports teams. He is such a goofball that he made it a family tradition that besides our little manager ornament that lights up, his Chicago Bulls ornaments go on the tree first! You should see him get after the children if they dare put one of their ornaments on first! All in fun though. We have been given a couple holiday houses – a lighthouse to remember my native land of Nova Scotia and a church – but we do not have any like these NFL collectible holiday houses.

NFL Collectible Holiday Houses

My husband and I have carried over some of the traditions we had growing up to but we have also made it a point to create new ones just for our family. The Legend of the Christmas Nest made me think of how we have implemented new holiday traditions.

Legend Of The Christmas Nest

So what are your holiday gift ideas this year? Feel free to share them with us as we might need a little inspiration this early on in the “holiday” season!

{18 comments}

Our Farm at Sunset – Wordless Wednesday

Posted by html404 on September 4, 2013
in Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Home, Uncategorized, Wordless Wednesday

This is a photo of our farm at sunset when we got the hay field cut. The hay is all baled and stored except for the few bales that got rained on. We got pretty close to 600 bales of hay for our first cutting and that was just our share. We split it 50-50 with the farmer who cut, raked and baled it for us. No exchange of money, which we liked. Some hay guys will charge you a certain amount on top of each bale, even if they are getting 50 percent of the bales.

It was very hard to find someone to do our hay. Someone who said what they meant and meant what they said. Mr. L. came out to our farm to look at the hay field the same day we called him. He cared if the hay got wet or not, though we didn’t miss the rain altogether due to the amount of time it took for the hay to dry with the thicker weeds. 🙁 We had a few hay guys give us the run around, didn’t come out when they said they would etc. We are very thankful to Mr. L. for doing our hay for us.

It was a lot of work to get the hay unloaded and into the barn. Our children now say they hate hay! lol! We kept asking them what are you going to do if we get another cutting? What are you going to do if we get three cuttings next year? Though some say three cuttings is rare, especially if you don’t have your own equipment, which we obviously do not.

Now that the hay is in we have fencing to work on. Thankfully it is suppose to be nice all week and not too too hot. 70’s and 80’s slowly moving back up to the 90’s again.

P.S. By way of a wee update….Mr. L. picked up his last two wagons today and told us he had to bring in someone to fix his baler but he wasn’t accusatory like it was our fault or anything. The guy that planted our field refused to hay it, #1 he was backed up with other haying jobs but #2 he said it was all weeds and there were too many rocks in the field. When we told Mr. L. this he was matter of fact, “Hay fields have rocks….” We feel bad his baler broke but blessed he didn’t blame us/our hay field.

He also told us our pasture grass is coming back nicely and we can probably look at a second cutting mid to late October! Hoorah! The kids are going to love us! 😉

{24 comments}

See ‘n Store

Posted by 278Wife on September 3, 2013
in Baby Products, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Kids Stuff, Organization, Reviews, Uncategorized

For the most part, my children love going for walks in the stroller. Whenever I go to the mall, though, I always end up shopping too long for their liking. Usually I hand them my phone and let them play games or watch videos. This works okay, but I’m always stressed making sure they don’t drop it, or someone steals it from their little hands. Now there’s a way for all of us to be happy.

The See ‘n Store multi-media stroller organizer does it all and more. This lifesaver fits a tablet, iPad, iPad2, or portable DVD player. In addition, it contains a trash bag (with kids I always have trash!), drink holder, key ring, and other pockets to store baby supplies, phone, or whatever else you carry with you. It can be used in two different ways, either for mom to look at or the kids to look at. When the See ‘n Store is placed on the stroller facing mom, you can easily access your tablet to check e-mail, surf the Internet, or view photos and videos. I found this to be great. At the playground while the kids are running around, I can easily check my e-mail while still keeping tabs on the kiddos. It’s also nice for when my daughter falls asleep in the stroller. She likes movement for her naps, so I’m always rocking her. Being able to watch videos while rocking her, sure passes the time.

Then when I need to keep the kids occupied, I can simply reverse the See ‘n Store organizer to their side, so they can watch videos hands-free. I loved this. I no longer had to worry about my son dropping my electronic device, or touching it with his cereal-eating hands. He could just relax, enjoy his snack, and watch videos.

The See n’ Store is very easy to attach to the stroller. It fits on rear-facing and front-facing strollers for mom to “see” and rear-facing strollers for baby to “see”. This organization tool is very well made, and holds everything you can possibly think of. I plan on bringing mine to Disney. It will be a lifesaver while we wait in line, and at the airport. I would definitely recommend the See ‘n Store multi-media stroller organizer to all moms on the go!

http://baby-beehaven.com

{8 comments}

Oral-B Deep Sweep TRIACTION 1000 Power Toothbrush

Posted by html404 on September 2, 2013
in Family Stuff, Personal Care Products, Reviews, Uncategorized

Oral-B Deep Sweep TRIACTION 1000 Power Toothbrush

My husband reviewed the Oral-B Deep Sweep TRIACTION 1000 Power Toothbrush and even posed for a few goofy photos. He wouldn’t keep still when I took the photos so they turned out a little blurry.

At first he wasn’t too thrilled that he’d been recruited to review the Oral-B Deep Sweep TRIACTION 1000 Power Toothbrush because he didn’t think he’d like it. However, he ate his words and does like it very much. He said the brush heads are really easy to replace, at least according to him because I didn’t try replacing them for him!

What he liked about this toothbrush:

Because it gives me power….oops, no he said just kidding to that one! (shhh…..don’t tell him I left it in my review! Ha!)
He likes the way it cleans the teeth
He said it makes his gums feel good (he’s had issues with gum disease in the past so this is a very positive one for him)
He said it gets the plaque off his teeth and gumline

The only thing he doesn’t like about the toothbrush is he color. He said it doesn’t say SHAZAM! Seriously, he’s a goof ball, but shhh…..don’t tell him I said that!

Two thumbs up from Robert!

{4 comments}

Another Book Series from Carole P Roman

Posted by Professor on September 1, 2013
in Books, Reviews, Uncategorized

Another great series from author Carole P Roman! The Captain No Beard series stresses valuable life lessons and topics such as sharing, teamwork, loyalty, and cooperation.

Our review:

We reviewed four books in Carole P. Roman’s pirate series

Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirates Life

Captain No Beard and his pirate ship The Flying Dragon, set sail for a voyage of the imagination with his fearless crew of four: First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the Loudmouthed Lion, and Fribbet the Floppy Frog. Normally, a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!

Captain No Beard: Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience

Captain No Beard, his First Mate Hallie, and the crew of the Flying Dragon pirate ship are excited to welcome a new crew member. Pepper the Parrot, today! But the drills are a major problem for Pepper the Parrot to complete correctly, since she doesn’t know her left from her right. Her new friends show her some understanding, patience, and a special trick that encourages her to have confidence and to become a real crew member. Her new discovery makes her look at herself in a more positive, confident way.

Captain No Beard: Stuck in the Doldrums, a Lesson in Sharing

Captain No Beard and his crew are at it again, but when the wind stops blowing, the Flying Dragon gets stranded on a desert island! With his First Mate, Hallie; Linus the Lion; Fribbet the Frog; Mongo the Monkey; and Polly the Parrot, Captain No Beard has to find a way to use teamwork and understanding to get through the problem at hand. However when Captain No Beard gets bossy and makes playtime miserable for the crew, he soon finds himself alone and helpless when a giant squid attacks. Just when it seems like the captain is in over his head, his faithful crew reunites and teaches him an important lesson.

Captain No Beard: Strangers on the High Seas

When the Flying Dragon gets a new crew member, Captain No Beard soon discovers that every person is valuable in his or her own way. Responsible for his new crew member and baby sister, the Captain becomes unhappy with his situation and begins to think that being a captain is hard work. However, when the dreaded Barnabus the Scurvey Dog begins to chase the Flying Dragon, the fearless Captain has to put aside his problems and keep everyone safe. In their race to escape, the Captain, his loyal First Mate Hallie, mongo the Monkey, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, and Polly the Parrot soon find out that help can come from the most unlikely of places.

This is a wonderful series of books! My children were engaged throughout the reading of each book. We loved the colorful illustrations that each book had to offer. I as a mom enjoyed that the books provided entertainment, while providing a life lesson for my children. That fact alone makes this an important series to read! We also loved that the book is full of imagination and even after we read the books we could imagine our own adventures! We LOVED the entire series… we could not pick a favorite!

For more information about the author or her books please visit www.carolproman.com

This book can be found on Amazon.com

{11 comments}

On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin

Posted by html404 on August 31, 2013
in Books, Girl Stuff, Products for Mom, Reviews, Uncategorized

On Distant Shores is the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series written by Sarah Sundin. It is a historical romance set during WWII at a time in which pharmacists were not taken as serious on the battle field or at home for that matter, as their profession is today. This book is about the fear, indecisiveness and timidity of a flight nurse named Georgina and the pride of an enlisted pharmacist, named Hutch. It is also about their struggles within the system.

Did you know pharmacists were not respected by many during WWII? Did you know a pharmacist could not be an officer in the army, therefore could not fraternize with officers? I learned a lot in this book.

Georgina and Hutch were put in many crisis situations and had to know how to deal with them. Like anyone tested under extreme pressure, each of them struggled yet grew in character.

I liked how Georgina found a “new you”. She learned how to make decisions for herself and be the best she could be despite the opinions of close friends and family, which were quite the opposite of what God wanted her to become during her time as a flight nurse. She was able to face her fears and insecurities and actually conquer them. Ever have people you love doubt you and your decisions? Were you strong enough to advance forward in spite of their doubts? It takes a lot of strength and trust in God to do so, after all loved ones are people we trust and usually know us best. However, God knows us even better than they do.

Hutch also discovered a “new” person within himself, but he had to put away an uglier side of himself before he could fully become the “new” Hutch. God had to humble him to the point of a servant in order for Hutch to realize being in the Pharmacy Corps was a worthy goal but did not define who he was as a person. He had to learn to be all he could be in the position he was in and be content not to be in the Pharmacy Corps if that is what God deemed best for that time.

I liked the growth of the characters and learning more about the professions of flight nurses and pharmacists…but I found myself a little bored, whether that was because I didn’t get to read the book at a leisurely pace and felt rushed to get it read to get my review done on time or if it’s because I have read too many novels and am bored with the same old same old. I will say there were a couple of surprises in the storyline and overall it was a decent read but I’m not sure it’s a book I’d read it again. For that reason I only give it a thumbs up.

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

{7 comments}

Teespring.com

Posted by Brande on August 31, 2013
in Business, Children's Clothing, Clothing, Family Stuff, Fashion, Fun Stuff, Organization, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, SALES, Uncategorized

Raising money for an event or campaign is a tough job, especially when it comes to ordering shirts. Planning, collecting money, getting sizes, meeting with the designer, then making the time so everyone gets their product. Lots of time and effort, Teespring.com is here to help! How you ask? It’s simple.

Launch a campaign, design your own tee, pick the price you want to sell it for, choose a goal for selling, and an end date. Then spread the word via your own unique web link then post it it to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and email!

When people order their shirt, they click on the unique link, pick their size, pay for it and best of all, your shirt can be delivered right to everyone’s door! Then if you are a business you can withdraw the profit. If you did this for a fundraiser, the profits are paid directly to the organization! It’s that easy!

Consider Teespring.com for your next fundraiser!

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