Happy New Year!

It's a new year and I've decided that there will be some new additions to Mummy's Product Reviews this year. In addition to the regularly featured PBN reviews, Friday Fun Finds and the weekly product reviews, I'll be conducting compare and contrasts of products. Mummy will debunk myths regarding even more products, hopefully incorporate an abundance of giveaways (ahem! companies! Readers like free stuff!!) into the reviews and add more coupons.

I'll even post about books, movies, and current trends (watermelon!) throughout the year so check back often for exciting new ideas and more!

If you have questions regarding certain products or how I conduct reviews please feel free to contact me and I will see what I can do. I'm here to help you find the very best of what is new, fresh, hot and well... what works and won't waste your money.

If you are a company that would like your product reviewed keep in mind that I veer towards green items, women and children's accessories, gift ideas, housewares and decor. I am open-minded but I like to actually review the product and not just post about it sight unseen. Giveaways to the readers work wonders on me as do posting ads on this site. So give me a call, email, or write!


It's a brand new year and there are loads of great products to be reviewed! I look forward to working with you, hearing from you and learning with you!

Happy 2008!

Mummy

Art of Chipotle-Salsas & Sauces

Gluten free, gourmet, all natural and fun! That is Chipotle People’s take on the fiery little jalapeño. They sent me two unique salsas and two heat sauces that were sure to knock my socks off.



Pineapple Mojito- (13 ounce jar $4.39-$4.79) - is fresh pineapple with a slight hint of mint. The people at the Art of Chipotle describe this salsa as “unique and distinctive.” It sure is! This one is a tricky little salsa that I paired with chips. It comes on all sweet and mild at first and then packs a heated punch at the end. If you like daring food, then nothing beats this all natural salsa. It has vine fresh ingredients and a nice tropical scent when you open the jar. Pineapple Mojito salsa is certainly an adventure to eat. It’s best served as a topping or in combination with a food. I think it would taste great on chicken or even fish, but it’s not the best for chips.

Mango Gingersnap- This really is the ultimate in gourmet salsas. It has a slightly chunkier consistency than the pineapple Mojito and is not quite as watery either. There was no tropical scent that greeted me upon opening the jar. I paired it with chips and crunched away. I liked this one the best overall for its subtle mango flavoring and then it hits you with the slow warming from the ginger. I think this would be a great treat to serve at a party instead of the same played out jarred salsas out there.

Sweet Heat Addiction- (13-14.7 ounce jars- $5.99-$6.99) - Sometimes original really is the best. I paired this medium heat sauce with chicken one night using it as a marinade. Then I invited people over. Wow! No one could get enough of its great taste. It made an incredibly tasty marinade with its slightly sweet taste and warm heat that was impossible to resist. We dipped and ate, ate and dipped. Then the bottle was gone. I’m still sad. I highly recommend this award winning Sweet Heat Addiction sauce and will definitely be trying it as a sauce, using it on appetizers, other meats and even eggs!

Smokey Red Sensation Chipotle Sauce- This heat sauce is bold. There is a strong smoky flavor that purist of the chipotle will love. Hints of garlic, cumin and molasses pair well with the intense tomato flavor in this highly versatile sauce. While it was not a favorite in our house I think if paired with the right foods like beef and even pumpkin this spicy heat sauce would really shine.

The folks at the Art of Chipotle are really passionate about their product and serving it naturally. All ingredients are fresh and truly healthy. All products have a robust chile flavor while managing to find an incredible balance between sweet and hot. There are numerous recipes on the website as well as gift ideas and other fun links.

Fun Find- Reliadose!

Invented by a Mom and winner of the 2007 JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association) Reliadose, seeks to make the sometimes difficult task of giving your child medicine, easy. This simple to use medicine delivery system consists of a dual-chamber nipple, bottle and syringe. They work together to effectively deliver the proper dosage of medicine all without the unpleasant mediciney taste.

Reliadose is great for anyone who has trouble giving their child medicine. It works with the child’s natural instinct to drink. It is also not difficult to clean. It is compact too so it won’t take up a lot space in a cabinet, bag, or draw. It’s truly a wonderful idea because it really does eliminate a lot of the stress that can occur when your child is sick and doesn’t like to take their medicine. Dealing with a sick child is hard enough, Reliadose just blends right into their daily schedule!

Reliadose is available online at cvs.com and in some drugstores and supermarkets nationwide and the Reliadose website is incredibly comprehensive.

Wilbur – Books are Moovelous!

September is National Literacy Month and Discovery Kids’ brings five all new episodes of the popular show, Wilbur. Wilbur, an award-winning series created by three moms, is designed to get preschool age kids excited about reading and books. A far, an idyllic setting, serves as a backdrop for Wilbur and his friends and their exciting reading adventures.

Each episode has a new situation and a new problem to solve. Every problem can be fixed through reading a book and finding the answers within the books pages along with the help of some preschool age children who enjoy reading too. As Wilbur points out, books are full of ideas and ideas can help solve many problems. Wilbur narrates and guides children through the reading of each storybook and kids can watch the book come to life on their television screens. In one episode Dasha, a curious duck, needs to learn the importance of saying thank you. Wilbur reads the story of a juggling dolphin who neglects to say thank you to his helpful fish friend. The story, explains in a simple way that “thank you, lets others know that you like what they did for you.” Dasha quickly learns the lesson of thank you and so did your kids.

The goal of the Wilbur series, which was created in consultation with early childhood experts, aims to assist kids increase their print recognition, vocabulary, and listening comprehension skills. It also helps children to develop the patterns, flow and nature of written language. My child simply found Wilbur fun. She laughed and danced when Wilbur gets “wiggling” and became enchanted with the silly songs and short but interesting stories. When Wilbur says, “Moo, moo, moo, read a book with you!” and “Get up and shake it,” she did and even mooed aloud. While she might be a tad too young ( 18 months) to fully understand and comprehend all that she is learning, she is learning none the less and finding out that the process can be incredibly entertaining. These commercial-free shows are a great way for kids to learn the fun fact that books are full of useful, problem solving information. All they have to do is turn the page!



Wilbur airs on TLC and the Discovery Kids Channel. All new episodes begin September 10 at 11 a.m. (ET) on Discovery Kids and 7:30 a.m. (ET/PT) on TLC. There are more new episodes of other great shows debuting that week such as Peep and the Big Wide World and Hip Hop Harry.

Mucky's Morsels- Freshly Baked, Incredibly Delish Treats!

Cookies of all varieties, I just love them! I love baking them, the smell of fresh cookies, even in the morning! How about a Breakfast cookie? That's right, a Breakfast cookie. The lovely people over at Mucky's Morsels recently sent me three batches of their fine cookies to try including the Breakfast cookie.

Made up of cornflakes, oatmeal, coconuts and bits of walnuts the Breakfast cookie is not too sweet but certainly makes a great snack or morning pick me up. When they arrived at my door they were still soft and fresh. Not one was broken! They were also not overly packaged which is a plus in my book. Anytime a company can figure out a way to package correctly without using thousands of peanuts or packing paper I'm happy. All the ingredients in these cookies are natural and fresh. You can tell in each bite.



I was eager to try the other two cookie types so I basically just ripped open the bags and passed them out to my family as fast as I could. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup is the color of a rich dark chocolate. The pleasantly plump peanut butter chips are more like chunks and were a bit melty which worked out just fine. The soft cookie and light sweetness combined well. These cookies aren't sickly overpowering in flavor while also not being bland and floury. I liked this combination. Alyson Hackett, the owner of Mucky's Morsels, has a nice touch.

I tried the Mint Chocolate Chip cookie last and well, I saved the best for last. Often times mint flavoring will overpower an item, but not in this cookie. It was cool to bite into with just a hint of mint. The nicely sized chocolate chips were a good contrast and created a very complementary cookie. The thickness of the cookie with the size makes this and all the other Mucky's Morsels flavors just right. They are not too big or thick and yet you don't feel cheapened because they are defintely not too small.

And why the name Mucky? Mucky is Alyson's father, Mel. Her oldest son, Chase changed his name from Grampy Mel to Mucky and the name stuck. The cookie business is a family venture so what could be better than a family name?

Head on over to Mucky's Morsels and you will find many cookie types, eleven in all and brownies too! They have shipping rates all listed right there as well as shipping times. I can attest it was prompt and the cookies were fantastic! They are mixed, baked, and shipped all in the same day to guarantee freshness. There are monthly specials, a Mucky of the Month Club, and even a Military Cookie Program which makes them even better. There are always discounts and you can order by fax and phone if the online thing isn't for you.

Fun Finds Friday! Beaded Starlit!

I have an obsession with Etsy. I love finding new designers who don't make cookie cutter pieces. BeadedStarlit is one such creator. Inspired by vintage wares she creates a line of purses, business card cases, and jewelry, including nursing necklaces that are just simply beautiful.



Betsy, the designer who hails from Wisconsin, is prompt, professional, and loves to do custom pieces. Chat her up and she'll design something especially for you! She's also a proud member of SRAJD (Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer). So visit, BeadedStarlit and see what she can do for you!

Solar Roast Coffee- 'Sun in Your Cup'

"Our goal is to roast the finest organic coffees using only the power of the sun."
- Michael Hartkop, Roastmaster

Using only solar-thermal roasters and clean and abundant solar energy Solar Roast Coffee is truly an earth-friendly experience. All batches are small and hand mixed, 100% organic, with no fossil fuels burned. I find the whole process pretty amazing. The roaster can heat up to 550 degrees and tracks the sun all day soaking up the highest amount of its rays. Solar panels power all the other electronic components so no fossil fuel is burned there either. That makes me happy!

So how does it taste?

The good sun worshipping people over at Solar Roast sent me two samples- Bolivia and Guatemalan. Both coffees were packaged in handy re-sealable bags and arrived quickly. I tried the Guatemalan ($13.95) first which is classified as a single origin organic since no other type of bean is mixed in. It has an earthy and yet slightly fruity scent to it that was quite pleasant. There is even a hint of chocolate and spice that I noticed on my second cup. I found it to be a very light coffee as well. It’s great for people who like coffee but aren’t obsessed with it and don’t get into the heavy, dark flavors of some of the deeper roasts. It went quickly in our house and was the favored brew by my husband.

Next up, the Bolivia Roast ($12) a rich brew that is grown high in the mountains of South America. There is definitely a smoky quality to it that I rather enjoyed. It was more like an espresso roast to me. It’s dark and yet not bitter and doesn’t muddy up in your cup. I enjoyed the deep scent of it and it was my personal favorite of the two I sampled.

You can buy a bag of Solar Roast coffee pre-ground or as whole beans. Either way it arrives fresh at your door. What’s more you know you are helping the planet by buying a product that has burned not even one bit of fossil fuels. There are fair-trade blends, sample packs, and lots of other tempting roasts to try. It makes a great gift for any coffee lover as well as those of us trying to keep our planet a little greener. Give Solar Roast Coffee a try; you’ll feel that ‘sun in your cup’ every morning.

Baby Stud- Custom Jerseys For Your Kid!

It’s all about customization these days. The desire to have something personalized and made just for you has even filtered down into children’s wear. Baby Stud by Debbie Rott has made her mark in this arena as well with her Custom Baby or Toddler Jersey’s. The jersey’s which come in t-shirt (short and long sleeves) or onesie format are super soft. Each one has the child’s name on the back with a number on the front and back. You choose the number. It can be a birth date, year, or lucky one, you decide!



The shirts, which range in price from $18-32, wear well and are super soft comfortable. They don’t shrink either. You can choose from a variety of colors for the number and names too. We love the adorable white onesie with the red letters and numbers in our house. It sports our daughter’s last name and her birth date on the back making her part of “our team”. I think these are the perfect gift idea for a child who comes from a sports oriented family (especially those who cheer for dividing teams) or for a girl who might not like frills and bows. It’s a unique clothing item and one that you and your child will love. I might even dare to say, it is a keepsake.

Baby Stud also sells baby footwear, accessories and some seriously rockin' diaper bags. These are not your normal pastel duckling affairs. Pack your diapers in one of these leather studded bags and you will be the coolest mom on the tot lot.

Mudpuppy Toys

Mudpuppy toys are “beautifully designed” and hours of fun. The friendly people at Galison sent me a few Mudpuppy items to try out and they are a big hit with both me and my daughter. What I like about them is they really are beautifully designed. They are colorful, sturdy, and imaginative. I don’t mind playing with them while she does which is a hard thing to achieve. I rarely like any toys that come across our threshold as much as I enjoy the Mudpuppy ones.



The Baby Animal Block Puzzle(for ages 3+, $13) is part of the block puzzle line which has 14 different puzzles to choose from. That’s another thing I like about Mudpuppy there is a lot of variety and themes to capture the heart of any kid and parent. These block puzzles are also the 2005 winner of the iParenting Excellent Product Award. The block puzzles contain 9 2-inch blocks that work together to create six separate scenes/puzzles. It’s great! There’s always something new to discover on the blocks and piece together creating a new scene. My daughter stacks them, throws them, and becomes engrossed looking at all the sides and creations we can come up with. There is even Eric Carle, creator of the popular ‘The Very Hungary Caterpillar’ book, puzzles.



The other toy we received is the Ring Flash Cards ($12). I know it sounds boring doesn’t it? You think, “Oh no! Not flash cards!” These things are the best though! The large plastic ring is easy for a toddler or adult to carry. They make excellent travel toys and provide a lot of one on one learning opportunities for you and your child. There are four sets in this series. We received the Animal ABC’s set. Illustrated by Clare Beaton these fabulous on-the-go toys are two-sided. One side displays an upper and lowercase letter, an animal illustration (U for Umbrella Bird), while the second side will depict three words beginning with that letter and a larger version of the letter itself. My daughter can spend a lot of time going over them alone, asking questions, and reviewing them with one of us. It didn’t take very long for her to begin recognizing the letters of the alphabet after using these ring flash cards. She is learning her letters and animals that go beyond the ‘C is for Cat’ genre. They also come in Spanish to English, French to English, and Things That Go.

If you are looking for toys that aren’t flashy, are good quality and a bit different head on over to Mudpuppy. From magnetic dress up dolls in fun tins to stationary there is something for any child in your life. Mudpuppy will have me as a repeat buyer for my child and for gifts for other children.

Linda and Harriett Stationary

I love getting mail and I adore stationary. I dutifully write thank you notes, send cards, and I still write to my grandmother. What can I say? I believe that a written note is far superior to an email. When Liz Libre´ of Linda and Harriett sent me some of her beautifully designed notecards I was thrilled!



The cards are made up of a thick Italian paper and hand stamped by rubber stamps with Liz’s own designs. The accompanying envelopes come in a variety of colors from navy to golden yellows. They are simple and elegant and evoke a bygone era. My pet sitter loved Frank, the little alligator thank you card, I gave her from Linda and Harriett deeming it, “too cute”. It is too cute!

Linda and Harriett carries not just letterpressed note cards but a variety of tags for gifts, flats, notepads, and striking invitations. The invitations are hand stamped as well so guests will feel welcomed and excited before they even attend the event. Items can even be personalized which makes them a great gift for kids and adults. All the items by Linda and Harriett are inspired by Liz’s own mother who loved the whimsical, beautiful and the practical. To me, that is the best way to describe these little stationary treasures. No matter what you buy from Liz and Harriett it comes to you with a deeply personal feel to it and that is what makes this line so very special.



Based out of Brooklyn, New York, Linda and Harriett can be found online here and at some fine retailers also featured on the Linda and Harriett website. I would check out her blog (found on main website) too for hints on new items being created and more places to find all the wonderfully creative Linda and Harriet pieces. Designs change from time to time to evoke seasons and places so check back often on both the blog and website.

Sticky Fingers Bakeries

From Washington State, comes
Sticky Fingers Bakeries fresh, all-natural, quick and easy baked goodies. I had the privilege of taste testing a few of their products and was pleasantly surprised. I am an avid baker and make many items from scratch. While I don’t veto box mixes I don’t typically reach for them either.

First up are the brownies. I was sent three different flavors. I made the Chocolate Fudge and Espresso Fudge brownies for a party to see how they would fare. I found them to each possess a true chocolate flavor and was pleasantly surprised at the soft chocolate chunks embedded within. The Espresso has a nice smoky quality that I enjoyed as did many others and both types were soft and chewy. I made the third flavor, Chocolate Mint, for a dessert for company one night accompanying it with fresh whipped cream. The light mint flavor does not overpower the brownie and tastes fresh. I enjoyed this one the most and would use it again as a cool summer treat.

Next up are the English scones mixes and curds. I received three types of scone batter and two types of curd to try along with the scones. I baked the Pumpkin Spice scones in no time flat. All of Sticky Fingers Bakeries items are not only made from natural ingredients, but easy to make too. Some mixes only require water! In just a short time my kitchen smelled like fresh pumpkin. The moist scones were a delight warm and just out of the oven and just as good a day later when I shared them with friends. The spices are not overpowering and neither is the pumpkin. These scones bake up well and have a wonderful brown color to them making you yearn for fall.



Just adding water I whipped up a batch of the Cranberry scones. In minutes they were hot and ready. The whole family loved the chewy cranberries tucked inside the tender scones. Served hot or at room temperature they were just sweet enough with a hint of tartness from the cranberries. I paired them with the cranberry curd to top them off. This curd seemed very different from the lemon curd. The sweet factor was not there. The cranberry flavor did not shine through as well either. The jar was bypassed by everyone in the family for having a slightly cheesy smell. I actually wonder if I got a bad batch as it seemed a bit off despite its expiration date being in check. The curd is made from only eggs, sugar, cranberries, and xanthium gum. Could it go bad despite being sealed?

I baked and shared the Lemon Ginger scones with friends and family. I also broke out the Lemon Curd. This too is made from all natural ingredients and hits just the right notes of sweetness with tart lemon. I wanted to drink it straight from its cutely packaged jar. My friends and family agreed that the slight heat and spice from the ginger combined with the light lemon made these scones the best of the three.

Sticky Fingers Bakeries makes great products! They are incredibly easy to make, all natural, and fresh. There are no artificial ingredients involved and some are even Kosher. Priced reasonably (around $6 a mix) and of a high quality I would buy these again and even give them as gifts. You can order them directly from Sticky Fingers or find a retailer near you via the Sticky Fingers website.

*NOTE- For some reason blogger is not directing to the Sticky Fingers website. I am truly sorry about this but no fear- it can be found at www.stickyfingersbakeries.com . Enjoy!

Twelve- noon to midnight

Twelve, the new nonalcoholic, "culinary inspired" drink that is sophisticated and ideal for fine dining and entertaining. When I first laid eyes on the bottle of Twelve I thought, "Oooh how beautiful. How chic. I want that!" The sleek design and light golden orange color commands you to buy it if only for a taste. It is a great non-alcoholic option for parties, lunches, and in restaurants and I wouldn't be surprised if I started to see it offered all throughout D.C. by this time next year. My girlfriend in L.A. thinks it's going to be a total "L.A. Thing" as well. At 60 calories in an 8 oz serving how could it not be?

I tried out Twelve on a group of friends during a girls night and received a variety of comments. At first sip one notices the slight effervescence and its complex flavor. There is nothing like it on the market. It would be an ingenious addition to a spa instead of serving tired lemon slices in water. Fine spas could now serve Twelve! There is a spiciness to Twelve that allows the drink to be crisp at the same time. Each person who tasted it agreed that the end note was that of anise or black licorice but even that is subtle. Organic white, green, and black teas mixed with herbs, spices and a citrus essence make up Twelve and gives it that truly unique taste has a familiarity about it as well.

While I don't think I would order Twelve to go with my noon meal I would find it absolutely refreshing (it's best served very cold) in a spa setting or during cocktail hour if mixed with a splash of vodka or gin. I think the juniper in gin would compliment Twelve exceptionally well.

Twelve is distributed by The Chef's Warehouse in a case of 12 for $60.00. It can also be found at Hello Delicious in a duet pack for only $14.00.

Lush- Blonde Solid Shampoo and Marilyn Hair Treatment

Lush’s Blonde Solid Shampoo bar(a bright yellow block of shampoo infused with actual chamomile flowers) promises “soft, shiny traffic-stopping hair”. While I haven’t stopped any traffic in my suburban realm my hair is decidedly softer and shinier. It also lightened up my roots a little bit in the process. Having never used a shampoo in bar form before I didn’t quite know what to expect, I love the light and natural scent though, so I knew my hair would smell nice regardless. I took the bar and rubbed it on my hair and found it lathered quite well. My hair was squeaky clean. That is the only drawback. You probably shouldn’t use Blonde Solid Shampoo bar every day. Use it a few times a week at most and then apply a heavy dose of conditioning to your scalp. I did notice is that people with really light blonde hair will have immediate and noticeable results. I was out of shampoo for my daughter and opted for the Lush bar as its all natural (organic lemon juice, chamomile, and marigold work their mojo here) and less harsh on her little crown of toddler hair than the salon brand sitting in my shower. Later that day as she played outside a friend remarked how she looked much more blonde than the day before. “Fascinating”, I murmured and laughed. I told them what happened and her hair really was lighter and even softer if that is possible with baby fine hair.



In desperate need to cover my roots and postpone a long and expensive salon visit I also tried Lush’s Marilyn Hair Treatment. This pot of goo can be applied to roots or your whole head. I’ve used it three times and let it really sit on my hair. Lush suggests sitting in the sun to maximize results but I never quite found the time with the aforementioned toddler and all. The result was indeed slightly lighter roots and a refresh on my chemically applied highlights. The highlights were much more blonde. Like all other Lush products, Marilyn is all natural and made up of chamomile, lemon, saffron and the all important softener and brightener linseed mucilage that all work together to create an easy to use and gentle hair lightening product. Read NO CHEMICALS!

I already loved other Lush products and I will continue to use both the Blonde Shampoo Bar and the Marilyn Hair Treatment. They are subtle on me, but they do work and help to preserve my highlights longer and keep my roots a lot less scary.

For more information on Lush products visit their site at http://lush.com/.

John Kelly Chocolates-Truffle Fudge Bars

Rich, creamy, smooth and balanced. All words that easily sum up the experience of eating a John Kelly Truffle Fudge bar. And it is exactly that, an experience. I love chocolate and I’ve tried many, many kinds in my day and these are by far one of the best. I now crave them on a regular basis sadly my waistline won’t allow it.

The wonderful and possibly sinful (they are that good) people at John Kelly Chocolates sent me the twelve 2-ounce truffle fudge bar box. It arrived at my front door wrapped in cold packs that when pulled away revealed a beautifully wrapped box. Excellent gift idea I thought to myself. Now let’s see how they taste.



I tried each and every one of those twelve truffle fudge bar flavors. I even decided I could be benevolent enough to share these high-quality, fresh little goodies with friends and family. All the flavors are quite excellent in their own way. The dark chocolate has a very deep, rich, buttery flavor to it that I adored. Despite not being a fruit and chocolate person I did enjoy the Orange without Nuts and Raspberry without Nuts. The light and sweet outer layer of semi-sweet chocolate is quite pleasing especially when contrasted with bars like caramel and vanilla. The inside of each truffle fudge bar is soft and decadent beyond compare. The flavors are natural and offer a luxuriant buttery taste that manages not to overpower the bars original intent. My taste buds could not get enough and my brain shouted, “Wow!” on more than one occasion, which doesn’t do the bars justice. Each flavor whether it’s Mint Chocolate or Cappuccino with Walnuts is blended superbly and has a good flow to the flavor. I highly recommend John Kelly Truffle Fudge Bars for you, as a gift, and again as a treat for yourself. I know some of my friends who sampled them have already placed orders.

John Kelly offers a wide range of gourmet fudge and truffle fudge bars in varying sizes and prices that are comparable to other high end chocolatiers. For more information on flavors, prices, and gift options, visit their site here.

Update- Nankeen's Savanna

I've been using Nankeen's Savanna tote for a few weeks now. I normally carry a giant black bag everywhere with me, but when Anne and the other nice people at Nankeen sent me a second bag I knew I had to toss the giant black one in favor of something lighter, more summery and fresh. That is exactly how I would describe the Savanna. Like the other Nankeen bags it has the same quality and beautiful design. The teal lining is gorgeous and it has two zippered compartments which are incredibly useful. I have used this bag as a purse, a gym bag and a diaper bag in the last few weeks and in the process racked up a lot of compliments.

When I carry my Savanna bag I feel a bit more carefree as I'm running around with child in tow and that means a lot to any woman. Check out more of Nankeen's bags, totes, and pillows here.

Note Worthy-enail Supply

I have been on a product loving binge lately. The bug has bitten and I've been cruising the net looking for deals, fun finds, and new items to review the last few days with a vengeance. This is one noteworthy little item I found.

enail Supply. Go there and you will not be sorry. Not only does this website contain all the leading brands of professional nail polish and tools they have a great search engine and you can browse by manufacturer or brand. They even have the all important clearance section. OPI? They have it. Creative Nail? They have that one too. Beyond nail products and colors, enail Supply carries self-tanner, Evian spray, and many types of waxing supplies. They are a true purveyor of women's nail and waxing items.

My favorite part of the site though is the 'Nail Polish Shade Selector'. It breaks down all the colors by categories such as reds, Burgundy's, and best-selling just to name a few. I wish all sites did this. enail Supply will definitely be added to my list of favorites.

Zosimos Botanicals- “Handcrafted Mineral Cosmetics and Skincare”

After discovering Zosimos Botanicals I was giddy to try their products. I am continuously trying to find safe, eco-friendly items for myself and my home. All of Zosimos products are created in small batches right there in the Gaithersburg, Maryland workshop. No talc, parabens, or animal testing is used. That makes me happy! They use all natural ingredients including high quality herbs, natural waxes and plant oils just to name a few. I was intrigued. The nice people at Zosimos obliged and sent me an array of their fine products.

Brand new to the Zosimos Botanicals line is The Jasmine White Tea perfume stick. My initial reaction is that this compact (easy to take with you anywhere!) perfume has a light scent. I rubbed it on before the gym and continued to smell it during my workout. I love how easy it is to not only transport, but how it rolls on smoothly and has a nice staying power. The .7 ounce twist up tube retails for $5 which is a steal. It would make a great stocking stuffer, compliment to a gift bag or even your own purse!



Body Butters- I tried three different scents. The butters are thick and smooth. They glide on well and keep your skin super moist all day. They are sheer, silky and not perfumey. The scents smell like they should, natural, and do not have and overly done cloyingness. The Cucumber Melon smells like freshly chopped cucumbers from the farmers market with a hint of melon sweetness. The Lemonzest was refreshing and light. I paired the Lemonzest with the White Jasmine perfume stick one day creating this deeper musk scent that I couldn’t get enough of. I am not a fan of rose scented things, but I liked the English Rose body butter because it had a freshly cut rose scent. There was no hidden powdery smell that comes with many rose scented products. The body butters come in many different scents so check out the Zosimos website.

Honey Citrus Sugar Scrub- This scrub has all the great qualities of other brown sugar scrubs on the market. Its enticing aroma made me want to devour it. I found the whole thing delish! The grains are larger than most scrubs, but the natural humectants from the honey and the essential oils make it a great post-shave/end of shower moisturizer. I was quite pleased with how my legs no longer itched after shaving like they normally do and were incredibly smooth and exfoliated. Plus my whole bathroom smelled yummy!



Bug Away Spray- Well, I just can’t say enough about this one. At first it has a strong citronella scent, but it goes away completely in just minutes. No more smelling like nasty bug sprays chemicals with Bug Away! I wondered how good it could be though without all those chemicals and only being made up from three ingredients- apple cider vinegar, citronella oil, and witch hazel. I sat outside at dusk, prime time for mosquitoes, and talked on the phone for over an hour. At the end I checked and I was bite-free! Not only that, but there were four fat mosquitoes just hanging out next to me yet repelled by me. It really worked!

Brazilian Rainforest Spray- The precious and exotic oil, Andiroba oil, from the Amazon forest, is used to make up this insect repellent. Bergamot and Eucalyptus oils are also added to complete the spray. I found the Brazilian Rainforest Spray to work just as well as the Bug Away Spray. I took it out on a night time picnic and my whole family used it. Hours later and after dark no one had a bite on them. I was and am amazed!

Zosimos Botanicals, approved for the planet and people, has been awarded the Business Seal of Approval by Co-op America. Zosimos Botanicals provides not just great all natural products, it is listed with the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and its facility is powered by 100% clean wind energy. Linda Stein, Formulator and Founder of Zosimos Botanicals, truly has something to be excited about and proud of. The products not only benefit the people who use them but also the environment which earns a BIG seal of approval from Mummy’s Product Reviews too.


*All Zosimos Botanical’s products come in varying sizes, including pocket and sample size, and range in price. Check the website for more fabulously green and downright fabulous products and prices.

Fun Finds Friday! Latch On!

'a cause i can latch on to' proclaims the onesie's from Virginia's own Formula Onesie.

Coming in white with three different trim color (pink, blue, and green) choices or a solid black these 100% cotton baby t's make a statement. Enlist your babies help in funding the 'Latch on' movement and 10% of the proceeds ($18 for a shirt) will go to support Breast Cancer research through the American Breast Cancer Foundation. Formula Onesie has done it again by creating these great shirts that are soft and comfy for babies while getting people talking. I thank them!

Now really what could be better? The little bugger is already latched on! Make him or her do a little work while they are at it. Fund the cause, buy a shirt!

PBN- Nozin Review

“Sooo… what’s it like?” I asked.

“I felt like I was doing drugs” said my husband.

Nozin, the homeopathic nasal swab guaranteed to be 99.98% effective at fighting off colds (for up to 8 hours) and other nasty germs. I had received the sample from the Parent Bloggers Network right before we were set to go out on a long road trip. At the last minute only my husband went and I sent him off with the cute pocket-sized plastic travel pack (10 2 ml pre-filled swabs equals 10 doses) to swab away in our nation’s airports. He used a swab each day he was there networking in banquet rooms full of people, shaking hands, and wining and dining. You know what? He came home fine. Not even a smidgen of a sniffle.

“Drugs huh?” I couldn’t fathom what he meant until I cracked open the pack of Nozin myself and read the directions. Instantly, I knew. It’s the flicking of the swab to get the solution “cloudy”. Makes you feel you are getting ready to take a hit of something. Curious, I flicked and swabbed.

“Ooh, that is some intense orange! I dig it!”

I have a bit of an addictive personality so I took to these things like a duck to water. I swabbed diligently before heading to the gym. I happily swabbed before a wedding and weekend full of family inhaling that heady citrus scent. Normally after a weekend of little sleep and lots of people I would come home sick. Not this time.

A week later I woke up and noticed I was getting sick. Stuffy head, nasal congestion and a sore throat were beginning to take hold. I pulled out my trusty Nozin, swabbed, and I was fine the next day. No more congestion, no runny nose or sore throat. Nozin really works!

The nose is the biggest place for an infection to invade the body. So what is smarter than preventative medicine for that area? I didn’t get sick despite days of using the germy tread mills and weight machines. My nose was a veritable fortress against the germs of the daycare and numerous wedding guests. The only problem I had with it was that it took an incredible amount of flicking time to get the solution cloudy. I resorted to shaking the tubes instead of flicking. However, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to use plant-based, natural products, travels, or just like preventative medicine. Nozin is my new Airborne.


Check out more reviews of Nozin and other items here at Parent Bloggers.

Phonics 4 Babies

Phonics 4 Babies is a video series that features “playful puppets, animation and sing-a-long songs to help your child build a foundation for early speech development.” Add Emmy award-winning Mallory Lewis, puppet Giggles and the Tummy Tots crew to the mix and you have yourself a series of DVD’s that are like baby crack. They work too by the way.
As soon as I turned on the first DVD my daughter was glued to the screen. She bounced in her chair and laughed excitedly at the introduction to the series. This is a “warning” that tells parents that children viewing this show might be prone to high language skills, mastery of the English language and could turn into the future President of the United States. There are six DVDS in the series and all are jam-packed with quick educational segments. The series teaches important lessons like saying ‘hello’, which my daughter did for the first time after only two viewings. They are asked to find a certain object in a group. Letters, numbers, colors and more are all displayed and taught through the use of creative, fun songs. Mallory Lewis and Giggles serve as the parent/child models throughout.
Each time a new object, like a bar of soap or a sink was presented, my daughter would ask, “Dat?” By watching Mallory and Giggles interact as parents and children do she is learning manners, seasons, different types of emotions, and games. The series is immense fun all while teaching children important lessons on good behavior, counting, animals, and the alphabet. I like watching them with her because she finds the whole process so enjoyable. She is riveted throughout and now immediately goes to the TV when asked if she wants to watch ‘Giggles and Mally’. The premise of the series is to teach children vowels, consonants, shape and letter identification in a smart and yet very simple way. There is repetition but it’s not overdone. Each segment is quick and to the point while displaying bright colors and a fascinating background. For parents there is the added bonus of “talks” between Lewis and Dr. Karen Kovacs North Ph.D, who is a clinical and educational advisor. Lewis asks important developmental and behavioral questions that are on a lot of parent’s minds. Kovacs answers them easily and without too much complicated information.
What makes Phonics 4 Babies different from other educational DVD series, is not just that they hold my daughters attention, but that the series really does engage babies and toddlers in early speech while providing a fresh music sound and form of entertainment. Quite simply Phonics 4 Babies has been a huge hit in our house and one that we enjoy watching with our daughter as well.

For more information on this new star in children’s DVD’s click here.