Essential Lotions Review, a Giveaway, and a Dicount Code!

 

We all use lotions on our skin.  And as a mom and allergy prone person I try to use only all natural lotions made with high quality ingredients and essential oils.  Essential oils not only make things smell great naturally but also have many therapeutic uses.

 

So when the owner of the company Essential Lotions offered send me products for review I was thrilled!

 

Essential Lotions is a company devoted to producing high quality lotions, balms, face care, and other body care products with therapeutic essential oils.  Here is a little blurb from the company.

We've created what we call 'therapeutic lotions'. All natural ingredients and therapeutic grade essential oils in several formulas for all your needs. Clean out the chemicals in your medicine cabinet and give these a try! We've even added a line of high quality face care products, and after researching the stuff they put in baby products, we came out with our own all natural and safe baby lotion, shampoo & diaper balm.

Everything is made by hand in the small town of Weiser, Idaho.

 

Weiser Idaho!  That's right near where I live!  It's neat to find a company that I get to review that is close by!

 

I got to choose several products from their site.  The first thing I noticed and really liked is that you can buy products to treat specific health issues your dealing with.  So for the lotions I chose Breathe, Pain, Sleep, Defense, and the Boo Boo Juice .  These are made with therapeutic essential oils chosen to treat each condition.

 

I tried all four and can say they are very well made.  The lotion itself really help with my dry skin, absorb well and don't feel greasy.  The scents are great and so much better than store bought.  You can always tell a good quality essential oil compared to synthetic fragrances.

 

I liked the Breathe and it did seem to help my chronic nasal congestion when applied to my chest. It can be used for allergies and asthma.  It contains 12 different essential oils used for respiratory problems.

 

 The Sleep was great and the fragrance was so soothing without being cloying or over sweet. It has 8 different essential oils that help calm and relax the mind and body.  I do feel relaxed after using it.   I put it on my hands every night. 

 

 The Pain has worked well on my sore feet and my husbands sore shoulder.  It is used to soothe muscle, joint, and arthritis pain among others.  It has a great scent that is not medicinal at all, just fresh and invigorating. 

 

The Defense is used to treat skin problems and can be used on the hands to help fight germs and boost them immune system.  The scent is very spicy as it contains clove and cinnamon.   I love the scent!

 

 

 

The Boo Boo Juice is a unique blend of aloe juice and essential oils that is excellent to use on all kinds of bumps, bruises, wounds and burns.  I love the name Boo Boo Juice too!  I have used it on the not inconsiderable amount of injuries that are sustained in a house with 4 children and numerous pets. It disinfects, limits swelling and tissue damage, promotes healing and increases elasticity to reduce scarring. It also stimulates the immune system to help the body fight off infections. Try it on scars and stretch marks! The anti-itching and anesthetic properties come in handy too! Simply rub a small amount wherever needed. People have reported excellent results when used on dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and other rashes! The perfect thing for dry skin!   I can say is helps soothe the eczema on my hands and the itchiness.  It is non greasy and absorbs in right away.

 

 

There are dozens more products From Essential Lotions  that I would love to try after experiencing the quality of these lotions.  I was more than pleased with every aspect of the lotions including that they are a small family run company made right here in the USA.  I highly recommend the Essential Lotions Company.

 

Connect With Essential Lotions

Website

Facebook

 

Bonus!

 

Essential Lotions is giving all my readers a discount for 20% off all  orders using the code THRIFTY at checkout!

 

The Giveaway!

 

Essential Lotions has been super generous and is giving one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader a shopping spree worth $50.00!  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter, all entries are optional, all winning entries will be verified.  If a winning entry is not completed a new winner will be chosen.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb969/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.  All Entries are verified. 

Effective, Natural, Affordable, Non Cancer Causing Deodorants!

Note: This is not a review or paid post.  I received no products or money to write this post.  This is just something I feel passionate about and want to share any knowledge I have that could help others out.

I am not going to go into a long winded debate here with tons of facts, statistics, or arguments.  I believe my readers are smart enough to do the research on their own.  Look it up, Google it, and then decide. 

I am going to put out there why I don't use regular deodorants/antiperspirants. Also I am going to put some useful links (note these are affiliate links and I may get a small commission if you buy, but your price stays the same) to a few natural deodorants that I have found through lots of trial and error that are not only safe, but actually work really well too!   In place of the long word antiperspirant/deodorant I'm just going to use AD!

Facts about AD's That Made Me Stop Using Them

They have not been tested for long term human use and considering humans generally use them from the teen aged years on that is not good.

They contain chemicals that have been proven to cause cancer

They are designed to be used in the armpit, which is right where our lymph glands are.  Lymph glands are great at absorbing chemicals.

Most breast cancer happens right near a woman's armpit.

Since most American (including myself) shave their underarms, that apparently ups the risk when paired with AD's use.  The shaving creates little cuts in the armpit causing the chemicals to be absorbed even more.

They are made up of CHEMICALS that are bad for us!  And since I am trying to lighten my chemical exposure I would rather not use them than have perfect smelling pits.

So there are my reasons.  The problem is that finding a really effective but at the same time natural deodorant has been extremely hard for me.  Some that I tried caused me to itch horribly, others didn't work, and still others were just too expensive! 

Finally I found two that not only work, but also don't irritate my skin and are reasonably priced.

First is my favorite from Vermont Soap Company.  It is the Sage Lime Organic Deodorant .  I love this stuff!  It has lasted me forever and at only 12.99 is a pretty good deal.  It is aluminum, triclosan, and propylene glycol free and based with coconut oil which not only keeps you stink free but also softens and whitens the underarm area.  I, unfortunately, sweat allot due to going to peri menopause but with this deodorant I have been nice smelling for months!  I like the sage lime scent and it works for both men and women.



The second deodorant is called Real Purity and sells for $11.49.  This is the one my husband likes best.  He is a mechanic so does lots of hard physical work every day.   It is a roll on and has a light slightly spicy smell to it.  It works amazingly well, especially for people who sweat allot.  As it is roll on it leaves no residue.








 I think we can be non smelly but not have to coat ourselves in toxic chemicals to achieve it.  I am very concerned about the long term health effects of using chemicals on our bodies that have never been tested for years of daily use.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Song

How to prepare for doing laundry during a power outage (or dryer outage) in winter!

Power outages can happen to anyone.  Especially in winter when winter storms frequently take down the grid.  Having a plan on how to heat your house, cook your food, and have water is essential.  But if the outage lasts more than a few days your going to realize how essential electricity is to your everyday life.  Without electricity your debit/credit card wont work, fuel stations cant pump gas, grocery stores can't sell their food, water systems can't pump water to your home,  etc..  But it is often the more mundane things that stand out.  Such as how are you going to clean and dry your clothes?  Having redundant ways to heat your home, cook food, get water, and clean things will make life a whole lot more endurable during an extended power outage. 

First off this post will focus on drying your clothes, washing will be another day and another post.


Drying clothes outside on a line is easy in summer.  I have a great umbrella clothes line that I love and use to dry our typical three loads per day wash.  But winter clothes drying is harder.  First you cant dry outside very effectively.  It is often windy (blowing clothes off the line), snowing/raining, and too cold for the clothes to dry.  So having an inside way to dry your clothes is the best option.




First off having a non electric heat source is important.  You can dry clothes in an unheated winter room, but it takes days!  Space heaters work only if the electricity is up, and propane/natural gas stoves are dangerous and deadly.  The best way of course is to have a wood stove or fireplace,  wood stoves being the most efficient.  We have a wood cook stove with an oven and burners to cook on.  Its 100 years old but still heats our home very nicely when we open the oven door.  I got it at a yard sale for $100.00 and it is a Lang Jr. The entire unit radiates heat and when the oven door is open it pumps out lots of heat!  The wood stove is an ultimate multi-tasking device.  We can cook on it, bake in it, heat our home, and dry our clothing.


Most importantly you need something to hang the clothes on.  I have an Indoor Folding Clothes Line ($50.00) that you could use to lay flat things like sweaters but also can be used for hanging up to four full loads of clothing if you have clothes pins!  It works very well and folds up flat for easy storage in our closet. 

Our dryer just bit the dust so out came the folding clothes line. My husband lost his job right before Thanksgiving so we have absolutely NO money to spend down at a laundry mat.  And with the size of our family we would be spending a ton of money just to dry our clothes.  Until we can afford the part to fix the dryer I will be going old fashioned.  Prepping for disaster isn't just about things like ice storms or hurricanes, it also means being prepared for job loss or major illness that cuts your income.  Being prepared is just plain smart in my opinion.  My preps in food and other things have saved us many a time when times have been lean.



There are several other types of units you can buy for drying clothes inside.  HERE is one that is just one line but would work well for a small family and is highly affordable at $10.00 and is kind of cool and retro looking.








And HERE is a 5 line mini indoor dryer that I would be great in emergencies or even in a laundry room for a family.  Very affordable at $8.69.





For the ultimate off grid laundry drying for emergencies, prepping, or just homesteading check out THIS IDEA over at Paratus Familia, it is called a drying horse that hangs ABOVE the wood stove.  This is much more efficient because of course heat rises.  The clothes dry faster and it keeps them out of the way.  This is for true prepping or living off grid/more sustainably.


Now that I have seen how efficient our indoor clothes line is I am seriously thinking about using it instead of our dryer.  Our dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in the house and not using it ususally cuts our electric bill by a good $20.00 per month or more.


Note/disclamer:  This post does contain affiliate links, if you buy or click I may get a small commission that does not affect your price, but would help me buy a new belt for our dryer. I was not solicited to do this post but wrote it up in reaction to our dryer going out and wanting to share how I deal with problems like that.  As always I only share links to items that are, in my opinion, good deals and practical.

How to fight off an attacker if they pull your hair Vid

I am a strong woman, but men are generally stronger.  I have always believed that learning how to protect yourself as a woman is important.  Here is a great video on doing that when an attacker gets the drop on you!

How to fight off an attacker if they pull your hair - AmericaNowNews.com

Christmas Gift Guide - Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. Men's Wear Review and Giveaway!

 

My husband is a mechanic and an outdoorsman.  Translation- he is really tough on his clothes! Also he is more interested in clothes that will be comfortable and durable than will make a fashion statement.  However as his wife I like to see him looking good! It generally takes us some time to find him clothes that not only meet his needs but also mine!

So when the kind people at Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. offered to let me review some of their clothes I was thrilled!

Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. is a business devoted to providing durable, well made work wear that also is Made In America.  Bonus their clothes also look great!

Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. revives this same rugged spirit of durable, lasting workwear and the pride of American workers. We use performance fabrics like durable water-repellant Cannonball duck canvas and thoughtful design details like gussets for easier bending and stretching.

Our American original clothing designs are inspired from actual vintage patterns and are sewn in the United States by quality driven manufacturing partners. We strive to use only the best materials that will both hold up on the job and keep our fellow Americans employed.

They sent us several items to review to make an entire outfit! My husband was  excited to try them out because finding really comfortable work wear is so hard for him. They sent us the Railroad Gauge Gusset Work Pants - Chestnut Brown, Thermal Henley Shirt - Red, Railroad Gauge Gusset Work Jacket - Chestnut Brown, and the Boilermaker Beanie Hat - Black

 

 

The Railroad Gauge Gusset Work Pants - Chestnut Brown were the most critical thing for my hubby.  As a mechanic he is constantly bending, squatting,  kneeling, and just generally moving all day.  He needs pants that are snug enough that they don't fall down or get caught on machinery,  but at the same time allow of a good range of motion and are comfortable.  Steam Horse Dry Goods pants are very well made and our now my husbands favorite pair of pants.  He wears them everywhere, including church!  Yes they are nice enough to wear there!  They are extremely thick and tough so when he is outside doing yard chores like chopping wood he is not worried about accidentally nicking them and tearing them.  They move with him and allow lots of room for when he squats down or bends over.  Also they do not do the horrible plumbers crack when he is working!

 

The Thermal Henley Shirt - Red and Railroad Gauge Gusset Work Jacket - Chestnut Brown were both very comfortable and excellently made.  I am a sewer, so I have often been disappointed in the shoddy seams of clothing, but after checking the clothes they sent us I can give my seal of approval!  The thermal fabric is very soft and warm.  He wears it all the time.  It has a nice long tail so that when tucked in at the waist it will not un-tuck and show the backside.  It can easily be layered under other clothes to make it warmer.  The work jacket is great because it allows for a full range of motion without binding up the arms.  It is made of the Railroad Gauge fabric so it is extremely durable.  This type of fabric is tough so working on machinery or chopping wood is not going to ruin it.  It makes a great coat for warmer winter weather and is perfect for spring and fall.  It is also very nice looking.

 

Last but not least is the Boilermaker Beanie Hat - Black.  This is not the standard beanie.  Not only was this very comfortable but the thickness was much better than normal beanies.  It also is a bit longer so that it covered his ears.  He really loves it and wears it all the time.

 

In my opinion Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. is a great company.  They carry a nice selection of clothes that are not just great work wear but also look very good.  There prices are about what you would pay anywhere else but the thing I like is that Steam Horse makes its clothes in the USA!  Hardly any clothing companies are made in the USA anymore.  This is a local company providing jobs to Americans.  And the clothes they make are of the highest quality!

 

Connect with Steam Horse Dry Goods Co.

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Youtube

 

The Giveaway!

 

 

Steam Horse Dry Goods Co. has been super generous by giving one lucky Thrifty Housewife a Sawmill Paul Wool Sweater in winners choice of size.  That's a $95.00 Value!  This super warm and comfy sweater will be sure to keep your man cozy this winter!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter, all entries are optional, all winning entries will be validated.  Good Luck!

 

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb966/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

How Homeschooling Made My Life Less Stressful, Our Home Happier, and Saved us Money!

I am writing this to other moms considering Homeschooling but are afraid.  I am not saying that homeschooling is always easy, it depends on your child and yourself too.  We have bad days just like everyone else.  Days that are more challenging, days that are frustrating.  But then again I was having those days EVERY DAY when my children would get home from public school.  Here is what I have found this first year of homeschooling my 9 and 10 year old.

The writing was on the wall.  Finally it had gotten to the point that the public school system was no longer an option for us.  There were many things that we had issues with before.  To name a few poor standards, overcrowded class sizes, reduced school week due to lack of funding, social engineering, our children's constant exposure to kids from sad drug addicted families,  bully problems, a 9 hour school day.  But the final straw that broke this camels back was the institution of common core.  I have been researching it in depth since it started to make an appearance.  Last year my son came home with common core math.  The school was slowly instituting it last year and this year is the full roll out.  I even went in to talk to my sons teacher about the math because it was so illogical!  I could tell she didn't like it either but all she could say was it was the new state standard.  I wont go into the whole common core debacle.  But needless to say the more that has come out about what people are experiencing with it the happier I am that I am homeschooling this year.!

Choosing to homeschool was not an easy decision for me.  I didn't really want to homeschool.  Don't get me wrong I believe in homeschooling!  I think it is great!  I knew God was calling me to do this but  I was afraid I would fail my kids, I was selfish and wanted some alone time after 16 years, I worried that it would be horribly stressful and that my children would hate it, I worried I was too stupid to teach my children, I worried that it would make our lives harder.  Pretty much I was just worried.

Understand that my kids do great in public school, they are excellent students and love to learn. ( I have been quasi homeschooling them since preschool with lots of reading and hands on activities at home.  I also always supplemented their regular schooling where I felt it was lacking which was often!).  But every day they came home exhausted after a 9 hour day, and every day they had some new horror story that the kids at school had told them, or being hurt when they saw bully-ing happen to other kids.  And then common core came out.

So I bought a few curriculum's and also did some of our learning online.

And I was amazed.  Our life as a homeschooling family has not only been less stressful but our family has become more loving, happier, and closer.  All my fears and worries have come to nothing and in fact I find myself enjoying my children more and my life more.

Why is our life less stressful?  Well compared to our typical school day last year there are huge differences.

Last year the kids had to be up at six and rush rush rush to be out the door by 7:30 to be at school.  They didn't get home until almost 4:00 and were always exhausted and cranky.  Then we had at least an hour of homework (for 2nd and 3rd graders!) and then if we were lucky we might get to the library which they love.  Then it was dinner and if we had an after school activity.  By 8 o'clock they were almost falling asleep and it was bedtime.  My son who is 10 had an especially hard time and was often horribly frustrated and unhappy after a long school day.  His attitude was always so poor, not because he found the schoolwork too hard, but because of negative comments and teasing he received.

For me the constant running around and picking up, dropping off, and having to go to constant different meetings, appointment's, fund raisers, and school activities was exhausting.  I know it would be even worse this year with 4 children in 4 different schools, 1 in kindergarten which is in one location, 1 in elementary school, 1 in intermediary school, and one in high school.  I would be picking up kids from four different schools every day! Not to mention that each child would have a different fund raiser every month that we would have to shell out at least $20.00 on.  My kids felt very pressured to do these fund raisers and came home asking that we donate/buy or they would not get the cheap prizes .  That's $80.00 per month!  Even after buying our curriculums and our monthly membership to the online school it is still cheaper to homeschool.  And that doesn't include the gas for school pickup everyday, school supplies and donations, and extra school clothes.

Now our homeschooling day is very easy and stress free.  As apposed to the ridiculously long government school day in which only about 2 hours out of the 9 are spent in actually learning my children spend about 3 hours of our day learning and being taught.  Then they are done and we focus on things like art, outdoor activities, exploratory play, and reading.

Our home school Day

6-7 am-  (my children are all early risers) Wake up, eat breakfast, clean bedrooms and do morning chores

7:30- 8 am- start homeschool day

1. Handwriting (cursive Rod and Staff Curriculum)
2. Writing Journals - they write a paragraph about either a subject I choose or one they choose and illustrate it.
3. Spelling Practice
4. Math Time (Rod and Staff curriculum)

9 am  - Children then take turns doing their online learning which consists of Social Studies, Science, and Language arts.  While one child is doing their online learning the other child is reading a Chapter Book.  My son who is ten is currently on the third Lord of the Rings.  My 9 year old daughter is reading The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe.  Once one child is finished online they switch.

10:30 to 11:00 am

Finish homeschool have lunch, outside time, free play, free reading, help with cooking (which they love) do art projects.  Extra activities like art, dance, pottery, music classes at our local art center. Go on field trips to historical sites.

Our homeschool day varies depending on mainly Math.  When math is more challenging it takes us longer.  But the beauty is each child can work at their own pace, which means if they don't finish in the usual time they don't have to stop but can continue to work until they are done.  I have noticed a HUGE difference in my children's attitudes, frustration levels, and crankiness.  They are happier and much less emotional than they were in public school.  And they are still getting amazing grades!  Instead of a constant rush we now have time to enjoy our life in a relaxed way.  My children are great readers and love to read.  In fact I have to force them to play outside sometimes when they have a really exciting book.

As to me being a homeschool mom failure I find being my children's teacher much easier than expected.  Homeschool curriculums have great teacher books that walk you through each  step so your not overwhelmed.  The online learning is also super easy for me as I just monitor them and check their grades at the end of each day.

Dare I say it?  I actually like homeschooling!  I like being my children's teacher and find our relationships becoming closer and more relaxed!  I cant believe it in some ways.

Allergy Buyers Club AquaCera HCP Countertop Water Filter Review and Giveaway!

Do you know whats in your water?  Every day our local governments pump all sorts of "health" giving chemicals into our water supply.  Things like chlorine, fluoride, and a plethora of other chemicals are added to our water supplies every day.  What's worse is that most of these chemicals have not been tested for long term exposure safety, meaning that the government has no idea what 20 years of exposure does to the human body.

To top this off many of our water supplies are contaminated by parasites and even prescription medications!  We recently went through a water crises in our own town where a parasite got into the water supply.  It took months to be resolved and many people got sick.  Also you couldn't use the water without boiling for 20 minutes!  Lucky for my family we had a good water filter that effectively filtered out the parasite so we didn't get sick! Needless to say having a good water filter is very important to our health.  Also we live in an old mining community, meaning that there is a high probability of heavy metal contamination in our water supply from the old mines.

Allergy Buyers Club sent me the AquaCera HCS Stainless Steel Countertop Water Filter with CeraMetix™ Filter for the purpose of review.  Allergy Buyers Club is a company that Since 1998,  have been an authorized online retailer by numerous manufacturers for all of the healthy home products they sell and a trusted source for honest product reviews and ratings. The company is also a top rated member of the Better Business Bureau. You can read more about them HERE.



The AquaCera Filter they sent me is one of the better quality ones on the market.  Frankly the filters you find in places like Walmart are not going to get things like heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, or parasites out of your water.  And your going to pay a similar price for them as for the base model of the AquaCera.  The features of the AquaCera are pretty awesome!  They had everything I was looking for in a water filter.

Features of AquaCera HCS Water Filter with CeraMetix™ Filter

AquaCera HCS Filter System: Free standing, single stage, counter top filtration system For cold water use only Compact size Includes housing with 3/8" inlet and outlet, diverter valve, tubing and quick connect fittings for installation Stainless steel housing Easily attaches to most standard faucets CeraMetix™ Filter: Removes suspended solids, pathogenic bacteria, cysts Reduces organic chemicals, inorganic compounds, VOC's, heavy metals Reduces Fluoride by 60-80% Reduces Chlorine by 98-89% Reduces Lead by 90-99% Increases the water's pH by 1 full point making it more Alkaline Does not remove beneficial minerals from the water AquaMetix™ proprietary ceramic and carbon block technology 0.9 micron absolute rated Self-sterilizing silver technology Silver impregnated micro-porous ceramic shell Silver in filter is non-leaching Activated PAC media block, rated at 1 micron Designed for pressure filter use Fits 1/4" BSP threaded, candle mount, filter systems such as AquaCera, Doulton, British Berkefeld Pending NSF certification CeraMetix™ Filter Efficiency System Reduction % Reduction E.Coli >99.9999% Cholera/Typhoid/Samonella/Serratia/Fecal Coliform >99.99% Cryptosporidium Parvum/Giardia Lamblia 100% Sediment down to 0.8 micron 100% Sediment 0.3 - 0.5 micron >99.99% Turbidity >99.7% Aluminum, Arsenic (III, V), Cadmium, , Chromium (III,VI), Copper, Mercury, nickel, Radionuclides, Silver, Zinc 80-90% High pH Lead 90-99% Chlorine and Chloramines 98-99% Fluoride 60-80%

That is a great filter! Especially for the price! When we got the filter it was super easy to install.  As soon as it was ready to use we tried it out for taste.  I was pretty amazed!  We have great tasting water in our little town, but the AquaCera Filter actually made it taste better.  I didn't think that was possible.  Also it looked even clearer.  Another thing is that the flow rate was very fast.  Some of the higher quality filters take a long time to fill a glass of water but the AquaCera is very fast.  The kids love using it and even our 5 year old can do it with no help.  This filter gets a 10 out of 10 rating and so does Allergy Buyers Club.  I would recommend Allergy Buyers Club to anyone looking for healthy living solutions at good prices and with excellent service.  You can subscribe to their emails HERE to receive news and special features and go HERE to request a catalog. Here are the reasons AquaCera HCP Countertop Water Filter Moderately priced that comes in two price ranges High quality filter Attractive Design improves water taste high flow rate Long Filter Life Easy to Install Allergy Buyers Club Easy to navigate attractive site Helpful online staff that pop up in a chat window when you go on there site to answer questions. I used this feature to find out more about their water filters Quick Shipping Huge Selection Excellent Prices Connect With Allergy Buyers Club   Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest   The Giveaway!   Allergy Buyers Club has been super generous in offering to give one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader an AquaCera HCP Countertop Water Filter in either the Stainless Steel or Acetal/Polyester housing (BPA free, non-leaching) winners choice!  That is up to a $220.00 Value!  Use the Rafflecopter to enter, all entries are optional, all winning entries are verified.  Good Luck!   http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb965/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.

Thrifty Ways to Save Money on Boys Pajamas

 We have four children and a very limited budget so saving money on clothes is almost a job in itself for me.  One way is to be very frugal when it comes to pajamas for my kids.  Pajamas after all are only worn at night when they are sleeping so no one really sees them.

I therefore never buy the character outfits you see in the stores.  These on average are about ten to twenty dollars an outfit and are always made of polyester.  I hate polyester clothing and because of my eldest sons allergies never buy clothes, especially night clothes, that are made of it.  Clothing made from polyester or other synthetics are essential plastic bags for your body and do not allow sweat to be wick'd away from the skin.  Our bodies eliminate large amounts of toxins and waste at night through sweat so there is another reason for wearing cotton or other natural fabrics to bed.

So what are some ways to be thrifty about boys PJ's?  Well what we do is buy boys white undershirts in the underwear isle.  These come in bags of five to eight and cost on average 10.00 per bag.  One bag outfits each son for an entire season.  Then for bottoms it depends on the season.  In summer we just let them wear their underpants (as they grow older this will not be an option).  In the spring, fall, and winter we buy simple flannel PJ bottoms or thermal long johns that are cotton.  It is hard to find real cotton flannel boys pants as the standard is all children's clothing must be plastic based because of fire concerns.  So often I buys size small men's or even women's flannel PJ's and hem them in to fit.  Both of those items I am constantly on the lookout for in thrift stores and yard sales.  If I see some that will fit either of my boys at present or near future I buy them.

Also every year right after Christmas Walmart puts its winter clothes on clearance, including all it's flannel PJ bottoms and thermal underwear outfits.  This is a great time to stock up at really great prices.

So doing my usual I spend about $15.00 per son to outfit them in pajamas for spring/fall/winter.  And then $10.00 for summer.


 

Christmas Gift Guide - Darn Tough Vermont Socks, Guaranteed For Life

 

Brisk fall weather is here and winter is coming with all it's fun outdoor activities.  From trekking through the beautiful colors of autumn, hunting, watching outdoor football games, or playing in  the snow the colder temperatures mean dressing more warmly. 

 

My family is a big into the outdoors.  We love to hunt, fish, and go up to the mountains just to explore.  So when Darn Tough Vermont offered to let me review their socks I was thrilled!  So why am I so excited?  Because these socks are guaranteed for life!  That's right FOR LIFE!

Darn Tough Vermont is a company that manufactures woman's, men's, and kids wool socks that are built to last.  Read about their great products and how they makes them Darn Tough HERE.

 

Here is a Blurb about the company: 

 

 Over 30 years ago our family opened a mill and began making socks in Northfield, Vermont.  Frigid winters and humid summers taught us that all socks are not created equally. Living in the most unforgiving climate in the lower 48, our socks had to be tough and of course they certainly had to keep our feet dry and warm. Whether skiing, hiking, biking, climbing or running, our Darn Tough Vermont socks kept our feet oblivious to the elements.

 

  

Our team spent over a year testing yarn combinations and designs, confident that during this process we could create something unique; a sock that we could guarantee for life. And as a 3rd generation sock guy, I can tell you that what has kept my family in the sock business, in America, is the pursuit of quality.

 

Wow that goes to show you how great these socks are! Not only that but they are Made In The USA and have a Lifetime Guarantee, no questions asked!

 

That is a pretty amazing Guarantee isn't it? I have never heard of socks that are guaranteed for life! My husband, son, and I both got to try a pair of the socks.  From the minute we put them on we loved them. The super cushioning was so great and they fit snugly without being too tight. They are also wonderfully warm but still breath because of the wool.   Our house is very cold and these socks keep our feet warm no matter what the temperature. The wool is so soft that it didn't irritate our skin like some wool products can.   This is a big plus because I hate the itchy wool feeling.

 

My son loves his socks.  He wears them as much as possible. 

 

These socks are more pricey that plain old cotton socks, but then again they are guaranteed for life!  Also if you look at any wool hunting, hiking, or ski-ing socks they are all up there in price.  Being Thrifty doesn't just mean buying things cheap.   In fact being thrifty means spending money wisely.  Many times I spend a little more money for something that I know will last several times longer than the cheaper stuff.  Sometimes you have to pay for quality and that is especially true when it comes to foot products.

 

I would recommend these to anyone looking for high quality wool socks.  What a great Christmas Gift these would make as stocking stuffers!  These are especially good for hunters, outdoors man, ski-ers, those that work outdoors, and hikers.  They even have a fashion line with really cute styles.  I think anyone would love to find these under the tree.  You can find them at many stores such as REI and SocksAddict.

 

 

Connect with Darn Tough Vermont

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Youtube

 

Canvas On Demand Review and Giveaway!

Are you looking for a new way to display your family photos or artwork? I know I am! So when Canvas On Demand offered to let me review their products I was thrilled!  I love the look of the canvas for not just family photos but classic artwork.  It makes them look so lovely and they tend to "pop" more.

Canvas On Demand is a company devoted to making turning your photos into canvas art easy!  They have dozens of options on how to display your photos/artwork on an easy to use website.  I really enjoyed looking through their new Photo Gifts and Wall Displays. Their prices are very good and I was blown away by a few things.

First off I was given the choice on what to size to review.  I wanted to do a big family portrait that my very talented photographer mother took.  It was our first family portrait in over 8 years so I really wanted it to be special.  I chose the size and uploaded the photo to the Canvas On Demand site which was very easy.  It walks you through.  That is important because some online photo printing sites can be so difficult to use!

  After I had placed my order I got an email letting me know that after reviewing the picture they had decided that the size I choose wasn't the best so for free they upgraded me to a larger size that would display our family photo better!  That was a service I never expected and completely sold me.  Most companies wouldn't care less, but Canvas On Demand is very dedicated to above and beyond customer service.  Those kind of values are something I really appreciate in a company and will keep me coming back.

 

Here is our family portrait.  It shipped very fast after creating and came in a very nice very secure packing box that ensured the canvas wasn't damaged in transit. 

Canvas On Demand receives a 10 out of possible 10 for The Thrifty Housewife

• Affordable
• High Quality
• Lots of Options
• Easy to Navigate Site
• Easy to Use and get your photos uploaded
• Excellent above and beyond customer service 
• Fast and Secure Shipping

Connect With Canvas On Demand

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Youtube

 

The Giveaway

 

Canvas On Demand has been super generous and offered to give one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader their own 16x20 canvas with free shipping to the US or Canada! That's a $100.00 value! Use the rafflecopter to enter, all entries are optional, all winning entries are verified. If a winning entry is not completed I pick a new winner. Good Luck!

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb963/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway


 The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.  All Entries are verified.

Teeny Tiny Spice Co. Of Vermont Review and Giveaway!

 

Do you like to cook or know someone who does?  Well have I got a review for you!  I personally love to cook, and I especially love trying new flavors.  One of the ways to flavor your food is herbs and spices of course.  Other cultures use herbs much more than Americans in their traditional foods.  But other than making your own it's hard to find pre-made spice mixes in your standard grocery stores.

 

That's why I was so excited when Teeny Tiny Spice Co. Of Vermont offered to let me review two of their spice mixes.  Here is a little info on the company.

Teeny Tiny Spice Company of Vermont, LLC is a family owned and operated business that grew out of our love of cooking and international cuisine. Our challenge was that at the end of a busy day, when we wanted to make something new and interesting, we often found that we did not have the ingredients or the energy to tackle the recipes that caught our eyes. We believe that clean, real food not only provides a delicious meal, it is also a key to health and vitality. So we started creating our own blends to have on hand, making it simple and easy to prepare a tasty, healthy meal quickly with our basic pantry of ingredients. We solved our problem and thought that other people would enjoy what we had created...a business was born. After more than three years in business and many tens of thousands of tins sold, we often marvel at how many meals must be being made with our spice blends every day. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.

 

Teeny Tiny Spice Co. Of Vermont let me choose two of their organic spice mixes that are made in the USA to review.  First off it was extremely hard to choose!  There are so many spice mixes that I wanted to try and they all sounded so good!  Many of their spice mixes are very exotic and come from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They have a recipe page HERE for ideas on how to use their spice mixes. I finally settled on the Persian Adwiya and the Shepherds Herb Mix. 

 

 I tried the Shepherds Herb Mix first.  It is a blend of spices that reminds me of Herbs De Provence with a little more Mediterranean flavor added in.  It contains: Lemon Peel, Lavender Flowers, Spearmint, Basil, Sage, Rosemary, Fennel, Black Peppercorn, Parsley, Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Himalayan Pink Salt, Onion, and Garlic.

 

I used it as a wet spice rub on a pork roast.  I let it marinade over night and then roasted it in my slow cooker.  The flavor was wonderful and the herbs complimented the pork perfectly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I tried the Persian Adwiya spice mix.  This is a middle eastern spice mix from Iran and contains many floral notes typical to that area. It Contains: Red & Pink Rose Petals, Sweet Cinnamon, Lemon Zest, Cumin, Coriander, Orange Zest, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Black Peppercorn, and Himalayan Pink Salt. 

 

I put it in ground beef and served it on naan which is an Indian flat bread and tzatziki which is cucumber yyoghurt dip from Greece.  So that is quite a mix of national foods but hey it tasted great!  I cant wait to try the Persian Adwiya in rice and on chicken. 

 

In Conclusion:

 

Teeny Tiny Spice Co. Of Vermont gets 5 stars in my book for the following reasons

 

• Quality Ingredients that are fresh and vibrant
• Unique and Exotic Spice Mixes
• Made in the USA
• Affordable (the same price you would pay in a grocery store for run of the mill spices)
• Certified USDA Organic
• Certified Kosher
• Gluten Free
• Non-GMO
• Nice website with guides on what to use the spices on and in depth descriptions

Their Spices would make a wonderful gift this Holiday Season for the Foodie or Cook in your life.

 

Connect with Teeny Tiny Spice Co. Of Vermont

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

 

Giveaway!

 

 

Teeny Tiny Spice Co. has generously offered to give one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader a Organic World Herb Blends Variety Pack that contains three of their spice blends!  Use the rafflecopter below to enter, all entries are optional, all winning entries are verified.  Good Luck!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb961/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.  All Entries are verified. 

Trace Minerals Research Childrens Mineral/Vitamin Suppliments Review and a Giveaway!

We all know that children need adequate nutrition to grow properly.  But the standard American diet is frankly horrible.  Plus children usually shy away from veggies that will provide them with more nutrition.  Add into that most of your children's supplements do not contain minerals or if they do not only are the poorly absorbed kind they also aren't enough for daily needs!  Also our diets are stripped of important minerals.  Not just from highly processed foods, but also from our vegetables and grains. 

Traditionally, eating fresh grains, fruits, and vegetables grown in nutrient-rich soil has been the primary supply for a full spectrum of ionic minerals.

Unfortunately in today’s world, naturally occurring, nutrient-rich soil is becoming increasingly rare. Eons of vegetation growth and aggressive modern farming techniques have brought many of the earth’s minerals to the surface where they have been washed away.

Synthesized fertilizers are routinely applied to farms and fields where minerals have been depleted. But man-made fertilizers provide only enough mineral substance to support basic plant life. Numerous trace minerals essential to human life don’t get replenished.

I think taking a high quality mineral supplement is essential not only the proper function of our children's bodies but even more importantly for their brain and nervous systems.

This was where Trace Minerals Research came in.  They are a company that is devoted to creating the highest quality mineral supplements, vitamins, joint health products, and much more!

Our modern diets, even when we eat super healthy, are not enough to supply our daily needs due to our farm soil depletion in essential minerals.  Taking a high quality multi vitamin that also contains adequate amounts of minerals is essential!  Not all supplements are created equal.  Many use the cheapest ingredients possible that are hard for our bodies to absorb.  So you end up peeing out most of the supplement!

That is why I was so excited to try Trace Minerals Research's products! Trace Minerals Research  has been in business for over 35 years and has won several industry awards.  They have an amazing guarantee that if you don't "feel the difference" from their products you get your money back! 
 
Our “Feel the Difference” Guarantee

Nutritional supplements should deliver noticeable results. Our commitment to noticeable results is the foundation of the TMR philosophy. Not a single bottle of product leaves our manufacturing facility that’s not backed up by our “Feel the Difference or Your Money Back” guarantee.

They sent me two of their children's supplements  for review.  First I tried the ConcenTrace® Kid's Trace Mineral Drops. ConcenTrace® Kid’s Trace Mineral Drops is an all natural mineral concentrate that has been specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of children.  ConcenTrace® is a unique mineral complex that contains is a full spectrum of over 72 naturally occurring ionic trace minerals from the Great Salt Lake. Most of these minerals are in ultra trace amounts, but are still necessary for optimum health during your child’s developmental years.†

 I add these drops to my children's juice and they don't even notice!  I love that I can do something so simple for my children's health. As a side note I checked the children's vitamin isle at my local store and NOT ONE of the chewables contained minerals!

Next I tried out the Kids Liquid Multi. Here is what the company has to say about it.

Kid’s Multi is a great tasting dietary supplement formulated especially for kids to provide them the key nutrients they need to promote and maintain optimum health.† Kid’s Multi is formulated with vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients in combination with full-spectrum, body-balanced trace minerals from ConcenTrace® for heightened absorption and assimilation.†

The benefit of the liquid is that it is more absorbable to the body and you can add it to things like juice or smoothies if you have a child that cant or wont take a chewable vitamin.  There were two things I noticed about it.  First off the color is a very bright yellow, which my kids didn't like.  I think a berry color would have gone over better.  And second my kids disliked the taste.  I tried it and its a nice citrus flavor and not horrible so I think my kids are just weird.  However I mixed it into some juice for snack and they never knew!  Both these products are very affordable at under $15.00 each.

You can see them HERE at Vitacost which has great prices. 

I would recommend Trace Minerals Research to anyone looking for high quality, affordable supplements that come from a company that is dedicated to improving peoples health!

Connect with Trace Minerals Research

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

The Giveaway!

 

Trace Minerals Research has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers both the ConcenTrace® Kid's Trace Mineral Drops and the Kids Liquid Multi.  Use the rafflecopter to enter.  All entries are verified.  Good Luck!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33ddb959/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Thrifty Housewife was not compensated for this post, I did receive a sample product(s) for the purposes of review. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the rafflecopter form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.  All Entries are verified.