Kitchen Table Passport: Travel Subscription for Mealtime

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Want to make dinner time more fun AND educational?  Kitchen Table Passport can help you do just that!

With your monthly Kitchen Table Passport subscription, you'll find out about a different country every time.  They offer boxes for Greece, Thailand, Tunisia, Sweden, South Africa, Japan and Spain right now.  Each box will encourage your family to chat about life in that country, cook an authentic local recipe and enjoy locally sourced mementos.

We chose the Greece box.  Included in our box was a Welcome Card. 
Information on this card included beautiful photography and an introduction to Greece, a description of the featured dish (Moussaka) & mementos, and the means to access the playlist of music.

Also included was the Taste Package featuring the recipe and grocery list for Moussaka.  The dish feeds 4-6 people and will take around 1 hour to cook.  The box includes a pre-measured and pre-mixed packet of herbs & spices that will be needed to make the recipe.  It smells and tastes amazing!

We loved the informative Discovery Cards.  They feature beautiful local photography & fun "who knew?" facts for a lively discussion.  There are 10 gorgeous full color postcards.  One side feaures a large image with a thought-provoking question, and the other has supporting information to help you have a great, fun discussion and is provided in bite-sized "fun-fact" format. 

Each card focuses on different aspects of life in Greece like location, geography, history, holidays, food, attractions, art, culture and more!  We learned so much from these cards and had some really great discussions about Greece.

The last part of our Greece experiment was to check out the Mementos.  These included an exclusive handmade 'Evil eye" charm, traditional olive oil soap, and Ouzo-flavored candies.  Each item was a hit!

This was a really fun experience for the whole family.  I love that we were able to learn about another place in this great big world without having to leave home.  This would be really great for a Family Date Night idea!

At just $29.95, I feel that Kitchen Table Passport provided a valuable experience that we are all going to remember for quite a while...well worth it:)

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Chewy.com: Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Treats

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Chewy.com is your one-stop shop for all things cat and dog!  One of the fantastic products you can find at Chewy.com is this bag of Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Peanut Butter Cookie Dog Treats:

Good Buddy Dog Cookies include natural ingredients that are not only healthy, but delicious too. The cookies are oven-baked to a golden, crunchy texture and have an aroma dogs love.

These oven-baked treats are made with real peanut butter in the USA.

Both Shiner and Jessie really enjoyed these cookies.  They loved the peanut butter flavor!  These treats are small enough to dole out frequently and are a great reward for your pups!

Remember to check out Chewy.com      when it's time to stock up on goodies for your fur babies.  They have a great selection (over 18,000 items!) fast shipping and affordable prices that allow you to spoil the four-legged members of your family:)

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

EcoStatic Inc. WhiteBoard Sheets and SlickyNotes #ShopletReviews

ABCD Diaries was provided with the products in this post by Shoplet.com as a member of the Shoplet Product Review Program. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone. 

Thanks to Shoplet.com, we recently had the chance to review the EcoStatic Inc. Beginner Kit Glue Free WhiteBoard Sheets and SlickyNote Note Pad and the EcoStatic Inc. Recycled Glue Free SlickyNotes Note Pad.

The whiteboard sheets come 10 sheets peer pack.  You can place them on pretty much any surface and they cling on using static electricity.  

The SlickyNotes work the same way, but come in smaller sizes.  Both products are rewritable, reusable, 100% recyclable.  Their stable electrostatic charge lasts for weeks. 

The larger size of the whiteboard pages have been great for temporary placement during school hours.  The kiddos can put one up on the wall and use it for a bit and then take it down once they are done...no muss, no fuss.  They used dry erase markers on these and they wiped clean every time, though vigorous wiping did cause the sheets to slip a bit.

The SlickyNotes were great for reminders on the fridge.

My only issue with the SlickyNotes:

We used a standard dry erase marker on these.  After wiping away the message on the larger size, the green color of the sheet wiped away with the dry erase marker and left behind the message.  The reversible white side worked just fine.  The smaller version wiped away the marker, but you can still see the message, so after several uses these would get pretty messy looking.  These are still really useful and fun products, even if they aren't quite as reusable as the whiteboard sheets:)

Shoplet.com is your one-stop shop for office supplies, promotional products, promotional shirts, and office stationary. 

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

DaySpring (in)courage Letterpress Blocks Collection Lets You Personalize Your Space!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

A new department of DaySpring, (in)courage, introduces the Letterpress Blocks Collection.  These gorgeous wooden blocks look great with any home decor theme.  They allow you to express yourself in a fun and stylish way.

You can create your own design and mix and match block sizes or choose from one of several pre-designed words or sayings found here.

The font and size combinations create a charming, vintage appeal that blends with most every style of home décor.  Blocks are easily connected by simple metal connectors that snap almost flush across the back of two blocks into perfectly positioned grooves.  You can display these gorgeous works of art on a level surface or hang on them wall.

We chose to get our last name fashioned in Letterpress Blocks.  I love the way our creation looks on the mantle of the fireplace.  Guests are constantly asking who we hired to make this lovely piece!

Funny story about my married name, Banda... 

People who are not familiar with us are constantly mispronouncing our last name.  In fact, while I was engaged it took my own family some time to remember.  I have an aunt who is famous for her funny poems she writes for special occasions and for my bridal shower she prepared one of these speeches.  As she practiced it before the shower to my mom, she ended it with "Never fear my little panda, life is just great when you're marrying a Banda" rhyming panda and Banda.  My mom corrected her and the final draft was even funnier: "Never fear my little anaconda, life is just great when you're marrying a Banda"  

Needless to say, my whole family remembers how to pronounce Banda now:)

Do you have something you'd like displayed in letters or words?  Maybe a favorite scripture, mantra or name?  These Letterpress Blocks can get your message across in a beautiful fashion:)

ABCD Diaries readers can get 20% off coupon towards a Letterpress Blocks Purchase when using the coupon code is Love20 which expires on 12/31/2015.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Chewy.com: Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky Treats

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Chewy.com is your one-stop shop for all things cat and dog!  One of the fantastic products you can find at Chewy.com is from Rocco & Roxie:

"Rocco & Roxie understands that dogs are family. That's why they make their gourmet jerky treats with lots and lots of meaty goodness, coming from pure good ol' American farms. What's their secret? A family recipe, tested and perfected over time. The first and main ingredient is high-quality, all-American meat, and the natural smokey flavor comes from being slow-smoked for 15 hours."

Both pups devoured these treats, so it's safe to say they loved them:)  These jerky sticks are several inches long and full of meaty goodness.  They are a softer jerky treat, not too tough.  What a wonderful treat for your dogs, young and old!

Remember to check out Chewy.com when it's time to stock up on goodies for your fur babies.  They have a great selection (over 18,000 items!) fast shipping and affordable prices that allow you to spoil the four-legged members of your family:)

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Summer Reading Fun with Ulysses Press!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Ulysses Press offers a large selection of fun and helpful books that will keep you reading, learning and entertained all summer long.  We got to check out several great reads from Ulysses Press.  Check out these super awesome titles and their descriptions from Ulysses Press:

 DIY Dye by Loren Lankford

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATING THE LATEST LOOKS AT HOME—FROM NEON-PINK STREAKS AND RAINBOW TIPS TO PURPLE HIGHLIGHTS AND DEEP BLUE TINTS
"Punky colored hair isn’t just for anarchists anymore. These new looks are being rocked by everyone from top models on the runway to regular women on the job. Now, DIY Dye brings together all the latest and greatest ways to create an iridescent ’do into one helpful and handy do-it-at-home guide.
There are countless products for freaking out one’s locks, but woefully little information on how to use them. This comprehensive manual lays out all the options for what to use, explains how to use them most effectively, and describes what different types of hair will do in reaction. Readers will learn all the ways to go from basic blonde to baby blue and to control how long their looks will last. Seeking out a one-night stand? Try the simple, nontoxic recipe for homemade hair chalk. Want a summer fling? It’s amazing what Kool-Aid can do.

With step-by-step instructions for every style from two-tone to ombre to a full head of highlighter-hued hair, this complete guide to the wonderful world of home hair dye leaves no follicle untouched."

This has been A's favorite of the lot.  She loves experimenting with different hair colors and I love that this book includes some safer and less permanent options than ones she's tried in the past.  The step-by-step instructions and color photos make using this book a breeze!

 Simply Sugar and Gluten Free by Amy Green

 "Tasty recipes using easily available sugar and wheat alternatives to minimize the work for busy cooks.

Eliminating wheat and sugar from a diet doesn’t mean seeking out exotic ingredients or spending hours in the kitchen. In this handy cookbook, blog sensation Amy Green presents the most popular of her taste-tested, reader-approved recipes. Featuring recipes that are as tasty as they are quick, Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free Meals in 20 Minutes makes it easy to cook smart without the stress. From healthy entrees like garden-fresh turkey burgers and chicken potpie with biscuits to decadent desserts like chocolate walnut flourless brownies and pumpkin spice cheesecake, these are recipes that satisfy the entire family."

 Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Baking and Desserts by Kelly E Keough

 "Shows readers how to transform forbidden indulgences into tasty treats by substituting wheat and sugar for ingredients like quinoa, tapioca starch and agave."

Since going gluten-free in the spring, I've been experimenting with lots of new recipes and ingredients.  These books were both a great addition to our collection and the whole family has enjoyed testing out some new treats!

 Coloring Animal Mandalas by Wendy Piersall

"Attain focus, clarity and peace while adding bright and inspiring colors to these unique patterns
From the Sanskrit word for “circle,” mandalas have been used for meditation and healing for thousands of years. Coloring Animal Mandalas adds the beauty of the animal kingdom—including butterflies, tigers, swans, snakes, lions, and even dragons—into these intricate designs for page after page of coloring book bliss.

With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, mandalas are spiritual symbols that represent the universe. Coloring these hypnotically beautiful, mystical shapes is a meditative and enjoyable way to relax. A fun way to achieve a state of mindfulness, Coloring Animal Mandalas adds fosters creativity, reduces stress, and allows you to embrace your inner child by focusing on the simple but engaging task of coloring in the detailed designs."

Both of the kiddos and I are loving this treasure of a book!  These coloring pages are for the more "advanced" coloring artist and they are absolutely gorgeous!  The single sided pages are great for pulling out and displaying.

 For My Children by Dionna Ford

"An easy-to-follow and heartfelt journal for moms to pass down their life story and joy of motherhood to their children

As a mother ages and sees her children go off into the world, she begins reflecting on her time as a mom and yearns to share memories with her kids. While they may be too busy to spend as much time with their mother as they would like, her children will cherish this journal for decades and eventually share with their own children. Beautifully designed and illustrated, this perfect gift contains creative prompts that spark Mom’s recollections of fun family vacations, favorite childhood games, and special holidays. The thought-provoking queries allow Mom to delve into her own lifetime of experiences — her childhood and school years, falling in love and getting married, and, most of all, having and raising children. This collection of fill-in-the-blank lists is the easiest way for a mother to record on paper answers to the questions her children never thought to ask but will love to discover. It covers the little things no one wants to lose as well as the deepest subjects like the wisdom she has gained over the years, the goals she has achieved in her life, and the dreams that remain unfulfilled."

This is a great gift book for moms, whether their kiddos are newborns or adults.  What a wonderful gift to fill out and pass on to your children...a true heirloom!

Daily Zen Doodles by Meera Lee Patel

"A year’s worth of “tangled drawings” designed to inspire creativity and serenity

Few activities are as spiritually satisfying as the art of the meditative “tangle” drawing. Finding a quiet moment to craft an intaglio of intricate, mandala-like drawings brings on a peaceful state that clears the mind and facilitates creativity and relaxation.

Offering a different hand-illustrated prompt for each day of the year, Daily Zen Doodles inspires you to lose themselves in the contemplative act of sketching beautifully repeating patterns and abstract designs. Whether it’s the outline of a nautilus shell, the petals of a lotus blossom, or the spokes of the Buddhist wheel, the mindfulness-inspiring ideas in this book foster focus and help unlock the your inner artist.

Accompanied by apt quotes from spiritual leaders and famed philosophers to provide you with an added spark of inspiration, each drawing prompt is an invitation to an improved mindset and elevated state of inner peace."

Another great book, this one is perfect for expressing your creativity with short daily meditations.  Short and sweet, these can really add a few minutes of calm in peace to your day!

If you are looking for some awesome reading material this summer, check out all of the great books at Ulysses Press!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Shape Up This Summer with Balance bare Bars at Walmart! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Balance Bar’s delicious bare bars, a nutritious, wholesome snack made with real nuts & fruit, can now be found at Walmart! Each bar is only 160 calories, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free and vegetarian and comes in tasty flavors like Sea Salt Caramel and Mixed Berry Nut which is also dairy-free and vegan. 

bare bars can be found in the pharmacy section of Walmart in the diet/nutrition section.  At my local Walmart, bare bars are only $1.16 per bar.  Some Walmart stores may carry a 4+1 value pack of that includes an extra free bar and a $1 off coupon so it’s a great value!

bare bars are great to have on hand for quick, satisfying summer snacks.  Our whole family loves these little bars!  They are just the right amount of sweet and salty and are a good choice for in-between-meal snacks.  Living on the Texas coast, we spend a lot of time outdoors.  Whether at the beach, the pool or out on the boat, we make sure to pack lots of water, sunscreen and protein-packed bars.  bare bars are the perfect addition to our outdoor summer activities!

If you are looking for some quick and easy workout moves to keep you active this summer, check out Gabby Reece's tips here: http://bit.ly/1BpXUiH 

Giveaway:

Thanks to Balance Bar, we are able to offer a giveaway package for 1 lucky reader that includes a $15 Walmart gift card and a variety of Balance bare bars!  Enter below:

Sheila G's Brownie Brittle Now at Costco!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Sheila G started making this brownie brittle to indulge her love of the crusty edge pieces of her famous brownies.  She has mastered the art and we are the lucky recipients of her creation...Sheila G's Brownie Brittle!

It's crazy how much chocolaty goodness is packed into each wafer-thin piece of Brownie Brittle!  Brownie Brittle comes in four delicious flavors - chocolate chip, salted caramel, toffee crunch and mint chocolate chip. 

These crispy brownie treats are "pure decadence at a fraction of the calories of a full-size brownie treat."  They are a delicious way to snack.  Brownie Brittle is definitely a unique twist on snacking and a sure fire way to indulge that sweet tooth!

Brownie Brittle is now available in a one pound bag at both Costco and Sam's Club and is great to have on hands for entertaining and summer snacking!  This award winning snack is sure to be a big hit with your guests and your family:)

For a complete list of retailers check out http://browniebrittle.com/find-a-store/

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Escape Monthly: Vancouver/Victoria Escape

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Summer is here and with it comes vacation season.  If you are looking at a slim vacation budget this year, check out Escape Monthly.  Escape Monthly is a subscription box service that delivers a box of goodies from a different place to your door each month.  This box is a fun experience that the whole family can enjoy!

The theme for the Escape Monthly box we reviewed was "The Vancouver/Victoria Escape."  With our temperatures rising every day here in Texas, we'd love to actually be in Vancouver or Victoria this time of year, but since we can't, Escape Monthly is the next best thing:)  Our package was overflowing with amazing products from the Vancouver/Victoria region of Canada to give us an immersive, hands-on experience of the area.

Here is a look at what was included in our Escape:

Native Art Journal
Travel Book for Victoria and Vancouver Island

Chilkat Thunderbird Native Art Scarf
Native Art Eco Bag

SeaChange Salmon Pate

Vancouver Island Salt Co Orange and Lime Sea Salt

Murchie's Diamond Jubilee Tea

Coconama Specialty Chocolates 

Abeego Reusable Food Wrap

Gluten Free Ginger Sap Cookies from Hidden Garden

Rain City Soups and Salad Dressings Miso Ginger Grapefruit Dressing

Escape Monthly is a great way to learn about and enjoy places you may not have the time or funds to this summer and year round!  

Escape Monthly subscriptions are a great value, starting at just $49.95.

Start travelling the world today in the comfort and convenience of your own home with a subscription to Escape Monthly!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Mamma Chia Vitality Granola Clusters: The Perfect Summer Snack! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Mamma Chia, the leader of the chia revolution, has introduced a delicious new way to embrace your crunchy side with the introduction of their soul-satisfying, organic Chia Vitality Granola Clusters.

Made with gluten-free whole grains, each serving provides 1500 mg of Omega-3s, 10 grams of protein (soy-free and dairy-free) and 5 grams of fiber (20% of the recommended daily value!), making it a healthful snack, yogurt topping or breakfast cereal for busy summer mornings and road trips! 

We loved the Mamma Chia products we reviewed!  The Chia Vitality Granola Clusters are like comfort food:)  They are wholesome, satisfying, sweet and crunchy...I could go on and on!  We loved all three flavors, especially the Wild Blueberry.  The Cinnamon Pecan and Vanilla Almond were great too.  We used ours in breakfast and dessert parfaits with a little Greek yogurt and fresh berries and also used them in our homemade trail mix.  Of course, our favorite way to eat them was straight from the bag:)

I love that these are very allergy-friendly and are a perfect protein snack that actually tastes good and is good for you.

Check out Mamma Chia for more info and to find these tasty treats near you!

·        One lucky ABCD Diaries reader will win an amazing Mamma Chia prize package valued at over $50!  Enter below:

Spice Up Summer with Sabra Hummus, Dips and Salsas!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Get ready to spice things up this summer with Sabra!

Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or just chilling by the pool, Sabra offers a large selection of tasty hummus, creamy Greek yogurt dips and fresh salsas for every occasion.  Pair these with a bag of pretzels or tortilla chips or a tray of fresh veggies and you're sure to please any crowd:)

Sabra is best known around here for it's delicious hummus that comes in 13 flavors:
Basil Pesto
Tuscan Garden
Roasted Red Pepper
Classic
Olive Tapenade
Roasted Pine Nut
Lemon Twist
Chipotle
Spinach and Artichoke
Sun Dried Tomato
Jalapeño
Roasted Garlic
Supremely Spicy

We eat a lot of hummus around here.  Typically, we make our own,, but Sabra is great when we are pressed for time or want a larger variety without the cost of extra ingredients.  Sabra hummus is so versatile!  It's great as a spread on sandwiches, a coating on grilled chicken or as a dip.  We especially liked the spicier versions like Chipolte and Jalapeno.

Sabra has 6 Greeek Yogurt dips to choose from:

Crisp Bell Pepper

Cucumber Dill

Diced Onion

Mediterranean Herb

Tzatziki

Farmer's Ranch

These dips are made with all natural ingredients and protein packed Greek yogurt.  They were super satisfying.  They were yummy with fresh veggies and can also be used to up the flavor of any recipe that uses sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Sabra has 8 fresh tasting salsas:
Restaurant Style Salsa
Roasted Garlic Salsa
Mango Peach Salsa
Homestyle Salsa - Mild
Homestyle Salsa - Medium
Chunky Pico De Gallo Salsa
Southwestern Style Salsa
Garden Style Salsa

The salsas we tried were very fresh tasting, like restaurant salsa.  They were a bit sweet for our tastes, but we had some out-of-town guests try them and they loved them!

Sabra even offers convenient snack packs and single sized serving containers which makes snacking on the go a breeze!

Spice up your summer with Sabra!  Check out a great collection of recipes for inspiration at Sabra.com and find these tasty treats at a store near you!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.