SodaStream Review

 

 As much as I hate to admit it, we are big soda drinkers in this house. Spending way more then I’dlike on soda every month. Like a lot of people I’ve seen the commercials for Sodastreamand wondered if the Sodastream really made soda at home that tasted like its manufactured counterparts. This past week I was lucky enough to get to sample Sodastream and several of their flavor mixes.

                                     

 “Making carbonated water and soft drinks is simple! Turn tap water into sparkling water in under 30 seconds, with no clean-up. Enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade soda and protect the environment at the same time. No heavy bottles to carry, store at home or throw away. Fizz to your taste and add the flavor of your choice to make your favorite drink. Simple to clean and reuse. With a variety of colors and silhouettes, you'll be sure to find a soda maker to match with any décor”.

 We were sent the JetBlack/Silver Fountain Soda Starter Kit. Which retails for $99.95, the fountain soda kit includes: Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker, 1 60 liter Carbonator, 1 Carbonating Bottle, 3 Soda Mix flavors (your choice) - each bottle makes 12 liters of soda, Sodamix Variety 6 pack.  

We received a variety of the flavors and types of carbonated beverages that the Sodastream has to offer. The first that we tried out were from their Regular Flavor Selection. In this category there are every soda flavor you can think of, Root Beer, Lemon Lime, Fountain Mist, Cream Soda, Cola, and so many others. I have to say that I’m not crazy about these because they are sweetened with Splenda rather than High Fructose Corn Syrup. Which is great because it makes them a little better for your health, but I am sensitive to Sucralose (Splenda). Artificial Sweeteners give me the worst headaches.  

 All is not lost though; Sodastream has a Sparkling Naturals Selection. Sparkling Naturals contain no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no artificial sweeteners.  Sweetened with Cane Sugar. Yes, while the flavor selection for Sparkling Naturals isn’t as large as the Regular Selection it has all my personal favorite flavors, like Root Beer, and Lemon Lime. More flavors coming in this month (June 2012). They are delicious!

We also tried the Energy Drink which tastes exactly like Red Bull.  Another that we really enjoyed was the Sparkling MyWater Essences, which was a great way to entice my son to drink more water on hot days.  We are really enjoying our Sodastream and will be purchasing more liters as we all enjoy different flavors.

 Prices for Regular and Natural flavor mixes range from $4.99 to $6.99.  MyWater Essence for Sparkling Water is $9.99 for a 3 pack of flavor essences. Sodastream can be purchased on the Sodastream website as well as many stores such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, and Kohl’s. If you and your family are soda drinkers I highly recommend the Sodastream it makes delicious soda right at home and it is so much cheaper than buying from the grocery store at about 25 Cents a liter.

A Look at April's Eco-Emi Box!

When Eco-Emi's founder Christine emailed me and said I was going to receive the April box, I was ecstatic and I stalked my box from the moment it was shipped and I got my confirmation until earlier today when my mailman dropped it off. For those of you who have a subscription to Eco-Emi you can probably understand my excitement. If your not familiar with Eco-Emi, let me tell you a little about it.

  Eco-Emi is a Eco-Friendly, Green and Vegan monthly lifestyle subscription service. Rather than just getting cosmetic and beauty samples, you get a mix of food, household, cleaning, health and wellness products.  It being a lifestyle box is great for me because I get to try a little bit of everything and helps introduce me to great Green Companies. I personally find the world of Green and Eco-Friendly products extremely overwhelming. Eco-Emi has helped so much, and I've found some products and companies that I had been passing up before and use everyday now. The cost of Eco-Emi is $15 monthly for residents of the US and $30 monthly for International residents.  Payments are easy and secure through Paypal.

How Beautiful is This Picture?

  Each month Eco-Emi has a theme or cause. April's cause is  Mr. Ellie Pooh  an Eco, fair trade company in Sri Lanka that makes paper and gifts out of elephant pooh in an attempt to save Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka Elephant habitats are being depleted by humans. When Elephants come looking for food they are killed because they are getting into crops. For more info on this cause/company please go to their website: www.mrelliepooh.com (Beautiful Scrapbooks)

 Alright! Let's get into what's in the April Eco-Emi box:

• Baby Me Ultra-Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap by Alabu Skin Care 3.25oz $5.15 each
• Lip Shimmer in Plum by Burt's Bees 0.09oz $5.00
• Enchanting Chai Line Gourmet Enhancers $7.00 .25oz, $16.00 1.5oz, Finishing Sugars $6.00 2oz, $15.00 6.5oz and Spiced Chocolates $8.50 2.5oz by Catalyst Gourmet
• Natural Toothpaste by Dr. Collins 4.2oz $6.75
• Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus and Peppermint by The Seaweed Bath Company 12fl oz $16.89
• Bronzer in Golden by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques 4 gram jar$12.00
• Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil by Shea Radiance 5oz $34.00(Was melted on arrival but is just perfect after being left to set in cool house)
• Tropical Lime Tea by Mato Factor Tea 20 large tea bags $5.99
• Organic Raw Honey by Wholesale Sweeteners 1 pack 16.00 oz $7.99 

 April's Eco-Emi has been my favorite so far. I loved everything in it, right down to the information card, and rose petals. If your interested in receiving an Eco-Emi you can Join here.  Check out Eco-Emi on Facebook too! 

* I was sent April's Eco-Emi box free for review purposes. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and 100% honest.*

GourmetGiftBaskets.com Brownies Review and Giveaway!

 During the Holiday's I did a review for GourmetGiftBaskets.com's Classic Christmas Basket. Which included some really great and absolutely delicious goodies. Little did I know that they also offer baked goods. Such as Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, Cookies, Whoopie Pies and Brownies! Yum! I was lucky enough to get to try one of each flavor of GourmetGiftBaskets.com's Brownies. They have 6 different brownie varieties and they are so good. All were rich, and super moist. All individually wrapped to preserve freshness. My absolute favorite was the Cheesecake Brownie which was a brownie topped with a generous layer of delicious cheesecake. Ah-may-zing! I'd also like to mention that some of them were edge pieces which is great because the edge brownie pieces are my favorite. I've never seen a company do that before and you really get a more homemade feel.  I didn't eat them all to myself, I had 3 helpers and nobody had anything bad to say. These would make a great gift.

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The look on someone's face when they open a gift with a classy presentation and then take their first bite and realize how delicious the brownies are is priceless. There isn't much more you can ask from brownie gifts. The amazing flavors packed into this gourmet brownie gift are sure to please anyone's palate. When you're searching for gourmet brownie gifts, you want to feel confident that your gift is of the utmost quality and that is the comfort we are providing you with this gourmet brownie sampler.

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Check out the gourmet brownie flavors packed into this impressive gift: The perfect brownies for that special recipient.

Includes 2 of Each Flavor:

· Belgian Chocolate Chunk
· White Chocolate Macadamia Blonde
· Butterscotch Blonde
· Cheesecake
· Peanut Butter
· Fudge Walnut

  You can purchase this sampler which includes 2 of each flavor which is 12 brownies on the GourmetGiftBaskets.com website for $34.99

 GourmetGiftBaskets.com is giving away a 6 Brownie Sampler to one lucky Kristy's Place Reader! Enter using the Rafflecopter Form below. 

zChocolat Touche x2 Review #ValentinesGiftIdea

 Have someone special in your life that you want to treat for Valentine's Day? How about a special decadent treat for yourself? I have the answer. It's zChocolat.

 zChocolat is truly the best of the best. Handmade in France by World Champion Chocolatier Pascal Chaffet "using 400 year old passionate tradition and zealous adherence to purity". The Touche x2 comes in a beautiful handmade wooden box made of Sappeli, a member of the Mahogany family. It is part of zChocolat's Romantic Collection. The Touche x2 comes with 27 chocolates, 12 heart shaped chocolates in the flavors: Milk Chocolate Supreme with Hazelnut Praline, Black Mystique Vanilla Bourbon Caramel, White Toquade filled with Chocolate Gonache scented with Bergamot. Paired with a combination of 15 of zChocolat's Signature Milk & Dark Numbered Chocolates. It retails for $135.25 and can be personalized with an engraved brass plate for another $21.02.

The signature chocolates include are as follows:

•  Z A sweet and salty caramel and crunchy praline made from slow roasted Piedmont hazelnuts. In White Chocolate, 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate, & 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate.
• 0 Made from Piedmont hazelnuts, rich praline surrounded by a couverture of 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate that is permeated with crunchy bits of California almonds
• 1 A Distinctive Madagasgar Bourbon vanilla ganache, infused with the Provencale essence of lavender and covered in Venezuelan dark chocolate
• 2 Italian Gianduja praline handmade with Piedmont hazelnuts and  Venezuelan dark chocolate and covered in 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate
• 3 Rich smooth caramel mixed with a tangy passion fruit, coconut and mango puree and covered in 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate
• Rich 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate surrounding a handmade praline of Valencia almonds and peanuts from China
• 5 A deeply flavored, rich 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate ganache made from the Carenero Superior bean from Caracas
• 6 A praline made from slow roasted Valencia almonds and rich Ivory Coast milk chocolate, all covered in 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate with minced almonds from California
• 7 Coarsely minced sweet and salty pistachio blended with a creamy pistachio-almond paste and surrounded by 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate
• 8 An inspired pairing of finely ground, caramelized hazelnuts from the Piedmont region of Italy and a smooth coffee ganache made of coffee beans from Kenya and Mexico, all covered in 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate. 
• 9 A praline made from slow roasted Valencia almonds that are caramelized and ground onto a fine powder and mixed with milk chocolate and pure cocoa butter covered in 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate
• 10 Solid 70% Venezuelan dark chocolate with minced pieces of almonds from the Valencia region of Spain
• 11 A bite-sized version of molten chocolate cake drizzled with raspberry coulis: fresh raspberry puree whisked into creamy ganache of dark chocolate and cocoa butter covered  in 40% Ivory Coast milk chocolate 

 

ZChocolates, simply put are delicious. Imagine the best chocolate you've ever had and multiply it by 100. It's AMAZING. Very worth the price. Not only are the chocolates themselves top notch, but the presentation and packaging sets them well over their competitors. zChocolat offers the finest French chocolate's in the World delivered directly to your doorstep and personalized to make the perfect gift for anyone. zChocolat's can only be purchased from their website: www.zchocolat.com. You can catch them on Facebook here as well.

Food Should Taste Good Review and Giveaway

A few months back as part of the Influenster program I received the Naturals Voxbox. One of the sample products in that box were Sweet Potato Chips from Food Should Taste Good. My family and myself all tried and enjoyed that small bag. Food Should Taste Good was kind enough to send out 5 bags of some of their other flavors: Cheddar, The Works, Chocolate, Cantina, and another full size bag of Sweet Potato. I love programs like Influenster because they introduce me to products I wouldn't normally try. In the case of Food Should Taste Good it was a product that I never even noticed in the store until I had sampled it through my Voxbox. After trying it the next time I was in my local grocery store I spotted it right away. Had I not had the chance to sample I don't know that it would have ever gotten my attention. I have to be honest and say that while I like to use natural products in the form of makeup, home goods, and even clothing, I can't say that I'm a very big fan of foods labeled natural. Well that is until I tasted Food Should Taste Good products.

So let's start with the flavor that got my attention first. The Sweet Potato Chips. So good. I wasn't sure what to expect from a chip that was made with sweet potato's but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they tastes very similar to a regular tortilla chip with a hint of sweetness. Yum. I am a fan of sweet potatoes, so I suppose it wasn't a stretch to think that I would like these chips. What surprised me was the fact that my son liked them and even the rest of my family enjoyed them. That's when I knew I had to see what else Food Should Taste Good had to offer. I mean where could you go wrong with chips that are flavored with natural ingredients, gluten free, contain zero perservatives and are loaded with fiber? As you can see they are so good when asked to choose 5 flavors I would like to sample I chose Sweet Potato again.

 Next up, Cheddar flavor. I'm a huge cheese lover, I think its safe to say I put it on nearly everything. Which is why I was surprised to find that I don't really care for the Cheddar flavor. My son on the other hand has been asking to have some constantly. With the natural ingredients, I don't feel any guilt about obliging.

 The Works, "the chip version of the loaded bagel". This chip is flavored with garlic, onion, poppy and caraway seeds. I really liked this chip with onion dip but wasn't crazy about eating it by itself.

The last two flavors are my absolute favorite of the bunch. The Chocolate flavor I wasn't really expecting to like. I love chocolate, but the thought of a chip flavored with Chocolate kinda threw me off. Boy, am I glad I picked this flavor. It is so good! Just the right amount of salty and sweet together. Flavored with semi-sweet chocolate and  Dutch cocoa powder. I love these chips! It was suggested on the back of the bag that they be eaten with peanut butter and apples, as well as sprinkled on vanilla ice cream, making me wish that I had any of those on hand because I just know it would be delicious.

 Lastly, is the Cantina chip. I love, love, love fresh made tortilla chips from Mexican restaurants and Cantina's. I've tried several tortilla chips that have been labeled as restaurant style and they never measure up to the real thing. Food Should Taste Good's Cantina Chips are the exception. They are so good, and taste so fresh! They taste just like you sat down at a cantina. I love eating my warmed. I'd also like to mention that I never eat tortilla chips without salsa, I have been eating the Cantina Chips right out of the bag. I love them.

 All of Food Should Taste Good are:

 Prices for Food Should Taste Good Chips vary by store. I found Food Should Taste Good at Winco were I shop for $2.48. Food Should Taste Good can be purchased at most major grocery stores, and mass retailers such as Target, and Walmart. I see from the Food Should Taste Good website that coming in 2012 they will be releasing new flavors and sizes. I'm glad I was introduced to Food Should Taste Good, I love how fresh they taste and that they are on the healthy side and I look forward to trying other flavors. You can find local carriers and more product on the Food Should Taste Good website: www.foodshouldtastegood.com

Want to win 5 bags of Food Should Taste Good of your Choice? Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. 

Juiceology Review

I was given the opportunity to sample two of Juiceology's delicious and all-natural juices. Juiceology is the first and only all-natural juice with fresh whole grain extracts and 20% DV fiber. I have to say, I was a little apprehensive about trying Juiceology. While I love fresh fruit, I usually don't find fruit drinks tauted as being healthy taste good, and reading that the nutrients in the extracts in Juiceology come from oats, barley, and brown rice. Whole grains in a fruit juice?  So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Peach Mango was REALLY good. I shared it with my 3yr old whom really enjoyed it too. While I tried the second juice I was sent which was Blueberry Acai, I didn't like it. Mind you, I don't like Blueberry's in general so I'm not the best judge of taste for this one. My son really enjoyed the Blueberry Acai though. There are many benefits to drinking Juiceology:

• Healthy Weight: Helps satisfy your appetite and contribute to a more balanced diet. 
• Heart Health:Promotes better absorption of nutrients, improving your overall health and wellness.  
• Healthy Fiber:Supports the growth of beneficial microflora, helping to optimize your digestive tract.  

While I'm glad I got to sample Juiceology, I'm thoroughly disappointed to find that if I wanted to purchase any I'd have to travel 3 hours to LA. These juices are so good and I love how great they are for my body and general health. Currently, Juiceology can be purchased in Southern California stores Ralphs, Gelson's, and Bristol Farms. If you reside in Southern California and you would like to know if Juiceology in carried in your area you can find out here. Luckily, they are expanding across the US and will be available in other states soon. Juiceology retails for $2.99. To stay on top of when Juiceology will be available in your area you can "LIKE" their Facebook page for updates. Pure Juiceology on Facebook


*I was sent a sample of Juiceology  for review consideration. I was not paid for this review. All Opinions are my own and 100% honest*

DaVinci Gourmet Syrup Review & Giveaway

Davinci's Gourmet Syrups are not new to me. I first became familiar with their syrups in my freshman year of High School. I spent a lot of time earning extra money at my dads work. The waiting room was always stocked with coffee and a large variety of DaVinci Gourmet Syrups. I loved having them in my coffee and I was always mixing and matching to make my own flavors. I haven't had it in several years though, so it has been great to reconnect with DaVinci. I've also learned that there are so many more uses for DaVinci's syrup than I ever knew.  I found one in particular that I want to make and bring to our families Thanksgiving get together. They can be used in coffee of course, milkshakes, Italian Soda, tea, marinades, salad dressings, and baking. There are so many flavors and even more uses for them. I was sent three samples, a hazelnut, Kahlua, and sugar free Kahlua. I have tried the Hazelnut and the regular Kahlua and they are even better then I remember. I have used them in coffee and made a milkshake with the Kahlua flavor. Yummy!

You can find Davinci Gourmet Syrup in most grocers, Super Walmart's , and fine grocers. I have found it to be around $6 in most stores and sometimes even as low as $4. You can find DaVinci on their website http://www.davincigourmet.com/, their Facebook DaVinci Gourmet, and twitter https://twitter.com/#!/DaVinciGourmet. I thought I would share the simple recipe that I found for Hazelnut Truffles. 

Hazelnut (Gianduia)Truffles

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup DaVinci Gourmet Hazelnut (Original) Classic Syrup (Untoasted) 
• 1 cup grated chocolate
• 11 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 oz (4 tablespoons) butter, diced

Directions

Place the chocolate, butter and Hazelnut syrup in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high one minute and stir well. If the mixture is not smooth, continue to microwave and stir in short bursts until the truffle mixture is smooth and glossy. Chill for 2 hours or until the consistency of fudge and then roll into 1-inch balls. Roll truffles in grated chocolate and store in the refrigerator for up to one month or at room temperature for 5 days.

Yield

18 1-inch balls