Rave and Review

Recycled Cotton Blankets from Twirls & Twigs {Review & Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 7

I used to think that blankets were kind of boring.  Really, what is there to rave about a piece of fabric and some trim?  It turns out I just needed to find Twirls and Twigs, the makers of some of the most uniquely adorable children's clothing anywhere, because their blankets are definitely rave-worthy.

It's hard not to fall in love with one {or five} of the Twirls and Twigs recycled cotton blankets.  Their quirky patterns, colors and designs, make them some of the cutest and most unique designs I have found anywhere.  With different color prints, contrast stitching, and embroidery paired with textured cotton and designer trim, the combination is beautiful as well as irresistible. 
 
In fact, when faced with a line sheet of all their new releases, I had a really hard time narrowing it down to even my top 5 choices because they all were so uniquely fun and, well, fabulous.  I finally called in the whole family and we decided on the perfect blanket for our little reviewer together – a design called Henry that was so perfect that my sister in law also went out and purchased one that matches in pink for her daughter.

Once our recycled cotton blanket arrived we realized they are more than just great looking, they are also incredibly delightful to snuggle with.  Made proudly in the USA with soft recycled cotton fibers and textures galore, they are super soft and perfect for kiddos to love. 

And, both my little ones fell hard for Henry, the sweet polka dot hedgehog that adorns our bright orange Twirls and Twigs blanket.  Even though they have only been buddies for a few short weeks, my son sleeps so much better when he is snuggling his Henry blanket that it has become absolutely essential for car and stroller rides.  Naptime on the go now depends so heavily upon these snuggles that my daughter finally gave in and reluctantly agreed that Henry could be his special blanket.

Little ones may not care that the recycled pre-consumer fabrics of their Twirls and Twigs blankets are helping to keep unnecessary waste from being discarded in our landfills or that the vibrant colors in their creations are retained from the original fabric pieces which cuts down on the use of harmful dyes and chemicals released into the environment, but they are sure to appreciate the color and the “broken in” feel of the fabrics.  It may be hard to see this in the pictures, but the textures and suppleness of the fabric are simply amazing.  This makes these blankets perfect for little ones to run their hands over while they snuggle in, something our little reviewer does lovingly every time he hugs it. 

With Twirls and Twigs commitment to reducing waste and producing the highest quality products they can, it makes perfect sense why they are an instant favorites for kids and parents alike.  Whether you are looking for sweet, sassy or stylish, Twirls and Twigs has the perfect match. 

Check out their site to see all the different varieties of blankets they carry as well as retailers online and local.  While you are there, be sure to check out their line of clothing to see all the clothing I am dying to get my daughter into.  If you are specifically looking for their recycled blanket for a special little one, you will love that you can even get your favorite Twirls and Twigs blanket personalized if you order direct from Diapers.com.

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Twirls and Twigs Recycled Cotton Blanket! 

To Enter: Simply "like" Twirls and Twigs on Facebook and sign up for their email newsletter {top right of website}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

I am dying to win an adorable Twirls & Twigs recycled cotton blanket from @raveandreview - enter here http://bit.ly/jd3byj    

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On June 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Address only.

Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #10 Kimberly said... I like you on FB

A big thank you to Twirls and Twigs who provided a sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

NOVICA for Unique Gifts and Jewelry {Review & Giveaway}

I love jewelry.  Rings, necklaces, earrings and more, you name it, I’m a huge fan.  If that jewelry is handmade, I absolutely can’t resist.  For this reason, I adore NOVICA, which is like an online artisan market where you can get the most unique gifts and jewelry anywhere. 

NOVICA works in association with National Geographic, to offer an extensive collection of over 2,000 master artisans around the world and give you one easy place to buy – no traveling required. 

They have a great selection of pieces that you just can’t find anywhere else and I love that each of their pieces comes with their own story and information about its country of origin.  Looking for a hard-to-find item?  Want truly unique gifts?  Novica really has it all and is now my go-to site for those that are impossible to shop for. 

Novica makes it easy to find the perfect gift because of their intuitive search functions.  Instead of it being overwhelming to shop at a site that has so many awesome choices, Novica has really great categories and subcategories, allowing you to sort and find the perfect piece.  Because I was looking for something special for an amethyst lover, I was even able to sort my sterling silver jewelry results by stone type, something that I love.

Once you find a few items you love, you can see the pictures and descriptions as well as the artist profiles listed on each page that give you an idea of who you are buying from.  This feature makes it a truly unique shopping experience and why I could easily spend days shopping and searching.

I finally decided on the Timeless Water Lily a beautiful silver necklace that has a dainty silver charm adorned with amethyst, garnet and moonstone charms and had it shipped to me from Thailand.  It was perfect for my recipient for a variety of reasons, but mostly it won my heart because I knew it was unique enough that it would stand out against the mass-produced necklaces you can get at department stores. 

It arrived surprisingly fast considering the distance it was traveling, and came boxed in a beautiful leaf print paper jewelry box, a presentation which I absolutely adore.  Included in the jewelry box was a card explaining the piece and the story behind it, something I love as it makes it easy to reference later as the compliments pour in. 

If you are looking for handcrafted and unique gifts, décor and more, you should look no further than Novica this spring and summer. And, if you are as excited as I am about NOVICA, you should definitely check out NOVICA Live, a great way to take your shopping experience to a whole new level.  Whether you want to host a party, become a consultant, or merely learn more about their artisan offerings, the Novica Live site is a great resource. 

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Gift Card to NOVICA.com! 

To Enter: Simply visit NOVICA.com and tell me a product you love

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like NOVICA on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

I entered to win a $50 Gift Card Giveaway from @raveandreview and @NOVICA- enter here http://bit.ly/loWxYi 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On June 12th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open WORDWIDE.

A big thank you to NOVICA who provided a gift card for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Shari's Berries for Mother's Day Treats {Review & Discount Code}

Everyone who knows me is very aware of how much I love fruit.  Case in point, the summer that I had gestational diabetes was long and torturous because for every big event someone had prepared something they knew to be my absolute favorite dessert: strawberries.   Not grabbing a plate and filling it with berries was so incredibly hard for me, even more so than going without starches and candy.

But really, who doesn't love strawberries?  Or, for that matter, berries of any kind?  I will never forget how excited I was to find my step mom's care package of fruit that was delivered to the hospital as I lay recovering from having my son and taken off my GD diet.  That first bite of berries after going without for months was truly a treat and I remember being giddy with happiness as I opened each container and sampled it.

And, now I've got a new first to remember as I was recently introduced to Shari's Berries and 100% fell in love.  From hand dipped gourmet berries to decadent cookies and combo packs, each page I searched was more delicious looking than the last.  Even flipping through their pages of gourmet treats was exciting to me, thinking of how fun it would be to open the door to find a gift from Shari’s Berries waiting for me.

Since I can't resist a good strawberry, I decided to order the 9 Fancy Berries and Pink Keepsake Box this past month.  Luckily, it arrived quickly, because it's all I thought of for the few days before it showed up.  It was packaged nicely in a faux leather pink keepsake box {that I will be soon be repurposing for small special items because I love it so much} and all ready for gifting to a very lucky recipient.

When I first opened it, I was shocked.  We get big strawberries every once in a while at our local market, but nothing anywhere close to the size of these berries.  We’re talking HUGE strawberries that you eat in multiple bites or can cut and enjoy, not the size you are used to seeing.  Thank goodness for the large size, because as soon as I opened the box and tasted one, I wished I had ordered an additional dozen or two. 

We had planned on enjoying the berries over a couple of days, each of us having one dipped berry per day.  What I found, though, was that these kinds of berries aren’t something you plan to eat.  Once you have one, you aren’t likely to box up the rest “for later”.  In fact, the instructions on the box state as much, telling you to barricade yourself somewhere and savor these delicious treats.   The four of us ended up enjoying these treats over the course of a day, which was actually a feat considering how incredibly delicious these berries are and it was all we could do to not eat them all in one sitting. 

The variety of chocolates and toppings on each berry made sharing them really fun, as we were all taking bites of each others to try them all.  From coconut to chocolate chips to nuts, having those specialty toppings made the berries feel like a decadent treat and fun to sample and share.  We also liked how there were two of the popular flavors of chocolate and white chocolate as those ones went really quick and it was nice to each be able to have a good sized piece. 

I really feel like it’s impossible to describe how much we all loved the chocolate covered strawberries.  There’s only so many times you can use the words “delectable” and “delicious” and there are absolutely no words to describe the perfection that happens when you combine two things that on their own are perfect.  

After having tried Shari’s Berries, I will never eat strawberries the same again and will always be comparing them to the fancy dipped berries that we devoured.  Perfect for Mother’s Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays, new mom gifts {hint, hint} or anytime you just want to really make someone’s day, if you’re looking for chocolate covered strawberry gift ideas there really is only one place to look: Shari’s Berries. 

And, now ordering from Shari's Berries is even sweeter.  For a limited time you can enter BERRYGOOD at checkout to get a 15% discount!  Simply visit berries.com or connect with Shari's Berries on Faceboook and keep up with discounts and promotions

A big thank you to Shari's Berries for sending their treats to be enjoyed {and enjoyed, and enjoyed}.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Dora the Explorer Mega Bloks {Review & Giveaway}

My daughter and I are huge fans of Mega Bloks.  She loves that they are incredibly fun and easy to do on her own and I love that they are on the larger size, which makes them just right for her little hands.  Of course, the added bonus is that the size of them makes them easier to keep track of and put away when my little son is awake, but still great for creating buildings, structures, and even characters for hours of fun.

Another thing I love is that she has a few sets of Mega Bloks she has received throughout the years and they all mix and match, making for some really fun building opportunities.  This is great as she’s getting older and wants to build bigger and more elaborate structures as well as being more fun when we want to all play together.

Newest in the Mega Bloks family is the Dora the Explorer Buildable Playsets that let kids recreate the places they see on the show and play with their favorite characters.  The Dora sets also include something new to us – the Build & Dress design that allows you to change Dora’s clothing and accessories, a feature that my daughter adores {see picture of Dora sporting her interchangeable skirt as a hat for proof}. 

  We got to try the Mega Bloks Dora the Explorer Small Garden Gazebo Playset that includes a pagoda structure, a patio table, plants, and watering can in addition to the Build & Dress Dora and blue bird.  This set couldn’t have come at a better time as we are just planning our spring garden and spend a lot of time talking about taking care of plants and growing flowers, trees, and vegetables. 

This set has been a great teaching tool for us as well as some great play time fun, something that is always a huge bonus to me.  While I wish that the set came with a few more plants, luckily we have other Mega Blok sets that came with flowers and we were able to pool them together to make an even more lively garden set up.  Gotta love mix and match for that reason!   
 
  If you are looking at getting your little one some first building blocks, you really can’t go wrong with Mega Bloks.  Not only are their pieces sturdy and easy for little ones to manipulate, they also have the best characters, accessories, and extended play value, making them kid and parent approved! 

Mega Bloks has 12 new Dora Buildable playsets {including an awesome camping set and playhouse} as well as numerous other Mega Bloks sets featuring other popular characters that can join in playtime fun.  For ages 3 and up.  http://www.megabloks.com/

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Dora the Explorer Garden Gazebo Mega Bloks Playset! 

To Enter: Simply visit Mega Bloks and tell me a product you love

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Mega Bloks on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Buildable fun with Mega Bloks Dora sets! Giveaway from @raveandreview and @MegaBrands - enter here http://bit.ly/f1f6rp   

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On May 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#65 Emmy said... I like Mega on Facebook (@emmy coffee)

A big thank you to Mega Brands and Child's Play PR/Team Mom who provided the sample free of charge for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Shrinky Dinks in 3D {Review & Giveaway}

 Remember Shrinky Dinks?  I’m betting you do, and that you loved them as much as I did.  Now, what if I told you that the same Shrinky Dinks you adored as a child have gone 3D?  Say it with me, “yesssss!”

To achieve these 3D results you don’t need special tools, glasses, or a high tech machine, you just need an oven, a pair of scissors, some vibrant pencils or markers, and your imagination.  Just like the original, you simply trace, cut, bake and shrink to create your customized toys!

Simply by utilizing flat pieces of baked Shrinky Dinks that have been notched to slip together, you can now create interlocking Shrinky Dink figures that can stand, pose, and play.  Yes, the technology may be simple, but it certainly goes a long way in bringing your pieces to life and making them something you can play with well after the art supplies are put away. 

These 3D kits come in a variety of themes, including fairy princesses, dinosaurs, space, zoo animals and more.  We got to try out the fairy kit these past few rainy weeks of spring and fell in love.  The kit came with 10 sheets of 5”x8” Shrinky Dink magic material and tracing sheets to design our own figures, accessories and more to our heart’s desire. 

Not only are Shrinky Dinks incredibly fun for a variety of ages, which makes them perfect for when you’re entertaining a gaggle of children, they are also fun for the supervising adults.  Like the original, you are only limited by your imagination when designing your own Shrinky Dinks and 3D figures.  Want your dinosaur to wear a crown or your princess to wear galoshes?  No problem! 

Probably the thing I love best about Shrinky Dinks as art projects is that they are so open-ended.  Besides tracing the pre-designed images, you can easily modify the designs or you can simply use the leftover pieces on each page to create your own designs in addition to the ones included.  But, the second best thing about Shrinky Dinks is that they are incredibly easy to use, minimally messy, and easy to clean up. 

This creativity-inspiring design and ease of cleanup makes them one of the best art projects you can do with kids right before nap time or dinner time.  You can simply let them go wild creating and then bake their masterpieces to have them cooled in time for after nap or after dinner play. 

Whether you are planning a craft time, group play date or planning ahead with fun rainy day activities, Shrinky Dinks in 3D are great thing to have on hand.  They are 100% American made, as well as fun, safe and non-toxic, which means they are a mom approved way to allow children to express their creativity and explore their imaginations!

Fun fact: Did you know that Shrinky Dinks have been in outer space?  They were sent up in the space shuttle Atlantis in 2000 as part of a science experiment to see if a Shrinky Dink would shrink in the extreme temperature changes!

Find out more at bswtoy.com, visit their toy blog or see them in person at your local specialty retailer.

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will get a Shrinky Dink 3D set of their choice! 

To Enter: Simply visit BSW Toys and tell me a product you love and what Shrinky Dink set you would like to win

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like BSW Toy on Facebook2

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

What fun! Shrinky Dinks in 3D Giveaway from @raveandreview and @BSWToy - enter here http://bit.ly/er9ZHE   

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On May 24th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #57 Miss Spoken said... 2/Subscriber

A big thank you to BSW Toys who provided the sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

ProFlowers.com Mother's Day Gifts {Review & $50 Giveaway}

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I know many of you are brainstorming what to buy for the woman that raised you {or is raising your children}.  Search no longer, because ProFlowers.com has gifts, floral arrangements and plants for any taste. 

Is there any mother out there that wouldn't be thrilled to open the door to this, lovingly purchased to honor her as a mother?  I didn't think so.
 
As much as I love beautiful Mother’s Day cut flower arrangements, I adore that ProFlowers has such a great selection of potted flowers and plants to choose from as well.  And, we're not talking standard fare that you can find at a home store, they have a great variety of unique and beautiful plants that can brighten mom's day all year round. 

From lilies to succulents and more, and even with your choice of planter and vase options, it means you can get the perfect gift for mom this Mother’s Day.  While shopping, you can browse by flower, by type, or even by occasion, making it easy and simple to find the gift you are looking for.  

Always the practical gift giver, I decided to get some money this Mother' Day.  No, I'm not talking cold, hard cash.  I'm talking about a money tree from ProFlowers.com.  If you haven’t heard of money trees before, just take a look at the gorgeous picture on the right.  Asian money trees have beautiful braided trunks and bright green leaves that make them not only eye catching and vibrant, but also soothing and sophisticated.  Even better is that they have a great story behind them: legend has it that as each leaf emerges, it is said to bring good luck and fortune – who doesn’t want that?

ProFlowers has two sizes of money trees available in various different planter options, and I was thrilled to get a chance to open up the larger of the two, the Deluxe Money Tree in a white ceramic pot.  Having owned a smaller version of the money tree for almost a decade from ProFlower's sister site, Red Envelope, I already knew that I was going to love the Deluxe Money Tree immensely {and that it would be incredibly hard for me to kill, always a plus when talking about my lack of a green thumb and potential riches and wealth}. 

But, what I wasn’t prepared for was how much I adore this larger version of the classic money tree.  Measuring in at 33” tall, the Deluxe Money Tree was quite a bit larger than I had anticipated, but even more gorgeous than I imagined.  It has a beautiful and visually interesting trunk that varies from green to brown and looks like a miniature version of the prized trees you will find at botanical gardens. 

It arrived safely packaged in a large box for shipping and was in perfect condition for gifting straight out of the box, it even had a nice note attached to it as well as instructions for care.  Already adorned with a full, bright plume of leaves, the Deluxe Money Tree arrived all ready to add spring cheer to any room in our home. After a few days in its new home, the leaves began to spread back out from shipping, becoming even fuller and more beautiful.

After seeing the quality of the tree and the care that goes into shipping each of their creations, I will definitely be recommending ProFlowers from now on as a great way to deliver cheer for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and more.    

Looking for a great deal on some great gifts?  You can start your shopping at the ProFlowers.com coupons page now for great deals and get your Mother’s Day Flowers all ready for shipping in time to surprise mom this year. 

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will get a $50 Gift Card Code to spend at ProFlowers.com! 

To Enter: Simply visit ProFlowers.com and tell me what product you would like to order

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like ProFlowers on Facebook {you even get a 20% off coupon just by liking!}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Celebrate Mom with a ProFlowers.com $50 GC Giveaway from @raveandreview - click here to find out more http://bit.ly/dR6eau! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On May 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#48 Carole Spring said...  I would love the 2 Kids Family Necklace from ProFlowers. Thank you for the chance.

A big thank you to ProFlowers.com who provided the sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

GreenPan Cookware {Review & Giveaway – Two Winners!}

As everyone is thinking about Earth Day and what they can do to lessen their impact on the environment and lead a healthy lifestyle, I thought this would be a perfect time to profile GreenPan, the leader in green cookware, and tell you about our experiences using it over the last few weeks.  If you haven’t seen GreenPan cookware before, you’re missing out. 

While GreenPan is best known for their environmentally friendly non-stick cookware, they also have numerous different styles and collections that are great looking and practical for cooking, baking, and entertaining.  Using Thermolon non-stick technology, a PTFE-free and PFOA-free alternative to traditional non-stick cookware, it offers you worry-free healthy cooking as well as easy cleanup, both of which are incredibly important to me. 

So, what is PTFE and why should you avoid it?  PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) is a waxy, synthetic substance that is used in most non-stick cookware.  Sounds delicious, right?  Wait, it gets worse… PTFE begins to decompose above 260° C/500°F, releasing toxic fumes into the air while you cook.  Then, over time, PTFE coasting begins to peel and flake and ends up in our food – yuck! 

Thermolon, the non-stick coating used by GreenPan, is made of minerals instead of plastics and is heat resistant up to high temperatures, even up to 450°C/850°F.  Unlike PTFE, it will not release toxic or peel from the cookware, which means you can use it without worry.  Of course, Thermolon is completely PTFE and PFOA free, but it also consumes less energy during the application process.  It cannot be overheated {something I love because I love to cook on HIGH, much to the dismay of my husband} and is a better heat conductor than traditional coatings {which just might make it easier for me to cook on MEDIUM from now on, saving energy}. 

I was sent a non-stick frypan from the Stockholm GreenPan line and immediately got to work testing it.  While I could go on and on about the well balanced handle and how comfortably it fits in my hand, the really cool feature is how glossy smooth the cooking non-stick surface is.  Unlike other non-stick surfaces that are matte black, the GreenPan has this great light grey glossy surface that foods just slide off of. 

Whether we have been cooking meats, veggies, or starches, the pan has handled amazingly well and has remained steadfastly non-stick no matter what we dished out {or in, as the case may be}.  Of course, nothing sticking means super easy cleanup – which means you conserve your energy as well as water when cleaning.  Since our cookware gets a whole lot of use now that we are cooking more often as a family, I really love the Stockholm Pan from GreenPan and look forward to using it. 

If you haven’t already checked out GreenPan and their line of kitchen gadgets, bakeware, and cookware, you can check it out here: www.green-pan.com. GreenPan products are available at the following retail stores: Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Kitchen Collection, Le Gourmet Chef, Crate and Barrel, Target Stores, HSN and your local Specialty Stores.  They are also available on the following websites: www.target.com, www.legourmetchef.com, www.hsn.com, www.crateandbarrel.com

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will get a GreenPan Pack that includes an 8 inch Copenhagen fry pan and cake pan! 

To Enter: Simply visit Green-Pan.com and tell me what product you would love to try out

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like GreenPan on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Celebrate Earth Day with a GreenPan Giveaway from @raveandreview and @RealGreenPanUSA click here to find out more http://bit.ly/gnJpv5! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!) 

On May 25 at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winners!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to the lucky two winners:

# 423 Becca said...  I like GreenPan on facebook as Becca Okaneko

#330 Zoe Kyklos said... I liked Rave and Review on Facebook!

A big thank you to GreenPan who provided the sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

The Mommy Hook: A Travel Essential

Get Out and PLAY – Day 6

As I prepared for my first little ones arrival, the items for babies and children began to fill the house.  While it took some creative reorganizing and some gifting of old non-child oriented items, eventually everything found its place.  So once, baby arrived I figured we were set and couldn’t possibly need anything else… with the exception of those adorable outfits that would look too perfect on our little princess and the endless supply of necessary diapers and wipes!

What slipped my mind was that I used to have the use of both arms and just a purse to carry around.  Now, as all mommy’s out there know, I can’t go anywhere without some type of baby travel equipment; stroller, carrier or car seat.  Whichever way we are traveling that day, my purse (which is now my wallet and cell phone stuffed inside the diaper bag) and the travel item combined take up at least one of my hands!  So I am now down one hand at all times.  Then there are those endless needs for my other hand to be placing a bottle, pacifier or toy in place.  Unfortunately this leaves nothing left for everything else we used to use our hands for!

  Any shopping becomes instantly almost impossible alone, so, at first I avoided it.  I made my husband do the runs to the grocery store for dinner or at least accompany me on those larger trips to Costco and Target.  Eventually, though, we were both back at work and the reality of life and my need to still run errands set in.  Thank goodness for The Mommy Hook! 

The Mommy Hook is an ingenious oversized carabiner that is made of sturdy aluminum, making it much tougher than the competing hooks on the market.  It is also wonderfully designed with a large portion of the hook covered in rubber to keep it from sliding around once in place.  It is advertised mostly as a stroller hanger, but I found it works wonders for when you need that extra arm to hold your purchases at the grocery store or anything that is in a handled bag. 

I was a little skeptical at first of how beneficial this hook might be for me.  My go-to travel system for baby is the font pack carrier, as baby loves to be close to me and it sometimes allows me the use of both hands.  So while shopping, I can hook my diaper bag and my empty reusable store bags onto the cart ensuring that I have both hands to grab everything we need.  And to my delight, at checkout I can also attach the hook to the base of my carrier, and load on the bags at the checkout stand; leaving me with one hand filled by diaper bag and the other hand free to unlock the car.

Although, I must admit I am still in shock about the quantity of items necessary for baby just to make a simple half-day trip, I am very grateful to have such a compact item that helps me keep everything organized and manageable.  I will undoubtedly be adding a few of these to my stash and will probably become my go-to new mom gift!

http://www.themommyhook.com/ or find out more at MomDadAndBaby.com.  Be sure to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

A big thank you to Mom Dad and Baby for sending their Mommy Hook for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Introducing the LUNE by Cielux

Most people don’t focus much on the colors around us, but that’s not to say that they don’t affect us.  In fact, many experts have suggested that color has a lot to do with our emotions.  Just ask anyone who has to spend any length of time in my very misguidedly painted yellow bedroom each day and they will tell you how negatively it affects their mood.  While I would still like to repaint the lemon-colored atrocity sometime soon, I have recently found the perfect way to disguise the color beautifully. 

The solution is the LUNE by Cielux, which is a new lighting solution that can completely transform your space by using color.  With the LUNE boasting seven primary colors, adjustable light intensity and two automatic color-fading modes {one fast, one slow}, I can now redecorate with color just by a simple touch.  Whether I am chasing away the rainy and gloomy days of spring with a soft yellow light or I am creating a relaxing retreat with a green cast, the LUNE is perfect for all my many moods. 

Adding to the coolness that is the LUNE is the fact that it just looks classy, like a piece of modern art that just happens to add ambiance, atmosphere, and interest to even the most plain area of your home.  The LUNE light has the power of several LEDs in a small, singular beam of light, which gives you brilliant and long-lasting colors.   Even when it’s not turned on {which is a rarity}, the LUNE looks great in any room and could be placed in a movie room, family room, or even an office to add some color and life.

Not only is it sophisticated, sleek, and eye-catching, the LUNE LED light is also so easy to operate that my two year old can do it.  With an integrated touch sensor that allows you to change colors, intensity, and program with merely a tap, something that is surprisingly fun to do.  Simply tap the touch pad to turn the unit on, tap again to change colors, press the touch pad to dim each color, and hold it longer to turn the unit off.

Of course, this would all be cool on its own, but what makes it really rave-worthy is that the top crescent of the LUNE can rotate in a variety of angles to position the lens in the exact spot you prefer.  This is ideal if you are planning on using it in a theatre room or living room and want to position the light just so on the wall to maximize the impact.  This might be my favorite feature because I love that you can create shapes with the light on the wall and fine tune the color depending on where it's placed.

I really love the LUNE light and the fact that it can literally go in any room of my house and allow me to design with light.  The best part is I can redecorate with a single touch throughout the day!  You’d be surprised at how much it can change the mood of a room and make you want to linger there longer. 

Find out more at Cielux.com

LUNE color-changing LED mood lamp by Cielux from DiCon Lighting on Vimeo.

A big thank you to Cielux and DiCon Lighting for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Kelty LumaPivot {Review}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 5

When I'm packing for the outdoors, I am really careful to bring good lighting for all of our activities. Nothing ruins the fun faster than running out of daylight and not having good lighting to utilize in its place. With this in mind, my husband and I have tried nearly every lantern and flashlight on the market looking for the best ones to pack that cover our wide range of needs.

While the past few years have been great for lightweight and smaller lighting options, we haven't found anything near as versatile as the new LumaPivot from Kelty. Instead of a standard lantern that has a base and then a glass or plastic top, the LumaPivot starts with a whole new design and radically improves your lighting options and versatility in the outdoors.

As the name would suggest, the Kelty LumaPivot works on a pivoting design that allows you to position two LED panels to direct light where you want it. No more single beams of light that leave most everything in shadows and no more all-over lanterns that shoot light where you don't need it. Since the LumaPivot allows you to configure it in numerous different positions, it means that you can actually control the light output for all your many activities.

By making the light panels flat and with LEDs mounted only on one side each, Kelty really maximized the versatility of the LumaPivot. Whether you swivel the LED panels so they are facing downward for cooking prep, playing games, and eating, or facing upwards to bounce off ceilings, tents, or structures, or any range of positions in between, there are many different ways to light without blinding everyone in the process.

In fact, one of our favorite activities once we got the LumaPivot was to make up all the different scenarios we could think of using it in, each with its own custom configuration. We found that you could position the LED panels in a cone shape to really direct the light, or you can position the panels facing away from each other for all-over lighting options.

This range of configurations gives you both full coverage and focused options to suit all of your needs and activities. One of my favorite things is that because it is dual sided, it also makes it dual user. Being able to adjust the LED light pane at the angle you prefer makes for a whole lot less arguing than if everyone had to agree on a light placement configuration!

Besides being incredibly versatile, the LumaPivot is also a whole lot more efficient than traditional lighting options. By using multiple LED light panels, each with 15 individual LEDs, it gives you great light output with maximum efficiency. Adding to this efficiency is the fact that you can also turn off one of the panels completely to save batteries when you only need to illuminate a small area. With these two power settings you can expect to get around 12 hours battery life on low and about 6 hours on high, which is enough to give you light through a few nights of activities.

We also like how rugged the LumaPivot is with its lightweight metal frame and durable plastic construction. When the inevitable happens and you leave your LumaPivot out in the elements on one of these nights, rest assured it will live to shine on the next time you need it with its weather friendly aluminum and plastic construction and sealed battery compartment.

I know many of you are saying, “I don’t go camping that often, is this something I would actually use?” Well, if you’re anything like us, you will find that you use the LumaPivot a whole lot more than you thought you would. It is now our go to lantern for late night walks, camping, hiking, BBQs, power outages, ghost stories, night time corn mazes, bedtime rituals, crafts, and so on because of its versatile and lightweight design {image at left shows the LumaPivot hanging from tent peak, illuminating tent}.  Whether you are staying home or getting out to play, the Kelty LumaPivot is the perfect lantern for all your activities.

Visit Kelty.com to see even more great ways to explore the great outdoors

Thank you to Kelty for providing the sample for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.