5/31/13

Emergen-C Fizz

Details:  Emergen-C contains 1000 mg. of Vitamin C, which supports your immune system and promotes overall health.  It has 7 B Vitamins to enhance energy naturally.  I also has 24 other nutrients, as well as electrolytes and antioxidants to refuel and replenish post workout.  There is no caffeine, so no crash.
Review:  I was able to try both the Tangerine and Lemon-Lime flavors of Emergen-C.  You can take one of these packets and add as much water as you would like up to 6 ounces.  I added the 6 ounces.  First of all I don't like Orange flavored anything, so my husband got that one.  Although I did try it.  Shouldn't have.  It was gross.  On the other hand, my husband likes orange flavored anything, and thought it was ok.  We both liked the lemon-lime flavor.  That being said, I could only think of alka-seltzer when I drank the Emergen-C.  This is not my cup of tea. My hubby said the same thing.  I'd much rather swallow a tablet with the same things in it than to drink this fizz.  This might be appealing to kids, but not to us.
We both liked all that it had in one 6 ounce glass.  We should have waited to take this after our Tabata exercise session.  Despite that, I felt energized and raring to go this morning, while in the afternoon, I felt like I needed another pick-me-up.  I don't want to rely on drugs or caffeine for that.  I just need more sleep.  Once I get caught up, I'll be just fine.

In the meantime, I'll keep looking for a better way to get my Vitamin C.  However, if this is what you prefer, get yours here.

Pros:  Contains a lot of great ingredients to help fight off colds etc., or to help refuel and replenish post workouts.

Cons:  Did not like the fizziness, nor the orange flavor.

My rating:  Thumbs Down.


5/28/13

Almased


Almased
Almased
Details: Almased is a low glycemic soy based health shake.  It speeds up and improves your metabolism.  This is diabetic friendly.  Made in Germany from high quality fermented soy, yogurt, and honey.  All natural, non GMO, and gluten free.  Supports healthy blood sugar levels and thyroid function. 

My Review: Mom's Thumb Reviews team is always looking for great healthy tips, advice, tools, and options for people to choose from.  Almased is one of the best products in the shake department that we have tried.  The suggested way to drink it is to take the serving amount and put it into 10oz of filtered water/ skim milk/ Almond milk, with a tap of ground cinnamon, and a tbsp of olive oil/ flaxseed oil.  Here is what I have found: water is not a good medium to mix the Almased in.  Skim milk is the most cost effective choice, and Almond milk and skim milk taste the best.  I have stopped adding the oil after the first week because it was weird tasting and made my drink super lumpy.  I love the cinnamon!  After 3 weeks I am in love with this product.  My body feels so good when I have this. And I have learned that when I drink an Almased in the morning I also want one for dinner.  So I've been eating a regular meal for lunch and half a meal for dinner.   I have yet to get the total control and courage to try the 14 day Almased diet cleanse.  But I will because it sounds amazing.

Doing this for 3 days of straight Almased for 3 meals a day, and then 4 days of Almased for 2 meals I lost 8 lbs, and since then have lost another 3 lbs.  It works!

Pros: great flavor, feels good to the body,  easy to find online or in stores

Cons: tastes bad in water, can be grainy texture

5/23/13

Terra Vonnel and the Skulls of Aries


Details: The fearful sea Vixen Terra Vonnel is on a mission to steal the skulls of Aries.  She must fight Vampires, Death, and deal with pirates, and Dead Souls.  Magic, enchantments, curses, and glowing swords  brings about a thriller fantasy short story.

My Reviews:  I'm not a big fan of 3rd person narrative stories, but in the case of Terra Vonnel and the Skulls of Aries, this works great!  You get all the details and the story, the fear within the mind and soul of the characters.  You feel like you're a part of the pirate crew, without feeling like the danger is upon you.  I like the way this author spins a tale.  The characters in this book aren't as realistic as other stories I've read from this author.  But for a quick read (literally half an hour for anyone), this works.  If the author wishes to continue working on this story, I would highly suggest filling out the characters better.  I would have liked to know the Pirate Vampire Dragos better.  I would like to see more imagery as well.  Over all, it was good, just not great.

Pros: interesting twist of pirates, vampires, and magic

Cons: needs better imagery, and more details with each character

                                                                        My Rating: Thumbs up and down.  Up for the plot, down for the characters.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5/21/13

Haven: A Stranger Magic


Details: The Dalcome family is the normal average family, brother and sister are always fighting each other, single Mother works so much and so hard to give her children what they need and some of what they want.  The son is so average that no one knows him, sees him.  The daughter has a short fuse on her temper, and when she blows abnormal things happen.  Who is the stranger that the son is stalking, and why can the daughter do things that seem like magic?

My Review:  I haven't read short stories in a long time, so to get a group of short stories to read, has been a pleasant change.  The author is talented, because the story line is easy to follow, the characters are from everyone's reality, the magic isn't corny but well written.  To compare this short story, I would have to say that the magic is a mix between Harry Potter and the Spiderwick Chronicles.  The lives of the characters are a mix between Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, and Narnia series.  I wasn't sure what to expect, and though the short story leaves you hanging.  Meaning that I can't wait to see where this goes.

Pros: great fantasy short story

Cons: none

                                                                                       My Rating 
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5/10/13

House on Plunkett Street


Details: Phoebe has always been a wall flower.  Her mom was a wall flower, who faded away into a drunkard.  Having tons of older brothers, and a father who were all into every sport known to man, Phoebe didn't fit into her family.  After living a life of being lost among the flow of nothing, its time for a change, and 3 ghosts decide to set her on the straight and narrow.  Will Phoebe find her way?  Will she find love?  Will unexpected tragedy lead to wall flower safety, or will Phoebe find the courage to live life to the fullest?

My Review: I love reading!  I love getting books from authors directly!  I love getting signed books!  My two favorite book shelves are my Signed books, and my Saved books (very old books that I find, rescue, and keep special).  I am happy to say that House on Plunkett Street came to me at the right time in my life.  Things are pretty crazy for me and my family, and the author's message "Live life to the Fullest!" is what I really needed to read, hear, and understand by reading this book right now.  This is very well written, the plot has you intrigued the whole time, wanting to learn more about Phoebe, wanting to learn more about each ghost-ett who comes to visit her.  I love the characters, they all come to life.  Polly and Pam are my favorite characters.  They are so real, so full of energy, and excitement.  This is the perfect pick me up novel.  The perfect, help me without preaching to me book.  The perfect examples of how to live life to the fullest!  And its not like the Christmas story Scrooge. You learn about some of the important history from an era that is almost forgotten in today's society.  You learn about women who knew what being a "real woman" really meant, and how so much has changed.  Chapter four is my favorite chapter, with great advice from ghost number one, she will be nameless in my review because she is very important to the ending of the story.

Pros: great plot, amazingly real and honest characters, I love the lessons and the history

Cons: none

                                                               My Rating  
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Educational Online Games for Kids



Details: ABCMouse.com is an Early Learning Academy for children ages Toddler-Kindergarten.  A full interactive program to help children learn to the school subjects: Math, Science, Reading, Art, Music, Writing, Geography, Language Arts.  Each subject is taught in 6 different levels starting at Toddler age, with a high dependency for adult help, all the way up to Kindergarten.  Adults get to choose and set up how they want their children to use these tools, how long their children use these tools, and what level they start at and work towards.  Cost is $8-$9 a month, along with the option to pay for a whole year in advance.  Also can find deals for a free 30-90 days, or discounted yearly payments.

My Review: My 6 year old was watching TV one day during vacation and saw a commercial for
ABCMouse.com, he immediately started to beg for us to allow him to play these games.  When we finally signed up we were surprised by how much there is for children to do.  They have thousands of games, puzzles, songs, art projects, lessons and such to choose from individually by clicking on the Classroom setting.  Or they can click on the Step By Step journey that allows children to get all those lessons but by traveling around the world: beach, desert, mountains, Volcano etc.  They have to keep a fish aquarium and a hamster cage clean, fed, watered etc.  They have an "avatar" they can dress up, change all kinds of personal grooming aspects of the avatar, which also helps teach important life skills.  My favorite part of all these wonderful options, games, and interactions, is that my 3 year old now feels like he is doing home work/ school work/ school time just like his older brother.  He can even do all his own lessons by him self, because the level that he is on is so easy for him to use.  He still has challenges with the lessons, but using everything is super easy.

The most important part of this program is that whatever computer the child is going to play on, they need a mouse.  The lap top key pad just doesn't cut it.  My older son uses a wireless mouse, and my younger son uses a USB wired mouse.  The second most important part of this program is that the children are rewarded with online tickets, and prizes that they can cash in to get more fish, or better fish for the classroom aquarium, or more and better hamster stuff.  They can get better clothes for their avatar, and all kinds of other ways to cash in their awards.  This also allows me as the parent to go in and track their progress, and see what they did well on, and what they need more help on.

Pros: great price, great program, easy for children to use, love the challenges and learning tools

Cons: only goes up to Kindergarten.  I personally would love to see this go up to 2nd or 3rd grade for parents who want extra educational help for their children during school breaks, or just to help reiterate what is being taught in school.

                                                    My Rating 

5/9/13

Broken Build ebook


Details:  Jenn Jones has a new face, newly toned body, new job, a degree from a very nice school, and now works for the hottest start up company in Silicone Valley.  All her newness doesn't make up for her deep dark secret, especially when her past catches up to her present, and threatens to end her future and life.  Can she out smart the man who is black mailing her, the man who knows her secret?  Can she earn the trust of those most important to help her not die, and not ruin her job?

Content advisory: language and sexual content

My Review:  This is my second book that Rachelle has given me the privileged to read and review.   I love her way of writing, it is fully captivating, emotionally charged, and this book specifically has surprising twists to the plot.  What you thought was the case changes with each new chapter you read.  And in the end, closure is found, and the plot, the author, the story lessons have changed your life for the better.  It took me 3 days to read this, by reading in my spare time while being a full time Mom, and Home School teacher.  I was able to read this on my Kindle Fire, but there are many different options for reading this book, including through Smashwords.com.  This was a great novel.  Adding this to my favorites will allow me to read this again and again, because its so good!  I give my full recommendation for this book.  I look forwards to more talent from Rachelle Ayala.

Pros: well written, keeps you enchanted and engrossed, surprising twists

Cons: none

                                                                                      My Rating
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5/6/13

The Greek's Favorite Yogurt ~ FAGE

Details:  FAGE yogurt (pronounced fa-yeh) is a very traditional Greek Yogurt.  Any true Greek Yogurt is plain yogurt, no fruit nor sweeteners added.  FAGE is Greece's most popular brand of yogurt.  It started being exported in 1998.  You can find FAGE in natural and health stores, as well as a few grocery stores across the US.  "When you eat FAGE Total, you’re part of the ancient Greek tradition of “good living.” Cook with it, and you’re bringing the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle into your diet."


Review:  I had never tried Greek yogurt before.  I was skeptical at trying it at all for a variety of reasons.  First and foremost was the price of Greek yogurt.  Plain and simple.  I'm frugal at heart, and since I've made my own  yogurt in the past, I couldn't see paying the price.  

I was fortunate enough to be able to try the FAGE yogurt free.  Good thing too, as I'm not sure I would want to dish out $4.00 for a 17 ounce container otherwise.  The yogurt is very smooth and creamy tasting.  I love sour cream, but this yogurt beats out the flavor of sour cream by far.  I was impressed by that.

In the meantime, I made a veggie dip with FAGE that was enjoyed by all, and a big surprise when I mentioned it was made with yogurt and not sour cream.  However, those in the group are like me, the cost of healthy eating is a bit steep.

FAGE has many delicious recipes to try on their website.  You can see those here. 

Overall, this #1 Greek yogurt is excellent in taste and texture.  If you are already eating Greek yogurt and haven't tried FAGE, then put this on your shopping list and give it a go.

Pros:  Once again, this is a very smooth and creamy yogurt that I would be willing to eat again.

Cons:  Very pricey, just like any Greek Yogurt.

My Rating:  Thumbs up on flavor and texture.  Thumbs down on price.  

Disclaimer:  (#GotItFree) I received a coupon to try FAGE yogurt free from BzzAgent to initiate a review.  My review and opinions are my own. Yours may differ from mine.

5/2/13

Noxicare Pain Relief Capsules


Details:  Noxicare is a products that offers an allnatural pain relief. The capsules contain the following medicinal herbs:  Turmeric, Willow Bark, Ginger, Basil, Rosemary, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Boswellia.  Each have distinct properties to help relieve pain naturally and are anti-inflammatory.  Noxicare also offers a pain relief cream containing the same ingredients.

My Review: I have already done a review on the Noxicare Pain Relief Cream, which my husband, kids and myself loved.  So to get to review the same product but in an all natural capsule form, is great.  Since getting them, I've been using them a lot.  Trying to get back into shape, and get fit means very sore muscles.  So having the cream and the pill is double duty. For me the capsules worked great!  They didn't kick in until about half an hour to 45 minutes, which isn't necessarily good, but it did kick in, and relieve the pain in my muscles, and in my joints. This is a very healthy option to choose in the form of pain relief.  

Pros: works great

Cons: doesn't start to take affect until about 30-45 minutes after taking


                                                                         My Rating
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM06fa1f19eac7ac356f67f7649d71dd22">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.