Product Review: Nuby iMonster Snack Keeper

Disclaimer- This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.  I also received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

About the Nuby iMonster Snack Keeper

No more messy snacks! Our unique Snack Keeper™ cup keeps kid-sized snacks inside the container instead of on the floor or car seat. The soft silicone flaps make it easy to grab snacks without spilling. Nûby™ feeding accessories are made to withstand the challenges of daily use and retain their bright color.  It is also free of Bisphenol A.

My thoughts on Nuby iMonster Snack Keeper

My little guy loves this Snack Keeper!  It is recommended for ages 12 months and up, but Sam started using it around 10 months and does just fine with it.  As he gets older, I am sure he will enjoy it even more as he imagines feeding his monster, or stealing food from his mouth.  The arms also move so you can lift them so the palms face upward.  Sam's older brother (almost 5 years old) enjoyed putting Cheerios on the monsters hands and watching Sam eat them off.  He kept saying the monster was feeding Sam.  The silicone mouth does a good job of holding the snacks in, but some will come out if shaken with a little force.  None-the-less, it is difficult to make them ALL come flying out if dropped or shaken, so it still helps to minimize the clean up.

I like that it is easy to get the top off for cleaning, but it is not easy for the baby to remove it.  It is also top shelf dishwasher safe, so I can easily just separate it and throw it in for a wash. It is also nice for portion control in that Sam can only get so many in his hand at a time and still be able to bring his hand out of the monster's mouth, preventing him from shoving every piece of food he sees into his mouth at one time.

I recommend this to any one with an older baby, toddler, or pre-schooler who likes friendly monsters.

Pampers Spring Into Color Sweepstakes and Reader Giveaway

Disclaimer-  I have received the same prize that my reader will receive in exchange for sharing this information with you.
 
Have you entered the Pampers Spring Into Color Sweepstakes yet?  Each week, the sweepstakes will take Pampers facebook fans through nature's changing color wheel spectrum, celebrating babies' growth and the ways in which they color our world beautiful in so many ways, each and every day. From cameras, to educational toys to high-tech jogging strollers and a pallet of artist tools for your little ones to paint the world remarkable, there are four colorful-themed prize packets that will rotate with the "Spring Into Color" color wheel over the course of the 30 day sweeps, offering you and your family fun items to enhance your time together.  And, all entrants are automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card!   The contest will run through Tuesday, May 28th.

I have also been given the opportunity to give one of my readers 2 coupons for free Pampers products: 1 pack of Pampers diapers and 1 pack of Pampers wipes.  Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Book Review: Relative Evil by Milena Armstrong

Disclaimer- I did receive a gift in exchange for this review, but as always, my thoughts are my own. Also, there are affiliate links within this post. I receive a small amount of any purchases you might make, at no additional cost to you.

About Relative Evil

(Taken from back cover of book)

“Piercing black eyes surrounded by a pool of pink, meandering strands of crimson glaring at me with so much hate.  I didn’t understand how anyone could feel that way for another person.”

Relative Evil is based on the true events that occurred in the life of the author.  A naïve young girl raised to believe family could never really hurt one another, but to then be tragically brought to the realization that evil exists and will stop at nothing to destroy those in his way to get what he’s after. Her trust in a strong family bond and the goodness of people is shattered.  Forced to grow up quickly and take matters into her own hands in order to break the spell her parents were under and keep her family safe.

My thoughts on Relative Evil

This is a rather quick, fast-paced read and, aside from a few editorial mistakes, it is well written.  The author does a great job of drawing the reader in and developing the scenes to make you feel as though you are right there.  For those of you who follow my book reviews, this book is much darker than the books I typically review, but I would still recommend it to any adult who enjoys biographical stories, stories of good overcoming evil or stories with severely dysfunctional family members. 

About Milena Armstrong

Milena was born in Rochester, New York, and still resides there with her husband and children.

I do have to share that I used to live down the street from Milena and I attended the same high school as she and her husband did.  It is neat to personally know a published author 

Lactose Intolerance and Lactaid (giveaway)

***Disclaimer***
This is part of a sponsored campaign I am participating in.  I have received free product and will receive payment for my participation.

I recently was given the opportunity to attend a webinar with Melissa d'Arabian and Michelle Harrington, RD (registered dietician) to learn more about lactose intolerance and Lactaid.  I found the session to be very informative and am excited to share some of what I learned with you.

What is lactose?

Lactose is the sugar and main carbohydrate found in milk and dairy products.  In order for the body to absorb lactose, it must be broken down into the two simple sugars that it is composed of, glucose and galactose.  Lactase is the enzyme produced by the body to break down lactose.  

What is lactose intolerance?

The amount of lactase that your body produces, determines how much lactose you can tolerate.  The more lactase your body makes, the less dairy products will upset your system.  There are varying degrees of lactose intolerance and it can be progressive, meaning it can get worse as you age.  It is also important to note that lactose intolerance is very different from a lactose allergy, which could cause life-threatening symptoms.  

Diet tips for those who are lactose intolerant

Here are some basic tips for those who are, or care for someone who is, lactose intolerant.

• Do not consume products that contain lactose on an empty stomach. Lactose will be easier to digest if it is eaten with other foods.
• Yogurt is less likely to bother someone who is lactose intolerant.  The live and active enzymes in yogurt help to digest the lactose, making it easier on the body.  Greek yogurt has twice as much protein and fewer carbs, meaning less lactose, making it even easier to digest than regular yogurt.  If you can tolerate yogurt, it is a great way to get calcium and nutrients in your diet.
• Butter, although a dairy product, is low in lactose, so it can usually be consumed without a problem.
• Harder cheeses, particularly those that are aged, have less lactose.  The less moisture in the cheese, the lower the lactose content.  Some good cheeses to start with would be Aged Cheddar, Gruyere, Pecorino and Swiss cheeses.  If you have cut cheese from your diet completely, you can try adding these cheeses back in a little at a time, depending on how much you can tolerate.
• You can also try the wonderful products made by Lactaid

About Lactaid

Lactaid products can help people that have a lactose sensitivity to enjoy dairy products once again, without the stomach discomfort that traditional dairy items may give them.  Lactaid products include milks, cottage cheese, ice creams, egg nog.  They are made from 100% real dairy, but contain lactase, the enzyme your body needs to break down the lactose. The lactase does help break down the milk sugar, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste than traditional milk products, but the creaminess is the same.

Lactaid milk is available in fat-free, 1%, 2%, whole and chocolate.  The chocolate milk is made with 1% milk and does not contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  That part is important to me because it is difficult to find pre-made chocolate milk that is free of HFCS.  Lactaid ice cream is available in five flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Strawberries and Cream, and Butter Pecan.  All of the flavors, except Cookies and Cream are gluten-free.  They are all also free of HFCS.  The nutrition facts for Lactaid products can be found on their website.

Cooking with Lactaid

Due to Lactaid's slightly sweeter taste, you may be able to slightly reduce the sugar you add when using it in a recipe.  Otherwise, you would simply substitute Lactaid milk in place of the regular milk in a recipe, cup for cup.  If you are substituting it in place of cream, you would want to add a teaspoon of corn starch to make up for the thinner consistency, as you would do if you were subbing regular milk for cream. 

Lactaid Giveaway 

One of my readers will be chosen to receive a coupon for a free Lactaid product, so you can check it out for yourself.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Overwhelmed

This has been a crazy few weeks for me and I need to re-set.  I have a tendency of accepting lots of responsibilities at once and then feeling overwhelmed and freezing, accomplishing nothing.  I have great intentions when I accept the responsibility, but then life starts to happen and all of a sudden, I find myself with a ton of obligations and no time.  I have found myself there yet again, and am making a concerted effort to dig myself out.  Over the next few days to weeks, I am going to be knocking out a bunch of reviews and a few giveaways and then I am going to be reducing the number of reviews that I accept.  I am also going to be cutting back on accepting responsibilities outside of my blogging life as well, so that I can re-focus myself on the things that matter most to me.  I have not been creating a whole lot of original content and I want to get back to doing that.  My family will continue to be at the top of my priority list, but even a bit more so. 

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with the responsibilities you have taken on?  how do you deal with it when that happens?