Gourmet du Village Foods: Take Your Pantry to the Next Level!

Thanks to a party opportunity from Tryazon, I was introduced to a whole new taste experience from a company called Gourmet du Village. And, well, look how pretty.

Gourmet du Village started out in 1982 as a fun hobby for Canadians Mike and Linda Tott, and as you can see, they now have a professional setup. Their aim is to add a unique flavor to basic household staples to create new and entertaining taste sensations, and it's a winner in my book. They have a wide range of treats, everything from dips to candy to cocktails and the tableware and crockery to make the visual experience just as delicious. And yes, they are delicious.

Modern Table Meals: Gourmet in a Bag!

We've all done it...forgot to thaw something for dinner, so you grab a box of something out of the pantry and call it dinner. Well, thanks to Moms Meet, I got to try a grab-and-go meal that actually rivals an upscale dish: Modern Table Meals!

Pretty cool-looking, eh? Well, it's more fabulous than you think. First off, the pasta is bean-based. For real. That means more protein in your pasta. And it's tasty, too. How easy is it to make? Well, it's literally one, two, three.

There's a wide range of different flavors, all very good on their own. There's even a packet of spices included in each, so you can flavor to taste.

Renuzit Pearl Scents: Sparkle and Shine, and a Scent So Fine. Plus Giveaway!

I've spoken often of my addiction to all things of pretty scent. But what if it could be pretty as a visual as well?

Renuzit says it can.

Zevia Zero Calorie Soda: Getting the Creative...Juices Flowing! With Recipes, Even.

So you probably already know that Zevia Zero Calorie Soda is a wonderful, healthy soda that you can feel good about drinking. But I got handed a challenge...what about COOKING with it?

Now, I had posted a long time ago about swapping it into a great Sweet Garlic Chicken recipe. The recipes had a lot of sugar in it, though, so I revisited that recipe for a revamp. I replaced the full cup of brown sugar (see what I mean?) with a stevia brown sugar blend, effectively hacking the calorie count, along with the Zevia fabulousness. And it came out delish.

1/2 cup stevia brown sugar blend
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Zevia Ginger Ale
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water

Mix all ingredients together except cornstarch and water in a blender until smooth. Arrange chicken (I've used both breasts and thighs with this) and pour sauce over it. Bake at 350 degrees until cooked through. Remove chicken and pour sauce into a pan. Mix cornstarch and water together and add to sauce, simmering until it thickens. Serve with sauce over chicken, as shown.

Now, the recipe only used a small amount of the Zevia Ginger Ale, so the perfect beverage accompaniment came to mind: A Zevia Shirley Temple!

A fabulous meal and drink combo with sweetness that doesn't make you feel guilty. But what about the salad course?

Kids Academy: Educational Apps for Children!

This post was created in partnership with Mom Buzz Media Blogger Network. All views and opinions expressed below are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Kids Academy | Educational Apps for Children

My kids are great with learning apps. The hard part is finding one that keeps their attention, because I don't have time to keep installing new ones, am I right?

 

Preschool Kindergarten Learning Kids Game 

Educational Books 

Free Songs

This is a fabulous app. The songs are fun, catchy and original, and it has a wide range of both great games and entertainment. How wide a range? Both my three-year-old and my five-year-old were enthralled, to the point where there was almost a full scale-battle over the tablet. The graphics are bright and cheerful, and great quality...VERY appealing. They totally seemed to forget they were doing math, which is amazing in itself.

Download Preschool & Kindergarten Learning Kids Game

 

Bugs, Shapes and Robots Face Paint for Toddlers

FREE for a limited time! (usually $2.99)

My youngest, the three-year-old, had a blast with this app. She's big on tracing apps in general, but the great colors and creative shapes really caught her attention. As you see, it's not just the basic shapes, but more fun ones, like the half moon. It uses the tactile learning process of tracing to assist learning about shapes, which really helps with the retention. It's not a memory hog, either, so no worries about tablet crash. And you collect fireflies. A little cute goes a long way.

Download Bugs, Shapes, and Robots

 

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes: Not Just a Wipe.

Thanks to the cool Influenster folks, I got to try out Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. And it wasn't just a wonderful product...it supports a great cause as well!

But first, the wipes. When you open the package, this lovely scent wafts out, so fresh and clean. The wipes are very soft, and a generous size. They cover my whole hand!

Or, in fact, my whole face.

 
Which feels great, by the way. I suggest trying it. But do they clean? I have a visual for you!

On the left, a clean wipe. On the right, the one I used on my face. Gross, I know. But it really cleans well, and without drying out my skin. Totally recommended.

And now for the great cause. Take the #WipeforWater challenge and pledge to clean your face without using water — and only using Neutrogena® Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes — for 3 days! Then, get sharing about your Neutrogena® wipes with your social networks! For each pledge, Neutrogena® Naturals will contribute $1 to The Nature Conservancy to support water conservation, up to $50,000.

Go HERE and pledge. Go go go!

I received free product from Influenster for testing and review purposes. My opinions and affinity for putting wipes on my face are my own.

Dearfoams Slippers and The Beddit Sleep Monitor: The Best Way to "Let Mom Sleep"!

As one of the lucky hosts of the "Let Mom Sleep" party via Tryazon, I was given the honor of not only having a great time with my other mom friends who really need sleep, but I got to try out two awesome brands that help with just that.

First, I got to preview the new spring line from Dearfoams Slippers!

Footie comfort for both ladies and gents, and I do mean real comfort. They're not big and bulky, but the padding underneath belies the sleek exterior. After a long day of party prep and fun, my feet felt heavenly nestling into the wonderful plush. And thanks to the flip-flop style, my feet weren't too warm, despite the fact that spring in my area seems to have zipped past into summer already.

Electric Pencil Sharpener and Scissor Set Bundle Giveaway, Hosted by Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom!

Benoit Academy has teamed up with OfficeGoods to bring you an awesome giveaway! One lucky reader will win a bundle which includes:

• Compact Electric & Battery Operated Pencil Sharpener
• 3 Piece Stainless Scissor Set

You can read Benoit Academy's FULL REVIEW but, in the meantime, make sure to enter below for your chance to snag this bundle!

Star Wars Board Books #MayTheFourth Giveaway, Hosted by 2 Dorks In Love!

Proof that it's never too early to start geek-training your kids...Star Wars Board Books!

Welcome to the Star Wars Board Books #MaytheFourth giveaway! This series is a fun and exciting way to help your children learn. You can see pictures and a little review over at 2dorksinlove.com. These are on the larger side (9" square) and chock full of Star Wars fun! If you want to buy some of them now, you can get them on Amazon for $9-11 each.

• Star Wars 123
• Star Wars ABC
• Star Wars Colors

The cohosts for this giveaway are:

• Kathy's Savings
• Kupana Wahines Corner
• It's This or Murder
• Reviewz & Newz
• Benoit Academy
• Mama Break

Fulcrum Gallery Fine Art Giveaway, Hosted By Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom! #giveaway

 Fine art.  So hard to find, come by and afford. Well, now you can get your very own!

Fulcrum Gallery is a privately owned company offering over 200,000 works of art with added services such as custom framing and canvas transfers. Daily Deals from a Nerd Mom was able to review The Accolade Fine Art Print by Edmund Blair Leighton from the Fantasy Artwork category and it is absolutely gorgeous! You can read her FULL REVIEW but in the meantime, make sure to enter below for a chance to win your own piece of artwork from Fulcrum Gallery!

One lucky reader will win their choice of any finished product under $75 from Fulcrum Gallery! Entering is simple using the widget below.

Rules: This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is drawn. US only. Daily Deals From a Nerd Mom and all bloggers involved are not responsible for prize shipment. Fulcrum Gallery will be in charge of that.

GOOD LUCK!

Entry-Form

 

Hallmark Mother's Day Card Giveaway, Hosted By Kathy's Savings! #Giveaway

Mother's Day is creeping up on you all...it's next week, people. Have you gotten a Mother's Day card--or several--yet? Can't decide which one to get? Have a hard-to-please Mom, Grandma, or wife? Well, why not WIN FIVE awesomely cool Hallmark Mother's Day cards, and take the pain out of your day?

 Check out Kathy's full review HERE, and enter below to win!
 

Entry-Form

US Only. This blogger is not responsible for fulfillment of prizes.