Culterelle Probiotics Review & Giveaway (2 winners)

I have a great review opportunity to try out with myself and a few of my kids. Culturelle is a product that is designed to boost the immune and digestive systems. Not all bacteria is bad, and many times our bodies don't have enough of the "good bacteria" in them. The good bacteria contained in Culturelle can improve our daily lives in so many ways.
From the Culturelle website:
Our bodies are filled with bacteria - billions, maybe trillions of them. Some are good. Others are bad. Under normal circumstances, your body maintains a healthy balance of good and bad. Trouble can arise when the bad bacteria take over, compromising digestion and your immune system. You know the feeling: bloating, poor digestion, irregularity, occasional diarrhea. That's when the power of probiotics can help.
For years scientists had studied health benefits of a "good" bacteria called lactobacillus found in foods like yogurt, milk and certain cheeses. Of the strains they were able to isolate and test, they found that most could not consistently survive the strong acids of the stomach and intestinal bile.
Enter Dr. Sherwood L. Gorbach and Barry R. Goldin. These two doctors embraced the challenge and set out to discover the ultimate probiotic power - a strain strong enough, sticky enough, fertile enough to survive the stomach acids and colonize in the intestines successfully.
What they found was Lactobacillus GG. A probiotic unlike any other.
A probiotic supplement like Culturelle can strengthen the immune system and boost your immune response. After all, the intestinal tract is the largest organ in the immune system. Culturelle's probiotic power is just what you need to prevent bad bacteria and other illness-causing substances from being absorbed into the body.

I am very excited to try out Culturelle for me and a few of my kids. I have been searching and researching for something out there that will help my kids get healthy, stay healthy...and avoid all the trips to the doctor's office. I am all about using natural or better ways to improve our health. Culturelle has sent me a box of capsules (for adults~ 30 tablets) and a few boxes of Culturelle for Kids to try with my kids. I will test them out over the next month and write in another post how we feel and if we see some better health and immunities.

I have a fun video to share with you about bacteria with a humor:

Here is the You Tube Channel for Culturelle to check out their other videos.

**Enter to Win!!**
Culturelle is sponsoring a giveaway for two T-Shirts to giveaway to my readers! Lucky You! I think these T-Shirts are fun, and will help spark a great conversation. The shirts say, "I heart Bacteria!"
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until July 16th, 2010. To enter, leave a comment about if you have tried alternative health care options (like chiropractic care for ear trouble), and what you have tried. Or, just leave a comment about what you like about the Culturelle website.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about memories from a favorite teacher. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

Lastly, if you use Facebook, you should become a fan of their page - Culturelle facebook.
Twitter follow them at Twitter.com/Culturelle .

Check out the Culturelle website for some great coupons for $1, $2 or $3 off.

I was contacted directly by Culturelle, who asked for my participation in a giveaway for two T-Shirts and to sample/review their products. They have sent me a few boxes to review their probiotics and shared information for me to publish in exchange for an honest review. I am not compensated for my time or written review.

Replace the recalled Children's Medications with Natural ZarBee's cough meds! (free bottle)

Did you hear there is a big recall of the top medications that parents all over give their children for relief! I can't believe how this impacts the medications we give our children for fever reducing, coughing and allergies! The medications on recall number over 40, and some are ones that I give my own kids: Tylenol, Motrin and Benedryl. In fact, I just had purchased a bottle of Tylenol (infants) and Motrin (infants) last month. I know that my daughter had a few doses of each of the bottles on recall. That is scary for any parent. She has been dealing with a cough for over a month and she is still not over it.

So I am looking to more natural remedies for my children. I would like to stick with medications and foods for my family that I can easily read the ingredients. I think that is the safest alternative.

I am sure I am not the only parent who wants to find an effective alternative for their children’s coughs during the 2010 season, and I have heard of one company that has what I want.

Honey Naturals, the makers of ZarBee’s, the leading all-natural children's cough syrup that is safe and effective for kids ages 12 months and older, wants to put parents at ease during this chaotic time and make them aware of this all-natural way to calm their children’s throat and respiratory irritations. The company is now offering all consumers affected by the recall the chance to receive a bottle of ZarBee’s Children’s Cough Syrup for free. Parents looking for a safe, natural alternative can receive a free full size bottle of the product and are encouraged to visit Zarbees.com for details on how they can participate.

You have an opportunity to redeem your recalled products for a FREE and legitimate safe alternative. I am going to try to get this for my family! Go check it out!

Fresh Organics~ perfect Valentine's gift to pamper!

Valentine's Day is soon approaching and there is still time to get that special person in your life a gift of love. I recently reviewed two bath products from Fresh Organics, and I was thrilled! I got to try out the Bubble Bath Petals and the Bubble Bath Roses.
The Lavender Vanilla Bubble Bath Petals smell wonderful and when you run them under bath water, they will dissolve into a creamy bath bubble. I thought that the petals dissolved so easy. I really like that the petals are made with organic white tea, so I know that this product is safe for my skin, too. This container is 3 ounces, and I would say that you could get quite a few bath relaxation pamperings out of this. The smell of the lavender is so relaxing and smells simply wonderful!

I also got a Heart Shaped container filled with roses and petals. There were 12 roses and petals all around them. While I held the roses under running water, I got the feeling that I was giving myself a gift. I am a romantic, so this gift box was right up my alley. As with the lavender bubble bath petals, these roses completely dissolve under water and you smell a garden of roses. I think that the Fresh Organics Bath Roses is a perfect Valentine's gift, or a gift to give someone to brighten their day.

Normally priced at $11.99 each, the Bubble Bath Roses are now available for just $8.99 through Feb 12th. Hurry to order in time for Valentine's Day!!
Please note, be careful on choosing your shipping option to make sure get your roses delivered in time. Fresh Organics also has Free UPS Ground Shipping on orders $34.99 or more.

About the Company:
After struggling with their son's allergies and skin irritations, Jeff Wilkinson, a chemist, an herbalist and business woman sought out to design and create organic body care products. They teamed up to develop Organic Baby and after 3 years of development, Fresh Organics was born in 2008 and is co-owned by Jeff and Anna Lonsdale.
The company operates as a small extended family of parents who all share the same spiritual values as well as a passion for creating a green, eco-positive business. We hope to expand our offerings to include many other useful products to help families live a little greener in the coming years. But good things start small and we believe that with hard work and faith, our company will grow while still keeping it Fresh and Organic!

Cold/Flu Season getting the better of you? Try these natural remedies:

The most effective preventative medicine during cold and flu season is keeping your immune system healthy the natural way. This can be done fairly easily, by ingesting certain immune-boosting and nutrient rich foods.

ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Helen Lee offers the following flu-fighting foods:

· The Importance of Digestion: Keep your digestive system happy. When the digestive system is healthy it is able to breakdown and access nutrients from the foods you eat, it is better able to get rid of toxicity, and process “bad” bugs such as bacteria & viruses
· Ginger: The volatile oils in ginger warm the body, helping the body to sweat, break a fever and eliminate toxins. Ginger also stimulates mucous release. Ginger is also a metabolic enhancer and the warming also helps with nausea, is a great digestive aid, lung and chest decongesting, and a body cleansing herb. Add fresh ginger to your food or in tea, or eat alone. Ginger tea (especially combined with honey) helps too sooth the throat.
· Garlic: Garlic has allicin as an active ingredient giving it antiviral and antibacterial properties. Garlic cleans your liver (which cleans your blood) since your blood cycles through your liver every three minutes. So thereby stimulating the white blood cells and in turn boosting the immune system. An onion garlic syrup can help with mucous release.
· Honey: Honey acts as a natural antibiotic with antiseptic properties. There are vitamins such as B-complexes, C, D, E, minerals enzymes and propolis. The propolis in honey boosts the immune system, disables viruses and fights infections. Furthermore, pediatric studies have shown that honey is more effective than cough syrup because it coats the throat better. Locally grown honey is best for seasonal allergies, asthma and respiratory conditions because you are treating with the irritants that are common to your area. Take a tablespoon 4 times per day, taken straight or in tea.
· Cayenne: Cayenne pepper has a high vitamin C content making it a natural choice for a cold, as well as vitamin A, B, calcium and potassium. Cayenne also increases the circulation in the body. You may take in capsule form taking 2 – 40,000 heat units (950mg), or liquid 4 drops of the 200,000 heat units. Place a few drops in water and gargle with it every 15-30 minutes to make a sore throat disappear.
· “Good” Bacteria: Increase “good” bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidus which can be found yogurt or kefir.
· Go Green: Eat dark leafy green vegetables like kale, swiss chard, and spinach provides vitamins B12, folic acid, potassium, vitamins A, C & K which supports a healthy immune system.
· Acid and Alkaline: Keep your internal acid/alkaline chemistry balanced by squeezing a half lemon into a cup of hot water to break up congestion, stimulate digestion, and create an alkaline or healing pH chemistry in the body

For additional information please visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Sleepy Bear from Sleepy Wrap

I love the Sleepy Wrap for "wearing" my babies! I have found it to be the most comfortable wrap for me and my babies while I carry them around! Baby wearing is such a great way to not only provide comfort and protection to your babies and children, it is a great way to free up your hands for other tasks. I fully agree that babies are a lot happier when they are close to their parents after birth, so when you carry them in a wrap/sling/pouch, they are way more content. Sleepy Wrap carries one of the best wraps, in my opinion. Their fabric is stretchy, and fits most all body shapes. The colors that they offer for their wraps are multi-colored, so moms and dads can both feel comfortable wearing them. I love that I can wear my babies in the Sleepy Wrap, have a happy/content baby, and "save" my back from pains with the distribution of weight with the wrap. Well, Sleepy Wrap /NAP, Inc. recently introduced The Sleepy Bear, their very first stuffed toy to help promote baby wearing. I love this new little addition, and so do my children:
Madelyn loves the little Sleepy Bear. This adorable, cream-colored and 100% organic-filled bear is so soft and cuddly. The bear is wearing an Organic Khaki Sleepy Wrap and is baby wearing the baby bear. You can get the same Organic Khaki Sleepy Wrap from the Sleepy Wrap website for your baby wearing, too. It is an adorable stuffed animal, and I love that it promotes baby wearing. The Sleepy Bear is the first stuffed toy to promote babywearing! Plus, I love that this bear is safe with material it is made and filled with. I don't have to worry about my youngest getting his hands on a choking hazard while playing with the Sleepy Bear either, because it isn't made with any buttons or snaps. The Sleepy Bear's eyes, nose, and mouth are all stitched on so that my baby's little hands won’t have anything to pull off. That is reassuring!

Madelyn gives lots of kisses and hugs to her new bear. She loves the little baby inside the wrap, too. I wore Madelyn in many pouches/wraps/slings and loved "wearing" her! The Sleepy Wrap is our favorite wrap, especially for a long day at the zoo. She loves being held, cuddled and carried, so she is a big-time promoter of baby wearing, too!

The Sleepy Bear has found a good home here. I highly recommend this adorable and cuddly bear! Our children can see the baby wearing idea, and know that it is a great thing! Plus, they can see that their Sleepy Bear loves to wear it's baby, too!

These adorable, baby wearing, stuffed animals are only available from these retailers for a SRP of $29.95:

Tadpoles & Butterflies

Sherwood Park, Alberta CANADA

info@tadpoles.cahttp://www.tadpoles.ca/

1.888.312.6554 S

Supermommy’s Superstore

2411 Ring Road, Suite 105

Elizabethtown, KY

accounts@supermommyssuperstore.comhttp://www.supermommyssuperstore.com/ 270.769.6693

Sweet Infant

1007 S. Country Club Rd.

Lovington, NM

support@sweetinfant.comhttp://www.sweetinfant.com/

575.441.3005

Nurtured Family

8525 Jackrabbit Rd., Suite B

Houston, TX

support@nurturedfamily.comhttp://www.nurturedfamily.com/

832.239.5140

Heavenly Hold

510 Briarfield Crossing

Marietta, GA

amber@heavenlyhold.comhttp://www.heavenlyhold.com/

404.849.5394

Baby Carriers-n-More

265 W Cimmarron Way

Erda, UT

robyn@babycarriersnmore.comhttp://www.babycarriersnmore.com/

801.671.5740

Attached to Baby

Seattle, WA

sara@attachedtobaby.comhttp://www.attachedtobaby.com/

800.887.1461

Thanks to Parent Reviewers, I was given a Sleepy Bear to review for my article.

Natural Dentist Products (and a giveaway)!!

I am so happy that I keep getting introduced to new products that are more natural, good and real ingredients, that are not harmful for us to use. I think companies are realizing it really does matter what we put into our bodies. I love learning more about the better products. The Natural Dentist asked me to review some products from their line, and I was more than happy to review them. They have oral products: toothpaste and mouth wash, in different flavors. I was sent the Special Gel Formula for Kids, Healthy Teeth & Gums original (peppermint twist) toothpaste and the Healthy Gums mouth rinse in Orange Zest. I think that my teeth are just as clean with the Natural Dentist products, but are taken care of with healthier products.
The peppermint twist toothpaste tastes fine, and isn't as "potent" as other toothpastes that I have used over the years. My kids weren't very interested in the taste of the Special Gel Formula (berry blast) toothpaste, but I think that is because they are used to what I have bought them in the past. I feel better about my children using the Natural Dentist products over other name brand products that may contain harmful ingredients.
Here is some information of The Natural Dentist toothpastes from the site:
Natural toothpaste without compromise:
Superior performance - cleaning, whitening, cavity prevention and breath freshening
Fluoride for cavity prevention and protection from acid erosion (fluoride-free option too!)
No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or artificial ingredients (SLS is a foaming detergent that can irritate your mouth and has been linked to canker sores) That is interesting to hear about! I haven't hear that before...good information!
Contains Xylitol (10%), a natural cleansing agent and sweetener
I think that The Natural Dentist products are great products, and I would recommend them to you! They are offering to sponsor a giveaway for my readers, so you can try them out, too!! This contest is open to those in the United States, and one winner will get to chose a toothpaste and mouthwash they would want. To enter, go to The Natural Dentist website, and pick out the two items you would like to win. This contest is open until July 28th.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or facebook this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!

Natural Sweetness!

I am trying to be more natural with products that we use, and especially things my family and I put in our mouth. It really is amazing the difference our bodies can feel when we eat better and healthier! Just recently, I started back up with Weight Watchers, and this has made me even more aware of what I am choosing to eat. I know that sugar products can sure put on the extra pounds, so I am interested in using a different source to add the sweetness. There are two products that I have been recently asked to review: Steviva and Fructevia.
Steviva is a pure sweet powder that is from the organic stevia leaves, the "Stevia Rebaudiana" bush. When refined into a white powder extract (stevioside), Stevia becomes 200-300 times sweeter than sugar and sweetens without raising blood sugar levels. What is really amazing with Stevia is there are no calories, carbs,artificial ingredients or fillers~ PURE AND NATURAL! Steviva increases energy and aids digestion by stimulating the pancreas, and doesn't harm healthy teeth. Sugar does the opposite, I know from experience that sugar can give me a quick energy boost, then I usually crash. You can cook with Stevia, depending on the recipe. You can find recipes on the website (Steviva.com). I think Steviva is a better option to sugar for these health reasons, and because it will help you not take in extra weight that sugar would supply. Steviva is available in 1.3 ounce bottles, 1 kg. bags, bulk, and more. You can find them in the natural heath section of your local grocery stores.
Fructevia is a new product from Stevia, and it tastes just like sugar! You know what? You only use half of Fructevia as you would sugar because it is much sweeter! Plus, Fructevia has only 5 calories per packet, and one packet equals 2 tsp. of sugar. Fructevia is a proprietary and patented blend of all natural ingredients Fructose, FOS, Stevia and Magnesium Carbonate. It contains no GMO's, gluten or chemicals. It is safe for diabetics, low carb dieters, (like Weight Watchers!) low glycemic dieters, and people that suffer from hypoglycemia (like my husband). Fructose, Frutevia's primary ingredient, is a natural fruit sugar that is easier on the body than glucose (table sugar) due to the low glycemic index. It absorbs more slowly in the body to provide longer lasting energy with little effect on blood sugar. I am happy that Fructevia is great to use in cooking and baking! Fructevia is available in 1 and 5 pound resealable bags.
I think these products are great, and they are a healthy choice for me! I fully recommend the Stevia products, and I am anxious to purchase the Steviva Blend for my cooking and baking needs. I would thank Thom King, founder of Steviva Brands, Inc., for creating a great alternative to sugar.