Silk Pure Almond Review and Giveaway

When I was asked if I wanted to participate in a product review for Silk Pure Almond Milk, I accepted because, truth be told, I was kind of intrigued by the fact that they (the almond milk makers) could even make milk from almonds. I am always amazed by the fact that there are people in the world who think about stuff like this and then actually find a way to make a product from their ideas.  And it actually sounds like it might be kind of healthy.  So...milk from almonds.  Weird?  Or freaking tasty.  I decided to take the plunge and find out.

I decided to try both the original and the Vanilla flavored Silk Pure Almond Milk products.  I used the vanilla flavored milk first, both on my cereal and in a smoothie.  I will NOT use it on my cereal again, it was way too sweet and it had kind of a weird syrupy viscosity to it that I found unpleasant to look at while I ate.  I know...I told you before...I have weird texture issues when it comes to food.  HOWEVER...the Vanilla Almond milk rocked out loud when I added it to my fruit smoothies!  Seriously killer and a much healthier alternative to regular milk.  The vanilla flavor and sweetness took my lackluster smoothie to a whole new level and I felt really hip and sexy while drinking it because I knew that I was putting good, healthy, nutritious stuff into my body.  Almond Milk is chock full of natural antioxidants, and as much calcium and vitamin D as dairy milk, with absolutely no cholesterol, saturated fat, dairy or soy. Best of all, a serving of Silk Pure Almond Vanilla almondmilk is only 90 calories.  I KNOW!  What a great addition to my healthy eating regimen, right? 

The Silk Pure Almond Original Milk worked better for me on my cereal.  While it does have a little different taste than regualr milk, I found the nutty kick it added to my cereal to be enjoyable.  My kids didn't even know it was almond milk when I poured it over their corn flakes, other than they found just a hint of sweetness that meant they weren't complaining about not adding a spoonful of sugar to their cereal.  Yay for healthy alternatives!   The viscosity is a little different than whole milk, it is actually closer to skim or 1%  milk, but I got over that quickly once I dug into the cereal, because the taste of Silk Pure Almond Milk is actually very creamy/silky. Hence the name I guess, huh?   

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Silk Pure Almond Milk.  I will definitely add it to my grocery list.  Honestly, it won't completely replace my regular milk, but I will incorporate it as a healthy alternative for things like smoothies and cereal and soups, etc.  And it is a great soy free alternative to dairy for people who are soy and lactose intolerant.

Wanna learn more about Pure Silk Almond Milk?  Check out their website.  Click here for a .75 cent coupon toward your Pure Silk Almond purchase. 

Wanna Win It?  Come back here and leave a comment telling me something you learned about Pure Silk Almond Milk and you will win a half gallon of Silk Pure Almond milk plus a cute little Chico Bag!  Contest will end on June 5th, 2010 at 12 Midnight PST.  Open to US residents only.

As usual, you can always win extra entries by: 

• Posting about the giveaway on Facebook or your blog
• Tweeting the contest
• Posting it to a Mr. Linky somewhere on the web

**Disclosure:  I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.  I did receive 2 coupons for Silk Pure Almond Milk from Silk in order to try the product and facilitate this review.     

BioGaia Probiotics Review

I think I have mentioned before on this blog that sometimes I have "gut" issues.  And I can tell you there is nothing worse than having a "gut attack" when you aren't expecting one. Little Man has gut issues too.  He was pretty colicky as an infant and continues to struggle with tummy stuff even now, 8 years later.  It sucks when your 8 year old is struggling with stomach issues, because they don't always have the foresight to say something to someone until it's too late.  We like to seek out natural ways to deal with these issues, so I jumped at the chance to try some probiotics by BioGaia when they were offered. 

 

When we received the package two weeks ago, I noticed that BioGaia products come in various forms, which I really appreciate, 'cause you know - what works for one kid doesn't necessarily work for another.  Their product line includes drops, chewable tablets and even straws that allow you to mix the probiotic with a beverage.  The products are completely safe and effective for both children and adults.  The drops and straws are great for infants and small children who may not be ready to chew a tablet.  I do have to say though, the glass bottle that the drops come in was kind of irritating to use at first, because you kind of have to shake it to get the drops to come out  since you can't squeeze it, making it difficult to get 5 drops until you kind of get the hang of it.  The tablets are easy to chew though and kinda tasty (lemony!). 

We went to work immediately at getting it into our systems.  Yes, I said we, because I'm getting in on this probiotic action myself.  I quickly commandeered the tablets, while Little Man works on the drops.  I was especially concerned about Little Man's system since he has had 3 courses of antibiotics in the last 4 months!  I know that antibiotics kill ALL of the bacteria in our guts, both good and bad, so I wanted to get something that would start replenishing the good flora that his body needs to digest and function properly.   

 

BioGaia probiotics products contain Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), which help the gut flora perform a number of useful functions in the body, such as: 

• Influence the development and function of the gut
• Assist in digestion and absorption of nutrients
• Synthesize vitamins
• Assist in the absorption of minerals
• Break down dietary carcinogens
• Influence the development and function of the immune system
• Form a natural defense barrier against bacteria, toxins and antigens
• Protect the body against infection

So...how do BioGaia products perform?  Well, I am happy to say that over the last 2 weeks my "attacks have subsided substantially.  I will continue to use the tablets until they are gone because I am noticing a big difference with my tummy issues.  Little Man was doing great until Easter and I think he OD'd on candy, so we may have to up his drops going into the new week, but overall, his gut health has improved.  One way I can definitely measure the improvement for him is by the lack of gaseous matters that normally escape his little booty! DANG!  The dude can choke a full grown man with his toots! (He'll hate me when he's older for being so open about his little issues!)

ANYWAY...back to BioGaia.  Seriously?  It's easy to administer, it's all natural, it tastes pleasant and it works. Here's a link where you can find out more about BioGaia's product line.  Check it out.  You'll thank me (and BioGaia) when your normally cute infant no longer has colick attacks in the middle of the night.  Or when you no longer have to smell little boy booty air during a long car drive in the Arizona heat with all the windows rolled up.  Or when you no longer have to hold your hiney while screaming at your spouse to pull over, pull over! PULL OVER NOW!  Would I steer you wrong?  Not in this area, 'cause I know all about gut issues.  Have ya read my blog?!?

Need Help with Dinner? Try Fix Quix!

Now that school has started, our family is struggling to get back into the routine of school and homework and sports practices, etc. I don't know about you, but as a mom I sometimes feel guilty that the meals I feed my kids are not as healthy as I would like them to be, because frankly? There are days when I am just too tired or overscheduled to cook a perfectly balanced meal. Add to that the fact that its still blistering hot here in Arizona and the thought of turning on the stove or the oven is just too much to bear.

We have resorted to lot of salads and sandwiches lately. In trying to be creative with my salads I ran across Fix Quix products by Buddig. Fix Quix is a new, convenient to use, refrigerated, cubed meat product that can be a versatile meal starter, as well as a healthy protein snack.

It's available in 3 different flavors: Grilled Chicken, Oven-Roasted Turkey, and Smoked Ham, so it gives us some variety to work with. It's also low in Calories – (Grilled Chicken has 60 Calories per serving, Ham and Turkey have 70 Calories per Serving) and fat, so I feel a lot better serving it to my family. Because Fix Quix meats are high in protein, it'll be much easier for me to incorporate them into salads and casseroles and have a more nutritionally balanced meal.

I actually tried 2 of them for the first time today. I tasted the turkey and the chicken and like them both equally.

Ready to try it? Fix Quix can be found in the refrigerated meat section of your grocery store. And Buddig is offering a $1 off coupon just for Arizona, Texas ans St. Louis residents, which you can download and print - just present it at the register when you check out.

$1.00 online coupon

Tonight on our menu? Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken Chunks and Garlic Bread (inspired by the picture!). Yummy, easy and healthy, cause it's loaded with lots of veggies and protein. Buddig just made our night a lot less hectic.

**I received compensation for this product post. In accepting thsese sponsorships, I always give my honest opinion, regardless of whether or not I am compensated. If a product is great I'll tell ya! If something stinks, I say so. If you are a loyal reader, you already know that about me. If you are new to Boymom, you'll soon find out that I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

I Yam Who I Yam

THANK YOU! Finally a magazine got it right!

Have you seen this?

Am I alone in finding this a refreshing departure from the picture perfect bodies I see all day long in advertisement after advertisement in print and on TV?

In all honesty, I cannot name one person among my friends who has six pack abs. I cannot name one of them who doesn't have some kind of issue with her body. So why does the media portray the SuperModel body as the norm for our society?!

I know, I know. This issue has been hashed to death and we have all have an opinion about women and our body images and how those images create issues and how those issues mess or don't mess with our ability to be at peace with who we are.

My opinion on the issue? Well, I'm fat. And I have issues. I'm fat cause I have issues stemming from abuse and they mess with me everyday in some form or another and my body takes the brunt of my emotional issues. One of these days I may get it all figured out and actually end up being a fit, healthy middle aged woman. But it's a struggle. So, yeah...I guess my body image affects my ability to be at peace with who I am, along with all of my other "issues." And I hate having to feel worse about myself than I already do because society says my body doesn't fit the "norm." So please, media...remind me everyday by shoving perfection in my face, okay? I'm pretty sure that will help get me motivated!

You know what actually DID get me motivated today? Lizzie Miller and her picture. You know why? Because this beautiful woman, with her full thighs and flabby belly and stretch marks, looks very comfortable in her own skin. (She's a plus size model at size 12? Gimme a freaking break!) And I for one am glad that she was comfortable enough to let someone take a picture of her in all her glory. Why? Because as fat as I am, seeing this picture made me remember that my body image shouldn't define who I am as a person. Fat, not fat, flabby or toned, I am who I am because of what's on the inside (just like we tell our kids, right?).

Maybe the media is finally getting it. Yes, it's nice to see beautiful, healthy women with six pack abs and a perfectly toned butt in nice clothes and pretend that's how we might look in those clothes. But it's just as nice to see beautiful, healthy women who have left over baby houses on their tummies in nice clothes (or in this case in no clothes). Why? Because it's reality. It's who we are. Yeah, the clothes may not lay as nicely or fit as snugly without bumps, but Lizzie represents the other 95% of us who weren't born with skinny genes and who aren't great about working out 4 hours a day or who have other issues that keep us from becoming a hard body mom. She shows us how clothes will really look - on a normal person. She reminds us that we are great women and mothers and wives and sisters and friends, regardless of the body we come in.

Thanks to Glamour and Lizzie for showing us the true "Normal."

Florastor Kids Giveaway!!

I was recently invited by Mom Select to try out a new product called Florastor® Kids. I have to tell you, it actually came at a really good time. My kids have both been sick recently and both required antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Because I have had some pretty severe health problems due to overuse of antibiotics, I am very paranoid about the use of antibiotics for my children.

Florastor® Kids is a product that helps restore the good bacteria our childrens' bodies need to help their digestive and intestinal systems function properly. This is especially important when they have a bad stomach or gut bacteria. The active ingredient in Florastor Kids is a freeze-dried form of yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii lyo. It helps promote the growth of good microbiota, while attracting and removing pathogens from the intestines. It has been studied in clinical trials for over 50 years. One of the key differences in a yeast-based probiotic, such as Florastor Kids, vs. a probiotic like acidophilus, is that it can not be killed by antibiotics

You can read the really technical part of the review over at I Am ReviewMom.

I was personally very glad to learn the Florastor Kids cannot be killed by antibiotics. We recieved and began using the product a week after both of my boys were done with their course of antibiotics. Little man always struggles with "gut issues" after the antibiotics. ALWAYS.

I will tell you, Florastor Kids went to work immediately and he has never recovered from a course of antibiotics as quickly as he did with the Florastor Kids. After 2 days of using the powder, which I put in juice for him, his gut attacks disappeared. It was awesome for both of us. Little Man is very vocal and very grumpy when his tummy is rumbling and his booty is busy.

Because Florastor Kids is such an effective tool to deal with diarrhea, we decided to pick some up for our 72 hour emergency kits. It would be great to take along when you travel too.

Florastor Kids is available in a box of 10 powder packets for a suggested price of $12.95 and in a box of 20 powder packets for a suggested price of $21.95. In my opinion it is totally worth the price. Knowing there is a natural remedy available when my kids need help dealing with gut issues puts my mind at ease and the speed with which it worked makes it a worthwhile item to keep in my medicine cabinet.

You can find it at most pharmacies or check out the Florastor website to see who carries it in your area.

And now, for being so diligent and reading the whole post, one of my lucky readers will win a 20-pack of Florastor Kids, along with a plush and a book that you can read to your kids so they know what the powder they are taking does! The book is really cute! Just leave me a comment and I will choose a winner using Random.org. The contest will end on May 1st at 12 midnight MST.