Not Just Another Whiskey: Spicebox Whisky

I've never been a big fan of whiskey.  To me it kinda tastes and smells like paint thinner.  Not at all pleasant.  Needless to say I was intrigued to learn of a whiskey made with three different kinds of vanilla and yummy spices.  Even more excited when Spicebox offered to send me some to play around with.

Spicebox whisky is made in Canada.  So it's actually a rye whiskey which is aged 3-6 years in bourbon barrels.  Spicebox is actually pretty new also.  It hit the market and bar scene about a year ago to rave reviews.  From what I've heard, Spicebox will be your new favorite whiskey once you give it a taste.

I was still skeptical that I would actually taste the vanilla or the spices, but oh my goodness you can smell the vanilla the minute you crack open the bottle.  Along with a hint of spices.  Spicebox actually has a vanilla and spice taste to it.  It's actually quite good.  A little strong for me to have straight up, but I can definitely see how it would appeal over other whiskeys.

Not having a point of reference taste wise for whiskey, I took a sample over to the neighbor for a more informed opinion.  After telling me that showing up on his doorstep with a bottle of whiskey asking for a taste test was the oddest thing that's happened to him before.

He did say the whiskey was quite good.  Actually the best he's ever tasted.  The vanilla and spices were intriguing.  It was definitely something that he'd want to drink again.

From all this I can tell you that if you like whiskey, Spicebox is definitely something you should seek out and give a try.  It's an entirely different taste from other whiskeys and will definitely exceed your expectations.  

So go out and pick up a bottle of Spicebox because its great naked.  After you do, make sure to check back because we'll be posting a slew of yummy drink recipes for you to try out.

Susie Savors: Really, I don't know anything about whiskey.  So, I have no comparison to make.  However, it was not unpleasant as I expected, because whiskey doesn't exactly have a good reputation with most females my age.  The vanilla overpowered most of the other flavors, but I could detect the spicy kick of pepper.  Not exactly my usual drink but I wouldn't say no to more.

*This is a sponsored post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I recently got to try some Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil via bzzagent.  It truly has a much better taste than other olive oils.  I used mine on some oven roasted red potatoes with garlic.  I followed a recipe from America's Test Kitchen and parboiled the potatoes first with some salt and baking soda.  I'd never tried this before, but it gave them an amazing crust when baked in the oven.  I'll definitely be trying it again.  And the Filippo Berio Olive Oil was the perfect thing to drizzle and toss them with.

*I'm a bzzagent.  I received this sample for review.  All opinions are my own.*

alternaVites Kids Review

Recently I got asked to review alternaVites Kids, a quick melting vitamin for kids.  It's a really neat concept.  The vitamins come in these little tubes and are about the consistency of pixie sticks.  One tube contains a full dose of multivitamins and minerals.  The crystals are quick melting too just like a pixie stick.  There are a variety of ways you can take them too.  You can just pour them straight on to your tongue.  Lick it off a spoon.  Mix them into smoothies, yogurts, puddings and shakes.  Sprinkle it on top of fresh fruit.  There are a ton of ways you could take these.  Also since they're so versatile, it should be easy to find a way your kids will love.

AlternaVites Kids also does not contain any sugar, aspartame, HFCS, nothing artificial, no animal products or by products, no egg, no soy, no milk, no peanut, no tree nuts, no wheat, no fish or shellfish and also certified kosher pareve.  I really like that alternaVites don't contain any of these common allergens.  Especially great in a children's vitamin as a lot of kids aren't diagnosed early if they have allergies. 

I got to sample the strawberry bubblegum flavor.  And they amazingly do taste like strawberries and bubble gum.  The alternavites Kids even taste sweet because of the xylitol.  I'm sure your kids and the kid in you will love them.  A package of 30 packets retails for $15.95 and you can receive a 20% discount when you use the code moms20 to place your order.

Make sure to check out alternaVites Kids on facebook and follow them on twitter.

Disclaimer: I was sent this product for review.  All opinions are my own.

Independent Book Blogger Awards!!

We just entered the Independent Book Blogger Awards!  It would totally be awesome if you'd vote for us starting Tuesday April 10th - Monday April 23rd.  If picked we get to go to NYC for the Book Expo America!!  Thanks a bunch :)

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New Chapter Organics

We have two kinds of New Chapter Vitamins, Perfect Energy and Perfect Calm.  Al would have tried them except that they contain fermented soy.  She has a soy allergy, so I got to be the guinea pig.

I started out taking the Perfect Energy.  They are a typical size vitamin only instead of one you take three at a time.  The package didn't actually say, so being lazy I took all three at once.  Nothing seems unusual about them, except that they are obviously tan colored with dark flecks, so they certainly appear to be organic compared to the average vitamin.

I have to say that the Perfect Energy works really well.  Almost too well, I probably shouldn't have taken them around lunchtime the first day.  I'm on day three and my sleep schedule has been altered.  I was too energized to fall asleep and my sleep schedule has shifted about two hours.  I'm thinking that the Perfect Calm will help me return back to normal.  I was feeling really out of it today until I took them.  Not sure if it's just because I didn't get the regular amount of sleep.

After five days of them, I can say my sleep schedule was out of whack because I had too much energy at the end of the day.  I suppose if I had planned it, then I wouldn't be having a problem.

Sadly, the perfect calm did not have the desired reverse effects.  Even though I know that the ingredients should have made me feel calm and sleepy including things like lavender and lemon balm, but no such luck.  I could not feel any noticeable differences.  My sleep schedule remained off even with the perfect calm.  So, while it may have a different effect for someone else it didn't help me in the way I had hoped.

I certainly recommend the Perfect Energy if you need an energy boost.  Just be sure to take them in the morning or risk becoming a night owl.  The Perfect Calm did not seem to calm me much.  Neither one had any side effects unless you consider too much energy a side effect.  They work just as regular vitamins.  I only took five days worth, so I can't entirely know how they would affect you long term, but they seem to be harmless.

*I was sent these products for review.  All opinions are my own*

Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap Energizing Grapefruit

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the third and final one I'm going to share with you.  :)

Hugo Naturals Handcrafted Soap Energizing Grapefruit smells like juicy grapefruits.  It's a wonderfully moisturizing soap.  Left my hands feeling like I'd just used lotion.  I will say my mom appreciated the grapefruit smell more than I did.  Grapefruit being one of my least fave smells.  But the soap itself was luxuriant and lathered well. 

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Hugo Naturals Brown Sugar Body Polish Rejuvenating Kumquat

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the second one I'm going to share with you.  :)

 

Hugo Naturals Brown Sugar Body Polish Rejuvenating Kumquat smells like brown sugar and oranges to me.  I've never actually smelled a kumquat or had one before, so I'm not sure what they're supposed to smell like.  I can tell you that this is a very luscious, emollient-rich sugar scrub.  Here's a pic of it with the lid off.

See how thick and rich it is?  I actually had to use a metal spoon to stir it the first time I used it.  It's a very, very thick paste.  It rubs on really easily in the shower.  And rinses off with no problem.  It leaves your skin extremely moisturized.  I've actually never used a scrub quite this rich.  I know, I keep using the word over and over but its just so rich! :)  My skin felt so good after using this.  It's definitely something I'd recommend using.  

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion Comforting Vanilla & Sweet Orange

I was picked last month as a Hugo Naturals Ambassador!  :)  Exciting, right?  They sent me three of their all natural products to try and review.  This the first one I'm going to share with you.  :)

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion in Comforting Vanilla and Sweet Orange smells like orange butter cream frosting.  Super duper yummy.  As anything butter cream is a fave scent of mine this was wonderful.  You can use it all over, even on your face.  It's super rich and thick.  A little goes a long way.  The lotion soaks in quickly and leaves you feeling moisturized without feeling greasy at all.

If you've read my blog before you know that I love anything natural or organic.  I especially love that Hugo Naturals products are always gluten and soy free along with being vegan.  As I've got a soy allergy, its truly great to find a line of body products that are soy free.  Never fun to get a migraine because you've tried something new and not read the label properly.

*Hugo Naturals sent me this product for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Woolite Complete

Smiley360 recently sent me a bottle of the new Woolite Complete to try out.  I've only been one to use Woolite while on vacation to wash clothes out in a sink or to wash my needlepoint after I'm done stitching it.  I've never really used it for anything else.  I grew up using Tide and then switched to Purex because I liked the way it washed my clothes. 

But I can honestly say that the new Woolite Complete is fantastic.  I used it on a regular load of laundry (jeans, sweats, tshirts and other things) and they all came out feeling brand new.  I mean you know how brand new clothes feel the first time you wear them.  They feel soft against your skin, at least to me they do.  That's how the Woolite Complete works on my clothes.  I absolutely love it. 

I definitely recommend trying it out.  There is a $2 coupon on Facebook that you can use.  Receive a 20% discount and free shipping on your next order of Woolite® COMPLETE when you purchase on Amazon.com between 3/1/12 and 3/31/12. (Total discount combines 5% off promotional code plus 15% off Subscribe & Save option)

*Smiley360 sent me this product for review.  All opinions are my own*

Rendezvous Rock By Rickey Bray + Giveaway

Renedezvous Rock caught my attention right away.  I knew that I would love reading it because of the writing style.  I was drawn in through the words.   Few authors live up to their potential, but Bray is truly a wordsmith.  I was glad to exercise my own vocabulary.

The world building is exquisite.  As a reader being dropped into a complex world with unique circumstances, in this case witches, can be daunting.  Some novels fail because their worlds are not introduced properly.  Yet, Bray does it seamlessly.  I found myself in the shoes of Eric.  Mesmerized by the girl, Susan and wanting to know all about her reality.

She draws him into a religion through a binding or marriage of sorts.  She knows where he fits into her world and the book follows them after he is truly set onto his path.  He discovers his place in a world where power is real.  He is the typical layman having been raised with an overbearing mother and we get to see him grow.

As the front cover states, witches are never young.  You learn why as the religion of The Three Circles is revealed.  The characters are concerned not only with the past and present but with the future as well.  We get heroes that think about not just changing the present but seriously considering the aftermath as well.  Unlike most stories, which end and you think to yourself: "So, they saved the world, but then what would happen?  Aren't they left with more problems?"  This is not one of those stories, the ending is quite decisive leaving no loose ends.

Of course, there are twists and turns along the way.  The book may seem long to some, but the details suck you into this alternate reality.  Certainly, you'll want to block off a few hours of time to devour this book.  You'll want to keep reading it, or in my case loose track of time while doing so.  I look forward to reading Bray's next book.

The Author's Bio:

Rickey Bray, from Marlow, Oklahoma, became a writer after a series of personal tragedies.  Following a car accident involving a drunk driver and the death of his wife and two children, he turned to drugs for consolation which eventually resulted in twelve years of incarceration, a life altering experience that resulted in the start of his writing career and his debut novel Rendezvous Rock.

www.rickeybray.com