How to Get the Most Out of Domestic Travel

May 6, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

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When most people say they want to travel, they imagine traversing the globe for vastly different cultures and scenery of foreign countries. However, many travelers simply don’t realize the wealth of amazing travel opportunities available right here in the United States.

A vast and diverse landscape, America offers as many new experiences as international travel — at less than half the price. For outstanding and unforgettable travel, you don’t need a passport or a massive savings account. Here’s how you can get the most out of your U.S.-based travels.

Find Uncommon Destinations

Some people are turned off by the idea of domestic travel simply because they don’t anticipate a trip to Boise, Idaho or Des Moines, Iowa to be especially thrilling. Yet, a vacation is only as exciting as you make it; if you select a dull destination and maintain a sour attitude, you probably will have an unhappy vacation. The United States is hiding thousands of exciting places to visit, so as long as you do some research and chart a course for some fascinating spots, you undoubtedly will have an excellent time. To get you started, here are some suggestions for domestic destinations you likely never considered:

Antelope Canyon, Arizona. A slot canyon made of vibrant red sandstone carved into surreal shapes.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming. The largest hot spring in North America, surrounded by a rainbow of colors from bright reds and yellows to crystalline blue.
Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario. The largest waterfall in the world, and a natural destination for couples in love.
Whitaker Point, Arkansas. A single stone crag jutting out over 100 feet of empty space, offering unprecedented views of the stunning Buffalo River country.
Hamilton Pool, Texas. A giant natural pool surrounded on all sides by steep grotto walls, formed when the hollow dome of an underground river collapsed.

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Filed Under: evergreen, lifestyle, traveling Tagged With: travel

The Tale of the Proud Chicken – book for kids

February 11, 2015 by Samantha 7 Comments

The latest book in the Tales of Little Overhill series is now available. The new book, Tale of the Proud Chicken is a fun read for kids that also gives a moral. It has a good plot that kids can benefit from, learn from, and enjoy as well. The images are beautiful, and having animals as the main characters is fun for children.

I first read this to my son, then sent it in with him to his school. His class really enjoyed the book, and they thought that the chicken was funny and silly. They liked the chicken’s adventures, and were relived when he went back home. Being a bunch of 7 year olds, they all pointed out that he wasn’t really a proud chicken, but a proud rooster- which is true, little rats, lol. After we read the story, we tried to guess what Bible story The Proud Chicken was most like.
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Filed Under: book review, evergreen, kids, review Tagged With: book review, kids book, review

Zabada – Wonderful Cleaning Supplies

February 7, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

isclosure: The products from Zabada mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

I am all about finding wonderful cleaning supplies for my house that makes cleaning much easier, and does an exceptional job. With these new great products from Zabada, cleaning my kitchen has become extremely easy.

About Zabada:

Zabada is on a mission to come into your home, and rid us from crazy poisonous chemical cleaners. They are taking a stand against the bad chemicals that leave yucky toxic residues and emissions for your skin to absorb and kids to breathe – chemicals known to poison and cause us serious harm.

They are crusaders with integrity and a solution that’s scientifically proven to clean better, faster, and healthier. And joining their mission are millions of households across Europe and Australia who’ve already shed the HAZMAT suit and converted to chemical-free living with the Zabada system.

Zabada Fiber Cleaning System:

It’s an Austrian-made and engineered range of advanced cleaning fibers and microfiber cloths, the likes of which no grease, grime or bacteria have ever seen before in the U.S. Zabada fibers are deeper, thicker, and superior in quality compared to your average microfiber cloth. They’re made and hand-sewn in Austria to exacting European ISO standards. They’re cut 100 times finer than a human hair to reach in and grab every particle from every kind of surface. And all they need to remove dirt and bacteria is a little water.

Nintendo eShop and Parent Portal

February 2, 2015 by Samantha 5 Comments

If you have a video game lover in your life, this year for Valentines Day, why not make them feel extra special with some Nintendo digital goodies while being sure they don’t have the items already? You will want to take a look at the eShop- great for special occasions and last minute shopping, too. (Not to mention it makes shopping easier for those of us who are not up and current on all things gaming.)

Both my son and husband love Nintendo, and my husband especially enjoys eShop store credits. These can be used in either the eShop for the Wii U or the eShop for the 3DS. My son recently received an eShop gift card, with which he bought a few fun digital items. One of his favorites has been the new Pikmin movie shorts, which are available now for both the 3DS and Wii U in the eShop. Retailing for $4.99, the cute little critters are a welcome treat and at just under $5, the price is perfect. In addition to new treats for gamers and fans of well known franchises, there are also new indie gems to uncover available for the first time on the Wii U in the eShop. One such title is “Shovel Knight”, which has a classic game feel with a modern spin on it. It’s roots are clear and it is a welcome change to the super shined, polished treats of recent. Sometimes a hidden gem is great to find. No matter what the gamers level of intensity or age, there is always a fun game to find in the eShop. Shovel Knight is available now in the eShop and retails for $14.99. There is one unfortunate event which does occur with digital games, stock can change. So if you see something you are interested in be sure to grab it quickly because it might not be there forever.
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Filed Under: evergreen, technology Tagged With: Nintendo, video games

Icebug – Winter Sneakers at Their Best

January 13, 2015 by Samantha 8 Comments

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest.

With winter here in full force, and it being a brutal winter so far, getting around can be challenging for many of us. Icy roads and sidewalks (not to mention steps and trails) and the ever-fun “black ice” make winter walking, running, and in general on-the-going less then ideal.

The new Enlight RB9X by Icebug is a really cool shoe for this time of year- or really any time of year, since it grips asphalt and wet surfaces like a champ as well. Not to mention it has a great look to it, a fun and funky style that sets it apart from other, more boring shoes and sneakers. (I don’t like plain shoes, it’s a “thing” over here.) I really dig the colors and the options available.

I really liked these- you can actually hear them gripping, which is a little weird at first, but then it’s oddly reassuring. Like- huzzah, I am not going to fall (as often) today! Ha. These are great for runners, walkers, or anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
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Filed Under: evergreen, fashion, review Tagged With: shoes, sneakers

Kitchen Roll-Ups- Fruit Leather from your Juicer

January 8, 2015 by Samantha 7 Comments

For most owners of a powerful Breville juicer, the job description of their machine begins and ends with extracting juices from fruits and vegetables. However, a juicer can be one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen for an adventurous cook, and one of its hidden powers is the ability to make fruit leather in your own home.

These delicious fruit snacks can be made using a wide range of fruit blends and are guaranteed to remind you of a packed lunch from your school days. They also retain all the nutritional value of the chosen fruits, so kids will find it much easier to get more fruit into their diet one roll at a time.

Preparation

Creating a homemade fruit roll up starts with choosing the fruit flavors that will go into the mixture. Practically any fruit will work, even dried fruit can be rehydrated with water and honey for use in this recipe. Honey, maple syrup or agave nectar can also be added to the mixture before juicing for enhanced sweetness. Add the fruit blend into the juicer and process into a thick, pudding-like consistency using the homogenization setting.

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Filed Under: evergreen, food, recipes Tagged With: juicer, recipe

Beauty From The Inside Out

December 30, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

As we end 2014 and head into 2015, many of us are thinking of how to do even better in 2015. We often think of how to make more money, how to be happier, how to lose more weight and be healthier, and how to look our best and healthiest. Beauty often starts on the inside, and if you want the best skin, hair, and nails, you want them to be healthy, shiny, and strong. This isn’t as hard as you might think- swapping vitamins (or start taking them) and adding a supplement, or changing your hair care products can make a world of difference. Check out these awesome products and see if you don’t want to trey them out right away. (The gummies/chews are also great tasting, so, bonus.)

Optimal Solution’s Hair, Skin and Nails provide extra strength support for lustrous hair, vibrant skin and strong nails. The softgels feature 5,000 mcg of Biotin, an important B Vitamin that supports skin and hair health, and helps promote healthy nail growth by acting at the base of the nail (the nail matrix), where nail growth begins.
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Filed Under: beauty, evergreen, health, review

Lazy Lizards Yoga Products For Kids

December 24, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

As many of you know, I am a yoga fan. I practice regularly, and have had my son and even my grandmother do yoga (at their level) with me. My son is, like many kids, wiggly and impatient, and yoga is great for redirecting that energy.

Lazy Lizards created a kid sized yoga mat with 12 poses printed on the mat along with a DVD to go along. Kids can easily follow along with the DVD or just use their mat. Their is also a space where kids can personalize their mat to make it their own- my son was completely horrified by the thought of drawing on his mat, but I think some kids would like to. My boy can be a little finicky, like his mother.

They have 4 colors of eco friendly, kid sized yoga mats, with poses printed directly on the mat, as well as the Lazy Lizards Yoga DVD. Introducing yoga at a young age can encourage a healthy lifestyle early. Kids love doing yoga, and it is great for them. Yoga comes naturally to children, they love to use their imaginations to move their bodies in creative ways. Have your child try yoga, and watch him or her grow from the inside, out. It is great for you to do together as well- something you both can do. It’s nice to have healthy activities you both can enjoy.
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