I had an opportunity to review the GreenPan™ which is an environmentally friendly alternative to regular baking and cookware. 

GreenPan™ does not use PTFE, but brings with Thermolon™ non-stick technology a healthy alternative to the market.  Thermolon™ is heat resistant up to high temperatures.  This means that GreenPan™ has an extra safety feature; if you overheat your pan, even up to 450°C/850°F, no toxic fumes will be released and the coating will not blister or peel.  Less energy is used when Thermolon™ is applied on GreenPan™ products, which means 60% less CO2 emission compared with the production of PTFE-coated pans.

Also, their non-stick pots and pans are the first to be made with a non-stick coating made of minerals instead of plastics. 

I usually use a sheet of tin foil over top of my pans and then coat them with Pam so that the food doesn’t stick.  I didn’t need to do that with the GreenPan™ and I didn’t spend countless hours washing the pan afterwards.

As all of my reviews I illustrate the Pro’s and Con’s of each product, therefore, please find my list for the GreenPan™ below:

Pros

• When they claim non-stick, they weren’t kidding.  It made clean up a cinch.
• The pan cools off very quickly.  With little kids in the house eager to take a cookie off the pan, this is a helpful feature.
• I am always up for helping the environment and I appreciate companies that take an active interest.

Cons

• When really hot the pan gets a little mis-shaped and wobbly….but flattens out once it cools.

 All in all, I have been very impressed with my use of the GreenPan™ and all of it’s features.

Reviews on Mommy.Girlgetstrong.com reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly.  No compensation was accepted by me or GGS Media Corporation for this review.

I had an opportunity to try out Stevia Extract In the Raw which is a an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener derived from the leafy green foliage of the Stevia plant grown in South American rain forests and Asian mountain valleys (now if that doesn’t sound healthy I don’t know what does).

I am an avid user of Splenda so I thought I would give this raw form of sweetener a try.  I tried it in two ways….the first way was simply adding it to my morning tea.  It was very nice tasting and added a pleasant sweet flavor to my tea without adding calories.

Be aware that one packet of Stevia in the Raw is the approximate equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar. So you may wish to add only half a packet instead of a full one (if you usually use a full one) as the taste is a little sweeter than Splenda.

Unlike other brands of Stevia, Stevia in the Raw doesn’t have a licorice-like aftertaste. I haven’t tried other types so I can’t compare, but there was no after-taste evident.  According to the company’s website, this is because the Stevia is so pure.

The only additional ingredient in the packets (it also comes in bigger bulk packages) is dextrose and the company explains why:

“Dextrose is a natural carbohydrate derived from corn. Many sugar substitutes in powder form contain dextrose because it is a natural ingredient and does not change the flavor of the sweetener in the blend.  In our packet product, dextrose is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers; it does not alter the naturally sweet flavor of the Stevia.”

I then tried using it in my baking (peanut butter cookies to be exact).  Using Stevia this way I didn’t even notice a difference in taste.  It added the right amount of sweetness to my cookies and my kids loved it too!!!

I would recommend that if you currently use an artificial sweeteners you may want to give Stevia in the Raw a try as I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Pros

• It’s a natural sweetener rather than artificial.
• It has a great taste.
• There is no after-taste.

Cons

• If you don’t use the right amount  you can end up with tea that is way too sweet or baking that is even too sweet for your kids.

Reviews on Mommy.Girlgetstrong.com reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly.  No compensation was accepted by me or GGS Media Corporation for this review.

There are piggy banks. There are saving, spending, and giving jars. There are bank accounts.

And now there’s ThreeJars.com.

ThreeJars is an online money management tool for kids aged 6-13. Conceived and launched about a year ago by a dad of six, ThreeJars is a fun, easy-to-use online program that helps kids learn about saving, spending, earning, and sharing money.

But make no mistake. Although ThreeJars is not a bank in any way, the money is real.

When you first sign up for an account, economically priced at $30/year per family, you determine how much money your child will receive and how often. You can then decide together how much to allocate to savings, spending, and sharing using an easy to use and adjustable sliding scale.

Your child can then choose to do any number of activities: create a savings goal such as a bike, “boost” their money, or earn extra money by offering to do projects around the house.

Every activity your child chooses is approved by you, via a request sent in the form of an email to your inbox. For example, if John wants to wash the windows for $5 (your child can choose the task and suggest a value), with one click a request is sent to the parent’s email for approval (or not). When your child is logged in, she’ll see if you approved the request.

Kids can even choose and track a savings goal, and find ways to get to their goal faster. When it’s time to spend their money, just a click on an ATM icon sends a request for money to a parent’s email.

My favorite feature of ThreeJars by far is the “boosting” feature, which gives kids the chance to “invest” their money. Kids can boost their money by choosing an amount and a rate at which to invest in an account; the longer they leave the money in that account, the more they are rewarded and the more they can earn. You don’t have to track the investment in a spreadsheet, and it’s a great way to encourage your kids to save as the return on investment is generous and higher than a real bank account. Again, while the investing is done virtually, the money your child earns is real.

My 10 and 8-year-old gave ThreeJars a test drive. My 10-year-old needed no explanation or tutoring; she set everything up on her own, while I helped with registration. I registered my 8-year-old on his behalf, and he was immediately taken by the customization features and the ability to make friends. With safety utmost in mind, however, all friends are anonymous and there’s no interaction other than being able to see each other’s activities.

ThreeJars very deliberately has a strong charitable component. Kids can allocate a percentage of their earnings every week to one of number of charities that partners with ThreeJars (I like Bicycle Ambulances in Africa) or a charity of their choice. And every activity earns a child points on behalf of ThreeJars, which they can then help ThreeJars allocate to a favourite charity.

With its bright colors, large icons, intuitive navigation, and interactive features, this program is a winner, and there’s nothing else like it online.

Pros

• Teaches kids about all aspects of money management, including charitable giving
• Easy to use and set up
• Easier than a bank account, or money jars at home, and a heck a lot more fun
• Savings, earnings, spending, and giving are all tracked
• Safe and friendly

Cons

• Like any new program, can take a while to get into the habit of using
• In what the program gains in simplicity, it loses in some flexibility. For example, you can choose only one savings goal at a time from a drop-down list that might not include the goal your child has in mind. In an interview with ThreeJars, founder Anton Simunovic said many more features are on the way.
• Perhaps it was the novelty, but when my kids first opened their accounts, I’d receive 10 requests a day for projects, ranging up to $1000 for window cleaning. It was all in good fun, but there were a lot “rejected” requests. It also opens up the conversation about the value of projects!
• In our particular case, my kids earn money from a paper route. It wasn’t clear to me how to incorporate that into my kids’ accounts. It turns out you need to make a “deposit” and put the check in a real bank account.
• The subscription fee might deter some people, especially when so much on the Internet is free (but as they say, you get what you pay for and free products aren’t always the best).
• In some respects, the program takes away the physical handling of money (at least until your child requests a withdrawal). Younger children can learn from just handling and counting their money. (My kids are always pulling out their piggy banks to count and recount their money.)

Kim Dudra is a freelance copywriter based in Vancouver, B.C., and is the owner of re:fresh communications. She’s been known to juggle four kids’ schedules, three computers, two cats, and one cup of coffee, all at once. Kim is a featured writer for mommy.girlgetstrong.com.

Book Review: Overland, by Mark Stephen Levy

I recently connected with Colorado author Mark Stephen Levy and when he asked me to review his new book, Overland, I eagerly agreed.

Overland is Levy’s first published work and it is a love story that takes place against the backdrop of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The main character, Danny Benson, is a recent medical school graduate who is devastated when his longtime girlfriend Heather turns down his marriage proposal.

She further shocks him when she impulsively sets off halfway across the world and embarks on an overland bus ride to Katmandu.  Bewildered and devastated, Danny follows her, determined to find her and win her back.

But fate has other plans.

When Danny finally meets up with Heather in Afghanistan, his plan is interrupted by the violence of the Soviet invasion and once again he finds himself alone, with no idea if Heather is still in the country – or if she is even still alive.

During the turmoil, Danny finds himself applying his medical skills in a different environment than he had ever imagined at medical school.  As fate would have it, he meets up with a long lost childhood friend…and finds himself increasingly drawn to her.

What does Afghanistan have in store for Danny?  Will Danny find Heather alive? What about his long lost childhood friend? How does she fit into the picture?

These questions and more kept me turning the pages of Overland.

In the first few chapters of the book, I didn’t find it particularly easy to relate to Danny.  One of his character flaws – as Heather points out to him – is his lack of visible emotion, and this gave me a little trouble with connecting with him as a character.  But as the book progressed I found empathy for Danny and his search for love, and I also became absolutely engrossed in reading about Afghanistan before and during the Soviet occupation.

I loved the scope of the book as it moves through several countries and weaves its story back and forth during Danny’s search for Heather.

I was also particularly intrigued by the description of Afghanistan before and during the Soviet invasion.  I found it fascinating to compare the country that existed before the invasion to what we all read and hear about in the media today about the state of Afghanistan and the Taliban currently.  I was also left with a great sadness – but perhaps a little better understanding – of what the people of Afghanistan have been through over the last few decades.

If you are a fan of exotic travel and have a weakness for romance, pick up a copy of Overland and hunker down with it in front of a warm fire this winter.  Overland will give you the luxury of falling in love with a country half way around the world, from the comfort of your own home.

Mark Stephen Levy’s Overland was inspired by the author’s own traveling adventures and love story.  He met his wife, Elaine, originally from France, while on a camel safari in the Rajasthan Desert in India. His two year round the world journey took him throughout Eruope, India, Nepal, Tibet and beyond. Now married for twenty-three years, Levy and his wife have an eighteen year old daughter, Celine.

Overland is sold on Amazon, Barnes and Borders and countless other places on line, or order a copy in the Barnes or Borders stores.

As a mother of two I am consistently running here and there dropping off and picking up, arranging play dates, scheduling outings and to boot I signed up to the be the class mom this year.  One might wonder how the heck I keep track of every detail and not drop the ball. 

I am definitely not a woman of pretense I have no shame in soliciting help from anyone and everyone who will provide it.  Therefore, when the folks at BusyBodyBook.com approached me to write a review on their 2009 BusyBodyBook I vehemently agreed!

The book itself is quite funky.  It’s definite something that if seen by a fellow mom sitting on the front seat of your car it would stir up conversation.  The cover and backing are quite sturdy and definitely held up to being stepped on, thrown around the car and lost a couple of times.

My favorite part of the book is the tips on each page to help you get through your year a little easier….for instance “change the batteries in your smoke detector”….I always forget to change those silly things. 

Now for those of you blackberry or iTouch users you will think this way of keeping track of schedules, etc is a bit archaic.  However, I find it easy to use and keep track of and the best thing is I don’t have to charge it at the end of each day!  Another suggestion would be for those working moms who use your Blackberry for work, you could use the BusyBodyBook for personal  appointments and to-do’s.

I would recommend the 2010 BusyBodyBook (www.busybodybook.com) to anyone who loves to make to-do lists and keep track of their appointments.  It’s a funky alternative to having post it notes all over the house.

I recently tried a new set of Ready to Serve Soups by Dr. McDougall .  I wanted to give these soups a try seeing as I am a busy mom and Dr. McDougall claims to offer an easy to open, gluten free, BPA free packed and yummy lunch that the entire family will enjoy.

Therefore, I put Dr. McDougall’s soups to the test with my 5 year old daughter.  We first tried the Lentil flavour.  That variation didn’t sit well with my daughter, however, it did with me.  I thought it was quite yummy.  Then we sampled the chunky tomato (always a favorite with little ones) and indeed the soup made the test of a 5 year old.  She loved it.

I could just tell by looking at it that the packaging was eco-friendly which is great.  However, I did struggle to get the packaging open at first.  Once I played with it (without a can opener) and opened the the second package the process went very smoothly.  These packages would be great to take to work or on the go.

Overall I give this product a 8 /10.

Reviews on Strong Mommy reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly. This product was supplied to us by the company for review purposes. No compensation was accepted by me or GGS Media Corporation for this review.

Dr. McDougall’s is proud to introduce new Ready To Serve Soups in seven delicious flavors ~ Lentil, Vegetable, Black Bean, Chunky Tomato, Split Pea, Minestrone, and Roasted Pepper Tomato. They are all natural, filling low calorie meals with fabulous flavor and convenience. All flavors are vegan and not too salty. No can opener is needed.