Vegetable Spiral Slicer (Spiralizer) Review

Have you tried spiralizing  ?

It sounds like some new gym fad or something doesn't it?

Well, it's not a machine that a contortionist would use, but it just might help you see a little less of the gym. It turns (& twists!) your vegetables into pasta-like noodle shapes. No more carb-heavy dishes that add inches to your waistband with just one bite!

The first time I heard about spiralizing I knew I had to have one. I went out immediately and bought one. It was expensive. It was nearly $50! And it was the counter top version. I had no idea that these hand-held versions even existed. I wish I had known this little secret everyone was keeping from me. Yes, the large ones are nice and they come with a couple more ways to style your food. But they are very costly and big. I have to have a special place to store it in my cupboard along with all of its attachments. And for those of us with hardly any counter space to spare it makes it difficult to use.

Common Sense Goods sells a much smaller and cheaper version. It can actually fit in my utensil drawer! But it can still spiralize a sweet potato. And it is extremely durable. 

YaY for saving pennies!

It's a simple design which makes it ridiculously easy to use. I was so nervous to even pull it out of the box because I was intimidated by it. Turning vegetables into noodles with a simple gadget and just my hands? Ya, it nearly had me running for the hills. It couldn't be that easy...

But it really works!

You just twist and Wha-la Noodles!

But these aren't your average noodles. They are pure, raw, organic (if that's what you buy), vegetables. 

If you are trying to lose weight, eat low Glycemic Index foods, cut back on carbs, watch your points, go Paleo, get gluten-free, live Raw, taste the rainbow, or make your meals pretty then this will be your new best friend.

I decided to try it out, but first I had to find a recipe. Where did I go? Pinterest of course! I looked

and looked, but most recipes required lots of ingredients that I don't normally have on hand. I decided to try a recipe from The Roasted Root... but I made it my own to  fit my budget. You can mess with it as you see fit.

Spiralized Carrots with Peanut-Lime Ginger Sauce

Ingredients

7 medium/large carrots

1/3 cup cashews

2 tablespoons cilantro paste

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 tablespoon minced sushi ginger

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

4 tablespoons coconut milk

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice

Salt to taste

Method

Wash and peel carrots. Use your spiral slicer to make noodles out of all your carrots. There will be a couple inches of carrot after spiralizing that you can save for later. I did not use them in this recipe.

Place carrot noodles in a large serving bowl and set aside.

Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. I used a hand mixer.

Pour peanut-lime ginger sauce over carrot noodles and mix together.

Mix in most of the cashews. Garnish with the leftover cashews.

Serve with chopsticks for authenticity.

click this link for the Printable Version

Gather your ingredients

Wash and peel carrots.

Use your spiral slicer to make noodles out of all your carrots. There will be a couple inches of carrot after spiralizing that you can save for later. I made carrot sticks with the leftovers and ate them the next day.

Place carrot noodles in a large serving bowl and set aside.

Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. I used a hand mixer.

Pour peanut-lime ginger sauce over carrot noodles and mix together.

Mix in most of the cashews. Garnish with the leftover cashews.

Serve with chopsticks for authenticity.

Voila!

You're done. Now enjoy!

If you don't have a spiralizer and you want to get one then you should definitely consider getting the one I used to make this recipe. It is small and easy to use. Plus, if you're on a budget it's the cheaper version. 

The first 25 people to use my code on Amazon will only pay $5 for their spiralizer! 

Trust me, you can't beat that deal.

These are premium spiral slicers with dual width blades. They are made from durable ABS and high quality stainless steel. They are dishwasher safe and much easier to clean than their larger counterparts. Plus, Common Sense Goods provides you with a bonus cleaning brush just for your spiralizer.

And if you are worried about lack of inspiration they've got you covered there as well. With each purchase you get a bonus eBook called The Ultimate Veggie Noodle Recipe Collection. It has 24 full color pages of recipes (with pictures) to help get your mouth-watering.

And they back every one of their spiral slicers with their no nonsense, hassle-free, 100% money back guarantee. So, there's no risk if it doesn't work out for you.

Have fun Spiralizing!

This company has been great with me. They really do have outstanding customer service! I have loved working with them and know that they will take care of you as well. 

I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

EnvyDerm $300 Gift Card Giveaway

Alrighty, so I am going to be reviewing a

Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper

&

Volumizing Mascara!

from EnvyDerm

But before we get around to all of the fun stuff I have to let you in on an awesome opportunity!

They are doing a $300 gift card giveaway!

Check it out HERE!

Here are the dirty pretty deets:

Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper

• Up to 37% fuller plumped lips instantly with no pain, burning or sting

• 13 organic moisturizing oils and vitamins for softer, rejuvenated lips

• Peptides and Tripeptides to boost lip collagen for plumper, fuller lips

• Sheer to semi-sheer color

• Formulated without: Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Sulfates, Phthalates, GMO's, Triclosan, Mineral Oils

• Cruelty Free

• Made in USA

  
  
  

Volumizing Mascara

• Conditions and moisturizes lashes

• Infused with Moroccan Argan Oil, Vitamins and Minerals

• Intense color that dries instantly

• Will not fade, smudge, run or flake for all day wear

• Formulated without: Prostaglandin, Parabens, Synthetic fragrance, Sulfates, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMOS, Tricolosan, Mineral Oils, Animal products

  
  
  
  

Find the review up on the blog HERE

Rayburn Fishing Hat Light Clip

My family goes camping a lot. 

I grew up camping and have always loved it!

Camping used to be really easy though. Now, not so much. We have 2 little girls and that has changed everything. 

You are constantly having to look for things. You have to wake up and take care of things during all hours of the night. And most of the time you only have one hand to do anything with. That becomes a major problem if you're one free hand is being used by a flashlight. 

My husband was given a Browning hat clip light a couple of years ago and was so excited. He has used it every camping trip. 

Last year I was pregnant when we went camping. And I had to pee a LOT. I would wake up a few times during the night and need to run to the woods thanks to my compressed bladder. I would take the hat light clip, but still felt blind in the complete blackness of the mountains and would take the lantern for extra help. But trying to carry everything along with the lantern was difficult. 

It was even worse when I would try to take care of my daughter in the middle of the night two years ago. She was still using a bottle and trying to comfort her and find and fill the bottle while maneuvering with the flashlight was next to impossible. Not to mention trying to clean the bottle and burping afterwards. 

This year things are going to be much different! I will have this super bright LED Hat Light Clip which will give me full use of my hands and provide a ton more light. I am so excited about this I cannot even begin to tell you. But so is my husband. I have a feeling we will be fighting over it. lol

I even compared the brightness to my running headlamps. Guess who won? The hat clip of course!

And I think my favorite part about this gadget is that it only takes 3 AAA batteries. Most lights require those expensive circular batteries. This will be a lot easier and cheaper to fix when it runs out of juice.

And LED bulbs last much longer than your normal bulbs! 

LEDs are notable for being extremely long-lasting products. Many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. This is approximately 50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen, and 8-10 times longer than a typical CFL. Used 12 hours a day, a 50,000 bulb will last more than 11 years. Used 8 hours a day, it will last 17 years! 

 Source Found HERE

 And there are 11 of those bright lights on this hat clip.

The advantages of switching to LED are numerous. Here are just some of the benefits: LEDs use much less electricity than other bulbs, have extremely long rated lives, produce very little heat, do not emit UV or infrared, contain no mercury, are resistant to shock and vibration, and can operate effectively in extremely cold environments.

 Source Found HERE

Additionally, this light illuminates up to 5m of distance. That's almost 16.5 feet for us Americans that don't know how to convert from the metric system. Ahem, that would be me...  

So, if you're heading up to the mountains for a hike, camping trip, hunting session, fishing expedition, midnight run, bike ride at dusk, or trying to do a home repair project then this might be the tool just for you! Anything that might require you to use both of your hands and see with your eyes is the perfect opportunity to use this bad boy.

If you're curious as to what others have to say about it you can check out the reviews HERE.

And right now they are for sale for $15.99 on Amazon.

This hat clip fits very snug on the brim of all of our hats. The plastic is very durable and I don't foresee it falling off anytime soon. I am quite pleased with the Hat Clip Light. Rayburn Fishing has definitely produced a superior product. I know it's going to get a lot of use this summer and I cannot wait! YaY for warm weather!

"Falling" by Rachael Burgess Contest Form

Bestvisible Reflective Vest

Have you ever been almost struck by a vehicle while exercising outside. I have had way too many close calls to count. Most of mine occur because drivers aren't paying attention. But I know there are plenty due to lack of visibility on the athlete's part.

During high school one of my good friends was hit during the evening hours while riding his motorcycle home after a performance. Luckily, he survived. Not without a long stay in the hospital though. 

Three years ago my mother was struck by a motorist while riding her bike home from work. Thank goodness she was wearing a helmet because it cracked it in three places. She survived, but now has permanent damage in her left hand. It is so bad that it impairs her daily tasks, let alone everything else. 

One year ago my father-in-law was involved in a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle through a round-about. The man refused to stop even with his young son riding in the backseat. 

I have plenty of other examples and stories, but I think you get my point. Exercising outside can be a very dangerous business. Above all else, nighttime is the scariest time to be out there. Unfortunately, nighttime is when I tend to be outside exercising most often. I have two young girls and I have to wait until they are sleeping until I can get my workouts done most of the time. And the thought of not being around to see my girls grow up just because I didn't try to prevent an accident is a guilt I cannot live with. Or die with.

During the day a bright orange or yellow vest helps, but they offer no help at night. And they typically aren't this vibrant and bright. Most people I know don't even wear a vest at all during the day. The government has realized the benefits of wearing one and requires all cyclists and motorcyclists to wear a vest even when the sun is out while on the Base. I realized most of my warm running gear is dark-colored and makes me practically invisible at night. My bicycle is equipped with lights and reflective strips, but they are hardly noticeable.

In case you don't know what Ragnar is...  It's insane!

Two years ago I ran Ragnar twice. Once in the Wasatch Back and once down in Vegas. It was so much fun! I absolutely loved it! They require a headlamp and a vest between the hours of 6PM-6AM. And I figured out why... the hard way. I borrowed a rinky dink vest from someone that was way too big for me and I had borrowed a cheap-o headlamp.

While running down the highway in the desert at midnight and facing traffic I was literally ran off the road. I was running against traffic on a shoulder less than 4-feet wide with a semi-truck in the lane closest to me and was completely blinded by his brights. My foot slipped off the steep shoulder and rolled which caused me to do a front-flip onto the asphalt. My ankle, knees, hip, shoulder, elbows, hands, and head were all banged up. It nearly took me out of the race. Luckily, fear of coyotes and the adrenaline from the race got me through the next couple of miles. But I wish I had the vest and headlamp I have now back then. It taught me a great lesson.

When running at night it's vitally important to see and be seen.

Bestvisible's Reflective Vest is amazing! They have engineered it so that you can be seen. Its reflective stripes are 30% broader than most other vests and offers 360 degree visibility. That is amazing! There are tons of vests out there that attach a small line of reflective material and call it good. While it may qualify you to run Ragnar it will not give you the best visibility for drivers. 

At 25mph a driver needs 85 feet to stop. 

Are you bright enough for them to stop in time?

I performed a little experiment with my Bestvisible Reflective Vest and our truck...

"The best part about this vest is that it is adjustable and it actually fits me! The vests I borrowed during Ragnar were not adjustable. They were absolutely ginormous. I swear they were made to fit XXXL hefty men even though they claimed "One size fits most." I am sorry, but most of us are not 500 lbs. K, I may be exaggerating a little, but they really were annoying. They were so big they bounced and flapped and moved all around while we were trying to run. 

We even wore a running belt to hold on our race number and cinch the dang things down.

Don't jeopardize your most valuable possession - Your life.

Make sure you do everything you can to ensure your safety while out exercising. I know I don't like to be noticed when I'm out running and bouncing up and down the road, but a little attention is good for you in this case. Even if you plan on using the sidewalk you need to take precautions. Most motorists when backing out of their driveways are only looking for vehicles in the rearview, not pedestrians on the sidewalk. And at some point you are probably going to need to cross the road. Drivers look for vehicles when they're turning, not bodies. Please be safe out there! You don't want to miss my future posts! jkjk.

I have tried Bestvisible's Reflective Vest and I know it works. I trust this brand, but they do offer a "No questions asked, money back guarantee." If you want to try one out for yourself you can check them out on Amazon. They are on sale for $12.99 and you can use my coupon code BEST4OFF for an extra $4 off that! That makes it only $8.99.

And every purchase comes with these bonuses!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope to see you again soon!

"Falling" by Rachael Burgess

Have you ever felt like you were falling?

Falling head over heels. Falling in love. Falling into fate. Falling into the unknown.

Falling.

I have.

And this song fits perfectly how it felt for me years ago. Without even knowing it I was falling, and it was too late to do anything about it.

Rachael Burgess has a lovely voice. She sings beautifully emotional songs about experiences or feelings that I can relate to.

I can actually hear the passion for her music in her voice.

Rachael Burgess is an independent singer/songwriter. She grew up in Canada and has been singing as long as she can remember. She hopes to continue singing and sharing her music. She is trying to accomplish her lifelong dream of bringing joy and happiness to others through the power of music. She is also a wife and a mother to a beautiful one-year-old girl.

I love hearing stories about other moms pursuing their dreams and fulfilling their passions. 

I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to share another mom's gift with you.

I hope you take this chance to look her up and take a listen. 

I think it's important to support each other and especially those just starting out. 

If you would like to listen to her new single "Falling" you can find it HERE along with her other songs.

You can also check out her music videos on Youtube HERE. Please subscribe.

You can also follow her on Facebook

Instagram

Or Twitter.

Or if you absolutely love her music you can purchase "Falling" on Itunes. 

I am also giving away a free download to FIVE winners!

The rules are simple:

Enter HERE!

Good Luck & Enjoy!

Winners will be chosen randomly. Must be at least 18 years of age to redeem. No cash va/lue. Cannot substitute. Contest open 4/8/2015 - 4/30/2015. Void where prohibited.

Butterfinger Protein Shake

Have you ever had a craving for something sweet while trying to get in shape?

Ya, me too!

Well, I had a chocolate protein powder that I needed to use, but I wanted to eat candy instead. So what did I do? I turned the protein powder into a candy bar!

K, so not really. But it was a nice substitute. I made a pseudo Butterfinger Protein Shake. And I am going to share the recipe with you now. 

Gather all of your ingredients

Throw them in the blender

I recommend liquids on bottom near the blades

Blend until smooth

drink and enjoy!

Butterfinger Protein Shake Recipe

1 cup almond milk

1 cup water

1 cup ice

1 packet Summit Nutritions' Pure Whey Protein Isolate - chocolate flavored (or 1 scoop any chocolate protein powder of your choosing)

2 tBsp Jell-O Butterscotch flavored Instant Pudding Mix - dry

1 tBsp Adam's Peanut Butter (or whatever PB you like)

Just throw all of the ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth and creamy. WhaLa! You're done. Now enjoy your candy bar in a cup!

Pretty easy huh?!

I recommend NOT using Sugar-Free instant pudding mix. I know most people think that cutting calories is what fitness is all about. But that's not the way to do it. You are going to shoot yourself in the foot if you do it that way (figuratively speaking of course). But we'll delve into that another day. Just don't do anything sugar-free or fat-free. You'll regret it!

I also recommend using an all natural peanut butter. Just because the label claims that it is all natural does not actually mean that it is! Make sure you read the ingredient list. The only items listed should peanuts and salt. Or just peanuts if you want the low-sodium version. There should not be any oils listed!

I received inspiration for this recipe on Pinterest of course! But I switched it up a bit to my liking. Go ahead and play with it until it suits your taste buds. Just fyi - different types of protein powders, milk, and peanut butters will change the taste. So if it doesn't taste right the first time just mess with it until it dazzles you! If you want to see the original recipe post you can find it here.