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WORLD FOODS – Products Worth Reviewing

Some days I’m really at a lost as to what to cook for dinner. With me being a vegetarian, it’s much easier for me to whip up a delicious salad or stir-fry than it is to plan a great meal for my husband and son who are not vegetarians. So at times I rely on pre-made sauces and marinades. Nothing wrong with some help now and then right? Especially when you do a majority of the cooking and you have to come up with something that everyone will like to eat.

So when I was offered to review WorldFoods (http://www.worldfoods.com.my/wf/index.php) as a Moms Meet Ambassador I was excited to try this new Asian fusion food company. I’m not much on heavy sauces as I used to think they overpower the actual dish, but I was willing to give WorldFoods Asian sauces a try. Ranging from Thai to China to India, WorldFoods sauces and marinades contain all of the essential ingredients you’d find in traditional Asian and Pan Asian cooking.
Ingredients such as Chili peppers, Garlic, Ginger, Cumin, Turmeric, and Cinnamon make up a unique and delicious blend of sauces that make your mouth water and your taste buds thanking you later. If I had to make these sauces from scratch I’d probably wouldn’t do a professional job with them and that’s why companies such as WorldFoods take out the guessing game for us.

WorldFoods is an internationally known company originated in 1998 and made up of professionals in the food industry. With their extensive line of Asian fusion sauces and marinades, you could probably try all of their products and never finish with the expanse of dishes you could come up with. WorldFoods has 51 types of Asian dipping sauces, pastes, noodle sauces, stir-fry, cooking sauces, marinades, chutneys and salad dressings available worldwide. I was very fortunate to have tried their most popular ones: Thai Yellow Curry, Thai Coconut Galangal, Fried Rice Nasi Goreng, and Thai Green Curry Paste. My first experiment was with the Fried Rice Nasi Goreng having tried that dish a long time ago at a restaurant. The recipe called for chicken and shrimp however so instead I included sweet onions, eggs, and diced green onions to make it a vegetarian dish. The fried rice was spicy enough for a unique flavor and it wasn’t overpowering or too pungent. Next time I may add shrimp to it for my family and see how they like it.

I then tried the Thai Green Curry Paste as I love curry and can find so many uses for its intricate blend. Curry is really a fusion of spices and the Thai Green Curry Paste wasn’t too spicy but just enough to give it a good bite. It was easy to pour it over rice and mixed with some vegetables and protein and you’ve got an authentic Thai dish. One of the reasons I like WorldFoods is that there are so many varieties to choose from. Asian cooking can be difficult and time consuming, but it’s because of the complicated blend of flavors that make them so popular and delicious.

WorldFoods uses only natural ingredients and ingredients authentic to it’s nation. There are no artificial ingredients or preservatives. And you’ll find some well-know ingredients such as ginger and garlic and others like galangal that make up a delicious and nutritional meal. So if you love Asian food and cooking, then you might enjoy WorldFoods. With so many varieties and flavors to choose from, you’ll find something to use that can simplify your meals or become a unique treat for your family and taste buds. WorldFoods can be found at most natural grocery stores as well as certain major supermarkets. For store locations, please click here: http://www.worldfoods.com.my/wf/where_to_buy/index.php.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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August 25, 2014

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Storm Siren – A BookLook Book Review

There is just something magical about picking up a hardbound book, flipping the pages and touching their gritty texture and feeling the weight of words transfer into vivid imagery inside your head. Books transcend time and place and when you pick up a really good book, you become involved in the author’s world and in essence, the hero or heroine’s world as well. As a BookLook blogger, I was given a great opportunity to review an advanced reader’s copy of Storm Siren written by Mary Weber. As an avid fan of fantasy and science fiction literature, the moment I saw the cover to Storm Siren it instantly drew my interest. I may have mentioned before but covers on a book can really make or break a deal. It is the first step in engaging a reader and a possible fan. But all those pretty images are just images until you dive into the book and decide for yourself whether the book truly belongs on your bookshelf, or in your Kindle library, or…you get the idea.

Giddy with excitement at receiving my hardbound Storm Siren, I told my family to leave me alone for a few hours while I enjoyed this fascinating book. From the synopsis alone, I had a feeling that I would be drawn into this new world and become immersed into the drama of intrigue, suspense, and the paranormal. And I was right. The first sentence of the book captivated me and I couldn’t put it down from then on. Storm Siren is a book about triumph, hardships, and discovery. But through all the intricate weaving of storytelling, there is a tender love story between all the fighting, misconceptions, and drama.

I really liked the heroine, Nym and the story is told in the first person so it was easy to follow along. Nym was brave, tempestuous, yet held an abundance of control and dignity throughout the book. She was young and passionate and didn’t always make the right choices but through the heart of it all, she believed in doing the right things. Then there was Eogan, the warrior charged to train Nym to fight for the kingdom in which she is also a slave. I liked that Eogan burned for her just as she burned for him and the dialogue between those two was so much fun to read! It was like watching first love being discovered and blossomed. And then the ending, the abrupt ending which had me going, “oh no! What happened to Eogan?” But fear not, the author’s second installment of Storm Siren will continue next June 2015. I hope I will get a chance to review that book as well.

I’d say this book is best for ages 16 and above. Although there isn’t anything too explicit in the book, the writing style is a bit mature and definitely not situated in a teenage world although the characters in the book seem quite young. But it was an easy read for me as the author transitioned smoothly and had very little grammatical errors. And the author’s usage of Faelon’s language was quite ingenious. It reminded me of Lord of the Rings where they had their own languages. Mary Weber is definitely a very good storyteller and her writing draws you in the moment you read her words. I like discovering new authors and will keep an eye on this one. If you’re interested in paranormal abilities set in a world of fantasy and war, you’ll definitely enjoy reading Storm Siren by Mary Weber. Storm Siren is set to be released on August 19, 2014.

Thomas Nelson Book’s summary of Storm Siren:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth—meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

Editor’s Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions made on this book are entirely my own and has not been influenced in any way. I have not received monetary compensation for reviewing this book other than receiving a copy of it. I may reveal spoilers from time to time but I will always preface it so you can skip that part or read them for the sheer fun of it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

August 16, 2014August 16, 2014

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The Perfect World

While I was pregnant I told myself that I would be the perfect mom: teaching my son how to become a good man, baking and bringing all the goodies for his school’s fundraisers, and essentially all the things that moms should instinctively know what to do. Well, when my son was born and I held his tiny, adorable body in my arms, all of my previous conventions flew out the hospital window with one big bubbly burp.

As I peered into his big, dark eyes and watched him furrow his eyebrows with worry, I thought to myself – hey little one, don’t be so troubled. I am the one who needs to worry about you growing up. But my son was always a worrier and a studier. He studied everyone and everything around him. He studied why leaves moved with the wind. He studied why some cars had four wheels and some had six wheels. He studied with that constant crease in between his eyes and people often wondered why he had that expression. I told them it was because he was a worrier. And then people would look at me funny wondering how I could raise my child to be so anxious all of the time. Well, my son wasn’t neurotic he was simply intune to all the things around him – something that I wished adults would be more conscious of.

As he grew older however, his brows furrowed less and he was more open and free. He is such a happy and funny kid, never letting things bother him too much for too long. I wondered to myself what happened to my little worrier and then I realized that hey, it’s probably better this way. It would’ve been much more difficult to get him out of that mindset than to teach him to be more carefree.

Being a first time mom is never easy. Heck, being a mom isn’t easy. But I suppose through experience and trials and error, we all learn through pitfalls and triumphs that parenting is a dirty job and yet a beautiful enigma. There may be hundreds of books on parenting and even thousands more advice from family and friends. But in the end, we as the parent should learn from our own mistakes and essentially from what our own children teaches us. We don’t live in a perfect world and although I wondered if I could have kept my newborn safe enclosed in an adamantium-made box while I carted him around everywhere I went, I realized through baby steps that it’s okay to let him breathe a little outside of his comfort zone and in essence allow myself to take a new breath as well.

As a writer and advocate of healthier living for children, I learned from an early age to live healthier and to do all that was possible to provide a safer world for my son. As years went on, my own downfalls forced me to deviate away from my early life lessons, but then I woke up from those self-deprecating paths and went back to advocating for my own health. I strived to be a better mom by teaching my son about eating healthy, buying healthier products, and giving back to Earth what she has given us. It may not always be easy to teach those basic life lessons to him, but even now as we grocery shop, he reminds me to buy organically.

Now that my son is no longer that fragile little newborn, I can see things clearer through his eyes. He may not understand what GMO means or why fossil fuels released into the atmosphere is driving our planet into global warming. But through incessant teaching on my part and showing him that helping our own bodies also helps our planet, he is becoming quite the little advocate himself. He recycles, he reminds me to bring my reusable bags, and he turns off lights when he leaves the room. I truly could not be more proud.

The perfect world may exist one day, perhaps far into the future. But for right now, I am growing as a parent along with my growing son. Together we have triumphed and fallen, gave up on little fights, and learned to pick our battles. But in the essence of it all, my son is perfect in his own way, with or without those furrowed brows. Now, as I glance at my reflection in the mirror I too see the creased lines in my forehead from years of constant worrying. But that’s okay – because it’s my job to worry about my son, not the other way around.

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August 13, 2014August 13, 2014

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ginnybakes – Products Worth Reviewing

When I was going on a gluten-free or “gluten-less” program, I needed to know why it was important to reduce the intake of gluten type foods. On a personal level, eating less foods made with gluten made me feel lighter and I wasn’t prone to being so tired most of the time. I can just imagine how it would affect those who are completely gluten intolerant as it can be a very uncomfortable feeling. So when I was offered to try ginnybakes (www.ginnybakes.com) and review on my blog, I was very curious to how their gluten-free baked goods would taste.

I was sent their entire line of baked goods which ranged from chocolate chip cookies to their gluten-free baking mixes. I was quite surprised that ginnybakes had such an extensive lineup of products made with high quality ingredients and entirely without any traditional wheat flour. As a big fan of baked sweets, their cookies were actually quite delicious. My son’s favorite was their Butter Crisp cookies which I have to admit I liked as well even for a major chocolate lover as me. The Butter Crisp Love cookies as they are called were rich in buttery flavor, had a delicate crunch to them, and small enough in size where you could indulge in a few pieces. They are made with organic brown rice flour as the main ingredient and if we hadn’t known they were gluten-free cookies, we would not have tasted the difference. Their Chocolate Chip Love cookies were full of yummy organic dark chocolate chips and also had a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth crunch and it really was a toss-up as to which flavor was the best. But we tried them all just to give them a fair representation.

Ginnybakes baked goods are all made with organic ingredients, are gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher. They believe that high quality and great tasting food should come together as one. As a family owned and operated company, Ginny Simon, the owner and founder of ginnybakes, wanted to bring delicious and all-natural baked sweets to those who live on a gluten-free lifestyle of just want something different than the traditional cookies you’d find in supermarkets. Their complete line of gourmet baked sweets are carefully formulated and tested for taste and can be found at most natural grocery stores and major supermarkets.

As a Moms Meet Ambassador I was very happy to have received ginnybakes to try and review. It has been hard trying to find really great tasting gluten-free products that doesn’t compromise taste and integrity. Most of the other gluten-free products were either really bland or dry in texture. With ginnybakes, their cookies were moist and crunchy and their ginnybars were moist and not too sweet and full of nuts and seeds. I’m not accustomed to having a lot of nuts in my snack bars but in the ginnybars they were blended into tiny pieces so you don’t get a mouthful of nuts and seeds. I have yet to try their baking mixes but I’m pretty sure they will turn out just as unique as their ready made baked goods. Judging by the gorgeous packaging alone they conjure up delicate homemade cookies ready to be enjoyed with a tall glass of frosty milk or a hot cup of green tea. And indeed the photos of the products actually represent how they look inside.

So for those who are on a gluten-free lifestyle or want to try something different, give ginnybakes a try. There are a great assortment of organic baked goods including Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bliss, Chocolate Chip Love, Butter Crisp Love, Coconut Oatmeal Bliss, ginnybakes Crumbles, ginnybars, ginnybakes mixes, and a few other delicious varieties.

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August 6, 2014

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Aveda – Products Worth Reviewing

Those of you who appreciate a really good beauty product company probably already have a few of their items in your house. Aveda (www.aveda.com), a company dedicated to providing naturally sourced and healthy ingredients designed to provide the benefits you need, is one of the rarest companies out there that have products actually proven to work.

As an Aveda Insider, I was given the wonderful opportunity to try their Color Conserve line – a unique hair color protecting system that is designed to prevent color fading. For those who color their hair, whether it’s to cover grey or it’s to try out a new color, you’ll know how frustrating it can be when your color starts to fade quicker than it should. Certain factors can shorten the duration of your color such as being out in the sun a lot, using too much shampoo and not using the right kind of shampoo, and the quality of your hair dye. With Aveda’s Color Conserve line, there are four products you could use to protect and preserve your hair color: Color Conserve Shampoo, Color Conserve Conditioner, Color Conserve Daily Color Protect, and Color Conserve Strengthening Treatment. I really like using the Strengthening treatment as my hair is fairly long and having to brush it often, I feel as if my hair falls out more than it should. Although my hair is already pretty strong, the strengthening formula has prevented less breakage and definitely made my hair smoother and shinier. I know it sounds strange, but I take hair care very seriously mainly because I wear it long so it should always look smooth and shiny. I saw results to stronger hair in about 1 week and that’s using their entire Color Conserve line.

Aveda makes not only hair care, but skin care for women and men, body care, perfume, and makeup. Their belief is that natural beauty care should come from pure flowers and plants using nature as the foundation to healthier hair and skin. They have been in the natural beauty care business for almost 40 years and their products can be found in their salons and spas, as well as their own brick and mortar stores throughout the US. I love the fact that when you enter one of their stores, you are instantly greeted with a cup of their healing tea and an expert Aveda specialist ready to help you with whatever you need. I am almost always instantly transformed from a hectic mom and business woman to a calm and relaxed mom and business woman. The fragrances that greet you when you go into their salons and stores are so pleasant and inviting you probably don’t want to leave. And when you are in their stores, try out their products, get a massage, and sip some tea; the environment of their stores and salons are really calming.

Aveda’s beliefs are to provide their consumers with healthier products as well as maintaining the integrity of the planet. They use recycled packaging, responsible sourcing of ingredients, and focus on educating the public on preserving the beauty of our planet. Each of their products contain up to 90% of naturally derived ingredients, made mostly from essential oils of plants and flowers, and none of their products are manufactured with parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfate. You wouldn’t want those toxic ingredients in your body, so why would you want them on your skin?

I’ve been using Aveda skincare and hair products for many years now and I have definitely seen positive results after using their products. All of their products are targeted for a specific need whether it’s preventing color fading, reducing stress, smoothing out wrinkles, prevent shave burns, or thickening thin hair, there are many varieties in their products to suit most everyone’s needs. If you’re interested in trying out Aveda for yourself, visit their website for more info on their products and the services they offer.

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August 4, 2014August 5, 2014

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Prelude for a Lord – A BookLook Book Review

My love for reading started at a fairly young age, most likely around the time I first learned how to read. I read everything from books to magazines to newspapers to comic books. There really was no limit to what I would read nor did I set a standard on what to read. As I’m trying to teach my son the joys and benefits of reading, I too have picked up several books to read at once. Although it’s probably not a very sensible practice as intertwining stories can happen, I’ve decided to dedicate my sole reading time to Prelude for a Lord as a book blogger for the BookLook Bloggers program.

One of my favorite genres is historical romance. I love learning about anything from a different era especially during the Regency period where everything seemed so elegant and extravagant. What a life it must have been to wear lavish gowns and attend glorious social events. Thus, when I chose Prelude for a Lord, I expected just that. Allow me to start off with saying that this book has a beautiful and elegant cover which was what drew my attention in the first place. I think a cover really draws the initial attraction and helps establish the essence of the actual story.

Aside from the charming cover, Prelude for a Lord, written by Camille Elliot is a tale of love, compassion, and triumph. I felt sad for the Heroine, Alethea at times because of the situations she was put in but she felt like a true hero, a bit naive even at 28 years old, and sometimes self-deprecating.

Although it read a bit differently than the other Regency romance books I’ve read in the past, the story still felt like you were thrust into the lavish and sometimes cruel world of Regency, England. The writing was engaging but felt a bit modern at times and I don’t know if that was the style of the author or not, but overall for those who have never read a Regency-period novel, you’ll still find the story delightful. There were many characters in the book so a lot of names to keep track of, but usually in these Regency romance books you’ll find many supporting characters – and some are great while others need not be in there.

I did like the Hero, Lord Bay Dommick as he was quite misunderstood and had a bit of an edge to him. He is a professional violinist and daunted by love. Although he wasn’t as romantic as I had hoped he would be, he was still sweet to Alethea at times. Reading their interactions together is like stepping back in time into their world.

Overall I did enjoy the story and although there was supposed to be bit of a mystery going on, it would have been nice if the author delved more into the workings of a violin and gave more explicit details about the instrument. I don’t know a lot about violins and whenever I read a story that focuses on a specific topic, it would help to have more detailed descriptions of it.

Prelude for a Lord is a gentle read and great for virgin Regency romance novels. Although it’s listed as a Christian romance, there weren’t really anything in the book to sway you otherwise. There were a few mentions of the Bible but not enough where those who are opposed to any kind of religion might find it offensive. Perhaps because it is also a “clean” book without a lot of explicit details on the romance, it is a good book for those who don’t want to read erotica or anything trashy.

Zondervan’s summary of the book, Prelude for a Lord:

An awkward young woman. A haunted young man. A forbidden instrument. Can the love of music bring them together . . . or will it tear them apart? Bath, England—1810 At twenty-eight, Alethea Sutherton is past her prime for courtship; but social mores have never been her forté. She might be a lady, but she is first and foremost a musician. In Regency England, however, the violin is considered an inappropriate instrument for a lady. Ostracized by society for her passion, Alethea practices in secret and waits for her chance to flee to the Continent, where she can play without scandal. But when a thief’s interest in her violin endangers her and her family, Alethea is determined to discover the enigmatic origins of her instrument . . . with the help of the dark, brooding Lord Dommick. Scarred by war, Dommick finds solace only in playing his violin. He is persuaded to help Alethea, and discovers an entirely new yearning in his soul. Alethea finds her reluctant heart drawn to Dommick in the sweetest of duets . . . just as the thief’s desperation builds to a tragic crescendo . . .

I may reveal spoilers from time to time but I will always preface it so you can skip that part or read them for the sheer fun of it.