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Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home Review and Giveaway

July 24, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I was provided with a free Comfort Mat to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.

My aching back! And legs and feet! Yikes.

I have suffered from a bad back for years, and standing for long periods of time usually makes it worse. I have often come down in the morning and stood over the kitchen stove while holding my back for the intense pain. I have to prepare breakfast, but cooking at the stove leaves my legs and back feeling strained and sore. I have coveted kitchen mats for a very long time.

Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame has a beautiful line of kitchen mats called the Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home. They are just beautiful mats designed by Fabio Viviani to be reminiscent of his home; Italy. I loved the Mercato design with the fork, spoon and knife motif. To me it is perfect for the kitchen, and it comes in two colors, caramel and mocha. I personally adore the mocha, it is so dark and rich looking, but the caramel was a more perfect choice for our kitchen colors. The other mat, which also comes in caramel and mocha, has a more stylized pattern which would make it ideal for not only the kitchen but other areas of the home and office. I could imagine it being used in a work shop or studio.

Both styles are made of the same polyurethane composite. These are highly durable mats that will not breakdown and do not roll up. My husband and I have been using the mat for a little over a week and we are extremely pleased with how our legs, feet and back feel while cooking. We can’t get over just how much cushion they provide over our hardwood floors. The mat feels wonderful when I’m in my bare feet. The texture is smooth and it holds a comfortable temperature. I actually would love to get a second mat for under the kitchen sink.

Win Your Own Fabio Viviani Comfort Mat by Smart Step Home:

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Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips Review

June 18, 2013 By Maryann

This is NOT a sponsored post, I bought the Sally Hansen Salon Effects myself.
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips-1

For some reason I decided I wanted to start painting my nails again. Many of my friends have been doing really cool things with their nails, but I wasn’t that interested in working so hard to achieve a cool effect. As I was walking through Target and Wegmans I decided to check out the nail polish aisle and I found these Sally Hanson Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. They come in some exciting designs and were fairly inexpensive so I decided to try them out.

To be honest the fist box I tried didn’t seem to work so well. I don’t know if I was using them incorrectly or if the box was old and they were defective. But I decided to look for a tutorial on You Tube and sure enough found one. It showed exactly how to use them and the next box I tried was simple. I felt that maybe, as a 43 year old woman, having a full set of Whoopsy Daisy nails might be a bit much, so I opted to use the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips on one finger per hand. I then painted my other nails a complimentary color. I like that look and have done it several times since the first try.

I have also gotten Heart Breaker, Love Letter (the one I had trouble with), and Tattoo Much. They have lasted really well and come off easily with regular nail polish remover.

I found the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips to be easy to use, they provide a cute look, are easy to remove and last. I will certainly use them again.

Tutorial

Start with clean, dry nails.
Shape your nails with the enclosed nail file.
Select the correct size of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.
Remove the clean protective cover from the front of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.
Remove the back white cover from the strips revealing the slightly sticky back.
Place the sticky back on the nail and press down.
Trim around nail bed, with the orange stick if necessary.
Fold end of strip over end of nail.
Using the nail file, gently remove excess strip.
Cover with clear nail polish if desired.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips-1-3

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips-1-5

Doc McStuffins Time for Your Checkup DVD Review

June 1, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

I like Doc McStuffins. I think it is a super cute show for kids, but the real measure is if the boys will watch it. As soon as my 5 (almost 6) year old saw it he wanted to put it in the DVD player. I thought that was a good sign. Our youngest, Lorenzo, wanted to watch too. But the most telling of all was that it eventually even drew Matthew in. He preferred to read for a while but eventually he flopped down on the floor and watched for a while.

If you have never seen Doc McStuffins the story revolves around Doc, a young girl that doctors her stuffed animals and toys that come alive when she is alone and wearing her magical stethoscope. Usually there is an overarching “human” story line that echos the one played out by the toys. Doc and her friends cover things like eating properly, getting enough sleep and annual checkups. Usually Doc, whose Mother is also a doctor, runs the toy through a typical check up to see if she can figure out what is wrong with the toy. In the end Doc and the toys usually learn a valuable lesson.

Obviously this is a great series for putting a young girl in the role of doctor. I know my boys don’t think twice about seeing her in that role, and I think that is spectacular. It is a Disney Junior show that we have been watching on TV for some time and have all enjoyed. I fell Disney has hit a home run with this series and I thoroughly enjoy watching it with the kids.

Episodes:

1 – Gulpy, Gulpy Gators! / One Note Wonder

2 – Tea Party Tantrum / Blast Off!

3 – Arcade Escapade / Starry, Starry Night

4 – Bronto Boo-Boos / Brontosaurus Breath

5 – Doctoring The Doc / Hot Pursuit

Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada

Salba Chia How Do You Chia? Giveaway

May 21, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I received these products and/or compensation as a Salba Ambassador.

I am lucky enough to be a Salba Chia Ambassador! That means I get to tell you all about Salba and Chia Seeds. Salba is kind enough to do a giveaway with Matthew’s Puzzle readers. To enter all you need to do is leave me a comment answering the question How Do You Chia?

Now I personally love to add chia seeds to our muffins. They are easy to use and are very nutritious. My husband loves to add them to our morning smoothies, and I’ve even seen some people make chia pudding using them. Chia seeds absorb a ton of liquid and get a little gelatinous which makes them perfect for making nutritious puddings. Here are a few more facts about Salba Chia Seeds:

Boosts Nutrition: Salba chia is the richest whole food source of Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) and fiber found in nature on a gram for gram basis. Every 15g serving of Salba provides over 3,400 mg of Omega-3s (ALA) – 800% more Omega-3 (ALA) than salmon (EPA/DHA). Salba has less than 1 g net carbohydrate per serving.
Curbs Appetite: Each serving contains 5.1g of dietary fiber to support healthy digestion and increase satiety, which can help to ward of cravings and sugar crashes. Salba Chia seeds absorb many times their weight in water, which helps to slow digestion and leave you feeling fuller for longer.
Easy to use: Salba Chia can be used whole or ground to boost phytonutrient-rich shakes and smoothies, or sprinkled into everyday foods like cereal, yoghurt, salads and baked goods. Salba chia is also a quick fix for kid’s diets, helping to add hidden nutrition to favorite foods.
Find Salba at Whole Foods Market and other natural foods stores, or order online at www.amazon.com and www.salbasmart.com. Individual servings of Salba® Chia Premium Ground and Whole Seed (SRP $0.99), fit easily into a purse, wallet, sports bag or backpack for breakfast on the go.