Tag Archives: review

Green Toys Rescue Boat & Helicopter Review and Giveaway

09/08/2016 R.C. Liley 6 Comments

What comes to mind when you hear a name like Green Toys? When I first heard of the company, I figured the typical eco-friendly manufacturer that only uses a percentage of recycled material to create products. Well, I was wrong…..

About Us
At its core, Green Toys Inc. has always been an eco-friendly toy company. In fact, we say that to us, “every day is Earth Day.” Our commitment to sustainability and playfulness is part of our DNA and we hope to inspire others to share in this passion.

From our 100% recycled materials to our US-based manufacturing, we’re raising awareness about sustainability while delivering unquestionably safe products. We believe that the best way to encourage environmental change is through goods people buy and use every day—and in our case that’s children’s products.

We care about your kids – how they play, what they play with, and what the future holds. We are constantly exploring and innovating to deliver the best products possible for a playful planet for all.

I love the philosophy that every day is Earth Day, just as it should be. Since I’ve realized just how passionate Green Toys is about their products and who uses them (our kids), we slowly started collecting a few for Avery. With her current love of all things construction, their construction trucks were an obvious choice. Her first pick was the Cement Mixer (his name is Dizzy), who she only got after being on her best behavior.

green toys, cement mixer, recycled toys, eco-friendly

Cement Mixer was a hit, and it wasn’t long before we added Dumper to her Green fleet. Then I reached out to Green Toys about working together in exchange for another one of their products. Not only did they happily agree to send Avery their Scooper (the last one needed complete her Green Toys construction truck set), but also their new Rescue Boat and Helicopter.

green toys, giveaway, rescue boat, helicopter, eco-friendly

Perfect for play on land or in the water, this set offers plenty of imaginative play time. It’s offers a two-in-one combo with a big yellow helicopter that fits perfectly on the back of a red a light gray rescue boat that floats on water. To operate the machines, Captain Duck and Pilot Bear are included.

Many toys claiming they are great for the water always end up with water stuck inside that never comes out, but not this Rescue Boat & Helicopter. Green Toys designed the boat to open for easy draining and it’s even dishwasher safe. No wonder it won Dr. Toy’s Best Green Toys Award for 2016.

green toys, eco-friendly, made in usa, kids, playing

Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates, or PVC, I feel confident in giving my daughter a toy that’s safe and Earth friendly. Even the packaging is made with recycled materials using soy ink for printing.

Avery loved seeing the new boat and helicopter in the box and she started playing with the set right away. She enjoys the helicopter more than the boat right now. But both the Rescue Boat and Helicopter use her trampoline as a giant landing pad shared by her other Green Toys friends. They all get along well together, probably because Avery formally introduced everyone to each other.

But the helicopter enjoys flying solo every now and then.

Avery plays with her Green Toys more than anything else right now, and I must admit, I enjoy playing with them too. They are simple without too many moving parts that can break or get lost, and best of all, super fun, safe, and open to using imagination. That said, I don’t enjoy them to the point of hugging…

How would you like to get your kids’ arms around a Green Toys Rescue Boat & Helicopter of their own? Thanks to Green Toys, they have allowed me to giveaway one set to one of my readers. All you have to do is follow the instructions below to enter. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And maybe, if Avery doesn’t behave, I’ll add in one of her construction trucks to sweeten the deal.

Okay, okay, just kidding, I’d never get rid of these toys.

Phew, you're silly, Daddy. — Phew, you’re silly, Daddy.

Green Toys provided their Scooper and Rescue Boat & Helicopter free of charge in exchange for this post. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are 100% my own.

Going Healthy, Going Reviews

High Antioxidant Carrot Bean Dip with Mary’s Gone Crackers

09/01/2016 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Mary’s Gone Crackers recently sent me a package with four of their Super Seed Cracker varieties to try. They provided them free of charge and only asked for a delicious recipe in return. Make a healthy recipe and get awesome organic and nutritious crackers? Win-Win!

Mary's Gone Crackers, bean dip, healthy recipe, football

I’ve been enjoying their Original Crackers for a few years already, but the different flavors were a nice change. My favorite way to enjoy is by pairing them with baby carrots for a super crunchy snack with a little sweetness from the carrots balancing the light saltiness. And of course dipping in cottage cheese, plain Greek yogurt, crunched on salad, and bean dips are all spectacular uses. On our recent 9 Year Anniversary trip to Travaasa Austin, Going Mom and I both snacked on the crackers in delight.

mary's gone crackers, avocado, travaasa, food, healthy fat — Anchovies + avocado + Mary’s Gong Crackers = Delicious!

I have an affinity for dips, so it didn’t take long to decide on creating the perfect dip for these lovely crackers. Taking my love of pairing carrots with Mary’s Gone Crackers, I knew just what to do. With steamed carrots, beans, and several health-boosting herbs and spices, the dip was done in under 10 minutes.

Mary's Gone Crackers, bean dip, healthy recipe, football

The flavor was just like a good bean dip with a little sweetness added from cooked carrots. Turmeric adds some earthiness and a host of health-promoting benefits. One of them being that it helps to retain beta carotene from the carrots.

Mary's Gone Crackers, bean dip, healthy recipe, football

Mary’s Gone Crackers are one of the few foods I feel good about eating even though they are packaged. No added oils (even helthy ones usually get damaged from high heat processing), lots of delicious nuts and seeds, and all organic make them a great choice for anyone. And if you love crunchy, then these are the crackers for you! Seriously, just crumble them on a salad or over eggs, they are wonderful.

I’ll stop going on and let you try for yourself. Once you grab a box (or five), make this High Antioxidant Carrot Bean Dip to share or keep all to yourself.

High Antioxidant Carrot Turmeric Bean Dip

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients

1 15oz can of pinto, black, or garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup steamed carrots; Use pumpkin puree if you don’t have or don’t want to use carrots
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp dried parsley (dill or basil would be good too)
1/4 tsp cayenne powder
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Let me keep this simple…

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth; scrape down the sides once or twice to get everything.

Enjoy your new dip!

Have you tried Mary’s Gone Crackers before?
Ready for football season to start or could you care less?

Mary’s Gone Crackers provided their products free of charge in exchange for this recipe posting. All opinions are strictly my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Going Reviews, Soft Star Shoes

Soft Star Child Merry Jane: Classic Shoes They Can Use

08/01/2016 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Mary Janes are classic shoes that originated in the early 1900’s from a character of the same name in a popular comic strip Buster Brown. Buster, and his little sister, Mary Jane, both wore the same shoe that became know as the Mary Jane with the help of an obviously successful ad campaign.

Typically made of leather with a strap that goes over the foot and is secured by a buckle, Mary Janes are often considered a formal/semi-formal shoe. In kid terms, this means uncomfortable and not meant for the playground. Determined to turn this classic style into a shoe that’s fun for kids and parents will adore, the elves at Soft Star Shoes created a more comfortable, versatile design of the Mary Janes.

Soft Star sent Avery a pair of their Child Merry Janes giving her the mission to test them out before their release on August 16th. As a seasoned Soft Star fanatic, she readily and happily accepted.

It’s always important to know what kind of tread you’re dealing with, and the Vibram rubber sole checked out for us.

Durability is essential for an active kid, as well as flexibility. Two qualities the Soft Star Merry Jane, like all of their shoes, has.

With a little help from Dad to get them on, I snuck a quick pic of her new test subjects before she could jump up in constant state of motion. You know, a toddler.

Avery kept seated long enough for a side shot of her new kicks.

Then it was time to begin the mission of putting the Merry Janes to the toddler test. After a little begging and playground persuasion, she agreed to 10 seconds of standing still for me to take a picture.

You’d think I would get better at taking her picture by now, but I completely cut off the top half of her body! No worries, the flexible elastic band connecting the buckle to the shoe and grippy Vibram rubber sole made for an easy transition from standing to squatting!

The Merry Janes passed the squat test, an extremely important test, without a hitch. They’re also perfect for practicing much needed balancing skills.

Next, we took them outside for a ~~spin~~ walk/run around the neighborhood to break them in. Alternating from a slow walk to a fast run, Avery had no issues with the shoes slipping off or weighing her down. She had zero complaints on our walk and said she loved her new “Yellow Soft Star rocket shoes!” Not by my request, she decided to test out their puddle jumping abilities.

We haven’t had much rain in Texas lately, but kids have a keen eye for puddles. The passed. But what about their performance ~~in the wild~~ on the playground, where kids can be found roaming free?

Avery quickly confirmed they perform well in a kids’ natural territory by running all over a local playground. It’s hard to get a detailed description from a toddler on how they feel, so I look for visual cues to get a good idea.

Soft Star calls their version of the classics “Merry” since they make feet happy, and judging by the look on Avery’s face, who can argue? Do kids even know how to fake smile?

The testing phase is never really over when it comes to kids and parenting, but the new Soft Star Shoes Merry Janes have quickly become a new favorite for our little girl. Having a buckle instead of just elastic or velcro takes a little longer, but it’s not as bad as I first expected. Avery is able to get the shoes on herself and then have Mommy or Daddy secure the buckle. That elastic band attaching the buckle makes the process much easier!

Parents will love seeing their kids in stylish shoes they’ll wear without putting up a fight, and kids will love cheerfully playing in their new shoes. Although they are geared mostly towards girls, Soft Star’s Custom Child Merry Jane gives you the option to make a good looking, functional shoe for any boy or girl.

Keep both eyes on the calendar for when August 16th rolls around to order your kid a new pair of Soft Star Child Merry Janes. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to keep up to date on all of their latest news too.

Soft Star Shoes provided their Child Merry Janes free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All words are my own and I was not compensated in any other way. Get yourself and your kids in a handmade pair of Soft Star Shoes and see why their minimal footwear will make your entire family’s feet happy and healthy!