Bondi Band and Sweaty Bands!

What to do with your hair while exercising??  Use a Bondi Band or Sweaty Band of course ;-).  I was lucky enough to be sent complimentary samples of both of these products to review on my blog.  First, I'll review the Bondi Band for you!

Some info. from Bondi Band's website:

Their goal is to "offer comfy, colorful, and creative headbands to fit every lifestyle and personality."  They have bands for men, women, kids, AND dogs!

"By using stretchy and breathable material, we allow Bondi Bands to fit virtually every head size comfortably and fashionably."

They even donate 10% of their pretax profits to charity!   For 2009 they chose the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Here are pics of the 2 Bondi Bands I was sent:

10 of 10.  These were super comfortable AND stylish!  Though I think I'd say "I eat so I can run"... but that just doesn't sound right, does it?!  These bands also stayed in place and kept my hair out of my eyes quite well.  They work especially great for biking.

Now for some info. about Sweaty Bands from their website:

These bands are "uniquely designed for women and girls who want to show their style, even when they sweat a while!"  They come in MANY colors and designs, as you can see here!

Here is the band I was sent:

10 of 10 too!  I loved the stylish design and was also impressed by how well the band stayed in place.  I have trouble making thin bands like this stay put on my head, but the Sweaty Band's design worked like a charm.  It also kept the sweat out of my eyes while I was running!

Now, how about some food! 

I finished the my last 2 Dr. Kracker boxes that I had been sent to sample :-(.  I'll have to keep an eye out for them when I'm out shopping (unfortunately the stores in my town don't carry them).  Here are my final reviews:

Klassic 3 Seed Flatbreads

9 of 10.  VERY seedy (as you can see!), thick, and hearty - hmmm.... I'm noticing a pattern ;-).  They were satisfying alone, but tasted best when topped with PB and jelly or hummus.  The flatbread is so big, it's just begging to be topped!

Pumpkin Seed Cheddar Flatbreads

9.5 of 10.  Pumpkin seeds and cheddar - who knew?!  It's a great combination, and I wouldn't recommend PB and jelly on this one ;-).  Hummus does work though... or cheese... or just plain!

And I'll end with some fresh lettuce from a neighbor's garden.  It is delish!

P.S. While I've never tried Holey Donuts myself, I have heard many good things about their tasty low fat and low calorie donuts.  Their "patented cooking process avoids deep frying, creating a light, fluffy donut with as little as 3-4 grams of fat and 150-250 calories."  They are "hand-made, flash frozen and delivered via express mail to arrive at your door, picture perfect and delicious!" (source)

If you'd like to try them for yourself, I suggest taking advantage of the upcoming sale they'll be having:

"Save a whopping 53% July 1st and 2nd only! How - Go to http://www.holeydonuts.net/ and select any 3 or more assortments in your cart (strict LIMIT of 4 assortments per order), enter the code BS53 in the coupon code box at checkout, click recalculate, and watch 53% come off your total!"

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Frodo and Sam

Now that I'm at home, I think I should share some pictures of my family's cats with you all.  We have two cats named Frodo and Sam (after The Lord of the Rings characters!).  They are both quite large and fluffy, but especially Sam!  Sam is pictured below.

And now for Frodo!

Aren't they adorable?! 

Now for some food reviews with more Newman's Own Organics and Dr. Kracker.

Newman's Own Organics Protein Pretzels

9 of 10.  They tasted like regular pretzels: very crispy, crunchy, and salty.  I did like how they had extra protein though.  My mom also liked them and said they tasted like your typical pretzel.

Dr. Kracker Seedlander Snackers

10 of 10!  No overpowering flavors, just a delicious seedy and grainy cracker!  I especially loved the pumpkin and poppy seeds - they look pretty too ;-).  These can be eaten with any topping or just plain.  I also enjoyed their hint of sweetness from molasses.

Seeded Spelt Snackers

9.5 of 10.  Very seedy and rich with a complex grainy flavor.  You can definitely pick out the sunflower seed flavor though, which is strong and quite tasty!  These were great with peanut butter and jelly, as pictured above :-).

Question of the Day:  Are you a cat or dog person?  I like both, but I like cats a wee bit more :-).

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Crofter's Superfruit Spread - Where have you been all my life??

For most of my life I really haven't enjoyed jelly or preserves very much.  Sure, I'd eat PB&J sandwiches, but I eventually began to leave out the jelly because I just didn't like it all that much.  Of course, that could be because the jelly my family bought was the cheap overprocessed stuff... Anyway, that has all changed!!  I recently received some free coupons to try Crofter's Superfruit Spread, and I am being completely honest when I say that I've never tasted a spread, jelly, or preserve as good!

Ok, ok, I guess I've only tried the Asia flavor (which is reviewed below)... still though... it's delicious!

But first, I'll fill you in on Crofter's Organic.  Their website states that "Crofter’s Organic has been making organic fruit products on the shores of the Georgian Bay in Parry Sound, Ontario, for 20 years now. We produce an extensive line of organic fruit spreads, conserves and jellies that are distributed in both natural and conventional channels throughout the U.S. and Canada." 

Also, "Crofter’s is particular about every single ingredient in its fruit products. Our organic blueberries are wild harvested near Lac Saint-Jean north of Quebec. We use heritage fruit varieties like Senga Sengana strawberries, Willamette raspberries and morello cherries for their full flavor profiles and dark, rich color. We use fair trade sugar in our new Superfruit™ line."  Yay!

The only downside is that Crofter's Superfruit Spreads are a tad expensive... but they are of a very high quality and quite tasty.  In this case, when you pay more, you will get more!!

Now for pics of the Asia spread:

10 of 10!!  This spread is SOO delicious!  Sweet and just a tad sour, smooth with little chunks of fruit, which I think are the yumberries, though I've never had yumberries, so I wouldn't know ;-). 

My mom also liked the spread and said it tasted like homemade - no better compliment!

AND, this spread is great with Dr. Kracker crackers, especially the Cherry Semolina flavor, which I'll review next!

9.5 of 10.  Lots of sweet and sour dried cheeries.  Thick, hearty, and seedy as usual!  Crisp and crunchy with generous toppings.  Seriously, what more could I ask for??  Maybe zero calories?  Hee, hee :-).  As hearty and filling as these are, I still find it hard to stop at a serving!

More delcious food:

Homemade nutbutter with .5 cup natural peanut butter, 1 cup walnuts, 2 tsp. Tropical Tradtions coconut oil = yum!

My homemade nutbutter and Crofter's Superfruit Asia Spread on oatmeal :-)

My first TRUE banana soft serve made with my Cuisinart mixer

Weetabix with berries and milk

Plain yogurt, whipped sweet potatoes, and chopped walnuts - not as good as I was hoping :-(

Plain yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and strawberries overflowing my bowl :-)

And I do eat veggies sometimes too ;-).  This is fresh (and organic!) asparagus from my parents' garden after being boiled in water on the stove.

Well, that's a nice, long post for you all!  I'll be back with more later this week.

Also, you can check out a CSN Stores $40 Gift Card Giveaway here!

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Dr. Kracker knows how to make a cracker!

I was recently sent some Dr. Kracker samples free of charge to review on my blog.  I have seen these crackers on other food blogs, but I had never tried them myself.  Dr. Kracker's website tells it like it is with the claim that they're the "The Home of Uber Crunch".  Yes, their crackers are that crunchy!  Dr. Kracker also has an interesting history that you can find out more about here.  The website also states that:

"Inspired by the delicious traditional flatbreads of Germany, our Dr. Kracker crackers are made with a blend of nature's best organic whole grains and seeds, then yeast-raised and artisan-baked to perfect crispness.  Available in eight stupendous flavors, we make sure that every bite of every Dr. Kracker cracker bursts with texture, character, and gusto. No-nonsense. Not for the faint of heart. And, everything you always wanted in a cracker."

Their mission states: "Our Flatbreads and Snacker Krackers are 100% percent natural, and USDA certified organic. We bake with whole grains and seeds, and none of our crackers contain trans fats."

Sounds good!  But do the crackers actually live up to those words of praise??  Well, you'll just have to read on to find out :-).

Fire Roasted Crisps

9 of 10. Hot and spicy! Great tomato flavor and cheese on top.  It was like a pizza flavored cracker.  Crisp, crunchy, and hearty too.  My only complaint is that there were some burnt toppings :-(

My mom and brother also tried them.  My brother said they were pretty good, and my mom loved them.  She actually gave them a 10 of 10!  She loved the crunch and "fire" :-)

Apple Crisps

10 of 10!  Wow!  These had the perfect amount of sweetness, and I loved the apple chunks and seeds on top!  They were crisp, thick and hearty.  A wonderful snack or treat :-).

I'm impressed with Dr. Kracker so far.  In fact, I think that they might be the best crackers I've ever had!  I'll keep you updated with more reviews to come.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

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