The Bouqs Company Flower Review

I received a free Bouq to facilitate this review. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.
This post contains affiliate links. 

I LOVE fresh flowers! In fact I buy flowers to put on the bedside table in every room, all the time. But in all my years I have never seen lovelier flowers than the ones delivered straight to my door, from the side of a volcano, by the Bouqs.com!

Day 1: out of the box

The flowers from the Bouqs are guaranteed fresh, and I don't mean fresh from the fridge either.  They don't even cut the flowers until they are ready to be sold. That means that your flowers are delivered from the farm, right to your door. They arrive in a beautiful box, ready to be arranged.

Of course receiving beautiful flowers is one thing, but getting flowers that will actually last more than a couple of day is something altogether different. I received the most gorgeous white roses that I had ever seen, or so I thought. I mean, they were beautiful straight out of the box, so I didn't think they could get any better... but they did.  Once those amazing buds opened (within 24 hours) they were even more stunning! But wait... it gets better!  The flowers lasted for more than 10 days!!!

The quality of these flowers is nothing short of amazing! That fresh from the farm to your door is not just a gimmick. I have never smelled flowers (off the stalk) that smelled so... well, fresh. They are so fresh that the water didn't even turn dark and murky after several days, which almost always happens with other flowers. I actually didn't change the water for the entire time I had them, I just added to it, and it stayed pretty clear. I don't know if I will ever order flowers from another company again, and I really mean that. 

The Bouqs offers plenty of variety too! From roses to lilies, ranunculus to asters, you will definitely find something that you like. 

If you need to send a bouquet, and you want to send the best, I can't recommend the Bouqs enough!

A Dozen Roses for just $40 - FREE SHIPPING! Shop The Bouqs Co. now!

Visit the Bouqs website, follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

I received a free Bouq to facilitate this review.  All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So. This post contains affiliate links. 

Glass Dharma - Earth Day Giveaway

April 22nd is Earth Day.

The older I get the more connected I feel to the Earth, the Universe, to everything...

One of the things that is vital to survival of our beautiful planet is sustainability. That means bringing our awareness to the products we use and re-purposing, reusing, + recycling, as much and as often as possible. Glass is one of the most sustainable materials there is. 

Glass Dharma - the Original Glass Straw is on a mission to "create world-wide awareness about single use plastics and how damaging plastic straws are to our environment."

While plastic straws are small, collectively they make up a big problem. Imagine if every person, in every country, used one straw per day... that's over 7+ billion straws every single day. The number of straws would outgrow the population in a 24 hour period. Think about it...



We've been using Glass Dharma straws in our home for the past 2 years and I'm totally smitten! In addition to the fact that they are durable and strong (I haven't had a broken straw yet), they are also gorgeous! 

Made from the strongest glass commercially available, Glass Dharma straws can be used in hot and cold beverages, and they are also microwave + dishwasher safe. 

Here are a few more reasons why Glass Dharma straws trump plastic straws all-day-every-day:

• They don't leach toxins into your beverage.
• They come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Made by human hands in the USA
• Lifetime breakage guarantee - they will replace broken straws forever!

If you don't have glass straws in your kitchen... it's time for an upgrade.

Giveaway Alert

Glass Dharma has pledged to giveaway 1000 straws for Earth Day! 

Win: enter to win a $25.00 gift code to buy your own Glass Dharma straws! 

Mandatory Entry: Leave your name and email address in the comments.

Bonus Entries: (leave a separate comment for each, including your name and email address):
    
 (1) Join Glass Dharma's "I Love My Straws" newsletter 
 (1) Become a Glass Dharma Facebook Fan
 (1) Follow Glass Dharma on Twitter
 (1) Follow Glass Dharma on Pinterest
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on Twitter
 (1) Become a Just Say I Told You So Facebook Fan
 (1) Subscribe to Just Say I Told You So via email (right side bar)
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on Pinterest

Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be selected. The gift code will be sent via email.  Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST on 4/30/14.

This is not a paid post. I received a gift code from Glass Dharma to aid in the facilitation of this review. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Vons Farm Fresh & Local Produce Tour

I am immensely grateful every single time I enter the produce department of my local grocer. The fruits and veggies are always lined up so neatly. The colors are eye-catching, the smells inspire stomach growls, and every now and then I sample a grape (don't tell anyone). I have often wondered where all that deliciousness comes from and how far it had to travel to get here.

A few weeks back I was invited on the Vons Farm Fresh & Local Produce Tour. Vons has partnered with local farmers for more than 75 years, bringing fresh goodness to our neighborhoods.

We visited Tutti Frutti Farms, which is located in beautiful Santa Barbara County. Tutti Frutti Farms is owned by fifth generation farmer, Chris Cadwell and his family, and they've been growing organic produce since 1988.

This gorgeous farm sits on more than 200 acres, near the Santa Ynez River.

Photo Credit: Vons

Chris is not only a great farmer, he's also a fabulous story teller too. He talked talked about various farming challenges like growing during dry seasons (this year was one of them), pesky bugs, and test crops.

One of Chris' most popular crops (which also happens to be my new favorite thing) is Heirloom Tomatoes. Tutti Frutti Farms has several varieties, including: Pink Brandy Wine, Chocolate Stripe, Persimmon, and Purple Cherokee. If ever you have wondered whether or not a tomato was a fruit or a veggie, once your mouth gets a taste of one of these babies, you'd wonder no more!

Photo Credit: Vons

The fresh from the vine taste at Tutti Frutti farms is great, but everything about the farm makes for an incredible meal too! Look at this beautiful spread:

Photo credit: Vons

The tour was awesome! The weather was hot, but breathtaking. The food was fresh and delicious. The people were warm and friendly. The experience was absolutely priceless. I had a great time!

Photo credit: Vons

As a California native, I am still completely in awe of this gorgeous state. My trip to Tutti Frutti farms made me fall in love with the land, all over again. I have always known that relationships make the world go round, but this experience confirmed it. The relationship that Vons has with local growers makes life better - for everyone.

Photo credit: Vons

The next time you're in the market, ask where your produce comes from. You might be surprised to find out how close to homegrown it really is!

This is not a paid post. Travel and accommodations were provided. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Soda Stream Review

I'm not much of a soda drinker, but I do fancy sparkling water. Which is why I think that Soda Stream is the best thing since... Soda!

Making your own soda means you control what you put in the soda - it doesn't get more genius than that! It's so simple and easy to use, see for yourself:

Soda Stream offers a wide variety of flavor syrups (including diet options), in addition to the flavor essences (which are my favorite).  They even have Country Time, Crystal Light, and KoolAid flavors! Of course you could also add fruit juices to the carbonated water to create your own unique flavors. That means that the flavor varieties are truly endless!

What most soda drinkers (and non-soda drinkers like myself) will appreciate most is the potential savings. Buying soda and other carbonated beverages can really add up. But if saving money doesn't do it for you, maybe saving the environment will. No more bottles or cans. Soda Stream will help you keep it Green!

http://www.sodastreamusa.com

Soda Stream is sold at most major department stores, as well as Target and Walmart.

Check out Soda Stream's Ms. Fizz blog, become a Facebook fan, and follow on Twitter too!

A free product was received to aid in the facilitation of this review. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

I'm Red Carpet Ready with Daily's Cocktails and Wholly Guacamole! - Closed

Tomorrow night is hollywood's biggest night, the Oscars. The stars will come out to honor the best and brightest of 2012. Of course for us "non-hollywood" types the Oscars are a great opportunity to get together with friends and have our own kind of fun.

Last night we had a pre-Oscar bash and got #RedCarpetReady with Daily's Cocktails and Wholly Guacamole!

With Daily's Frozen Pouches, you can serve up bartender style without the bartender mess. All you do is pop them into the freezer, then squeeze it into a glass once they're set. Presto you've got yourself one delicious drink!

Don't let me get started with guacamole, I love the stuff! I'd eat it everyday if I could. Before now, I had never tried Wholly Guacamole products. Who knew that guacamole could taste so good? They come in several different varieties, but that's not the best part. The best part is you can freeze them! I thought that was pure genius!

Now back to our party.

Before snacking on chips and sipping on drinks, we strolled the red carpet. Let me tell you Hollywood ain't got nothing on us... check us out:

Then we sat down to watch Flight, starring Denzel Washington. Flight is nominated in two categories, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. It was a pretty good movie. So we'll see what happens tomorrow night.

We had so much fun, I wish you all had been there. So how would you like to throw a little bash of your own?

Win it: One lucky reader will win a #RedCarpetReady Prize pack ($20 Walmart gift card to purchase Daily's Cocktails, Two Daily's cocktail glasses, and a Wholly Guacamole/Salsa prize pack).

Mandatory Entry: Leave me a comment describing what you do to get #RedCarpetReady. Be sure to include your name and email address.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each, including your name and email address):
     
 (1) Follow @dailyscocktails on Twitter
 (1) Follow @eatwholly on Twitter
 (1) Like Daily's Cocktails on Facebook
 (1) Like Wholly Guacamole on Facebook
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on GFC (left side bar)
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on Twitter
 (1) Become a Just Say I Told You So Facebook Fan
 (1) Subscribe to Just Say I Told You So via email (right side bar)
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on Pinterest

Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be selected. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST on 3/1/13.

I received promotional products from Wholly Guacamole, as well as a Walmart gift card to purchase Daily's cocktails, in order to facilitate this review and giveaway. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Review

Over the past year, coconut oil has become a staple in my house. While I've heard so many good things about coconut oil and its multiple uses, I use it to make popcorn. That's right, I am a serious popcorn addict (I admit it) and I've found that coconut oil provides the best taste!

I recently tried Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Here are a few things that make it great:
 

• Certified organic
• No chemicals, bleaching, or hydrogenation
• Made from fresh coconuts
• Made through a cold pressed production process (without heat)

While these things are great, let me give you a few examples of why you should add coconut oil to your diet (reasons you can wrap your head around):

• No cholesterol or trans-fats
• Can be used to remove eye make-up
• Promotes heart health
• Known to promote weight loss

I personally, think coconut oil is awesome. And I'm happy to report that the light and natural taste of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil has  passed my taste test.

 

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be purchased on Mercola.com.

A free product was received to aid in the facilitation of this review. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Review

Let's face it, staying fit is a never ending job. You must remain conscientious about the things you eat, each and every day. I have found one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle is portion control. Weight Watchers Smart Ones is a genius way to eat well, with controlled portions, and loads of flavor!

I recently tried the Pasta with Ricotta and Spinach and I was really surprised at how tasty it was. The flavor was spot-on and it was seasoned just right, I didn't have to add anything to it, it was delicious right out of the package.

My daughter's favorite is the Broccoli & Cheddar Potatoes!  She's been eating it for years, long before she became a weight conscious teen, which is great because it doesn't feel like she's sacrificing anything to eat a meal that she already enjoyed.

One of the reasons that Weight Watchers is wildly successful is, it's not a diet, it's a way of life. Smart Ones makes it easy to live :-)

Smart Ones are available in the freezer section of your local market. Print the following coupon and save $2.00 off any 5 Smart Ones products:

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Smart Ones. I received free product coupons to aid in the facilitation of this review. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Glade Expressions Review

Smell is the strongest sense linked to memory. I get a whiff of certain things and I am immediately transported back in time.

My nose and I recently had the great pleasure of sniffing out the new Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser. I placed a Pineapple and Mangosteen diffuser in my sister's bedroom and was a tropical heaven!  The smell is delicious, consistent, and just strong enough.  It's been over three weeks and the scent is still going strong!

We (my nose and I) also tried out the Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist as well, the smell is doesn't last nearly as long as the Oil Diffuser, but it does linger a bit longer than ordinary sprays.

What I liked best about both products is they aren't too perfumey. I don't like overpowering scents that get in my throat at all. But these are soft but noticeable.

You can purchase Glade products through various vendors online or in your local everything store.

Follow Glade on Twitter and Facebook.  You can also sign up for coupons and specials on Glade products by vising the Right@Home site.

This is not a paid post. I received coupons for free Glade products through BzzAgent. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Glass Dharma Review

When my daughter was a toddler,  I remember being over the moon when she learned how to drink out of a straw. While this may seem like a minute milestone in the bigger scheme of things, it marked the end of bottle washing for me! All these years later, straws still excite me (strange I know) and Glass Dharma has given me another reason to love straws! 

Founded in 2007, Glass Dharma creates glass drinking straws.  These beautifully crafted glass straws provide a great alternative to plastic straws, the best part is they're reusable. 

It is the responsibility of every individual to protect our planet, glass drinking straws provide an easy way to make a difference in your household, while lowering your carbon footprint.  Not to mention, if you're like me and have been purchasing drinking straws for years, you can save a ton of money!

Glass Dharma straws come in four different diameters, which means you can sip everything from cocktails to boba (yes they thought about the tapioca lovers too!).

photo credit: Glass Dharma

Check out these Glass Dharma FAQ's:

• Lifetime Guarantee - if your straw breaks they will repair or replace it.
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Glass Dharma straws are made from borosilicate glass (think Pyrex®)
• Say goodbye to toxins, glass straws DO NOT leach toxins into food.
• Glass straws can be used in hot or cold beverages
• Every Glass Dharma straw is handmade in the United States 

I can't tell you how much I LOVE these straws! I will be ordering another set so that I can have plenty on hand when I have guests.  I'm sure I will rack up plenty of cool points for being the first of my friends to have glass drinking straws in the cupboard!

Head over to the Glass Dharma website to order straws for your house too! You can also "like" them on Facebook, follow via Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ too!

I received free glass straws to facilitate this review. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So. 

Core Bamboo Review & Giveaway (Closed)

Did you know that bamboo isn't a tree? It's actually grass, which is why it grows so fast! Now that the world is finally recognizing the importance of reusable resources, bamboo is becoming increasingly popular.

Core Bamboo manufacturers "the world's finest" bamboo products. From bowls and cutting boards to spice racks and vases, they've got a bamboo solution to all your home needs.

Their products are high quality and because bamboo is "naturally anti-microbial," you will never have to worry about bacteria growth. Core Bamboo is not only an ethical and socially conscious company, but their bamboo is "100% organically grown." They pride themselves on the fact that all of their products meet FDA and European equivalent standards. Talking about going green is one thing, but being green is something else and the folks at Core Bamboo get it!

I have always loved bamboo products. I have been using a bamboo cutting board for years, but I have to be honest I was initially drawn to bamboo because I thought it was pretty and not because it was eco-friendly. Now I know that bamboo is not just beautiful, it is also stronger than Maple and lighter than Oak, it can grow up to 7 feet in four short years, and it regenerates itself.

Is it just me or does everyone want to make a salad whenever they see a bamboo bowl?  Well Core Bamboo has a great selection of bowls and utensils to choose from.  They even have salad hands, so you can toss your salad until your heart is content!

Core Bamboo Modern Round Bowl & Salad Hands

Buy it:
Visit the Core Bamboo website to see the full selection of products. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook too!

Win it:
If you're familiar with bamboo you know exactly how awesome it is.  But if you're not, it's your lucky day!  Core Bamboo is giving away a pair of Salad Hands to one lucky reader!

Mandatory:
Visit the Core Bamboo website and leave a comment (including your email address) telling me what product you liked the most.

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
 (1) Like Core Bamboo on Facebook (include your Facebook name)
 (1) Follow Core Bamboo on Twitter (include your Twitter handle)
 (1) Like Just Say I Told You So on Facebook (include your Facebook name)
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So on Twitter (include your Twitter handle)
 (1) Follow Just Say I Told You So via GFC in the left sidebar (include the name you used to follow)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner will be selected at random.org and will be notified via email.  The winner will have 48 hours to reply. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook or Twitter. The product will be shipped directly from distributor. Giveaway will end on June 24th at 11:59 PST.

This is not a paid post. A bamboo bowl and salad hands were received free of charge for review purposes. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So. Core Bamboo logo obtained from http://www.corebamboo.com/. 

Earth Day Giveaway Event

Thank You for taking a part in the Earth Day Event and supporting eco-conscious living. This event is sponsored by Eco-Foil and co-hosted by Way 2 Good Life and She Promotes

The event takes place from April 12 at 11 PM EST and ends on April 22 at 11.59 PM EST

There are so many companies out there that help the environment - why not to know more about them? Learn about great businesses, their products, and win some giveaways. Over 60 bloggers have prizes valued at $25+. Make sure to visit every blog for more chances to win. Eco-Foil provided Kindle Fire ($199 value) as a grand price. In order to win it - you need to enter some giveaways (the more you enter - the more entries you earn)! Take a moment - visit Eco-Foil and look for 100% recycled disposable aluminum pans at the local stores.

Enter to WIN the Grand Prize of the Event - KINDLE FIRE - Wi-Fi, Full Color 7" Multi-Touch Display


My sponsor has been kind enough to offer the following eco-friendly package:

• Vapur Element Water Bottle (click here for my review)
• Tech Wash
• Wool Wash
• Sandal Wash
• Tent & Gear Solar Proof concentrate
• TX.Direct Wash-in (great for giving cloth diapers a boost)
  

Vapur Water Bottle Review

Earth Day is near, which makes us all a little bit more mindful about this wondrous planet that we share. My family and I are striving to be more green every single day. We recycle faithfully, we patronize eco-friendly companies, and we use energy saving light bulbs; however, there are still plenty of other ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint.

One of the first "green" decisions we made was to stop purchasing bottled water. Since we have a water filtration system, it seemed like a no-brainer. So we all picked out our own personal water bottles. Now I carry around my water bottle like it's a handbag! Of course the Vapur Element takes reusable water bottles to another level!

The Vapur Element has the following features that earn it extra "cool" points in my book:

• BPA-Free
• Dishwasher safe
• Antimicrobial lining
• It's collapsible (will fit right in your purse when it's empty!)
• Freezer safe
• Attachable (you can clip it to your purse too)
• Reusable (most importantly)

Of course I'm not exactly an outdoorsy type, but I could hike, bike, or run (hypothetically) with the Vapur Element. I could also take it to the bookstore, mall, grocery store, outlet, or on any other shopping excursion too!

You might wonder why it's called the Element, well each design is named after the "elements," water, fire, and wind. The company is on a mission "to make water more sustainable and portable than ever." Mission Accomplished!

I must admit, I'm loving the Element! Head on over to the Vapur website and pick up one for yourself.  You can also follow on Twitter and Facebook.

I received a Vapur Element at no cost. I was not required to write a positive review. The views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Eco Store USA - Review

Although many people still believe that global warming is just a song and dance, I personally believe that there may be some truth to it.  I also believe that it's the responsibility of everyone to take care of Mother Earth. In my house, we try to be as green as possible.  Although we are not 100% eco-friendly (yet), we make a conscious effort each and everyday.

When the opportunity arose for me to try products from Eco Store USA, I was thrilled! I had the pleasure of trying out two of products from their Bath & Body line.

Orange & Patchouli Body Wash
I am not a fan of oranges in their natural state (something about the peel that I just don't like), but I love orange juice and orange flavored and scented things, weird I know.  So I thought the Orange and Patchouli Body Wash would be awesome and I was right! The smell is rich and velvety (I don't know why patchouli reminds me of fur).  I was pleasantly surprised at the rich lather, because sometimes plant-based products lather very little, if at all.  To quote my daughter this body wash is "fabulous!"

Coconut & Vanilla Hand Wash
My family really loved this hand wash! It can be challenging at first because there is no lather, but we are slowly doing away with the idea that lather means clean.  The smell is AMAZING! It's like washing your hands in coconut slurry (you know like when the coconut is starting to get old and it gets a little slimy at the top? Well maybe you don't know, but that's how my sister described it). The best part is it conditions the skin, leaving your hands soft and supple (even with no lotion).

 Eco Store product do not contain "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, artificial dyes, perfumes or preservatives," which means they are gentle on sensitive skin too.

I encourage you to hop on over to the Eco Store website and check out these products.  They also have household cleaning product, haircare, baby, and pet lines too! Everyone in your house can be green as a whistle! Did I mention that they are very well priced too? Well being green does not have to break the bank and Eco Store has proven it with their "awesome products at permanently reduced prices."

Follow Eco Store USA on Twitter and like them on Facebook too. 
 
I received free products from Eco Store USA. I was not required to write a positive review. The views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.