OG Slimes Offer One-of-a-Kind, Non-Toxic Slimes in Varying Scents, Textures and Themes, with Fun Add/Mix-Ins -- Makes for Great Stocking Stuffers! (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

OG Slimes elevates the slime game by creating one-of-a-kind, non-toxic slimes in various scents, colors and textures. 

Do your kids love slime?  My youngest daughter can't get enough of this stuff!  Either she is making her own slime, or saving up her allowance to buy slime drops from some of her favorite YouTube and Instagram Slime Makers or various slime websites she follows.  And, each and every day new slime makers are popping up online or new online stores are adding new product drops or subscription boxes -- so, you really have to stay on top of this slime trend as it is ever changing...and so fun to collect and play with.

Recently, we were sent two slime samples from OG Slimes.  Even though I thought my daughter knew all about the different companies out there, she had never heard of OG Slimes. So, she was eager to help me review the slimes they sent, and share her thoughts on how they compared to other slimes out there.

We were sent their Charcoal Clay Mask and Mangonada slimes to sample - both which have sold out, like so many other OG Slimes on their website. Like other slime drops, you really have to be quick when OG Slimes drops new slime offerings, as they sell out fast.  We know this as my daughter bought up a few other OG Slime containers after we received the two OG Slime samples, as she really liked the look and feel of their slimes.  Plus, she said the add ins and creativeness of the slimes made them stand out compared to other slime companies and big slime makers out there.  

Even though I am not big into slime like she is, I played with the slime along with her and have to say this isn't like the slime I played with as a kid.  The texture of this slime is amazing. And, it gives that "icy" sound you want you hear when you push your fingers into the container of slime.  If you click on the third thumbnail in the charcoal clay mask slime listing you will be able to hear the "icy" sound my daughter was trying to school me on -- https://ogslimes.com/collections/all-slimes/products/charcoal-clay-mask. I had no idea what my daughter was talking about at first, but then she showed me, and I could see why slime is the rage and how there are good slimes and low-quality slimes -- and, OG Slimes are high up on her list now for when she wants to add new slime to hear growing collection.

In addition to the sound and feel of the slime, these slimes from OG Slimes smell amazing.  As far as the two samples we were sent, the Mangonada smelled like mangonada, and the charcoal clay mask had a nice white sage lavender scent.  My daughter said the scents were not overpowering, and even after daily play, days later the scent was still there and smelled like it did on day 1.  Other slimes she says lose their scent after you start playing with it, so she was really impressed with the scents of these slime.

My daughter also said she liked the different slime themes that OG Slimes sells, as she hasn't seen anything like the ones OG Slimes offers anywhere else.  They are so fun and unique. Plus, the price is great too, with most slimes ranging between $14.99 and $19.99.  We have attended a handful of slime conventions over the years, I was shocked at the cost of itty bitty containers of slime that we ended up having to throw out a week or later.  These slimes from OG Slimes are 7 oz. each, and are filled to the brim.  Plus, most include mix ins or add ins that elevate the slimes and offer even more fun when playing with them.

Overall, we had a great experience sampling the slimes from OG Slimes, and now a handful of the recent slime releases ended up on my daughter's wish list for Christmas.  She reminded me daily to get my order in as she knew they would sell out -- and thankfully I listened to her, as they did sell out in record time.  Now to wait to see what new slimes they release as the holidays draw near, as I know we will be racing to add them to our shopping cart and check out like so many other OG Slimes fans.  

If you have a child who loves slimes --- good quality slime -- then, you will want to have the OG Slimes bookmarked, to order from their next slime drop. These slimes will also make for great stocking stuffers.  

Even if your kids aren't huge slime fans like my daughter, once they feel and play around with this slime, they will be hooked and want to get more.  So, be ready for that! :-)

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More About OG Slimes:

Break the mold after your Friday night dinners and get into some slime!  OG Slimes elevates the slime game by creating one-of-a-kind, non-toxic slimes in various scents, colors and textures. The ultimate sensory activity, slime is great for imaginative kids and adults looking to entertain themselves. Announcing new themes every week, slime lovers can enjoy old favorites or new collections each week. All are made with non-toxic materials for safe exposure. Shop OG Slimes' amazing slime collection now for every festivity! 

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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A Gift of Tea from The Whistling Kettle is Sure to Delight All This Holiday Season, Including Those Hard to Shop for People in Your Life (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

I love this time of year, as this is when friends and family I haven't seen in awhile stop by to visit, and we get to catch up over a hot cup of tea.  This year when guests come calling, I will be sure to warm them up with a cup of tea, thanks to the seasonal offering of loose leaf tea from The Whistling Kettle.

Recently I was sent a few samples of The Whistling Kettle's new festive seasonal flavors, including Gingerbread Cookie, Earl Grey Cream and Snowflake to sample.  Usually I am a coffee drinker like my husband, but when the cold fall and winter months set in, I make a shift to hot teas and flavored hot chocolate for mid-day pick me ups and evenings relaxing by the fire watching holiday movies with the family.  There is nothing better than putting on a pair of comfy pajamas and bundling up under a warm blanket, as I relax after a long day, sipping on a great tasting cup of tea.  It really is a great way to relax and unwind, especially as the holidays draw near and everyone is in go-go-go mode.  

Prior to receiving samples from The Whistling Kettle to try out, I was not aware of this brand.  I was happy to learn that the founders started this business on a whim 20 years ago after walking away from jobs in NYC. They had no prior tea experience, and have since grown not only a great e-commerce business, but also have 4 restaurants.  Their love of tea then and now is seen with their high quality loose tea offering.  

Upon receiving samples of their three seasonal flavors, I opened each pouch to check them out. I couldn't get over not just how great each of the loose leaf teas smelled, but the ingredients in each show the dedication of the brand to source from small quality-focused farmers around the world. Take for instance the Gingerbread Cookie loose leaf tea -- when filling my infuser I couldn't get over the big chunks of candied ginger, candied pineapple, raisins, maple bits and cinnamon bark that make up this seasonal tea.  

Gingerbread Cookie Loose Leaf Tea

Other loose leaf teas I have enjoyed over the years never include high quality ingredients like this.  Usually this loose leaf tea contents are so blended up that you can't see things like the candied ginger or cinnamon bark.  I was so excited to brew up a cup of the gingerbread cookie (takes about 3-5 minutes to brew).  And, once I took my first sip, WOW!!!, it tasted amazing, and I was HOOKED!  

I have since enjoyed sampling the Earl Gray Cream and Snowflake teas, as well as made a few more cups of gingerbread cookie tea with the sample pouches I was sent from the folks at The Whistling Kettle.  I can see why the Snowflake Tea is a popular seasonal flavor among fans of this loose leaf tea brand.  If you love coconut, almond and cinnamon, then you, too, will love the Snowflake flavored black tea.  

Snowflake Loose Leaf Tea

I love brewing up a cup of this tea each morning, as warm my bones and get ready to start my day.  There is nothing better than smelling the sweetened coconut, almonds and black tea as it brews up.  Even my husband, who is not a big tea drinker, has been enjoying tea each morning with me.  He, too, likes the Snowflake and Gingerbread Cookie teas, and has already asked if I stocked up on more of these teas so we don't run out during the cold winter months.  He doesn't have to worry, as I was quick to order 8 oz. containers of these and other popular loose leaf flavors from the The Whistling Kettle website. I didn't want to wait and chance having their seasonal flavors sell out. 

Earl Grey Cream 

If you love loose leaf tea, or are looking to make the switch from coffee to tea, or just like trying flavored teas, I highly recommend you give The Whistling Kettle a try.  Once you take your first sip of their loose leaf tea, you will be hooked like my husband and I.  You will be able to pick up on the high quality ingredients that go into each container of their loose leaf tea, and will look forward to brewing up a cup of their tea to enjoy by yourself, or with family and friends who stop by this holiday season.  To learn more about the different loose leaf tea flavors available, as well as check out the wonderful selection of gift sets, tea kettles, tea infusers, Tea-of-the-Month variety gift boxes and more available from The Whistling Kettle, head on over to their website today -- https://www.thewhistlingkettle.com/.

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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The Perfect Cookbook For Budding Chefs and Homeschool Families -- "Let’s Eat: Recipes for Kids Who Cook" - Includes Full-Color Photos of All 60+ Recipes (Review)

Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Buy this hardcover kids cookbook now for only $25.49 from Amazon

My girls are at the perfect age, as they love trying new things and helping me in the kitchen.  When they were little they would help dice up vegetables with their kid-safe knives, or help me mix or just taste test foods.  But, now they are more curious and wanted to roll their sleeves up and learn how to cook and bake different things.  I love seeing them enthusiastic and wanting to try new recipes whenever they join me in the kitchen. I know that when they get older and are own their own, they will be comfortable in the kitchen and be able to cook up tasty dishes to enjoy.  I learned how to cook and bake from my mom and Nana, and love passing down this skill to my girls.  And, just like me, my girls love to collect cookbooks, and have almost filled a bookcase with cookbooks they have received or bought themselves over the years.  Recently, we were sent the LET’S EAT: Recipes for Kids Who Cook (Touchwood Editions; October 17, 2023) by cookbook author DL Acken & food stylist Aurelia Louvet, and have been having fun cooking up recipes in this cookbooks each week as part of our homeschooling home economics lessons.  

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More about this kids cookbook:

"Called "Vibrant, fun, and full of tips and recipes that manage to be kid-friendly without being too kiddish... Perfect for budding school-aged cooks!" by Stacie Billis, Co-host of the Didn't I Just Feed You podcast, LET’S EAT: Recipes for Kids Who Cook (Touchwood Editions; October 17, 2023) by cookbook author DL Acken & food stylist Aurelia Louvet is the perfect way to create engaging, delicious recipes with your child! 

LET'S EAT is a colourful, comprehensive cookbook that teaches kids (ages 9+) and beginner chefs to cook, and arms them with accessible yet impressive recipes they can make with little-to-no parental supervision.

If the young gourmands on MasterChef Junior are anything to go by, lots of kids are eager to get into the kitchen. So why wait until they're off at college facing the (gross) communal microwave in their residence lounge? Seasoned cookbook author Danielle Acken, food stylist Aurelia Louvet, and their six proteges (age 7 to 17) are here to help. Let's Eat brings together kitchen basics, tools, terminology, and 60+ recipes with loads of variations to suit a range of tastes.

The book opens with a chapter of recipes to build basic techniques--making eggs, rice, pasta, salad dressing, mashed potatoes, bread, and roast chicken (what? Yes, really)--that will set kids up for culinary success, before branching into breakfasts, fresh snacks and sides, hot main courses, and desserts. Learn to make hits like:

• Sticky Soda Pop Ribs
• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Falafel Veggie Burgers
• Deviled Eggs
• Pulled Chicken Tacos
• Sweet Potato Curry
• Teriyaki Baked Salmon
• Oven Baked Doughnuts

Following this fun, choose-your-own-adventure style primer, with its bold, colorful photography, kids will soon advance from quick afterschool snacks and summer picnics to breakfasts in bed and full-course family dinners (with dessert, of course)."

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What drew me to this kids cookbook and made me want to share it with my girls and you all is that this book is made for kids in mind.  The books includes full color photos of the recipes, and is set up that kids can start at the beginning and work their way through the cookbook, building on skills they learn from previous chapters.  Kids will learn to make eggs, rice, pasta and even homemade salad dressing, before moving onto things like bread and roast chicken.    

Kids ages 9+ will have a blast cooking their way through the different chapters of this kids cookbook as they make breakfast dishes, snacks and sides, main courses and even desserts.  

Here is one recipe my girls made a handful of times so far, just to give you an idea of how the recipes are laid out in this cookbook.  The recipes are written for even the youngest or novice of chefs to follow along and understand.  And, the finished product looked amazing, and tasted great!

Chicken Pot Pie

Recipe by DL Acken and Aurelia Louvet from Let’s Eat: Recipes for Kids Who Cook, copyright © 2023 by DL Acken and Aurelia Louvet. Reprinted with permission of TouchWood Editions: www.touchwoodeditions.com

"Pot pies make a great family meal and are easy to make in a short amount of time. Once you have all the ingredients on hand, you can have this dish in the oven in under 20 minutes and on the table within the hour.

Serves 4-6

2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil

1 small white onion, cut into small dice

3 stalks celery, cut into small dice

2 cloves garlic, minced

6 Tbsp (90 mL) unsalted butter

1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme

1 tsp (5 mL) dried sage

½ cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour

3 cups (750 mL) chicken stock

½ cup (125 mL) milk

Meat from one full Roast Chicken (about 3 cups/750 mL), cut into bite-size pieces

2 cups (500 mL) frozen vegetable mix (carrots, peas, corn, and beans) 

1 tsp (5 mL) sea salt

½ tsp (2.5 mL) freshly ground black pepper

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg

1 Tbsp (15 mL) water

Place a large pot on the stove over medium heat and add the oil. Add the onions, celery, and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the celery and onion start to soften, 4–5 minutes. Add the butter, thyme, and sage and cook, stirring constantly again, until the butter is fully melted.

Add the flour. Use a whisk to mix it in and then continue to cook until the mixture starts to turn a golden color, 2–3 minutes. Add the stock ½ cup (125 mL) at a time and whisk quickly to mix all of the mixture smoothly together. Whisk in the milk and cook until your mixture starts to thicken, 3–4 minutes. As soon as the mixture starts to thicken, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chicken, frozen vegetables, salt, and pepper. 

Turn off the stove!

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Scoop the mixture into an ungreased 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) baking dish with sides at least 2 inches (5 cm) high. Place the puff pastry sheet on top of the filling. Or use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes and place them on top of the filling. Use a fork to lightly beat the egg and water together to make an egg  wash, and then use a pastry brush to brush the top of the pastry with the  egg wash. Place the dish on the middle rack in the oven and bake until the pastry is puffed and golden and the filling is bubbly, 25–30 minutes.

Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the oven and let the pastries sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. 

Turn off the oven!

Mix It Up!

PULLED PORK & APPLE PIE

Wash and grate (no need to peel or core) 1 Granny Smith apple and add it with the onions and garlic. Use 3 cups (750 mL) pulled pork instead of the chicken.

SWEET POTATO & CORN PIE

Replace the chicken with 3 cups  (750 mL) peeled and cubed (1 inch/ 2.5 cm) sweet potatoes, swap the  frozen vegetable mix for just corn, and, to keep it vegetarian, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock."

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We have made over a dozen recipes so far and have loved each and every one.  My girls are honing their cooking techniques and skills, and love the variations of each of the 60+ kid-approved recipes that fill the pages of this must-own kids cookbook.  My girls especially loved making the French toast and donuts recently.  

They couldn't believe how easy these two recipes were to make, and kept going back for seconds and thirds.  

With the holidays fast approaching, this would make a great gift idea for young chefs in your life who want to learn how to whip up afterschool snacks or even hot main courses the whole family will enjoy eating together.  This is one of those cookbooks that will grow with your kids and that will become a favorite cookbook to grab and use time and time when kids want to cook in the kitchen with you.

Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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