Sawmill Creek Wine - Life is Simpler Here (BzzAgent Review)

The perfect way to relax and unwind after a long day is to sip on a glass of wine. I was invited by BzzAgent to join the Sawmill Creek campaign, so I picked up a bottle of dry white. There were many different types of Sawmill Creek wines to choose from, in 750mL and 1.5L bottles.

I decided to go with a dry white wine to sip on and to use for cooking.

The wine was easy to drink and was smooth tasting, with nice fruity green apple notes. It was a well balanced wine that was perfect for cooking and paired great with this chicken dish that used a white wine cream sauce.

The meal suggestions on the back of the bottle include: serving as an apertif, with poultry, seafood, pork and mild cheeses. 

If you are in need of a re-aquaintance with the art of unwinding, here are a few simple ways to start:

• Take 10 minutes at the end of the day to reflect on the day's accomplishments (big or small) and treat yourself to a glass of Sawmill Creek.
• At the end of the week, challenge yourself to carve out the time and space to unwind. Pour yourself a hot bath, let yourself sink in and enjoy a glass of Sawmill Creek.
• Invite your friends over and enjoy Simple Sipping as you create a bucket list. Then commit each of your friends to crossing one off by the end of the year. Big or small - they all count.
• Savour a moment of gratitude and share it. Enjoy some Simple Sipping while you send a simple, unexpected note of gratitude to 5 people.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given at a discount from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 Collection - BzzAgent Review

Pantene has come out with a new Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 with BB Creme collection and I received a set to try out from BzzAgent. The set came with shampoo, conditioner and a beauty balm for hair. I use Pantene shampoo regularly, so I was excited to try this new line from them.

The BB Creme line is advertised to help with flawlessy healthy looking hair with:

1. Repair for rough hair
2. Strength against damage
3. Silky softeness
4. Brilliant shine
5. Smoothing
6. Moisture
7. Frizz control
8. Gentle cleaning
9. Manageability
10. Detangling

I have been using the Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 line for the past few nights, and my hair couldn't been more smooth and silky! The shampoo smells wonderful and only a small dollop is needed to get it lathered up into my hair and the same with the conditioner. I have yet to try the beauty balm, but it should help you with any tangles you get.

I'm definitely a fan of this new Pantene line! Let me know what you think if you've tried it!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Sofia the First: The Floating Palace Now Available on DVD

Sofia the First: The Floating Palace is now out on DVD. Based on the popular animated series on Disney Junior, Sofia  embarks on an adventure under the sea! 

Do YOU believe in mermaids? You will – when you set sail on a magical full-length adventure under the sea with Sofia the First! After Sofia helps a young mermaid named Oona, Sofia’s amulet grants her the power to transform into a mermaid and visit her new friend’s secret underwater kingdom. But when Cedric (disguised as a sea monster) plots to steal Oona’s enchanted Mermaid Comb, danger surfaces for both worlds. With a little help from special guest, Princess Ariel, Sofia embarks on an adventure to rescue Oona. Overflowing with oceans of song-filled fun – plus three more exciting episodes – Sofia the First: The Floating Palace proves that when families and friends work together, they can weather any storm and save the day!

Everyone's favourite mermaid, Ariel, makes a special cameo apperance to help Sofia on her quest and remind her the importance of helping others. There are plenty of new songs in this fun movie and characters that this little red-head meets. In addition to The Floating Palace, there are three more episodes for you to enjoy! 

- Tri-Kingdowm Picnic
- Finding Clover
- Make Way for Miss Nettle

The DVD also comes with two friendship bracelets in pink and purple for your child to share! Sofia the First: The Floating Palace is out in stores now and you can save $6 when you buy this DVD and any other eligible Disney Junior DVD by printing out this coupon. This is the perfect movie to add to your DVD collection for fans of the little princess!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Frozen - Now Available on Blu-ray/DVD!

 The day has come that Frozen fans have been waiting for - Frozen is now available everywhere on Blu-ray and DVD. With a bunch of Disney movies released on the 18th, Frozen was one of the ones I picked up on the day of release. Arguably one of the most successful Disney flicks in history, the Collector's Edition has been selling extremely well since it's release. It includes a Blu-ray, DVD and HD digital copy. It is packed with bonus features including:

- The Making of Frozen
- D'frosted: Disney's Journey from Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen
- Deleted Scenes
- "Let It Go" Music Videos
- "Get a Horse!" Mickey Mouse Short

Many stores are selling the Collector's edition pack with an exclusive gift.

- The Target exclusive includes a bonus DVD that contains a deleted scene, Frozen art gallery and The Voices of Frozen featurette.
- Walmart contains either an Elsa or Anna Disney Infinity figurine
- Best Buy and Futureshop includes an activity book

Currently on sale this week for only $19.99, Frozen is definitely a must-own for Disney fans! Make sure to check out the offer from Disney Movie Rewards to get your own pull-apart Olaf plushie for only $9.95 when you enter the DMR code included in your movie. You can also purchase a digital copy of the Frozen soundtrack for only $7.

The LEGO Movie - Cloud Cuckoo Palace

With the popularity of The LEGO Movie, I couldn't help but buy one of the LEGO sets that I keep seeing at toy stores everywhere. The LEGO Movie sets have been doing very well as more and more families see the film, and new LEGO fans are born or adults comes out of the dark ages.

I chose set 70803 Cloud Cuckoo Palace because it was the most eye catching with the bright colours on the box. It definitely is the "girliest" set of the line. Cloud Cuckoo Land is one of the Lego worlds that Emmet and Wyldstyle visit in The Lego Movie. It's full of rainbows, creativeness, happiness and positivity and is a place where you can do whatever you want whenever you want!

The set is split up into four bags and you get some solid minifigures in this set, including Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty and an executron. There is a pretty adorable snail included as well!

The build was straight forward. The Cloud Cuckoo Palace set brings to life this very fun scene from the movie with a very whimsical design and bright pastel colours. It was a fun build and has some great playability that includes wheels that turn, and the sun that can go up and down.

Flower flick missile.

Priced at $24.99 CAD, Cloud Cuckoo Palace is a must have for fans of The LEGO Movie. It is one of the most popular sets of the line and has been consistently sold out everywhere, especially at this affordable price. Definitely check out the rest of the sets in this line!

Saving Mr. Banks - Now Available on Blu-ray and DVD!

Everyone knows the story of Mary Poppins, a magical nanny that flies into the Bank's household and saves the family. But do you know the story behind it?

Saving Mr. Banks gives us a look at the life of Mary Poppins’ author, P.L. Travers, and the struggle that Walt Disney went through to get the rights to turn her beloved character into a Disney film. Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) spent 20 years trying to convince Travers (Emma Thompson) to sell the rights of the book to him, to fulfill a promise he made to his daughters. We see flashbacks to Travers childhood where the characters of Mr. Banks and Mary Poppins are created to the uptight Travers who disagreed with everything Disney and his team proposed for the film.

Saving Mr. Banks is really a compelling story with great acting. It is certainly worth seeing, and the now you can own it on Blu-ray and DVD. There are loads of extra features packed into the discs, including:

- The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to the Present
- "Let's Go Fly A Kite" tribute to composer Richard Sherman
- Deleted Scenes

Saving Mr. Banks is now out in stores and Disney is offering a $5 off coupon when you purchase the blu-ray combo pack!You can also head on over to Disney Movie Rewards to download a free copy of the original production sheet music of "Let's Go Fly a Kite" when you purchase the movie.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Disney's The Jungle Book Diamond Edition Swings Into Stores

Get your jungle drums out because Disney has re-released The Jungle Book from the vault! This Diamond Edition comes as a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD combo pack, and boasts a digitally remastered movie with tons of bonus features. Meet Mowgli and his friends Baloo and Baghera and you will be singing along to Bare Necessities in no time! 

Over 2 hours of bonus features are packed in this released, including:

- DisneyAnimation: Sparking Creativity - go behind the scenes with today's top Disney animators
- Sing-Along
- Alternate ending
- Music, Memories, Mowgli
- Hangin' Out at the Animal Kingdom
- Special introductions
- DisneyPedia: Junglemania
- Plus more!

I grew up with this movie and it's so much fun to meet Mowgli's jungle friends. It is definitely a Disney classic! The Jungle Book Diamond Edition is now out in stores everywhere in DVD and Blu-ray formats starting at $19.99.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Disney's The Lone Ranger Blu-Ray and DVD Combo Pack Now Available!

The Lone Ranger is a remake of the TV show of the same name that aired in the 50's. Disney remade it into an exciting action packed movie, staring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer as the title characters, Tonto and The Lone Ranger. While I am not familiar with the premis of the TV show, I did catch The Lone Ranger in theatres with my family and everyone enjoyed it. Johnny Depp plays another over-the-top character, Tonto, who teams up with The Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer) to seek vengeance after justice has failed them.

There are plenty of extra features on the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, which is just what I like!

- Bloopers
- Deleted Scene
- Ridng the Rails of The Lone Ranger - learn what it takes to film one of the most epic train chases of all time
- Armie's Western Road Trip - hit the trail with Armie Hammer as he wades through rivers, battles dust storms, and shares what it's like to shoot in the American Southwest
- Becoming a Cowboy - watch as the actors enter Cowboy bootcamp

The Lone Ranger has now been released on Blu-ray and DVD and is available in stores starting from $21.99. This is a must add to your Disney library and for fans of a good fun Western themed movie!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Muppet Treasure Island and The Great Muppet Caper - 2 Muppety Adventures Movie Collection

Disney has re-released two great Muppet movies on Blu-ray and DVD combo pack. You can go on a swashbuckling adventure with Kermit and Miss Piggy in Muppet Treasure Island or follow a jewel heist in The Great Muppet Caper! Your favourite Muppets will all be there, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear and the Great Gonzo! The movies have been restored so you can enjoy these movies in HD.

There are tons of bonus features included on the discs as well:

- Frog-e-oke sing-along - sing, howl and croak along with Kermit and the gang
- The Tale of the Store Beyond the Tail - a look back at the making of the movie
- "Let the Good Shine Out" music video
- Audio commentary with Gonzo, Rizzo and Brian Henson

This two movie collection will provide hours of entertainment for the family and is available now on Blu-ray and DVD for $24.99. This pirates and pigs collection is perfect to tide over any Muppets fans who are impatiently waiting for the newest Muppets movie to come out. I'm extremely excited for Muppets Most Wanted to arrive in theatres this March. I was very happy to be adding so many Muppets movies to my collection this year.

While you're in stores, why not grab a copy of The Muppet Movie - The Original Classic too? It's on sale now for only $14.99 and you can relive the Muppets adventure that started it all.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Disney's PLANES Flies Into Stores November 19!

Disney's PLANES is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 19 so now you can enjoy Dusty Crophopper and his friend's adventure. I really enjoyed the movie in theatres so I am very excited to add this to my collection.

“PLANES” is propelled by a star-studded voice cast that includes Dane Cook (“Louie,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Dan in Real Life”) as Dusty, Stacy Keach (“The Bourne Legacy,” “Nebraska”) as Navy Corsair Skipper, Teri Hatcher (ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” “Coraline”) as say-it-like-it-is mechanic Dottie, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Seinfeld”) as Rochelle, Priyanka Chopra (“Barfi!”) as Ishani, John Cleese (Monty Python, “A Fish Called Wanda”) as Bulldog, Carlos Alazraqui (James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”) as El Chupacabra, Roger Craig Smith (Captain America in Disney XD’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” voice of Sonic The Hedgehog in “Wreck-It Ralph”) as the world champion racer Ripslinger, Val Kilmer (“Batman Forever,” “Top Gun”) as Bravo and Anthony Edwards (TV’s “ER,” “Top Gun”) as Echo.

The Blu-ray combo pack is full of bonus features including:

- Deleted Scenes
- Exclusive - Franz's Song
- Top Ten Flyers - Count down the world's most famous aviators with host Colin Cowherd
- Meet the Racers
- Klay's Flight Plan

For any fans of the Cars franchise, Planes would be the perfect companion movie! Check out this extended sneak peek of the DVD below!

Pick up Planes in stores on November 19th!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Scandal - The Complete 2nd Season Now Out on DVD

Scandal, the complete second season is now available on DVD!

Scandal is created by Shonda Rhimes (the creator of Grey's Anatomy) and is a political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington. It's a fast-paced show that will have you hooked after the first episode. Season 1 debuted on ABC in April 2012, with an 8-episode arc.

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is a "fixer", and runs a crisis management firm, Pope & Associates, and focuses on their staff as well as staff at the White House.

Season 2 picks up a few months after the end of season 1. Quinn's identity is exposed, Huck's dark past is delved into and Olivia's secrets are uncovered. Relive all 22 episodes of this explosive second season of Scandal, including exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features in this 5-disc set, that includes deleted scenes, outtakes, an extended finale, featurettes and more.

Watch as Olivia's "Gladiators in suits" heat up the boardroom and the bedroom in season 2 of Scandal!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided by the company for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Purex Plus Oxi Review and Giveaway

I was invited to be a Purex Insider and was given a bottle of Purex plus Oxi to test out. I have used Purex in the past, but not regularly, and now that I work in a lab, my clothes get dirty quite often, so I was pleased to find out that this particular bottle of laundry detergent contained both Oxi and Zout, which are stain removers. My mum swears by Zout, and basically every time there is a stain on my clothes, she tells me to put a little Zout on it before throwing it in the wash. Purex plus Oxi is the most powerful Purex detergent available, specially formulated to fight over 101 different stains. Instead of buying seperate bottles of stain removers, you can now use Purex plus Oxi to pretreat tough stains! Just pour a little Purex plus Oxi onto the stain, rub the stained fabric together using your fingers, wait five minutes and then add your clothes into the wash as you would normally do.

Purex plus Oxi has been formulated to work in both regular and high efficiency washing machines. I really liked the light and fresh scent, which wasn't too overpowering. It also has a hypoallergenic formula and is perfect for everyday laundry or heavily soiled loads of clothing.

Please visit Purex Laundry for more information on Purex plus Oxi and other Purex products.

* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 

Want to try Purex plus Oxi for yourself? 2 lucky readers will win 1 coupon for a free full sized bottle of Purex plus Oxi laundry detergent (up to $8 value). Giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. Enter in the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Purex for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Crest Pro-Health - BzzAgent Product Review

BzzAgent has given me the opportunity to review a few of the Crest Pro-Health products. I have been using their toothbrushes and toothpaste for several years now, ever since the line was introduced, so I was quick to accept. I did have to pay $1 for the products, though the money was donated.

 
I received a Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health toothbrush, Crest Pro-Health toothpaste and Crest Pro-Health multi-protection mouthwash.  Because I currently use these products, it was a no-brainer to write up a review.

The Oral-B toothbrush is one of my favourite toothbrushes I have used. I buy the ones with the soft bristles, and it has a large enough head that I feel really cleans my teeth as I brush. There are soft rubbery bristles on the sides of the toothbrush that also helps with the cleaning. As an added bonus, there are grooves on the back of the toothbrush head that you can use as a tongue scraper!

I received the Crest Pro-Health toothpaste in cool peppermint. I'm not a big fan of peppermint, and the toothpaste I currently use is Clean Mint flavour. The peppermint flavour is labelled ProFresh, and fights bad breath for hours. That sounds good to me! Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are a little grittier than I like, but it does leave a nice fresh and clean feeling after I brush.

Lastly, I tried out the Crest Pro-Health mouthwash. I rarely use mouthwash, and when I do, it's Listerine, but because Crest Pro-Health is an alcohol-free rinse, there is no burning sensation. It's definitely a lot more pleasant to use!

I think the three Crest Pro-Health products combined really leaves my mouth and teeth feeling clean and refreshed and I'll definitely continuing using this line. It's always great when I get to share my experience on products I already use! Have you tried any of the Crest Pro-Health products? Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given at a discount from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

International Delight Iced Coffee - BzzAgent Product Review

International Delight has introduced three flavours of their new, ready-to-drink beverage, just in time for the summer! The iced coffee comes in three flavours: Mocha, Vanilla and Caramel Macchiato. Being a mocha lover, that's the one I opted to try first. I was pretty impressed with the taste - there is a distinct flavour of coffee and the perfect amount of sweetness, very similar to the bottled Frappucino drinks you can find at Starbucks. I didn't add any ice into my tumbler, as I found the coffee was cold enough when coming straight out of the fridge.

The iced coffee comes in a 1.89L carton with a price point of between $4-5, which is a very good deal if you consider that's how much it costs to buy a comparable iced coffee drink in a coffee shop! I know I will be enjoying the rest of the flavours throughout the summer! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Always Infinity - BzzAgent Review

I was selected to be a part of the Always Infinity BzzAgent Campaign and I was quite pleased as Always has always my pad of choice. My monthly friend isn't really something I usually post about on such a public place like my blog, so bear with me!

I received Always Infinity and Always Maxi pads to compare.

Always Maxi is on the left, and Always Infinity is on the right. You can always see that the Maxi pad is a lot thicker than the Infinity.

First I cut out the core of the pads - the Maxi pad made quite a mess as its core is made of a soft cottony material. The Always Infinity felt almost like a smooth rubbery material and was extremely thin, and looked more breathable than the Maxi pad.

Next I was supposed to put coloured water onto the pads. Since I didn't have blue food colouring, I had to use red. Looks a bit gross, sorry! I didn't bother with an eye dropper, and just poured 1.5 tablespoons of the water right on to the pads.

Guess which one locked in the moisture the best? That's right, the water soaked right through the Maxi pad (I did put a LOT of water on both pads!) while the paper underneath the Infinity pad stayed dry!

My thoughts on the Always Inifinity pads were that they were very slim and are very comfortable to use. The thin core is so absorbent that it works great for heavy flows. An interesting fact is that the Always Inifinity pads are made from space-age material! In comparison, the Always Maxi pad was like a giant layer of cotton and felt almost diaper like! I have actually been using Always Inifity pads with Flexi Wings since it came out on the market, and I can honestly say that it is the best pad I have tried, and I have tried all the other major brands.

Have you tried Always Infinity pads? What are your thoughts on them?

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from BzzAgent for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

World's Best Cat Litter - Product Review

Any cat owner can tell you that cleaning the litter box can be one of the smelliest tasks, especially if you need to change the entire box, and the waste is stuck on the bottom. I have tried using clay litter and silica litter, but I'm always on the search for good cat litter that reduces the smell!

World's Best Cat Litter is made of whole-kernel corn, meaning there are no chemicals. Because corn is microporous, it easily absorbs odours and clumps quickly so the waste doesn't fall to the bottom of the litter box. One was of the things I noticed when I was pouring out the bag into the litter box was that there was no dust, so I didn't have to hold my breath like when I pour out clay litter. World's Best Cat Litter is all-natural and organic so it's better for your cat, for you, and for the environment!

A pale yellow colour, the litter is made of corn.

The cat litter comes in three formulas - clumping, multiple cat and scented multiple cat. I got to try the clumping formula, with a 7lb bag lasting a month with only one cat. Sunny seems to like it so far, and I have noticed that there has been a decrease in odour, so I'm quite pleased with it!

Sunny checking it out!

Not convinced? World's Best Cat Litter is currently running a mail-in-rebate promotion where you can try a bag of litter for free! Just print out and mail in the rebate form found on their website. World's Best Cat Litter is available at all major pet stores.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been provided free of charge from the company or PR firm for review. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Savvy Shopping, Deals and Reviews and have not been influenced in any other way.

Ecover Laundry Powder Zero - Product Review

One of the chores I enjoy doing every week is the laundry. Nothing beats the smell of freshly laundered clothes just out of the dryer! I always like to try new laundry products, so when I was sent a box of Ecover powdered laundry soap, I was pleased as punch. Ecover Zero is fragrance free without any harmful bleaches or brighteners. Everyone is going green now, so Ecover is the perfect step towards a greener lifestyle, as it uses plant-based and mineral ingredients, it's septic safe and biodegradable. I found my clothes to be clean and fresh after coming out of the wash. The only thing I wasn't too happy about was that it did not come with a measuring cup. Instead, there is an opening on the side of the box that you pour the powder out of, but I was unsure how much to add. Other than that, I thought Ecover Zero was a great laundry powder!

Ecover also makes dish detergents, cleaners, and hand soaps, among other products. To find out more about Ecover, go here.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was given free of charge as part of Naturally Savvy Approved Bloggers program. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Seapotato and have not been influenced in any other way.

Dr. Beckmann Colour & Dirt Collector - Product Review

When it comes to sorting through laundry, I can get pretty lazy, especially when there are multiple loads. Sometimes, I don't have enough whites to make a load so I just dump everything together and wash it all at once. Am I afraid of my coloured clothes bleeding onto the whites? Yes! But Dr. Beckmann has the solution for that, with the Colour and Dirt Collector sheets. It's a small white cloth that you pop into your washing machine drum when you add your clothes. The cloth will absorb any stray colours and dirt that comes off your clothes and will stay locked in the cloth. After trying out a sheet, the vibrant white cloth turned into a more dingy grey, proof of all the dirt and colour that is just swishing around all the clothes in the wash. I think these sheets are quite innovative and puts me at ease when I mix colours in the wash.

The Colour and Dirt Collector sheet fresh out of the package.

After the wash - the sheet is looking dingy and grey, with a hint of red.

For more information on Dr. Beckmann Colour and Dirt Collector sheets, or other Dr. Beckmann products, check out their website here.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was provided free of charge as a sample to test out. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Seapotato and have not been influenced in any other way.

Unjunk Your Junkfood - Book Review

We all love to eat junk food - me, maybe more than I should. I always feel guilty after a snacking session, not only because it's junk food, but I know processed foods are bad for you. The folks over at Naturally Savvy know this and have started an Edible (R)evolution and wants you to join! They even have a manifesto.

Unjunk Your Junk Food is a useful field guide on healthy alternatives to conventional snacks and stresses the importance of reading food labels - especially looking at the ingredients list before the Nutrition Facts panel. If a product has harmful ingredients, it is considered a bad choice, no matter how many calories it contains! There is even a handy tear-out list of the worst ingredients found in food products.

I took a look in my snack drawer to see if they contained any of The Scary Seven - ingredients to avoid at all costs!

1. High-Fructose Corn Syrup
2. Trans-fats
3. MSG
4. Artificial flavours
5. Artificial colours
6. Artificial sweeteners
7. Preservatives

Just typing out that list gives me the chills because we all know those ingredients are all associated with unhealthy eating! In my cupboards, I found Corn Flakes cereal, which contains preservatives (BHT), Chocolate Mini Wheats cereal (artificial flavour, BHT preservatives) and Chaokoh Coconut Juice (preservatives). Some snacks such as Kashi Pita Crisps and Larabar fruit and nut energy bar didn't have any of The Scary Seven ingredients, but I already knew they were "healthy" options. It was actually surprising how many food items contain the ingredients you should avoid.

Unjunk Your Junk Food is a very easy read and shows specific well-known brands of snack foods on one page, and better and healthier brand of the same snack on the facing page. This makes it easy to compare between the two options. No one is saying you should stop eating junk food, but just be aware that there are healthier options to your snacks, so look out for the list of ingredients on the food packaging.

You can purchase the book at Barnes & Noble (in stores and online), Amazon and other online retailers. Follow the Edible (R)evolution on Facebook and Twitter. You can have your cake and eat it too!

Disclaimer: The product mentioned above was given free of charge as part of Naturally Savvy Approved Bloggers program. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Seapotato and have not been influenced in any other way.

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light - Product Review

Pantene Pro-V has rolled out their newest line of hair care products - Aqua Light. The shampoo is a silicone-free formula, and washes out any heavy buildup in your hair. The shampoo smells great and lathers well. After using, my hair felt very clean, fresh and light. The Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Conditioner again smells great and left my hair feeling soft and shiny. The Weightless Conditioning Shake  is a dual-phase formula that helps protect against heat damage while you blow-dry your hair and is a conditioning spray that nourishes your hair. Because there are oils in the formula, it left my hair feeling a little oily after I sprayed it on, which I didn't like. I would recommend the shampoo and conditioner in the Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light line and they are a great shampoo and conditioner duo.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned above were provided free of charge as part of ChickAdvisor’s Product Review Club. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Seapotato and have not been influenced in any other way.