Product Review: Rice Twice and Raisin Bran by Erewhon
* Note: I was sent 2 boxes of cereal by Attune Foods after Fitbloggin to sample and review. The thoughts and opinions below regarding the product are my own.
I AM IN LOVE.
With a cereal.
I have to tell you, I am usually not a big fan of crispy rice cereal. Well, unless it is covered in butter and marshmallows and cut into thick gooey squares. YUMMO. It gets soggy quick and I am not usually a fan of the taste. Let’s just say it was never my first choice in cereal.
Until now.
Anyway, at Fitbloggin, I got a chance to try Erewhon cereals at breakfast each morning. Roni had arraigned for an array of berries to add to 4 or 5 different kinds of cereal. They only one that looked interesting was the Gluten Free Crispy Brown Rice. I was intrigued by the fact that it was made with brown rice and that it was gluten free (I have a good friend who is gluten intolerant and I am always on the lookout for good GF products).
I poured myself a bowl and add 1 percent milk, blueberries, blackberries and a packet of Splenda.
WOWIE ZOWIE!! So Freaking. Good. I ended up going back for seconds. The brown rice is crisp, and while it did get a tiny bit soggy at the end, I actually was eating the tasty crispies up so fast, they didn’t have time to get soggy!
Before I left Fitbloggin, after the group picture, there was a swag room with all the leftover swag from bags or just products from sponsors. I bee-lined to the cereal table and picked up another box of Crispy Brown Rice. I also found Annalies, the Attune guru, who gave me an adorable Attune bowl that has a screw-tight lid.
[caption id="attachment_1787" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Adorable green bowl from Attune Foods"][/caption]
SCORE!! When I got back to my room, I remembered I had a (very) strict one carryon, one purse rule on the plane and I was not about to crush my precious box of deliciousness. I had already packed my carryon to the point of bursting. So I used the string backpack from Sears FitStudio to “smuggle” the box carefully onto the plane—the gate attendant didn’t even notice!!
[caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="GF Crispy Brown Rice"][/caption]
When I got home, I mentioned on Twitter to Annalies that I loved the cereal and bowl I had gotten from Fitbloggin, she mentioned that she would be happy to send out a few boxes of the other Erewhon cereals for me to try out.
I used to eat another brand of Raisin Bran every morning – until I realized how much sugar was in each serving. I liked the taste, and I loved that it was full of healthy fiber. But all that sugar? Oof.
When I learned that Erewhon’s version of Raisin Bran had MUCH lower sugar and that the sugar was not table sugar but organic barley malt.
The fiber-filled flakes are not so much a flake, but much closer to what a wheat berry would look like when just steamed. The berries have a very earthy, wheat flavor that is tasty and crunchy- very good. The raisins are plump and not covered in sugar like other brands might be- they are naturally sweet and delicious. I have about 2 servings left in the box and I am already looking for a store that sells it.
[caption id="attachment_1788" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Rice Twice!! Love it!"][/caption]
As much as I loved the Raisin Bran, I loved Rice Twice even more.
Seriously, I DREAM about this cereal.
It’s great: crispy brown and puffy brown rice meet, have a subtle glaze of honey and rice syrup drizzled over them, and they end up in your breakfast bowl.
So tasty, so light, so right.
So amazing.
I have already bought 3 boxes of this stuff and I just noticed this morning that I have only one serving left. Gonna have to get myself to the store and get some more, I guess.
By the way, I wish I could buy a set of the adorable green Attune bowls. The one I have is the perfect size to take leftovers to work, a bowl of cereal (of course), nice to use as a place to whip up my egg whites. I need 4 since I am too lazy busy to wash the one I have after each use… hence the picture in the dishwasher!
Disclaimer: I attended Fitbloggin 10 and Tide was a sponsor. In our conference bags, everyone received a coupon for a free bottle of Tide Sport with Febreeze. I was not asked to review the product.
When I saw the coupon in the bag at Fitbloggin I was so happy- I had seen Tide Sport with Febreze advertised in magazines and on TV, but had yet to see it in the store. Since I love trying new products (and usually end up buying them before the coupons in the Sunday paper come out) I was so happy to have received the coupon so I could run out and try the product gratis. To be totally honest, I am living with a friend right now for free and I usually use whatever laundry soap she currently buys. Right now, it is Tide Free. I like a smell with my soap, so I have been buying Clorox Colorsafe Bleach so my stuff smells atleast like something when it gets out of the wash. When I workout I stink. No really, S T I N K. Whatever I ate the night before comes out in my sweat but smells 10 times worse than when I ate it. I also sweat alot (sweating means the workout is WORKING…right??) and my pants and shirts take the brunt of my sweatiness. And don’t get me started on my socks and undies. EW. So when I peel everything off to take a shower, I need to throw them in the wash pronto. But when they come out, they don’t always smell fresh (see: roommate buys unscented soap). Enter Tide Sport with Febreze. Man, this stuff is almost OVERPOWERING when you open the bottle. It has a very VERY strong smell to it. Almost too strong. I opened the bottle in the store to smell it, and it almost knocked me over. That strong.I wish I could explain to you what it smells like. Not flowery, not boy-y, not perfumey. Kind of a combination of all three, if that makes sense? But hang with me, it gets a little bit better.I threw my workout clothes in the wash with a 1/2 capful, and let the soap do the washing. When the cycle was done, the clothes looked clean and did not have any soapy residue on them. When I took the clothes out to put them in the dryer, the smell was strong, but not as strong as when I put them in the dryer. Obviously not as strong as smelling the bottle– but the clothing no longer smelled like an armpit so score one for Tide. After a turn in the dryer with an unscented dryer sheet (roommate again), The clothing still strongly smelled of the detergent, but actually, the smell was growing on me. And that’s a good thing, after folding the clothes and putting them away, my hands smelled like the detergent. Note: I got a 50 load bottle for free.
Here’s my recap:Did I like the product: Yes and no. My workout clothing no longer smelled horrible, but the smell of the detergent was a little strong for my liking.Will I use the product again: Yes, I have 49 more loads left in the bottle, and I will use it exclusively for my workout clothing.If the company asked me, would I change anything about the product: Yes. I would dial down the fragrance by about 30 percent. Would/Will I recommend this product to friends: If they have real issues with stinky clothing and like a strong-smelling detergent? Yes. If you try/have tried Tide Sport with Febreze, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
It has a push button in the top that makes it impossible for my purse to get soaked AND it has a carabiner to hook the bottle to my purse strap or another strap.
It is made of BPA-free plastic (score!) and it comes in cute colors… I have one in pink, grey and lime green as I was lucky to find them in a three-pack at the store.
It hold 24oz of water (and has HUGE markings) so I know how much I am getting, and I really love that the opening is big enough for me to put in ice cubes AND clean it properly. I can even throw it in the dishwasher!
I give this bottle 2 thumbs WAY up! I am totally taking my set to Fitbloggin ’10!
Note: I bought this waterbottle with my own monies. No compensation from the company or anyone else for this review.
*Disclaimer: I received these free items through either swag bags or via Twitter contests while at BlogHer ’09. I was not paid by any company to post about my like (or dislike) of these items.
*Note: I thought I made this post live awhile back. I realized last night, I forgot to hit the “post” button. Sorry about that!
This, as you may have read, was my first BlogHer. I had a blast (even though I was a paid member of LobbyCon and not the “official” BlogHer) I was able to attend a few amazing parties, classes and win some great things through Twitter update contests. Here, in no particular order, are the things I loved from BlogHer:
I so super love this thing. MomTv was giving this away through a Twitter Giveaway, and I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time! I have never in my life owned a video camera (other than the crappy versions on my point-n-shoot camera or cellphone) so this was a godsend. I carry it around in my purse, I can (in less than 3 clicks) upload videos to my YouTube or Photobucket account, or copy/paste to my desktop to edit the video. The controls are easy to use, it is easy to set up and I am loving it. Just 3 things to know: MAKE SURE the battery is facing the correct way when inserting it- the camera will charge even if the battery is incorrectly installed, but the camera will not turn on, my work computer will not work with the Vado; too many protections set up from corporate IT. It works fine on my personal laptop though, and it sometimes seems too easy to use- I feel like I could really mess it up it I tried.
Another Twitter Giveaway, I am BLOWN AWAY at the quality of this clothing. BLOWN AWAY.
(photos coming- another computer issue!)
As a quick aside, I know we don’t know each other well (yet), but I am the type of person that would lounge in pajama pants and a big tee-shirt all day if I could. I work at a pretty lax place when it comes to clothing (and I am in the office all the time never seeing anyone that would really care what I wear) so I usually wear nice tees and jeans or black pants and a semi nice shirt to work, but always comfy stuff. When I tried on this yoga wear, all I could think about was going to yoga class or relaxing somewhere with a good book.
But what I love about the items (a tunic, pants and a scarf) is that they are both great for workout, post-workout and running errands clothes. At 5’3, I am a bit too short for the pants, but Jodi Guber, the founder of Beyond Yoga told me that, after washing, you can actually cut the pant legs down to size! No fraying! LOVE THAT!
You have to feel the fabric to understand how lux it is- I mean, LIKE BUTTA. I wear the scarf all the time, and everyone wants to feel how soft it is. The tunic is great- As I have *clears throat* gained some weight the past few months, It is a great figure hider. I can throw it on after my yoga class over my skin tight sweaty shirt, or just wear it out (with a thin tank under as it is slightly see-through) to get groceries. The color is wonderful too– such a great deep shade of purple/plum.
Jodi has been gracious enough to offer 20 percent off to my readers at Beyond Yoga if you use the code “AJLUVS” at checkout.
I am telling you- these clothes are awesome and you will totally get good use out of them. Really.
My review of my Land’s End necklace (yes, they sell jewelry!) coming soon!
*Note: I received the Bounce Dryer Bar at BlogHer for free from the Bounce people. I was not asked to review it, but I wanna. So I’m gonna.
I hate doing laundry – pretty much more than anything. But when I moved to my new place a few months ago, for the first time in over 7 years I have laundry in my unit and didn’t have to go 14 floors to a shared laundry room.
I decided I would be grown up and start treating my clothing well, and washing them on a semi regular basis. I mean, how lazy could I be?
While at BlogHer, I was given a 4 month Bounce Dryer Bar.
This this is cool.
Super cool.
I will never have to put in a dryer sheet again! One less step.
They are simple to use-or atleast should be.
Pull the sticker off the bottom of a holder, stick the holder on a smooth area of the drum in the dryer, slide the dryer ball on the holder and WA-LA! Done.
Well, when I got home from BlogHer, I ripped that baby open…
and found no sticker on the bottom of my holder.
I called the 800 number on the back of the box, and a week later, got a check in the mail for a free dryer bar.
I went and bought a new bar (with sticker), easily installed it about 2 months ago, and haven’t used a dryer sheet since.
UNTIL ABOUT 5 MINUTES AGO.
I am home this morning waiting for the moving company to come do the assessment on my house.
I figured I should get some housework done in between working from home and reading emails.
I washed my sheets, then threw them in the dryer (sans dryer sheet).
All the sudden, I heard CLUNK, CLINK, CLUUUUUUUNK, repeat, coming from the other room.
I freaked out thinking something was falling off the wall or something… I didn’t know what the hell it was…
It was coming from the dryer.
I opened the door and found the fully intact (thank goodness) Dryer Bar on top of my sheets. I tried to put it back on the holder, but it was too warped.
RIP Dryer Bar. It was fun while it lasted! Thank you for not ruining my clothes!
PS: I do laundry about 3 times a week. It may be why the bar stayed on so long.
PSS: When looking for the URL for the product, I found ALOT of other people who are not happy with the bar. You might want to hold off buying it until they fix the problems.
I have always been a Ragu lover- Their Traditional and Mushroom varieties have been a staple in my house since, well, always. I am not a sweet sauce person; I enjoy more of the savory.
So when I heard that there was a lighter version of sauce, with no added sugar, I was overjoyed and ran right out to the store to grab a jar to try.
At first, I was disappointed that my go-to sauce, Traditional, was not in the light variety. I am kinda picky when it comes to sauce, so I almost didn’t grab what I thought was the closest to Traditional, Tomato & Basil.
I first decided to make a homemade pizza with the sauce.
As it poured from the jar onto my pizza crust, it was a bit more liquid than I thought it was going to be, but it had a great texture of chunky tomatoes and onions big enough to see (Note: I am NOT an onion person, but you cannot taste them. Promise.)
The pizza was cooked, cut, and I dove in.
WOW! The sauce has a great tomato flavor and it is not overwhelmed by the basil. It is reminiscent of the Traditional version of Ragu, but better, I think. Very “pizzeria” sauce like.
When that jar was gone, I went back to Publix and bought two more! Run to the store to get your own! It’s really good!
Over the years, I have been on a quest to find the perfect yogurt.
When I lived in Iowa, I was coo-coo for AE Yo Lite Black Cherry Yogurt. I wouldn’t eat anything BUT that yogurt. It was smooth, had a great black cherry taste (and chunks of black cherry included!) and it was good for me without tasting good for me. I also loved the blueberry and strawberry flavors too.
When I moved to Chicago, I could not find the “local” brand of AE, so I started experimenting, and only because I started WW did I start eating WW Yogurt in blueberry and strawberry. While I liked it, I always pined for the taste of the AE yogurt.
Before I forget to say this- I am an anti-peach yogurt eater. I can’t stand peach yogurt. Not sure why, I just -can’t.
When I moved to Atlanta, I was looking for WW yogurt at a store that didn’t carry it when I came across the Greek yogurt section of the ever-expanding yogurt isle. I was afraid to try something different (read: I am picky!) but figured if I hated it, I could always throw it away.
I picked up a few brands, but none of them had black cherry, so started looking for my second favorite- blueberry. Chobani Low fat Greek yogurt had blueberry, and the packaging was so cute – short and squatty!
Let me tell you, it was delicious! Greek yogurt has a flavor and texture all its own – creamy, thick, tangy and rich. The blueberry flavor is not too overwhelming, and GASP! there are plump while blueberries in the mix! The blueberry is on the bottom of the cup, so you get a little arm workout mixing in the flavor, which I find fun. Greek yogurt has 28% of the protein you need in a day in just one serving– I eat a cup for breakfast each day and it helps keep me satisfied until lunch.
While it is a bit pricey, (I paid 1.39 for one cup) it is well worth it if you want a good yogurt that hits the spot and helps you meet your protein goals (especially if you are a veggie!)
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