Natures Path = High Quality Organic Products!

 Food, it is one of the most important factors in living a high quality life. These days its hard to know which foods are best with the thousands of different products that claim to be high quality. For me and my family, finding the best of the best in organic, non GMO, nutritious, and delicious foods was quite simple after trying Nature's Path products!   

Nature's Path creates a number of different products that are all healthy choices for your family. Not only are all their products outstanding but they are so environmentally friendly and socially responsible that they have an entire web page about it here. 

They have tons of different products that even I haven't tried them all yet but here are the products I have tried and absolutely recommend. 

It makes me so happy to see my kids munching on these fantastic snacks because I know they can sit there and pig out and not be eating a bunch of preservatives and sugar. I absolutely love having a great big bowl of Qia Creamy Coconut Oatmeal with sliced bananas and whole wheat toast, I eat it first thing in the morning and have lasting energy and a full belly til after lunch time. 

You can find many Nature's Path products in your local grocery stores. Trust me you will not be disappointed in making the switch to Nature's Path.

Thank you Justine for letting me take part in sharing these wonderful products with the world. I received these products free to try but I truly loved them, all opinions are my own and I only share the best with my readers.

Simple Slow-melt Popsicles

Summer is poking its head around the corner rather quickly this year, which means hot sweaty kids looking for cool sweet treats. Have you seen the price of popsicles these days? $7 for a box of 12 simple, and small I might add popsicles!?! I was absolutely horrified to see the prices at the grocery store. I am not paying those prices and neither should you.

A few years ago they came out with these slow melting popsicles and they turned out to be quite popular amongst parents with small kids due to the fact that the treat ends up in the kids mouths as opposed to all over them. I decided to read the ingredients on the side to get a hint at the secret to slow melt popsicles, nothing more than gelatin. 

Slow-Melt Popsicles

All you do is make the jello according to the packaging, pour into desired mold and freeze. You could use the dixie cup kind with sticks and disposable cups but those just seem so wasteful. I bought my popsicle mold on Amazon for around 20 dollars and it can be used again and again. Jello costs around $1 so you can see instantly how absolutely crazy the savings are!

Jello popsicles are much more flavorful then any juice pop and they have that slow melt factor thanks to the gelatin. This is an all around awesome treat!

Upcycle Cut Off Shorts

Summer is here in British Columbia. Today we hit 28 degrees Celsius and we are only in May, it is going to be a toasty warm summer. We have dusted off all of last years shorts and found lots of cut off denim shorts that all fit fine but look like they could use a helping hand. 

 

So I got the shorts and some leftover Babyville Boutique fabric I had laying around and got to work. Camo is by far the most favorite color in my household by far, so I am glad I had some left! I began by cutting strips that were 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. 

Then I wrapped the fabric around the bottoms of the shorts and began sewing. It was a bit tricky to get the fabric to stay in place but if you have a sewing machine I'm sure it will be much easier. Sew the strips on until the entire bottom of each leg is covered.

 And there you have it, completely new shorts in under an hour. My son was super happy he thought they looked so cool. And I love how they look, very clean cut and unique. What do you think?

Bissell Little Green Machine Revamps Kids Mattresses

Kids are super messy little creatures, we all know this. But do we all know how terribly disgusting their mattresses can get after 4 - 6 years of accidents, bloody noses, vomit, boogers, and whatever else secretes from these little monsters? I wash my kids bedding twice a month but I have never thoroughly cleaned their mattresses, anytime they have any kind of bedtime mishap I usually just spot clean it. I warn you the pictures are pretty nasty. 

This is what my sons mattress looked like after 4 years of rough, tough, messes. Can you see that white streak down the center? That is how awesome the Bissell Little Green Machine is!

This is my daughters mattress which was pretty nasty to say the least. I decided to show the power of Bissell Little Green Machine by marking an X right in the center. 

This tiny little machine is a stain destroyer! The formula has a wonderful, delicate smell that lingers long after the furniture is cleaned. Your entire house smells better after you get a thorough, deep clean in the fabrics that live in your home.

This is the before and after shot of my daughters bed. It is simply amazing how clean my kids beds are now. I bought the Bissell Little Green Machine at Walmart for under $100 and now I can deep clean my house over and over again. You can also buy this Bissell product and more at their website www.bissell.com. Or Amazon of course:

This post was in no way sponsored by Bissell. All opinions are my own and I share only the best with my readers.

Favorite Color Swap & Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Review

I am very excited to announce that I am a part of another great swap by CG Swaps.The favorite color swap is one of my favorites, it is always such an amazing surprise and great to see how kind and thoughtful your swap partner is. My favorite colors are blue and hot pink lately, I am not a very picky person so usually I enjoy all colors. 

I can't wait to get shopping for my swap partner, whoever they may be. If you haven't signed up for a swap before I strongly urge you to do so. It is fun to receive surprises from a complete stranger, I promise you won't regret it. 

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Sunscreen Review

Choosing a good sunscreen is a journey that can last forever with the millions of different strengths, brands, prices, and products, how are you supposed to know which sunscreen actually works? I have tried well over 25 different kinds in the past 3 years from the highest price to the lowest and everything in between. Well I have finally found an amazing sunscreen that does everything it says it does. 

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch sunscreen protects my skin so well that I don't break out in hives when I go outside. I have a moderate to severe sun allergy and until now I have suffered with giant hives that scab and turn into huge ugly scars as soon as the sun hits my skin. Ever since using Hawaiian Tropic I haven't gotten hardly any hives and any that I have gotten have been extremely mild and they have only appeared after hours of constant sun exposure. 

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch leaves my skin soft, not oily, smells terrific, and it has this amazing shimmery look that makes my skin look radiant. This outstanding product is always under $10 making it one of the least expensive sunscreens on the market and I use it on my entire family. It is waterproof as well so a day at the beach is in the calendar this summer as long as I have this sunscreen with me.

This review was not endorsed in any way. I chose to share my thoughts about this product because it has changed my life. I can now go outside in the sun with my family and not suffer in pain. Thank you Hawaiian Tropic!

Copycat Boston Pizza's Pizza Bread

Craving Boston Pizza’s famous pizza bread? This easy copycat Boston Pizza pizza bread recipe lets you make the buttery, herby bread at home with simple ingredients and homemade dough. It’s an inexpensive appetizer, snack, or side dish that’s perfect for dipping in marinara sauce. 

Another super simple recipe your family will love is this super simple Cheesy One Pot Skillet

Why are you going to love this recipe?

• Budget-friendly: Make restaurant-style pizza bread at home for much less than ordering it.
• Simple ingredients: The dough and seasoning use basic pantry staples.
• Customizable: Add cheese, extra garlic, or your favourite herbs.
• Perfect for dipping: Serve with marinara or pizza sauce.
• Great as an appetizer or side dish: It works for pizza night, game day, parties, or family dinners.

Another amazing copycat recipe that I created that we love in our house is the Cotton Candy Crunch Blizzard! 

This is one of my favourite recipes with restaurant quality that costs next to nothing. When I am trying to be frugal and watch my budgeting I create recipes like this, and follow all my simple finance tips for motivation and have been extremely successful. 

Don’t knock the simplicity this dish is sweet and salty and savoury all in one. The best Bandera Bread you can make is at home in your own oven, it costs pennies on the dollar to make it and it’s a frugal craving fixer that anyone can create! This tastes almost identical to Boston Pizza’s delectable dish and is so cheap it’s crazy! 

I also created this amazing Copycat Dunkaroo Recipe for the kids lunches and snacks and they absolutely loved them and it costed practically nothing to make. 

Pizza Bread Dough

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 pinch of salt

 Seasoning

• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion salt
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp sugar

1. Combine the water, yeast, and 1 tsp of sugar and pinch of salt in the mixing bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the flour and salt and mix until a ball of dough forms. Roll ball onto a floured counter top and knead for a couple minutes. 

2. Put dough in an oiled bowl and let rise for 30 mins in a warm place with a clean cloth draped over top. While your dough is rising combine all the seasonings in either a small bowl or a spice grinder and make sure they are all well combined. 

3. After your dough is done rising roll out your dough into desired size, it can easily be used for any pizza recipe you wish. Use one of these non stick pans to ensure cooking quality. For this Pizza Bread you need to brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with the seasoning mix all over.

4. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden brown. While the pizza bread is still hot dab with more melted butter for a beautiful finish.

5. Grab a jar of Classico Bolognase sauce or make a meat sauce or other great red sauce from scratch for dipping and you are good to go! 

6. Enjoy :) 

I have also made this recipe for a desert and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top instead of the savoury spices and it is exactly like the cinnamon sticks you buy at your local pizza places. Dip it into a simple icing recipe and you are all set!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use store-bought pizza dough?

Yes. Store-bought pizza dough can be used for a faster version of this copycat Boston Pizza pizza bread.

What do you serve with pizza bread?

Serve it with marinara sauce, pizza sauce, pasta sauce, or your favourite dipping sauce.

Can I freeze homemade pizza bread?

Yes. Allow the baked pizza bread to cool completely, wrap it well, and freeze it. Reheat it in the oven or air fryer for the best texture.

Can I make this recipe into breadsticks?

Absolutely. Roll the dough into a rectangle and cut it into breadstick shapes before baking.

Is this the same as Boston Pizza Bandera Bread?

This is a homemade copycat pizza bread recipe inspired by the pizza bread you can order at Boston Pizza. Since restaurant recipes can vary by location and change over time, I would describe it as an inspired copycat rather than claiming it is the official recipe.

That last point is particularly useful because online discussions show people actively searching for the difference between Boston Pizza’s pizza bread and Bandera Bread.

This recipe is one of my favourites and it is so easy to make. Take a look at these other amazing recipes on our recipe page for more simple but tasty dishes to share with your family! 

Take a look at some of our favourite brands on our review page we have worked with in the past, we are always open to new partnerships! 

If you are looking for an amazing blogger and content creator to work with take a look at my media kit here: https://www.funkyfrugalmommy.com/p/contact_2.html?m=1 I always give 100% when working with brands and businesses and ensure you get the most coverage possible! 

We are always looking to share our financial experiences while raising a family and running our own businesses. We used to be terrible with money and now we are very financially successful and responsible. We love to use credit cards believe it or not and they can actually have many benefits if used correctly. We have dug ourselves out of debt in a huge way over the last 5 years and always want to help others do the same. Take some of our amazing tips and make a better life for you and your loved ones. Don’t forget to look at the best credit card for cashback!

Take a look at this post on how to make money online while your waiting for your bread to cook!

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Hanging Mother's Day Thumbprint Gift

The best gifts for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and more is one that is handmade and comes from the heart. This neat little salt dough craft lets your loved one know how much you love them. 

The recipe is quite simple:

Salt Dough Recipe

• 1 cup flour
• 1cup salt 
• 1/2 cup water

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add water as needed until the dough feels like play dough. Roll out with a rolling pin and cut out with desired shapes. We used the bear and one heart per child. Have your children/child make a thumbprint in the center of the heart. Use a toothpick or pencil to create holes to thread the pieces together once they are cooked. Cook at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or until dried completely and hardened. You can paint when cool if you like, I like the way it looks though. 

If you used a bear you can use the phrase "We love you beary much" or use your own adorable saying to melt the heart of your loved one. I wrote the names of each child right next to the coordinating thumbprint. Tie each piece together so it can hang as a single piece. Now Grandma has an adorable keepsake.

Tea Time Hanging Planter

I have added a new addition to my Alice In Wonderland themed garden. If you haven't seen it yet go here. I think these are the perfect addition to my setup and I have the step by step instructions for you here!

You will need a cup and saucer, some kind of strong string, scissors, and tape.

Cut four pieces of string the exact same length. Now place one piece of string directly across the center and tape in place. 

Be sure to tape in the center as well as the sides. Repeat with the remaining strings exactly as pictured below.

Now once all of your strings are secured pick the plate up exactly the way it is now with the strings dangling down like a jellyfish. I found this the easiest way to grab all the strings at once. Hold them all tightly together. 

Tie the strings in a knot. You should have something that looks like this. Now you can put your plants in your cup put the cup on the saucer and hang it in an adorable place. 

I planted morning glories which should grow out and look spectacular. I put a layer of rocks in the very bottom of my cup under the soil so I know it will drain nicely and not over water.