Canvas Review

When I decided to review a canvas print company Steve and I knew right away that we wanted to do a landscape picture from one of our camping trips. 

Easy Canvas gave us the option of a 16 x 20 to review, we were quite excited about it. A friend reviewed the company was a little disappointed in the softness of the print so I got a bit nervous about it. But I can say that the print turned out just great.

We took the above picture and turned it in to this.

We are quite happy with the look of the canvas in general. We haven't hung it up yet but we will it is going in our dining room.  

Here is an extreme closeness of the softness, I was talking about. But this is a pretty tight close up. From an average distance you can't tell but I could see how if this was a portrait it wouldn't maybe look as nice. I think it worked great for a landscape.  

 The canvas came out a bit bluer than the original picture but for this picture it worked just fine. We would definitely do it again. 

If would like to do a review email community@easycanvasprints.com and tell them I referred you.

Please review my disclosure page
~ Cassi

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Crystal Farms Nibblers Review

"Mom, when I grow up I am going to have a blog. So I can get free cheese!!" This was the first thing my 10 year old said when the container arrived from Crystal Farms.

That should tell you how much cheese is loved at our house. Which made this an easy yes when I was contacted by Ryan from Crystal Farms.

They sent out four styles of their new Nibblers snack packs for us to try.

Chipotle Pepper Cheddar

Habanero Monterey Jack

Smoky BBQ Cheddar

Sour Cream & Onion Monterey Jack

Let me first start with the packaging. It is the perfect road trip size, big enough for the family to share but small enough to fit in a cooler. We came to an agreement around the table that is how we'd most use these Nibblers.  

Next lets talk about the CHEESE!

The cheese comes in nugget size bites, which I think was the perfect size for these flavors. The flavors are a bit intense at first and I think bigger sizes would have been to much.

Each piece was coated in a powder style seasoning, except for the Habanero that one had peppers in the cheese.

Chipotle Pepper Cheddar: This one and the BBQ had a similar taste but was slightly better in my opinion. 

Habanero Monterey Jack: From the adults at the table this one was the overall winner by far.  This one had an overall great taste and was perfect added to the tacos also. Mouse thought they were a little spicy but liked them mixed into her taco. 

Smoky BBQ Cheddar: This one was the winner from the kids. Both my 10 year old and my 18 month nephew loved this one. Also Steve and my brother considered this one their second choice for flavor. I am not a BBQ flavoring fan so this was my least favorite out of the group.

Sour Cream & Onion Monterey Jack: The first round of Nibblers we had (they sent us two bags of each) no one but Mouse really cared for this flavor. This one seemed to be a bit more powdery then the other ones, making it taste like a Sour Cream and Onion Pringles Chips. But the second time we had them I have to say this one really grew on me and would probably become my second favorite out of the group.

Thank you Crystal Farms for letting us review your new Nibblers. We were not paid, except in cheese for this review and all opinions are our own. Please see my disclosure page for more info on Bright Forest review policies. 

And now go out and eat some cheese!

~ Cassi

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the Princess Cruise!

Last Weekend Mouse and I were asked to come aboard the Padelford Packet Boat Co. to review their Princess Cruise.

Well Mouse thought she may be a little old for the cruise so she wanted to bring along her neighbor friend, who is 4. Which was a great thought because Miss S is a princess fanatic! And I love spending time with Jess, her Mom.

So us girls got all dolled up for a ride down the Mississippi with the princesses.

The cruise states it's for ages 3-12. But I think 12 is pushing it. The cruise is pretty simplistic in nature. You have the princess's in not authentic costumes and no decoration. All things 12 (or 10) year olds will point out. But the 3 -6 year olds on the trip thought they were great! Miss S loved waving to the princesses then getting right up next to them.

The cruise lacked a bit in decor and snacks. I thought with a princess theme the boat would be decked out in pink crepe and balloons but a disco ball was the only addition. Again the little one didn't mind at all but the older one and us adults were wondering at it. The boat it's self is cool and historic, which my history lover Mouse thought was great.

Miss S had a blast at the dance party, I think if it was warmer that day Mouse would have liked it too. Mouse also loved looking at the scenery as we paddled down the river. Miss S also enjoyed the story time the princess's provided. This again showed it was much more set up for the younger ages.

But in all it was a fun trip with the girls and they each got something out of the trip.

I just want to say thank you to Capt. Tracy Shimek for giving us the opportunity to review the river boat cruises and the Princess Cruise.

~ Cassi Please see my disclosure page

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Shutterfly Review

Before we left on vacation, I was contact by Shutterfly to review their product. So here it is they supplied the product but the opinion is all my own.

Now most of you know I am a professional photographer on the side. I love the quality of my local professional printer for prints. But they don't have a lot of fun products and what they do have can be pretty expensive.

And I am like the rest of you, I don't want to spend a lot of fun photo items because in a few months to years the photo is out date. So when it comes to the fun stuff like personalized calendars (which I make every year for Father's day for Steve), mugs and cellphone covers I use shutterfly.

I chose the travel mug from them as my item to review. We are travel mug fanatics at our house, I think we have 12.  But most of the (since I broke my last photo mug from when Mouse was in Preschool) are random business logos. Alright, they are not random they all are from the autobody shop we frequent. I might have a driving problem. OK, back to the point travel mugs!

I loved the different designs you can choose from for their mugs. They have two mug styles too; a stainless steel style or a plastic style. I like the feel of a stainless better but the design options on the plastic better suited my style.

I choose photos from our trip to California last year. And I have to truly say I love how it turned out.
I have washed and submerged it in water and the seal seems pretty tight, no condinsation or water getting to the picture.
I am also a klutz, spill central over here! And the lid on this locks very nice, see! There is some slight leakage from where the lid twists on to the cup but not to bad.
All in all I am pretty happy with it.

~ Cassi

Please check out my disclosure page



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Review~ AmyKatherine Bag

On Zulily last month AmyKatherine had a bag sale that was amazing. I had been looking for a bag to use as a camera bag for portrait sessions. And this one matched my business colors, how perfect was that.

It came in the mail last week and I couldn't be more happy. AmyKatherine specials in Eco-friendly bags, making it out of canvas and faux leather like material.  There is four outside pockets, two with zippers.

See the one on the right side, perfect for a water bottle. The small zipper front pocket holds my business cards.

This back pocket is my only slight complaint, I wish it was a tab bigger. I would be perfect if I could have fit the Kindle Fire in this one. But the inside is plenty big enough to hold it and my camera gear.

The inside has three large side pockets, one zipper pocket and some pen holders. OK, now I know what you are thinking this isn't a camera bag but I fixed that. I bought this padded insert on Amazon.

This holds my camera, two lens (and will hold the third one that I will be getting soon) a flash and memory cards. Of course I bought it in yellow to match the bag and my logo.

One of the other features I wasn't sure if I would like was the flaps that go over the top. But I actually like them, it ads an extra coverage to the camera.  I also like that it has two different handles, the long across body one and two small handles.

AmyKatherine did not ask for this review, but I just had to write it.

~ Cassi

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Remembering to give thanks

 It's almost the end of the month and I haven't done my review on my newest Dayspring product. So here it is.
What is Dayspring you may ask. Well it is the Christian offshoot of Hallmark. But more importantly it have become more than just a product site. It has become a community of Christian woman by starting InCourage. They are really becoming a one stop shop online to get some Christian inspiration.
One of the things they do is each month there is a listing of products they have on sale which normally (like this one) corresponds with the holiday or season.
What can be more perfect for this Thanksgiving Month then a reminder to thank the one who has made all this (the world not just Dayspring or this blog but all of it) possible.

"To Live with JOY is to See GOD's Goodness" How true is that! This massive solid pedestal is engraved with the message that is such a needed reminder.  

Remember I said massive the pedestal is over a foot high and almost a foot round. And heavy the picture online makes it look a lot smaller. Yes, I know it gives measurements but I just didn't visualize it right. But I love the height it provides. I added some fall squashes to mine and put it on the cedar chest in our living room.  

This is what the whole deco looks like with my new pedestal. Head over to InCourage and check out the other deals the month. Or stop by Dayspring and pick up a pedestal for your self. If you go to the InCourage site first there is 50% coupon for the pedestal and the wooden caddy (which is also great).

Please see my disclosure page for deals of this review and others.

~ Cassi

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My first giveaway, thank you Dayspring

I have been a part of (in)Courage since I started this blog. I love the community there. A group of Christian women who really seem to get it. (in)Courage is run through Dayspring. Dayspring is the Christian off shoot of Hallmark.
Dayspring's product are beautiful and inspirational. They are also very varied in style, I think anyone could find something that fits their decor. So, when Dayspring put the word out at (in)Courage that they were looking for bloggers to review their product I jumped at the chance.
I am so excited for the product I was given to review. And it was perfect God timing. Steve and I were recently talking that within our home there is not a lot of public reference to our faith. So, we started talking about what we would like to see in our house. Next, thing Dayspring is sending me this beautiful serving tray to review!

The tray is made from metal and is brown with light tan etchings in it. It is very heavy and sturdy. I felt like it was pretty high quality material. It is not meant for food serving but it makes a great center piece. You can see it below as how I used it on our table. The only thing I would have liked was cleaning instructions. But since it shouldn't get to dirty I guess it is not really a worry. I do love the etchings they are so beautiful.

Each month Dayspring is featuring different products for sale based on what is being reviewed. The cross serving tray is only $17.99. Check out all the great products here.
So on to the GIVEAWAY! I am so excited about this too. I have never done one before. So how this is going to work:
1. Become a follower of my blog (1 comment)
2. Go to Dayspring; come back and tell me what you love (1 comment)
3. Like Dayspring on Facebook (1 comment)
That equals three chances to win a $20 gift card to Dayspring (when you purchase something with the gift card shipping is separate). On May 27th, I will announce the winner!
Thanks for stopping by!
Please see my disclosure policy here
~Cassi