This summer, I’m using Banana Boat Sun Wear (a daily sunblock lotion mist) – made with essential organic botanicals.

Packed with SPF 50 protection, I’ve received the best, most even tan ever without any burning.

The sunscreen rubs on smooth after a convenient misting of the product.

I love the fact that it offers protective botanicals and antioxidants, which claim on the bottle to make your skin appear more youthful and radiant.

I also have sensitive skin and this hypoallergenic sunscreen does not cause irritation on the body or face.

After reading a review for Food Should Taste Good by Mommy Musings, I entered her giveaway to win a 5-pack of healthy chips (your choice) that includes a Chocolate flavor. Sounds interesting, huh? Food Should Taste Good makes a variety of snack options, including Jalapeno, Lime, Cheddar, and Olive, which Mommy Musings says tastes good with hummus.

The tortilla chips offer all-natural ingredients and are gluten free, cholesterol free, and trans fat free. They also do not use genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). Other highlights are their low sodium content, decent source of fiber, and certified Kosher-ness.

If you’d like a chance to try chocolate tortilla chips or any of the other Food Should Taste Good selections, enter the giveaway at Mommy Musings, which ends on August 1, 2010.

The Lean Cuisine Fiesta Grilled Chicken filled my kitchen with a spicy scent and I couldn’t wait to try this “white meat chicken in a Mexican-style cream sauce with a seasoned rice blend.”

I must start off my saying that the creamy sauce is an absolute winner: spicy, cheesy and creamy (with a touch of sour cream).

The seasoned rice offers a colorful mixture of two different kinds of beans, corn, and peppers. Despite its colorful presentation, without the creamy sauce, the rice lacks the ‘umph‘ factor that the rest of the meal possesses.  One gripe I have is that there needed to be way more sauce to complement the amount of rice in this meal.

The chicken pieces were large (almost too large and on the dry side), but offered a decent grilled flavor. Fiesta Grilled Chicken is part of the Café Cuisine line of Lean Cuisine meals.

By the Numbers

• 260 calories
• 50 fat calories
• 19 grams protein
• 4 grams fiber

Daily Recommended Values

• Potassium – 18%
• Calcium – 15%
• Vitamin A – 20%
• Iron – 8%
• Fiber – 14%
• Vitamin C – 30%

There’s a national Taste Intervention contest taking place and Sabra Dipping Company is hoping to offer millions of people a chance to break free from their snacking and food ruts. Wouldn’t you like to win a trip to Turkey to attend culinary school or have Sabra’s chef Colombe Jacobson come to your home for one-on-one coaching?

Sabra wants to know your “food ruts” – like does the majority of your lunches consist of a ham sandwich or do you always snack on toast and jelly in the middle of the night? Whatever you’d like to share – Sabra (and I) would like to know.

As for me, I need to break from the wheat crackers and port wine cheese spread. As for my sweetie, he resorts to peanut butter and jelly on Saltine crackers. You can nominate yourself, friends or loved ones for the contest.

Questions:

1. What are your “food ruts” – snacks and foods you find yourself continuously eating….

2. Have you ever had Sabra hummus? What’s your favorite flavor?

Answer one or both of these questions for 5 extra entries into any of my current giveaways until July 30. Also, let Sabra hear your thoughts – tweet them your answer [@sabra] using #foodrut at the end. Further details about the Taste Intervention contest can be found here.

Good luck – I hope one of my readers win the contest!

Disclosure: I will receive coupons for free Sabra hummus in exchange for spreading the word about the Taste Intervention, which I will gladly accept because their hummus is delicious! I would never suggest something that I don’t eat myself!

If you’re looking for a juice product that offers a healthy boost throughout the day, Genesis Today is packed with plenty of nutrients, minerals and antioxidants. For example, their Goji Berry provides fiber, amino acids, and protein, which promote a healthy mind, memory, mood, energy, and eyes. Other flavors include Resveratrol Juice, Acai Berry Juice, and Veggie Blast.

Genesis Today is offering a buy 1, get 1 free 64-oz juices deal when you mail in the receipt and their rebate form for a rebate check back for the purchase price of one 64oz juice. Become a Facebook fan of Genesis Today to take advantage of this offer. Click on the “coupons” tab and follow the instructions to download and print the PDF form. This offer ends on August 30, 2010.

If you’re looking for exotic soda flavors with low calories, then consider the selection of DRY Soda flavors, which includes cucumber, rhubarb, lemongrass, kumquat, juniper berry, lavender, and vanilla bean. I bet lavender is another interesting flavor.

Each stylish 12-ounce bottle contains only 45 to 70  calories, as well as between 14 and 19 grams of sugar.  If you’d like to win a 12-pack of DRY Soda, head on over to Mommy2TwoGirls to enter her giveaway that ends on July 20, 2010.

Good luck!

When my sweetie works out, he works up a sweat. A good thing for his body – not a good thing for his sneakers. He’s been through so many running shoes because the mesh gets soaked and they eventually start to smell awful.

However, we have found a brand and style of athletic footwear that he adores…so much so – he’s craving a new pair (which I’ll be getting for his birthday – shhhh).

When we first saw the Salomon Techamphibian 2 – they looked odd. Case in point…the back is “open” and resembles a sandal, but they have a bamboo lining and I encouraged the purchase (like a cheerleader) because bamboo is a sustainable, eco-friendly material.

The Salomon Techamphibian 2 is a lightweight shoe and because of the bamboo, it effectively wicks away moisture to keep feet drier. These sneakers are made for people who like to play in the water (and are perfect for drenching workouts in the heat). The shoes are also made with a quick-drying synthetic leather and nylon mesh that offers durable support.

Other key features include:

• Adjustable heel straps with collapsible backs
• Quicklace lacing system for personalized, secure fit
• Drainage ports and 180-degree venting for increased airflow
• Rubber toe caps
• EVA footbeds with AgION treatment for odor control

I won a bottle of Nurture My Body Ginger Body Wash from Mommy 2 Two Girls and the packaging was truly impressive. First off, when I opened the box – a sprig of dry lavender (?) greeted me. That was a really nice earthy touch. The card just blew me away. It was handmade with a faux flower inserted into the front. When I opened the card, it was personalized and thoughtful. It’s these kinds of personal touches that make consumers remember a company. I’ve been spreading the word ever since I received my package. Plus, the body wash smells amazing!

Nurture My Body Ginger Body Wash is made with nutmeg CO2 and clove bud essential oil. It promises a “stimulating gentle cleanser for normal to dry skin” and it certainly delivers. I’m usually a fruity body wash kind of gal, but I’m pleasantly surprised that I’ve fallen in love with this ’spicy’ fragrance. Made with certified organic ingredients, it’s safe for the body because it contains no toxic chemicals.

Do you have a Magic Bullet? Well, I have a Magic Bullet knockoff that I purchased for half the price and I’ve only used it once to make daiquiris. This morning, I felt inspired to create a smoothie recipe with some of the fruits bought at the farmer’s market. Offering a blend of sweet and sour sensations, I introduce you a satisfying fruity breakfast smoothie recipe.

Cherry-Apricot Smoothie Recipe

• 1 large or 2 small apricots
• 10 cherries
• 2/3 cup sherbet
• 1/3 cup low-fat milk

1. Take the pits out of the apricot and cherries.

2. Cut apricot into chunky slices and add the fruit to the blender container.

3. Add 2/3 cup of sherbet and 1/3 cup low-fat milk to your blender container.

4. Pulse until it reaches a consistency to your liking.

Note: You can use any sherbet flavor you like, which will affect the final outcome of your smoothie. I chose a combination of raspberry, pineapple and orange. I used 1% milk in this recipe. I also blended the ingredients just enough to where I still had a pulpy consistency – so that I would feel like I ate something substantial for breakfast.

The Dark Chocolate Acai Pudding by Genesis Today has been calling my name at Walmart for weeks and I’ve finally purchased a 4-pack because it went on sale. The packaging reminds me of a medical product, but it promises a boatload of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, calcium, protein, amino acids, and fiber. Its official description is “All-Natural Dark Chocolate Pudding with Acai Berries, Vitamins & Minerals.”

When I first opened the pudding cup, I noticed water (?) had formed on the top of it and all around. There was no creaminess and it possessed a chunky, congealed consistency. I tried to stir the heck out of it to make it smoother, but it never reached a smoothness that made me happy. It was almost like pudding that had been boiled to the point that it forms those lumpy globs.

Despite the wateriness and consistency turning me off, I still decided to taste it. There was a distinctly strong cocoa flavor – almost woody or earthy. It is made with real cacao beans so maybe that’s where the taste came from…or perhaps this is what acai tastes like? At any rate, I’m not impressed with the taste or consistency of the pudding. Such a shame – it claims to promote weight loss, boost energy levels, as well as healthy hair, skin, and nails.