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Robert Damm was just a teenager when he enlisted in the army during World War II. His autobiography recounts his experiences in the South Pacific, in particular the battles in New Guinea and The Phillipines.
Parts of the book are funny, parts are tragic, but through it all he keeps his faith in God. Mr. Damm tells about having out of body experiences, and about an angel who saved his life during a battle. I read the whole thing in one day–it kept my attention and I couldn’t put it down until I was finished.
For a glimpse into the life of a young soldier in World War II, it is a very good story, one you’ll want to read.
For more information and where to purchase a copy of Tiki Tiki Rimbo, go to the Authorhouse website.
When I was asked to try out a Wellgate’s for Women Ultra Lite Knee Support
, I gladly said “YES!” I have trouble with my knees when I walk or stand a lot, so this was something I have been thinking about for a while. With spring coming up, there will be more opportunities to get out and exercise, and this knee brace will help me keep at it. 
Wellgate’s Ultra Lite Knee Support is more than functional. It is made for women, and is somewhat attractive for a product of its type. It is made of a soft, breathable fabric that makes wearing it more comfortable. The Queen size is truly a fit for larger women like me, and fits women up to six feet tall and 270 pounds.
The Wellgate for Women Ultra Lite Knee Support has a control top for a smooth fit on the upper thigh, and has a non-slip band on the inside so it doesn’t slide down like some other braces do. It doesn’t feel constrictive or too tight like some other braces I have tried. I was able to wear it all day without feeling uncomfortable.
In addition to the Women’s Ultra Lite Knee Support (available in regular and Queen sizes), the line includes Women’s High Performance Knee Supports, Women’s Slimfit Wrist Support
, and Women’s Slimfit Ankle Supports
. The Women’s Ultra Knee Support retails for about $17.
If you would like to try one Wellgate for Women product of your choice, you can win one! To enter the give away go over to MomGadget for the rules.
The give away will be open for entries until March 1, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
Earth Balance is made by the same people who make Smart Balance, a line I was more familiar with. While I haven’t tried either of them, I have seen Smart Balance products in grocery stores. Here in the middle of no where in Alabama, I had to search around to find Earth Balance. I did find it at the local Publix, but only the Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Original.
The first taste of Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Original was a spread on a slice of gluten free bread. Both FabGrandpa and I were surprised that it really did taste like butter. A lot like butter. He asked for a second slice of bread. That was a great compliment to this product.
The second taste test was in some scrambled eggs we had for breakfast. I was afraid that it wouldn’t hold up to the heat of cooking, like some margarines I have used in the past. This product didn’t separate out and get watery in cooking, and I was happy with that. The eggs tasted just like they had been cooked in butter.
This morning, we used it on our pancakes:
Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Original is gluten free, lactose free, vegan, and non-GMO. I was happy to see on their website that they also make a soy free version, as I am trying to eliminate as much soy from our diet as possible.
Ingredients in Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Original: (Certified Non-GMO) Expeller –pressed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit, canola, and olive), filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor (derived from corn, no msg, no alcohol, no gluten), soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally extracted annatto for color.
What a fun package I got from Betty Crocker! They sent me a box of their Variety Pack Fruit Flavored Snacks and a box of their new Create-A-Bug Fruit Flavored Snacks to try out. They came with a frisbee, a yo-yo, and a set of pick-up sticks. Want to win a package just like this one? Read about how at the end of this review!
I never knew that these snacks were gluten free, and was surprised to find that they taste really good, even for a grandma! The bug snacks are shaped like different parts of bugs, like heads, wings, and tails, so kids can put them together like a puzzle before eating them up. They taste a little like soft jelly beans. For older folks, watch out, they do stick to your dental work somewhat, but if you need a quick, gluten free portable snack they are really good.
Create A Bug Fruit Snacks
The Fruit Roll-ups have been on the market a long time but I had never tried them before. They are a like fruit leather that I have tried and liked. They are rolled up on a piece of plastic so be sure to remove it first. It may be a little difficult for very young children to eat them without help. The Fruit By the Foot is easier to get off the paper it is wrapped up with, so may be a better choice for little hands.
Ingredients:
Fruit By the Foot: sugar, maltodextrin, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, Contains less than 2% of Carrageenan, citric acid, acetylated mono and diglycerides, sodium citrate, mailc acid, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), natural and artificial flavor, potassium citrate, color (red 40, blue 1, yellow 5) Calories per package: 80 Carbs: 17 g
Fruit Roll-ups: Pears from concentrate, corn syrup, dried corn syrup, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, Contains less than 2% of citric acid, sodium citrate, acetylated mono and diglycerides, fruit pectin, malic acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), natural and artificial flavor, color (red 40, blue 1, yellow 5)
Calories per package 50, carbs 12g
Fruit Gushers: Pears from concentrate, sugar, dried corn syrup, corn syrup, modified corn starch, fructose, grape juice from concentrate. contains 2% or less of partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, maltodextrin, cottonseed oil, carageenan, citric acid, glycerin, monoglycerides, sodium citrate, malic acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), potassium citrate, agar-agar, natural and artificial flavor, color (red 40, blue 1, yellows 5 & 6, and other color added), xanthan gum. Calories per package 90, carbs 20g
Create-A-Bug: Fruit juice blend from concentrate (apple, pear), corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch. Contains 2% or less of Fruit pectin, citric acid, dextrose, sodium citrate, malic acid, potassium citrate, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), mineral oil (adds a trivial amount of fat), natural and artificial flavor, color (red 40, yellow 5, blue 1 and other color added), carnuba was, sulfiting agents, beeswax. Calories per package 90, carbs 21g
Want to win a package like the one I got? just leave a comment, telling me which one of these fruit snacks you think you’d like best. I’ll pick a winner at random on Sunday, November 29. Be sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win. Get another chance to win by tweeting about this post on Twitter, then come back and leave me a comment telling me you did. Prize package includes one box of Creat-A-bug snacks, one box of Variety Pack Fruit Flavored snacks, a frisbee, a yo-yo, and pick-up sticks.
Emily Sachs from Triumph Dining sent me a copy of The Essential Gluten Free Grocery Guide, 2nd Edition. This book is a very good starting place for someone new to the gluten free diet. It is a straight-forward list of things you can buy in regular grocery stores that are gluten free.
Here is what Emily wrote in the letter she sent me along with the book:
“…The goal of this guide is not top replace thoughtful label reading, but to provide shoppers (particularly the overwhelmed, newly diagnosed) a starting poing to find the right products. By helping people safely and efficiently allocate their label-reading time, we hope they can focus more on friends, famiy, and all the other things that make life special…”
The guide is set in sections that correspond to the different grocery aisles, and include Dairy & Eggs; Beverages; Baking; Canned & Packaged Goods; Packaged Sides, Meals, & Meal Helpers; Condiments, Sauces, & Dressings; Cereal & Bread; Snacks & Convenience Foods; Baby Food & Formula; Frozen Foods; and Meats.
The products are listed in alphabetical order by brand. It is very easy to find the products you are looking for by name. If you don’t know what brand is gluten free, just look up the item you want to find, such as Soup, then look at that page to see what your choices are. Easy peasy!
If you would like to win this book, leave me a comment or send me an email at fabgrandma @ gmail dot com, by September 15. I will choose a random name to win. Be sure I have your email address so I can contact you if you win.
