Working Mommy Journal

March 11, 2013

Woolzies Dryer Balls {Review & Giveaway!}

Laundry is one of those chores that no matter how much you want to not have to do it – it is always there. With three boys in our home the laundry pile is forever growing! Some days I feel like I just cleaned and emptied out one laundry basket only to go upstairs and find another one full! Our home can easily go through four to five (full) loads of laundry a week between uniforms, work clothes, soccer uniforms and regular clothes!

I was really excited when I saw that Woolzies Dryer Balls were looking for individuals to try out and review their products. They are completely natural (made out of wool) and 100% eco friendly!!

Both of my children and myself suffer with eczema and skin sensitivities. This being said, I try to avoid as many harsh products as possible and do not switch their detergent often. I do not use dryer sheets in my dryer (mostly because I can never remember to re-purchase them and they are so expensive!) but also because I do not want the added extra chemicals on the clothes especially when my youngest reacted to one brand when he was small.

The Woolzies Dryer Balls are roughly a bit larger then a tennis ball and soft to the touch. They are made 100% of wool (and yet it can still be used by individuals who are allergic or sensitive to wool as they do not shed or fall apart in the dryer) with no added chemicals (they are PVC free!).

What I liked the most about the dryer balls was that I was able to just leave them in my dryer and not have to remember to add anything into the dryer with each load. A couple of times one would slip up a pant leg or sweater and my boys thought it was hilarious to find one hiding in their sweaters one morning while getting ready for school!.

Woolzies Dryer balls last for 1,000 loads!! Which is such an added bonus not to have to keep purchasing dryer sheets every couple of weeks. Laundry can be expensive so to only have to purchase one box and have it last that long is such an added benefit.

With large loads you can not hear them bouncing around at all in the dryer. I did notice with smaller loads that if I added in the full six dryer balls you could hear them slightly. So I just re-adjusted the amount in the dryer by half and there was only a little amount of noise. Because the Woolzies Dryer balls bounce around in the dryer they also cut down the drying time by forming space around your clothes allowing for better air circulation.

I love that the product is handmade by women in Nepal! Pretty neat, eh?!

After two weeks worth of loads (roughly fifteen loads – we had a gastric bug go through our family at the same time so they had some extra work cut out for them!) the dryer balls held their shape and still looked fairly new.

Overall, Woolzies Dryer Balls are a fantastic natural product that you can feel safe and comfortable using for your family. They have the added bonus of being able to be left in your dryer and not have to constantly add in dryer sheets or run out of them!. Check them out on Facebook and enter the giveaway below to win your own box of Woolzies Dryer Balls!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Canadian Residents, 18 years of age and older.

I was provided with a package of Woolzies Dryer Balls for the purpose to review the product but the statements in this blog are 100% my own.

March 9, 2013

Spring Forward!!

This Sunday, do not forget to turn your clocks one hour ahead before you go to bed Saturday night! I love this time of year as we get more sunlight at night – meaning lots of great walks before bed!

Also do not forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector as well!

March 8, 2013

Happy International Women’s Day!!

Today is International Women’s Day!

Today there are thousands of events around the world to celebrate the achievements of women and to inspire our young women. Check out their website here.

Follow @Womensday and #womensday all day long!!

March 8, 2013

ABC Friday Photo Share…I is for I Love You

It’s that time again!! Friday photo share over at Mom vs the boys and Maple Leaf Mommy!

This week I is for “I Love You”!

We attended The How to Drain Your Dragon live show last year and my kids LOVED it! My youngest cried and cried for this little stuffed Toothless. He held it the whole way home (and cuddles it nightly since) and tells it all the time “I love you” (or his version of I love you!!).

Link up your ABC Friday Photo Share over at Mom vs the Boys and Maple Leaf Mommy!

March 7, 2013

Chicken and Tomato Sauce

I love my husband’s cooking! He is such a creative cook who has never opened up a cook book in his life. He was experimenting one day in the kitchen and came up with this awesome recipe with chicken that our boys absolutely love! Over time we have changed it a bit but the basics remain the same.

I wanted to share it with you as it has become such a family favourite!

Ingredients

– four boneless skinless chicken breasts

– one medium red pepper

– one medium onion

– six whole mushrooms

– one can of tomato sauce

– one tsp of black pepper, garlic powder and salt

– one tbsp of olive oil

Directions

1. Finely cut up onions, peppers and mushrooms (I prefer mine cut thicker while my husband prefers his thin – whatever works for you and your family!).

2. Heat up olive oil on medium heat and add in the onions, peppers and mushrooms. Add in black pepper, garlic powder, salt and stir.

3. While the vegetables are cooking, slice the chicken breasts into thin strips.

4. Once the vegetables are lightly golden add in the chicken breasts. Cook until the chicken is cooked through (on my stove this takes roughly ten minutes on medium heat – if your not sure cut open one strip of chicken breast to check).

5. Add in one can of tomato sauce and allow to simmer for twenty to thirty minutes.

We love to serve ours on rice but it also works well on spaghetti. If you want you can also add in spinach as it cooks so well into the tomato sauce!