Wednesday, February 29, 2012

SodaStream Review and GIVEAWAY!

The entry window for this drawing is closed. Congrats to lucky winner: commenter #19, CT!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am a soda addict. And while Cherry Coke Zero is my current fave, I just flat out love soda. I swear it's the bubbles. I can go back and forth between sodas with or without caffeine with no withdrawal symptoms. But if I switch to just water or iced tea I miss the dance of carbonation on my tongue.

This is a bummer for a few reasons:
  1. Sodas are known for containing some not-so-healthy ingredients. GMO-laden high frustose corn syrup among them.

  2. Most soda bottlers use cans or bottles that contain hormone-disrupting BPA. Yuck.

  3. Soda is not budget friendly. Even less so if you live in a state (like I do) that requires a mandatory deposit on beverage containers....a "deposit" that you don't get back if you utilize curbside recycling. Boo.
It's enough to make you give up soda entirely. Except for that addiction bit I mentioned earlier.

These are just some of the reasons why I was really excited to be able to try out an at home soda maker from SodaStream. AND I also get to share the at home soda love with you because SodaStream is going to give a Fountain Jet Starter Kit away to one lucky Carissa's Creativity Space reader!

This post is brought to you by SodaStream USA. I received compensation including free product for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and 100% mine.

So let's get started...
Before I partnered up with SodaStream to do this review and giveaway, I had actually been considering getting an at home carbonator for about three years. No joke. Three. Years. What held me back? A few things. And if you're thinking about an at-home soda maker, I know these thing might be holding you back, too, so let's address those up front:

I wasn't sure if the flavors would be any good
In addition to being sent the carbonator, SodaStream generously sent me 10 soda flavors as well as a three pack of MyWater flavor essences. And I have to tell you: I liked most of them. Their Cola Free flavor (a knock off of Coke Zero) was spot on....and like I said: Coke Zero is one of my fave beverages so I'm kind of picky on that front. The Diet Cranberry Raspberry and the Diet Pink Grapefruit were my two non-cola favorites. I also liked drinking the soda water plain with a lemon and lime wedge and just a kiss of simple syrup. Dr. Pepper fans will want to know, though, that their Dr. Pepper knock off, which they call "Dr. Pete", isn't bad but it doesn't taste like Dr. Pepper. Conclusion? There are plenty of tasty flavors available. If you're a die-hard Dr. Pepper fan, though, skip Dr. Pete.

I wasn't sure about how the carbonator refills would work
One thing I had worried about was what I would do once I ran out of CO2. Would I have to drop a lot of money at a specialty store? Pay a lot for UPS shipping? Luckily, none of that was the case. When we finished off our first bottle of CO2, I used SodaStream's retailer finder to find a store near me that would enchange my carbonator cylinder. I found about 5 stores within a 5 mile radius of my house and popped into a local Bed, Bath and Beyond to trade in my old carbonator for a new one for a little less than $15. Conclusion? Trading in my cylinder for a new one was super duper easy.

I wasn't sure if I'd actually save money
Not being sure how far the flavors would stretch and how much soda each cylinder made, I wasn't sure if this gizmo would even save me money. But now that I've got one (and have already worked through my first CO2 cylinder and a couple bottles of flavor), I've got the inside scoop. The soda maker I have, takes a 60L cylinder, which will make about 60 liters of carbonated water. My replacement cylinder was $15 (so $0.25 per liter). So if you just drink club soda, you'll save about $0.75 per liter (before bottle deposit). If you want to add SodaStream flavors, you'll pay $0.41 per liter for flavoring if you don't opt for the more expensive Sparkling Naturals line. If you've been drinking 2 liter bottles of soda, this will pretty much match regular store prices. Of course, you can make your own soda flavorings like Ginger Syrup or Lemon Lime Soda for even less. Don't forget that you won't have to pay your bottle deposit anymore, too!

What else do I love about SodaStream?
  • Because I reuse the bottles that come with the maker, there's no more lost money on bottle "deposits" ("deposits" in quotes because while I could return the bottles to get my nickel back, it's a huge hassle. I just curbside recycle them, which means my "deposit" turns into a five cent donation to the state)
  • It has a small footprint - it does not take up much space at all on my counter. It doesn't need access to electricity, either. Really, I can put it anywhere!
  • Making soda in small batches keeps it fizzy longer. No more half-drunk bottles of flat soda from the store.
  • I can make my own flavors to have 100% control over what goes into my body.
  • My son loves (and frequently requests) plain "bubble water". Anything that makes food more fun for a toddler is a plus in my book!
  • The bottles are BPA and phthalate free (most cans of soda contain BPA so this is a great alternative).
  • None of SodaStream's flavors contain High Fructose Corn Syrup or Aspartame. 
  • My favorite SodaStream flavors were: Cola Free, Diet Pink Grapefruit, Diet Cranberry Raspberry, Diet Green Tea Pomegranate Peach. 
Any down sides?
Overall, I am really happy with my soda maker. There are, however, a few things that I'd love to see improve:
  • I wish SodaStream made glass bottles that worked with my model. SodaStream does have two models that use glass bottles, Penguin and Crystal, but their bottles are not compatible with the less expensive soda makers like the one I have.
  • Because the bottles are plastic, they need some extra special love. You should never put them in the dishwasher, use detergent or a bottle brush on them. Scratches (as from a bottle brush), heat and detergent will make the plastic start to break down. Because of this, you should not drink straight from the bottles and should always pour into a glass or drinking container first. Once you've finished drinking a bottle of soda, simply rinse it with water and fill it with tap water. Keep the bottle with tap water in the fridge until you're ready to carbonate.
  • While I love that the Sparkling Naturals line of flavorings contains no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives, the caps on the bottles are messy and the syrup does not dissolve into the  carbonated water as easily and the standard flavors. At the very least a re-design of the bottle would make these more user friendly.
  • I would love if they expanded their energy drink flavors to have more than just a Red Bull knock off. Maybe a Monster or RockStar flavor? Double brownie points if it's the pink RockStar flavor.
Even though there are a few points that SodaStream has room to improve on, overall I am delighted with my soda machine and see it continuing to get plenty of mileage in my house.  And now....

You Can Win One, Too!!
What's Up for Grabs:
Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit including:
- Fountain Jet in the winner’s choice of color (black/silver, red/silver or white)
- 1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years
- Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda
- Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors
- 3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

How to Enter:
Leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of soda you would want to try to make first (official SodaStream flavor or otherwise) if you win.
(make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. I'd hate for you to miss out on your prize because I couldn't reach you)

Get Bonus Entries
You can also earn up to seven bonus entries for doing any or all of the following. After you do each one, leave a separate comment letting me know which thing you did to earn your bonus entry. 
Don't forget your e-mail so I have a way to contact you if you're a lucky winner!
  • LIKE Carissa's Creativity Space on Facebook (or tell me if you already do)
  • SUBSCRIBE to Carissa's Creativity Space via e-mail or with Feedburner (or let me know if you already do)
  • FOLLOW ME @CreativeCarissa on Twitter (or tell me if you already do)
  • FOLLOW Carissa's Creativity Space with Google Friend Connect (that's the box that has the "join this site" button on the right side of any blog page underneath "My Fabulous Followers") or tell me if you already do.
  • FOLLOW ME on Pinterest (or tell me if you already do)
  • LIKE  SodaStream on Facebook (or tell me if you already do)
  • FOLLOW  @SodaStreamUSA on Twitter 

Other Contest Details and "Small Print"
This is a sweepstakes style giveaway. No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries. Sweepstakes entry period is 7:40am (PST) on February 29, 2012 through 11:59pm (PST) March 7, 2012. Each person may enter a maximum of eight times and win only once. One winner will be chosen at random using random.org. Winner will be notified via e-mail provided in comments on March 8, 2012. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to e-mail with a valid US mailing address to which the prize pack will be sent. If winner does not respond in time, an alternate winner will be chosen, also by using random.org. Dollar value of prize pack is approximately $99.95. Entrants must be above 18 years of age and have a United States of America mailing address. I have received compensation from SodaStream for posting this review and hosting this sweepstakes. All opinions expressed in the review are 100% mine.

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

    Morning Sunrise Smoothie


    I love love love fresh juices and smoothies. They are a fun, delicious way to get more vitamins and nutrition into your diet. Kids love smoothies, too! Kids think they are getting a fancy dessert but mom knows they are loading up on good for you nutrition.

    This is the smoothie recipe I have been making a few times a week now and my son loves it just as much as I do.  It's especially high in vitamins A and C and has less than 150 calories

    I have a juicer that I use to make the fresh carrot and ginger juice. If you don't have a juicer, you could use packaged organic carrot juice from the store.


    Morning Sunrise Smoothie Recipe

    Ingredients 
    • 8-10 organic carrots (or approx 12 ounces packaged Organic carrot juice)
    • 1 inch piece of ginger
    • 1 orange, peeled and white center parts removed
    • 1 cup chopped peaches (fresh or frozen)
    • 1 banana (fresh or frozen)
    • 6 ounces greek yogurt
    • Ice cubes
    1) Juice the organic carrots and ginger.

    2) Add the carrot/ginger juice (or 12 ounces packaged carrot juice), orange segments, chopped peaches, banana and greek yogurt to a blender. Pulse on high until frozen parts are broken up. Blend on high until well blended and liquifed.

    3) Add ice cubes until smoothie reaches desired consistency.

    (Makes approximately 4 servings)

    Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on the freshness and brand of your ingredients
    Nutrition information calculated at: Calorie Count



    Thursday, February 16, 2012

    How to Make a DIY Play Kitchen Part 3: How to Make the Sink, Countertop and Stove

    I know you all missed our DIY Play Kitchen goodness over Valentines Day. But we are almost done! Today we are going to learn how to install the countertop / stove area. that includes the sink, faucet, stove and countertop material.
    (joining us late? That's ok. Get started with the first post here)


    Things You'll Need:
    • Countertop material (laminate, faux granite contact paper or paint)
    • Stainless steel bowl
    • Sink faucet
    • Hole Saw
    • Jig Saw
    • Liquid Nails 
    • Caulk
    • Clamps or heavy objects
    • 1 (6 count) package of 1.5 inch wood circles
    • 3 large wood circles
    • Wood discs
    • 2 thin birch dowels
    • Grey paint
    • Glack paint
    • Clear craft glue
    • Multi-hook rack (I got mine at Dollar Tree)

    Let's Get Started!


    Countertop
    If using laminate or contact paper, measure your work surface and cut your material to size.

    Cut a hole for the sink (whether you do this before or after gluing down the material will be best decided by the kind of material you use. I cut mine out before.) and glue down your counter using liquid nails following the instructions on the package. Add backsplash edging if desired.
    The cans are weighing it down while the glue sets. Liquid nails takes about 24 hours to set, so jump ahead and work on making your stove burners and knobs.

    Stove Knobs
    Bust out your bag of 6 small wood disks:

    Cut two of the six discs in half:

    Use wood glue to glue a half circle on top of one of the full circles. Repeat until you have four knobs.

    Once the wood glue is set, paint the knobs black


    Burners
    Paint the large wood circles grey. I used these wood soccer ball plaques that I got on clearance and just flipped them over:

    Cut your dowels into approximately 2 inch pieces and paint them black along with the knobs you just made above.


    Once the paint is dry, glue the grey circles down to the stove area and then glue the dowels down on top with the craft glue.

    You can glue down the knobs, or if you want them to turn, you can attach them with screws.

    Let all that dry and then wait until tomorrow (gotta let the liquid nails set for 24 hours remember?)

    Caulk
    Caulk around the edges of the countertop material if you used laminate like I did. If you used contact paper or paint, skip this step.
    (sorry...no pictures of this part.)

    Faucet
    Now that your liquid nails is cured, we can move on to drilling our holes for the faucet.

    I used a real kitchen faucet that I got from free cycle so it had the hard ware sticking out from the bottom of it. I used a 1.25 inch hole saw to cut 3 holes. Then I dropped it in like a regular faucet and at attached it with the screws from underneath.



    Sink and Hooks
    Drop in the the bowl for the sink. I didn't glue mine down in case we decide to play with real water and then we can pick it up and dump it out. You can glue your down with liquid nails if you'd like.

    Attach the bar with hooks above the sink and hang your utensils on it.


    Sit back and enjoy your handiwork because you're almost done!


    This post is part of a mini-series on how to make your own play kitchen from a re-purposed piece of furniture. The beginning of the series with photos of the finished play kitchen and links to all subsequent posts lives here.

    Tuesday, February 7, 2012

    Capture the Love with...Photo Valentines!

    Have you decided what you (or your kids!) are giving out for Valentines Day yet? To be honest, I wasn't really into the whole V-day thing until I had a kiddo of my own and decided that there is no better time to capture that sweet little face and turn it into a fun card for our families and friends.

    This was the card we gave out last year:
    2011 Valentine's Day Photoshoot and Cards at Carissa's Creativity Space

    If you're still deciding what you'd like to do and looking for ideas check out some of my favorite Valentines photo ideas from around the interwebs!

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    I love these adorable photo pockets. They are so fun and can show off your little one's personality.
    [Pop] Rock Star Valentines Pocket Cards from I am Momma Hear Me Roar

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Cute and Easy Photo V-day cards. I"m sure you could find a variety of fun heart shaped candies to tape in their hand
    "I Give You My Heart" Photo Cards from Smashed Peas and Carrots

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    I've also seen these done with lolliops without a label to mimic the look of a  large balloon.

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Like the lollipop card idea but don't have a kid? Borrow a pet or robot!
    Non-Kid Lollipop Cards from Saucy Pants

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Another great project from I am Momma, Hear Me Roar: Use more than one photo to make a great bag topper and fill it up with more than one candy.
    Bag Topper Photo Valentine from I am Momma Hear Me Roar.

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Want something quick and easy with no candy, gluing or taping required? Check out these cards from Eighteen25. Follow the links in the post to download free .PNG files and personalize them with your own photos.

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
    If I featured your project, please feel free to grab a button if you'd like:

    Carissa's Creativity Space

    <a href="http://creativecarissa.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yAdyxQgGNck/TsfgKuluvcI/AAAAAAAABeI/sweZPJUKVyE/s150/featured%252520button%252520150%252520px%252520copy.jpg" alt="Carissa's Creativity Space" width="125" height="125" /></a>

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Can't Get Enough Valentine Ideas?
    Join me and five other fabulous craft bloggers for a live chat on the Motherhood later today!
    When: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012 at 1pm EST (that's 10am Pacific)
    Where: The Motherhood (registration is free)
    Featuring: Amanda from Crafts by Amanda will be doing a live video demo.
    Live Chat Hosts:

    I hope I'll see you there!

    Wondering where the DIY Play Kitchen posts went? Don't worry! We're just taking a quick break to spread the v-day love. I'll be back with part 3 of the DIY Play Kitchen series later this week!

    ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

    Friday, February 3, 2012

    Ladybug Valentines Cupcakes

    I made these cute ladybug cupcakes for valentines day five years ago but never posted a how-to. They are super easy to make and would make a great project to work on with your kids.

    What You Need
    • Flat Topped Cupcakes (slightly underfill the wells and reduce temp by 10 degrees to get flat, not rounded tops)
    • Pink or red frosting
    • Black frosting
    • White frosting (just a little bit)
    • 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
    • Offset Spatula
    • Piping tips sized 1 and 3 if you want to get fancy (but use what you have)
    • Piping bags with saran wrap OR 2 Ziplock bags
    • Twizzler pull and peel candy
    Prep
    The total amount of frosting needed will vary based on how many cupcakes you're decorating but you'll want about 3 parts red frosting, 1 part black frosting and 1/2 part white frosting.

    Set up your black and white frosting in piping bag(s). Even if you're a cake decorating pro, take a minute to check out this mind blowing tip for how to do all this with less mess and less clean up. If using piping tips, put the smaller tip on the white frosting. If you don't have piping bag, you can pack the frosting into the corner of a ziplock bag and snip just a teeny bit off the end to make a wee little hole.

    Peel your twizzler to separate out individual strands. Cut the individual stands into 2 inch pieces. Cut 2 pieces for each cupcake you want to make.

    Let's Get Decorating
    Step 1: Use the offset spatula to spread a smooth layer or red or pink frosting on the tops of the cupcakes


    Step 2: Use the black frosting to make a circle for the head at the front edge of each cupcake and then draw a line down the middle.

    tip: to make a smooth circle, draw a circle with the piping tip and fill in in a spiral fashion. Dip the tip of your finger into powdered sugar and smooth out the frosting with your finger.








    Step 3: Use the black frosting to draw different sized dots on each side of the line.


    Step 4: Use the white frosting to draw smaller white dots for the eyes. Draw a line in a half-circle shape for a smile.

    Step 5: Use the black frosting to make smaller dots on top of the white dots. I like to put the black dots in an upper corner of the whites as ladybugs looking up and away are cute. Ones looking straight forward are creepy.

    Step 6: Stick 2 of the 2-inch pieces of twizzler into each cupcake for antenna. Tip the twizzler pieces with black frosting if desired.


    Make a whole colony of ladybugs for fun and enjoyment of all.

    Can't Get Enough of Valentine's Crafts?
    Join me and four other fabulous craft bloggers for a live chat on the Motherhood this Tuesday!
    When: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012 at 1pm EST (that's 10am Pacific)
    Where: The Motherhood (registration is free)
    Featuring: Amanda from Crafts by Amanda will be doing a live video demo.
    Live Chat Hosts:

    I hope I'll see you there!

    (Can't wait til Tuesday to get your V-day fix? Check out my pinboard of great Valentines ideas in the meantime)

    Wondering where the DIY Play Kitchen posts went? Don't worry! We're just taking a quick break to spread the v-day love. I'll be back with part 3 of the DIY Play Kitchen series next week!




    As usual, I'm partying here:
    * A Pinteresting Party at Tutus and Tea Parties * Valentine's Day Party at Momnivore's Dilemma * Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring * I'm Lovin It at TidyMom * Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello * Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest * Inspire Me Fridays at The Joyful Stamper * Pinsperational Thursday at Arty Girl Connection *

    Wednesday, February 1, 2012

    How to Make a DIY Play Kitchen Part 2: How to Make the Refrigerator

    So sorry for the delay in posting part two of the walk through on how to make your own play kitchen. Big, exciting projects got in the way. Big, exciting, I might get to be on TV kinds of projects! (But I think that's all I can share for now).

    All that to say... it just gave you more time to catch up right? Everyone got their entertainment center picked out, primed and painted? Good!  Let's get cracking on the details!
    (joining us late? That's ok. Get started with the first post here)

    Things You'll Need:
    • If you have a glass door: Primer (and brush or roller you can prime with)
    • Painter's masking tape
    • Magnetic Paint  (I used Martha Stewart's)
    • A paint brush you can throw away
    • A small paint scraper
    • Paint in whatever color you'd like the fridge to be
    • Bar Handle and hardware (I got mine for $4.98 from Home Depot)
    • Drill
    • Package of adhesive hooks (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
    • 2 or 3 wire baskets (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
    • Cute Letter Magnets (Tutorial for how I made mine is here)

    Let's Get Started!

    Prep
    If you're following along with me and left off after the last post, you should have an entertainment center that is primed and painted but missing all of it's hardware. Before you move on to getting the fridge up and running, if yours has a glass door like mine did, you going to need to put primer on only one side of the glass and then re-install it in the door, primer side out. Go ahead and put the hinges back in and re-install the door as well, regardless of what it's made from.

    Make it Magnetic!
    Every great fridge is magnetic so that's how we are going to make it!

    Go ahead and tape off the area you want to make magnetic. My fridge door had a recessed area and I decided to just paint that part with the magnetic paint.

    Using the brush you don't mind throwing away, paint your first coat on the door. Warning: This stuff is thick and you'll probably see your brush strokes.

    Once the first coat of magnetic paint is dry, you'll want to apply a second coat. This is where that small paint scraper comes in. To help smooth out the ridges from the brush strokes, I applied the second coat with a scraper (think like you're spackling the door...but with magnetic paint instead of spackle).Peel off the masking tape while the paint is still wet.

    Once the second coat of magnetic paint is dry, paint your fridge in whatever color you'd like it to end up. I chose white, but you could do a "stainless steel" look, too.

    Hardware
    Get out your drill and install the new handle. My new handle used two screws (instead of just the one that the center came with) so I re-used the first hole and only needed to drill one hole.

    Inside
    Now we need to hang the baskets we're going to use inside the door.  I got a package of 9 adhesive hooks and two wire baskets from the Dollar Tree. Make sure you follow the instructions on the package for the hooks for cure time to make the bond as strong as possible.

    Extras
    That's it for the main part of the fridge!  Now, of course you can accessorize. On the outside, I used the Alphabet Magnets I made when I wrote this tutorial.

    On the inside, I started to put empty food packaging like Annie's Mac and Cheese or cracker boxes since I don't have any normal play food made quite yet.

    Join us next time for how to install a countertop, sink and stove!

    This post is part of a mini-series on how to make your own play kitchen from a re-purposed piece of furniture. The beginning of the series with photos of the finished play kitchen and links to all subsequent posts lives here.

    Wednesday, February 29, 2012

    SodaStream Review and GIVEAWAY!

    The entry window for this drawing is closed. Congrats to lucky winner: commenter #19, CT!

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    I am a soda addict. And while Cherry Coke Zero is my current fave, I just flat out love soda. I swear it's the bubbles. I can go back and forth between sodas with or without caffeine with no withdrawal symptoms. But if I switch to just water or iced tea I miss the dance of carbonation on my tongue.

    This is a bummer for a few reasons:
    1. Sodas are known for containing some not-so-healthy ingredients. GMO-laden high frustose corn syrup among them.

    2. Most soda bottlers use cans or bottles that contain hormone-disrupting BPA. Yuck.

    3. Soda is not budget friendly. Even less so if you live in a state (like I do) that requires a mandatory deposit on beverage containers....a "deposit" that you don't get back if you utilize curbside recycling. Boo.
    It's enough to make you give up soda entirely. Except for that addiction bit I mentioned earlier.

    These are just some of the reasons why I was really excited to be able to try out an at home soda maker from SodaStream. AND I also get to share the at home soda love with you because SodaStream is going to give a Fountain Jet Starter Kit away to one lucky Carissa's Creativity Space reader!

    This post is brought to you by SodaStream USA. I received compensation including free product for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and 100% mine.

    So let's get started...
    Before I partnered up with SodaStream to do this review and giveaway, I had actually been considering getting an at home carbonator for about three years. No joke. Three. Years. What held me back? A few things. And if you're thinking about an at-home soda maker, I know these thing might be holding you back, too, so let's address those up front:

    I wasn't sure if the flavors would be any good
    In addition to being sent the carbonator, SodaStream generously sent me 10 soda flavors as well as a three pack of MyWater flavor essences. And I have to tell you: I liked most of them. Their Cola Free flavor (a knock off of Coke Zero) was spot on....and like I said: Coke Zero is one of my fave beverages so I'm kind of picky on that front. The Diet Cranberry Raspberry and the Diet Pink Grapefruit were my two non-cola favorites. I also liked drinking the soda water plain with a lemon and lime wedge and just a kiss of simple syrup. Dr. Pepper fans will want to know, though, that their Dr. Pepper knock off, which they call "Dr. Pete", isn't bad but it doesn't taste like Dr. Pepper. Conclusion? There are plenty of tasty flavors available. If you're a die-hard Dr. Pepper fan, though, skip Dr. Pete.

    I wasn't sure about how the carbonator refills would work
    One thing I had worried about was what I would do once I ran out of CO2. Would I have to drop a lot of money at a specialty store? Pay a lot for UPS shipping? Luckily, none of that was the case. When we finished off our first bottle of CO2, I used SodaStream's retailer finder to find a store near me that would enchange my carbonator cylinder. I found about 5 stores within a 5 mile radius of my house and popped into a local Bed, Bath and Beyond to trade in my old carbonator for a new one for a little less than $15. Conclusion? Trading in my cylinder for a new one was super duper easy.

    I wasn't sure if I'd actually save money
    Not being sure how far the flavors would stretch and how much soda each cylinder made, I wasn't sure if this gizmo would even save me money. But now that I've got one (and have already worked through my first CO2 cylinder and a couple bottles of flavor), I've got the inside scoop. The soda maker I have, takes a 60L cylinder, which will make about 60 liters of carbonated water. My replacement cylinder was $15 (so $0.25 per liter). So if you just drink club soda, you'll save about $0.75 per liter (before bottle deposit). If you want to add SodaStream flavors, you'll pay $0.41 per liter for flavoring if you don't opt for the more expensive Sparkling Naturals line. If you've been drinking 2 liter bottles of soda, this will pretty much match regular store prices. Of course, you can make your own soda flavorings like Ginger Syrup or Lemon Lime Soda for even less. Don't forget that you won't have to pay your bottle deposit anymore, too!

    What else do I love about SodaStream?
    • Because I reuse the bottles that come with the maker, there's no more lost money on bottle "deposits" ("deposits" in quotes because while I could return the bottles to get my nickel back, it's a huge hassle. I just curbside recycle them, which means my "deposit" turns into a five cent donation to the state)
    • It has a small footprint - it does not take up much space at all on my counter. It doesn't need access to electricity, either. Really, I can put it anywhere!
    • Making soda in small batches keeps it fizzy longer. No more half-drunk bottles of flat soda from the store.
    • I can make my own flavors to have 100% control over what goes into my body.
    • My son loves (and frequently requests) plain "bubble water". Anything that makes food more fun for a toddler is a plus in my book!
    • The bottles are BPA and phthalate free (most cans of soda contain BPA so this is a great alternative).
    • None of SodaStream's flavors contain High Fructose Corn Syrup or Aspartame. 
    • My favorite SodaStream flavors were: Cola Free, Diet Pink Grapefruit, Diet Cranberry Raspberry, Diet Green Tea Pomegranate Peach. 
    Any down sides?
    Overall, I am really happy with my soda maker. There are, however, a few things that I'd love to see improve:
    • I wish SodaStream made glass bottles that worked with my model. SodaStream does have two models that use glass bottles, Penguin and Crystal, but their bottles are not compatible with the less expensive soda makers like the one I have.
    • Because the bottles are plastic, they need some extra special love. You should never put them in the dishwasher, use detergent or a bottle brush on them. Scratches (as from a bottle brush), heat and detergent will make the plastic start to break down. Because of this, you should not drink straight from the bottles and should always pour into a glass or drinking container first. Once you've finished drinking a bottle of soda, simply rinse it with water and fill it with tap water. Keep the bottle with tap water in the fridge until you're ready to carbonate.
    • While I love that the Sparkling Naturals line of flavorings contains no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives, the caps on the bottles are messy and the syrup does not dissolve into the  carbonated water as easily and the standard flavors. At the very least a re-design of the bottle would make these more user friendly.
    • I would love if they expanded their energy drink flavors to have more than just a Red Bull knock off. Maybe a Monster or RockStar flavor? Double brownie points if it's the pink RockStar flavor.
    Even though there are a few points that SodaStream has room to improve on, overall I am delighted with my soda machine and see it continuing to get plenty of mileage in my house.  And now....

    You Can Win One, Too!!
    What's Up for Grabs:
    Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit including:
    - Fountain Jet in the winner’s choice of color (black/silver, red/silver or white)
    - 1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years
    - Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda
    - Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors
    - 3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

    How to Enter:
    Leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of soda you would want to try to make first (official SodaStream flavor or otherwise) if you win.
    (make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. I'd hate for you to miss out on your prize because I couldn't reach you)

    Get Bonus Entries
    You can also earn up to seven bonus entries for doing any or all of the following. After you do each one, leave a separate comment letting me know which thing you did to earn your bonus entry. 
    Don't forget your e-mail so I have a way to contact you if you're a lucky winner!
    • LIKE Carissa's Creativity Space on Facebook (or tell me if you already do)
    • SUBSCRIBE to Carissa's Creativity Space via e-mail or with Feedburner (or let me know if you already do)
    • FOLLOW ME @CreativeCarissa on Twitter (or tell me if you already do)
    • FOLLOW Carissa's Creativity Space with Google Friend Connect (that's the box that has the "join this site" button on the right side of any blog page underneath "My Fabulous Followers") or tell me if you already do.
    • FOLLOW ME on Pinterest (or tell me if you already do)
    • LIKE  SodaStream on Facebook (or tell me if you already do)
    • FOLLOW  @SodaStreamUSA on Twitter 

    Other Contest Details and "Small Print"
    This is a sweepstakes style giveaway. No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries. Sweepstakes entry period is 7:40am (PST) on February 29, 2012 through 11:59pm (PST) March 7, 2012. Each person may enter a maximum of eight times and win only once. One winner will be chosen at random using random.org. Winner will be notified via e-mail provided in comments on March 8, 2012. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to e-mail with a valid US mailing address to which the prize pack will be sent. If winner does not respond in time, an alternate winner will be chosen, also by using random.org. Dollar value of prize pack is approximately $99.95. Entrants must be above 18 years of age and have a United States of America mailing address. I have received compensation from SodaStream for posting this review and hosting this sweepstakes. All opinions expressed in the review are 100% mine.

      Thursday, February 23, 2012

      Morning Sunrise Smoothie


      I love love love fresh juices and smoothies. They are a fun, delicious way to get more vitamins and nutrition into your diet. Kids love smoothies, too! Kids think they are getting a fancy dessert but mom knows they are loading up on good for you nutrition.

      This is the smoothie recipe I have been making a few times a week now and my son loves it just as much as I do.  It's especially high in vitamins A and C and has less than 150 calories

      I have a juicer that I use to make the fresh carrot and ginger juice. If you don't have a juicer, you could use packaged organic carrot juice from the store.


      Morning Sunrise Smoothie Recipe

      Ingredients 
      • 8-10 organic carrots (or approx 12 ounces packaged Organic carrot juice)
      • 1 inch piece of ginger
      • 1 orange, peeled and white center parts removed
      • 1 cup chopped peaches (fresh or frozen)
      • 1 banana (fresh or frozen)
      • 6 ounces greek yogurt
      • Ice cubes
      1) Juice the organic carrots and ginger.

      2) Add the carrot/ginger juice (or 12 ounces packaged carrot juice), orange segments, chopped peaches, banana and greek yogurt to a blender. Pulse on high until frozen parts are broken up. Blend on high until well blended and liquifed.

      3) Add ice cubes until smoothie reaches desired consistency.

      (Makes approximately 4 servings)

      Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on the freshness and brand of your ingredients
      Nutrition information calculated at: Calorie Count



      Thursday, February 16, 2012

      How to Make a DIY Play Kitchen Part 3: How to Make the Sink, Countertop and Stove

      I know you all missed our DIY Play Kitchen goodness over Valentines Day. But we are almost done! Today we are going to learn how to install the countertop / stove area. that includes the sink, faucet, stove and countertop material.
      (joining us late? That's ok. Get started with the first post here)


      Things You'll Need:
      • Countertop material (laminate, faux granite contact paper or paint)
      • Stainless steel bowl
      • Sink faucet
      • Hole Saw
      • Jig Saw
      • Liquid Nails 
      • Caulk
      • Clamps or heavy objects
      • 1 (6 count) package of 1.5 inch wood circles
      • 3 large wood circles
      • Wood discs
      • 2 thin birch dowels
      • Grey paint
      • Glack paint
      • Clear craft glue
      • Multi-hook rack (I got mine at Dollar Tree)

      Let's Get Started!


      Countertop
      If using laminate or contact paper, measure your work surface and cut your material to size.

      Cut a hole for the sink (whether you do this before or after gluing down the material will be best decided by the kind of material you use. I cut mine out before.) and glue down your counter using liquid nails following the instructions on the package. Add backsplash edging if desired.
      The cans are weighing it down while the glue sets. Liquid nails takes about 24 hours to set, so jump ahead and work on making your stove burners and knobs.

      Stove Knobs
      Bust out your bag of 6 small wood disks:

      Cut two of the six discs in half:

      Use wood glue to glue a half circle on top of one of the full circles. Repeat until you have four knobs.

      Once the wood glue is set, paint the knobs black


      Burners
      Paint the large wood circles grey. I used these wood soccer ball plaques that I got on clearance and just flipped them over:

      Cut your dowels into approximately 2 inch pieces and paint them black along with the knobs you just made above.


      Once the paint is dry, glue the grey circles down to the stove area and then glue the dowels down on top with the craft glue.

      You can glue down the knobs, or if you want them to turn, you can attach them with screws.

      Let all that dry and then wait until tomorrow (gotta let the liquid nails set for 24 hours remember?)

      Caulk
      Caulk around the edges of the countertop material if you used laminate like I did. If you used contact paper or paint, skip this step.
      (sorry...no pictures of this part.)

      Faucet
      Now that your liquid nails is cured, we can move on to drilling our holes for the faucet.

      I used a real kitchen faucet that I got from free cycle so it had the hard ware sticking out from the bottom of it. I used a 1.25 inch hole saw to cut 3 holes. Then I dropped it in like a regular faucet and at attached it with the screws from underneath.



      Sink and Hooks
      Drop in the the bowl for the sink. I didn't glue mine down in case we decide to play with real water and then we can pick it up and dump it out. You can glue your down with liquid nails if you'd like.

      Attach the bar with hooks above the sink and hang your utensils on it.


      Sit back and enjoy your handiwork because you're almost done!


      This post is part of a mini-series on how to make your own play kitchen from a re-purposed piece of furniture. The beginning of the series with photos of the finished play kitchen and links to all subsequent posts lives here.

      Tuesday, February 7, 2012

      Capture the Love with...Photo Valentines!

      Have you decided what you (or your kids!) are giving out for Valentines Day yet? To be honest, I wasn't really into the whole V-day thing until I had a kiddo of my own and decided that there is no better time to capture that sweet little face and turn it into a fun card for our families and friends.

      This was the card we gave out last year:
      2011 Valentine's Day Photoshoot and Cards at Carissa's Creativity Space

      If you're still deciding what you'd like to do and looking for ideas check out some of my favorite Valentines photo ideas from around the interwebs!

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      I love these adorable photo pockets. They are so fun and can show off your little one's personality.
      [Pop] Rock Star Valentines Pocket Cards from I am Momma Hear Me Roar

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Cute and Easy Photo V-day cards. I"m sure you could find a variety of fun heart shaped candies to tape in their hand
      "I Give You My Heart" Photo Cards from Smashed Peas and Carrots

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      I've also seen these done with lolliops without a label to mimic the look of a  large balloon.

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Like the lollipop card idea but don't have a kid? Borrow a pet or robot!
      Non-Kid Lollipop Cards from Saucy Pants

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Another great project from I am Momma, Hear Me Roar: Use more than one photo to make a great bag topper and fill it up with more than one candy.
      Bag Topper Photo Valentine from I am Momma Hear Me Roar.

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Want something quick and easy with no candy, gluing or taping required? Check out these cards from Eighteen25. Follow the links in the post to download free .PNG files and personalize them with your own photos.

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
      If I featured your project, please feel free to grab a button if you'd like:

      Carissa's Creativity Space

      <a href="http://creativecarissa.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yAdyxQgGNck/TsfgKuluvcI/AAAAAAAABeI/sweZPJUKVyE/s150/featured%252520button%252520150%252520px%252520copy.jpg" alt="Carissa's Creativity Space" width="125" height="125" /></a>

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Can't Get Enough Valentine Ideas?
      Join me and five other fabulous craft bloggers for a live chat on the Motherhood later today!
      When: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012 at 1pm EST (that's 10am Pacific)
      Where: The Motherhood (registration is free)
      Featuring: Amanda from Crafts by Amanda will be doing a live video demo.
      Live Chat Hosts:

      I hope I'll see you there!

      Wondering where the DIY Play Kitchen posts went? Don't worry! We're just taking a quick break to spread the v-day love. I'll be back with part 3 of the DIY Play Kitchen series later this week!

      ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

      Friday, February 3, 2012

      Ladybug Valentines Cupcakes

      I made these cute ladybug cupcakes for valentines day five years ago but never posted a how-to. They are super easy to make and would make a great project to work on with your kids.

      What You Need
      • Flat Topped Cupcakes (slightly underfill the wells and reduce temp by 10 degrees to get flat, not rounded tops)
      • Pink or red frosting
      • Black frosting
      • White frosting (just a little bit)
      • 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
      • Offset Spatula
      • Piping tips sized 1 and 3 if you want to get fancy (but use what you have)
      • Piping bags with saran wrap OR 2 Ziplock bags
      • Twizzler pull and peel candy
      Prep
      The total amount of frosting needed will vary based on how many cupcakes you're decorating but you'll want about 3 parts red frosting, 1 part black frosting and 1/2 part white frosting.

      Set up your black and white frosting in piping bag(s). Even if you're a cake decorating pro, take a minute to check out this mind blowing tip for how to do all this with less mess and less clean up. If using piping tips, put the smaller tip on the white frosting. If you don't have piping bag, you can pack the frosting into the corner of a ziplock bag and snip just a teeny bit off the end to make a wee little hole.

      Peel your twizzler to separate out individual strands. Cut the individual stands into 2 inch pieces. Cut 2 pieces for each cupcake you want to make.

      Let's Get Decorating
      Step 1: Use the offset spatula to spread a smooth layer or red or pink frosting on the tops of the cupcakes


      Step 2: Use the black frosting to make a circle for the head at the front edge of each cupcake and then draw a line down the middle.

      tip: to make a smooth circle, draw a circle with the piping tip and fill in in a spiral fashion. Dip the tip of your finger into powdered sugar and smooth out the frosting with your finger.








      Step 3: Use the black frosting to draw different sized dots on each side of the line.


      Step 4: Use the white frosting to draw smaller white dots for the eyes. Draw a line in a half-circle shape for a smile.

      Step 5: Use the black frosting to make smaller dots on top of the white dots. I like to put the black dots in an upper corner of the whites as ladybugs looking up and away are cute. Ones looking straight forward are creepy.

      Step 6: Stick 2 of the 2-inch pieces of twizzler into each cupcake for antenna. Tip the twizzler pieces with black frosting if desired.


      Make a whole colony of ladybugs for fun and enjoyment of all.

      Can't Get Enough of Valentine's Crafts?
      Join me and four other fabulous craft bloggers for a live chat on the Motherhood this Tuesday!
      When: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012 at 1pm EST (that's 10am Pacific)
      Where: The Motherhood (registration is free)
      Featuring: Amanda from Crafts by Amanda will be doing a live video demo.
      Live Chat Hosts:

      I hope I'll see you there!

      (Can't wait til Tuesday to get your V-day fix? Check out my pinboard of great Valentines ideas in the meantime)

      Wondering where the DIY Play Kitchen posts went? Don't worry! We're just taking a quick break to spread the v-day love. I'll be back with part 3 of the DIY Play Kitchen series next week!




      As usual, I'm partying here:
      * A Pinteresting Party at Tutus and Tea Parties * Valentine's Day Party at Momnivore's Dilemma * Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring * I'm Lovin It at TidyMom * Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello * Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest * Inspire Me Fridays at The Joyful Stamper * Pinsperational Thursday at Arty Girl Connection *

      Wednesday, February 1, 2012

      How to Make a DIY Play Kitchen Part 2: How to Make the Refrigerator

      So sorry for the delay in posting part two of the walk through on how to make your own play kitchen. Big, exciting projects got in the way. Big, exciting, I might get to be on TV kinds of projects! (But I think that's all I can share for now).

      All that to say... it just gave you more time to catch up right? Everyone got their entertainment center picked out, primed and painted? Good!  Let's get cracking on the details!
      (joining us late? That's ok. Get started with the first post here)

      Things You'll Need:
      • If you have a glass door: Primer (and brush or roller you can prime with)
      • Painter's masking tape
      • Magnetic Paint  (I used Martha Stewart's)
      • A paint brush you can throw away
      • A small paint scraper
      • Paint in whatever color you'd like the fridge to be
      • Bar Handle and hardware (I got mine for $4.98 from Home Depot)
      • Drill
      • Package of adhesive hooks (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
      • 2 or 3 wire baskets (I got mine at Dollar Tree)
      • Cute Letter Magnets (Tutorial for how I made mine is here)

      Let's Get Started!

      Prep
      If you're following along with me and left off after the last post, you should have an entertainment center that is primed and painted but missing all of it's hardware. Before you move on to getting the fridge up and running, if yours has a glass door like mine did, you going to need to put primer on only one side of the glass and then re-install it in the door, primer side out. Go ahead and put the hinges back in and re-install the door as well, regardless of what it's made from.

      Make it Magnetic!
      Every great fridge is magnetic so that's how we are going to make it!

      Go ahead and tape off the area you want to make magnetic. My fridge door had a recessed area and I decided to just paint that part with the magnetic paint.

      Using the brush you don't mind throwing away, paint your first coat on the door. Warning: This stuff is thick and you'll probably see your brush strokes.

      Once the first coat of magnetic paint is dry, you'll want to apply a second coat. This is where that small paint scraper comes in. To help smooth out the ridges from the brush strokes, I applied the second coat with a scraper (think like you're spackling the door...but with magnetic paint instead of spackle).Peel off the masking tape while the paint is still wet.

      Once the second coat of magnetic paint is dry, paint your fridge in whatever color you'd like it to end up. I chose white, but you could do a "stainless steel" look, too.

      Hardware
      Get out your drill and install the new handle. My new handle used two screws (instead of just the one that the center came with) so I re-used the first hole and only needed to drill one hole.

      Inside
      Now we need to hang the baskets we're going to use inside the door.  I got a package of 9 adhesive hooks and two wire baskets from the Dollar Tree. Make sure you follow the instructions on the package for the hooks for cure time to make the bond as strong as possible.

      Extras
      That's it for the main part of the fridge!  Now, of course you can accessorize. On the outside, I used the Alphabet Magnets I made when I wrote this tutorial.

      On the inside, I started to put empty food packaging like Annie's Mac and Cheese or cracker boxes since I don't have any normal play food made quite yet.

      Join us next time for how to install a countertop, sink and stove!

      This post is part of a mini-series on how to make your own play kitchen from a re-purposed piece of furniture. The beginning of the series with photos of the finished play kitchen and links to all subsequent posts lives here.

       
      Design by Free WordPress Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | Facebook Themes