Month: March 2012

Snyders EatSmart Naturals – Products Worth Reviewing and Giveaway

I don’t snack that often and I’m pretty choosy on what I want to snack on. I’m even doubly choosy when it comes to snacks for my son. I take my time reading labels before I purchase anything new and I always made sure they have some kind of nutritional content to them. Although snacking on fresh foods are ideal and preferred, sometimes our bodies and our mind crave something entirely different. And while it’s okay to snack on something besides fruit, veggies, and cheese, it’s crucial to find healthy and wholesome snacks made with natural ingredients and minimally processed.

With more healthier snack options nowadays, one can find some pretty tasty and nutritional snacks out on the market. One company who has been making wholesome, natural, and nutritional snacks is a company called Snyders of Hanover. Snyders made pretzels of all kinds but not too long ago, they came out with a new line called EatSmart Naturals. EatSmart Naturals makes savory, natural, and super delicious snacks in the form of Cheesepuffs, Veggie Sticks, Corn Puffs, Tortilla Chips, and Veggie Crisps. EatSmart Naturals, which is a division of Snyders of Hanover produces great-tasting savory snacks that are made with whole grains and natural seasonings. We really love their Corn & Rice Puffs as they melt delightfully in your mouth the minute you pop one in. In fact, their White Cheddar Corn & Rice Puffs are so fun and yummy to eat that one can easily polish off the entire bag in one sitting.

EatSmart Naturals really has their name down right. With so many choices in snacks nowadays, you can really get dizzy on choosing which one is right. Although there are many healthy snack options out there, it’s also important that your snacks taste great as well. And with EatSmart Naturals, there is something so unique and distinctive about their chips and puffs. They taste amazingly fresh without any preservatives and you can really taste the natural cheese and the whole grains in each bite. But EatSmart Naturals isn’t all about delicious, savory snacks. They are also firm believers in preserving our planet and our health through their partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, The Whole Grains Council, Non-GMO Project, and reducing their carbon footprint in every aspect of their company’s policies. In fact, if you took a look at their bags, you’ll see beautiful sceneries of nature on every of their EatSmart Naturals bags. What a nice thought – enjoying your EatSmart Naturals snacks and looking at the gorgeous photos all at the same time.

So perhaps you have heard of Snyders of Hanover and even bought a few of their pretzels but if you haven’t heard of EatSmart Naturals yet, then give them a try – you won’t be disappointed. You can find EatSmart Naturals at natural grocery stores, in major supermarkets, in Target, and you can even order them at their online store. Their bright, beautiful bags won’t be hard to find and their generous portions make it worthwhile to purchase a few.

EatSmart Naturals had generously sent me their favorite products to try and review. The products I tried are: Garden Veggie Crisps, Garden Veggie Sticks, White Cheddar Corn and Rice Puffs, Multigrain Sea Salt Tortilla Chips, and Multigrain White Cheddar Cheesepuffs. They are also giving 3 LUCKY readers of Happymomblogger the chance to win their own savory snack pack. The winners will receive 1 bag each of Garden Veggie Crisps, Garden Veggie Sticks, Parmesan Garlic & Olive Oil Waffle Chips, White Cheddar Corn & Rice Puffs, Multigrain Sea Salt Tortilla Chips, and Multigrain White Cheddar Cheesepuffs. Talk about a scrumptious array of chips and puffs that your neighbors will envy! So how do you win this delicious and generous prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the EatSmart Naturals giveaway:

(Please note, the rules have changed slightly. Please read carefully before entering)

ENTRIES:

#1 entry – “Like” EatSmart Naturals on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SnydersOfHanover#!/pages/EatSmart-Naturals/167166913379113 and write on their wall that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger: http://www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com/. Please put Happymomblogger as the heading.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: 

#2 entry – Become a follower: http://twitter.com/#!/happymomblogger and “Tweet” me @happymomblogger that you are entering the EatSmart Naturals giveaway. Become a follower of Snyders of Hanvover: http://twitter.com/#!/Snyders_Hanover and “Tweet” that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Subscribe to my Blog.

#4 entry – Enter in my other contests.

#5 entry – Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs using the link provided below.

You can enter by telling me the 5 entries in the LEAVE A COMMENT box. Please be sure to give me your name and email address so that I may contact you if you win. Contest is open to residents of US only. 18 years and older please. Please be sure to provide a physical address and not a P.O. Box. Only 1 contestant per household please. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize. Any violation of the rules will deem your entry as disqualified. Happymomblogger is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged prizes but will do the best to ensure your prize gets there. In  the event the winner can not be contacted within 3 days of email sent then another winner will be chosen. You can win only 1 prize per giveaway period. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: March 23, 2012

Contest End Date: April 6, 2012 – CONTEST CLOSED, WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED.

Only 3 winners will be chosen at random and I will post the winners names on my blog.

GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products. 

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

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Shutterfly Yearbook – A New Way to Capture Memories

What do you do when you have a popular kid at school who has way too many friends and can’t get her off the phone even to say “hello”? Well, being popular can be a good thing and even if they’re not the most popular kid at school, your children still has friends and teachers that they’d like to remember as they get older, right? You can take a lot of pictures and stick them in a photo album, but honestly, who has the time nowadays? As a busy parent, you probably barely have time to upload your photos onto your computer let alone printing them out on your own or ordering them online. But keeping photo memories is important for many people and for teenagers, photos of their favorite things at school will probably bring a smile or an amusing frown years down the line. One way to preserve those school-year memories is a traditional photobook, but this year, Shutterfly has come out with something entirely different, and extremely new and fun.

Shutterfly Yearbook : http://www.shutterfly.com/yearbook/ is a new way to add more excitement and meaning to your childrens memories. Whether your child is the most popular kid in school,  the best artist, the class clown, the best musician, or even the best student in school, it’s always great to capture events and memories in your child’s life so he can reminisce with his own kids when he’s older. Schools have been making yearbooks for as long as I can remember and instead of the traditional, boring yearbooks that you’re so used to, you might want to try something new this school year. Something that you can create on your own, with whatever template, whatever colors, and whatever photos that suits your liking. And when you’ve got something that’s entirely different, your kids will be grateful (for once) and may even thank you for it.

 

Shutterfly has been helping people create memories through prints, photobooks, calendars, cards, magnets, and even photo blankets – you name it, Shutterfly can do it for you. We’ve been using Shuttefly for many years whether it’s ordering traditional photo prints, making invitations, and creating photobooks, we’ve come to trust Shutterfly’s superior quality and renowned customer service to get the creative juices flowing. In fact, the quality of their prints is so exceptional, that I honestly can’t find anyone else to do a better job. Well, I probably can, but it would cost way too much to even try. Shutterfly is like having your own professional photo processor living in your computer. You don’t have to be a professional photographer. You don’t even have to be a great photographer. You just have to want a reason to preserve your photo memories for yourself and your family and friends and even impress a few people with the high quality craftsmanship that’s synonymous with Shutterfly’s name. And with their newest photo yearbook offered on their site, you’ve got something new and interesting to try with Shutterfly. But your creativity doesn’t have to stop there. Shutterfly’s photo yearbook can also be used for a sports team, a non-profit organization, or for anything where you want to create something extra unique and special.

This year, I’m definitely going to tell my siblings about Shutterfly’s new photo yearbook. They all have teenagers so I’m sure they’d love to give it a try. If you’re interested in creating a photo yearbook for your childrens school, you can order just one or even for the entire school. Shutterfly is offering an incredible discount if you’re ordering in bulk, so why not give the new Shutterfly photo yearbooks a try? And for more info and ideas on your Shuttefly creations, please visit their social networks: https://www.facebook.com/shutterfly; https://twitter.com/#!/Shutterfly; http://pinterest.com/shutterfly/.

* I was given a Shutterfly photobook as an incentive to share my views about Shutterflys’ new Photo Yearbook.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products. 

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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Dancing Deer – Products Worth Reviewing

When you come across an adorable name like “Dancing Deer” for a company, you have to wonder the theory behind them and the imagery associated with it. Of course one doesn’t just buy a product by name alone, but it does make you look twice at the packaging and the company. With the case of Dancing Deer, their all-natural baked goods tastes just as unique as their name. You may have heard of Dancing Deer and even seen them in stores, and if you’re fortunate enough to have tried their scrumptious sweets, then you’ll know when I say Dancing Deer’s baked sweets are very addictive!

I came across Dancing Deer not too long ago when I was searching for some natural baked sweets to give as gifts. I heard about Dancing Deer but never tried their products before so I picked up some brownies and cookies that looked deliciously enticing. I think it was at my friend’s natural food store when I first saw Dancing Deer and then I saw them again at the Natural Products Expo. When I tasted some samples at the Natural Products Expo, I was truly surprised at how packaged cookies can taste so amazingly fresh and “homemade”. And that’s because at Dancing Deer they use only natural ingredients and everything is made from scratch in their own facility. You can really taste the quality of Dancing Deer’s baked sweets as their brownies and cookies are moist, delicate, and full of flavor.

Dancing Deer began as a small bakery shop by 3 entrepreuners who wanted to fulfill the needs of their community with natural and wholesome baked sweets. With their delicious baked sweets sweeping across the nation, the business soon expanded and now you can find Dancing Deer in natural grocery stores, in gourmet and specialty stores, and certain supermarkets. On their website: www.dancingdeer.com, you can order their gourmet baked sweets online and you can order anything from brownies to cookies, to cakes to pancake and waffle mix. Each of their delicious gourmet baked sweets are made fresh to order using the finest ingredients possible and if you order gifts, they are packaged in pleasant, adorable packaging that’s a joy to open. And since they do not contain any preservatives, you’ll probably want to eat them right away – but I don’t need to tell you that once you’ve tried them for yourself.

Currently, Dancing Deer makes a wonderful selection of natural baked sweets such as Triple Chocolate Chip cookies,  Molasses Clove cookies, Original Chocolate Chip cookies, Maple Oatmeal cookies, Shortbread cookies, Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Caramel Pecan Brownies (our favorite), Blondies, Caramel Sea Salt Brownies, Chocolate Espresso Cake, Meyer Lemon Rasberry Ricotta Cake, and many more. If you took a look at their website, your mouth will water just looking at those scrumptious sweets, but tasting them is even better! Dancing Deer had kindly sent me an assortment of their brownies to try and review. The flavors they sent me were Chocolate Chunk, Caramel Pecan, and Peanut Butter Brownies. My son and I enjoyed the Chocolate Chunk and Caramel Pecan and we especially enjoyed them with vanilla ice-cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup – yummy! The Chocolate Chunk brownies had large pieces of dark chocolate in them and wasn’t too sweet. The Caramel Pecan was a bit sweeter because of the caramel but the caramel was soft and gooey so it was extra delicious. and the Peanut Butter Brownies had a lot of peanut flavor so if you’re a fan of peanut butter, you’ll enjoy the Peanut Butter Brownies.

I think because Dancing Deer sweets are considered gourmet baked sweets, they make fabulous gifts for any occassion. They are beautifully wrapped and the box I received had brownies that were individually wrapped so that they stay fresh. Although the brownies are not extraordinarily huge, they do fit a satisfying need and they are so moist and dense that they are quite fulfilling as well. So, whenever you visit your natural grocery store and you see Dancing Deer, be sure to pick up some of their delightful baked sweets. With such a great assortment to choose from, you can definitely make any occassion special.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products. 

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Baby Gourmet – Products Worth Reviewing

Being a mom is a full time job. I’m sure most people can agree to that. So what happens if you’re a first time mom with a baby that’s ready to take his  first bite of “adult” food, or baby food in that matter. Some moms will make food for their baby from scratch. They would select the perfect ingredients and then cook it and season it just right. That sounds easy enough right? Well, for most moms that can be pretty tedious. It’s rewarding no doubt, but you’ve got to spend a lot of time knowing what ingredients to buy, how soft to cook them, and then wonder if your baby will eat them. And babies nowadays can be pretty finicky. So most moms turn to premade baby foods that comes in a jar or a squeezer (it seems almost every food is available in a squeezable option now). But what kind of premade baby food should you buy? And who do you trust? And how do you know if it’ll taste good and if your baby will like it?

It’s pretty tough when you’re a first time mom and you’re not sure what type of premade baby food to buy.  There are a lot of choices out there and a lot of flavors to choose from. But babies are pretty new at the food thing too, so you have to be choosy about what to buy. I’m sure they’re not yet interested in a piece of steak or blueberry pie (and they can’t chew them yet anyway), so the type of foods that are safer for babies are usually your old standby. Foods like mashed carrots, mashed sweet potatoes, mashed peas, pears, etc, are usually good choices. Those type of foods have not been known to cause allergic reactions in babies and they are filled with a lot of nutrients and important vitamins and minerals. Plus, they taste pretty good too.

But to go a step further in providing your baby with nutritious and healthy first foods is to buy organically-grown foods. Based on the USDA certification program, organically-grown foods are not allowed to be sprayed with toxic chemicals or be grown in soil that’s been chemically processed. Organically-grown foods also taste better (in my opinion) and they look absolutely gorgeous too! And since babies and young children are developing so fast, any food they ingest can potentially harm or help their bodies. It’s easy to buy organic produce nowadays and even easier to buy organic baby food. Organic baby food has quickly become the mainstream of baby foods out on the market today. Although you can still find conventional baby food in your regular grocery stores, organic baby food are also popping up everywhere in your local supermarkets.

 

Baby Gourmet: http://babygourmet.com/, a company that’s dedicated in making natural, organic, and wholesome food for babies was interested in sending me some of their gourmet baby food to try and review. Since my son is a bit too old to eat “baby food”, we had my friend’s son try it. My son did take a few bites of  Baby Gourmet’s Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto and he seemed to have liked it. He said “yum” and left it at that. My friend’s son, who turned 1-year old earlier this year was a great taste tester though. Since he was eating mushed fruits and vegetables made by his mom, it seemed like he was ready for food with a bit more texture. The flavors they sent me were Orchard Apple, Carrot and Prune, Baby’s Sweet Potato Pie, and Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto. My friend’s son, who is not as finicky an eater, really enjoyed the Sweet Potato Pie and Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto. Perhaps it was the texture that interested him, but he wanted to eat the entire pouch and then some.

What I like most about Baby Gourmet’s baby food is their all-natural ingredients made with organic fruits, vegetables, and spices. For instance, their Juicy Pear and Garden Greens are made with only Organic Pear, Organic Broccoli, Organic Spinach, Absorbic Acid, and Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate. There are also no added sugar or salt, no fillers, no preservatives, and packaged in BPA-free packaging. Since their products do not contain any preservatives, I would recommend eating them right away after you’ve opened them and like most moms, they freeze their pureed baby foods (although I’ve never personally tried that before). Currently Baby Gourmet comes in Simple Purees which are suitable for 6 months plus, Yummy Combos which are suitable for 7 months plus, and Tasty Textures which are suitable for 8 months plus. And with yummy flavors like Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto, Apple, Sweet Potato, Berry Swirl, and Juicy Pear and Garden Greens, you’ll probably find something that your child will like. With all of Baby Gourmet’s baby food providing the necessary nutrients and vitamins that a growing baby needs, you won’t be disappointed either. Baby Gourmet can be found in certain natural grocery stores as well as Walmart. You can always go on their website for more store locations.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products. 

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Mambo Sprouts – your resource for healthy and organic food and products!

Many years ago finding organic and all-natural food and products wasn’t all that easy – unless you grew them or made them yourself – most of the time you had to depend on conventional foods in regular supermarkets. Although conventional foods aren’t so bad, as long as you know what you’re buying, as years grew by however, the popularity of organically-grown foods and natural products became more prevalent. Natural grocery stores were popping up everywhere and farmers markets were becoming the norm. But finding organic food and natural products can be difficult sometimes especially if you don’t have the resources or the income to purchase them on a regular basis. That’s why as years grow by, environmental and organic companies and resources are also popping up everywhere to help everyone who is interested in the importance of organic and natural food and products and to offer ways of saving as well.

Several years ago when I was learning more about the benefits of organic products and how it affects our health and our planet, I came across a company called Mambo Sprouts: http://www.mambosprouts.com/. Mambo Sprouts is a company dedicated in educating and helping those who wish to learn more about environmental concerns, healthy living through food and lifestyle choices, and saving money while making healthier food choices. Through their website and touring events, they’ve helped thousands of people gain a deeper understanding about the health benefits of eating and using organic and natural products and the effects it has on our planet as well. If you ever have a question about what fair trade is about or what the country is doing with the “Just Label It” campaign, you can always check out their website for more info. And the best part is, if you ever need any coupons to help you with those organic and natural products purchases, their website offers those too. However, the best way to gleen more info from the company is to sign up for their newsletter which is sent to you on a regular basis with great info and great coupons.

Mambo Sprouts began over 15 years ago as a means to provide info on healthier ways to live for yourself and for the world. Through their touring events, promotions, and ongoing slew of helpful information, one can always find something new to learn and to try. They also offer contests and giveaways on a regular basis so you can enter to win some great prizes. Coupons that are offered on their sites are familiar organic and natural products such as Stonyfield Farm, Earth Balance, Vans Natural Foods, and so much more. So whether you’re a pro at finding and buying organic foods and products or just learning how, you can always find something useful at Mambo Sprouts. And with some coupons in your hands to buy the products you want to try, you’ll likely go back for more.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products. 

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Martial Arts for Kids

High kick, sweeping the leg, horse stance. If all those words sound like some intricate dance moves, well they’re not. They are actually terms used in the Martial Arts industry, in particularly kung fu (or Gong Fu). There are many types of martial arts practiced and taught throughout the world, but particularly Chinese kung fu focuses on self-discipline, integrity, and self-respect. Kung fu is taught with a clear mind of not using the skills one learned for fighting or battling, but more for self defense and achieving a greater sense of being through hard work and perseverance. And through internal skills learned from great kung fu masters, one can overcome many obstacles – physically and mentally.

Kung fu originated in China thousands of years ago and some believed that it began with the Shaolin monks. Kung fu was practiced in secrecy for many years due to the fear of uprising among the commoners. As each generation learned specific kung fu forms and skills, kung fu became even more revered as well as feared in ancient China. As dynasties grew and the need for skilled martial artists arised, kung fu was then only allowed to be practiced and used by the warriors and armies of the Empires. But even with kung fu being prohibited to be practiced or used in ancient China, masters still taught students and the art transferred throughout the decades and has become one of the most popular forms of martial arts in the United States today.

I started practicing martial arts kung fu when I was about 9 years old. The normal age to begin kung fu training would be around 5 or 6 years old but maybe I wasn’t ready at that young of an age. However, the earlier you start, the better you’ll become as long as you continue with your practice and training. Kids are astute learners and their muscles and tendons are growing faster when they are young which makes them perfect candidates for martial arts or any kind of physical exercise. Kids are also more agile and faster and with proper training and discipline, they can become great martial artists. And most importantly, Kung fu teaches children to be more disciplined, more aware of their surroundings, and creates balance in their lives and in their bodies. Through unique techniques taught in kung fu, children’s muscles, tendons, and bones will grow better and they’ll achieve overall good health. When I was doing kung fu, it helped me tremendously during sports in high school and my body felt lighter and I was more confident.

If you think you’d like your kids to start kung fu or any kind of martial arts, I would recommend Shaolin kung fu or karate. Shaolin kungfu derived from the Shaolin Monks in ancient China and the forms are straight-forward, fluid, and energetic – kids will love it! Other forms of martial arts may be a bit too rough and hard for little kids but to start them off right, a disciplined form of martial arts such as kung fu and karate may be right choices. It’s also important to choose the right school as well as the right instructors (although you may not have a choice in the latter). Good schools will have good locations where it’s visible and safe, large enough studio for teaching and practicing, teachers that have a number of years of experience teaching at the school and possibly certified, the Masters of the school present where possible, a great staff, and clean and neat interior. And the most important factor would be a thorough and complete curriculum. Their should be exercises where you must relax your muscles before you begin and exercises to help you wind down and relax after intensive training.

So no matter what type of physical exercise you want your kids to do, remember that any type of physical exercise would work well. Just keep in mind your child’s age and physique – not all martial arts and sports are created for little kids in mind – and it’s always safer to do some research on your own as well as ask the instructors beforehand. You know your children and their limitations so always be safe.

* I was given permission to use information from The Wen Wu School of Martial Arts, inc. For more info about Wen Wu School, please visit their website: www.wenwuschool.com and their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wen-Wu-School-of-Martial-Arts-Inc/165691813445201. Wen Wu School of Martial Arts currently teaches Shaolin Kung fu, Taiqi, Dayan Qigong (Wild Goose Qigong), as well as several internal martial arts for advanced students.

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