Month: February 2013

With health being a bigger topic nowadays, more and more companies are coming out with new products that are better for you. In the food industry, companies dedicating themselves in making the best possible food for their consumers give us more options to choose from. No longer do we have to scan the shelves for something that is both delicious and made with better ingredients. Nowadays, even the popular supermarket chains has a section reserved only for healthier options and food that are made with natural ingredients and without any artificial additives. As a mom and a health food advocate, I’m really happy to see more companies taking initiatives in producing healthier and great tasting food. You don’t have to sacrafice good taste with quality and with so many responsible choices out there, you’re bound to find something that will taste both delicious and are good for you and your family.

We’re not a major snack kind of family, but besides the usual fruits, cheese, and granola bars, it’s nice to find something entirely new and different. I myself immensely enjoy lightly flavored chips made with natural ingredients ofcourse, and I cringe when my husband insist on bringing home those artificially-colored chips that take days to wash off your hands. So when I encounter a new type of savory snacks to give to my family, I’m extremely excited.

When I came upon a company called The Real Deal, I was fascinated at the new and healthier savory snack options that they offered. They had chips, and salty snacks that wasn’t what you’d normally find elsewhere. Instead they have unique styles of savory snacks that include baked veggie chips made from green peas, a delectable and addictive snack mix that’s got a delicious blend of pretzels, cheese crunchies, tortilla chips, and nacho tortilla chips, and corn tortilla chips. I was amazed at the intense flavors of all of their varieties and I can honestly say that they all taste really, really good. With such great varieties, you can definitely find one that’ll fit your snacking style. Our favorite is their Snack Mix because you get a bit of everything in it. The Snack Mix is great alone as a snack, with a meal, or to share with friends.

The Real Deal (http://www.therealdealallnaturalsnacks.com/) was founded by a family of farmers who believed that snacking responsibly also meant snacking deliciously. Thus, a creative line of savory snacks were developed where taste doesn’t compromise quality. The Real Deal All Natural Snacks offer a great variety to choose from when you’re in the mood for something salty, crunchy, and crispy. And at The Real Deal, all of their snacks are made with natural ingredients meaning that no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives were used. Their multigrain, white, and blue tortilla chips are currently made without any genetifically modified ingredients and they hope to continue to do so with their other products.

Currently, The Real Deal carries the following scrumptious products: Snack Mix, which comes in Original and Chili Lime flavors; Cheese Crunchies, White Corn and blue Corn Tortilla Chips, and Baked Veggie Chips in Original and Sriracha flavors. Our favorite is the Snack Mix because of the delightful blend of crunchy, savory, and a bit of spice and the Baked Veggie Chips were definitely a unique blend of flavors.

You can find The Real Deal at most natural grocery stores and at some supermarkets that caryy natural foods. With The Real Deal’s unique line of savory snacks, you probably won’t get bored. And they come in a good size so they won’t get eaten up too quickly. For more info about The Real Deal, please visit their website: http://www.therealdealallnaturalsnacks.com/.

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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Whoever thought that honey can be such an eccentric ingredient? Not only can you eat honey, but you can use it as a beauty treatment for your skin, you can use it to heal minor cuts and burns, and you can use it for your hair. Honey for hair may sound extreme, but it’s actually not. For centuries, people all over the world has used honey as a secret ingredient in maintaining and improving skin and hair. And at Beecology, they have honey beauty treatments down to the science.

Beecology (http://www.beecology.com/), a natural skincare and hair care company have dedicated themselves on producing the best quality skin and hair care using honey and beeswax as the essential ingredients in their products. Having started with a bee farm many years ago, the founders of Beecology realized that bees were such an integral part of our delicate eco system and promised to produce honey-infused beauty products that were safer for the environment, better for the bees, and most importantly, beneficial and harmless to humans. With their knowledge of farming bees and the natural products industry, Beecology developed into a sought-after natural products company that uses only the finest natural and organic ingredients possible.

At Beecology, you can definitely find something to your liking. We really loved their Foaming Hand Soap as not only were they delightfully scented, but they left our hands soft and smooth. We can instantly smell the scent of honey in the hand soap and it smelled good enough to eat – although of course we didn’t eat the soap. The Foaming Hand Soap comes in three scents: Grapefruit and Lemongrass, Lavender with Bergamot, and Peppermint. We were given the Peppermint scent to try and with the breezy minty scent and cool sensation, infused with the healing powers of Aloe and Honey, we were in heaven. Or should I say – our hands were in heaven! We also tried their Honey Shampoo and Conditioner with Bee Propolis extracts. Wow, is all I can say with these shampoo and conditioner. Not only did they lather nicely without the use of artificial lathering ingredients, but the minute I opened the top of the bottle, the soothing scent of honey and citrus permeated the shower and I felt transported to another time and place. And I know that Bee Propolis is a rare and unique component of the bee colony so having that ingredient added into my shampoo and conditioner was a real treat.

We all know the importance of bees and the honey that they make. But it goes beyond that. Bees are an important part of our eco system, helping farm dozens of fruits and plants as well as countless amounts of flowers throughout the world. Without bees, our plants and fruits cannot pollinate properly and we wouldn’t have all those delicious oranges, pears, and cherries to enjoy nor would we have luscious-scented lavender and thyme to enjoy in our food and baths. And at Beecology, they promise to not only help the bees, but to make sure the ingredients they use in their products will not further harm bees or the environment. And since they do not use any potentially harmful ingredients, they are safer to use for adults and children. And Beecology promises to donate 10% of their net profit to environmental and social causes.

We discovered Beecology not too long ago and I was fascinated that a company can combine all the essential ingredients and quality of natural and beneficial products without deviating from their purposes. The foaming handsoap cleaned our hands well, the shampoo and conditioner left my hair feeling smooth and tangle-free. And although my hair is a bit thicker, the conditioner did leave my hair even thicker, so this would be a great product for those who wishes to achieve a fuller look. We absolutely love honey and would enjoy eating it and using it. When the good folks at Beecology had sent me some of their products to try, I was delighted that their products actually were made with honey and probably a good amount considering you can smell the scent of honey instantly. And when I realized that they are also made without any toxic additives such as parabens, sulfates, SLS, DEA, and TEA, I was even more delighted and relieved. Who would want all those yucky stuff on their skin and hair? And of course there are no artificial colors or preservatives and the natural scents are derived from essential oils of flowers and herbs.

Beecology currently carries the following line of products: Foaming Hand Soap, Natural Body Wash, Sulfate-Free Shampoo, All Natural Conditioner, Handmade Bar Soaps, Hand and Body Cream, and Natural Lip Balm. All of their products include their signature honey from their own bees infused with other natural ingredients. You can find Beecology at most natural grocery stores and for more info about the company, please visit their website: http://www.beecology.com/.

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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Imagine rich cream swirled into decadant dark chocolate. Sweet caramel blended with tiny bitter chocolate bites creating a fusion of savory and sweet. And now imagine dipping your spoon into smooth and luscious ice cream that only Talenti can create and you’re in ice cream heaven. There’s nothing quite like gourmet ice cream that instantly melts in your mouth and delights your palate having you crave for more. Who ever thought that ice cream can be so addictive and enticing? Well, when you wrap your lips around a spoonful of Talenti’s gourmet ice cream, you’ll never want to go back to ordinary ice cream again.

Talenti (http://talentigelato.com/) is a true gourmet ice cream lover’s dream come true. If you’ve ever tried ice cream from Talenti, then you’ll know what I mean. And if you haven’t yet, then you’re missing out on some really fabulous frozen treats. But to call Talenti’s ice cream as ice cream is almost an injustice. No, it’s more than just your typical ice cream that you find in grocery stores. Talenti ice cream is taking gourmet frozen sweets to the top of its game and once you’ve tasted them, it’s hard to go back to regular ice cream. I am not exaggerating when I say that their ice cream is the ultimate smoothness. The ultimate delight to the senses. And the ultimate dream to the palate. And with so many flavors to choose from, you’ll never get bored.

Talenti, an Italian gourmet frozen sweet, otherwise known as gelato e sorbetto, began as a small gelateria 10 years ago and soon grew into one of the most popular gelato company in the U.S. With sinful flavors such as Black Rasberry Chocolate Chip, Belgian Milk Chocolate, and Caramel Cookie Crunch, you’re bound to find a few favorites of your own. My favorite is the Double Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Caramel among a few others and although I haven’t tried their entire line, I’m pretty sure they are all delicious and melt-in-your-mouth sensational. Talenti uses only natural ingredients and that’s what ice cream should really be – just pure, natural, and high quality ingredients. Their base is milk, sugar, and cream and they source their ingredients from local farms with specialized ingredients from around the world. With simple ingredients melting with complicated flavors, Talenti really is in a class of its own.

Imagine being transported to the little towns in Italy and enjoying a nice scoop of freshly made gelato while sitting outside enjoying the sun. Although traditional ice cream and gelato are very similar in nature, gelato is usually creamier and a bit denser creating a smoother palate on the tongue. Gelato and sorbetto (or sorbet) can come in almost any flavor and at Talenti, they definitely have a great selection of flavors to choose from. You’ll find something that’s suitable for everyone – sweet to salty to tangy. And if you’re watching your weight, then know that Talenti’s sorbetto are made without any dairy and are 100% fat free. The sorbetto are made with a base of fresh fruit, sugar, and water and they are absolutely delicious!

We are major ice cream fans in our household and when we tried Talenti’s gelato and sorbetto, we were blown away by the exquisite and gourmet taste and texture of their Italian-style ice cream. Although I wish the containers were a bit larger, their ice cream can be easily devoured in one sitting! And what’s fun about their containers is that they can be easily reused. The pretty, lightweight containers can easily be resued to fill your little knick-knacks, your snacks, or anything you’d find the jars reusable for. And the best thing is – they are all BPA free plastic containers so you can certainly keep them for a long time without fear of long time exposure to anything toxic in the jars.

Talenti’s gelato and sorbetto can be found at most natural grocery stores and major supermarkets that carry natural products. I think you’ll definitely enjoy the unique and fresh flavors of Talenti’s Italian-style ice cream. They are made with only natural ingredients and do not contain artificial flavors or colors, no high fructose corn syrup, and no added preservatives. All you taste is something that’s pure, smooth, and absolutely delightful! For more info about Talenti, please visit their website: http://talentigelato.com.

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

Whether you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day this year or not, it’s fun to teach your kids about this festive holiday. Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year also falls closely with the Valentine’s Day Holiday this year. Chinese Lunar New Year begins on February 10 and Valentine’s Day is on February 14. So you have plenty of time to prepare something while teaching your children all the joy and fun with these luminating holidays.

The Chinese Lunar New Year begins on February 10, 2013 and the celebration and preparation begins weeks before. In Chinese tradition, the house must be cleaned and swept and rid of all negative energies. Red decorations such as lucky symbols, lanterns, and the Red Envelope are used during this time of year to signify prosperity, good fortune, and auspicious influence. The Chinese Lunar New Year is also a time for giving as well as receiving so we’ll touch base on the auspicious things we can give people during the celebration.

Valentine’s Day is usually noted as a holiday of love, friendship, and honor. Although not many people celebrate Valentine’s Day, I think it’s a fun holiday to teach your kids so that when they are old enough, they’ll have just as much fun with their friends. We’ll also highlight some kid-friendly and environmentally friendly gift ideas to give. And what’s unique about these two holidays is that they both use the color red to symbolize something great. But you don’t have to stick with red for decorations or gift ideas. Any variation of red – pink, fuschia, magenta, hot pink, lavender, etc. will do the trick.

– Make homemade sweets such as cookies, cupcakes, candies and place them in reusable boxes. Decorate them with festive red and pink colors.

– Make homemade granola. Mix together organic and natural ingredients including oats, honey, raisins, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, dried fruits, or anything you think your recipient might like.

– Make homemade dough for “play-doh”. Use flour and water mixture to create dough-like consistency. Add natural food coloring from beets, berries, and vegetables leftover from your cooking. Create figures using the homemade dough. Allow to dry thoroughly and give as gifts. To make it Valentine’s or Chinese Lunar New Year themed, make hearts, animals, lanterns, dragons, etc.

– Make homemade soaps or try this new soap from Noodles & Boo. These adorable heart-shaped soaps are made from natural ingredients and are delightful to use on children and adults alike.

– Give organic and fair trade chocolates made by Green & Black’s, Chocolove, Newman’s Own Organics. Give natural gummy sweetheart candies made by Surf Sweets.

– Make a gift basket of love. Fill it with organic and fair trade products like soap, chocolates, candies, candles, etc.

– Make paper lanterns or kites. Use them during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration to bring in good luck and ward off evil.

– Make homemade cards. Using leftover copy paper or construction paper, create cards for both holidays and decorate as you please.

There are many wonderful ideas and traditions during these two holidays. Put your creativity to use and you’ll find many things in your house that you may already have to use for these projects and gifts. Teach your kids about Valentine’s Day and Chinese Lunar New Year and they’ll add more knowledge to their already expanding mind.

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Parenting is never an easy task. And those who say it otherwise, well, what are you drinking and may I have some of that? As a mom, an aunt, a sister, and a godmother, I’ve learned many things about being a parent and the wonders never cease me. Back when I was a preschool teacher, I thought learning all about children would help me learn about the wonders of the world. But as a parent, I realize that you never stop learning about what children can do and what parents can do to become better parents. Anybody can be a mom or a dad, but what does it take to be a real parent?

There are some pretty wonderful parents out there who do right by their kids as much as they can. There are also some pretty crazy people out there who call themselves parents but rarely puts their children first. I’m not one to judge as parenting is truly the hardest vocation possible, but if you open a newspaper page nowadays or glance at the headlines on the internet, you see some crazy stuff that just makes you cringe. And it’s the crazy stuff that I see on TV or read in newspapers that has me wondering if this world will ever be a perfect place?

While kids are young, parents should do their best to instill a good sense of value and integrity in their hearts and minds. Adults may not be perfect and although we all have our triumphs and downfalls, sometimes grownups don’t see the bigger picture ahead of them. We may let our children down sometimes and we may even wonder if we’re ever doing the right things, but we should never use children for our own selfish reasons. My friends and I often laugh at all the strange and dumb things that parents do, but when it comes down to it, we all need some kind of guideline. Whether the rules are set within our own beliefs or from experts, lines must be crossed as to the right and the wrong things that parents must do. So my friends and I came up with a list of “10 Things Parents Should Never Do”. I’m sure most of you have seen or heard of these acts and some may ring too true in your ears, but it’s good to have a refresher now and then.

1 – Never leave your children alone in a house or car. You’ve all heard about the incident when the parent leaves his/her child in the car to get “something real quick” from the store. Next thing they know, their car is stolen and their child is abducted. Alone in the house is even scarier as you may never know what could happen. Even if there were times when you might think it’s okay to leave them alone for a few minutes and depending on the age, think twice about it.

2- Never make promises you can not keep. I know this is a hard one because with a screaming child demanding candy, video games, insert your own demands here – you want to promise them something, anything to get them to calm down. Well, most kids are pretty smart in that they’ll remember the promise you made and will forever hold you to it. And if you keep making empty promises, then they won’t take you seriously.

3- Never make threats (or empty ones). Threats are like threading a needle without glasses. You make many attempts to get it through, but in the end it become a struggle between you both. And then what are you teaching your children with threats? Basically you’re telling them that you can say it, but if you don’t follow through on them, then why bother making them? Gentle persuasion is usually the best option.

4- Never judge them too quickly. Children learn at a very young age about love and hate. And although young chidren have an altruistic trait in them and that they love their parents unconditionally, if you judge your children constantly, they’ll soon develop self-doubt.

5- Never give young children dangerous toys. What’s a dangerous toy? Well, depending on the age, it could virtually be anything. But mostly things like toy guns (I can’t believe they still make and sell them!) or anything that resembles a gun; things that can hurt themselves or others; and things that teach them to be volatile. And if people give these dangerous toys to your kids, throw them away or kindly tell the gifter that you don’t allow those kinds of toys for your kids. Although most older kids know the difference between a dangerous toy and a safe one, young children usually don’t.

6- Never discipline when you’re angry. Face it, we all get angry at our kids at one time or another. Heck, we get angry at other adults too. But most adults can handle a mean word or two but not little children. When you’re about to discipline your children while you’re still heated up, calm down and rethink your course of action in the proper ways of discipling his/her actions.

7- Never misjudge someone else’s intent. You are your child’s best parent after all. If you’re a new parent, you’ll probably get more advice than a 1000-page parenting book. And although some advice may be worthy, your instincts are what guides you as a parent. Just like the well-intended parent who gave you an advice you’re still scratching your head over.

8- Never criticize. I know it may be a tough one because we’re humans after all, but criticizing younger children gets you nowhere. In fact, it may create self-doubt with your children and with yourself.

9- Never embarrass your children in public. It may be okay to tease your kids now and then, but if it’s going to embarrass them, then skip it. Kids get embarrassed rather easily as they are still trying to figure out their roles in life, and when their own parents are embarrassing them on purpose, they’ll soon learn to put up a facade that can be dangerous.

10- Never leave their side. Okay, this may sound like paranoid parenting, and yes eventually your kids will have to leave for college, get married, start a family of their own, etc. But while they are still young, adults need to be reassured just as much as children. Of course you don’t have to be overprotective either, but it’s wise to see the bigger picture now and then.

I’m sure there are many things to add to this list as hopefully people get wiser and learn from their mistakes (or other people’s mistakes). Whether you’re a young parent, a first time parent, or a marathon parent, you’re never too old to learn about parenting. Parenting is like a seesaw. Sometimes you’re up high and you can see for miles ahead. Sometimes you sink down low and you wonder if you’ll ever see what’s ahead of you. But if you take a step back to look at the overall goal, then you and your children will hopefully grow up one day and realize hey, it’s okay to make mistakes just as long as you learn from them and move on.