Month: February 2021

Moms Meet WOW Summit Goes Virtual This Year!

Do you enjoy learning about the natural and organic products industry? Do you like meeting other influencers with similar interests? And most importantly, do you like learning about brands that help you live a healthier lifestyle? If you do, then join me this March in the first ever virtual WOW Summit!

For the past few years, the Moms Meet WOW Summit were held in person with industry speakers, product samplings, and live entertainment. But due to the global pandemic and safety concerns for attendees, Moms Meet decided to move their annual Summit to completely online/virtual. The awesome team at Moms Meet promises the same exciting event with tons of opportunities to learn about the natural and organic industry and reach out to brand and professionals. And this year, the Moms Meet WOW Summit is completely FREE!

This year’s Moms Meet WOW Summit is from March 9-11 and you can register here: https://wowevents.momsmeet.com/wow-summit-virtual/register/. Just make sure you sign up to be a Moms Meet member to attend the event for free. There will be educational workshops, industry speakers, and networking with like-minded moms. But of course, you don’t even have to be a mom to attend this fun and educational event. Anyone can join and attend, but be sure to sign up early so you can get all the updates on participating brands and speakers!

Here are some of the participating brands:

Boiron, CBD Fx, Dr. Praeger’s, Kids Smart, Sambucol, Think, Brazi Bites, Beyond the Lunchbox, kiwi, Lundberg Family Farms, Sonoma Creamery, and many more!

Since this is the first virtual WOW Summit, I’m excited to see what’s in store for everyone. In the past, the event was held indoors at a well-known venue but since this year will be online only, you can even attend the 3-day event in your pajamas!

Here’s a sneak peak at what the schedule will be:

Opening Ceremony

Virtual Exhibit Hall Open

Keynote Speaker Session

General Speaker Session

Community and Blogger+ Influencer Workshop

Community Virtual Happy Hour

and more to add…!

The Moms Meet Virtual WOW Summit this year is open to everyone. You don’t have to be a blogger or social media influencer. As long as you have a love or interest for healthy living for both children and adults, then you’ll most likely walk away with some very useful information!

Be sure to register here: https://wowevents.momsmeet.com/wow-summit-virtual/register/

*photos courtesy of Moms Meet

 

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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Get Ready. Set. Plant – 10 Ways to Get Kids to Enjoy Gardening

It seems like I’ve been gardening all my life. And teaching children the skills and love for gardening are what brings me joy in the gardening world. If you can see their huge smiles and excitement as they watch their plants grow, then you know you have instilled a love for nature.

I still remember as a young child, my parents would bring me out to their backyard to help plant pumpkin seeds. I then graduated to planting tree saplings to learning how to transplant, divide plants, and propagate. While not every child desires to learn about plants, most of them do however enjoy being outdoors and digging their fingers in the soil.

There are health benefits to growing your own garden or planting your own food. You get to be outside in fresh air, you decide on what you want to grow, you can see pollinators visit your garden, and you can enjoy the bounty of your fresh fruits and vegetables! And there are many easy to grow plants for children no matter their skill level.

With spring just around the corner, now is the best time to prepare for your spring planting. If you like to start with seeds, get them ready as most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout and then 2-3 months for the plants to be fully grown. If you can’t wait for the seeds to sprout and transplant, then seedlings or small established plants might be a better choice.

Below are 10 ways of getting your child to grow their own garden. These are fairly easy steps and you can start small with just a few plants.

1 – Start off with easy to grow plants: beans, beets, carrots, peas, radishes, and tomatoes. Beans, carrots, and tomatoes can be easily grown in planters. Be sure to purchase organic whenever possible as these are edible plants.

2 – Decide on whether you want to grow in a planter or directly in ground. Planters are great for beginners or if you have a small space. Make sure planters have good drainage holes.

3 – Do you or your child have a favorite flower? Research whether the flower is in season. Check out planting seasons here: https://www.highcountrygardens.com/plant-finder/easy-to-grow-perennials

4 – Decide if you want to grow from seeds or seedlings. Most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout. Seedlings are usually about 2-3 inches tall and can be planted directly into the ground or in a planter that can accommodate the size of a fully grown plant. Growing from seeds are particularly fun because your child can track the growth of the seed as it germinates into a seedling!

5 – Take your child to a garden center. Walk around the garden center to see what’s in season and get inspiration. Talk to a horticulturist while there to get some insider tips on growing a bountiful garden! And while you’re there, pick up some plants and start planting!

6 – Purchase basic garden tools: thick gloves, garden spade, garden hand trowel, small rake, garden shears, and watering can. Get either child size tools or smaller adult size so they’ll grow with your child.

7 – Go on a nature walk at a local park or arboretum. This will inspire both you and your child to appreciate and discover various plants. Many arboretums also sell native plants so it’s a great time for your kiddos to pick out some on their own.

8 – A plant journal. Depending on the age of your child, you can have them start a plant journal where they can draw or cut out pictures of what they’re planting. Then record the start date of planting and the growth period. This also helps develop good recording skills for future planting and gardening techniques.

9 – Grow specific plants for pollinators. Great plants to grow for butterflies and bees are native flowers or all-inclusive plants such as herbs, sunflowers, and daisies. Pollinators help increase the growth of your own plants as well as help them pollinate other plants. I love growing Milkweed for Monarch butterflies. These unique and beautiful pollinators are particularly attracted to this specific plant.

10 – Plant a hummingbird habitat garden. Once in awhile I will grow plants that hummingbirds love right in front of my front door. It’s so delightful to hear their little wings flap as they drink the nectar from my plants. Hummingbird plants include Butterfly Bush, Trumpet Vine, and Honeysuckles. Just think of anything in a tubular flower shape where their long beaks can reach into the flowers.

See below to print out a Spring Planting Calendar so you’ll know the best times to plant and harvest.

KidsGardening Interactive Spring Planting Calender

Click to access interactive-planting-calendar.pdf

Instill the love of gardening and being in nature when your child is young. Teach them basic gardening skills and they’ll soon want to grow a garden for you!

Happy gardening!

*photos courtesy of High Country Gardens and KidsGardening

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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Eco-Friendly February Tasks

Can you believe it’s already February? Last year seemed like the longest year and yet it also flew by so quickly! With February already in full swing, there are lots of things we can do this month to kick start our goals for an environmentally friendly New Year!

VALENTINE’S DAY– Yes, yes, I know most people think this holiday is a marketing ploy, and I gotta admit, brands probably make tons of money for this holiday. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, I think it’s a fun tradition to begin or continue with your children. The colors of Valentine’s Day is quite festive – reds, pinks, lavenders, and even blues. But how do we make this holiday more eco-friendly? Candy wrappers are bound to be thrown into the trash along with other plastic and not so easily recyclable items. Here are some tips to keep it eco-friendly:

  • Send e-gift cards. This might seem less sentimental, but you don’t have to send gift cards to only your significant other. You can send them to your friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, teachers, and the list goes on! Electronic gift cards are fast and don’t require any shipping via mail or using those pesky unrecyclable plastic cards.

  • Purchase locally grown flowers or from family-owned farms. Locally grown flowers require less carbon footprint to ship and flower farms owned by small families usually have more unique and fresher varieties.

  • Try making a vegetarian feast for Valentine’s Day with these dishes: – Exotic mushroom pasta by using oyster mushrooms, Shitake mushrooms, or Enoki mushrooms. You can find the more exotic versions at Asian grocery stores and natural grocery stores. – Heavenly Layer Dip, which uses red tomatoes, red bell peppers, sour cream, light shredded cheese, olives, and strawberry jam (or any berry flavored jam). – Chocolate covered fruits such as chocolate-covered strawberries, peaches, mangoes, or any other unique fruits.

  • Most children love to be spoiled on Valentine’s Day! Gift them with homemade heart shaped cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and mangoes, and a special trip to a local zoo or museum (if they are open in your area).

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR – This year is the Year of the Ox so it’s important for those born under the Ox sign to be especially aware. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is a huge celebration every year. But with the pandemic and safety concerns in mind, families might have to celebrate with only their immediate household. Traditionally, there are parades, firecrackers, and huge family and friends gatherings, so you would have to see what your state, country, and city have restrictions on. To make it eco-friendly this year, here are some tips:

  • Red envelopes are traditionally given to children or unmarried young folks. It’s still okay to give cash as cash is a recyclable and reusable commodity.

  • Celebrate the traditions of Chinese Lunar New Year by reading books. There are some great books that children can read to learn all about this holiday. Include books with pictures to make them more festive.

  • Decorate with paper decorations. Red is the traditional good luck color for the new year. You can find paper decorations at specialty Asian stores to decorate your house with.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH – During Black History Month, it’s a great way to teach children about historical and iconic leaders who helped change the world. Purchase books with pictures that can be read every year.

VEGANUARY – The month of January was to celebrate Vegetarians and Vegans. But we could still continue with this tradition through February. Try to include at least one vegan or vegetarian meal during the week. Vegetarian dishes are fairly easy to make and don’t have to be just salads. You can make vegetarian pasta, vegetarian soup, and vegetarian tacos. Reduce the amount of animal protein to up to 3 times a week. Meat production is one of the largest polluters in the world and one of the biggest hidden pitfalls in carbon dioxide consuming our planet.

CAMPUS CLEAN UP – Depending on where you live and the safety protocols at your school, you can host a campus cleanup day. With the permission of the school principal, teacher, or an environmental club, pick a day where students can go around the school campus to pick up trash and or/pick weeds. A campus cleanup day promotes environmental awareness of trash and how students can help keep our schools and communities clean. Be sure to wear gloves while doing the cleanup.

SPRING PLANTING – With the spring season sneaking upon us, now is the best time to start your indoor seed planting. When you plant your own vegetables and fruits you get the full quality of your bounty and children can learn the growing process from seed to harvest to eating them! Easy plants for children to grow include: Peas, beans, beets, carrots, radishes, and sunflowers. Planting your own garden also helps with cleaning the atmosphere, reduces carbon footprint, and promotes healthier eating. Start by planting the seeds indoors and then transplant them outdoors when it’s warmer.

Start off the year with a goal to be more environmentally conscious in everything you do and buy. Take small steps if you’re just starting out and soon you’ll become an advocate for the planet!

*photo courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation, Food&Wine magazine, KidsGardenNews

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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