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Someone once asked, “is it necessary to eat vitamins every day?” Well, that all depends on why you take certain vitamins and supplements. With controversy on whether taking vitamins and supplements really help the body or not, health experts still agree that certain degrees of vitamins and supplements does actually enhance the body’s natural balance. Look at it this way – there’s no possible way in this day and age to eat a complete balanced diet on a daily basis. I know for me it  can be hard to do since I’m a vegetarian, and that’s why I supplement with vitamins and other important minerals. When asked my son’s pediatrician on the topic he agreed that a multivitamin for children can’t hurt as long as they are not solely relying on vitamins to nourish their bodies and minds.

However, buying the right brand is essentially crucial to the quality of vitamins you get. As an avid label reader and researcher, it’s very important to me that labeling is clear and concise without any hidden agendas behind them. After all, these vitamins are just as important as the food you intake if not more so. When it comes to buying vitamins and supplements for me and my family I have to make sure to get the highest quality and from a reputable company. One company who has been in the vitamin and supplements industry for almost 30 years is Nordic Naturals (http://www.nordicnaturals.com/consumers.php). Known for their extensive knowledge of Omega Fatty Acids, Nordic Naturals sells vitamins and supplements that nourish the important functions in your brain and body. They are recognized worldwide and can be found in natural product stores as well as mainstream supermarkets.

Nordic Naturals derived from Norway, shared a value of bringing the highest quality of fish oils to their consumers for the purpose of providing excellent supplements for anyone of any age. They have vitamins ranging from adult Omegas 3,6,9 to products specifically for the heart, eyes, and brain, as well as Omega supplements for children. Recently included in their newest lineup of products is the much needed Vitamin C which comes in a soft gummy form – perfect for kids and adults who hate taking anything in pill form. The Vitamin C gummies is actually pretty tasty and easy to chew and I think it’s great for kids as the vitamin is shaped like a cute little orange slice which makes it  incredibly fun for them to eat. And since they pack 250 mg of Vitamin C per serving (which is 2 gummies), that’s a lot more of vitamin C you may get on a normal basis if you were to eat just fruits and vegetables alone. As with most people and especially children, we don’t get quite enough of the essential vitamin C that we’re supposed to so supplementing with a vitamin is a good way of getting enough of what we need.

Nordic Naturals Vitamin C offers an essential nutrient that kids need for growth and development. In addition to supporting many of the body’s physiological functions, vitamin C helps optimize immunity and provides antioxidant protection. And as with all products made by Nordic Naturals, there are no artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives. No animal byproducts are used so it’s suitable for vegetarians as well. And really, with the sweet tangy taste and the adorable shape, how you can go wrong with offering this to your kids as well as to yourself?

The wonderful folks at Nordic Naturals provided me with a couple bottles of their newest Vitamin C Gummies and my son, husband, and I all enjoy taking it every day. Because they are in a sweet gummy form, there are no fights about taking vitamins or debates about why vitamin C is so important. In fact, my son even reminds me everyday to take them. I’m so glad that Nordic Naturals came out with a gummy form of vitamin C that is suitable for practically anyone of any age. And if giving your kids vitamins is like starting World War 3, then give Nordic Naturals a try. Ranging from their gummies to their liquids, you’ll definitely find something for everyone.

For more information about Nordic Naturals, please visit their website: http://www.nordicnaturals.com/consumers.php

 

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

The weather is hot, really hot here where I live. It’s so hot that my school won’t let us go outside because we might melt. So instead, on our weekly Nature Class, the nature lady came and taught us all about ladybugs and the things they do. It was pretty cool but also kind of scary as we saw one of the pet spiders eat a ladybug. The spider caught the ladybug in its web, rolled it up and then kept it there in her web. My teacher told me that spiders eat ladybugs and that’s what they do. They keep their food rolled up in the web until they are ready to eat them.

As a cool project, we got to take home a ladybug of our own. My teacher put my ladybug inside two plastic cups, put some holes on the top and then taped it up. My ladybug is really great and he does tricks like staying still – that’s one trick he’s mastered. My mom told me that we will have to set the ladybug free though because it won’t last long inside his plastic home. She said that we will place our ladybug in our garden and hopefully it will stay there long enough to do what it’s supposed to do. Ladybugs keep the garden clean by eating other bad bugs. It’s a natural way of keeping your flowers and plants free from the bad bugs. But we only have one ladybug so he’s got a lot of work to do! Anyway, my mom gives my ladybug water and some fresh leaves that we plucked from the garden. My ladybug immediately went to the new leaves and even sat a long time on the water drop drinking the water. I think he was thirsty and hungry. I don’t want to set my ladybug free because he’s cool but I know that I will have to in order for him to be free and live longer.

Below is a picture of my ladybug.

Sadly the next day my ladybug passed away. I guess we didn’t let him outside fast enough and then he just stopped moving. When I got back from school, he wasn’t moving in his home and then that’s when I knew that was it. My poor ladybug. We buried him outside and I put a tombstone on his grave. My mom said that when you bury ladybugs they become part of the the Earth and they continue to do good things for the plants.

Long Live My Ladybug!

There once was a little girl who loved the beauty of words. They fascinated her, entranced her, and took her on impossible journeys. She took that unabashed love for words and used it for reading, writing, and eventually sharing the love of words to anyone she encountered. The love for words stayed with her throughout the years and oftentimes people wonder why her head was always buried in a book, looking up only when she had something important to say. What is it about reading a good book that can take you away to a far-off land ruled by fairies or frighten your socks off  right underneath your bed covers late at night? If you love the feel of those grainy rough papers in between your fingers or even sliding a page on your tablet, then you’ll know that the magic of reading goes far beyond anything your mind can take you. Books are magical yes, but it’s what you take from them that makes it even more powerful.

Each year on April 23, World Book Night (http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/) helps spread the love of reading to the general public. Launched in the U.K. in 2011, the worldwide phenomenon soon became so popular and sought-after that it spread to the United States. The mission is to help those who do not have opportunities to read on a regular basis or simply those who do not understand the importance of a good book. By sponsorship with authors, booksellers, publishers, and other professionals in the literary world, WBN finds “book givers” throughout the US to distribute carefully selected books to those who need a little nudge in reading. Recipients of these books could be children, teens, and even adults who need that extra push to open up a book and start falling in love with the beauty of words. This year I was fortunate to be selected as a Book Giver and my chosen book is Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I read Bridge to Terabithia a long time ago when it was first published and watched the movie. Although I didn’t enjoy the movie as much as the book – but really, can you blame that the original book is oftentimes hard to translate onto film – it was still a lot of fun to compare the scenes portrayed on film to the descriptions in the book. I would consider Bridge to Terabithia a good book for preteens and those who want to embark on a little adventure with a boy and a girl. Two unlikely friends bound together to triumph in the end and may even remind all of us that our minds can take us on journeys beyond the farthest stars, beyond the greatest adventures in our hearts.

Reading isn’t just meant for schools or as mandatory homework. If that was the case then there wouldn’t be artists or musicians or writers. Our civilization would be dull and uninspiring and we wouldn’t appreciate how the colors of a flower can be described in a hundred ways or what would be the safest way to bungee jump off a mountainous cliff. Words inspire us, transport us, and changes us in ways that only words can do. So take up a good book, find a comfy chair and let your mind enter the realm of words. You won’t be sorry for it.

Right now, you can download the World Book Night eBook for free ( for a limited time) at: http://eworldbooknight.org/ for brief stories of popular literature. Download and share. Read and share.

As a WBN book giver, I am also given the opportunity to give The Bridge to Terabithia to one of my lucky readers. For this particular giveaway, the winner has to share the book with someone who doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to read. For me, reading is very important – no matter the genre. So in order to qualify for future giveaways, I ask that you return to my blog and write a brief review of the book, Bridge to Terabithia. And the person you share the book with (if they are old enough to write a review) must share their thoughts as well on my blog. I will email the details to the winner after one has been selected.

So how do you win this wonderful book: Bridge to Terabithia? The entry is easy. Simply “Like” World Book Night on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/worldbooknightusa). Then tell me in the comments section what your favorite book is and commit that you would write a review of the book you won within 3 weeks of receiving the book. Please also share the book with someone and who you are planning on sharing it with.

*You can enter by providing the above comments 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. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law.

Contest Start Date: April 23, 2014 – CONTEST CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE SELECTED.

Contest End Date: May 8, 2014

Only  1 winner will be chosen at random and I will post the winner’s name 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

If you’re like most parents with young children, sleep is an elusive dream. I’m somewhat of an insomniac anyway and it doesn’t help when the lack of sleep hits me during the day and I’m walking around like a zombie. But besides a good night’s rest, sometimes I need a little help waking up in the morning and going to bed at night. When I learned about Kiss My Face’s newest Early to Bed and Early to Rise Shower Gels I was intrigued. Could an actual body wash help me wake up refreshed in the mornings as well as one that can help me sleep peacefully?

When the good folks at Kiss My Face (http://www.kissmyface.com/) sent me their Early to Bed and Early to Rise shower gels to try, I was a bit skeptical. How could shower gels actually help with waking up refreshed in the morning and soothing enough to give me a peaceful night’s rest? Well, that’s when the powers of essential oils come in – their wondrous therapeutic properties have been known for many centuries and are still applied to modern day uses.

 

Both Early to Bed and Early to Rise shower gels contain specific fruit and herbal extracts that are meant to help and enhance one’s mood. With their Early to Bed shower gel the calming and soothing properties of Clove and Ylang Ylang are carefully blended with the stress-relieving quality of Lavender to put you in a relaxing and peaceful state of mind – something quite important to a good night’s sleep. When I opened the bottle cap the first scents that hit me were Clove and Ylang Ylang. Both have very powerful aromas that immediately brings tranquility to the mind. Some may not appreciate their pungent scents but I’ve been using natural essential oils and extracts for many years so I was accustomed to their fragrances. The lavender is very light but it’s in there and if you take a careful whiff, you’ll enjoy the melange of scents that is altogether soothing and intriguing. Although I can’t quite say whether it had helped me fall asleep faster than if I didn’t use it, the shower gel did create a natural sense of tranquility.

With the Early to Rise shower gel I was eager to try that right away. Using the essential extracts of Wild Mint and Citrus such as lemon and grapefruit, the fresh scents are both refreshing and invigorating. I definitely felt more awake the instant I stepped into the shower and poured some of the Early to Rise shower gel into my palms. I’m a major fan of citrus in my shower gels as they are delightful to the senses and reminds me of orchards and meadows.

Kiss My Face uses naturally derived ingredients and do not contain parabens, phthalates, or SLS and are generally gentle on the skin. They do not use any artificial fragrances only essential oils and extracts and come in a variety of delightful scents. We’ve been using Kiss My Face products for many years and I even use their kids formulas for my son. I really like the fact that they harness the powers of essential extracts to use for therapeutic purposes as well as enhances one’s mood. The properties for the two shower gels contain the following:

Early to Bed Shower Gel – 

Chamomile – calms and soothes the skin

Ylang Ylang – soothing for the body and mind

Olive Oil – superb moisturizer for all skin types

Early to Rise Shower Gel –

Basil – stimulates skin circulation

Lemon – uplifting and refreshing for the skin

Olive Oil – superb moisturizer for all skin types

Currently, Kiss My Face products can be found at most natural grocery stores, on their website, and online shopping sites including Amazon and Vine.com. 

For more info about Kiss My Face, please visit their website: http://www.kissmyface.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

Our planet is a precious commodity and unless we can live on another planet, Earth is all we have for the next few thousand years or so. Or we hope.

April is officially “Earth Month” when we celebrate our planet and do things that help rather than hinder it. But I’d like to think that we should celebrate and take care of Earth every day and while that may be difficult for most, it only takes one small step to make a major difference. Whether it’s remembering to recycle or turning off the lights when not in use, we all can make some positive changes to help make our world a better place for our future generations.

This year’s post I’d like to dedicate it to recycling. Many people already recycle on a regular basis but do you know what’s recyclable and what’s not? Not everything can be thrown in the recycling bin and those that can may have to be placed in their own separate containers. Below is a list of items that are recyclable and are not. Happy Earth Month and remember that we can help improve the quality of our planet.

RECYCLABE:

PLASTIC BOTTLE

Plastic bottles marked #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) are recyclable in most communities. This includes: shampoo, conditioners, body wash, lotion, baby powder, face cleanser, and body oil.

PLASTIC

Plastic marked #4 (LDPE) and #5 (PP) may not be accepted for recycling via curbside programs. Check with your municipality and the Earth911 recycling locator. Some #5 (PP) plastics may also be recycled via drop-off or mail-in programs. 

CAPS

Caps and closures may be kept on plastic bottles and containers at the point of recycling. Caps are often made from #5 plastic and can usually be recycled through your curbside recycling program. Check with your local municipality.

PAPERBOARD ITEMS

Most paperboard items are recyclable: Toilet paper rolls; cardboard boxes and cartons for over the counter drugs, lotions, soaps, bandages, etc.

NON-RECYCLABLE

TOOTHBRUSHES

Toothbrushes are generally only recyclable through take-back programs, as most municipalities don’t accept them as recycling. 

TUBES

Most bathroom tubes (toothpaste, etc.) are made with plastic laminate, which most   municipalities do not accept for recycling.

PUMPS

Currently, the pumps on bottles are not recyclable due to the multiple components that are contained within a pump.  Please remove all pumps before recycling a bottle, then put the bottle in your recycling and the pump in your garbage.

DENTAL FLOSS CONTAINERS

Dental floss containers are usually made with multiple parts of multiple materials, so they generally cannot be recycled, except via the mail-in and drop-off programs.

*Always check with your local recycling programs to see what they will and will not take.

Every year the natural and organic products industry does something unique – they all come together to showcase their products and enlighten us with something new and innovative. Besides what we already know of these natural companies, there are always many more coming out with products that help us live better and healthier lives. This year I had the honor of attending the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California and it was as entertaining and educational as the ones before. In the span of 3 days I experienced a melting pot of natural vitamins, frozen foods, and gluten-free energy bars among many other variety of health-promoting foods and trends. It was fascinating to see all the companies that I normally buy and see in stores to come together and show their goods in one giant building.

What seems to be on trend this year is the so called Paleo (Paleolithic) Diet, or otherwise known as “caveman food”. Based on a strict regimen of eating foods found only in nature, the Paleo Diet consists of fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts. It excludes any type of  grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oils. Although a fairly new type of food trend, the Paleo Diet is quickly becoming more widespread similar to its predecessors – the Raw Food Diet, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, and so forth. But the more prominent food trends are still gluten-free, vegan, chia seeds, quinoa, and a few others that are more or less accepted because of their unique advantages.

It was great to see a lot of new companies sticking their heads out to test their waters on their newest products. We visited booths that included products ranging from freshly pressed juices to honey soaps. NPE even dedicated an entire floor to showcase these new up and coming products – some from fledgling companies, others are more well-known.

As usual when you first walk up the main avenue to get to the Convention Center, you’ll find booths hovered collectively in a circle in the front ready for you to sample their goods. It doesn’t matter whether you are a vendor, an attendee, or just a curious passerby, these companies will inadvertently thrust their samples in your hands giving you a taste of what they offer. When you enter the building however, you are welcomed by rolls and rolls of display cases showcasing all the various hundreds of vendors and the products they sell and distribute. You’ll find companies like Stonyfield Farm, Wholesome Sweeteners, Itoen, Eden Foods, MELT Organics, Vans Natural Foods, and many others on display – the colorful arrays are eye-catching and breathtaking.

We met many companies during the three-day event and I hope to bring you some fun and new products to read about and try for yourselves. Going to the Natural Products Expo West event has always been a joy for me and to see some of the companies interact so favorably with my son is a lot of fun for him as well. We always come home tired but exuberant and full of knowledge!

Stay tuned for new products and new giveaways showcasing some of the companies I visited.