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Have you ever heard of the expression, “We all have a little Disney inside us”? Whether we’ve enjoyed watching their movies, visited their theme parks, or simply allowed the magic of “Disney” to make us believe a little more, there’s just something about the entire Disney franchise that touches our hearts. As a MomSelect blogger, I was fortunate to be chosen to host a “Show Your Disney Side” (http://disneyside.disneyparks.disney.go.com/) party where friends and kids came together to celebrate the unique entity known as Disney. Although the original party date was postponed due to unrelenting rain in my area, I was able to set it for another weekend where the sun was shining and warm accompanied by a gentle cool breeze. Hosting the party at a nearby park as sort of an excuse for the kids to play and the adults to chat, we had lots of fun and relaxed in the sun. The DisneySide Home Celebration is an ongoing event designed to celebrate the fun and creative aspects of all things Disney.

If you go online (http://disneyside.disneyparks.disney.go.com/) you’ll find plenty of ideas for creating your own parties or just enlightening your kids on the Disney characters they have probably seen at one time or another. Whether you’re a Disney fan or not, you’ll find lots of fun activities to enjoy on their site.

Thanks again to all the sponsors for the party and the chance for everyone to enjoy a little fun in the sun!

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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I hate that initial feeling of body aches, runny nose, and a sore throat that just won’t go away. The dreaded thought that a cold or flu is fast approaching is never a pleasant one. But fear not, there are many ways to counterattack the onslaught of a cold or flu: getting plenty of extra rest, uptake your Vitamin C, and don’t stress out. It’s inevitable that we’ll all get sick one time or the other and with the horrible weathers throughout the nation, our bodies are really taking a toll.  And with a busy life keeping us from remembering to take care of ourselves, we subject ourselves to even the littlest ailment.

I like to keep my defenses up throughout the year only because I know that colds and flus don’t only flourish during the Winter months. I’m more prone to natural, homeopathic prevention which helps prevent those nasty bugs and germs from invading my immune system. But occassionally I’ll get a bit of a cold and I’ve learned long ago that it’s best to prevent that impending cold from taking over my body. Ususally for me, high stress is the factor but stress is also hard to prevent as well. So besides drinking lots of hot ginger tonics, uptaking my Vitamin C, and green tea, I’ve found other meaningful and helpful ways of fighting that first attack. And that’s when I also learned about a company called Boiron (http://www.boironusa.com/).

Boiron has been making natural, homeopathic medicine for both children and adults for over 80 years with a sincere and straightforward approach in providing excellent, natural medicine throughout the world. Originating in France many years ago, Boiron’s holistic approach that medicine should be effective and safe for all ages has made them a popular name in households. In fact, having used mostly natural remedies since I was young, I rather prefer medicine that comes from nature than from a test tube. From personal experience, most natural remedies causes no ill side effects but you should always consult a specialist if you ever have any doubts.

When we discovered Boiron and their entire family of natural, homeopathic medicine, I had eagerly wanted to try their products. After hearing much about their Oscillococcinum line of medicine, which combats flu-like symptoms, I had to find out for myself if it would be as good as it said it was. Oscillococcinum’s medicine is to be taken right at the initial signs of a flu or cold, such as fatique, headache, body aches, chills, and fever. On one occassion when I was starting to feel downright yucky, I knew that I had better stave off any further attacks on my body so I popped open a tube of Oscillococcinum’s sweet-tasting medicine and waited. In a few hours and by the end of the day, I did indeed feel better and although I can’t say 100% sure if it was the medicine or my precautionary steps, I was overjoyed that my body aches and sniffles weren’t going to take over my life. And because Boiron backs up their medicine with a 100% guarantee, I felt safer at trying a new type of medicine.

Boiron believes that medicine should work naturally with your body. It’s pretty similar to drinking honey with hot water and lemon for a sore throat or mild cough, uptaking your doses of Vitamin C, or rubbing lotion all over your body during the dry, cold Winter months. All of these type of prevention and care stems from years of knowledge and experience that we’ve all come to appreciate. With me, I prefer to prevent an illness rather than take a bunch of unnecessary medication to get rid of it. I do that by trying to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and fight off any cold symptoms before they come full fledged. With Boiron’s 80 years of experience in the medicinal field, I can feel pretty safe about taking their medicne. I don’t really like taking typical pharmaceuticals that’s been engineered in a test tube and although they may be necessary at times, going natural is more suitable for me.

When my son had a cough awhile ago, I decided to try Boiron’s Chestal for children and gave him the syrupy medicine as directed. Along with natural honey and a slew of impressive, symptom-targeted herbs, his cough subsided within a couple of days and I was glad that once again, that there were no side effects from taking Boiron’s medicine. Boiron also makes Chestal for adults too and their cough syrup is sweet, does not have that icky “mediciny” taste, and goes down smoothly. I even took the adult version when I had a cough as well and now we keep a couple bottles of Chestal in our medicine cabinet.

What’s really great about Boiron’s extensive lineup of natural, homeopathic medicine is that they have something for practically any ailment. From muscle pain to topical first aid, to cough and cold preventative medicine, they have a clean line of medication that would suit your everyday needs. Boiron’s medicine can be found at natural grocery stores as well as major supermarkets around the nation so it’s fairly easy to pick some up should you ever need them. The wonderful folks at Boiron and Naturally Savvy (www.NaturallySavvy.com)had sent me a box of their 6-count Oscillococcinum to try and review. And sure enough, with the harsh Winter months and flu season threatening us this season, the Oscillococccinum came in handy. You may not always be able to prevent a flu or a cold, but if you can zap it in its place before it takes over your body, then the better ways of doing it is with some preventative, natural medicine.

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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Kids love cartoons whether as a parent you want them to watch it or not. Personally, I think cartoons are fine as long as they are age appropriate and are entertaining in an educational way. Plus, with so many fun cartoons out there nowadays, you really do have a choice in what you want your kids to watch.

I was introduced to a show called Toopy and Binoo which currently airs on TV in Canada. Just recently they introduced the funny and adorable animated series to the US exclusively on the YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/toopyandbinootv. Toopy and Binoo chronicles the life lessons of Toopy, a tall funny friendly mouse and his best friend Binoo, a tiny, clever and lovable white cat. With each episode your kids will learn positive values such as friendship, good manners, creative thinking, and humor.

My son received a DVD with episodes of the show and he absolutely loved it! In fact, he asks to watch it every day. I’m so glad I found a new show that inspires kids creativity as well as teach them about important lessons in life that will encourage a healthy and happy lifestyle. Both Toopy and Binoo are funny, cute, and sweet creatures who have their own personalities but work well together as friends.

I think what my son loves the most about the show Toopy and Binoo is that they are like opposites of each other but also it is their differences that make them both special and unique. What I love about the show is that the characters speak in clear and crisp voices and are delightful in their manners and actions. And the fact that they are a cat and a mouse doesn’t seem to faze the traditional stereotype that cats and mice do not get along. In the show, Toopy and Binoo help one another out as well as teach us the importance of life’s little lessons.

There are also other characters in the show that Toopy and Binoo interacts with and they all have a grand time together. They laugh and dance and they share and do things that can be unconventional yet integrated.

Toopy and Binoo is geared towards kids ages 2-6 but I think it’s really great for any age. On the Toopy and Binoo YouTube channel, you’ll find 100 full, five-minute episodes with different stories that are funny, entertaining, and endearing. So head on over to YouTube right now and watch this animated and delightful new show: http://www.youtube.com/user/toopyandbinootv.

Disclosure: I received Toopy and Binoo products in exchange for a post about the show. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

I wish I can say that my life is as organized as a Rolodex – each item has its designated section. But like most moms I’m sure, getting your laundry done, getting your kids out the door for school, and finishing up your chores all within that 3 hour time frame is already quite an accomplished feat! So when I started writing my own blog along with other various writing duties, my son would often ask me why I’m always writing, writing, and oh – writing. And then I thought it would help him love writing and reading as well. Well, it did get him interested in computers more than I liked, but it also started an entrepreneur in him.

So I told my son that when he started Kindergarten then maybe he can write his own journals or memoirs. Memoirs mommy, he asked? Yes, it’s a fancy French term for writing something to chronicle an event in your life. And then that’s when the excitement of spilling everything he’s done during school came into fruition.

Okay, so we’re already in the later half of the school year but I did promise him his own blog. So we’ll start here with mine just to get the creative juices flowing. Names have been abbreviated for children’s privacy.

Memoirs of a Kindergartner

I’m not sure if I really like school or not. I was just sort of thrown into it without mommy and daddy asking me if that’s what I wanted to do. Yeah, they said it’ll be fun and I’ll meet a lot of new friends, but what they hesitated to tell me was that there would be a lot of studying to do. 

Sure when I was much younger like maybe 1 or 2 studying meant whether I should play with the green ball today or the striped one. I didn’t care about my numbers or letters or if-you-put-c-in-front-of-a-n-what-do-you-get? I’m a kid and studying meant having fun. So big surprise to me when I had to learn A LOT of numbers and A LOT of letters and putting letters together to form words. No one ever told me that in order to buy more Legos and Transformers I had to learn how to read and write so that I can get a job when I grow up to buy those things. No one said that at school you actually had to sit still while your teacher talked and you had to be, uh-oh here comes that word – “responsible”. Okay, maybe my parents told me all those things but still…

Lucky for me my mom did a lot of word games and number games for me when I was younger, like 3 or 4. So numbers came easy for me and letters were fun as long as I wasn’t forced into learning them. And okay, I admit that kindergarten is a lot of fun too because I get to learn about nature and bugs and stuff and I get to draw and paint and do inventing stuff (because mom said I can be an inventor when I grow up). And I got new buddies too – although girls are still a bit yucky for me especially when they make kissy faces at me. You should have SEEN what they gave me for Valentine’s Day. I still don’t know why we had to celebrate it in school but I got to eat a lot of candy and cupcakes so I guess it was an okay holiday for me.

I made my mom and dad a card with a big heart in the front and I wrote that I loved them and I signed my name. Yeah, they were impressed as usual and mom said she would cherish it forever. I hope she wasn’t being “sarcastic” about it. Yup, big word I know but I learned it like 5 or 6 years ago.

One cool thing about kindergarten is that I get invited to a lot of birthday parties besides the ones from my other friends who aren’t in the same school as me. I like opening up my bin and finding a card tucked inside with my name on it. I rip it open even before mom has the chance to look at it and then of course I know it’s an invitation to a party. I plead with my puppy eyed eager face and she says I can go.

So I guess so far kindergarten is fun and there are some kids there that get into trouble A LOT, but not me though.  Mommy tells me every morning to have a good day at school and to learn a lot. Then daddy asks me when he gets home from work what I learned today. Seems that word “learn” is really a big deal when it comes to kids and adults.

But okay, I have to go now and watch some TV before dinner and then it’s homework – yuck. 

Mom I wanna watch my shows now!

Until next time.

Have you ever picked up a loaf of bread in your fridge, dug in to take out sandwich condiments and then frowned, wondering what that essential something is to make a sandwich so delectable? Well I’ll tell you my secret, which may or may not already be a secret to you – but I like to use butter on my bread, spread joyfully after lighted toasted in the oven. There’s just something unique about butter that makes a dish sing and sends you into complete food orbit thanking the butter Gods for inventing such an unrivaled delicacy.

But alas, not all butter are created equal and if you’re looking for a supreme creamy spread, then you’ll have to step away from the conventional versions. Enter Melt Organic spreads (http://www.meltorganic.com/), a truly unique and delicious blend of organic and all-natural buttery spreads that’s designed to be good for you and good for your taste buds too. In fact, their butter alternatives is so unique in their creation that the company has dubbed their creamy spreads as “Organic Butter 2.0”, a newer, tastier, and healthier version that’s an advanced step into the future. Why are they called “butter alternatives”? Because in the true sense of butter, Melt Organic Spreads are made with an ultra healthy blend of organic fruit and plant-based oils instead of the usual fats that make butter, well butter. With Melt Organic butter, you’ll get healthier, good for you ingredients that are actually beneficial to you.

Melt Organic Spreads are made with their own blend of organic virgin coconut oil, palm fruit oil, canola oil, high-oleic sunflower oil, and flaxseed oil. They currently have three versions of their organic spreads – Rich and Creamy, Honey Organic, and Chocolate Organic, and I have to say I fell in love with their chocolate creamy spread. But really, all of their three varieties are delicious and so easy to use. If you want to replace your regular butter and margarine with Melt Organic Spreads, you’re doing something good for your body and for those you cook for. My son loves their Honey Organic so I put a scrumptious dollop on top of his waffles and I spread mine on some freshly toasted English muffins.

Melt Organic Spreads was developed from an entrepreneur health expert who was tired of the conventional butters out on the market that does more harm than good. So she set out to develop something that’s not only healthier but could truly be even tastier than the conventional butters. Melt Organic Spreads is considered a light spread that can be used instead of your regular butter. And because they are full of Omega Fatty Acids including Omega 6 and 3 they are also good for your heart.  Melt Organic Spreads are also made without any genetically modified ingredients, are trans fat free, made without any artificial ingredients, and no hydrogenated oils.

Butter isn’t necessarily bad for you as long as you eat the good kind – the ones made with healthy fats like omega fatty acids and other health beneficial ingredients. With Melt Organic, you get a step up in that organic ingredients are used and their 3 distinct flavors will probably become favorites in your household. The good folks at Melt Organic had wanted me to try their organic butter alternatives and I had picked all 3 varieties – Rich and Creamy, Honey Organic, and Chocolate Organic. We use pretty much the honey organic on almost anything you can put butter on and with very little calories but a whole lot of nutritional benefits, it’s okay to slather it on where you see fit.

Melt Organic also wants to give 1 LUCKY reader of Happymomblogger the opportunity to win a MELT prize pack consisting of one cutting board, one spreader, and 2 VIP coupons of Melt Organic products of your choice. Melt Organic spreads can be found at most natural grocery stores as well as most supermarkets that carry natural food products. So how do you win this delicious prize? Read below to find out.

Here’s how to enter the Melt Organic Butter 2.0 Giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Enter here: http://www.meltorganic.com/blog-reader-giveaway-6/

*You must select Happymomblogger as the Blog You Follow drop down menu in order to be included in my giveaway. If you select any other blog you will not be notified if you are a winner and another winner from my blog will be chosen.

Then enter in the comments section of this post and let me know your name and that you entered the contest. You must also provide a valid email address to be contacted with.

Please read the rules and conditions on the contest page for further info. 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 prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: February 17, 2014

Contest End Date: February 28, 2014 – Congratulations to Holly L. for winning the prize!

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

We all know that kids will want sweets no matter what we do to deter them. They see it on TV, when we take them grocery shopping, and most likely in school as well. But we don’t have to let our kids fall prey to candies that will eventually harm their health and their teeth. When you’re armed with knowledge that there are healthier alternatives to good old fashioned candies, then you can indulge your kids once in awhile. You’ve probably seen it in stores and read it in periodicals about the health benefits of Xylitol. Xylitol (http://www.xlear.com/about-xylitol-sweetener/xylitol-benefits/)is a naturally occurring ingredient found in most fruits, mushrooms, and fibers from certain tree barks. It is known to have great beneficial effects on the prevention of tooth decay and other dental problems.

I don’t deny my son sweets. I think it’s a natural progression of childhood and really, how can you prevent them having sweets eventually? But I do try and teach my son to eat sweets responsibly and to always brush his teeth right afterwards. A few years ago I learned about the benefits of xylitol and its exceptional assistance in preventing tooth decay as well as promote healthier tooth and gums in the long run. I started buying more and more products made with xylitol and it seemed that my son liked the taste of its natural sweetness as well. Xylitol is a natural sweetener since it’s found in most foods therefore it can be used in place of your everyday sugar. And if you’ve ever tried xylitol then you’ll know that it has a gentle sweetness to it and easily enjoyed.

One of the major companies who makes products with xylitol is called Xlear. You may have heard of them before as they make dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, xylitol candies and sweeteners, and sinus clear. Each of them contain the beneficial xylitol along with other naturally-derived ingredients. I particularly like the toothpaste as it’s naturally sweet and not very abrasive. It seems to clean as well as the conventional toothpaste out there and I like the fact that it doesn’t cause strange abrasions on my tooth enamel.

Xlear also makes Spry which is a comprehensive lineup of dental products containing xylitol. With Spry, you’ll most likely find yummy tasting gum and mints that the whole family will enjoy. My son really likes their miniature candies and gum and I like the fact that if we’re at someplace where he can’t brush his teeth right away, at least I have some Spry candies and gums to prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to his teeth. I know, it sounds like a contradiction in eating candy to prevent harmful bacteria, but that’s what xylitol is known to do. Studies have proven that when combined with regular dental hygiene, regular use of xylitol gums, mints and candy can reduce dental cavities by as much as 80%.

So if you’re in the market for a new way of cleaning teeth while giving your kids beneficial candies, then you have to give Xlear and Spry a try. For more info please visit their website: http://www.xlear.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