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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.

Everyone has a sweet tooth, more or less. Some eat candy like it’s their only meal while others indulge on it occassionally. We’re the latter kind because candy can be too tempting and can also end up being detrimental to our health. It’s okay to indulge in candy once in awhile as long as you don’t overdo it and as long as you can find ones that are more of a “healthier” choice.

So do healthy candy really exist? Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call candy healthy, but with so many unhealthy candy out on the market today, how can you find one that’s a better choice? That’s where UNREAL (http://getunreal.com/) candies come in. They have as they call it, “unjunked” the candy revolution and has quickly hit stores everywhere with their naturally-made candies. So how can candy be so real that it’s unreal? Well, the folks at UNREAL candies has made a new kind of candy where there are no artificial ingredients allowed and no preservatives or unnecessary additives like refined sugar and genetically-modified ingredients. But does it still taste good? Well, if you’re used to eating the mainstream candies out on the market today, then you’re probably used to the way they taste. But once you’ve taken a bite into a chocolately-caramel filled UNREAL candy, then you’ll wonder why you ate those “other” candy in the first place. And although UNREAL candies are similar to the other candies, such as Chocolate Candy Shell Peanuts and Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat, they taste fantastically better and more real. So yes, in my opinion, UNREAL candies can taste better than the other ones. But you’ll have to try them yourselves to know exactly what I mean.

The story of how UNREAL came about is rather sweet. It was the love of a father for his son that the UNREAL candies were developed. When the thirteen-year old teenager challenged his dad to find candies that weren’t full of junk, his dad took up the challenge. When they couldn’t find any that were suitable to their tastes and mission, they created the brand UNREAL and developed candies made from real ingredients. They promised that UNREAL candies would be free of artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and GMO’s. And to make them even yummier, they added more chocolate, real caramel, more peanuts, and more protein and fiber to all of their candy. And as firm believers that real candy doesn’t have to have those yucky stuff to taste good, they are now sold in major stores across the country. I found them in Target, Michael’s Art Supply, and Staples. And the best part yet – they are all affordable and comes in just the right sizes!

When we were introduced to UNREAL not too long ago, I was skeptic yet intrigued at how their chocolate candies would taste. I knew it wasn’t impossible to create natural candies as there are other companies who makes them. But I was fascinated at how they can make chocolate candies that were similar to the mainstream ones you see in stores everywhere. Well, after I took an initial bite of their UNREAL candy #8, which is also called Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat, I was astounded at how delicious it tasted. In fact, it tasted even better than the other chocolate candy very similar to it. But it’s not fair to compare really. It’s a matter of taste, but when I had my son and husband and friends try it, they agreed that the more natural version was indeed better tasting. So you see, it is possible to make healthier candies and I’m so glad that there’s finally a company who decided to make them.

The good folks at UNREAL had wanted me to try their candies in a review as well as give readers of Happymomblogger the opportunity to try them too. They had sent me coupons as well as a variety of their chocolate candies and I can honestly say I enjoyed them all. But my favorites has got to be the Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat and Chocolate Peanut Butter cups. The caramel in the Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougar bar tastes amazingly fresh and naturally sweet and it drizzled delightfully with each bite. The Chocolate Peanut Butter cups were like tasting a chocolate bar dipped in peanut – just good old-fashioned chocolate and peanut butter. So for those who haven’t tried UNREAL candies yet, be sure to read below on how to get some FREE product coupons. And if you’ve tried them before, well, then you know you’ll want to try and win some. You can find UNREAL candies at most national retailers or you can do a quick search on their site: http://getunreal.com/find-unreal-candy/. The prize is 5 FREE product coupons for 3 winners each. So how do you win this awesomely sweet prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the UNREAL giveaway:

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

ENTRIES:

#1 entry – “Like” UNREAL on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unreal 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 UNREAL giveaway. Become a follower of UNREAL: https://twitter.com/getunreal and “Tweet” that you are entering the UNREAL 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. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: January 23, 2013

Contest End Date: February 6, 2013 – CONTEST CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED.

Only  5winners 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

 

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 rather 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 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.

Boiron would also like to give 1 LUCKY reader of Happymomblogger the opportunity to win a box of their Oscillococcinum. The prize will be 1 box of 6-count Oscillococcinum. In this box you will find 6 slim capsules containing tiny, sweet round drops of medicine that tastes like candy. The instructions are simple – pour the entire contents into your mouth and chew slowly. The Oscillococcinum tastes so much like candy bits that my son said it tasted “just like candy”. Of course you’ll need to supervise your children in taking any medication, natural or not, and especially if they taste like candy, keep them out of children’s reach at all times. And let them know that they are not candy, but medicine. So how do you win this very helpful prize? Read below to find out.

Here’s how to enter in the Boiron/Oscillococcinum giveaway:

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

ENTRIES:

#1 entry – “Like” Oscillococcinum on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/oscillo 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 Oscillococcinum giveaway. Become a follower of Oscillococcinum: http://twitter.com/OscilloUSA and “Tweet” that you are entering the Boiron/Oscillococcinum (you can just write “Oscillo”) 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. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: Januray 23, 2013

Contest End Date: February 6, 2013 – CONGRATULATIONS TO MARYANN 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

When people ask me why I became a vegetarian, the answer is simple – I don’t like animals being harmed especially for food and I want to stay as healthy as possible. Vegetarians become vegetarians for many reasons and there are actually several different types of vegetarians. But being a vegetarian hasn’t always been easy, especially in the beginning when cravings for a cheeseburger or seafood sneaks up. And having been a vegetarian for a long time, people used to look at me like I was crazy and didn’t really comprehend the reasons to why I became a vegetarian. Now, as people have become more accepting of personal food lifestyles and with health being a big issue in the U.S., vegetarians are almost becoming the norm. Almost.

I think the one thing holding people back from eating more plant-based foods is that big food companies are trying too hard to make products that are more convenient, rather than help you eat healthier. Convenience is great when you need it to be, however, not all companies are willing to produce healthier foods that are actually better for you and safer for the environment. Plant-based foods come straight from the source and are actually more convenient and versatile than one would think. And when you incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet, you’ll soon find that it’s easier to include them into your daily meals.

What if sometimes you do need a little help in preparing more plant-based meals? Soy, for instance is a great base for any plant-based diet. Miso, soy-based burgers, and soy beverages offer great amounts of protein and vitamins. And then when you incorporate vegetables and grains, then your meal is more complete than you’d think. When I came across a company called Edward & Sons awhile ago, I was intrigued to find that they carry an extensive line of plant-based products made with organic and natural ingredients. Their natural and organic products help those who need an extra incentive to eat healthier and less meat. With their comprehensive line of products which include miso soup, vegetarian sauces, and pasta dinners, there’s definitely something for everyone there.

Edward & Sons (http://www.edwardandsons.com/) began as a small company that sold primarily miso soup based on the belief that plant-based foods should also be high quality and available for everyone. This innovative company soon grew to compose of other brands under the Edward & Sons label which includes Let’s Do, Let’s Do Organic, Native Forest, Native Factor, Premier Japan, Road’s End Organics, and Wizards. We first discovered their Let’s Do Organic Ice Cream Cones when searching for a healthier version of the traditional ice cream cones you would find in supermarkets. I was delighted to find that they contain simple ingredients you would use yourself if you had the time to make ice cream cones at home. I was instantly hooked and from then on, we would buy only the Let’s Do Organic ice cream cones. Although the price is a little higher than a mainstream brand, we don’t buy it often and the healthier ingredients definitely pays off.

When Edward & Sons offered me to try some of their products, I was delighted at the chance. I tried their Organic Home Style Mashed Potatoes, Native Forest Organic Sliced Crimini Mushrooms, and Road’s End Organics Golden Gravy Mix. And the result was a delicious, moist, and convenient mashed potatoes with gravy and mushrooms. Although I prefer to make my own mashed potatoes and gravy, it’s always nice to have something available on hand when you’re trying to whip up dinner quickly. The Home Style Mashed Potatoes wasn’t mushy at all and had a nice moist texture to it and its made with organic potatoes, organic onion powder, sea salt, and organic black pepper. The Organic Golden Gravy Mix was smooth and not too salty and is made with a base of organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca starch, and organic Tamari. The Organic Crimini Mushrooms were delicate little mushrooms that tasted extremely fresh for a canned product. In fact, Edward & Sons harvest their vegetables at the peak of freshness and cans them immediately to retain the flavor and freshness. Below you will find a photo of the Mashed Potatoes with Gravy and Mushrooms that’s included with homemade turkey meatballs.

Edward & Sons would also like to give 2 LUCKY readers of Happymomblogger the opportunity to try their Edward & Sons™ Organic Home Style Mashed Potatoes, Native Forest® Organic Sliced Crimini Mushrooms, and Road’s End Organics® Golden Gravy Mix. Both winners will receive the same prize as mentioned above. So how do you win this yummy prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Edward & Sons giveaway:

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

ENTRIES:

#1 entry – “Like” Edward & Sons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/edwardandsons?fref=ts 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 Edward & Sons giveaway. Become a follower of Edward & Sons: https://twitter.com/EdwardandSons and “Tweet” that you are entering the Edward & Sons 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. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: January 23, 2013

Contest End Date: February 6, 2013 – CONGRATULATIONS TO SARA FOR WINNING THE PRIZE!

Only 2 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

For the fans of Popchips you’ll be glad to know that there’s a new chip in town. The ingenious folks at Popchips has developed a new tortilla chip that just blows the other tortilla chips out of the water! With Popchips classic style of “popping” their chips rather  than frying or baking them, their newest tortilla chip definitely tastes much different than the regular tortilla chips you’re used to eating. Popchips tortilla chips are lighter in texture but rich in flavor and with four different flavors to choose from, you won’t get bored.

I had heard about Popchips secret new chips awhile back and had waited as patiently as possible for them to come out. As it turned out, their tortilla chips weren’t what I expected them to be at all. But true to Popchips gourmet fashion, their newest tortilla chips stands out from the rest. I was delighted that Popchips had sent me some coupons to try out their newest tortilla chips as well as their other regular potato chips in newer flavors. With their tortilla chips, I tried them in the Ranch flavor and my son and I could not stop eating them. We don’t eat a lot of chips but Popchips newest tortilla chips are possibly better for you because they’re not fried and they aren’t made with any artificial ingredients or preservatives. All you taste in the yummy Ranch flavored tortilla chips are a blend of tangy, savory, and sweet.

Other varieties and flavors that we tried were their Sweet Potato Popchips which wasn’t overly sweet and had a bit more crunch; their Thai Sweet Chili Potato which wasn’t as spicy as I had thought but was definitely unique in flavor; and their Chili Lime which had a nice tangy and sweetness to it. We’ve tried almost all of their other flavors throughout the years and they have so many to choose from, that it’s easy for us to pick one to go with a certain type of meal. For instance, my son and I really like the Original flavor to munch on whenever we’re in a snack mood. The original flavor has an amazing potato taste, a bit salty, and really airy and light in texture. The Sea Salt&Vinegar works well with a sandwich or with soups and the Barbeque flavor tastes amazing with ranch dip!

But what we like most about Popchips is that they do not use any genetically-modified ingredients, they don’t use any unnecessary ingredients, and they taste incredibly light, crispy, and smooth. They are definitely unique in their own taste and texture! That’s why when the new Tortilla chips came out, I was really excited to them. I was imagining the typical tortilla chips that would be extra crunchy but not with Popchips Tortilla Chips. Their tortilla chips has a delicate crunch to them and they are still dip-worthy in guacamole or salsa – or basically any type of dip you would use for tortilla chips. Of course, with the Ranch flavor, we enjoyed them just as much as they are – without any dips or sauces.

So if you’re a Popchips fan, or if you’re new on the scene, get yourself to your closest grocery store and pick up a bag or a few. We’ll be trying their other flavors soon and with their latest Kettle Corn Popchips out on the market, we’re eager to try those too! For more info about Popchips, please visit their website: www.popchips.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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