Category: Uncategorized

Healthy foods lead to a healthier lifestyle. And when you care about what you put in your stomach – like yogurt, for example – you’re actually telling yourself, “hey, I take care of you, you take care of me”. Yes, okay, it sounds cliche, but it’s really true. About 70% of your immune system lies within your stomach or your entire digestive system. And if you take good care of it, it will most likely take care of you in the long run. That’s why it’s good to develop a healthy eating routine at an early age. If you feed your babies and children yogurt early on, the beneficial factors will help develop a stronger immune and digestive system. And most babies and children can tolerate yogurt quite well because of the probiotics added and the fact that it’s easily digestable. Yogurt is even suitable for those that are lactose intolerant because live and active cultures in yogurt create lactase, a necessary enzyme that lactose-intolerant people lack. More importantly, the benefits of yogurt with it’s additional protein and calcium also helps little bodies grow up stronger and healthier.

One of the companies that we’ve come to trust and really love is Stonyfield Farm. Stonyfield makes a wide assortment of organic yogurt products for all ages but we are particularly fond of their YoBaby, YoToddler, and YoKids yogurt line. Each “Yo” line is specifically targeted for the different growing ages and stages of a child. YoBaby is formulated for babies 6-18+ months, YoToddler is formulated for little kids 1-3 years old, and YoKids is formulated for kids that are 2-6+ years old. But honestly, my son still enjoys YoBaby yogurts and since all of their Yo line are formulated with the right amount of vitamins and probiotics, you really don’t need to stick with one particular line. After all, if you’re already feeding your babies and young kids regular yogurt that aren’t specifically formulated, then think of the added benefits of feeding them Stonyfield’s yogurt! And since Stonyfield makes only organic yogurt, you can be assured that the ingredients in your Stonyfield Farm yogurts do not contain any toxic and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. That also means that their dairy cows feed only on organic pastures since chemicals can easily pass from the cow to their milk.

Stonyfield Farm has been around for almost 30 years. They are one of the leading companies producing organic yogurt, smoothies, ice cream and their products are truly delicious. Some of you have probably already heard of Stonyfield or have tried their yogurt because they are practically everywhere! Stonyfield Farm makes an abundant assortment of organic dairy products that I’m pretty sure you’ll find something to your liking. Their current line up of organic products are: organic yogurt in fat free, low fat, and whole milk; organic activia; organic smoothies, organic soy yogurt; organic milk and half and half; organic frozen yogurt; organic YoBaby yogurt; organic YoBaby meals; organic YoBaby drinkables; organic YoToddler and organic YoKids; organic Oikos (which are Greek-style yogurt); organic oikos frozen yogurt; and organic oikos drinkables.

Stonyfield is a leader in the yogurt and dairy industry and they are also socially and environmentally responsible. They even have several programs running which helps improve the environment through their “Partnering for their Planet” campaign. Current campaigns include SHFT which is a media platform that help inspire people to live more eco-conscious lives. They also partnered with companies such as Preserve and TerraCycle which recycles their yogurt cups into 100% usable household items such as toothbrushes, razors, and spoons.  And their other endeavor is Reverb, which help the music industry become more “green”. I’ve signed up for TerraCycle not too long ago and have collected some points already. The points aren’t very high, but if you’re industrious, you can probably send in a whole bunch of recyclable products and collect a lot of points eventually. Then you can use your points to donate to a charity or to earn rewards such as tote bags and such. Stonyfield also offers their own Rewards program called “MyStonyfield Rewards” where you can enter codes on specially marked yogurt to earn points for really cool stuff like free product coupons, bibs, books, etc. : http://www.stonyfield.com/coupons-offers/mystonyfield-rewards.

Stonyfield has also launched a new parent-child online program through Baby Center called, “Easy Organic Living”:  http://www.babycenter.com/easyorganicliving. There are helpful tools for parents on the benefits of eating organic as well as an abundancy of information that every mom (or dad) will want to know.

Because Stonyfield cares as much about your baby’s health as they do with their products and the environment, they are generously offering 3 LUCKY winners of Happymomblogger a chance to win a fabulous prize! The prize is an Eric Carle growth chart, a YoBaby organic cotton bib, a copy of Robyn O’Brien’s book, The Unhealthy Truth, a stuffed cow, and coupons. So how do you win this fabulous prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Stonyfield/YoBaby giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

#1 entry – “Like” Stonyfield Farm/YoBaby on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yobabyyogurt and  http://www.facebook.com/stonyfieldfarm and write on their walls 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 Stonyfield Farm/YoBaby giveaway. Become a follower of Stonyfield Farm:  http://twitter.com/#!/Stonyfield and “Tweet” that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Visit http://www.stonyfield.com/ and tell me what flavor/variety you would like to try.

#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 as many times as you like but you MUST enter in the Mandatory entry to qualify. The more you enter, the more chances your name will be drawn.  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.

Contest Start Date: September 19, 2011

Contest End Date: October 3, 2011 – CONTEST CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE SELECTED.

Only 3 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

I’ve been a vegetarian for a very long time and for me it was fairly easy to become one. For others, not so easy. Especially if they’re used to the taste of meat and seafood. Sometimes the transition into vegetarianism can be eased into with the help of food that are flavored and textured like real meat. You still get the protein and minerals of meat, but with the nutrition and ethical notion of plant-based ingredients. One company that makes really delicious meat alternatives is Lightlife. Lightlife has been making delicious soy-based food for over 30 years and I’m pretty sure you’ll find a product that you’ll love and eat on a regular basis.

Lightlife began over 30 years ago with a belief that, “what you eat is stronly connected to how you feel and how you live your life”. Therefore, they make foods that sustain a healthier “you” and a healthier planet. I personally believe in that philosophy as well because the right kind of food is so important to your overall health. Since I stopped eating meat many years ago, my body felt lighter, cleaner, and my digestive health has greatly improved. I don’t necessarily need to get my protein or iron from meat and as most vegetarians will tell you, eating a balanced diet of fresh vegetables, fruits, and foods filled with protein can trump any non-vegetarian meal, any day. Now you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy Lightlife foods. No – their meals are so scrumptious and flavorful you won’t even notice that they’re soy-based.

So why is soy such a popular meat-alternative? Because soy is a complete protein and it contains fiber, iron, and Omega-3 fatty acids along with other important nutrients. Soy is filling, it’s easy to cook and eat with, and you can use soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soymilk in virtually any recipe. Soy has also been found to reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease and as a high quality plant protein, it contributes to a healthier lifestyle when eaten regularly. Lightlife’s products contain soy as their main ingredient along with other ingredients like wheat gluten, spices, and rice flour. None of their products contain any animal ingredients so it’s safe for vegans as well.

Currently Lightlife’s line of products are hot dogs, deli meat, ground meat, tempeh, chicken cutlets, burgers, and chili. I personally enjoy their ground meat and their deli meat because the ground meat can be used in spaghetti, to make as burgers, or a stir-fry. Their deli meat make excellent and ultra delicious sandwiches – my son can’t get enough of their Smart Deli Bologna. Their recipes for their soy-based food are really tasty and flavorful. If I had to cook everything from scratch, I’m not sure if I can imitate their flavors and varieties. But since Lightlife provides dishes that I can just heat up and enjoy, I don’t have to worry about cooking from scratch all the time (well, at least not for me anyways).

 

Lightlife foods are low in fat, cholesterol-free, and provides at least 2 grams of protein in each serving. Some of their products contain more protein, so there’s an abundance of choices to choose from. I’ve been eating Lightlife foods for quite some time now and I’m so glad that they are constantly making new recipes and varieties. When Lightlife sent me their newest Smart Wings in Honey BBQ and Buffalo, I was super delighted. I hadn’t tried their Smart Wings in those particular flavors before and they seemed like good flavors to try for any occassion. The Smart Wings in Honey BBQ was my favorite as it was sweet and tangy at the same time and the “wings” itself has a really nice texture to them. I know what real chicken tastes like since I wasn’t always a vegetarian and if you’re into the texture thing, then you won’t be disappointed with Lightlife’s Smart Wings. The texture is moist and soft yet not chewy and hard. And it’s so easy to make them – just pop them into the microwave or saute them in a sauce pan for a couple of minutes. The Buffalo flavor had quite a kick to it as most buffalo-style wings should be, except it still had a bit of sweetness to it so you’re not overwhelmed by the fiery taste of the cayenne pepper which is their main ingredient.

As it’s popular to use wings as an appetizer, whether it’s honey barbeque or buffalo-style, I really enjoyed it as part of a sandwich. Of course it was great alone with a dipping sauce, but when used in a sandwich, you can add all sorts of condiments into the sandwich to really make it your own style and flavor. I tried my Smart Wings Honey BBQ as a hamburger with toasted sesame buns, homemade coleslaw, and some light all-natural mayonnaise and it was a fulfilling, satisfying, delicious meal.

Lightlife uses real and natural ingredients and they do not contain any preservatives. They have such a wonderful assortment of products to choose from and they’re suitable for any age. Lightlife believes that vegetable protein is truly a healthier option and it’s also ethical. Veggie protein is no longer just a “fad”. In fact, it seems that you can find some sort of meat alternative in restaurants around the country.  And Lightlife as a company also believes in giving back to the community. They donate at least 5% of their net profits to charities that support causes of human dignity, the environment and good health. For more info on their charitable endeavors, please visit: http://www.lightlife.com/giving.jsp.

As a believer of high quality, vegetable protein, Lightlife has also kindly offered 2 LUCKY readers of Happymomblogger a chance to try their food. You can choose either their Smart Wings or any of their other delicious varieties. The 2 winners will receive 2 FREE product coupons each so it’s up to the winners on what they wish to try. So how do you win these coupons? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Lightlife giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

#1 entry – “Like” Lightlife on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lightlife  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: https://twitter.com/#!/happymomblogger and “Tweet” me @happymomblogger that you are entering the Lightlife giveaway. Become a follower of Lightlife: http://twitter.com/#!/Lightlife and “Tweet” that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Visit http://www.lightlife.com/ and tell me what flavor/variety you would like to try.

#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 as many times as you like but you MUST enter in the Mandatory entry to qualify. The more you enter, the more chances your name will be drawn.  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.

Contest Start Date: September 19, 2011

Contest End Date: October 3, 2011 – CONTEST CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE SELECTED.

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

What do you get when you cross between an ecological and effective laundry detergent and one that smells great as well? You get Ecover, a highly-effective, gentle, and plant-based laundry detergent. Doing laundry in my house has become a daily grind. I honestly don’t know how 2 adults and 1 child can accumulate so much laundry on a daily basis – maybe it’s the fact that there are two boys in the house, I don’t know, but we end up going through a lot of laundry detergent.  That’s why I decided to best find a laundry detergent that won’t harm my family or the environment. I can imagine pictures of the ocean or our nearby lakes encumbered with a sludge of laundry detergent residue and the poor sea animals waving their angry fists at me. Luckily for me (and the sea animals), there were some pretty good eco-friendly laundry detergents out on the market, and Ecover is one of my favorites. Why? Because they use plant-based cleaning agents, their products are biodegradable, and they smell great. I use fragrance-free detergent from time to time, but when I find a wonderful laundry cleaning product that is non-toxic and smells fantastic, it’s worth to give it a try.

Ecover makes a wide assortment of home and personal cleaning products, all powered by nature. They’ve won numerous awards in the US and Europe recognized for their intense cleaning power with an ethical philosophy. Ecover’s products are safer for you and for the environment and they promise to use only ingredients derived from nature. What does that mean exactly? It means that their ingredients are plant and mineral based and sourced from renewable resources. And their products are fully biodegradable so you can use them knowing that they won’t add to the destruction of our precious planet. There are many laundry cleaning products out there, but most of them are ladened with not-so-friendly ingredients that eventually harm our clothes and our planet. When natural ingredients are used, your clothes do not become compromised and it actually may last longer.

Ecover has been in the natural home and personal cleaning industry for over 30 years and began originally in Europe. When the company found an effective and safe product that was great for both people and the environment, they soon expanded their laundry care line to include handsoaps, dishwashing detergent, and bathroom cleaners. Soon, people all over the world started using Ecover and Ecover became a popular household name. We’ve  tried several of their products and have found them all to be very useful, great-smelling, and works just as well if not better than the conventional cleaning products. Ecover sent me several products to try and they were: Ecover Laundry Wash HE, which works with high efficiency washing machines; Ecover Stain Remover which is great for removing smaller stains; and Ecover Dishwashing Tablets which works well in both the dishwasher and for hand washing your dishes (you simply break apart the tablet and soak it in water to become instant dishwashing detergent!).

 

Above is a photo of my son’s shirt with 2 food stains in the front.

Above is the same shirt after using Ecover’s Stain Remover.

You can find Ecover products in natural grocery stores, in certain supermarkets and you can also order products from their online store: http://ecover.alice.com. Their cleaning products are a reasonable price and they come in several sizes so you can choose the size that fits your need. Ecover also makes cleaning products for your car and I think if you’re going to wash and maintain your car at home. why not use something that’s not harmful to the environment?

For more info about Ecover, please visit their website: http://www.ecover.com/us/en/.

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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Sweet and Tart. Juicy and Smooth. Soft, honey graham cookies wrapped around luscious chocolate and marshmallow. These are all the delicious images one conjures up in their mind when they think of Ciao Bella. If you’ve heard of Ciao Bella and tried their treats before – you’re lucky. If you haven’t, then you’re missing out on some of the best frozen treats you can ever taste. And frozen treats barely touches the surface of the incredibly rich, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth kind of desserts that you’ll find from Ciao Bella. Ciao Bella makes frozen sweet treats that will tantalize your taste buds and enchant your memories.

Forget about those $.50 popsicles that you find at your local grocery store. Instead, when you do head to your local grocery store, try to search for frozen desserts that are a bit more sophisticated and exotic. When you see Ciao Bella, that’s the one you’ll reach for. Ciao Bella’s frozen gelato transports you onto the pebbled streets of Italy where you can enjoy a cool and refreshing frozen sweet that makes you tingle all over. Imagine sitting at a local gelato stand in Italy and letting the natural sweetness and tang of a fruity ice cream melt in your mouth. As each bite lingers delicately on your tongue, you wonder if it’s politically correct to lick the entire carton instead of using a spoon. Well, at least that’s how I felt when I first tasted Ciao Bella’s Blood Orange sorbet. I’ve had blood oranges before, and Ciao Bella’s Blood Orange sorbet tastes like a frozen blood orange. And that’s because they use real blood oranges, mixed with a bit of evaporated cane juice and lemon juice and presto – you’ve got a ridiculously delicious frozen treat in your hands. In fact, my son likes to let it melt a bit in his bowl and he’ll drink the sorbet as juice.

Ciao Bella makes an astonishing variety of frozen desserts in exotic and delicate flavors that you just won’t find elsewhere. With flavors like key lime, maple ginger snap, chocolate hazelnut, passionfruit, and prickly pear, you’ll learn about unusual pairings and why they work perfectly in a Ciao Bella frozen dessert. Ours of course is their Belgian Chocolate S’mores. It tastes incredibly like a fireside smores-on-a-stick dessert but with ice cream so you get double the pleasure. And with Belgian chocolate (for which Belgium is known for their exquisite chocolates), you’ll taste a bittersweet kind of chocolate that pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the marshmallow filling. Only thing is, with only 4 bars in the box, the three of us have to use wits to determine who gets the last one.

Ciao Bella itself originated as a humble little ice cream shop in New York’s Little Italy. With almost 30 years of the gelato and sorbet business behind them, Ciao Bella soon grew into a worldwide phenomena. In fact, they are so well-received, they have won several awards and was even featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. It seems as if everyone was enjoying their delicious, natural, and unique variety of ice cream that is sure to please every palate. Whether you go for something ultra sweet and chocolatey or prefer the tartness of a lime or the creaminess of tahitian vanilla, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something from Ciao Bella that will soon become your favorite. And the wonderful thing about gelato and sorbet is that they’re not super cold like ice-cream, so you can really enjoy them any time of the year. Well, at least in California, we can pretty much enjoy ice cream year round.

So if you want your tastebuds to be enlightened, seduced, and excited, then give Ciao Bella a try. You won’t be disappointed. Currently you can find Ciao Bella in pretty much every natural food stores around. They’re also in certain supermarkets across the country. And if you’re in the Bay Area, you can taste Ciao Bella at some of their tasting events in September. For more info about Ciao Bella, please visit: http://www.ciaobellagelato.com/. Just looking at the photos of their exquisite gelato and sorbet will make your mouth water!

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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So the maker of Pampers Kandoo is offering another coupon in this Sunday’s (August 21)coupon insert. Just look inside the SmartSource coupon inserts for 2 coupons – $1.00 off any Pampers Kandoo Soap, Shampoo, Body Wash, and Sanitizer AND a $.50 off coupon for any package of the flushable wipes.

Pampers Kandoo has really improved their current products. Their products do not contain any sulfates or parabens, are hypoallergenic, and they use natural fruit extracts for the scents. The shampoo is also tear-free so you don’t have to worry about getting the suds in your child’s sensitive eyes. We’ve used Pampers Wipes constantly and they also flush down the toilet really well. If you want more info on Pampers Kandoo, here is their website link: http://www.pamperskandoo.com. While you’re there, it would be nice to sign up for their newsletter as you will get coupons emailed to you periodically. Their wipes and personal care line products are fairly inexpensive so you can get several of their products at a great price.

Their packaging also features an adorable little gecko and their tubs are a nice small size so it fits nicely with your bathroom decor. Their wipes are the perfect size for kid’s little hands and you’re also teaching your children good hygiene as well. So check out Pampers Kandoo if you’re looking for a new way of teaching your kids about bathroom ettiquette and self-assurance.

*Happymomblogger is not a sponsor of Pampers Kandoo coupons. As a Pampers Kandoo team member, I will relay info regarding their products and special savings from time to time.

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