Category: Uncategorized

The Fresh Beat Band – What kid wouldn’t enjoy them?

 

Whether you’re a toddler, preschooler, or a young school-aged child, you’ve got a plethora of television programs geared for kids your age. There are Disney, Nickelodeon, Sprout, PBS, and ABC Family to name a few. So how do you know which program is right for you and whether they’ll be interesting enough to maintain your attention for at least a half hour? Well, there are several options. You can either have your parents go online to the specific program’s website, you can watch it yourself, or my favorite, you can have your parent watch it first to make sure that it’s suitable.

As a parent of a toddler/preschooler, there really were too many TV programs to choose from when we decided he was the right age to start watching TV. But like most parents, I researched the programs beforehand to make sure that they were age appropriate and was interesting and captivated my son’s attention. That’s when we came across The Fresh Beat Band on Nickelodeon or Nick Jr. to be precise. At first my son was a bit hesitant at watching the show because of the more adult dialogue, but as he got older, he grew to love it and it became one of his favorite shows.

The Fresh Beat Band, if you’ve never heard of them before is a show about four college friends who attend “Music School” together. They all share an apartment close to Music School and within the school, they created themselves as “The Fresh Beat Band.” Although they’re not a real musical band in real life, they seem real enough to me and my son because the four of them are so talented and musically-inclined. The four characters, Kiki, Marina, Shout, and Twist have been best friends since they were little kids and throughout the years their friendship grew and they all stuck together to eventually pursue musical endeavors at their Music School. Each of the characters are unique in their own way with their own musical talent highlighted in each episode. Kiki is a talented multi-instrumental musician. She can play the violin, the piano, and many other musical instruments. And she also has a great singing voice and a superb dancer. To me, she seems like an overachiever with grounded roots (if that’s at all possible, but the show makes it apparently believeable). All of them dance and sing on the show if they’re not playing with their signature instruments and they dance very well together.  Marina plays the drums and she can play all types of drums as it is sometimes shown in the episodes. She’s also a gentle spirit and quite a comedian. Shout is the keyboards expert on the show and he can play a mean tune as well as having a great singing voice. And then there’s Twist, who is the DJ of the group and he can spin and rap like no other. He’s also the more clumsy, loafy character of the four friends.

What’s so great about The Fresh Beat Band is that their friendship really guides them in what they do. They get in trouble together but they also solve problems together towards the end of the show. Their problem-solving stems from their friendship with one another and the fact that they can do everything together as long as they stick together. Each episode is innocent and fun-loving, and you’ll evidently learn a lesson towards the end. There’s always some kind of message in their show as it is with most children’s television programs.

The Fresh Beat Band originated on Nickelodeon over 2 years ago and is going on strong. They’ve captivated audiences of all ages – not just young children. And although there have been several cast changes throughout the seasons, the characters still stayed true to form – which I imagine would be hard to do for someone to come into an already popular show. This season, Marina had a cast change and the new actress who plays Marina – Tara Perry  is just as vivacious as the character portrays except she does put a bit of her own personality into the character. My son noticed right away that there is a new Marina but Tara does such a superb job that you don’t notice much difference except of course, Marina is played by two seperate people. The new season also showcases new outfits for the four friends and some fun and exciting episodes coming up.

I was given an advanced copy of their next episode, “Cool Pool Party” which will air on July 8 (check your local listings), to review and write about. My son and I were excited to watch the new episode and when we received the DVD, we popped it into our DVD player immediately. Even my husband, who’s not a big fan of kids shows sat down to watch it because he wanted to see the new “Marina”. “Cool Pool Party” was a pretty fun episode to watch. It’s about the four friends planning a pool party with their neighbors and friends and Twist, who wanted to DJ at the party, couldn’t come up with the right tunes to play at the party. After spinning a few records of their recorded songs, the four pals found some good songs to choose from and each song helped them with a specific task. As with each episode, they sing and dance their way through their problems and solutions. My son and I both love to sing and dance along with the Fresh Beats and my son actually learned quite a few new dance moves from them! I really enjoyed the costumes in this particular episode because the back up dancers were wearing coordinated swim clothes in blue and green and it matched well against the backdrop colors of the pool party.

So in “Cool Pool Party”, what really created the laughs and imagination was when Kiki, Marina, and Shout jumped into the pool to test it out and SPLASH! – all of the water splashed out and there was no more water in the pool! Oh no, what will the four friends and their community do? You’ll have to watch the show on July 8th (9:30am ET/PT) to find out and you won’t be disappointed by the fun, songs, and entertainment!

Nickelodeon has kindly offered 2 sneak peeks at the episode, “Cool Pool Party”. You can download them here. Just download the regular download and you’re good to go! Enjoy!

Clip 1:  “DJ Get The Party Started” song:  http://www.sendspace.com/file/8huqznClip

Clip 2:  Cannonball Scene: http://www.sendspace.com/file/aopzmh

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

suzan3 Comments

Eden Organic/Eden Foods – Products Worth Reviewing

When it comes to finding the right organic food, there are several key factors in mind. First, it should be certified by an independent organic certification board (which entails the strictest tests and assessments in order to qualify). Next , it should not contain any genetically-modified or genetically-engineered ingredients. And most importantly, it should not have been sprayed or treated with any harmful toxic pesticides. These are just among the many standards that an organic food should be considered as organic. And if you’re ever unsure, check the labels on the front or back of the package.

Eden Foods, which is one of the largest organic food company in  the US goes through a meticulous process to ensure that their food are made with organic and all-natural ingredients. Products that contain imported ingredients must also meet their requirements in order to remain as part of the Eden Foods family. For over 40 years, Eden Foods has sourced their ingredients and products from more than 300 family farms. And because Eden Foods is also a co-op owned coorporation, they frequently visit these family farms to ensure their standards are met as well as continuing a strong relationship. Currently Eden Foods makes the following products:

Beans (Canned and Dried), Chili, Condiments and Sweeteners, Edensoy (which is a fortified soy milk), Fruit and Juices, Japanese Traditional, Oils and Vinegars, Pasta, Rice and Beans, Snack Foods, Supplements and Concentrates, Teas, Tomatoes and Saurekraut, and Whole Grains.

Considering such a large variety of products to choose from, you can definitely find one that’ll become one of your kitchen staples. We’ve tried several of Eden Organic/Eden Foods products and we definitely have a few favorites. And most of their products are fairly easy to find – you can locate them at any natural grocery store and you can also order their products online: http://www.edenfoods.com/store/. Eden Foods wanted me to try and review a few of their products so I chose to try their Vanilla Edensoy Extra Organic Soymilk and their Organic Kamut Flakes. My son loved the Organic Soymilk right away and I was very pleased to know that the Vanilla Edensoy Extra Organic Soymilk is fortified with important nutrients and vitamins such as Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B-12, and Calcium.  They also added Naturally Malted Organic Wheat and Barley Extract for extra fiber and flavor. To me, it didn’t taste like your traditional soymilk at first sip, but that’s because of the barley and wheat extracts added into it. And it’s not too sweet so that’s an additional benefit as well. You can buy their Edensoy in an 8.45oz size which is great for on the go and for little kids and in the larger 32oz. size. It’s also contained in aseptic packaging so it doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge until after opening. Aseptic packaging is also recyclable and leaves little to no environmental impact. And I like the fact that it has a single straw hole on top so that none of the beverage can spill out.

The Organic Kamut Flakes was something I’ve never tried before and since I’ve only heard about Kamut, I thought it would be interesting to give it a try. Eden Foods Organic Kamut Flakes are made from organically grown Khorasan wheat. What is Khorasan wheat you may ask? Here is Eden Foods description: Khorasan Triticum turanicum is an ancient grain with plump golden kernels that are about 3 times the size of modern wheat. Sometimes called King Tut’s wheat, kamut is native to Asia Minor and Egypt. It is closely related to spelt and a distant relative of durum wheat. Introduced to America by an organic farmer in Montana in the 1940s, Khorasan wheat is a rare non-hybrid grain offering the highest protein of any wheat. When I first looked at it, it resembled a really LARGE oat flake. In fact, it was so much bigger, it was really cute in a strange way. And it also tastes a bit like oat and spelt but it definitely has its own character and flavor. You can use Kamut flakes in most baked goods, as a hot cereal, as muesli, granola, and confections. I’ve only eaten it as a hot cereal so far but will indeed try it in my cookies or bread!

As a world leading manufacturer of organic and all-natural food, Eden also promises that none of their Organic Beans, Refried Beans, Chilies and Rice & Beans are cooked in steel cans coated with bisphenol-A or(BPA). In fact, their cans are coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel that is much safer and come from extracts of various plants. Eden Foods was the first company to introduce non-BPA cans into the canned food industry via the huge canning supplier, Ball Corp. This is a big step for Eden Foods considering BPA has recently been discovered to cause extreme health issues for humans. I personally try to buy products that are guaranteed to be BPA-free, but there are still so many companies out there who haven’t changed their packaging process.

If you’ve never heard of Eden Foods or Eden Organics, please visit their website to learn more about them: http://www.edenfoods.com/. Not only are they one of the largest supplier of organic foods in the US, but they are also adamant in their environmental practices and beliefs. They are also rated as highest in food safety and they are socially responsible in that they believe in fair pay and fair treatment of all their farmers.

Currently, due to the earthquake in Japan, some of Eden Foods products that are imported from Japan are under strict scrutiny. They stated that they are doing consistent testing of their suppliers in the parts affected in Japan and will continue to do so to ensure upmost safety and quality of their imported Japanese products. For more info, please visit: http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=199.

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

suzan2 Comments

Sonoma Soap Company – Products worth Reviewing and Giveaway

I love a body care company that keeps their line of products simple with just a few varieties to choose from. Why? Because it makes it easier to decide what product you’ll like and you can determine which scent is your favorite with just a few products. I also love it when a company uses the essential oils or extracts of an ingredient so that the scent is more pure and there’s less possibility of allergens. That’s why when I discovered Sonoma Soap Company, I knew this company was for keeps.

Sonoma Soap Company’s model of business practice is to keep their body care products as natural as possible and use only the highest quality of ingredients. They don’t compromise in using lesser quality ingredients and that’s why they keep their line of products simple – so that they can keep the purity of their products for everyone of all ages and gender to use. Sonoma Soap Company’s products do not contain any potentially harmful ingredients and they promise to keep their products Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Mineral Oil Free, DMDM Hydantoin Preservative Free, Artificial colorant Free, Diethanolamine Free, and Formaldehyde Free. That’s pretty good to know considering I wouldn’t want all of those junk on my body or my family’s bodies. Since my son also uses their products, it’s even more important to buy body care products that are free of harmful and toxic chemicals. Sonoma Soap Company is also socially and  ethically responsible in that they don’t test any of their products on animals, their soaps and liquid products are completely biodegradable, and their bottles and packaging uses only post consumer recyclable materials. And if you look at their packaging design, they’re also incredibly beautiful and serene so it sits nicely on your countertop.

Sonoma Soap Company currently makes beauty bars in three varieties – Lavender Reserve, First Crush, and Citrus Medly. All of them have a light and pleasant scent so even men will enjoy using them too. And for every bar you purchase, five recycled bars will go to people in need. Their other products also include shampoo, conditioner, bath&shower gel, bubble bath, hand soap, hand&body lotion, and shaving cream. All their products come in the 3 variety of fragrances so you can mix and match or use the same fragrance for all of your body care needs. I really like all 3 scents because each of them smell completely different from each other. The Citrus Medley has a really light and refreshing citrusy scent and it smells like a bowl of fresh lemons, limes, and oranges. The Lavender Reserve smells like lavender of course, and the First Crush smells a little bit like grapes since it contains organic grape seeds. And since they’re made with extracts of the fruits in each profile, you won’t smell that icky “perfume” smell since the ingredients are made from nature and not synthetically. Therefore, I think men, children, and women will equally enjoy Sonoma Soap Company’s products. My husband uses it and my son loves  all three scents.

Since Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) isn’t added to any of Sonoma Soap Company’s products, I did end up having to use more of the shampoo and conditioner than I normally would. But I would trade that dangerous hormone disrupting chemical with more soap any day of the week. SLS helps with the foaming action of soaps, shampoos, detergents, etc., but it’s also quite irritating and not the best chemical you would want on your skin or in your body on a daily basis. And since most people shower and wash their hair on a daily basis, you really don’t want that toxic chemical to build up in your body or on your skin.

You can find Sonoma Soap Company’s products in most natural grocery stores or online at their website: http://www.sonomasoapcompany.com/. I also learned that their soaps and shampoo/conditioner sets are used in a lot of posh hotels around the world- so lucky for those hotel guests! However, since Sonoma Soap Company was kind enough to send me samples of their soaps, shampoo, conditioners, and body wash to try and review, they’re also offering 1 LUCKY reader of Happymomblogger a chance to win a Shampoo and Conditioner with the scent of his/her choice! So how to do you win this luxurious prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Sonoma Soap Company giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

#1 entry – “Like” Sonoma Soap Company on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sonoma-Soap/213464182008308 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 Sonoma Soap Company giveaway.

#3 entry – Visit  http://www.sonomasoapcompany.com/ and tell me what products 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: June 6, 2011

Contest End Date: June 20, 2011 – Contest closed, winner will be selected. Congratulations to Nicole 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

suzan26 Comments

Q.bel – Products worth Reviewing and Giveaway

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love chocolate. If I was stranded on a desert island and the only food I had to eat was chocolate, then I’d never want to leave! Seriously though, I’m pretty picky when it comes to chocolate – I don’t like the conventional chocolates that you can find in every store. I prefer gourmet chocolates and chocolates that tastes rich and luscious. And I’m not shameful to admit that I’m pretty much a chocolate snob. So when I discovered Q.bel chocolate wafers at my friend’s natural grocery store one day, I knew I had to give it a try. When I took a bite of the crunchy, sweet, and oh-so-delicious and chocolaty wafer cookie, I was instantly smitten. I have never tasted a chocolate wafer as delicious as the ones made by Q.bel. There’s just something unique about their wafers. And then I realized what it was – they use only all-natural ingredients and that’s when you can tell the difference between a conveyor built-made chocolate wafer to one that is made in smaller batches and with more care and love. You can taste the natural flavors of Q.bel chocolate snacks because they use only real chocolate among other natural ingredients and absolutely no preservatives. But they are so yummy that they wouldn’t stay very long in your pantry anyways. Or at least not in my house. And although I’ve hidden a secret stash of them in my house, somehow my husband still found them and dug into them without asking me! In our house, my son and I are big Q.bel chocolate wafer fans and my husband jumped on board when he discovered how great tasting they were!

Q.bel is a fairly small company who started several years ago after the founder of the company realized that all-natural food doesn’t necessarily mean “all-natural”. So he set out to produce his own high-quality, no-junk chocolate wafer rolls and bars and named half of the company’s moniker after his wife, Isabel. The Q stands for Quality and Q.bel’s chocolate wafers and rolls aren’t short in the quality department. This is one company who made chocolate wafers and bars right, in my opinion. What makes Q.bel chocolate wafer rolls and bars a step above all other wafers and bars is something I haven’t found anywhere else. Their wafer rolls are drenched in sweet and delightful chocolate on the outside and in the center, there is an intense amount of chocolate filling. You essentially taste chocolate in every bite and they’re moist and has just the right amount of crunch. My favorite is the Deep Dark Chocolate Wafer Rolls made with 72% cacao and my son loves the Deep Dark Chocolate Wafer Rolls and the Milk Chocolate Wafer Rolls.

Q.bel also makes chocolate wafer bars which we equally enjoy eating and they are definitely not your everyday supermarket wafer bars. They’re sweet but not overly sweet, they’re immensely light in texture and the chocolately cream filling is so rich and smooth that you’ll want to lick the wafer clean. And their chocolate wafer bars are made with Belgian chocolates for that extra distinctive chocolate flavor.

Q.bel’s  current line up of flavors and varieties includes Dark Chocolate Wafer Rolls with 52% cacao, Milk Chocolate Wafer Rolls with 36% cacao, Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Wafer Rolls, and Deep Dark Chocolate Wafer Rolls with 72% cacao. In their chocolate wafer bars the flavors are Double Dark Chocolate Wafer Bars with 70% cacao, Milk Chocolate Wafer Bars with 36% cacao (this one also contains crispy rice as an additional ingredient), Mint Wafer Bars with Dark Chocolate with 55% cacao (this one’s incredibly refreshing tasting), Dark Chocolate Wafer Bars with 55% cacao, and Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Wafer Bars. Since they are still a fairly new and small company, they hope to expand with more products in the future. And as they are trying to practice environmentally-responsible ways in manufacturing and packaging their products, they do admit that they are still growing in that area. To learn more about Q.bel and their values in action, visit: http://www.qbelfoods.com/

Q.bel was extremely generous in sending me samples of their entire lineup to try and review. They are also giving 2 LUCKY readers of Happymomblogger a chance to win 1 Q.bel T-shirt and 15 Free product coupons (for each winner). Yup, you read it right – 15 coupons! I am so envious of the winners! So how do you win this incredible prize? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Q.bel giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

#1 entry – “Like” Q.bel on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/QbelChocolate 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 Q.bel giveaway. Become a follower of Q.bel on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/qbelchocolate and tweet that you are entering the Happymomblogger giveaway.

#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: June 6, 2011

Contest End Date: June 20, 2011 – Contest closed, winner will be selected. Congratulations to Natalie and Eugenie for winning the prizes!

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

suzan32 Comments

Attune Foods (Erewhon Cereal) – Products Worth Reviewing and Giveaway

When my son was ready to eat finger foods, it was difficult finding something that he would enjoy eating as well as being nutritionally adequate. He already enjoyed eating certain vegetables and fruits, but we wanted to enlighten his tastebuds even more by offering other types of foods. And then that’s when we discovered he had a slight intolerance to wheat products. So then it became another journey to find food that didn’t contain any wheat in them. After a vigorous  search and while we were at a newly-opened supermarket nearby, we discovered upon Erewhon Cereal. The packaging indicated that it was completely gluten-free and made simply with brown rice, brown rice syrup, and sea salt. And the fact that they were made with organic ingredients appealed to me even more. So I showed the colorful box of rice cereal to my son while he was sitting in his stroller and his eyes lit up brightly. Yup, looked like it was a winner. So I purchased the box of Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal and we headed home to give it a taste test (and allergen test). From then on, Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal became a main staple in our house.

It seems that nowadays more and more people, especially young children, are developing more allergies at the onset of infancy. Sometimes it’s easy to determine immediately what the allergy is, sometimes you don’t find out until after they’ve eaten or touched the offending product. And even more prevalent these days are the allergic reaction to wheat or gluten products. The dangerous thing is that although some food products are made without any wheat, it can still linger in the byproduct if it’s made in an equipment shared with other wheat products. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the company you’re buying from makes only gluten-free products, or at best, label them as certified gluten-free and indicates what type of facility they manufacturer their products in. And my number one recommendation is to always read your labels!

Attune Foods is the parent company of Erewhon Cereal and the Erewhon brand has been making their cereal for over 40 years. But that’s not the only brand of cereal or products that they produce. Attune Foods also makes other brands such as, New Morning, which includes oat cereal and graham crackers; Uncle Sam which is their flagship cereal products using familiar flavors such as multi-grain, honey almond, and strawberry; Skinner’s Raisin Bran Cereal; and Attune probiotic chocolate bars which I tried and was delicious! You wouldn’t even know it was a fortified chocolate bar that’s supposed to be good for you. But our favorite is of course the Erewhon Cereal because they make a wide variety of flavors and they’re just sweet enough. The Erewhon Rice Crispy cereal are also made with simple, natural, and organic ingredients so you really can’t go wrong there. In fact, all of the cereal made by Attune Foods are made with all-natural and organic ingredients and they don’t include any unnecessary ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives, or any genetically modified ingredients. We love the Erewhon Brown Rice Crispy Gluten-free cereal because it’s slightly sweet yet with a savory aftertaste due to the sea salt and it has an immense amount of crispy-crunchiness to it. And best of all, my son loves to snack on it during the day by itself without any milk. They’re also great in your rice crispy treat recipes and any other recipes requiring rice crispies. I also like to sprinkle some on our organic yogurt or kefir because it gives it a nice crunch when you bite into it. And my son’s favorite part about rice crispy in milk – the fact that it “talks” to you in the form of “snaps” and “crackles” as it’s sitting in milk.

The name Erewhon itself sounds quite unique as it was derived from a popular nineteenth century novel with the same name. And it’s a great connection because the novel Erewhon was about a utopia in which everyone was responsible for his or her own health. To that extent, Erewhon’s cereals are made with only high quality, all-natural and organic ingredients and the company itself  started the Charter of Quality Standards for Natural Products which is a guideline that all naturally-made foods must adhere by. In order to be called “natural”, products must adhere to the following guidelines:

— No synthetic additives or preservatives
— No artificial colors or flavors
— No hydrogenated or solvent extracted oils
— No refined flour or sugar
— Only natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup and molasses.

For more info about Attune Foods guidelines for healthy eating, please visit: http://www.attunefoods.com/Benefits-of-Eating-Healthy .

Erewhon was later acquired by Attune Foods who continues with the same traditions and guidelines as Erewhon. As Attune Foods motto goes, “What matters most is what’s inside”, I think that should be a standard motto for everything in life. And when it comes to food, it really matters what you’re eating and buying and cereals like Erewhon and other products made by Attune Foods can really help you achieve that. Their cereals contain whole grains which is achieved by using the entire whole grain of an ingredient such as the Germ, the Endosperm, and the Bran, all of which plays an important part in optimal digestive health and overall nutrition.

As a member of the Attune Foods Street Team and as an advocate for organic and all-natural food, I was fortunate to receive several products from Attune Foods to try and review. They are also giving 1 LUCKY reader of Happymomblogger a chance to try any of their cereal for FREE! The winner will receive 1 FREE product coupon good for any cereal made by Attune Foods. So are you ready to give your tastebuds and stomach a healthy start? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Attune Foods giveaway:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

#1 entry – “Like” Attune Foods on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/attunefoods  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 Attune Foods giveaway. Follow Attune Foods on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/attunefoods and Tweet that you are entering the Attune Foods giveaway at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Visit  http://www.attunefoods.com/ and tell me what products 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: June 6, 2011

Contest End Date: June 20, 2011 – Contest closed, winner will be selected. Congratulations to Layne 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

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Summer Activities for the Not-So-Bored-Child

It doesn’t matter if your kids are 2, 5, or 8 years old, eventually they’ll all say these common phrases – “I’m bored, there’s nothing good on TV” or “I’m tired of my old toys, I want new ones”, or my favorite which I’ve actually heard my niece say to her parents, ” How come my friends parents are so much more fun?”. Kids. They’re pretty funny stuff but what are you gonna do, right? They’re full of energy, imagination, and curiosity and sometimes their attention span just don’t last as long. So I’ve come up with a few fun and creative activities for kids to do this summer. These activities are best suited for children ages 3-10 but you can modify it to fit any age.

1- The Ice Race. Similar to the egg and spoon race except you use ice cubes. Take crushed ice and put it in a plastic sandwich bag. If you’re concerned about the impact plastic has on the environment, use a cheesecloth instead: Simply put crushed ice in the middle of a cheesecloth, fold the ends up into a bag and tie it up. Then give a bag of ice to each child and have them line up side by side in a row like a race. Have the kids hold the bag of ice in their palm, hand open and let them race to the finish line. Whoever gets to the finish line without dropping their bag of ice or switching it to the other palm wins. This is pretty fun since it’s really hard to hold onto a bag of ice for any lenth of time. This is also a fun activity when the weather is warmer.

2- Museum Scavenger Hunt. Visit a local museum of your choice. Something that has a specific exhibit will work well with this activity and you might want to go to the museum first to prepare. Make a list of items that your child can find at the museum. And then as he/she goes through the museum, they can check it off the list. To make it interesting, include on your list items that are unusual or funny. You can also include items in the museum’s gift shop. Make sure they get a prize at the end of the scavenger hunt. This activity promotes interest of learning and patience and hopefully they’ll want to return to the museum soon.

3- Park Exploration Day. Visit a local park or a national park and collect anything that’s of interest so that later you and your child can make a scrapbook. Collect leaves of different colors, rocks, feathers, anything you can find (as long as it’s not garbage :)). This activity helps young minds learn the importance of nature and if you really want the education to go further, let them find out which tree each leaf belongs to, what the names of the rocks are, and what kind of birds do those feathers belong to.

4- Build a project. Go to your local arts and craft store with your child and pick up an unfinished wood furniture (preferably a smaller size that’s suitable for a child). Then grab paint, stickers, feathers, etc. to adorn the wood  furniture. Once the project is done, your child can proudly keep it in his/her room or anywhere in the house to use and display. This activity teaches children about self-discipline and imagination. It’s always a great accomplishment  when children can build or do a project on their own ( or at least with limited help).

5- Jungle Book. Take your child to the local arts and craft store and pick up some miniature plastic animals, craft glue, and either hard construction paper or poster boards to create a book. You’ll need at least 3 pages. To make the jungle book, cut the paper or poster boards into a 5X8″ size. Punch 3 holes using a hole puncher or awl along the edge of each paper. Using a piece of yarn or string, loop the yarn into the holes and tie off at both ends. It should resemble a book. Then, using craft glue, have your child pick out his favorite animals and glue the animals randomly on each page. There should be at least 3-5 animals on each page. Then, if your child wants to write his own story using the animals as part of the story, let his/her imagination go. Or if they’re too young to write on their own, have them help you think up a story and you can write it for them in the book. This activity teaches imagination and creativity. It also helps teach a young mind the process of storytelling and connecting a story.

All of these activities can really be enjoyed any day or season, not just in the summer. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a family vacation or end up spending hundreds of dollars at those theme parks, then give these fun and unique activities a try.

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