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Before my son was born, I often wonder at the strange and funny words and phrases that would spew out of the mouths of my nieces and nephews and friends children. I wonder where and how they learned those phrases and sometimes it’s laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes I grin politely.

Just the other day, when I was driving with my son to Target and a car stopped suddenly in front of us for no apparent reason, I exclaimed, “What are you doing!” My son, without missing a beat, said smartly, “that guy pissing you off, mommy?” I paused for a moment and laughed softly without letting my son know that it was okay to say the word “pissed”. And then I thought to myself – where did he learn to say that? And then the realization pounced on me like a 300-pound tiger. I had said the same phrase not too long ago at some oblivious drivers on the road who seem to think they are the only people on the roads. I recall exclaiming it quite profoundly and my son, who is intelligent beyond his age, most likely stored that lovely exclamation into his memory bank.

I can’t help but chuckle a bit at how innocently my son had asked me that question. I know ofcourse, that he doesn’t really know that the word “pissed” shouldn’t be used in any context by a child, let alone in public by a responsible adult. But at his age, his brain is like a data sponge and he’ll soak up anything he hears and sees. Which is great to some extent, except to the parts where he learns certain words or phrases that he should not be learning.

But what’s even funnier to me is that I used to watch what I say in front other people’s kids and now, it’s almost too natural to say whatever is on my mind in front of my son. I should probably watch what I say when it comes to drivers “pissing me off” or anything too provocative because I never know when he’ll pop out that word in front of other people. Nevertheless, it’s just one of the marvels of being a mom and learning and growing along with my child.

If you teach your kids they can-do it, then let them use Pampers Kandoo. Pampers Kandoo is a unique kids line targeted for kids from toddler on up. They sell products such as flushable wipes to soaps to shampoo. Their Kandoo line is for kids who are learning how to potty train or are already using the potty on their own.

With the flushable wipes, you don’t have to worry about your kids (or yourself) getting dirty hands when they are just learning how to wipe themselves. The wipes dissolve quickly and are safe for sewer and septic systems. They are small in size and best of all – they are pre-moistened with lotion so it won’t hurt your little one’s behind like some toilet paper might.

The products are fun to use and fun to look at with an adorable little frog on the package design. You can also use the flushable wipes at public restrooms too and even use them instead of your regular diaper wipes.

Look for a $1.00 off coupon on all Pampers Kandoo products in this Sunday’s (9/26) newspaper inside the P&G’s Brandsaver insert.

I learned how to cook mostly from my mom who is an excellent cook. She won many cooking awards in the past and has taught me some of those winning recipes. But it was both my parents who taught me how to shop for certain grocery items for a certain recipe. I learned from them the different kinds of root vegetables and what seasons the harvest will most likely produce. I learned that not all apples taste the same nor do they yield the same results when cooked. And I learned among many other things, that buying the right produce at the peak of the season is the secret to a successful and delicious recipe.

Many years ago, before the USDA regulated the use of the term “organic” for any product, most of the food found in grocery stores were either from locally-grown farms or were mass manufactured products that were genetically-modified for faster production.  Local farmers who didn’t spray their crop with chemical pesticides were lucky enough to have their products sold at supermarkets without having to compete with the bigger companies. Only problem was, produce that came from locally-grown farms were extremely expensive and hard to find. And most of the time, you’d have to get them right when they’re being delivered or they were sold out or couldn’t stay fresh because there were no chemical preservations used.

But farmers markets have been around for a long time, and I remembered going to the local farmers markets with my mom and helping her pick out the freshest produce available. It was there that I also learned about what real and fresh produce were all about and I could instantly taste the difference between produce that were ripened in the store and produce ripened on the tree.

My parents also grow their own vegetables and fruits and they don’t use any kind of toxic chemicals on the produce or in the ground. It was quite convenient for us to go to the backyard and snip off some green beans or pluck some apples and pears for that night’s dinner. For me, homegrown fruits and vegetables seemed like the perfect answer to eating healthier. But as years went by, and people became more aware of the importance of eating better, organic and pesticide-free products started showing up more readily in supermarkets.

However, organic and locally-grown produce can still be moderately expensive, depending on where you shop. And where you buy your produce and dry goods is crucial in how much you’ll end up spending on organic food. If you want to start buying more organic food or just starting out, your best choices in organic produce are the natural food stores or farmers markets. However, if you don’t have any of those nearby, then here are some tips in buying organic at supermarkets.

Supermarkets back in the day rarely carried organic and all-natural food and products and if they did, it was very limited and very expensive. Nowadays, whenever I visit my local supermarket, I can see most of them dedicating a certain section called “natural” and “organic” where only natural and organic products are sold. Cheers for them for thinking more abou their health conscious customers. So how do you choose where to shop for the best value and the best selection of organic and natural products? Well, you can start by looking at the ads produced by the store you regularly shop at. Most every market will have their own store circular either mailed to you, online, or available in their stores. If you want the best prices and selections in organic produce, then take a look at their ads. Decide which organic produce you need for that day or week and compare between the different markets. You’ll probably find them competitively priced nowadays but that’s good news for us since we want to save a ton of money when we’re buying all or mostly organic products. After you’ve made your list of what organic produce you want to buy, then list the other organic or all-natural products such as dry goods, snacks, drinks, etc. Once again, look at your stores circular and find out if the product you want is listed or on sale. If they aren’t listed, go online and you’ll most likely find a “secret” ad that is available only online. Very tricky of these markets, but they’re also hoping you’d buy their groceries online as well.

The next step in saving even more money on organic and natural products is using coupons. Where do you find coupons for organic and natural products, you say? Well, most likely you’ll find them from the companies direct websites. Many of them offer coupons for their products if you sign up for their newsletter or simply just visiting their website.  Otherwise, you can always give them a call or send them an email requesting some coupons. Organic and natural product companies love hearing from people who want to buy their products so most of them are more than willing to send you coupons. If you use their coupons, then you’ll most likely end up buying more, right?

There are also several stores(smaller natural grocery stores and mass supermarkets) that offer store coupons instead of manufacture coupons and most of them will allow you to “stack” coupons – which means even more money saved! These stores include Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Henry’s Farmers Market, Mother’s Market, and even certain supermarkets that carry a wide selection of organic and natural products. The bottom line is that these markets, whether small or big, want to try to appeal to a wide array of customers and since organic and natural products are becoming more popular, they want to lure their customers into their stores with money-saving opportunities. With the economy the way it is right now, it’s a win-win situation for the farmers and manufacturers, the markets, and the consumers.

Buying organic and natural products and food takes some practice because you can always go to the most convenient store nearby, but you may not be getting  the best price. Of course, if you have to drive 20 miles just to get organic grapes for 10 cents cheaper, then it’s probably not worth the gas money unless you’re planning on buying other things. Get to know your local supermarkets as well as the natural food stores and soon enough you’ll know where to get the freshest produce at the best price.

The key is to know what you’re buying, why you’re buying it, and then have fun shopping for them! When you buy organic and natural products, your body will thank you and your planet will reap the benefits as well. By eating organic produce as much as possible, you’re ensuring that your body doesn’t contain toxic chemicals that can store  inside your system for a long time and those with fragile immune systems (for whatever reasons) or young children especially need to eat more organic foods. Organic products also help the environment in that the farms and manufacturers uses sustainable methods to help improve the conditions of  the environment and in long-term health, the less toxic chemicals in your body, the better.

If you want more information on organic and natural food and products, take a look at my blog titled, “Living Organically and Naturally” and you’ll find a good list of organic and natural companies to choose from.

Who likes to have clean hands? Raise your hand if you do – and hopefully they’re not dirty. But if they are and you don’t have soap and water handy, then reach for your CleanWell hand sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers have come a long way and there are so many choices out there. The gamut runs from antibacterial to organic to alcohol free.  There are also many fragrances to choose from, including fragrance-free which is a better choice for families with young children. But if you do use  fragrant hand sanitizers, it’s best to use those that contain essential oils extracted from flowers or plants because it’s non-toxic in the sense that it’s not chemically-made scents.

CleanWell hand sanitizers are made from botanical ingredients such as Thyme, Lavender, and Lime and include herbs such as Bergamot, Spearmint, and Ginger. All the scents blend well naturally and without any toxic residues left on your skin. CleanWell’s patented blend of essential oils harnesses the natural antiseptic power of thyme which can destroy 99.99% of germs including MRSA (resistant Staph) , E.Coli, and Salmonella. With the recent salmonella scare going around, it never hurts to have a CleanWell hand sanitizer nearby. It sanitizes on contact so instant “kapow” on those pesky germs.

CleanWell’s products are also biodegradable so you know it’s better for the environment.  They don’t contain harsh toxic chemicals such as Triclosan, Benzalkonium, and Alcohol so they are naturally non-stinging as well. I’ve used alcohol-based hand sanitizers before and if I had a paper cut somewhere on my hand that I wasn’t aware of, it was an instant ouch factor.

I was given the CleanWell travel-size hand sanitizers in Original Scent and Orange Vanilla to try. I could instantly smell the fragrance of Thyme when I sprayed my hands. The travel-sized hand sanitizers come in a flat, easy-to-carry spray bottle with an easy and mess-free lid. In fact, the packaging is so unique, you can probably stick the travel-sized hand sanitizer in your pocket without it looking obvious (and men – if you don’t think hand sanitizers are “cool”, then you’ll definitely like these cool-looking travel-sized hand sanitizers). The Original Scent doesn’t have much of a scent to them except Thyme and their patented blend of essential oils. It’s actually quite strong of a scent and if you’re accustomed to the smell of herbs, then it’s a rather refreshing aroma. The Orange Vanilla has a slightly sweet scent to it and since both orange and vanilla emits such stimulating scents, they harmonize well together. I could instantly smell the aromatic herb, Thyme  as well as orange oil and vanilla lingering in the background.

CleanWell also produces hand soaps and pocket wipes and they also come in an assortment of great scents! For more information on CleanWell, please visit: http://www.cleanwelltoday.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 labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). 

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