Happymomblogger

Earth Day – Celebrating our Planet

Each year on April 22 marks a very important event for our planet. It’s officially called “Earth Day” and it’s the one day where lights are turned off to conserve energy, people walk or bicycle to work instead of driving, and many other activities we can do to show our appreciation for our precious planet. Of course Earth Day shouldn’t be limited to just one day in the year, but it does highlight the significance behind its meaning: that we should all cherish the planet we live in and become stewards of good will for her.

Around this time of year I come up with ideas for people around me who are also heavily involved with protecting the environment. This year since I’m involved with a special ecological program at my son’s school, I have decided to dedicate my posts revolving around the Garden Club which I started at his school. For me, I truly believe that being stewards of the planet starts with children. They are already like sponges soaking up everything around them – the good and the bad – so as parents, it’s up to us to teach them the importance of keeping our environment safe. In essence, a clean planet equals a healthy life and we all want to achieve that one way or another.

Protecting the planet doesn’t have to be a laborious task. It could be as simple as being less wasteful by minding what you purchase and use. It could be as dedicated as walking or cycling to your destinations as often as possible. And it could be as complex as starting a neighborhood community garden where only organic plants are grown and using only ecological components. However you choose to celebrate our planet, remember it takes dedication and determination. Know why you are doing this and understand the rewards in doing so.There is an old saying that goes, “we leave our planet for our children and their children.” That is why it’s essential to start teaching our children the benefits of being environmentally friendly by doing so in our own homes. Imagine a future where we are short on natural resources because we’re significantly using them up currently. What will happen to the livelihood of our children and their children?

Some might say well, it’s too hard to be environmentally conscious. But that’s not necessarily true. Being environmentally friendly could be as simple as taking those recyclable bottles and cans to a recycling center. If you teach your kids to do that, then they could even keep the refund money for something that they want to buy or better yet – donate the money to a good charity. However, if you want to look at a grander scale of recycling, it is often better to use lead-free, BPA-free reusable glass and plastic beverage bottles. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about contributing to the endless cycle of plastics that are forever piling up in our landfills.

For ideas on how to help the planet this April, visit Earth Day Networks website for some very useful information:

http://www.earthday.org/

And to find out about your own carbon footprint, check out this link: http://www.earthday.org/footprint-calculator

Perhaps one of the most significant ways of reducing your carbon footprint is to follow the three “Rs”, and those are: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Reuse what you have if possible. Reduce what you buy and consume. And recycle everything that you can. This way, we are not using up precious natural resources and producing more pollution and waste for our future.

So start planning now on what you can do for this year’s Earth Day. I am also partnering up with the Earth Day Network this year and will show highlights of what people are doing around the world. And as the event comes closer, I will update all of you on our Garden Club and what the students are doing to make the planet a healthier place.

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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April 3, 2015

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Natural Products Expo West 2015

This year in March, the Natural Products Expo West comes back to Anaheim, California for their prestigious natural and organics products event. Showcasing over thousands of natural and organic brands as well as B2B marketing, the Natural Products Expo West along with New Hope Media and Engredea, welcomes companies from across the world to present and educate the public with their newest products.

I was happy to have the opportunity to attend the show again this year and while I noticed a few dramatic changes, the expo was still an exciting and impressive event. This year the security was definitely tighter as anticipated, as I’m sure there are those unregistered to attend will inevitably sneak into the show. There were more information booths which really helped and signage was clearer than last year’s. But what really impressed me this year was the extra events at both the Marriott Hotel and Hilton Hotel. This year a new section called “Hot Products” showcased brand new companies who introduced their newest products, some not yet out in stores. It was nice to see new companies who brought innovative and useful products to the natural products industry, such as design your own reusable glass water bottles and chocolate hot sauce.

Of course I had to bring my son to the show and it seems that each year companies are involving kids more with their interactive booths and games tailored only to kids. There were companies who also gave out unique toys and trinkets to kids that visited their booths. With so many companies to visit and sample their products, I still had to stop by my usual contacts which included Stonyfield Organic (www.stonyfield.com) who my rep had kindly demonstrated their newest interactive organic sourcing map which was pretty cool. Stonyfield also came out with a couple of new types of yogurt last year and early this year including, Stonyfield Organic Protein, Oh My Yogi!, Greek & Chia, and a few new flavors of their traditional varieties. I will be writing a review of their newest products in a later post. I also visited Amy’s which is coming out with some new Asian-inspired dishes and pasta dishes. They were so delicious it took a bit of willpower to leave their booth instead of staying there all night sampling their new dishes.

Other companies including Nordic Naturals were celebrating their 25 years in the business and they had some fun interactive games for kids and adults. Yummy Bears had new products as well and I had a nice greet and meet with the founders of Veri Organic Soda, which I will have a giveaway very soon.

There were so many companies this year and so much walking as well! But the good thing was that every few steps there was something you can sample or interact with and so we were able to take a breather now and then. And as offered every year, there were seminars upon seminars educating everyone on the world of organic and natural products and food. This year’s show broke last year’s attendance record by about 7%. Here are some highlights of the show:

New Hope’s team of editors and analysts identified the five macro trends influencing the marketplace. They include:

Transparency advancements: Consumers are increasingly demanding to know what is in their food, and brands are responding by using technology and other innovations to provide greater transparency and traceability for their products.
Ancient Wisdom Gets Wiser: Brands continue to innovate by producing simple, delicious products that take minimally processing to new levels and contain short lists of nutrient-dense ingredients.
Paleo 2.0: Paleo-positioned products were even more prevalent. The newest Paleo offerings are popping up in every product category, from English muffins to chocolate.
Packaging Innovated: From edible cups to packages featuring famous cookbook authors, the packaging innovations made advancements in sustainability, consumer education and shelf stability.
Protein Invasion: Responding to consumers’ insatiable hunger for protein,natural and organic brands are packing new offerings with protein in every conceivable form.

Thursday before the start of the show, there was the Fresh Ideas Marketplace where companies showcased some of their newest and most innovative products yet to be out in the market. This year Organic Valley did something really fun by bringing their Save the Bro campaign with their Organic Fuel milkshake to the event. The milkshake is really delicious and has high amounts of protein so it’s great as a post workout drink or a mid day healthy snack. Pictured above you see several muscle men wearing the Save the Bro t-shirts and challenging anyone to show off their strength with the carnival-like test your strength game. The “bros” were cute and funny and definitely drew in a lot of crowds as they flexed their muscles and handed out prizes to the winners.

Overall, this year’s Natural Products Expo West had a lot more going on than last year. With the additional hotel sites hosting new products and special events and the evening parties on the promenade, there were more to see than anyone could take in a 4-day event. For more info about the Natural Products Expo please visit their website: www.expowest.com.

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March 30, 2015April 4, 2015

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Travel Pack Giveaway with Downey Wrinkle Releaser Plus

As a blogger for Fresh Families Brands, I have the unique opportunity to present my readers with a very special giveaway that’s only available on Twitter. If you don’t have a Twitter account it’s fairly easy to open one and you’ll want to do it soon so you can win this fabulous prize!

Hosted by My Life and Kids (http://mylifeandkids.com/five-travel-hacks-youll-love/)blog, this giveaway runs from March 9 to March 20, 2015 and all you have to do is enter your name, email, and twitter handle. Then select @Happymomblogger as your Bonus Entry options and you’re entered to win! And while you’re there, check out Anna’s post about travelling with kids and informative tips on how to travel well and efficiently. If you have kids, you already know packing can be quite an adventure. Heck, even travelling without kids can be a puzzle as you’ll inevitably want to pack everything but still end up forgetting something once you get to your destination.

So be sure to enter this fun and easy giveaway. One winner will be chosen and the prize consists of:

– Travel size Downey Wrinkle Releaser Plus 3/box

– T-shirt

– Lands End beach bag

– Tervis Tumbler water bottle

– Travel toiletry bag

– Dreft stain stick Boogie Berry Blaster 10 count

– $50 Target Gift Card

Prize is valued at $150. Please see the contest page for rules and further details.

Click on the link to enter:

https://promosimple.com/ps/6ceb

Good Luck!

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March 10, 2015

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Show Your Disney Side – Disney Side @Home Celebration

If you’re like most people living on Earth, you’ve probably heard of Disney and the entire Disney franchise. From their Disneyland theme parks to their movies, Disney has truly become a household name. Each year Disney Parks and MomSelect chooses hundreds of people across the country to help host the ultimate Show Your Disney Side party. For me, it is a great honor as doing anything creative epitomizes the true essence of Disney. After all, Disney is the name of imagination and creativity and the fun never stops.

This year, the theme I chose for our party was “Idea Mouse in the House” and it was all about creativity, imagination, and fun. It was hard at first to come up with a theme since Disney has literally taken over the world with their adorable animal characters and their fearsome villains. You can’t go anywhere without seeing something Disney related. And with their franchise recently acquiring the Star Wars/Lucasfilm enterprise and Marvel Entertainment, their entire repertoire of assets has grown exponentially and will probably continue to grow as I’m typing this. But through many discussions with my son, we did finally come up with a theme and it was a lot of fun to plan it and host it!

The DisneySide (#DisneySide) Celebrations began from a love for Disney and the meaning behind the parties is to show love and appreciation of what Walt Disney brought to the world many years ago. I remember going to Disneyland as a young girl and after the first time, I was hooked. Now, many years later, I am honored to have been chosen as a hostess for this one-of-a-kind Disney celebration. Disney Parks and MomsSelect were incredibly generous in selecting the best goodies from Disney and making sure the hosts and their party guests had the opportunity to have the best time. Although an assortment of prizes were given to me including Mickey Mouse and Disney Princesses, it was really up to us, the hostesses to decided on how we want to best represent Disney.

My son and I invited some of his school friends and everyone had a blast. The park we had the party at was gorgeous and spacious and the weather was absolutely delightful. I had wanted to really give the kids an opportunity to “show their Disney side” so I had set up three stations for creative fun. The first table had Disney-themed food such as Mickey Mouse ears cupcakes, a “create your own trail mix bar”, and “brain juice”, which to the dismay of the Disney villains, weren’t really made from brains but was there to fuel the kiddos brains. On the second table we had a crafts table which included cut out Mickey ears and foam stickers, Disney coloring pages, and Disney bubbles. And the third table was the goodie bag table in which I included all the extra prizes that were given to me including some extra sponsors for my party such as Good Boy Organics, the Disney store in Brea, and TruSweet.

My son and I truly love hosting our very own “Show Your Disney Side” celebration and I am ever grateful for the wonderful folks at Disney and Moms Select/BSM Media for choosing me again this year. Everyone including me dressed in something Disney and we were happily showing our Disney side. I would also like to thank HP for the printer photo paper, ALL detergent, Wisk detergent, Snuggle Fabric Softener, Beyond Meat, and of course Disney. I didn’t expect so many goodies to come in my party pack but we had so much fun trying them out and using them.

If you’re interested in hosting your own non-sponsored Disney Side celebration, you can visit: www.DisneySide.com for ideas on how to have one. There are no rules in how to throw your own DisneySide party. It could be as simple as a child’s birthday party or as extravagant as a full on costume ball. However you want to show your Disney side is up to you – just remember to have fun and enjoy the moments!

Disclaimer: I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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March 4, 2015

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Van’s Granola and Pasta – Products Worth Reviewing

I’ve never really been crazy about granola until one day, a few years ago when someone taught me to make my own homemade granola. From then on I was hooked and although I still enjoy making my own granola now and then, time constraints have made it a bit difficult to take the time out to make it from scratch. I do enjoy granola more often now and I have found that certain store-bought ones are just as good if not better than homemade, mainly because of the assortment of flavors offered. But I’m also extra choosy on what goes inside store-bought granola as I’m very cautious of those made with too much added sugar.

When Van’s Foods (http://www.vansfoods.com/) introduced me to their newest granola, I was very intrigued. Their granola is a softer and chewier version than the typical crunchy granola you might be used to. Made with only whole grain oats, not only are Van’s Foods granola healthier, but they are also gluten-free so they’re perfect for those who are sensitive to gluten. And because they are made with whole grains, you get a more satisfying and wholesome snack that can be versatile and easy to digest. I personally enjoy granola with milk or over yogurt, but with this new chewy texture, they’re perfect straight out of the bag.

Van’s Foods are known for their wholesome and natural pancakes and waffles but have expanded their line to include wholegrain cereal, multigrain chips, crackers, snack bars, and their newest gluten-free pasta and gluten-free chewy granola. And because Van’s Foods makes delicious and natural foods for the busy family, they have recently revamped their tagline to be simply, “Van’s Simply Delicious” which is most befitting of a company who uses basic ingredients producing excellent results. We have enjoyed Van’s Foods for many years and my favorite is their Chocolate Chip mini waffles which has delectable little chocolate chips and perfect with melted butter and some whipped cream – yes whipped cream!

Van’s Foods had wanted me to try their new Gluten Free Blueberry Walnut Granola and Gluten Free Cherry Almond Granola. My favorite was the Cherry Almond Granola as it was very distinctive between the slight sour taste of the cherries with the natural sweetness of the mixed granola. I got a nice crunch from the pumpkin seeds but it was still soft and easy to chew. Both of them were unique in their own ways so whether you’re a cherry fan or a lover of blueberry, you’ll find that they are both different yet similar. I was also given their newest pasta dishes to try which included, Gluten Free Creamy Herb and Garlic Pasta, Gluten Free Rotini and Red Sauce Pasta, and Gluten Free Ultimate Cheddar Penne. I really enjoyed the Creamy Herb and Garlic Pasta and my son liked the Ultimate Cheddar Penne. They are all made with brown rice flour for the gluten-free part and I couldn’t really taste any difference from the gluten-free version and the regular wheat version. You just have to make sure not to overcook as it could get kind of sticky.

While in our household we don’t have a gluten sensitivity, I am trying to reduce the amount of it for the purpose of a healthier digestive system. With gluten-free products, I don’t feel as weighed down and I can enjoy my food without feeling as if I ate too much. But for those with a gluten sensitivity, avoiding it at all costs is important and it’s just as important to read your labels carefully before purchasing packaged food. With Van’s Foods and their gluten-free line, you can definitely enjoy the taste of regular snacks without the dangers of wheat gluten hidden somewhere in the ingredients.

Van’s Foods can be purchased at supermarkets that carry natural products as well as natural grocery stores. They come in a variety of frozen and dried food so it’s fairly easy to stock up on their products. For more information about Van’s Foods please visit their website: http://www.vansfoods.com as well as their social media sites which you can find links on their website.

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March 4, 2015

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Surf Sweets/TruSweets – A Valentine Treat!

Red hearts, cupid’s bow, and chocolates – what do they all spell? Valentine’s Day! For many, Valentine’s Day is an annual holiday where people go all out with the extravagance of buying sweets and gifts. And while chocolates seem to be the main choice in offering sweets, this year why not try something different. The idea behind Valentine’s Day really isn’t about giving the most expensive gift or dining at the poshest restaurant. It should be about celebrating the idea of love and friendship. With this holiday being advertised at almost every store since January, my son has already asked me what to give his classmates or if he should get them something. His question was, “do I have to buy everyone a valentine candy?” There are a few girls who’d probably be disappointed if my son didn’t so we decided we should include everyone on the Valetine’s list.

In the previous years we’ve always given his friends and classmates non-sweets as treats but this year when Surf Sweets offered for us to try their new TruSweets organic fruit lollipops as well as their gummy hearts, well, our hearts literally swelled. Surf Sweets makes such delicious and wholesome candies that we tore open the samples the minute they arrived and ate a few bags. Luckily the bags were small enough that we didn’t get a sugar high and of course we had to save some for an event I was hosting.

Surf Sweets a division of Tru Sweets (http://www.surfsweets.com) makes only natural and organic candies. Using the finest ingredients available, Surf Sweets makes deliciously sweet and yummy gummy candy and jelly beans that are perfect for little kids. Kids will inevitably eat a sweet now and then so if you’re going to offer them candy, then why not give them something healthier? There are so many candy choices out there and if you peruse the aisles at any grocery store, you’ll find them catered to this holiday right at this moment. I’m not big on the regular candies for Valentine’s Day as I’m a true Chocoholic, but there’s something adorable about Surf Sweets gummy hearts and their entire line of “love” candy.

Each one of the individually packed heart gummies and lollipops are the perfect portions for little kids. And while you’re probably thinking, “wait, didn’t they just have a ton of candy for Halloween?”, well, Valentine’s Day seems to be one of the most popular holidays for kids and teenagers alike. Sure, you’ll probably expect bags full of sweets from your kids when they come home from school, but if you’re the one who’s going to be handing out sweets, then give their classmates a better type of candy – ones that aren’t full of artificial ingredients. And guess what – they’ll probably end up loving Surf Sweets and TruSweets more than the conventional candies. They are shaped adorably like little hearts and the gummy bears are fun to eat and play with. As a parent, I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that companies such as Surf Sweets/Tru Sweets are dedicated in providing healthier candies.

So this Valentine’s Day or really any day of the year, if you’re inclined to buy sweets for your kids and sweethearts, give them something a lot healthier than those with artificial ingredients. After all, your love isn’t artificial so why should your sweets be? Surf Sweets can be purchased at most natural grocery stores and online through their website: http://www.surfsweets.com/store-locator/buy-online/.

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