Happymomblogger

Our planet is a precious commodity and unless we can live on another planet, Earth is all we have for the next few thousand years or so. Or we hope.

April is officially “Earth Month” when we celebrate our planet and do things that help rather than hinder it. But I’d like to think that we should celebrate and take care of Earth every day and while that may be difficult for most, it only takes one small step to make a major difference. Whether it’s remembering to recycle or turning off the lights when not in use, we all can make some positive changes to help make our world a better place for our future generations.

This year’s post I’d like to dedicate it to recycling. Many people already recycle on a regular basis but do you know what’s recyclable and what’s not? Not everything can be thrown in the recycling bin and those that can may have to be placed in their own separate containers. Below is a list of items that are recyclable and are not. Happy Earth Month and remember that we can help improve the quality of our planet.

RECYCLABE:

PLASTIC BOTTLE

Plastic bottles marked #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) are recyclable in most communities. This includes: shampoo, conditioners, body wash, lotion, baby powder, face cleanser, and body oil.

PLASTIC

Plastic marked #4 (LDPE) and #5 (PP) may not be accepted for recycling via curbside programs. Check with your municipality and the Earth911 recycling locator. Some #5 (PP) plastics may also be recycled via drop-off or mail-in programs. 

CAPS

Caps and closures may be kept on plastic bottles and containers at the point of recycling. Caps are often made from #5 plastic and can usually be recycled through your curbside recycling program. Check with your local municipality.

PAPERBOARD ITEMS

Most paperboard items are recyclable: Toilet paper rolls; cardboard boxes and cartons for over the counter drugs, lotions, soaps, bandages, etc.

NON-RECYCLABLE

TOOTHBRUSHES

Toothbrushes are generally only recyclable through take-back programs, as most municipalities don’t accept them as recycling. 

TUBES

Most bathroom tubes (toothpaste, etc.) are made with plastic laminate, which most   municipalities do not accept for recycling.

PUMPS

Currently, the pumps on bottles are not recyclable due to the multiple components that are contained within a pump.  Please remove all pumps before recycling a bottle, then put the bottle in your recycling and the pump in your garbage.

DENTAL FLOSS CONTAINERS

Dental floss containers are usually made with multiple parts of multiple materials, so they generally cannot be recycled, except via the mail-in and drop-off programs.

*Always check with your local recycling programs to see what they will and will not take.

Every year the natural and organic products industry does something unique – they all come together to showcase their products and enlighten us with something new and innovative. Besides what we already know of these natural companies, there are always many more coming out with products that help us live better and healthier lives. This year I had the honor of attending the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California and it was as entertaining and educational as the ones before. In the span of 3 days I experienced a melting pot of natural vitamins, frozen foods, and gluten-free energy bars among many other variety of health-promoting foods and trends. It was fascinating to see all the companies that I normally buy and see in stores to come together and show their goods in one giant building.

What seems to be on trend this year is the so called Paleo (Paleolithic) Diet, or otherwise known as “caveman food”. Based on a strict regimen of eating foods found only in nature, the Paleo Diet consists of fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts. It excludes any type of  grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oils. Although a fairly new type of food trend, the Paleo Diet is quickly becoming more widespread similar to its predecessors – the Raw Food Diet, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, and so forth. But the more prominent food trends are still gluten-free, vegan, chia seeds, quinoa, and a few others that are more or less accepted because of their unique advantages.

It was great to see a lot of new companies sticking their heads out to test their waters on their newest products. We visited booths that included products ranging from freshly pressed juices to honey soaps. NPE even dedicated an entire floor to showcase these new up and coming products – some from fledgling companies, others are more well-known.

As usual when you first walk up the main avenue to get to the Convention Center, you’ll find booths hovered collectively in a circle in the front ready for you to sample their goods. It doesn’t matter whether you are a vendor, an attendee, or just a curious passerby, these companies will inadvertently thrust their samples in your hands giving you a taste of what they offer. When you enter the building however, you are welcomed by rolls and rolls of display cases showcasing all the various hundreds of vendors and the products they sell and distribute. You’ll find companies like Stonyfield Farm, Wholesome Sweeteners, Itoen, Eden Foods, MELT Organics, Vans Natural Foods, and many others on display – the colorful arrays are eye-catching and breathtaking.

We met many companies during the three-day event and I hope to bring you some fun and new products to read about and try for yourselves. Going to the Natural Products Expo West event has always been a joy for me and to see some of the companies interact so favorably with my son is a lot of fun for him as well. We always come home tired but exuberant and full of knowledge!

Stay tuned for new products and new giveaways showcasing some of the companies I visited.

 

 

Have you ever heard of the expression, “We all have a little Disney inside us”? Whether we’ve enjoyed watching their movies, visited their theme parks, or simply allowed the magic of “Disney” to make us believe a little more, there’s just something about the entire Disney franchise that touches our hearts. As a MomSelect blogger, I was fortunate to be chosen to host a “Show Your Disney Side” (http://disneyside.disneyparks.disney.go.com/) party where friends and kids came together to celebrate the unique entity known as Disney. Although the original party date was postponed due to unrelenting rain in my area, I was able to set it for another weekend where the sun was shining and warm accompanied by a gentle cool breeze. Hosting the party at a nearby park as sort of an excuse for the kids to play and the adults to chat, we had lots of fun and relaxed in the sun. The DisneySide Home Celebration is an ongoing event designed to celebrate the fun and creative aspects of all things Disney.

If you go online (http://disneyside.disneyparks.disney.go.com/) you’ll find plenty of ideas for creating your own parties or just enlightening your kids on the Disney characters they have probably seen at one time or another. Whether you’re a Disney fan or not, you’ll find lots of fun activities to enjoy on their site.

Thanks again to all the sponsors for the party and the chance for everyone to enjoy a little fun in the sun!

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

 

I hate that initial feeling of body aches, runny nose, and a sore throat that just won’t go away. The dreaded thought that a cold or flu is fast approaching is never a pleasant one. But fear not, there are many ways to counterattack the onslaught of a cold or flu: getting plenty of extra rest, uptake your Vitamin C, and don’t stress out. It’s inevitable that we’ll all get sick one time or the other and with the horrible weathers throughout the nation, our bodies are really taking a toll.  And with a busy life keeping us from remembering to take care of ourselves, we subject ourselves to even the littlest ailment.

I like to keep my defenses up throughout the year only because I know that colds and flus don’t only flourish during the Winter months. I’m more prone to natural, homeopathic prevention which helps prevent those nasty bugs and germs from invading my immune system. But occassionally I’ll get a bit of a cold and I’ve learned long ago that it’s best to prevent that impending cold from taking over my body. Ususally for me, high stress is the factor but stress is also hard to prevent as well. So besides drinking lots of hot ginger tonics, uptaking my Vitamin C, and green tea, I’ve found other meaningful and helpful ways of fighting that first attack. And that’s when I also learned about a company called Boiron (http://www.boironusa.com/).

Boiron has been making natural, homeopathic medicine for both children and adults for over 80 years with a sincere and straightforward approach in providing excellent, natural medicine throughout the world. Originating in France many years ago, Boiron’s holistic approach that medicine should be effective and safe for all ages has made them a popular name in households. In fact, having used mostly natural remedies since I was young, I rather prefer medicine that comes from nature than from a test tube. From personal experience, most natural remedies causes no ill side effects but you should always consult a specialist if you ever have any doubts.

When we discovered Boiron and their entire family of natural, homeopathic medicine, I had eagerly wanted to try their products. After hearing much about their Oscillococcinum line of medicine, which combats flu-like symptoms, I had to find out for myself if it would be as good as it said it was. Oscillococcinum’s medicine is to be taken right at the initial signs of a flu or cold, such as fatique, headache, body aches, chills, and fever. On one occassion when I was starting to feel downright yucky, I knew that I had better stave off any further attacks on my body so I popped open a tube of Oscillococcinum’s sweet-tasting medicine and waited. In a few hours and by the end of the day, I did indeed feel better and although I can’t say 100% sure if it was the medicine or my precautionary steps, I was overjoyed that my body aches and sniffles weren’t going to take over my life. And because Boiron backs up their medicine with a 100% guarantee, I felt safer at trying a new type of medicine.

Boiron believes that medicine should work naturally with your body. It’s pretty similar to drinking honey with hot water and lemon for a sore throat or mild cough, uptaking your doses of Vitamin C, or rubbing lotion all over your body during the dry, cold Winter months. All of these type of prevention and care stems from years of knowledge and experience that we’ve all come to appreciate. With me, I prefer to prevent an illness rather than take a bunch of unnecessary medication to get rid of it. I do that by trying to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and fight off any cold symptoms before they come full fledged. With Boiron’s 80 years of experience in the medicinal field, I can feel pretty safe about taking their medicne. I don’t really like taking typical pharmaceuticals that’s been engineered in a test tube and although they may be necessary at times, going natural is more suitable for me.

When my son had a cough awhile ago, I decided to try Boiron’s Chestal for children and gave him the syrupy medicine as directed. Along with natural honey and a slew of impressive, symptom-targeted herbs, his cough subsided within a couple of days and I was glad that once again, that there were no side effects from taking Boiron’s medicine. Boiron also makes Chestal for adults too and their cough syrup is sweet, does not have that icky “mediciny” taste, and goes down smoothly. I even took the adult version when I had a cough as well and now we keep a couple bottles of Chestal in our medicine cabinet.

What’s really great about Boiron’s extensive lineup of natural, homeopathic medicine is that they have something for practically any ailment. From muscle pain to topical first aid, to cough and cold preventative medicine, they have a clean line of medication that would suit your everyday needs. Boiron’s medicine can be found at natural grocery stores as well as major supermarkets around the nation so it’s fairly easy to pick some up should you ever need them. The wonderful folks at Boiron and Naturally Savvy (www.NaturallySavvy.com)had sent me a box of their 6-count Oscillococcinum to try and review. And sure enough, with the harsh Winter months and flu season threatening us this season, the Oscillococccinum came in handy. You may not always be able to prevent a flu or a cold, but if you can zap it in its place before it takes over your body, then the better ways of doing it is with some preventative, natural medicine.

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

Kids love cartoons whether as a parent you want them to watch it or not. Personally, I think cartoons are fine as long as they are age appropriate and are entertaining in an educational way. Plus, with so many fun cartoons out there nowadays, you really do have a choice in what you want your kids to watch.

I was introduced to a show called Toopy and Binoo which currently airs on TV in Canada. Just recently they introduced the funny and adorable animated series to the US exclusively on the YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/toopyandbinootv. Toopy and Binoo chronicles the life lessons of Toopy, a tall funny friendly mouse and his best friend Binoo, a tiny, clever and lovable white cat. With each episode your kids will learn positive values such as friendship, good manners, creative thinking, and humor.

My son received a DVD with episodes of the show and he absolutely loved it! In fact, he asks to watch it every day. I’m so glad I found a new show that inspires kids creativity as well as teach them about important lessons in life that will encourage a healthy and happy lifestyle. Both Toopy and Binoo are funny, cute, and sweet creatures who have their own personalities but work well together as friends.

I think what my son loves the most about the show Toopy and Binoo is that they are like opposites of each other but also it is their differences that make them both special and unique. What I love about the show is that the characters speak in clear and crisp voices and are delightful in their manners and actions. And the fact that they are a cat and a mouse doesn’t seem to faze the traditional stereotype that cats and mice do not get along. In the show, Toopy and Binoo help one another out as well as teach us the importance of life’s little lessons.

There are also other characters in the show that Toopy and Binoo interacts with and they all have a grand time together. They laugh and dance and they share and do things that can be unconventional yet integrated.

Toopy and Binoo is geared towards kids ages 2-6 but I think it’s really great for any age. On the Toopy and Binoo YouTube channel, you’ll find 100 full, five-minute episodes with different stories that are funny, entertaining, and endearing. So head on over to YouTube right now and watch this animated and delightful new show: http://www.youtube.com/user/toopyandbinootv.

Disclosure: I received Toopy and Binoo products in exchange for a post about the show. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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 wish I can say that my life is as organized as a Rolodex – each item has its designated section. But like most moms I’m sure, getting your laundry done, getting your kids out the door for school, and finishing up your chores all within that 3 hour time frame is already quite an accomplished feat! So when I started writing my own blog along with other various writing duties, my son would often ask me why I’m always writing, writing, and oh – writing. And then I thought it would help him love writing and reading as well. Well, it did get him interested in computers more than I liked, but it also started an entrepreneur in him.

So I told my son that when he started Kindergarten then maybe he can write his own journals or memoirs. Memoirs mommy, he asked? Yes, it’s a fancy French term for writing something to chronicle an event in your life. And then that’s when the excitement of spilling everything he’s done during school came into fruition.

Okay, so we’re already in the later half of the school year but I did promise him his own blog. So we’ll start here with mine just to get the creative juices flowing. Names have been abbreviated for children’s privacy.

Memoirs of a Kindergartner

I’m not sure if I really like school or not. I was just sort of thrown into it without mommy and daddy asking me if that’s what I wanted to do. Yeah, they said it’ll be fun and I’ll meet a lot of new friends, but what they hesitated to tell me was that there would be a lot of studying to do. 

Sure when I was much younger like maybe 1 or 2 studying meant whether I should play with the green ball today or the striped one. I didn’t care about my numbers or letters or if-you-put-c-in-front-of-a-n-what-do-you-get? I’m a kid and studying meant having fun. So big surprise to me when I had to learn A LOT of numbers and A LOT of letters and putting letters together to form words. No one ever told me that in order to buy more Legos and Transformers I had to learn how to read and write so that I can get a job when I grow up to buy those things. No one said that at school you actually had to sit still while your teacher talked and you had to be, uh-oh here comes that word – “responsible”. Okay, maybe my parents told me all those things but still…

Lucky for me my mom did a lot of word games and number games for me when I was younger, like 3 or 4. So numbers came easy for me and letters were fun as long as I wasn’t forced into learning them. And okay, I admit that kindergarten is a lot of fun too because I get to learn about nature and bugs and stuff and I get to draw and paint and do inventing stuff (because mom said I can be an inventor when I grow up). And I got new buddies too – although girls are still a bit yucky for me especially when they make kissy faces at me. You should have SEEN what they gave me for Valentine’s Day. I still don’t know why we had to celebrate it in school but I got to eat a lot of candy and cupcakes so I guess it was an okay holiday for me.

I made my mom and dad a card with a big heart in the front and I wrote that I loved them and I signed my name. Yeah, they were impressed as usual and mom said she would cherish it forever. I hope she wasn’t being “sarcastic” about it. Yup, big word I know but I learned it like 5 or 6 years ago.

One cool thing about kindergarten is that I get invited to a lot of birthday parties besides the ones from my other friends who aren’t in the same school as me. I like opening up my bin and finding a card tucked inside with my name on it. I rip it open even before mom has the chance to look at it and then of course I know it’s an invitation to a party. I plead with my puppy eyed eager face and she says I can go.

So I guess so far kindergarten is fun and there are some kids there that get into trouble A LOT, but not me though.  Mommy tells me every morning to have a good day at school and to learn a lot. Then daddy asks me when he gets home from work what I learned today. Seems that word “learn” is really a big deal when it comes to kids and adults.

But okay, I have to go now and watch some TV before dinner and then it’s homework – yuck. 

Mom I wanna watch my shows now!

Until next time.