Natural Products Expo West!
As a blogger of parenting and organic and natural products, I had the opportunity to attend the Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center on March 11, 2011. The Natural Products Expo West is the largest expo of natural and organic products that is opened only to the natural products industry. At the Expo, virtually every company in the organic and natural products and food industry were presented and each had their own booth to showcase new products as well as introduce their flagship products to attendees.
I visited some of my favorite companies and wanted to touch base with them and meet some of the folks personally. Popchips, Stonyfield Farm, Earth Friendly Products, Seventh Generation, Organic Valley, Attune Foods, Honest Tea, Amy’s Kitchen, Earthbound Farm, and Snikiddy to name a few were all there and they had some really fun booths and samples to try. I was also excited to meet some new companies and see what they had to offer. Most of the companies at the show displayed all of their current products as well as any new products that they were introducing yet not out on the market. It was pretty exciting to see all of the newest products debuting at the show as well as talking first hand to the marketing and sales group about their latest gems. And let me just say, some of the companies were pretty generous with their samples – they were giving out full size samples as well as little gifts if you were lucky enough to be there when they were handing them out.
But as generous as some of the companies were with their samples and prizes, I saw way too many freeloaders grabbing up bagfuls and handfuls of free samples and gifts. By the time anyone else got to the booths, all of the samples were gone or the companies pulled them off the shelves for fear of losing their entire stock. A couple of instances I saw some ladies grab boxes full of cookies and bread off the shelves not even pondering if maybe those were just display items and NOT samples. I mean, hey, it’s okay to take one or two but if you’re grabbing them by the handfuls, I wonder – what are you planning on doing with all of those samples? Are they going to eat all of them, give them away, or sell them on the Black Market? Buyers beware: be on the lookout for illegally-obtained organic crackers and cookies.
And yet, it was still nice to see some of my favorite companies generously doling out full size products such as chips, drinks, tea, shampoo, etc. It made me believe in their motto – that they just wanted to spread the good word of their naturally-made products. Although I didn’t have time to visit every single booth(I was there with my son) and he and I had too much fun playing games at some of the booths set up at the hall entrances, it was definitely worth the time seeing all of the new products that will be out on the market in the coming months.
Some of the highlights of the show were a visit from some of the characters from Yo Gabba Gabba and a tossing game with gel-like balls from the folks at Revolution Foods. At the Revolution Foods game booth, if your ball landed on a point, you get a prize such as yogurt drops, beads, and my son got a big bouncy ball because he landed on a high number. There was also a 1978 Volkswagon Van (Transporter) that was fully decorated as Rudi’s Organic Bakery’s mascot. And at the Happy Family booth, a grown-up man dressed in a onesie went around passing out their snacks. That was a little disconcerting to see, but I was told that the owners of the company orginally had their young children as mascots but they were too tired from the day before so it was replaced by a grown up. At Stonyfield Farm, they were debuting their newest Greek yogurt and my son got a cute little bib and an Eric Carle growth chart. And then at the booth of Nana’s Cookie Company, perhaps my son’s favorite stop, was seeing “George” from Curious George. He and George spent a great amount of time shaking hands, high-fiving, and taking photos. In fact, they seemed almost inseperable, like long lost friends! It was indeed a fun and educational experience.
Perhaps one of the great things about the Natural Products Expo West is the fact that the companies who attended donated all of their remaining food and samples to the local food bank – Second Harvest Food Bank. So in light of that, it makes me even more disappointed that folks would greedily take the good stuff from other folks who are less fortunate than them and who probably very rarely have the chance to enjoy organic and natural foods.
However, on the last day of the show, as we were walking out, I did ask to take a full size bag of natural potato chip(from a company I just discovered and wanted to try) and I was told rather sternly, “just take one bag”. Perhaps the companies caught on to all the other folks sneaking away with their goods?
But overall, the Natural Products Expo is a wonderful opportunity for store owners, vendors, wholesalers, and anything relatable to learn about the organic and natural products and food industry. So for those of you who find joy in eating and purchasing organic and natural products, pay attention to your natural food stores and supermarkets as the newest products from some of your favorite companies will be out soon.
Imagination Movers – You Rock!: A concert review
I absolutely love the Imagination Movers – well, okay, maybe my son loves them a bit more. But with the both of us combined, our admiration for the Imagination Movers can fill up an entire auditorium, and in this case, the Nokia Center. If you have kids that are between the ages of 1-100, then you’ve probabaly heard of the Imagination Movers. They weren’t always big time performers, but ever since they signed a contract with Disney to have their own show, kids and adults can enjoy the lively bunch of quartet friends virtually anywhere.
Imagination Movers orginated in Louisiana and still resides there although sometimes I’ve seen photos of them in Los Angeles, San Diego, and many other places. They are after all, just regular guys who likes to do regular things and have fun. But their biggest joy of all, besides their kids (I presume), is writing music and performing. And you can definitely tell that they enjoy being the Imagination Movers through their live concert performances and on television. And we love the Imagination Movers because they are a bunch of entertaining, down-to-earth guys who truly love what they do.
The Imagination Movers consists of Rich Collins (aka Mover Rich), Scott Durbin (aka Mover Scott), Dave Poche (aka Mover Dave) and Scott “Smitty” Smith (aka Mover Smitty). On their Disney Show also with the same name, they are joined on a regular basis by Nina and Warehouse Mouse. I think their Disney show is fun even without any guests or special guests, but it does add a bit of punch to their already intoxicating repertoire of gigles and silliness. But don’t think that their show is just for frivolous entertainment. No, their show emphasizes the importance of eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, and preserving the planet. And in their Warehouse on the show, through their brainstorming, they dream up the best solutions to everyday problems that we may all encounter. And towards the end of the show, somehow, with the help of Nina and Warehouse Mouse, their problems don’t seem so problematic after all.
We were able to see the Imagination Movers in concert for the first time, feeling that our son was old enough to sit through a concert without getting bored. After all, we were going to see his favorite people performing LIVE! He had talked about the concert nonstop ever since we had told him we were taking him to see the Movers and then he was doubly overjoyed when he found out that Warehouse Mouse was going to be at the concert too. Warehouse Mouse is the Warehouse’s mascot, so to speak, Mover Smitty’s best pal, and their often mischievous and clever little fuzzy friend. Ofcourse he’s not a real mouse on the show, but a puppet voiced by an extremely talented actor. At the concert, Warehouse Mouse appeared larger than life and entertained us with his usual crazy love of cheese. Nina, their neighbor (who at one time had an Uncle Knit Knots with her), enchanted everyone as usual with her grace, beauty, and her mesmerizing dance moves. And personally, I think she’s much prettier in person than on TV. Other guests that appeared at the concert were Eddie the Monster (my favorite monster) and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, which I’m guessing weren’t really “surprise” guests. I can safely assume that at different venues of their concert, they all had a “surprise” guest.
Their concert at the Nokia Center opened up with Choo Choo Soul, another Disney concoction, whom I have to say, are much better live than in a video on the Disney channel. It was definitely a brilliant decision to include a female singer who actually sings well in person and a D.J. who can rap, breakdance, pop, lock, and sing as well. But the best part of the entire concert is watching the Movers, Nina, and Choo Choo Soul come down to the audience and interact with them. My son desperately wanted to go up to the Movers and hug them, but he was only able to give Mover Dave and Mover Scott a high-five as everyone crowded around us wanting to touch, hug, and give high-fives. I was actually lucky enough and giddy to have been able to shake Mover Scott’s hand. My son wanted to hug Warehouse Mouse too, but the Mouse was too busy backstage devouring his cheese.
Overall I have to say the Imagination Movers concert was the best concert I’ve ever attended. Even my husband (who’s not as inclined to watch Disney shows as I am) enjoyed it and even commented on attending another “Disney show”. Go figure. And the most heartwarming thing was that our son who was so tired from not sleeping well in anticipation of the concert, troopered up and jumped and sang throughout the entire concert. The three of us had a fantastic time and we didn’t need a “brainstorm” to tell us what a success the concert was.
Late July – Products worth reviewing and GIVEAWAY
Walking in the sand at the beach and building sand castles near the shore. Munching on chilled watermelon slices while dipping our feet in the lake. Taking a long and leisure stroll through a field of summer flowers. Those are all images I imagine when I think about Late July. Even their adorable packaging depicts similar images and reminds you of simple yet magical times in the summer.
If you’ve never heard of Late July before, then you are in for a real treat. Our family enjoys their snacks immensely and we always keep a few of their products in the pantry. Late July is a family-owned and operated company that makes organic snacks that are wholesome and good for you. Their organic snacks range from chocolate sandwich cookies to cheese crackers to saltines. And they use only the finest natural and organic ingredients in all of their products so you know you’re eating a delicious snack without any toxic pesticides or chemicals in them. Their products also carry the USDA Organic label which is important because it ensures their products are made with organic ingredients and go through a rigorous certification process. Eating as much organic food as possible is crucial to your health and to the planet and Late July is one of the companies out there that necessitates it. Their products also do not contain any preservatives or artificial color and flavors. There are no unnecessary additivies and flavor enhancers – it’s all pretty much natural goodness.
Late July’s enduring mission is to provide people with wholesome and realistic snacks that can be enjoyed by anyone. Young or old, Late July’s organic snacks is reminiscent of innocent and carefree moments when you want something that tastes homemade and satisfying. Their snacks are also fun to eat too and their packaging a delight to the eyes.
It all began over 20 years ago with the Cape Cod potato chips company who revolutionized the snack industry by producing all-natural potato chips without the use of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, artificial flavors, artificial colors or preservatives. With the same objective in mind, Late July was born and created to make all-natural and organic snacks “that kids and parents think taste great using simple, responsible, high quality, organic ingredients”. They don’t have a huge selection of snacks to choose from, because they want to keep their organic snack line simple, although they are vastly growing and recently came out with the organic whole grain chips.
I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to try an assortment of their organic snacks. The products I tried were their Mini Sandwich Cookies in Cheddar Cheese, Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate; Bite Size Cheddar Cheese crackers; and Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. However, they also make Classic Saltines, Multigrain Chips, and Dark Chocolate with Mint Sandwich Cookies which I tried during the Christmas holiday season. Their sandwich cookies comes in bite-sized, regular-sized, and multipack which is really convenient for lunches, snacks, and even as party favors.
Late July has kindly offered one LUCKY winner an assortment of their organic snacks. The winner will get a selection of their goodies which includes their bite-sized cookies, crackers, and regular-sized cookies.
Here is how to enter in the Late July organic snacks giveaway:
MANDATORY ENTRY:
#1 entry – “Like” Late July on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/latejulyorganic and write on their wall that you are entering the Late July contest at www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com. Please put HAPPYMOMBLOGGER as the heading.
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
#2 entry – Visit http://www.latejuly.com/ and tell me what other products you would like to try from Late July.
#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: March 5, 2011
Contest End Date: March 20, 2011 (CONTEST CLOSED – WINNER WILL BE SELECTED).Congratulations to Lori D. who won this giveaway.
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.
Pure Bar – products worth reviewing and Giveaway
I love eating freshly made fruit bars and Pure Bar comes pretty close to making it right in your own kitchen. Fruit bars that are made with all-natural ingredients and in the case of Pure Bar – organic ingredients – are more natural to the taste and a lot more wholesome. But Pure Bar is more than just a fruit bar-making company. The company is dedicated in making snack bars that contain only the purest ingredients and the freshest around. In fact, their bars are so “fresh” that they call them “Raw” meaning ingredients that aren’t cooked above 118 degrees. But why make them “raw”? Because raw foods aren’t overcooked thus maintaining their nutritional value. Thus Pure Bar sets themselves apart from other fruit and snack bars.
What I liked most about Pure Bar snack bars is that their ingredients are very simple yet pack a whole lot of nutrition and flavor. They’re also lightly sweetened with organic agave nectar although the agave nectar is almost unncessary because it’s sweet enough. Pure Bar’s snack bars are almost like eating a handful of fruits and nuts except in a bar form and definitely much easier to carry around. They’re also certified organic by the USDA so you know that you’re eating food that haven’t been touched by toxic pesticides so they’re better for your health and for the planet. Another great thing about Pure Bar snack bars is that they are gluten-free so they’re a good choice for gluten and wheat-intolerant folks. Their bars are also minimally processed and contain no dairy products so vegans can enjoy them as well.
Currently, Pure Bar fruit bars come in 6 different flavors – Chocolate Brownie, Wild Blueberry, Cherry Cashew, Apple Cinnamon, Cranberry Orange, and Trail Mix. My favorite is, can-you-guess, Chocolate Brownie because it tastes extraordinarily like a chocolate brownie except with an extra kick to it since it contains organic cashews, walnuts, and almonds so it’s also quite filling. You can find Pure Bars in most natural food stores and you can even order them online: http://shop.thepurebar.com
Pure Bar was developed by a mom who wanted to create something delicious and satisfying for her vegetarian daughter. And like its name entails – pure ingredients and pure deliciousness are packed into each bar. As a family-owned and operated business, Pure Bar is able to maintain the integrity of their ingredients and their mission is simple – providing natural and wholesome snacks for everyone. By using organic ingredients in their bars, they are already contributing to the sustainability of our planet but they also go one step further in helping the world by teaming up with the Celiac Disease Foundation and planting one tree for each 3 bars that are sold. A company that helps people and the environment – how can they go wrong with that?
I was greatly fortunate to receive an assortment of their snack bars to try and to give away to 3 LUCKY winners! Each winner will receive a variety pack filled with all of the flavors mentioned above. So how do you get to win a variety pack? Find out below!
Here is how to enter:
MANDATORY ENTRY:
#1 entry – “Like” Pure Bar on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/thePureBar) and post on their wall that you are entering the giveaway at http://www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com/. Please put HAPPYMOMBLOGGER in the heading.
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
#2 entry – Go to the Pure Bar website: http://thepurebar.com/ and subscribe to their newsletter.
#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: March 5, 2011
Contest End Date: March 20, 2011 (CONTEST CLOSED – WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED)(Congratulations to Karen, Kelsey, and Gina!)
3 winners will be chosen at random and I will post the winners names on my blog.
GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!
Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.
Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.
Earth Friendly Products – Products worth reviewing and Giveaway
I love a laundry detergent that uses only naturally-derived ingredients and can still work effectively and smell great. There are many companies out there that claim to use only natural ingredients in their laundry detergents, but in the case of Earth Friendly Products, they stand behind their products and they disclose all ingredients and their safety ratings. When you read the ingredients on their packaging, you can clearly see that they use only plant-derived ingredients which are safer for people and for the planet. Natural ingredients are also gentler on your clothes since they don’t contain harsh chemicals that can compromise the delicate fibers in your clothes.
But laundry detergent isn’t the only product that Earth Friendly Products carry. They produce practically everything you can imagine to clean your home, car, and your pets. Yes, products that clean your pets as well!. Their home products consists of bathroom cleaners, shower cleaners, drain openers, dishwashing liquid, dishwashing detergents, countertop cleaners, fruit and vegetable wash, floor cleaners, window cleaners, carpet shampoo, and many more. They also sell bathroom tissue made from 100% recycled materials, air freshners, ice melts, and the previous mentioned pet shampoo and pet stain and odor remover (although this works great on pretty much anything.) Earth Friendly Products produces so many products that you almost don’t have to buy any other products to clean with.
I discovered Earth Friendly Products awhile back when I was looking for natural cleaning products for the home. I wanted something that was non-toxic yet still effective, not too costly and worked well in cleaning whatever I needed to. Enter Earth Friendly Products to satisfiy my need to find really good cleaning products. I’ve used other natural cleaning products before and still do and I know people often wonder if natural cleaning products work just as well as conventional non-natural cleaning products. From someone who’s used and tried many natural cleaning products throughout the years, I have to say that Earth Friendly Products does indeed work extremely well in cleaning my home, laundry, and car. I love their laundry detergent and although I’ve only tried a few of their products, they haven’t disappointed me in cleaning off grime, dirt, and germs.
Earth Friendly Products is a family owned and operated company that began over 20 years ago. Their humble company pledge is to provide safe and effective products that do not harm the planet or its inhabitants – people, pets, the environment. In fact, they are highly regarded in the industry as the leader of environmentally safe cleaning products and viewed as a “champion” in the eyes of the Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Friendly Products was also the first company to eliminate Dioxane and Formaldehyde which are known carcinogens and potentially harmful to the human body. Their goal is to provide “high quality, affordable green products” and all of their products are manufactured in their plants so they have complete control in what goes in and out of their products. They also promise to never test their products on animals.
But Earth Friendly Products is more than just a green company. As with most green companies, the sustainability value of our planet is on the top of their list, but with Earth Friendly Products, they go even further in preserving our planet. Earth Friendly Products has pledged to use green building design and practices in constructing their new buildings and turned their Garden Grove, California plant into the first facility to run with solar power only. To read more about Earth Friendly Products Sustainability Commitments, here is the direct link: http://www.ecos.com/sustainabilityc.html.
I was very happy to receive an assortment of cleaning products from Earth Friendly Products. I tried their Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent (which I loved!), their Oxo Brite, Everyday Stain and Odor Remover (which is great on pet stains), their Dishmate (which is their most popular product), and their Shower Gel. All of their products can be purchased on the company’s website and you can find their products in most natural grocery stores, certain supermarkets and even some Costco carry their products. Earth Friendly Products has also kindly offered 1 LUCKY winner a chance to try their Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent in Magnolia and Lily. Their detergent is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way and works in both front loading and HE machines.
Here is how to enter in the Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent in Magnolia and Lily giveaway:
MANDATORY ENTRY:
#1 entry – “Like” Earth Friendly Products on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Friendly-Products/33804176629?ref=ts and write on their wall that you are entering Earth Friendly Products contest at www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com. Please put HAPPYMOMBLOGGER as the heading.
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
#2 entry – Visit http://www.ecos.com/ and tell me what other products you would like to try from Earth Friendly Products.
#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: March 5, 2011
Contest End Date: March 20, 2011 (CONTEST CLOSED – WINNER WILL BE SELECTED). Congratulations to Teresa for winning this giveaway.
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.
Happymomblogger 