I love a good granola bar! As a busy mom with two kids I am always looking for snacks that 1. my kids will like and 2. that are good alternatives to the sugary snacks they gravitate toward. Kraft Foods just launched their MILKBITE Milk and Granola Bars that provide the same amount of calcium as an 8 oz glass of milk. The bars are found in the dairy aisle as they need to be refrigerated and they taste yummy! The taste is smooth, cool and tastes just like a chewy granola bar but with some benefits!
I tried the chocolate flavor (they can really satisfy you if you are having a chocolate craving!) but they also have strawberry, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and mixed berry. These bars contain 5 grams of protein, 7 grams of whole grains and they are a good source of vitamin D and fiber. There is no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.  I like them as lately I have not been drinking enough milk and they are an excellent source of calcium with 30% of the daily recommended value. They retail for $3.49 a box. Hope you enjoy this new snack option.
Disclosure: The company sent me samples to test out
While my kids are not teens yet I really wanted to attend this event in Boston – Teen Life LIVE! The Fifth Annual Community Service Fair & Expo took place at the Chestnut Hill Mall on Sunday. In case you haven’t heard of TeenLife.com it is the “go to†online destination for students, parents and educators nationwide who are seeking programs, products and services geared to college-bound teens, aged 13-19.
The event featured over 50 Boston area non-profits that engage teen volunteers. I thought it would be interesting to see all the different organizations there and to find out a bit more about volunteerism.
I brought my 10 year old and her friend and while they were a bit young to really engage, I was glad as a parent that I took the time to see all the different opportunities that are available to students when they reach that critical age. WE have to be prepared! Studies have shown that teens who volunteer gain benefits ranging from increased self-esteem to acquiring valuable job skills.
We certainly did not have this event when I was young and I think it opens up many doors for kids to think beyond their world.  Volunteer opportunities for students under 18 can be limited, and students, educators and parents often struggle to find meaningful opportunities that match students’ schedules and interests. This was one place where parents, kids as well as educators could gather information, sign up for information and really learn about the types of opportunities that would be a fit. Plus volunteering at an organization can really help a student decide if that is what interests them.
The free event connected more than 1,200+ students, parents, and teachers with 50 local non-profits in and around Boston that specifically engage teen volunteers. In addition to the goodie bag we received a printed copy of the 2012 TeenLife Guide to Community Service in Boston.
Some of the non-profits at this year’s fair included ABCD Career Explorations, The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, Boston Cares, Challenge Unlimited, Cradles to Crayons, the DeCordova Museum, DoSomething.org, Families for Depression Awareness, The Food Project, Hale Reservation, Heifer International, Horizons for Homeless Children, New England Aquarium, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, New England Baptist Hospital, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Boston, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, People Making a Difference, Princeton Prize in Race Relations, Roots & Shoots, Samaritans, Tenacity, and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
If you haven’t heard of all that TeenLife has to offer go to their web site where you can receive announcements about all of TeenLife’s guides, bi-monthly e-newsletters, and calendar events relevant to a particular region. They really can help families and schools to connect middle and high school students with all sorts of meaningful opportunities, such as summer programs, community service, after school and weekend activities, and gap year programs.
I have a bunch of stainless steel water bottles which I love – you won’t see any plastic bottles in this household! While attending the Be Healthy Boston Expo I discovered a new bottle which is quite unique and I am sure my mom friends will love it.  The Bamboo Bottle is a glass bottle surrounded by an outer layer of bamboo. The bottle, including the straw and lid is BPA free. I love drinking water out of glass and will enjoy my iced tea out of my new glass bottle too! It is also safe for hot beverages as well. The glass can slide out for easy cleaning and is dishwasher-safe. The creators of this bottle wanted to add an element of bamboo as according to the web site: “It is as sleek as it is durable. It is as stylish as it is sensible. And it’s renewable”. It is a bit heavy but it’s perfect to keep by my bedside table and on my office desk.
Disclosure: the company sent me a bottle to review
I have a bunch of stainless steel water bottles which I love – you won’t see any plastic bottles in this household! While attending the Be Healthy Boston Expo I discovered a new bottle which is quite unique and I am sure my mom friends will love it.  The Bamboo Bottle is a glass bottle surrounded by an outer layer of bamboo. The bottle, including the straw and lid is BPA free. I love drinking water out of glass and will enjoy my iced tea out of my new glass bottle too! It is also safe for hot beverages as well. The glass can slide out for easy cleaning and is dishwasher-safe. The creators of this bottle wanted to add an element of bamboo as according to the web site: “It is as sleek as it is durable. It is as stylish as it is sensible. And it’s renewable”. It is a bit heavy but it’s perfect to keep by my bedside table and on my office desk.
Disclosure: the company sent me a bottle to review
I almost forgot. Valentine’s Day is a week away. How do you celebrate with your significant other? With the kids? Today on WCAP we were discussing what makes a good gift….Know your mate for sure!
I almost forgot. Valentine’s Day is a week away. How do you celebrate with your significant other? With the kids? Today on WCAP we were discussing what makes a good gift….Know your mate for sure!
While the men were prepping for the @SuperBowl many of the ladies were heading to @Target to see the @JasonWu line. I wish this was a fun post on what I thought of the fabrics and what neat items I picked up. I got nothing! From what I hear all items are sold out everywhere and the sizes run really big. My Target store opened at 8:00 am and when I arrived at 10:00 am all I saw was 2 size XL shirts and one really ugly scarf. That’s it, nothing else. When I asked up front about the selection they had no idea what I was talking about! But the sales associate at the dressing room said people were lined up at 8:00 am outside. Really? In the suburbs of Boston? Well at least we got to preview the items and there are a couple items leftonline.
While the men were prepping for the @SuperBowl many of the ladies were heading to @Target to see the @JasonWu line. I wish this was a fun post on what I thought of the fabrics and what neat items I picked up. I got nothing! From what I hear all items are sold out everywhere and the sizes run really big. My Target store opened at 8:00 am and when I arrived at 10:00 am all I saw was 2 size XL shirts and one really ugly scarf. That’s it, nothing else. When I asked up front about the selection they had no idea what I was talking about! But the sales associate at the dressing room said people were lined up at 8:00 am outside. Really? In the suburbs of Boston? Well at least we got to preview the items and there are a couple items leftonline.
Hair Accessories – my kids love them but they also lose them or break them…a lot! Headbands, clips, pony tail holders, etc. all here today and sometimes gone tomorrow. That is why I dread spending a lot of money on anything that goes in their hair. On a recent gal’s night out with my 7 year old we took a trip to forever 21. She knew immediately that is was not a kids store when she went reaching for a few t-shirts but when we hit the accessories section she was in heaven and so was I.
Cute necklaces for under $4.00….. Hair clips and headbands for $1.50…I did not mind getting a few for her and her sister. The store had the trendiest ones available – headbands with feathers in them. In fact anything with feathers is my 7 year old’s favorite. These clips I might keep for myself!
I know…..everyone is excited about the Super Bowl…especially us here in Boston. Today on my weekly radio show we talked parties and what some women will be doing on Sunday….heading…to..Target..for….the launch of the Jason Wu line! Listen in
