Category: Products

Categories
food Products

Product Review: Bitsy’s Brainfood – the world’s first smart snack for kids

What a cute concept for a snack food for kids. Bitsy’s Brainfood are little treats to nurture kids’ bodies with unique flavor combinations. The adorable packaging and a fun web site make Bitsy’s Brainfood a company to check out.

These treats are made with natural organic ingredients and real fruits and veggies. They are available in 4 varieties: Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin, Orange Chocolate Beet and Lemon Broccoli.

The bite-sized treats are packed with the good stuff to help support developing bodies and brains, like vitamins and Omega-3 and folic acid with a good source of calcium,iron and whole grains. There are no GMO’s, preservatives, trans fats, artificial colors or flavors.

I had my older daughter test out the Lemon Broccoli with a friend and they said, “sounds yucky” but tested them out and then said,”broccoli? where?” They then proceeded to eat them by the handfuls. I thought it tasted like a yummy lemon cookie! My daughter said she would take them for snack!

Bitsy’s Brainfood was founded by Maggie Jones Patton and Alexandra Buckley Voris, two new moms who share a simple belief – healthy bodies and healthy minds are connected and learning to eat smart should be fun.
They are $2.49-2.79 per box at Wegmans, Diapers.com, FreshDirect, and Abe’s market (https://www.abesmarket.com). Check them out online

Yummy new snacks for kids: Bitsy’s Brainfood
Categories
food Products

Product Review: Bitsy’s Brainfood – the world’s first smart snack for kids

What a cute concept for a snack food for kids. Bitsy’s Brainfood are little treats to nurture kids’ bodies with unique flavor combinations. The adorable packaging and a fun web site make Bitsy’s Brainfood a company to check out.

These treats are made with natural organic ingredients and real fruits and veggies. They are available in 4 varieties: Zucchini Gingerbread Carrot, Sweet Potato Oatmeal Raisin, Orange Chocolate Beet and Lemon Broccoli.

The bite-sized treats are packed with the good stuff to help support developing bodies and brains, like vitamins and Omega-3 and folic acid with a good source of calcium,iron and whole grains. There are no GMO’s, preservatives, trans fats, artificial colors or flavors.

I had my older daughter test out the Lemon Broccoli with a friend and they said, “sounds yucky” but tested them out and then said,”broccoli? where?” They then proceeded to eat them by the handfuls. I thought it tasted like a yummy lemon cookie! My daughter said she would take them for snack!

Bitsy’s Brainfood was founded by Maggie Jones Patton and Alexandra Buckley Voris, two new moms who share a simple belief – healthy bodies and healthy minds are connected and learning to eat smart should be fun.
They are $2.49-2.79 per box at Wegmans, Diapers.com, FreshDirect, and Abe’s market (https://www.abesmarket.com). Check them out online

Yummy new snacks for kids: Bitsy’s Brainfood
Categories
food Products

How to stay organized at home and at school

Moms listen up:  the kids have been at school so you need to get organizing!  Here are some great products that can help kids stay organized at home and at school and help mom too!

  • First you need a home/family calendar in a central location to keep the kids (and mom) organized. From Calendars.com we love the School Days Weekly Perpetual Dry Erase Wall Calendar. It is great and easy to use. Simply mark up the week’s or month activities, hang in a central location and make sure everyone sees it! We just love all their calendars as they have the best selection!  When the kids are at school they still need a small calendar to keep them organized.  Especially for tween girls the Taylor swift calendar is the best as is it slim and has a mirror! Perfect for the locker.

 

  • Locker organization is key and especially for middle school girls they want their lockers to look good! Thank goodness for lockerlookz.com They have the most colorful locker decorations from the locker rug to wall paper to mirrors and even a chandelier that lights up. What could be better than a jazzed up locker? My sixth grader was very excited about the look of her locker after these accessories make a gray locker look much brighter!

 

  • Also, moms to stay organized and know which sweatshirt is which child’s – LABEL EVERYTHING! We love the Name Bubbles School Pack. It has 88 personalized labels for $33.88. These very colorful labels are great for clothes and backpacks and are washable so stick them on water bottles, clothes and lunch bags.

 

  • Speaking of backpacks – every year we try a different one but still come back to the LL Bean backpacks and lunch boxes. They are the best – nice compartments – great to keep kids organized – In each childs’ backback I put Kleenex tissues  (love the new slimmer packaging and new color),  my favorite hand sanitizer – Cleanwell as it’s a spray and they also have wipes and of course my kids favorite snack – Nature’s path crunchy granola bars! Natures path has everything moms could want for breakfast too – from granola to oatmeal and frozen waffles. The taste of the maple  cinnamon waffles is to die for!
  • To organize your kids desk at home organized I love the items from Lakeshore Learning.com. The writing center caddy is perfect for a desk and the carry-all teachers caddy is great if you don’t have a desk and have to store items or carry them from room to room.   Lakeshore has unique children’s products developed by teachers that make learning FUN!

 

  • Also discovered these products from UM brands –Hook Um products great for hanging items by kids desk or even for the mudroom – perfect to color coordinate!

 

  • To keep mom organized and have dinners and snacks ready, Go picnic.com has ready to eat snack and lunch items that are prepackaged and ready to go!  GoPicnic  is the leader in great-tasting ready-to-eat meal solutions that are pre-packaged, require no refrigeration or preparation. They’re great for school (especially when mom does not feel like making lunch), in-between activities, traveling and snacking on the go because they are portable nutritious, tasty meals that are light weight, easy to carry in backpacks and keep kids fueled for their day.  Also, each product is individually wrapped to avoid wastage and cross-contamination. Products also run the gamut from gluten-free to Kosher to vegan for children with food allergies. Each meal has five products, including a protein, whole grains, fruit and sweet treat for dessert. You can even eat some for lunch and others for snacks. Each GoPicnic meals is under 500 calories and contains no trans fats, high fructose corn syrup or added MSG, and no artificial colors or flavors.  I have to say these did not last in our house very long!  I especially loved the Salami + Cheese and Peanut Butter + Crackers. I also loved that they came with a sweet treat – one with a dark chocolate square and the other with a chocolate cookie!]

 

  • Founded by two parents, MightyNest is an online store, resource center, and community dedicated to helping parents create healthy, safe homes. They offer products that are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Parabens, and more – the perfect place to shop online to know that all your products are safe – it’s a no brainer to shop here.  A few great items we love are the ice pack and sweat free cover from kids conserve. My kids hate it when all the items in their lunch bag gets all soggy and wet – try this product and no more complaints!  We also love the thinksport water bottle as it keeps water cold and it has an easy to fill wide mouth – no more stuffing ice cubes in a small opening! Another must have from this site is the Duo Stainless Steel Food Container by Lunchbots.  They are great for lunch and snacks and better for the environment.
  • Stephen Joseph   has adorable kid’s school items that help kids and mom stay organized… from great backpacks, lunch boxes to pencil cases, folders, pencils… the list goes on and on. We especially love the matching ice packs and reusable snack bags. Choose from adorable prints like the monkey or soccer ball.
  • This was the must have for me this school season to keep the cooking organized, neat and under control!  The George Foreman Grill is a must have. My husband does all the grilling so when he travels I needed something inside that was easy to use and easy to clean. The Next Grillerationâ„¢ by George Foreman offers a  a 72 Sq. In. grill surface has room for grilling four servings at once. There is no need for butter or oils thanks to the nonstick coating. When you’re done, remove the plates and clean them in the dishwasher – a much healthier way to cook!

 

 

Disclosure:  All items mentioned above were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.

Categories
personal Products

Back to School Supply List

As kids get older the back to school supply list gets longer. My 3rd grader has 13 items on her list. On my 6th graders supply list there are 36 items – YES – 36 items!  Now the countdown is on to actually buy the supplies. Do you shop around and compare prices at different retailers or do you just order online? I cannot imagine the cost if you have 3 or more kids and have several supply lists! Life was easier when they were in preschool!

Categories
Events Products

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

What do you get dad for Father’s Day??  I love practical gifts so here are a few suggestions for gifts for dad this year!

  • Gift Bags!  You can put whatever you want in a bag or get one already made up.  My husband loves to bike and he loves Balance Bar®  as a sweet treat. Balance Bar is offering its first-ever Father’s Day Gift Set. The limited-edition Balance Bar Father’s Day Gift Set includes: fifteen Balance BAREâ„¢ bars in three delicious flavors – Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter; Sweet & Salty Chocolate Almond; and Blueberry Acai, a water bottle with a compartment for storing BARE bars and a card.
  • Sports Authority:  You name it my hubby loves this store and he loves the Under Armour Short Sleeve Tee($23.99). Made with a revolutionary fabric dye that reflects heat and UV rays and help dad stay cooler and more protected than ever before.
  • For a sweet treat try Yonanas. This is a small machine that turns frozen fruit into a dessert that looks and tastes like soft-serve ice cream without the help of milk, cream, sugar, etc. Yonanas is sold in major retailers nationwide for $49.99.
  • When you think technology you think gadgets for your phone, computer but here is one very interesting technology– polar pillow for a good night’s rest.   The scientifically formulated gel technology is designed to regulate body temperature disorders.  Thousands of micro air-beads will work to keep Dad cool while he sleeps and also provide a stable sleeping system that contours to the neck and head.  It requires no electricity, water or refrigeration-  the pillow works all by itself.
  • TIMEX Marathon GPS Watch ($99):  Perfect for all runners, this watch tracks distance and has GPS speed options.  Another great find at Sports Authority

If dad needs a little pampering here are some suggestions:

  • The BMR Facial Toner is a unique, discreet, and easy-to-use device that allows you to rejuvenate the face.  The Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System by Clarisonic is a must have and it now comes in a grey color for dad
  • The Tria hair removal laser  is FDA cleared and perfect to get rid of unwanted hair- Price: $395
  • If wrinkles are a concern for dad try the LightStim for Wrinkles  Price: $249
  • It is hard to find organic skin care for men. Organic Male OM4 is a four step, skin specific fitness and conditioning system, featuring a dry, normal, oil, sensitive and anti aging collections.  Every product is easy to use, requiring less than four minutes to apply, while each product targets a certain characteristic of the male skin. OM4 delivers natural “skin food” to address the differences in male and female skin.  This seriously scientific skin care routine is perfect for good ole’ dad and for men who want to protect their skin and keep it healthy everyday.     Each set retails for $170

 

  • If he’s a “guy’s guy”, the Around The World Beer Bucket is perfect for him from Gifts.com
  • Personalized items – you all know I love anything personalized – Personalization Mall has the best selection  – check out the beer mugs or a cooler for his beer!
  • If dad loves the great outdoors buy this to keep away the bugs!  The Terminix ALLCLEAR Mosquito Mister Lantern is a must and it is portable.  $79.99. Available at ACE and True Value Hardware

 

Disclosure: All the products listed above were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Monday, June 11

 

Last full week of school, last field trip- Let’s hear it for the teachers!

 

Today I volunteered for my second graders field trip. It was her last one for the year and the last one at this school. She moves onto 3rd grade in the fall, which in our town is a different school. The trip was right up the street from their school – Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – and it was great to see the kids exploring and making observations. It was also a hoot to see some of the kids’ reactions! I have to give her teacher and the assistant teacher credit for their patience (especially with 20 kids near a pond of water!) They really are kind and gentle and were reminding the kids not to throw mud, dirt, or step in the ponds!  I do have a great deal of respect for our teachers as it seems like a very difficult job getting the kids to focus on the last week of school. Plus with so many little personalities in the classroom I am sure patience is a must! Let’s hear it for the teachers and hope they all have a wonderful summer to unwind!

 

https://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatmeadows/

 

 

Categories
Events Products Uncategorized

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

What do you get dad for Father’s Day??  I love practical gifts so here are a few suggestions for gifts for dad this year!

  • Gift Bags!  You can put whatever you want in a bag or get one already made up.  My husband loves to bike and he loves Balance Bar®  as a sweet treat. Balance Bar is offering its first-ever Father’s Day Gift Set. The limited-edition Balance Bar Father’s Day Gift Set includes: fifteen Balance BAREâ„¢ bars in three delicious flavors – Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter; Sweet & Salty Chocolate Almond; and Blueberry Acai, a water bottle with a compartment for storing BARE bars and a card.
  • Sports Authority:  You name it my hubby loves this store and he loves the Under Armour Short Sleeve Tee($23.99). Made with a revolutionary fabric dye that reflects heat and UV rays and help dad stay cooler and more protected than ever before.
  • For a sweet treat try Yonanas. This is a small machine that turns frozen fruit into a dessert that looks and tastes like soft-serve ice cream without the help of milk, cream, sugar, etc. Yonanas is sold in major retailers nationwide for $49.99.
  • When you think technology you think gadgets for your phone, computer but here is one very interesting technology– polar pillow for a good night’s rest.   The scientifically formulated gel technology is designed to regulate body temperature disorders.  Thousands of micro air-beads will work to keep Dad cool while he sleeps and also provide a stable sleeping system that contours to the neck and head.  It requires no electricity, water or refrigeration-  the pillow works all by itself.
  • TIMEX Marathon GPS Watch ($99):  Perfect for all runners, this watch tracks distance and has GPS speed options.  Another great find at Sports Authority

If dad needs a little pampering here are some suggestions:

  • The BMR Facial Toner is a unique, discreet, and easy-to-use device that allows you to rejuvenate the face.  The Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System by Clarisonic is a must have and it now comes in a grey color for dad
  • The Tria hair removal laser  is FDA cleared and perfect to get rid of unwanted hair- Price: $395
  • If wrinkles are a concern for dad try the LightStim for Wrinkles  Price: $249
  • It is hard to find organic skin care for men. Organic Male OM4 is a four step, skin specific fitness and conditioning system, featuring a dry, normal, oil, sensitive and anti aging collections.  Every product is easy to use, requiring less than four minutes to apply, while each product targets a certain characteristic of the male skin. OM4 delivers natural “skin food” to address the differences in male and female skin.  This seriously scientific skin care routine is perfect for good ole’ dad and for men who want to protect their skin and keep it healthy everyday.     Each set retails for $170

 

  • If he’s a “guy’s guy”, the Around The World Beer Bucket is perfect for him from Gifts.com
  • Personalized items – you all know I love anything personalized – Personalization Mall has the best selection  – check out the beer mugs or a cooler for his beer!
  • If dad loves the great outdoors buy this to keep away the bugs!  The Terminix ALLCLEAR Mosquito Mister Lantern is a must and it is portable.  $79.99. Available at ACE and True Value Hardware

 

Disclosure: All the products listed above were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Monday, June 11

 

Last full week of school, last field trip- Let’s hear it for the teachers!

 

Today I volunteered for my second graders field trip. It was her last one for the year and the last one at this school. She moves onto 3rd grade in the fall, which in our town is a different school. The trip was right up the street from their school – Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – and it was great to see the kids exploring and making observations. It was also a hoot to see some of the kids’ reactions! I have to give her teacher and the assistant teacher credit for their patience (especially with 20 kids near a pond of water!) They really are kind and gentle and were reminding the kids not to throw mud, dirt, or step in the ponds!  I do have a great deal of respect for our teachers as it seems like a very difficult job getting the kids to focus on the last week of school. Plus with so many little personalities in the classroom I am sure patience is a must! Let’s hear it for the teachers and hope they all have a wonderful summer to unwind!

 

https://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatmeadows/

 

 

Categories
makeup Products Travel

Activity mat, make-up case, carryall in one? @layngo

Looking for a new make-up bag or storage for your kids Legos? Try the Lay-n-Go! Lay-n-go is a 5 foot diameter activity mat that coverts to a satchel allowing for quick and easy clean up of toys. There is a smaller Lay-n-Go Lite which is a smaller, personal activity mat and a Lay-n-Go “cosmo” cosmetics bag. It is great for storing small items and for on the go activities where you need a mat too. They call it their activity mat, cleanup, carryall and storage solution in one (yeah, finally!)  This was a great solution for me as most days I am dumping the contents of my make-up case on the bed, counter or wherever I am to do my make-up. It wipes clean and is a much more functional cosmetics bag. Plus, perfect for those annoying little toys like polly pockets!

 

New and improved make-up bag!

Disclosure: the company sent me the Lay-n-Go cosmo for review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Categories
makeup Products Travel

Activity mat, make-up case, carryall in one? @layngo

Looking for a new make-up bag or storage for your kids Legos? Try the Lay-n-Go! Lay-n-go is a 5 foot diameter activity mat that coverts to a satchel allowing for quick and easy clean up of toys. There is a smaller Lay-n-Go Lite which is a smaller, personal activity mat and a Lay-n-Go “cosmo” cosmetics bag. It is great for storing small items and for on the go activities where you need a mat too. They call it their activity mat, cleanup, carryall and storage solution in one (yeah, finally!)  This was a great solution for me as most days I am dumping the contents of my make-up case on the bed, counter or wherever I am to do my make-up. It wipes clean and is a much more functional cosmetics bag. Plus, perfect for those annoying little toys like polly pockets!

 

New and improved make-up bag!

Disclosure: the company sent me the Lay-n-Go cosmo for review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Categories
makeup Products Travel

Activity mat, make-up case, carryall in one? @layngo

Looking for a new make-up bag or storage for your kids Legos? Try the Lay-n-Go! Lay-n-go is a 5 foot diameter activity mat that coverts to a satchel allowing for quick and easy clean up of toys. There is a smaller Lay-n-Go Lite which is a smaller, personal activity mat and a Lay-n-Go “cosmo” cosmetics bag. It is great for storing small items and for on the go activities where you need a mat too. They call it their activity mat, cleanup, carryall and storage solution in one (yeah, finally!)  This was a great solution for me as most days I am dumping the contents of my make-up case on the bed, counter or wherever I am to do my make-up. It wipes clean and is a much more functional cosmetics bag. Plus, perfect for those annoying little toys like polly pockets!

 

New and improved make-up bag!

Disclosure: the company sent me the Lay-n-Go cosmo for review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Categories
Products shampoo

Dry Shampoo? love @HairRules

I have been looking for a dry shampoo that has no parabens or sulfates and I found it!  Hair Rules offers a healthy approach to hair care.  They have something for everyone – straight, kinky or curly hair. The “lift” is a volumizing dry shampoo that smells great and has a light, fresh scent. I also tested out the volumizing shampoo and loved it as it is safe for color treated hair. I used it on the kids too and they gave it a thumbs up.  The volumizing hair spray works great as well and trust me it was difficult to find hair spray without sulfates and parabens!  If you notice in the photo the cap is missing as I have been using the hair spray so much!  You can find the line at Target or Ulta.

Hair Rules Products

 

Disclosure: The company sent me the products to review. All opinions are my own.