Archive | April, 2013

Momtrends Travel Event

29 Apr
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Image from Momtrends

Although the weather is warming up a little, it’s still not that warm and my winter coat is still hanging, just in case. All I can think about is a beach, warm weather, and a nice relaxing time with my family. And after this never-ending winter, I think a vacation to a beach next winter will have to be planned. The other week I attended the Momtrends Travel event at Polarn O Pyret TriBeca.  Homeaway Vacation Rentals, TravelSort, and Polarn O Pyret  gave lots of great tips for traveling whether going away for a long weekend or a week that I will put to use when we go on our beach vacation this summer and when planning future vacations.  Below are some of the tips and suggestions that were given to help plan a budget friendly vacation.

20130429-215506.jpgHomeaway Vacation Rentals offer over 500,000 properties in 170 countries around the world. Representatives were there to discuss tips for deciding where to go and where to stay. Tips included:

  • Reclaiming your destination: Include your children in the planning process in deciding where to go.
  • Reclaiming your budget: Staying in a rental property can save you money because they have multiple bedrooms and can easily be shared. You also have a kitchen so you will not need to order room service or eat out as much. They have pet friendly properties so you won’t have to pay a sitter.

TravelSort shared tips and tricks for getting the best airfare and making the most of your points. To get the best value, book about a year in advance.  Use business cards to gain points.  The more you spend the more points you get.

Polarn O Pyret, the number 1 children’s brand in Sweden, shared packing tips for kids.

  • Making a list is important so you don’t forget anything. Before you start, check the weather and think about the attire for your destination.
  • Be prepared and pack extra clothes for accidents and a jacket or fleece if it gets cold at night.
  • Check to see if a washer/ dryer or laundry service is available where you are staying, if so you may not need to bring as much.
  • Make sure to bring sunscreen especially when traveling to foreign countries because it is very expensive.

Where will you be heading on your next vacation?

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received a gift bag for attending the event.

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Erba Vita Available In United States

25 Apr

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20130425-222123.jpgNot long ago I attended an event in the beautiful garden of Tree Bistro to celebrate the launch of Erba Vita, a line of all natural health products, in the United States.  While my daughter ate delicious food, I was able to learn about the company and products available to consumers.   Erba Vita was founded 30 years ago in San Marino  by Dr. Carlo Bollini to help Italians live “la dolce vita”. Over the years the company has become an international leader in all natural dietary supplements and health products.  The company-pioneered extraction processes that are proven to maximize purity and efficacy of all-natural agents.  All of their products are rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness and are non- GMO.   Current nutritional supplements available to American consumers are a line of nutraceuticals including Propolis, Kid’s Line, 4Slim Trainer, Digestive Health, Relax, Immune System, and Women’s Health.  Click links below image  for more information about the products in each line.

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Propolis: A resinous material collected by honeybees from tree buds and other plant sources shown to benefit the immune system

  • Propolis EVSP Soothing Syrup
  • Propolis EVSP Children’s Syrup
  • Propolis EVSP Throat Spray
  • Propolis EVSP Kids’ Throat Spray
  • Propolis EVSP Hydro Extract, a water soluble Propolis

Kids Line:

  • Lax Kids Syrup
  • Immun Kids Syrup
  • Gassy Kids Syrup
  • QUIET KIDS Syrup
  • Throaty Kids Syrup

4Slim Trainer:

  • Detox Active Caps, screws onto common 500ml bottle of water
  • Maintain Liquid Sticks
  • Weight Less Fats Capsules
  • Weight Metabolism Tablets
  • Feel Full Meal Time Capsule
  • Feel Full Meal Time Spray

Digestive Health:

  • Digest Tablets
  • Gastro Tablets
  • Acid Tablets
  • Breath Tablets
  • Clean Lax Tablets

Relax:

  • No Stress Capsules
  • Happy Mood Capsules
  • Sleep Capsules

Immune System:

  • Immun Act Capsules, take before change of season or when your immune system is compromised.

Women’s Health:

  • Leg Light Spray
  • Leg Light Gel
  • Leg Light Tablets
  • Meno-Guide Capsules
  • Menstrual Drops
  • Nail Care Tablets

When it comes to my girls, I don’t like to push medications.  I didn’t run to get a flu shot for them because I don’t get them either.  I am a huge advocate of anything all-natural, unless medication is needed for strep or an ear infection that doesn’t want to go away.  When my daughter got a cough during winter, which was often, I tried to make a natural remedy because I didn’t want to over-do it with the cough medicine. I was extremely excited to learn about Erba Vita and have a list of products to try for my family. In the meantime, you can find Erba Vita online and some products are expected to be available at Whole Foods in June.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received products to try.  All information about Erba Vita came from their website and a press release.  Opinions expressed are my own.  Thank you 360 PR, Erba Vita and Tree Bistro for a wonderful event!

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Iskream Social

22 Apr

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20130422-210044.jpgWeekends are always so much fun, which is why Mondays are so hard.  We have pizza, watch movies, stay up late and eat ICE CREAM.  I’m not going to lie, we don’t just have ice cream on weekends.  We occasionally stop at the local ice cream truck if it’s a nice day or have friends over to make ice cream sundaes.  My girls request something sweet after almost every meal.  As health conscious family, I often feel guilty  about the trips to the ice cream truck and scooping out ice cream at dinner because I want to go back to the days where dessert was a treat and not something that is expected after every meal.

Checking out the waffle cone, bowl, and "taco" demonstration!

Checking out the waffle cone, bowl, and “taco” demonstration by co-founder Susan Patrick!

The other week I attended an Iskream event to celebrate the new packaging, in which family photos will be used on the containers.  Love the idea.  I had not heard of the naturally sweetened, no added sugar ice cream before the event.  Iskream is the first ice cream available on the market made with Truvia®, a natural sweetener that comes from the leaves of the stevia plant.  I don’t feel so guilty giving my family the outrageously delicious treat that’s full of flavor and free of aspartame, sucralose, artificial colorings, high fructose corn syrup and preservatives (more nutritional information).  Will I give it after every meal, probably not but when it comes time for that treat I won’t feel so guilty giving it to them.

Checking out all the delicious flavors!

Checking out all the delicious flavors!

Iskream flavors:

  • Vanilla
  • Berry Good
  • Chocolate Brownie
  • Banana
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly
  • Chocolate Cherry Chunk
  • Java Chip

At the event, we got to try many flavors in a homemade, all natural sugar, served in either a waffle bowl, cone or “taco”.  My favorite flavors were the Banana and Chocolate Brownie.  My daughter’s favorites were Vanilla and Berry Good. Note: Because of the Peanut Butter and Jelly flavor, the container says that it is made in a facility that processes nuts.  I made sure to ask beforehand and they told me that all the equipment was washed throughly and the flavors my daughter tried (banana, berry good, and vanilla) were made on different days.  She did not have a reaction however  everyone is different.  If you have a child with allergies it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Keep checking back to find out how your family can be on an ISkream Container!

I Scream, You Scream, Screaming for more ISkream!

I Scream, You Scream, Screaming for more ISkream!

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received containers of ice cream for attending the event. All opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italics came from the Iskream Website.  I am not responsible for any reactions that may occur if you choose to try the product with a child with a food allergy.

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Drinking Diaries

18 Apr
Sofie, my favorite "good girl" beer!

Ready to read with Sofie, my favorite “good girl” beer!

Finding the time to sit down and read is challenging when running to play dates, dance classes, school, taking care of sick kids, and finding time to blog.  When I find a book I  enjoy, I curl up and read until midnight, sometimes later because the night-time is the only chance for time to myself.  Recently, thank you to Culture Mom Media, I had the opportunity to read Drinking Diaries:Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up.    I have to admit, the last books I read were the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy.  Talk about going from fantasy to back to reality.   Drinking Diaries brings to life topics that many people may be in denial about or may not think about in the moment, for instance the long-lasting impact that drinking may have on children of parents who drink often, drunk driving, and the question of “am I an alcoholic?”

We drink for different reasons: to quench thirst, to loosen up, because it tastes good, to enhance a meal, because we are addicted, to self medicate, as part of a ceremony, to celebrate, to mourn.  We drink when we’re happy.  We drink when we’re sad.  And then there are non-drinkers, for whom abstaining may be as much of an issue as drinking (Drinking Diaries:Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up). Whatever our reason is for drinking, it’s important to take a step back and think about what our relationship is with alcohol. Drinking Diaries got me thinking about my own choices, my relationship with alcohol and is making me think a little harder about what I expose my children too, not just alcohol related, but the realities of the horrible events like Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon.  Should we keep our kids sheltered from what is going on in the world around? Living in New York, you see a lot walking to school, riding the subway and playing in the park. What is acceptable and what is not when it comes to drinking, drugs, and the topic of sex among youth?  And how do us parents approach the subject?

I have a lot of respect for the women who shared their stories.  It is hard to be open.  This is not my first post about Drinking Diaries.  Other posts included personal stories but after re-reading I realized I was not ready to share.   When I am ready, I may hit publish or go to the Drinking Diaries blog to share my stories.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Drinking Diaries:Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up from Culture Mom Media.  This post was optional, all opinions expressed are my own.  

 

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Sneaky Pete’s All Natural Oat Beverage

11 Apr
Image from

Image from Sneaky Pete’s

Image from

Image from

I always worry if my girls have enough fiber in their diet. I have tried oatmeal for breakfast but they do not like the consistency and getting them to eat vegetables is often a challenging task. When it comes to juice and “special” drinks they have no problem guzzling them down which is why I was excited when I learned about Sneaky Pete’s, an all natural oat drink containing three grams of dietary oat fiber in each bottle. The 12 ounce PET bottles come in 5 refreshing flavors: apple, grape, mango, peach, and raspberry.  Sneaky Pete’s uses Stevia Extract, Erythritol, and Evaporated Cane Juice (all natural sweeteners) to create a delicious and smooth tasting fruit flavor.

My girls sampled the apple, grape, and raspberry flavors.  Raspberry was their favorite followed by grape than apple.  I tried a little of each flavor before my girls.  The drink was light and refreshing, especially when served chilled.  It wasn’t overly sweet like most juices my girls drink.   We served all of our drinks chilled because my girls prefer having cold drinks however you can serve Sneaky Pete’s warm for a more soothing drink.   When I took the drinks on-the-go  I made sure to bring a straw along with me to make sure they didn’t spill all over the place because they still have difficulty drinking from bottles.   If you or your child can’t finish all 12 oz, make sure to refrigerate it.  The girls enjoyed Sneaky Pete’s with breakfast and in the middle of the day for a thirst quenching drink.    We can’t wait to try the peach and mango flavors!

Check out Sneaky Pete’s FAQ’s page for more information about why fiber and oats are good for you! You can purchase Sneaky Pete’s at any of these stores or on their website (free shipping)!

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Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I received samples for the purpose of this review.  All information in italics came from Sneaky Pete’s!

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Wordless Wednesday: Sunny Days

10 Apr

The past few days have been absolutely beautiful. It’s been nice not having to wear our winter coats. We have been actively participating in Polarn O. Pyret’s Every Day a Play Day, spending most of our time outside. Here is what we have been up to:

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Polarn O. Pyret’s Every Day a Play Day

7 Apr

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Spring has finally arrived and the forecast for the week looks promising for warmer weather.  The girls and I will be participating in the 4th Annual Polarn O. Pyret’s Every Day a Play Day challenge and try to spend more time outside playing.   Twice a year, Polarn O. Pyret challenges parents to get their kids outside to play for an entire week.  Activities can include walking to school, meeting friends at a playground or taking a walk through a nearby park. The goal is to get families out enjoying the outdoors no matter what the weather.    During the last Every Day a Play Day week, Polarn O. Pyret logged 1,104.5 hours of play in 31 states. Take the challenge and head outside to help Polarn O. Pyret log more hours this week.

Here are the details:
When: April 8-14, 2013
Where: Outside
What should I bring: Clothes for the weather, a camera, a great attitude and creativity.
How you can participate:
1) Go outside and play with your kids. Send us your photos to Polarn O. Pyret and tell them what you did. Each day they will randomly select one $50 gift certificate winner from all those who have submitted photos and/or stories. Stories and photos can be uploaded here: http://theplayfullife.polarnopyretusa.com/every-day-a-play-day-log-sheet/
2) Keep track of how much time you played outside each day and let Polarn O. Pyret know on Facebook. They are trying to beat the 1,100 hours from November.
3) Share your photos on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Be sure to tag us #polarnopyretusa and #everydayaplayday.

Happy Playing!

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

You’re 3 Already?

5 Apr

Today my baby celebrates her 3rd birthday! I’m a little sad because I have no idea where the past three years went. They have flown by and now my baby is no longer a baby. She makes sure to let me know everyday: “Mommy, I’m a big girl now, see I wear panties”. With my first, I wasn’t sad because I knew I still had my younger one. But now, both of my girls are getting so big and both frequently tell me “GO AWAY MOMMY, we are playing” or “stop, I can do it myself”. As much as I don’t like my youngest running to my bed in the middle of the night, it makes me happy that she still wants to cuddle with me and she needs me to comfort her. If 3 makes me this sad, I can’t imagine how 5, 16, and 21 will make me feel. Happy 3rd Birthday, we all love you! Hopefully, this year won’t go by so fast.

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4th Annual Mommybites Summit (GIVEAWAY)

4 Apr

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The 4th annual Mommybites Summit will be held in the iconic Grand Ballroom at the New Yorker Hotel on May 1, 2013. In keeping with the support, education and resource spirit that Mommybites is so well-known for, the night will begin with a keynote talk by author Andrew Mellen from 6–7 p.m. (vendors are welcome to come this too!). The night will continue with a 2–1/2 hour dedicated vendor and shopping time from 7–9:30 p.m. where wine, delicious food and treats will also be served. Attendees will go home with gift bags and will receive a free raffle for the chance to win great prizes. Register now and enter discount code “Media13” or enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a pair of tickets.

About Mommybites:

Founded in 2006 (originally as Babybites), Mommybites has become one of the largest relationship networks in the NY area, recently launched in Boston (with plans to continue in other key cities) and has a growing on-line community. Through in-person and on-line events, Mommybites connects moms-to-moms, moms to experts and moms to all the latest parenting products, services, resources, support and education.

 

GIVEAWAY: Tastefully Childish has 2 pairs of tickets to the Mommybites Summit on May 1, 2013.  All entries must be received before 11:59 p.m. on April 10, 2013. To enter:

Leave a comment for every entry you make.  Good luck and hope to see you at the Summit!

This is a sponsored post.

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