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New Coffee-mate Girl Scouts creamers are delicious!

August 30, 2013 By 2 Comments

Nestle Coffee-mate Scout The Girl Scout Casting Call  LA GS Casting Call_8

Coffee-mate recently launched a nationwide casting call titled “Scout The Girl Scout,” to discover an authentic Girl Scout to star in an upcoming Coffee-mate commercial.  They received a slew of great submissions and they will be announcing a winner mid-September, so stay tuned!  For more information, you can click here! Well…I don’t know about you but I love Girl Scout cookies especially the caramel & coconut Samoas and the Thin Mints! So, I was quite excited to find out that Coffee-mate were coming out with New girl scouts flavors of creamers in caramel & coconut  and Mint. I was happy to receive free coupons to try both of them out and I love them! They both taste just as delicious as the cookies! My favorite is the caramel & coconut..yum! There are no other words to describe…delicious and added to my coffee…it’s a great way to start the day!

CML_16oz_GS Caramel_Coconut  CML_16oz_GS_Thin_Mints

Self Disclosure: I received products to facilitate this feature.

 

Filed Under: Archived Content, Featured Products of the Week

Back-to-School with UMI Shoes!

August 30, 2013 By 56 Comments

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It’s time for Back-to-School and all the new school year  fashions! We love Umi Children’s shoes for the Fall! Actually, we love them anytime of the year!  They have so many stylish shoes for both boys and girls and the new fashions are “cool!” (according to my 9-year-old son).   My son received the Boys Moabb  and he loves them! These are really stylish and sturdy shoes that are  perfect for all activities!  My son likes the really cool style and also how comfortable they are. They are water resistant and very durable! My son says they are very comfortable and that it is okay for them to get wet. These are just perfect for the Fall!  Retails for $79-80 on the Umi website. They are available in OCN/DK NVY or BLACK.


We’re excited to announce that we have teamed up with Umi for a  “Back-to-School Giveaway!” You can win a gift card  ($60)to purchase boys or girls shoes! The shoes for girls are really cool too! You must be a subscriber to enter! Next, leave a comment below telling us your child’s (or yours!) favorite thing about going back to school or homeschooling! Deadline to enter is September 8th, 2013 at midnight. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries! But, wait! Do you want extra entries? You can do the following and earn up to 4 extra entries!  Here’s the list:

“Like” Umi and SoCal City Kids on Facebook

Follow Umi and SoCal City Kids on Twitter

Follow Umi on Pinterest

Sign up for Umi’s newsletter. (email list on bottom of their page) Another great thing about Umi is that they offer free shipping and returns and you can sign up for their newsletter and sign your kids up for the birthday club.

Good luck!

Self Disclosure: I received shoes to facilitate this feature.

Filed Under: Archived Content

Popchips for Back-to-School!

August 29, 2013 By 39 Comments

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Back-to-school is the perfect time to start building good nutrition habits – and it begins with stocking up on healthier snacks that moms and kids will enjoy. One great snack perfect for any lunch box…popchips, which come in a variety of kid-friendly flavors including original, barbeque potato, ranch tortilla, nacho tortilla and new katy’s kettle corn popchips.

 

popchips are never fried (unhealthy), never baked (undelicious), they’re popped! These tasty chips contain no preservatives, trans-fats, saturated-fats, fake colors or fake flavors. compared to fried chips, popchips have half the fat, fewer calories and more chips per serving. plus, they’re certified kosher and gluten free making them a great lunch box snack that taste great and happen to be better for you. SoCal City Kids loves popchips! But, if you follow us, you know that by now!

 

See how a single-serving bag of barbeque potato popchips stacks up, chip-to-chip with popular lay’s® barbecue potato chips:

 

barbeque potato popchips (.8 oz) lay’s® barbecue flavored potato chips (.8 oz)
100 calories 128 calories
0 calories from fat 72 calories from fat
0 grams of fat 8 grams of fat
0 grams of saturated fat 1 grams of saturated fat
17 chips 12 chips

 

Kid tested and mother approved, nacho tortilla popchips were recently voted the #1 crispy snack for kids by ivillage http://www.ivillage.com/packaged-healthy-snacks-kids-stuff-we-love awards/6-a-536134

Now, for some exclusive back-to-school tips from new mother and nutritionist jillian michaels!

jillian michaels

Jillian Michaels’ Back to School Tips

 

  •        Our kids today live in a world full of sugary sweets and fat-packed foods.  It’s our job as parents to steer them in the right direction when it comes to healthier eating and making wise snack decisions.

 

  •        It is important to give our kids positive reinforcement – we cannot make food items sound “off limits” or else they will only want to eat it more.  Instead, we have to show them that healthy eating can also be delicious and that moderation is key.

 

  •       There are a lot of snacks out there that seem healthier, but still have hidden secrets about them.  For example, juice boxes may appear to be the better choice over soda, but they are still filled with so much sugar that it is just as bad.  Looking at the calorie content is important, but it is just as crucial to look at how much trans-fat and sugar is included.

 

  •       I can’t stress enough how imperative it is to look at the ingredients list of the foods you are giving your children.  Make sure the treat foods they eat are not laden with chemicals and poisons. For example, let your kids have popchips instead of potato chips fried in hydrogenated trans-fats. They are tastier than those fried chips anyway, and are made with all-natural ingredients. 

 

  •         Let’s face it, kids love cookies.  Instead of packing the usual unhealthy options with ingredients you can’t pronounce, go for an organic option that has no hydrogenated oils or trans fats and is even more tasty.

 

  •         If the only option at school is regular milk, pack a juice box size carton of either organic milk or coconut milk so that your kids aren’t taking in unnecessary hormones.

 

  •         I’ve said it before – there is nothing more terrible for you than Doritos.  The things that are in those chips! That thing is like a cancer wafer.  I’d choose the new popchips tortilla over Doritos any day – all-natural, popped, and still packed with flavor that doesn’t leave you wondering about what you just consumed.

  Now, for the Back-to-School Giveaway! It is featured in the Giveaways! One mom/dad will win snacks for their kids class, provided by popchips of course! Homeschool parents can also enter and will win snacks for their family and Popchips has added a family 4 pack of Knott’s Berry Farm tickets!  So, here goes! You must be a subscriber to SoCal City Kids to participate! Next, leave a comment below telling us a tip on the best way you survive the school year! You can be serious or silly! For an extra entry, like their Facebook page and the SoCal City Kids Facebook page! Deadline to enter is September 4th, 2013 at midnight. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries. Winner will receive popchips and the tickets to Knott’s! Now, that is too cool!

Self Disclosure: I received popchips to feature this giveaway but any opinions are my own.

 

 

Filed Under: Archived Content

Great deal from MAM!

August 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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This special coupon offer below will be available on MAM’s Facebook page beginning tomorrow:

 

Great deal from MAM!  Head to MAM’s Facebook page, “like” them and you can download a $5.00 off coupon for a Single, Double or Triple-pack of MAM Anti-Colic bottles or their Feed & Soothe Set which includes 4 Anti-Colic bottles and 2 MAM pacifiers (a perfect gift for baby showers or for the new mom).  You will find the coupon here:https://www.facebook.com/MAMbabyUSA.

 

Ideal for newborns, the innovative MAM Anti-Colic Bottle helps reduce the stress associated with newborn feedings.  Patented ventilation holes in the bottle’s base regulate the pressure balance of baby’s milk, allowing it to flow evenly without bubbles or air pockets for reduced gas and colic symptoms.

 

The bottle’s savvy design makes it a pleasure to use; wide openings at both ends allow for effortless filling and cleaning, and an innovative self-sterilizing feature lets busy parents sterilize an empty bottle in the microwave with a few simple steps.  Available in a 5 ounce or 8 ounce size; recommended for newborns and up.

845296093011_N Feed and Soothe Set

Self Disclosure: MAM sponsored/no compensation received.

Filed Under: Archived Content, Featured Products of the Week

The Queen Mary’s Delicious Chili & Brewfest 9.1

August 28, 2013 By 2 Comments

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What: The Queen Mary’s Delicious Chili & Brewfest

Where: Queen Mary Waterfront Event Park

Address: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Date: Sunday, September 1, 2013

Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Tickets:

GA – $10 online / $15 door

VIP – $39 online / $45 door

Kids (ages 5-11) – $5 online / door, under age 5 free

Tasting Tickets – 1 for $2 / 10 for $20

Beer Tickets – 5 tastings for $10

Parking – $10 GA / $15 VIP

Link: http://www.queenmary.com/events/delicious_chilli_brew.php

Red Chili

 

About Delicious Chili & Brewfest

The Queen Mary is pleased to announce the inaugural Delicious Chili & Brewfest celebrating the best in culinary and local breweries at the waterfront event park Sunday, September 1. Over 15 top chili chefs will be competing in a live cook off across the categories of red, Verde, salsa, home-style and People’s Choice to win over $3,000 in cash prizes and awards! Competitors include “On the Road Chili” with 2012 World Open Chili Champion, chef Clark McGee, and the “Gearjammers” featuring chef Robert Dyer, winner of the International Chili Society World Championship for green chili in 2013. Top breweries including Sam Adams, Angry Orchard, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Valiant, Rock Bottom and El Segundo will be pouring craft beer selections throughout the event. The LA Kings Ice Crew and LA Galaxy Girls will make a special appearance on-site. Kids Country complete with a bounce house, obstacle courses, face painting, balloon twisting, games and activities will offer families and children a chance to enjoy a full day of entertainment, food and great local brews.

General admission tickets for Delicious Chili & Brewfest start at just $10. VIP experiences are available beginning at $39 and include early VIP admission, a souvenir mug, five tasting tickets and access to a VIP lounge.

Filed Under: Archived Content

“Epic” – Great Animation with a Wonderful Plot – Now Available on DVD/Blu-ray

August 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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New to DVD/Blu-ray this week is Blue Sky Studios’ animated feature film “Epic.” If you like fairy tales, then you will love this film. A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group characters in order to save their world — and ours. Rated PG, it’s the perfect film to share with your whole family.

13-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brianna B says, “I absolutely love this film. It has a great plot, and some really great characters. I like how the visuals are outstanding, and flawless.” KIDS FIRST! Film Critics also discuss Epic on the KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show ( http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/69259/grayson-russell-space-warriors-epic-fast-and-furious-star-trek-into-darkness ) See Brianna’s full review below.

“Epic”

Reviewed by Brianna B.

This is a great animation with a wonderful plot that is full of twists and turns.

Mary Katherine (M.K.) (Amanda Seyfried-Voice) accidently finds herself in a world where tiny people exist. Once she is turned into one of them she tries to help their home, the forest, become whole again. Along the way she meets some very interesting characters. Will she get back home, or will she permanently have to live in the forest?

I absolutely love this film. It has a great plot, and some really great characters. I like how the visuals are outstanding and flawless. The 3-D animation is so wonderful that it makes this film 100 times better in making the forest come alive. The costumes really relate to where the characters are in the forest. The background music is very fitting with the rest of the film. The actors do a remarkable job portraying their characters.

 I am surprised about how much I love this film. I think everything about this film is great. My favorite character is M.K., because she is very much like me, not in her situation, but the way she acts about everything. I can see myself easily relating to her. My favorite scene is when M.K. is talking to her Dad about how he is not normal and all she wants him to do is be her Dad without all the gadgets and gizmos. This scene is very touching, and teaches us that once in a while you need to be there for your loved ones, but you should also do your own thing.

  Director Chris Wedge directs a fantastic animated film. Also Writers James V. Hart and William Joyce, along with others, do a good job writing the screenplay. Other great voice-over talents in this film are Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson and Beyoncé Knowles.

A couple of messages that are in this film are: 1) Everything happens for a reason and 2) Do not take what you have for granted. Be thankful for everything that you have.

I recommend “Epic” for ages 5 to 16. It is really one of those films that everyone can watch and enjoy together. There is no content that is inappropriate for younger viewers. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. It is truly a wonderful film with amazing animation and great characters. I will definitely look forward to seeing it again.

Filed Under: Archived Content, Media Reviews

Beauty & Fashion Corner with mark.

August 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

bold and bright scarf mark marrakesh exotic hues

 

I love all the make up and fashion found at mark. I received the following items this summer and they are favorite Mom-Must-Haves this summer! The Bold & Bright Scarf adds pizzazz to any outfit! If I add this to an outfit, it turns it stylish in less than a minute! The Exotic Hues Eye Shadow Trio is also a new favorite of mine! Great for the summer but will also take you into the Fall season!

 

Glowdacious ‘

But, my favorite is the Glowdacious Illuminating Powder! It combines bronzer and highlighter for a shimmery, golden summer glow! I found that I could wear it all by itself or over foundation. It’s even oil-free and fragrance-free. Retails for $13.00. You can find these products and so many more at mark.

Self Disclosure: I received products for free to facilitate this feature.

 

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

CAST AWAY WITH RECESS MONKEY

August 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DESERT ISLAND DISC Cover Art Recess Monkey 72 dpi

SEATTLE, WA (August 1, 2013) – It is rumored that family music icon Recess Monkey recorded its tenth studio CD, Desert Island Disc, while shipwrecked on the beach of a distant island. The band’s spokesmonkey has refused to either confirm or deny these tales but has indicated that legions of fans will soon be able to judge the musical evidence for themselves. (Recess Monkey, $14.99, for ages 3 – 8, run time 40 minutes. Release date October 15, 2013.) My son and I received this CD and love all the fun songs!

 

Winding down from the high energy of its June 2013 release, Deep Sea Diver, Recess Monkey longed for a calmer second act.  Fortunately, tranquility was soon to be had, following a bit of drama when the “Tambourine Submarine” from Deep Sea Diver crashed onto the rocks of a deserted island. To while away the hours while stranded in their newfound tropical paradise, Recess Monkey created Desert Island Disc, which features acoustic instruments conveying the relaxed, sun-drenched pace of good friends exploring a strange new land together. Graced with elegant and colorful orchestrations by Jherek Bischoff, Desert Island Disc is like the calm exhale following a rampaging storm of summer excitement.

 

Notes Recess Monkey’s Jack Forman, “After the electrified excitement of Deep Sea Diver, we wanted to explore the calmer side of our songs, and what better place than on a remote beach? Desert Island Disc ended up being played with instruments only available on an island: strange, pieced together drums, acoustic textures, and waves gently lapping on the shore.”

 

Adds Drew Holloway, “We conceived Desert Island Disc not only as a companion to Deep Sea Diver, but also as its counterpoint.  Desert Island Disc is an experimental album for us, but the songs are still sequenced in a flow that gives an arc to the record. Our intent is always to link together songs in a way that transports people to another place.”

 

Joining Jack Forman and Drew Holloway on Deep Sea Diver and Desert Island Disc is new band member Korum Bischoff, a truly awesome drummer who offers a dynamic contribution, not only to Recess Monkey’s overall energy, but also to the albums’ concepts. Says Korum, “I grew up living aboard a sailboat docked at Bainbridge Island, Washington, so the ocean and island-based themes of Deep Sea Diver and Desert Island Disc felt like coming home!”

 

Desert Island Disc picks up on our inveterate explorers with their discovery of the “Coconut Radio” as it tunes in on the nostalgia of bygone times, with the warmth of its string orchestrations setting the mood and holding the entire album together.  Using this “radio,” Recess Monkey is able, one song at a time, to dial into a variety of enchanting and mysterious activities that populate the island.  Highlights include “The Hermit,” in which hermit crabs humorously execute a crabby conga as they scurry from one seashell domicile to another, and “Pearls of Wisdom,” a funny exposition of well-worn sayings that adults seem to be unable to resist offering to kids. This is followed by “The Cave,” an equally hilarious duet, in which Drew Holloway meets a mountain of resistance from guest vocalist Dean Jones when attempting to sign him up for an extremely scary cave adventure. “My Treasure,” an old timey love song to a tiny, precious treasure, offers a charming change of pace, while the lively bluegrass/hillbilly vocal effects and front-line banjo of “Round the Campfire” celebrate the outback joys of camping and the satisfaction of adventures drawing to a close.

 

Guest artists on Desert Island Disc include Justin Lansing of the GRAMMY winning Okee Dokee Brothers (banjo), Dean Jones of Dog on Fleas (vocals), Johnny Bregar (B3 organ), and Sam Bishoff (saxophone). The album was actually recorded on an island – Bainbridge Island, Washington – in Johnny Bregar’s Brickyard Studios.

 

Recess Monkey released their debut CD, Welcome to Recess Monkey Town, in 2005, followed by another popular hit, Aminal House, in 2006. The band made history with their next release, Wonderstuff, the first double CD children’s album. As with their previous albums, 2008’s Tabby Road, 2009’s Field Trip, 2010’s The Final Funktier, 2011’s FLYING!, 2012’s In Tents, and 2013’s Deep Sea Diver (already chosen by People as one of this year’s best kids’ albums) arose out of real life children’s experiences.

 

Nine Recess Monkey songs have reached #1 on the Sirius/XM’s Kids Place Live chart.  Sirius/XM’s Kids Place Live Program Director Mindy Thomas declared, “These guys are able to tap into elementary school so well that it’s like they never left. In this never-ending nationwide talent show of kid and family music, they are most definitely at the top.” Time Magazine celebrated Recess Monkey’s “tight, smart, acclaimed original songs … and seriously grooving funk.” Explained kids’ music authority Stefan Shepherd (Zooglobble.com), “Recess Monkey just keeps turning out album after album with pop nuggets, as if we’d just discovered that The Beatles had recorded a ton of kids’ music 40+ years ago.”

 

Recess Monkey’s 2012 circus-themed album, In Tents, was included on numerous “Top Kids’ CD of the Year” lists, including those of USA Today, Cool Mom Picks, and Red Tricycle, and was singled out for praise in such prominent publications as Parents Magazine, The Washington Post, Time Out NY Kids, and Scholastic Parent & Child.  Wrote kids’ music expert Kathy O’Connell in her MetroKids “Best Family CDs of 2012” review of In Tents, “Kids’ music superstars take us to the circus in another brilliant concept album.”

 

FLYING!, released in 2011, was highlighted in People magazine and honored with inclusion in more than a dozen “Best of the Year” lists, including those of The Washington Post, Parents Magazine, Common Sense Media, Cool Mom Picks, and more. The Washington Post enthused, “We had to mention these superheroes. They’re back! … If you liked their rock-and-roll in the past, you’ll like it again.”

 

From a plethora of remarkable Seattle-based “kindie” musicians, Seattle Magazine chose to honor Recess Monkey in 2010 with its “Best Local Kids’ Music” accolade. The band’s 2010 release, The Final Funktier, was highlighted on CBS-TV’s The Early Show and in People magazine, was featured in more than a dozen “Best of 2010” lists and was a KIWI magazine 2010 “holiday pick.”

 

Recess Monkey’s 2009 Release, Field Trip, was on more than a dozen “Best of 2009” lists, was named to the American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Recording List, and was included among USA Today’s “Favorite Releases of 2009” and AOL ParentDish’s “Top 25 Albums for Kids.” Time Out NY Kids declared Field Trip to be the #1 CD of the year, calling it “pure genius.”

 

Desert Island Disc will be available at recessmonkey.com, amazon.com, cdbaby.com, theAVCafe.com, bigkids.com, iTunes, bandcamp.com, Silver Platters, Sonic Boom Records, and Barnes & Noble.

 

DESERT ISLAND DISC SONG LIST:

Coconut Radio, Tallest Tree, Trailblazer, Hide and Seek, Long Gone Island, The Hermit, Pearls of Wisdom,

The Cave, My Treasure, Getting a Sunburn, Round the Campfire, Dessert Island, Smooth Sailing, Going Home.

Self Disclosure: I received a CD to facilitate this feature.

 

Filed Under: Archived Content, Media Reviews
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