Archives for July 2014

pediped® Gives $13,000 to Schools as Part of pediped® ♥ schools Initiative

pedipedlogo_Reversed     Grip_LaceePink&HaydenGrey (PD__10808)

Charitable footwear brand, pediped®, announces the company will give $13,000 back to over 200 schools enrolled into the pediped® ♥ schools program. Each school will receive a check for a 10% rebate on their total attributed purchases of pediped® footwear from May 15, 2013 to May 15, 2014. The top five performing schools will receive $1,000 as an additional bonus.

 

pediped® ♥ schools is a one-of-a-kind giving campaign where participating education partners receive a check for 10% of their total combined purchases of pediped® each year. Individual schools can earn up to $10,000 per year. pediped® is thrilled with the success of the program to date which receives positive feedback as it also brings awareness to the importance of helping schools get the things they need.

 

pediped® ♥ schools is currently accepting enrollment for the upcoming year. School officials and leaders of the PTO or PTA are encouraged to enroll their community’s school along with parents and teachers. Upon enrollment, each school receives a unique code and those who purchase pediped® footwear should enter the code at checkout when shopping online at pediped.com or in any pediped owned boutique located in Las Vegas. pediped® tracks the purchases registered to each school’s code to determine the amount of dollars earned. Purchases will be tracked now until May 15, 2015 and schools will receive checks for 10% back in June 2015.

 

Schools enrolled into the program are encouraged to visit www.pediped.com/schoolsprogram to track their earnings and print promotional aids to pass out to parents and caregivers to help spread the word of the program. pediped® will also provide electronic newsletters that can be shared through the school’s online community as well.

 

Giving back has and always will be a core value of pediped®. Since its founding in 2005, pediped® has been dedicated to bettering communities and enriching the lives of children. In 2010, the pediped® Foundation was established and since its inception has donated $2.75 million in product and monetary support to charities around the world that are devoted to the health, education, and basic needs of children. pediped® ♥ schools is yet another commitment of the company’s continuing philanthropic efforts.

 

Please visit www.pediped.com/pedipedschools to enroll your school today.

 

About pediped®

Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made the award-winning company the fastest growing children’s footwear brand in the United States. pediped® has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and preeminent orthopedic medical professionals, Dr. Mininder S. Kocher and Dr. Thomas W. Vorderer, deem pediped® shoes an excellent choice for parents/caregivers who want their children’s feet to develop naturally and healthily. In 2011, Earnshaw’s, the premier media resource serving the children’s market, recognized pediped® with an Earnie Award for Company of the Year and Best Footwear. Earnshaw’s also recognized pediped® with an Earnie Award for Company for Good for their philanthropy efforts of nearly $2 million in 2012, and an Earnie Award in 2013 for Best Community Outreach.

 

pediped® footwear is sold in over 2,500 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 140 designs for boys and girls between their three lines, Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Their award winning footwear is available in EU sizes 17 to 36 (US newborn to 4.5 Youth). For more information, visit www.pediped.com or call 1-702-567-0311. LIKE on Facebook at /pedipedfootwear and follow on Twitter and Instagram @pedipedfootwear.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Photo Credit/info: pediped.

Blockitecture from AREAWARE

AREAWARE_Blockitecture_env_print

Art meets science in this set of nesting hand-painted blocks, designed by James Paulius while still a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His intent was to create a timeless toy that challenged the user’s creativity and understanding of physical laws. Blockitecture was awarded first place in the RIT Metaproject03 design competition. Made from New Zealand Pine. Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5 inches (size varies per piece.

My son was excited to receive this set and loves making different buildings from the blocks. I love that it is so creative!  The Blockitecture Series 1: Brutalism is a hit in our house! There is not just one way to build. We can’t wait for the next series!

photoblocki

 Retails for $25.00 and found at www.areaware.com.

More about James Paulius:

James Paulius was born and raised in Chicago. During high school, he was introduced to industrial design and immediately knew this was the field he wished to pursue. He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2013. James has an interest in designing products that integrate people with their environment to promote creativity, curiosity and joy. Hi belief that our ability to manipultae society and culture through the conscious creation of our environment inspires him to design artifacts that are sensitive towards the effects they have on humans and nature.

About AREAWARE:

AREAWARE is a Williamsburg, Brooklyn based producer of everyday objects that are functional and unusual. To find out more, check out their website. They have the coolest products!

Self Disclosure: I received a free product to facilitate this feature but any opinions expressed are honest. Photo Credit: Top photo: Areaware. Bottom: Socal City Kids.

 

 

It’s Time for WordGirl’s Word of the Month for July!

image001

Summer is heating up, which means it’s the perfect time for outdoor play and learning – WordGirl style! Scholastic Media’s Emmy Award-winning animated TV series for the school-age set will help keep your child’s vocabulary skills building this summer.

 

The word-powered superhero is always ready for some fun in the sun, so it’s only fitting that July’s WordGirl Word of the Month is…RECREATION!

 

From swimming and campfires to trips to the beach and playing outside, the list of summertime activities – and vocabulary words to describe them – is endless. And WordGirl is where to tune-in for some vocab-building action this summer!

Don’t forget to watch  WordGirl daily on PBS KIDS (check local listings) for fast-paced, vocab-driven hijinks all season long!

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Credit: PBS Kids/WordGirl.

Summer Fashion and Fun with mark.

Get In The Groove Handbag       Great Play Portable Speakers

Summer is such a fun season! I just love the more care-free days and styles! Looking for fun fashions and products? Mark has you covered this Summer! The Mark Get In The Groove Handbag is my new go-to handbag for busy Summer days. It’s fun, playful and the perfect handbag for the Summer. I love the size too! It’s not too big or too small. Faux leather and Interior snap closure. Retails for $48.  If you love music like I do then the Great Play Portable Speakers are a true Must-Have! Also perfect for travel this summer! I love this product! You simply place your phone on top of the speaker. It works with iPhone, iPod Touch & Android. It works perfectly with my iPhone! Does require 3 AA batteries and retails for $32.

Charge Away Phone Charger

The Charge Away Portable Charger is also a Must-Have! I am simply amazed that this little product can fully charge a smartphone when you don’t have access to an outlet. Charge it up through a computer or tablet using the USB cord that is included. Retails for $24. All three products are Must-haves this Summer! To find these and many more great beauty and fashion items, check out the mark. website.

 

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this feature but any opinions expressed are honest. Photo Credit:Mark.

 

Gaslamp Popcorn for the Summer!

GaslampPopcornLogo-HighRes

This month is San Diego’s Birthday and a great idea would be to celebrate with San Diego born Popcorn brand Gaslamp Popcorn! I hadn’t tried this brand before but I was excited to receive samples for my family to try! We received the All natural Authentic Kettle Corn Sweet & Salty and the Cinnamon Caramel Corn varieties. I absolutely loved the Kettle Corn with just a pinch of Sea Salt! It sure didn’t last very long in my house! The Cinnamon Caramel Corn is also delicious with natural brown sugar! Yum!

GaslampPopcorn_Kettle_Corn       GaslampPopcorn_Caramel_Corn

Happy Birthday San Diego!

Birthday Cake Popcorn  (this recipe is just delicious!)Gaslamp-CakePopcorn-lowres[1][1][3]

 

 

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup White Chocolate, melted
  • 1/8 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3/4 cup White Or Yellow Cake Mix
  • 6 cups Gaslamp Kettle Corn Popcorn
  • ¼ cup Sprinkles

Preparation Instructions

Melt the chocolate in the microwave, using 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until it is fully melted.

Add the vegetable shortening to the chocolate and stir until it is melted. Add the cake mix to the chocolate.

Pour the coating onto the popcorn and coat evenly. Use 2 spoons and toss it almost like a salad.

Pour the popcorn out onto cookie sheets to cool/harden. Sprinkle immediately with your choice of sprinkles.

Wait until fully hardened and enjoy!  Happy Birthday San Diego!

To find out more information and find where to buy Gaslamp Popcorn, check out the website! There are also more delicious recipes to try!

Self Disclosure: I received samples for free to facilitate this feature. Photo & Recipe Credit: Gaslamp Popcorn.

NueVue® Launches Line of iPhone/iPad Protective Cases

NueVue_Logo_2c_gradient

AllColors_iPhone

 UK-based NueVue®just expanded distribution of its unique line of protective cases for smartphones and tablets in the USA. The patent-pending cases protect smartphones and tablets,NueVue because they clean the screen every time you remove the device and offer antimicrobial protection.

Looking for a better way to clean and protect his iPhone, Inventor Derek Batey, CEO of NueVue®and high-tech entrepreneur wondered, “Why is it such a hassle to maintain a clean iPhone screen? Why couldn’t a case do more than just hold the device — like clean and protect it?”

39291950

I received a sample to review and I love how this not only protects my iphone but also cleans the screen. I have tried many other phone cases before but not one that actually cleans my screen. This is just so innovative! 

Phones and germs have made headlines for years, as the connection has been established by numerous sources.

  • Recently, The New York Times reported on “cleaning the mobile germ warehouse,” in which an infectious disease specialist reported “that devices can be a source of disease transmission.”
  • FOX News reported a UK study that found “mobile phones 18 times dirtier than toilet handles.”
  • Today Health asked, “Is that staph on your sweater?  10 Germ Hideouts” and discussed cell phones, “The things you touch a zillion times a day-iPhone, BlackBerry, keyboard, computer mouse — are big carriers of germs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and flu viruses.”

After extensive research and testing, Batey found a solution.  He discovered that a unique blend of microfibers and BioCote® antimicrobial technology would not only clean the screen quickly — with a simple sliding motion — but would eliminate microbes as well. The result: a line of cases with clear advantages. Smartphones and tablets with clean screens are easier to see, tend to scratch less and are more hygienic. What’s more, NueVue®’s anti-microbial protection eliminates up to 80% of microbes in 15 minutes and continues working to eliminate up to 99.9% of microbes within two hours.  At the same time, the phone or tablet stays secure and protected due to to the case’s anti-static and shock resistant capabilities.

“The advantages of having a clean screen on your phone and tablet are certainly well understood. But we wanted our cases to do more than just clean and protect. Studies show that the average smartphone is covered with more bacteria than toilet seats, kitchen counters and the bottom of shoes,” says Derek Batey, CEO of NueVue®. “The warm batteries make the perfect breeding ground for pathogens and viruses.  According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, people are just as likely to get sick from their mobile phones as they are from doorknobs in public bathrooms! A phone or tablet that’s free of microbes is an essential consideration for personal well being.”

NueVue products are handmade in the highest quality cotton twill, leather and canvas and come in a variety of stylish colors. More information is available on NueVue.com.

About NueVue®

The NueVue® brand is synonymous with innovation: the only products on the market to combine fashion, functionality and antimicrobial protection in cases for smartphones and tablets. NueVue’s unique combination of BioCote® technology and microfibers cleans the screen and eliminates microbes with one easy motion, every time the device is removed from the case. With smart devices becoming an increasingly essential part of everyday life, NueVue®provides users with clear advantages:  phone and tablet screens that are cleaner, easier to read, and more hygienic to use.

NueVue® is a registered trademark. © 2014 NueVue. All rights reserved. Featured photography and the content within are the property of respective owners. iPhone 5S/5C 5/4S/4, iPad and iPad Mini and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Connect with NueVue®

•     Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NUEVUEproducts

•     Twitter – https://twitter.com/NUEVUEproducts

•     YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/NUEVUEproducts

RETAIL PRICING:  NueVue®cases foriPhone from $45; iPad mini from $49; iPad from $57.

Self Disclosure: I received a sample to facilitate this feature. Press info/photo credit: NueVue.

The Blue Baboon In The Big Balloon

Book Cover - The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon

Children’s rhyming book takes kids on a fun trip to the moon

 

Steve and Sarah Mostyn have teamed up to create a delightful children’s book titled The Big Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon. This exquisitely illustrated and hilarious book is filled with clever rhyming verse.

This is a delightful and fun book for young children! The illustrations are beautiful and the story is creative and is a wonderful bed time story for young children. It is simply fun & imaginative and will delight children ages 2+.

You can find the book on Amazon.

About the Authors

Sarah and Steven Mostyn are the authors of “The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon,” their first self-published children’s book.

 

The authors were born and raised in Canada. Their family of five recently relocated to Texas.

 

They have developed their storytelling craft through the inspiration of their three young children: Jonah, Kayla and Daniel. They often sit together as a family brainstorming new, creative ideas for books, and enjoy retelling stories from their large collection of self-created family favorites.

Self Disclosure: I received the book for free to facilitate this feature. No other compensation was received.

Disney Channel and Disney XD’s Open Call

image003