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Tote bag giveaway for DK FindOut, the kids encyclopedia website

February 23, 2015 By 4 Comments

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DK FindOut (dkfindout.com), the no-cost online encyclopedia for kids is a great new resource for kids!

Aimed at ages 7-11 (but appealing to ages 5-14), the new educational website covers science, math, English, history, geography, the human body, and more with age-appropriate content. Enlist if for homework help, pull it up for rainy day fun, or use it to bridge the gap in the summer months. It’s safe, secure and extensive—more than 300 animations, 300 sounds, 9000 photos, 100 videos, and 3000 articles bring key concepts to life.

And best of all… there’s no charge to use it! Now, how cool is that?! Socal City Kids actually thinks it is pretty cool!! We actually checked it out and my son and I give it 5 stars! I like that it is a really safe way to learn on the internet.

We have teamed up for a giveaway to celebrate the launch of this new website! One winner will win one DK FindOut-branded tote bag! To enter, check out the website and let us know your favorite thing! if you would like to give them a shout out on social media, the hashtag is #dkfindout. Deadline to enter is March 10th, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via random.org.

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Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post except for receiving the free tote bags. Photo Credit: DK FindOut.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Pinterest Sweepstakes for American Heart Month from Campbell Soup Company

February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in women across America, and according to the American Heart Association®, a healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons in the fight against it. This February for American Heart Month Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) and Ellie Krieger, registered dietitian and host of the Food Network’s hit show “Healthy Appetite,” have joined forces to empower women to embrace a heart-healthy lifestyle. Campbell offers a variety of delicious and easy-to-make heart-healthy products and recipes and with the help of Ellie Krieger, will equip women with essential tips and tools to kick start or maintain their journey to a healthy heart.

 

Campbell, in partnership with the American Heart Association® and the Go Red for Women movement, is committed to women’s health with a portfolio of products and recipes featuring the American Heart Association® Heart-Check mark. This year Campbell is adding a new product to its portfolio of nearly 230 heart-healthy products, new Healthy Request Mexican-Style Chicken Tortilla soup. Additionally, Campbell has a collection of heart healthy recipes certified by the American Heart Association®found on CampbellsKitchen.com.

 

“We are proud of the strides we have made in the last nine years to support women in the fight against heart disease,” said Denise Morrison, President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company. “As part of our Purpose: Real Food that Matters for Life’s Moments, we are dedicated to the health and well-being of the women and families that rely on our foods because we believe that we have a fundamental responsibility to help them thrive.”

 

“My philosophy on a heart-healthy lifestyle is simple: educate yourself on nutrition, choose flavorful healthy foods, and get more physically active,” said Ellie Krieger. “Partnering with Campbell is a great opportunity to share tips and recipes with women because I believe simple lifestyle changes can help them combat heart disease.”

 

Address Your Heart with Campbell’s Pinterest Sweepstakes

Additionally, this month the company is hosting the Address Your Heart with Campbell’s Pinterest Sweepstakes, which provides Americans with the opportunity to win daily prizes and one grand prize that are designed to help build heart-healthy habits.

 

To enter the Address Your Heart with Campbell’s Pinterest Sweepstakes, U.S. residents ages 18 and older can visitwww.addressyourheart.com through Feb. 28, 2015, and simply enter their email address and Pinterest username. No purchase or pinning necessary for entry. Campbell is giving away prizes that range from bakeware, kitchen tools and Healthy Request® soups, to a grand prize trip for two to the luxurious Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, AZ.

 

Products for a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle

Campbell is dedicated to helping women care for their hearts by providing a diverse portfolio of heart-healthy products that balance great taste with nutritional value, including new Campbell’s® Healthy Request®  Mexican-Style Chicken Tortilla soup. Campbell offers nearly 80 options that meet the criteria for and feature the American Heart Association® Heart-Check mark, such as:

  • Healthy Request® soups
  • V8® Low Sodium Regular and V8 V-Fusion® beverages (select varieties)
  • Prego® Heart Smart™ pasta sauces
  • Pepperidge Farm® whole-grain breads (select varieties)
  • Swanson® premium chunk chicken

 

To find out more about the Address Your Heart with Campbell’s Pinterest Sweepstakes, which is conducted by Campbell Soup Company and is in no way associated with the American Heart Association®, visit www.addressyourheart.com.

 

About Campbell Soup Company

Campbell (NYSE:CPB) is driven and inspired by our Purpose, “Real food that matters for life’s moments.” The Company makes a range of products from high-quality soups and simple meals to snacks and healthy beverages. For generations, people have trusted Campbell to provide authentic, flavorful and readily available foods and beverages that connect them to each other, to warm memories, and to what’s important today. Led by its iconic Campbell’s brand, the company’s portfolio includes Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, Bolthouse Farms, V8, Swanson, Prego, Pace, Plum Organics, Arnott’s,Tim Tam, Royal Dansk and Kjeldsens. Founded in 1869, Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the planet’s natural resources. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com or follow company news on Twitter via @CampbellSoupCo.

 

About Go Red For Women

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women because it’s not just a man’s disease. In fact, more women than men die every year from heart disease and stroke. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Go Red For Women advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s, with additional support from our cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).

Credit: Campbell Soup Company/Go Red For Women.

Filed Under: Announcements

Bully Bean by Thomas Weck & Peter Weck Illustrated by Len DiSalvo

February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Bully-Bean_front-cover

Bully Bean is the fifth book in the Lima Bean Bear story series. Authors Thomas Weck and Peter Weck havecreated a very effective and valuable way to open a dialog on issues of bullying in a way young kids can understand – how to turn a bully into a friend.

Bully Bean, by Thomas Weck and Peter Weck, is a delightfully written and colorfully illustrated children’s book designed to facilitate a constructive family dialog on the difficult and sensitive topic of bullying. Extend the Learning and Activity sections reinforce this theme and enhance the dialog in the family and the classroom.

 

This carefully scripted tale tells the story of a giant bean, named Bully Bean, who picks on little beans, plays mean tricks on them, and puts them in danger.

Father and son, Thomas and Peter Weck, teamed up to create this sturdy, hardbound book as the fifth book in the Lima Bear Series which presents life lessons for children and their families. The story in each book of the series highlights an important message to children: overcoming fear, having courage, compatibility, teamwork, tolerating differences, and forgiveness.

 

Bully Bean has 32 full color pages targeting children ages four to eight years old with their families and a message of turning a bully into a friend.

 

Illustrator Len DiSalvo created large, colorful colored pencil and pastel drawings that bring the story to life.

 

The book also includes parental or teacher guidance with instructions and suggested questions for children about before, during and after reading and activities that share ways to reinforce the message of each book in the series.

We received a copy of this book and I recommend it for younger children ages 4+. It has a very important lesson and message. 

 

Find out more at  www.LimaBearPress.com.

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this feature post.  Photo Credit: Lima Bear Press.

 

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Animal Exploitation Worse Than Ever Despite Heightened Animal Rights Awareness, Two Experts Claim in Provocative New Paper

February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Taking a startlingly counterintuitive view of the state of global animal protection  at a time when most people would assume the cause has made tremendous strides, a new paper to be published next April in the journal Anthrozoos (but fast-tracked online at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bloomsbury/azoos/pre-prints/content-281_anthrozoos_fta ) claims that the international situation for nonhuman animals has gotten much worse, to the point where it jeopardizes our own future as humans.

Entitled “Denial of Death and the Relationship between Humans and Other Animals,” the provocative new paper is all the more noteworthy because it was written by two of the world’s most accomplished animal rights advocates: Dr. Lori Marino and MichaelMountain.

Dr. Marino, a bio-psychologist formerly on the faculty of Emory University, is the Executive Director of the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. She is internationally known for her work on brain evolution and intelligence in dolphins and whales, and was featured in the acclaimed film “Blackfish.”

Michael Mountain was the president and co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society, which helped launch the no-kill movement in the 1990’s. Today, he is the editor of EarthInTransition.org and serves as an advisor to several animal protection and environmental groups.

Marino and Mountain begin their paper by dismantling the popular 21st Century notion that we’ve turned the tide on animal welfare. And then they explore the underlying psychological cause of the situation.

Despite recent decades having seen the growth of thousands of animal protection organizations, they write, “… with the single exception of homeless pets, the situation for nonhuman animals in every sphere has actually deteriorated dramatically.”

According to Marino and Mountain, “The small achievements in animal protection are largely incremental, like, for example, the efforts to get factory farms to provide a few extra inches of space in cages where, nonetheless, the animals will still spend their entire lives.” Meanwhile, the factory farming and vivisection industries are larger and more entrenched than ever.

In the case of wildlife, the two authors note that of 63,837 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 19,817 are threatened with extinction, and that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has concluded that more than 85 percent of the world’s fisheries have been pushed to or beyond their biological limits.

As Marino and Mountain see it, “While people are certainly more aware of issues to do with animal abuse and exploitation, our relationship with the whole natural world remains fraught with contradictions and abuses to the point where it threatens our own health and safety, and even human civilization.”

 

“I Am Not An Animal!”

What, then, are the psychological issues that underlie our inability to make progress? Marino and Mountain say that French novelist Albert Camus summed it up best when he wrote: “Humans are the only creatures who don’t want to be what they are.”

And what we absolutely don’t want to be is an animal.

Rooted deeply in the human condition is our awareness that while we reach for the stars and create profoundly beautiful works of art, we cannot escape the knowledge that, just like all the other animals, we are destined to die.

 

And so, to alleviate the anxiety we feel over our animal nature, we try to separate ourselves from our fellow animals and to exert control over the natural world. We tell ourselves that we’re superior to the other animals and that they exist for our benefit. We treat them as commodities and resources, use them as biomedical “models” or “systems” in research, and force them to perform for our entertainment (companion animals fare better, but Marino and Mountain point out that we treat them as part of our human “in-group” and relate to them a bit like children).

 

We also hold belief systems that offer us humans hope in some form of immortality that’s not accorded the other animals. These and other ways of distancing ourselves from the rest of nature are so embedded in our cultures that they’re typically not even questioned, much less stopped.

 

But, like all forms of denial, we cannot escape what we are. And the more we try to bend nature to our will, the more we end up harming the planet and all its living creatures, quite possibly beyond repair.

 

While Marino and Mountain don’t pretend to have a simple solution to the abuse so many animals endure at our hands, they argue that awareness is always the first step in bringing about change.

As they conclude in their Anthrozoos paper, “Our relationship to the other animals and to the planet overall is arguably the single most important issue facing humankind … The only viable future for humankind lies in achieving some level of acceptance of our own nature as animals and developing a more humble, and ultimately more satisfying, relationship to our fellow animals and the natural world.”


Please visit www.kimmela.org and www.earthintransition.org for more information.

Credit: www.kimmela.org and www.earthintransition.org

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Get The Look: Zero + Maria Cornejo & Shiseido

February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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“The look resembles paint strokes, similar to the graphics of the prints in the collection.”

– Dick Page, Shiseido Artistic Director

·         Created By: Shiseido Artistic Director Dick Page

·         Inspiration: Inspired by the prints and energy of the collection, Dick created a tribal look with a slightly different bold eye for each of the models, which “looked like accessories or jewelry.” The face focused on the “transparent realness of the skin” in order to enhance the features.

·         Products:

o    Eye: Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Caviar (BK912) and Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Tin (SV810) were blended to create a metallic shade. Dick applied the color on each of the models in a slightly different variation and “customized to each of the girl’s faces.”

o    Face: Concealer and foundation were applied very minimally as needed, using the NEW Perfecting Stick Concealer and Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 18. In order to achieve a matte finish, Translucent Loose Powder was applied under the eye in a horseshoe-shaped stroke, blended from the bridge of the nose to the outer cheek.

o    Lip: Benefiance Full Correction Lip Treatment was applied for moisture.

 

Credit: Shiseido.

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

McFarland, USA – Inspiring and Dramatic Story About Unlikely Champions

February 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders. More than just physical prowess drives the teens to succeed; their strong family ties, incredible work ethic and commitment to their team all play a factor in forging these novice runners into champions. KIDS FIRST! Critic Gerry Orz comments, “This movie is truly an inspirational story for anyone who watches. McFarland USA will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.” Kayla P. adds, “The message of this film is to not judge a book by its cover.” See their full reviews below.

McFarland, USA
Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Critic, age 12

 

This movie is truly an inspirational story for anyone who watches. McFarland USA will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

McFarland USA will make you cry, laugh and more. It is a compelling film based on a true story that is full of drama and a solid feeling of inspiration. However, there is a hint of comedy to brighten things up and a spice of thrill that will keep you engaged throughout the movie.

The story starts when a family moves to a very poor town in central California called McFarland. Track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is a newcomer to a predominately Latino high school in California’s Central Valley. He quickly notices that the kids there are faster than he has ever seen and turns the fastest boys into a cross country track team. The movie covers the relationship between the coach and the boys, his relationship with his family and the adventure the boys and the coach go through as they try to win the state cross country championship.

This movie is truly compelling and inspiring. After seeing it I had an urge to do more. It has a fantastic mix between concentrating on the coach’s story but also looks at each person on the team, which I think was a fantastic decision. The acting is impressive especially since some of the actors had never even acted before and some of them actually grew up in McFarland.

My favorite scene is when they have a one on one race with another school. Once the two teams start running, the opposing coach starts teasing Coach White. However, after the team’s fastest player, Thomas (Carlos Pratts) finishes first, he brings back all that teasing but in a very classy way. I love this scene because it shows that the team was looked down on but they rose above the torment and tease and truly believed in themselves and a better future for themselves.

This film has a lot of mature moments that may be a bit too much for younger kids, so I give it an age rating of 10 to18. I also give it 5 out of 5 stars for a truly inspiring and fantastic film.
McFarland, USA

by Kayla Powell, KIDS FIRST! Critic, Age: 13

 

 

McFarland, USA is a wonderful family drama based on a true story from 1987.

 

McFarland, USA is about a coach who gets fired from his job due to inappropriate and harsh behaviors towards his colleagues and students. Coach White (Kevin Costner) and his family have to relocate to McFarland, a town populated by farm growers.  McFarland is the only place Coach White is able to find a job as a PE teacher and assistant football coach. He notices that a few of the kids are  very fast runners. Coach White learns that there is a state wide cross country tournament. When coaching football fails, he decides to form a cross country team. He trains the kids to compete at different tournaments with hopes of taking them to the state championship to win money for the school.  During the journey of preparing the team, Coach White, his family and the teammates learn an important lesson of dedication and commitment.

 

My favorite character is Danny Diaz, (Ramiro Rodriguez). He is focused and a determined member on the cross country team. Although he is not one of the fastest runners, he learns to never quit no matter how far behind he is and to keep pushing.

 

The message of this film is to not judge a book by its cover. When the McFarland team travels to different tournaments, some of the competitors pick on them because they are different and do not have the newest clothes or shoes like everyone else. Most of the other racers, as well as the other coaches, make fun of the McFarland team. They all learn not to underestimate anyone by merely judging them by their outward appearance.

 

My favorite part is when Jim White, Kevin Costner, tries to plan a Quinceaňera  for his daughter. He sends his wife and daughters away to the salon and goes outside to plan the party with Senor Diaz (Omar Leyva).  As Coach White tells Senor Diaz how to prepare for the party, Senor Diaz tells Coach White to sit down and says,  “we are the Indians, not the chiefs.” Once Coach White sits down, a group of women come in and tell the men what they need to do.

 

McFarland, USA is a wonderful movie great for the entire family.  I recommend this movie for kids and teens ages 8 – 18 years old. I give this movie 5 out of 5 golden stars. McFarland will be in theaters February 20, 2015.

Credit: KIDS FIRST! www.kidsfirst.org

 

Filed Under: Media Reviews

You can make the difference for a shelter pet today!

February 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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Each year approximately 3-4 million pets are adopted from shelter and rescue groups, but 2.4 million healthy and treatable pets still need our help to find a home each year. I’m reaching out to you on behalf of The Shelter Pet Project, a collaborative effort between The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie’s Fund®, and the Ad Council, to ask for your support.

The goal of The Shelter Pet Project is to make shelters and rescue groups the first place people turn when looking to get a new pet.

Actress Bellamy Young, who plays First Lady Mellie Grant on ABC’s “Scandal,” in partnership with the Shelter Pet Project, stars in a new online video featuring her adopted dog Bean and adopted cat Sadie. The video helps break down misconceptions surrounding shelter pets and spreads the word that pets in shelters are wonderful and loveable.

In the video, Bellamy says, “Adoption is very near and dear to my heart” and encourages those who are thinking about pet adoption to take the next step and experience a “love unlike anything you’ve ever known.”

Visit TheShelterPetProject.org, where they you can “meet” shelter pets through an interactive experience, search for a dog or cat from a local shelter or rescue group, read adoption success stories, and learn valuable information about pet adoption.

Credit: The Shelter Pet Project.

Filed Under: Announcements

Introducing Momstamp.com

February 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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Momstamp is a new technology platform that allows parents to connect with their extended friend networks to find local service providers.  Momstamp is Angie’s List and Yelp meets Facebook.

 

The goal of Momstamp is to make parents’ lives easier. Parents are able to search, organize, and save the names of recommended service providers quickly and efficiently.  Imagine getting plumber, pediatric dentist, and math tutor recommendations not from strangers you know little about, but from your friends, or your friend’s friends.  Those recommendations are truly invaluable.

 

According to co-founder Paulette Light, “Momstamp provides a technology solution to what we do every day – get recommendations from our friends.  We knew there had to be a better answer than unorganized mass emails, lost sticky-notes, or buried Facebook posts.  Momstamp provides structure, ease, and convenience around word of mouth recommendations.”

 

Momstamp was created by three moms with ten kids between them and all with equally impressive resumes.  Having graduated from Columbia, Harvard and with an MBA from Wharton, Paulette Light was featured in Arianna Huffington’s book Thrive and on the Katie Couric Show. Staci Miller a graduate from The Wharton School of Business and with an MBA from Harvard Business School, was the VP of Operations & Strategy at Warner Brothers Online, overseeing design, project management, engineering, and advertising sales for the studio’s online business.  Julie Hermelin is an expert in content and branding in the parent space and is an acclaimed director, producer and writer.  She created the brand launch for The Mother Company and recently directed the Ms. Foundation’s Gloria Steinem special.

 

“Moving through each milestone in our families’ lives – from decorating a baby’s first nursery, to finding summer camps, to managing our children’s doctors, to remodeling a kitchen – can be both exciting and very overwhelming.  Having the support and recommendations of your friend community is very powerful,” says Staci Miller, co-founder of Momstamp.com.

Note from SoCal City Kids Publisher: I briefly checked out this website and believe that it will be very helpful for Moms!

Credit: Momstamp.com.

 

 

Filed Under: Announcements
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