Archives for May 2015

As a Homeschool Mom, a Volunteer and a New Puppy Mom, I am on my feet a lot. Some days, I would say I am on my feet all day! So, achy foot pain is not a stranger to me. I was really thrilled to have this opportunity to recieve a pair of the Venture Walker shoes by Vionic Shoes. I usually have Ball of Foot pain and also heel pain so I really was interested in seeing if these shoes would help that problem. What I like best about the shoe is that they are light-weight and are really comfortable. These shoes feature the Orthaheel Technology, which is a biomechanic orthotic footbed that naturally  aligns your feet and may actually help to relieve heel pain by reducing over-pronation.

I also am a Walker..some weeks it is my main exercise. Now, with a new puppy, I am walking even more than before so I need a durable and comfortable shoe. I have been wearing these for over a week now, and really like them! They are comfortable, durable and I actually do seem to have less foot pain. Now, I just need a pair in every color to match my wardrobe!

You can find these and many other styles of Vionic Shoes on their website. I recommend the Venture Walker!

Self Disclosure: I received a free pair of Vionic Venture Walker Shoes to facilitate an unbiased review. Photo Credit-Top photo: Vionic Shoes. Bottom Photo: SoCal City Kids.

Summer is almost here and that means more time to travel and maybe even go on road trips! Apps and Tablets are entertaining but like most parents, you  may want to limit screen time. FlipStir is a new twist in 3D puzzle gaming!

The award winning FlipStir is a new twist in 3D puzzle gaming; this patented design captivates young and young-at-heart! Simply pull the wand back, shake the puzzle to scramble the pieces; then just use the wand, gravity and your own ingenuity to solve the puzzle and reveal the artwork. And since FlipStir is self-contained, it makes it easy for parents to clean up without searching for any lost pieces.

I received a sample and I love that it is self-contained and educational! I don’t know about you but we have boxes and boxes of puzzles with missing pieces. Now, that we have a new puppy, keeping puzzle pieces out of his reach is also a chore! 

Shake. Stir. Solve. It’s that simple! For ages 7 and up….adults love it too! I have to admit is can be a little challenging but that is all part of the fun of it all!

FlipStir also aids in the development of hand-eye coordination and motor skill development, which makes it a great gift for children with special needs, as well.

FlipStir comes in two levels of difficulty. Level 1 has simple puzzle images and rectangular pieces. Level 2 is slightly more difficult with more complex images and curvy pieces.

Adding to its many previous awards and recognition, FlipStir just received the 2015 Family Choice Awardfrom Family Magazines Group and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval!

FlipStir is currently available in four unique designs: Rainbow Pencils (Level 1), Tyrannosaurus Rex(Level 1), Solar System(Level 2),  and Statue of Liberty(Level 2). We received the Statue of Liberty and my son loves it! It’s really quite cool!

All are available at select specialty retail locations and online for $24.95 at: http://enlivenze.com/3-flipstir-puzzles

For more information go to: http://enlivenze.com/  Or like FlipStir on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlivenze

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. 

Bold New Product A Perfect Option For Taste-Conscious Consumers Of All Ages Following A Cheese-Free Diet!

Introducing the perfect comfort food just about every vegan in the country has long waited for – a dairy and gluten free mac product so creamily delicious that family members of all ages will be saying: “Pass The Pastaríso, Please!”

Mac Uncheddar from Pastaríso (www.pastarisofoods.com) – a division of gluten free pasta leader Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods (www.maplegrovefoods.com) – will knock your socks off.  Experience the flavor!

• Vegan                         •Nut Free
• Dairy Free/Lactose Free                           •Non GMO
• Certified Gluten Free                           •Zero Trans Fat
• Wheat Free                           • Zero Saturated Fat
• Soy Free                                           • Zero Cholesterol
• Egg Free                           • Excellent Source of Protein

Mooove over dairy! Mac Uncheddar is currently available at Sprouts nationwide as well as online at VeganEssentials.com and Amazon.com.

Determined to finally crack the code when it came to creating a mac and cheese option sumptuous enough to satisfy vegans, those following a gluten free diet and other consumers ready to reduce their fat intake, Pastaríso spent the last two years exploring a wide variety of recipes and formulations before introducing Mac Uncheddar this month.

As a Mac and cheese aficionado Kelly Layne of Northern California recently commented after trying Pastaríso’s new Mac Uncheddar, “Like most people, I’ve loved cheese all my life, but several years ago I developed a dairy food intolerance that completely altered my diet. Since then, I’ve felt deprived – so I’m beyond thrilled to discover that Mac Uncheddar actually delivers the cheesy flavors I thought I might never enjoy again.”

Added Sylvia Tam, VP of Marketing for Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods, “We went to great lengths to make certain our vegan, dairy free and gluten free new Mac Uncheddar would have the authentic tastes and textures that have kept macaroni and cheese such a perennial family favorite for decades. We’re heartened by the highly enthusiastic

response our new product has already generated and look forward to providing a delicious alternative.”

Take Comfort In Every Bite™

For consumers following a gluten free diet, it’s not only essential to select products that please their palate but to support brands that merit their trust. As a longstanding industry leader, Maplegrove employs the safest possible manufacturing standards as set by the USDA and Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and even stricter standards as set by large multinational manufacturers.

Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods is also a certified organic and Kosher producer and undergoes several inspections and audits annually to guarantee all standards are met and exceeded. In addition, no genetically modified ingredients are used in any of the company’s products.

I have to admit that when I first heard of this product, I wasn’t sure….I mean Mac and Cheese without the cheese? But, it also sounded like a very healthy option for me. I am not supposed to eat very much cheese so I was excited to actually find out about this product. I have to say, I was surprised! It’s actually tasty! Although, my son still prefers his traditional Macaroni and Cheese, he will eat this brand. That is saying a lot! He can be quite particular especially since he loves cheese.

About Pastaríso

A member of the Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods family of gluten free brands (which includes Pastato, Medicea and Celifibr), Pastaríso manufactures a diverse array of organic and conventional rice pasta products, including the brand NEW Mac Uncheddar; seven plain pasta varieties — Brown Rice Vegetable Rotini, Brown Rice Spaghetti, Brown Rice Penne, Brown Rice Elbows, Brown Rice Rotini, White Rice Ziti and White Rice Elbows; Brown and White Rice Mac & Cheese Cups; and Mac & Cheese Dinner Meals. For more information, please visit www.pastarisofoods.com or www.maplegrovefoods.com.

I was quite happy to have the opportunity to select a poster from Pop Chart Labs. I found so many that I liked but decided to let me 11-year-old son choose and he chose the American Flags. He has always liked history and flags. I was impressed with the over all quality. This It was also one would easily look great in a frame. It arrived in a tube and was packaged well. I like that the paper is thick. It seems thicker than most posters and it shouldn’t tear easily. My son was also impressed with it as well and it looks great on his bedroom wall. I recommend this poster and you should also check out the other ones that Pop Chart Lab sells.

You can purchase on Amazon.com.

More info about Pop Chart Lab:
The Story of Pop Chart Lab: In 2010, a book editor and a graphic designer joined forces with one modest goal: to render all of human experience in chart form.
They went on to amass no small renown (that is, a ton of renown) for their infographical treatments of the varieties of beer, the full array of culinary tools, a taxonomy of hip-hop, and dozens more mappings of cultural touchstones.
Now, with a small team of researchers, designers, and soldiers, Pop Chart Lab continues to assemble, sift, cull, and arrange massive amounts of cultural data into meaningful works of art and information.

Self Disclosure: I received a free product in exchange for an unbiased review.