Archives for November 2016

Kogi Opens at Whole Foods Market® Plaza El Segundo

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Whole Foods Market has partnered Los Angeles chef Roy Choi to open a Kogi location inside its El Segundo store, which opened on Wednesday, Nov. 9th, at 760 S Sepulveda Blvd  in Plaza El Segundo. The opening coincided with the completion of a major remodel to the 66,500-square-foot store.

 

Located within the prepared foods section, Kogi will offer a full menu of its famed tacos, burritos and favorites like the Short Rib Tacos, Blackjack Quesadillas and Blue Moon Mulitas seven days a week. All menu items are made on site and meet Whole Foods Market’s strict quality standards.

“Every menu item is prepared with the same OG Kogi love, the freshest ingredients and our shared commitment to quality,” said Roy Choi, who co-founded Kogi. “We are so proud to continue to be a trailblazer in being the first concept of its kind in now two Los Angeles Whole Foods Market stores.”

 

Kogi is the second Roy Choi venue within a Whole Foods Market store, Chego opened last year in the company’s downtown Los Angeles location.  It is Kogi’s first stationary South Bay location.

 

“People follow Kogi’s trucks all over Southern California,” said Patrick Bradley, President, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region. “Now locals can make it a regular lunch spot or grab Kogi to go when picking up their groceries. We’re thrilled to offer this experience within the South Bay’s new and improved El Segundo store.”

The updated store includes new offerings in almost every department. It was designed to provide shoppers with a more streamlined, efficient shopping experience and new culinary innovations like the partnership with Kogi and the recently opened, the 2ND,” with 36 beers on tap, 12+ wines by the glass and seasonal menu with items like cauliflower nachos, avocado toast, “boozy” gelato and a brunch menu on the weekends.

 

Additional updates:

  • Smokehouse menu in the meat department, plus expanded marinated and value section
  • A self-serve pizza station and new pizza menu in prepared foods
  • Huge beer and wine selection featuring more than 850 types of beer including local limited release offerings
  • The largest bulk pet food section of any Southern California Whole Foods Market store
  • Beautifully designed juice & smoothie bar with made-to-order smoothies, juices and “boost-ups” like pressed ginger, turmeric and wheatgrass.
  • Updated coffee bar with custom espresso drinks, featuring local Bodhi Leaf blend on cold brew
  • Renovated beauty and body care department with a curated selection of premium body care
  • Made to order poke bar – opening November 17
  • A scratch bread program in bakery and a bread bar – opening January 2017

 

 

For more on Kogi, check out @RidingShotgunLA and @KogiBBQ on Twitter and Instagram. For details on all upcoming events and activities, click here, follow the store on Facebook or @wfmsouthbay on Instagram.

 Credit: Whole Foods Market.

About Whole Foods Market® 

Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the

leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole

Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s

motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer

satisfaction and health, team member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value,

community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 87,000 team

members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in

America by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2015, the company had sales of

more than $15.4 billion and currently has more than 455 stores in the United States, Canada and the

United Kingdom.

 

A New Unique Cooking Tool that You Must-Try! The Smartbowl!

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Does cooking great meals for one take a long time? Not anymore! You can make easy and quick meals in your Microwave with The Smartbowl! What is Smartbowl? A technologically advanced set of bowls that turn your microwave into a stove.  You will now be able to do more than reheat. You can actually cook delicious, healthy food in minutes as well as use the Smartbowls to freeze, store, and even put on top of an open flame as well as broil. I love how super easy these are to use! Cooking is so much easier now!

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The bowls are made in Japan by the Hario factory (heat-resistant glassware company since 1921 known for quality coffee gear) from borosilicate glass and come with silicone lids.  This combination creates a cooking environment in the microwave that works like a pressure cooker—speeding up your cooking while keeping great taste and texture.

I also love the recipe book that is included! My favorites are the Poached Egg and the Garlicky Shrimp Scampi! It takes less than 5 minutes to make some of these recipes! The Poached Egg only takes about a minute! Now, how cool is that?!

Smartbowl has also worked with Celebrity Chef Art Smith to create 80 recipes for a companion Smartbowl Cookbook. Within minutes of opening the box, you can get Smartcooking with such super-simple recipes as:

  • Smart Start Blueberry Oatmeal (90 seconds to what chef Art credits to getting him on the path to healthy)
  • Salmon & Kale (2 minutes and your daily dose of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids)
  • Ooey, Gooey, Mocha Chocolate Cake (4 minutes and kids can make this one for themselves)

 

Available exclusively online at https://smartbowlsystem.com/buy-now/

Everyone on your holiday shopping list will want one of these!

 

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

Must-Haves for the Fall!

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Primal Essence Super Teas! I love how favorable these are and how you only need to use a small amount at a time. Chai is my favorite! Overflowing with flavor derived directly from whole plants, teas and coconut oil from Primal Essence (www.primalessence.com) are helping redefine some of our favorite beverages and foods.

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SEA SALT FROM THE STILL-PURE WATERS OF NEW ZEALAND – David Noll, CEO of New Zealand importer Pacific Resources International (www.shoppri.com) is on a mission to help consumers discover the superior attributes of New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt as compared to traditional table salt.   This one has been a big hit with my husband who loves to BBQ and he’s a great cook too! 

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GOIN’ BANANAS! Edward & Sons (www.edwardandsons.com), the company that first introduced organic coconut milk and Miso-Cup instant soup mix to American consumers, has just debuted a new line of Banana Flour that’s a perfect alternative to wheat flour. I was hesitant to try this Banana Flour but am really impressed!  I also had the opportunity to try the Miso-Cup and the Gluten Free Ice cream cones.

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I recommend all! But, my favorite is the Banana Flour! It is wonderful for baking! It will be great for the upcoming holiday season!

But..my all-time favorite is the MANUKA HONEY Caramels! These were a hit in my house and did not last long at all!

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FINE MANUKA HONEY CHOCOLATES & CARAMELS – Holidays and chocolate go hand in hand, so why not try some of New Zealand’s tastiest and freshest Manuka Honey chocolate and caramel varieties (www.shoppri.com). Everyone in my house loved these especially the Caramels!

Don’t forget to check all of them out this Fall!

 

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Photos were provided.

Presto Makes For a Safer House!

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Looking to make your laundry room a safer place for young children?  Presto has created the new child-resistant Child-Guard closure designed for resealable flexible packaging, such as that used for laundry pods, to give parents more time to react to potentially dangerous situations. And, not to mention, more piece of mind.

I received a sample and I have to admit that I am pretty impressed! I almost couldn’t open it myself! I like that it definitely is child-proof! 

Child-Guard ™ is the first ever child-resistant closure system designed specifically for products that use flexible packaging.

Why is Child-Guard important to moms everywhere?

Flexible packaging represents approximately 18 percent of the total packaging market and it’s the fastest growing type of packaging in all consumer goods markets.

 

That means common household products such as laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals and lawn and garden products will sold in flexible packages without a child-resistant closure, could be very easy for children to open and get into and resulting in accidental poisonings.

 

Just last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevents received more than 1.3 million calls involving poison exposure for children.

 

The makers of Child-Guard™ knew there was void in the flexible packaging industry for a child-resistant zipper and committed themselves to developing a solution that would satisfy this critical market need.

 

Child-Guard meets industry packaging and federal Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) standards.

How does it work?

Great lengths were taken to create a package closure that designed to keep children safe, yet also easy for adults to operate.

To open the package, the consumer must first move the slider to left point of the zipper. Next the consumer should push down on the slider’s tab and at the same time pull the slider to the right along the track. I mentioned it is tough to open but once I did open it..I easily was able to get used to it and it is not that difficult for adults!

What consumer products currently have Child-Guard™ on their package?

Tide PODS® recently debuted a new ad campaign featuring the Child-Guard™ closure.

Child-Guard ™ can also be found on Hex Detergent.

 

Where can I learn more about Child-Guard?

Visit child-guard.com to learn more about this important innovation. This website offers parents household safety tips and advice for keeping kids safe.

 

Who are the makers of Child-Guard™?

Child-Guard™ is made by Presto Products Company a market leader in the private label and flexible packaging industries.

  • Like the Facebook page to show support for Child-Guard™
  • Share the “What is Child-Guard™ educational video” and Don’t forget to  spread the word hashtag #GuardIt

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Photo/Info was also provided.

 

“Feelings”- Matching & Memory Card Game is Great for Teaching Children about Feelings!

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Looking for a great way to teach young children about feelings? or maybe you have a child who needs to learn more about social cues such as reading different facial expressions? This is a great teaching tool! The Feelings Matching & Memory Card Game is simple but I like that there are adults on the cards so if you have a child that is not really young..they will not feel this is only for very little kids. I like that there are even a couple of cards that are slightly hard to identify the exact expression/feeling. I think this is especially helpful for those on the Autism spectrum. I highly recommend!

 

You can purchase on Amazon.com.

More info:

  • Contains: 20*2 easily recognizable, colorful matching pieces – photos of diverse facial expressions. Large, sturdy pieces made of extra thick cardboard.
    Effective and useful in processing emotional and verbal & non- verbal communication. Help kids recognize and identify emotions in others – critical for social development! Develops the ability to pay attention to the feelings of others & learn to express them.
    Designed to be Fun, Educational and Promote Cognitive Skills for All ages. Collecting sets of 2 cards & the one with the most sets wins!
    This Card Game is useful to speech and occupational therapists, social workers, educators and fun for all family members. Perfect classroom activity for early learners or special education classrooms. Learning Game and toy for kids with Autism, Aspergers, ADHD and Special Needs.

Self Disclosure: I received a free or heavily discounted item to facilitate this post.

Baby Girls Fur Winter Coat is a Must-Buy this Upcoming Holiday!

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Looking for an adorable Winter coat for your little girl this Holiday? I just love this really cute pink one by Jxstarandperfashion. It is simply adorable! I like this one because it is just perfect for this time of the year and for Winter holiday photos! It is super soft and too cute for words! It is available in different sizes for 6 Months to 3 Years. It has a Silk Ribbon & Ball in the front and I highly recommend this one!

Sizing:

6-12M – Length:29cm(11.4in) | Sleeve Length:18cm(7in)
12-18M – Length:30cm(11.8in) |Sleeve Length:20cm(7.9in)
18-24M – Length:32cm(12.6in) | Sleeve Length:22cm(8.7in)
2-3Y – Length:34cm(13.4in) | Sleeve Length :24cm(9.4in)

You can find it on Amazon.com.

 

Self Disclosure: I received a free or heavily discounted item to facilitate this post. Photo was provided.

Children’s “Bumble Bee” Pajamas Jxstarandperfashion are a Must-Buy this Holiday season!

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Looking for some super cute pajamas for your little one this holiday? I love these Bumble Bee ones from Jxstarandperfashion. Also available in a Ladybug style. This set is just adorable with a cute Bumble Bee print on the top and yellow and black striped bottoms. This is a really cute sleep set and would be perfect for Christmas pajamas! I like that the set id colorful and that the top has long sleeves!

You can purchase on Amazon.com.

Sizing:

Size for 18 Months to 7 years.
18-24 Months – Height:90cm(35in) | Chest:49cm(19.3in) | Top Length:38(15in) | Waist:40(15.7in) | Pants Length:46.5(18.3in)
24 Months – Height:95cm(37in) | Chest:54cm(21.3in) | Top Length:40.5(16in) | Waist:42(16.5in) | Pants Length:49.5(19.5in)
2-3Y – Height:100cm(39in) | Chest:59cm(23.2in) | Top Length:43(17in) | Waist:44(17.3in) | Pants Length:52.5(20.7in)
3-4Y – Height:110cm(43in) | Chest:62cm(24.4in) | Top Length:44.5(17.5in) | Waist:46(18in) | Pants Length:55.5(21.9in)
4-5Y – Height:120cm(47in) | Chest:66cm(26in) | Top Length:46.5(18.3in) | Waist:48cm(18.9in) | Pants Length:60(23.6in)
5-7Y – Height:130cm(51in) | Chest:70cm(29.5in) | Top Length:50(20.7in) | Waist:50cm(29in) | Pants Length:65(25.6in)

Self Disclosure: I received a free or heavily discounted item to facilitate this post. 

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Legend Of Everfree – Amazing Storyline, Fantastic Characters And Terrific Animation

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When Canterlot Highschool goes on a trip to Camp Everfree, they are surprised to find a magical force is causing strange things to happen around camp. With the help of the Mane 6 and especially Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle must confront the dark Midnight Sparkle within herself and embrace her newfound magical abilities to save the camp. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “This film is one of my favorites of this series. I love the story line and how it fits perfectly with the rest of the series.” See her full review below.

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree

By Morgan Bertsch, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

 

My Little Pony has caught up with sci-fi and now has dimensions where the ponies are teenagers. WOW! This is an awesome concept! I love this colorful DVD with its amazing storyline, fantastic characters and terrific animation. This film is one of my favorites of this series. I love the story line and how it fits perfectly with the rest of the series. The animation is fantastic. I love that they mix it with a little bit of Japanese anime. It really brings this film to life.

The cast is so fun and entertaining. Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) is a loving main character. She shows this by helping her friends and trying to find ways to make the world a better place for everyone. She does this despite the fact that she is dealing with her evil dark side that came out in the last film. Plus, things at Camp Everfree are going wrong and strange things are happening all around camp. Sunset Shimmer (Rebecca Shoichet) is thoughtful, generous, wants to help everybody and wants to solve the mystery. She also helps Twilight Sparkle overcome her fear and gain more confidence about herself. Rainbow Dash and Applejack (Ashleigh Ball) is daring, adventurous and a total tomboy. She tries to do the most outrageous and dangerous stuff with her friends including rock climbing and archery. Applejack is brutally honest and cares deeply for everyone. She can be a bit mean at times, but she just wants you to know the truth about everything. She once told Rarity that her idea of a runway was dumb because they were in a forest and no one but her would use it. Pinkie Pie (Andrea Libman) is hyper and loves to throw parties anywhere, anytime and any place. She brings marshmallows to everything to make s’mores. She tries her best to be fun and bring life to the party. She even dares Rainbow to eat as many marshmallows as she can fit in her mouth in one bite while they are telling scary stories by the campfire.  Fluttershy (Andrea Libman) is shy, quiet and loves animals with all of her heart. She even goes to help a bird get back into its nest when she is in a hurry. Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain) loves to sew clothes for all her friends and is a complete girly girl at heart. She even wants a runway where she can show the other campers the clothes she has made.

Sunset Shimer is my stand out character. She wears a crown that has a spell cast on it and ends up with a demon inside her that she must fight off. Her character is compassionate. I like that she is always battling her caring side against her evil side. She is thoughtful of others. The way she tries everything in her power to help Twilight Sparkle overcome her fear is a great reminder to take good care of your friends and family, which is the theme of this film.

This is filled with magnificent songs that provide a musical theater vibe because the girls sing throughout the movie. They all have beautiful voices. You will want to learn the lyrics and sing along with them. They are so heartfelt that they really make you feel the emotions the characters are feeling.

I recommend this film for ages 7 to 16. Younger kids will love the story and fun characters. Older kids will find it inspiring. I give this 5 out of 5 pony stars.

Credit: KIDS FIRST!