Archives for December 11, 2021

More Holiday Gift Suggestions!

Looking for a gift for someone who loves running, hiking, or even just walking? This next one is also great for keeping those healthy, getting fit New Year resolutions! The fitness apparel brand, HYLETE, is already spreading cheer with the release of transitional apparel featuring multiple new products, new collections, colors, and much more. Keep the workouts going all season long with unique fabric blends, layered insulated apparel, and lightweight breathable fabric available for a limited time at www.hylete.com. I received some great products to try out and I love their shorts and pants.

I especially like that the pants have pockets! I’m not a runner but I do love walking!

Whether it’s a pair of extra-cozy fleece joggers, sweat-wicking compression leggings, or stylish crews and hoodies, the right pair of performance attire can make all the difference through the coldest months of the year. HYLETE’s winter apparel is available for purchase today and include:

Shoppers who need help finding the right gift can take a quiz to Find Their Perfect Short by selecting preferences like activities, attributes, and fit based on the recipient. Electronic gift cards are also available for purchase in multiple denominations. 

For more information on HYLETE, visit www.hylete.com.

Here are a few great suggestions for your College students! They will make a great addition to a holiday care package too!

For busy college kids, finding easy ways to strengthen your immune system and add an extra dose of energy is a must-have during these crazy, busy times. And what better way to do this than with a healthy cup of coffee!

Nora’s Naturals Coffee is on a mission to support health and wellbeing by sourcing high antioxidant single-origin coffee with tremendous physical and mental health benefits. Their coffee is grown in volcanic soil, rich in silica (essential for collagen production – hello better skin, hair, and nails), and packed with antioxidants for brain health and physical health. Perfect for any busy college kid! 

Looking to add a little something extra to your care package? Try gifting jewelry! Throwing in a chic, affordable, tarnish-resistant piece of jewelry is the perfect way to gift something they will continue to wear and cherish far past the school year. 

Female-founded jewelry brand Starlette Galleria offers rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that are made of high-quality metals and synthetic gemstones (Say bye-bye to skin irritation and green skin!).

Starlette Galleria caters to the woman on the go, offering necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that won’t break the bank and won’t leave you crying if you happen to lose or misplace your precious jewelry when out and about. Perfect for any budget-conscious college kid! There is sure to be a perfect gift and would also make a great surprise in a stocking!

I love the next one! It would be a great gift for Moms too! Tough as a Mother Tribe utilizes the power and meanings of gemstones to design jewelry that honors the most joyous and raw parts of being a woman. Throw on Tough as a Mother Tribe’s “COOL MAMA” (Chalcedony), GOOD VIBES MAMA”(Labradorite), and the “BALANCED MAMA” (Quartz) necklaces to help ground, relax, and revitalize you for your next beach day. These necklaces are just too cool!

The next items are a must for the kids!

Air Hunterz Wrist Bow (Zing): The mini-arrow firing device is just what you need to make battling with friends easy and fun! With launching distances of up to 30 feet, your arrow will soar through the air! Available on Amazon for $14.99. I do recommend this one for ages 8+.

Great fun for the younger kids!

The Gift Box Ornament Decorator (Hey Buddy Hey Pal): The perfect DIY craft to embrace the holiday season, allowing both kids and adults to make perfect, hand-decorated ornaments for the tree! Place one of the three different ornaments included with the kit on top of the gift box-shaped decorator and let the fun begin! The machine holds and spins the ornaments, while the included markers are used to create bright colorful ornaments with stripes, lines, and other designs! Each kit comes with one decorator, three different ornaments, caps, hooks, and eight colorful non-toxic markers. Available on Amazon for $24.99.

This one is great fun for kids and adults!

Chalk of the Town Christmas T-Shirt Kit (Chalk of the Town): Ring in the holidays this year with Chalk of the Town’s new Christmas Tree T-Shirt Kit. This shirt features a “chalkboard” Christmas tree on the front to decorate with the included chalk markers — and thanks to the patent-pending design, when you proudly wear your Christmas masterpiece, it won’t smudge or bleed.  Christmas Tree T-Shirt Kits come with a 100% cotton, Kelly Green long-sleeve shirt; pink, green, & blue water-based chalk markers; & an erasing cloth. Available in youth sizes XS (2-4), S (6-8), M (10-12), L (14-16), & XL (18-20) and adult sizes S, M, L & XL. Available on Amazon for $27.95.

I love this one!

Go Go Bird Butterfly will surely be a hit! This one is from Zing and looks and flies like a real butterfly! You can find it on Amazon.

I recommend this one for ages 8+ and I like how lightweight it is.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this holiday gift guide. Images and information were also received.

Foodtastic * Disney’s New Food Show Filled With Whimsy And Larger Than Life Food Sculptures

Hosted by the multitalented, Emmy® award-winning actress Keke Palmer, Foodtasticis an immersive global competition series in which highly skilled artists create extravagant scene work and larger-than-life sculptures made entirely out of food. From vegetables and butter to fruit and cheese, these everyday items are transformed into works of art. Each episode is rooted in iconic Disney IP and the food-based builds are an extension of that world. Flour Shop founder Amirah Kassem and NYC’s City Cakes founder chef Benny Rivera serve as food art experts on the series. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Tiana S. comments, “Foodtastic is Disney’s new food build competition show that is filled with whimsical storytelling, breathtaking set designs, out-of-this-world visual effects, and larger than life food sculptures with magic around each corner.” See her full review and interview with Keke Palmer below.

Foodtastic 

By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11


What do you get when you give adults a pass to play with their food in the magical world of Disney? You get one Foodtastic show! Foodtastic is Disney’s new food build competition show that is filled with whimsical storytelling, breathtaking set designs, out-of-this-world visual effects, and larger than life food sculptures with magic around each corner.

Foodtastic is hosted by the multi-talented actress, Keke Palmer, who is also one of the executive producers. Each episode opens with Keke Palmer acting out a Disney-themed skit narrated by award-winning voice actor Anthony Mendez. Contestants must build scenes using food sculptures based on the skit. Flour Shop founder Amirah Kassem and NYC’s City Cakes founder chef Benny Rivera serve as the food artist experts and judges on the show. Contestants are judged on technique, realism and creativity. The winning team is awarded bragging rights and a gold Foodtastic pin.

Each episode has three teams consisting of highly talented food artists including architects, food sculptors and even a Guinness world record pumpkin carver. Disney left no stone unturned when it came to making this show magical. The set designs are vibrant and very realistic. Creative visual effects such as a red sun setting in the background of the Star Wars-themed episode are used to track the contestants’ time. The food artists are like kids in a candy store when they see all the food options they have to build their sculptures. The food designs are impressive and include anywhere from 55 different food ingredients for one sculpture, giant jawbreakers as giant donut sprinkles, wasps made out of hot peppers and even Ramen noodles as a massive ant hill. There are even plot twists that serve as extra challenges for the teams, where they may have to re-think their entire project to add a last-minute element, such as Micro Girl needing to be rescued. In that instance, they had to figure out how to add her and what type of food to use to make her. One of the best parts of the show is that all unused food is donated to the local food banks.

Disney is known for being magical and inspiring audiences around the world and Foodtastic is no different. It promotes teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills and tapping into the magical world of Disney. The contestants really learn what it’s like to dream big, free your mind, believe in yourself and your team and just go for it. It’s sure to motivate generations of food artists.

I rate Foodtastic 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 5 to 18, kids at heart and adults. You can find Foodtastic on Disney+ starting Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

 Trailer: https://youtu.be/JYQkFCDwc60