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Looking to treat yourself to a delicious snack this Valentine’s Day?

February 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment

As Valentine’s Day is right around the corner there is no better time to stock up on snacks for you and your family! Our friends at Mary’s Gone Crackers are here to supply you with the best vegan, organic, and non-GMO crackers around as the holiday approaches!  I tried these crackers and they are simply delicious!

So whether you’re putting together a charcuterie board for an appetizer or just want some delicious and healthy crackers to snack on, Mary’s Gone Crackers has got you covered. Plant-based and gluten-free, these crackers will be sure to please any guests you have as well! Mary’s also makes the perfect pairing for a glass of wine. You just supply the romance and you have a perfect holiday!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this featured post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats Sweets and Treats!

February 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Looking for Valentine’s Day treats and sweets for your little ones this Valentine’s Day? Here are some of my favorites!

Jax’s Monster Mix A fun and tasty snack, Jax’s Monster Mix is an all-natural, gluten-free, peanut-free snack mix for kids of all ages. Unlike most snacks on the shelves, Jax’s is free from added sugars, contains a delicious mixture of sesame sticks, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, dried fruit such as mango & papaya, and coconut chips, and will give your little ones the fuel they need to get through the day. Comes in perfectly portioned snack packs to pass out to the class and friends! Gluten-Free. Peanut-Free. Check out https://getjaxs.com/ This one is quite tasty and great for on the go!

Undercover Snacks Undercover’s Chocolate Quinoa Crisps are the perfect crazy crunchy, wildly crispy, insanely delicious, better-for-you snack or indulgence to give this Valentine’s Day! They are made by lightly covering crispy quinoa in premium milk or dark chocolate and adding other healthy ingredients for a burst of flavor. All Undercover Snacks are made with carefully sourced all-natural, gluten-free, non-GMO, simple ingredients and Rain Forest Alliance Certified chocolate. Undercover Snacks are made with crispy quinoa, which is naturally gluten-free, packed with protein, fiber and nutrients, and has an incredible crunchy texture. Certified Nut-Free, Certified Gluten-Free and Kosher. Comes in 8 decadent varieties. For Valentine’s Day, their 12-count treat bag makes an excellent gift. Available at https://www.undercoversnacks.com/.

Sweet Chaos Drizzles Move over chocolate, drizzled popcorn is the new treat to give this Valentine’s Day! Sweet Chaos offers mouthwatering flavors to tempt your loved one’s taste buds, such as Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter, Peanut Butter and Black & White! Sweet Chaos Drizzles are Gluten Free, made with Non-GMO popcorn, and have NO artificial colors or flavors. Handmade kettle corn made by real people. Non-GMO popcorn is popped in Coconut Oil, with just the right amount of Cane Sugar and Sea Salt, and then sprinkled with delectable drizzles! Learn more at https://sweetchaos.com/. My favorite is the Black & White!

MyWish4U Love Notes Collection Show your kids how much you love them with Love Notes from the popular MyWish4U Lunch Notes. One simple little love note each day will be something they will cherish forever! I love you! · You are a blessing. · You are a treasure. · You are fun to be around! · You are so special! All kids need love and want to know they are cared for and appreciated. These Love Notes are perfect anytime and anyplace, including Valentine’s Day. Learn more at https://www.mywish4u.com/ This one is so sweet!

Heart Shape Name Labels from Mabel’s Labels The oh-so adorable Heart Shape Name Labels are the sweetest way to personalize your kid’s daycare or school gear. They’re waterproof and crazy durable, just like all Mabel’s Labels are, but in an adorable shape that makes labeling fun. These make a wonderful personalized gift and are a great alternative to traditional candy and cards this Valentine’s Day! Plus, they are available in 16 adorable design options. Each label pack includes 24 labels for $21.50. Waterproof. Dishwasher safe. Durable. Visit https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/heart-shape-name-labels.html

Self Disclosure: I received free samples and images to facilitate this holiday featured post.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

6 Valentine’s Day Food Ideas For Kids

February 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/L8V802a8lz0

Valentine’s Day is a few days away. It is the day to receive love and to give love. You express your love on this day to all the important people in your life. This year, we suggest that you express your love to your kids through these Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids.  

We have chosen some flavourful recipes, full of love and sweetness. From our Flourless Chocolate Cake to English Muffin Pizza to Raspberry Vanilla Popcorn, cook some delightful, easy, and tasty food for your kids. 

#1. Flourless Chocolate Cake 

Flourless chocolate cake, as the name suggests, has no flour in it. The cake’s inside is full of bittersweet chocolate. Since kids love chocolate so much, this is a perfect dessert for them. 

The preparation and baking of this dessert take around 70 to 90 minutes. The ingredients required for making the cake are all that will be readily available in your kitchen. To bake this cake you will require bittersweet chocolate, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and some kosher salt. 

We recommend you sprinkle some powdered sugar on the cake when it is baked completely for a fine finish to the cake. 

#2. Glazed Strawberry Muffins 

Muffins are cute, small and spongy cakes that all kids love. Therefore, we think that Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids are incomplete without these delicious muffins. 

These muffins can be baked in under an hour, so your kids won’t have to wait for too long to eat them. For the muffin, you would need some standard ingredients: flour, eggs, baking soda, baking powder, milk, butter, vanilla, some cinnamon, and diced strawberries. 

You can prepare the glaze with some strawberry jam, milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. 

#3. Easy English Muffin Pizza

Who doesn’t love a good combination of sweet and spice? This is another hit for the Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids — an Easy English Muffin Pizza. 

These muffin pizzas are so easy that they can be baked by your kids too! Your kids would love to help you out in the kitchen. So, make memories with your children as you make the English Muffin Pizza. 

Gather the following ingredients: English muffins, tomato purée, cherry tomatoes, red pepper, and grated cheese. If you feel the need, then add some salt too. 

The best part, though? This incredible dish can be baked in 10 minutes!

#4. Heart-Shaped S’More Cookies

These sweet cookies are another one of our favourites. Making a batch of these cookies is super easy and can be made quickly. It just takes 10-15 minutes to bake them. 

Choosing Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids can’t get easier than this because we know that adults and kids alike can’t resist these S’More Cookies! 

The few ingredients you will need to make these delicious cookies are graham crackers, heart-shaped marshmallows, chocolate bars, and heart sprinkles. 

You can consume these cookies as soon as they’re out of the oven or you can store them for up to a week in an airtight container. 

We recommend you use a Hershey chocolate bar for these cookies to make them flavourful. 

#5. Emoji Chocolate Bark 

This is a sweet recipe that requires minimum effort to prepare. Emoji Chocolate Bark is another dish that you can make with your kids. 

It is the perfect treat for kids. In fact, we guarantee they’ll be an instant hit among people of all ages. You can serve these at parties and get-togethers. They are light and sugary snacks. 

To prepare a batch of Emoji Chocolate Bark, you will need Vanilla Almond Bark, emoji M&Ms, and heart-shaped sprinkles. 

Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids do not have to be tough or complicated. Sometimes simple recipes like this one save the day. 

#6. Raspberry Vanilla Popcorn  

End your day on a perfect note with this recipe of delicious Raspberry Vanilla Popcorn. Snuggle with your children and watch a movie as you munch on this delectable popcorn.

We recommend this snack as it is the best choice for a sweet end to your beautiful day. 

They’re so easy to make that your kids can make them in under 5 minutes. To make them, all you require is good quality popcorn kernels, some honey and vanilla extract for sweetness, and dried raspberries. 

The Takeaway 

You and your kids deserve a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day. To spread love all around your house, indulge yourselves in these heavenly recipes. 

We think that these Valentine’s Day food ideas for kids will be a hit with your kids. Once they have a taste of them, they will ask for more!

These recipes are easy to follow and make and your children will enjoy cooking them with you. 

What did you think of our pick of Valentine’s Day Food Ideas for Kids? Which recipes will you try with your children? Tell us in the comments section below!

Author Bio: Aastha Jain

Aastha aspires to be a content writer. When not writing, she can be found snacking on Paleo Bars or sharing information on topics such as the best lip filler. 

Gravatar ID: aasthajn2000@gmail.com 

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Jockey * Pride and Vanity Don’t Take You Anywhere

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

An aging jockey is determined to win one last championship, but his dream is complicated when a young rookie shows up claiming to be his son. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, “I like Jockey because it is a movie full of inspiring scenes. The storyline is very interesting and worth watching.” See his full review below.

Jockey
By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13


Jockey is about a famous and talented jockey named Jackson (Clifton Collins, Jr.) Jackson is looking forward to winning his last race, but he has been suffering from pain due to the multiple injuries through the years of competing in horse races. He meets this young man named Gabriel (Moises Arias) who claims to be his son and starts working with him. Jackson is not happy about the news, but still takes him under his wing and trains him to be a jockey. Jackson feels threatened by Gabriel because he becomes a good jockey and might take his place soon. The film has a twist that will leave the audience in awe. You need to watch the movie to find out.

Jockey is written by Clint Bentley and directed by Bentley and Greg Kwedar. It has beautiful scenery like the sun rising above a lake. The music is appealing and goes well with each scene. My favorite scene is when Jackson is training Gabriel at the jockey’s training gym. Gabriel sits on a horse-like device. It shows how jockeys gain confidence training on this device, how they work on their grip and how to manage a horse.

The moral of this movie is that being vain doesn’t take you anywhere. Jackson is a proud and vain jockey. He thinks he’s so good that he’s irreplaceable until he realizes he is not the young jockey he used to be. It took Gabriel to open his eyes.

I give Jockey 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. This movie is rated R. Jockey will be released in theaters on February 4, 2022.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Bite Me * The Most Creative Story About Vampires Ever

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

When Sarah, a real-life vampire, gets audited by the IRS, the last thing she expects to get out of it is a date. But James, her hopelessly romantic IRS agent, thinks she’s other-worldly. As an unlikely attraction sparks between the two misfits, they are forced to confront whether they have the courage to commit the terrifying, radical act of falling in love.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ashleigh C. comments, “Like many teenagers, I am an ardent vampire folklore fan, romance-focused to be more specific. Twilight and Vampire Diaries among the most popular vampire series, and this film is a refreshing and enticing change in the vampire lore storytelling. See her full review below.

Bite Me
By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Bite Me is the most creative story about vampires I have seen. Like many teenagers, I am an ardent vampire folklore fan, romance-focused to be more specific. Twilight and Vampire Diaries among the most popular vampire series, and this film is a refreshing and enticing change in the vampire lore storytelling.

Bite Me is romantic comedy about an IRS agent, James (Christian Coulson) and a real-life vampire, Sarah (Naomi McDougall Jones). As Sarah gets a concerning message from the IRS about her church called Twilight she must explain to James about her lifestyle to throw out the case. As romance sparks between these two unlikely lovers, will Sarah have to choose between blood and James?  And is James’s love strong enough to handle her bite?

The idea of a real-life 21-century vampire is such an interesting concept. In the beginning of the film I was confused, though, by what they meant by the word “vampire”—with so many different variations of this fictional creature in storytelling, I had a hard time defining it. However, director Meredith Edwards cleverly defines this film’s interpretation of vampires throughout the story. This is done through James’ hilarious jokes and twists on the stereotypical vampire, which are then debunked by Sarah or another vampire. In terms of the film, the cinematography is excellent. The footage is extremely clear and has a depth that almost seems like an “IMAX effect.” Naomi McDougall Jones is the best actress to play a modern-day vampire! Many people could relate to her story in the film— minus the blood. Her co-star Christian Coulson plays James as so cheesy and odd and does things like busts into breakdancing, which is my favorite scene. His character is a perfect example that even the most average “mundane” people can live fantastical lives. My favorite character is played by Annie Golden— she provides great comic relief throughout. Like a lot of romcoms, Bite Me is set in New York City which creates the perfect tone for every section of the movie.

The message of Bite Me is simply to love who you are and who you wish to become. Sarah and James are both looking for something more in their lives, but realize that it might just be each other. This movie contains some profanity, brief sexual content, and blood, which may be disturbing for younger audiences. The movie promotes some negative behavior that may be mimicked by younger children.

I give Bite Me 4.5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. You can watch Bite Me on digital download on February 8, 2022.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these books of the week!

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Looking for the perfect picture book for your little ones this Valentine’s Day? Your search is over! HOW DO YOU LOVE? By Kellie Byrnes; illustrated by Melina Ontiveros (Feiwel & Friends, on sale January 4, 2022, Ages 3-5): This warm picture book shows children and adults expressing love in many different ways through words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch.

This one is a great way to teach young children about celebrating love, family, and friendship this Valentine’s Day!

Are you looking for a book for teens and young adults? SERENDIPITY edited by Marissa Meyer, with stories written by authors Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Anna-Marie McLemore, and more! (Feiwel & Friends, January 4, 2022): Love is in the air in this collection of stories, plus one graphic novel short, inspired by romantic tropes and edited by #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer. 

I really enjoyed reading this book!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books. Cover images were also provided.

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Miley, Feb. 10 Pet of the Week

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Smiley Miley came to the shelter as a stray and has been in the shelter since May. This 3-year-old is really, really ready to get out and live the life that a dog is supposed to live. She loves her treats, and she knows a couple of commands—“sit” especially. Miley is a strong lady and needs a human who has patience and understanding for a dog who needs it. As you can see, she’s all ready to tango with a partner at the Valentine’s Day dance. Could it be you? Adoptions are now conducted through appointment only, so call 562-570-PETS or email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to meet Miley. Ask for ID#A656951.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Filed Under: Pet Corner

Are you ready for Super Bowl ? These beverages are a must!

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Planning a party for Super Bowl? Virgil’s Root Beer is a favorite of mine! I actually love making a Root Beer float! Or maybe you prefer a cocktail such as Reed’s Touchdown Mule which features an invigorating bite of ginger! Both would be perfect with game-day snacks!

Virgil’s Handcrafted Root Beer​Virgil’s rich, yet creamy Root Beer is crafted from a perfectly balanced, natural blend of 15 roots and spices. Every ingredient in Virgil’s is all-natural – which means no preservatives, no aspartame and no artificial colors. ($6 / 4-Pack on Instacart)

To prep for your super bowl viewing party, tune into Virgil’s Instagram from February 6th – February 11th for a chance to win a variety of entertaining essentials from La Terra Fina, Harvest Snaps, Urban Pie Pizza Co., and of course Virgil’s!

Here’s a great recipe to try for the big game day!

Reed’s Touchdown MuleIngredients:

Instructions:

  • Muddle blueberries and strawberries in the bottom of a moscow mule mug
  • Add vodka and lime juice
  • Add crushed ice
  • Add Reed’s Real Ginger Ale & stir
  • Garnish with strawberry and serve

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this featured post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week
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