GoodBelly Organic Tropical Green juice is packed with probiotics and good-for-you greens like spinach, alfalfa grass, spirulina, chlorella, oat grass and parsley – plus with the addition of tropical fruit like mango and banana it tastes absolutely delicious! Non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free and vegan like all other GoodBelly beverages, Tropical Green is made with the well-researched probiotic strain, LP299V to give you the digestive helpers you need! Drink straight out of the carton, blend into your favorite smoothie for a festive morning treat, or save it for a next-day reboot. Let’s all raise a glass (or stein) and cheers to luck and GoodHealth with GoodBelly!

I received free coupons to try GoodBelly out for myself and I am really impressed! It is good for you, which I already knew but it also tastes good too! I was surprised how much I liked it! 

You can find their store locator here.

Self Disclosure: I received free coupons to try out GoodBelly. Photo Credit: GoodBelly.

The media notes ‘Pi Day’ each year, but only mentions that it has something to do with circles, or that there may be a local pie(!)-eating contest.

Pi Day should be about Making Math Memorable with hands-on activities. Now you can prove Pi yourself in your own hands with your own Sneaky Pi Detector. Grab one free at: http://www.sneakymath.com – print it, cut it out, and wrap it around a cylindrical item to discover its diameter and circumference all via the magic of Pi.

See more free projects and how-to videos at SneakyMath.com and share the fun with your friends.

Sneaky Math is a project-based math book and the latest title in the Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things series. Recommended by the National Science Teachers Association, Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things is a nine book science education best-selling series featured in the Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report and on CNN Headline News.

Credit: Cy Tymony, Author of Sneaky Math. 

Nathalia is a children’s songwriter and performer based out of Los Angeles. She has just released her second bilingual children’s album, “Dream a Little.” Her website is www.nathaliamusic.com. You can listen to full tracks and follow along with lyrics. I checked it out and love the lively fun music and definitely recommend for younger children! They will love dancing and singing along to Nathalia’s music.

She will also  be releasing her very first music video for the song, “Los Planetas”, on March 3rd!

We have teamed up for a Giveaway! Two winners will win her CD! To enter, check out her website and let us know your favorite (or your children’s) favorite song! Deadline to enter is February 28th, 2015 at noon PST. Two winners will randomly be selected via Random.org.

Self Disclosure: I did not receive compensation to post and have only received the CD’s for the giveaway.

It’s the Chinese New Year! Time to celebrate! Here’s a fun recipe to make with your children.

New Year Dumplings

Recipe provided by China Institute

Dumplings, called jiaozi in Mandarin, have been popular in China for hundreds of years. They’re especially popular on Chinese New Year.

This year, Chinese New Year starts on February 19. We will be moving from the Year of the Horse to the Year of the Sheep. What better way to celebrate than to make your own dumplings! The recipe below is for a traditional pork and chive filling, but the great thing about dumplings is that you can make all sorts of different fillings.

INGREDIENTS

Dumpling (jiaozi) Dough:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups cold water

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pork & Chive Filling:

1 cup ground pork (can also use beef)

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

3 Tablespoon sesame oil

1/2 green onion, finely minced

1 1/2 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage

4 Tablespoons shredded bamboo shoots

2 slices fresh ginger, finely minced

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced

DIRECTIONS

Stir the salt into the flour. Slowly stir in the cold water, adding as much as is necessary to create a smooth dough. Don’t add more water than is necessary. Knead the dough into a smooth ball. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

While the dough is resting, prepare the filling ingredients. Add the soy sauce, salt, rice wine, and white pepper to the meat, stirring in one direction. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring in the same direction, and mix well.

Now, prepare the dough for the dumplings. First knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball. Divide the dough into 60 pieces. Roll each piece out into a circle about 3-inches in diameter to create the dumpling wrappers.

Place a portion (about 1 Tablespoon) of the filling into the middle of each dumpling wrapper. Wet the edges of the dumpling with water. Fold the dough over the filling into a half moon shape and pinch the edges to seal. Continue with the remainder of the dumpling wrappers.

To cook the dumplings, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add half the dumplings, giving them a gentle stir so they don’t stick together. Bring the water to a boil, and add 1/2 cup of cold water. Cover and repeat. When the dumplings come to a boil for a third time, they are ready. Drain and remove. If you want, they can be pan-fried at this point. Repeat this process for the second half of dumplings.

Post a photo of your dumplings to China Institute’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ourforbiddencity. The chef of the yummiest looking batch will receive a free copy of their We All Live in the Forbidden City books!

We have teamed up for a Giveaway! To enter, leave a comment below telling us one way you celebrate the Chinese New Year!  One winner will win the wonderful book: In the Forbidden City (ages 9+). I reviewed this one in the past and loved it! Deadline to enter is February 26, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly  be selected from all entries.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Credit for recipe/photos: China Institute.

If you are looking for toothpaste with no artificial flavors, The Natural Dentist products are what you are looking for!  The Natural Dentist’s children’s line in particular includes their Cavity Zapper Toothpastes, Plaque Zapper Toothpaste which is flouride-free and Mouth Rinse.  Just like their other products, the gel toothpaste does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), and there are no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors. And it comes in two great, kid-approved flavors – Berry Blast and Groovy Grape. The Natural Dentist to make sure that kids and their parents have the best clinically-proven oral care products – products that don’t contain alcohol, harsh chemicals or artificial colors or flavors. I received samples of both and what I really like is that they do not have artificial sweeteners or colors. My son tried the Cavity Zapper with Fluoride and he likes it. We love that it also comes in Groovy Grape and Berry Blast. He prefers the one in Groovy Grape. I like that it is so natural! I would recommend these for children of all ages. The one without Fluoride is great for younger kids.

Check out the website here!

Also, check your local Target stores for this great product!

We have teamed up for a Giveaway! One winner will win a Free Gel Toothpaste! Leave a comment below telling us how you get your children to brush their teeth. My son doesn’t have a choice but this surely isn’t a favorite thing that he loves to do. Deadline to enter is February 23, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via random.org.

Self Disclosure: I received free product samples to facilitate this feature post and giveaway.

 

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Don’t miss this exciting giveaway! My son and I love Carole P. Roman’s books!
Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. Using an imaginary game she played with her grandson as a base, Captain No Beard was born.”Captain No Beard- An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life” has not only been named to Kirkus Best of 2012, it received the Star of Exceptional Merit, and won the Pinnacle Award for 2012. “Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience” Book 2 in the series, received 5 Stars from The ForeWord Review The Clarion Review. Strangers on the High Seas has won second place in the Rebecca’s Reads Choice Awards 2013. It has followed with six more books to the series.

Just announced on February 11, 2015, Aurora Borealis has been nominated for the Kirkus Book of the Year! 

Her non-fiction series, “If You Were Me and Lived in…” combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us. The debut book in the series, “If You Were Me and Lived in…Mexico” has won the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children’s Non Fiction 2012.

Rebecca’s Reads has given If You Were Me and Lived in…Norway an honorable mention in the 2013 Choice Awards. If You Were Me and lived in …France won second place. ForeWord Review has nominated If You Were Me and Lived in…France for best in children’s non-fiction literature 2013. 

Carole P. Roman is generously sharing these two great series with readers. She is giving away the “If You Were Me and Lived In…” series as first prize and her “Captain No Beard” Series as a second prize.

Writing for children has opened up a whole second act for her. While she is still working in her family business, this has enabled her to share her sense of humor as well as love for history and culture with the audience she adores. Enter below for your chance to win. Good luck!

Disclosure: SoCal City Kids was asked to promote this giveaway on behalf of Carole P. Roman and Away We Go Media. Carole P. Roman is responsible for prize distribution. 

This giveaway begins at Midnight 2/12/15 MST and ends at Midnight 2/28/15 MST. The giveaway is open internationally for 18+ years of age. NOTE:If the winner(s) are outside of the US then only Kindle copies will be given. The winner(s) will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter.com and all entries will be verified.

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