Looking for spices this upcoming holiday? Pereg Natural Foods has you covered with its many Spices! There are so many to choose from. I love the variety and my favorites are the Sweet Paprika, Basil, and Dill. But, they do have many others! I tried the Basil and make deviled eggs and use the Sweet Paprika! Their full Passover range is stocked at kosher grocery stores nationwide and directly at https://www.pereg-gourmet.com/collections/passover

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

Congo Tropicals is bringing international goodness into your life. From plantain chips to organic dark chocolate or fresh produce, they are sure to have something for you to enjoy. Available on Amazon!

Plantain Chips ($24.69 Pack of 12)

Nutritionally high in fiber, potassium, energy, and low in cholesterol, plantain chips are a healthy alternative to potato chips. Containing an abundance of vitamins and minerals, they are truly the hidden superfood.  These are delicious! I just had a chance to try them and I really like the Garlic flavor!

Organic Dark Chocolate ($35 – 5 pack; $30 – 10 pack)

Made in Costa Rica using the finest cacao beans, curb any sweet tooth with this quality line of chocolate.  The Congo Organic Dark Chocolate is perfectly balanced sweetness and bitterness with 70% cocoa dark chocolate. This chocolate bar is delicious!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items. Images were also provided.

Here are some of my favorites!

Personalized Wooden Bag Tags

The unique look of these Personalized Wooden Bag Tags from Mabel’s Labels makes Easter baskets super-easy to identify. Using laser engraving, the round wood tags are customized with your kid’s name and can be further personalized with one of 12 cute designs, such as a Ladybug, Flower or Rainbow for Spring. These sturdy wooden tags make the perfect label for your kids’ baskets and make a sweet keepsake for years to come. Learn more at www.mabelslabels.com. These can also be used for backpacks and camp bags!

Monster Pop Mix and Monster Sweet Mix from Jax’s Monster Mix

A fun and tasty snack line, Jax’s Monster Mix offers all-natural, gluten-free, peanut-free snack mixes for kids of all ages. Unlike most snacks on the shelves, Jax’s offers better-for-you blends of delicious ingredients and are free from added sugars and artificial colors. Jax’s Monster Pop Mix is a unique blend of gluten-free mini sea salt pretzel twists, toasted vegan cheesy corn nuggets and sweetened banana chips. We have heart eyes for Jax’s Monster Sweet Mix, a sweet combination of unsulphured dried diced mango, papaya, pineapple and naturally colored milk chocolate sunflower seeds. A real fruit snack that’s sure to please! Each snack mix comes in perfectly portioned packs, ideal for tucking in Easter baskets & more! Learn more at www.getjaxs.com.

Sweet Chaos Drizzles

Move over chocolate, drizzled popcorn is the new treat to give this Easter! Sweet Chaos offers mouthwatering flavors to tempt your loved one’s taste buds, such as Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter and Peanut Butter! 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! For Easter, the Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter popcorn will be sold in individual bags at Dollar Tree stores. Learn more at www.sweetchaos.com. This is actually one of my favorite flavors of popcorn!

Wiley Wallaby Licorice

Tasty and delicious… the perfect choice for placing in Easter baskets! Wiley Wallaby offers a large variety of soft and chewy licorice that satisfies cravings for a sweet treat! Packed so full of fresh fruit flavor, there is less room for the things you can do without. Less sugar, fat free and absolutely no dairy or high fructose corn syrup makes Wiley Wallaby the candy your conscience feels better about, too. Wiley Wallaby Licorice is thick, chunky and super-soft, making this gourmet licorice a favorite! Choose from delightful flavors such as Blasted Berry, Watermelon and Blueberry Pomegranate to nosh on and enjoy this Easter! Organic Bites are also available. www.wileywallaby.com

Lil’ Toasty Warmable Plush Animal from Keep Going First Aid

Soft and cozy for warm snuggles, the adorable plush Lil’ Toasty is a warmable plush animal filled with clay beads and dried lavender. Fully microwaveable, it heats in seconds to soothe and comfort little ones. Non-toxic. Comes in 4 cute designs, including Koala, Elephant, Sloth and Unicorn. Packaged in a gift-ready box, perfect for placing in Easter Baskets this year! Learn more at www.keepgoingfirstaid.com. It is so cute that I think older kids will also love this one!

KeaBabies Bamboo Hooded Towels (Lamb)

Wrap your little one up in comfort after bath time with these sweet towels made from premium bamboo. Ultra-absorbent and made for sensitive skin, KeaBabies Bamboo Hooded Towels keep your child snuggly and warm. Not just for bath time, the hooded towel can also be taken to the pool, beach, and more. Pair it with KeaBabies Premium Bamboo Washcloths for the sweetest bath experience for your little one. Available in Lamb for Spring & Easter. Visit www.KeaBabies.com.

Happy Easter!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items and love them all. Images were also provided.

Friendship Bracelet Maker

Description: Deluxe friendship bracelets made easy! By mastering 4 knots and following the color-coded pattern on the roll, designs quickly take shape that were once too time-consuming, complex, and out of reach for the casual bracelet maker. Additional print-out pattern templates and video tutorials can be found online at makeitrealplay.com. This beautiful and time-saving friendship bracelet maker offers the perfect playtime activity for tweens to explore their creativity. This one is sure to be a hit! I recommend it for ages 8+. Available at: Target

MSRP: $29.99

The Popular MyGears Collection From Edx Education Is Now Being Offered Online At Target and Just In Time For Easter!

The well-loved and award-winning children’s brand, Edx Education has launched its popular MyGears toy online at Target. Their MyGears collection launched in late 2022 and has been a real hit ever since by both children and parents. The range has been STEAM accredited by The Toy Association and even recognized as a trending range. Now their new Transport Set toy is available online at Target. Their Transport Set is great to inspire early STEAM in children 3 years and older. This 118-piece set features instructions for 8 dynamic vehicle and machine models. Follow their activity guide or experiment with your own engineering creations!

ZipLinx Hi-Fly Set (Blip Toys): This high-flying, chain-reaction activity set delivers the eye-popping payoff of the classic domino run— but ZipLinx launch pieces up to 3 feet in the air for the finale! The magic of the system is not only the ease of set-up but there’s also no accidental starts. That means your design literally won’t “pop” until you insert the special Linx Launcher Key! Available now on Amazon. (MSRP $19.99; Ages 6+)

Blackbeard’s Treasure Hunt (Vango Toys): Avast me hearties! This newest kid’s action game from Vango has all the pirate-loving tropes for young swashbucklers! Follow the treasure map, unlock a treasure chest, and collect the booty of gold doubloons that spill out of the Chest! Takes both luck. . . and strategy.  Yo ho ho… this sounds like a lot of fun!!! Available at Target (MSRP: $19.99; Ages 4+)

Cake-N-Bake Challenge (Hey Buddy Hey Pal): A totally different kind of action-packed family game with a delicious, rainbow-layer, foam cake as the center of attention! Object of the game is to, well, just be the fastest baker! Players race to stack their cake slices based on the order on a game card. The first to correctly stack their cake wins a candle, and whoever collects six candles wins and gets to wear the included chef’s hat. ALSO great for preschoolers learning their colors – plus no reading required!! Available on Amazon (MSRP: $27.99; Ages 4+) I teach a preschool class and I especially like that this is a game they will enjoy while they also learn colors!

Stuffed animals are great comfort items for people of all ages with autism. Stuffed animals often provide a sense of security and sensory regulation, which helps many autistic adults and kids feel grounded in their bodies. Big Nibble Bunny is huggable, luggable and simply adorable. Nibble’s long lop ears are buttery soft and perfect for soothing away worries. Since 1986 Bunnies by the Bay has designed gifts with love and to be loved, for many years to come. I am in love with this bunny! It is just adorable and it is so soft!

Sold on FAO Schwarz, Hallmark, Neiman Marcus

Now, if you have a child that you can not see this Easter and would love to send them a gift..I recommend this next one!

Send a box full of Unicorn hugs to your loved ones with BoxFull! When you can’t be there, BoxFull and their Hug in a Box ensures your loved ones feel your love and warmth anywhere. BoxFull is dedicated to helping people stay connected. In addition to the new fuzzy friend with arms outstretched upon opening – each box also comes with a special poem and a customized message. Sending flowers can feel empty and they just die in a week. BoxFull is sending something meaningful that lasts. The Original Bear Hug in a Box makes for a versatile and thoughtful gift for any occasion. From military parents leaving a loving reminder of their presence to parents supporting their stressed college student from across the country, these warm hugs are guaranteed to brighten anyone’s day. Send love and comfort with a box full of hugs. This one is good for birthdays and other special occasions too!

Price: Starting at $44.95

sendaboxfull.com and available on Etsy

Happy Easter!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this holiday-featured gift guide. Images and info were also provided.

Fashion and luxury loungewear brand, Bandit Queen, is pleased to announce the debut of the Back to the Basics Collection, an all-new line of classic, staple pieces essential for any wardrobe. Featuring stylish, comfortable apparel, this collection includes five new lightweight clothing pieces and unique jewelry. Pieces from the Back to the Basics Collection start at $29.99 USD and are available for purchase on BanditQueenBrand.com.

“Like all of our collections, each one is designed with a purpose. As a new mother to a young daughter, I wanted this collection to remind women of all ages, and all walks of life, that there is fierceness and strength in simplicity,” shares Sepali Vakil, Bandit Queen Founder and CEO. 

Vakil continues, “Life gets busy and in the midst of the day-to-day routine, sometimes you just need to go back to the basics. For me, that means drinking enough water, getting plenty of rest, and 80% of the time eating and living a healthy lifestyle. This collection echoes how simple loungewear can be used for the on-the-go lifestyle, in a chic way.” 

Bandit Queen is a South Asian, female-owned brand inspired by women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds. This new collection was designed to further empower the spirit of women. Standout pieces from the Back to the Basics Collection include super soft, squat-proof and breathable leggings and a “basics” dress- perfect for hitting the tennis courts or grabbing coffee with the girls. 

Designed to be worn year-round, this all-new collection aims to empower women to perform at their highest potential – from sprinting, stretching, lifting, or simply living comfortably. Along with limitless wearability, the entire Back to the Basics collection is available in a variety of sizes including S-XL. 

The all-new Back To The Basics Collection includes:

• Basics Dress, priced at $44.99 USD.
• Basics Sports Bra, priced at $29.99 USD.
• Basics Leggings, priced at $34.99 USD.
• Basics Crop, priced at $39.99 USD.
• Jessica Crop, priced at $34.99 USD.
• Basics Jewelry prices range from $29.99 to $39.99 USD.

I received samples of the Basics Leggings and the Basics Crop and Jessica Crop and love the quality and style! They are so comfy!

Bandit Queen was founded in 2019 with the mission to create clothing that inspires individuals to embrace confidence and “feel like royalty”. The brand’s latest Back to the Basics Collection continues this mission by empowering women to celebrate feeling strong, fierce, and powerful. Other popular collections include the South Asian-inspired Truth Collection and the Athena Collection, which debuted in Fall of 2022. To purchase the Back to the Basics Collection, view other items, or for more information from Bandit Queen, visit banditqueenbrand.com. 

Instagram: @banditqueenbrand

Facebook: Bandit Queen Brand 

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

Looking for delicious non-dairy ice cream dessert bars? GoodPop has you covered! These are so good that the samples I received did not last more than a week in my house!

 GoodPop®, the award-winning better-for-you frozen treat brand that exists to do good in the world, continues its mission to “clean up” classic frozen treats by launching its first line of fudgy oatmilk-based frozen dessert bars.

The four new treats—Fudge n’ Vanilla Crunch, Double Chocolate Fudge, Fudge n’ Caramel Crunch, and Mint n’ Fudge Chip—are either dipped in chocolate fudge or include fudge chips. Creamy and indulgent, these bars are just like the classic ice cream truck favorites but are non-dairy and gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, 130 calories or less, and made with organic and fair trade ingredients.

It wasn’t easy to pick a favorite but if I have to select one it would be the Fudge n’ Vanilla Crunch! I will definitely be buying this the next time I go to the store!

GoodPop’s fudgy bar lineup includes: 

·  Fudge n’ Vanilla Crunch: Nothing “vanilla” about it, this creamy oatmilk bar is a classic combination with smooth, decadent vanilla filling dipped in an irresistible chocolate fudge shell. Topped with organic cacao nibs, this frozen treat delivers a satisfying (and allergen-friendly) crunch.

·  Double Chocolate Fudge: Silky, chocolate oatmilk filling gets dipped into a rich, fudgy chocolate shell for a dairy-free treat that’s nothing short of indulgent. And hint: serving size is two pops for double the goodness. 

·  Mint n’ Fudge Chip: This 80-calorie pop was “mint” to be! Sweet and minty,  made with organic peppermint leaves, this creamy mint oatmilk dessert bar has fair trade cocoa chips in every bite.

·  Fudge n’ Caramel Crunch: Take a beat and dive into the salty-sweet decadence of this chocolate and caramel oatmilk pop. Creamy salted caramel filling sweetened with fair trade molasses and organic cane sugar gets covered in a super fudgy coating, dotted with crunchy organic cacao nibs.

The bars come with four in a box and the suggested retail price is $5.99. They are available now at Sprouts Farmers Market, Publix Super Markets, and online at GoodPop.com. The bars will roll out in Whole Foods Market and other natural and conventional retailers across the country in the coming months. For a local store locator, click here.

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

Tomorrow is the Oscars! Are you having a party? Cello Simple Pleasures Trays will be a hit with all your guests! The pre-portioned, ready-to-serve trays offer a convenient combination of the very best flavors and textures, perfect for snacking or entertaining. Cello Simple Pleasures can be served as an appetizer, or as part of the popular grazing table trend, featuring a tasty mix of award-winning cheeses, meats, and more! Available for $9.99-$19.99 at Kroger, Wakefern, Tops, Woodman’s, and Lipari. You still have time to hit the grocery store!

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

These are sure to be a hit with kids!

Head Spin is a new fast-paced family game from Project Genius, the premier maker of brain teasers and puzzles. In each round, players try to figure out the color order based on the prompt. Then they’ll show that answer on their spinner and place it on the landing pad. The first player to show the correct answer on their spinner wins the round. Head Spin is brain bending fun for even the quickest minds and fastest hands. Recommended for ages 8 and up. https://projectgeniusinc.com/head-spin/ and available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I found this game very entertaining!

Playfinity’s Backyard League Gaming Baseball turns a game of catch into a video game through a connected mobile application for iOS and Android devices. Their brand-new game, Speed Test, guides players through a 10-round test and announces speeds for each throw. It is recorded into a test history, tracking the player’s progress over time. Real-time audio commentary guides the player and enhances performance. The Backyard League Gaming Baseball is the same size and weight as a regulation MLB baseball, and it connects to an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth. It allows players to track different stats about each throw they toss and catch, such as speed, airtime, height, and transfer speed. The Backyard League mobile app allows players to build and track their baseball skills that focus on different skills, like hand-eye coordination, consistency and transfer speed. Now, how cool is that?! Their brand-new game, The baseball and games are designed for kids 6-14, and it offers 70 hours of play time on a single cell battery. Available at https://playfinity.com/ and Amazon.

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