Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day Gift? Who doesn’t love popcorn?

Delicious flavors from Popcornopolis® will be a hit this Valentine’s Day!

 There’s no better tasting way to say ‘I love you’ this Valentine’s Day than with gourmet popcorn from Popcornopolis®, purveyors of America’s premium popcorn gifts.  Whether shopping for your Valentine or Galentine, they’re sure to swoon over sweet and savory treats designed to delight! Available online at popcornopolis.com, this gourmet popcorn company offers an array of Valentine favors and gifts that make the perfect token of affection and are sure to leave hearts and taste buds ‘poppin’ with love this February 14th.

I can’t even begin to choose my favorite! It’s a toss-up between the Zebra and the Kettle Corn. But, this Valentine’s Day you don’t have to choose just one with the Valentine Hearts Mini Cones. These are just the perfect size and you may as well give your special someone all four flavors: Caramel Corn, Kettle Corn, Cheddar and Zebra! You can buy a whole case of 40 which is the perfect size for giving them out to friends, co-workers, children and basically everyone! Don’t forget to check out the Valentine’s Day Gift Shop. There are some pretty great gift suggestions featuring this delicious popcorn!

I love the Valentine’s Day sayings on each cone!

Known for the Cone™, Popcornopolis offers over 20 mouthwatering recipes and is made from American-grown, non-GMO corn. Crafted with big flavor, the company’s treasured popcorn recipes are also certified gluten-free and use only the finest ingredients and cooking practices. For more information, a full list of Popcornopolis varieties, and to place your orders for Valentine’s Day, visit www.popcornopolis.com.



Facebook: @Popcornopolis
Instagram: @Popcornopolis
Twitter: @Popcornopolis

ABOUT POPCORNOPOLIS

Popcornopolis was founded by Wally and Kathy Arnold in 2002 when the Arnolds opened their first Popcornopolis retail store at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles, California. Today, the company’s iconic cone-shaped and bagged popcorn packages can be found in grocery and club stores, sports arenas, movie theatres and at www.popcornopolis.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this Valentine’s Day holiday post.

Welch’s Valentine’s Day Fruit Snacks are a must this Valentine’s Day!

The limited-edition offering features custom Valentine’s Day-themed graphics and heart-shaped fruit snack pieces with fun emoji faces. Even better, these fruit snacks are perfect for Valentine’s Day classroom exchanges as each pouch features a “To/From” signable front panel.
 

Valentine’s Day is nearly here! Can you believe it?! Looking for a perfect treat to send to school for the younger kids? Welch’s has you covered with their Fruit Snacks! I love that they are Heart-shaped with fun emoji faces! But, most of all I love that they are made with REAL fruit! The Valentine’s Day-themed “To/From” signable front panel is a nice touch too! 28-count box // $4.99 on Target.com and 32-count box // $4.98 on Walmart.com

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to feature in my holiday posts. The image was also provided.

Time to Hit the Trail: Your Ultimate Mountain Bike Buying Guide

Few hobbies manage to combine excitement with fitness so well as mountain biking. If you’ve recently decided to get into the sport of mountain biking as a hobby, then you’re in the right place.

As you probably already know, one of the most important decisions that you’ll make as you start your mountain biking journey is picking the right mountain bike for you. If you don’t yet know how to pick the best mountain bike, read on.

In this article, we’ll distill picking a mountain bike into a few easy steps.

Fit is Important Above All

Remember that the most important thing about the bike that you ride will be fit. A $5000 bike that doesn’t fit well won’t ride nearly as well as a $500 that is custom-built to your size.

The fit of the bike changes a lot about how you’ll use it. Firstly, the wrong fit can be dangerous if it doesn’t allow you to put your foot down easily to regain balance. Second, it will also provide easier riding — a bike that sits too low will put unnecessary pressure on your legs to provide thrust.

Think About the Terrain That You’ll Ride

Not all mountain biking terrain was created equal. Think about what kind of terrain your bike will mostly be going over. Are you going to be going through frequently-wet, muddy rainforest trails? Or will you instead be traveling over arid, dried out, hard terrain?

The type of terrain that you’ll ride will have a very significant impact on the winning bike that you end up choosing.

Consider Suspension Options

One of the biggest differentiators in mountain bikes is all of the different suspension options that are available.

The first type of suspension is dual or full suspension. With this suspension type, both the back and front wheels have a suspension system on them. This makes riding downhill at speed far easier if you’ll be going over very rough terrain.

A second type is only front suspension. When you only have front suspension, it’s easier to go up trails but harder to come down.

Last but not least, you have rigid bikes that don’t have suspension on either end. This is only recommended for very experienced riders that want an extreme experience.

Frame Material

Lastly, you’ll want to consider frame material. This will likely be the most significant decider as to the cost of the bike. The lighter and rarer the frame material, the more expensive the bike will be. If your budget is modest, you’ll probably end up having to go with an aluminum frame bike.

If you have a much bigger budget, then you can try springing for a carbon fiber frame.

How to Pick the Best Mountain Bike for You

There you have it — all you need to know about how to pick the best mountain bike for you. Remember that there’s no one size fits all here, so everyone’s answer to this important question will be different.

For more lifestyle advice, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website!

Last-Minute Gift Suggestions

Holiday shopping this month?  December can be a stressful time as far as finances go. Need some help with working on your gift-giving budget? Here’s a helpful tip! The monthly budget template we use will be quite helpful for this busy holiday season! Now on to the gift suggestions!

Looking for a fun game for the older kids? This is a game that is sure to be a great gift for them! Carpool Karaoke game from Big G is fun for ages 12+ and is a lot of fun! Using your favorite music app or streaming service, select a song and then duel other players in song, dance moves, or celebrity trivia for points.  It can be found at Target and on Amazon.com.

Is there someone on your list that loves Emojis?

The first emoji® bobbleheads feature four unique designs and come individually packaged in collector boxes. The bobbleheads are $20 each or $80 for the set of 5 and shipping is a flat rate of $8.

Today, there are over 17,000 official emoji® brand icons available from the emoji company.

The official emoji® brand icon library represents everything from objects, expressions, people and animals.

The emoji® brand has been depicted in a wide variety of merchandise items including apparel, stationary, home & living products and now emoji® bobbleheads.

Limited Edition emoji bobbleheads are now available exclusively from the National Bobblehead HOF and Museum

The next few gift ideas would be perfect for Mom! I had the opportunity to try them all and they are definitely on the top of my list!

Atmosphere Soy Candles  – Manage your environment. Manage your mood. Create your own environment with Demeter Atmosphere fragrances. Each day, everywhere. Set the mood with scents ranging from powdery soft to decadent chocolate, from floral to woody notes, from soft sea breezes to tropical fruits, alone or in combination. Demeter’s collection of scented travel candles offers long-lasting fragrances that envelop your space with candlelight ambiance. I recommend the Honeysuckle fragrance!
Holiday Classics Diffuser Set (MSRP $45.00) – Bring the holidays HOME and make everyday a warm, inviting, festive memory with these beautiful, holiday-inspired Demeter Diffuser Oils. Our set of three 4 oz Diffuser Oils will capture you with their individual allure, and enhance any atmosphere for months to come. Christmas Tree, Snow and Egg Nog
2019 Holiday Sampler Set  (MSRP $19.00) – Put a little holiday in your life anytime and anywhere with 8 great holiday inspired scents to enjoy and share. They’ve collected our favorite holiday inspired scents for you to enjoy and share in 5mL cologne sprays” Christmas in NY, Mistletoe, Frankincense, Myrrh, Christmas Tree, Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Sugar Plum
Bangle & Babe
A great gift or stocking stuffer, Bangle & Babe is a fun and functional gift. This bracelet key ring is designed to easily slip onto your wrist, while still being flexible enough to fit in your pocket or purse. The bangle is designed to hold its shape when in use and can easily be manipulated to fit in small spaces. Made of food-grade silicone, the durable nonporous material is easily wiped clean or sanitized. Bangle & Babe is perfect for everyone from tweens searching the bottom of their backpack for their keys after school to busy new moms to those with walking aids who need their personal items close at hand. Available in a variety of fun, trendy and bright colors, as well as a modern bamboo design. Less than $20; www.bangleandbabe.com.
Akita Watchdog – the first SMART gift you should give

Do you have smart devices? This next one would make the perfect gift! Smart devices are sure to be received this holiday so Akita Watchdog should also be included as a gift choice!

When hackers find their way into Smart devices, they have an open window to connect to bank accounts, computer files, financial information–all their complex IoT systems.  And you may not even realize it is happening.
The Akita watchdog device is the first gift you should give to people with smart devices.  It connects to a LAN port on any home router (not inline) and detects any unwanted crypto-activity or break-in attempts into the network.  It blocks them immediately so no hacker can exploit a home network.  It is available on Amazon and retails for about $135.00.

I had the opportunity to try this one out and it is a real relief to not be worried about hackers! Check it out at www.akita.cloud

Looking for something unique for the men in your life? SpenceUp – are suspenders made of silk ties!  Now, that is pretty unique!

Fan of Spence Up – Jason Priestley
The photo was provided for use in the post.


With the Holiday Season here there is always the search for what to get that special someone in your life.  We are always looking for something unique, something that has the wow factor and something that will not break the bank!  With that said; SpenceUp one of the coolest and trendiest but still classy and very fashionable new men’s accessories is on the scene.  SpenceUp – are suspenders made of silk ties!  One-of-a-kind and ideal for any man in your life (even women have fun with these), are truly fun to wear and talk about a conversation starter.  Made to be worn with or without a suit jacket or even with jeans and casual T-Shirt, these suspenders definitely have the wow factor and will impress.  They are ideal for holiday gift giving – boxed or in a stocking stuffer, you can’t go wrong with these.  Priced at $50 – they are budget friendly too.

This next one would make another great gift, especially for Mom! Lasso
Another great stocking stuffer…. Keep necklaces from getting tangled and save time thanks to Lasso. This smart product is perfect for safely traveling with your necklaces, storing your jewelry while on the go or organizing your necklaces at home. Lasso is a real problem solver and puts an end to this common frustration. It’s easy to use, accommodates a variety of chain lengths, can secure more than one necklace at a time, can store rings and small earrings inside the barrel and, as a bonus Lasso, it can be used to wrap your earbud cords and charger cords. Lasso easily fits inside purses and travel bags, is made of shatterproof, BPA-free Tritan and it is proudly made in the USA. www.shoplasso.com

Looking for the perfect watch for someone on your list? How about customizing a watch? Nixon Introduces New Custom Experience! They’ve taken their customization process and made you feel even more at home by bringing new experiences to our online Custom Shop. With two new models and additional new designs, you can now create your one-of-one even down to the second hand. I love all the choices and how easy the whole online process is. I had the opportunity to customize my own watch and I highly recommend! Find a store near you or online at Nixon.com.

Photo Credit: SoCal City Kids

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

Looking for Holiday Travel Snacks For the Family? Lance Sandwich Crackers will be a hit!

Lance Sandwich Crackers are a perfect choice – made with real peanut butter and available in their classic flavors, such as Classic ToastChee, as well as bite-sized ToastChee Peanut Butter Minis! These really taste great and I love that they are the perfect snack for on-the-go this holiday season!

These are my favorite!

Available at national retailers, these classic snacks are ideal for those long family road trips or travel days this busy holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

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

It’s time for Holiday Gift Guide #2!

Looking for something for an 8-year-old? This one will be a hit!

Air-Walker

A robot that defies gravity?! That’s what you get with Air-Walker, a four-legged bot that uses an ingenious system of suction cups and pumps to crawl along smooth, vertical surfaces like windows. You can also build four other models with the same components and learn how suction and mechanical devices can be used in different real-world applications. A vacuum-suction machine sticks to and lifts flat panels, while a robot with just two suction cups rotates around a central pivot point.  This hands-on construction kit brings engineering and physics to life as it demonstrates the power of air pressure at work. Ages 8+ MSRP: $39.95.

Maybe you are looking for a great gift for the toddler on your list?

Magformers Mini House Sets will be a hit!

Click, Connect, Create! Explore endless construction possibilities with Magformers Mini House Sets! Your little one can build anything they can imagine when they use the Magformers Magnetic Rainbow shapes, characters and accessories included in, Max’s Playground Set, Maggy’s House Set, and Milo’s Mansion Set. Compatible with all Magformers, add Milo, Minibot and Max sets for extended building fun! Ages 3+. MSRP: $49.99.

Antsy Pants has a couple of great gift ideas for the younger kids! The Bingo Game (SRP $7.99) and the Tic Tac Toe Travel Mat (SRP $19.99) are classic games that encourage developmental play and together time.

I recommend both for children ages 3-5 years old.

Here’s another one that is a great choice for the little children ages 3 and up!

My Little Farm
Here’s some battery-free, no charger required fun and learning for the littles! My Little Farm (MLF) is an award-winning, interactive, multi-sensory educational toy that builds early language skills and vocabulary. Invented by a Speech Pathologist, this interactive toy has eight colorful panels that are fully reversable—a red barn exterior can be reversed to reveal a barn interior and colorful outdoor farm setting. It’s far more than just decorating a play farm – MLF comes with 32 soft and stick-able felt cut-outs that match outlines in the 8 rooms. As children are placing the felt pieces in each room, they are also discovering early language concepts, quantity, colors, shapes and sizes. MLF comes in a sturdy carry-case (so giftable) and it includes a pamphlet with a handy primer on the educational and sensory language skills to instill through play. It is also endorsed by the Center for Autism Related Disorders and Autism Live. More information: www.smartfelttoys.com.  

I love this next one because it is a great way to teach young children about culture and other places! Worldwide Buddies
Worldwide Buddies’ culture-in-a-box sets teach kids all about the customs and traditions that make various countries unique and special. The first Worldwide Buddies kit is full of Mexican treats—it includes a book, bilingual playing cards, a stuffed axolotl toy (the critically endangered underwater Mexican salamander), and various other games and activities that will keep kids entertained. The second culture package features China. It includes everything kids can learn about China, a Mandarin/English memory game and a fun, plush toy, Shui, an endangered spotted seal and more. All books and toys are designed to spark curiosity and encourage learning, as well as skill development through play. They all fall under the category of STEAM toys. www.worldwidebuddies.com

This next one is great for teenage girls or for your BFF’s! Great gift for Mom’s too!

Pamper your friends with 7th Heaven’s cruelty-free, vegan and EASY peel-off masks! Available in several ‘flavors,’ such as Coconut & Clay, Tea Tree and Dead Sea, these de-stressing masks use luxurious natural ingredients to reveal glowing, fresher, cleaner skin.
Each mask comes in a generous single-serve sachet and retails for $1.99 – a real stocking stuffer steal! I actually tried out one of these and loved it!

Here’s another one Mom may like! Classic Slipcovers offers a line of high-end slipcover products that make your furniture look brand new.  From chairs to sofas and even dog furniture, they offer a variety of fits and styles. I really like the quality of these slipcovers. You can get more information about their product line at https://www.theslipcovercompany.com/.

Here’s another one for young kids! GoPals, a brand new plush toy that travels everywhere a child goes and fastens securely to any backpack. These are really cute and quite clever!

The GoPals Originals Collection features 8 adorable characters and retail for $14.95. In addition, The GoPals brand has partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which is aimed at propelling the world towards a future without childhood cancer. A portion of every GoPals animal sold will go toward funding and promoting children’s charities. Now, how cool is that?!

This next one is really quite original!

The Toothless Monster, a toy that “magically earns teeth”
every time your child loses one. The plush monster is packaged in a boxed set,
including 16 plastic teeth and a hardcover book illustrating the tale of The
Toothless Monster. The toy is available nationwide for purchase online, priced at $39.95. Glow in the dark teeth are available for an additional $5.95.

The Toothless Monster is available for purchase online at
www.thetoothlessmonster.com. The sets can be shipped nationwide. For more information, visit www.thetoothlessmonster.com


Looking for a snack for the kids this holiday season? Or even a stocking stuffer? Welch’s Christmas Fruit Snacks will be a hit! Available in two pack sizes, a 5-count box and a 28-count box, they’re perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday parties. Additionally, the mixed fruit snacks come in fun, new shapes – snowman, ornament, Santa, snowflake, and Christmas tree! They are made with REAL fruit and are available at Walmart, Target,  Walgreens and Dollar General.

Happy Holidays!


Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items to feature in this holiday gift guide. Images were also provided.

It’s time for Week #1 of our Holiday Gift Suggestions!

Love tacos? Love Rubio’s? This gift suggestion is for you and anyone on your shopping list that loves Rubio’s! For the first time this holiday season, Rubio’s Coastal Grill is offering a limited-editionTaco Tidings Gift Box. The unique gift is ideal for taco lovers, and just 1,000 gift boxes will be available at the Taco Tidings order page (http://rubiosholidaystore.myshopify.com/). For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill, visit Rubios.com. Guests can also join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram

Need to find a perfect gift for a teenager or adult who loves to listen to music?  Audio-Technica makes it easy to pick the perfect gift for everyone, with wireless headphones, turntables, gaming headsets and more. I love their ATH-ANC500BT QuietPoint® noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that provide exceptional wireless audio quality in comfortable over-ear designs. The ATH-M50xBT wireless over-ear headphones (US$199.00) bring Bluetooth technology to one of the world’s most acclaimed pro audio headphones, the ATH-M50x. The ATH-M50xBT’s 45 mm large-aperture driver, rare-earth magnets and other refinements provide studio-quality sonic accuracy, and the headphones are compatible with aptX and AAC codecs for the best-possible wireless audio reproduction. Controls mounted on the left earcup provide easy handling of phone calls and music listening. An internal battery provides up to 40 hours on a full charge, and the headphones can also be used in wired mode. The ATH-M50xBT is compatible with the Audio-Technica Connect smartphone app.

These fun gadgets will also be a hit with Dad!

Looking for a gift for your teenager? The perfect holiday gifts for tween girls who love watching DIY makeup and craft channels on YouTube, these kits encourage girls to get creative and play with color as they mix and blend their own personalized makeup. This one is really cool! RoseArt/Mattel launched a new line of DIY makeup kits called BeYouTology. BeYouTology Luxe Cosmetic Bar Kit (MSRP $29.99) and the BeYouTology Lip Gloss Kit (MSRP $9.99) are available this holiday shopping season at participating retailers nationwide.

Here’s another great one for Tweens and Teens from RoseArt/Mattel. From YouTube star, Lauren Riihimaki, LaurDIY Craft Kits are inspired by craft tutorials, life hacks, and décor ideas. New this holiday season, give the LaurDIY Crystal Chandelier Kit. Crafters can have fun with paper and crystals to form an incredible, iridescent, chandelier.  SRP $19.99, for ages 8+ , Amazon.

‘Tis the season to bring the family together with the DreamWorks Ultimate Holiday Collection! Get into the holiday spirit with Shrek, Po, Hiccup, Toothless, Poppy and many more as they celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Featuring 9 festive stories with your favorite characters, this collection is perfect for everyone looking to add a little magic to their holidays. This one is perfect to watch to start off the holiday season!

DreamWorks Ultimate Holiday Collection Blu-ray SRP: $39.98DVD SRP: $29.98
Featuring 9 DreamWorks holiday favorites together for the first time!

  • Trolls Holiday
  • Shrek the Halls
  • Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-tacular
  • Merry Madagascar
  • Penguins of Madagascar in a Christmas Caper
  • Dragons Holiday: Gift of the Night Fury
  • Home for the Holidays
  • Rise of the Guardians

I hope that you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Stay tuned for the next Gift Guide early next week! Happy Holidays!

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

Time for the Fall Baby Roundup!

All babies need cute and comfy shoes this Fall! Pediped has you covered with these Desiree navy Originals shoes! They are available in sizes newborn-24 months and are made with Genuine leather with a soft breathable leather lining too! Also All leather soft-sole with slip-resistant diamond tread. Mary Jane with Velcro® closure and you can buy at www.pediped.com Recommended retail: $33.99. Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development.

     

    It’s important to remember those important baby milestones! The milestone Flip Book from Stuck On You makes a great gift for the Mom-to-Be or the brand new Mom! It’s a gorgeous accompaniment to photos celebrating your child’s milestones. It is versatile and printed on 300 GSM quality cardstock. I gave it to a friend who just had a baby and she absolutely loves it! Size: 272mm x 102mm and 38 pages. Recommended retail: $24.95. Where to buy: www.stuckonyou.us

Looking for bowls for your little one’s food? I love the goSili bowl with a lid! This silicone bowl and lid set is 100% plastic-free and seals food airtight. Pop the lid off and use it as a plate. Now, how cool is that?! With a stainless steel ring embedded in the bowl, it won’t collapse when gripped but is still microwave safe. BPA, BPS, phthalate, PVC, and lead-free. 8 oz bowl w/ lid that also doubles as airtight food storage. Dishwasher and microwave safe. Recommended retail: $12.00 and can be bought at http://www.gosili.com/

  The ergoPouch Cocoon swaddle and sleep bag is perfect for this cooler weather we’re having in Southern California! The Cocoon ‘no origami’ baby swaddle sleep bags are designed to be both easy to use and difficult to escape from. The simple zip up design will keep baby snug and securely swaddled without the need for complicated wrapping. Made from skin-friendly, breathable organic cotton for superior comfort, the Cocoon is acknowledged as ‘hip-healthy’ by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute for its ergonomically designed bell shaped bottom which provides extra leg room for healthy hips. For those bubs that like a little more freedom or are ready to transition out of a swaddle, the Cocoon has poppers in the armholes that can be used to convert from a swaddle to a sleeping bag. Tog rated for warmth, there is an ergoPouch swaddle to suit every season.  From SRP$24.99. For more information visit www.ergopouch.com.

ABOUT ERGOPOUCH:

Melbourne, Australia-based ergoPouch was founded in 2009 by Alina Sack.  As a mother, Sack drew on her own personal experiences of sleep deprivation to come up with innovative products designed to help babies and kids get a better night’s sleep.  The award-winning ergoPouch collection includes premium quality baby swaddles, sleeping bags, sleep suits and layers available from birth to 6 years of age sizing along with organic bedding.  All ergoPouch products are made with natural fibers including Organic Cotton and Bamboo.  ergoPouch products offer great functionality and versatility with swaddles that can easily transition to a sleeping bag and sleep suits that convert from bags to suits with legs for easy use from bassinet to stroller. 

FOLLOW ERGOPOUCH:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ergopouchusa

Instagram @ergopouch_usa

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ergopouch

YouTube:  ergoPouch

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Baby Bottles always make a wonderful baby shower gift for a new Mom-to-be but not just any baby bottles will do! The MAM Anti-Colic bottles are the ones to buy! They are BPA-free and can be sterilized in the microwave in just 3 minutes. With wide openings and 5 parts, they are super easy to clean. The MAM Ultra Soft Silicone Nipple makes for an easy switch between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. Base ventilation systems provides a smooth milk flow which reduces air swallowed by baby, gas, and burps. It comes with a slow flow nipple and a removable plastic cap helps keep the nipple clean when not in use and features measurement tick marks. Available in a single pack, double pack or triple pack.   Recommended retail: $7.59 each, $14.59 for two. Where to buy: www.amazon.com

THIS IS BABY, Jimmy Fallon’s third picture book with Macmillan Children’s Publishing is a must for all parents and their little ones! Following the Tonight Show host’s previous two New York Times– bestselling picture books, YOUR BABY’S FIRST WORD WILL BE DADA and EVERYTHING IS MAMA, it’s now BABY’s turn with this charming and delightful read-aloud, teaching new babies the words for the various parts of their body.  Find out more at http://mackidsbooks.com/thisisbaby/

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items to feature in this special Fall Baby Roundup feature. Images were also provided.