Looking for some ideas for Dad this Father’s Day?

T.O.P. Chops Jerky is a handcrafted jerky made from American beef with no additives or preservatives, and it’s grown from an at-home hobby to a thriving, national snack brand disrupting the jerky industry—in just six short years.

I had a chance to taste samples and I am quite impressed! Check out their website at  https://topchops.com 

Ekster knows parenting is hard, and they would like to make it a little easier for dads on this Father’s Day. With the Ekster 3.0 wallet and tracker card, gone are the days of hunting through clothes, toys, and baby bags to find a wallet (or anything you put the tracker card in, really). But wait, it gets better: the tracker’s solar-powered, so Dad doesn’t have to worry about charging yet another device.

The First Voice-activated Smart Wallet

Ekster’s products are now compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This means you can now locate your wallet or phone using your smart speaker or even just use voice command on your phone using either of the two apps. Your assistant can make your wallet ring, or it can tell you where it was last seen on a map. All you need to do is install the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa app and follow the simple steps to enable Chipolo for them.

Find out more at https://ekster.com/

Happy Father’s Day!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images and information were also provided. I only feature items that I highly recommend.

Beef jerky can be known for its tough and chewy texture, but one snack brand believes consumers deserve a more tender experience. And in honor of National Jerky Day, they’re celebrating with 50% off first-time orders.

T.O.P. Chops Jerky is a handcrafted jerky made from American beef with no additives or preservatives, and it’s grown from an at-home hobby to a thriving, national snack brand disrupting the jerky industry—in just six short years.

Dusty Jaquins, who is one of the co-founders of T.O.P. Chops, started making jerky from his Atlanta kitchen using an old family recipe. Everyone who tried it raved over the taste and texture, encouraging Jaquins to take the jerky to market. Jaquins and his fellow co-founder, Luke Sellers, knew they had to share the southern-born beef jerky with the world.

Today, T.O.P. Chops Jerky is a national brand, offered at many major grocery retailers across the country. What makes the jerky better? Jaquins explains how special and different come down to three important things:

T.O.P Chops only uses USDA Graded Select or better beef

Most jerky that’s made in the U.S. uses ungraded meats from dairy cattle, which are cows that no longer produce milk. Jaquins says, “T.O.P. Chops changes the standard by only using USDA Graded Select or better beef that’s sourced from steers raised in the U.S.” He explains how using American beef from steers—as opposed to dairy cattle—makes their jerky incredibly tender and provides an authentic beef flavor.

Thin cuts make moist jerky

The majority of beef jerky is what Jaquins refers to as cowboy jerky—it’s hard, it’s tough, you have to gnaw at it. But he and business partner Sellers believe life is already tough enough, and they want to provide a more positive eating experience. As a result, they slice their beef very thin using a Veri-Thin™ slicing process. This reduces the cooking time, retains the meat’s moisture and renders an easy-to-chew jerky.

Marinades infused with antioxidants

While most premium jerkies on the market have similar levels of fat, sugar, and sodium,

Jaquins wanted to offer a “better-for-you” beef jerky. To do this, he and Sellers partnered with food science and culinary experts to enhance the recipe. This effort culminated in a new ingredient called plum powder, which not only reduces added sugars and sodium but also creates a product packed with antioxidants.

The plum powder sweetens the jerky marinade. The team of jerky artisans use a small amount and let it sit overnight to give the jerky a strong, high-quality meat flavor with some subtle notes of sweetness and spice.

T.O.P. Chop Jerky comes in four flavors, including Original, Teriyaki, Sweet & Spicy and Red Chili Pepper. Jaquins recommends his personal favorite Sweet & Spicy because “I’m not a lover of extremely hot foods, and the sweet and spicy has a nice balance. It’s a mild heat with a little sweetness to it.”

This jerky knows no limits

The dried meat snack industry has seen significant growth over the last decade, and T.O.P. Chops plans to grow right along with it. Dried meat consumption is up 18% and 92% of millennials replace one meal a week with a wholesome snack like jerky. The brand is getting ready to launch in Costco and Target stores in August 2019 and has scheduled launches in other large grocery chains in September and October of this year.

Readers who are interested in learning more about T.O.P Chops Jerky can visit their website or follow them on Instagram @topchopsnacks. Use code JERKYDAY to get 50% off your first purchase and celebrate National Jerky Day.

Credit: T.O.P Chops Jerky. Stay tuned! I will be featuring in my Father’s Day Gift Guide.

It’s a fact. Kids love toys. However, do you know why kids get super excited when parents bring new toys for them? Toys are fun. Toys are enjoyable. Otherwise, kids would have rejected toys just like they reject a lot of other things. When you were young, would you have played with your toys if toys were not fun? We all remember our favorite toys. We all buy toys for our kids. However, this is not the only factor. Kids and toys both are involved in the fun. Toys are a great source of amusement for kids. Toys can keep kids busy for hours. However, fun is not the only factor.

We all have seen how kids stop whining when they are given their favorite toys. They don’t get bored. They never get tired. In fact, they start crying when you take their toys away from them. For kids, it is easy to play with toys. They get the freedom of doing whatever they want to do with their toys.

Toys can also make kids really feel essential. We see them playing with toys. However, they are doing their job. Children might feel depressed if you don’t allow them to play with their favorite toys. They might feel out of place.

A toy provides your kid with educational opportunities. For example, if you are buying a kids toy subscription box, your child will learn to identify shapes and arrange objects. Some toys can help them in learning math. They can learn how to count numbers. They are very eager to learn new things at this age. You have to feed them new things. However, you have many other obligations, a kid’s toy subscription can keep your child busy. Kids enjoy educational games more than traditional games. Traditional games do provide great learning experiences.

Toys are also like tools for kids. In fact, anything can be a toy for kids. It is the parents’ job to make sure that that thing is safe for kids. If you have a kid in your family, you can do a little experiment. Put some toys and a present in front of your child. You will find that the child is investing more time and efforts in the ribbon and packing paper. Tell your child that there is a toy in the box.

Kids are unable to express their feelings. They cannot share their feelings with the people around them. However, toys become their best friends in this scenario. They are always with their toys. Toys are an important part of childhood. You cannot even think about childhood without toys. Playing with toys can also be a part of your child’s social arsenal. For example, if your little girl is playing with her friends, she will learn to share. She will learn how to chat and behave in some specific situations.   

Also Read:- Simple And Unique Baby Shower Planning Tips 

If you allow your child to play with toys, she will learn to be imaginative. Although any toy can help them in exploring their innovative sides, a thoughtfully picked kid’s toy subscription box will do the best job. This is another reason why kids love playing with toys.

Role of toys in Kid’s advancement

Playing with different types of toys can construct a lot of abilities in children including emotional, social and cognitive. Thoughtfully picked educational toys have the potential of improving their creative thinking. Playing with toys in groups can improve their spoken and nonverbal interaction. Versatility, empathy, choice-making and understanding and there are many other virtues they will gain. Toys can also encourage role play. They can practice real-world situations that will increase their confidence and lower anxiety.

All you have to do is buy the right educational toy.

Ashley Tyrner, founder of Farmbox Direct, and her 8-year old daughter Harlow, CEO of Harlow’s Harvest, are bringing families together through food. Ashley has gone from being a single mom on food stamps to the CEO of a national brand that aims to eradicate the overwhelming food desert problem in America. Her company, Farmbox Direct is a door-to-door service that brings the freshest vegetables and fruits directly from organic farms. To make lives easier, Farmbox Direct also provides quick and easy recipes all on their site to use with the freshest product that would be delivered each week, saving user’s time and allowing them to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

After Ashley became a mother, she really began to pay very close attention to exactly what was in the food that not only she was eating, but also what she was feeding her self-proclaimed vegan daughter. She was a typical busy NYC working mom and didn’t always have time to make a weekly trip to her local farmer’s market to pick up the fresh produce nor did she have the money to do so. It was during this time in her life where she began to realize the true need for a service such as Farmbox Direct. People needed access to convenient and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables and Ashley rose to the occasion. Farmbox Direct is successfully filling a void in the clean food industry as the company is a multi-million-dollar revenue generating business and is proud to have former White House Chef and Senior Policy Adviser to Michelle Obama, Sam Kass, as a member of the team. Ashley has created partnerships with Michelle Obama’s Move Campaign, and speaks around the country on health, wellness, food, and entrepreneurship. http://www.farmboxdirect.com

I received a sample box and was quite impressed! The fruits and vegetables were so fresh and there was such a variety! What a fun and healthy way to enjoy food with your children!

More info:

Harlow, a self-proclaimed vegan since she was two years old, knows a thing or 20 about food thanks to her mom. Some kids want to try on their mom’s shoes, but Harlow wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pass on what she has learned to bring the same quality product as FarmBox Direct to other kids in the hopes of them taking better control of their nutrition. She founded Harlow’s Harvest with Ashley so that parents and kids can make cooking together fun, interactive, and educational. Harlow’s Harvest is a monthly subscription box that comes with recipe cards, a science project, background on the dish your child would be making, and an online game they can play that is connected to that month’s theme. Through cooking, kids get to practice reading recipes, calculating the costs of food, and working on their fractions by measuring ingredients. It teaches kids basic life skills at a young age and gives them an appreciation for real food. https://www.harlowsharvest.com/

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample box to facilitate this post. No other compensation was received. The bottom photo was provided. Other images and video: SoCal City Kids.

Are you upset and feeling frustrated because of your children going through bedwetting issues? If your answer is yes, then you should give a try to a device manufactured by Dr. Tal Sagie. The name of the tool is TheraPee bedwetting alarm, which is specially designed, keeping in view the issues faced by parents and their children. 

TheraPee is considered as the world’s number 1 bedwetting solution and is appropriate for children and even teenagers between 4 to 18 years of age. To find out more about Therapee bedwetting solutions, read Therapee reviews from users and existing customers who buy the product created by Dr. Tal Sagie.

Only Online Bed Wetting Solution

TheraPee is the best online bedwetting solution throughout the world because it is the only online bed wetting treatment so far. It has been proved effective and produces impressive results due to its unique features set up for each children needs.

Quick Working

TheraPee is an effective bed wetting solution that works quickly, and you can expect positive results from 4 to 6 months. According to some customers, the results are as quick as one month.

Easy to Use

TheraPee toolkit is easy to use as most of the customers find it easy to set up and utilize. And if someone feels any issue while using, the customer support of TheraPee is already available to solve the problems.

Customizable Program for Any Age

TheraPee is customizable and can be tailored according to the needs of patients. This bedwetting solution is designed, keeping in mind the gender, age, and frequency of bed wedding to make this program ideal for each patient. TheraPee kit is suitable for individuals from 4 to 18 years of age.

The Mat Is Comfy

The mat is made up of high-quality PVC, and most customers confirm its comfort while sleeping and wearing because it is sizeable.

Mat Is Easy to Clean

The mat is easy to clean, and most of the time, it doesn’t require cleaning because of its sensitivity. In many cases, the alarm begins ringing even before the moisture sip through the mat.

Interactive  

TheraPee has an interactive nature, and children feel motivated and enjoy the way it works. The star chart system is attractive for children where they log in their wet and dry days information. There are also some exercises which are proved to be helpful.

Alarm

The alarm is sensitive, has good quality, and comes with different alarm options. Sometimes the alarm goes off because of humidity or sweat, and this problem can be solved by lowering the sensitivity.

Price

The program is bit expensive, but it is the better solution as compared to appointments at hospitals to deal with enuresis with a higher chance of getting positive results especially if the reason of bedwetting is not any health condition.

Safety

TheraPee is a safe solution to deal with bedwetting issues. Customers are satisfied with the safety that comes with the program. TheraPee is free from medication and any wiring system. It involves only an alarm that is also put away from the body.

A recent survey by e-tailer Zulily, found that whether renting (42.5%) or owning (40%), the majority of Americans agree they would spend the most money on home décor for their living room (over other rooms in their home). Zulily knows a thing or two about designing spaces! We launch a new store every day, featuring thousands of products, and our in-house creative studio team builds 100+ different “scenes” or “sets” every day, across 54 photo sets to help showcase these products to our millions of customers. With expertise styling and staging hundreds of pieces of furniture, ranging from chairs to vintage tubs…not to mention our assortment of home décor merchandise – we are an expert resource when it comes to revamping any room.

Here are three tips from Ashley Bowen, Zulily’s Lead Editorial Stylist for Home, on creative ways to decorate a home cost efficiently and effectively (images below):

1.       Freshen up your home with plants – living or faux, plants can add color and life to any space!

2.       Bold colors and patterns are in! Spruce up your space with an accent wall- choose a bold color or wallpaper that speaks to you.

3.       For a cost effective seasonal or holiday update, switch up your throws and accent pillows with on-trend prints and textures!

Zulily has also released a trend report analyzing how today’s Americans are prioritizing and designing “Home” – to give you all the information you need on the booming “fast furnishings” industry. Please find imagery and additional survey results HERE, including Zulily’s Top 25 Savviest Stylish Cities list!

Credit: Tips provided by Ashley Bowen – Lead Editorial Stylist (Home), Zulily.

As Lead Editorial Stylist, Ashley manages a team of home and hardlines editorial stylists on Zulily’s Editorial studio team in Seattle, responsible for producing imagery to create a visually compelling customer experience, showcasing hundreds of sales and thousands of products every day. In this role, Ashley develops style guides that help curate the styling aesthetic of the Zulily shopping experience and liaises with the buying team to facilitate collaboration and partnership, for cohesive and beautiful content across the home and hardlines product categories. Ashley acts as art director on “spotlight” sales, where curated imagery is created to highlight a specific brand or trending theme on Zulily.

Methodology: Zulily surveyed up to 1,004 respondents, users on websites in the Google Surveys Publisher Network, aged 18 years or older. The survey was conducted online through Google Surveys (complete methodology can be found here) from April 23 – 24, 2019. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Self Disclosure: Images were also provided. Some form of compensation may have also been received.

TPO roofs are regarded as one of the best materials for both commercial and residential properties. If your main concerns are durability and long life expectancy, this type of a roof will be the best option for you.

                While TPO roofing is often disregarded for their esthetics and price, they do provide a long-term solution. Once you install TPO, you won’t have to think about roof or potential roof issues for decades to come. Thermoplastic polyolefin is a pretty incredible substance which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Main properties of TPO

                This product has lots of advantages such as:

• High durability

When it comes to singly-ply products, TPO roofs are regarded as one of the most advanced items. This results in a high demand across the country. In fact, there is a trend for homeowners to install this roof because its amazing properties can no longer be neglected. The product combines the best of two worlds: it has advantages of rubber roofs while also having seams that are welded with hot air. Customer can even choose the thickness, lowering or increasing the protection level.

• Very energy efficient

While TPO roofs tend to be very expensive, they do save money in the long run. The substance is able to reflect sunrays which means that your home will not get as heated. As a result, your cooling costs will be considerably lower. The material is also excellent against chemicals in the air as well as ozone.

• High flexibility

Most roofs are susceptible to breakage due to low flexibility. They don’t adapt to weather conditions and other effects that can damage a roof. The most common issues are punctures, tears and other forms of impact damage. Debris isn’t such a big issue for TPO; the material is able to conform and move according to its environment and the outside movement. The material isn’t as bristle as some other substances commonly used for roofs.

• Ecological impact

Nowadays, people are willing to give advantage to products that might not be as good in terms of performance but are instead eco-friendly. Luckily, with TPO roofs you get the best of both worlds. Manufacturers don’t have to use chlorine for production of TPO. As a result, it is possible to minimize chance of a hazard. Furthermore, the roof can be recycled for later use.

How much does TPO cost?

            Even though TPO roofs have so many advantages, people are often reluctant to install them due to their price. Depending on your country of origin, the price can vary significantly. If you’re living in the US, you can get this roof installed for a price of $3.50 to $7.50 per square foot. Keep in mind that this price is mainly for larger, industrial properties and it may be a bit higher for smaller homes. For this price, you will get everything installed without any additional costs.

                Here are all the factors that you have to consider when planning a project:

• The total surface you need covered
• Accessibility
• Type of insulation
• Type of membrane
• Type of installation
• Warranty

The main reason why you should consider TPO isn’t the current price; it is the ability to save money.

Whether we are talking about residential or commercial properties, TPO roofs can last for decades without any hitch. Furthermore, they don’t require the same amount of maintenance or fixed during their lifetime. This is why they are so popular for commercial properties. Once you install it, you don’t have to think about it for the foreseeable future.

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Summer is almost here! Can you believe that we are already approaching Memorial Day?! Looking for a fun way to entertain the kids when they aren’t enjoying outdoor activities?

Introducing Kabillion, the totally FREE Video on Demand network for kids that gives families access to kabillions of amazing shows all on one kid-friendly platform.

Kabillion serves up a wide range of popular animated content for preschoolers through the school-age set. From classic series for the whole family like Bobby’s World and Gumby, to kid favorites such as My Little Pony, Transformers, and Pokemon, as well as shorts, including Cloudbabies and BabyRiki, both premiering next month for pint-sized viewers, there’s SO much for kids to discover, learn from and love on Kabillion! And more new offerings are regularly being added to the mix, too.

I had the chance to check this out and love all the offerings especially Gumby! I grew up with Gumby and his pals.

It’s never been easier to watch all these great shows and shorts, as Kabillion can be accessed a “million” different ways! The network is available as a free VOD service with most major cable providers, and for families who have cut the cord or may be planning to, Kabillion is also accessible as a free app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.

I had a chance to try out the Roku stick and I was quite impressed with the variety of shows available on Kabillion!

Check it out today!

Happy Memorial Day!

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. Images were provided and I received a Roku stick to check out Kabillion.