MOLLY’S BAKEOVERS– The Food Allergy Research Center estimates 1 in 13 United States children suffer from food allergies and some can be life-threatening. As parents pack back to school lunches, Molly’s Bakeovers is a major consideration. Mother of four, Molly Hamilton has revolutionized a packable, allergy-free snack just launched at Safeway stores across California.

Sold in three flavors, Brownie Crisps, Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin, each Molly’s Bakeovers bag of cookies is egg, soy, gluten, peanut and dairy-free. 6 bags, $36.  These are delicious and I highly recommend the Brownie Crisps!

MOZI– The Mozi toy combines the nostalgia of the slinky and a modern day spinner because it can do both. Once you create motion you can’t stop. The Mozi spins continuously from one arm to another and you can even pass it from one friend to another. It provides limitless fun and infuses engineering, science, and math into fun, everyday play. Newton would definitely be proud! Sold in three colors, silver, green and iridescent, the Mozi is the hit toy of the season. $15.99. This one really is a lot of fun!

Every Organic Snack Moms (And Dads) Should Stock Up On!

 Launched in 2016 by Chris Clarke and Sabrina Peterson, Pure Growth Organic was created in the belief that organic snacking should be more delicious, more engaging for children and more accessible for families. As moms reach to stock up on organic snacks, Pure Growth should be at the top of their list! These are really good and would make great after school snacks!

You can find on Amazon.com, Walmart and Target retailers:

My favorites are the Crispy Rice Squares –  $2.98!   Also avail:

• Veggie Chips – $2.87
• Strawberry Breakfast Biscuit Bites – $2.99
• Chocolate Chip Biscuit Bites – $2.98
• Plus many more…

K+ Organics – New sports drink for kids and adults!

These are sold in Southern California in Gelsons and Bristol Farms and now online and are great for after school!

K+ Organics is a new electrolyte sports drink with ONLY 14 grams of sugar per bottle (more than half of other leading brands) and no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or sweeteners and is certified organic. They are available in three unique flavors: Fruit Punch, Orange and Lime.

This next one is great for the little ones! 

Getting your pre-schooler ready for back to school can be fun and games! Many of the skills that are reinforced by Edushape toys can prepare your child to learn.  For example small motor skills are necessary for writing, and socialization is important in any situation.

One of the newest creations from the celebrated pre-school toy company is the new Edushape Try Angles which offer toddlers many ways to build and create.  The easy to grab pieces can fit together so many different ways that your child will feel as if he is playing with a different toy each time.

I like that these are perfect for young children ages 2-4. I like the bright colors and that the pieces are easy to fit together. I highly recommend these! Find out more here.

SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

This is a delightful book for young children starting school! This charming picture book is all about back to school nerves, with an ironic twist from the point of view of the school itself! Written by the very witty, Adam Rex, and illustrated by Caldedcott Honoree Christian Robinson, this picture book is a New York Times bestseller, received seven starred reviews, and made Amazon’s best picture books of the year list!  I love the illustrations and highly recommend this one for children ages 4-7.

Dr. Beaker, just in time for Back-to-School!

This is a must for children ages 8+. I like that you have to use logic for this one! This one is from Blue Orage Games and is from the makers of Dr. Eureka. You may remember, I reviewed that one in the past! This one is also a hit! I like that it is a rather fast paced game and not one that takes way too long to enjoy! It can also be played with only 2 players or up to 4. This one is great for homeschooling and I highly recommend! Look for it here.

Back-to-School Backpacks from Solo New York are a must for the Older Kids and even the College Kids!

Solo New York has a wide variety of backpacks great for students of all ages. Solo’s sophisticated styles and abstract designs are inspired by life in New York City and will stand out in both design and function.

I love the Bridge Design packpack we received and it’s cool enough for my teenage son!

Check out all their different styles here!

Back-to-School usually means time to make school lunches and more sandwiches. Here’s a healthier Bread!

Barely Bread replaces wheat with a blend of almond, seed and coconut flours.  It’s the perfect mix of health benefits, texture and taste from spiced and seeded loaves, baguettes, bagels, and rolls.  Gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, and Paleo-approved, these breads are guilty-free and delicious.

This bread is delicious and it’s healthier!

This next one is great on toast and equals a healthy, quick breakfast! Great for those school mornings that you are in a hurry! 

Rigoni di Asiago’s newest product, Nocciolata Dairy Free, has also recently won FOUR prestigious food awards:

• Delicious Living magazine’s Best Bite Awards: Best Spread
• Specialty Food Associations sofi™ Awards: Best New Product, Nut/Seed Butter Category
• Italian Food Awards USA 2017: Sweets & Confectionary Award
• Italian Food Awards USA 2017: Special Award for Sustainability

Made with organic ingredients completely free of GMO’s, preservatives, colors, additives, or artificial sweeteners, Nocciolata Dairy Free combines hazelnuts, fair trade cocoa and cocoa butter, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar for a chocolate-hazelnut spread with undeniably superior flavor. Nocciolata Dairy Free is certified vegan, organic, and made with environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil. It also contains far less sugar than other brands and is free from hydrogenated fats.

I love that it tastes great and is a hit in my house! This one is even a hit with picky eaters! 

Here’s a quick recipe for after school:

1.       Spread Nocciolata Dairy Free (organic chocolate hazelnut spread) on apple slices

2.       Sprinkle with your favorite healthy toppings such as chopped nuts, seeds, cocoa nibs, shredded coconut, dried cranberries and/or raisins

3.       Freeze and enjoy later!

Do you homeschool? And, even if you don’t! Your older kids will love this!

There are all kinds of monthly subscriptions out there but I really like this one! we received a sample kit and were able to make a Mood Lamp! Creation Crate (https://www.creationcrate.com), is a subscription box service aimed at ages 12 and up, that helps kids learn to build real-world electronics. My son likes this one because it is for older kids/teens. The Creation Crate curriculum focuses on introducing new concepts every month that build on the concepts learned from the months before. The projects are designed to increase in difficulty each month in order to be fluent in the language of technology by the end of the 24 month curriculum. Projects range from building a mood lamp, to a memory game focused on programming, to learning how to input a distance reading from an ultrasonic sensor.

Unlike other technology subscription boxes, Creation Crate uses raw electronic components, offering real-world skills. These boxes are also truly beginner friendly with no previous experience needed. While other boxes teach using intimidating technical lingo, Creation Crate doesn’t. Creation Crate subscriptions start at $30 a month, with available 3, 6 or 12 month packages to choose from.

I suggested for homeschooling because I am a homeschool mom of a soon to be 14-year-old. I think these are great and so much more fun than textbooks! But, I would recommend this for all older kids 12+!

Back- to- School with Garden Lites!

Garden Lites®, the delicious vegetable company, debuts three new products along with their current veggie-rick line that are destined to be the hottest nutritional powerhouse in your Back to School arsenal ever. We know getting your family to eat their recommended daily amount of vegetables a day is daunting. Garden Lites® wants to get your family hooked on veggies – with their delicious, freshly frozen products that are veggie-rich. New to market, Garden Lites® debuts scrumptious and nutritious foods nationally in Target Stores: Garden Lites Superfood Veggie Cakes in two flavors – Superfood Blend and Kale & Quinoa. Also, their best-selling veggie-rich and Gluten Free line of muffins are now available nationally and at Target Stores.

All Garden Lites® products are rich in vegetables, with vegetables ALWAYS the first ingredients; high in fiber; low in calories and packed with plenty of superfoods in each product in a convenient, portable and quick and easy package.   They come frozen and can be defrosted in minutes in the microwave or oven for your everyday meals, from lunch to snacks to dinnertime. When you pack these delicious, nutritious products in your kids’ lunch box or serve as convenient after-school snacks, you will feel good about feeding your family their daily dose of veggies!

You’ll never believe the first ingredient in Garden Lites® Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins is zucchini! Heat in the microwave to enjoy a deliciously rich experience for only 120 calories. Garden Lites® Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are non-GMO, deliciously moist and a great source of fiber. Also, Allergy-friendly! Gluten, dairy & nut free.

I am still on the lookout for the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins! But, I loved the Veggie Chili and Cornbread!

As a Homeschool Mom, coffee every morning is a priority on my list!

Melitta Coffee is one of my favorites! They have the best Caramel Macchiato coffee and it’s perfect with their Signature Series Porcelain Pour-Over Coffeemaker! What I love about this is it is also a great-to-go product when I have to go off to work! It’s super easy to use and easy to clean! It’s a real must for the school year!  It retails for $19.99. Check out Melitta here!

This one is great for teenagers! Tags 2.0 – Wireless Earbuds are a must this school year! They are available in black or red. The sound is amazing and I highly recommend! They retail for $39.95 and can be found at Outdoor Tech.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided. The quick recipe was also included for posting purposes. 

Still enjoying the last days of Summer?  Go Organically Fruit Snacks has a perfect idea (and great tips and tricks) – host your own movie night, and switch it up by having it outside!

Host an Outdoor Movie Night

There’s something so magical about watching a movie under the stars—and summer is the perfect time to do it! So round up the kids, grab your friends, and get ready to enjoy some food, fun and flicks in your very own backyard cinema.

1.Prepare Your Backyard Theater

First, the logistics. Scout the perfect spot to show your movie and gather up the proper equipment. You’ll need three basic things: a projector, a screen, and a laptop with speakers.

• Projector: Buy, rent or borrow a movie projector with HDMI connectivity. Ideally, you’ll want one that is rated 2,000+ lumens for proper brightness. Prices range widely for projectors, but you can snag one online for as little as $100.
• Screen: You’ll need a smooth, flat surface on which to project your movie. You can go simple (the side of your house or a doubled up white sheet hung from a clothesline) to more deluxe (a souped-up DIY screen that you build yourself, or an inflatable or foldable screen that you buy or rent). The choice is yours!
• Laptop with speakers: You’ll need a laptop that plays DVDs (preferably Blu-ray) along with plug-in, portable speakers.

2.Pick the Right Movie

Choose a family-friendly, age appropriate flick that benefits from a “big screen” format. A few of our favorite picks across different categories.

• Recent Animated Movies: Finding Dory, The Secret Life of Pets, Trolls, Zootopia
• Live Action Fairytales: Maleficent, The Princess Bride, Enchanted, Beauty and the Beast
• Hollywood Classics: E.T., The Karate Kid, Star Wars, Harry Potter

3.Set the Scene

Add some drama with details and décor to fit the theme. Remember: you can go as simple or as elaborate as you’d like depending on your schedule, budget or level of craftiness. Either way, your event will be a smash hit!

• Invitations: Send invitations that double as “tickets” that can be collected as guests arrive.
• Seating: Pepper your lawn with blankets, pillows, and a few low-back beach chairs for comfy seating options. If you’re feeling especially creative, build “cars” out of cardboard boxes so that the littlest movie-goers can have a drive-in experience.
• Decorations: Hang paper lanterns from the trees or string up twinkly lights to illuminate walkways. Have the kids make a giant poster board sign welcoming everybody to your family “theater.”
• Accessories: Hand out festive glow necklaces and bracelets to the kiddos to help them navigate in the dark. Put out some potted citronella plants and have natural bug repellent on hand in case mosquitoes try to crash your party.

4.Serve Cinema Snacks

It wouldn’t be a movie without the snacks, now would it? We say resist the urge to grill or cook, and keep it simple with easy-grab, concession-style munchies both kids and adults will love.

• Popcorn: We love the look of an old-fashioned popcorn machine. You can buy one quite reasonably nowadays, or even rent one from a local vendor. Alternatively, simply make some microwave popcorn and serve it in individual red-and-white striped popcorn boxes or bags. Try a sweet-meets-salty flavor combination by mixing popcorn with Go Organically Organic Fruit Snacks.
• Concession Stand: Set up a table off to the side to serve as a concession stand for drinks, candy and other snacks. Serve organic juice boxes and water for the kids and a variety of beverages for grownups.
• Snack Trays: In lieu of a concession stand, make individual snack trays for each moviegoer using plastic bento boxes or dollar store shower caddies. Fill the largest compartment with popcorn and the small compartments with convenient single-serve snacks, such as gluten free fruit snacks from Go Organically.

Enjoy the show!

Self Disclosure: I received my own Go Organically Organic Fruit Snacks to facilitate this post. Tips and Image were also provided. 

House Foods Organic Tofu is certified organic, made from U.S.-grown soybeans that are GMO-free, low in saturated fat, cholesterol-free and is a good source of calcium—meaning you can feel good about the delicious and nutritious meals you are serving the family.  Check out the recipes below!

I had the opportunity to try out their delicious Tofu and loved these recipes!

• Tofu Creamy Mac & Cheese by Kelsey Nixon

• Cheesy Tofu Pizza Slices by Amanda Paa

• Loaded TLT by Andi Mitchell

• Southwest Tofu Burrito with Avocado by Kathy Patalsky.

My favorite was the Cheesy Tofu Pizza Slices! Yum! Which one do you want to try?

Self Disclosure: I received free House Foods Organic Tofu samples to try the above recipes. Images and Recipes were provided.

I finally found a sponge that works great on washing dishes!

Did you know that the kitchen sponge is the dirtiest item in your house? It gets soaked with germs, torn apart and foul smelling. The new, innovative cleaning tool, DishFish, makes the task of washing dishes not so terrible.

All DishFish sponges are made with exclusive PowerCell Technology that resist bacteria naturally and last 2X longer than the average dish sponge. The DishFish is flexible and conforms into tight spaces while quickly releasing food and grease particles. All models fit perfectly into your hand and even have gills to clean cutlery easily.

DishFish Scrubber

 The classic DishFish scrubber is created with non-scratch scrubbing power to clean tough messes in the cleanest way possible. (See pictured above!) This one works great! It did not scratch my pots and pans and makes clean up much easier!

$7.99 on www.amazon.com

My favorite is the DishFish Dual Sponge (also pictured above!)

This guy doubles as a scrubber and a sponge that uses scratch-free scrubbing and an ultra-absorbent sponge to get “wipe dry” results.

I love how well this one works and I like that it also seems to dry quicker than your average dish sponge!

Here’s where you can find them!  But, I easily found them on Amazon.com.

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

Summer has gone by too quickly! But, I have been enjoying the last days of summer by grilling and my family just loves the Heinz BBQ sauces! Our favorite is the Heinz Hawaii Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce!

Hawaii is home to a rich food heritage that brings sweet tropical fruit and the smoked flavor of Kalua Pig together in one delicious luau feast. This sauce delivers a mouthwatering balance of pineapple and mango, savory Asian soy, and subtle smoke that is distinctly Hawai’ian.

Just love the Slow-Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork and Slaw Sliders!

You can find the recipe here! 

I also love the flavor of this one!

Kansas City: “Sweet and smoky” lends to the signature flavor profiles of this city’s sought-after barbeque. A thick sauce shadowed by a sweet tang takes traditional pit-style Kansas City BBQ up a crowd-pleasing notch.

Pitmaster Partner: Joe & Mike Pearce of Slap’s BBQ.

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Kansas City BBQ Ribs

So, if you are going to have a BBQ or use a slow-cooker this upcoming holiday weekend..don’t forget the Heinz BBQ sauce!

Here are a few other great choices and recipes:

  Texas: In Texas, there’s nothing shy about barbecue, and a great Texas style sauce means bold flavors and big personality. This sauce captures the very best of Texas barbecue – combining spices like cumin and chili powder for a sauce that’s bold and flavorful with just the right kick.

Pitmaster Partner: Robert Sierra of S&S Pit Crew competition barbecue team

Regionally Inspired Recipe: BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwiches with Coleslaw

        Carolina Vinegar: Carolina is all about the traditions of whole-hog barbecue slow-cooked over wood coals. Meet a true Carolina style sauce that blends the tang of apple cider vinegar, with just the right balance of sweet and spice to make it the perfect addition to pulled pork.

Pitmaster Partner: Sam Jones of Skylight Inn

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Carolina-Style BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

         Carolina Mustard-Style: South Carolina’s ‘mustard belt’ is where mustard-based BBQ sauce reigns supreme. From slow cooked pulled pork to ribs on the grill, this deep golden sauce delivers the right balance of sweetness and spice that will redefine swine.

Pitmaster Partner: Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Carolina Style BBQ Baby Back Pork Ribs

       Memphis: Rock-n-Roll isn’t the only revolutionary combo courtesy of Memphis. The city’s barbecue also shakes things up. With sweet brown sugar and the flavors of the region’s traditional dry rubs, this is a sweet and spicy sauce that’s sure to please.

Pitmaster Partner: Dan Brown of Leonard’s PIT Barbecue

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Memphis-Style Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken

Kentucky Bourbon Style: Kentucky is home to great bluegrass, great bourbon and great barbecue. This rich & savory sauce reflects the deep heritage of Kentucky BBQ – real bourbon, a hint of smoke, and the seasonings of the region’s traditional “dip”.

Pitmaster Partner: John Foreman of Old Hickory BBQ

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Spatchcock BBQ Chicken with Grilled Green Bean Salad

Are you hungry now? I know I can’t wait to try a few more of these recipes!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Photo images and recipes were also provided. 

Sun exposure is the biggest cause of skin cancer. Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined.

Have you heard of Orlando-based NO-AD?  This is the sunscreen that costs less per ounce because “no advertising” means the brand doesn’t buy expensive TV, print or radio ads, passing the savings on to consumers.

I recently had the opportunity to try it and it works great! The NO-AD Suncare Kids 50 SPF is paraben free and I like that it is non-greasy and is water resistant for 80 minutes. The bottle is big too so this one will last awhile!

Here’s some helpful info from the brand:

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

The kitchen has become one of the most popular rooms in any home. As we find ourselves drawn to the kitchen we have moved socializing there too. The humble kitchen is no longer just a kitchen and sometimes it can even double as a family room, where joyful moments and bonding can occur, as well as enjoying food and drink.

Whatever your style of the kitchen may be, modern which can be defined by sharp corners and clean straight lines or traditional style with hard stone counter tops and wooden cupboards, you know that it can be a very dangerous environment. When you have a child, it is important to make sure that your kitchen is completely child proofed. This will help you avoid any injuries to little heads or having small hands pulling various things off countertops and making a mess.

If you have a glass splashback it may be a good idea to get rid of it. The reason being is that when glass breaks it’s not a clean break, it shatters into many pieces and can be incredibly dangerous. If you have young children then having glass may not be ideal. if it breaks it may cause a lot of injuries, therefore it may be worth investing in an acrylic splash back. Simply plastics have a wide range styles and colors for you to choose from. Acrylic is in fact 10 times stronger than glass! The main difference is the safety, acrylic does not shatter if broken. Instead of shattering it simply just cracks making cleaning it up super easy.

You can also install safety latches to all your kitchen cupboards, fridge, bins and your drawers. This will keep your little ones safe from any products which may cause them harm and keep their fingers safe from injury.

While installing safety latches sounds like a good idea, there are some babies and toddlers who somehow figure out how to unhook a safety latch. Therefore, it is also important to come up with other ways to keep them out of harm’s way.

Installing a baby gate to your kitchen can help with this problem. This is the best way to avoid any kitchen disasters. There are some super stylish baby so you don’t need to worry about not finding a baby gate that will fit in with your home aesthetic. So not only is your kitchen still stylish it is also safe for your kids.

Furthermore, make sure all your glassware and china are stored high up. If you are the proud owner of some expensive glasses and china the last thing you want is for your children to use them as toys or worse break them and hurt themselves. To avoid this, make sure they are all stored away in a cupboard and high up. Make sure that the cupboard doors have safety latches.

Finally, if you are cooking in the kitchen and worry about taking your eyes off your children, make a safe play area where you can put them while you cook. There are some great play pens available which offer safety and style. You can even make your own play pen using some acrylic sheets and getting them cut down. This may be a great way for you to save some money too.

Aroma Foundry sells a very popular line of 100% pure and all natural essential oils. I had the opportunity to try out some of these amazing oils and am quite impressed! My favorite is the 100% Pre Lavender Essential Oil! It smells just like lavender and I love that I can have it handy when I travel or it is the perfect size to have on the night table!

Aroma Foundry has a wide variety of different oils available. I also really like the Peppermint because it great to use around the house. So, if you are looking for essential oils, check them out at https://www.aromafoundry.com/ 

They currently have some great sale prices!

More about Aroma Foundry:

Aroma Foundry is a Santa Barbara, California company founded by a team with a goal to create quality All Natural products that let Mother Earth show off what she can do.

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