California’s own Gaslamp Popcorn has a new fusion flavor, Malibu Mix, which combines the company’s signature Sea Salt & Olive Oil, White Cheddar and Kettle Corn flavors. This has been a favorite of mine since it was released this past August!

Malibu Mix puts the beach in reach no matter where you are and offers a gluten-free, anytime snack experience for those craving a way to escape the daily grind for a few moments.

Malibu Mix popcorn is ideal for consumers looking for a light, flavorful and delicious snack that delivers a sweet, salty and savory treat containing half the calories typically found in traditional popcorn mixes. Gaslamp Popcorn’s signature Sea Salt & Olive Oil, White Cheddar and Kettle Corn make a delightfully flavor-packed snack. Each batch is made with non-GMO corn that stands on the promise of being gluten-free, no exceptions.

I just love the mixture of the three flavors! This one definitely does not last long in our house!

Look for it at a grocery store near you! I often find it at Vons and our local Ralphs.

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

Back-to-School is here and you have probably already stocked up on notebooks, pencils and new backpacks! But, there are some really wonderful products out there that you may not think about!

Here are a few of our favorites!

I love The Moodsters because emotional well-being is so important!

The Moodsters has created a revolutionary category for kids with a mission to enhance children’s social and emotional development to help their (emotional intelligence) EQ!

The Moodsters Feelings Notebook and Feelings Crayon Set is a new creative tool to help kids express what they are feeling. This fun product includes:

• Five jumbo feelings crayons, one representing each emotion,
• A 50-sheet Feelings Notebook for kids to draw and color their feelings.

This one is just great for young children to express their feelings!

($11.99, Available at your local Target and ToysRus or Target.com and ToysRus.com)

I also love  The Moodsters Plush Characters and Sticker Activity Books are based on the five lovable Moodsters detectives – Coz, Lolly, Quigly, Razzy, and Snorf – that each personify an emotion that all children experience in their everyday lives including happiness, anger, love, sadness and fear. Additional details include:

• Each plush character features sayings specific to the emotions they represent
• Comes with a fun and educational activity book to learn about each feeling

How I wish they had been made when my son was much younger! I really love these plush characters and think that young kids will too!

$16.99, Available at your local Target and ToysRus or Target.com and ToysRus.com)

Back-to-School also means new clothes and new haircuts! But, what about new Shampoos and Conditioners?

These ones are a must-try!

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH FRESH MONSTER!

Fresh Monster believes there shouldn’t be any tradeoffs when it comes to keeping kids clean and safe. Natural products should work just as well as conventional ones—and safe, toxin-free formulas needn’t be a costly luxury. Created by moms who have worked on the front lines of haircare (and know firsthand about the harsh chemicals lurking in personal care products), Fresh Monster offers a full line of toxin-free haircare made just for kids. All-natural botanical extracts; safe, plant-based cleansers; and fragrances blended from all-natural ingredients, never from chemicals.

I received samples and I love that these do not have any harsh chemicals and that they work well and smell great! I also like that they have No sulfates, parabens, No phthalates, No dyes, No synthetic fragrances, No BPA, No soy or gluten. Even my 12-year-old son is fine with using this line up of products so it’s not just for little kids!

Available…for $7.99 and under

2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (8oz) in Watermelon, Coconut or Fragrance-Free

Shampoo & Body Wash (8oz) in Ocean Splash

Hair Detangler (8oz) in Watermelon (This one works great! I even tried it!)

Where It is Sold: at Target, Toys R Us, Giant Eagle, King Soopers and retailers nationwide as well as online at Amazon.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free products to facilitate this Back-to-School feature. No other compensation was received. Photos and info were also provided. 

These Tea Bags are really just the coolest!I just love the Hilary ClinTean and Donald Tearump teas from the TeaBook.  I love the pictures on these Tea Bags and these are just perfect for this time of the year! They definitely made me smile! I also really love the flavors of the Tea! The Donald Trump one is Pure White Tea with Peach and Hilary’s Tea is Vanilla Essence. Not sure which one is my favorite…of the two flavors, that is! 😉

Find out more and purchase at www.democratea2016.com or Amazon.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples in exchange for an unbiased review.

Even though it is Back-to-School time, we are enjoying the last days of Summer! It’s not over until it’s over and with this humidity…some indoors time is also a good thing! Summer is a fun time with days at the beach and lounging around the house. Maybe not as many beach days and lounging with the back-to-school season starting. But, after the homework and on the weekends there is still time to add some Nintendo fun with Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS! The great thing is they can be played wherever you go! These are just perfect for travels!

I recently received a Nintendo 3DS from our friends at Nintendo and I truly am enjoying their Summer Gaming List! I have to say, the Nintendo 3DS definitely isn’t just for the kids! My son already has his own so I am now the proud owner of this fun and portable game system! I just love it and am enjoying the games on the Summer Gaming List.  What is the Summer Gaming List? Well, it’s like a video game version of a Summer reading list that you may have had as a kid. I love to read but I am enjoying a few of these games!

There’s no need to even go out and actually buy games! All of the fun games are available and can easily be downloaded directly through Nintendo eShop. I love this because it is super easy and you don’t have to carry around any games!

Here’s the full Summer Gaming List:

For the Action Buff- Kirby: Planet Robobot

For the Collector- Pokemon Omega Ruby/Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

For the Competitor- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

For the Social Butterfly- Animal Crossing: New Leaf

For the Thrill Seeker- Mario Kart 7

For the Disney Fan- Disney Art Academy

For the Adventurer- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

For the Nostalgia Lover- New Super Mario Bros. 2

You may remember awhile back, I reviewed Kirby: Planet Robobot! This one is a lot of fun!

So far, I have downloaded Mario Kart 7 and Disney Art Academy! These fit me perfectly since I can be a bit of a thrill seeker at times and I am a big Disney fan!

Which one are you? Which games will you choose? I challenge you to try the list!

Look for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS at a store near you!

Self Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I received a free product and compensation to post. Any personal opinions are my own.

This seems to work really well and charged up my phone quickly! I like that it also has a light and love the pink color! I highly recommend! My favorite thing is that it is not difficult to use!

More info:

Uncompromised Reliability and Safety 
– Meagoes intelligent circuit design protects against short circuiting, over-heating, over-current, and over-charging.
– The car charger will automatically stop charging when your device’s battery is full.
– Made from fireproof and heatproof materials for your safety.
– Certified by RoHS, CE, and FCC.
– Not interferes with Radio, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signals.

Important Notice: 
– Please notice that this item doesn’t include any cable!
– Use your original cable or an Apple, Samsung, or other third-party certified one (such as MFI).
– We are upgrading our brand name ‘Meago’ to ‘Meagoes’, we hope the new brand name help you knowing us better.

Package Includes:
– USB Car Charger;
– 1 Instruction Manual;
You can purchase on Amazon.com.

Self Disclosure: I received a free or heavily discounted item in exchange for an unbiased review.

Summer is almost over and it’s already Back-to-School!

Here are some of our favorites for this time of year!

The school year is upon us, and once again, parents everywhere will be packing their children healthy and filling lunch bags to get them through the school day, and Keep Healthy  is the perfect, healthy snack to keep your kids fueled and focused all day long.

What I really love about these bars is that there are many healthy options! There are even choices for Diabetics, which in out house is important since my husband now has Diabetes.

My favorite was the Chocolate Covered Pineapple!

Find out more at  Keep Healthy.

Although Summer is ending, we still have warm sunny days! Keep Your Kids Cool at School!

I received a variety of samples from MISSION Athletecare  such as the MISSION Athletecare’s EnduraCool towel and am really quite impressed! 

With temperatures still rising and the kids heading back to school, many parents may be looking for easy and innovative ways to help their children beat the heat and stay safe while participating in their after school sports and activities. MISSION Athletecare’s EnduraCool towel may be just what they are looking for.

When the towel is soaked in water, wrung out and snapped, the instant cooling technology is activated to chill the fabric’s surface temperature by up to 30 degrees. The user can then place the towel around their neck and the fabric will keep them cool, comfortable and dry. The towel comes in a variety of colors and patterns to suit everyone’s taste. It is compact enough to put in your child’s backpack or sports bag and is fun to use!

I really love these! I received two so quickly gave one to my son and he uses it all the time now!

In addition to the towel, MISSION Athletecare has an entire line of EnduraCool Instant Cooling Gear and Accessories – specifically designed to keep you and your family cool.  The line includes a full range of instant cooling Hats, Skull Caps, Headbands, Sleeves and more – all designed to enhance performance and recovery.

Besides keeping you cool they look great! I love the bright neon color ones! 

Find out more at http://www.missionathletecare.com/  

Tastykake’s Lunchbox Approved Snacks

Looking for a delicious Kid approved snack for lunches? Tastykake has you covered!

 

Tastykake’s Mini Cupcakes and Brownies are perfectly portioned desserts coming in at under 200 calories per pack, making for a delicious guilt-free lunchtime snack. These treats come in three bite-sized pieces per pack, making it easy to share with friends.

I received samples and my favorite are the Mini Cupcakes! I love that they are really bite sized and delicious!

Look for them at a store near you!

Back-to-School means Tote Bags!

I love books and love to read so Gone Reading has been a favorite website of mine for awhile now! They have the cutest Tote Bags and they are a must-have for trips to the library this school year! My favorites are the ones with the Cats on them and I love the one they sent me to review! (See photo above).  I love that the bag is roomy and is made really well! I really love the Cat image and the wording!

Each tote bag measure 16″ wide x 15.5″ tall x 5″ deep, with a handle that measures 22″ long.  Made of gusset natural cotton.

Note: The design appears on one side of the bag; the reverse side is blank.  Made in the USA. Retails for $20.

Check out the website to see all the choices!

Back To School with Trudeau!

Back-to-school means packing lunches and I love these options from Trudeau!

Whether it’s packing school lunch boxes, students heading off to college, or adults balancing meals on the go… Everyone is looking for healthy, easier and more economical ways to pack food and take it with them. Trudeau’s FUEL collection is packed full of food and beverage storage containers offering specialization to match a variety of needs, lifestyles, and food choices.

I love how cool they look, how durable they are and that they are BPA free. These are great for both children’s and adult lunches. I highly recommend!

Check out these Trudeau Back To School Options:

The iconic brown bag lunch gets a trendy makeover with this lightweight, reusable eco friendly Classic Bag. Perfectly sized to carry both food and drinks. Roll down to desired size with Velcro strip to secure shut. Tear resistant, BPA free easy to clean material. #37508288 MSRP $14.99         Fuel’s Snack Pockets are lined with an easy clean, lightweight and tear-resistant material. A set of 2 includes a small and large pocket and is great for snack solutions like trail mix when on the go. BPA free. #37908288, MSRP $12.99.       Snap cutlery Set includes a stainless steelfork & spoon with polypropylene handles that simply snap together to allow accessibility and safety. In Kiwi and Coconut. Dishwasher safe. #38208908, MSRP $5.99       This Stainless Steel Food Jar is a perfect vacuum insulated food container that is great for lunch, snacks or anything needed to keep either hot or cold (up to six hours). Leak proof, eco-friendly design is BPA free. Wide mouth is easy to fill, easy to eat from and easy to clean. #35508288, MSRP $24.99         This perfect sized Condiment Set includes three different colored containers great to hold salad dressings, condiments, sauces, dips, nuts, etc. Each with a 1.5 oz. capacity. Great to manage sized meal and snack portions. Leak-proof and BPA free. #38008908, MSRP $5.99     The 10 oz. Nectar Juice Box is a great accompaniment for beverages on the go. Juice Box features built in straw and flip spout and is sized to fit perfectly into lunch boxes. #38308288, MSRP $6.99.

I received a few samples and my favorites are the Condiment Set and the Double Wall Sipper Bottle. I like that the Condiment Set doesn’t leak and they truly are the perfect size! I use them all the time in my work lunches. I like how durable the Double Wall Sipper Bottle is and would use it all the time but my 12-year-old son claimed that one!

For the full assortment of products,  visit www.trudeau.com!

This next item may not be necessary for school but it is a Must-Have for fun bike rides this Fall!

This one is a new bike speaker, the Buckshot 2.0. from Outdoor Tech.!

I love how small and compact this one is! I love that it has great sound and that it is also waterproof and shockproof! I really love that it is completely wireless and although it is small the sound is quite mighty! There is a 20-hour battery life and it is available in the following colors: Black, Red, Blue, Gray and Chrome.

More info:

Secure multi-way mounting and 60-foot Bluetooth® range.

Original MSRP: $39.95

Find it at Outdoor Tech.

Back-to-School with Melitta!

Melitta has the perfect items to survive the pre-k carpool lanes and late night college cram sessions. Equally perfect for those early mornings with the kids or for stocking that new dorm room or off-campus apartment, these are the coffee essentials you’ll need to kick the school year off right:

1. Pour-Over Coffeemaker: The One-Cup Porcelain Pour-Over Cone looks sleek on any countertop and is the ultimate in indulgence and relaxation. Fresh, handcrafted coffee – just like your favorite shop makes – is ready in just three easy steps: put filter and coffee over mug, pour hot water over the grounds and let great tasting coffee drip below. At $19.99, it’s an affordable must-have for the kitchen – making coffee for just pennies a cup – a great back to school gift for budget conscious coffee drinkers and cash-strapped college students, alike!

I just love this one because it is so easy to use and it is so portable! I even take it to work with me! The first time I used it I was simply amazed that it works so well! It truly is a must-have!

2. Coffee Filters: Melitta is the world’s largest supplier of coffee filters. Its classic #2 – 40 count white cone filters ($1.99/box) are 100% biodegradable and feature double crimped seams for extra strength and durability – guaranteed not to burst. Melitta filters also feature microfine flavor enhancing perforations, which allow the full flavor to filter through – while keeping oils and other impurities out – for a clean-tasting, richer cup of coffee.

I really like these because the coffee grinds don’t seem to go through and they are very durable!

3. Gourmet Coffee: Inspired by European café culture, Melitta’s Café de Europa premium, extra fine grind bagged coffee ($6.99/bag) features the world’s best beans – high-grown Arabica beans, which are the top two percent of the worldwide Arabica harvest. The result? The flavor of Europe in every cup, available in: Classique (medium roast), Blanc et Noir (light/dark roast blend), Vienna Roast (dark roast), Espresso Toscana (extra dark roast), Riviera Sunset (decaffeinated roast), Parisian Vanilla (creamy vanilla roast), Caramel Macchiato (buttery caramel and sweet vanilla cream roast) and Hazelnut Crème Brûlée (sweet caramel, rich vanilla and wild hazelnut roast).

Melitta has my favorite Gourmet Coffee! My favorite is the Caramel Macchiato!

Check out their website!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items to facilitate this back-to-school featured post.

Summer may be ending soon but in sunny Southern California, the sun doesn’t go away!

While choosing a good daily SPF is essential for daytime sun, using a good bug-repellent is equally important for day and night alike. No one wants mosquito bites or any insect bite for that matter, and with Zika Virus on the rise, finding the best bug repellent for your family has never been more important.  U.S. Organic Group Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of certified organic products, has created a line of Anti-Bug Spray products suitable for everyone.

U.S. Organic’s Anti-Bug Spray line offers herbal-based insect repellents made with nine premium organic ingredients. Its formula provides long-lasting protection against bugs and from mosquitoes carrying Zika virus, Dengue virus and West Nile virus diseases. And since the product is free of DEET and other harmful chemicals, it is perfect for babies, kids, expectant moms and the elderly.  U.S. Organic’s Anti Bug Spray is one of the leading bug repellent brands on the market: