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You are here: Home / Archives for organic

Snack Time with Partners Crackers: Making A Snack Tray

June 2, 2017 by Momstart 9 Comments

We received samples from Partners Crackers.

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We are often looking for different snack options for the kids. They try something , fall in love with it and then get tired of it. So I work really hard to rotate some healthy, wholesome and good for you snacks in between some other things that they love.

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Partners Gourmet Snack Crackers

Thin, crispy, flavorful. PARTNERS Gourmet Snack Crackers complement everything from traditional cheeses and soups to the most exotic dips and spread. These smaller cut crackers are great for party appetizers, snacks, or part of a full meal.

When I received samples from Partners Crackers I was quite happy with what I received. They sent me so many samples I had to share them. So we donated some to the nurses at the hospital which I’m sure they also enjoyed. Because we sure did. We received one of every flavor.

Traditional

Traditional


Black Pepper

Black Pepper


Sweet Onion

Sweet Onion


Olive Oil & Herb

Olive Oil & Herb

Olive Oil & Sea Salt

Olive Oil & Sea Salt

 

HOW TO MAKE A SNACK TRAY

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Cut Cheese

Put out Crackers

Put out some deli meats or pepperoni

Add Veggies

Enjoy

 

About Partners Crackers:

The company employs around 85 people in a 50,000 square foot eco-friendly facility outside of Seattle. PARTNERS offers six different tasteful choice brands and more than 35 varieties of crackers, cookies and granola, including organic and low-fat options. PARTNERS’ award-winning products are sold in all 50 states and around the world. Through it all, Marian, Cara and Greg have remained committed to sourcing wholesome, high quality ingredients, and when they can’t find just exactly what they want, they make it themselves.

Filed Under: recipe Tagged With: crackers, organic, snack

Happy Baby: Organic Snacks For Little Ones

September 28, 2014 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Happy Squeeze Pouches

Samples provided.

Did you know that September is National Organic Harvest Month? And there are organic options available for the whole family: Happy Baby is a leading provider of organic foods for babies and toddlers. All of their foods are packaged in easy, grab-and-go premade portions, so all you have to do is toss them into a diaper bag and hey presto! You’ve got organic snacks available for your little one anywhere you go. Our family are already fans of Happy Baby – my cousin loves the products for her 12 month old because of the convenience – so I thought I’d share a few of our top picks:

Happy Puffs:

Happy Puffs

Happy Puffs come in a lightweight, convenient canister that is very portable; perfect for metering out a few puffs at a time to babies and toddlers while you’re on the move. These Purple Carrot & Blueberry puffs are also gluten free!

Happy Munchies:

Happy Munchies

Happy Munchies are light little rice cakes that come in flavors like Blueberry & Beet. Designed for ages 7 months and up, these are meant to help older babies learn how to eat with their fingers.

Squeeze Pouches:

Squeeze Pouches

Happy Baby has a number of convenient squeezy pouches for ages 7 months plus that are lightweight and easy to take along wherever you’re going. Once you’ve opened them, just pop them into the fridge and make sure you use them within 24 hours:

  • Super Acai White Grape & Apple with Super Grain Salba: This pouch is worth a 1/2 cup serving of fruit!
  • Greek Yogurt: I received the Peachy Keen and Super Strawberry flavors from this line, both of which are a source of calcium and vitamin D.
  • Hearty Meals: These are a fun collection of savory meals that come in flavors like Ratatouille; “Mama Grain”, a mix of apples, peach, banana, brown rice, oats and quinoa; “Chick Chick”, a blend of chicken, veg and quinoa; and “Gobble Gobble”, a mixture of turkey, veg, fruit and quinoa that would be perfect for baby at Thanksgiving! These pouches can be heated in hot water if desired, but it’s not necessary.

Visit HappyFamilyBrands.com to order these products online or locate a store near you. The site also includes resources and tips for age appropriate feeding.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: Baby, Happy Baby, happy baby food, organic, organic baby food

Made In The USA Giveaway 21 Brands all In One Place!

July 6, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Rockin' Green - Made in the USAThe Made in the USA Giveaway is here! We’re helping parents discover unique and innovative US-made baby, kids, and parents products in order to honor our country. We have 21 amazing brands coming together to give you a chance to win these awesome American-made products! ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive ALL PRIZES! Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive something special after the giveaway as a thank you. Giveaway will run from July 4th through July 11th. Entering is easy and can be done below via our Rafflecopter. Below the entry widget are all the prizes! Check them out! We also encourage you to check out our sponsors who have amazing blogs you should follow.

REMEMBER….the more points you earn the better chance you have to win! The Rafflecopter entry widget is below.

Please share with friends and family and good luck!

Scroll below the entry form to get more info on our wonderful sponsors and prizes!

First, a BIG thanks to our Sponsors:

made in USA sponsors a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prizes (and a BIG thanks to all brands!):

So what are the AMAZING prizes? Here are the Participating Brands (Giveaway Open to U.S. Residents Only): Rockin’ Green rockingreen Rockin’ Green laundry soap is made for families that care about taking care of themselves and the Earth. We can all do our part for the environment while doing something good for ourselves. Rockin’ Green products are made with a biodegradable plant-based and petroleum-free surfactant. They are septic and grey-water safe. They are never tested on animals. www.rockingreensoap.com Nizo Wear Infinity Scarf (turns into a nursing cover!) nizowear The Nizo Wear Infinity Breastfeeding Scarf is made in the USA and offers you a fashionable, everyday style that is convenient to wear and use while nursing your baby. This scarf also comes equiped with our signature pocket to store your keys, a paci, or anything you may need an extra pocket for. No need for yet another product for breastfeeding discretion; simply unwrap the Nizo Wear Infinity Breastfeeding Scarf from around your neck and adjust the fabric to cover all sides of you and your baby. This infinity scarf offers you full coverage in front as well in the back, while providing airflow and ability to maintain eye contact with your baby. http://nizowear.com GladRags gladrags "Reusable pads. That’s gross!" That’s a comment we’ve heard more than once. But just envision your lifetime supply of used pads and tampons in landfills or washed up on a beach. Now that is gross! Since 1993, GladRags has empowered women to choose safe healthy menstrual products. Made to last for years, reusable menstrual pads and cups keep billions of pads and tampons out of the landfill. Available at natural foods stores and pharmacies across the nation. www.gladrags.com Red Rocket Farm redrocket Red Rocket Farm is the art and animation studio of Jason Albin Thomas, located in Atlanta, GA. At Red Rocket Farm we make paintings, t-shirts, and a mean chicken noodle soup. Often, we hear the same thing, "This is my kid’s FIRST piece of art. It’s the first painting they’ve been really passionate about." http://www.redrocketfarm.com Baby Jack Blankets babyjack Baby Jack Blankets are modern tag blankets with an added safety feature of sewn shut ribbon tabs. This patent pending design ensures that tiny fingers do not become intertwined in ribbon loops. Each blanket is uniquely created in Milwaukee, WI by a team of moms. We employ women for added income and a creative outlet. Baby Jack Blankets focuses on sensory play, comfort and education. http://babyjackblankets.com Beautycounter beautycounter Beautycounter believes children deserve to be protected, which is why we’ve taken special care to create a bath collection that is pH-balanced and gentle on the skin (and smells yummy, too). Kidscounter Bath Collection includes Squeaky Clean Body Wash, Nice Do Shampoo, and Not a Knot Conditioner. https://jackievogel.beautycounter.com/Home American Sockstar americansockstar American Sockstar was born from the dream of an Oregon mom of four who wanted to make a difference. Our love of people and their dreams is evidenced in all we do—whether it be promoting all brands of socks Made in the U.S.A., supporting sock and packaging manufacturing in the U.S. through our business, or contributing to our local community by providing socks to organizations that lead homeless individuals to self-sufficiency. ‘United we Stand’ socks are inspired by our followers and friends who contacted us asking for U.S. flag socks made in the U.S.A. They have a comfortable cushioned sole and are knit in North Carolina with a soft blend of moisture-wicking yarns. http://www.americansockstar.com Poppy Drops poppydrops Poppy Drops was founded by a mom looking for a safe & long-lasting alternative to pierced ears for her daughter. Our first product was our veggie-based, temporary tattoo earrings and our line has expanded to include Tattoo Nail Art, Perfume Sticks & Gift Sets. All products are Made in the USA and are designed to be natural and fun accessory/beauty product alternatives for kids & families. http://www.poppydrops.com Alert Me Bands alertme Alert Me Band; the only childproof emergency contact wristband that is adjustable, durable and completely customizable to indicate any medical, special needs or allergy indications. http://www.alertmebands.com Bobee bobee Bobee is an award winning brand for the diaper & wipe dispenser. Now, Bobee is proud to offer a new line of wall decals all made in the USA. The most adorable little family of elephants will cheer up your child’s room! Perfect for the nursery, classroom, vehicle / car windows, baby or room. The vinyl decals are easy to install and remove without leaving any damage to the wall. Change up your decor as your child grows with the line of Bobee wall decals. http://bobeeinc.com Sand Gone sandgone Sand Gone is a dry powder that when applied to sandy parts of your body removes the sand leaving your skin soft and smooth. All natural ingredients with a coconut fragrance. A must for beachgoers ! or after playing in the sand. Sand Gone is a sand remover, made in the USA. http://www.sandgone.com Noblo noblo noblo is a simple to use beach umbrella anchor that was invented by two moms to stop fly away beach umbrellas. It has become a beach gear must have for parents who want to relax and enjoy a safe day at the beach without the fear of the beach umbrella flying away in a gust of wind injuring either their children or another beach goer. http://thenoblo.com Baby Bump Bundle babybump Baby Bump Bundle creates BumpBundle’s which are curated care packages featuring handpicked products specifically selected for expecting women, at each stage of pregnancy. A perfect gift or a great way for mom-to-be to pamper herself, BBB offers one, two or a subscription of three bundles, with deliveries of the surprise pregnancy boxes scheduled each trimester throughout the whole 9 months! http://www.babybumpbundle.com Piggy Paint piggypaint Piggy Paint non-toxic, odorless, kid-friendly nail polish. Water-based formula dries to a hard, durable finish. Made in the USA. Gift set includes Piggy Paint shades Forever Fancy (pink shimmer), PINKie Promise (bright pink), and Girls Rule! (shimmery purple). http://www.piggypaint.com/ Spray Pal spraypal The Spray Pal was invented by a cloth diapering mom and dad who were tired of cleaning up the mess caused by the diaper sprayer. This patent-pending product will make the worst part of cloth diapering (really, the poop is the only bad part, right?) so much easier to deal with, and will hopefully encourage others to decide to try cloth diapers in their homes. If you’re about to give up on cloth diapers because of the sprayer splatter, try using a Spray Pal first! http://www.spray-pal.com PunkinWrap punkin The PunkinWrap is your all-in-one baby solution! Originally designed with moms in mind, we have found it is becoming the new "go to" baby gift. A wrap created to do it all! Use our baby safe PunkinLinks to attach the wrap to your existing car seat or stroller – don’t worry about which brands are compatible, no conversion kits necessary. Every PunkinWrap comes with the wrap, nursing strap, drawstring PunkinPouch, and 8 BPA-free PunkinLinks. Easy peasy! http://www.punkinwrap.com Carseat Sidekick carseatside Short Stack Jack is a brand built by parents for parents. We strive for a quality product, efficient customer service, and fast shipping. The Carseat Sidekick allows you to put your baby into the carseat without having to mess with any annoying straps that bunch up under your baby. By holding the straps out of the way, you will never have to wake a sleeping baby again! The Carseat Sidekick is not only functional–it also comes in fun blue and pink patterns, and works with all major carseat carriers. http://shortstackjack.com spbang spbang Made in the USA, spbang reusable snack bags are crafted with a food safe material that comes squeaky clean in the dishwasher! Embossed pattern covering the bag with name plate on the back. Big enough for a sandwich but also perfect for snacks or storing crayons. http://www.spbang.com Rockin’ Baby rockinbaby For every sling purchased, Rockin’ Baby will donate a new sling to a mother in need, and educate them on its importance. Mother to Mother. Our signature orange hero sling with red rings is the same sling we donate in Haiti and Kenya with our Mother to Mother Mission. http://www.rockinbaby.com Girlie Glue girlieglue Girlie Glue is an all natural accessory used to stick accessories to the hair and skin. Girlie Glue is Made in the USA. It is all natural and washes off easily with water. Possibilities are endless with Girlie Glue! http://girlieglue.com typebaby typebaby Do you have a city kid? Baby who will sleep for food? We have the tee for you! typebaby is a line of typographic baby & kids goods that allows kids to share their unique personality "type." Kid-inspired and mom-designed, our high-quality infant bodysuits, kids tees, and personalized wall art are designed and printed in Chicago and entirely made in the USA. http://www.typebabydesign.com Giveaway Sponsors: The Caffeinated Army Wife is your go-to site for great coffee finds, coffee maker reviews, and coffee themed crafts! http://www.caffeinatedarmywife.com Lifestyle blog writing a Lil’ Bit of Everything! http://plumcrazyaboutcoupons.com At Blissful Baby® our mission is to unite communities with family-based resources near and far. We pride ourselves in providing individualized attention whether you are Adopting, Try to Conceive, Expecting or are a Parent. Mommy Prep Classes will provide with you with answers to all your questions. We are here for You and Your Blissful Baby®. http://www.blissfulbabyusa.com The Mommy Bunch is a lifestyle blog that features a collection of family friendly content. You will often find articles on a wide variety of topics depending on what we are discussing or living at that time in our lives; some examples include parenting topics, recipes, crafts, technology, and so much more! We also focus on quality and in depth reviews for products that can benefit a family friendly home. We love offering family friendly giveaways and sharing everything about living in healthy and happy home. http://mommybunch.com Coupon Friendly is a family-friendly website, striving to help save people money by sharing great deals, printable coupons and freebies along with samples by mail and product reviews. We understand life is hectic, so we also work hard to save you time so you have more opened windows of opportunities to relax and do things that YOU want to do. We save you money with a smile! We LOVE working with family-friendly companies! If you have an awesome deal going on, contact us so that we can share it. We also promote giveaways, so let us know if you’re having one, so that we can help you out! Have a product you would like reviewed? We’d be more than happy to work with you on it. Let Coupon Friendly assist you! http://couponfriendly.com A product review and giveaway blog for men and women of all ages and children too. From electronics to fashion to food, we’ve got you covered. http://www.starimpulse.com I offer my fans in depth family friendly reviews, as well as giveaways, DIY projects and recipes. http://kswederski.com/ Family blog. http://kerrificonline.blogspot.com At MomStart we like to share it all because basically moms do it all. We have a large team of reviewers and contributors. I have two children, Miles and Zoe and you will see them here often. I’m a mom first, but as I find they need me less as they mature I fill my time with writing and social media. I have a background in the technology field and love to stay current on all gadgets. I love to cook, play video and board games, and travel the world. Blogging here at MomStart has provided me with me with travel opportunities and allowed me to give to charities in more ways than I could ever imagine. I’ve given over 75,000 worth of money and review items to our local community and I’m excited to keep on giving as time goes by. http://momstart.com Review/giveaways for open-minded moms. http://newagemama.blogspot.com Remaking June is a women’s lifestyle site featuring cool finds, product reviews, recipes and more targeted to women and mothers of all demographics. http://www.remakingjunecleaver.com musings of a semi crunchy mom to 3 little superheroes. focus on cloth diapering, baby wearing, going greener and healthy eating. reviews and giveawaya, diy. http://www.princessamongsuperheroes.com Product Reviews and Giveaways http://bonkers4coupons.com/ Fun Reviews and Giveaways is a family friendly blog that offers a wide variety of product reviews, giveaways, as well as sponsored content and advertising to companies. I offer honest reviews and sponsored posts. For advertising and sponsored posts, I have great rates that you can’t beat! I promote the sponsors on my social media outlets. http://www.funreviewsandgiveaways.com Featuring life of a mom with 3 boys, product reviews, giveaways, recipes and sharing anything mommy related. http://lifeofasouthernmom.com I write about my everyday adventures with four kids, being a Navy spouse and my new passion running and Triathlons. Everyday is an adventure here. So I decided I’d write about it! I also include healthy recipes, do reviews and giveaways and just have fun. http://www.chroniclesofasahm.com Family Friendly, Reviews, Giveaways and LIFE! http://jennunplugged.com Bargains with Brittanie is a site dedicated to helping you create, maintain, and live on a budget. You will have access to coupons, deals, freebies, frugal living tips, and DIY projects all at your finger tips. For added fun, product reviews and giveaways are also regularly posted! http://www.bargainswithbrittanie.com/ We help families save time, money, and sanity. Product reviews, recipes, deals, and more. http://moneysavingmommiesx2.blogspot.com Brittleby’s Corner is a blog devoted to organic living. My name is Brittney Minor and I am a mom to two kids and a wife to a UCSB Doctorate student. I substitute teach elementary-high school part time. I love blogging about life as well as natural and organic products that my family loves. My blog features reviews and giveaways and I enjoy sharing about products and companies that promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. I especially love when companies use sustainable resources and make their products in the USA. My goal is to show people that life can be simple and organic. http://brittlebyscorner.com/ Measuring Flower is a website about real food and natural living for families. http://www.measuringflower.com Welcome to Sweetly Made (Just for you). The three of us are here to share organizational tips, business reviews, giveaways, DIY craft ideas, fun activities for kids, travel ideas, personalized Christmas stockings and more. http://emileeschristmasjoy.blogspot.com/ Cleverly Changing is a lifestyle blog, written for people wanting to learn more about debt-free living and effective parenting. The main goal of the blog is to share savings tips, product reviews, giveaways, and information regarding healthy parenting. http://CleverlyChanging.com My name is Amanda K and I run the www.onemommasavingmoney.com. I am a mom to a 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son and I’ve been married to my husband for 14 years. I started blogging to share the coupon strategies and deals I use to live a frugal life with my friends and from there it bloomed! Now I blog on just about anything, deals, coupons, reviews, movies, books, giveaways and more! Stop on by and say hi! http://www.onemommasavingmoney.com/ Mommy Knows What’s Best is a family and parenting site that features tips, and ideas along with awesome reviews and giveaways. Written by a SAHM of three kids, it’s a site for new and experienced parents alike. http://www.mommyknowswhatsbest.com Savory Savings is a lifestyle blog featuring gluten-free recipes, products reviews, giveaways, green living tips, fun fashions and so much more! http://www.savorysavings.com The Stuff of Success is a blog about living life well, inexpensively. I write about family, opportunities, reviews, giveaways, photography etc… http://thestuffofsuccess.com I love to share all kinds of information with all. I will be sharing: Reviews, Giveaways, Money Saving, Funny tidbits and hopefully just all around fun for all. I am a stay home wife & mother. I am the type of person if you ask me I will tell you the truth. I love to share all kinds of information with all. Here at Heather Speaks Out I will be sharing: Reviews, Giveaways, Money Saving, Funny tidbits and hopefully just all around fun for all. http://heatherspeaksout.blogspot.com Ashley Suzanne was founded May 2010, and has grown tremendously since then. While the main focus is centered on baby, we also like to focus on mom as a whole. With that being from time to time Ashley will include lifestyle applications, such as recipes, crafts, decorating, and just all out fun mommy things. We want to create a place where mom can come, sit back, kick up her feet and enjoy some all-around goodness. Ashley Suzanne is a God centered blog and enjoys a family friendly atmosphere. Just recently Ashley Suzanne has incorporated The Baby Whisperer namesake and might in the near future switch fully over from Ashley Suzanne to The Baby Whisperer. http://www.ashleysuzanne.com After spending nearly 12 years dedicated to my ambitious accounting career, I recently decided to stay at home with my two young daughters. My blog covers kids crafts and activities, recipes, money saving ideas and more. The unique perspective I bring is that I never imagined I would be a stay at home parent. Another bit of perspective is that I’m a navy wife, so we have friends and family all around the world. http://omgiquitmyjob.weebly.com Pink Ninja Blogger focuses on everyday life. We highlight technology, product reviews, book review, frugal living, recipes, crafts, giveaways, and so much more. Our readership consists of both males and females from every walk of life all over the United States and in other countries as well. The age range of our readers varies so we try to keep our topics broad to appeal to our entire audience. We have a strong community that is growing by leaps and bounds every day. http://pinkninjablog.com Griffin’s Honey focuses on everyday life. We focus product reviews, book reviews, frugal living, recipes, crafts, and we provide deal information. Our readership consists of both males and females from every walk of life all over the United States and in other countries as well. The age range of our readers varies so we try to keep our topics broad to appeal to our entire audience. We have a strong community that is growing by leaps and bounds every day. http://www.griffinshoney.com I am a busy lady who takes on too many projects while trying to manage the chaos I call my life. I am a work at home mom and wife who is a logo designer and branding consultant. We have recently started our journey of home schooling. What a ride we are on, but at least the hot pink carpet has been rolled out for us, the Carolina moon is shining bright, and my crown is tilted just right! http://thepalmettoqueen.blogspot.com I write about parenting, homeless animals, blogging tips, reviews on new products, giveaways, vacations, recipes. And sometimes more. http://momndaughtersavings.com What you will find on couponWAHM are:Giveaways,Reviews,Deals and Work at home opportunities. http://www.couponwahm.com/ Growing Up Gabel is a lifestyle blog featuring delicious recipes, fun crafts, easy DIY projects, and real family life! http://growingupgabel.com Mommy’s Obsessions is formerly known as Mommys Craft Obsession but is the same fabulous blog at heart! We are excited for the opportunity. Thank you! http://www.mommyscraftobsession.com Mom’s Blog at Mommy Enterprises is a lifestyle blog that features product reviews, giveaways, entertainment news, crafts, recipes and more! http://www.mommyenterprises.com/moms-blog Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 10.03.11 AM   The Cool Word Club (CWC) is an online gathering place for some of the coolest and smartest kids in the country! http://coolwordclub.com Social Media 22 is a trendy PR and Internet Marketing boutique located in Bridgeport, CT. http://socialmedia22.com This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email 48 hours after the giveaway ends. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send us an email: pr@rockingreensoap.com. Rockin’ Green is not liable for any of the products given away. Once the giveaway is over, the brands shown above may send you one email with an exclusive offer as a thank you for entering.

To Enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: giveaway, green, organic

Tofu Mac’ N Cheese Recipe

August 20, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

As versatile as sour cream, mayonnaise, or cream cheese, tofu adds a healthier component to many favorite recipes. With moms looking for kid-friendly meals to whip up, what better way than incorporating protein-packed tofu into a quesadilla?  The House Foods Tofu Quesadilla is always a hit by being satisfying and cheesy. No kids can resist is a bowl of macaroni and cheese – now just add tofu! House Foods has created the Tofu Mac’ n Cheese by adding their creamy tofu to this kid staple! Want a healthier dessert? Try Chocolatey Tofu Brownies – chocolaty and rich, it will satisfy their sweet tooth while giving them the benefits of soy.  Even better, it’s perfect for a sweet and satisfying lunch bag treat. Today we are sharing the Tofu Mac’ N cheese recipe.

Macaroni and Cheese

Tofu Mac’ N Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

½ package of House Foods Premium Tofu Firm or Organic Firm, strained
1 box elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons of onions
½ cup greek yogurt
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
dash paprika
pepper to taste

Directions

Cook and strain macaroni noodles and set aside.
Sautée onions in pan until golden brown.
Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
Mix cheese sauce and macaroni noodles in a large pot over low heat until all noodles are coated with sauce and heated thoroughly. Serve warm.

Note: 
Optional: Serve with parmesan cheese for extra flavor

Filed Under: recipe Tagged With: organic, recipe, tofu

Take The Horizon Organic Milk Juice Box Replacement Challenge Giveaway

October 13, 2012 by Momstart 161 Comments

By switching out juice drink boxes for milk boxes in school lunches, you can replace ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives often found in juice for the calcium, protein and vitamin D found in milk, all of which are important for growing kids. We occasionally have juice boxes or juice with our lunch. So taking this challenge was really very easy for us.

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The other reason it was really easy for us is because my kids LOVE the Horizon Organic Milk cartons. They fell in love with them this past summer as we went walking back and fourth from church to Starbucks. At the end of the walk they get to pick out a drink and surprisingly they always picked out one of the Horizon Organic flavored milks. They could choose from vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. YUM, I had to taste each flavor and I found that the vanilla flavor was my favorite. They taste so good.

imageTo Help me take the challenge.

Horizon sent me a Challenge kit:

coupons for shelf-stable Horizon Organic milk boxes to try the swap for a week
Lunch Box

Both my kids still have lunch at home also making it quite easy for us to make the change. It was an easy challenge and a happy challenge because I hate giving them juice. It’s bad for their teeth and they get a sugar high. I know it’s a natural high but I want to pull my hair out, so I prefer giving them milk.

Horizon Organic Provided Additional Back-to-School Resources as Well:

· “Healthy Lunch Box Swaps” infographic detailing five recommended lunch box swaps from Horizon Organic and Danielle Omar, a registered dietician, well-known author and nutritionist blogger. The recommendations provide parents with easy, nutritious alternatives to lunch box staples. Horizon B2S Infographic High Res

· “Lunch Box of the Week” photo contest through which fans can upload photos of their creative, healthy lunch box ideas featuring Horizon Organic milk boxes and other nutritious foods in exchange for a coupon for $1 off the purchase of Horizon Organic milk boxes. Parents who upload a photo will also have a chance to win a weekly Horizon Organic prize packs. And, each month, fans will have the opportunity to vote on the weekly winners to select a monthly winner to receive a $1,000 gift card.

· Horizon Organic “Talking Food” videos featuring “tasty characters” sharing the nutritional benefits of milk boxes over juice boxes.

Follow Horizon Organic on Facebook, Connect with Horizon_Organic on Twitter, Horizon Organic on Pinterest.

Enter to Win:

coupons for shelf-stable Horizon Organic milk boxes to try the swap for a week
Lunch Box

To Enter:

Tell me what your kids have for lunch

Extra Entries:

Use the rafflecopter and leave a way for us to verify

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We Received Samples. This giveaway ends October 22nd. Please see the giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: giveaway, Horizon, juice box replacement challenge, Milk, organic

PBS Kids and Whole Foods Launched Fantastic Organic: Choosing and Buying Healthy Snacks

August 18, 2012 by Momstart 12 Comments

Eating healthy is something that all families strive for, but sometimes choosing healthy items can be tough, especially with the hectic back-to-school schedule. Having healthy snacks on hand can be an important step in keeping kids’ nutrition on track throughout the day.

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Earlier this month, PBS KIDS and Whole Foods Markets launched the “Fantastic Organic” campaign aimed at providing educational tools and resources to help families learn to cook, shop and explore healthy foods together!

Below, please find some tips from PBS KIDS on choosing healthy snacks for kids as well as some healthy snack ideas.

Choosing and Buying Healthy Snacks

  • Stock the fridge and pantry with healthy snacks, such as fruits and vegetables and ingredients for the recipes below.
  • Before you go shopping, tell your children what behavior you expect and what, if any, snack they can expect.
  • Take snacks with you when you go to appointments or run errands.
  • Provide snacks that are easy to eat.
  • Use snacks to provide the food groups your children are missing during meals.
  • Make snacks small, then give seconds if the child asks for more.
  • Decide what snacks you will allow, and when. Explain the rules to your child and stick to them.

Healthy Snack Ideas:

  • Crunchy vegetable sticks (carrots, celery) with low-fat ranch dip (for older preschoolers)
  • Nearly frozen applesauce
  • Melon Melody: Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew with non-fat whipped cream
  • Ants on a Log: Peanut butter on celery with raisins
  • Mud & Dirt: Low-fat pudding with crushed graham crackers mixed in
  • Peanut butter on half of a whole-wheat bagel
  • Whole-wheat crackers or whole-wheat tortilla with salsa
  • Hummus and pita wedges
  • “Light” microwave popcorn with grated parmesan cheese (for children three years and older)
  • Mini-pizzas: Half an English muffin covered with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, then topped with part-skim mozzarella cheese

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: choosing and buying healthy snacks, organic, PBS Kids, whole foods

Beginning Bath & Beauty Skin Care Products for Baby By Maclaren

March 10, 2012 by Momstart 14 Comments

By: Ashley

It wasn’t too long ago that I became a HUGE fan of Maclaren. I was in the market for a lightweight, yet durable, stroller and quickly learned that no one (in my very humble opinion) could match Maclaren. That’s why, I was SO excited to learn about Maclaren’s line of skin products! If a company could make such amazing gear that made life easier for both parents and children, I couldn’t wait to see what that same dedication would do for a skin care line. Let me start off by saying, I was NOT disappointed!

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“Maclaren makes skin care stuff? Who knew?” That was literally what I said when received the samples of products for this review. Now, a shower, some lotion, and some body balm later, I am fully supporting the Maclaren Beginning line. What makes this stuff so special? Here’s what Maclaren has to say…

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(These are) products offering everyday personal care for the entire family (mothers, fathers, babies and children). beginning…everyday, a natural and gentle range of holistic bath and body care products, delivers real therapeutic benefits based on holistic aromatherapypractices, and is made from the purest ingredients safe for sensitive skin.

Now, here’s what I have to say! I’ve kind of gone back and forth about what I think of the potentially dangerous chemicals found in lotions, shampoos, soaps, etc. It’s a tough spot to be in when you want to do everything you can to keep your babies healthy but also need to be cost conscious and… well to be honest, not afraid of everything in the world. That’s one of the reasons I really like the Maclaren Beginnings line. The products are natural… but don’t cost an arm and a leg. A little more than some of the other more traditional baby products, yes… but, for high quality skin care, suitable for sensitive skin, that leaves your body and mind feeling luxuriously relaxed…? Beginning is a GREAT product line.

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Product Line Descriptions:

Replenishing Body Lotion: Enriched with the moisturizing and anti-aging benefits of avocado, almond and chamomile oils, this water-based, non-greasy body lotion is specially formulated for delicate and sensitive skin. An organic essential oils blend of relaxing lavender and regenerative avocado oil, combined with moisturizing almond oil, glycerin and cocoa butter, boost the skin’s defenses against the damaging effects of UV rays while softening and soothing the skin.

Gentle Cleansing Face and Body Wipes: Made from soft organic cotton and lightly scented with organic lavender essential oil, these alcohol free cleansing wipes are gentle enough for use on body and face. Known for its anti-bacterial and soothing properties, lavender essential oil leaves skin clean, fresh and stress free.

Gentle Softening Shampoo: Created using only the mildest ingredients to cleanse and moisturize the hair and scalp, this gentle softening shampoo leaves hair shiny and silky. A comforting blend of soothing lavender and restorative mandarin essential oils, combined with hydrating aloe and glycerin, make this gentle shampoo rich in healing properties.

Gentle Moisturizing Hair Conditioner: Specially formulated to complement the beginning gentle softening shampoo, this mild conditioner is lightweight in texture, leaves hair moisturized and hydrated, and has the calming scent of lavender oil. A blend of mandarin oil, aloe Vera juice oil and glycerin provides hair with repairing and restorative benefits.

Hydrating Lip and Cheek Balm: A distinctive blend of organic Shea butter, bees wax and jojoba oil hydrates and moisturizes lips and cheeks. This balm is infused with a light lavender scent and specially formulated with natural vitamin E to protect sensitive skin.

Indulging Body Butter: A rich, buttery moisturizer providing an intensive dry skin treatment, this body butter has a lightweight texture for quick absorption. Highly moisturizing with a blend of organic Shea and cocoa butter, as well as soothing aloe Vera and almond oil, this special formulation leaves skin hydrated and soft. For ultimate relaxation, it is lightly fragranced with a blend of revitalizing orange and sensual ylang ylang.

Aromatherapy is another added plus of the Maclaren Beginning line. Whether it’s the relaxing scent of lavender, or the energizing burst of mandarin orange, they have done a great job of using just the right amount of scent. I don’t use scented things very often because I can get overwhelmed by smell. The natural scents in Maclaren Beginning are just right.

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Check out MaclarenBaby.com to try out these products. You can also find them at some other online stores. Perfect for new moms, baby shower gifts, and more!

MomStart is an Ambassador for Maclaren and received products for review.

About Ashley: Ashley is the president of our local MOMS Club. Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, organic, review Tagged With: baby body lotion, body lotion review, cheek balm, cleansing face and body wipes, Conditioner, Maclaren, Maclaren Baby, organic, Shampoo

HappySqueeze and HappyMorning Smoothies from Happy Baby

September 25, 2011 by Momstart 24 Comments

So here’s a true story. This past weekend was our local MOMS Club Garage Sale. To some, that may not sound like much, but for me, it meant a crazy-busy Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If I was rich and famous, I could’ve just left Atticus (my little guy) with the nanny… sadly I’m not rich nor famous. That meant he had to tough it out with me. I had received some samples from Happy Baby literally one day before the mayhem began… and they came in handy to save the day TWICE!

clip_image006On Thursday, I was bouncing around from place to place with baby boy in tow. He was such a trooper! Then lunchtime hit. I was out and couldn’t get back home. I wanted to make sure he got something healthy to eat though. I didn’t want to do the drive thru window, super greasy food for Atticus or myself (even though it would’ve been faster… and easier). So we pulled into a local grocery store where there is a small café. We ordered a chicken meal to share… but wouldn’t you know it? Atticus decided to put aside all veggies and proteins and not really eat (HIGHLY unusual for this guy). Lucky for me, I had the oh so handy HappySqueeze Organic Super Smoothie (Super Orange + Pumpkin W/Mangosteen to be exact) ready and waiting in my bag. He sucked that thing down in about 1 minute flat. I had to put some of it in a bowl and let him spoon it out… but whatever it took! He kept snacking on the lunch we had ordered but I felt good knowing he had gotten some “good for him” food. Sure there was a little mess, but he seemed content, full, and “happy!” I was happy knowing that he had taken in some SUPER nutrients.

clip_image008The very next day, HappyBaby was there again! I was running late (of course) which drives me CRAZY! I knew Atticus needed breakfast, but I needed something FAST! I was literally in the kitchen with Atticus saying “Mmmmmm” and pointing to his chair. That meant there was literally zero time before a hunger meltdown hit. My guy is pretty happy, but when he gets hungry… look out! I still needed to load the car and a million other things, was skipping my own breakfast, but knew I had to feed my boy! “Happy Baby! One of those is for breakfast!” I honestly stopped my flurry through the kitchen and said that outloud. My husband of course had no idea what I meant, but I grabbed the HappyMorning Smoothie (Super Cinnamon to be exact). I handed it over to Atticus and within minutes (with just a little help), he had completed what appeared to be a delicious and most definitely a SUPER nutritious breakfast! I added some banana and a cupful of cereal to snack on in the car, and we were good to go! Not to mention, I was not as late as I thought I was going to be getting the garage sale that morning! Happy baby… AND happy mommy!

As you can bet on with ALL products from HappyBaby, these smoothies were filled with natural, organic ingredients and I knew my baby was getting “good stuff.” Here are some facts from the company:

HAPPYSQUEEZE, available nationally at Target, offers delicious organic nutrition on-the-go, with each pouch packing half of a serving of fruit, six grams of protein, two grams of fiber and a good source of omega-3, with 90-100 calories. HAPPYSQUEEZE will be available in three flavors: Pom, Apple + Peach, Yumberry + Apple, and Orange + Pumpkin.

Thanks to HappyBabyFood.com for product images.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and a very active member of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, organic, review Tagged With: Happy Baby, HAPPYBABY, HappyMorning, HappySqueeze, organic, review

Recyclebank Challenge 2 Green Up The First Day Of School Tips

September 5, 2011 by Momstart 22 Comments

Miles and Zoe have their first day of School on Wednesday. Miles, it’s his official first day and I just don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to be happy about it, or sad. I’m both! I’m quite sad about him leaving, as he describes it, I won’t have anyone to play with, read to, sing with, or watch TV with. But I’ll have time to work uninterrupted which I hear is SO VALUABLE. Now thinking about it from a green point of view. What can I do to green the first day of school. I have a few days to prepare and I do still need to find back to school clothes.

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Recyclebank is here to help us figure out ways to green our school year. One way is to chose products with fabrics that are green. As part of the Green Your School Year Challenge going on they are offering tips in the form of a game where you can earn entry points to win really fun prizes. The first step was to download a guide that provided lots of information on choosing green fabrics. I found it so interested I wanted to share a few of the tips.

Choose Organic fabrics in clothing and backpacks:

Compared to conventional backpacks, fewer toxic chemicals are released into the environment when they’re being made
Eco-friendly backpacks aren’t made with petroleum, like vinyl backpacks
Backpacks made from recycled plastic bottles reduce landfill waste

Good Fabrics to Look Out For

Organic Cotton
Hemp
Recycled plastic bottles

Bad Materials to pass on

Vinyl
Conventional cotton

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The rest of the challenge for this week is more like the first challenge. You can take quizzes and find out how knowledgeable you are on being green. What are different ways throughout the day that you can become more green. Do you car pool? Do you use reusable packaging for sandwiches? We need to switch from plastic baggies to those cute reusable washable sandwich bags that my friend makes. She makes them in such cute patterns. Basically, you sandwich bag can be any material you can find in the store.

What are your tips to Green Up The First Day of School.

 

 

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Filed Under: green Tagged With: challenge, clothing, first day of school, green, organic, recyclebank, sweepstakes

Jenerations Baby Collection: Organic Shampoo, Lotion, Gel, and Conditioner

June 3, 2011 by Momstart 3 Comments

Founded by hairstylist and salon owner, Jennifer Reilly, jenerations baby enables mothers to feel comfortable in developing healthy hair and body care regimens for their children at a young age while bringing sensitive and organic products to the children’s market. The jenerations baby collection includes shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, body lotion, body wash and soap with prices ranging from $7.00 – $15.00. 

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I received four samples from jenerations baby and I loved the smell of each of the products.

Jenerations baby Shampoo Bodywash

The shampoo and bodywash is lightly scented completley natural and organic made with extra sensitive mild ingredients. Including extracts of comfrey, chamomile and rosemary giving it that wonderful scent. Plus, NO lavender or tea tree oils, which may cause unhealthy increases in hormone levels. Hypoallergenic and physician tested. It’s the ultimate in luxury for your little one!

Jenerations baby Head to Toe Lotion

The baby lotion keeps your child’s skin smooth and silky with a light creamy fresh smell. The lotion has the moisturizing shea butter and sweet almond oil in it giving you a non greasy easy absorbing feel. There is NO lavender or tea tree oils, which may cause unhealthy increases in hormone levels. 100% sulfate and paraben free, completely natural and organic, hypoallergenic, and physician tested.

Jenerations baby Hair Gel

The baby hair gel is a great consistency to work with. And yes, I use gel on my kids and even used it on Miles at a very young age. I loved his curls and would do anything to keep them in. This safe children’s hair gel is completely natural and organic, and 100% sulfate and paraben free. Define curls, tame flyaways, or simply create a fun style of your own! Contains NO lavender or tea tree oils, which may cause unhealthy increases in hormone levels. Hypoallergenic and physician tested.

Jenerations baby Conditioner No Tangles

Zoe loves to have her hair braided but the tangles kill us both. Or at least they kill our mood. I have to use either a detangler or conditioner. With sunflower oil, wheat germ oil, and panthenol, this conditioner adds moisture and shine like none other. 100% sulfate and paraben free, completely natural and organic, hypoallergenic, physican tested, and with NO lavender or tea tree oils, which may cause unhealthy increases in hormone levels.

 

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

Filed Under: green, organic, review Tagged With: Conditioner, green, Hair Gel, Jenerations baby, lotion, natural, organic, Shampoo

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