Mar

28

Review: Flavrz Drink Mixes

Filed Under Product Reviews | 3 Comments

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    Remember when we were kids, and your mom would take out that big canister of Kool-Aid? I remember my mother would buy the individual packets, so that she could control how much sugar she put in.  I always thought my mom was lame because she would never make it as sweet as all of my other friends’ moms.

    Now that I’m a mom I get it.  And I totally take back everything I ever said about being the cool mom that would let their kids eat or drink whatever they wanted.  Sorry kids, but I’m that lame mom.   My kids are allowed juice as an occasional treat, and never Kool-Aid.

    My son has no problem drinking plain water.  In fact, he prefers it over juice.  My daughter on the other hand would rather die of thirst than drink water, and has been known to throw a tantrum when I don’t follow her orders and give her juice (We deal with a lot of tantrums in this house, and drier diapers as a result).

    So when I came across Flavrz pouches in the grocery store, I felt compelled to pick up a few of the single serve pouches.   Flavrz is an organic concentrated drink mix, made from fruit juice and flavorings, and is low in sugar as well as calories.   The biggest perk?  You can control exactly how much you put in.

    The recommendation per the directions is about 2-3 ounces for 8 ounces of water.   Each 16 ounce bottle has about 28 servings, give or take, depending on how sweet you like your drinks.   The single serve pouches (each pouch is 1 ounce) you can get 2 servings out of.

    I added between 1/3 to 1/2 of the pouch to her 8 ounce sippy cup – just enough to give it a flavor, but not make it really sweet. Five minutes after we left the house, I heard a little voice from the back seat: “My cup is empty, Mama.”  I felt vindicated.  She’s drinking water, and I don’t feel like I’m giving her too much sugar or too much juice.   Of course I also tried it myself, both lightly sweetened as well as more on the sweeter side.  Both were very good.   The sweeter drink satisfied a sweet craving nicely.

    Flavrz comes in three different flavors: tropical, lemon-lime and cherry berry.  They also have a natural soda syrup.  A great alternative to those who like soda, but don’t want to drink processed junk.  It also works with the SodaStream system, if you happen to have one.  This is such a great, economical way to add a little kick to your water or make full fledged juice.   Each 16 ounce bottle is $6.99 or you can get a variety pack of all three flavors for a little over $20.   A box of  6 single serve pouches is $4.99.   I’m definitely keeping some pouches in our bag.   And they’ll come in handy on our upcoming vacation.

    Get it: Order some Flavrz of your own directly from flavrzdrinkmix.com

     

    Mar

    22

    Lunchbots Rounds Food Storage (Giveaway!)

    Filed Under Product Safety | 175 Comments

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      I’ve always been fond of Lunchbots and the products they make.  The more I learn about materials, the more certain I am that storing food in non-plastic containers is the best way to go.  So when Lunchbots offered to allow me to test out their new stainless steel Lunchbot Rounds I was really excited.  They come is a set – 16oz and an 8oz stainless steel round container with a silicone seal under the lid to keep things tight in there.

      The first test was the lunch box test.  My son can do a number on things and I was happy to see that they were easy for him to open and close at school (he’s 5 in case anyone is counting).  They hold any number of things and their sizes lend themselves to many combination’s.  I’ve packed grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apple slices, watermelon in both and I can say with certainty that when the cap is screwed on they do not leak.   The second test was the beach test.  I used them for dry snacks and fruit.  The opening is easy for kids to fit their hands in and they close up easily.  They wash easily too.

      I loved using these for our food and snacks and they aren’t heavy which is ideal when you’re carrying a bag full of steel containers for food.  They are light despite their size.  My wish would be for a version with a double wall for insulation (for packing food meant to stay cold or warm) but I can imagine that would add to the weight.  I thought the lack of insulation would be an issue but it hasn’t been, considering I pack things in a cooler or my son’s insulated lunch bag anyway. (A FUEL bag if anyone is wondering)

      Snack time with Lunchbots

      Lunchbots has all their products tested by a 3rd party and have come back certified as lead-free.  That’s peace of mind!  No plastic to be concerned with and no leaching risks.  Plus they look great and function well.  I’m a fan!

      Get Lunchbots Rounds: You can purchase Lunchbots Rounds (which I hear are selling out fast) and any of their other great products from their website Lunchbots.com! (Or visit some our advertisers – they carry Lunchbots products too)

      Win Them!

      Lunchbots is giving away one set of Lunchbots Rounds to a lucky SafeMama reader!

      Here’s How To Enter (Required):

      Visit Lunchbots.com and tell me what products appeal to you as replacements for plastic!  This step is required to enter the giveaway.

      For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

      • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
      • Fan/Like Lunchbots on Facebook (first name, last initial)
      • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
      • Follow @Lunchbot on Twitter (Twitter name)
      • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
      • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
      • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN a set of stainless steel @Lunchbot Rounds on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 3/29 http://tinyurl.com/4sxx97s

      One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until March 29, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

      Congratulations commenter #42, Susan!

      Mar

      21

      NHSTA Announces New Car Seat Recommendations

      Filed Under Car Safety | 9 Comments

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        I’m not sure why this hasn’t happened sooner, especially since it’s been the ongoing recommendation of many car seat manufacturers. But today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its guidelines for car seat restraints for children.  In the new guidelines, NHTSA is advising parents and caregivers to keep children in their appropriate seat restraint for as long as possible before moving up to the next style seat.  This includes rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats.

        In “keeping pace” with the latest scientific and medical research, NHTSA is following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends parents keep children in “rear-facing restraints until two years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.”  The AAP indicates that there should be no rush to move kids up to the next level of seat restraint if not absolutely possible.

        NHTSA’s new recommendations aim to help parents in chosing the right seat for their child by selecting seats based on the childs height, weight AND age:

        Birth to 1: Children under the age of 1 should always ride on a REAR-FACING car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in 1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

        Age 1 – 3: Keep your 1 to 3 year old children in a REAR-FACING car seat for as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep them safe. They should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once outgrown the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness.

        Age 4 – 7: Keep your 4 to 7 year old children in their FORWARD-FACING car seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once they outgrow their forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel on a BOOSTER SEAT … but still in the rear seat.

        Age 8 – 12: Keep your 8 to 12 year old children on their BOOSTER SEAT until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Seat Belts – For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.

        Please visit the NHTSA website for more information about the new recommendations and to find a Certified Car Seat Inspection location near you.

         

        Mar

        17

        Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Decorating Kit (& Giveaway)

        Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Product Reviews | 214 Comments

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          Easter is coming!  That means egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and egg coloring.  One thing I’ve been anxious to try this year with my kids is exploring more natural ways of coloring eggs.  I am just not comfortable using Red 40 and Blue Lake tablets that inevitably leak on to the egg inside and stain our hands and clothes. They’re pretty but I’d always wanted to try something less day glow and more natural.  I’ve known about Eco-Eggs for a year or so but never actually got around to trying it out until now.  Lullaby Organics sent us an Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit to review before the rush of Easter arrives.

          The kit comes in a cute little egg carton (of course)and all the supplies you need to create colorful eggs and Easter fun.  Included are 3 pots of natural dye powder, a color mixing instruction card, and egg creature cutouts so you and your kids can make fun little animals and bugs out of your eggs.   The concentrated powders made with plant, fruit and vegetable extracts instead of petrochemical food dyes.

          SafeMama's eco-eggs: The purple stripes were totally accidental - and look cool!The colors are pretty and earthy instead of “Is this egg radioactive?“.  The dyes work rather quickly and wash off your hands completely if an accident occurs.  I also liked the fact that you only needed 3 mugs of color to create 6 variations.  I thought it would be a drastic change from the neon Paaz colors but in fact, they were quick to color and looked just as pretty (actually, I thought the colors came out nicer).  The photo of my eggs depicts my impatience with waiting the recommended 10-15 minutes per egg and they still look colorful and bright. I’ve had a long tradition of using a yellow crayon to draw designs on our eggs prior to dyeing them and this method worked just as well. I have photos of our coloring session.. I’ll add those shortly. It was fun!

          Order yours in time for Easter: You can purchase the Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit by Eco-Kids from Lullaby Organics! (check out their new site design too!) They are on sale for $9.99! (Normally $16.99)  Check out their selection of Eco-USA art kits … we’ve had great experiences with their paints and colored pencils too.

          Win It (& More)

          Lullaby Organics is giving one lucky reader a cute Easter Basket that contains: An eco-eggs Egg Coloring Kit ($16.00) + a miYim Organic Plush Bunny ($24.99) +  a $10 gift certificate to Lullaby Organics!!! Total Value of giveaway: $50.99! Thank you Lullaby Organics for this great prize.

          Here’s How To Enter (Required):

          Visit Lullaby Organics and tell me what items appeal to you… they have a nice selection!  This step is required to enter the giveaway.

          For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

          • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Fan/Like Lullaby Organics on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
          • Follow @LullabyOrganics on Twitter (Twitter name)
          • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
          • Subscribe to Lullaby Organics Newsletter Mailing List and receive 1 entry as well as a 50% off coupon for an eco-eggs kit!
          • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
          • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN an Eco-Eggs Egg Coloring Kit from @LullabyOrganics on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 3/28 http://tinyurl.com/66aqwaz

          One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until March 28, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

          Congratulations commenter #56, Meggan!


          Mar

          8

          Babo Botanicals Lavender Meadowsweet Organic Bubble Bath

          Filed Under Skin Care | 2 Comments

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            I’ve been swamped with work from my day job, its been busy and with spring approaching I have so many things I want to write about and accomplish. But right this moment I wanted to share with you one of my new favorite things.  I’ve written about Babo Botanicals before and really love that they provide a natural solution to managing lice with their Lice Repel line.

            Now they’ve released a new fragrance and product – Lavender Meadowsweet! It comes in a 3-in-1 shampoo / bubble bath / body wash and a body lotion.  I enjoyed trying out all their products in the past, but this new scent is my favorite.  It creates lush bubbles at bath time and doubles as a body wash and shampoo so you can multitask in the tub and spend more time playing in the bubbles.  Unlike some other natural bubble baths I’ve tried, this one makes great bubble action and smells like candy (that’s what my 5 year old said).  I know many people have a disdain for natural lavender smells – I am not one of those people.  BUT, this doesn’t have that smell in the traditional way you would think.  It has a calm sweet scent that I just adore… it’s floral without being too flowery and soft.  Confession? I stole the lotion for myself.  It’s smooth and buttery and doesn’t feel greasy. It might be made for baby but it’s mine now.  If this bubble bath came in a gallon jug, I’d buy it.  I loved it that much. It does cost $16.95 for a bottle which I can see being a problem for some, but with such a respectable ingredients list it might just be worth the splurge.

            Get It: You can purchase the new Lavender Meadowsweet line or any of their other products on the Babo Botanicals website.  They have gorgeous gift sets too that come in jute bags with little bunny soaps and accessories. Would make a great baby shower gift!

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