Samantha, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder

January 4, 2017 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Have you ever heard of Molly’s Suds? It’s an environmentally healthy laundry detergent that is made to use for people with allergies and sensitive skin. It doesn’t have all the chemicals, dyes, and perfumes that most detergents do, so it’s easier on your skin (and the planet). Another cool thing is that you use less then with most other brands- one bag lasts about 60 medium size loads (for the basic bag). Clothes come out looking just as fresh and clean, without all the nonsense.

Comprised of only five earth ingredients and formulated especially for sensitive skin, Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder is safe and ideal for your clothes AND your family. PLUS, rated “A” in the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning!

The super-concentrated powder is long-lasting and affordable, with just one tablespoon required per load. Just as effective as conventional brands and more effective than natural brands, without the use of harsh chemicals, toxins, fillers, carcinogens, preservatives or GMO ingredients. Works great in all water temperatures and hard water, and is septic- and High Efficiency (HE) washer-safe.

If you are looking for something inexpensive and great for the whole family, you will want to try this. You don’t need to buy the more expensive sensitive skin detergents sold in stores, or make your own earth friendly detergent. This is way easier and less costly then most detergents. Head over and see what they have, and pick a size that works for you. There are other products available, as well.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: cleaning, laundry

Sharks and Ninjas to Help You Clean Up Your 2017

January 4, 2017 by Samantha 2 Comments

Now that the holidays are done and gone, what do you do with all the leftovers? Cleaning up after the festivities can be quite a project. Here are some of our favorite finds to clean up our acts in 2017.

Everyone has been in and out of your home for months now. The floors are a mess, and you could really use a deep cleaning. From winter mud and snow and salt to all the random foods prep and holiday wrapping and decorations, there is just more mess then usual. The Shark Rocket Complete is beast of a vacuum, with two powered brush rolls to make sure all the debris is picked up. It’s good for hard floors or carpets, as well. The soft roll and gets into things by grabbing large, small, or stuck on items off hard flooring while grabbing large particles and piles on carpets. The second brush roll has a bristle head, which on hard flooring accelerates large, small, and stuck on particles into the vacuum while on carpet deep cleans and pulls stuck on and small particles into the vacuum. These two brush rolls working together make short work of just about any dry mess you can think of as well as regular vacuuming around the house. It really gets in there, and you can tell the difference. About $200 on http://direct.sharkclean.com

For those sealed hard floor messes which a vacuum isn’t built for, check out the Shark Genius Steam Pocket Mop System. This mop system is built to deep clean your floors using steam as the main agitator. The steam releases most messes and spills with minimal effort through the pad, lifting away the mess without you every having to touch it. The stem can also be delivered directly to the floor with the Steam Blaster, which was created for stuck on or greasy messes, where steam is applied directly to the mess and can be wiped away with the pad secondarily. The pad itself grabs 99.9% of common household bacteria (according to the manufacturer). The best part is the amazing clean you get- the second best is the hands off approach to cleaning it gives you. The pad detaches right into the laundry without ever having to get your hands dirty with a simple button push. That’s the third best part- no more pads to buy. About $120 on http://direct.sharkclean.com

If you are looking to clean up your eating habits as well, you might want a Ninja. Not only useful, but it’s fun to mess around with. The Nutri Ninja Nutri bowl Duo is an all in one blender, fusion machine for food prep, and processor. It can break down whole foods, seeds, ice, nuts, and more. The dual usage for this machine will have you grabbing for it more often then you’d expect. Plus, like I mentioned- it’s fun. Addicting, even. The Nutrient & Vitamin Extraction and Pro Extractor Blades^® Assembly makes amazing smoothies and shakes as well as pops and purees, whatever your pleasure might be. It can also make dough. The included recipe book is a great start for inspiration, and has some fun ideas as well. Once you get the hang of using these devices (which won’t take long) it will become second nature to grab fairly constantly. About $140 on Amazon.

The Ninja Coffee Bar System has become a fast favorite in our house, and completely wow-ing my very picky husband. If you are a coffee lover, or perhaps spend more time or money then you want to in a coffee house, this is a great way to keep more money in your wallet and time in your calendar. This is a full system that is neither so huge it takes up the entire counter, nor so expensive you will need a loan to purchase it. Better yet, it’s not complicated to use, and it doesn’t require the use of expensive and wasteful (and environmentally unfriendly) pods. Make multiple sizes, types, even iced coffees. It includes a milk frother (which you will love more then you think) and theNinja exclusive Café Forte to amplify the flavors of your drinks. It also comes with drink recipes, which are interesting to try. About $180 at http://direct.ninjakitchen.com

Filed Under: home, review Tagged With: cleaning, food, food prep, for the home, newspaper cross post, parents@play

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome amiibo – Nintendo 3DS

January 3, 2017 by Samantha Leave a Comment

nintendo

Animal Crossing has long been a favorite of the the Nintendo franchises, where players have open creative control over their character, building rooms, homes, clothing and with this newest iteration, a city. The newest version being called Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome amiibo. You take on the role of Mayor, where you are able to effect your city in a few interesting ways, Public Works Projects and Ordinances. Both of which effect the citizens of your town. Public Works Projects let you collect funds from citizens and visiting players which are then used to build fountains, light poles, bridges, police stations and cafes. Ordinances are laws which govern how your town runs from opening and closing time for your shops and cafes to encouraging players to plant flowers, this is a gentle nudge for your citizens. The main component of Animal Crossing is customization. You start out in a tent and slowly work up to a house, where each room can be customized with lamps, furniture, and other household items. The player yourself can also be customized from your clothing, shoes, hat and accessories. The next most exciting component of New Leaf is the ability to share and explore. Players can now explore other towns and visit others homes, getting ideas for their own homes and towns as well as getting tips and pointers on how to run their own town. The Dream Suite allows you to download dream versions of others towns and explore them. The Happy Home Showcase lets others view your home via StreetPass and their furniture. Play Coins also have a usage in game where they can be used to buy fortune cookies, which can be traded in for special prizes and rare items. On November 2, 2016 Animal Crossing New Leaf released and update to support Amiibo’s including Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon as well as cards. These Amiibo are then summoned as villagers and vendors to a new campsite.

Filed Under: technology Tagged With: Nintendo, video games

Vi-shake by ViSalus: Does it work?

December 30, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Disclosure- The following is a guest post. All the opinions belong to those of the writer, my own are not reflected. I am in no way agreeing with or confirming these claims, and in fact have never heard of or tried this product.

What is Vi-Shake?

Vi-Shake is a kind of meal replacement shake that is said to taste better than cake. The creators also share a video on their website of how the product is manufactured including how the ingredients were chosen by a scientific advisory board. But can the product really help you lose weight? Let’s find out in this Vi-Shake review.

Vi-Shake Ingredients

In the video presentation Vi-Shake claim that the ingredients were chosen by scientists to be the best in the world. However there are many artificial flavors included in the product, along with mono and diglycerides, and sucralose.

These ingredients are dangerous because sucralose has been shown to cause leukemia in rats, while mono and diglycerides are often derived from animal fats and there’s no telling what is really in an artificial flavor. Given the quality of the ingredients there isn’t any evidence to show that they came from a natural place in the world, especially given that there are artificial ingredients included.

The fiber in Vi-Shake comes from Fibersol. There are positive benefits to this fiber including that it has less than 5 points on the glycemic scale, it doesn’t cause gas and bloating, and it does help you lose weight. There is also a good amount of vitamins and minerals added. There are also problems with the kind of protein included as it is mostly soy, which can be a bigger health risk than people realise.

The Price and Quality

To purchase a 30 serving pouch of Vi-Shake would set you back $49.99. ViSalus recommend using 2 scoops for weight loss and 1 scoop to manage weight, which means that you would get 15 days of the product for $49.99 or $3.32 a day. This price becomes an issue when you realize that you’re paying for a low quality product filled with cheap proteins and artificial flavors. There may some added nutrients to Vi-Shake but there are also many unnecessary ingredients that inflate the price.

Customer Opinions

It’s hard to say for sure which online reviews are genuine because there are so many customer representatives leaving fake reviews. No matter which message board, forum, or review site you can find you can be sure that a representative of the company will be there talking about how great the company and product is. This is because they offer affiliate marketing where people can earn commissions based on recruiting people.

Despite this there are still over 145 critical reviews of the product on Amazon, including people criticizing the company as a whole. Many of these reviews also point out concerns about all the positive reviews and how they were likely left by representatives. Some customers are even worried that the operation as a whole is a scam because they were offered a refund but were denied it when they tried to claim it. They would talk to the company but never receive their refund. There are many bad reviews left on websites dedicated to fighting scams and bad businesses, including the website for the Better Business Bureau.

Conclusion

A product such as this should be help you retain lean muscle mass as you lose weight. This shake supposedly achieves this through three different proteins that provide a mixture of amino acids. There’s a problem however because the main protein used is soy, which has been shown to be ineffective at best and unsafe at the worst.

While the company does employ clever marketing tactics they seem to be more interested in recruiting people than selling their product. Before deciding to purchase the Vi-Shake there are some things you should know;

It has the standard amount of protein, fiber, carbs and calories
It can be mixed with water or a snack or milk for a full meal
It’s a good idea to replace two meals with a shake for weight loss
Protein mostly comes from soy
The digestive enzymes included are unnecessary unless you need them for a medical condition
Despite what the company claims many studies show that soy should not be used by pregnant and nursing women
There are very few genuine positive reviews given how many people sell the product for a commission. People will claim that the product works and offer you a referral code so that they can earn money when you buy it yourself.

The main claim that the company makes is that their product can help you lose weight without losing muscle. However they have provided nothing to prove this. This meal replacement shake is pretty run of the mill. It’s become popular through the use of self-motivated sellers looking to make a profit.

They run aggressive campaigns and they make claims about helping other people make money, but at the end of the day ViSalus is more concerned about recruiting sellers and making money than helping people lose weight.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: check in, guest post

Heroes and Legends of Kennedy Space Center

December 30, 2016 by Samantha 4 Comments

“To sit back and let fate play its hand out and never influence it is not the way man was meant to operate.”

~John Glenn

The passing of the iconic John Glenn – astronaut, Senator, and American hero – served as a reminder to us all of who and what’s truly admirable in life. Mind numbing apps, mediocre professional athletes who make headlines for all the wrong reasons, C-list television personalities famous for reasons no one really knows . . . these are the kinds of people who have been influencing our children (and let’s face it- many adults as well). But we’re in a position to change all that, to instill the values we hold dear.

Inspiration can be thrilling! There’s no better place to experience that than a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida with the new Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® presented by Boeing. This multimedia collection of interactive exhibits includes the Kennedy Space Center Tour featuring the Apollo/Saturn V Center with an actual Saturn V moon rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience®, IMAX® A Beautiful Planet 3D and Journey To Space 3D films, Astronaut Encounter, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, Science on a Sphere®, Rocket Garden, Cosmic Quest, and much more. These exciting parts of the complex lead to the stunning rotunda celebrating our country’s fearless space explorers.

Located next to the Rocket Garden, the new exhibit begins with a 360 degree movie featuring clips of NASA, the lives of astronauts, and some memorabilia. Listening to the journeys that were made, watching the work that was done, hearing how humble these brave men and women are about the entire thing was both moving and humbling. As you move through the Heroes and Legends, you head into large area that hangs a rocket overhead, and houses space shuttles as well as personal items of the astronauts . Characteristics that one would require to journey into space title each display, such as “Selfless”, “Inspired”, “Courageous”, with items that an astronaut felt inspirational to the person they became or an important representation of how they became the man or woman that they did. Many chose to include toys, comic books, and scouting or sports memorabilia in their representative items, reminding us that what we do as children (and what we expose our children to) really does mold who they become.

You can also find the original setup and belongings of the Mercury Mission Control room, and watch a 4-D movie titled “Through the Eyes of a Hero”, which depicts the lives, excitement, setbacks and wins of the space program as well as the 93 astronauts who have so far been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

When you finish viewing, head through the doors to the Astronaut Hall of Fame and be greeted by Alan Shepherd (in statue form) to meet the inductees. Created by the Mercury Seven Astronauts (the same who adorn the outside wall of the building) as a place to honor American Astronauts, you can learn about their lives with displays and interactive touch screens.

With all the ugliness that has surrounded recent months, spending time at the Kennedy Space Center’s Heroes and Legends was almost healing, a balm to the soul. Looking to the stars brought me back to Earth. It was a gentle reminder of a proud history, of great minds and brave souls working together to achieve tremendous things. While no one would call me an overly emotional person for the most part, I have to admit that I found myself misty-eyed more then once. What’s next for NASA? Well, as they will tell you- they will keep exploring.

As inspiring as the site is – and make no mistake, this is a powerfully enriching destination to visit – its behind the scenes projects are impressive, too. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) helps university students pursue careers in math, science, and technology. The U.S. Space Camp incorporates the Hall of Fame in its program. You and your family can have lunch with an astronaut should you so choose, and ask questions about life in space or NASA. It’s not only fun, but a wonderful experience for anyone, no matter how old or young. Photos are available with the astronaut afterward, as well. In case you were wondering- of course they have Tang.

Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying by season. Admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children ages 3-11. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers annual passes starting at $75 + tax for adults and $60 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: FL, florida, travel

Keeping the Kids Occupied

December 29, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

“Are we there yet?” The age-old plaintive cry of traveling children. I can easily imagine this happening throughout the entire 40-year trek in the wilderness by the Israelites. Fortunately, modern parents have a few more diversionary tools available to them. Hopefully, this provides relief, however temporary, to the beleaguered parents’ frayed nerves.

MOBILE DEVICES

Although we can be loath to let our tablet or smartphone out of our grasp, sometimes the better part of valor is to give it up and pass it to the backseat. Maybe it’s because the young one wants to be like mommy or daddy, maybe it’s just that the pictures and sounds are way cool or maybe it’s a bit of “you have it, I want it.” Whatever the reason, it provides a much-needed distraction.

There are some things the tech savvy parent on the go needs to keep in mind in all this. Thinking ahead can save a lot of time, money and bottles of headache relief medicines.

Data Usage—I suffer from what my family calls OCFP, Obsessively Compulsive about Fine Print. I will frequently hit rewind while watching TV to go back and look at all the teeny tiny words at the bottom of commercials. Not for something I own, nor even something I’m contemplating buying, but just because.

All of that to say that I’ve learned unlimited data plans may not be quite so “unlimited” as they’re made out to be and that cars with “built-in Wi-Fi” still need a connection to the internet (often times at additional cost). An unexpected bill is never a pleasant surprise, so paying attention to the fine print can be important.

Physical Damage—We all drop things, ding things and break things. Human beings are imperfect and these things happen. So, what are we to do? Many service providers offer insurance that allow us to replace a smartphone that takes a dip in the toilet bowl. Also, to protect against dents, dings and scratches there are a variety of model-specific Android and iPhone cases and faceplate protectors. For any smartwatch, smartphone or tablet on the market there are products made to protect them.

Privacy Protection—By and large, we want to have an open relationship with our children. We don’t want to seem to be hiding things from them. But, it is a fact of life that a responsible parent must put some barriers between us and our children. A randomly pushed series of buttons and Junior can forward just the wrong email to just the wrong person, initiate a phone call with the V.P. of sales in the middle of a huge meeting or play the YouTube video of the distinctly 18-years and up comedian. Make sure everything that should be locked down is locked down.

AMDs (ALTERNATE MEANS OF DISTRACTION)

Children can have a remarkably varied interest in what they find enjoyable to pass the time. Some of them are, amazingly, things we may have enjoyed in our younger days. Maybe not so amazing when the brain trust on Madison Avenue gets factored in. Consider these franchises that have current game tie-ins for the most recent portable gaming systems:

Star Wars—The original movie debuted in 1977

Mario Brothers—Mario and Luigi first lit up video arcades in 1983

Pokemon—The first Pikachu was dealt onto a table in 1996

Books are also a viable alternative. I remember the back of our cars always had a couple of books the kids could look through. And while they do still print books out (honest!), there are stand-alone eBook readers available as well.

By whatever means, keeping children occupied is a much better option then letting them become a distraction. One study by an Australian based university found that children in the car are twelve times more distracting than talking on a mobile phone. And that is no joke.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: check in

Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts in Punta Cana

December 28, 2016 by Samantha 6 Comments

When it comes to family vacations, the bar is always being raised. Let’s face it: families want something that’s quite a step above camping in the backyard for their getaways. This time of year, most of us are craving warm temps, sunny skies, and lots of opportunities for a swim. Exotic and different are icing on the cake. That’s why Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) is sure to inspire memories that last forever. I was happy to be hosted to experience it.

The resort’s luxurious accommodation includes the Swank Swim-Up Suite. Imagine a private, VIP-style wrap-around terrace that’s adjacent to the pool, along with sunbathing beds. You’ll feel like the resort’s all your own. There are other configurations and sizes of swim-up rooms as well, to suit different needs and family sizes.

You’ll find the décor bright and cheery, but with simple, modern lines to feel more relaxed – rather than formal and uptight. Kid friendly, but still chic.

The ultimate in luxe accommodations, and still able to fit a larger family is The Pineapple, inspired by SpongeBob Square Pants’ home under the sea. Two bedrooms and three bedrooms in a loft configuration are looked after by your own personal butler. Special activities can be booked for guests staying here, such as a moonlight beach dinner prepared by a world-class chef, wine tasting, an in-suite afternoon tea party, pizza party, or pajama party.

So, if you crave more water than swimming in the pool, they have the beautiful Uvero Alto Beach available and just steps away. There are plenty of lounge chairs and even beach beds available for guests to use, you won’t need to scramble for them or search around in vain. The beach is lovely, quiet, and very clean. You will want to spend quite a lot of time there, if you are like me. You can order drinks while on the beach as well, which makes staying longer even more appealing. Other outdoor games and activities, such as tennis, are found at the resort, along with playrooms for the kids and the opportunity to run into – and take photos with – your favorite Nickelodeon characters, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Indoor activities include the fitness and dance studio.

Their spa can be a welcome respite from the kiddies – with experienced resort staff taking care of them should you so desire– or have them join in the fun with mani-pedis designed for them or a massage with marshmallow butter. There are several outdoor cabanas where you can get your treatments, as well. My son and I enjoyed a morning at the spa (dad was not into it) where we enjoyed a mother/son massage treatment (in the same outdoor cabana at the same time). He was thrilled he was able to be a “big guy” and indulge with mom in some special time. I also got my hair done, which was fun for me. I very rarely get any alone time. The staff was very nice and made it easy to relax.

For something a little dirtier, there’s always the famous Nickelodeon slime! This happens several times a day at the waterpark area, and you can also reserve your very own family slime-ing at the front desk. Not to be missed while at Nickelodeon, of course.

The Nickelodeon Place waterpark area is a child’s paradise, with quite a few slides, a giant water bucket that dumps frequently, a “lazy river”, and more. We spent quite a lot of time there, and with a restaurant (Aqua Bite) at the location, it made it easy not to leave. If mom and dad need a minute, there are plenty of lounge chairs to relax on.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana – Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana is Nickelodeon’s first-ever international property, providing both nonstop family entertainment and Karisma’s renowned Gourmet Inclusive® Experience. Located on the golden sands of Uvero Alto beach in the Dominican Republic, the upscale property has re-imagined the art of hospitality to deliver delightful twists including surprise slimes and unexpected visits from your favorite Nickelodeon characters. Combined with world-class dining and drinking indulgences, sleek modern design and innovative amenities, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana offers an unforgettable getaway for Nickelodeon fans and luxe resort lovers alike.

Disclosure- We stayed at the resort in order to share our experiences with you. All opinions are my own and honest.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, islands, travel

LEGO Dimensions Packs – Dr. Who, Simpsons, and Adventure Time

December 28, 2016 by Samantha 3 Comments

dr who lego

In what other game can you have Homer driving down the yellow brick road in the bat-mobile?

The answer is LEGO Dimensions. The Lego brick themed multiverse spanning game is constantly expanding and with the most recent additions you can now explore the worlds of the children’s favorite Adventure Time, the generational favorite Dr Who,and the TV classic The Simpsons Springfield to name a few.

Sets are broken down into a few different categories, the predominant one being levels. With the download of an update to your game and the usage of figures from that particular universe, the level is unlocked. Simpsons brings your characters into Springfield to solve various quests and requests by locals as well as the collection of various items to complete the level to 100%. There are playable levels as well as free play modes where you can just go exploring to find all the nooks and crannies put in the game. I guarantee as a fan you will find something that will put a huge smile on your face no matter which level pack you play.

Adventure Time has tons of characters and interactions with authentic voices. When combining the level pack with the character pack, you can play as the duo Finn and Jake and cause mischief and save princesses with the help of BMO and Lumpy Space Princess. To be honest, my son was least interested in Lumpy Space Princess to start off with, but her animations and interactions with characters are so spot on and genuinely funny, she is now one of his favorites in the entire game across every universe.

In addition to the sets mentioned, there are also fun packs like the Ninjago Cragger pack, which includes the evil Croc-tribe warrior Gragger and his Swamp Skimmer (which can be rebuilt into Cragger’s Fireship and Croc Command Sub). This is one of the interesting parts of Lego Dimensions- vehicles aren’t only one vehicle but can be upgraded and rebuilt into other forms making them stronger or adding a new mode of transportation to the game, like a submarine going underwater or a jet which can fly around.

Each pack is jammed full of fun with levels, characters, and of course the LEGOs themselves, which come with digital instructions on how to build some characters in game. Once put together, the characters can also be played with in real life just as other LEGO sets are, and fit in with the rest you have at home. Don’t lose the parts, though!

Filed Under: gaming, Holiday Gift Guide 2016, technology Tagged With: gaming, kids games, video games