Samantha, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt and Pomegranate-Mint Relish

January 19, 2016 by Samantha 4 Comments

The holidays are now finally winding down for a few months unless you have a significant other, Valentine’s day is around the corner, men, do not forget. Speaking of significant others, below is a recipe by Chef Jula Jaksis from Employees Only- her restaurant in NY on Christopher St. It is for Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt and Pomegranate-Mint Relish, using the POM Wonderful pomegranates.

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Ingredients

Meatballs

1 lb. ground lamb
¼ cup shallots, finely diced
1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3 tablespoons mint, chopped
3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup chicken stock

Yogurt

1 4-oz. container Greek yogurt
juice from ½ lemon
Pomegranate-Mint Relish
1 cup arils from POM Wonderful Pomegranates
(or 1 cup POM POMS Fresh Arils)
2 tablespoons mint, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Meatballs:

In a large bowl, mix together the lamb, shallots, garlic, spices and herbs.
Pour the chicken stock over the bread crumbs and add to the lamb mix; combine well.
Portion meatballs into desired size.
In a hot pan with olive oil, sear the meatballs on medium-high heat. (Depending on the size of the meatballs and if you prefer the center to be slightly rare, searing in the pan just until browned will be fine. If you prefer a well-done center, place the meatballs in a 400°F oven for an additional 5–8 minutes.)

Yogurt:

Mix the yogurt with the lemon juice until smooth.
Refrigerate until serving.

Pomegranate-Mint Relish:

Prepare fresh pomegranate arils, if necessary.*
Add the arils, mint, parsley, lemon zest, olive oil and red wine vinegar together; salt and pepper to taste.

To Serve:

Line the meatballs on a plate and put a dollop of the yogurt on each.
Liberally sprinkle with the Pomegranate-Mint Relish.

*To prepare fresh arils, score 1–2 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)

In addition to Pomegranates in whole form there are also new POM POM Fresh Arils which are 4.3 ounces and 100 calories each. Each one contains quite a few of those delicious little fruit bits pomegranates are known for.

These quick open packs are perfect for lunch boxes for kids and adults as a healthy alternative to fruit snacks or candies as a lunch time treat.

Filed Under: food, recipes Tagged With: dinner, food, healthy recipes, recipe, recipes

TEMPUR-Contour Breeze Side-to-Side Pillow

January 19, 2016 by Samantha 3 Comments

Disclosure- I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. For more information, see “I Disclose”.

Sleep is one of the most important parts of the day. A good nights sleep can lead to a good day full of sharp ideas and quick wit. But a night of tossing and turning can lead to a day of sleepy, groggy, grumpy decisions which don’t represent the real you, only a sleepy shadow.

The best way to remedy this is with the proper sleep tools, one of these is your pillow. The right pillow should support your head and neck, while also being soft enough to cradle you into deep sleep. Tempur-pedic has made just a pillow for those side sleepers in the from of the new contour breeze side to side pillow. It firmly supports your head, neck, and shoulders while also keeping you cool via a cooling gel. The pillow itself is firm along the edges and softer in the center to properly cradle your head while supporting your neck and shoulders. The pillow sports two sides. One for people who enjoy a higher sleep area, of 4.75 inches, as well as lower height sleepers, a height of 4.125 inches. The curve of the pillow supports your neck no matter your position during the night but is especially comfortable for sleeping on when on your side. Some added benefits of the pillow are it comes with a 100% knit cover that is soft and breathable as well as washable. The pillow also has a 5 year limited warranty so it is meant to be used and built well.

The Tempur- Contour Breeze pillow is available online from Tempur-pedic and retails for $169. The TEMPUR-Contour pillows come in three different options: Side-to-Side ($129), Side-to-Back ($129) and Side-to-Side Breeze ($169).

Filed Under: home, review

Have Low Humidity? Indoor Air Scientists Uncover the Top Ten Household Items Impacted By Humidity Levels

January 19, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Safeguard Your Belongings by Maintaining Humidity Levels in the Home this Winter with Honeywell Humidifiers

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From antique furniture and photo albums to pianos and even wine, low humidity levels can wreak havoc on many of our prized possessions. People may be familiar with the effects of dry air discomforts associated with cold winter weather like itchy dry skin or scratchy throats, but the impact on household objects is often overlooked. The designers of Honeywell Humidifiers and indoor air scientists have released new research on how everyday household objects suffer under low humidity conditions and what steps homeowners can take to combat the effects of dry air.

“Relative humidity levels can drop to as low as ten percent in the winter months, which is as dry as the Sahara Desert. If humidity levels are too low, household objects from wood furniture to artwork can be damaged over time as moisture is pulled from wood, paper and other porous materials,” said Dr. Ted Myatt, ScD., senior scientist with Environmental Health & Engineering and the University of Rhode Island. “The solution is to maintain relative humidity levels in the optimal range of 40 to 60 percent by running a humidifier in colder, drier winter months, to mitigate these effects.”

The research conducted found that the following list of 10 household items are most impacted by low relative humidity:

Wood Furniture: Has your favorite wooden bench seemed a little shakier? It could be because of low humidity. Wood absorbs and desorbs water as relative humidity rises and falls, which causes it to swell and shrink. This results in furniture joints becoming loose or even pulling apart.
Musical Instruments: Not sounding quite right? Low humidity levels may be to blame for your instrument falling out of tune. Natural wood instruments such as guitars, violins and pianos can be damaged when the wood contracts resulting in failed glue joints or cracks.
Books: Low humidity causes the pages of books to become more brittle and fragile, and the dimensions of the pages can even change as the paper absorbs and desorbs water. This leads to wrinkles in the paper, flaking ink, or warped covers on books.
Woodwork and Wood Floors: If you’ve noticed a slight bend in your wood floors, or gaps between the planks, it could be because of low humidity. As the wood expands and contracts, mitered corners can separate and floors can “cup” so that the floor doesn’t remain flat.
Wine: Does your uncorked bottle of wine not taste right? Wine corks can dry out, shrink and crack if exposed to low humidity overtime, allowing air to come into contact with the wine and potentially ruin the bottle.
Artwork: Maintaining humidity levels is vital for protecting artwork around the home. Low moisture levels tend to make paint brittle and prone to cracking, which is especially detrimental to oil paintings on canvas.
Stamp Collections: Much like books, repeated absorption and desorption of water can ruin stamps by making them brittle or discolored.
Photograph Collections: Have you noticed your new photographs looking more like your parents’ photo albums? When photographs curl up at the ends, it’s likely due to low humidity levels. They can also result in the photo emulsion flaking off and damaging the photograph.
Walls: Peeling wallpaper and separated drywall seams can be a sign of low humidity in the home. The porous materials may crack and separate when exposed to low levels.
Electronic Equipment: Static electricity brought on by low humidity levels can damage internal components of computers, televisions and other electronics – a lot more damaging than dealing with static in your hair!

Running a Honeywell Humidifier in your home, especially during the dry winter months, can help maintain relative indoor humidity levels in the optimal 40 to 60 percent range. Designed for large areas, the new Honeywell Top Fill Console Humidifier is one option for protecting items around the home as it releases soothing, invisible moisture into the room. To confirm when ideal humidity levels are reached, use a humidity monitor like the Honeywell Humidity Monitor that displays relative humidity and indoor room temperature.

For more information on the Honeywell Humidity Monitor and all Honeywell Humidifiers, please visit www.HoneywellPluggedIn.com/humidifiers.

About Kaz

A world leader in high quality healthcare and home environment products, Kaz is a state of the art, dynamically-managed, global leader in healthcare devices, home comfort and water filtration products that operates in over 65 countries on six continents. The branded product portfolio includes PUR® Water Filtration products, Vicks® Thermometers and Humidifiers, Honeywell® Humidifiers, Heaters, Fans and Air Cleaners, Braun® Thermometers, SoftHeat® Heating Pads, SmartTemp® Hot/Cold Packs, Febreze® air purifiers and more. Kaz USA, Inc. is part of the Helen of Troy family of companies. For more information about Kaz, please visit www.kaz.com.

About Helen of Troy Limited

Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ, NM: HELE) is a leading global consumer products company offering creative solutions for its customers through a strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands, including: Housewares: OXO®, Good Grips®, Soft Works®, OXO tot® and OXO Steel®; Healthcare/Home Environment: Vicks®, Braun®, Honeywell®, PUR®, Febreze®, Stinger®, Duracraft® and SoftHeat®; and Beauty: Revlon®, Vidal Sassoon®, Dr. Scholl’s®, Pro Beauty Tools®, Sure®, Pert®, Infusium23®, Brut®, Ammens®, Hot Tools®, Bed Head®, Karina®, Ogilvie® and Gold ‘N Hot®. The Nutritional Supplements segment was formed with the acquisition of Healthy Directions, a U.S. market leader in premium doctor-branded vitamins, minerals and supplements, as well as other health products sold directly to consumers. The Honeywell® trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc. The Vicks®, Braun®, Febreze® and Vidal Sassoon® trademarks are used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company. The Revlon® trademark is used under license from Revlon Consumer Products Corporation. The Bed Head® trademark is used under license from Unilever PLC. The Dr. Scholl’s® trademark is used under license from MSD Consumer Care, Inc. For more information about Helen of Troy Limited, please visit www.hotus.com.

Filed Under: home

Runbow and Yoshi Wooly World

January 18, 2016 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Runbow is a new game by 13AM Games that brings a fun interesting platforming party game to the WiiU. In Runbow each player is a different colored character, 9 in total, who each represent a color of the rainbow. Then the players have to mad dash for the finish line to see who can get there first. But this is no simple foot race, there are obstacles like moving platforms and lava to get in the way. This game is made for classic game players who love a challenge and are always trying to make that next jump and time it just right. As such it may not appeal to very young players who just can get the timing right as easily as those who have been playing platforming, 2D games for years. The best pat of this game is getting a few players together at once, with 2 it is fun, with more then that it gets frenetic and lots of fun. I can only imagine how fun this game would be with 9 players at once.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum is a classic platforming game with a softer more woolly quality. It is Yoshi’s Woolly World for the WiiU. This game starts one of the Mushroom Kingdom’s most well loved characters,Yoshi. This is his first Woolly adventure following in the footsteps of Kirby’s Epic Yarn. This game is the next step in the evolution of the yard medium. Each character and environment has a handmade touch that is a joy to see. From fraying yarn to the illusion of hand cut corners its great fun to play a game with this new setting. In the game Yoshi must reach the end each level while gathering as many collectibles as possible. For the beginners just finishing the level will be enough but for the more experienced players collectibles are key. Each level has its own charm bringing to live a new platforming experience. Also available are Amiibo extras where you can add a second Yoshi to the fun in the form of Samus, Woolly Yoshi or even Mario. to name a few.

Both these games are great platforming fun Runbow is available at the eShop for 14.99 while Yoshi’s Wooly World is available at retail locations now as well as the eShop for 49.99 for the game alone or win a special pack which includes a Wooly Yoshi for 59.99.

Filed Under: electronics, entertainment, gaming, technology Tagged With: kids games, Nintendo, video games

Win Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2 on Blu Ray #PandaInsiders

January 15, 2016 by Samantha 42 Comments

Relive the awesomeness of everyone’s favorite martial artsloving panda and the Furious Five in Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2, from the studio that brought you How To Train Your Dragon and Home. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the two films with new extras on Digital HD December 15 and Blu-ray™ and DVD January 5 with a bonus disc of new content.

In DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda, Jack Black is perfect as the voice of Po, a noodleslurping dreamer who must embrace his true self – fuzzy flaws and all – in order to become the Dragon Warrior. With groundbreaking animation and high-kicking humor, the Oscar-nominated Kung Fu Panda is delightful entertainment for the whole family.

Black reprises his role as Po in Kung Fu Panda 2, the fiercely funny Academy Awardnominated sequel. In his biggest challenge since becoming the Dragon Warrior, Po must lead his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five, on a mission of epic proportions to defeat his most threatening rival yet!

The Kung Fu Panda franchise features the all-star voice talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The re-release of these films will include exciting new bonus features for the whole family to enjoy, including an all-new 22 minute animated adventure, “Secret of the Scroll,” and an exclusive sneak peek of DreamWorks Animation Kung Fu Panda 3.

One of you can win these 2 movies. Just use the RC form at the bottom if you’d like to enter. Good luck- ends Feb 14, 2016. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: entertainment, giveaway, review Tagged With: giveaway, movie

Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight

January 15, 2016 by Samantha 7 Comments

When we are away from home there can be a touch of anxiety which strikes us. It comes out of the blue usually when you are just out of the range of I can still turn around and check. Is the house ok? No matter how much our significant other tells us otherwise we are positive something bad is happening like a , God forbid, fire. Who will hear the smoke detector, how long will it take for the fire department to answer the call, what can I do? All these answers can be answered with a new device called the Leeo.

Leeo is a smart smoke detector sensor/temperature sensor/nightlight/ smart home device that can help you feel more at ease when you leave the house.

The way Leeo works is you set it up to connect to your local wireless network and also sin up for an account with your smart phone, after a few registration steps you are greeted by your new smart temperature gauge for now. But if a smoke detector alarm goes off, Leeo jumps into action, from the app you can listen to the alarm, dismiss the notification, or contact local 911. There is also a way to contact someone closer to home when you are away as well, in app, so in an emergency everyone can be notified and disaster can be averted.

What we really like about Leeo is its ease of use, it really is just a matter of plugging it in and going through maybe 5 minutes of settings. Then your device is already protecting your house. It also has a sleek fit anywhere design and a color pallet of 18 million options. So you can actually set the mood of your room with one of its defenders.

The Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight is available now at electronic stores and Amazon. It retails for $99.99, but there is a promotion going on right now where the price is $49.99 on Amazon and Best Buy to act soon.

Filed Under: home, review, safety Tagged With: home safety, safety

Fun Toys For Cabin Fever

January 15, 2016 by Samantha 4 Comments

With much of the USA spending lots of time indoors right about now, what are the kids doing to entertain themselves? Here are a few of our current favorite toys to wile away the winter.

Some of my son’s favorite toys of all time are the Hero Mashers line from Hasbro. These toys have included Marvel heros like Spiderman, Jurrasic World dinosaurs, Transformers, and now include the Star Wars line of characters- well, the males, anyway. There have yet to be any females introduced to the Hero Mashers line, which leaves my little collector (and his mother) wondering where the women are.

These toys are amazingly fun and give children hours of play- they can act out favorite episodes, comics, and make up their own adventures. Not only are these heroes articulated, but fully interchangeable. You can swap heads, arms, weapons- you name it- to create your ultimate hero (or villain). Hero Mashers are easily in my son’s top 5 toys. The only thing that would make them better? Bring on Rey, Black Widow, and the other leading ladies of heroism. Women matter (without Rey, how does the Force awaken, anyway?)- and our kids want these toys! Prices vary, find out more at http://www.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/heromashers

While we are strong with the Force, have you and your children played the new Disney Infinity 3.0 yet? If you don’t own it, grab one for your console of choice- it’s a fun and interactive game. There have been new releases of characters for the game, most recently including Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren among others. You and your kids can awaken the force, become a Rebel, or play levels with your favorite Disney characters. Where else can Boba Fett and Princess Jasmine hang out, after all?

Not sure what characters your kids have already or want most? It can be hard to keep track of. You can use the website to let the kids create lists, which make collecting easier- and will let Grandma know what character your kiddos want most for upcoming occasions. I don’t usually advocate “get me this stuff” list sites, but for things like this (when they are collecting) it really makes keeping track easier for everyone. Find out more at https://infinity.disney.com

Nintendo has recently crossed over the insanely popular game Minecraft from app to video game. Now available on the WiiU and on the eShop. This open game is somewhat like LEGO but as a video game experience. Kids are insanely addicted to this game, and now it is available in more arenas. You can use survivor mode or creator mode- according to the kid tester of the house, creator mode is “way more fun”. In this mode, you create what you’d like, including characters (who even fall in love and have babies), but the game adds things like sheep or trees sometimes. In survivor mode, you have to survive the game. Get food, have enough sleep, keep healthy, things of that nature. You can also have a pet (like a wolf) you can train to help and guard you. The video game and the app have a differences, but my son likes to play them both. He is hoping for a 3DS version soon. You can get it at http://www.nintendo.com for $29.99 .

DigiBirds from Spinmaster are adorable. They come in different varieties of birds, colors, and packages. You can get owls, penguins, chicks, and more. Available in singles, multiple packs, and sets that include birdcage, igloo, or other habitat, there are enough options that your child can have a whole chorus of tweeting friends. These pets also dance and bop around as they sing, and can sing by themselves or interact with each other. Your child can blow into the (included) whistle ring which can get the party started, or place two birds close together and they will sync up and sing together. There is an app for that, if you wondered- you can download the free Digibirds app for more songs and interactions. Prices start at about $10.99 at stores like Kmart- visit http://us.digibirds.com/ for more information.

If you are looking for a hero, look no further then Marvel Legends Infinite Series toys by Hasbro. And guess what? You can find female action figures right where they should be- sitting on shelves along side their male counterparts. Action figures like Wasp, Spidergirl, and more are ready and waiting to join your child in adventures with Ant Man, Spiderman, Iron Man, Venom, and more. These are cool for quite a few reasons- they really look like their characters (are more intricate looking then some toys), they have characters that are harder to find yet are play quality/ very articulated vs collector only (because kids want to play, not stare at the toys on shelves) and when you buy a toy, you get a bonus piece- an arm, a head, etc- that can be used to build a whole new toy once your collection is complete. I think this is a fun idea, and my son really enjoys it as well. We keep all the “extras” in a box so we don’t lose anything, and can’t wait until it is all ready to go. They are usually about $20 each at stores like Toys R Us.

Filed Under: review, toys Tagged With: parents at play, toys

NEWARK MONSTER JAM® TICKETS NOW ON SALE

January 15, 2016 by Samantha 1 Comment

Feld Motor Sports® announced today that tickets for Monster Jam^®, the world’s premier Monster Jam truck series, are now on sale for Prudential Center – marking its first appearance in Newark. This four-wheeled extravaganza features heart-pounding racing and unbelievable freestyle driving that is affordably priced for the whole family seats starting at $10 for kids. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at the Prudential Center Box Office.

Monster Jam will be performing on:

Saturday, January 23, 2016:

2:00 PM

7:30 PM

Sunday, January 24, 2016

2:00 PM

The event will feature some of the most exciting Monster Jam trucks in the circuit, including Grave Digger^®, Carolina Crusher, Higher Education, Black Stallion, Instigator, Backdraft, Bad News and Saigon Shaker.

The Party in the Pits on Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24 from 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM gives fans the opportunity to get autographs, view the massive Monster Jam trucks up close and meet the drivers.

Approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, Monster Jam trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster Jam trucks can fly up to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

Monster Jam, sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association^®, is the most popular monster truck tour, performing to over 4 million fans annually at the most prestigious arenas and stadiums throughout the world. Monster Jam^® shows consist of three main fan-favorite elements – the pit party, racing and freestyle. The pit party gives all fans a chance to meet the stars of Monster Jam up-close while taking pictures and getting autographs.

For more information on Monster Jam, please log onto www.MonsterJam.com. To follow Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram log on to www.facebook.com/MonsterJam and www.twitter.com/MonsterJam and www.instagram.com/MonsterJamLive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/MonsterJamLive.