Healthy Snacking With Yoplait #ad

August 28, 2015 by 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

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With Summer winding down, it is prime season for snacking- lunch boxes, beach visits, going to the park- the whole nine yards. The days are long and appetites even bigger then they are normally.  The ideal snack to help bring energy up, aid in digestion, and scratch that itch for something sweet is with Yoplait yogurt. It makes a great snack for everyone, from Moms and Dads to teens and kids. With different varieties for different tastes, and even different yogurt delivery systems (GoGurt, anyone?) there is a variety for everyone in your house.  Check them out- there is Original, Light, Greek, and Gogurt®, just to name a few.

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A little nibble here, a bite there, it may not seem like much- but a handful of snacks a day a few times a day adds up and can lead to an extending waist band as well as a decline in funds.  In our house there is a different preference for each of us, the little guy loves go-gurt, especially when branded with his favorite characters like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Minions.  Mom likes her light yogurt, light fluffy and dessert-like flavors are her favorite. Dad, on the other hand, likes the thick and creamy Greek yogurts made by Yoplait in fruit flavors.

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Yogurt makes great after dinner snacks when a dessert isn’t really wanted but that sweetness would be appreciated. It also is perfect for lunches for everyone in the family, a sandwich, yogurt and raw vegetables is one of Dad’s favorite ways to eat a healthy lunch. The little guy enjoys all foods for lunch except for sandwiches so his lunch is often peace mail. Be it to enhance your lunch or just enhance your day Yoplait can help your every snacking need.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Yoplait®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: review

Shovel Knight Gets His Own amiibo!

August 28, 2015 by 1 Comment

First Indie Game with amiibo Compatibility

During a presentation at Nintendo’s Nindies@Night event at EMP Museum in Seattle, Nintendo made several announcements about the future of independent games on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems. These announcements included the reveal of a Shovel Knight amiibo figure from Yacht Club Games that unlocks exclusive features for the hit game on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, making it the first indie game to support amiibo technology. Other reveals at the event include the upcoming launch of Kerbal Space Program for Wii U early next year with exclusive features and functionality, first-look Wii U debuts for Hive Jump and FAST Racing Neo multiplayer game play, along with exciting details concerning each of these anticipated Nindies.

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For the first time, exclusive to the Wii U version of the game, players can scan the Shovel Knight amiibo and take on Shovel Knight’s quest cooperatively with a friend. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Not only do we have a robust slate of indie games launching in the Nintendo eShop, but these games also contain features that can only be found on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS,” said Damon Baker, Nintendo of America’s Senior Marketing Manager of Publisher and Developer Relations. “Creating an amiibo that’s compatible with all current and future Shovel Knight games shows that our strong relationship with independent developers is constantly evolving.”

“It’s been a great honor to work directly with Nintendo, creating a Shovel Knight amiibo that sits beside their most beloved characters,” said Yacht Club Games. “We are elated to expand the world of Shovel Knight, and to keep developing unique game-play experiences on Nintendo’s platforms.”

For the first time, exclusive to the Wii U version of the game, players can scan the Shovel Knight amiibo and take on Shovel Knight’s quest cooperatively with a friend. On Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the amiibo can be used to level up and customize Shovel Knight with new visual enhancements, relics and abilities. These abilities can then be used in new, exclusive amiibo challenge levels. To top it off, the amiibo figure will be supported in future Shovel Knight games.

Yacht Club Games also revealed that the free DLC for Shovel Knight that lets players play as fan-favorite enemy Plague Knight will launch in September. Shovel Knight can be purchased in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS for $14.99. Packaged retail versions of the game for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will also be available in North America this October.

Graphite Lab and Black Lantern Studios showcased the first playable version of Wii U-exclusive Hive Jump, demonstrating exclusive features for the platform. Hive Jump is a fast-paced multiplayer action platformer for up to four players. Players engage in run ’n’ gun combat with swarms of aliens, all the while avoiding traps and collecting resources. The developers discussed how the Wii U Game Pad would be used in the game, as well as plans for amiibo support, which will be included when it launches in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U in early 2016.

To talk about FAST Racing Neo, Shin’en Multimedia joined the presentation to discuss multiplayer game play. FAST Racing Neo earns the title “Fast” by throwing players into a futuristic racer with hyper-fast anti-gravity vehicles. Up to four players can race against each other in split-screen local multiplayer, with up to eight racers able to participate in online multiplayer. (Additional controllers are required for local multiplayer.) FAST Racing Neo will launch exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U before the end of the year.

Squad’s Kerbal Space Program, with the help of Flying Tiger, was announced for Wii U and will launch early next year. A physics-based space flight simulator, Kerbal Space Program allows players to manage their own space program by building and flying spacecraft. In the Wii U version of the game, players can control their ship from inside the cockpit using the Wii U GamePad controller, as well as create flight plans with the touch screen and steer with motion controls. The critically acclaimed Kerbal Space Program will launch in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U.

Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Take Your Dinner Beyond Meat

August 28, 2015 by 7 Comments

When is meat both better for you and easier to use? When it’s Beyond Meat, 100% plant based protein.

This new meat substitute has the same consistency and similar flavor as ground beef or chicken, but with less fat and perfect for vegetarians and vegans who just want a delicious taco with ground meat- or omnivores who want to eat less meat or a change of pace.

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Beyond Meat is perfect for nachos- check out the recipe at http://www.beyondmeat.com/recipes/view/beyond-beef-nachos

We have personally found meat substitutes fall into two categories.
1- The “meh”-  this means this is not meat, has never been meat, does not taste like meat- it tastes fine but I would not go out of my way for it.  This “meh” meat-less meat is ok, but not anything special. Usually, my husband hates those products.

2- Then there is the ’wow’ this is almost meat! The flavor is good, the texture is right, and I enjoy it (even as a meat-eater). This category is harder to reach and there are a few winners- Beyond Beef is one of them. It can easily be passed off as ground beef for Mexican dishes, Italian meatballs, and any other ground meat based dish. The tacos came out very good and to the point there my husbad went for a second helping- and he hates what he calls “fake meat”.  On the other hand, I’m less picky, but this so far has been my very favorite.

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Another one of my favorite things in life- chili! Make it meatless with thi recipe http://www.beyondmeat.com/recipes/view/beyond-beef-chili

When cooking Beyond Meat, realize it is already cooked and ready to go, you just need to heat it up so it is the same temperature as the rest of your food. Easy Breezy. When making Italian meatballs, I started with one egg to about a half pound of Beyond Meat, then added bread crumbs to firm it up and hold it together. I then baked the meat-less balls along with the rest of the meatballs and they came out perfect. Beyond beef is non-GMO based pea protein product so you will not find any odd unprocessed bits of veges in your burger, just meat-less food.  There are also chicken-less strips made from soy protein and pea protein, which look just like grilled chicken strips.

Beyond Beef and Beyond Meat is available now in your grocer’s freezer section at local Fairways, Kings, and Target stores.

Filed Under: food, review Tagged With:

Schick Disposable Razors at Walmart #SchickSummerSelfie

August 27, 2015 by 7 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick®. The opinions and text are all mine.

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It is back to school time for all students, from your little ones to your bigger ones to the biggest ones.  Back to school also applies to college students, of course.  What are some things your college aged students might need?  Pencils, pens, calculator, notebooks, computer, laptop/tablet, and don’t forget toiletries and personal hygiene items.  And Ramen, lots of Ramen…LOL. In leaving the nest, college students now have to take care of their own personal hygiene without their parents telling them they smell and need a shower or to shave because they look like a jungle man.  One of the best ways to go about doing this is with the new Schick line of disposable razors- not only can your students feel fresh ,clean, and refreshed but also not worry about losing the razor because these are disposable.  Razors aren’t only for men, though check out these new razors available from Schick-  the  Hydro® 5 Razor (Men), Schick® Xtreme 3® Ultimate Razor (Men), NEW Schick® Xtreme3®, Schick® Quattro For Women®, and Schick® Hydro Silk® Razor (Women).

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We really like the new Schick®  Xtreme3®  Ultimate  is  reinvigorating  shaving  for  men  with  an  improved  design  and  50%  more  lubricant providing  men  with  ultimate  glide  and  ultimate  comfort.  Xtreme3®  Ultimate  fits  nicely  in  your  gym  or  weekend  bag  and  is  ideal  for  shaving  on  the  go.  It  brings  comfort  to  shaving  with  disposable  razors,  with  three  flexible  blades  and  50%  more  lubricant  for  impressive  glide.  Your  razor  is  disposable,  but  your  comfort  is  not.

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We recently took a trip over to WalMart to grab some of these new razors.  Dad now and again forgets to shave in the morning, and has to keep one in his desk at work  for those special days so he can clean up before anyone sees his (what I like to call) “homeless and disgruntled” look.  As with every trip to WalMart, we had some good finds, some necessities, and some not so needed items.  We were able to hunt down the razor for a low everyday price.  Be sure to check out your Wal Mart for similar deals on Schick products and other assorted goodies.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick®. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Filed Under: review

Throw Your Own Amazing Ice Cream or Gelato Party

August 26, 2015 by 2 Comments

Few things in life taste as good on a hot day as a big bowl of ice cream does. Gelato is an Italian twist on ice cream that has a lighter and fluffier consistency. Whether you love ice cream or gelato, throwing a party based around that dessert is a fun way to treat your family and friends. With so many different accessories and products available in stores and online today, you can easily find everything from gelato spoons to ice cream themed decorations for your party.

Ice Cream and Toppings

The most important part of your party is the ice cream or gelato and toppings that you serve. While you can keep things simple and only offer one flavor of ice cream, you typically want to offer several different flavors to appeal to all your guests. Keep things basic with flavors like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, or add a few unusual flavors like salted caramel and malted chocolate. Save time with chocolate, caramel, strawberry and butterscotch sauces from your local grocery store. You can also whip up a few sauces the night before and heat up right before guests arrive.

Dishes and Spoons

There is something classic and fun about traditional ice cream dishes. Made from glass, these dishes have a smaller bottom that expands near the top and might have fluted edges. If your party involves kids, consider purchasing a few plastic ice cream dishes. You’ll also find metal, glass and plastic banana split dishes that are shorter and longer. Make sure that the spoons you choose are long enough to reach the bottom of larger glasses. Buy a few ice cream scoops too, and keep a large bowl of warm water on hand for rinsing the scoops between servings.

Fun Decorations

Ice cream and gelato products make fun decorations for your party. Use larger dishes to display crushed and chopped nuts, fresh fruit, sprinkles and candies for topping ice cream. A cupcake tray or pan is perfect for displaying ice cream cones and cups too. You’ll also find some fun party games that fit your theme like pin the ice cream scoop on the cone. Use streamers, tablecloths and balloons in bright colors that match the colors of the ice cream and gelato that you serve, and purchase spoons and napkins in matching colors. With these tips, your guests will leave your ice cream party with some great memories.

Filed Under: food

Wet Ones Singles At Target

August 24, 2015 by 3 Comments

Disclosure- This post is part of the paid relationship with Wet Ones. All opinions are my own.

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School time is upon us, and of course, with that comes packing up lunches for your little ones each day. What this means for most children is the same boring sandwich day in and day out, be it cheese and ham or peanut butter and jelly- after enough of it, you want to scream. In our house, the little guy has already revolted against sandwiches millennia ago, and his lunches consist of fresh fruit and veggies,  yogurt, soup, crackers, pastas, and of course the snacks. The most difficult part of giving him all these odd food combinations is the messes he makes with them.

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You’d think a squeeze yogurt and some fruit pieces can only make so much mess, but he is a master of the mess and so often, the yogurt gets all over everything. One way to limit the mess is to include Wet Ones wipes with the little ones’ lunches. This will not only lead to less germs (because Wet Ones clean messy hands and kills 99.99% of germs) but also less mess.  You can also get Wet Ones Aloe formula, which won’t dry or irritate skin like hand sanitizers can. And yes, they’re hypoallergenic.

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So for our last couple of Back to School shopping trips, we had to grab some Wet Ones from Target. We knew Target had the items we needed, and also accepted our cool coupon (and be sure to print and use it soon as they do expire).  Target is also competitively priced, and with the coupon as icing on the cake, its a no brainier that Wet Ones should be picked up ASAP.

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Keep in mind Wet Ones are also America’s #1 Hand Wipe (#1 claim based on scan data for 52 weeks ending 5/12/15) so quality is a given.  Don’t forget to grab yours for Back to School this year!

Disclosure- This post is part of the paid relationship with Wet Ones. All opinions are my own.
School time is upon us, and of course, with that comes packing up lunches for your little ones each day. What this means for most children is the same boring sandwich day in and day out, be it cheese and ham or peanut butter and jelly- after enough of it, you want to scream. In our house, the little guy has already revolted against sandwiches millennia ago, and his lunches consist of fresh fruit and veggies, yogurt, soup, crackers, pastas, and of course the snacks. The most difficult part of giving him all these odd food combinations is the messes he makes with them.

You’d think a squeeze yogurt and some fruit pieces can only make so much mess, but he is a master of the mess and so often, the yogurt gets all over everything. One way to limit the mess is to include Wet Ones wipes with the little ones’ lunches. This will not only lead to less germs (because Wet Ones clean messy hands and kills 99.99% of germs) but also less mess. You can also get Wet Ones Aloe formula, which won’t dry or irritate skin like hand sanitizers can. And yes, they’re hypoallergenic.

So for our last couple of Back to School shopping trips, we had to grab some Wet Ones from Target. We knew Target had the items we needed, and also accepted our cool coupon (and be sure to print and use it soon as they do expire). Target is also competitively priced, and with the coupon as icing on the cake, its a no brainier that Wet Ones should be picked up ASAP.

Keep in mind Wet Ones are also America’s #1 Hand Wipe (#1 claim based on scan data for 52 weeks ending 5/12/15) so quality is a given. Don’t forget to grab yours for Back to School this year!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: review Tagged With:

Back to School Backpacks

August 24, 2015 by 5 Comments

Back to school is a crazy time of year- and not many parents relish back to school shopping.  No matter what your kids need for school this year, they are sure to need a backpack to carry all their “stuff” to and from classes, home, and back again.  Here are some fun and functional choices for your students-

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Got a little one entering Pre-K or Kindergarten this year?  He or she will love Bixbee, and so will you.  These are just the cutest bags with great patterns and styles.  Some have wings, some have animal faces and ears- heck, even shark fins.  For bigger kids, they have tamer color palettes and more typical styles of backpack.  The cool thing about Bixbee is that they come in three sizes, so they will fit your child’s stature.  Some backpacks only come in certain sizes, or only one or two options, but you will be able to find one that fits your child’s style and size.  It’s recommended that the backpack rest in the lower back, and no more then four inches below the waist to avoid causing chronic pain, which is important to Bixbee.  These backpacks are also sturdy, PVC, BPA, phthalate, and lead free, and have many pockets for your child’s belongings.  Bixbee cares about kids- when you buy a backpack, they donate one to a child in need somewhere in the world.  What else can you ask for in a backpack?  Comfort, style, and caring. You can get yours at http://www.bixbee.com

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Wildkin backpacks and lunch bags are great for kids who like all their things to match, or parents who find it easier to grab everything when it all looks the same.  Not only are backpacks and lunchboxes available, but nap mats, sports bags, pencil cases, and more.  The material is not at tough as some of the bags out there, so if you have a child that is tough on his or her gear, these might not last as long as others.  The patterns are delightful- I have purchased several things for my child in one of them, including his very first “big boy” bedding set.  There are many different types of packs, bags, and duffels- check out the site and get what you need for the upcoming year at http://www.wildkin.com

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When it comes to school gear, you want to choose wisely, and you don’t want to have to buy the same items over and over because they were flimsy or poorly made.  Introducing Chooze Bags and coordinating lunch boxes.  Not only are they durable (and I personally took this one for a few days as well as my son’s own use of it), but they also have the added and somewhat unusual bonus of  being able to turn it inside out for a whole new look if you get tired of one version. They are totally reversible, with two fully functional sides, giving kids the ability to swap prints and styles without swapping backpacks.  I really like this backpack- it has tough side bags for water bottles and whatnot, many pockets, pouches, and places to keep your items, and zippers that don’t catch or pull. The straps are also padded, which is great- you know how heavy those backpacks can get.  Tons of options to chooze from (see what I did there? So clever….)- get yours now at http://www.choozeshoes.com/collections/backpacks

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If you are looking for something delicious to stick into lunchboxes this year, try Noosa Yoghurt.   The tastes and flavor combinations, along with the fact that it is made in small batches on a small family farm, make this unlike any other yogurt on the market today.  Made with all natural whole milk, fresh fruit purees, and honey, one bite will keep you coming back for more.  My husband is now an addict. It’s also  all natural, gluten-free, and probiotic, so it’s good for the whole family.  It comes in a variety of sizes- some just perfect for lunchboxes (some bigger for the husbands who want more). With flavors like Cranberry Apple, Pumpkin, Honey, Strawberry Rhubarb, and more, you can find both fun and unusual flavors or favorites like Vanilla and Blueberry.   Find a store that sells Noosa near you at http://www.noosayoghurt.com/

Filed Under: kids, review Tagged With:

Visit the Bronx Zoo #NYisWild

August 23, 2015 by 1 Comment

NYer’s have gone wild for #NYisWild!

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Remember when we first told you about this upcoming #NYisWild photo challenge?

Since we first brought this to you, over 4,000 people have signed up for the photo safari, sharing pictures of how #NYisWild from all over NYC.

The #NYisWild hashtag has been used over 10,000 times on Instagram alone. You can see some of the images here: https://instagram.com/explore/tags/nyiswild/

There are only 16 days left to enter to win, but you only need 10 photos to be entered to win the trip to Belize.

The contest ends on September 8, 2015 at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Register at NYisWild.com with your twitter or Instagram account and head over to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo or New York Aquarium as soon as you can.

Special discount: Use the promo code “NYisWild” to get 20% off tickets—online only.

Filed Under: Uncategorized