Dairy Celebration - June is Dairy Month!

The month of June is Dairy Month.  This is a great reminder of the importance of getting more protein-and calcium-rich dairy products into the family’s diet – especially for children. But parents often wonder how to do that when they’re on the go, since dairy products need to remain chilled.

Milk Unleashed is an educational campaign about shelf safe milk.  This is a great solution when you’re on the go, especially with summer activities. It is Grade A milk that doesn’t require refrigeration until it’s opened (no preservatives added). Single-serving milk boxes – similar to juice boxes – can be stored in the pantry for up to six months without refrigeration. It’s a convenient and healthy way to get the nutrition from milk on car trips, while camping, at the park…even at the beach. 

We even freeze a few cartons the night before and toss into a sports bag, picnic basket or cooler.  It will be the right temperature when you’re ready to drink it.  This is also a great item to have on-hand in your emergency kit.  Californians keep emergency kits handy for earthquake preparedness.  If you are in an area prone to hurricanes and tornado be sure to keep a 3 to 5-day supply of shelf safe dairy products for emergency preparedness along with your other emergency supplies. 

According to the Journal of Pediatrics, dairy and calcium intakes are inadequate in most four- to 18-year-olds. A carton (8 oz.) of shelf safe milk has eight grams of protein and nine essential nutrients. Now it’s easy to substitute a healthy beverage choice when you’re away from home, anytime, anywhere.

Here are a few ways to celebrate Dairy Month in June:

• Download a Cow Calendar with fun facts about dairy cows
• Enter our “Where is your Milk Unleashed?” photo contest and show us an unlikely place your family enjoys shelf safe milk.  You could win a month’s worth of shelf safe milk
• Check out some tips for getting kids to drink more milk
• Read about how milk can become shelf safe
• Engage with moms who are sharing ways to improve their kids’ nutrition
• Try some of these fun, family adventures…like a cereal picnic!
• Learn how moms can help moms in developing countries around the world get milk for their children
• See all the types of shelf safe milk available in your local grocery

For more ideas, visit www.MilkUnleashed.com 

Shelf safe milk – an on the go essential!

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends milk and water as the healthiest beverages to give toddlers age one to three.* Thanks to shelf safe milk, it’s easy to take nutritious milk on the go.

Shelf safe milk is real, Grade A milk that is ultra pasteurized,  packaged in a shelf safe Tetra Pak milk box (similar to a juice box or carton of soup) and doesn’t require refrigeration until opened (no preservatives added). Single-serving milk boxes – similar to juice boxes – can be stored in the pantry for up to six months without refrigeration.  Perfect to toss into the diaper bag, purse or keep a few in the car. We call it Milk Unleashed!  

More and more brands are offering handy single-serving cartons in 1%, 2% and whole milk. It’s a convenient and healthy snack anytime, anywhere. Check us out at www.MilkUnleashed.com –our educational campaign about shelf safe milk.

By the way, milk is a great drink for teen girls.  During puberty it is essential to get more calcium and stay away from sugar soft drinks or fruit juices. Calicium has been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms so stock up and be sure your teens are getting enough milk and calcium in their diets.

Milk - it's GOOD for you!

@thinkTANKphoto Airport Navigator Bag Review: Best Bag Ever

by Tina
We love camera bags.  Whether we create our own DIY camera bag on a budget or splurge on a stylish red hot Epiphanie bag, this piece of photography accouterment is as essential as a great prime lens.  Great bags store, transport, protect and organize our gear which is key to a photographer.

I recently got my hands on the thinkTANKphoto Airport Navigator to take on an upcoming trip.  In the past I stored my equipment in a very nice traveling backpack.  But with multi camera bodies, big lenses and accessories my back was beginning to shout obscenities back at me.  Or maybe that was actually coming directly out of my mouth - OUCH!

Not anymore.  It's clear this bag was designed by photographers for photographers.

Rugged Design - Easy to Travel
First, check out the nice lean design.  With a smooth telescoping handle that has 3 levels of adjustment, it glides nicely and feels extremely rugged for the most uneven terrain.  Whether you're pounding the pavement, rolling across an airport aisle or the mojave dessert, this bag will withstand the shock.  At least it performed well in my trial run outside our brick and bumpy sidewalk.

About half the size of a rolling suitcase, the size is perfect for storing in an airplane overhead bin.  That's essential because you never want to check your photography gear when you travel.   No way.

In addition to the telescoping handle you have a suitcase handle and a well-padded shoulder strap.  This bag definitely thought of every possible scenario you'd need to carry your bag wherever you go.

Camera-Ready (Rapid Access)
This bag is definitely camera-ready.  What does that mean?  It means it was designed to store your camera gear with the lenses intact so you can quickly get your gear out and use it within seconds.  I was amazed that I could easily and conveniently store two camera bodes attached to (1) 24-70mm lens and, (3) 70-200mm lens, my two work horses.  Plus I have room for my (2) 580EX Speedlite.  There's room for two smaller lenses (my Lensbaby Spark and 50mm nifty fifty.  I also carry spare batteries, rain gear, extra CF cards and a battery charger.

Easy Access
The Airport Navigator has two openings. The one above and this one, from the top looking into the bag.  Here you can see the two camera bodies neatly tucked away protected by thick foam dividers that can be shifted to suit your varying needs.  There's plenty of the velcro-foam protectors.  I had 4 pieces left-over once I configured my gear.  In the top of this photo note the two mesh pockets where I keep my extra CF cards and extra battery.

Attention to Detail
It seems thinkTANKphoto thought of everything. When you open the lid there are two security straps that allows access but prevent the lid from opening fully.  This is super convenient when you have your laptop and/or iPad and don't want to accidentally have it spill out.  But you can detach the strap for full access when you need it.

There's a velcro latch in the laptop compartment to double protect it from falling out.

Super rugged zippers, a shoulder strap that has a "pass-through" to insert the telescoping handle, and lift it to piggy back with your other rolling luggage is a cinch.  There are also two external side pockets where you can fit a water bottle and a Speedlite.

Wheels of Fortune
The thinkTANKphoto Airport Navigator smoothly glides across the terrain with these durable custom in-line skate wheels.   They are quiet, rugged and glide so smoothly it will make you want to upgrade all of your luggage to wheels like these.  These wheels are replaceable should they become damaged.  Also the fabric is water resistant with an polyurethrane undercoat to provide even more weather-proofing.

These wheels are carrying your photography fortune so invest in the best protective gear you can.

I am excited to be an affiliate for thinkTANKphoto.  If you're going to invest in this bag or one of their other great bags be sure to click on this link or the photo below to get a free gift if you spend $50 or more.  Also be sure to check out "Share the Moment" where you can submit a photo of yourself with thinkTANKphoto gear in action and get a 'thank you' gift from thinkTANKphoto.

thinkTANKphoto bags to protect your photography investment.

@CrunchiesFood Healthy, Crunchy and Delicious Snacks for your Family!

Proper nutrition is a challenge these days.  With families that are constantly on the go, eating right is not always front and center.  So when you know about a product that is healthy, tasty and nutritious you have to stock up on it.  Check out Crunchies Food (established in 2006) which are debuting these new snacks nationwide this summer.   Kids of all ages will love the crunch and taste.  They are even coming out with a Warner Brothers cartoon lines of snacks.

Little Crunchies are made by freeze-drying them in a vacuum chamber that removes 97% of the moisture.  The process gives Little Crunchies their amazing texture and crunch.  All of the vitamins are retained, unlike traditional heat drying.

As I mentioned these crunchy snacks are coming to a store near you this summer 2013.  Check for them at your grocery story, natural whole food store and Walmart.

As a mom you will appreciate that these snacks are so good for your kids and easy to pack for school lunches.  They are great for airplane trips, in the car for emergency snacks and to pack in your party gift bags.

Check out their site to see all of the delicious flavors. Here's a sampling you can see in the photo.

To find out more check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY @Clublocal Makes Home Repairs EASY BREEZY

* NOTE: Bay Area Entries ONLY at this time:

It never fails.  Your husband leaves for a business trip and all of the sudden the dishwasher breaks and the refrigerator goes on the fritz.  Or the clothes washer starts flooding the floor with water and the garage door won't open.  Even if your husband is home and an appliance malfunctions he doesn't have the time to take care of it.  That's where @Clublocal comes to the rescue.  Originally out of Texas, they are expanding in California.

This very scenario happened at my home.  Our dishwasher was making a crazy noise and not draining water at all.  And of course our dishwasher is relatively new - we remodeled in 2008 so it's only 5 years old.  But my husband was busy at work and I expect love for him to take on this responsibility.  Fortunately I just learned about a new service for busy families.  It's called Clublocal.  Clublocal takes all of the madness out of home repair. All of the background checks, licensing and insurance credentials are taken care of by them.  All you have to do is download the app or pick up the phone to schedule an appointment.

A few months ago, before I learned about Clublocal, our refrigerator went on the fritz.  It took days before the repairman could come out to fix what turned out to be a simple freezer issue.  With Clublocal I was amazed to get an appointment immediately.  And I did not have this crazy 8-hour window where I had to wait and wait for them to arrive.

As a matter of fact a great service that is part of Clublocal is they will email, text and call you to let you know their whereabouts.  You are not tied to sticking around home to wait for their arrival.  You know in REAL TIME when they will be at your front door.  How incredible is that?  I wish the cable guy was like that.

Turns out our dishwasher was okay.  It was a piece of chicken bone that clogged a tube.  Our repairman taught me how to check for clogs, how to get nice bright shiny glasses (with white vinegar and not some costly dishwashing detergent) and how to maintain a solidly functioning machine that will last for years.

To recap:

• Clublocal does all of the prescreening for you.  All service technicians are "A" rated, licensed and insured
• They provide a great app for your phone to track the arrival time of your repairman.  You are no longer teethered to your home in an 8-hour window waiting for them to show up.
• You will not be surprised by a high bill.  They will discuss all options and provide estimates and warranties.
• Payments are made with an iPad and your invoices are easily sent to you electronically.

So what are you waiting for?  How about a nice giveaway?  One lucky winner will receive a $250 credit to Clublocal.  Maybe you have a leaky faucet, fridge on the fritz, or need to get your car detailed. To enter please do the following:

• Follow Clublocal on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/ClubLocal
• Leave a comment below with your EMAIL ADDRESS (Mandatory)
• We will pick a random (random.org) winner on June 27, 2013.  
• So don't wait, - enter today and check them out!

Sanus Flat Panel Tilting Mount Giveaway: Child Safety

We are giving away a Sanus Flat Panel Tilting Mount (approximately $250 Value) to ONE LUCKY CONTESTANT!  See below for details.

In 2009 Federal law required that all television stations in the US only broadcast in digital format.  That meant that thousands of homes purchased high definition televisions and those old heavy, clunky televisions became obsolete.  With that scenario and the decreasing costs in flat panel technology, hundreds of thousands of households across the country put their family's at risk.  How?  By improperly securing their new televisions to a cabinet or wall.  Check out these ALARMING statistics with flat panel television sets in US homes (based on a 2011 US Consumer Product Safety Commission report):

• A child is killed every three weeks from an unsecured TV
• Every 45 minutes a child visits an emergency room due to a TV tip-over related injury
• Between 2000 and 2011, 215 fatalities have resulted from TV tip-over
• An estimated 17,000 people each year, the majority of which are children, are treated for injuries from TV tip-overs
• Reported cases have increased almost 25% from 2006  to 2010, and over the last 10 years, injuries have increased by 31%.  That's why Parent Grapevine is extremely happy to host this great giveaway.  

For many Americans, a flat panel TV is a great way to enjoy family time and entertainment.  However, most parents are unaware of the safety risks that flat panel TVs pose for kids.  Due to increasing size and new ultra thin designs, today’s flat panel TVs can easily tip over when bumped or pulled, toppling off of furniture and causing injury or even death.

                 

                                                                        

Bringing this risk to the forefront, SANUS, the leading designer and manufacturer of flat panel TV wall mounts, has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide.  Sanus is educating consumers on the risk of unsecured flat panel TV’s, SANUS and Safe Kids Worldwide offer safe solutions for families across the nation by reducing TV tip-over related injuries and fatalities.

SANUS TV Mounting Tips:

Easy 1, 2, 3 installation with a wall template to ensure even placement

• Online video walkthrough of simple installation available at any time
• No additional tools necessary – all required installation hardware is included in package
• Live customer support available 6 days a week

Check out the video below about what EVERY parent needs to know about child safety and properly securing their television sets:

SANUS encourages you to join their efforts and advocate mounting of flat panel TV’s in your homes. 

Parent Grapevine is extremely pleased to host a giveaway to one of our readers.  We are giving a complimentary flat panel SANUS TV Tilting Mount, courtesy of SANUS (www.sanus.com/us/en/products/visionmount/tilting-mount).  The winner will receive a mount that fits their respective TV upon confirmation of their win.

Please note that this will not include the actual installation of the equipment.  

Here's how to enter (US Residents only):

1. Leave a comment with your email address.
2. Confirm with us that you have LIKED the SanusSystems Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SanusSystems
3. For an extra entry, leave a second comment that you are following them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sanussystems
4. We we hold a random drawing (random.org) based on our total number of entries.
5. All entries must be submitted by Friday June 14th midnight Pacific Timezone.
6. We will make a selection on Friday June 15th, 2013.

Good luck - and BE SURE TO SECURE YOUR TELEVISIONS PROPERLY!

Zulily: UGG is Coming to Zulily for a LIMITED TIME

Zulily is featuring UGG from Australia for a very limited time. Check out their site on June 6th Thursday for some awesome specials.


If you haven't checked out the wonderful array of products, click on the links here. There are great clothes for your summer vacation needs that don't wrinkle, stay in shape and brighten up your day with vivid color combinations.


 Zulily is not just for your wardrobe. Find some outstanding deals for your kitchen and every room in your home

 

And check out these pops of color - get ready to brighten up your wardrobe today with some great deals.

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Viva ivivva athletica! Lululemon Takes Leap with ivivva for Active Girls!

What do you get when you mix sweat-pants-comfort with incredible style?  For sure you won’t get sweats, t-shirts and hoodies.  What you will get is ivivva athletica, the fantastic, stylish, comfortable line from the creators of Lululemon.  Lululemon is known for their outstanding quality and comfort in stylish athletic wear for women and men.  They work with athletes to create functional clothes that don’t lose their beautiful form.  The clothes stand up to the rigorous movement, sweat and repeat-wear (and believe me, you will want to wear ivivva over and over again) of athletes and young movers and shakers.

Lululemon Quality

Thanks to the creative designers at Lululemon Athletica the new apparel brand ivivva athletica is just for girls ages 4 to 14.  (Once you grow past size 14 you can freely go straight to Lululemon!)  Designed for active bodies, Ivivva feels like you are wearing sweat pants and T-shirts but you sure won’t look frumpy anymore. 

For the Active Girl

ivivva wear is created for the seriously active girl.  Feedback from dancers, gymnasts, runners and well, - movers, play a big part in designing Ivivva clothes.  Ivivva uses the exact same high-quality fabrics that Lululemon does.  That means their technical fabrics can stretch, twist, and bend – without losing their original shape unlike those baggy knees you get with sweat pants.  You know what I’m talking about don’t you?  Once you wear sweat pants and bend, squat or sit they start taking shape in those spots and never go back to their original form.  Say ‘goodbye’ to that baggy sweat pants look forever and ‘helloooo’ ivivva athletica!

New ivivva Stores

My daughter and I attended the grand opening of the ivivva Walnut Creek store.  Within minutes of entering the store it was filled with young girls who excitedly ran around the store picking out beautiful outfits.    It was clear that their smart moms know the quality and comfort of Lululemon.  Check out their site to see if a new ivivva store is opening near you.  We were welcomed to the best service with store manager Betsy and Nathalie at the Walnut Creek ivivva.  They both helped my daughter pick out the perfect outfits in the correct sizes to suit her running and soccer style.

If you don't have a store near you, don’t fret.  You can always purchase online.  And shipping within the U.S. is free!

Whether your daughter is a dancer, soccer player, runner or skateboarder ivivva has apparel to suit her style.  If there isn’t a store near you then freely browse online and shop from the convenience of your home or office.

Quality, Comfort and Style

As a mom I always look for good quality.   I know all Moms appreciate clothes that not only wear well but also wash well.   ivivva clothes are pre-shrunk.  That means if they fit perfectly in the store they will fit after you wash and dry them.  Too many times I have purchased clothes that shrink after the first wash.  Not anymore.

The fit is incredible.  Designed for pure comfort you won’t find a seam that irritates or a strap that keeps falling down your shoulder.  Even the headbands are designed to be slip-free.  My daughters love that feature and the headbands are stylish to wear everyday.

Beyond the comfort of ivivva apparel is the incredible attention to detail.  From long sleeved running shirts that have a thumbhole to keep sleeves in place while keeping your hands warm to Hoodies with a built-in hair tie (now how smart is that?) you will live in your ivivva wear.  And look great.  No way can you achieve all that with sweats.

If you haven’t checked out ivivva or Lululemon then get off your rear, start moving and go in comfort.  

But only if you’re wearing ivivva or Lululemon.

Full disclosure:  We were invited to attend the grand opening of ivivva in Walnut Creek.  We were provided with a store credit.  We ended up spending our own money because the quality, style, function and durability just can't be beat. All opinions are 100% my own.