Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids Tangy Citrus Probiotic Review #BestProbioticForKids

Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

I am a big believer in probiotics for myself and my family. We all take them from time to time. This is a great option for kids to help support their immune system.  PRO-Kids is crafted with superior patented technology and living probiotic organisms. Just like adult probiotics, they are released into the intestinal tract to provide the ultimate support. 

PRO-Kids probiotic formula for kids is specially designed by Hyperbiotics with 4 proven strains to help provide support to counter the negative effects of today's broad spectrum antibiotics. The company shares that the natural tangy citrus flavor provides full nutrient absorption. It has been shown that fatigue and irritability are often a result of poor vitamin and nutrient absorption.

PRO-Kids probiotics for kids help create a micro-environment inside the digestive system that supports full mineral absorption.  It has been documented that 80% of our immune system is in our gut. Probiotics, which are the good guys can help support the gut. The theory is that they don't make the gut a welcome environment for disease causing bacteria, AKA the bad guys to settle in. 

I love that Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids Tangy Citrus Probiotic is an All Natural and Sugar Free probiotic formula specifically designed for kids big and small! Our small sized pearl is easier for kids to swallow or chew with the yummy tangy citrus flavor.  The patented controlled delivery system has shown that 60% of the beneficial flora will survive the harsh environment of the stomach acids and travel deep into the intestinal tract.  I feel like this really helps to deliver the probiotics where they are needed most.

The company has crafted this PRO-Kids children's probiotic formula modeled on their most effective Hyperbiotics adult product.  It contains the 4 most proven strains (including B. infantis) to support against the negative effects of today's broad spectrum antibiotics. You can pick up this Hyperbiotics PRO-Kids Kids Probiotic fast online and save time too.

You can find out more about Hyperbiotics and follow them on all your favorite social networks like Facebook and Twitter as well.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5-hour ENERGY® shot honors breast cancer survivors #5hourGoesPinkSelfie Shot #5hourGoesPink

Disclosure:  I'm a member of Smiley360.com, where I qualify to try brands for free in exchange for sharing my authentic feedback. Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically 5-hour ENERGY. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children. 
 

 

I recently had the opportunity to try 5-hour ENERGY® shots and toast in honor of someone special in my life. I also had the task to nominate two friends so they too can honor someone courageous by raising their white bottle pink ribbon 5-hour ENERGY® shot.

I am honoring my aunt who has passed away but she was a wonderful part of my life growing up. She had breast cancer and was successfully treated back in the day. The treatments were difficult but she did what she needed to do.  She was one special lady.  She always had a lot of energy. I wish I had her energy but I don't so I look to good options like 5-hour ENERGY sometimes to help me out. 5-hour ENERGY® products are for adults only.  5-hour ENERGY® shots should not be mixed with alcohol.  It works fast to get your energy level back up there too.

Don't forget to enter the 5-hour ENERGY® sweepstakes for a chance to win tickets, hotel & airfare to an exclusive concert in L.A. featuring A-list stars! More details are to come...don't forget to check back soon too!

I received a cute little Smiley kit with the following goodies:
• 2 white bottle pink ribbon 5-hour ENERGY® shots supporting LBBC in Pink Lemonade flavor
• Smiley360 Sharing Guide

Brain Fitness Shell Game is another great ThinkFun games that we just love #thinkfun

We love board games. Don't get me wrong....I let my child have some computer time but we have always been big on fun board games and intellectual games. My hubby and I always enjoyed them as kids and we started playing simple board games with her when she was a tiny tot. It is totally different for your brain when you are sitting with a board game either thinking to yourself or interacting with others. This is the kind of skill that you can't learn on a computer no matter what the game you choose. I truly credit her early reading to all the board games and learning games we have played since she was a baby.

I have to say that my mom was one who discovered the ThinkFun brand a number of years ago.  She picked up a few of the ThinkFun travel sized games and the little one was hooked. We discovered one of her best friends was also a ThinkFun fan.  Her best friend has two parents that are educators so take that into consideration. They know good fun learning games when they see them. Birthdays and other special occasions became a good reason to buy a new ThinkFun game. Frankly, it made it easy for me because it was pretty much impossible to bomb when I chose a ThinkFun game. Many of the ThinkFun games including the Brain Fitness Shell Game are excellent games to play in the car, while waiting for appointments or even to tote with you on the airplane. A better option than endless screen time.  We have quite a collection and haven't been disappointed yet so I was excited to take a peek at this new fun game called Brain Fitness Shell Game.

The Brain Fitness Shell Game is a fun game for kids and adults. This is a great game for those rainy days when you want to get the kids off the screens and away from those computers. It is easy to learn too. You can start out easy and then really start challenging your mind with the different levels. You start out by setting up the Hermit Crabs and the Ocean Stones on the challenge to match the START position. Next you cover each of the Crabs and Stones with a Sea Shell. Then you move the Shells along the printed arcs from position to position until they are at the END position. When you think you have it right, lift up the Shells. If the Crabs match the END position, you are a winner. The Brain Fitness Shell Game comes with a Spiral-bound Challenge Booklet. It has 60 challenges ranging from Beginner to Expert so you have plenty of time to work your brain. It also comes with 6 Sea Shells, 6 Hermit Crabs and 3 Ocean Stones.  You have to remember and keep track in your mind with the various locations no matter what level you are on.  Brain Fitness Shell Game is a fun brain trainer game that encourages your mind to expand and think like it never has before.  You will be surprised how much quicker your brain starts to work when you exercise it with fun games like this one.

We really liked the fun and mental gymnastics combined with the educational element in the Brain Fitness Shell Game. My tween has been playing all week. It took her a little bit to start moving through the challenges but once she got going there was no stopping her. I love that you can play it by yourself (or the kids can play alone) or take turns in a small group.  I would definitely recommend this as a birthday present or a special gift for any child or adult.

This is a game that is recommended for ages 8 to adult and retails for about $19.99.

As ThinkFun says, "The goal is not to deceive, but rather to improve your memory and logic skills so that you can win. Getting a correct solution may seem like luck, but you’ll smile knowing that it’s a good dose of brain power!" It is totally correct.  You can purchase the Brain Fitness Shell Game from ThinkFun directly or you can also pick this great game up from ThinkFun up on Amazon. Who has time anymore to run from store to store?  Not me. I love shopping online it saves me so much time.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Gamesformotion transforms classic board games like Candy Land and Scrabble with Belgian chocolate!

Disclosure:  I received four Gamesformotion products complimentary for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

I just received some amazing new games that are going to be a huge hit for the Christmas holiday season this year.  Starting in November, the European company Gamesformotion will be making these delicious and fun classic games like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit™, Twister , Scrabble®, Pictionary, Candy Land, Monopoly,  Clue and Battleship with Belgian chocolate pieces available in the United States.  Yes, you heard me right. My tween near lost her mind when she saw the games in our own home.  She couldn’t believe that it would be possible to play her old favorite CandyLand with real chocolate! The best part is that you can find these yummy games at retailers around the country like Target, CVS, SuperValu store locations,  Kmart,  Meijer and Fred Meyer, Bed Bath & Beyond and even on Amazon.com.

This is a wonderful and creative gift idea that will make anyone happy this holiday season.   I would definitely pick up multiples because you know anyone would be excited to get it whether they were 4 or 64 years old.  It is so exciting because you really have tons of options that would work well for a work Secret Santa or a family gift.  Teens and little tots would be thrilled to get or give any of the classics too…anything with chocolate is always a winning gift.  The most wonderful aspect of this gift is how affordable it is….only $9.99 each so you can choose all your faves and stock up for the holidays at that price.   

The company has shared some additional information:

Gamesformotion has developed into a leading international Games Specialist when it comes to chocolate editions of classic favorites.  All of the chocolate versions of the games have the same essential features as their famous counterparts, except that their cards and letter tiles have been replaced with the finest Belgian milk chocolate encased within printed wrappers. Rules for all of the games have been slightly modified by Gamesformotion to ensure they’re always fun and easy to play no matter what your age. Instead of just playing to win, you might win tons of chocolate in real life! Candy Land, Monopoly, Clue, Battleship and more, which all exclusively feature these luxurious, edible Belgian chocolate game pieces.

My tween still loves all these classic games and plays them often with her friends but she said the chocolate versions just brings them into a new dimension. She was so excited to try out the chocolate versions she just practically couldn't wait until she had a friend come over to play.Her friend Elizabeth was just about as gaga as my tween was with the Guess Who with edible chocolate. I decided to serve dinner first so at least they would have eaten before all the chocolate. They had so much fun with it.  We decided to reserve two of them for holiday gifts and one of them is going to be a gift for my daughter.

Let me know your thoughts on these delicious and fun versions of the classic games we all know and love for holiday gifts this year.

Tazo Chai Tea Blog Review @smiley360. @tazo #SweetMeetsSpicy!

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary coupon for Tazo Chai through Smiley360. As always, my opinions are my own.

I have been a tea fanatic since I was a little girl. As more options came out on the market I was always eager to try them. My mom loves different teas as well. I discovered Chai teas a number of years ago but it used to be hard to find options to make it at home. I was happy to hear that the quality brand Tazo  came out with their own Chai tea in a special filterbag so I could enjoy it at home anytime I wanted.  If you aren't familiar with Chai tea, it brings together classic spices such as ginger, pepper and cardamom for a deliciously distinct taste.  Tazo went on to develop smooth and creamy latte concentrates to make it easy to enjoy anytime. Now all of us have the perfect way to enjoy these delightfully unexpected Chai flavors with milk. Now they are introducing new flavors to Chai – from the sweet creaminess of Vanilla Caramel to the seasonal flavor of Pumpkin Spice, Tazo believes there is truly a Chai for everyone.

I received a TAZO Chai Smiley Kit with the following items :

• Full-value coupon for any TAZO® Chai filterbag tea or latte concentrate
• Two full-value coupons for any TAZO® Chai filterbag tea or latte concentrate to share with your closest friends or family
•  TAZO® Chai tasting guide
• 1 TAZO® Classic Chai filterbag, 1 TAZO® Chocolate Chai filterbag and 1 TAZO®Vanilla Caramel Chai filterbag
• Smiley360 Sharing Guide

TAZO makes yummy teas so I was excited to try their Chai variety.  They were all delicious from the TAZO Classic Chai to the Chocolate to the Caramel Chai. I think the Caramel is my current favorite.  Chai Tea is delicious no matter what the flavor. These teas provided me with a uplifting sweet afternoon break along with a light snack. They are truly perfect for breakfast or anytime!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

VIVANT Skin Care Mandelic 3-In-1 Wash Review + Giveaway #Vivantskincare

I am particular especially when it comes to skincare.  I insist on the best quality skin care products because I want my skin to look and feel healthy no matter how old I am. Vivant Skin Care was created by the scientist who made skin look healthier...James E. Fulton M.D. PhD, the researcher, cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist who developed vitamin A acid, later known as Retin A. That was an amazing skin care breakthrough back then.  dr. Fulton took his knowledge and developed a skin care line for the new Millenium. There are so many benefits of Vivant Skin Care Mandelic 3-in-1 Wash, part of the whole Vivant skin care line.

This powerful yet gentle antioxidant wash contains Mandelic derived from almonds, green tea extract, grape seed, kiwi fruit and honey extracts.  Mandelic is a compound that is ideal for adult acne because it has triplicate benefits. It actually contains anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. A common issue that I also see on my chin after a breakout is blotchy skin. I get so frustrated. The company shared that with continued use it can "lift" skin discolorations and dark spots. This wash also can stimulate the rejuvenation of fine lines by generating new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

What is Mandelic though? I had not heard of it before neither. It is a powerful yet gentler form of (AHA) Alpha Hydroxy Acid. Mandelic is also ideal for treating sensititve Black, Hispanic, and Asian skin that become sensitive to harsh benzoyl peroxide products. It really is a product that can work for almost anyone that is looking for fresh, glowing skin. The company shared even helps ingrown hairs and can also be used as a shampoo on scalp to control dandruff and acne.

My thoughts:  I have been using it this week now and my skin looks great. I started out as suggested with every other day. It is comfortable on my skin while I am washing and after I rinse my skin. I pat it dry and follow with moisturizer. My skin looks fresh and clear in the morning when I wake up. I will continue to use this and keep you updated.

You can find Vivant Skin Care right on their website and have it at your door in a flash. Meanwhile, enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win a bottle of your own VIVANT Skin Care Mandelic 3-in-1 Wash. a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Organics White Sesame Seeds Review #jivaorganics

 
Jiva Organics White Sesame Seeds are a great option to use as part of a healthy lifestyle.  They might be tiny but sesame seeds are full of lots if healthy nutrients.  You have healthy fats, protein, calcium, antioxidants and even lits of fiber. The primary fats in sesame seeds are a particular monounsaturated fatty acids called Oleic acid. You might have heard about Oleic acid because some studies have indicated that it might help to lower LDL, or bad cholesterol and increase the HDL, or good cholesterol.

Sesame seeds, like these organic white seeds are a good source of essential minerals too. This includes calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium and copper. You can look it up yourself and compare. Similar to other seeds, the nutrients are absorbed better when you grind them up but you choose your options based on your personal needs and recipes.  Consider them with rice or as part if salads dressings and even tahini. 

Jiva Organics is a line of certified organic spices that offer a great value over mainstream alternatives.  They are high quality USDA certified organic White Sesame Seeds.  I enjoy using them in smoothies and sprinkled on yogurt.  I have added them to Asian chicken recipes and salad dressings. They have a nice, light flavor that the whole family enjoys.  

Think about all the options from roasting, crushing and even sprinkling them on salads.  You can add Jiva organic white sesame seeds to rice,chicken, beef, vegetable or bean dishes too.

You can find out more by following Jiva Organics on Facebook too. You can purchase these organic white sesame seeds conveniently on Amazon too.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Key West Health + Beauty Retinol Cream Review #retinol

I am very careful with my skin care.  It is easier to take good care of your skin than to try to go turn back time.  So I am always seeking novel skin care options to help make me look a bit more youthful in a natural way. There have been so many innovations the past few years in creams and serums. They really can make a huge difference if you choose a quality cream or serum. I recently had the opportunity to try something new from Key West Health & Beauty.

Key West Health & Beauty was founded by 2 multi-location day spa owners with over 15 years of experience performing thousands of skin care treatments. They crafted a Retinol Cream with an innovative formula. It has 97% natural and 71% organic ingredients which is fairly different from your drugstore shelf. Most retinol creams contain heavy amounts of synthetic ingredients and fillers. That is not something that I want on my skin so I was impressed right from the start. 

The Retinol Cream from Key West Health & Beauty is 2.5% retinol. This means it contains 2 1/2 X the amount of retinol as the standard 1% strength found in most commercial retinol creams. This is the strongest strength of retinol available without a prescription too.

Consider this too, Key West Health & Beauty Retinol Cream 1.7 oz size is nearly twice the size as the standard 1 oz container offered with most retinol products. That is going to last me a while. 

I have had an opportunity to use this Retinol Cream during the week and I am continuing to use it. It goes on smoothly and you only need a small bit.  I avoid my eye area but otherwise have been using it all over my face and neck.  My skin feels good and looks great. I think I am going to need to wait a month or two to see significant results but I like it so far. Hopefully, over the next few weeks I will see my brown spots get lighter and my fine lines soften a bit.  My skin is clear and my makeup goes on smoothly so that is a great start.  

You can buy this high quality Retinol cream quickly and have it at your door in a flash.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Gary Thomas: A Lifelong LOVE Review and giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Would you like to discover how to live out a sacred marriage? Consider this:  You believe your marriage has eternal purposes. I know you do. Even amidst all the busy-ness of your life and family, you truly ong for it to reach beyond your home and encourage others. But the big question is HOW? Can busy working moms and dads like us have spiritually intentional relationship in the midst of dirty dishes, work deadlines, and car pools? Gary Thomas shows you that it is possible. 

In Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas showed us that God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy.  Now, in A Lifelong Love, Thomas gives us the practical tools to craft our marriages into inspiring relationships that breathe spiritual life to others. Whatever season of marriage you are in, A Lifelong Love gives your the practical help you need to infuse your marriage with a spiritual passion that will not only change you but will change the world around you. If you think Gary sounds as fascinating I do you probably want to find out more. You can see a bit more about Gary Thomas on his official book website.  Don't forget to follow this wonderful author via Facebook and Twitter for updates as well.  

About the author:

Gary Thomas is writer-in-residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, a frequent guest on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today radio, and a popular speaker. His award-winning books, includingThe Sacred Search, have been translated into over a dozen languages and together have sold more than a million copies worldwide. Thomas and his wife have been married thirty years and have three children.

Meanwhile, don't forget to enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win a copy of A Lifelong Love. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smart Fall Wardrobe Care + Cleaning Ideas from P&G Fabric Care #CareforClothing

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with One2One Network and P&G. As always my opinions are my own.

I am kind of particular fanatical about taking care of my clothes. I don't like stains and I really try to follow care instructions so my clothes stay in good condition.  That includes storing them properly (and clean!) in my cedar closet.  As it gets cooler and the seasons change, it's time to pull my trusty and beloved fall clothing out of storage and get them ready to brave the mid Atlantic chill.  A bit of help from quality P&G Fabric Care products like Tide, Downy and Bounce help make sure everything stays beautiful and smells fresh all winter

I eat healthy, work out most weeks about 4-5 times and enjoy shopping for clothes as a special reward from time to time. I love luxury clothing brands too. One caveat, even items that indicate they are washable hold up better for the long haul when you use quality detergents and softeners like Tide, Downy and Bounce. The reason is that the Acti-Lift formula found in Tide Original is designed with ingredients to help provide deep cleaning for all kinds of facbrics. This special formula even works to effectively break-up dry stains, and even provide a whiteness boost. Now I know why my mom always insisted on Tide even when the budget was tight years ago. You can really see the difference in how your clothes come out. I have had some classic luxury pieces for years from shirts to skirts and more that rotate in and out of my closet from season to season.  Tide helps keep them beautiful year after year. 

Tide helps get all your clothes clean, removes the stains and keeps them white but what is the best way to keep them soft? You have a few options and you can even use a combination depending on your personal needs. I alternate and then, sometimes use both Ultra Downy April Fresh liquid in the wash and Bounce dryer sheets depending on my mood. I just started using Ultra Downy April Fresh a few years ago. I don't know how I didn't know to use it but I didn't. I was just glad I discovered it. This wonderful liquid fabric softener provides an entire week of motion-activated freshness with just one wash...yes 7 whole days.  It is a lifesaver for my sweaty gym clothes. It makes me feel confident even through a grueling workout thanks to the Renewing Scent Pearl technology. The fresh scent just keeps going. Clothes are so much softer too no matter what the fabric after using Ultra Downy. Ultra Downy April Fresh liquid uses a special formulation with SilkTouch™ which creates that magical softness not to mention that wonderful scent.  An additional benefit is that it helps to reduce wrinkles too.

It only takes one extra second to throw a Bounce® Dryer Sheets Outdoor Fresh in the dryer and it makes a whole lot of difference. Bounce has been around since I was a little kid and I loved the scent then and still love all the options today. One little Bounce sheet softens, freshens, provides excellent static control and even helps to repel lint and hair from clothes.  So if you have kids like me who sometimes forget to throw away their tissues and leave them in the pockets...sigh...Bounce can help. The Outdoor Fresh scent makes you feel like it is summer any day of the year too.

You can follow your fave cleaning and laundry products on all the social networks like Facebook for Tide, Downy and Bounce. You never know what special deals they share with their followers so check them often too.

NEW Purex® Crystals Aromatherapy and a Giveaway

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free for the purpose of this review as a member of the Purex Insiders. All opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product. However, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Are you just cringing thinking about the long cold winter ahead?  Aaah, fall is just coming so we still have a while. I am trying to just enjoy fall...I keep hoping that the winter will not be too chilly for me. Purex has been thinking about us and has come up with a solution to keep the inside of your home scented with wonderful aromas all year long no matter what the weather.

NEW Purex® Crystals Aromatherapy is the latest Purex® Brand experience for all of us to enjoy. The NEW Purex Crystals Aromatherapy scent infusions will surely stimulate your life with peaceful bliss and boundless spirit. You just have to get a closer sniff at the wonderful scent of these soothing aromas.  It is just what you need to brighten up any wash day no matter what the season.  You can choose from Energy, Well Being or Serenity. Just the names themselves make me feel so relaxed.

Holy tamale....you care going to be dazzled by the gorgeous bright pink, ocean blue and fresh yellow colors on the bottles.  The scents are even more wonderful than they look too. So relaxing all of the scents just make you go, "Aaaaah," even after a long day with the kids or a crazy day in the office. Who wouldn't feel good adding a little bit of Serenity to your wash? Perhaps you prefer some Well Being? On days that you are just pooped out you might look forward to Energy just like me. I kind of look forward to doing laundry because each of these scents is like a little treat for my mind.

If you are looking for a great new laundry softener you need to check this new option from Purex out in the stores. The combination of the black and bright colors adds a spot of glamour to my laundry room.  This Purex Crystals bottle and scent will add a colorful escape to your laundry day.

Meanwhile, don't forget to enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win your own bottle of Purex Crystals Aromatherapy. a Rafflecopter giveaway