Mama’s Monday Favorite: Zola Brazilian Superfruits Drinks
Looking for healthy drinks with bigger taste? Then, let us introduce you to Zola Brazilian Superfruits Drinks. Its great taste and vital nutrients are the perfect combination for an organic super drink on the go.
Zola drinks are USDA Organic and they come in delicious flavors: Açaí Original, Açaí Blueberry, and Açaí Pomegranate. Each 8oz serving has the antioxidant power of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, it’s 100 % Vegan, Gluten & GMO free and it has 1,470mg of Omega Essential Fatty Acids 3, 6 & 9.
Need a quick boost? Head over to your local Jamba Juice and try a Jamba® Daily Superfruit Shot™. These tasty little shots contain Zola Brazilian Superfruits and provide fast and easy nutrition.
If there is one thing we wished for our Zola drinks it’s for it to be packaged in glass bottles. But either way, with Zola you get great health benefits bottled in TASTE!
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Kidz Placemats by Modern Twist
Looking for style and creativity? These fabulous and artistic Kidz Placemats by Modern Twist will keep your little ones at the table. The amazing, eco friendly, food grade silicone makes it safe to have around meals, plus the non–porous germ free surface makes the placemats easy to clean.
Does it get cooler that this? Yes!! They are lightweight; you can roll them up, take them to restaurants or use them at home. With its washable or dry erase markers, those little fingers will be able to use them and reuse them over and over again.
Want more? The placemats are free of BPA, lead, latex, phthalates and other harsh chemicals giving a comfort and piece of mind knowing that your child is not exposed to harmful chemicals. The placemats are also the perfect gift for a budding artist. We also love the placemats because they are a great distraction for your friend’s kids who insist on coming over.
To purchase the Kidz Placemats by Modern Twist visit: https://www.modern-twist.com/_modern-twist.php?product=page&which=pkmain&cat=kids_placemats
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Disney Fairies Dual Compartment Tote by California Innovations
If you have a little one who loves Disney Fairies, this dual compartment tote bag created by California Innovations is the perfect lunch carrying case for them.
2 compartments
- Spacious main compartment is ideal for sandwiches, snacks, and eating utensils.
- The zipper-enclosed bottom compartment is suited best for cold drinks.
Leak proof bottom compartment
- We really like this feature. If a bottle containing liquid is placed in the bottom compartment and the bottle is not completely sealed, the liquid will not leak out of the bag. You don’t have to worry about the liquid soiling a backpack, clothing, or the seat of the car.
High density thermal insulation
- Keeps contents cold for several hours.
Ultra Safe™, easy clean lining with Microban®
- The inside lining is BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalate Free. This is important because BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalates are toxic substances that can cause serious health problems if they are directly exposed to food.
Other Features we like:
- Carry handles/shoulder straps
- Dimensions: 10.8″ W x 9.5″ H x 5.5″ D
- 181 ounces
- 1 year limited warranty
- Zipper closure
- Fairies featured: Tinkerbell, Silvermist, Iridessa, Rosetta, and Fawn
You can purchase this tote bag at Amazon.com
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Baby Jogger City Select 2011
When I found out I was going to review a 2011 City Select from Baby Jogger, I was thrilled! I have read many promising reviews online and approached mothers with strollers and the ones using Baby Joggers raved about the latest cool thing; the 2011 City Select.
With the idea that soon enough I might consider having a second child I needed to see this stroller’s practicality and efficiency so that I could justify its pricy tag of nearly $500.
So here we are:
** Assembly:
The assembly instructions were not as detailed as I would have liked. For example, when attaching the canopy to the stroller frame, the instructions tell you which parts go on the left and right portion of the stroller, but do not tell you if you should be facing the open seat of the stroller or facing the handlebar portion of the stroller.
A first time parent who has never touched a stroller may have a little difficulty understanding the instructions but an experienced parent who has seen a stroller or two should have little to no difficulty assembling the stroller.
Overall between arghs, and yays, it took me 40 minutes to get this stroller strolling! (Keep in mind that once its put together that’s it! No more assembly)
** Functionality:
The functionality of the stroller is amazing.
- Goes anywhere! The stroller’s width is 26” which is a huge advantage when using it as a double or even a single and navigating through crowded places.
- The seat is 9 inches deep and the 2011 model provides a seat board and a padded support for the baby’s back which will help soothe irritated, tired babies. Using one hand you can smoothly recline the seat to four positions including a nearly flat one which is absolutely ideal for a sleeping baby.
- The steering of the front swivel wheels are smooth and quick, providing easy maneuverability. A good thing to point out: The front wheels lock if you don’t want them to swivel.
- The handlebars are easily adjustable (from 39” to 42”) which makes it a definitely plus for parents with height differences of more than 3 inches.
- The canopy is a big size, will provide enough sun protection for your baby’s face and the peek-a-boo window provides visual access to your baby. The canopy closes easily with magnets not Velcro (Velcro wears off easily)
- The foot rest can be extended to two sizes, a well thought-out feature as your baby grows.
- This stroller comes with a fairly large under the seat storage that has the capability of stretching to a larger size. The original size provides good space to place small to medium size items. The space is the largest in the market.
- One feature I appreciate is the large mesh pocket on the back of the seat, you can place light items (a diaper, wipes and a changing pad fits perfectly in the mesh pocket) giving you the extra space with fast access.
- The compact fold of this stroller is incredibly easy and one of its best features! All you have to do is pull two side handles and the stroller folds in half in less than a second. The stroller weights 28 pounds which can make it a bit heavy if you are getting it in and out of the car constantly but it’s due to its sturdy frame (definitely not a deal breaker). However, I do wish it would stand on its own when folded.
- The stroller fits best in cars with standard sized trunks or SUVs with rear cargo space, but with a little patience, the stroller can fit in the trunk of a small car like the VW beetle.
- For growing families or a set of twins this stroller is a must! The ease of adding a second seat will save you money and space. There are 16 ways to configure the two seats! This alone makes the City Select stroller fascinating and you will not find another one like it in the market. Obviously the more accessories you add the more the stroller will weigh going up and down curbs. But you will experience this with any stroller.
- You can accessorize this stroller with a rain cover, child tray, parent cup holder etc…
**Things I deeply appreciate: (worth of mentioning it separately)
The fabric is washable! Yes!! Knowing how messy babies (and parents) can be, it is comforting to know that I can easily remove the fabric from the frame, machine wash it (delicate cycle) in cold water, and attach it back onto the stroller to dry. The fabric is light enough that will not take long to dry.
No pumping air! The tires are fully made out of rubber with foam inserts so you can say farewell to flat tires. The ride is so smooth and can virtually go over any terrain.
The stroller breaking system! I love having the breaking system at hand instead of down by your feet. Once the breaks are on, this stroller does not move an inch.
The stroller is covered by a warranty! The fabric, wheels, tires and other components carry a one-year warranty, while the frame is backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
Car seat adaptors compatibility! For an additional price you can purchase an infant car seat adaptor that will fit most of the major car seat brands. If you want to avoid shooting pains on your shoulder this little addition is a must! After all car seats should not be carried as purses and why would you choose to do that when you have something to place it on and push around?
Baby Jogger’s standard car seat adaptor is compatible with the following car seats:
- Baby Trend Expedition
- Baby Trend Flex Loc
- Baby Trend Gabriella*
- Baby Trend Stride Sport*
- Baby Trend StrideZ
- Britax Companion*
- Britax Chaperone* (for single stroller only) (Manufactured BEFORE June 2010)
- Cosco Sprint
- Chicco KeyFit*/**
- Chicco KeyFit 30*/**
- Cybex Aton
- Eddie Bauer Adventurer
- Evenflo Aura Elite
- Evenflo Embrace 5
- Evenflo Embrace LX
- Evenflo Journey Premier
- Evenflo Nestino Odyssey
- Graco Infant SafeSeat Step 1
- Graco SnugRide
- Graco SnugRide 2
- Graco SnugRide 30
- Graco SnugRide 32
- Graco SnugRide 35
- Maxi-Cosi Cabrio
- Maxi-Cosi Mico*
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP*
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30*
- Safety 1st Designer 22
*Is not compatible with the Performance Series single car seat adaptor.
**The Chicco car seat adaptor is separate from our multi model adaptor. Make sure you use the correct car seat adaptor for your car seat model (source: BabyJogger.com)
Overall, the Baby Jogger City Select is definitely one of the best strollers among the same price range market. I will definitely recommend this to all of my new parent friends, well-worth its price in style, functionality, efficiency, and versatility.
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Power of Fruit – Frozen Fruit Bars
A few cases of Power of Fruit™ Frozen Fruit Bars just arrived at our doorstep, and I must say, they are delicious. Our favorite flavor is CherryBerry. The CherryBerry bars taste satisfyingly sweet without the sugary aftertaste. These mighty little treats are extremely low in calories. Each frozen fruit bar contains between 25 and 35 calories. They make a perfect afternoon snack for a cranky toddler or a nice dessert for the health conscious. The bars have no preservatives, corn syrup, or additives and one bar equals ½ a daily fruit serving.
If your grocery store carries Power of Fruit, you must try them! If your grocery store doesn’t carry them, ask the manager to special order them for you.
- Mama
Mama’s Monday Favorite: EcoVegan Spicy Bits
Meatless Monday rocks, but what about Meatless Thursday?
Instead of my traditional Thursday dinner, I decided to experiment a little and try ecoVegan Spicy Bits.
Spicy Bits took less than 5 minutes to cook. I browned the little bits in a skillet, and voila, my mouth watered with delight. The seasoning was perfect. I didn’t have to add any additional salt or pepper. The texture was tender and very “meat-like”. I was pleasantly surprised.
I paired the Spicy Bits with Portobello mushrooms stuffed with spinach, and a fruit salad with poppyseed dressing. It was um um delish. In a pinch, I could have cooked the Spicy Bits without the fancy sides and still had a pleasant dinner. After the meal was over, I wish I had more.
- Mama
Spicy Bits ingredients: Soy protein, soy fiber, wheat protein, sunflower oil, black soy bean sauce, unbleached tapioca flour, salt, unbleached sugar, white pepper, glutinous flour, Chinese pepper, chili, fermented black beans, natural spices, coconut powder, white sesame, sucrose, trehalose (from seaweed), licorice, seaweed | Contains non-GMO wheat and non-GMO soy
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Breville’s Dual Disc Juice Processor
One word: Amazing.
During the past 20 years, I’ve run through my share of fruit juicers. Some were difficult to put together, others were difficult to clean, and some just didn’t work. The Breville BJE820XL juicer is one of the best on the market. My favorite juice to make is a mixture of carrots, apples, and red beets. This juicer handles the compact structure of beets without sputtering
Want fresh juice for breakfast, and a smoothie with lunch? This commercial-quality juicer can do both. It has a second disc that purées soft fruits for 100% fruit smoothies. With this juicer, you’ll get the most juice out of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, from delicate berries to crisp apples.
- Mama
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Instant Recess
Instant Recess: Building a Fit Nation 10 Minutes at a Time
Instant Recess offers practical, simple, and most importantly, fun ways to incorporate exercise and movement into our daily lives. In Instant Recess, Dr. Yancey carefully weaves poetry, health education, and humor.
Dr. Yancey inspires readers to take mini recesses and engage in dancing, walking, and other fun activities to help us fidget less, sleep well, and look and feel better.
Instant Recess is a must read for everyone. It is the type of book that you will want to buy 10 copies and give them out to everyone you love and care about.
