Jamba Juice-branded toys coming soon

jjIf I associate anything with summer, it would definitely be a Mango A Go Go Jamba Juice smoothie.  When I was pregnant, I craved these smoothies (ok, and ice cream too!) like it was nobody’s business!  So when I heard that Jamba Juice is coming out with a line of toys, I couldn’t be more excited!

Think Wow Toys will create a Jamba-branded blender for kids, EZ-2 Make! Jamba Juice Smoothie and Ice Pop Maker, giving kids a chance to make their own smoothies and ice pops at home.  Um, yum!
Beyond their delicious smoothies, it’s good to know that the company announced their eco-sustainability initiative earlier this year, too.  Go, Jamba Juice!

On a related note, I’m wondering if Paris Hilton will invest in these toys to avoid the paps?  Probably not.

Because kiddie shows can only teach so much

Beyond the unofficial start of summer with cookouts and the 3-day weekend, we shouldn’t forget that Memorial Day is a time for remembrance and gratitude.  And so when I stumbled upon the Toddler Virtue Tees, I thought the messages conveyed were so relevant for Memorial Day.   Kids are such sponges, and it’s true what Monika Hall, the founder and mom entrepreneur of Toddler Virtue Tees says, ” children often do as we do rather than as we say.”  True that.

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Toddler Virtue Tees available are: Kindness, Courage, Patience, Tolerance and Gratitude for $20 each. There are also Ladies Virtue tees which are $22 each. Toddler Virtues offers free shipping as well.  Be sure to check out the 5 steps to teach virtues.

Inflatable pool party!

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, it’s no surprise that many families are going the Staycation route. Some families are forgoing expensive vacations, but instead are bolstering their litany of outdoor toys in preparation for summer fun, especially with big-ticket items like pools and playgrounds.

Boy, have inflatable pools come a long way! They’re more like theme parks—awesome ones at that!  The Rocky Mountain River Race by Little Tikes is one of many newer water slides that came out earlier this year.
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The slide features includes: a two-person rock climb, a surprise dump bucket, twin water slides that lead to the splash pool. It’s best suited for ages: 5-10 years; and retails for $499.99

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Got Probugs? review + giveaway

I’m like a kid in a candy store whenever we stroll through our local health food store.  With every trip, it seems like there’s a new brand or new packaging that catches my eye—Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir is just one example.

As the organics and natural foods market continues to surge with so many parents filling their grocery carts with healthier foods these days, products that have been around for a long time are becoming more mainstream—and for good reason.

U.S. sales of organic food and non-food products reached $24.6 billion in 2008, growing 17.1 percent over 2007 sales, despite tough economic times, according to a new study by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

I think our family certainly contributed to that statistic, especially now that we put much more thought into what and how we eat, now that we have a kid.  Even though I’d never heard of it until the kid came along, kefir is a product that’s become a staple promic4in our home—Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir to be more specific.  The best description I could find was from an LA Times article that describes kefir as a tangy fermented milk drink and a pro_berrycousin to yogurt.  It’s the healthy drink that has been credited with the  longevity of people in the Caucasus.  And, it seems like I’m not the only one who’s noticing kefir these days.  Kefir may have originated centuries ago, but it’s now making its way to  mainstream grocery stores.

So, what is it with kefir?

Considered a superfood by Dr. Perricone, one of Oprah’s doctor friends, kefir and other fermented and cultured foods is said to be “functional” foods—or in this case, 10 live and active cultures.  As in, probiotics.
pro_orangeYou’ve heard the buzz about probiotics, I’ve even blogged a little about it in the past; but in case you haven’t heard, probiotics are good bugs—good bacteria that help boost your immune system, among other health benefits.  But as a mom, especially with the unavoidable worries about the Swine Flu, finding a food that boosts immunity is certainly something I am always willing to add to my grocery list.

I’ll be completely honest, you can’t miss the vibrant Probugs packaging.  Resembling a modern looking juice pouch of sorts, Probugs has this awesome spout feature that helps contain leaks.  The front of the package boasts their bug character, Polly the Probug, that I’m sure most kids can appreciate.  So, on first impression, you have this cool package that’s clearly targeted to kids.

Jack drinking ProbugsSome people buy portable yogurt, we buy Probugs.  The kid sees it in the store and squeals, just like he does when he sees Elmo.  We introduced Probugs when many people introduced baby yogurt, and since then, it’s been considered a treat, when really, it’s a healthy alternative to other snacks.  Once we restock the Probugs stash, it never lasts.  The kid finishes it, almost in one slurp–he loves it that much.  The fact that the kid loves Probugs is huge, but I consider it a treat because it’s healthy, organic, helps boost immunity and aids with digestion.  Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir is yet again, another one of those products that I continually rave about.

As much as we love this product and how cool the nozzle is, I have to say that the individual packaging was a concern because as much as possible, I try to minimize our waste.  I try to limit our juicebox purchases and other individual packaged products and opt for bulk containers.   But after reading on the back of the package about Lifeway’s social responsibility, my concerns were offset after learning that the company uses renewable energy—a truly green tactic that I think more companies should follow.

Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir comes in  kid-friendly flavors—Orange Creamy Crawler, Sublime Slime Lime, Goo Berry Pie—and can be found in many health food stores and grocery stores including Whole Foods.  In addition to Probugs, Lifeway has a lineup of kefir, yogurt, pudding and cheese that’s ideal for everyone in the family.
pro_lime And speaking of Whole Foods, if you’re in the Chicago area be sure to check out the Whole Foods Lincoln Park Kids Weekend on June 6th and 7th.  In addition to all the kiddie activities, Polly the Probug will be hanging out.

Oh, the awesomeness doesn’t end there.  Lifeway is graciously giving one Next Kid Thing reader a fabulous giveaway—a variety bundle of Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir—one 4-pack of each flavor (that’s three, 4-packs in total!)

To win it:

Visit Lifeway and tell me what product(s) you would like to try and why.

For additional entries:

1. Tweet about this giveaway

2.  Share this product review on any social netoworking site

3. Sign up to receive my updates via email.  (If you already receive it, just let me know!)

Please add a comment for each of your entries. The giveaway ends on June 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Happy Wellness Wednesday and good luck!

*******This contest is closed ***********

New release: Boom Blox Bash Party

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Spielberg holds a copy of Boom Blox Bash Party (Photo: BW)

Boom Blox Bash Party for Wii, another anticipated release for the week, is hitting stores today.  The follow up to last year’s Boom Blox game for Wii features almost twice as many multiplayer challenges as the original, hence the Bash Party. Players can play with or against others in co-op, versus and new team-based challenges.

Boom Blox Bash Party is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Boom Blox which is an EA and Steven Spielberg collaboration.  The new release features cool themed worlds including Space, Pirate, Heroic and Show Time where kids can check out action puzzle game play in zero gravity and underwater.

Boom Blox Bash Party has more than 400 new levels and players can also download new levels for free with an Internet-connected Wii.

Be sure to check out Boom Blox Bash Party on Facebook and the trailer on You Tube.

B&N kicks off annual summer reading program

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ funny looks!  Ok, so maybe two out of three still applies.

Summer vacation.  It’s a great time to catch up with friends, enjoy the outdoors from sun up until sun down, and of course, catch up on reading!  Just a few weeks shy of summer vacation, Barnes & Noble has announced their 13th annual summer reading program with the  series “Percy Jackson & The Olympians.”  Author Rick Riordan takes readers on the adventures of Percy Jackson, a young half-god, half-human son of the gods of Olympus.
The reading program, which encourages kids to read throughout the summer, asks kids to read any eight books of their choice, then to write about the book in a summer reading journal and once the journal is complete, kids can get a coupon for a free book.

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Punch Out!! launches this week

It’s a big week for video game releases, with tomorrow’s launch of the new Punch-Out!! game for Nintendo’s Wii as one of the most noteworthy.
punchoutlogoLittle Mac is back with other existing characters from the existing Punch-Out!! with the only new character called the Disco Kid. The video boxing game, that was loved by many since the NES days, was reinvented with the Wii’s motion-sensitive Remote and Nunchuk controllers. The appeal of a retro game, combined with new technology, has a lot of original Punch-Out!! fans talking.
There are various reviews out on the new Punch-Out!! but one that I found incredibly comprehensive, complete with graphics is over on ign.com. And from what it sounds like, the new Punch-Out!! is a big hit.

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Mameshiba: talking beans the next Hello Kitty?

Word on the street says a talking bean with a puppy-dog face is poised to be the next popular character from Japan.
Talking bean, huh?

la09993With $30 million in retail sales, 250 products and 20+ licensees in the matter of months, it’s safe to say, Mameshiba is a licensing phenomenon in Japan. Mameshiba, literally translated as bean-dog in Japanese, are described as characters that spout random bits of trivia and have a quirky tone and family-friendly message that appeals to kids and adults.  With a face that cute, how could you not love the Mameshiba characters.

It sounds like Mameshiba gained popularity from an ad campaign and has since gained so much popularity to become a household name.  Other than keychains and small stuffed toys, it looks like there are various products like cell phone accessories with the Mameshiba license.  I’m so intrigued by these talking beans.

The Mameshiba characters include Fava Bean, Tiger Bean, Red Bean, Soybean, Chili Bean, Almond, Edamame, Peanut, Lentil, as well as Jelly Bean and Coffee Bean characters. There are also a trio of Green Peas, a Chickpea and “The Scream,” based on the famous painting of the same name by Edvard Munch. Thought-provoking bits of wisdom include, “Did you know that the color of a hippo’s sweat is pink” and “Did you know that mosquitoes have 47 teeth?”

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Flip Flop fanatics rejoice

havaiDubbed the “World’s Best Flip Flop”, Havaianas have been a staple in Brazil for manyhavaianas-baby-brazil-sandals years, but are making their mark stateside. For a few years now, while walking in the City, I have always noticed the simple-looking rubber flip flops that boast a tiny Brazillian flag on its straps. Once I learned that they were Havaianas, I began to see them everywhere all the time!

As a flip flop fanatic, I can never have enough flip flops! Some families wear Crocs, we wear flip flops! But unfortunately, I have yet to find well made and comfortable flip flops for kids—that is, until I came across Havaianas for kids! They come in a spectrum of vibrant colors and look super comfy, making them perfect for the beach and for everyday wear. Kids and Baby Havaianas can be found at various stores such as giggle and Flip Flop Style for Kids!

urban-beach-flip-flop-shop_7

While we’re talking about Havaianas, moms and dads, this is for you: I thought I’d mention that the Gap is stocking them as well! Gap stores nationwide will begin carrying select Havaianas styles and colors for women and men through August, with select stores carrying Havaianas year-round. As a way to usher in summer, from now until June, the Gap will have a concept called the Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop on 54th and 5th Ave in NY. Fellow flip flop fanatics will have a chance to customize a pair or two of their own Havaianas at the Make Your Own Havaianas customization bar.  Hello, summer!  Hello, flip flop season!

Yummi Bears Organics

As kids, my brothers and I took the good ol’ Flintstone Vitamins, which, if I remember correctly, were one of the only options for vitamins for kids way back when. Since then, the kid market has flourished with so many innovative products, including those of Hero Nutritionals, the creators of the first gummy vitamins.

yummivitamins1Hero Nutritionals has recently added Yummi Bears Organics to their Yummi Bears Gummy Vitamins product line. The organic option is GMO-Free, as well as allergen, gluten and casein free.  The Yummi Bears Organics are manufactured with natural flavors and colors, too.  The organic product line is gelatin free and vegetarian approved, so parents, rest assured, there are no harmful pesticides, no insecticides, no growth hormones and no antibiotics added to the gummy vitamins.

The organic product line touts five different varieties, including the Multi-Vitamin & Mineral; Immunity Shield; Brain Boost; Super Vision and Bone Builder. The vitamins are best recommended for kids over 2 years old. Hero Nutritionals, including the Yummi Bears Vitamins and the new organic products can be found at health food stores and great stores like Whole Foods.

Moms and dads, the gummy vitamins are so popular, they even offer Slice of Life Gummy Vitamins for Adults.

Don’t forget to check out the $1 off coupon they have, too.