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Getting Better for Cold & Flu Season with Homeopathic Medicines

20 Feb

Between January and February my kids and I get the sniffles, runny noses, asthma, sore throats, etc and I don’t like running to the emergency unless a cough lasts more than a week or asthma needs extra medication that I don’t have on hand. I feel like over the counter medicine doesn’t work all the time so I try home remedies and lots of fluids and rest. 

I recently attended Boiron’s Winter Well event with Blogger Brianne Manz (Stroller In The City) at Washington Market Pediatrics at 161 Hudson St.  Bloggers were invited to learn and prepare for cold & flu season. 

  
Last year we were all sick and I had to be hospitalized. This year I held out till recently where I caught a cold but it’s nothing compared to last year. I took my flu shot which seemed to help me out a lot because with my kids sick I just knew I would be home for a few weeks but I wasn’t. They were though. My 13 had his flu shot. We tried the nasal instead of the injection because he hates shots. It went well. 

I don’t know how many boxes of tissues I went through between my three kids. Now I have to restock. 

Dr. Lisa Kaufman from (Village Pediatrics) and Dr. Tiffany Knipe from (WMP) chatted with us for the morning about getting flu shots early, myths and facts and what ages should get their flu shots. I’m a germaphobe and carry hand sanitizer everywhere I go and make sure we are constantly washing our hands. It’s hard to watch my kids especially when their in school which is where kids gets sick the most because of the germs and other sick kids but I do make sure they carry sanitizer as well and wash their hands as much as possible. 

  
Boiron is a world leader in homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is a therapeutic method that uses highly diluted natural substances to relieve symptoms. Boiron provide products that work without causing drowsiness or drug interactions. I am a big fan of providing my family with a healthier, more natural lifestyle so when I heard Boiron was also providing us with information about their products and giving samples I was thankful because this came at the right time while my kids were sick.  

I gave them Boiron’s Children’s Chestal Cold & Cough syrup which temporarily relieves symptoms of the common cold, such as sneezing, fitful cough, runny or stuffy nose, nasal and chest congestion and minor sore throat. Available for everyone ages 3 and up. I gave my kids this  and the coughing stopped, runny, stuffy noses disappeared I was very impressed. This is definitely a keeper. 

Other items included in the gift bag were Calendula Cream, Arnicare Gel, Children’s Coldcalm, Oscillococcinum and other goodies. 

To learn more about these homeopathic medicines check out @BoironUSA @OscilloUSA @ArnicareUSA @CamiliaUSA on Twitter and http://www.boironusa.com

I also downloaded the free homeopathic medicine finder app which is very useful at: http://www.boironusa.com/app 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Doing Laundry is Fast with Three Easy Steps using Downy Ball

12 Feb

For most people, when they were growing up their mother did their laundry. Putting the freshly cleaned clothes up to your nose and breathing in a scent of a spring meadow. Laundry items and tools have changed over the years but the Downy Ball has remained the same since it’s debut in 1960. It’s simple design has been saving people time by preventing them from having to wait for the rinse cycle to begin to add fabric softener. It’s also the same tool that could help you get your clothes the same way mom used to. It’s easy to use, just fill the ball, toss it on top of your clothes and let the washer work its magic.
In the past, if you wanted to use fabric softener to give your clothes the softness of a cloud, there would be the time consuming task of having to wait for the rinse cycle before adding the softener. Dryer sheets do not give your clothing the same feel or scent of liquid fabric softener. Washers today are made with a built in fabric softener dispensers but they easily get clogged and create a mess. Downy has created a simple solution called the Downy Ball. Downy Ball helps you soften your clothes in 3 simple steps. Fill to the appropriate line on Downy Ball for the wash load size, pull the ring tightly to close the ball and toss the ball on top of your clothes before starting the wash cycle.

The Downy Ball releases the fabric softener automatically so that you do not need to wait for the rinse cycle to add your fabric softener. During the rinse cycle the washer’s spinning motion opens the Downy Ball releasing the softener and creating one less hassle for laundry doers. Top loading washing machines now have a built in dispenser but they can easily get clogged and make it more difficult for the softener to reach the clothes. The Downy Ball can be used in traditional washers. It can be used in some HE machines, but may not work in all front loaders and other HE machines because the water does not fill up high enough to open the ball and release the softener. Consult your machine’s owner’s manual for information regarding use of the Downy Ball. 

I’ve used the Downy Ball at my laundromat and my clothes were smelling great and feeling very soft. Easy to use, convenient and that extra time waiting that I used to do I can now run and get an Iced Coffee. 

 The Downy Ball is sold at Target, Walmart, Amazon.com and many other grocery, drug and mass retailers. The Downy Ball is available for $2.29. For more information please visit: http://www.downy.com/en-US/product/the-downy-ball.jspx 

 Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was given sample to review. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Kidpik Girls Fashion Subscription Box Launches This Spring 

11 Feb

Kidpik is the newest launch from prolific NYC fashion entrepreneur Ezra Dabah and the executive and creative teams behind classic children’s brands including The Children’s Place and Ruum. 

 A word from Ezra and Nina: Children’s preferences in clothing have evolved over the decades and so should the shopping and delivery system. We are excited to be in the position to deliver personalized fashionable outfits directly to your door: the ultimate new shopping experience. At kidpik, every item is designed and curated in our NYC studio specifically for the girls in your life. Our stylists and proprietary algorithms remove all the difficulty, time and guesswork from your shopping experience. 

 EACH CURATED KIDPIK BOX CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 6 HIGH-QUALITY ITEMS. KEEP THE ENTIRE BOX AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $75 PER BOX (ABOUT $12.50 PER ITEM). 

Pay for the entire box and enjoy a 30% discount. 

STYLED JUST FOR YOUR GIRL

CONVENIENT & TIME SAVING

ALWAYS TRENDY, NOT SPENDY

7 DAYS TRY-AT-HOME

FREE SHIPPING AND RETURNS

I was invited to the media launch and got a look at all the amazing girls fashion that’s about to be delivered to my door. Shopping for my daughter will be special with her to pick how much sparkles she wants in her clothes and if she wants to be Classic Chic, Girly Glam or five of the other lifestyle looks. Her first box will come in March and Kidpik launches this Spring. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens her box and tries on her new outfits.  Of course there will be pictures.  

 I love the message that Kidpik EMPOWERS girls to express their individuality through fashion. Check it out @kidpik on Instagram and http://www.kidpik.com for more info. Happy shopping!! 

Disclosure: I attended launch by invitation. I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Give Halo’s for Valentine’s Day The Healthy Alternative 

11 Feb

Celebrate your Valentine’s Day by giving your little angels a healthy snack alternative that’s filled with “pure goodness”!  

 Wonderful Halos mandarins are:

· A sweet, seedless and easy to peel snack that’s a healthy alternative to fatty foods

· About 50 calories delivering 45 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C 

 What better way to celebrate Valentine’s day with nature’s perfect valentine, Wonderful Halos! We’re making Valentine’s day easy this year. Learn how to make a healthy valentine that your kid’s classmates will love in just a handful of steps. Tutorials for how to make Halos Origami Heart and Halos Heart Box are available on their Facebook page and blog. A box of Halos makes enough valentines for an entire class AND you’ll get an A+ for originality this Valentine’s day. Think outside the chocolate box and replace unhealthy snacks and candy for a sweet and healthy Halo that’s sure to win your Valentine’s heart! 
 My kids and I enjoy Halo’s so much we can each eat about 2 a day. They prefer Halo’s than orange juice and I don’t mind. I always make sure to have them for their school lunch and afternoon snack. Sometimes my daughter will pick a Halo over dessert. I’m right there with her. We also take them with us when we’re out for the day and also on road trips. Have you seen the Halo’s commercials? We crack up every time we see them. 

Waking up to a nice juicy Halo is a great burst of energy. Easy to peel and there are no seeds to pick out. What’s better than that? What will you give your little ones for Valentine’s Day? The healthy way is a great way!! 

Check out @halosfun on Twitter and http://www.halosfun.com for videos and more info. Also check out Wonderful Halos on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/halos/videos?ref=page_internal

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was given product for my honest review. 

Sunday Funday w/ Léman Manhattan Prep. School & Children’s Museum of Manhattan 

4 Feb

For the second year running, hundreds of families celebrated Sunday Funday with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on January 31, 2016. CMOM brought together the best in family entertainment, indoor sports and games, creative workshops and fabulous food for the whole family. Children 0 to 12 enjoyed age-appropriate activities from live performances to obstacle courses, sports celebrity appearances to bouncy castles. Infants and toddlers enjoyed soft play areas and sing-alongs, and themed workshops were for all ages by Museum educators. Favorite costume characters, magicians and face painters added to the family fun. 

   The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) was founded by families and individuals to create a place of joy and learning for all children. All funds raised at Sunday Funday supported top-notch cultural programming enjoyed by 350,000 people a year, free access to CMOM for over 50,000 low-income individuals a year and outreach programs in over 50 sites in high-need neighborhoods across New York City. 

   

My kids and I were invited by  Léman Manhattan Preparatory School to attend Sunday Funday. The first time my kids and I visited Leman we were invited to a swimming event and we fell in love with the school which is located in the Financial District and serves Pre-K – 12th grade. It is also a boarding school for international students. My son and daughter both want to attend.  

   
    
   
So back to Sunday Funday, we spent an amazing day with lots of parents, kids, celebrities, fun activities and lots of food. The basketball court was where you could find my son and my daughter loves the castle bouncy house. There was so much to do and my kids even decorated their own tote bags at the Léman Manhattan Preparatory School table. Laurie Berkner sung her famous songs for the kids and Prince Amukamara (Giants) made an appearance and did the whip & nae nae and my kids got pictures with him as well. My daughter also enjoyed dancing on stage with the kids pop dance party. Also NBA and WNBA players played basketball and my son got a pic with them too.  

   
Picnic tables added a great touch to the event. Finger sized foods and drinks made it easy for the kids to grab and the ice cream sundae bar was a hit with everyone. Nickelodeon costume characters came out and gave hugs and photos to their fans.  

  
    
    
    
 

Check out this link to Léman Manhattan Preparatory School for further info: http://www.lemanmanhattan.org/

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

The Joker Will Wreak Total Mayhem at Six Flags This Spring

27 Jan

Chaos reigns supreme at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2016 as one of the world’s most iconic DC Comics Super-Villains commandeers the park’s 14th and most unique scream machine in its history, The Joker.  
 

Earlier this fall, the world’s largest theme park announced “Total Mayhem,” which quickly became one of the world’s most anticipated new coasters of 2016. But behind the scenes, criminal mastermind The Joker was secretly plotting to take over the new 4D, free-fly coaster and name it as his own.

 “The Joker is undeniably one of the greatest DC Comics Super-Villains ever created. Only someone with his warped sense of humor could provide this level of insanity ─ or spinsanity ─ with a new, vertical coaster that delivers gravity-defying somersaults with utter unpredictability. It is the perfect addition to our dynamic line-up of award-winning roller coasters because this ride delivers total mayhem with its next-generation, cutting-edge thrills,” said Six Flags Great Adventure President John Fitzgerald.

After being lifted straight up a 12-story, 90-degree hill, this 4-D, free-fly coaster will wreak havoc as riders flip head-over-heels at least six times along the weightless journey. Thrill seekers will experience exhilarating leaps and dives along a horizontal plane, along with unexpected drops as they tumble from one level to the next. The wing seats amp up the pandemonium since riders will experience all of this chaos with no track above or below ─ just the sky, ground and adjacent Great Lake churning around them. 

   
 

The unique design of The Joker features:

· Massive, imposing, floating and twisting I-box track frame in a unique two-tone design

· One-of-a-kind onboard magnetic technology featuring smooth head-over-heels free-fly flips providing guests the feeling of weightlessness as they soar outside the confines of a traditional track

· 4-D wing vehicles that seat up to 8 per vehicle with a total of 5 vehicles

· Face-off seats that allow riders to face each other as they tumble head over heels

· A 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift

· Two beyond 90-degree “raven” drops giving the sensation of free-falling 

    
   
The Joker is expected to wreak total mayhem beginning in the spring of 2016, and join the ranks of all legendary roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.

I love rollercoasters but I’m thinking about attempting to ride this one. Once I see it up close I know I’m going to get on. I love the flips and twists. 

For more information about the 2016 season at Six Flags Great Adventure, visit http://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. 

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Welcomes Care Bears 

22 Jan

Care Bears made their debut to Build-A-Bear Workshops® nationwide for a year-long promotion highlighting the loveable, caring and sharing bunch. You can also order online at http://www.buildabear.com  

 I was invited to see how it all went down at the Empire State Building location. I’ve never experienced the Build-A-Bear Workshop before but was glad to finally get a chance to now that Care Bears joined them.   

  Care Bears have always been one of my favorite stuffed animals. My kids are also fans. I was able to pick out two bears, outfits and accessories, then see how the bears were stuffed, given their beating hearts, a cotton candy and bubble gum scent, theme music and birth certificates. I also received backpacks and the cardboard house that it travels in. Hmm, was I giving these to my daughter or keeping one for myself? Well you should know the answer. She got both. She was very surprised and thankful.   

    
   
  
 
Tenderheart Bear and Cheer Bear are ready for you take home to your little ones for Valentine’s Day, Birthdays or any occasion. Create your personalized bear today. I chose Cheer Bear. Which bear will you choose?  

   
Cheer Bear is a very happy Care Bear who helps others see the bright side of life. She will sometimes even do a cheer to help make someone happier! Wherever she goes, Cheer Bear wears a belly badge of hope and happiness- a colorful rainbow. Cheer Bear has soft pink fur. 

Now open at Build-A-Bear Workshop Empire State 350 5th Avenue, on 34th street, New York NY.

Check out @carebearsfriend and @buildabear on Twitter 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

                                         

BJ’s Wholesale Club Bronx,NY Grand Opening & Giveaway

15 Jan

If you enjoy buying in bulk like I do then I’m here to let you know that BJ’s Wholesale Club just opened a new location in the (Riverdale) section of Bronx, NY. 184 W. 237th St. BJ’s is a membership-based warehouse club offering high quality merchandise and great savings. They have over 200 clubs in 15 states offering more than 7,000 products.  

I took a tour the night before the grand opening along with a few other bloggers. I was excited to see what BJ’s had in store. It was fun being in a big warehouse with just a few workers and checking everything out. Every aisle I turned down I was so impressed with what I saw. I had my eyes on the televisions and and desk and chair that I need. The store opened to the public January 9th. I currently live in Harlem but this location is not far from me.  

 There is a large selection of organic foods,  and if you ask the meat department they will cut meat to your preference. There is also freshly packed sushi platters, amazing seafood, lobster tails, enormous sheet cakes, variety of cheesecakes, rotisserie chicken already made for nights you don’t want to cook, variety of platters for parties or whenever occasion. 

  

  

    
  

I always stock up on juices, snacks, fruit, meats, etc for my big family. I really appreciate Clubs like these. I really save a lot.  

    
    
    
   
I was impressed with all the name brands of foods and foods I didn’t even know came in bulk. BJ’s provides high-quality products and top selling national brands including two exclusive product lines, Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen, which are all backed by BJ’s 100% money-back guarantee. Prices were beyond amazing and knowing that I can use my manufacturer coupons was so exciting.  

    
    
    
   
Memberships start at $50 for the entire year. 

Savings of more than 30% off supermarket prices acceptance of ALL manufacturers’ coupons, plus BJ’s own coupons

Convenient one-stop shopping

More ways to pay, including all major credit cards and EBT

Huge assortment of product categories for home and business

Thousands more products online at BJs.com

BJ’s Services for beyond–the–Club savings on vacations, new and rental cars, insurance, home improvement and more

BJ’s Optical® at more than 150 Clubs

BJ’s Gas® at more than 100 Clubs

If you’re in the neighborhood come by Saturday January 16th and Sunday January 17th at the grand opening celebration for food and beverage sampling balloon artists and face painters and don’t forget to join the club by checking out the memberships. 

To check out all the MORE BJ’s has to offer, visit http://www.BJs.com Hours are: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. I had a great time and learned so much about BJ’s.  
   
GIVEAWAY:

BJ’s was kind enough to offer one of my readers a $50 gift card. Who wants to win? 

Comment below and tell me what you would buy with the gift card. 

Must be subscribed to my blog Five Little Words.

Must be following me on Twitter: @nilimonicky

Instagram: @nilimo

Like on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fivelittlewords

Follow @BJSWholesale on Twitter 

Leave your handles for social media and email in the comment section.  

Giveaway ends: January 24. Winner announced January 25 on social media. 

 
Disclosure: I was invited to take a tour of this new location and given gift bag full of awesomeness. Opinions are mine 100% as always.

Success Rice In Just Ten Minutes & New Recipe

13 Jan

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Success® Rice. Opinions expressed are mine 100%.

When I go food shopping I always walk pass the boil-in-bag rice section because I’m not an expert in cooking that type rice the way I like which is soft and fluffy. In my household we eat a variety of rices but there are still a few I would love to cook, and the one that we love when we go out to eat is Jasmine rice. It goes perfect with Asian and traditional dishes. 

For the new year I thought this would be great to finally give boil-in-bag rice a chance. That’s where Success® Jasmine Rice came in. The first thing I liked about using this rice is it only takes 10 minutes to make and the package contained 4 bags. Perfect! Gives me just the right amount of rice for my big family and extra time to spend with them as well. No more standing over a pot waiting for my rice to cook and hopefully not burn. 

Success® Jasmine Rice is the only boil-in-bag Jasmine rice available. It has a buttery, nutty fragrance, silky, smooth grains and delivers fully cooked rice in 10 minutes. It’s pre-portioned, BPA-free boil-in-bag means no mess, no measuring involved. Why haven’t I tried this before?

Success® Rice is convenient, and can be made on the stovetop or microwave without sacrificing its great taste or quality.

Here’s my quick and easy recipe using fresh veggies and Success® Jasmine Rice. 

Asian Skillet Veggies with Jasmine Rice.  

Asian Skillet Veggies with Jasmine Rice

Asian Skillet Veggies with Jasmine Rice

 
     
Follow directions on box for the rice. You can choose whatever vegetables you like but these are what I picked. 

Onions

Peppers

Mushrooms

Celery

Broccoli

Cauliflower 

Zucchini 

Carrots

Red cabbage 

After stir frying veggies I made a sauce to go on top and created a more Asian flare. Here is the sauce I created. 

Cumin

Ginger

Honey

Soy sauce

Rice vinegar

Garlic in oil

Thai paste (red curry)

Salt

Pepper

I didn’t measure any of the ingredients for the sauce so just be sure to taste as you go. I enjoyed making this dish and my family enjoyed eating it. This meal was made in no time and can be used as a main or side dish. 

With 4 varieties available including: Success® Whole Grain Brown Rice and Success® White Rice, and globally-inspired aromatic varieties of Success® Rice, including fragrant Thai Jasmine or Basmati Rice, there’s a variety everyone in your family will love. Who’s ready to try Success® Rice? What variety would you like to try? Let me know in the comments section. 

For recipe ideas, special offers and more, join the Recipe Club®


Also check out their website:

They are also on Twitter: @SuccessRice 

Disclosure: This is a compensated post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 



Mitsubishi Mirage Car Review #DriveMitsubishi 

18 Dec

The 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage was handed to me on loan from Drive Shop for a week. I’ve seen this cute purple car before when my friend also received a loan. I thought it was the cutest compact car ever. Five-door, seats five and seven air bags which includes a driver’s knee airbag designed to stabilize your lower body and knees during certain types of collisions. That’s extra level of protection when you need it most. 

Perfect and small enough to fit just about anywhere in my neighborhood and not take up lots of space. The plasma purple color stood out I could spot it blocks away. My daughter was very happy to have a purple car to drive around in. There are eight colors to choose from.  

Love the 37 MPG City and 44 MPG Hwy. 5-speed manual transmission or Continuosly Variable Transmission where the Mirage does the shifting for you. It shifts into neutral when you come to a complete stop and applies the brakes to save on fuel. The instant you let your foot off the brake, it goes back in gear and you’re on your way. 

Bluetooth hands free phone system came in handy with voice command which meant never having to take my hands off the steering wheel. 

Another favorite for me is starting a car with touch start/stop engine switch. Put foot on brake and press start/stop button and it starts. Park car and press button and engine turns off. Also unlocking/locking the Mirage with the fast-key entry system was great. Push button once to unlock driver’s door or twice to unlock them all. Piece of cake. 

There’s also a 10 year /100,000 mile Powertrain Limited Warranty and included is a 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable New Basic Limited Warranty and more warranties. See your dealer for details. 

We enjoyed our Mitsubishi Mirage for the week and look forward to more loaners from Drive Shop. 

For prices, dealers, gallery and accessories check out http://www.mitsubishicars.com 

Disclosure: I was given the Mitsubishi Mirage as a loaner to review. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

   
    
    
     
  

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