Combat Free Radicals and Win @Bai5 Superfruit Drink CONTEST CLOSED

In just a couple weeks Bai 5-Calorie Antioxidant Infusions will be introducing its ninth adventurous flavor… Molokai Coconut. Don’t be confused, this is not a coconut water… it’s a coconut (un)water that has everything a coconut water lacks including rich, 100% natural coconut flavor with only one gram of sugar, while still offering the all-important electrolytes. By combining the antioxidant rich and often underappreciated superfruit, the coffee fruit, Bai5 has a new addition that all coconut lovers ought to try!

Sadly I am not included in the coconut fan club and neither is my husband who has a severe nut allergy.  I did however get a chance to try several of the classic flavors including: Brasilia Blueberry, Congo Pear, Panama Peach, Sumatra Dragonfruit and Limu Lemon.  I was a huge fan of the peach and pear flavors they were full and robust, the blueberry was a little artificial tasting but still good and the dragonfruit was quite powerful in tropical taste.  My least favorite was the lemon – it has an almost antiseptic taste and a very pungent aftertaste.  My children were in love with these as well.  I sipped on them to get a small dose of caffeine during our recent excursions to children’s museums so I could keep up with their youthful exuberance, a couple of times they snuck in sips from my bottle.  The caffeine is mild, natural caffeine (as much as a cup of green tea) and Bai has no preservatives.  You will find nothing artificial, OU Kosher, Vegan, Gluten and Soy Free. Every bottle of Bai contains 250% of the average daily antioxidant intake and bai5 has only 5 calories and is sweetened with  organic stevia.  One of Bai’s investors and marketing advisor is former Vitaminwater CMO Rohan Orza.  In 2012 Bai was named by Beverage World as the breakout drink of the season.

These are best served chilled.

Want to try some Bai? I have a 3 bottles to giveaway so be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway below and you could be sipping some chilled coffee fruit soon! Retail Value $2.30 per bottle

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received Bai5 samples for review, I was not compensated in any way for my review or my opinions, they are my own and given freely. Bai5 is not responsible for prize fullfillment and is not involved in this giveaway. Giveaway prizes are from unused samples received. Open to US residents only.

 

Thanks to all who entered.  Our random winner was Steph C.

Our Chicago Childrens Museum Trip and Family Outing GIVEAWAY CLOSED

The best investment I ever made for my family’s health was a membership to the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier.  For the Family Membership plus an additional $80 fee we can park at Navy Pier for FREE anytime we visit and get a validation ticket from the Children’s Museum. There is a never ending supply of fantastic cultural, educational and of course fun events and activities going on at the CCM.  From the Kraft Arts Abound studio that engages young minds through arts led by area artists and museum staff, to the Passport to the World cultural events that introduce little ones to other cultures from around the world – there is always something going on at CCM.

CCM has some of the best rotating and permanent exhibits as well.  We have been awaiting the Ready, Pet, Go! for the last month and jumped the gun a few times this past month visiting and expecting to see it.  Even though the area only opened this last week, our previous visits were tons of fun too! From the second my children pass the threshold at the Member Services desk it is a race to keep up with them.  My four year old son and one year old daughter love to suit up into small sized fire fighting gear and race around the fire truck as their 12 year old brother slides down the fire pole, and crawls on hands and knees to evacuate a simulated house fire through a window.

Fun for the family can be had year round.  During the freezing winter months that blast into Chicago, the CCM is a great get away from possible frostbite with their Winter Wonderland set up.  Children can throw giant pom pom snowballs, construct igloos, dress up snowmen and even ice skate to kid friendly tunes. My daughter turned one in December 2012, and my youngest son turned four in the same week.  They both had a blast at the Winter Wonderland exhibits.  My daughter found one of four snowmen that was just her size and had a ball taking its hat on and off.  The rambunctious and ruckus duo that is my four and twelve year olds built snow barriers and spent hours bunkered down plunking snow balls at each other.

When the snow melts in Chicagoland CCM puts away the snow days exhibits and replaces them with two bowling lanes, tables for large checkers and chess, and catapults.  This month ends their Superhero days.  Children could complete punch card tasks, make capes, create Super-Secret (and Super-Small) Superhero Lairs and even pledge their powers as a superhero in a very serious for little ones ceremony in the main hall.  It isn’t too late to get your little superhero in to play. CCM’s hours open daily from 10am–5pm. Budgeting? Thursday evenings 5–8pm and First Sunday of every month Free admission all day for ages 15 and under. They’re open and ready to play every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.Admission rates Children Under One FREE Children & Adults $14 Seniors $13.

TIP: Buy the Explorer Membership and gain admission for 6, Navy Pier $3 parking discount, 10% off at the CCM Gift Shop, Members-only hours, Invitations to members-only events and 50% off general admission for 6 people at almost 200 participating children’s museums through the ACM Reciprocal Program**

There is always something going on at CCM. Whether it is presentations, dance parties and crafts in the main hall upstairs, or art projects in the Kraft Arts Abound studio downstairs – kids and adults will learn, create and have fun.  We visit the CCM every weekend, sometimes twice a weekend. We are there so much that the volunteers in the Pritzker Playspace know my kids by name, and have known two of them since they were inutero!

The Pritzker Playspace is a special environment for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers – be ready to remove shoes for the safety and cleanliness of the children’s play space.  Also note that hours are limited for this space. Izzy loves this area and asks to go upstairs as soon as she is done in the fire truck.  Her favorite part of the room is the plethora of baby dolls, the anatomically correct, real baby type. We dress and undress them in cloth diapers for hours, then stroll around in the little push car. The hands on table changes daily, sometimes hourly, depending on who is in charge of the room.  Coffee hulls, shaving cream painting, play dough and other textured experiences await little hands.

TIP: Don’t wear Sunday’s best to the Pritzker Play Space.  Wear something that can get messy and really allow your little one to explore the environment.

Do you have a little archaeologist in your midst? CCM has a dinosaur dig as a permanent exhibit. It is a re-creation of the real Saharan expedition where Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno discovered a new type of dinosaur. See a life-size skeleton of suchomimus (sue-co-MY-muss), dig for bones in the excavation pit, compare skulls, teeth, and claws with a T-Rex, and learn what it would be like to be part of Paul’s expedition team. Children will have hours of fun digging through rubber shreds to find bones.  Remember that kids learn through repetition so let go of the timetable, pull up one of the many lounger chairs and relax while your little explorer digs, digs and digs some more.

TIP: Leave the leash at home and let the kids play. Don’t rush your child to the next exhibit, kids need repetition and to build attention span.

Kids Town has to be my four year old’s favorite exhibit.  A trip to the museum is not complete unless he has had a chance to grab some PVC piping and run into the grocery store and try to rob the till. Yes, that’s my boy you hear screaming “FBI! Give me your money!” and jumping off of the car in the car wash exhibit. Your kid will enjoy shopping in the grocery store, build plumbing, changing a tire, washing the car, and driving a CTA bus in this cityscape built just for kids. This urban neighborhood promotes role-playing, problem-solving, emerging literacy, and creative exploration. There is also a space to nurse a baby or relax with a toddler but the area is only semi-private, a little loud and way too lit.  Like other exhibits there is a specific toddler and baby area.  Even my 12 year old has a good time running around and making transactions, delivering mail, and hiding out in the underground plumbing space.

TIP: Watch for older kids who like to jump into toddler areas even with signs that say Non-Walkers Only.  Staff does not enforce this rule and some parents are absent at times.

Treehouse Trails is another great exhibit that even my 12 year old likes to visit. Kids can camp, climb, burrow, and pretend in this enchanted forest setting. Canoe and fish in the blue river, splash and fish in a mountain waterfall, garden and cook in the log cabin. There is also an infant area with large soft play pieces.

Remember to pack extra clothes during cooler months because Waterways is always a big splash with the kids.  There is now a tiled wall for water painting but the water wheel and musical whale are no longer a part of this exhibit.

The Big Backyard has undergone some changes as well.  There are still screens where butterflies can land on you and colorful raindrops will fall according to your shadow.  The big shoe is still available to crawl through and the bug city race is still there. The back blacklight area right now is for more superhero exhibit parts and there are no longer the hanging bell flowers to ring.

The Tinker Lab has been upgraded.  Gone is that lifeless backroom where most patrons avoided and it has been replaced by real tools and a real chance to create something – for all ages.  There is a space for the youngest to create contraptions on a peg board and where the piano once was is another great infant space with old wheels for spinning, and doodads for playing.

Whether your child likes the challenge of the Climbing Schooner, racing the clock to build in the Skyline or playing the world’s largest scale of Eye Spy, there is definitely something for everyone at the Chicago Children’s Museum.

We are a family on a budget so I understand how difficult it can be to take large families out for the day.  To help offset the cost of your next family’s outing I am sponsoring my own giveaway.

You can enter to win this Family Outing Pack:

• Denny’s Gift Card $10
• IHOP GiftCard $10
• Coupon for Bob Evan’s Free Kids Meal
• Navy Pier Coupon Book for discounts on activities, shopping and dining
• KidsLiveWell Recipe Winner Recipes

Simply Click on the Rafflecopter Link and one lucky winner will be sent all of the items pictured above!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to Jennifer M!

Code Leak for Free Products from @ConsciousBox and @FamilyCanBFit

While the 3 month Free Subscription Giveaway may have ended, congrats to our winner, the free products are still going.

That’s right, you can get a FREE ConsciousBox when you sign up for any duration of ConsciousBox, you just pay the shipping for the box.

I am one to look at gift horse in the mouth so I hopped on over to http://consciousbox.com to make sure there were no hidden details, that you could just get one box free and you CAN! Simply pick the box you want: Classic, Gluten Free or Vegan, pick the delivery duration: 1 month, 3 month or yearly. If you choose 1 month you simply pay the shipping on the box, that’s it! (Shipping estimate $7.95)

How can you get your FREE ConsciousBox? Use code SECRETCODE , but hurry! Time will expire on this awesome deal.

Eco Friendly Products to Your Door for 3 months from @ConsciousBox @FamilyCanBFit GIVEAWAY OVER

I was contacted by Conscious Box to offer a giveaway for readers.  I was not compensated for this giveaway and did not receive a box prior to posting. All information provided is from Conscious Box and their own marketing.

How Does Conscious Box work?

Conscious Box is the best way to discover the most ethical and sustainable products on the planet! Focusing on strict tenets of organic, fair trade, and pure and natural products, each month Conscious Box will introduce you to healthy and honest alternatives for every aspect of your life and for every member of your family. Discover the best natural products, earn points for leaving feedback and reviews, and buy your favorites at incredible discounts!

• Get a variety of unique pure & natural products every month!
• From organic food to vegan beauty products, you’re sure to find new favorites!
• Discover ethical and purpose-driven businesses of all sizes!
• Get content on daily living tips, exciting monthly themes, and creative ways to use your box!
• Easily earn points you can apply to full size products for unbeatable discounts!

The Ethics of Consciousness

Conscious Box, above all, is dedicated to the very ethics it seeks out in other businesses.

Resource Use

We strive to make every aspect of our business as sustainable as possible. We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency to support a more conscious approach to business. Some of the ways we do this is by using 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, recycled tissue paper, and vegetable-based inks for printing. We also encourage our subscribers to upcycle their boxes and share their ideas on our Facebook page. We’re striving to make our business as waste-free as possible, but only you can make this a truly zero-waste experience!

Smart Shipping

We recognize that although we strive to be a waste-free business, the process of shipping can be taxing on our environment. That’s why we designed our box with this problem specifically in mind. The size of each Conscious Box was strategically chosen to maximize shipping efficiency while still providing enough space for a huge variety of products in a wide range of shapes and sizes. We’re constantly improving upon this process, and always on the lookout for new ways to improve our carbon footprint. As a member of 1% for the Planet we seek to help offset these emissions, and are seeking partnerships with other organizations to continually lessen our impact.

Honest Labor at Fair Wages

Conscious Box is also a supporter of jobs here in the United States. We only employ American workers who receive fair wages for the packing and shipping of boxes. All employees of Conscious Box are also encouraged to speak their minds and help the company move forward. To us, this is a family more than a business.

Protecting the Planet

Conscious Box is also committed to conserving and preserving our home, Mother Earth. We work with 1% for the Planet to make sure every purchase goes to a cause, and we also are active in the green community, spreading the message of environmentalism and encouraging others to take a critical stance when it comes to personal and public sustainability.

Committed to Customers

Finally, we encourage all of our subscribers to write us, review us, and be critical of us! No business is perfect, and Conscious Box is no exception. We constantly seek ways to improve our business, and we know you, the consumer, knows best. Tell us your thoughts and help us make change!

Impressed? Want to try a box? So what are you waiting for?

Ok, how about a free 3-Months from Conscious Box I’ve been authorized “to run a giveaway for a 3-month Conscious Box subscription – that’s a $59 value! AND to offer readers a 50% OFF discount for any Conscious Box subscription. Use code: LOVELIFE”

Please Click the Rafflecopter LINK to Enter!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fend Off the Summer Flu and alternaVites – CONTEST ENDED

Not familiar with the Summer flu or Summer colds? No-one wants to think about being sick when it is sunny out so we seldom hear about the Summer flu and colds that go around.  With all of the extra time in the sun and raised vitamin D production from sun exposure most of us do stay a bit healthier during the sun season. Ice cream cones, hot dogs and other fun sun foods don’t exactly provide the greatest vitamin content and when you add in Summer travel you may be forgetting about the folic acid or cut backing on the vitamin C.

Enter alternaVites, the on the go vitamin powder packet great for those who travel, who hate popping pills and everyone in between.

With the flu in high gear and colds spreading through offices and class rooms, many people are looking for natural ways to help boost their immunity.  alternaVites are vitamins that melt on your tongue – no water needed!  They are filled with the nutrients necessary to keep immune systems strong – Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and 23 essential vitamins in a flavored crystal powder. alternaVites provides all of the benefits of a multivitamin without the pill.

Travel friendly, they can be eaten on its own or sprinkled into yogurt, puddings or smoothies. Using a proprietary blend of ingredients, alternaVites are free of sugar, aspartame or high fructose syrup, artificial flavors and preservatives.  It has also been carefully formulated with ingredients that do not contain the major food allergens. For more information you can visit http://www.alternavites.com/

I received a few packets of the alternaVites Kids to review and instantly decided to share them with my pack of pint sized germ carriers. These kids are constantly putting everything in their mouths so I assumed that Raspberry Cotton Candy vitamins would be a sure thing. Not so. My older son who can swallow pills gave a little a try and spit it out sighting it was too bitter. My younger son who only takes his anti-epilepsy medication when hidden in a cookie wasn’t too fond of the taste, complained it was not in fact cotton candy, but did not actually feign illness.  I personally tried a little and was not a big fan.  I can’t take vitamins on an empty stomach or I become ill. I’m not a fan of the fake tastes used to cover the chalky bitterness of vitamins and that goes for any brand, any style.  I much prefer to swallow and not taste my vitamins.

Since we are vegans I did not try hiding this in yogurt but I bet it would work well or even better in a berry smoothie. I can definitely vouch for the value of a product such as this.  It is impossible to explain to a child why they have to take medicine, even more difficult to actually convince them to swallow a pill.  A convenient powder can make vitamins a lot easier.

You can purchase these directly from the manufacturer’s site in Strawberry Bubble Gum or Raspberry Cotton Candy for $15.95 for 30 packets.

alternaVites Kids® contains 17 essential vitamins and minerals specially formulated for children ages 4 and up.   Designed with both you and your children in mind, alternaVites Kids is remarkable not only for what it does contain, but also for what it doesn’t.

alternaVites Kids:

• Melts in your mouth
• Comes in 2 awesome flavors – strawberry bubblegum & raspberry cotton candy
• One packet per day
• Has 0 grams of sugar
• Free of aspartame and high fructose corn syrup
• Contains no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives
• Has no animal products or by-products
• Does not contain egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish or shellfish*
• Certified kosher pareve

I was contacted to review this product, I received no compensation for this post or review and all opinions expressed are my own given freely.

You can win alternaVites and aternaVites Kids sample. It’s soooooo simple to win.

Do you love the Summer sun?? Leave a comment below with your favorite summer activity and I will pick on lucky winner at random from all comments on Friday April 12. Enter as many times as you like!

Thank You for all of your comments about great summer things to do from hanging in the hammock to getting around with the grandkids.  You can keep sharing your summer fun but our random contest winner was Jane!