Survival Gear: SportsTek 10-in-1 Shovel

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

As you all know, my family is very outdoor oriented. We camp, hike, picnic, and even look for bigfoot. We have recently started looking into creating survival kits and bug-out bags, because you just never know. We've been researching and gathering survival gear we might need.

SportsTek contacted me about their new product, the 10in1 Multitool Survival Shovel. I was ecstatic and when it arrived, my husband fell in love. He has finally replaced me! I can't blame him- this thing is amazing.

This multitool can do these jobs:

1. Shovel
2. Fire Starter (Magnesium flint located inside the handle)
3. Hammer
4. Slice
5. Chop
6. Saw
7. Wire Cutter
8. Hoe
9. Emergency Auto Hammer
10. Measure
11. Axe

The handle is even waterproof, so you can store matches, thread, batteries, small first aid items, and even money inside. Also, it's gorgeous- it reminds me of something that would be shown on Ancient Weapons. 

See what I mean- it is amazing. It's perfect for camping, hiking, survival, emergency kits, hunting, and even the zombie apocalypse. 

This Survival Shovel is the perfect addition to any family that spends time outdoors or is trying to prepare for an emergency. It's small, lightweight, strong, and even folds. When you purchase, you get a free camo sheath and an ebook, "Surviving The Wild Outdoors."

I'm certain that every family NEEDS one of these, in fact, they would make a perfect gift for the outdoors type or someone you want to be sure are safe. 

Walking Help With The Juppy Baby Walker

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: pm5e751896e527c862bf67251a474b3819

Miss Kodabug is almost 19 months old and not walking all that good. So, the last time she went to the doctor, I asked him about it and he determined that she is pigeon toed (yes, we can blame that on my genes- my FABulous grandmother was also pigeon toed). After him explaining to me that the braces do more harm than good, and that she would grow out of it as she walked more. I took matters into my own hands. Luckily, the lovelies at Juppy Baby Walker had wanted me to do a review, so I got to try it out on Miss Kodabug.

I'm no doctor, but I think that using the Juppy Walker is really helping her walk more. I'm sure we have quite a ways to go with her walking journey, but she's getting better. I've noticed that she is hardly walking on her tiptoes now, which is something she was doing quite a lot. I've also noticed that she is opting to walk (or toddle) more, where as she would crawl when I would let her.

The really cool thing about the Juppy Walker is that the child doesn't have to hold their hand(s) up while walking with you, allowing them to learn to walk in a more natural manner. It's especially great with my husband because he is quite tall.

Even after Kodabug is walking decent, we will continue to use it in the yard, at the park, and any other places she will be allowed to walk, but hold our hands. I mean, seriously- we don't walk around with our hands above our heads.

If you have one about to learn to walk, or are looking for a unique baby shower or first birthday gift- this is the item you should go for! 

#kodabug has a new best friend. The #juppybabywalker

A photo posted by cari (@cari_on) on Mar 20, 2015 at 1:57pm PDT

Reveal: #DisneySide @ Home Cars Party

Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to be chosen to host a Disney Side at home party. All opinions are my own. 

When I was first notified that I was going to be a Disney @ Home party, I figured I would just invite some of Tbomb's little friends and cousins to enjoy a nice playdate. Well, then I decided that a Cars party would be perfect for the kids at church. The church means so much to my family and they are always there for us. It was a nice way to give back and the kids really enjoyed it.

I used Tbomb's little devotional book to find an appropriate lesson for the kids. I found one that could not be any better. It was based on part of Ephesians 5:18. "Be filled with the spirit" The kids loved the link between that and the Cars. We talked about singing worship songs, giving thanks, and putting other before us is like filling a car with gas.

The kids had a blast with the lesson, but even more fun with the games. Because we ended up with a wide range of ages, we didn't play all of the games. We played pin the smile on Mickey, Red Light/ Green light, and Bingo. The kids were ecstatic about the prizes as well.

All in all, it was a great experience for the kids, my kids, and me! It was a nice break for the parents that usually do the lessons for the kids. It was nice to give them a break and show my thanks for all they do. They enjoyed their treats as well!

Highlights from our #disneyside @ home party a few weeks ago

A photo posted by cari (@cari_on) on Mar 18, 2015 at 8:08pm PDT

Press Release: SCHOOLS FOR HOPE CURRICULUM PROJECT TEACHES HOPE TO PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDE

SCHOOLS FOR HOPE CURRICULUM PROJECT TEACHES HOPE TO PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDE

Free Educational Program Continues to Expand to Connect with Children in the U.S. and Across the Globe

CHICAGO, IL, MARCH 18, 2015 — Schools for Hope is a new, free educational curriculum that was developed by The International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred) to prevent youth suicide by giving students, educators and parents the necessary learning tools to find and maintain hope. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, 1 out of 9 children self-reported a suicide attempt before graduating high school; with forty percent of those children in grade school. Schools for Hope provides free life-saving skills to children, teachers and parents with the goal of reversing those staggering statistics

"Teaching children the importance of caring for their mental health is crucial to their emotional well-being and quality of life,” said Penny Tate, Schools for Hope Project Manager. “By giving children tools to have hope, we not only aid in their ability to handle life's challenges and save lives, but we empower them to become their most vital selves. As a mother of two young girls, and as a survivor of suicide loss, I've seen firsthand the importance and critical need that exists to have an open dialogue with our children and give them hope."

Schools for Hope is a FREE program that is available to any interested school, community group, after school program or nonprofit in the U.S. and overseas. It has comprehensive instructions and can be easily self-led, so the costs associated with implementation are low. The curriculum is based on research that suggests hope is a teachable skill—a vitally important aptitude because hopelessness is the leading symptom of depression and predictor of suicide.

The curriculum is made up of ten core lessons and additional workshops on Heroes for Hope, Movies for Hope and Artwork for Hope. It is currently being tested among 5th graders because of the significant rise in suicide attempts in sixth grade, and educates students on the importance of emotional health and well-being, how to get their brain into a hopeful state, and meditation and deep breathing techniques. The program also teaches children how to define hope, explore and define the meaning of ‘success’, and practice emotional self-regulation techniques. They will also learn about the biology of the brain and how to connect their passion and purpose in life.

iFred launched Schools for Hope in Fall 2014 in two Chicago-area school districts (Woodland Intermediate School in Gurnee, IL and Oakland School in Antioch, IL) with the goal of expanding nationally and internationally. The program is expanding to South America and Nepal this year, and is available for translation and in cobranded partnerships with other nonprofits interested in teaching the curriculum to their members.

"I enjoyed teaching the lessons because I think that our students aren't really in touch with their emotions,” said April Cooksey, a 5th grade teacher at Woodland School. “I believe that this project created a safe place for my students to express their thoughts and feelings.”

Amy Werner, also a teacher at Woodland School added, "My students looked forward to the hope lessons every day. They couldn't wait to learn and often still ask when we will do more lessons. It's not often students ask to be educated!"

For interest in testing or implementing the 5th grade curriculum, please email Schools for Hope at schoolsforhope@ifred.org or visit the website to download the free lesson plans. There are also tools and support items for teachers and educators, as well as research to date on the program and information on how the curriculum fits with current social and emotional learning standards mandated in several states. More information is available at http://schoolsforhope.org.

About iFred: International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression’s mission is to shine a positive light on depression and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease through prevention, research and education. Its goal is to ensure 100% of the 350 million people affected by depression seek and receive treatment.

iFred is creating a shift in society’s negative perception of the disease through positive imagery and branding-establishing the sunflower and the color yellow as the international symbols of hope for depression. To further its mission, iFred engages with individuals and organizations to execute high impact and effective campaigns that educate the public about support and treatment for depression.

Website: http://www.ifred.org

Twitter: @iFredorg



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ifredorg

Attention Parents, Students & Teachers: Looking for a Competitive Edge?

Attention Parents, Students & Teachers: Looking for a Competitive Edge?

There’s an App for That! 

— Noodle Releases Report on the Best, Most Innovative & Free Online Learning Tools You’ll Want on Your Smartphone or Desktop — 

NEW YORK, March 16, 2015 — Everyone wants to provide children and students with the best possible tools to get ahead. There has been an explosion of online learning apps in recent years, but how do you know which are best for your needs? After months of investigation by their top experts, leading education site Noodle has released a list of the best, most innovative (and free!) apps that they think will change the education space in 2015.

“This was a tremendous undertaking,” said Suzanne Podhurst, Noodle Editor-in-Chief. “We spoke with teachers, tutors, and leaders in the space. We sifted through reviews, awards, and profiles to find the best tools for students.”

The selections were evaluated based on a list of strict criteria, including:
Orientation toward high school or college students
User-friendliness
Design language strength
Ease of use
No-cost options

Each also had to have a solid base of users, a reputation for excellence, and big plans for 2015. “Noodle’s goal is to help people make better decisions about their education,” Podhurst continued, “so we divided the tools on our list into seven categories, from productivity boosters to reading enhancers, to make it easy for teachers, students, and parents to find innovative tools that meet specific educational needs.”

Those selected as top online learning tools include:

Edmodo – connects teachers, students, and parents on a secure platform.

Cold Turkey – blocks apps, websites, and even the Internet for a fixed period of time.

Prezi – facilitates interactive presentations and collaboration on projects in real time.

Quizlet – helps students create study tools like quizzes, flashcards, and games.

For an entire list of Noodle’s “32 Most Innovative Online Educational Tools to Use in 2015,” go to www.TBD.com. [KO1] *

About Noodle
Noodle helps people make better education decisions at every stage, from preschool through grad school and lifelong learning. Using Noodle’s comprehensive site, families can find schools, tutors, summer camps, study abroad programs, and online learning tools. In all of these categories, Noodle’s interactive search tools allow users to find their best-fit choices — whether those are middle schools with high attendance and low bullying rates, or colleges with notable sports programs and engineering majors. Students and parents can also ask questions that will be answered by some of the leading minds in education today and read expert-authored articles across hundreds of education-related topics.

* Disclosure: Staff members at Noodle are invested or otherwise involved with some of the companies in this story, including: LightSail, Newsela, and panOpen. This involvement in no way affected the selection, description, or inclusion of these companies in this list.

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Smart Candy Choices For Your Childs Easter Basket

Thanks to NaturalCandyStore.com, the Easter Bunny Doesn’t Have To Wait For “Big Candy” To Catch Up Smart Bunnies Are Filling Baskets With These Fun Candies Free of All the Funny Stuff

Perfect for Special Diets and Label-Reading Sweet Tooths Everywhere

NOTE: Order by March 27 for East Coast ground delivery, later for further west, more details here .

While Big Candy (think Nestle and Hersey’s) is finally making concessions to consumer demand for better quality ingredients, the mega companies aren’t going far enough fast enough and are taking a piecemeal approach that’s likely to create more confusion than ever—especially for parents worried about what kids are actually putting in their mouths.

For example, Nestle made a big deal about Butterfinger losing its artificial colors and flavors but made no mention of the bar’s hydrogenated oil or artificial preservatives. And while Nestle and Hersey’s are improving their chocolate offerings, they haven’t said much about their other confectionery items, which contain even higher levels of artificial ingredients. Meanwhile, Mars has yet to eliminate artificial colors from M&Ms in the U.S., although it has done so in Europe.

But thanks to NaturalCandyStore.com , the Easter Bunny doesn’t have to wait. Since 2007, the company has been making life sweeter for ingredient-minded customers worldwide with the largest assortment of high-quality natural, organic, and special-diet-friendly candies available anywhere.

Only yummy candy containing the best ingredients and meeting strict standards is offered—free from HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and hydrogenated fats. Additionally, many of the online store’s products are non-GMO, organic, gluten free, and/or vegan.

Company co-founder Dawn Van Hee is glad that what she calls Big Candy is finally paying attention to ingredients, but thinks that “it will take years for these companies to transition their supply chains (they say so themselves) and their reliance on cheap ingredients will always limit product quality.”

NaturalCandyStore.com works hard to provide as much ingredient information as possible about each item on the site so customers can find what they need, whether they’re filling an allergy-friendly or vegan basket or meeting another dietary requirement. “Plus, we care just as much about finding fun and yummy candies as we do about the ingredients," said Van Hee. "Yes, taste testing the candy is a tough job but somebody has to do it!”

So what’s fun without the funny stuff this Easter? Van Hee describes the options in her own words:

NaturalCandyStore.com offers a huge selection of traditional Easter candy to meet the requirements of a variety of diets. Note: Individual products may not meet all needs, so we provide multiple choices.

Chocolate Easter Bunnies (and other chocolate items)

While you might be able to find a chocolate bar or chocolate chips locally that meet the requirements below, it’s hard to find Easter bunny shapes elsewhere that are:

• Allergy friendly - WOW! 

• Free of the top 8 allergens, including milk and soy; hard to find because dark chocolate is often cross-contaminated with milk and almost all chocolate contains soy lecithin (probably GMO soy). 

• Vegan - WOW! 

• Either dark chocolate or a special vegan milk chocolate made with rice and almonds for creaminess instead of dairy milk. 

• Gluten-free 

• Non-GMO 

• Organic 

• Fair trade 

Jelly Beans

We carry three brands, including a couple of natural Jelly Belly options, so there’s something for everyone. Available in a variety of pack sizes from mini-snack bags to bulk cases:

• Dye-free (like everything we carry) 

• Free of the top 8 allergens 

• Gluten-free 

• Non-GMO 

• Organic 

• Corn syrup free (None of the products we carry contain HFCS, but some do have regular corn syrup.) 

Natural Egg Dye and Baking Decorations

• The Dip + Decorate Natural Coloring Kit utilizes dry vegetable powders which are dissolved in water. This handy kit makes it easy to decorate Easter eggs without exposure to yucky artificial dyes. If you've ever tried making your own natural egg dyes at home (using red onion skins, cabbage, etc.) you know how involved the process can be. The edible colors included can also be used in icings for decorating. 

• Wide assortment of colorful baking decorations, including Sprinkles (Jimmies), Sugar Sparkles, liquid food coloring, and candies—all colored with vegetables instead of petrochemicals. Our all-natural food colorings extracted from real foods are a wonderful alternative to the artificial FD&C food dyes found on store shelves. 

• Huge assortment of other candies to fill your Easter basket 

• We have gummies, caramels, chocolates, chocolate candy (similar to M&Ms but without the yucky stuff), candy bars, hard candy, gum, mints, lollipops, fruit chews (like starburst), chocolate chews (like tootsie roll), taffy, cotton candy, marshmallows, and more.

Hop on it! Remember Easter is early this year, Sunday, April 5. Order by March 27 for East Coast ground delivery, later for further west.

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