Mom Approved: Pure Growth Organic

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

Another love I found this summer!

Not only are they a great quick breakfast, but @puregrowthorganic breakfast biscuits and bars are great on the go snacks. Plus, the kids LOVE. them!

A post shared by Cari | Chief This Handler💡 (@cari_on) on Jun 4, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

First of all- here is a huge win for this summer's snacks! The kids love that the snacks sent to them are Disney Themed (yes, we are one of THOSE families)

The people at Pure Growth Organic were so sweet to send the kids a box of Strawberry Breakfast Biscuit Bites and Chocolate Banana Breakfast Bars. Both of them loved both types. We have bought more of them since and we have even tried more- they especially love the popcorn and cookies! Pure Growth Organic is definitely a win for car trips! In fact, I have been picking up snacks and breakfasts each time we go to the store for an upcoming trip and they do not forget to remind me to get "Mickey breakfast and cookies"

The Good Stuff: Whole Grains; organic, Kosher, fiber, baked in the united states.

They leave out the bad: Non-GMO, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup.

Yep, a winner!

Mom Approved: Veggie Go

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

While I have started letting my little minions have more sugar, I still watch it very closely. I also watch artificial dyes, flavors, and preservatives. I can definitely tell a change in them when they have been loaded down with artificial things, even sweeteners.

This summer, I have made it my mission to find more packaged snacks (let's face it, they are easier) that I am okay with giving the kids. When we are running around like crazy, on trips, or running errands, I like to have that option. I have found several options and have been enjoying sharing what I have found with you guys.

On to the next- Veggie-Go's!

Tbomb is excited to try out #veggiego fruit leathers while he's looking for #sasquatch #littlestsquatcher

A post shared by Cari | Chief This Handler💡 (@cari_on) on May 18, 2017 at 2:14pm PDT

What do I love about Veggie-Go's? There is 1 serving of fruits and vegetables in each pack. So, my kids think they are eating fruit rolls or gummies when they are getting good for them stuff in as well. Also, they love the flavor, so it is a double win.

I have also been able to get them trying new vegetables because I'll remind them that it was in their Veggie-Go's and they get excited! How can we not win?

Veggie-Go's are also USDA organic Non-GMO, Gluten Free, sustainable, fueled by wind energy, and they use little plastic with recycled and recyclable packaging!

It all started with two people, an adventure and a borderline obsession with produce.

Veggie-Go’s™ founders Lisa and John have always had a thing for real food. Growing it. Eating it. Loving it. So after living and working on organic farms across Europe, their shared passion transformed a spark of an idea into a whole new slant on snacking: delightful fruit, vibrant veggies and flavors so unique they’re downright surprising. Now it’s your turn to open wide and devour the delicious results.

Organizing Multiple Kids With Thirty-One Gifts

Okay, so we have established my LOVE for Thirty-One Gifts. Now, I'm going to expand on that and share one more reason that I am absolutely in love with this brand.

I have two kids- they are color coded. This is the only way to manage the two of them. Not only does it help with Snapper's anxiety, but it helps with T-bomb's love for routine. If they have two completely different things, they will fight. However, if their things are just alike, it gets confusing. My solution is to color-code. Usually, Snapper has pink (if not, it is purple or orange) and Tbomb has green (if not, it is blue or gray). That is what works for us. Thirty-One really helps as well.

Here are some tips for color coding. Thirty-One is a really great help with this, as well. 

1. Decide on colors- you may as well make it colors the kids like, as they will be using it a lot

2. Go ahead and purchase tape (washi tape works well) for items like cups, electronics, and more that cannot be embroidered. 

3. Choose a few different patterns from Thirty-One that are complimentary and that your kids will love. Not all products come in the same patterns. (Snapper gets candy corners, loopsy daisy, anchors away, and candy strips. Tbomb gets the gray signature patterns, doodle dots, and digital camo). 

4. Choose a color and style to embroider. I just use the basic font and the bright green for both. However, if I was choosing solid color patterns, I would use different colors for embroidery.

5. Choose what you will embroider with. I use their nicknames (Snapper and Tbomb), you can use an initial, name, or whole initials, as well as symbols.

6. Labels can be your best friend. They are amazing to help keep little ones from losing items, as well as keeping items organized. You can color code these as well. I put "The Georges" on all the labels, but color-code them. It works perfectly.

7. Label/ Tape/ Mark/ Embroider EVERYTHING. It may seem obsessive, but you will be glad you did. Charge cables, drink cups, everything is labeled- it definitely cuts down on bickering and makes my life easier.

8. Talk with your Thirty-One Gifts consultant and she can help you pick out the right items for your family and coordinate the patterns. If you need a consultant, feel free to email me (thepalmettoqueen @ gmail.com) and I can help you find one.

10 Healthy Camping Snacks For Kids

I love camping. More than I can even describe, I love taking my family to be out with mother nature, to hear the lake while we drift off to sleep, and to escape the rat race with some fresh air. It is so incredibly peaceful.

Getting everything ready to camp is a different story all together. I especially stress when packing food. I worry I will not have enough healthy snacks to keep the kids going on the long days of being outside. With sugary snacks, they just crash and are hard to get along with. Over the years, I have learned of some ways to keep healthy snacks ready for summer fun, and found some great packaged ones as well.

1. Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Over the years, I have learned that if we keep fresh fruit and vegetables in zip-lock bags in the drink cooler, the kids will grab them quicker and enjoy them more. Also, it keeps them fresh longer. We get carrots, celery, and cucumbers. We also slice apples, pears, oranges, grapes, and more. Using a melon baller with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey-dew melon works great as well.

2. Packed Fruits

While we are throwing things in the cooler, we throw in some fruit cups and apple sauce. We grab a few yogurts if we run to the store as well, but only for that day.

3. Brothers' All-Natural Fruit Crisps

You all already know how much I love this product, and yep, its great for camping as well.

4. Campfire Foods

If you do a quick google of campfire foods, you would be amazed at how many snacks, dinners, and desserts you can make with a campfire and aluminum foil

5. Cereal, Crackers, Pretzels & More

Just about anything your kids snack on at home can be transformed into great camping snacks. My suggestion is to divvy them up into zip-lock backs before you go. Believe me, it will make life easier.

6. Trail Mix

Always A Winner

7. Tostitos and Salsa

A nice refreshing snack, and healthy at the same time

8. Watermelon

Why not take an afternoon to cut a chilled watermelon (put it in the lake that morning and you are good to go by afternoon) then go jump in for a swim as a family

9. Popcorn

You can either get Jiffy pop to do on the fire, or pop a bunch before you leave and put it in baggies. Perfect snack! My kids like when I add sprinkles, reeses pieces, and other goodies in.

10. Mini Chip Bags

They may not be the healthiest, but sometimes you just have to have chips. The good thing about the mini bags is that they stay fresh, are easy to grab, no dirty fingers inside the big bag, and they are portion controlled.

What do you like to take camping?

Mamma Approved: Piggy Paint

Disclaimer: I received products to review for free. All opinions are my own.

My little SnapperBug loves painting her nails, as well as mine, daddy's, papa's, Nina's, and even her uncles' nails. I actually have a hard time finding a polish that I'm happy to let her use. One reason is that she bites her nails and I do not like the idea of her putting those chemicals in her mouth. The other reason is that I do not want to use polish remover on her, so I prefer nail polish that peels off or at least comes off easily. Piggy Paint to the rescue!

Piggy Paint: Natural As Mud!

Piggy Paint is a natural, eco-friendly nail polish for kids. Its non-toxic, hypoallergenic formula makes it safe to use on all piggies. Piggy Paint dries to a hard, durable finish that can easily be removed with our eco-friendly, low odor Piggy Paint nail polish remover. Both are made in the USA!

Available in an assortment of gift sets perfect for Holidays and other special occasions. Say good-bye to harsh, smelly chemicals and hello to Piggy Paint...it's as Natural as Mud®!

Mamma Approved! Rock The Locks

Disclaimer: I received products for free to review. All opinions are my own.

I have a confession to make: I dislike my hair very much. It is thick, dark, textured and curly. Thankfully, I have taken care of it over the years, so it has yet to reach the status of my fathers' curly mess, but it is not easy to deal with. Well, my little girl has the same curls- except hers is just really curly- no rough texture, it is thin, and it is blonde. I didn't realize that taking care of it would be so different from my own. I have struggled with finding the right mix of products, that is also appropriate for a 3-year-old.

Luckily, I found Rock The Locks!

#ThePalmettoQueen is excited to try out #rockyourlocks and #piggypaint

A post shared by Cari | Chief This Handler💡 (@cari_on) on May 18, 2017 at 2:16pm PDT

Rock The Locks is hair care for kids, without the harsh chemicals. It is actually much harder to find the right products in a formula that is completely safe for kids. I never realized how many things are in the products that I use that I would not want on her head.

Rock The Locks sent me conditioning detangler, curl boost, flex style gel, hairspray, shampoo + conditioner, and texture paste. I use these products on both the kids and they love it. I love that it works and it is safe for the kids.

I could not be happier with these products and will continue to use them.