This is an awful picture of me with my daughter, but I had to put the vanity aside and share the photo anyways!     The photo was taken at the NY State Fair on Labor Day and it was one of the most memorable moments of the fair for me.  The Sea Lions were so beautiful and sweet.  However, you would not even believe the weight of the Seal as she draped her head over mine.  It felt like a brick!   Usually they just place their noggin slightly over your head, but for some reason she felt like loving me a little extra and rested her full head on mine.

This is the ONLY way I would ever consider wearing real Seal fur!  These babies are too precious!

Wordless Wednesday- Live Seal Hats!(LINKY) is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Congrats Adalia!  Please email me within 72 hours to claim your prize!  Thank you to MyBlogSpark for sponsoring the giveaway and to all the readers who entered!  Keep watching for more great giveaways coming soon!

Yoplait Splitz Prize Pack Winner is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend.  I took the three days off from blogging to spend with my family and to enjoy the holiday.  My daughter goes back to school tomorrow and I have been extremely busy getting everything ready for the event.  I know some parent can’t wait for their kiddos to go back, BUT I’m not one of them.  I’m going to miss her !!!

If you have giveaways going on at your corner of the blogosphere please leave a link to them here!  Maybe we can gain some extra traffic and get a few more entries.  The current giveaways at ahappyhippymom.com include…

Executive Gift Shoppe Giveaway

Prize: $50 ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com gift certificate.

expires Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 11:59pm ET

CardsDirect Giveaway

Prize: $50 CardsDirect gift certificate.

expires Thursday, September 30, 2010 @ 11:59pm ET

UPrinting.com Giveaway

Prize: 250 die cut business cards from UPrinting.com (ARV up to $90)

expires Thursday, September 30, 2010 @ 11:59pm ET

As always, don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s too!  Its a BIG  directory that helps spread the word about your giveaways and a  great way to bring visitors to your website or blog.

Got Giveaways? Lets Link Up! 9/07-9/12 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Over the past years,  I have given my husband some very unusual gifts.  The worst one was a pink tie with a very large marlin fish sprawled across the front of it.  When he opened up the neatly wrapped box and saw what was in it,  I could tell he was less than thrilled and thought  “what the heck is this!”  I cannot blame him for his lack of excitement and gratitude,  since the tie was ugly as sin.  Now you may be asking yourself why would I buy something extremely hideous and give it to the man I love?  I did not do it out of spite for my hubby forgetting our anniversary or trying to pay him back because he gave me that cheap can opener on my birthday.   The truth be told,  I was running out of time and just didn’t know what to get him.  He liked fishing and needed a tie, so I put two and two together and well…he got the ugliest thing on the rack!

My husband celebrated  his 40th  birthday four days ago and this year I wanted to do something extra special for him.  Turning 40 after all, is a huge milestone.  I bought him the usual man stuff such as a Tom Tom, sneakers, and an electric shaver.  However, I was interested in giving him a sentimental gift too.  Apparently, karma was being kind to me this month and I was contacted by the owner from Executive Gift Shoppe.  Peter (the owner) asked if  I  would consider reviewing an item from his shop which carries high quality personalized gifts aimed at young professionals.  I gladly agreed and once I began exploring the Executive Gift Shoppe’s product line,  I discovered I had hit the goldmine in  men gifts!  The store is loaded with beautiful merchandise at reasonable prices which are ideal for the men in your life including business accessories,  green executive gifts, money clips, zippos, golf gifts, pocket watches, Swiss army knives, personalized flasks and more!  Plus,the gift shop offers free engraving of up to 12 characters per line!

After several hours of consideration, I decided to review the “Brushed Silver Mechanical Pocket Watch with See Through Dial & Chain by Charles Hubert.”  The 1 7/8 inches in diameter pocket watch features a beautiful satin-brushed finish, scratch-resistant crystal lens, skeleton dial with white chapter ring, black hands with Roman numerals that display the time,a smooth-running 17-jewel movement, and a matching curb link chain.  The watch comes in a luxury blue leatherette gift box and has a lifetime limited manufacturer’s warranty.  It sounded fantastic!  I also had Peter personalize the watch with my husbands initials on the front casing and on the back was inscribed    “You Are My Place In Time.”

The pocket watch came within 4 business days after I talked to Peter and it is absolutely GORGEOUS!   I handed the stunning watch to my husband and he was VERY happy with it.  It’s a gift he can cherish forever and someday hand down to my son.  I recommend checking out the Executive Gift Shoppe  during this holiday season and get the  men in your life quality gifts they will be ELATED to open.  Skip the ugly ties this year!

About Executive Gift Shoppe

Executive Gift Shoppe started as a small personalized gift store in Nanuet, NY in 1999 catering to the wedding & corporate gift industry. We built our reputation by providing unique, engraved & personalized gifts at affordable prices. Over the years, we have added thousands of new products, may personalized and many that aren’t. One thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to quality and, more importantly, our commitment to customer service.

GIVEAWAY!

Peter has generously offered to give one A Happy Hippy Mom reader $50 credit to purchase anything from the  Executive Gift Shoppe! Shipping is included too!  If you don’t have a man in your life there is  awesome gifts suitable for women and children too!  I personally LOVE the unique gift baskets like the Monster Bash Gift Basket that is perfect for Halloween and is only$47.94!  The shop has lots of fun items to browse through.  To enter the giveaway for the chance to win, “like” Executive Gift Shoppe on Facebook and leave me a comment letting me know you did.  Please also include your Facebook account name in your comment.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1.  Check out the Executive Gift Shoppe product line and leave me a comment sharing your favorite item.  This is worth 3 extra entries.  Make sure to leave three separate comments.

2.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and Executive Gift Shoppe.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

3.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

4. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

5. Follow @ahappyhippymom and Executive Gift Shoppe on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

6. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

7.  Like ahappyhippymom on Facebook. Worth 2 extra entries

8.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.  The giveaway must be still active in order to gain an extra entry.

9. Comment on any of my NON giveaway posts to gain extra entries. Please leave me an extra comment here for every post you commented on.

A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org.   Info will be forwarded to sponsor.

Executive Gift Shoppe Review and $50 Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give your home a makeover without spending a lot of time and money to do it? Luckily, there are some easy and  inexpensive tips to provide that visual change that are also friendly for the environment.

*Recycle*

This can mean reusing any number of items around the house or thrift shop finds.

*Glass – Vintage bottles, vases and jars, especially those that use colored glass, can be used to create unique centerpieces by placing them on trays and filling with contrasting marbles, sand, leaves or flowers.

*Furniture – If a new look is desired but older pieces are still comfortable, purchasing fabric furniture covers to go over the couch and easy chairs is an ideal solution. It keeps the old furniture out of the trash heap and is much cheaper than buying a whole new set of furniture. If your current furniture is beyond repair, shop thrift stores to find new-to-you pieces which can also be transformed by a slipcover. They come in a variety of sizes to fit most types of seats, including wing chair slipcovers.

*Repainting – Dull wooden pieces of furniture can be enhanced by refinishing or repainting using environmentally-friendly paints. Adding some color can completely change the look of an entire room.

*Art*

Finding the right artwork to hang on the walls can be a costly and time-consuming process. Why not enlist the help of loved ones to make it easier and more cost-effective?

*Framed art – If there are small children in the house, have them create their own masterpieces using finger paint or a variety of child-friendly mediums. If you have an older student who has a flare, see if they would be willing to paint something that can be hung on the wall.

*Photos – Take those family photographs lying around, or waiting in the digital camera to be developed, and put them in a variety of frames to hang around the house or place on tables and shelves. For a more artsy look, most photo processing centers offer options to print pictures in black and white to add a touch of nostalgia or with a tint of magenta which gives the appearance of a drawing.

*The little things*

Not everything has to be a big change to make a noticeable difference. Subtle shifts around the room provide a different perspective and opens up space. Small changes include:

*Lighting – Use table lamps rather than overhead lighting for a softer glow. Lamps can be rearranged throughout the house to eliminate shadows and give the illusion of more room. Styles can be altered by simply swapping shades. For more energy savings, purchase CFL bulbs.

*Pillows – Just like old sofas or recliners, pillows can be changed through the use of new coverings that come in a variety of fabrics and colors.

Being eco-friendly and frugal doesn’t have to mean skimping on a home makeover. A busy schedule doesn’t have to get in the way either. With a few of these simple tips a makeover can be had that is inexpensive, easy and good for the planet.

*Guest article written by Caroline Smith

How To Give Your Home an Eco-Friendly Makeover on a Budget is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Take a good look at your business cards.  Do the cards convey a positive message about your brand and portray your business in a memorable fashion?  If  they do not impress you than they most certainly are not going to grab the attention of  potential clients.  It’s time to change the old traditional plain cards in for  newer modern versions and I have the perfect giveaway to get you started!  Uprinting.com would like to give one A Happy Hippy Mom reader 250 Die Cut Business Cards (up to $90 value)!

The prize includes:

250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner

Size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)

Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle

Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated

Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides

Uprinting.com is a leading online  eco-friendly printing company specializing in high quality printing at the lowest possible prices.  Providing individuals and businesses alike for 25 years, Uprinting.com offers a wide array of products to satisfy your unique printing needs and budget.  You have invested your time and money to get your business off the ground.  Why trust your brand to anything less than it deserves?  Represent it with superior printing from Uprinting.com!

GIVEAWAY

To enter for the chance to win the Uprinting.com 250 Die Cut Business Cards please leave me a comment sharing what die cut option (Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle) you would select if you are chosen as the winner.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and Uprinting.com.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow @ahappyhippymom and Uprinting.com on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6.  Like ahappyhippymom on Facebook. Worth 2 extra entries

7. Like Uprinting.com on Facebook.

8.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.  The giveaway must be still active in order to gain an extra entry.

9. Comment on any of my NON giveaway posts to gain extra entries. Please leave me an extra comment here for every post you commented on.

A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org.   Info will be forwarded to sponsor.

Uprinting.com 250 Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway (up to $90 value)! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I knew hemp was good for a lot of things and it’s soft, durable fiber could be used for making  jewelry, beautiful clothing, health food, fuel and paper just to name a few.  However, I wasn’t aware you could build a house out of it!  NO KIDDING!  A couple from Asheville, North Carolina constructed their home from “hempcrete” which is a mixture of hemp, lime and water.  Apparently, the “hempcrete”  is very inexpensive and acts like a “built-in air filter,” improving air quality and an ingenious way of avoiding toxic chemicals sometimes found in building materials.

The beautiful 3,400-square-foot home has other environmentally friendly features including walls and doors made from recycled paper.  The house approximately cost $133 per square foot to build and the owners were able to cool the whole home for just $100 per month!  How awesome is that?   They are going to save a mint in energy bills!

Watch the video below for more details.

What do you think?  Could hemp houses be the new wave of the future?  I would be interested in constructing a home from hemp!  Too cool!

3,400-Square-Foot Home Made Out Of Hemp! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Did you see today’s Tropicana Juicy Rewards Deal Of The Day?  It’s for the chance to win a certificate for a one-hour massage redeemable at any Massage Envy location!  There will be one winner chosen for each hour of the day-  24 winners total!  YEAH!  I know some of you must be stressed out from all the back to school shopping and need a  massage from a professional massage therapist.  This is your chance to score one and bring in the fall season with some relaxation!  If you have 2 Juicy Rewards points sitting in your account this would be a perfect time to redeem them and enter for the chance to win!

If you don’t have any points left don’t worry,  because there is no purchase necessary and you can enter by mail.  To enter without making a purchase, hand print your name, complete address with zip code, daytime phone number and date of birth on a 3″x5″ card and mail in an envelope to:

Tropicana Juicy Rewards Massage Envy/Deal of the Day Sweepstakes,

P.O. Box 1055,

Young America, MN 55594-1055.

Mail-in entries must be postmarked by September 1, 2010 and received by September 8, 2010.

Don’t miss out!  This deal is only good for 24 hours!    Please read the official rules before entering to learn all the juicy details!

HURRY Tropicana Juicy Rewards Deal Of The Day – Massage Envy is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

This photo was taken at the local zoo.  My son was extremely scared of the wooden tiger that I had to quickly snap the picture before he began freaking out!  Afterward, he kept yelling at me over and over the whole day  “Did you see that cat? He was going to bite my butt.”   He was so cute!  I LIVE for little moments like that!

Wordless Wednesday -Please Don’t Eat Me! (LINKY) is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Kashi is offering  free samples of their all natural snacks!  Your free snack choices include TLC Cereal Bar Ripe Strawberry, TLC Chewy Granola Bar Trail Mix or TLC Crackers Original 7 Grain.  Pick the snack you would like to receive and complete  the form on the next page.

Request you free sample now before they are all gone!

“Offer valid until 09/19/2010 or while supplies last. Available to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 or older to receive sample. Limit one sample per family, household, address or e-mail address. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery”

Free Kashi TLC Sample! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Need a vacation?  Why not enter the YoKids Real Food, Real Fun Sweepstakes for a chance to win a luxury family getaway?  The grand prize includes 4 days/3 nights for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 15 and under)to any Beaches Resort in Turks & Caicos or Jamaica!  Or enter for the chance to win one of the 15 First Prizes–a YoKids backpack ($13.85)!

This is a great sweepstakes sponsored by Beaches Resorts and KIWI!  The trip allows children to go which is a rare find these days!  The grand prize package consists of $500 per person for airfare, deluxe accommodations at Beaches Resort, all meals, unlimited premium brand beverages, daily and nightly entertainment, all land and water sports, including scuba diving, snorkeling, gratuities, and transfers to and from the designated airport. WOW,  the grand prize is  approximately valued at $4,500.00!

Make sure you enter daily to better your chances of winning!  Click here to enter.

Winner will be selected in a random drawing on or about January 7, 2011 from all eligible entries received and notified by phone and/or mail.

Giveaway ends ends at 11:59:59 PM EST on December 31, 2010.

Good luck!

YoKids Real Food, Real Fun Sweepstakes! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

It’s that special linky time again! Lets link up and get some extra entries for our giveaways! Current giveaways at ahappyhippymom.com include…

A Happy Hippy Mom - Yoplait Splitz Picnic Time Giveaway

A Happy Hippy Mom - CardsDirect $50 Giveaway

Stop by Post Your Giveaway Linky’s too! Its a new directory that helps spread the word about your giveaways and great way to bring visitors to your website or blog.

Giveaways Around The Blogosphere Linky 8/30-9/5 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

When I hear the name George Foreman I don’t immediately think about boxing and how he is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.  Or that he won the title of heavyweight boxing champion of the world at age 45, when he punched out the young 26 year old Michael Moorer.  Even though George has had a very successful boxing career, what comes to mind for me when I hear his name is indoor grilling!   This might be because he  revolutionized the indoor grilling market with his innovative grills and  found an easy way to  knockout the fat in food for healthier meals.

Until the George Foreman Grill was invented, people had to use the standard electric grill if they wanted to grill inside.  The problem with these type of grills is no matter who manufactured them they were always the same—FLAT.   The grills would cook food on a level surface within its own fat which made the food extremely greasy and unhealthy.  However, George Foreman changed all that when he developed an indoor grill that drained the fat away from the food as it cooked which created more healthier, low-calorie meals.  Additionally, the grills two-sided non stick coating surface allows for  food to be evenly cooked on both sides, without the use of fattening butter or oils,  in just minutes!

When my hubby found out Family Review Network was sending me a George Foreman Evolve Grill for review,  he became ECSTATIC!  My darling meat loving husband is the type of guy who will stand outside in his pajamas during a blizzard and in the coldest of NY’s temperatures to grill himself a steak or burger.   He is a GRILL-AHOLIC and will freeze his derriere off to satisfy his grill meat craving.  NO JOKING!  Now he will be able to grill inside all year long where its warm and without the neighbors gazing at him from their windows thinking he is crazy and needs psychological help .

The George Foreman Evolve Grill is absolutely wonderful!  Many years ago I owned a small George Foreman Grill and I liked it,  but it wasn’t very versatile.  It was small and you could only grill  a couple pieces of meat on it.  Cleaning was not exactly to much fun neither.  The Evolve Grill is COMPLETELY different!  It has a whopping 84 square-inch cooking surface, contains a patented slope design with a quick flip of a switch to drain the fat better, and can be customized with 11 easy detachable plates.  It’s an indoor grilling powerhouse and may be used for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

* cross-hatch grill plates (2) – Perfect for grilling chicken breasts, fresh fish and more.

* Mini-Burger plate – Serve up low-fat turkey sliders in minutes.

* Griddle plate – Cook up breakfast, lunch or dinner without adding extra oil or butter for healthier meals.

* Cupcake/muffin plate – Whipping up six muffins or cupcakes is a snap with this easy-to-use plate.

* Panini plates (2) – No need to butter bread when making panini in the George Foreman Evolve™ Grill.

* Deep-dish baking plate – From lasagna to veggie-packed casseroles, the deep-dish bake pan provides another versatile usage for the George Foreman Evolve™ Grill.

* Omelet plates (2) – Flipping omelets used to require lots of butter or oil to prevent sticking, however, with the George Tough™ nonstick coating, making omelets is simpler and healthier than ever.

* Waffle plate –The waffle plates makes preparing golden, delicious waffles on the grill easy and convenient.

Product Features:

* George Tough™ nonstick coating for oil-free cooking

* Patented slope for fat to drip away

* Drip tray that is dishwasher safe for collecting grease drippings

* 84 square-inch cooking surface

* Precise Digital Time and Temperature Control

* Removable dishwasher-safe plates

My George Foreman Evolve Grill came complete with a cross-hatch grill top plate, traditional grill bottom plate, deep dish bake plate, the slider plate insert, spatula and drip tray.    I went on a cooking MANIA over the weekend and tried out the different plates making grilled salmon burgers, pork sliders for hubby, grilled vegetable sandwiches,  and more!  I even used the deep dish bake plate  for  baking brownies!  The plates are extremely simple to attach and change.  All you have to do is use the release handles located by the sides of the plates and pop them on and off.    The grill was amazing and the food came out evenly cooked and delicious.  PLUS, cleaning the plates was a breeze too.  I also appreciated that it didn’t heat my house up while using it like my conventional oven  does and  how it sits conveniently on my countertop.  Healthy meals never tasted so good!

Buy it!

If you would like to purchase and  learn more about the Evolve Grill ($129.99) ,  plus other George Forman products,  check out George Foreman Healthy Cooking!

Follow George Foreman Cooking on Facebook for recipes, product updates, videos, and more!

Ginger Teriyaki Sliders

I found this recipe located in FamilyCircle’s Hometown Favorites Cookbook.  I changed it up a little and used the slider insert plate to cook the mini pork burgers.  Next time I plan on using ground turkey to make the burgers even more low cal!  Give the recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

* 1 package (12 per package) mini soft dinner rolls (I used artisan crusty rolls)

* 4 ounces (1-1/2 cups) sliced mushrooms

* 2 scallions, trimmed and cut up, plus more chopped scallions, for garnish

* 2 teaspoons peeled and coarsely chopped fresh ginger (1-inch piece)

* 1 pound ground pork

* 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon teriyaki stir-fry sauce (such as Kikkoman preservative free Teriyaki sauce)

* 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

* 1/4 cup light mayonnaise

* 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Place the grill plates on the grill; place slider plate on bottom grill plate.  Use the switch located at the bottom right rear of the grill to lift the back, so fat drippings run off into the drip tray.  Make sure the drip tray is placed in front of the grill. Close lid and set cooking temperature at 425 F and cooking time for 5 minutes.  Allow the grill to preheat.

2. In a mini chopper, combine mushrooms, 2 of the scallions and the ginger. Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium-size bowl and add pork, 1/4 cup of the stir-fry sauce and the bread crumbs. Stir to blend.

3. Shape mixture into 1/2 inch thick patties that are small enough to fit in each of the slider cut-outs.  Close lid and cook for  5 minutes or until fully done.  Pork should be cooked until it has an internal temperature of 160F.

4. Meanwhile, stir together mayonnaise, remaining 1 teaspoon teriyaki stir-fry sauce and the sugar in a small bowl. Split rolls and top each with a burger. Spread 1 teaspoon teriyaki mayonnaise on each roll; sprinkle with scallion.

Enjoy!

“This post was written for Family Review Network & George Foreman Healthy Cooking who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review”

George Foreman Healthy Cooking Evolve Grill Review – Ginger Teriyaki Sliders Recipe! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Recently I had the opportunity to review the NEW Johnson’s Natural products.  The new  products naturally and gently care for baby’s skin and hair and are derived from 98 percent plant extracts and fruits.  The line consists of five products offering moms an affordable and simpler way to going green: JOHNSON’S NATURAL HEAD-TO-TOE Foaming Baby Wash, JOHNSON’S NATURAL Baby Shampoo, JOHNSON’S NATURAL Baby Lotion, JOHNSON’S NATURAL Kids 2-in-1 Kids Hand & Face Foaming Wash, and JOHNSON’S NATURAL Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash.  You can read more about the products in my review and how well they worked here.

To coincide with the launch of the new line, JOHNSON’S introduced a new micro site, www.johnsonsnatural.com , where moms can get information about the products and ingredients, and  receive coupons.  Additionally, they also released a new video series I wanted to share with you entitled “Baby Steps to a Natural Lifestyle.”  The series showcases natural lifestyle expert and author Sara Snow, the savvy Kristen Chase from Cool Mom Picks, and Holly Ambrose, a mom blogger who regularly works with the National Wildlife Federation!  Each of the ladies offer sensible tips on how to incorporate natural living into everyday family life without breaking the bank!  You can learn how to build a natural nursery with soon to be mom Sara Snow, get hot advice on ways to go green on a budget from Kristen Chase, and great information on how to take the fun outdoors with Holly Ambrose.  I’ve included the series below for easy viewing!

What do you think about the new products and the video series?  I believe it’s an awesome step in a positive direction for the JOHNSON’S Brand!

“The new JOHNSON’S NATURAL product line is now available nationwide at food, drug and mass retail stores, and has suggested retail prices that range from $4.59 for 9 oz. to $6.49 for 18 oz.”

About JOHNSON’S Brand

“JOHNSON’S Brand from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company, Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., has a long tradition of providing pure, mild, gentle and clinically-proven products formulated especially for babies. The most trusted name in baby care, JOHNSON’S® Brand is rooted in science and has more than 115-years leadership in the industry; every product undergoes rigorous clinical assessment to ensure it meets our highest standards. JOHNSON’S Brand takes pride in continuing to create and supply parents and healthcare professionals with the best essentials and innovations in baby care. For more information about the JOHNSON’S Brand and its product offerings, visit www.johnsonsbaby.com.”

However, I did receive samples of the Johnson’s Natural products for review purposes.  Even though a free product was received, my honest opinion remains to be my own.

Baby Steps to a Natural Lifestyle is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

It’s hard to believe Summer is almost over and Fall is merely a few weeks away.   To me the cool weather indicates one thing—-the holidays are rapidly approaching!  In fact,  I just Googled “how many shopping days left till Christmas,”  and found out there is only 119 until December 25th!  I know it’s premature to start worrying about the holidays, but I like to be prepared so I can relax and in enjoy the festivities without having to stress about last minute shopping.  This year I want to have my Christmas Cards ready way ahead of time and have them stuffed in their envelopes and set to go.

I plan on purchasing my cards at CardsDirect and have them professionally printed with my personal message.  If your not familiar with CardsDirect, they are one of the most trusted online resources for custom imprinted greeting card products.  The company has been in business since 1998 and providing consumers as well as businesses with top notch professional customer service and quality greeting cards at competitive prices.  PLUS, CardsDirect offers over 2,000 card designs in categories that include holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, photo cards, baby shower invitations, birth announcements, assortment packs,  and  more!  CardsDirect also features recycled cards too!  Combine all that with the free personalization, and the easy online ordering process—-choosing CardsDirect is a no-brainer!

Take a look at this adorable Polar Bear and Candy Holiday Card available at  CardsDirect.

It’s soooooooo cute!

In this electronic world with all the communication being done by texting , emails, and instant messaging,  its rare to receive a physical card. I personally would much rather get a card sent to me via the old-fashioned way—hand delivered.  It might be more eco-friendly sending personal greeting cards electronically, however I recycle all my cards and use them for scrapbooking.   Or if the cards are from a close family member,  I place them in my trunk for sentimental keepsakes.  Nothing ever goes to waste!

GIVEAWAY

CardsDirect has generously offered to give one of you a code to redeem for twenty-five cards up to a $50 value!   The winner can select from ANY of the products offered!  With such a HUGE selection to choose from,  I’m sure you will find something you love!   To enter the giveaway check out the cards at CardsDirect and leave me a comment sharing which is your favorite.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1. Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and CardsDirect. Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries. Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow @ahappyhippymom and CardsDirect on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway.   Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 1 TWEETS PER PERSON DAILY. USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Like CardsDirect on Facebook. This is worth 2 extra entries.

7. Like ahappyhippymom on Facebook. Worth 2 extra entries

8. Enter any of my other ACTIVE giveaways and leave me a comment for each one you did.

A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org. Upon notification the winner has 72 hours to send me their contact information.

Open to US 18+

The contest ends September 30th ,  11:59 PM eastern

I received product from Cards Direct in exchange for hosting the giveaway.

CardsDirect $50 Giveaway – Custom Imprinted Greeting Card Products! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Soooo Sweet is offering  free samples!  Soooo Sweet is a natural Stevia supplement that can be added to any food or beverage to instantly sweeten and enhance your tasting pleasure.

“Since Soooo Sweet! has no carbs, no calories, and is 100% organic, you’ll enjoy a healthy dietary supplement along with the delicious taste!”

Sign up here to receive your free sample.

Free Sample Of Soooo Sweet! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Does your teen have the “it” factor?  The executive producers of Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars are looking for female singers, 16-24 to audition for  a hot new web series debuting early 2011.  This is an AMAZING opportunity and a chance to make your talented teen’s dreams come true.  If your teen is chosen as the new teen sensation she will win  a lead role in Alloy’s newest web series, Talent, and receive a recording contract with Jive Records, whose roster includes Usher, Britney Spears, P!nk and others.

Starting now through September 28, your teen can upload their singing audition on www.thetalentshow.com to enter the contest for the chance to be considered to star in Talent!  Throughout the contest, fans everywhere can rate the auditions to ensure their favorite contestants are top ranked, so get EVERYONE you know to vote for your teen to increase her chances of winning.  Each week, one standout performer will be featured in the coveted “Spotlight of the Week” position!  Will it be your teen?

“On October 6th, 20 semi-finalists will be announced who will vie for six exclusive spots to participate in Talent: The Casting Call. The six finalists will use their music and acting craft to stay alive throughout the reality series to become Alloy Entertainment and Jive Records’ top Talent. The winner will head to Hollywood for a lead role in Talent the scripted web series and receive a recording contract with Jive Records.”

Here is how to get your teen entered for their chance at STARDOM!

1) Choose a song from the song list. Record and upload one song or multiple songs on the list provided. Only one video upload per song will be accepted.
2) Submit your audition video!
3) Vote! Get your friends and family to vote for you by sharing your audition video on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

To read the official rules, learn tips and tricks on a successful audition,  and find more details about Talent click here.

About Talent

“Talent, based on the Alloy book of the same name from The New York Times bestselling author Zoey Dean, tells the story of a young woman whose dreams of becoming a singer are dashed and rises from that disappointment by helping an unlikely girl become a superstar. Talent: The Casting Call and Talent, the web series will be distributed via AlloyTV (www.alloytv.com), a premium, multi-platform digital entertainment network.”

Good luck!

“Talent” Casting Call – Looking For The Next Teen Sensation! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

These food recalls are getting scary and seem to be happening more often!  This time it’s for 380,000 pounds of lunch meat in sandwiches sold at Walmart.  Zemoc Industries announced August 23, 2010 that the deli meat may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes!  The deli meat was distributed nationwide at Walmart’s deli section under the ‘Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches’ brand name.

“The recall does not involve individual retail packages of deli meat but does impact Marketside Grab and Go sandwiches including the Ham and Swiss Sandwich, Italian Hero Sandwich, Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich, and Smokehouse Hero Sandwich. Each of these half and whole sandwiches have a sell by date of August 25, 2010 or before,” Walmart says. “We encourage customers who recently purchased this item to return it for a full refund.”

The problem was discovered as a result of a retail sample collected by the State of Georgia that confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Walmart made a statement that they immediately pulled all the sandwiches made with the possible contaminated deli meat from their shelves. However, here are the products subject to the recall just in case you may have bought one of the sandwiches during the time frame before they were pulled.

* 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17800 1300.

* 28.49-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17803 1300.

* 32.67-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17804 1300.

* 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17805 1300.

The packages also are marked with vendor number “398412808″ as well as the USDA stamp of inspection and “Est. 5222.” The meat products were produced on various dates from June 18 to July 2, 2010, and have various “Use By” dates ranging from August 20 to September 10, 2010. The products were distributed nationwide to  the Walmart retail chains.

The recall was issued as a Class I (health risk is high).  More info about the recall can be found at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Is anything safe anymore?

Deli Meat Recall-Sold At Walmart -Class I is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

My daughter starts school September 7th and I STILL have back to school shopping left to do.  If your like me and still in need of a backpack make sure to check out Kmart this weekend during their Bluelight Specials event.  This Saturday and Sunday Kmart is  cutting 50% off all  backpacks, messenger bags, slings, and rolling backpacks!  You have to be quick, because each offer is only good for one hour.  Here is the other Bluelight Specials scheduled for this weekend.

Assorted hardware storage systems -30% Off

Men’s Clearance Swimwear – Take an additional 30% Off

All Day Saturday Offers

$12 Dresses & Sets – “What A Doll”  Girls Apparel (reg $19.99)

50% off Blue Cool Bar side table/cooler (reg $99.99)

All Day Sunday Offers

$9.99 GPX CR2307 Clock Radio (reg $12.99)

$8.50 Basic Editions Girls’ Plaid Dresses (reg $14.99)

Kmart 8/28-8/29 Bluelight Specials- Backpacks 50% Off! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Kellogg’s is offering a FREE All -Bran Promise Pack when you sign up at this link.  I’m not sure of the contents in the pack, but I can only guess it is bran cereal samples and coupons.

Offer available while supplies last. Limit one request per name, address or household. You will receive your FREE Promise Pack in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

FREE Kellogg’s All-Bran Promise Pack is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom