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Froose
I made a decision that was going to effect the entire family a few months ago. There would be no more high fructose corn syrup in this house. None. Zero. Zilch.
Easier said than done.
High fructose corn syrup, recently linked to the development of type 1 diabetes (which is why I made my decision), is in just about everything. It’s inexpensive, and works as a sweetener in everything from juices to soda to bread. Yes bread, even the whole grain variety we had been eating in my house for years.
There are simply not very many good options when it comes to providing nutritious things for your children, especially when it comes to beverages. Now that has changed, and I couldn’t be more excited to tell you about it.
Froose is a new beverage for kids that is just about as fantastic as you can get. It comes in three flavors that my kids adore. They tried Cheerful Cherry and thought it tasted just like a "slushie." They tried "Perfect Pear" and from that point on, Lil C has been begging for a "green one." They also tried "Playful Peach" and thought that flavor was pretty fabulous too.
Because you can’t completely believe a 6-year old and a 2-year old without trying it yourself, I did. I have to agree with the girls. The cherry does taste like a slushie and the pear is just plain awesome. Personally, I wasn’t that fond of peach, but I’m not much of a peach fan to begin with. The girls liked it just fine.
So here’s the cool part about these little fabulous drinks. They are made with all natural whole food ingredients. They are naturally low in sugar because they are sweetened with organic brown rice syrup which happens to be a complex carbohydrate. For those lacking carb knowledge, this basically means that your kid isn’t going to get the sugar rush spazz out that often follows other sugary snacks and drinks. See for yourself:
There’s more good news too. Froose contains 3 grams of fiber, lots of vitamins and minerals, and it’s even supposed to aid in digestion. They’re also gluten-free and kosher certified.
The only difference that I could really tell, is that Froose is slightly thicker than your average juice box beverage. I’m assuming this is from the brown rice syrup used to sweeten it. It’s not super thick nor unpleasant, and it’s not noticeable to children. We only have a couple left in the refrigerator and we got them on Friday!
My only criticism of the product is that they come in a rather small size (4.23 ounces per box). Their website states that this is the appropriate serving size for kids and prevents waste. I can see that. I just have little slurpers here, so we’ll go through quite a few after a strenuous play date.
The only other issue is that Froose is not yet available in stores. To purchase, you must go to their website. A variety pack containing 12 boxes costs $9.00. A case of 40 juice boxes costs $30.00. If you order two or more cases, shipping is free. If you want to order a sample pack or only one case, you’ll pay just $4.95 for shipping. Not bad.
There is finally a healthy alternative to the juice box. For that reason, BBM gives Froose:
My Fruit Roll-Ups
***Contest give-away!!! Keep READING for one of three chances to win!"
February 14, 2008.
Mark that date on your calendar, because that is the date that I officially become a "cool mom." Every single holiday, my daughter brings home these special treats from kids in her class. For Christmas, we do nothing; they send home bags and bags of candies and treats. For Valentine’s Day, we did simple Valentine cards; they send home ornate Valentine’s complete with bags and bags of treats. This year, I’ve got the answer, and it’s not even time-consuming or bank-breaking. It’s just plain awesome.
What kid doesn’t love a fruit roll-up right? I mean, they are the freak of nature fruit snack that every kid loves (as do parents because they’re not messy). Now you can customize fruit roll-ups to make them say anything you want them to say. Wait, I know what you’re thinking and yes, they do have Valentine’s themed fruit roll-ups.
Here’s how you get them. Go here and start having some fun. You can design your very own fruit roll-ups. You can use pictures, choose your font and even choose the color of the writing and pictures on the roll-up. My daughter’s design features little cupids, hearts that say "be mine" and "Love, Big I." She is thrilled that she’s giving these out and together we just saved a ton of time writing out Valentine’s and putting together gift bags.
The customized fruit roll-ups come in packages of 30 and cost $29.99 (plus tax, where applicable). There’s also a nominal shipping fee. BUT WAIT!
Three lucky readers will be able to get a box of 30 customizable roll-ups for FREE! Here’s what you need to do. Simply post in the comments below the sweetest Valentine’s message you’ve either sent or received (or, you know, just send me a super sweet Valentine’s message). Three of the sweetest entries will be chosen and you’ll be given a promotional code to get your own box of customizable fruit roll-ups (complete with free shipping)!
You have exactly one week to post your sweet message. Winner will be notified by Friday, February 1st so that you can get your code and place your order in time for Valentine’s Day.
For making the life of a busy Mom a whole lot easier, and for finally getting me a coveted spot amongst the "cool moms," BBM gives "My Fruit Roll-Ups":
Room-a-Day Giveaway
It is with great hesitation that I bring you this post. I’ll tell you why. If I tell you about how to register for the "Room-a-Day Giveaway," then my chances of winning go down. My chances going down is a very bad thing.
My kitchen has bright pink counter-tops. No, I don’t kid. My cabinets have pink knobs to match. There’s also the pink pinstriped wallpaper and oh yes, the floor. My tile floor is as old as my house and has faded to a nice off-white to put it nicely.
Did I mention my bedroom has sponge painting and raspberry colored carpet? Yes it does; and yes, the previous owner loved her pink. It’s not my mistake! I just inherited it (Ok, well actually bought and swore I’d change later, but four years later. . .you get the idea).
These are just two of the reasons that I have been feverishly entering the contest day after day after day. I’ll tell you how to as well. Just know that if you win, you owe me or something.
Kimberly-Clark sponsors this "Room-a-Day Giveaway" each year to reward deserving Moms and to give them a chance to "relax, restore and renew." (I can’t even begin to tell you how much those three R’s would be present in this house if I could only eliminate some pink. . . but enough about me).
Sixteen very lucky winners will be awarded between the dates of January 28th-February 15th. The winners will be announced on The View. Winners receive $25,000 to renovate any room in their house. The final contestant will be announced on March 21st on the "Room-a-Day Giveaway" website. You can enter daily and increase your odds of winning here. Don’t forget to check out the dancing diapers and paper towels while you’re there.
Kimberly-Clark has brands such as Kleenex®, Scott®, Huggies®, Pull-ups®, Depend® and Kotex®.
Kimberly-Clark’s trusted brands offer solutions to clean, organize and beautify every room of your home, making life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.
They also help to eliminate excess "pink" from homes, at least that’s what I’m hoping for anyway.
If I win this contest, I’m totally giving it a black belt. That’s right, a black belt.
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My Journey with the Grandmaster
!Have you ever wondered what it would be like to train in Okinawa under one of the Grandmasters? Do you desire to understand the martial arts more deeply? Are you looking for a martial arts book that takes you on a fantastic journey? Look no further.
"My Journey with the Grandmaster" by Kyoshi Major William Hayes USMC (Ret.) is one of the most amazing books I have ever had the pleasure to read. Although there is not a single color photograph in the entire book, Kyoshi Hayes paints such a visually stunning picture of his journey in the martial arts, and of what life was like as a young Marine stationed in Okinawa learning under Shimabukuro Eizo, a Grandmaster of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do, that a reader can truly escape to Okinawa while indulging in this engrossing book.
"As I recall, the beach was almost overwhelming in its natural beauty. The sand was course but clean, the water, crystal clear close to the shoreline-deepening to a pure green and then deep blue as you looked out to sea. Over my shoulders I looked up to see some of the huge chunks of coral which had been pushed up from the ocean floor to help form the coastline. Thatches of lush greenery sprung from the seemingly hostile rocks and small sandcrabs scrambled about like tiny commuters on their way to and from work."
Vivid descriptions of the landscape, the people, the cuisine, the politics, the racial unrest during the Vietnam war in the military and of his intense training in Shorin-ryu provide the reader with a wealth of information to soak in and digest.
With the writing and the unique perspective he provides in this book, Kyoshi Hayes is able to transport you to Okinawa. Whether your style is Shorin-Ryu or something else entirely, there is something to be learned from this book. Through his retelling of some of his training stories, one can glean so much information that it makes you think about your martial arts training in a way you never have before.
"At that point in your training you are no longer in a position where a "block" is necessary. You also start to understand that the "blocking" motions can now have totally different purposes. Some of the motions may become strikes to selected points on the body or can be used to manipulate the joints-painfully-especially when the timing of the movements is changed along with the angle. These techniques when combined with the real purpose of stances expand your arsenal and the scope of the art itself."
Although it’s a book that can be easily read cover to cover in a matter of days, I found myself slowly reading it chapter by chapter to fully think about the knowledge Kyoshi Hayes was imparting through his writing. I also wanted to make it last longer since it is such an enjoyable and insightful book to read.
His insight regarding traditional karate is authoritative, and with good reason. The evolution of Kyoshi Hayes as a martial artist is apparent in every aspect of this book.
"Okinawan karate was never developed for the purpose of winning tournaments, it was formulated as a means of killing those who deserve to die and as a means of protecting the lives of those who deserve to live. Pretty basic stuff. To be sure, many of the world’s well-known karate tournament champions are students of Okinawan Karate styles but the systems put together on a tiny island of Okinawa were developed so that the practitioner would survive in real combat situations first and foremost. There were no trophies or rules in the early days of real encounters on Okinawa and such encounters required the ultimate in both efficiency and effectiveness."
Kyoshi Hayes is about to have the 6th edition of his book printed and it will be available to purchase directly through the author. For more information about the book or to purchase it directly, send an email to oldstudent1 at cox dot net. The book is available for purchase for $23 (Virginia residents add 4.5% sales tax). You can even request that the author signs the book for you, making it a treasured purchase for years to come.
My only critique of the book is that it wasn’t longer. This is the first book in a long time that I just didn’t want to end. If you’re a martial artist and you haven’t yet read this book, there’s really only one question to ask yourself: Why not?
"My Journey with the Grandmaster" is the "Grandmaster" of martial arts books, and you don’t want to miss it! For the way the book manages to transport you to the beaches and dojo of Okinawa, for the knowledge it imparts unto its readers, and for the way that it completely makes you rethink about every part of your training, BBM gives "My Journey with the Grandmaster" an unprecedented (and highest honor in the martial arts and on this site) red belt:
All excerpts from the book are printed with the authors permission.
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