Last weekend I went to the Mom 2.0 conference. As is typical of these, attendees got to sample various products.

Prior to the conference, I was most excited about getting a chance to wear a hot-pink bowtie to a derby-themed party. (I got the bowtie at CY Design Studio.) On my "to do" list for packing, I wrote "buy pink lipstick!" But, I never got around to it. I was therefore thrilled to find pixi lip twin and nail polish in vibrant pink shades. ("pink peony" for the lips; "summer pink" for the nails.) My toes were already painted a fine fuschia, so I haven't yet tried the pixi nail polish, but I'm totally smitten with the soft texture and gorgeous color of the pixi "succulent lip twin." Succulent, indeed! I love the color and how it looks on me, and it feels fabulous. (I haven't yet tried it as a cheek tint.)


I had never heard of pixi prior to Mom 2.0, but I'm very happy we've now been introduced! Browsing their site, I see several different products that I'm eager to try.

The morning after the fabulous derby party, I hung around the hotel long enough to need breakfast, but not in the mood to spend mucho dinero purchasing a hotel meal. Thankfully, I had various products I had picked up throughout the weekend, like a Starbucks Refresher and a granola bar from Minute Clinic (which is coming to the SF Bay Area soon!) I adored the sparkling raspberry-pomegranate refresher in a can, but I must admit I wasn't so smitten with the raspberry-lemonade VIA sample I drank once I was back home. The former was tasty and refreshing (and I love that it has green coffee extract to give a little kick!) but the latter tasted a bit more like a "diet drink" to me. I'll try the raspberry-pomegranate VIA to see if that appeals to me.

I also sampled a Vita Coco coconut water with pineapple. A few months ago I had tried plain coconut water and really didn't like it. The addition of pineapple definitely makes it more palatable, although pineapple juice and I haven't really been friends since the days when I complained to my mom that the juice in those metal cans tasted like "noodles." (I happen to like noodles, so I'm not sure what my toddler brain was thinking.)

Vita Coco has plenty of other flavors that I might be more interested in, though, like Acai & Pom and Tropical Fruit. I heard fellow Mom 2.0 attendees rave about Coco Cafe Coconut Water Cafe Latte. (They also have Mocha Latte and Vanilla Latte.) Alas, these espresso-based coconut water drinks were gone when I tried to get a sample. And, so far my efforts to find them at my local store have turned up empty. But, I can try them on Amazon if I like.

Of course there are plenty of other products I had a chance to try at Mom 2.0, but the above are those which "saved the day" both Saturday night and Sunday morning!

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I am an Amazon affiliate. Other products mentioned I obtained at Mom 2.0 for free with a hope from the brands that I'd note them, but with no further compensation for mentioning them.

Last week the temperature reached 89. It was amazing to get out tank tops and not hear the heater kicking on first thing in the morning. Our local swim club did its "work day" in anticipation of next weekend's opening - a date that originally I thought was ridiculous since when it was announced  I was still keeping the seat-warmers on in my van. (Of course just to be difficult, the weather decided to be in the 40's this morning.)

I'm not being compensated for announcing this, but I thought it was pretty darn cool:

I am thrilled that Camp Galileo has asked my kids to return for another year!

For the past two years, Camp G and Galileo's Summer Quest have been a big part of my boys' summer adventure:

The first year it was a dream come true for my older son, who really wanted to go to video design camp. We were so excited when we discovered Summer Quest has a video game design major! (He then went on to do the advanced video game design major the following year.) He conquered his fears of new situations in order to study a subject he adores. He uses the tools he acquired at Summer Quest every day.

The second year was of special significance to my younger son, who adored the real-life applications of the Camp G themes. He studied the Golden Gate Bridge at camp, and now sports a Golden Gate Bridge poster on his wall. He also walked across the Golden Gate Bridge with his family. And of course, he adored the "Galileo Olympics" theme, because we attended the Olympic Trials for gymnastics and of course adored watching the main event.

This year, Camp Galileo has four new themes to incite innovation: Medieval Adventure, African Safari, Galileo Amusement Park, and Space Odyssey. Deciding which to select is going to be tough! I think my younger son will lean towards the latter two, but he may surprise me!

Galileo Summer Quest offers 14 majors in four different categories: Arts Academy, High Technology, Culinary Arts, and Builders and Movers. Chose from topics like Digital Photography, Chefology, and Website Design. And for those Mario Kart enthusiasts like my older son? Design your card in the Go-Kart Builders major, then refine and rebuilt it in Go-Karts Extreme!

Camp G is at 38 camp locations around the Bay Area, so there is probably one near you. I highly encourage Northern CA folks to check out Galileo Camps. They really are fantastic! Not just fun, Galileo Camps are truly educational. (But ask the kids, and they'll say it is pure entertainment!)

Special Deals:

Refer a new friend to camp, and you both save $25: Use code 2013GLRAF

Sign up by Feb 28th and receive $20/off each week!

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Disclaimer: Galileo will pay for one week of summer camp in exchange for my promotion of their program. (I will receive no further compensation or commission should any of my readers sign up.) Two years ago I had already paid for Camp G before they approached me, so it was a natural fit. Since then, I've paid for additional weeks of camp on my own dime, since I'm such a fan of the program!

I'm not really a collector. I like "cute" things, but so much out there is just plain silly and/or cheap-looking. But, when I learned about Wee Forest Folk, I immediately requested a sample. These adorable miniatures are high-quality castings of clay sculptures that are then meticulously hand-painted. The laborious process to create these beautiful, tiny works of art is all done in New England, right here in the good ol' U.S.A. It is therefore fitting that the amazing piece I received is titled "Homegrown Stars & Stripes."

Isn't he adorable? I love the little tail: it is actually leather!

Wee Forest Folk has a wide variety of sculptures available to celebrate any event or mood. From depicting music lessons to dancing, a garden gnome to a weight-lifter, just about every interest is profiled. I'm especially smitten with "Miss Bobbin Online" for obvious reasons! (She is pictured below, at right.) Of course there are Wee Forest Folk figurines available for every holiday. The Valentine's Day mice are adorably affectionate, the Halloween sculptures are sugary sweet, and of course the Christmas scenes depict a true winter wonderland.

The detail of each sculpture is incredible: not only are the mice themselves beautifully constructed, but the tiny accessories are intricate and charming.

Visit Wee Forest Folk's website, Wee Forest Folk on Facebook, and of course, check out Wee Forest Folk on Pinterest to see the latest sculptures.

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Disclaimer: Thank you to Wee Forest Folk for "Homegrown Stars & Stripes." I treasure it. I will receive no further compensation or commission should my readers purchase a figurine.

My son's first day of a video-game designing class happened to be a day of a major freeway detour. My ahead-of-time route planning was in vain. I quickly exited at the next possible opportunity, but found myself on a hill, surrounded by trees. I had both my tablet and smartphone, but neither received cell service. My son nearly started to cry because he definitely didn't want to be late. I pulled out my very old portable navigation system and hooked that up. After driving around awhile, the navigation kicked in and we thankfully made it to the class on time.

My panic probably could have been avoided if I had CoPilot Live at the time. One of their main features is that maps are stored on the device, so lack of cellphone service isn't a problem. I could have found the way to class. Even better, had I activated ActiveTraffic, my CoPilot would have directed me the fastest way based on traffic conditions.

The downside of housing the maps internally is that they take up space on your device; but better to have them available in the event of an emergency. Thankfully, each download is specific to your region; so only download what you require for your trip. If you need additional maps, download more! (And delete those you don't need.) CoPilot Live includes maps all over the world; so this navigation system isn't just for your local adventures.

The CoPilot Live people provided me a trial of their Premium membership for the purposes of review. Initially I had some difficulty downloading the app (through redemption of the review code; a problem which will not occur with the average consumer.) I was exceptionally impressed with those who assisted me in troubleshooting. Perusing their website, I see that customer service responds to user comments, which indicates that my positive experience with their assistance wasn't just because they knew I'd be writing about them.

I have two favorite features of CoPilot Live:

The first is that the search function is very easy, quickly locating exactly what I'm looking for. Although this includes standard categories like "food" or "gas," the general function is good for if you aren't sure what category your query actually belongs in. For example, in competitor's navigational systems, "Sid's Golf Funhouse" might be under "entertainment" or "golf." It can get frustrating to keep trying the same search, but switching categories. But in CoPilot Live, I can just type in "Sid's Golf Funhouse" and get directions immediately. For fun, I typed in "gymnastics" and my son's gym popped up; nice! Oh, and looking for a gas station? CoPilot Live will show you the nearest gas stations, but with a nifty add-on, it will also show you the nearby gas prices, so you'll get the best deal.

The second of my favorite features of CoPilot Live is the very clear map view with gigantic arrows showing the direction of the upcoming turn. Flat maps are sometimes difficult to follow, especially if they don't "rotate" with the vehicle, while completely "straight-ahead" maps are difficult to follow in their own way. (And then there are those fun-house mirror maps that appeared on the scene with the latest iOs "upgrade.")

CoPilot Live's maps are at a comfortable angle for viewing. The miles to the next turn, total miles left, and estimated time of arrival are all clearly listed at the bottom. Of course, the voice navigation (choose male or female) will keep your eyes on the road. But, we all know that sometimes we need to glance at the information about the next turn. Besides, such clear information at a glance makes it easy for a backseat driver to just read off the information to cue the driver with the desired information. (And, said backseat driver can answer her own question as to just how long it will be until "we get there.")

I did notice that it appeared the positioning was off at the beginning and end of the navigation (for example: the navigation thought I was on the street behind my house rather than my street,) but that might be a function of my aging tablet rather than a function of CoPilot Live. I tried out this app on a Galaxy Tab, but have recently obtained an iPad. CoPilot Live is available for iPhone, iPad 3G, and Android.

Don't get lost on your way to important destinations, particularly this holiday season!

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Disclaimer: I was given a CoPilot Live subscription for purposes of review. My words are my own. I will receive no further compensation nor commission from CoPilot Live.

A couple years ago, we joined a CSA. We wanted fresh fruits and veggies, and wanted to support our local farms. Unfortunately, one side effect of having produce void of the various preservative sprays the supermarket may use to prolong shelf-life is that our big bundle of beautiful organic food quickly wilts or molds, unless used immediately.

I was happy to receive an Ozonator Green Refrigerator Machine from MomSelect. This little gadget isn't very large, but advertises a big impact. Ozone is the natural way our planet cleans our environment. It destroys undesirable materials present in our food, air, and water before reverting to oxygen. The product insert explains that The Green Refrigerator Machine promotes a clean environment inside my refrigerator by killing harmful organisms and by elimating many odors. This delays the molding and decay of foods.

It was easy to activate my Ozonator Green Refrigerator Machine. I placed it on the top shelf of my refrigerator as recommended, and bought some veggies. Of course, I couldn't do a side-by-side comparison of the vegetables I bought in a fridge with the Ozonator versus in a fridge without one; however, I can report that the veggies still look great several days later. More impressive, perhaps, is that three days ago I bought tons of Chinese food, yet today there is no "leftover smell" eeking from the not-yet-finished containers. (Yeah, I should probably throw it out, anyway.)

I'm pleasantly surprised that the Ozonator is doing its job. I'm much happier having a small Ozonator in my fridge than purchasing preservative-filled food or spraying my veggies with who-knows-what to retain their color.

Thanks to MomSelect, I have an affiliate link in the event that you fabulous readers are interested in getting your own Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator. (Of course, I'll get a little dough in return; but the dough will take longer to mold! Er, maybe that's not the best analogy. Seriously, though, the Ozonator appears to be working quite well in my fridge!)

Be sure to check out Ozonator, the Green Refrigerator Machine's Facebook Page for more information about the product and for tips on how to be an environmental hero. (Keep your eye out on Facebook for Ozonator giveaways, too!)

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Disclaimer: As noted above, this review was faciliated by MomSelect. I received an Ozonator in exchange for this review, and will receive a small commission should any of you fabulous readers decided to purchase an Ozonator through my affiliate link. (If you don't want to use my link, simply go to www.ozonator.com to buy, and for more information!)

Ah, December: 'Tis the Season of holiday parties and hostess gifts. Of course the go-to gift is wine, which means 'Tis the Season for Wine! I love bringing a bottle of wine to someone's house, especially if it is from an unexpected vineyard or unusual varietal.

Last month I gushed about the California Wine Club. This month's shipment from www.cawineclub.com came with two wines dressed for the holidays. Both are slathered with award stickers.

This month's offerings are a 2009 Merlot and a 2011 Chenin Blanc, both from Daniel Gehrs. The California Wine Club's Uncorked magazine shows a photograph of winemaker Dan Gehrs posing with California Wine Club founders Pam and Bruce Boring, along with his motorcycle. See, winemakers aren't stuffy folks: Dan and his wife Robin apparently embarked on a cross-country motorcycle trip shortly after the photo was snapped. Uncorked also included a prime rib recipe from Daniel Gehrs Wines. Mmmmm, prime rib! I'm also salivating over two other recipes included in Uncorked this month: Shitake Mushroom & Fontina Crostini and Blue Cheese Mousse Parfait.

Continue reading "Give 'em More than Just one Bottle" »

I'm not really a "buy a card at the grocery store" type person because many of those greetings are pretty impersonal, especially those with a long poem. After all, I didn't write that poem, so it isn't really "from me." Of course, I guess if I wrote it in my handwriting and still credited the poet, I'd feel satisfied, because at least I did something other than sign my name.

My one exception to the store-bought cards is humor cards. Those are funny. I can't come up with jokes, so those are A-OK in my book.

I've looked at some of the "send personalized email" sites with interest. I love the personalized aspect of it, but I still want something tangible. I typically don't send "thank you" notes via email, for example, no matter how "stylized" through a website. (Confession: I've sent email greetings to myself and then printed them out to send to the real recipient through snail mail.)

So, I've got to admit feeling pretty happy that I found treat, an off-shoot of Tiny Prints. I've been a Tiny Prints fan for awhile, and of course our holiday cards are from tiny prints. I love being able to incorporate photos of my kids in the cards, and use our names in the graphic design.

But ordering 150 holiday cards is much different than if you have a single card to create for a single person.

Or at least, it used to be different.

Many years ago, I used to print out personalized cards for other occasions. I loved the idea of having a card whose design incorporated the recipient and/or me and my family. That is exactly what treat does, but with far better print quality than my old printer, and on nice professional cardstock, unlike the thin stuff I've got here at home.

I've got a special discount for you: use code TREATBLOGR to receive a free card from treat.

The code is only good today (November 19) and tomorrow (November 20,) so you'd better get on it!

My birthday is Wednesday, so perhaps you'd like to send me a birthday card? Or better yet, think about who is hosting your Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, and create your thank-you card now. (That way you know it will arrive shortly after the meal gets in your belly!)

Or, maybe you've been meaning to send a card to your kid's soccer coach even though the season ended three weeks ago. Or your birthday was a month ago and you haven't yet thanked Aunt Gertrude for that awesome sweater. (What better way to thank your dear Auntie than to send her a card with you wearing the sweater on it!?) There are plenty of different cards for a myriad of occasions, so think about who you'd like to connect with in a personal way this week.

Seriously - now is your chance: Use TREATBLOGR today or tomorrow to get your free card.

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Disclaimer: I will receive credit in my treat account so that I can send some cards for free. The opinions/words above are my own.