Summer Fun at Raging Waters in Sacramento

My family's summer bucket list this year includes many outdoor activities. Since the California heat can get pretty toasty, outdoor activities with water are a must-have on our list. Buddy has been begging us to take him to a water park, so I'm really excited to say that we're planning a day to visit Raging Waters very soon!

 I will receive complimentary passes for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Raging Waters is Sacramento’s largest water park featuring more than 25 exhilarating water attractions, breathtaking slides, and fun-filled activities for children and adults of all ages.

Photo courtesy of Raging Waters Sacramento.

Raging Waters is a fun family destination this summer for locals and out-of-towners too. Join the fun in the sun (and in the water!) with your friends and family at this fantastic water park. Memories with your family await you at Raging Waters this summer! 

Photo courtesy of Raging Waters Sacramento.

I'm way overdue for a day at a water park. I have not visited one in over 10 years! We’re super excited to cool off, hang out, get a little sun (safely) and have fun. Stay tuned for my review next month.

Special Offer: Use code 40128 to get $8 off of the $31.99 General Admission gate price when you purchase your tickets on Raging Water Sac’s online site, rwsac.com!
 

Trade in Your Alarm Clock for the Rise&Smile App #hellohumankindness

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Dignity Health. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you ever looked forward to your alarm going off in the morning? Me neither, until I downloaded the free Rise&Smile mobile app. I was actually so excited to hear the alarm go off that I was just setting alarms to go off randomly when I first downloaded it. True story.

I've tried a number of sleep alarms from a digital one on the nightstand, several popular paid apps, the built in iPhone app and even vibrating wristbands. Let's just say I hate them all because I'm just not a morning person. Nope. So, the Rise&Smile app is the next best thing to get me in a good mood first thing in the morning.

This short video is a great overview of how the Rise&Smile app works. Basically it's like any typical alarm clock app, except for one excellent feature. Users wake up to messages of kindness from absolute strangers from around the world! Then you can record you own kindhearted, short 6-10 second "Vine" style videos that others see as they wake up too. Spread some human kindness! 

Dignity Health, makers of the Rise&Smile app, believes the world would be a kinder place if we all began the day in a good mood. After all, human interaction and connection has been proven to lead to better health. With such an awful couple weeks for our family recently (yep, I've been a bit MIA), I couldn't agree more with the need to strengthen our human connection and focus on the good things. So, wouldn't it be nice to start off your day on the right foot? I think this app is just the ticket.

Your Rise&Smile app alarm will go off at whatever time you set it. It immediately begins playing videos, and continues the same several random videos until you turn off the alarm. This literally makes me want to open my eyes to see what fun videos are coming my way in the morning! To give you an example, I got an alarm once with someone trying to wake up their cute puppy and another with a little boy on the beach saying it was time to wake up and another with a group of baristas at Starbucks saying good morning. So cute and definitely a refreshing way to wake up.

Here's an example video we created! Buddy and I had a lot of fun creating some videos for the Rise&Smile app. I personally love seeing videos of kids pop up in my alarms, so I knew I had to make sure Buddy was in ours too. In reality we had fun spending quality time together while spreading happiness to others as we did this. It doesn't get much better than that folks!

Recording a Rise&Smile video is very easy and works similarly to recording a Vine video. The tough part is finding a way to be creative and unique so you can be inspiring to the lucky recipients of your finished clip! Each submitted video is screened for quality before being shared with the general unsuspecting population too.

I think its so cool to be part of new trends and products that help make the world a better and kinder place. So get on the bandwagon with the Rise&Smile app and let's spread some kindness. The Rise&Smile app can be downloaded onto any Android or iOS device from iTunes or Google Play. Remember, this app is free!

For more information of Dignity Health's mission to spread human kindness, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or at Hellohumankindness.org.

 

Anthropologie :: $200 Gift Card Giveaway {Ends 6/2}

 
We have an amazing giveaway for all of you out there with an Anthropologie addiction! We’re giving away a $200 Anthropologie gift card to one of our fabulous readers… and it just might be you. You can enter daily over the next 2 weeks and earn bonus entries by sharing the giveaway with your friends on social media. Good luck!

Organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Co-hosts: Style by Alina ♥ Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog ♥ Alex à la mode ♥ Lush to Blush ♥  Becoming Fab ♥ Simply Sinova ♥ The Reynolds Mom ♥ Fashionably Lo ♥ Comfortably Young ♥ Studio One Eighteen ♥ Some of This and That ♥ Pink Cupcakes & Paper

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

Win It!

One winner will receive a $200 Anthropologie Gift Card!

Stonyfield YoBaby, YoToddler & YoKids Organic Yogurt Pouches

I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Stonyfield. I received coupons to facilitate my shopping trip and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Stonyfield has been a brand that my family has bought for several years. We especially enjoy adding their organic whole milk plain yogurt to our smoothies, and occasionally throw their YoKids Squeezers in the freezer for a special treat.  

New to the Stonyfield line of products is YoBaby, YoToddler, and YoKids organic yogurt pouches! All of the Stonyfield organic yogurt pouches contain pure organic ingredients and never any high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors.

These are the first refrigerated yogurt pouches available on the market, and I'm glad to see that they're from an organic brand my family already trusts and enjoys. Buying organic is very important to my family, especially when it comes to Buddy. I want to provide him with healthy, nutritious foods that are non-GMO and don't contain toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Buddy has loved organic fruit puree pouches since he was a toddler, so naturally, he loves the YoKids yogurt pouches too. Our Whole Foods Market currently only carries the YoKids Strawberry Banana, (they come in Blueberry and Strawberry too) so that's the one and only one we were able to try. It's definitely tasty and heck, who says mom can't pick up one for herself too? They're great!

In a pinch I can give Buddy a YoKids yogurt pouch as we head out the door and not worry about what his car seat looks like when we reach our destination. What a mess-free, convenient way for kids to enjoy yogurt.

Our family prefers to drink and eat whole milk dairy products. I noticed that the YoBaby and YoToddler yogurt pouches are made with whole milk and the YoKids ones are made with lowfat milk. While I'm glad they are not fat free, I do wish the YoKids yogurt pouches were made with whole milk. Just my personal preference, of course.

Stonyfield organic yogurt pouches are perfect for grabbing and running out the door for school, errands and appointments. Visit Stonyfield online to use the store locator to find the new organic yogurt pouches near you. Connect with Stonyfield on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

 

Brittanie's Thyme :: Pamper Your Skin with Certified Organic Skincare

As a strictly natural mom, I don't put just anything on my skin. And when I find a product that I absolutely love, I stick with it and tell the world I love it too. With Mother's Day in less than a week, I can't think of a better time to tell my fans about a rave-worthy skincare line that you, and your mom will love.

 I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

For over a year I've used Brittanie's Thyme certified organic skincare every single day. I was introduced to this brand through my blog, and you might recall that I wrote a review of their products back then, too. Today I'm happy to say Brittanie's Thyme is still my absolute favorite skincare brand.

These are my favorite tried and true products from Brittanie's Thyme. As a 3-step system for my normal but often all-over-the-map skin, they seem to keep my complexion perfectly balanced.

Organic Citrus Facial Cleanser 4oz {$15}
Organic Balancing Facial Toner 4oz {$13}
Organic Everyday Facial Moisturizer 2 oz {$20}

The soap-free, oil-based cleanser is fantastic, and doesn't dry me out or leave me with an oily mess. Instead my skin feels hydrated and fresh. This toner is, well, balancing! I think it's really kept my pores in check, and offers a gentle tightening of the skin. With aloe and shea butter, the moisturizer provides my skin with a final drink of nourishment prior to applying my make-up.

In March, Brittanie's Thyme launched a whole new look to compliment their gluten-free, vegan skincare line. I LOVE the new design and am glad to finally have it in my hands! I think it's warm, fresh, and inviting.

With this new look, Brittanie's Thyme also melded their three lines into one, and implemented color codes to help aide customers with product selection. Choose from cleansers, toners, moisturizers, cremes, serums, masks, scrubs and more! Their wonderful product formulas have not changed, but it's now a simpler, easier process to choose the right products based on your skin type.

Normal (green)

Sensitive/dry (yellow)

Trouble/oily (orange)

The new color codes can be seen above on the three products I received. With this easy color-coded system, full ingredient disclosure (oh and they're great!), and a large product list to select from, your skin is in great hands with Brittanie's Thyme. 

Made in the USA, USDA Certified Organic, no harmful chemicals, and simply nourishing, healthy ingredients. Brittanie's Thyme are formulated with ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for truly gentle skincare for all. 

Brittanie's Thyme skincare products can be purchased at independent retailers nationwide, in select Whole Foods Markets, in many naturpathic physicians' offices, or online at BrittaniesThyme.com.
 

Win It!

One winner will receive the three products I use everyday, a $48 value!!

Organic Citrus Facial Cleanser 4oz
Organic Balancing Facial Toner 4oz
Organic Everyday Facial Moisturizer 2 oz

Keeping Cool with the Ozeri Brezza III Dual Oscillating 10" Desk Fan

With temperatures in the 90's this week, I'm suddenly reminded that summer is practically here for California. Warm days have begun!

We have several hot spots in our south-facing home, so planning my day accordingly helps us avoid the need to start running our A/C this early in the year. But ultimately, having a portable fan is the best option to keep cool indoors on these warm days so I can continue my daily tasks, uninterrupted by the heat.

I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Let's face it. Plugging in a desk fan saves a lot more energy than running the A/C. When given the opportunity to review the Ozeri Brezza III Dual Oscillating 10" Desk Fan, I jumped at the chance. We use it mostly in our schoolroom/office and bedroom. It has a ton of great features, and even has a remote.

Dual Oscillation
This fan moves air with power and great efficacy when using it's dual oscillation options. The Brezza III can rotate from side to side or even up and down. Choose to run both of these simultaneously, one at a time or neither.

Speed
There are four air speeds: Quiet, 1-low, 2-medium and 3-high. With our old desk fan, I had only two options, and both were incredibly loud and not even that powerful. With the Brezza III, the Quiet mode is really quiet and has just a slight white noise effect (which is helpful if you're using it in your bedroom as you sleep). Level 1 is still relatively quiet, while 2 and 3 actually get progressively louder. I haven't found the need the go past a 2 very often though, and typically just stick with Quiet.

Timer
This fan can be programmed to turn off after up to four hours. I haven't needed to use this feature, but I imagine it would be helpful in certain situations.

Control Panel
The Brezza III can be controlled via the control panel, or remote. It's such an easy fan to quickly figure out, and so it really doesn't require much explanation. Simply press the desired button to turn on or off the desired feature. You may notice the horizontal slot on the control panel above. This is where you can place the remote so you don't lose it! 

Remote
The inclusion of a remote is one of my favorite features of the Brezza III. Since we took the ceiling out of our bedroom and haven't replaced it yet, I've been using the Brezza III at night to circulate the air and keep us cool (opening windows is not a great option during allergy season!). I can place the fan across the room and still control it as needed without getting up. PERFECT.

My one and only desire for the next Brezza model is that it would have an option to turn off the loud beep that occurs when you turn the fan on and off, or press any button at all. At night, that's a quick way to disturb light sleepers. In an office setting, I imagine it might bother some co-workers.

The Brezza III is a full-featured desk fan with all the desired bells and whistles every small fan should have, without sacrificing power. It's been perfect for my family as we move to warmer weather in the coming months. When combining the high speed and dual oscillation features, cooling off a room is quick and easy.

You can purchase the Ozeri Brezza III Dual Oscillating 10" Desk Fan on Amazon.com for $58.95.