All posts by Alicia

Food Review + Giveaway: Fisher ‘Nut Exactly’ Dark Chocolate Dipped Snack Bites + $50 Costco Gift Card Giveaway!

April 24, 2014Food and Drink, Giveawaysfood, giveaway, snackAlicia

Every school day when the kids come home they run straight to the kitchen to grab a snack. My daughter will usually pick an orange or strawberries but my son prefers something crunchy which is mostly potato chips or those mixed snacks bags. I have been going over the labels on his snacks with him for the last few months and we both find the sodium and fat content in most of the salty snacks kids eat, alarming, not to mention the artificial flavors and ingredients. Yikes! One of his snacks has 230mg of sodium in one serving which is just 1/2 of a cup!

Fisher Nut Exactly Dark Chocolate Dipped Snack Bites

We were very happy to see that a new snack in our house, Fisher® Nut Exactly, has only 140mg of sodium and a serving is 10 big crunchy pieces! Having something substantial to eat, something that you don’t have to have a handful of to put in your mouth (like smaller snacks), allows you to feel like you’re really eating something, not just shoving a snack in your mouth.

This is Sebastian sitting down so share a bowl of Nut Exactly with his sister. 🙂

He thought he was really funny when Madelyn asked “can I have some?” to which he replied “nut exactly”.. and she was very confused.

At Fisher, they live for the little joyful moments in life that are about taking a break and sharing a bite. They love dreaming up and creating flavor combinations with a fresh twist. We live for morsels, nibbles, things that crunch. This is all right up my son’s ally. Except Fisher has done the work for my son and put an incredible combination of goodness together in one bite size snack, for him!

Fisher Nut Exactly popcorn almond chocolate snack

Each of the ingredients you see above make the delicious snack balls taste divine. My kids love popcorn, almonds, and chocolate so there wasn’t a chance in the world that they wouldn’t like Nut Exactly as you can see in the photo of my daughter devouring a Nut Exactly before I could get a good shot, below.

Fisher Nut Exactly at Costco

Fisher® thought long and hard about what makes the perfect snack. A satisfying crunch, a sweet yet savory taste and unlimited poppablitity. It’s not exactly almonds. It’s not exactly popcorn. It’s not exactly dark chocolate. It’s Nut Exactly. Every bite should leave you coming back for more. With NO artificial ingredients, Fisher Nut Exactly is a flavorful, sweet & savory snack that you can feel good about enjoying.

Fisher Nut Exactly at Costco

Be sure to enter our HTC One max giveaway too!

The best part? More doesn’t feel like too much. It feels like just right. It’s a snack you can feel good about enjoying. It’s a good thing my mom shops at Costco once a week and is kind enough to ask if the kids and I need anything while she’s there. I’ve been saying no for a few years since I discovered online ordering of paper towels, etc.. but now we’re saying yes please, Nut Exactly!

Costco stores throughout the Southeast will also have sampling of Fisher Nut Exactly on April 26th so be sure to drive to your nearest Costco and have a try!

Fisher Nut Exactly will be available at select Costco locations for a limited time beginning April 6, 2014, for $6.99 (15 ounce package).

Win A Fisher Nut Exactly Prize Pack Complete With A $50 Costco Gift Card

One lucky reader of The Mommy Insider will win a Fisher Nut Exactly prize pack that includes:

Fisher Nut Exactly
$50 Costco Gift Card

It is not mandatory to leave a comment to enter this contest but it will get you 10 extra entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries accepted through 11am EST May 9th, 2014. Contest open to U.S. residents ages 18+ only. No P.O. Boxes. The Mommy Insider is not responsible for prize fulfillment and shipping.

5 Little Kid Rolling Travel Bags

April 24, 2014Kid Style, Style Guide, Travelluggage, summer, Travel BagAlicia

With summer break comes summer travel. For families with multiple children, or any children for that matter, it’s nearly impossible for parents to help roll a child’s luggage through the airport when they have their own luggage to carry. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy a travel bag or carry-on luggage made specifically for a child or something that is small and lightweight, at least. Things like luggage height, handle extension, wheels, and pockets should be taken into consideration when shopping for kids luggage.

7 things to consider when shopping for children’s luggage:

Does the bag have wheels? Your child is likely not going to want to carry luggage through an airport or even to and from the car. Luggage with wheels will help everyone stay happy!
Does the luggage handle extend?
Does the bag or luggage have multiple carry options such as rolling and backpack style?
What is the weight of the bag?
Is it small enough to fit under a seat on the plain or in an overhead bin?
If possible, find out what the weight limit is for the bag. The maximum weight limit for a carry-on is around 40 pounds but many airlines only accept bags around 20 pounds so be sure to check before buying for a trip when you’ll be flying.
Does it have exterior pockets? Exterior pockets are good for things like iPods, chargers, crayons, and a water bottle. It’s nice to have quick access to these items while traveling.

These five rolling travel / carry-on size bags are perfect for jet-setting kids!

1 – Kids Travel Zone blue rolling carry-on – $44.99 at Kids Travel Zone
This cute carry-on bag has wheels and can be monogrammed with your child’s name and an image! It is available in 5 colors including blue and pink.
Size: 17″ x 12.5″ x 5.75″

2 – Terrance Trunki by Melissa & Doug – $40
Designed to beat the boredom suffered by traveling tots, Trunki is a hand-luggage sized ride-on suitcase.
Size: Trunki is 18.2 x 8.5 x 12.8 inches

3 – Fairfax Aegean Blue Luggage – $89.50 at Pottery Barn Kids
This adorable luggage can be monogrammed with your child’s name and has heavy-duty metal handles and tough nylon zippers which will help it last for years.
Size: 13″ wide x 7.5″ deep x 17″ high

4 – Navy and Aqua Rolling Luggage – $49.99 at Lillian Vernon
This rolling suitcase is great for the gadget loving child. Chargers and devices can be stored in the side pockets while larger items fit in the main compartment. Can be embroidered with up to 12 characters.
Size: 5″ x 12″ x 16″ H.

5 – Solid FeatherLight™ Wheeled Large Backpack – $89.99 at LandsEnd.com
This lightweight backpack has inline skate wheels that roll smoothly and has adjustable sternum straps to keep the bag in place on the shoulders and support the back.
Size: 19 1/2″Hx13″Wx8″D

Does your child have a travel bag of their own or does he/she use one of your old carry-on bags?

Fashion Roundup: 5 Wedge Sandals I Love

April 23, 2014Fashion & Style, Style GuideShoes, Wedge SandalsAlicia

It’s sandal time! I am pretty tired of wearing close toed shoes. I’ve been wearing ballet flats and mary janes since the beginning of winter and my toes are ready to be free! That also means it’s time to get pedicures.. Mari.. are you reading this? 😉

I am a shortie (5’1″) and have never been a fan of heels because I feel unstable and oddly tall in them but in the last few years I’ve expanded my shoe collection to include a few pairs of wedge sandals and I love that they are comfortable and help me be taller if it is only temporary. I’ve suffered through a winter of flats and am ready to wear wedge sandals again. I almost bought a pair of TOMS wedge booties this winter but didn’t because it felt a little strange to have a close-toe wedge but I think when fall comes this year I’ll be ready. Lucky for me, wedges look good with everything from jeans to leggings to skirts, in my opinion at least. 🙂

Wedge Height

The higher the wedge, the dressier the shoe. I like to keep it casual and relatively low to the ground so I stick with a maximum heel height of 2.5 inches. So far at least.

Wedge Base Material

The most common wedges are wooden and cork but my favorite, the Born Maldives, are leather wrapped. The base of a wedge may be made of a solid piece of wood or cork or it may be hollow inside, which reduces the weight of the shoe, and wrapped in cork or wood. Other wedge base materials include rubber, plastic, leather and canvas. Wooden wedges are typically very cute but you might want to stay away from them if you need super comfortable wedge. Cork wedges are usually very light weight.

wedge sandals - cork, leather, and wooden wedge

1 – Sam & Libby Niles Wedge Sandals – $34.99 at Target.com
These wedges are available in tan and black. They are not sold in stores. From what I’ve read, these wedge sandals fit true to size but are a bit narrow so you should be safe ordering your size. If you have a wide foot, these might not be for you.
Heel height: 2½”
2 – Franco Sarto Doris Gladiator Sandal – $59.95 at DWS.com
This sandal with a 2½” stacked wedge heel is rated “very comfy” by customers on DSW.com and appears to be true to size.
Heel height: 2½”
3 – Born Maldives – $110 at Zappos.com
These are my favorite wedge sandals ever and well worth the price. I have Born Maldives in black and tan and have worn them for two years. The wedge heel of the black and tan pairs are leather wrapped but there are other colors that are cork wrapped which I think look pretty cool.
Heel height: 2½”
4 – Mephisto Minoa – $265 at Zappos.com
Shoes from this tried and true brand are sure to be comfy but Mephisto’s style hasn’t always been my favorite. I do like these sandals though. A bit of glimmer makes these wedge sandals dressy but the cork and latex footbed dress them down a bit. These sandals are available in four colors.
Heel height: 2″
5 – TOMS Canvas Wedge Sandal – $68 at Nordstrom.com
These win the top prize, but there really isn’t a prize, for wedge sandals.. for this post at least. 🙂 You can’t beat $68 for a pair of comfortable wedges especially knowing that when you buy a pair, TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need.
Heel height: 4″

Happy wedge shopping!

I Am A Sprint Ambassador! Let’s Celebrate With A HTC One max Giveaway!

April 22, 2014Brand Ambassador, Gadgets, Giveaways, Technology#SprintMom, giveaway, HTC, smartphone, Sprint, Sprint AmbassadorAlicia

If you are a regular reader of The Mommy Insider (and my gadget blog) you know how much I LOVE gadgets and technology. I can’t get enough of the geniusness that is smartphones, tablets, streaming devices, and ereaders. Many people point out that kids spend too much time on smartphones, tablets or watching tv but I know that it is a parent’s job to stay on top of how much time our kids spend on these devices and that they can be very beneficial to our children when used and monitored properly! That being said, I am thrilled to announce that I am a Sprint Ambassador! During that time I am going to share my experiences testing various Sprint devices and service options with you.

Everyday we rely on our cell carrier such as Sprint to get us information we need when we’re on the go.

Our cell carrier gives us, including our kids, access to educational information that you and I would have had to search a 10 pound hard-back encyclopedia for when we were kids, even when we’re at ball practice at a field in the middle of nowhere.
Our cell carrier gives our kids access to educational games during long summer vacation road trips.
Our cell carrier helps us find the closest rest area when we’re on an unfamiliar highway and the kids really need to “go” using map apps.
Our cell carrier lets parents send a photo of our child’s band performance, during the performance, to family hundreds of miles away without wi-fi.
Our cell carrier lets us text our teen when we’re running late and need him to put dinner in the oven.

Kids and parents lead busy lives. Our cell carrier provides us with data when wi-fi isn’t available such as when we’re on the road, at a ball game, or at our child’s school. Cell carriers such as Sprint give us or our child access to the dictionary when our child needs to study vocabulary in the parking lot of her brother’s ball game, or when you’re at a store and you want to compare the price of a TV to the same one at an online store. These are just a couple of times we count on the data our cell carrier provides.

While cell carriers give us access to important data services, there has still been the issue of having the ability to call family and friends without breaking the bank. Something that I and many consumers have had with cell carriers in the past has been that while customers can put their family on a family-plan, the carrier doesn’t extend family to those who the customer might call every day such as their mother, brother, friend, or co-worker. The Sprint Framily Plan has changed the family-plan game.

What does Framily mean?

Framily =

Friends. Family Members. Co-Workers. Soccer Team Coach. You get it.

With the Sprint Framily plan, you and up to 10 friends, family members, and even coworkers and parents from the soccer team can be a part of a Framily group with unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data each, while on the Sprint network. Did you know that 1GB could get you 52 hours on Facebook, 11 TV episodes, over 40,000 email views, 12 hours of Skype, or over 100 hours of web surfing? Nice, right? If 1GB of data isn’t enough for you, you can always upgrade to 3GB or unlimited data while on a Sprint Framily plan.

Each of the members on the Framily plan receives a separate bill with no annual service contracts or early termination fees, all for as little as $25 a month per line when you have 7 – 10 members in the Framily group.

There are several people that I talk to regularly who are not in my immediate family and would be a great fit for a Sprint Framily plan such as my sister, my dad, and a few of my closest friends.

You might be saying to yourself.. but my friends aren’t with Sprint.

Under contract with another carrier? No worries!

You love saving money and having the latest gadgets, right? You’re in luck because for a limited time, new Sprint customers can bring their current cell number to Sprint and sign up for a Sprint Framily plan, receive up to $300 in credit for their current phone AND a Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $350 to cover those switching fees. This exclusive offer is available at Sprint stores and online at Sprint.com now through May 8th 2014.

To kick-off my #SprintMom Brand Ambassadorship, Sprint is giving an HTC one Max to one of my readers!

About The HTC One max Smartphone:

The HTC One max smartphone offers users a massive screen with a 5.9-inch display and amped speakers for watching videos or viewing pictures on the go. The feature-rich camera offers users the ability to take photos with a fun, artistic flair, and gives users news recommendations based on likes on social media, for breaking news that matters most to them.

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor
Massive 5.9 inch display
Amped speakers for watching videos
Feature-rich camera offers users the ability to take photos with a fun, artistic flair.
Camera also gives users news recommendations based on likes on social media, for breaking news that matters most to them.
HTC BlinkFeed™: Create your own automatic updating home screen.
Up to 40% faster battery charging.
Backside sensor panel unlocks the phone with the swipe of a finger.

Giveaway Terms:

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and older. Giveaway closes on May 4th at 10am EST. The winner has 24 hrs to respond via email. Due to time sensitivity, if winner does not respond within allotted time, another random winner may be chosen. The Mommy Insider is not responsible for the shipping and/or fulfillment of the prize. Learn more about the HTC One max here.

Let’s get on with it!

You are not required to leave a comment to enter this contest, but it will get you 10 extra entries.

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Toy Roundup: 6 Self-Contained Travel Toys Great For Summer Road Trips

April 21, 2014Toys, Travelsummer, Travel ToysAlicia

Every once in a while I stumble upon an online children’s store that is extraordinary. Today I found AlexandAlexa when searching for travel toys for road trips. With summer road trips coming up I am desperate to find new toys and activities that will keep Madelyn occupied during our long car rides.
I appreciate simple, classic toys; whether that’s for Madelyn’s sake or my own I don’t know. I love seeing Madelyn play with toys that I might have played with 30+ years ago including the super fabulous Fisher Price Two Tune TV pictured below.

Your child will have a wonderful time during your next road trip discovering and creating new pretend worlds and scenarios with these and other classic-style travel toys available at AlexandAlexa. What’s better is that each toy I put in the round up photo and list below comes with its own storage box or a handle for easy play and clean-up! There’s not much better than easy clean up after a long road trip right?

These six toys for boys and girls make great travel companions/toys whether on a road trip or down the street to Grandma’s house for the weekend.

1. Farm in a Suitcase – $54
2. The Little Closet Suitcase with two Soft Toys – $82
3. Fisher-Price Two Tune TV – $48
4. My Vanity Case – $35
5. Lego Junior House Suitcase – $32
6. Melissa & Doug Billy The Superhero Dress-Up Set – $16

There are the online stores (Amazon.com, for example) that we go to to get *everything* but when we need ideas like for birthday gifts, something for the pretend-play aficionado or the child who wants to be fully immersed in the world of his/her favorite superhero, there are online toy stores like AlexandAlexa. – Alicia

AlexandAlexa offers over 200 coveted international fashion, sportswear and toy brands, from the traditional to the cutting-edge. I’ll definitely be returning soon to find birthday gifts for my soon-to-be 8 year old, Madelyn.