Family * Travel * Food

10 Trends that need to be left in 2013

There are so many things that have been abused in 2013 that I really think should stay in 2013.

  1. Wearing leggings as pants. I won't go into details with this one. I'm over it. 
  2. Inserting the word "really" too many times in conversation. It is the most overused word of 2013. PLEASE stop it. 
  3. Women and teenage girls and their 1,238,749,739 selfies All. Day. Long. We know what you look like. Obviously you love yourself. Narcissistic much?  
  4. The mustache trend started a few years ago and I would love to see it go away for good. 
  5. Over-sharing on social media. When you have to post the events of your life from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep, you have a problem! 
  6. Duck lips. I know it's nothing new. 
  7. Re-posting videos that exploit children. I don't need to see any toddler in a diaper nasty dancing. It's not cute! 
  8. The phrase "turn up" can die.
  9. Bitstrips. It was so cute for the first week. Very cute. Then all the people of the world jumped on the Bitstrips bandwagon. 
  10. Instagram followers that sell "skinny wraps". No thank you. *block*
Please add anything you want to see gone before we head into 2014. 

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Strangest Celebrity Deaths

Although death is an inevitable part of life, some of us don’t like to think about our own mortality. In choosing to write a will, we can prepare our families for that unexpected time, and we will be safe in the knowledge that they will be cared for. We all have to prepare for the unexpected, like some of these stories from the celebrity world tell is.

Natalie Wood

The famous West Side Story star’s death in 1981 was judged as accidental drowning; however, even to this day, her death is shrouded in mystery. Away on a weekend boat trip with her husband, Robert Wagner and the actor Christopher Walken, it is generally believed that some foul play is involved in her death. Talk of alcohol fueled arguments on the boat the night before, as well as bruises found on her body has led many conspiracy theorists to believe that this death was no accident. Almost 30 years later, her death was changed to ‘undetermined’ after a review of the case; however, questions remain.

Brandon Lee

Like his father, Bruce Lee, Brandon echoed his father’s footsteps by exiting the world at a similarly young age in 1993 (Bruce was 32, Brandon 28). Unlike his father, Brandon Lee was killed on a film set, when a gun prop contained an actual bullet. His death was ruled accidental, but inevitably succumbed to continued conspiracy theories about he and his father’s death.

Steve Irwin

Despite living and working with the world’s most dangerous animals, it was a stingray attack in 2006 that killed the notorious ‘Crocodile Hunter’ in a bizarre accident. Whilst filming a documentary about the ocean’s deadliest animals, a stingray approached Irwin while he was snorkeling and pierced him in the chest with its tail spine (believed to be a defensive reaction). He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the charismatic wildlife expert was mourned worldwide as well as in his native Australia.
Many deaths remain unpredictable, yet some will remain unexplained. Though we probably won’t succumb to any of these incidents, it is always wise to remain prepared for death by writing a will. Whilst you might not hold the fortune of these celebrities, yours is still valuable and needs to be taken care of. If you fear that any problems might arise surrounding your will, you should contact specialists like http://www.disputingwills.co.uk immediately.


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Check out the Minted 2013 Holiday Card Collection


I feel like the holiday season has gotten here so quickly and it almost feels like time is running out. I do my best to always show family and friends that I am thinking about them at Christmas and New Year's through a greeting card. Nothing says "I care" more than personal photos and sweet messages. Minted offers so many options for every taste from their 2013 holiday card collection. We did not have time to take any organized holiday photos this year so I thought about a collage of photos from different occasions we took throughout the year. I think this one below would be a great choice. I love how you can personalize your family's name as well as the colors.
I have noticed the hot trend in holiday cards have been the Ornament cards. How adorable is this one? Makes me wish everyone sent these out! They would be so cute in our Christmas tree.
Minted.com has such a user friendly platform. It makes the stress of ordering cards less of a headache. I love the variety, color options and styles. There is still plenty of time to order those cards. Check out Minted on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

I will receive a thank you code redeemable for items from Minted.com for spreading the word about their 2013 Holiday Card Collection. 
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Make your own LEGO Minifigure Family

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LEGO for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are any of your kids a fan of LEGO building sets? My daughters loved them when they were younger and my son is really getting into them lately. He has a LEGO kit in mind and is hoping Santa will leave it under the tree for Christmas. LEGO has the neatest site called LEGO Minifigure Family. You can make your very own LEGO family! The site is so easy to use and not only were we able to create each family member, we also got to include our pet. We could never leave out our little Milo! It is neat that you can choose skin tones, facial features and of course, outfits for each family member.
Little William was mesmerized watching me build our family out of virtual LEGOS. He was tickled to pick out his very own outfit. I think he makes a mighty handsome Santa! I loved the background choices.  I fell in love with the very classic family room during Christmas background. I had such fun making this that I am using in for my Facebook cover photo. I know you want to go make your very own LEGO Minifigure Family. Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season! 
Visit Sponsor's Site
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Warm up those cold feet this winter with Heat Holders Thermal Socks (Giveaway)


Although winter is still not officially here, it certainly feels like it is in many parts of the country. Last week we saw lows in the 30's! I was listening to news reports about the wind chill in the mid-west, with temperatures in the -20's! Now that is cold! One of the things my kids always dramatically complain about the minute the mercury drops, is how freezing it is and how they may not make it through the winter. Both of my girls' rooms are downstairs and they are partially beneath the ground. This makes it cooler down there than it is upstairs. I find myself always saying, "Wear layers and put on socks". I received a couple pairs of Heat Holders thermal socks for review. They are supposed to be the warmest thermal socks. 
My daughters put them to the test. Their first impression when they slipped on the socks was, "Whoa, cozy!" Both girls couldn't believe how quickly their freezing feet warmed up. My older daughter likes to wear hers on days she has to wear her rain boots. They provide extra cushion and most importantly, warmth. She does a lot of walking around her college campus so Heat Holders have been a great asset to her feet. My high school daughter sent me a text last week telling me she couldn't wait to get home and slip into pajamas and her new favorite socks. She said it is like having mini heaters for her feet. Needless to say, Heat Holders work!

LEARN WHY HEAT HOLDERS ARE THE WARMEST:

Heat Holders® are the warmest socks ever! They are over 7x warmer than regular cotton socks and 3x warmer than ordinary thermal socks. They are better than heated, electric or battery operated socks because you can just put them on without fussing with batteries, wires etc. Heat Holders® means No more cold feet! They are made using a unique 3 step process which makes them the Warmest Thermal Socks! See the video below so you can learn what makes them so warm and comfortable!



Giveaway: One Momfiles reader will win a pair of Heat Holders thermal socks in their choice of color ( black, navy, charcoal, forest green, earth brown, denim, stonewash, red, raspberry, pink, indigo, deep fuchsia, light pink and purple) from the original line, ladies or men's ($15.99 value)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on December 14, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to claim prize.  Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.
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Own the mantel with the help of Cardstore.com #TopoftheMantel #sponsored

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Cardstore. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

I usually send out Christmas cards by the first week of December and this year, I am SO behind! Time hasn't been my friend since school started. Luckily, Cardstore is here to save me and the many procrastinators of the world. Did you know that you can create your custom cards with personalized pictures, messages, and signature and Cardstore will print, stamp and send the cards for you? –This takes the stress out of doing it all this holiday season. This year I plan to own the mantel! See how you can create your own cards at Cardstore.
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No Fireplace for Santa to get in on Christmas? No Problem!

I received a fabulous book and key set entitled, "The Magic Christmas Key". The concept behind the Magic Key is a way for Santa to get into your home in the event there is no fireplace. It is great for kids with a fireplace who question how hard it might be for Santa to squeeze through such a small space (like my son). Keep reading for more details...

Wendell August www.wendellaugust.com, maker of heirloom-quality personalized metal gifts to commemorate life’s special moments, is proud to bring the tradition of Santa’s Magic Key to children across the globe.

For centuries, Santa Claus has used fireplaces as the main point of entry in homes across the world. Using rooftops to land, chimneys have been crucial in getting gifts to millions of good boys and girls. However, recent years have brought problems, leaving Mr. Claus to seek alternatives. “With time comes change. Fewer families have fireplaces these days,” said Mr. Claus, “so my elves and I had to react.” New homes built without a fireplace have risen from 34% in 1990, to 49% in 2009; the number is believed to be even higher today. Kept secret for decades, Santa and his elves have developed a little magic to solve this modern day problem…Santa’s Magic Key.

Instructions: Hang Santa’s Magic Key on your front doorknob on Christmas Eve, enabling Santa to get inside your house when you don’t have a fireplace…the coals in the fire are too hot…or Santa has had a few too many Christmas cookies to fit down the chimney! When Santa has finished his Christmas Eve visit, he will place the key on your Christmas tree to be ready for next year.

To take the tradition even further, read the book about the Magic Key, entitled “The Magic Christmas Key.” It’s a story about a young boy named Andy, his trusty dog Rufus and his loveable family. He goes on a marvelous adventure that starts with the gift of Santa’s Magic Key and ends with some sound advice from Santa himself.

The Magic Key is so pretty and very good quality. I can see this being in my family for many years to come and will be passed down to my kids for their future children.  
“Santa’s Magic Key is a special gift that can be passed down from generation to generation,” says Will Knecht, President of Wendell August. “It’s a heartwarming family tradition that reminds us that ‘All things are possible when you believe.’”

Where to get it:
The Magic Key and book are sold separately or together. Santa’s Magic Key is 5 ½” long, is hand cast and made of pewter and retails for $25. “The Magic Christmas Key,” written by Leann Smith and illustrated by Kip Richmond, is a 10 x 10” hardcover book and is available with the Magic Key in a keepsake box. The book and Magic Key sold together retail for $39.

To start your own family tradition of the Magic Key and “The Magic Christmas Key” book, you can click here, or find it in Wendell August stores, select specialty shops, or select Bed Bath and Beyond locations nationwide. *Graph data from Census Bureau

About Wendell August Forge
A time-honored tradition of hand-crafted elegance for nearly 90 years, Wendell August Forge makes heirloom-quality personalized metal pieces to commemorate life’s special moments. Our American-made high-quality, functional gifts fit within any budget and can be found at store locations, www.wendellaugust.com and more than 400 gift shops nationwide. We also make customized metal awards, commemoratives, gifts, and trophies for businesses, organizations, and sporting groups. Visit www.wendellaugust.biz for more information
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Dear Santa, Please give me SOL REPUBLIC On-Ear Tracks Headphones for Christmas! (Giveaway)

**CLOSED**
The winner is T.P. Jefferson~ Congratulations! 

Do you have music, movie or game lovers in your life? Are you looking for the perfect gift? Look no more; SOL REPUBLIC On-Ear Tracks Headphones are the answer! These sleek, attractive headphones offer amazing sound quality and comfort. The first thing that really stuck out to me was how pretty they are. Even my manly-man husband agreed that they are really nice looking.

They come in a variety of colors and I received a pair in white. You can even purchase the Track headbands separately if you like to switch them up according to your mood or even outfit! I noticed the SOL REPUBLIC site even offers some college team headbands. The headband is constructed of an advanced polymer compound and is built to withstand heavy abuse. Twist it, bend it, drop it - it’s not going to break!

The speaker pads are super soft and very comfortable to wear. The are noise-isolating and provide peace and privacy when you are trying to listen in solitude. My husband totally loves that part! The sound quality is superb and I tested how good they are next to my son watching a movie in surround sound. The Tracks headphones seemed to block out any sound and I could only hear my music from my iPhone. Amazing! I like the 3-button mic+music control. Overall these the best headphones I have ever tried out. You can check out other SOL REPUBLIC products on the web, Facebook and Twitter. I noticed that the Tracks are on sale right now at Target.

How would you like to win a pair of SOL REPUBLIC On-Ear Tracks Headphones to put under the tree?!  Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on December 10, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to claim prize.  Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received a free product sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.
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Throw a party, New York Style #thethingtobring

The holiday season is officially here and this means lots of gatherings and parties! I received a fabulous hostess set from New York Style snacks to get me ready for entertaining this holiday season. Did you know they have a brand new look? I think it is so festive and fun! They also came out with some delicious varieties in their Sweet Swirls line; Cinnabon and Chocolate. They are incredibly delicious! They have the perfect balance of crunch, crispiness and sweetness. I do like that they are not too sweet. 
Let's not get started on how much I love the Pita Chips. I may or may not have eaten an entire bag by myself in under 24 hours. I'll never tell! 

New York Style snacks are so versatile since you can eat them as is or create your own recipes with virtually any variety. I had to bring something to my son's class family feast last week and decided to make something with some NY Style snacks. I went with the Garlic Parmesan Panetini and the Roasted Garlic Bagel Crisps. I came up with a very simple idea that looked quite festive. A simple smear of plain cream cheese on each crisp, topped off with a super thin slice of English cucumber and a few dried cranberries. It was a big hit! You got the salty and savory garlic and cheese flavor from the base and the sweet and creamy textures from the toppings. It was a perfect combination! 
The parents at the family feast loved this simple appetizer and want to make them for their next gathering. The possibilities for toppings or dips are endless! If you take a peek on the New York Style website, you can find a lot of recipe ideas to try.

Be sure to connect with New York Style on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and Instagram for product updates, recipes and more! Happy Entertaining!
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Carmex Limited Edition Moisture Plus Collection (Review & Giveaway)

I have a confession. I am addicted to Carmex products. I apply it several times a day and haven't gone a day without it for at least 10 years. I keep them everywhere! I dare not wear my lip color without a couple swipes of Carmex lip balm on as a base. As a Carmex Blog Squad member, I was thrilled to receive the Limited Edition Moisture Plus Collection. I adore the super cute, feminine designs! 
What makes these Moisture Plus sticks even more fun is that they each have their own personality. If you go to www.mycarmex.com/uniquelyyou, you can take a quiz to find out what stick matches your style. Here is what I got from taking the quiz:

Your Style Is: Chic
You’re a classic, refined beauty with sophisticated taste.

Your personal style is the envy of your friends—you know what you like, and you are rarely swayed in your taste by new fads or trends that come and go. Your closet is filled with black and white wardrobe staples: crisp white shirts, black pencil skirts, and perfectly-tailored sheaths and trousers. Garish colors and loud prints are particularly offensive to you, and you prefer to keep your makeup tasteful and classic: a swath of winged black eyeliner and a classic red lip channel old-Hollywood glamour without being over-the-top. You idolize the sophisticated, classic beauty of style icons like Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy.

I really like the smooth application of the stick as well as the soft vanilla flavor. It's truly a girly kind of lip balm. These sticks would make great stocking stuffers, teacher or co-worker gifts as well as a fun "just because" gift. They can be purchased at Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Family Dollar and Dollar General stores.

How would you like to win the entire collection for yourself? Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on December 7, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to claim prize.  Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.
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How teens are giving our community a little H.O.P.E. this holiday season

My high school daughter, Briahnna is one very busy student. She is involved in two magnet programs at school and takes all honors/IB courses. She is the sport's editor of her yearbook and is also involved in the Youth Action Council as well as H.O.P.E.. HOPE stands for Helping Other People Everywhere. The HOPE organization at her school collects coats, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items for needy families in the community. Each year the HOPE chair sets a goal on how many food items they want to collect. The goal this year is over 20,000. Being involved in HOPE means that you have to sacrifice time on the weekends as well as after school. That is very hard with Briahnna's demanding courses, but she manages to get the job done! They have students volunteer for a time slot to collect food donations in front of grocery stores that have given them permission to do so. It's a win-win since the store will sell the items that end up being donated and the teens are able to have a secure place for collections.

As a family, we all pitch in and help where we can. I have volunteered to help purchase food items with any money they collect, since I know how to stretch a buck! Briahnna and a couple of her team members set up in front of Sam's Club last weekend and just in their 2-hour shift, they FILLED my very large car trunk and part of the back seat with so many donations! We helped her to get the items to the storage unit on the school campus to be sorted when they got back to school that following week.
I am so proud of Briahnna and her fellow HOPE team members for all of the time they are putting in to help others. Brie has really been enjoying herself despite having to wake up early some Saturday mornings. She is very passionate about this worthy cause.
We have used this time to explain how important it is to help others to little William. He really enjoyed helping to bring items into the food storage unit. He was sad when he learned that there are so many families who don't have a lot of food in their home. He was devastated when he found out that some kids may not get any toys for Christmas. I love that he is understanding it as much as a five year old can.
HOPE will collect food donations until the second week of December. They are already off to such an amazing start and I anticipate they will make their goal. All of the coats, food and toys will be delivered to a local food bank to distribute to needy families in our community. I look forward to attending the unveiling of all their hard work at the HOPE Assembly next month. I will be sure to post an update.
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Ouidad 2013 Holiday Kits- Eat, Drink & Be Curly!


Winter weather has already hit many cities all over the country. Colder temperatures can affect your hair, especially curls. My older daughter has been wearing her hair natural curls for about 6 months now. She was flat ironing for years and finally decided to try wearing it in its natural state. The upside to that decision is that it is so much easier than using the flat iron. The downside is that you have to use the right products to keep your curls looking soft and shiny or else you end up with a big frizz ball. She went through that awkward transition of having the outer layers look stringy since they were straight from flat iron abuse and the underneath layers had a lot more springy curls. It took about 3-4 months and her hair has almost returned to its natural curly state.

She was very excited to try out some products from the Ouidad Holiday 2013 collection called "Eat, Drink & Be Curly".  This set contains 8.5 oz sizes of Curl Quencher Shampoo, Conditioner and Gel. The retail value of these products are $54 but can be purchased in this gift set for only $40.

She posted this photo on Instagram and said, "Ouidad products are the best thing I have ever used for my curls".
I am so glad she found something that makes her hair feel soft and shiny. I highly recommend these products for anyone who needs some curl control. A little goes a long way, so I feel like that offsets the cost. Believe me, my daughter has tried everything and this is the first time she has actually been happy with the results. 
Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Beginning Wednesday, November 27th though Tuesday, December 3rd, head to Ouidad.com to receive 20% off all orders during check out. 25% is also available for orders over $60! There are several Holiday Kits to choose from and they are perfect for winter upkeep.


I received products from Ouidad for review purposes. All opinions are 100% mine as always. 
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2013 Hess Toy Truck & Tractor on sale now! Just in time for the holidays

We have a special tradition in our home that has gone on since before my son was born. He has received a Hess collector toy truck every Christmas from his grandpa. Of course he could not play with them until he was old enough to know what to do with them. Every Christmas morning, his dad would have to test out William's new truck. I think my husband had more fun with it than anyone else! We have everything from tractor trailers, motorcycles, jet planes and even a super cool helicopter.

This year Hess is offering the 2013 Hess Toy Truck and Tractor set. William loves tractors and diggers so he will love this one!
The toy truck comes with Energizer batteries so that is one less purchase you have to make. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love to be able to play with a toy right away? One of the things I love about the Hess trucks is how well made they are. They have so many great details and features to ensure many years of fun playing time. I am thrilled that you can order these toys online, because the 2 Hess stations in my area closed down.
Here are some of the details:

The 2013 Hess toy truck is a beautifully chrome detailed truck and trailer with loading ramp, custom designed to haul a versatile, self-propelled tractor.

Truck Features Include:

45 lights that work in flash or steady mode
Hidden, extendable rear loading ramp with sound effects
4 realistic sounds: ignition/idle, horn, backup alert, hydraulic lift
The self-propelled, multipurpose tractor has both front and rear buckets, and a fully motorized rubber track to take on the toughest terrain!

Tractor Features Include:

15 working lights
Motorized forward / reverse motion
Locking front bucket with release button
360° swiveling back bucket

The 2013 Hess Toy Truck and Tractor can be ordered now at www.hesstoytruck.com. It goes on sale November 8 at participating Hess and Hess Express retail stores. It retails for $27.99 plus tax (plus shipping for online orders)
Connect with Hess Express on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
I received a toy truck for review purposes. All opinions are my own as always. No other compensation was received. 
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Have a peaceful night with Febreze Sleep Serenity (Giveaway)

**Closed**
Winner is- Andrea S. Congratulations! 
I have been a huge fan of Febreze fabric sprays since they first came out. I have also tried the different items in the added lines over the years. My newest favorite is the Febreze Sleep Serenity fragrance products. They come in 3 scents: Moonlit Lavender, Warm Milk & Honey and Quiet Jasmine. I love the idea of products made specifically for the bedroom, my sanctuary. Having scents to make the room soothing is just what I need at the end of a busy day. 
I just love all the fragrances, but the Warm Milk & Honey is my favorite! It smells clean and almost reminds me of a freshly bathed baby! Makes me want to jump under the covers and relax. What stands out to me is how subtle the fragrances are, not overpowering and perfumey. My husband really loves the way it makes our bedroom feel. He stole the Bedside Diffuser from my night stand and put it on his!

The Sleep Serenity products come in a bedroom mist ($3.29), bedside diffuser ($3.29), bedroom diffuser ($5.49) and bedding refresher ($3.49). They are available at most mass merchandise, drug and grocery retailers nationwide. I can't pick which product I prefer because I love them all! You can find some helpful tips on the Febreze Sleep Serenity site to help you get better sleep.

Giveaway: One Mom Files reader will win a Febreze Sleep Serenity gift pack in the Warm Milk & Honey fragrance. Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on November 18, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to claim prize.  Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.

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Are you prepared for food emergencies? #MilkUnleashed


Life can get super busy and hectic for all families. We have been going through spells of sickness mixed in with work, school, sports, family obligations and extracurricular activities. It is not hard to get behind on many things. One thing many of us don't think about is food emergencies. With the weather getting colder in many places, this means potential storms, freezing temperatures and even power outages. Usually when there are warnings about dangerous weather conditions, the first place everyone goes is to the grocery store. I can recall years ago seeing empty bread and milk shelves. It is hard to go for days or even a week without milk when you have small children. With Milk Unleashed shelf stable milk, you can always be prepared. Shelf stable milk is the same milk you buy refrigerated, except they processed differently and packaged in a shelf safe Tetra Pak carton. 
This is great news since they have a longer shelf life. They come in single serving cartons as well as 32 ounce Tetra Pak cartons. You can choose from whole, 2%, 1%, organic and even flavored. My kids love them! It is a convenient way to send milk in lunch boxes and my teens love them in the car on the way to school. These are great for your emergency supply, road trips, lunch boxes or for after-school. You can find them in most grocery stores, usually on the aisle that sells canned milk. I try to grab a pack every other shopping trip just to stock up in my pantry.



You can learn more on how to prepare for emergencies here and be sure to check out Milk Unleashed on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

I received product samples for review and all opinions are 100% mine. No other compensation was received. 
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