PICKS: Mom and Kid Treats by Robin Gorman Newman

OMEGA WATER is the first flavored bottled water fortified with 100 mg of Omega-3s and 6 essential daily vitamins. It comes in four thirst-quenching flavors: Lemon Squeeze, Orange Splash, Fruit Fusion and Berry Breeze. It has zero calories, is sugar free and naturally flavored.  My favorite was the Berry Breeze, and my son liked them all!

 Studies have shown that Omega-3 helps prevent heart disease and stroke, improves cognitive function in children and supports a healthy mind. Omega-3 also helps you appear younger for longer, keeping skin smooth and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.

Omega Water is sold at Duane Reade stores throughout NYC for $1.99 and is also available at Wegmans, Hyvee, Roundy’s and online at Amazon.com.  Visit http://www.omegawater.com.

L’OCCITANE’S SHEA BUTTER HAND CREAM is a luscious, super-smoothing–and best-selling–synergy of 20%Shea Butter, honey and sweet almond extract, blended with the light  aromas of jasmine and ylang-ylang essences. This beauty balm glides on and absorbs to help heal, protect, and moisturize dry or dehydrated skin.  Anti-oxidizing vitamin E helps nourish.  I’m a HUGE fan of L’OCCITANE, and love to use this cream before I go to bed.   My husband loves the way it smells!

Inspired by his ancestors’ traditions, Olivier Baussan founded L’OCCITANE over 30 years ago in the Provence region of France. L’OCCITANE skincare, body care, fragrance and home products are created to preserve authentic ingredients/traditions of the Mediterranean land.  Visit http://www. usa.loccitane.com.  Their products are sold in 160 boutiques throughout the U.S.

COMFY CRITTERS are super cute and cuddly hooded fleece blankets that turn into a pillow, a costume and an animal friend!  The patent-pending Comfy Critters™ are made of luxuriously-soft fleece, and are the first and only item that combines the comfiness of a hooded blanket with the huggability of a cute plush stuffed toy.

The 7 Comfy Critters™ include Unity the Unicorn, Seymour the Shark, Milo the Monkey, Petunia the Pig, Percy the Penguin, Lily the Ladybug, and Dexter the Dog. Retail price $24.99.Comfy Critters™ are available for purchase at http://www.mycomfycritters.com/, and at 100 regional Target stores nationwide.  My son has Seymour the Shark, and parades around the house with him.   Kids of all ages will love them.

CUDDLE COVERS™ are playful and snuggly pillow covers that bring ordinary bedding to life.  Available in six huggable animal buddies: Berry the Bear, Don the Dinosaur, Izzy the Unicorn, Kit the Cat, Louie the Lion, and Max the Dog, your kids will love them . Made with hypo-allergenic and ultra-soft polyester with a similar texture to velvet, each cover is durable and can tumble through the wash and drying cycles to become squeaky-clean. Simply unzip the cover from the side, slip the Cuddle Covers™ buddy over a standard-sized pillow and voila, the plush playmate is magically born.  My son has Max the Dog, and has been sleeping on him every night since, along with his dog stuffed animals.  He adores his Cuddle Cover!

In celebration of the Cuddle Covers™ launch, patrons will receive a free mini Cuddle Covers™ buddy when purchasing a Cuddle Covers™ pal on www.CuddleCovers.com for a limited time. Cuddle Covers™ are also available at select Bed Bath & Beyond retail locations around the U.S.   The Cuddle Covers™ pals each sell for $19.99 plus shipping and handling

 Kristi Yamaguchi added New York Times bestselling author to her already impressive resume last spring with the publication of her debut children’s picture book, Dream Big, Little Pig!

Poppy the Pig continues her ice skating adventures in Kristi’s forthcoming sequel, It’s a Big World, Little Pig! (ISBN: 9781402266447; MARCH 6, 2012; $16.99 U.S.; Jabberwocky; Juvenile Fiction/Picture Book; Hardcover).

One hundred percent of Kristi’s profits from It’s a Big World, Little Pig! will benefit early childhood literacy programs supported by her Always Dream Foundation.

It’s a Big World, Little Pig! follows Poppy as she travels to Paris to compete in the World Games. At first, Poppy is nervous about meeting so many new people in a new place. But, ever courageous and supported by her family (and best friend Emma, too!), Poppy begins to realize that although these animals look different, act different, and are from different places, they are all the same at heart.  This book is a delight…especially if you’re a pig lover like me and my son.

Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion whose motto, “Always Dream,” serves as her personal inspiration, as well as the name of her charitable foundation for children.. For more information, visit www.KristiYamaguchi.com.  Tim Bowers has illustrated more than 25 children’s books and garnered various awards including the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best” list. Prior to illustrating children’s books, Bowers worked as an artist for Hallmark Cards, helping to launch the popular Shoebox Greetings card line.

CRANBERRY NATURALS features 40% less sugar and is sweetened with Truvia.  It has no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.  It has 20% more real cranberry juice than leading brands and all the benefits of cranberry juice but far less sugar/calories.  It tastes great….and my son agreed.  Cranberry Grape was our favorite of the flavor combos!  Visit http://oldorchard.com/products/#!/show/groups/cranberry-naturals/  

Note: Thanks to the featured products/companies for providing samples for review.