Giveaway of Family Health Products
October is Family Health Month and I was lucky enough to be contacted by a publicist sharing several products that BirminghamMoms might find of interest. I thought the best thing to do would be to give them away to fellow BirminghamMoms in hopes you can benefit from these products and perhaps even share your evaluations.
I have not personally tried these items but have looked them over carefully and will be discussing them on WBRC Fox 6 News at Noon on Monday, October 19th. Here are my observations:
Allergy Free Passport - This book has an extensive listing of the all sorts of cuisine designed for those who have food sensitivities or allergies (peanut, shellfish, etc.). It lists factors to consider such as common ingredients, method of preparation, and accompaniments that may be triggers to those with known allergies. The information is clearly indexed so you can quickly fine any type of cuisine as well as helpful information when dining out. In addition to the main guide book, there are smaller pocket guides for international travel. I can only imagine the constant vigilance required of moms of children with allergies. This information could replace fear of dining out with the assurance that you have asked the right questions and are taking measures to avoid a potential reaction.
ThermaCELL Patio Lantern – Lots of moms aren’t keen on DEET, a common insect repellant that we know all too well in our mosquitto-ridden south. This lantern uses an insecticide (a substance naturally occurring in chrysanthemum flowers) to repel mosquittos in a 15×15 area. A small butane cartridge inside heats the insecticide pad and provides lamp light, although either feature can be used independently.
VitaClay Multicooker – This is a programmable rice cooker and slow cooker in one. Once the cooking time has been programmed, the unit switches to a “keep warm” feature so you can sit tight when traffic/practice/carpool takes longer than expected. The insert is made from Zisha clay, not stoneware or metals. This clay is from a particular region in China (yes, it does feel like everything comes from China these days) and the claim is that the clay is rich in minerals and retains moisture better than other conventional products.
Personally, I’m intrigued by the promise of a programmable rice cooker. The requirement to simmer rice under a tight lid until most of the liquid had evaporated seemed an impossible task until the advent of glass lids. Even so, can anyone do this without keeping an eye on the pot to be sure it doesn’t dry out? I’d like to be free of watching the pot boil, so to speak, and if anything can babysit cooking rice, I’m guessing it’s clay straight from China.
Aquajoggger - Like it sounds, this product allows one to ”jog” in water, using the water’s resistance to exercise in place. It includes a belt (my daughter asked if it was an adult swim ring, but it looks nothing like that - it’s compact, close to the body, and adjustable) to suspend the wearer in water at shoulder level so that her arms and legs can move freely. This package includes an instructional video as well as additional accessories for hands and feet to increase resistance. I know the folks at my Y have used these products enthusiastically in their water aerobics program.
Auto AirTamer – This device plugs into your car’s power adaptor to purify the air without filters or fans. The accompanying material says it forces polluted air away from your ”personal space” (do moms have any of that?) and reduces smoke particles, dust, dander, pollen, etc. through ionic technology. I suppose this product is proof that I should have paid more attention to those negatively/positively charged ion discussions in high school chemistry class. I don’t claim to know how this technology works, but I would agree that keeping the air in my car anywhere near purified would require the latest scientific advances, probably something from NASA. I wish someone would have sent a clabbered sippy cup on the last mission – now THAT would be an experiment.
Mouthwatchers Nano Silver Anti-bacterial toothbrush - I remember when a toothbrush was just a toothbrush, and you were happy to take whatever the dentist gave you for free. Now toothbrushes are as segmented as the cereal aisle and there are angles, grips, palate cleaners and rotating brushes to consider. This toothbrush, designed by a dentist, has bristles impregnated with nano-silver, which the manufacturer says lasts longer than typical nylon bristles and surpresses the growth of bacteria. As far as how these nano particles have greater relative surface area, inhibiting bacteria…well, that’s another reason I should have listened more closely in chemistry class.
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN WINNING ONE OF THESE PRODUCTS, SIMPLY E-MAIL info@BirminghamMom.com and include the product(s) of interest somewhere in your e-mail or subject line. I will draw a contact at random for each on Monday, October 26th, and notify winners that evening. Please be aware that, while every effort will be made that the original packaging is intact, there may be a few rumpled box corners by the time I have toted them in and out of the Fox 6 studio.