Dannon Debuts New Yogurt Line - Thousands Take the Taste Test at BlogHer 2012

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4 Fresh New Activia Breakfast Blend Yogurts are Born at BlogHer 12

I'm a mom of triplets plus one more born within a year so when I hear of another arrival of multiples it tends to get my attention. In this post though, instead of telling you about a new set of triplet or quadruplet babies being born I'd like to share news about the newest foursome of yogurts to join the Dannon family.

A trio of bloggers take an Activia break at the Dannon Booth

Me spreading the news the old-fashioned way at the Dannon BlogHer Photo Booth

From August 3-5  thousands of attendees at BlogHer 2012 -- the largest ever annual conference for women and mom bloggers -- were treated to the opportunity to be among the first to try Dannon's new Activia Breakfast Blend yogurt collection. Over the course of this event that ran from Thursday night through Saturday approximately 4,000 full size cups of Dannon Activia Breakfast Blend, Light & Fit and Oikos yogurt brands were served in the BlogHer Expo Hall at the Hilton New York.

The Dannon team answers questions and serves Dannon products at the booth

MommyBlogExpert in Blue & White w/ the Giant Size Dannon Spoon

The new varieties bloggers got to try included Vanilla, Apple Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar and my personal favorite, Banana Bread. These not only come in four flavors they come four 6-ounce cups to a package so if you ask me, these qualify as quadruplets!

In addition to being an excellent source of great tasting-protein for show goers to fuel each day of this mega gathering in New York City, The Dannon Company booth also provided a quiet place to sit down, rest your feet, and chat with old and new friends, all while trying something new and healthy. Other fun things at the exhibit included rewarding bloggers with branded sparkling green aluminum water bottles for tweeting about the product launch to their followers and a fun photo booth with silly props like those you see me modeling in this post.

Watch for another MBE story with more about the growing Dannon family's newest additions: the Activia Breakfast Blend quads. Next week Mommy Blog Expert will not only be posting more photos from the brand's BlogHer 2012 debut, this blog will also be featuring and quoting some of the Tweets I liked best about the product that were published during the conference. Whether you attended BlogHer 12 or not you'll definitely want to stay tuned to read all the buzz about the new product line. Who knows? You may even see one of your Tweets and a link to your own Twitter page spotlighted in that upcoming post!

Dannon Quadruplet Towels - Don't miss what MBE is cooking up next!

FTC Disclosure: I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Activia Breakfast Blend brand. I have been compensated for my time commitment to review this product line. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Get a Free Bloggy Conference 2012 Pass in Exchange for Volunteering a Few Hours

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Just received news that I think Mommy Blog Expert readers might appreciate. According to organizer Bloggy Moms, Bloggy Conference 2012 may need a few volunteers for the event scheduled for September 27-29 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

In exchange for volunteering each blogger selected for this opportunity will receive a full conference pass for a few hours donated to helping out at the event.

If interested, complete this form as soon as possible.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

4 Hot iOS & Android Gadgets Now Available for Mobile Devices at Verizon Wireless Stores

Technology

by Janis Brett Elspas

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If you haven't been in a Verizon Wireless store either in your neighborhood or online in awhile you are going to really be surprised on your next visit. That's because Verizon is no longer just another carrier and hardware provider that sells cell phones and smart phones.

Verizon made a huge splash at CES 2012 with lots of new products

Not long ago the company started offering a mind boggling array of other types of mobile devices -- like tablets -- as well as the coolest and most comprehensive array of the latest and highly sought-after accessories and gadgets for iOS and Android devices on the market today.

In this post you'll learn about four of the edgy but family-friendly gadgets I've personally tested that you can buy at Verizon Wireless either in store or via the internet at VerizonWireless.com. One of those tech products promotes fitness while the other three are from a game collection series -- keep reading for details on all of them.

FitBit Ultra is among the new life-enhancing tech gadgets you can now buy from Verizon

Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker

Dreaming of a pedometer that's much more than just a gardem variety pedometer? Then look no further and check out this little wireless activity and sleep tracker gadget out right now. This measures a tiny 2.125 inches in length and weighs a mere .4 ounces. Fitbit Ultra was designed in San Francisco and is manufactured by Fitbit.

Sure it counts your steps like all the other pedometers out there. But what sets this one apart from the others is that it has a 3-D motion sensor similar to the Wii so it's also an altimeter that reports back the floors climbed when you're climbing stairs. What's more is that the Fitbit Ultra also comes with the capabilities and specially-designed sleep wristband to collect all the data to analyze how long and how well you sleep.

No matter whether you're measuring your steps, activity level, calories burned or sleep quality you'll be able to easily upload all the information this tiny piece of wizardry collects onto your computer or laptop for a full analysis of your results over time.

Watch for a separate in-depth review on the Fitbit soon on MommyBlogExpert with more details on this product based on my actual experience using this.

Fitbit Ultra, $99.97 at the Verizon Wireless Store

Just 3 of the fun iOS & Android games for kids Verizon now offers

 ZombiBurbz Mobile Application Games

Those ages 9 and up who love tablet based games and who are into the current zombie craze that's sweeping America will likely enjoy this trio of AppGear ZombieBurbz mobile application games manufactured by WowWee Group that are sold separately.

Based on a fantasy world that involves loveable trash-eating zombies who are simply trying to keep up with the Joneses, there are three different games in the series: ZombieBurbz High, ZombieBurbz Services and ZombieBurbz Diner. All run on both iOS (iPad, iPad 2 and the new iPad) and Android (Google Android 2.3.3 or later). 

Each of the three games comes with a different themed set of three collectible character Zombie figures, one deluxe Zombie figure, 1 storage ring for deluxe Zombie and one quick start guide.

To play straight out of the box all you do is scan the QR code on the front of the package to download the free app to go along with this from either the App Store or Android Market. Then get ready for hours of fun and entertainment experiencing first-hand what it's like to live the life of a Zombie simply by shuffling the deluxe Zombie across the screen of your tablet to interact with the virtual reality app.

Watch for a separate post shortly on MommyBlogExpert for a Giveaway of these three ZombieBurbz games.

ZombieBurbz, $9.99 for each  game at the Verizon Wireless Store


FTC Disclosure: I am a Verizon Ambassador and I received the products featured to facilitate this post. However, I was not paid and did not receive any other compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

A Family Trip to Europe & Israel Reveals New Discoveries of Toyota as a Global Brand

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Ever since I was first selected as a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network about six months ago, I've never stopped learning about all things Toyota. For sure all the different auto models offered by this major car maker are mind-boggling -- there is really a vehicle for every lifestyle for just about any budget.  Along the way, I've become aware that Toyota USA makes a significant contribution to American employment in the automotive industry through its three very busy U.S. manufacturing plants, too.

Old-fashioned desert transportation: My Triplets, Negev Desert, Israel

Yet, it wasn't until our family took a vacation trip to Europe this summer that I realized that Toyota isn't just in Japan and the USA, it's also popular abroad with visibility in so many other places I hadn't realized before -- in Europe as well as Israel. Indeed, Toyota was in every country we visited in June and July: France, the Czech Republic, Holland and Israel.

Toyota in Amsterdam, Holland where bikes even outnumber cars

I've been to Europe numerous times before but this trip turned out to be really different. As retold in this post I saw through cities and countries we visited through the eyes of an ambassador for Toyota. Every where we went I was on the lookout for Toyota vehicles. Almost without exception, in each region we toured, I saw few larger Toyota vehicles such as flat bed trucks, SUVs and other gas guzzlers.

Parking spots along the canals are at a premium in Amsterdam

The fact that there are so many smaller cars isn't really surprising, especially when you consider that fuel is even more expensive in both Europe and the Middle East than it is here in America. In fact gas was the equivalent of about $7.50 U.S. dollars per gallon in Israel and Europe prices weren't much different.

Toyota on an Israeli highway in the interior of this small country

The majority of the foreign Toyotas I saw were primarily compacts and subcompacts, small enough to fit down the centuries-old narrow cobblestone streets that are common in many big cities in older parts of the modern world such as Jerusalem, Prague, Paris, and Amstersdam.

Prague Cathedral, streets are narrow in ancient cities like this in the Czech Republic

Particularly throughout the State of Israel and in the antiquated city of Amsterdam I was excited to see an obvious commitment to green living. Evidence of greater fuel efficiency in practice was everywhere with all the different types of hybrid and energy-efficient Prius cars both parked and driving local streets and freeways.

On this trip our family of 6 walked up stairs to the top of Eiffel Tour, Paris

I did find a few Toyotas here and there in Prague. But Toyotas were ever present en masse in places like Holland and Israel where other modes of transportation often supersede the automobile.

Toyota with Rijks Museum, Amsterdam, Holland in background

For example, Amsterdam is the bicycle capital of the world with more people pedaling their way around the city than people who drives cars -- yet it didn't seem hard to find different types of Toyotas from Camry and Prius to Corolla and Yaris models dotting the streets. Likewise in Israel where camels are still used for transportation by the Bedouins of the Negev Desert, I noticed plenty of Toyotas in all the towns, farm villages, kibbutzim and major metropolitan areas like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv that we visited.

On the road to Jerusalem, Israel another Toyota is sighted

Looking for Toyotas wherever we went was definitely not something I planned on doing when we set out on this trip. Yet it opened my eyes yet to another facet of the brand I had never considered before. In fact, one of the true highlights of my hunt for Toyota adventure on this vacation was discovering Toyota's main office in Israel emblazoned with the family company name on a high rise beside the freeway on the way into Tel Aviv.

Toyota Israel Headquarters, Tel Aviv

This is definitely one vacation that I'll remember for a long time. Taking pictures of cars and having my family help me find Toyotas to photograph for this post was a blast.

Toyota Museum at Headquarters in Torrance, California

FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Dannon to Launch Activia Breakfast Blend Yogurt at BlogHer 2012 in New York this Week

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When I was a little girl growing up in the 1960s my mother always made everything from scratch and prepared lots of healthy foods for our family. But she never served yogurt. So I didn't even have my first product in this dairy food category until I was in high school while at a friend's house.

Me at 3 years old, Vintage Family Photo 1960

That first-time experience for me was Dannon Yogurt and many years later it's still my go-to brand not only for myself but for what I like to buy for my four kids including triplets.  Thanks to my mom for teaching me that breakfast should never be skipped and really is the most important meal of the day and thanks to my friend who lived across the street for introducing me to Dannon so long ago.


In recent years Dannon has expanded its yogurt options with a brand line called Activia that I'm also a big fan of. So, when I was asked to join the Dannon BlogHer Ambassadors to help launch the NEW Activia Breakfast Blend line-up that will be available for sampling at BlogHer 2012 in New York later this week I was thrilled to have the opportunity.


I haven't tasted the newest addition to the Activia family, Activia Breakfast Blend, yet since it's not available at my market in my hometown in California. But, I can't wait to try it at BlogHer and will be blogging about the experience both during the conference and afterward so watch MBE for more news.

Activia Yogurt by Dannon currently at my local market

What I can tell you though is that this yogurt stands out not only because it is creamy and thick but it is lowfat too. 


According to the brand it helps regulate your digestive system since each Activia Breakfast Blend serving includes the exclusive probiotic culture Bifidus Regularis along with other healthy ingredients.*
*When consumer daily for two weeks as part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Image provided by Dannon

What's even better is that the new yogurt collection delivers twice the amount of protein as the regular low fat yogurt.** It tastes good, too, and comes mixed with grains and natural flavors. Initially Activia Breakfast Blend -- which comes in 50% bigger cups than the 4 oz 4 pack of Activia -- is being offered in four delicious-sounding varieties.
**Contains 14% more of the DV of protein (7g) than regular lowfat yogurt)

• Apple Cinnamon
• Banana Bread
• Maple & Brown Sugar
• Vanilla

Apples & Bananas are among the healthful ingredients in Activia Breakfast Blend Yogurt

If you're lucky enough to be registered for BlogHer August 4-5, 2012, you are invited to stop by Dannon's booth in the conference's Expo Hall to try one or all of the selections in this wonderful new healthy dairy food collection. There you can not only be among the first to try this new product that you will want to share with your readers whether your blog is food-focused or more of a family lifestyle one.


Activia Breakfast Blend is available as a four-pack and carries an MSRP of $3.99. For more information visit the Activia website as well as follow @Dannon on Twitter and be sure to like Activia on Facebook.


FTC Disclosure: I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Activia Breakfast Blend brand. I have been compensated for my time commitment to review this product line. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.