After a meet and greet with Cody Simpson to kick off the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive, I was invited to build-a-bear also to do...

After a meet and greet with Cody Simpson to kick off the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive, I was invited to build-a-bear also to donate for the Toys for Tots box.

I was excited to make a bear to donate. Or at least that was the plan.

Please Note: I was invited as media to event and make a bear to donate. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

As things went, my son took over my process of building the bear and totally left me out of the fun. Since it was for a good cause, I allowed him to take the lead. It's good when kids do something that they know will help another child feel better right?.

And so my son picked out a bear from the "bear donation" box and got to work. He helped stuff it, filled it with heart and loving fluffed it.


When it was time to dress the bear things really got interesting. My son had lots of outfits to chose from including a selection of super heroes. What did he chose? Dark Vader! I don't know why! Maybe the force spoke to him?!

Anyway, I tried REALLY hard to change his mind to something more fun like the Spider Man outfit or even Toy Story, but no, he was firm on what he wanted the bear to wear.

And so....we donated a bear wearing a Dark Vader outfit.

Despite his choice in the bears outfit, I was really proud of my son as I watched him drop off our bear for donation. A child somewhere will receive my son's gift and be happy this holiday.

Cody Simpson & Build-A-Bear Workshop Toys for Tots

Build-A-Bear Workshop had a special meet and greet with Cody Simpson, who was at the store to help kick-off this year’s annual Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive.

Starting in October, Cody will participate in the Build-A-Bear Workshop’s efforts for Stop Cyber Bullying month and will help launch the national Stuffed with Hugs program.

This event kicks off the national “Stuffed with Hugs™” weekend, taking place across the country October 20 and 21.

During this weekend, more than 25,000 furry friends will be made and donated to less fortunate children through local U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots programs.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® is inviting the first 100 Guests in all of its U.S. stores to help make the stuffed animals for free to give to children in need of an extra teddy bear hug this holiday season.

This weekend is also special since it's the celebration of the 15th birthday of Build-A-Bear Workshop!

Guests will be able to meet Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot, Bearemy, and enjoy a variety of 15th birthday celebration activities in conjunction with making furry friends for free to donate to Toys for Tots.

As a thank you for helping, Stuffed with Hugs participants will also receive a coupon for $3 off their own furry friend.

To learn more visit - www.buildabear.com

This week I headed to the Exhale Mind Body Spa to meet Super Model Niki Taylor, who has partnered with Nature’s Bounty to help introduce Opt...

This week I headed to the Exhale Mind Body Spa to meet Super Model Niki Taylor, who has partnered with Nature’s Bounty to help introduce Optimal Solutions, a line of vitamins, supplements and health/ wellness products designed especially for women.

Please Note: I was invited as media and received a spa treatment and gift bag after the event. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

During the meet and greet I was able to interview Niki about Optimal Solutions, how she takes time for herself and her advice for moms to put themselves first and get healthy.

Onica: What appealed to you about the Optimal Solutions line of products

Niki: I really like the products and how they fit into a women's lifestyle. There's a product for all women, Calcium, PMS, Menopause. Whatever a women needs she can find in the Optimal Solutions line.

I also love making shakes so I really like the Complete Protein and Vitamin Shake Mix. I can make a shake in the morning and know I'm getting what I need for the day; protein, vitamins, probiotics, etc. If you want you can even add some fruit or a veggie into the shake (vanilla) for a smoothie/

Onica: You're a mom as well as a professional women with her own business, how do you make it all work?

Niki: There really isn't a secret to doing it all. You have to find what works for you and your family. I wake up early to start my day, try to eat healthy and make sure to get rest. A lot of women are always on the go but it's very important to try and find some time for yourself. Women and mothers need to make themselves a priority. We're the center of homes and families. If we get sick then everything stops.

Onica: What's your advice to other moms?

Niki: Give yourself a break. Let go of the guilt. It's OK to be a little selfish and take some time for yourself. Find 5, 10, 15 minutes during the day just for you. Go for a walk in the morning before taking your child to school or do something in the afternoon. Whatever it is find some time for you. And don't feel guilty about it.

After my chat with Niki, I was able to learn more about the new Optimal Solutions products.


Unique to other vitamin and supplement products, Optimal Solutions offers products targeting a variety of health concerns for women of all ages, and also utilizes alternative delivery systems, such as protein powders, to help address essential daily vitamin and nutrient needs.

The Optimal Solutions line is tailored specifically for women, who understand the importance of supplementing their vitamin routines with protein, fiber and probiotics.

Products in the line include:

• Complete Protein and Vitamin Shake Mix – decadent chocolate and vanilla shakes that provide important protein, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, electrolytes, prebiotics, probiotics and more.

• Extra Strength Hair, Skin & Nails – provides extra strength support for lustrous hair, enviable skin and strong nails via caplets with 5,000 mcg of Biotin.*

• Time Released Calcium – Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Genistein work together to help maintain overall bone health.*

• Controlled Delivery Probiotic – with a targeted release system that supports digestive and intestinal health.*

• Complete PMS Support Complex* – supports bone, immune and urinary health, and includes Magnesium, an important mineral involved in muscle contractions.*

• Complete Menopause Support Complex* – A.M. and P.M. formulas that help with energy metabolism, night sweats and occasional sleeplessness.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Women can find Optimal Solutions in their local chain pharmacies and online. 

For more information, visit - www.naturesbounty.com/optimalsolutions

At a recent PlayStation Holiday Games Event I was able to preview and play some of the upcoming fall and holiday game releases. One of the g...

At a recent PlayStation Holiday Games Event I was able to preview and play some of the upcoming fall and holiday game releases. One of the games I really wanted to check out was Sony Wonderbook : Book of Spells which has a J.K. Rowling Harry Potter themed experience.

Sadly I didn't get a chance to see the game since demo room was just so crowded. But from all the excited chatter coming from that room, I knew the game had to have some cool features.

Well I recently got my chance play the game when I was invited to privately demo! I was really interested to see how this "book" took game play to the next level.


So how does it all work? First there's the the Wonderbook (available for $39.99 for both the book and Blu-ray game), which is a physical paper book with an interactive system that uses Augmented Reality technology and PlayStation Move devices to bring the stories in the book alive on the gaming screen.


On the gaming screen the book is transformed into a tool, you can physically interact with. Whatever you do with the book is also done on screen using the gaming world theme. The graphics of the gaming world are really detailed and in 3D. Turning the book around I could see all the parts and details of the current "story" I was playing with.


In Wonderbook: Book of Spells I went through different "story" page levels where I learned different spells. On one page I learned how to levitate a jar. When my jar broke (levitating isn't easy people!) then I levitated the eye balls from the jar. Check out the video below to see how I did.


As you can see from the video playing the game is a lot of fun. For fans of the Harry Potter books and movies, you'll love learning how to conjure fire and defend against attacking wizards. That was a REALLY fun level! Also I was told during my demo that there's additional game features (back stories to spells, new creatures, how to unlock more writing with every chapter test) based on writer J.K. Rowling who described the experience in her own words:

“Wonderbook: Book of Spells is the closest a Muggle can come to a real spellbook. I’ve loved working with Sony’s creative team to bring my spells, and some of the history behind them, to life. This is an extraordinary device that offers a reading experience like no other.”

Wonderbook: Book of Spells will be the first game released in November of this year but plans are in the works for other stories using the same interactive augmented reality technology. To learn more visit PlayStation Wonderbook: Book of Spells Page

You can pre-order Wonderbook: Book of Spells Move Bundle for $79.99, which includes: Wonderbook: Book of Spells Blu-ray game, wireless PlayStation®Move motion controller, Wonderbook PS3 book, plus PlayStation Eye camera

Please Note: I was invited as media to demo the game for review purpose. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.