Opinionated MAMA Hosts Tribute to Mommy Bloggers


The clicking of keyboards across Orange County was slightly diminished for a brief time last Wednesday as several of OC’s most prominent Mommy Bloggers were treated to a morning of pampering, taste-testing and good old-fashioned girl talk at the home of Opinionated MAMA founder Michelle Tingler.

Michelle Tingler and Debbie Devine hosted the first O-MAMA Tribute to Mommy Bloggers to bring together many of the women who share their lives, loves, passions and exploits online in celebration of their efforts as well as the recent addition of Opinionated MAMA to the OC Family magazine network of bloggers. Attendees included Sugar Jones of SugarJones.tv, Michelle Whitaker of OC Play Parks, Vintage Mama’s Lydia Poblano, Sondra LaBrie of Happy Healthy Hip Parenting and Priscilla Willis of Top Mom Blog among others.

“O-MAMA supports all moms in the hard work of raising happy, healthy, well-adjusted future citizens,” says founder Michelle Tingler. “And in our opinion, every hard-working mom deserves a little break once in a while!”

Those in attendance were treated to manicures and pedicures by Spa-Go, pilates instruction by Stephanie Hiltzman of Body Design in Newport Beach and delicious mock-tails and kid-friendly cuisine tips from celebrity chef Wade Williams of Picnic LA. All the while, many of the ladies were accompanied by their children who spent their morning doing arts and crafts, bouncing away in the bounce house and getting their faces painted by Faces by Derrick.


Click here to see and download additional event photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomediaco/sets/72157624067384031/



Also, see what some of the ladies who attended had to say about it!

http://www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/are-you-an-opinionated-mama/1130572

Made in the Shade - Stay Safe in the Sun All Summer Long with QuikShade products from Bravo Sports

With all the fun in the sun this summer, beach goers are also thinking about protecting their skin. Bravo Sports Corp., the global leader in the recreational and sporting goods markets, is proud to announce their complete line of umbrellas, beach chairs, and canopies to provide shade and extra SPF Coverage.


“This summer we all need a little time to relax with family and friends,” says Leo Pais, CEO of Bravo Sports, “Our line of beach products will help you enjoy your time at the beach, the park or at the pool while keeping you safe from over-exposure to the sun.”

Below are several Bravo Sports products that will keep you cool and protected on even the hottest summer days:

Beach Pockets Umbrellas: $19.99; available in Tropical and Rainbow; Beach Pockets Umbrella Anchor $9.99; Voted #1 Best Summer Product on The View!; Fill will sand or personal belongings to keep them out of the sand. All umbrellas are SPF 35. www.beachpockets.com

Retailers: Big 5, A & P, Dixieline Lumber, SuperValu, All American Home Center



Quik Shade Beach Collection: Backpack Beach Chair With Shade Top: $39.99; available in Blue and White Stripes and Forest Green; provides plenty of personal shade regardless of the sun’s position. www.quikshade.com

Retailers: TSA, All American Home Center, Amazon.com



Quik Shade Chair 1.0: $39.99; available in grass green and royal blue; With more than 20 different articulating positions, the Quik Shade Chair protects you from the sun at any angle. www.quikshade.com

Retailers: Sports Authority, Modells, Dunhams



Quik Shade Go Hybrid Backpack Canopy™: $79.99, the first backpack canopy made for individuals; www.quikshade.com

Retailers: Sports Authority



Quik Shade Summit with Aluminex lining $249 and Quik Shade Décor Mykonos Cabana $199; Quik Shade Tiki Canopy $159

Retailers: Mykonos- Ace Canopy; Tiki- Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Modells


Fresh Flowers for Your Home a Must? There's an App for that!

 
Fresh flowers for your home a must?

Looking to brighten up the room and make guests feel especially welcome?

Too busy cooking for your dinner party to pick up flowers?

Need to thank your host for that great weekend at the beach house?

 

There is an APP for that.

 

 
For the home décor-perfectionist or anyone looking to brighten up someone's day, check off your to-do list by downloading the app for California Blooms (www.californiablooms.com), the premier internet retailer of fresh, boutique-grown roses from the central coast of California. http://www.itunes.com/app/californiablooms

The CalBlooms App has been wildly successful for the company, which launched their iPhone app in time for Valentine’s Day this year. The CalBlooms App, currently available on the iTunes App Store, allows customers to order the highest-quality, eco-friendly roses anytime and anywhere.

California Blooms will offer a 20 percent discount for all first time orders generated by the App.

 
The Cal Blooms App features include:

 
• Quick and easy ordering - most orders can be completed in 3 minutes or less

 
• The ability to save previous orders, as well as ship to and bill to addresses

 
• Order from anywhere at anytime over the 3G or any Wi-Fi network

 
• Nine varietals including a mixed bouquet to ensure your sending the right message

 

 

Who doesn't like getting a beautiful bouquet of roses delivered?  Even if you did have to order them yourself!! ;-) 

Parents Magazine Says The Bubble Scooter Is A "Backyard Best"

SCOOTER + BUBBLES = SUMMER FUN!!


The Bubble Scooter is one of our favorites and Parent's Magazine agrees!

Click here to see other Bravo Sports products Parents Magazine also put on their 2010 list of HOT SUMMER TOYS!




Visit http://www.bravosportscorp.com/ to see all the great outdoor recreation products Bravo Sports has to offer!

EXTRA, EXTRA!! O-MAMA Hits in the Chicago Tribune and Oprah Radio's Dr. Laura Berman Show


Opinionated MAMA founders Michelle Tingler and Debbie Devine recently travelled to Chicago where they did two GREAT interviews to spread the O-MAMA's message of empowering America's moms and giving them a voice in our country's most important conversations. 

First, they were interviewed by Heidi Stevens of the Chicago Tribune - an O-MAMA for sure!! - who wrote this fantastic story!!  http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/family/sc-fam-0520-omama-web-site-20100520,0,4755394,full.story
We loved her idea of "swapping" headlines!!

Then Michelle and Debbie went in studio at Oprah Radio with sex and relationship expert Dr. Laura Berman to share their Opinionated MAMA opinions on everything from successful blended families to talking sex with your kids and much much, more!  Take a listen to an excerpt of their interview by clicking here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Empowering-the-Moms-of-America-Audio

Now that's a great road trip!!  Great job O-MAMA's!!!

California Blooms Mother's Day Rose Giveaways


Make your mother and Mother Nature proud this Mother’s Day by selecting only the freshest, boutique-grown and eco-friendly roses from California Blooms (www.californiablooms.com) to show all the beautiful women in your life how much you appreciate them.

California Blooms is the premiere online and mobile retailer for the highest quality, responsibly grown roses, and their sophisticated presentation and convenient ordering make this gift buying decision a no-brainer.

The long stem roses are available in a one dozen ($39.00) or two dozen ($59.00) rose bouquets and can come with a glass vase for an additional $8.00. In addition to ordering online, they have just launched an easy to use iPhone app. New iPhone App users save 20% off their first order.

“The superior quality and freshness of our roses is evident in every bloom, meaning that the gift of love and gratitude you’ve sent to Mom will grace her home just that much longer,” says Mark Skorlich, CEO of California Blooms.

California Blooms bouquets can be purchased online at www.californiablooms.com or on your iPhone via the new CalBlooms App currently available at the iTunes App Store http://www.itunes.com/app/californiablooms.

Several Blogs, Websites and Magazines are hosting California Blooms Mother's Day Rose Giveaways, including the following:


Deserving Students from HOLA Receive Special Gift from Bravo Sports


Bravo Sports recently donated 50 skateboards complete with helmets and pads to Heart of Los Angeles, is a thriving center that serves Los Angeles' Rampart community with programs in academics, the arts and athletics. The organization is unique in the quality of instruction and individual attention it provides to youth ages 6 to 19.


Heart of Los Angeles seeks to empower and enrich the lives of young people ages 6-19 by providing quality academic, arts and athletics programs. HOLA provides opportunities that these youth cannot get anywhere else, inside or outside of school.

HOLA's youth attend overburdened inner city schools, live in communities that are heavily impacted by illegal drug trafficking and gang violence and many are children hindered by poverty and immigration status.

Bravo's recent gifts were presented deserving students in all grade levels who have shown dedication to their studies and who are working hard at school.  HOLA was especially excited to present them with a reward that "got them off the couch and living an active healthly lifestyle". 

Click here to get the whole story!
http://www.heartofla.org/news/bravo-skateboards.htm

Way to go Bravo!!

LEONARDO PAIS TAKES SOLO CEO POSITION AT BRAVO SPORTS CORPORATION

Steve Caiozzo Joins Bravo Sports as CFO


Santa Fe Springs, CA – Bravo Sports Corporation, a world leader in the recreational and sporting goods markets, is proud to announce that longtime Global Bravo Sports Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo Pais, is now leading the company domestically as well as globally. In addition to continuing the company’s commitment to creating the best products for the best value in the world, Pais will now also take on additional day to day responsibilities within Bravo Sports in a move designed to further align the domestic and global strategies of the company.

Having shaped Bravo Sports into a global presence for the past 15 years, Pais has made Bravo Sports the world leader in performance poly urethane wheels while also expanding their product offerings to include many diverse and dynamic products from some of the world’s most recognizable skate brands such as Tony Hawk and Kryptonics to active children’s toys such as scooters, trampolines and pogo sticks both for licensees such as Nickelodeon, Disney and Mattel and under the Bravo Sports owned Pulse brand, as well as outdoor recreation products such as canopies, beach chairs and umbrellas.

“Thanks to the vision of our entire executive team, Bravo Sports is poised for growth and continued success in the outdoor recreation industry and I am excited about our plans to achieve the goals we have set,” says Pais. “We look forward to continuing our tradition of providing exceptional quality, value and experiences to our customers with our established brands and with the exciting new products we have in development.” Adding, “It has been my pleasure over the last 10 years to work side by side with Tony Armand in positioning Bravo Sports as a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of sporting and outdoor recreation products and we wish him all the best in his new endeavor.”

Pais joined Bravo in 1995 founding the European Distribution and Manufacturing division in his native Italy. In 1999 he moved to the US as the president of Bravo, becoming CEO shortly thereafter in 2000. Prior to joining Bravo he was a Business Unit Manager for Head. Previously, Pais split the duties of Bravo Sports CEO with Tony Armand, who is slated to take over as the CEO of Shock Doctor in May.

Additionally, Steve Caiozzo has been appointed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer joining the newly reorganized Bravo Sports executive team. He comes to Bravo with over 25 years of experience in accounting, finance and operations and 8 years as a CFO. “Steve has a solid financial background and a great understanding of what it takes to run a global company. We are truly fortunate to have Steve join our senior management team,” says Pais.

Having spent most of his career in the high-tech and aerospace industries, Caiozzo served fourteen years at Wyle Electronics in progressive financial management roles before accepting an opportunity as Controller, Worldwide Channel Sales at Cisco Systems. Most recently he served for eight years as CFO, VP Finance & Administration of Capo Industries. He began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen. In this new role, Caiozzo will provide key financial leadership necessary to guide Bravo Sports through growth in the areas of strategy and operating performance.

ABOUT BRAVO SPORTS
Bravo Sports, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California, is a global leader in the recreational and sporting goods markets. With offices, factories and warehouses in the United States, Italy, Thailand and China, the Company’s operations truly span the globe. Since 1965, Bravo has provided the highest quality and most innovative products to sports and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. With a stable of market-leading brands including Pulse™, Quik Shade™, Moto Shade™, Airzone™, Tony Hawk™, Birdhouse™, Darkstar™, Kryptonics™, Hyper™ and Variflex™ to go along with industry leading licenses with outstanding partners like Nickelodeon, Mattel, Cartoon Network and Disney, Bravo consistently seeks to exceed the expectations of its consumers and customers alike. At Bravo, the goal is simple – to create simply the best products for the best value in the world.

OPINIONATED MAMA IS "PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS!"

Opinionated MAMA Offers American-Made Clothing, Gifts and Accessories in Their New Online Store

San Clemente, CA – O-MAMA.com - short for Opinionated MAMA - is proud to announce the opening of the new O-MAMA Online Store (http://www.o-mama.com/store/) offering apparel, gifts and accessories for opinionated mamas and their families. O-MAMA.com, an online resource for America’s moms featuring current news and events from a mom’s perspective, has made a commitment to “talk the talk” and “walk the walk” by featuring only products made in the U. S. A., because CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME!

“We are so excited to launch our O-MAMA Online Store for those moms who want to show and share their commitment to the O-MAMA mission and support US workers and businesses with our line of exclusively American-made O-MAMA products,” says O-MAMA founder Michelle Tingler. “Sure, it would have been cheaper to buy all our items from China, but Opinionated MAMA is ‘putting our money where our mouth is.’ We want to keep jobs here in America for our family, friends, and neighbors.” In addition to product descriptions and pricing, the store also lists the city and state where each product is made.

FINALLY! A Instant Canopy Designed For Individuals

Calling all soccer moms, baseball moms, park moms,beach moms and more.


Finally, an instant canopy light weight enough to carry yourself and designed for one person to assemble. No more asking your husband or the kids’ coach for help!
Santa Fe Springs, CA –– Quik Shade™, a Bravo Sports brand, is proud to introduce a revolutionary instant canopy designed for individual use - the GO Hybrid Backpack Canopy™. Lightweight, easy-to-use and comfortable to wear, the new hands-free Quik Shade GO Hybrid Backpack Canopy™ is the first canopy product to feature simple assembly for individual use. Convenient size and weight, the canopy is easy to transport or store, and is certain to become the must-have for comfort and protection from the sun.


The Quik Shade GO Hybrid Backpack Canopy™ retails for $79.99 in Electric Blue and Lime Green with matching backpacks and is available at your local Sports Authority and other sporting goods stores.

Featuring comfortable, padded backpack straps, storage pockets and an ultra-light structure, the new Quik Shade GO Hybrid Backpack Canopy™ is an essential for every soccer mom, beach-goer and outdoor enthusiast. The reduced size and weight of the canopy makes it easy to store in the trunk of a car or a closet, and easy enough for one person to carry and erect. However, when open, the canopy is spacious enough for four people. Adjustable legs also allow for use on bleachers.

ATTENTION AMERICAN IDOL FANS...WIN A YEAR OF ROSES! NO SINGING REQUIRED...


Enter the California Blooms "Pick An Idol" Sweepstakes by visiting the California Blooms Facebook Fan Page and voting for your favorite Idol. www.facebook.com/californiablooms

Each vote equals an entry into a random drawing to win a weekly prize of a Free bouquet of 24 roses, and the Grand Prize of A Year of Fresh Roses for one lucky winner.


If you are one of the lucky winners, you can send the roses to anyone you'd like in the USA, including yourself!

 

INSTANT SATISFACTION

From the old school Beverly Hills Hotel to the Las Vegas strip to Miami Beach and the Florida Keys, every hotel hotspot has expensive cabanas poolside for VIPS.

With the Quik Shade line and the Quik Shade Décor line, you can recreate your favorite Five-Star cabana at your own home at a fraction of the cost of what it would take to rent a cabana for a day at the hotel. (cocktail waitress/waiter not included!) http://www.quikshade.com/

Here are some of our favorite cabanas and instant canopies to transform your backyard in an instant.


 
Tiki $159
Mykonos $199
Trinidad $189