Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Outdoor Blankets USA MADE

A Stadium Blanket Update for Our Plaids!

2011-12-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone's holiday season is going well so far. I just wanted to post a quick note to let everyone know we made extras this year of our Black Watch Plaid Picnic Blanket and our Red Plaid Stadium Blanket. We always tend to run out about right now. If you are a corporation looking to do a quick turn around gift, there still is time to order. We can usually get the embroidery done in 4-6 days. Please contact us any time.

Our contest this season will be ending December 15. We are giving away an Outdoor Blanket to the winner and a whole box of Outdoor Blankets to their favorite cause too. Please check our contest out to see how you can win a FREE Waterproof Blanket.

Happy Holidays!

Jennifer

Happy Holidays from the Zip-n-go Outdoor Waterproof Blankets Family

2011-11-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

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We want to take to time and thank our customers for their business this year. We are amazed each year how our business keeps expanding and the support for US Manufacturing of our Outdoor Blankets. We wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday with friends and love ones.

Please check out our contest this Holiday Season to Win a FREE Waterproof Blanket for not only you, but you can also Win a whole box of Waterproof Blankets for your favorite charity. Just tell us about your cause and how you think the blankets would be useful for them. We will be annoucing each entry and winner on our Facebook page.

Happy Holidays from the Zip-n-go Blanket family!

Outdoor Blanket Giveaway to You and Your Favorite Cause

2011-10-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is just around the corner and here at Zip-n-go Blanket we not only want to give away some free Waterproof Blankets to people, but we would also like to give a whole box of Waterproof Blankets to one of your favorite causes that might need them. It could be a homeless shelter, natural disaster relief, children getting cancer treatments, people undergoing dialysis... or whatever awes...ome cause you can think of.

The winner will also get an Outdoor Blanket of their own too. We would love for people to get creative. We would love to see some blogs or even video's letting everyone know your favorite cause and why the blankets would be a good fit for them.

We ask you to join us at facebook for updates, post, and videos on the contest. The winner will be announced on our facebook page. Please invite your friends and family to join in this contest too on facebook.

We know everyone might not have the time to do an entry, so we ask that if you can help vote on facebook for entries we post, we will also be giving away a blanket for our facebook friends that are helping to select the best cause. Please let us know if you have any questions.

The winner will be chosen on December 15 and their cause will also be featured on our blog, website, twitter, and facebook.

Please submit your entry on our giveaway page or on our facebook page. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Jennifer
Zip-n-go Blanket- Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, Stadium Blankets

A Stadium Blanket Update

2011-10-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update. We just had more Red Plaid Stadium Blankets, Wine Picnic Blankets, and Bright Bouquet Outdoor Blankets come in this week. We are trying to gear up for the holidays and make sure we have enough of your favorites in stock. If you are a corporate customer interested in a custom Stadium Blanket for the holidays, please contact us soon. We want to try to get your blankets made at our manufacturer in Indiana and ship to you directly. This will save more money on shipping and overall cost.

Thank you!

Jennifer
Zip-n-go Blanket- Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blankets, Picnic Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, Outdoor Blanket

Picnic Blanket update for Fall and the upcoming Holiday Season from Zip-n-go Blanket

2011-09-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Well, fall is upon us and that means leaves changing colors, cooler weather, football and just around the corner.... Christmas. Wow! Is it almost that time of year again? This is when our business really starts picking up for people looking for a nice Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, or Stadium Blanket. We are trying to build up our inventory and we will be having more Camo, Red Plaid Revolution, Wine, and Bright Bouquet Blankets arriving hopefully at the end of next week. We are also stocking up on everyone's favorite, the Black Watch Plaid Picnic Blanket.

If you are a corporation that thinks it might be interested in our Zip-n-go Blankets for the holidays (which make a unique gift that will be used for years to come and also help promote your company name) for either your employees or customers, please contact us soon. We are going to try to have most of our corporate orders made directly at our manufacturer in Indiana (if time permits) and then shipped directly to the customer. This will allow us to give you a little more of a discount versus having the blankets shipped from our stock here in Northern Idaho and embroidered here. We just need a little time to give our manufacturer a heads up.

We thank our customers for their continued support and also the emails from our customers who have really loved using the blankets. We first launched our website back in Novemeber 2008. Pretty much right after the stock market crashed and the economy was taking a negative turn. We didn't know what the future held or if US manufacturing could still be really supported. Even with all the bleak economic news we have grown each year and we thank you for this.

As, always please feel free to contact us anytime if you should have any questions!

In Liberty,

Jennifer
Zip-n-go Blanket
Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Outdoor Blankets, Stadium Blankets, Waterproof Blankets

My First Triathlon in Hayden Idaho

2011-07-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hayden Lake

Hayden Triathlon-Zip-n-go Picnic Blanket

After about 13 days of training for my first Triathlon, I completed the Hayden Triathlon. It was a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride up and back on Government Way and a 3.1 mile run. I have to say it was pretty intimating arriving to Honeysuckle beach and seeing racing bikes and professional triathletes everywhere. There definitely wasn't a lack of testosterone at this event.

The guy who finished 4th in the Coeur d' Alene Ironman came in 1st place with a time 59 minutes and 4 seconds. Put it this way, about a half a mile into my bike ride I started seeing these triathletes riding back to start running!

The swim in the beginning was a little tough. I had never really swam in open water with 256 people before. I sort of freaked out when I was about a sixth of the way out, thinking oh my word, I am not going to be able to finish this swim. It just seemed like forever to get around those bright big yellow and orange floats in the water. However, they gave the newbies the option to swim with a swimming buddy and I did. He was very encouraging. Once I was half way into the swim, I really started to enjoy it. There were mountains all around us.

The bike ride was just hard for me period seeing I had only rode my new bike 4 times before the race. Before that I hadn't rode a bike in like 17 years. I also had a hybrid bike and not one of those light as a feather racing bikes like all the pros. The best part was when I passed the intersection where I was supposed to turn at. I probably lost a minute or so stopping and turning around.

Of course the first mile of the run my legs felt like rubber pegs, but I never stopped running and I was even able to pass a few people that were ahead of me on the bike in the beginning.

So though my time and finishing place weren't the best. I have to say I did finished and I wasn't last...lol

So times to beat next year:

1/2 mile swim: 23.58

1st transition: 2:59

12 mile bike: 51.20 (14.03 MPH). I was about 55 minutes with my practices.

2nd transition: 1:27

3.1 mile run: 36.37 (lol...more like a jog)

Total time 1:58.18

You can check out the course and highlights of the Hayden Triathlon events below:

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blanket (Picnic Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Outdoor Blanket, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Stadium Blanket, Stadium Blankets).

Training for the Hayden Triathlon in 14 days

2011-07-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well this summer has been pretty action packed seeing I have 3 kids to entertain with school being out. It has been one beautiful summer here in Northern Idaho. It is so nice to not to deal with humidity. There is nothing like a dry heat!

I few weeks ago I caught the Triathlon bug when watching the Coeur d' Alene Ironman. The bike course went right by our house. My father-n-law's trainer was in it, so it was pretty cool to learn about the course from him and watch him race by on his bike twice during the event.

It is a 2.4 mile swim (the water was 55 degrees that day. brrrr!), 112 mile bike ride (we have some killer hills out here), and 26.2 mile run! How is this physically possible??? Congratulations Dave Dutro! He finished the whole race!

I had been tinkering with the idea of doing the 1/2 marathon in Coeur d' Alene next May and have been running for a few months now, but then I was at our local health food store Pilgrims and saw a sign posted for the Hayden Triathlon on July 16. 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run. hmmm... I haven't swam in many years and I think the last time I really rode a bike was like 17 years ago, but I have been running about 5 miles up some crazy hills, I can do this...lol

So I started training that night with swimming and got the necessary wetsuit to brave the 58 degree water in Hayden Lake. I am naturally warm blooded so it wasn't that bad, still cold though.

My husband and father-n-law got me a bike for my Birthday (July 4... Yes, Yes... I am a firecracker baby) and I figured I better see if I can bike the 12 mile course first. I was able to do it in about 55 minutes, though my thighs and legs were like rubber pegs after.

In the meantime I have been trying to take a crash course on Triathlons via online. I didn't want to look like a complete amateur....lol

Things I have learned so far when preparing for your 1st Triathlon:

1) Get a Triathlon Tri Suit. This suit is just awesome. You wear it under your wetsuit and you then proceed to bike and run in it too. No changing which saves you time! It has a little padding on the bottom too for the biking part, but no too much to bother you for the running. Which is nice. We don't want to be running like a cowboy in the 3rd leg of the race. It sucks everything in too! So it doesn't look that bad on...lol

2) Make sure you do a few bricks before the big day. What the heck is this??? I learned this on day 5 of my training from another ironman and triathlon woman when getting out of lake after my swim. A brick is biking the course and then running after. They said this is the hardest part, so on Saturday day 7 of my training I proceeded to do my first brick. Holy Cow! My thighs and legs were definitely rubber pegs for about a mile into the run. I couldn't really feel my thighs. At one point during the first part of the run, I was thinking I probably could walk faster than I am running right now, but no I wasn't going to be "the walker" in the race even if I was jogging really slow! I was able to finish with the swim that day. So my next attempt on Day 9 was putting all 3 together in order.

3) Get a Camelbak (Hydration Backpack essentially) for the bike ride. I am not an awesome biker that can take 2 hands off the bike and grab my water bottle for a drink. I literally have to stop to drink. This would add too much time to my bike course, so this solves the problem nicely. I used it for the first time last night and it worked well.

4) You need easy access to some food or calorie intake during this event. Powerbars are nice, but again to complicated when trying to bike for me. Gel paks it is. Boy are they sticky and way too sweet, but they work. I have been using the Hammer Gel and I really like them. Very easy and quick to get down.

5) Make sure you are blowing bubbles when your face is in the water. I think we have a tendency to try to hold our breath when underwater. This is a no no! You must exhale and blow bubbles when your head is in the water otherwise carbon builds up in your system (which I think makes you crampy and feel sick). You should only be inhaling when your face is out of the water.

6) Don't put sunscreen on your face before the swim, because your goggles will not suction right.

7) It is a good idea to have a bucket of water at your station where you will transition, to quickly get the sand off your feet to put your shoes and socks on. Remember the transition time is your 4th leg of the race and it counts towards your total time! The faster the better.

8) This is a good hint I read online. Have a bright color ribbon or balloon on your bike so you can easily locate your station in the transition area.

9) If you are over 150 lbs or 200 lbs be sure to sign up in the Athena (150 lbs +) or Clydesdale (200 lbs +). I am 5'10" and certainly not petite. If you are a bigger person, make sure to sign up in the Athena or Clydesdale group and not your age group. It makes it more of a fair playing field, instead of competing with someone who is 5'3" and weighs 100 lbs...lol

10) And the most important thing not to forget.... Chafe Guard or you will be really walking like a cowboy! This needs to be put on before you put on your Tri Suit. Between your thighs, under arms, and on your thighs, legs, arms and the back of the neck where you will be taking off your wetsuit.

Well, day 9 of training was my first day I put all three legs together in order. Whew!!! It was hard, but I made it through it. I will do one more swim training day and one more complete run in order before the big day on Saturday. It should be fun:).

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blanket- Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Stadium Blankets, Waterproof Picnic Blankets.

A Picnic Blanket / Stadium Blanket Perfect for Corporate Gifts and Promotions

2011-03-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

For the last few years we have loved working with all our corporate customers to customize a Picnic Blanket with their corporate colors and embroidered logo. They love that this Stadium Blanket can be used throughout the year, are made with quality materials, last for years, are Manufactured in the USA, and that their employees and customers get excited about these blankets.

We work hard to exceed our customers expectations and have your custom corporate order manufactured in time for your special event. We can customize orders from 10 to 2000 blankets. All our Picnic Blankets our manufactured in the USA in Indiana, so your company can also be proud they are supporting US manufacturing. We even carry a Eco-Friendly Fleece made with 100% recycled bottles, if your company is looking to go green!

So if you are looking for a new and unique corporate gift or marketing tool that will get noticed and is made with quality materials, please contact us anytime for special pricing and with any questions you might have at 208-772-2022 or email us at our contact page.

Thank you!
Jennifer, Owner of Zip-n-go Blanket

Outdoor Blanket

Steaks at the Wolf Lodge Restaurant in Coeur d' Alene, ID

2011-03-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to the Wolf Lodge Restaurant east of Coeur d' Alene off I-90 for my father-in-laws birthday. They are known for their steaks and boy they were good! The drive east on I-90 though makes it even more worth it. Northern Idaho is just breathtaking. The restaurant has a great old western theme and has fireplaces through out the whole restaurant for a cozy western feel. If you are ever in Northern Idaho it is definitely worth the trip there for their awesome steaks and lovely drive.

In Liberty,

Jennifer
Owner of Zip-n-go Blanket

Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Stadium Blankets, Outdoor Blankets Zip-n-go Blanket

Emergency Car Kit List and Emergency Blanket You should have this Winter Season!

2011-01-14T23:17:00.000-08:00

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The Zip-n-go Blanket makes a great Picnic Blanket, but moving to Northern Idaho this last year with three small children has made me realize how it is also makes a great Emergency Blanket that should be included on your list of emergency supplies for your vehicle.

This winter has been breaking temperature and snow records through out the United States. With currently 49 states including Hawaii having snow, it is important to be prepared for any possible emergency you might face on the road during the winter season. Even if you are only traveling a few miles from your house, it still important to be prepared especially if you have small children.

Here is a list of important items you should consider having in your vehicle should you run into an emergency:

1) 1 or 2 warm Waterproof Picnic Blankets. An Emergency Blanket should be able to easily be stowed away in your vehicle for you and your loved ones.

2) Gloves and Hats. I don't like to wear gloves or hats, but I always keep a pair of gloves and a hat in my car just in case. They say 30 to 40 percent of body heat can be lost through your head.

3) A Forever LED Flashlight (one that doesn't require batteries). You can buy one that can be shaken or hand cranked.

4) A First Aid Kit.

5) Emergency Flares or Hazard Triangles.

6) An Orange Vest (should you need to get out of your vehicle).

7) Non-Perishable Snacks and a few Water Bottles are good too, especially if you have kids.

8) A Fully Charged Cell Phone. Your cell phone service should work well within a few miles of your house. Many times this is where you will breakdown or get stuck. I personally had to switch my cell phone service to another company when we moved to Northern Idaho, because my old phone service didn't have any signal within 2 miles of my house where all the hills (and deer) are.

9) A Folding Shovel. This is a good idea to carry if you live in a mountainous, hilly, or snowy area with some sand too should your vehicle get stuck.

10) Jumper Cables should your vehicle battery die. (I can't tell you how many times I have used these in the last 2 years).

11) Ice Scraper. I know this is a common sense item, but sometimes it is easily forgotten.

12) Tow Strap. This is also a good idea should you get stuck. Someone could attach the tow strap to their vehicle and help pull your car out of the area you are stuck in.

Many of these items you should try to keep near the driver or the front of the vehicle area should you be involved an accident that you might not be able to open or get to the back of vehicle. The Zip-n-go Blanket has a large front pocket that can store many of these items like the flash light, gloves, hats, orange vest, emergency flares or triangles, and snacks. This Picnic Blanket folds and zips to become its own convenient size tote that many times can fit under your vehicle seats.

The important thing to remember if something should happen is to stay calm and plan a rational course of action to stay safe and warm.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blanket- Picnic Blanket, Emergency Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Car Emergency Kit, Car Emergency Kits, Emergency Blanket, Emergency Car Kit, Emergency Car Kits, Emergency Kit for Car, Outdoor Blanket.

A Picnic Blanket Update for 2011 from Zip-n-go Blanket...

2011-01-11T00:50:00.000-08:00

2010 was another great year for Zip-n-go Blanket. So great in fact, the 2010 Holiday Season pretty much wiped us out of all our blankets. We currently are having more of our Waterproof Blankets made and they should be here later this month.

We currently have in stock our Black Watch Plaid Picnic Blanket, Bright Bouquet Waterproof Blanket, Red Stadium Blanket, Navy Stadium Blanket, and Hot Pink Picnic Blanket. We are also bringing back our Sea Life Beach Blankets and our Red Paws Pet Blanket.

We are looking forward to this year and working on bring some new and cutting edge style fleeces to the Outdoor Blanket world.

We want to thank all our customers and corporate clients for not only supporting a small business this past year, but also supporting a product that is Manufactured in the USA. We hope to continue meeting and even exceeding our customers expectations this year. Please contact us anytime if you are interested in creating a custom Logo Blanket for your corporate or special event.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Picnic Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Blanket, Beach Blankets, Outdoor Blanket, Pet Blanket, Picnic Blankets.

USA Manufactured Zip-n-Go Blanket™ Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary Keeping Customer Warm with its Innovative Waterproof Picnic Blanket this Holiday Season

2010-12-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Mom entrepreneur is wowing and warming customers around the world with her innovatively designed waterproof picnic blanket. Made in the USA, the blanket folds and zips to become its own tote bag. A new and handy twist to a favorite family standard.

USA Manufactured Zip-n-Go Blanket™ Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary Keeping Customer Warm with its Innovative Waterproof Picnic Blanket this Holiday Season

(PRWEB) December 2, 2010

Mom entrepreneur, recently relocated near Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, Jennifer Locke is celebrating her 2nd anniversary with helping picnic goers, sports fans, corporations, and families that are on the go stay dry and warm this holiday season and throughout the year with the Innovative Zip-n-go Blanket™. A stylish waterproof picnic blanket that folds, zips, and becomes its own tote bag!

The idea of the Zip-n-go Blanket™ was created after what was supposed to be an enjoyable day at the beach with her infant son 4 years ago, but ended a few minutes later after their small beach towel came in contact with the cold wet sand and her son wouldn't stop crying. After that day, she wanted to find a quality waterproof outdoor blanket that would be conveniently portable for a busy on the go lifestyle.

When she couldn't find what she was looking for, she wanted to see if she could try to create the perfect waterproof picnic blanket. With the help of her mom, she spent the next year searching for the best materials and designing prototypes. With the launch of her company, Alpha Omega Goods, Inc. in 2007, the Zip-n-go Blanket™ was her final creation. A high quality portable picnic blanket manufactured in the USA, made with anti-pill velour fleece, waterproof coated oxford nylon, and YKK® Zippers. A trendy online community for moms,http://www.mommieswithstyle.com, said it best about the Zip-n-go Blanket™, "No more fussing with carrying a blanket that unravels as you walk or keeping track of a separate carrying case or strap. This blanket really has it all! You simply, fold, zip and go! It’s really that easy!"

Now 2 years after the launch of their website, Zip-n-go Blanket™ has sold thousands of blankets and has even been featured in such magazines as REAL SIMPLE and Yoga Journal. This blanket tote can also be embroidered on the front pocket, making it an excellent personalized gift this holiday season. The blankets are even a big hit with corporations who are looking for a new unique gift for their customers or employees. She has worked with companies such as KEEN Footwear (who chose an Eco-Friendly Fleece made with 100% recycled bottles) and Fazoli's to customize fleece colors and logos. "Customers and companies love the concept of a high quality stadium blanket tote that comes in a variety of colors and prints, is made in the USA, and can be embroidered with a family name or corporate logo right on the front pocket. I am so glad I can offer a useful product to people that can be used for years to come and be able to support USA Manufacturing at the same time," says Locke.

USA Manufactured Zip-n-Go Blanket™ Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary Keeping Customer Warm with its Innovative Waterproof Picnic Blanket this Holiday Season

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2010-11-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

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Well we had our first real snow here at Zip-n-go Blanket™ in Hayden, ID (right near Coeur d' Alene). We must of got at least 8-10 inches of snow, just in time for the Holiday season. We are excited to be celebrating our 3rd Holiday Season this year. We started our business right after the stock market crash in 2008, so we are happy to say we are still kicking and growing after 3 years of a tough economy and we are proud that we are able to manufacture our blankets right here in the USA in Indiana.

We want to take the time to thank all our customers over these last 3 years. We are so happy people love their blankets and love to see previous customers come back and order another blanket as a gift for others. It is also so great to get emails from customers letting us know how their blanket has come in great use. Heck, we had a customer use a Zip-n-go Blanket™ to ask his girlfriend to marry him (He had it embroidery with, "Will you Marry Me?" on the front pocket).

It has been an exciting year for us. From our big move from Virginia Beach, VA to Hayden, ID to do a large corporate order for KEEN shoes for a company picnic (their shoes are just awesome)! We just love Northern Idaho. Coeur 'd Alene might only have close to 50,000 people, but it has so much to offer and the view isn't that shabby either! We have found an excellent embroidery shop, ECI Embroidery right here in Hayden. We are glad to be able to support businesses in the area.

Please checkout our contest this season. We are giving 2 blankets away this time. It is simple, all you have to do is "like" our facebook page! We will randomly pick winners off our facebook friends.

We hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Holiday Season!

In Liberty,

Jennifer

www.zipngoblanket.com

Zip-n-go Blanket offers: Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, Stadium Blankets, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, Waterproof Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Soccer Blanket, Soccer Blankets, Camping Blankets

Zevia.... The New Natural Diet Soda!

2010-09-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

So, I have a new love... It is Zevia. With zero calories and 100% natural, how can you not love this fizzy diet soda. I had been craving soda about a month ago, but know after years of reading Dr. Mercola how bad High Fructose Corn Syrup, Aspartame, and Sucralose can be and I try to avoid them at all cost. So, I decided to take a cruise down the organic/natural food section in my Super 1 Foods here in Hayden, Idaho hoping to find something that could fill my craving for the fizzies and found Zevia...

Zevia is made with Stevia and Erythritol, both are natural sweeteners. I have tried the diet Cola, Lemon Lime Twist and the Orange. The Cola is great, but the Orange Soda takes the cake! They even have a take off of Dr. Pepper, Dr. Zevia...lol. I am sure I would love that flavor too, if I could find it here in Northern Idaho!

Now, I am not saying you should drink this everyday... but lets face it, sometimes we like something sweet or fizzy to drink instead of water and raw milk (yes, I said raw milk. Click on the link to learn more about raw milk and where to find it.) and this does the trick!

So for all of you watching your calories and sugar intake and love diet soda, please avoid the Aspartame and Sucralose and try a Zevia soda. For those of you who like regular soda, avoid the high calories and awful High Fructose Corn Syrup and try it too!

In Liberty,

Jennifer
Zip-n-go Blanket

The Weatherproof Picnic Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Camping Blankets, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, and Camping Blankets that Zips-n-goes Anywhere!

Living the dream in Coeur d' Alene....

2010-09-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Well this summer has been very eventful for the Zip-n-go Blanket™ family. We moved in late June all the way from Virginia Beach, VA to Hayden, ID right near Coeur d' Alene. It has been an amazing summer and the views of the mountains and lakes are just beautiful. The weather was amazing and I think we only ran the air conditioner maybe 8 times for a few hours in the afternoon. I am loving this dry weather!!!

So far at our new location we have seen too many deer to count, turkeys, eagles, hawks, and a black bear that decided to cross our property. Wow!!! I have also seen a moose a couple of times, but that was at my Aunt's place in Careywood, ID.

If you are ever in Northern Idaho, the little towns of Bayview and Hope are definitely worth checking out. They have the most beautiful views of Lake Pend Oreille and of course mountains too!

Just a small update on the boys. Michael started Kindergarten at LAM (Lutheran Academy of the Masters in Coeur d' Alene) right near the Coeur d' Alene Charter school that I hope someday he will attend. I can't believe my first baby is starting kindergarten. Boy time passes so fast! Samuel turned 3 in August and is a master at the computer already. I wouldn't be surprised in a few years if he could start processing orders...lol He is pretty good already at ordering Netflix movies and sending them to the house! My cute baby Tucker is 9 months old and is doing the drag crawl and exploring the house as much as possible.

We will be taking new pictures for the website in October. I am pretty excited. We are going to be using a local girl, Christina G Photography. She does amazing work and is great with colors and has almost a classic antique feel too.

Last but not least we have added a chat now window to our site. Please feel free to use it, if you would like to ask a question online. We will try to be on it as much as possible. If you can't get ahold of us there, always feel free to call or email us too. We should be getting more Wine, Red, and Royal Blue blankets in by the beginning of October.

Please remember to contact us if you are looking to do a large order for a corporate or group event. Thank you for your continued support and interest in our blankets and a product that is Manufactured in the USA!

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blanket™

Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blankets, Camping Blanket, Outdoor Blankets, Waterproof Picnic Blanket, Camping Blankets.

Zip-n-go Blanket™ Featured in REAL SIMPLE magazine July Issue!

2010-06-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Zip-n-go Blanket™ was featured in the "Road Test" section for best outdoor blankets in this July Issue of REAL SIMPLE magazine, as the best for summer concerts. We are so honored to be featured in REAL SIMPLE. Check out their magazine and our blankets at www.zipngoblanket.com!

Moving to Idaho...

2010-06-28T17:03:00.001-07:00

Moving day is finally here... We are moving from Virginia Beach, VA to Northern Idaho near Coeur d' Alene to a town called Hayden. It has been a long journey that we decided to partake on last fall when we were looking at properties out there. We absolutely fall in love with the area 2 years ago when we were visiting family and hoped some day to make Northern Idaho our home. I can't believe this dream is finally becoming a reality in a week.

I hope to be blogging about our adventure and taking pictures as we travel the county. Because of our move, we will be shipping all blanket orders placed after Monday, June 28 at 10:00am between July 7-9. Please feel free to contact us anytime, if you have any questions. We will have access to our emails and phone calls.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

www.zipngoblanket.com

Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Camping Blanket, Picnic Blankets, Stadium Blankets, Outdoor Blankets

Zip-n-go Blanket™ Gets a Design Facelift!

2010-04-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to share version 2.0, the second generation of the Zip-n-go Blanket™ with everyone finally. We have been working with our new manufacturer in Indiana to design even a better Zip-n-go Blanket™ for the last few months. We decided to put a flap over the front pocket to better protect items in the pocket and we also did a rounded edge on the blanket using a nylon trim giving it even a more sleek design. The blanket still measures a generous 57 inches by 71 inches and the front pocket can also still be embroidered. Of course we still included the convenient hide away inside zipper pocket to put your keys, wallet, or cellphone in when using the blanket.

We have added the new solid color Hunter Green to the mix of Royal Blue, Eco-Friendly Charcoal Heather, Red, Hot Pink, and Lime Green. We will be getting more Navy later this spring/early summer. The Wine will also be returning in the Fall.

To make sure we don't run out of Black Watch Plaid and Red Plaid Revolution this year, we went ahead and made two large rolls of these fleece prints. The Plaids are estimated to arrive April 15 to April 21. These two, along with our Turquoise Damask are our best sellers and they go fast!

We only have a few of the Turquoise Damask and Bright Paisley Blankets left of the original design so we decided to put them on sale.

We will be adding more new pictures to the website as soon as we can. If you are someone looking to to a corporate/special order, please feel free to contact us anytime to find out more about discounts and blanket options.

I want to thank all our customers for your support to buy American Manufactured Products. We are very excited to see what this year will bring, after an exciting last year. Please look for us in REAL SIMPLE magazine's July issue, on stands mid June-mid August in their "Road Test" section about Outdoor Blankets. We were very honored to be included.

As always our number one goal is to provide exceptional customer service. Please feel free to contact us anytime, if you have any questions and we will get back to you quickly.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Waterproof Blanket, Stadium Blankets, Outdoor Blanket, Waterproof Blankets, Picnic Blankets, Camping Blanket, Soccer Blanket, Outdoor Blankets, Camping Blankets, Soccer Blankets

Not All Sugars Are Created Equally... Beware of Fructose!

2010-03-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

I have been a huge fan of Dr. Mercola going on 5 years now and I have learned so much from his free online newsletter. He has truly shaped the way I have raised my children health wise. He had an incredible article/interview the other day with Dr. Richard Johnson, author of the The Sugar Fix, about sugar, the different forms it comes in, specifically fructose and the harmful affects it does to our health.

Dr. Johnson research has revealed how fructose might cause obesity, high blood pressure, kidney disease, fatty liver, and other health-related problems. Through research he has discovered that the intake of fructose can raise uric acid levels. Uric acid is a major component of obesity, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. On a side note the second leading item that also elevates uric acid levels, is beer!

I encourage you to read and watch this powerful interview about Fructose, Uric Acid, and Blood Pressure: This Common Food Ingredient is as Addictive as Cocaine?

Quick Breakdown on how different Sugars and other Sweeteners break down Fructose Wise:

55 percent of HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is Fructose (What is in Soda).
Agave Syrup is 80% Fructose! Not as healthy as we thought!
Honey is also high in Fructose. It is about the same as HFCS.
Glucose accelerates fructose absorption. When both Glucose and Fructose are mixed together, you end up absorbing more fructose than if you consumed fructose alone.
Pure Glucose (Dextrose) has ZERO grams of fructose. This could be a good alternative to table sugar, but you will have to use a little more in recipes. It is 70% as sweet as table sugar.
Stevia is a great natural sweetener alternative too.
Xylitol another natural sweetener apparently doesn't contain Fructose either from what Emerald Forest Sugar told me. I use this Xylitol in my Strawberry Yogurt Protein Shake. Xylitol is actually good for your teeth too.

Dr. Johnson believes the ideal range for uric acid lies between 3 to 5.5 mg per dl. I ordered his book yesterday, The Sugar Fix, and I can't wait to read it. I will be sure to post what I find helpful and interesting. I would like to try his 2 week diet to reset my body chemistry and pathways from sugar. I talked to my husband about this yesterday because on his recent blood work up his Uric Acid level was 7.5mg per dl and he also has borderline hypertension. I would love to hear your comments on what you think of Dr. Mercola's interview with Dr. Richard Johnson. Please feel free to leave comments.

We just created a Fan Page for Zip-n-go Blanket™ on Facebook. Please join to get updates about our company and natural health blog post!

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blanket-the Waterproof Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Stadium Blankets, Picnic Blankets, Waterproof Blankets, Camping Blanket that Zips-n-goes ANYWHERE!!!

A New Addition to the Zip-n-go Blanket Family

2010-01-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

2009 was an exciting year for Zip-n-go Blankets! It was our first full year online. I didn't know in the beginning of the year what to really expect with the economic downturn. 2009 however was a successful year for us, thanks to all the wonderful customers, companies, and people we interacting through out the year with. We also added another addition to the Zip-n-go Blanket family. On December 18 our 3rd son, Tucker James, was born. He has been a complete joy and I am so grateful for the blessings of another child.

I have learned a lot this last year and my number one goal will still continue to be providing the best customer service and listening to our customer questions, suggestions, and feedback. Our Black Watch Plaid and Red Plaid Revolution Blankets sold out fast this last year, so I made sure to order 700 yards of each fleece! We also will be adding more solid color fleeces that our customers requested. The new blankets should be here in March. Please feel free to Contact us anytime if you have any questions concerning the new shipment of blankets.

We also added to our website a Corporate/Marketing/School/Special Event page for customers looking to do a large order. We had the pleasure of working with a few companies last year looking to do a large order. We were able to create a line of blankets with their choice of fleece styles and their logo on the outside of the pocket. They make great corporate gifts and they are manufactured in the USA! It is gift that people love to use with your logo on the front pocket.

I am exciting for 2010 and look forward to sharing more exciting news about Zip-n-go Blankets! Be sure to also follow us at Twitter for more updates throughout the year.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blankets-Picnic Blanket, Stadium Blanket, Outdoor Blanket and Logo Blanket that is manufactured in the USA.

The Power of Vitamin C and D, Tis the Season!

2009-10-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

With all that has been going around this year, Halloween here with all the sugary treats, and the Holidays just around the corner to lower one's immune system, I have recently spent a lot of time studying the power of Vitamin C and D.

I started upping my Vitamin D with Dr. Mercola Vitamin D (3) Spray a couple of months ago and I have absolutely loved it because my whole family can take it, including my children. I plan on getting our Vitamin D levels tested soon to see where we are at with a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Dr. Mercola recommends an optimal level of 50ng/ml to 65ng/ml. 85% of American's are seriously deficient in their Vitamin D levels, so I highly recommend everyone to test where they are at and look into a Vitamin D3 Supplement. Dr Mercola has a whole Resource Page on Vitamin D if you are interested in learning more about this amazing Vitamin.

I also have been researching the importance of Vitamin C and trying to find a powerful supplement that would have what I thought a good absorption rate. I decided on trying Super C 22 made from Dr. Newton Naturals. I like that it is powder that you put into water to drink. It will be something my children can take without artificial sweeteners, colors and fillers. I will have to write more about it, once we have tried it for awhile. They had an interesting tidbit on their Blog about the only 3 mammals that don't produce Vitamin C naturally in their bodies daily. Guess who is one of them???

"Every mammal on the planet manufactures its own Vitamin C (dogs, cats and even your pet pig) except: Primates (monkeys, apes), Guinea pigs… and Humans.You read that right! There are only three species in the mammal kingdom unable to make their own Vitamin C! After a genetic incident 25 million years ago, humans lost the ability to make their own Vitamin C. In simple terms, the majority of animals make Vitamin C every day to protect themselves. A few examples: my 25-pound Westies make about 5 grams (5,000 mg) of Vitamin C per day, and a goat weighing several-hundred pounds probably makes 50 grams per day." I thought that was so interesting.

I also found another interesting reading called Vitamin C Cures by Dr. Fred Klenner. It is about Dr. Fred Klenner who did a lot of studies and research on Vitamin C and wrote about its amazing cures.

So as we get ready for the Holiday season also try to remember that getting enough rest, not stressing out, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising, optimizing Omega 3 levels, and limiting process sugars, are also very important in maintaining a healthier immune system. Please be sure to take some time to do your own research on other ways that can help increase your immune system like, upping your Vitamin C and D, to make the best health decisions for you and your family.

In Liberty,

Jennifer
Zip-n-go Blanket

Jessica Alba Sporting the Zip-n-go Blanket Memorial Weekend 2009

2009-05-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

I was pretty excited today when Style Cafe Moms sent me pictures of Jessica Alba and her daughter Honor carrying the Zip-n-go Blanket during the Memorial Day weekend at the beach. I thought I would share it with everyone.

Style Cafe Moms had a promotional early this year for Mom businesses with products that could be geared to children that could be effected by the CPSIA law in the coming year. They sent gift baskets to celebrities with all different products for children to bring more awareness about the law. I thought it was a great idea and sent a few Leopard Print Outdoor Blankets off. It was pretty cool to see the tote blanket out and about with Jessica Alba.

In Liberty,
Jennifer Locke

Non-toxic Sunscreen and Natural Anti-Insect Spray

2009-04-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Mercola's: Summer Survival Kit- Natural Sunscreen and Natural Bug Repellent

The Sun has gotten a bad rap lately. When really the sun can be one of the most wonderful things for your health with proper exposure. Watch this video above from Dr. Mercola about Proper Sun Exposure, the health benefits, why you should avoid most sunscreens on the market because of the toxic chemicals in them (octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Para amino benzoic acid, Octyl salicyclate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Cinoxate, Padimate O, Dioxybenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole, Homosalate, Sulisobenzone, Menthyl anthranilate,Trolamine salicyclate,and Octocrylene) and Natural Bug Repellent without the toxic chemical (DEET).

I have been following Dr. Mercola now for over 4 years and I can say that he has change how I look at health for myself and my family forever. It all started with the search for fish oil while pregnant with my first son. I haven't stop taking fish oil (I now take Krill Oil instead, because of its wonderful absorption rate and power antioxidants, which translates to taking a lot less than if you were taking fish oil) since. I highly recommend subscribing to his free newsletter. I also highly recommend his supplements too, because he is always searching for the best supplements and how they are process, which is very important. You can spend a little to a lot of money on supplements that claim how much they have in them, but if they are never properly processed or not absorbed in your system, you are just wasting your money. I don't know if I would recommend anything else when it comes to his Krill Oil, Probiotics, and a Powerful Antioxidant. It is especially important with sun exposure you are optimizing your Omega 3's (limiting Omega 6, we get way to much in our diets already) and a powerful Antioxidant.

If you are looking to get some sunscreen quickly I would recommend Aubrey's Organics or Sun Alba Botanica . These brands usually can be found at your local health store. Be sure to bring a list of the harmful ingredients I listed above when shopping for your sunscreen.

In Liberty,

Jennifer Locke Zip-n-go Blanket

Zip-n-go Blanket Featured on the Daily Grommet

2009-04-06T13:00:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to share with everyone that the Zip-n-go Blanket, "the weatherproof blanket that zips-n-goes... ANYWHERE," is the daily product featured on the Daily Grommet today. They make great videos showing the quality, features, and uniqueness of a product. The Daily Grommet features an unique product for 24 hours on their site and I find myself going there almost everyday to see what their next featured product will be. You can also check out their achieves to see past items. So check out the video to see the blanket's functionality, texture, and size! Thank you Daily Grommet for the opportunity to be featured on your site!

In Liberty,
Jennifer Zip-n-go Blanket

Seven Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes- Giveaway

2009-03-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

Today is the kick off of our first Natural Health Product Giveaway and since I have been talking all morning with my sister-in-law about babies... I have got babies, babies, and more babies on my mind. So, the first giveaway will be Seven Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes. They are one of the essential 9 products and things I recommend for new moms and newborns. The other 8 being Dr. Mercola's Krill or Carlson Fish Oil, a good Probiotic, Dr. Mercola's Vitamin D3 Spray (For the winter months), My Breastfriend Pillow(Breastfeeding Pillow), Soothies, Bravado Nursing Bras, Amby Bed (If you are not comfortable with co-sleeping yet), and trying to eat as much organic and free range grass fed products, and drinking plenty of filter water (no plastic bottled water). You can worry about the baby bouncers and onesies later. First you want mom and baby to at optimal health. There is a reason they call Breast milk Liquid Gold (It starts off at $2.25 an ounces at breast milk banks).

Okay back to the baby wipes...lol:) My youngest, Samuel, had such a sensitive bottom and every brand of baby wipes would really break his skin out, until I found Seven Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes. Here are the features and benefits of the wipes:

- Aloe Vera & Vitamin E lotion
- Hypo-allergenic
- Whitened without chlorine bleach
- Unscented
- Alcohol free
- One-at-a-time dispensing

I believe it was either the Chlorine or the Alcohol that must of been in the baby wipes that was making him break out. They also sell refills too! I am a big fan of Seven Generation products. I also use their dish soap and dishwasher detergent.

So, to win the wipes.... I would like to have people post their funniest diaper or diaper explosion story. You also can just subscribe to my blog through feedburner or follow my blog through blogger. The winner will be chosen March 30. My next post will be a recipe for Organic Ground Turkey Vegetable Lasagna. It is a easy to follow yummy recipe! Have fun!

In Liberty,
Jennifer Zip-n-go Blanket

Global Food Crisis Day 3/11/09-Feed a Child for a month for $13

2009-03-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

I was listening to K LOVE today as I was going to pick up my son from Preschool and they were talking about Global Food Crisis Day being held by Compassion International today and their mission to feed children and their families through out the world. I knew instantly that this was the organization that I wanted Zip-n-go Blanket/Alpha Omega Goods, Inc. to be part of.

They were saying 12,000 children each day die related to causes of hunger. Hearing something like that can make you stop everything you are doing or thinking about and make you eat a piece of what I call humble pie. I often find myself complaining about such frivolous things that I don't have, making them seem in my mind a necessity or mini- crisis if I don't get them, when really I have so much more than most people have in this world. It is amazing how we take food in this country as something we don't even have to think about, because most of us realize we will have a meal in the next 4 hours, myself included.

$13 will feed a child for a month. “I have been fighting poverty for more than 30 years,” said Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International. “Throughout that time I have never seen the potential for devastation that I see in the current Global Food Crisis”. This is the most urgent time in recent history for world hunger. The cost of many food items like, rice, wheat and beans have risen to staggering levels due to fluctuating fuel costs, rising food demands, natural disasters and a turbulent global economy. Compassion is uniquely positioned to provide immediate relief by transferring funds through their existing infrastructure and ensuring that those that need help most are helped first.

I ask you to join the fight to feed children and their families throughout the world. Sometimes we find it overwhelming to know where to begin to help people or to give back, this is a great cause that even if you only have $13 will help save a child. I am going to keep a widget link on the right side of my blog to let people know about this wonderful organization and where to go to donate. Help fight hunger today with Compassion International.

In Liberty,
Jennifer Zip-n-go Blanket

Healthy and Great Tasting Strawberry Protein Shake (Hashe)

2009-03-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, because I am a protein type, I was trying to see what I could make for breakfast that had enough protein to hold be over for a few hours. I was looking for something that wasn't highly processed, that wasn't pork, that my husband and son would drink, hence the Strawberry "Hashe", as my son calls it or a Strawberry Protein Yogurt Shake came forth. Of course my first option was Free Range Eggs, which are excellent for your health (I will have to write a post about the myth on eggs and cholesterol in the future), but I need a little variety in the morning. Plus my husband will not eat the same thing everyday, like I can if I like it lol....

I am going to list the ingredients and I will provide a couple of options or choices for each ingredient. You can adjust the ingredients based on your taste, budget, or the level of sweetness you like. You will need a blender. I recommend getting a Magic Bullet, because you can make individual cups for your family, but a blender will definitely work too! After I list the ingredients, I will go into more detail about each ingredient and why it is important to use them instead of your typical conventional food sources. I will also list a site to find an Organic or Natural Food Store near you, because a lot of times you can't find this stuff in regular grocery stores and it is sometimes cheaper to go to an Organic Store (especially if you can order in bulk).

Strawberry Hashe Recipe:
1/2 cup of Frozen Organic Strawberries , (Organic Blueberries and Mangos are great too!)

3/4 to 1 cup of Seven Star Farm Plain Yogurt or Helios Organic Plain Kefir or make your own!

1/4-1/2 cup of RAW Milk (If you can't get raw milk, skip to milk and add more Yogurt!)

1 scope of Nature's Basic Vanilla Show Me The Whey* or Dr. Mercola's Vanilla Whey Protein

1 tsp to 1 tbls of Xylitol Sweetener (Best Brand-Smart Sweet) NOW Xylitol is pretty good too

1 Probiotic Natren Life Start Powder or Nature's Way Primadophilus Bifidus

Blend and Serve!

Here is the site to find a natural food store and local farms near you: Local Harvest.

Organic Frozen Strawberries: It is important that you buy Organic Strawberries because they are one of fruits with the highest pesticide load. You can read more about fruits and vegetable pesticide loads on a post a wrote a couple of months ago 3 Fruits That you Should Always buy Organic and 11 Fruits and Vegetables you Don't Have to Buy Organic. There will be a little sticker shock to you if you never have bought Frozen Organic Strawberries, but it is well worth it. To cut cost I know the place where I get my Organic Food, Organic Food Depot, I can buy 5 lb Woodstock Organic Strawberries for a pretty good deal. Bulk Baby!!! Also, when Strawberries are in season, buy a bunch of fresh Organic Strawberries. Just wash, chop the stems off, and freeze. Again Please check out the Local Harvest Website to see where the closes natural food store and local farmers are to you! Remember you can use Frozen Organic Blueberries, Organic Raspberries, Organic Mix Berries, Mango, Organic Peaches. Mix it up if you like! Make sure they are Frozen though, otherwise the Shake will be pretty watery!

Organic Plain Yogurt or Organic Kefir: Ideally if you can make your own Yogurt or Kefir from Raw Milk, you get 2 thumbs up from me... but realistic most people don't have the time. So I can only recommend two products to use. Stay away from Horizon and Stonyfield. Horizon doesn't follow traditional farming practices (they milk their cows 3 times a day, instead of 2, They are also mostly Grain-Fed, and not Free Range Grass-Fed Happy Cows...lol). Stoneyfield uses Powdered Milk, not fresh, from what I have heard. Plus these two brands are not going to have as much Live Cultures or Probiotics as Organic Seven Star Farm Plain Yogurt or Helios Organic Plain Kefir. If you like the taste of Kefir they say it has the most amount of Live Cultures and Probiotics in it. These two brands are Organic Grass-Fed Cows too! That means more Omega 3 Fat for you, the good fat! Grain-Fed Animals have a lot of Omega 6 Fat and we get way too much of that fat in our diet from animals and plant oil we cook with. I will have to do a post another time on Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. Do not buy the Yogurts with sugar or fruit favorites in them. Sugar kills all the good bacteria in the yogurt when digested! No Artificial Sweeten Yogurts Either:(!

Raw Milk: I know some people are saying Raw Milk what??? I ask you to please go to this RAW Milk site to read more about it. There you can also find Local Farmers that produce this amazing raw, grass-fed liquid! If you can't get Raw Milk, skip the Pasteurized Milk and just add more Yogurt or Kefir.

Whey Protein: Ideally I would recommend Dr. Mercola's Vanilla Whey Protein, but I know many of us, including myself are on a budget. I have called Nature's Basic Show Me The Whey and they do not treat their cows with rBGH hormone and they don't use anti-biotics. *Many times this brand will have the Natural or Organic Food Store's name on it (like it is a generic brand) that you are shopping at, so please ask someone at the store (Do you have SHOW ME THE WHEY?) if you are having a hard time finding it. Whey is a great Complete Protein, for people that don't get enough protein in their diet everyday. It has 18 grams of protein in 1 scope. Add the yogurt and milk and you are looking at over 26 grams of Protein for breakfast! I highly recommend staying away from Soy Protein. IT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU! Most Soy, unless it is fermented is not good for you. It is not a health food, as many companies and even the news would have you believe. I would ask you to watch this video from Dr. Mercola about Why Soy can Damage Your Health. I highly recommend signing up for his newsletter. He is very cutting edge on health.

Xyitol: I love Xylitol. It is a natural sweetener that is a great sugar alternative for diabetics. It is very low on the Glycemic Index (I believe a 7) this is lower than a lot of vegetables. It has about 40% less calories than sugar too! It great for your teeth, in fact many toothpastes have Xylitol in them, because it is inhibits plaque bacteria in the mouth. I have also read it is great for the nose, throat, and ears. My friend who is a dental hygienist says, she knows a dentist that swears by the Xylitol and once said, "I would take a bath in the stuff everyday if I could...lol." It is either made from Maple Trees or Corn Cobbs. Smart Sweet is made from Maple Trees and NOW Xylitol is made with Corn Cobbs. Please do your own research and find what Xyitol would be best for you. I will do more research on NOW Xylitol to make sure they do not use GMO Corn. Please leave a comment if you have any other good brands or information to recommend. Stevia is another natural sweetener option too. It is just a little too bitter for me and it takes a lot to sweeten something, but you might like it.

Probiotics: Okay Samuel is getting fidgety in my lap, so I will have to cut this one short. I recommend you take a capsule of a good probiotic everyday. Here are a few brands to research: Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotic , Natren, PB 8, and Natural Way's. Make sure the main good bacteria is Bifidus. I recommend throwing Natren Life Start Powder or just break a probiotic capsule into the shake for your children, because young children aren't really able to take a capsule. Plus, you can never get enough good bacteria as a child or an adult!

Oh, one last note... If you like Goat Milk and Yogurt you can substitute the Raw Cow's Milk and Yogurt for that instead. I know for some people because the protein in goat milk is a little smaller, it is a little easier to digest. You will find a list of Goat Milk Farmers on the RAW Milk site too. I am not sure if they make a Goat Whey, if you know of one, please leave a comment and I will post it on this blog!

Alright this has been a long post, but I am glad I finally got it up! Enjoy your Protein Shake or "Hashe". Leave me a comment when you try it and tell me what you think! I know you kids will love it!

In Liberty,

Jennifer- Zip-n-go Blanket

Seth Godin's Blog (Marketing Guru): Looking For Yes

2009-03-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

I subscribe to the blog of Seth Godin. He is a marketing genius and has some great thoughts on running a business and ways of offering excellent customer service. He had a wonderful blog yesterday on the the power of yes and good customer service. At Zip-n-go Blanket we strive to offer top notch customer service, because we know how important it is, especially online, and how we greatly appreciate it when we receive it. Because we ship a lot, I can completely relate to this blog. I highly recommend subscribing to Seth's blog if you run a business. It is a nice pick me up and it allows you see your business sometimes in a totally different light.

Here is his blog post Looking for Yes:
Looking for Yes
I hate going to the post office in the town next to mine. Every time I go, they look for a reason not to ship my package. "Too much tape!" "Not enough tape!" "There's a logo!"
On the other hand, I really enjoy the few times I have something weird to ship fast... and I bring it to Fedex. The guy at the desk has a totally different approach. He's not looking for a reason to say no, he's looking for an opportunity to say yes. "Here's some tape, we'll just add it right here..."
The obvious reason is that the person at this post office has no incentive to make a sale. Okay, fine. But why doesn't she? Why is it okay to have employees in any organization who look for a no? It turns out that the post office in my little town has a few yes men, people who look for a reason to ship my package even though they work for a big government bureaucracy.
The same thing happens with the tech crew before I give a speech. About 75% of the time, the lead tech guy (it always seems to be a guy) explains why it's impossible. Impossible to use a Mac, impossible to use the kind of microphone I like, impossible to use my own clicker, etc. And then, the rest of the time, using the same technology, the producer asks, "how can I help make this work for us?" and everything is about yes, not no.
I don't think it should matter whether or not you're trying to make a profit. If you're out to provide a service, or organized to deliver a product, then look for a yes. At every interaction.

In Liberty,
Jennifer

Zip-n-go Blankets Got XRFed and Passed!

2009-02-17T15:01:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of stress and confusion for business owners making products geared to the ages of 0-12 years old on whether or not the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) would greatly affect or put them out of business. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has decided to delay the enforcement of the CPSIA a year, but they still ask that business owners be confident that their products meet the guidelines of the law.

Although blankets, especially fleece has never really know to contain lead, I wanted to be confident that my products met the lead limits of the CPSIA. I decided to send away my blankets to the Smartmama who uses a XRF gun (an XRF gun is basically an X-ray gun that can detect and measure lead limits in things like paint to toys). Every component of the blanket passed!

I don't know what the CPSIA holds for the future or how the law will change. I know it could still gravely affect many businesses, especially small businesses, if it is not revised by next year. I believe Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina is trying to bring a bill on the floor of the Senate to revise the bill, so I please ask you to support his efforts and also contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to please support revising this bill to make it more business friendly.

We our excited for Spring/Summer and we plan on introducing a couple new colors/styles, so make sure to checkout our website every so often Zip-n-go Blanket to see what is new. Don't forget to enter our free blanket giveaway too. We try to give out a free blanket every season!

I will start next week writing more on the blog about natural health products and news. Next week I will post a great recipe for a Strawberry Yogurt Protein shake that is healthy yet super tasty, even you kids are going to love it! So skip the cereal, simple carbohydrates, and hunger you feel 1 hour later and start drinking "Hashe" (that is what my son calls the shake..lol).

In Liberty,
Jennifer

CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) Count Down to February 10 2009

2009-01-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been on hiatus for awhile. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Holiday and I want to thank all my customers for making a Zip-n-go Blanket a gift for their friends and families this Holiday.

I wanted to let you know what I have been working on for the last couple of weeks along side many other business owners across America. There was a law passed last year called the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 HR4040) that could effect and ruin many businesses selling products to the ages of 0-12 years old come February 10 2009. You can read a summary about it here: GK Law Summary on CPSIA . The best explanation on how this could effect many businesses and I believe the American economy can be seen with the three videos I will post on this blog below.

Rich Woldenburg of Learning Resources goes into detail about how this could destroy his company that sells books and supplies to schools . I will close this by asking you to contact your U.S. Representatives and Senators by either calling them at their Washington DC office or sending a letter by just entering your name and zip code at this link: Email your Congress Person/Senators about amending the CPSIA. I have hope from all the people I have talked to and from even my Congressman and Senators that they will try to amend this bill to make it more business friendly, especially for small businesses.

Here are the videos:
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

In Liberty,

Jennifer

11 Fruits and Vegetables You Don't Have to Buy Organic

2008-12-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

Last month I told you about the 3 Fruits you Should Always Buy Organic. Well this week I want to share with you the 11 Vegetables and Fruits you can buy that don't have to always be organic, because they have the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown.

Here is a great website called Food News that has a list of 45 Fruits and Vegetables ranked highest to lowest for the pesticide load when conventionally grown. They also have a quick shopping guide called: the Dirty Dozen and the Cleanest 12 that you can print out and take to the store with you.

As promised from last month, here is the list of the 11 Fruits and Veggies you don't always have to buy organic:

Broccoli
Eggplant
Cabbage
Banana
Kiwi
Asparagus
Sweet peas (frozen)
Mango
Pineapple
Avocado
Onion

You will notice on the list of the Cleanest 12 you see frozen Corn. I didn't include it in this list because corn is technically a grain and not a vegetable. Although if you ask my husband he will tell you it is a vegetable lol :).

At the end of the week I will be announcing Zip-n-go Blanket and Such Blog's first Natural Product Giveaway! I am excited to share with you my favorite natural product right now. It is especially great if you are a mom, but it comes it great use for anyone else too! Be sure to sign up for our Blog on the left and also check out our website: Zip-n-go Blanket where we are giving away a free blanket next month. It is an outdoor blanket tote that folds and zips to become its own tote bag and it goes ANYWHERE! All you have to do is tell me your favorite color!

In Liberty,

Jennifer
Organic Vegetables and Fruits, Organic Broccoli, Organic Facts, Natural Fruits, Organic Mango, Organic Banana, Nutrition Avocado, Nutrition Pineapple, Free Blanket, Outdoor Blanket, Vegetables Eating.

Boutique Web Designs for the WAHM

2008-12-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

I had the fortunate opportunity while doing a web search to find an awesome website designer that is not only amazingly talented, but also offers probably the best customer service I have ever received in the online community we called the world wide web. Her name is Nia and her company and website name is Pixel Diva Designs.

She is the perfect fit for any woman looking to start an online business that requires a website, because she offers not only custom stylish, sheek, girly and hip e-commerce website designs, and boutique web designs she also offers blog designs, SEO and creative search engine marketing. The best part of it all is she is very affordable. You won't pay $5000-$10,000 like some other companies wanted to charge me, but you will get an outstanding website and customer service that seems like it is worth $10,000 and it won't take 6 months to a year to see your site up and running.

Nia gives you a great format/program to update and make changes to your site that is easy to understand and when you have a question she is always an email away to help you out. That alone is invaluable.

Her extensive knowledge and training in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is amazing and I recommend anyone that is new to SEO or doesn't have the time to spend countless hours researching it, to give Nia a try. She makes sure your site is SEO friendly while building it. She will let you know what she is doing every step of the way and you won't feel like you are in the dark, like many SEO people can make you feel. She is trust worthy and honest and doesn't do anything that would jeopardize your site with the search engines. I can't stress how important it is to find someone who is straight forward when it comes to SEO.

The internet can be a wealth of knowledge and opportunity, but it also can lead many new business people down a long and expensive path. So new rule: When you find someone who offers great service online be sure to write about it on your website, on their website, or on your blog. Pass along your information to someone new, because we all know what it feels like when you are new to the online business world and you have a ton of questions... It is exciting, yet can be frightening with many people looking to take advantage of you. Thanks Nia (Pixel Diva Designs)!

In Liberty,

Jennifer

P.S. She has a 20% off sale on her all Inclusive E-commerce Package for the next 2 weeks.
Hurry!!!!

Afforable Website Designs, Blog Designs, Boutique Web Design, E-commerce Website Designs, Girly Website Design, pixel diva designs, SEO, SEO Friendly Website Designs, Web Designer

Giving a Helping Hand to Elizabeth Hoke and Her Family

2008-11-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

I received an email from my Sister-in-law in Las Vegas about Elizabeth Hoke, a 1o year old girl who has been diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in her throat. Her Girl Scout group was asking for prayers and financial support and I knew I had to see how I could contribute somehow in the spirit of Thanksgiving. I decided to give 25% of the profits made from the sales of all Zip-n-go Blankets between 11/26/08-12/01/08 to her family.

Elizabeth has undergone three days of chemo treatments and other than being a little nauseated she is doing great. She was sent home for 12 days to rest and on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, she will go back into the hospital for 5 days to receive the second round of chemotherapy. This second round is suppose to be the worst and much more intense. All prognoses at this time is good. Which has been a huge relief to her family and friends.

My brother, Michael, passed away from Rhabdomyosarcoma when he was 13 years old and I know first hand how a cancer diagnosis and treatments can take a toll on a family, especially on parents having to take time off and not getting paid to stay with their child. Tracy Hoke, Elizabeth’s mom, works at Starbucks. She has been granted a leave of absence for twelve weeks, so that she can stay at the hospital and take Elizabeth to all her doctor’s appointments. But she does not get paid during this time off. Steven, her dad, as just recently started a new job, so he was unemployed for a period of time. They do have insurance, but it is minimal and there are so many other expenses as well.

If you personally would like to make a contribution to Elizabeth and her family, a trust fund has been setup at Bank of America (Hoke Family Trust), you can go to any Bank of America in the country and make a donation, even five dollars would be helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to email me and I will quickly get back to you.

I hope everyone as a wonderful Thanksgiving and please keep the Hoke Family in our prayers and thoughts.

In Liberty,

Jennifer

3 Fruits That You Should Always Buy Organic

2008-11-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

Organic Fruits can be expensive, especially at a time where the economy is uncertain, but it is important to figure out when to buy organic and when to buy conventional. This week I will covering this subject and share with you a guide to look at when shopping for your fruits and vegetables and what cheap solution you can make yourself to clean lower pesticide conventional fruits and vegetables.

Now here are the 3 Fruits you should always buy Organic...

1) Organic Peaches: Peaches score the highest rating pesticide load for conventional fruits and vegetables. They are a great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. While they make a great summer time snack, be sure to check the bar code number (Organic Produce usually starts with a 9 and has 5 digits. Here is an example of an Organic Produce Label. Remember Raw is always better! Stay away from the Canned Fruit because they are cooked to death, killing all the vitamins and enzymes.

2) Organic Apples: This is the second highest rated pesticide load for conventional fruits and it is probably the most commonly eaten in your household. I can't tell you how important it is to eat an organic apple a day. Let me list a few benefits:

Apples are loaded with Antioxidants and Digestive Enzymes
Apples have tons of fiber and nutrients to help normalize blood sugar
13 triterpenoids from the peels of Red Delicious apples were identified and confirmed to be highly effective against cancer
The phytochemicals in apple peels contain natural antioxidants
Most children love Apples
Be sure to eat the Apple Peel as it contains 75 percent of the dietary fiber in an Apple

3)Organic Strawberries: This is the third highest rated pesticide load for conventional fruit and probably also a common fruit staple in your household. Strawberries are a great source of antioxidants and are loaded with Vitamin C. Kids tend to love them too! A great way to cut cost if you use a lot of frozen strawberries is to buy them bulk and cut the stems off and freeze them yourself. I do this and it is cheaper than frozen bag organic Strawberries.

Usually buying Organic Food at your conventional grocery store can be expensive. I would try to find a local Natural or Organic Food Store here: Organic Store Locator and see if you can buy bulk or split orders with other customers (I do this at my local organic food store: Organic Food Depot, here in Virgina Beach, VA. I also have had my friends tell me that Sams, Costco, and BJ tends to have bulk Organic Produce and that it is a pretty good deal. Apples especially tend to be cheaper in bulk.

I hope this helps with your selection of produce. My next post will talk about produce you don't always have to buy organic to help save money!

In Liberty,

Jennifer

Site should be up tomorrow night!

2008-11-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

I think tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for 6 months now. The site should be up and functioning tomorrow, YEAH! I am very excited.

Next week will be the official kick off of my blog. I will be focusing on organic foods, natural health and beauty products, and I also will be doing FREE GIVEAWAYS every month of my favorite natural health items.

I have been researching this stuff for over 4 years now. Everyone always loves to ask "the natural health freak" (me), "What do you do for this, that is a natural alternative?", so it is time to share all the wonderful information that I have learned and have had shared with me through out these last few years. Be sure you sign up for my blog feed so you won't miss anything. Tell a friend too!

I am also going to be doing a FREE BLANKET GIVEAWAY for the Holidays, so look for that too! I will have to think of a festive contest.

My first subject next week will be: What is the #1 and #2 fruits that you should buy organic, because they have the most amounts of pesticide sprays on them... Any guesses?

Wish me luck with my site launch tomorrow!

In Liberty,

Jennifer
http://www.zipngoblanket.com/

The Site is Almost Done!

2008-10-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I got to see the perview today of the website and I am so excited. Nia at www.pixeldivadesigns.com did an amazing job. Nia is very easy to work with and very affordable if you are looking for a retail site on a small business budget. The site should be up by the end of October. Be sure to check it out!

Jennifer
www.zipngoblanket.com

Getting a Face Lift...

2008-08-13T23:37:00.000-07:00

We are currently giving our website a face lift. We are working with an excellent designer, Nia, at www.pixeldivadesigns.com. Thank you for understanding and we look forward to sharing our new look with you soon, even our Blog will have a whole new look!

For all your Soccer parents, look for our sale in the fall on our Soccer Blanket!

Jennifer

"Better know your politician on the cola bottle," from Jones Soda Huh???

2008-07-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

Okay.... There are so many funny political things I wanted to post the last few days, but I am trying to hold myself back:). Whether it be JibJabs latest campaign satire video "Time for Some Campaignin" (I can't get that catchy tune out of my head now!) or Steven Colbert's segment on the latest difference maker, Donald Trump and his flag poll or even better, Steven Colbert's better know a lobby interview with the Sierra Club. That's right if you love political satire or Steven Colbert you are going to have to do a google search, no links will be provided here today lol:). I don't want to get myself into trouble.

Anyway moving on... I found something I can post that is not controversial... As Steven Colbert would put it, "Better know your politician on the cola bottle," from Jones Soda www.campaigncola.com. Let your vote be heard, by buying your favorite presidential candidate's soda bottles. Choices are Barack Obama, Ron Paul, John McCain or Hillary Clinton. Barack seems to be winning the cola election, with Ron Paul coming in a distant second.

If you don't like your choices, you can always make your own campaign cola with your picture on it! How cute is that? What a conversation piece and a neat collectors item. Having a hard time finding a cute gift for someone? Why not give them their own soda flavor with their picture on it! I can see Dads and Moms with babies loving this. I love it!!!! This is just a great marketing idea from Jones Soda.

Jennifer

Free Outdoor Blanket Give Away....

2008-07-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are giving away one of our outdoor blankets next month. All you have to do is tell us your favorite color or style www.zipngoblanket.com/winfreeblanket.htm. We will be doing contests through out the year, so please stop by every so often to see how you could win a free blanket. All those mommies out there that love free baby products, please stop by and give us your opinion and you could win one! These blankets are great to keep in the car. It is a blanket and tote bag in one. No seperate carrying case. The blanket zips within itself to make a tote bag! These blankets are manufactured in the USA and retail at $74.99. We will ship the blanket to the winner for free too!

Jennifer

Take Time To Smell (or See Via the Internet) the Roses...

2008-07-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

My husband's uncle took this picture hiking near Portland, OR. I had to post it and share it with everyone, because it is absolutely beautiful! For all those who love roses, enjoy.

This picture reminds me to live in the moment and be thankful for what I have now, instead of waiting and longing for something better in the future. Enjoy what you are given today.

Tasty Natural Fast Food Anybody??? O'Naturals is the answer.

2008-07-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

I went to college in Portland, Maine and I had the opportunity to do an internship with MEBSR (Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility)http://www.mebsr.com/. I had the privilege to interview companies that would share with us their practices for sustainable business success through social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity. It shaped a lot of the way I wanted to run a business one day, when I had the opportunity. I hope to implement what I learned from these companies into my own business now.

One company that I interviewed was O'Naturals http://www.onaturals.com/. It is a natural/organic fast food restaurant. The food tasted great and was really healthy (sometimes hard to find). O'Naturals left a lasting impression on me on how to run a business and till this day when I go up to Maine I try to eat there. I am glad to see they are successful and have expanded to a few other areas. So if you are looking for great tasting fast natural food and you live near Acton MA, Falmouth ME, Portland ME, Asheville, NC, Wichita KS, or Orlando FL, go and check them out! I guarantee it won't be the last time you go!!!

Here we go...

2008-07-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have officially just joined the blogging world. Did I even spell that right? lol... Is there one g or two g's in blogging...

I believe I first heard the word blog in 2004 during the president election. I just remember the news saying the bloggers were the ones to catch the candidates or their campaigns in lies or tell the truth about a lie that was being said about a candidate. I think the main gist was that the bloggers did a lot to bring to light about what was really going on in politics faster than the regular news.

Fast forward 2007-2008 being the political junkie I am, I find myself reading many people's blogs when I do a Google search about a news story or a politician. I thought it was high time that I join the blogging community. Although I love to talk about the two No No's (Politics and Religion) right away when I meet people, being that I am just fascinated by what people think. I will try not to bring those subjects up. If I do, please forgive me and know that even if I don't agree with something or someone, I do try to understand where they are coming from and understand both sides of the story. I hope that that might be extended to me too.... I have love for politics and economics (majored in economics in college) since I can remember, so I am sure it will be brought up here and there:).

Anyway.... why I am really here. I am a stay at home mom with two beautiful boys. Michael who just turned 3 in May and Samuel (or Sammy, Samwow, Sam) it changes every time I say his name:), who will be 1 in August. I love my boys and I can't believe how fast they are growing. Sam is taking 4-5 steps now and I can see the alignment of the boys against mommy starting ( I can be a big push over sometimes:) and my 3 year old knows it!) My boys were the ones who inspired me to create the Zip-n-go Blanket with my mom. I am so excited about our business. I love our product and I really do find myself using it all the time ( I don't like the grass:)...... Oh product, no self plug here...lol

My mom and I have created an outdoor/picnic/baby/soccer/car/dog... any sort of use blanket that is a highly water resistant blanket and tote bag in one. It zips within itself. No separate carrying cases or straps. It has a velour anti pill fleece top layer and a nylon oxford bottom (the same material they use for tents). It is manufactured in the USA in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, which I am so happy we were able to do. Check out the slide show of the blanket, we have some awesome colors/fleeces http://www.zipngoblanket.com/. These are no boring outdoor blankets! So, right now that has been my second focus (the first being my boys and hubby).

This blog will be so much more than me shamelessly plugging the Zip-n-go blanket. I love natural heath, natural alternatives, and discovering new products for moms and babies. I hope that people will stop by and share any new health product, organic food, health news story, or useful baby product. Okay, back to being a mom! Sammy just woke up, time to go feed him and go to bed.

Jennifer