Naturale Sundae Review

I am always on the lookout for all natural products that I can use on a daily basis that are safe and helpful. Natural Sundae does all that. They have so many great products in a variety of scents to help create a more natural life.

I received several great products that I instantly fell in love with. I love that every product has an aromatherapy benefit. One of my favorites that I received was the Pure Cane Sugar Body Scrub. It comes in a variety of scents and is great at getting rid of any rough skin. I love how soft my skin feels after I use it. This is just one of the many products available to buy on their site. They have portable aroma inhalers, natural herbal soaps, massage oils, and so much more. I was really impressed with the selection available.

The best part about these products are that they are all natural. I also love how informative their website is. Each product has information on things that it can help with as well as a great deal of the day! I also love natural bars of soap and Natural Sundae's Lavendar bar is heavenly!

To view all of the great products available visit NaturalSundae.com.

Taslie Skin Care Review

More and more lately I have been really trying to make the commitment to switch all of our products to more safe and natural ones. That means I start with my little guys and the stuff I buy for them first.

I was so excited to have found and tried Taslie Skin Care products. We were able to try a few of the products and are so pleased with the results. The Taslie line was created by a mom who recognized the need for all natural and safe products for her child. These products are not only safe but fun looking too which makes it even better for kids.


My boys absolutely loved the Head to Toe Body Wash and Moisturizing Lotion not just because of how soft their skin felt but because of the fun frog bottles. My favorite was the L'enfant Lemon Creme Moisturizing Lotion. Their hair smelt so yummy and soft. I can't wait until I can use Taslie on my new baby. Their skin will need all the nurturing it can get!

To view all of the great products from Taslie Skin Care visit Taslie.com.

I'm Back

I know- I am the world's worst EVER blogger. I have been missing forever but I have a million and one excuses why. First of all I'm pregnant! In case you have heard on my Facebook page. It has been killing me not to post about it but I was waiting until we visited my family in Phoenix and told them in person.

So right now I am around 13 or 14 weeks. Yeah! I really wanted to post about how awful and miserable I felt in the beginning. It was sooooo not fun trying to go to school with morning sickness. So that was the first reason I was MIA. Too sick to even think while my family lived off of fast food. Then we had finals which by the way was triple worse with morning sickness! Luckily though it all paid off and I got an A in Anatomy and a B in Math so yeah again. My husband totally rocked all A's and I am really proud of him.

Then we went and made the three day trek to sunny Phoenix, AZ. We had some fun but way too much medical drama to say the trip was totally awesome. The good things were we ate lots of yummy food and didn't think twice about how bad it was for us. We spent some bonding time with family, hung out with some great friends and remembered how much we are loved from so far away! I didn't get to do or see everyone that we planned on but our time was cut short from Cody's hospital stay and having to get back to the dr's here. Of course now that we are back they are in no hurry to get Cody checked out and now we have to wait 2 weeks for his first real appointment AND we have to travel 3 hours to get there!

I have just been trying to get back into the swing of things at home and doing some crazy purging of clutter. We brought back way more stuff than we left with! My favorite Christmas presents this year were a pressure cooker to open my canning horizons, and I got to go "shopping" in my generous friend's food storage and pick out several items for my own supply! Food storage is by far the best gift idea ever!

Anyways, I know I might have lost a few of you along the way and I have totally and completely not checked my email in weeks. I'm really sorry if you sent me an email but I am going to be going through them and responding slowly but surely. I have some changes for the blog coming up as well. I will announce more soon but for now I will just be getting caught up on reviews- so probably no giveaways for awhile-don't hate me!

Blogging can be so much fun but things for me got to a point where they felt way too much like a huge burden trying to make all of my business contacts happy. Way too much pressure when life comes at you. I have learned to put me and my family first and get rid of the guilt. I have two sick little boys at home with the stomach flu so I thought I would get some things caught up while they watch their millionth show on tv. I really hope you all are doing good and thank you to all my blogging friends who haven't forgotten me and have kept in touch!

Happy New Years!

I hope you all had a safe and fun night last night! I had a great time because I finally was able to get my husband home from the hospital. Due to mistakes from the doctors he had to stay an extra 2 days! It has been very frustrating but we are happy to start the new year off with my husband and try to get him healthy. Thank you to all who have been praying and uplifting support. I hope you all have a wonderful New Years!

Update from Phoenix

Hey everyone, I hope you had a good holidays! We are still in Phoenix and have had some fun but also some scares. My hubby was admitted to the hospital for atrial fillibration (spelling?). He woke up in the middle of the night with a crazy irregular heart beat and it wouldn't calm down. I'm not smart on all of the medical stuff but they couldn't get his heart rate back to normal with medicine so they had to do a procedure where they stopped his heart. He was told it would feel like he was having a heart attack. He said it was so incredibly painful. Finally after different medinces his heart rate is back to normal. Today we found out that it is his thyroid that is causing it and that he might have Graves disease. Still waiting to talk to the endocronlogist so we shall see but we are relieved that his heart is going to be ok.

We also are praying that are insurance will cover it. Since we are out of state it might not but trying not to worry about it. I'm just so thankful to still have my husband. I was worried sick thinking about not having him in my life. So if you haven't hugged your sweetheart lately- make sure you do- life is so short!

On that note, I know I have a TON of emails to respond to and will do my best in the coming days but am just trying to get my life organized while away from home.

oh sugarcubes Etsy Giveaway

My dear, sweet, amazing, almost life long friend, has opened up her own etsy shop- ohsugarcubes. It's about time! She is so talented and I am really proud of her creativity. She has beautiful artwork-prints that were photographed by her. I love how real they are! She offers different sizes and prices. Her pieces are REALLY affordable and make great presents for any occasion!

She is generously giving one lucky winner their own print! To enter please visit her shop and tell me which item you would choose.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Jan. 2nd Open to US

I Am Featured!

I was asked to write an article for the Curious Chef site awhile ago and just realized it is up. Yeah me! So if you want to take a looksy click here.

My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli

I have been really wanting a good Christmas cd this holiday and have been really bored with my old music. I was so excited when I received Andrea Bocelli's very first Christmas album. It has great artists included on the album including Reba and my personal favorite the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! This songs truly are beautiful and Andrea's voice is amazing. I really loved how many tracks are on the cd. It feels like I don't have to change cd's for awhile.

1. I Believe
2. Adeste Fideles
3. O Tannenbaum
4. Blue Christmas
5. White Christmas
6. The Christmas Song duet with Nathalie Cole
7. Oh Holy Night
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
9. Jingle Bells - duet with The Muppets
10. Silent Night
11. Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle
12. The Lord’s Prayer
13. What Child Is This with Mary J Blige
14. Angels We Have Heard On High

One lucky winner will receive their own copy of Andrea Bocelli's Christmas cd. This giveaway will not run for that long since Christmas is upon us! To enter please tell me why you would like to win this cd.

Giveaway ends Dec. 21st open to the US.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Open to US

Winners Finally!

I made it past finals just barely! What a week. I have been able to post and am now packing to leave for Phx. We leave at 4 am tomorrow! We are driving and it will take us about 24 hours total so it will be long and interesting with two toddlers. I wanted to play a little catch up and also let you know I have a new sponsor on my sidebar- TinyPrints! Make sure you check them out they have super cute stuff.

Now for the winners.....
The winner of the MyJones Soda is LadyTink_534

The 2 winners of the Hallmark GC are clarissa and Tamara B

The Robeez winner is Justin and April

The Pillow Pets winner is etirv

and the winner of the Build A Bear giveaway is Emily!

Thank you to everyone who has entered. You guys rock! I will be posting more when we arrive in Phoenix so be on the lookout :)

I'm Still Alive

But barely! No just kidding but I have been crazy busy with things as I'm sure everyone else is. It's finals week and down to the wire for studying as well as getting ready for a long trip to Phoenix. I will be posting winners soon and some more reviews and giveaways. Hope everyone is doing well!

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian DVD Review

The first Night at the Museum is a favorite in our house and now so is the sequel Battle of the Smithsonian. We loved the story line where all the exhibits are being shipped to storage at the Smithsonian. It is full of adventure and I really enjoyed the graphics. The only thing I missed was the cave men. They were so hilarious in the first one!

The characters were also great in this one. There was Amelia Earhart, a new monkey, and the ignorant Col. Custard. This was a great family movie for family night. Battle of the Smithsonian was released on 12/01/09 and makes a great family Christmas present!

Young Living Christmas Spirit Essential Oil Blend Review

Christmas time is a time for great smells in the home. Everything from the fireplace to goodies baking in the kitchen. I love how smells can trigger memories and help your mood. My Young Living Essential Oil rep, Jennifer Nordin, sent me the Christmas Spirit Essential Oil Blend to review. I really love it! Here is a little description from the site: Christmas Spirit™ is a sweet, spicy blend of orange, cinnamon, and spruce essential oils that tap into the happiness, joy, and security associated with the holiday season. With Christmas Spirit on hand, simply open a bottle and start diffusing!

This stuff smells so nice! I love how the blend makes my home feel super Christmasy. We diffused it our Ultrasonic Diffuser while we decorated the tree. What a great tradition to start! This diffuser wholesales for $85. You will receive a coupon for 50% off the diffuser with the purchase of any Young Living Start Living Kit which creates a Young Living account for you to purchase at wholesale prices.

I love that I am using all natural oils in my home that are beneficial to the air we breathe!

Jennifer Nordin, Independent Young Living Distributor #329194, provides practical aromatherapy tips and private consultations through her blog, Oils For Wellness. Be sure to subscribe to her e-newsletter for more ways to experience the amazing healing benefits of essential oils. Start living well today- purchase pure Young Living aromatherapy products from the Oils For Wellness website!

Build A Bear Workshop Review and Giveaway

Isn't this little guy (or girl) cute? I got the chance to review him from Build-A-Bear Workshop. He is one of the many cute animals available to purchase online or from their store. He came in a box that looks like a house which is great for carrying. He's super soft and really lovable! I can't wait to give this to my friend's little one for Christmas. It will make there day! I was really surprised at the selection offered from Build-A-Bear Workshop and hope to one day take my two little guys to the shop so they can build their own. We don't live near one so we will have to find one on a trip sometime!

This cute stuffed puppy is ready to be your furry friend! Its shaggy black and white fur and floppy ears make this stuffed animal Porty hard to resist. We donate $1 from the sale of this Bearemy's Kennel Pals® friend to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation to help real animals.

One lucky reader will win their own Portuguese Water Dog from Build-A-Bear! To enter please visit the site and tell me what your favorite animal is.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Open to US ends Dec 16th

Pillow Pets Review and Giveaway

Have you seen the commercials for these adorable Pillow Pets? I have and am happy I got my hands on one to review. They are stuffed animals that can easily be changed into a pillow. They are perfect for toddlers and children and are super soft. I received this cute Wiggly Pig to try out. I was surprised with the size of the animal. It isn't too big that it would be in the way but not too small so that your child's head isn't being supported.

Here is some more info about Pillow Pets:

Top 5 reasons to own a Pillow Pet:

1. Affordable, adorable fun and functionality

2. May postpone live animal ownership with 20 stuffed varieties to choose from

3. Cuddly like a puppy with ultra softness for hugging and sleeping

4. No clean up required and no shedding; durable and machine washable

5. Always up for anything - naptime, playtime, travel time - anytime!

Pillow Pets were created by a San Diego mom of two who sought a more functional use for the multitude of stuffed animals strewn across her home. Pillow Pets are affordably priced at $19.95 (with up to five additional Pillow Pets for $15.95 each) online at www.GetPillowPets.com.

I think that these are also perfect for road trips or for your little one who is staying over at a friends or family's house.

One lucky winner will receive their own Pillow Pet. Please visit their site and tell me which one you would pick.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Open to US Ends Dec 14th

Winners

I know it's about time I get some more winners up so here we go!

The Down East Basics winner is greeneginger

The Automoblox winner is bekki1820cb

The Natura Pillow winner is katklaw777

The Yoga Pulse DVD winner is BadgerMomma

and the winner of the One Republic cd is Cheryl.

Congrats to all!

Oxfam America Unwrapped

Through Mom Central I found out about a great site called Oxfam America Unwrapped. Here is some info from their site:
We are an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. We are part of Oxfam International, a confederation of 13 Oxfams working in more than 100 countries. Together with individuals and local groups in these countries, we save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.

What sets Oxfam apart?

We create partnerships. Rather than provide short-term aid, we work with local communities to create lasting solutions to poverty by helping people address the root causes themselves. We rely on the knowledge and insight of those affected.

We’re independent. Among leading humanitarian organizations, we stand alone in our refusal of US government funds. We accept no money from sources that could compromise our ability to make decisions independently or to speak freely about injustice.

We work locally and globally. Oxfam is deeply committed to our community-based work, but we also recognize that there are larger barriers that can keep people in poverty. To tackle these obstacles, we do national and international policy and advocacy work.

We believe that human rights are fundamental and nonnegotiable. Oxfam adheres to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which entitles all people to safety, a voice in the decisions that affect them, equality, basic social services, and a secure means of earning a living.

Oxfam’s reach

We’re on the ground around the world. Our regional offices are staffed by experienced people who often come from the regions in which we work and who know the local realities.

We work as part of a confederation. As part of Oxfam International, we’re able to campaign globally, uniting around some of the world’s biggest problems to achieve far-reaching solutions.

We’re there when an emergency strikes. Since Oxam is already working in communities around the world, when disaster strikes, we can be first responders—channeling funds, aid workers, and relief supplies to where they are needed in a matter of hours.

What you do is pick out a donation gift to send on behalf of yourself or someone else. That person will receive card to show the donation and then the gift is sent to a community that needs it the most. There a variety of items to choose from including chicks, a desk and chair or seeds. I think this is a great way to help others around the world while giving a gift to someone you just don't know what to get. To view all the different gifts available in different price ranges visit Oxfam America Unwrapped.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Oxfam America Unwrapped and received a credit for a gift on the Oxfam site.”

Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws Review

Everytime the preview came on for Santa Buddies on our other DVD's, my boys would tell me over and over again how they wish they could have this show. While I am not big on talking animal shows I knew it would mean a lot to my little guys. I'm really glad I got it for them.

Santa Buddies: Legend of Santa Paws was released on Nov. 24th and is at stores everywhere you look around.

In SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, the lovable “Buddies,” B-Dawg,
Budderball, Buddha, Mudbud, and Rosebud embark on a thrilling journey to the magical world of Santa’s
Workshop. When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he checks
out Santa’s “naughty” list and finds Budderball’s name right on top. Puppy Paws heads south to meet the
Buddies and find out how “ordinary” pups spend their days. But when the world begins to forget the true
meaning of the holidays and the magic of the season begins to literally melt away, it’s up to Puppy Paws
and his newfound Buddies to save the day in another epic adventure. Their extraordinary exploits
highlight the importance of collaboration, courage and tradition in a joyous celebration of life and
friendship. Sure to be a family favorite for years to come, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF
SANTA PAWS delivers enough holiday cheer to last a whole year! It’s Buddy-loving fun the whole
family will enjoy again and again.

We received the Blu-ray and DVD combo pack. The boys loved all the bonus material including the Santa Clause is Coming to Town music video. My boys favorite part of the whole movie is the part where one of the puppies who is stuck in the dog pound sings a cute song about Christmas miracles. It is really catchy and you will be singing along for sure when you watch it!

About Disney's Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack:

To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney movies,
in 2008 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment pioneered the Combo Pack – a Blu-ray Disc plus a
DVD in a single package. Current WDSHE titles available as Combo Packs include Bedtime Stories,
Bolt, Pinocchio, High School Musical 3 and Sleeping Beauty.



Here is a clip for the music video we love so much

How Was Your Turkey Day?

Did you have a good one, or was it about the same as all of the others? I was really missing my family back in AZ but my husband's family took good care of us. We even were one of the crazy ones to get up at 3:30 and drive for an hour to go to Walmart on Black Friday. We found some good deals including a $25 All in one printer, bedding for my boys, Pyrex set of 14 pieces for $13 and some super cute pj's for $3 a piece. That was enough for me, so I could feel like I got a good enough deal to justify my tiredness!

How about you, did you score anything sweet or were you smart enough to stay in bed and get some zzz's?

Giveaways have been a little slow lately, a lot of companies just want to do reviews for now but I do promise I have some more giveaways coming up. Be patient and keep stopping by for your chance to win. Speaking of winning- did anyone find out who won the GE Appliance giveaway? I am totally clueless and have not heard a thing. Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!

Robeez Review and Giveaway

I'm sure you have heard about Robeez by now. Robeez is one of the most well-known manufacturers of premium, leather footwear for newborns to pre-schoolers! Robeez is the 'only brand' of baby footwear that creates moments to delight in, so is a perfect gift for celebrating the Holiday season.

I was sent the Soft Soles Race Car in navy for my little guys to try out. They love how super soft they are of course the cool car designs. What I love is how durable they are. They stitching adds such a great touch and they give my boys some comfort on their cute little feet.

Robeez is giving one winner their own pair of shoes! Robeez will select a pair according to the winner's choice of size and gender. To enter please visit Robeez.com and tell me what style you like best.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Dec. 11th Open to US and Canada

Purple Pig Shirts Review

I am always on the lookout for unique shirts that are not only high quality but cute too. At Purple Pig Shirts they have just that and they are soooooooo soft. They have a cool selection of shirts that are for men, women and children. With the holidays approaching these shirts make great gifts for your loved one who is a yoga fan. I love anything yoga.

I received a pink Love Life shirt to review and really love wearing it. Since it is chilly where I am at I like to wear it with a white long sleeved shirt underneath. I really like that no one else I know has the same shirt and how it reminds me to practice what I preach.

Purple pig was created based on our desire to share our commitment to health and wellness in a fun way. Find time in your day to sweat, laugh and just hang out in some of the softest tees around.

Our fabrics have been carefully chosen for quality, softness and comfort. Our unique designs each hand drawn. The shirt colors and ink are individually selected and coordinated.

We hope you enjoy our shirts!

They have such a large selection to choose from that you are bound to find something for everyone on your list. To view all of the cute shirts visit Purplepigshirts.com.

Dyson DC31 Animal Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Review

I have gone through so many cheapo dust busters that it makes me sick. Granted I only pay around $10-20 for them but after awhile of doing that it gets pretty old. They lose their suction right away and I have to wait forever for them to charge. My most recent complaint with them is that if I can't find the charging base for the hand held vacuum, then I'm out of luck.

I'm a mom who like all moms balances a crazy, busy load. I am constantly surrounded by messes and most of them involve the floor. I received the Dyson DC31 Animal Handheld Vacuum to review. It actually came at the most perfect time. We had company coming over for dinner and of course I was spending every last minute until they arrived cleaning like a mad woman. The last thing I needed to do was vacuum my floors. With my luck my vacuum dies on me. Won't suck up a thing. The day before I had a little craft party involving Christmas wreaths. I had pine needles all over ( yes I waited that long to vacuum)!

A few minutes later the FedEx woman dropped off my Dyson and I wondered if I could attempt to use it on the pine needles. I charged it for a little while and then gave it a try. It was magical. I'm serious. That powerful handheld vacuum got everything! It is by far the best handheld I have ever had. It was super easy to set up and it stays charged for forever and it only needs a small adapter to plug in to charge. Here are some more features from the Dyson site:

Patented cyclone technology For no loss of suction	Root cyclone technology
Suction power Air Watts (constant)	10 minutes of 38 airwatts or 6 minutes of 65 airwatts (constant)
Movement type How maneuverable it is	Handheld
Filtration For the cleanest expelled air	Standard filtration
Cleaner head / Floor tool What is used to vacuum the floor	Motorized brush bar
Stair cleaning For stairs and hard to reach areas	Handheld
Bin capacity Clear bin	0.09 Gal.
Tools / accessories What's included in the box	Combination accessory tool Crevice tool
Dimensions Height x depth x width.	12.7 by 4.5 by 8.0 inches (HxWxD)
Weight	3.38 lbs

Dyson DC31 Animal is a handheld vacuum with a motorized brush bar, designed for homes with pets. Ideal for quick pick-ups and spot cleaning. It also has dual power mode that gives longer run-time for large jobs or extra suction for stubborn dirt. Powered by the new Dyson digital motor - three times faster, the most power efficient.

I am so in love with this handheld and can say that Dyson is the brand to go with. The DC31 has been easy to clean and no buying replacement filters! It even has a 2 year warranty which is great peace of mind. Dyson.com also offers free shipping on all orders! How awesome is that? To view all of their vacuums and accessories visit Dyson.com.

Rimmel London Makeup Review

I had the chance to try out some great items from Rimmel London recently. This is my first time using the brand and I am really impressed. I always see it at the store but figure for how little it costs that there must be something wrong with it. I was wrong!

They sent me some fabulous Colour Rush Trio Eyeshadows, Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil, 1000 Kisses Stay on Lipliner, and 60 Seconds Nail Polish. I really loved all of the makeup. The colors really stand out. They have have such a pretty shimmer to them but they are different then other eyeshadows I have used. The colors that they put together for the trios are a great mix and I love wearing them. I like that they are so different from what I already have.


The eyeliner and lip liner were great too. They go on really smooth and the nail polish dries fast! I am really impressed with Rimmel London makeup and will definitely be buying it in the future. I love the results and the price!

Taking it Nice and Easy Today

In case you haven't noticed I haven't posted much this week. I have been so busy with school and family that I'm really taking it easy today. My house is a mess but I am getting a lot accomplished. I'm making and canning apple butter using this awesome recipe. It is very time consuming but so worth it. My house is smelling very yummy!

Last night Cody smoked an organic turkey and we had an early Thanksgiving Feast with some great friends. The meal was delicious. Cody worked so hard to make sure the turkey was just right. He did plenty of research and spent the whole day before brining the turkey. It was so good.

I'm just enjoying my kids company while Cody is at an important football game. I LOVE downtime! I really can't wait until the semester is over and I can concentrate on being a homemaker again. My house has been suffering.

For Christmas we are going to Phx to spend some much needed time with family and friends. We can't bring all of our Christmas presents for the boys with us so we will be doing a countdown to our trip. Everyday next month ( until we leave so not really everyday) we will give the boys a present to unwrap. We are so thankful that we haven't had to purchase one present yet. I have been saving all of my reviews for gifts. I just realized I haven't thought too much about incorporating Christ into the holidays and am trying to come up with some ideas. I thought that before they open their gift each day I will read a Scripture about the Christmas story.

So I'm wondering, how do you stay centered on the Savior during the holidays? I really need some tips!

photo courtesy of flickr.com

Stay tuned I will be adding more giveaways soon!

Hallmark Review and Giveaway-2 winners!

Hallmark is the place to go for all of your holiday greetings. While they are known for their cards, they have so many other great items for you to share with your family. Hallmark sent me their a fun selection of their Recordable Christmas Cards. You can record a fun greeting to share with your loved one and then it plays a cute Christmas song. I can't wait to use these for my family. I 'm planning on having my boys say something silly or sweet for their Grandparents.

I also received a Hallmark DVD Greeting. What you do is upload your favorite pictures to the DVD provided and it creates a neat slide show. It is given in a beautiful Christmas card. I love how this is so personalized and isn't just a card but a memorable gift. I am already organizing my photos to give this to someone special!

Lastly, I received a Digital Scrapbook. It's a USB Drive that turns your pictures into a unique slide show for your tv, computer, or digital frame. It can even incorporate music. It comes with beautiful and crafty looking slides to make your pictures look super professional. They have a variety of themes. I was given the Friend one. How fun is that- a perfect way to remember your friendship with someone.

Hallmark is giving 2 of my readers a $25 GC to their site. To enter please visit Hallmark and tell me what you would purchase if you won.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Open to US ends Dec 7th

myJones Soda Holiday Review and Giveaway

I received the neatest item to review from Jones Soda that I can't wait to share with my family this Christmas! Jones Soda has come out with myJones which are personalized and customizable bottles of soda. They of course are keeping all of their unique and yummy flavors.

I was able to use a picture of my boys to put on soda bottles. The process was very simple and they arrived ready for gift giving. The color of the soda ( Green Apple) even matched the picture very well. I will be handing these out to family for Christmas. What I like about them is that you can drink them or use them for decoration around the house.

These bottles make a great gift for all occasions as well as party favors or wedding favors. One winner will receive their own 6 Pack to personalize. To enter please visit the site and tell me what flavor you would pick.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link

Giveaway ends Dec. 3rd Open to US

Microsoft Office Live -Free!

One of the hard parts about being a blogger is how much space things can take up on my computer. From images to press releases and even my homework assignments I have a lot of stuff stored! It can be overwhelming and hard to stay organized.

Thanks to Mom Central I was able to try out the Microsoft Office Live program ( which is free to you too!) It has been so much fun trying to get some use out of it and fiding all sorts of ways to enhance the programs I already have on my computer. Microsoft Office Live allows you to share and store all sorts of files. You are able to store projects and have other people collaborate on them. I think this would be really helpful if you are in school and need to work on a group assignment. It can save a lot of time if you are unable to get together.

Another thing that I think is helpful is that once you store the documents you can access them on any computer. This is extremely helpful for me when I am at school waiting for class and don't have my laptop with me. If I want to catch up on some blogging I can by accessing my Excell sheet. Overall this is a great program and I am so thankful I found it to make my life a little more easy!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Microsoft Office Live. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

GE Sweepstakes

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to remind you that the GE Appliance Giveaway is officially closed. I received an email this morning saying that the winner will be selected by a third party on the 19th of Nov. and the winner's will be contacted on the 20th. I will keep you posted when I know more. Thank you to all who entered- you rock!

Winners!

The Shade winner is throuthehaze

The 2 winners of the Klutz books are etirv and Terra H

The 5 winners of the Aliens in the Attic are zachsgran, jeccica simpson, Grad School Mommy,blakesmom, and bekki1820cb

and the winner of The Boys Store is Coby & Jill

Congrats everyone! I sent you an email so be on the lookout!

Vemma Children's Next Review

I am always on the lookout for safe and natural products for my boys to help their bodies stay healthy. I was so excited for the chance to review Vemma products. We received their children's supplements called Vemma Next. Here is some more info about the line from their website:

Vemma NEXT™ is ideal for children 2 to 12. It includes a full ounce of the Vemma formula along with an enhanced nutrient blend unique for children's nutritional needs.

Add to that an amazing, kid-friendly creamy orange flavor with no preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, and you"ve got the makings of a "superjuice" for "super kids."

Vemma NEXT helps your child stay healthy, because it contains antioxidants and nutrients that help support the body's immune system.* This includes:

• Vitamin C – Found in citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables
• Vitamin D – Found in salmon, tuna fish, milk, eggs, liver, beef, and even direct sunlight
• Beta carotene – Found in sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, collard greens, squash

Vemma NEXT also includes new ingredients targeted specifically for children:

• DHA – an all natural, vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acid known for brain and eye support.* Choline also aids in brain development.*
• Quercetin – a group of flavonoids that give many fruits and vegetables their coloring. An antioxidant perfect for growing bodies.*
• Phytonutrient extracts of fourteen organic fruits and veggies for those children that don't get enough.

Let's just say that my boys love their Vemma Next! It has a great fruity flavor that makes them want to have a drink. They love using their Vemma shot glass too so that their is a perfect measurement for their dosage. I love the convenient packaging that doesn't take up a lot of room in the fridge. It is so comforting to know that my boys are getting all of their nutritional needs met even if they don't eat all of their fruits and vegetables every day. For more info visit the Vemma website and check out all of their great products!

The Baby's Bundle Review with Giveaway!

One thing I love about having a baby is buying ( or have family buy:) ) all the super cute and luxurious baby items. Everything from really soft blankets to embellished bibs. They are the little things to pamper your baby that make it so much fun being a mom!


The Baby's Bundle has everything you can think of to spoil your new little bundle of joy. They recently sent me a Vintage Train Baby Blanket for my boys to try out. It has that fun Minky material that is so soft on the skin It is well made and has survived several washes in our machine! The Baby's Bundle also has those cute baby legs that are so popular right now, nursing covers, gifts for adults and even shirts for moms. With so many items to choose from you can find something for anyone. The one thing I really like about this shop is that there is a large selection of boy products too. There are so many things for baby girls that it can sometimes be difficult to find something unique for a little guy.
To view all of the great items visit The Baby's Bundle. I guarantee you will find something you like! One lucky reader will win a $20 GC to The Baby's Bundle. To enter please visit the site and tell me what you would buy with your GC.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link
If you become a fan of The Baby's Bundle on Facebook here
If you follow The Baby's Bundle on Twitter here

Giveaway ends Nov. 30th

For those of you who can't wait to find out if you are the winner- use code Barn and save 15% off your purchase!

Last Day to Enter to Win a GE Appliance

Don't forget today is the last day you can enter to win a GE Appliance of your choice. A huge thank you to all who have entered and I really hope one of you win- not just because I win then too:) although that is a nice bonus. I hope one of my readers win because I have seen how faithful you have been in entering and it would be so nice to see your hard work pay off!

I also will be announcing winners soon. For those of you who have emailed about not receiving a prize yet- please be patient. I have been contacting companies- yes even calling leaving annoying voice messages to see what's up and have never given up on a prize yet. FYI- almost all of the companies send the winner their prize but occasionally an email might get lost in the shuffle.



Hope you all are having a great weekend- by the way we went and saw Where the Wild Things Are and we were soooooooooo disappointed! It really was a waste of money for us. Has anyone else seen it yet? What did you think?

My Blog Design

You might have noticed that my header was missing in action for a couple of days. Not sure what happened but the only thing I could think of was to ask the awesome woman who designed my blog, Lauren from Restored 316 Designs to help me. She is so super and fixed it. If you could please show her some love and visit her amazing site that would be great. She has redesigned her site and has added a lot more clients to her portfolio. She has great prices and her work speaks for itself.

A Little Tipsy

I just came across this super cute craft blog called A Little Tipsy (because she is so clumsy). She has this great tip for storing your meat and having it thaw out super fast. I am going to be doing this from now on!

One Republic Signed CD Giveaway!

I have never even listened to One Republic until I had the chance to review a digital copy of their new cd. I REALLY like them! Their new album Waking Up will be released Novemeber 17th. I love their sound. Their style is very unique and reminds me of an edgier Maroon 5- more mature. Below is a video of one of their new songs All the Right Moves. It is one of my favorites.

OneRepublic was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. And Tedder, plus guitarists Zach Filkins and Drew Brown, bassist/cellist Brent Kutzle and drummer Eddie Fisher have sold almost 2 million albums and 8 million singles.

The band's 2007 hit "Apologize," from their album Dreaming Out Loud went to No. 1 in 16 countries, going gold in 14 of them. It broke records for airplay when it finally made it to radio (and was only bested by Lewis's "Bleeding Love," which Tedder co-wrote). Their second single, "Stop and Stare," propelled OneRepublic beyond platinum status. Waking Up is their second album on Mosley/Interscope Records.

Their latest single "All the Right Moves" comes with a huge heap of anticipation from the millions of fans of OneRepublic and Tedder. But there are countless others who may not know the band or its members' names but recognize their heartfelt songs from the soundtrack of their last bad breakup or emotional meltdown. OneRepublic is that band.


One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of their new cd! To enter please tell me who you would win this for.
For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link
Enter the GE Appliance Giveaway Daily and leave your comment saying you enter each time!

Giveaway ends Nov. 26th Open to US

Joy Berry Books Review

Joy Berry books offer so many important skills and lessons for a variety of age groups for children. They are board books that come with helpful instructions for the child in subjects like mealtime, bath time, getting dressed and many other topics. It also comes with a Read Along Book and CD.

I was sent the Teach Me About Series. These books are great for my 3 year old who is becoming more independent every day. His favorite is the Bathtime book which is helping him get a little more prepared for all of the steps in the process of taking a bath. He hates if the water is too cold or if it gets in his eyes so this helps him know what to expect and shows him bath time can be fun.

I also received the Do-It-Yourself Potty Training Kit. Both of my boys are potty trained but I know this will be perfect for a friend of mine and her son.

Help your child learn and master potty training with our engaging, interactive Do-It-Yourself Potty Training Kits for boys and girls. Comes with everything a parent needs to get started!

Potty Kit includes Potty Book, CD, Instructions, Helpful Hints, Progress Chart, Progress Stickers, Diploma, & Push 'N' Play Sound Button!

This sets make great birthday presents for children as well as Christmas gifts. So much better than giving a bunch of toys that will get broken or forgotten! To view the other books that offered visit Joy Berry Books.

Johnny Test: Johnny X and Super Pooch Review

I received the new Johnny Test: Johnny X and Super Pooch on DVD to review. What little boy doesn't like super heros? I am actually saving this to give to my nephew for Christmas who is a big fan of the show on the Cartoon Network.

Follow the adventures of this fearless 11-year old boy, his genetically engineered super talking dog Dukey, and his 13-year old super genius scientist twin sisters, Susan and Mary, who use Johnny as their guinea pig for their out-of-this-world scientific experiments. When trouble is brewing in Porkbelly, Johnny & Dukey suit up in their superhero gear and take to the skies! With a little help from Susan and Mary, Johnny X and Super Pooch are on the case!

This DVD is 60 minutes long and features 6 episodes. It is available at Amazon.com and retails for $6.99. This makes a great Christmas present or stocking stuffer!

Linky Love Giveaways

Come one come all and list your giveaways! Don't forget to enter daily for your chance to win a Frigidaire Appliance!

Pulse Yoga DVD Giveaway!

With the holidays approaching a yoga dvd is always a great way to keep you healthy amongst all of the stress and holiday goodies! With Pulse Yoga you work on all of the important areas on your body- your abdominals, lower back and gluteus muscles. This workout uses free weights while doing pulse movements to help define your upper body.

Pulse Yoga combines concepts from Pilates, Core Fusion, and Yoga. This workout is a lot of fun. I loved the upbeat music to keep you focused and alert. I also appreciated that the instructors and founders of Pulse Yoga are fit but do not have picture perfect super model bodies. They look healthy and in shape. This workout is also Basic which means it was a little challenging for me but not too much so that I want to quit ten minutes in.

One winner will receive their own Pulse Yoga DVD! To enter please visit pulseyoga.com and tell me what you are will be doing to stay healthy this holiday season.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link
Enter the GE Appliance Giveaway Daily and leave your comment saying you enter each time!

Giveaway ends Nov. 2rd Open to US

The Chic-Adee Shop Review

Ok, not only is the above photo super pretty, but the wreath itself is gorgeous. It is one of the beautiful handmade and unique wreaths from The Chic- Adee Shop. It is called Tinsel Town. When I first saw in the etsy shop it reminded me of a Dr Seuss Christmas. I can't wait until the day after Thanksgiving so I can hang it up.

I was so impressed when this wreath came. The packaging was very special and crafty. You can tell that they put a lot of time and care into each wreath and package. There are so many other types of wreaths available in the store. Wreaths just aren't for Christmas. There is the Lover's Knot Wreath which is perfect for Valentine's Day, Luck of the Irish Wreath,
and my absolute favorite- the Wool Wrapped Autumn Wreath. They are very high quality and will last for a LONG time. They are so much prettier and better than the plastic kind you can buy at Walmart.

To view all the beautiful choices visit The Chic-Adee Shop.

Winners

the brown couch won the Moms R The Best shirt

the 3 winners of the conserve kit are oilgirl, kim, and angela K

the winner of the Tommy Bahama pillow is etirv

and lastly the winner of the Shrinky Dink kit is AStarrA

Congrats winners! As always please email me if you haven't received your prize yet. I have been a little slow in responding to emails lately but it doesn't mean I don't love you! Just crazy busy and trying to keep it real. Thanks ladies!

Automoblox Review and Giveaway

Aren't these just the coolest cars you have seen? They look so modern and artsy. They are Automoblox and they are cars that your child can assemble and reassemble again and again. This helps your child's creativity ( and I think there self esteem too). My boys were sent the Original Full Size S9 Sedan and C9 Sports Car to review.

When these bad boys came, Ki and Jackson were on cloud nine. These cars are so different from the cheap plastic ones that are in the toy aisle at the local Kmart. I have to say these cars are full of quality and style. The boys have been having a blast with these.

Automoblox just came out with the New T900 (pictured above) and will be releasing in November their new Hot Rods. These toys are well made and I love that they aren't geared toward a specific gender. These are great gifts for boys and girls and are perfect for Christmas. Automoblox is available at http://www.automoblox.com/.

One lucky winner will win their very own Automoblox! The winner can choose from one of the following:

• One Original full size car (C9, S9, or T9)
• or the C9, S9, and T9 mini three pack in red/blue/green

To enter please visit the site and tell me what you would like to win.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link
Enter the GE Appliance Giveaway Daily and leave your comment saying you enter each time!

Giveaway ends Nov. 21st Open to US

H2PRO Flat Iron Review

I use a flat iron daily so it is very important that I use a good one that is safe and gentle on my hair. I was sent the new Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron to review. It is awesome! It has three layers of ceramic allowing my hair to be heated evenly. Not only does this flat iron leave my hair soft, but it has adjustable heat settings so I am in control of how hot it gets. My old flat iron doesn't do that!

For further unmatched styling capabilities and health benefits, the added feature of Nano Hi-Tech Technology creates even smoother styles through its advanced combination of three distinct Nano technologies, Nano Ti + Nano TiO + Nano Ag. The moisturizing element of Nano Ttanium, work together with the cleansing and purifying characteristics of Nano Titanium Oxide and Nano Silver, to leave your hair healthier, shinier, and more vibrant, while free of harmful bacteria and free radical pollutants.

H2PRO is a Chicago based company specializing in distribution of top quality hair appliances and beauty products. We continue to strive to offer salons, stylists and end users as well, top innovative designs, highest technology and effective products to satisfy the industry professionals.

H2PRO has a great line of products including blow dryers and soaps. I am impressed that there products are used by stylists! I feel super pampered when I use my flat iron. To see all of the other flat iron choices they offer visit h2probeautylife.com.

TouchBack Marker Review

Now I may not have grey hair yet, I still really wanted to review this product. It is called the TouchBack Marker and covers up grey hair at your roots to get you through your next hair color. It is completely washable and works great if you need to style your hair.

Like I said, I don't have grey hair but I have a friend who could really appreciate this and I will be giving it to her. I did try it out on my hair though. It didn't leave any weird residue and my hair felt the same as it always does. I think this would be a perfect product for any busy woman. It even won the Allure Editor's Choice Award.There are several color choices available so there is something for everyone! Unlike mascara, crayons, gels and powders, TouchBack doesn’t flake or rub off when you brush your hair. It bonds to your hair and stays true until shampooed out, and it’s safe to use around your kids as it’s peroxide and ammonia free!
To view all of the color choices and to purchase visit http://www.touchbackgray.com/

Natura World Pillow Review and Giveaway

Every night I manage to lose sleep somehow. One of my boys always has to go to the bathroom, get a drink or has a bad dream. So it is an understatement when I say that the quality of my sleep is important to me. I was recently sent some amazing products from NaturaWorld.com. They sent me an Aloe Dream Mate Pillow which is so fabulous. It is incredibly supportive for my neck and back through the night and is very soft. It is the only pillow I will use now! My husband tries to sneak it from me but he can't get past me!

Aloe Enriched Cover: Moisturizing, silky aloe infused cotton blend cover, lined with temperature regulating Natura smart Wool
Natura Smart Wool™ Lining: The Natura Wool lining creates an insulating layer that helps to regulate temperature next to the skin throughout the night, allowing you achieve longer periods of deep sleep. Natura Wool also wicks away excess moisture, creating a fresh, dry sleep environment that repels common allergens and bacteria that thrive in moist environments.

Granulated Talalay latex core: The Aloe Dream Mate pillow’s granulated core mimics the feel of feathers and down but provides springy support that won’t pack down. The resilient latex granules move wherever you want them to for perfect, molding support and soothing pressure relief. Naturally breathable, the latex core guarantees maximum air circulation, eliminating excess humidity and repelling the presence of bacteria and common allergens.

I also received the Sunshine Pillow which is great too. I love that is washable for easy upkeep. I let my husband use this one- sometimes!

Next I received the 2 in 1 Blanket Pillow. It is very handy. It's a blanket that can be tucked into itself to make a pillow. It also has a handy little pocket to stick your feet in to keep any drafts away.

Lastly, I was sent the Aromatherapy Spray. I use it on my linens to freshen them up but it can also be used as a body or room spray. So natural smelling! I was really impressed to see how many different products Natura offers. I thought they just had pillows, but they carry so much more, including beds for your pillow.

Natura has everything you need to get a peaceful night's sleep and now they are giving one lucky winner their very own Aloe Dream Mate Pillow. To enter please visit the site and tell me an item you would like to try.

For additional entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

If you are an email subscriber
If you are a feedburner subscriber
If you are a follower
If you have my button
If you follow me on twitter
If you have my button
If you tweet this and leave me the link- can tweet and enter daily!
If you post this and leave me the link
Enter the GE Appliance Giveaway Daily and leave your comment saying you enter each time!

Giveaway ends Nov. 21st Open to US

Extra Entries

Hey all! A great idea came from Autum at Monsters in My House. It really is pretty obvious but I never thought of it before. For all of my giveaways the twitter entry can be daily. I will start adding this to my giveaways from hear on out but feel free to start doing it for the giveaways I have already posted. Happy entering!

KidScents Review

When my kids are happy then I am happy. Why are they happy? They received their Young Living Essential Oils package. Yes a package just for them. They were sick when it arrived and it really made their day. They received the KidScents MightyZyme Chewable Tablets and the KidScents Bubblegum Flavor Toothpaste.

Young Living Essential Oils has a whole KidScents line of chemical free body care. They have several items including Shampoo and diaper cream. All containing herbal extracts and botanicals.

My boys love both of these products. I love how I don't have to worry about what is in the products. The toothpaste uses xylitol instead of artificial sweeteners and also contains Young Living Essential Oils Thieves Oil to help maintain healthy gums. The MightZyme is full of all natural and pure products to help digestion. I really love these products and I am even using the toothpaste myself! It helps my mouth feel very healthy inside!

You can make healthy changes in the products in your home by switching in the items you use everyday. Little by little you can have an all natural and safer home! Simply contact Jennifer. If you are looking to purchase essential oils to help your family heal naturally and support your immune system then you have to order from Jennifer.

Jennifer Nordin, Independent Young Living Distributor #329194, provides practical aromatherapy tips and private consultations through her blog, Oils For Wellness. Be sure to subscribe to her e-newsletter for more ways to experience the amazing healing benefits of essential oils. Start living well today- purchase pure Young Living aromatherapy products from the Oils For Wellness website!