Identity Theft While On Vacay

I got this e-mail today and had to share it with all of you just for safety purposes!

School is out for summer, and it is officially time for summer vacation!! Many families are looking forward to their summer vacation plans, be the travel abroad or closer to home.

IdentityTruth, the leading provider of a new breed of services to help consumers safeguard their privacy and identity, offers tips to families who are planning summer vacations to help them protect themselves against identity theft. Whether road-tripping in the US or travelling abroad, vacation time means an increased likelihood of becoming a victim of identity theft.

IdentityTruth shares the following tips:
· Know where your credit cards/debit cards are at all times: Keep credit and debit cards on you at all times. Don’t leave them at a bar to run a tab because it can lead to the card being compromised.
· Double-check credit card receipts when traveling out of the country: Some receipts still print out the cardholder’s full name and credit card number. If you’re going to throw receipts in trash, be sure to shred them.
· Minimize the number of documents carried: Carrying more documents means more potential for loss and/or theft. Keep important documents in a hotel safe and only carry what’s necessary.
· Be careful when using ATMs: Only use ATMs with monitoring cameras, such as those in bank lobbies. Avoid kiosk ATMs, the freestanding units often do not have cameras and are statistically more likely to be infected by skimmers (electronic devices that allow thieves to record account and PIN numbers). "Shoulder Surfing" can also be a problem at bars or crowded resorts. While you assume that the man behind you is uncomfortably close because of the crowded space, he may actually be looking over your shoulder trying to get your information.
· Pay cash whenever possible or use credit cards instead of debit cards: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, Credit Cards provide consumers protection against fraudulent charges and your liability is limited to $50. You also have the right to dispute charges and withhold payment during investigation. However, debit cards are entirely different. Although they market themselves to deliver the same protection, they are not required to by any law. Bottom line, your liability for fraudulent charges is the entire amount in your checking account as well as the credit line you have been authorized to receive.

I had a debit card stolen once and it was a real pain to go through the process of recovering all that was lost. Make sure you're careful out there!

Ten on Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday is 10 Guilty Pleasures on TV. Oh, man! I have to admit these? Alright, here goes. [Don't judge me!]

1. "Of Love" shows - Seriously, I cannot help myself. It's so horrible and I can't look away.
2. I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! - This show is hilarious. I can't believe some of the things that they say.
3. Manswers - Like Mythbusters, but skanky. Amazingly stupid.
4. 1000 Ways To Die - So entertaining.
5. Real World - TRAIN WRECK! Love the fighting.

I seriously can't think of any others. I don't watch TV much and when I do, it's usually House or CSI, which are not guilty pleasures; I just plain love them.

Eden Fantasys Review and Giveaway

I’m not going to post any pictures on the blog post just in case you have littles around, but if you click on any links, be aware that they will take you to an ADULT site! Kick the kids out, bring in the spouse, and take a gander! You’ll like it, I promise. :)

Eden Fantasys offers basically everything you could ever ask for in the bedroom. From toys, to movies, to outfits, to massage oils! Plus, their prices are really great and they offer flat-rate shipping no matter how much or how little you buy.

I got to review a really hot little outfit and, let’s just say, it was good. It is made out of a great, high-end material so I know it will last past the first wash. It is really true to the size they stated on the site, which makes me happy. Sometimes when you buy a small, it comes and either is way too little or way too big. This fit perfectly! I am a fan of Eden Fantasys.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Eden Fantasys here.

Win it!
Eden Fantasys has generously offered one of my amazing readers any item of their choice, $50 and under!

To enter, visit their site and tell me one thing you would like. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Monday, July 13th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US and Canada readers.

Tropical Traditions Review and Giveaway

You all remember Tropical Traditions, right? Well, they are back with another giveaway for you amazing people! They offer some really amazing products that sound absolutely incredible. Everything is natural, all earth-friendly... They are a great company.

I got the chance to review the citrus moisturizing lotion. This lotion is GREAT. It is all natural [as with everything they sell] but the best part about it is that it contains NO ALCOHOLS! Because it has no alcohol, you actually have to wait for a bit for it to soak into your skin, but once it does, you are moisturized! Just a tiny bit goes a really long way. Plus, it smells great! Take a second and imagine what you think citrus should smell like. That’s what it smells like! I love the smell. It’s super refreshing and light.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Tropical Traditions here.

Win it!
Tropical Traditions has generously offered one of my fabulous readers their very own bottle of the amazing citrus lotion!

To enter, visit their site and tell me something other than the lotion you would like to try. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter [3 extra entries!]
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Sunday, July 12th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

The Simple Stencil Winners!

Thanks to The Simple Stencil for sponsoring this giveaway! The winners are:

Here are your random numbers:
17
26
Timestamp: 2009-06-29 16:39:21 UTC

Kristy said... 17
Blog follower
****@hotmail.com
June 22, 2009 12:47 AM

carolyn said... 26
Love live sing dance, this is a favorite.
June 22, 2009 8:47 AM

Congratulations! I've e-mailed you; now I need to hear back from you both within the next 48 hours or I will have to pick new winners. Thanks to all for entering!

Don't wait... go enter the other giveaways while you still can!

Happy For No Reason Review and Giveaway

What would it take to make you happy? A fulfilling career, a big bank account, or the perfect mate? What if it didn't take anything to make you happy? What if you could experience happiness from the inside out -- no matter what's going on in your life?

In Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, transformational expert Marci Shimoff offers a breakthrough approach to being happy, one that doesn't depend on achievements, goals, money, relationships, or anything else "out there." Most books on happiness tell you to find the things that make you happy and do more of them. Although there's nothing wrong with that, it won't bring you the kind of deep and lasting happiness most people long for -- the kind you'll never lose, no matter what happens in your life. Based on cutting-edge research and knowledge from the world's leading experts in the fields of positive psychology and neurophysiology, plus interviews with 100 truly happy people, this life-changing book provides a powerful, proven 7-step program that will enable you to be happier right now -- no matter where you start.

Thanks to AME, I was able to review this book. It’s REALLY good and has some amazing information in it. The book is about becoming truly happy from the inside out, using nothing but your mindset. It doesn’t take money, cars, or anything like that. All it takes is you, and this book walks you through the process. It also includes stories from real people. It was a great read!

Buy it!
You can purchase the book on Amazon or Barnes&Noble.

Win it!
AME has generously offered one of my fabulous readers their very own copy of this book!

To enter, visit the book’s site and tell me something you learned about the author. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Thursday, July 9th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Friday 5

Today's Friday5 is all about NEWS. Intersting topic, eh? Here goes!

[Friday, June 26th: News]
Where do you get most of your information about current local events?
Twitter! I'm online a lot and there are always things being Tweeted about the world's happenings.

Where do you get most of your information about current national and international events?
Again, Twitter.

Who in your family always is most likely to know what’s up with everyone else in your family?
That all depends on the day. Usually, my Mom knows everything but fails to tell us anything.

Who at work (or school) always seems to know what’s going on?
I don't work and I don't go to school. So, no one at either of those places knows anything. :)

What other kinds of news do you try to keep up-to-date on and where do you get it?
I try to stay somewhat current with what's going on around me, so I'll watch the news when I have time, or visit MSN.com.

Bright Star Kids Winner!

Thanks to Bright Star Kids for sponsoring this giveaway! The winner is...

Here are your random numbers:
1
Timestamp: 2009-06-26 14:43:08 UTC

remarker said... 1
My favorite icon is the winky face
June 12, 2009 10:38 PM

Sometimes it pays to be first! I've contacted you and you have 48 hours to respond or I have to pick a new winner.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the giveaways!

Blog Sponsorship

Hello, my fabulous friends. I hope you are having a great day. It's finally Friday! I'm just taking a minute to discuss my awesome blog sponsor, UPrinting.com. If you have a blog, you should get in touch with them about sponsoring it. They offer some great giveaways and you get products, too! I am glad to work with them. Are you interested in working with them? See below...

Why UPrinting.com isn't your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.


So, go sign up. Hurry, do it now!!

Pink Giveaway - Item #9

The last PINK giveaway. Can you believe it? I'm sad. I want to keep going; it's been fun!! Anyway, this one comes to us from a very special company, pomegranate&pink. They are a great company and you should all love them! Okay, it's my and Shelby's company. :)

You don't need to know anymore about us, let's just get right down to it, shall we? What do we have for the good folks today?

[I'm sorry the pictures suck, I just took them and the lighting right now is terrible]

double stacked boutique bow, in hot pink and brown







boutique bow, in pink







set of 2 korkers, in light pink



These bows aren't even in our Etsy shop yet! All of them come attached to a lined, single-prong alligator clip with no-slip grip.



To enter, visit our Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 8th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #8

Already to #8? Where has the time gone?! Giveaway #8 is from this amazing Etsy shop, Ania's Jewelry. She makes some AMAZING jewelry, all handmade with sterling silver, with a European style. I LovE it.

She has offered these amazing earrings to one of you lucky chaps [chapettes?]. They are made of rose quartz Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. Length is a little bit over 1”. Very light, everyday earrings.

Aren't they pretty? I think so.



To enter, visit their Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 8th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #7

Alrighty then; giveaway #7! This one comes to us from Little ONE Boutique. They sell a ton of really great stuff for your little one's birthday celebrations! Here's a little about them:

I am originally from New Orleans, LA and graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Interior Design. Since I am an army wife, I am currently with my family in Lawton, OK. I create First Birthday Boutique style items right here in my pet and smoke free home. I absolutely love what I do because it gives me a creative outlet. Each shirt is handmade with great care and attention to detail. My main goal is provide great style and quality shirts at a low price!


This is what they are giving away [2 of the same clip]. Aren't these ADORABLE!?

The ribbon is pink cupcake grosgrain and there is a little polymer cupcake in the center with a red rhinestone top as the cherry. A great little birthday or everyday hair bow. The ends are heat sealed to prevent fraying. They are approx. 2" wide. Perfect for the little birthday girl!



To enter, visit their Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 8th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Great Giveaways from Grosgrain

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Twenty minute Simple Skirt Tutorial AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Pink Giveaway - Item #6

We're already to the sixth giveaway! This is the last one for today, stay tuned for tomorrow's final three. Make sure you enter all the other giveaways going on, too!!

This one comes to us from ReduxRedux. Here is something [GREAT] about them!

Our mission is to try to do as much as we can with materials that have had previous lives. So we look to things like old jewelry, paper, and supplies that others have discarded. It's really fun to challenge yourself to create with the things that fall into your lap!

I started crafting as a way to relax. I am a recovering workaholic. When I realized that I could no longer remember what to do for fun, I knew it was time to reconnect with my creative side. Crafting helps me keep my life balanced.

We reclaim and reuse materials whenever possible. Old jewelry becomes a window decoration. Paper scraps get used to make tags and embellishments. Plastic bags get made into garlands and pom-poms. Petals that fall off of silk flowers at the craft store get upcycled into embellishments for sachets/aroma bead tins. Junk mail envelopes get stamped and embellished and turned into tiny gift bags…You get the idea…It is a fun challenge to look at something that someone is ready to throw away and figure out a creative use for it.

They are a great, eco-friendly shop! Wahoo! This is what they are giving to one of you fabulous readers:

Windies, decorative strings of beads and charms that add joy to a window or mirror. All Windies contain elements that have been recovered or repurposed making each one charmingly unique.

Adorn your life. A dash of color. A hint of sparkle. A touch of whimsy.

Specific beads and charms will vary, but will be various shades of pinks. Windies range in length from 12”-17”.



To enter to win, visit their Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 7th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #5

This amazing giveaway comes to us from yana designs. They make some of the COOLEST creations I've ever seen, out of buttons! I love buttons. They are wonderful.

Here is a little about the creator:
I have dreams all the time. Weird ones. Sometimes I have a lot going on in my head for no reason at all and tend to often ramble about nonsensical things. I get bored very easily. If I am not doing 20 things while thinking about doing another 20 things, I am not happy.

And if you're lucky, you could win this...

Rounded pink glass square cubes arranged with clear 6mm & 8mm round glass beads on a silver plated chain. Head pins are also silver plated. Oxidized silver tone toggle clasp. Measures approx 7.5 inches.



I am head over heels for this bracelet! Love, love, love it. Want to win it? Visit their Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 7th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #4

Our fourth giveaway comes from this awesome shop called kjmART. Here is a little about them:

I love to make art and I love to experiment with different mediums. Everything I offer in this shop is original, including my prints, which are either one-of-a-kind or short runs. Enjoy -- and if you want something specific, please contact me. I'm happy to do custom work.

Here's the amazing item they are giving to one of you lucky people:

Pretty pink heart-shaped pendant, with a hand-drawn flower design. Hangs from an off-center hole. Heart is hand-built stoneware, approximately 3.25" X 2"; hole is 1/8" in diameter. Would make a lovely necklace!



Not only are they super generous for offering a giveaway, but they are also offering a 10% discount while the giveaway is running! Just mention 'PINK' when checking out.

To enter the giveaway, visit their Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 7th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #3

Giveaway #3 comes to us from Piper Riley. Her work is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Here's a little about her:

I am a 28yr old gal from NJ who loves to create. About a year ago I started crafting while my boyfriend was on tour (he's a musician). He would be gone for months at a time so I made jewelry and hairpieces just to kill the time. I always wore what I made and when I started getting compliments from people asking me where I got it, I told them that I made it and TADA!! Piper Riley was born!


She has chosen this amazing headband for the giveaway. Pink flowers with real Guinea Feathers attached to a stretchy headband. It's AH-MAZE-ING. Can you tell me you wouldn't want this in your hair? I would love it!



To enter, visit her Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Monday, July 6th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #2

Giveaway #2 comes to us from Eclectica by Jan. You can also find her on her Blog. Here is a little about her:

I have been needleworking and crafting since I was a kid - that's over half a century with a crochet hook & yarn in my hands! Now, thanks to Etsy, I am pleased to offer my creative output to the world. Every moment I spend in my creative mode is a happy moment, and I hope the use of my works will bring you happiness and joy, too.

In keeping with the "Eclectica" in my shop name, I intend this shop to be a diverse showcase of my talents. I currently am offering crocheted wearables, afghans, and throws; releases from my lifelong collection of pattern books; collaged greeting cards and ACEO's; and my signature Tabletop Labyrinths. Beyond that, the sky's the limit, and I will be updating my offerings as my creative nose leads me onto new paths.

What are we giving away? Well, here it is!

Candy pink and white beads are crocheted into pink/cream matrix yarn to make these flirty ear dangles for your summer wardrobe. These unusual ear dangles are totally fun to wear, and so light and comfortable, you'll barely know you have them on.
The ear drops are entirely bead-crocheted, and hung from lightweight french wires. The dangles measure approximately 2.5 inches (6 cm) in length.
This set ships by U.S. First Class mail with delivery confirmation. Your purchase will be carefully packaged for safe mailing. If you have any question, please convo me at my Etsy shop.



To enter to win, visit their shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Monday, July 6th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Pink Giveaway - Item #1

The first of the giveaways comes to us from Scrap With Style. You can find Scrap With Style on Etsy, her Blog, her site, Twitter, and Kidz Worxx. Whew! Many options to get ahold of this great shop.

Well, I guess we should get to it! Here's what is up for grabs:
Sheer Polka Dot Ribbon in Magenta. This ribbon is such a pretty shade of dark pink. This is for 1 yard (3 feet) of this pretty sheer polka dot ribbon. It is 3/8 inches wide and it has white polka dots printed on the front side only.

6x6 Pink Pattern Papers Pack. I love the pink patterns in this fun paper pack! You get two each of the patterns shown for a total of (8) 6x6 inch pattern papers - perfect for mini-albums, cards, crafts and more!

Patterns:
(2) Pretty in Pink monotone
(2) Multicolor Dot Squares
(2) Berry Pink Pattern
(2) Worn Pink and lime green Argyle

Pink Brown and Cream Dots and Stripes Ribbon. This is a fun ribbon with pink stripes, brown squiggle stripes, and pink dots on a cream background. Would be so cute as a hairbow or clip, on scrapbook pages or cards, or on all your fun projects! This is for 1 yard (3 feet) of this girly ribbon. It is a woven twill ribbon and is 1/2 inch wide. The reverse side is the same as the front (pink stripe, brown squiggle stripe and cream) but without the dots.

Saddle-stitch Grosgrain Ribbon in Pinks with Lime Green stitching. I love the lime green with the pinks in this fun ribbon! Lime green side saddle stitching on a two-tone pink grosgrain ribbon. This ribbon is 3/8 inches wide and is the same pattern on both sides. This is for 1 yard (3 feet) of this fun and funky ribbon!



To enter to win, visit their shop and tell me your favorite item. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Monday, July 6th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Hrmmm...

I was going to do Ten on Tuesday today but the theme for this week is the 10 best sports plays ever, and I really am not at all interested in sports, so I can't think of a single one. Sorry!

Just a reminder that I am kicking off the PINK giveaway today! There will be pink-themed giveaways today, tomorrow and Thursday. Be sure to keep checking back! I've got to get things organized and then I'll start posting. :)

Heeby Jeebies

The husband and I have lived in our current house for a little over three years now, and until this year, I had only seen like three spiders inside our house, ever. This year is SO much worse! It seems like all of the bugs are running rampant through everything. I've already killed like 10 spiders and there are ants all outside our house... BLECH. Anyway, the other night I got a bite while I was sleeping and I'm pretty sure it was a spider bite because I'm super allergic to spiders, and it got SOOOOOOOOO swollen, SO fast [we're talking about 4 inches in diameter, overnight].

I decided it was time to research spraying our house for icky creatures. I was on the Orkin website trying to figure out what spiders we have and what we can do, and I came across a page full of common household pests. On that page were bed bugs [shiver]. I remember not too long ago when they were a huge problem in hotels and such, and reading all the information about them made me so paranoid! Blech. I didn't realize they are so small [only like 3/16th of an inch - the size of an apple seed], and I've been itching ever since. Eww, eww, eww. And, they say that you can tell they are there because they will leave dark spots or small bloodstains when you roll over on them, but my sheets are dark blue! I can't see any small dark spots on my sheets. The site said that they don't carry any diseases that can be transmitted to humans, but I don't care. The thought of sharing my bed with bugs is just gross. They omit some sort of sweet but not good smell and I haven't noticed that anywhere in or around my room, but still. ICK.

I've had permanent heeby jeebies since being on that site. Have any of you ever had bed bugs? If so, was it bad? How did you know you had them? It's seriously freaking me out! :( EWWWWwwwWWwww. Am I being overly paranoid?

Escaping Toxic Guilt Review and Giveaway

Your life’s journey shouldn’t be a guilt trip.

Do you feel responsible for everyone around you? Do you value the feeling of others more than your own? Do you have unrealistic expectations of yourself: Then you may be trapped by toxic guilt.

Trying to win the approval of others—parents, spouse, coworkers, friends, children—can strain your relationships, drain your energy, and dominate your life. The five easy-to-follow steps in Escaping Toxic Guilt can liberate you from self-defeating patterns and put you on the path to living life fully, joyfully, and on your own terms.

By following this simple, effective plan, you will be able to:
• Recognize the difference between good guilt and toxic guilt
• Build boundaries around your time and emotions
• Weather the storm of people’s disapproval
• Find freedom through forgiveness and relinquishing control
• Protect your sense of self while still caring for others

Through AME, I had the chance to review the book, Escaping Toxic Guilt: 5 Proven Steps to Free Yourself from Guilt for Good! I honestly enjoyed reading the book, and it gave me a lot of really good information about the types of guilt, and what is good versus bad guilt.

Buy it!
You can purchase this book on Amazon here.

Win it!
One of you gorgeous readers has the opportunity to win this book!

To enter, visit the book’s site and tell me something you learned about Susan Carrell, the author. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Sunday, July 5th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Ficklets Giveaway

Ficklets are super adorable charms you can put on glasses to make them more fun. Such a great idea for kids who are new wearers of glasses, or even for moms that want to make their eyeglasses cuter. :) Here is a little about them, from their site:

FICKLETS was born out of a necessity to offer a versatile, fashionable and fresh alternative to the lackluster and ordinary kid’s eyeglass frames in the marketplace. Founder, creator and mom Ros Guerrero wanted to offer an alternative to the rather basic and uninteresting frames typically found in the kid’s eyeglasses market. She wanted to infuse a sense of style, color and fun, have the affordable option to change out her daughter’s eyewear without having to change frames, while maintaining the best vision care for her daughter. Her "vision" brought her to evolve kid’s eyeglass frames by adding a fresh perspective… from there, FICKLETS was born.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Ficklets here.

Win it!
Ficklets has generously offered TWO of my amazing readers 2 sets of Ficklets!

To enter, visit their site and tell me your two favorite charms. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Sunday, July 5th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Formosa Designs Winner!

I hope you all had a great Fathers Day yesterday! Mine was great.

I was stuck without internet access all weekend... ergh... but all is good now. And I'm here to announce a winner! The winner of the awesome banner design package from Formosa Designs is...

Here are your random numbers:
10
Timestamp: 2009-06-22 16:31:23 UTC

LeBizyB said... 10
Have your button
http://lebizyb.blogspot.com/JDSG
****(at)q(dot)com
June 21, 2009 9:23 PM

Congrats! Now, everyone go enter the other giveaways now. K, thanks, bye!

Friday 5

Today's Friday 5 theme is Dairy. Dairy and I have a love/hate relationship. I love some, I hate some. Here we go...

[friday, june 19: dairy]

What are your feelings about milk?
I don't like the taste of milk by itself, but I do crave it with certain things every now and then. Milk is always good with Chips Ahoy cookies. I love to bake, and most baking I do involves milk, so it's kind of one of the evil necessities in my house.

What are your feelings about cheese?
I LOVE cheese. All kinds of cheese. Well, not the stinky ones; but all others are my friends.

What are your feelings about yogurt?
I like the taste of yogurt but I can't eat it - the texture does not go over well with my mouth. If I mix in a TON of raw granola and cranberries or some other dried fruit, then I can eat it.

How do you feel about soy milk?
I hate soy milk. The end.

How far are you from the nearest cow?
About a 5-minute drive North, South or West would get me to a cow.

Pace Review

I’m sure you have all heard of Pace Foods. If not, where have you been?! Our family is Pace lovers. The husband loves chips and salsa and Pace is all we ever buy. Their salsa has great flavor and it’s super chunky, which I love. Though, because husband has wussy taste buds, I’m forced to buy the Mild when I prefer the HOT!

Anyway, I’ve always associated Pace with chips and salsa. However, I was given the opportunity to try Pace and shed a whole new light on it. How can I use Pace outside of the traditional dipping salsa? Here’s what I came up with.


First, I got to review the Pace Picante in Medium. I tried to think of something genius to use it with, when I remembered, I’ve been using this to kick up my rice for many years now! Perfect! All you do is make the amount of rice you want, and when it’s done, add cheese and salsa to taste. I call this my Mexican rice. Super simple, no brainer, can be used for a snack or for a side dish. If you want to get creative, pair it with some fajitas. It’s a great blend of flavors!

I also wanted to try using it with some chicken, because it sounded really yummy. I found this recipe and just had to try it. YUMMY!! I loved it.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups salsa
2 cups hot cooked rice
1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink; drain and set aside. Coat skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Saute mushrooms, green pepper, onion, celery, corn and garlic for 6-8 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add salsa and reserved chicken; heat through. Serve over rice. Top with cheese and sour cream.

I also got to review their Mexican Four Cheese sauce. Can I just tell you, I am fully addicted to this! It’s amazingly yummy and has just enough kick. It is fantastic warmed up with chips as a dip, but that’s not the point of this post, is it? I found that it was amazing in bean burritos - just pour it over the top of the beans instead of melting cheese and BAM, you’ve got some serious flavor with a great spice to it. To be completely honest, it was hard for me to not just whip out the chips and eat this straight. I would eat it with a spoon if it were socially acceptable. :)

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Pace here.

My CarPet Winner!

Thanks to My CarPet for this opportunity! I am so excited for someone else to own one of these cute little friends. Mine is hilarious and keeps me entertained.

The lucky winner is:

Here are your random numbers:
7
Timestamp: 2009-06-18 16:29:04 UTC

Katrina said... 7
Princess for my daughter!
June 9, 2009 7:43 PM

Congrats to you! I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond or I have to pick a new winner.

Now, go enter my other giveaways.

Wendy's Frosty Fathers Day

I had to pass this information along to all of you fabulous people because it's a really great cause, and it's not like eating a Frosty is a sacrifice!

For the past three years, Wendy's has made it a Father's Day Frosty Weekend tradition to donate 50 cents from the sale of each Frosty to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The money raised goes to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program, which funds full-time adoption recruiters at local agencies across the U.S., who in turn pair up parents with foster care children needing homes. So, you and your family can enjoy a tasty (and affordable!) Frosty together, knowing this campaign assists children across the country in finding a family of their own.

Involve the kids in this great cause by having them create a fun Father's Day eCard on FrostyCard.com. For every card they send, Wendy's will donate an additional 25 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation. Kids can attach coupons for "taking out the trash" or "washing the car" onto the cards for Dad.

I think it's really cool of Wendy's to take this initiative and fully support it! I will definitely be going out for frostys [frosties?] this Fathers Day weekend.

Summer Fun

In case you didn't know, I have a blog sponsor that ROCKS! And they are UPrinting.com. Check them out if you are ever in need of business cards, color brochures and mailing postcards.


They are doing a competition right now for the best summer photo. I don't know if this is the best [I unfortunately do not have my DSLR... YET], but it's a picture I LOVE because it's our summer. It's what we do, what we love.


This is my bike at our hill. This is where we [well, more the husband until I can grow a pair and race my own bike] race the Banshees. We spend nearly every weekend here during the summer, even during the hottest months, because we love it!



Now, it's time to talk. What do you love to do during the summer? What is your one activity that, no matter what, you always do? Comment, please!!

What I Want Wednesday

Welcome to this week's edition of What I Want Wednesday! :)

Do you all know what Sunday is? If you have a dad in your life, listen up! Sunday is Fathers Day. Make sure you show him the love he deserves. Today I will be featuring Father-related items!

[click on the image to be taken to the Etsy shop]

DaintyDivasBoutique: What's the go-to gift for any father? A tie, right? This tie is darling. Just pretend it's not for kids and it makes a perfect Father's Day gift! :)













sonialicious: LOVE these cufflinks. Need something badass for your suit-wearing dad? These are awesome.






tonyasdesigns: Awwww. No matter how rough around the edges your dad may be, he would love this book, customized by you. I'm such a daddy's girl, and have always called my dad 'daddy', so this would be perfect. **NOTE: this item seems to have disappeared from Etsy. Not sure what happened between when I posted it and now but it's gone. Go check out her other stuff here.

melaniestewart: I've never been a fan of the "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand" saying, but my dad is the incredibly proud owner of a new yellow short bus Jeep and loves it, so this vinyl sticker would be great for his mirror in the bathroom, or for the garage, or the "man room". I'm sure there are many more Jeep-loving dads out there, too!

kotibethphotography: What guy out there doesn't love a good bike? Again, this would be great for the "man room"! I love this photo.

The Couponizer Review and Giveaway

The Couponizer is a coupon-saver’s dream come true. This thing really is so great and perfect for someone with OCD! Here is a little about it, from their site:

The Couponizer Company was formed in April of 2002 to support the sale and distribution of The Couponizer®, an award winning organizing and shopping system for coupons and other discounts. Developed by Amy Bergin, a Mom of three children after she realized that overspending diminishes or stops progress towards family financial goals. The Couponizer is the first shopping system to offer more than just a holder for coupons, but it is instead a whole system to enable consistent savings.

Officially launched at the Atlanta Home Show in September 2002, in April of 2009, the 2nd edition Couponizer was introduced. This new version includes product enhancements as well as a fresh new look and feel.


I got to review a Couponizer of my own, and I fell in love with it. It now goes grocery shopping with me every time I go, even if I only need one or two items! It makes everything so organized and simple to access. All of your coupons are right there, yelling out what they are for. There is a spot for coupons that expire soon, so you know to use them up. There is a spot for coupons for that shopping trip. There is even a shopping trip list! This thing ROCKS. For someone with OCD like me, there couldn’t have been a better invention.

Not only that, but they sent me a Giftionizer too, which is also super cool! It’s like the Couponizer, only it helps you organize birthdays and events for which you would need to buy gifts. It’s got little profile pages so that you can fill out the person, their birthday, other important days [like their anniversary], AND things they like for gifts, things they don’t really like, their interests and hobbies, and more. It’s like your social organizer. It’s absolutely awesome.

Buy it!
You can purchase a Couponizer OR a Giftionizer here.

Win it!
The Couponizer has generously offered one of my fabulous readers a Couponizer of their very own!

To enter, visit their site and tell me how the Couponizer could improve your life. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]
--Enter another giveaway [enter as many as you want, but just take one extra entry]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Tuesday, June 30th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US readers only.

Ten on Tuesday

I have a great day of cleaning the motorhome ahead of me. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? You wanna come help? You're more than welcome! :)

Today's Ten on Tuesday is 10 things you'd bring on a deserted island. How fun! But only 10? K...

1. chapstick
2. the fam
3. sunscreen
4. lots and lots of lotion
5. bikini
6. towels
7. body wash
8. my Banshee
9. iPod with speakers
10. my blankie

Go on now! Go play! Click me.

The Simple Stencil Review and Giveaway

Here is a little about The Simple Stencil, from their site:
Simple Stencils are pre-pasted, pre-spaced, individually laser cut out letters that press on your wall or any flat smooth surface (glass, metal, smooth stone, plastic, etc.). Once applied with our easy to follow instructions, the letters are the only thing remaining on the wall or surface. The letters are very thin, equivalent to about 3 coats of paint and have a beautiful matte or satin finish. The above properties give the letters the appearance of being painted on without all the mess, skill, creative limitations and time that hand painted stencils require.

These are not decals with a clear film around the letters, but rather individually cut out letters that have been pre-spaced for you. Appling the Simple Stencils is as easy as removing the backing and pressing to the surface where you would like it. Please visit our Simple Stencil Instruction page for more details. Each order is custom made to your specifications and arrives with easy to follow illustrated instructions, installation tool and a free practice word which makes it Simple to add your own creative meaning and personality to your space!


I had the chance to review a few different stencils from The Simple Stencil, which I was so excited for! I went through and chose the ones I wanted, and then also got to choose a “practice word”, which is up to 12 letters. You don’t get to choose color or anything, but still, it’s free! I think that’s really cool. We got our last name, plus a monogrammed ‘h’ for Punk’s room, as well as the most adorable phrase ‘Once Upon A Time’ in Disney font. Punk’s room is Princess-themed, so it fits perfectly. Punk and I had a blast picking out where to put them up, and then cleaning the walls and actually placing them. They are super easy to put up and we didn’t have any issues with them whatsoever. And, the purples matched the purples in her room perfectly! That was like the icing on the [cup]cake. They look awesome; I love them.

With our practice word, I have a frame that’s meant for a 16x20 print that I just had an 8x10 centered in [LOVE the blank space, seriously! Such a cute idea]. So, I moved the picture towards the bottom and put our last name above the picture and it’s DARLING. I had so many comments on it during Punk’s party. I would show you, but I feel it’s a little too personal to be broadcasting my last name all over. If you really want to see it, e-mail me and I’ll send you a picture, K? :)


Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from The Simple Stencil here.

Win it!
The Simple Stencil has generously offered TWO of my readers their own ‘Once Upon A Time’ wall saying! They are both purple; one is dark and one is light; so let me know in your comment which you would prefer.

To enter, visit their site and tell me your favorite phrase, or if you would design your own, what it would look like. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Follow this blog
--Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, with a link to the giveaway
--Add my button to your site
--Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
--Leave a comment on one of my non-giveaway posts [tell me which you left your comment on… please?]
--Enter another giveaway [enter as many as you want, but just take one extra entry]

Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win! Leave your e-mail address in your comment, or if your profile is set to public and your e-mail address is in your profile, that works too.

This giveaway ends Sunday, June 28th at midnight, MST. I will use random.org to choose a winner, and will post the winner on my site. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers only.

Brez Winner!

Only 4 entries? REALLY?! There have got to be more of you that sleep next to a snorer.

Anyway, since there were only 2 people that entered and one did not have a way of being contacted, the winner is...

Michele P. said... 3
because it is nearly invisible, it can be used during the daytime to help with congestion and stuffiness relief.
**** at msn dot com
June 13, 2009 8:52 PM

Hey, wait a tick... she just won the Tropical Traditions giveaway! Today must be her lucky day. Again, 48 hours to respond or I'll have to, um, I would say pick a new winner but I can't do that so I'll just have to keep the prize for myself. :)

Now, to those of you that didn't enter this one, feel bad... Okay, stop, or I'll feel bad too. Just go enter the other giveaways.

Tropical Traditions Winner!

One of you lucky readers gets their very own coconut oil! Who is it? Let's see...

Here are your random numbers:
29
Timestamp: 2009-06-15 16:22:56 UTC

Michele P. said... 29
I would like to try the Bug Arrest
**** at msn dot com
June 13, 2009 8:55 PM

Woohoo! I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond or I will have to choose a new winner. Thanks to all for entering!

Make sure to stop by for all other giveaways >>>here<<<.

Birthday Treats

I told you I would post Punk's birthday treats that I was busy making all weekend, and then I forgot! I'm a horrible blog friend, and I apologize. Forgive me? If you don't, I won't ever post them and you'll be sad.

Forgiven? Good!

So, I literally spent half the day Saturday and all day Sunday making these treats because I was so excited! It was my first time making the cupcake pops [they are complicated! Bakerella makes them look so easy; they are NOT] and only my second attempt at fondant [the first attempt doesn't even really count but technically it was an attempt] and I think I did alright. Here are the treats, in all their splendor!







Have I told you her favorite colors are pink and purple? Could you tell? :) Also, I kind of invented the buttercream recipe and it turned out amazing! Seriously, I was eating it by the spoonful; it was that good. I have to leave some unfrosted because my husband doesn't like frosting. WHAT THE!? All you single girls out there - add that to the list of marriage requirements. For real - who doesn't like frosting?

And, guess what she got? The cutest little cupcake maker! It's like an Easy Bake oven, only it makes cupcakes instead of little cake-like things. It was totally on my suggestion that she got it from my mom, and I will definitely use it, but so what, right?

Have a good weekend all of you lovely people! And after hopefully not getting rained on at the sand dunes, I'll be back Monday to bore you to tears keep you entertained.

I'll leave you with this incredibly gorgeous picture of me in Punk's new sunglasses. :D