A Picturebook On The Wall Review and Giveaway

When she was a small child Elaine felt as though she had been wrapped in plastic from head to toe, nothing going out, nothing coming in. Her little world stayed the same, unchanging during the great Depression, and even though the country was suffering, the only glimmer of anything important to her was the fact that her mother’s family – Elaine’s grandmother, aunt and two uncles – had moved into her family’s small apartment and were living in her suddenly crowded space.

From the Great Depression to World War II, through the traumas, frustrations and fears of being at war, the hazards of high school, hers was still a lonely plastic-wrapped environment. Then she entered Northwestern University and in those four years the universe opened up. She ran away with her college roommate to New York for a writing career, without her parents’ knowledge or consent, plunging unsuspecting, inexperienced, into the maelstrom of post World War II New York and ended up as an editor for a comic book publishing company.

Growing up finally, it was possible to make a sort of peace, long distance, with her family.

A Picturebook On The Wall is interesting. It takes you through the Great Depression and World War II, from a little girl’s perspective. Using pictures, she tells you about her life and the people that influenced it. It’s so easy to feel for the main character and to relate to things that she goes through! She talks about school, friends, love, family. Other than history books and assignments, I never learned much about the Great Depression or WWII. It was really interesting to be able to read about life through that period through someone’s story, rather than just the facts and dates.

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

Win it!
The publisher has generously offered one of my fabulous readers a copy for their own!

To enter, visit their site and then come back here and leave me a comment. **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 one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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, September 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 readers only.

doTERRA Winner!

A super big thanks to Nicole, the doTERRA consultant who provided this prize. The amazingly lucky winner is...

Here are your random numbers:
15
Timestamp: 2009-08-31 17:43:11 UTC

monmon

Congratulations! I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond. Thanks to all for entering!

Immaculate Baking Co. Giveaway

Here is a little about Immaculate Baking Co., from their site:

Back in 1995, Scott Blackwell started Immaculate in his garage with big dreams and a few simple goals: To create top-quality baked goods with fun and unique combinations, to celebrate the creativity of folk art, and to somehow give back.

Since those days, we're happy to say we've grown well beyond the garage, won several national awards and expanded both in the variety of our baked goods as well as the scope of our social vision. And while our company continues to evolve, our original passion and philosophy remain the same: Bake well, be creative, have fun and give back. Thanks to folks like you, we're doing just that.

They are a great company with a great product; simple as that!

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Immaculate Baking Co. by clicking here, and they are also available in some stores in the US.

Win it!
Immaculate Baking Co. has generously offered one of my fabulous readers 2 coupons for a free 14 oz. package of their cookie dough! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

To enter, visit their site and tell me something, aside from their cookie doughs, that you would like to try. **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 one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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 Thursday, September 10th 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.

A Father's Odyssey Winner!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy to review, and for providing a copy for the winner! Who, by the way, is...

Here are your random numbers:
8
Timestamp: 2009-08-28 17:05:54 UTC

nfmgirl

I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond. Congrats!

Football Widow, Anyone?

Husband isn't really into sports much; all he ever watches is drag racing or basically any type of racing [except NASCAR - we don't watch that much], which I am totally okay with because I love racing, too. But I know there are many of you out there that lose your husbands to football! I got this e-mail and wanted to share because I think it's a great idea; rather than lose him totally until the season is over, why not take part?

This website, DraftDude.com, has just launched a service that allows people who know absolutely nothing about football to make professional-level drafting decisions.

This first-of-its-kind website helps users to make expert-level drafting, playing, and trading decisions in a matter of minutes. Needless to say, it's an easy way to shock your husband and his friends by having the best picks at his next draft party!

DraftDude.com is an online fantasy sports draft helper. Founded in 2007, DraftDude takes professional, Moneyball-level mathematics, analytics, and algorithms, putting them to work for subscribers behind an interface as simple and intuitive as iTunes. For a one-time, almost negligible fee, users save large amounts of time and effort, while gaining a competitive edge in their league(s). Ideal for novices and experts alike, DraftDude.com reduces or eliminates the hours typically spent trying to make the right drafting, playing, and trading decisions. They even have a five minute instructional video to make it super easy to follow.

Also, in order to begin impressing your hubby “right off the bat,” the experts at DraftDude have provided the following free tips.

Happy drafting season!


DraftDude.com’s top five picks for the NFL's Most Underrated And Overrated Players

#1 Most underrated Wide Receiver: T.J. Houshmandzadeh
WHY? He caught 92 passes last year, despite being on an anemic Bengals team in a tough defensive conference--the move to Seattle will help.

#2 Most overrated Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens
WHY? The aging Owens is often among the league leaders in dropped passes, but gets more attention for his off-field antics--both of which could signal a dip in production. He could become disruptive if he becomes aggravated that he is not as productive as he has been in the past, further harming his production.

#3 Most underrated Tight End: Kellen Winslow
WHY? After an injury-riddled 2008 campaign, Winslow is primed for a rebound with new team Tampa Bay. He is a playmaker with potential for a big year if he stays healthy.

#4 Overrated Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
WHY? The former Super Bowl hero's skills are declining, and Vinatieri only attempted three field goals in the red zone last year on a strong Colts offense. Expect that trend to continue.

#5 Most underrated Defensive Player: Trent Cole
WHY? Another Pro Bowl snub, Cole is a consistent performer who plays on a strong Philadelphia defense. He will rack up at least 10 sacks.

Food Should Taste Good Review and Giveaway

Food Should Taste Good makes shoes. Okay, just kidding! Seriously though, they make food. [Did you guess that?] More specifically, they make tortilla chips in a whole bunch of really yummy and really unique flavors [like olive, cinnamon, sweet potato and chocolate, plus more]. All of their chips are gluten free, cholesterol free, and trans fat free. They don’t use genetically modified ingredients. They are certified Kosher. They are low in sodium and are a good source of dietary fiber. Is that enough good things about them? Plus, they taste good! Woohoo!

I decided to try Multigrain, Sweet Potato, Lime and Yellow Corn flavors from Food Should Taste Good. And, they all were really yummy. The multigrain doesn’t taste too much like a multigrain chip; it has a really good flavor that was great with my queso dip. I ate the entire bag of the sweet potato chips without dipping them in anything, they were that good! They taste really similar to a regular tortilla chip, but with a background flavor that is really sweet and tasty. I dig them. The lime chips were super yummy with salsa, and they aren’t overwhelmingly lime-y, like some other lime chips I’ve had in the past. You don’t feel like you just doused your chip in lime juice. I prefer it that way as I’m not a huge fan of my chip tasting like a lime; I prefer it taste like a chip. [Weird, I know.] And the yellow corn chips were, well, yellow corn chips! They tasted just as I expected them to – like a corn tortilla chip. They were also really good with salsa! One of my favorite things is that they use real sea salt on their chips, and I think that really adds to the flavor! Overall, I really liked everything I tasted.

Buy it!
You can find where to purchase the great items from Food Should Taste Good by clicking here.

Win it!
Food Should Taste Good has generously offered one of my fabulous readers 3 coupons for a free bag of their fantastic chips [up to 12 ounces]!

To enter, visit their site and tell me what flavor you would most like to try. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Join their fan club [found on their site] -- 3 extra entries, plus it will give you a coupon for $1 off!
--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 one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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 Wednesday, September 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 and Canadian readers only. Please check to make sure you have a place to use the coupons before entering!

Vat19 Winner!

I forgot to post the winner yesterday; sorry!

Thanks to Vat 19 for sponsoring this giveaway, and also for sending me a pen of my own to review. The winner is...

Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2009-08-27 16:38:17 UTC

liz stott

Way to go! I've e-mailed you, and you have 48 hours to respond. Thanks for entering!

Happy What?

I love Gus Gus. And I love birthdays. Today is MY birthday [I'm 25] so I'm off to spend the day doing whatever I want! Have a great day, all of you, and I'll be back tomorrow with a yummy giveaway!

Chores.

I'm in need of some parenting advice from you lovely people! K? So comment. Or else. :D

Punk is 8, which I think is plenty old enough to be taking care of her own messes, plus helping around the house a little. I've given her some chores that she is supposed to do every weekend when she is here. They are:

Friday - put away clean clothes & unload or load the dishwasher
Saturday - clean Turbo's litter box & take a bath or shower [she has big issues with this; that's a whole other blog post]
Sunday - straighten the living room & clean her room

If she gets all of her chores done, she gets $3. If she doesn't get them done, she doesn't get to watch TV the next weekend. Are these chores too much to ask? Do you think I'm trying to get her to do too much? Am I not paying enough, or enforcing too hard? All in all, it takes about 20-30 minutes to do each day. No matter what I do, I CANNOT get her to do these things without having to yell. If I say in a nice way, "Please go do your chores" or "Why don't you go get your chores taken care of so you don't have to worry about it later?", I get ignored. Unless I get mean about it, nothing ever gets done. Every weekend that she's done all of her chores, it's been because I or Dad got mad with her and made her do it. If they all get done, I always buy her something special [a couple of weekends ago, it was a Hannah Montana notepad], plus she gets $3 to spend any way she wants to. Is that not incentive enough?

What am I doing wrong? I absolutely hate having to be mean, but if I don't get mean with her, none of it gets done. I'm not so strict on some of them [like the dishwasher, the cat box or the living room] but the other things are things I feel she should be doing no matter what, because it's her messes. Am I being too uptight about it?

For those with kids around that age, what do you require your kids do to help around the house? And what do they get for it? I am desperate for advice, because I'm so sick of having to be a bitch about it!

Back to School

I'm lucky because I don't have to deal with the same stresses as most parents do with going back to school, because we have Punk on the weekends only. But, I've been reading so much about parents being worried, or scared, or stressed, or even relieved [hey, I don't judge], that it's back to school time. I'm pretty sure y'all have heard of PBS. If not, where have you been? Anyway, PBS has some really helpful tips for both parents and kids for going back to school. First, here is some great info regarding actually getting back into the school routine.

• Ease into the routine. The start of a new year can be stressful - practice your routine a few days in advance.

• Ask your child compelling questions. Specific questions help children picture what school will be like.

• Describe what will happen on the first day. This will help ease nervousness or confusion.

• Tool up. Obtain the class supply list and take a special shopping trip, letting your child pick out a few special items.

PBS Parents also has some really great tips about making sure your house is set up to keep literacy going after school.

• Create a cozy, comfortable reading space with your child. Set rules for this area in your home to maintain peaceful reading.

• Let your kids catch you reading. Talk about what you read in newspapers, books, and magazines with your children so they understand the importance of reading.

• Encourage your child to read aloud at home. Your child will learn to read with expression and understanding while sharing stories with you – and siblings and grandparents, too!

• A trip to the grocery store can reinforce reading skills. Have your child write the grocery list, find the items using the store's signs, and read product labels — you can also encourage healthy eating.

Head on over to PBS Kids to find some really cool activities, like the Super Fab Lab with Sid the Science Kid, where Sid teaches kids how to make ice pops! I know Punk loves doing this; we make our own popsicles all the time.

And for those of you who have littles that aren't school-age yet, watch for a new series called Dinosaur Train, an animated series that encourages basic scientific thinking skills [premieres September 7th].

I know as a kid I loved PBS [seriously, I still have Elmo dolls], and all of this just proves to me that they are still going really strong in helping kids learn and grow!

CSN / All Children’s Furniture Giveaway

CSN is a parent company to many other companies! Do you need something? Anything, really? CSN probably has a store for you. They have stores for cookware, bar stools, dog beds, mailboxes, and more!

One of their companies is called All Children’s Furniture, and they carry basically anything to do with children. They have kids furniture, beds, bedding, toys and décor, all for kids! Wow, right? That’s what I thought, too.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from All Children’s Furniture by clicking here.

Win it!
CSN has generously offered one of my fabulous readers their choice of one of the following…

[click on the picture to be taken to a description of the product]

Baby doll crib with mobile


Play cash register


Tub of lip gloss and other make-up things


Gears building set


Razor A2 scooter

To enter, visit their site and tell me something you would like to have in your household, other than the options mentioned above. **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, with a link to the giveaway, as well as a link to the kids furniture, 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 one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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, September 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 and Canadian readers only.

Meet Me on the Paisley Roof Winner!

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy, and for sponsoring the giveaway! The winner of this great book is...

Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2009-08-24 17:04:45 UTC

Kimmy

Congrats! I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond. Thanks to all for entering!

Kreativ Blogger Award Goes To...

Awww, Mom Mayhem gave me an award! I'm super excited. Thanks Mom Mayhem!



Here are the rules:

1. List 7 things that I love

2. Link back to the blog that awarded it to me

3. Choose 7 blogs to award as ‘Kreativ Bloggers’

4. Comment at each blog to let them know they’ve been chosen


Okay, first things first.

1. My family [including Husband, Punk, Turbo, plus Mom, Dad, sisters, brother... the works]. We put the 'fun' in dysfunctional.
2. Summer. We're currently separating and I fear within a few months I will have forgotten it's wonderful touch, but I will always love Summer.
3. Ice cream. Give me ice cream or give me death.
4. Cupcakes. Give me cupcakes or give me death. [I feel like I've been here before...]
5. An organized work room. I'll post pics when it's all done [so, about another year].
6. Cute socks and underwear. I don't own a pair of plain-colored socks. Or underwear.
7. Toys that run. I get really frustrated when we just keep blowing them all up! But, such is life. The faster it goes, the less it runs.

And then, I award...

1. Shibby
2. Liz
3. Von
4. Becca
5. Leslie
6. Jingle
7. Blue Violet

Ugg... Boots?

I am sure all of you have at least heard of Ugg boots before. If not, you're missing out! It took me a long time to be sold on them, but after you wear them, you realize what it's all about. They are soft and warm and comfy and fantastic.

There is a company in the UK called Whooga that does a drawing for 3 pairs of boots every two months! All you have to do to enter to win is display their badge [see up there, on the left?] and you are automatically entered. There is nothing more to it! Super simple. And, they ship internationally so whether you are in Australia, the US, or even the Cayman Islands, you're good to go. And if you don't win, they offer you a 15% discount anyway! So you can't lose on this.

What are you waiting for? Click here for all the details, and get that badge up!

Simply Whimsy Designs Giveaway

By now, you all have had the chance to view my absolutely beautiful site design, done by Simply Whimsy Designs. Kristin is so easy to work with and is so good at what she does! I loved dealing with her and my site turned out exactly as I wanted it to. I can’t recommend her enough!

You can check her site out by clicking here; she has tons of great designs under her belt already, and is just waiting for one of you to get the next amazing design for your site!

Buy it!
You can purchase a site design, or headers, or buttons, or whatever from Simply Whimsy Designs by clicking here.

Win it!
Because Kristin is such a divine person, she is generously offering one of my fabulous readers a custom Header and Button!

To enter, visit Simply Whimsy Designs here and then come back here and leave me a comment. **THIS IS REQUIRED!!**

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
--Make a purchase from Simply Whimsy Designs -- 5 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?]
--Enter another one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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 Thursday, September 3rd 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 international readers.

GoPicnic Winners!

HUGE thanks to GoPicnic for sending me some of their amazing products to review, and also for providing five winners with their own taste of fantastic-ness! Without further ado, our amazingly lucky winners are...

Here are your random numbers:
1
24
29
9
15
Timestamp: 2009-08-21 16:00:24 UTC

throuthehaze

Laura

ProjectHope7

Staci

Dwalline

Congrats to you all! I have e-mailed you and please get back to me within 48 hours so I don't have to pick a new winner[s]. Thanks for entering!

Misikko Rocks!

Save Time and Stay Sexy with a Professional Flat Iron

Whether you are a long-time mom or you’ve been catapulted into the throws of motherhood recently, it can sometimes feel like taking care of yourself is strictly on as-needed basis. That means, if you don’t have time for it, it isn’t needed. But any savvy mom will tell you, taking care of yourself is essential to both your physical and mental welfare.

As a woman, your looks are a key ingredient to your overall self-image and wellbeing. And, your hair plays a major role in how you look. If your hair looks best straight, but you have curly hair, a professional flat iron is a non-negotiable to your kit of beauty tools. The reason is, professional flat irons, namely a ceramic hair straightener, will save you tons of time, and will keep your lovely locks looking luscious for your mate. You might be confused (because of the vast array of ceramic hair straighteners on the market) as to which hair straightener you should buy. They can be pricey, and you don’t want to purchase a cheap item only to spend twice the time straightening your hair, and burn it in the process because you thought you were getting a bargain. Of the best professional flat irons on the market right now, CHI hair straighteners and FHI hair straighteners are top-of-the-line and you really can’t go wrong with either of these brands. Let’s compare them so you can figure out which one is best for you.

CHI Hair Straighteners

CHI hair straighteners are from the Farouk line of professional flat irons. They are ceramic hair straighteners, which means that they are made to distribute heat evenly throughout their ceramic plates, negating hot spots where your hair would become singed. Furthermore, CHI hair straightener plates are super slick; your hair won’t snag or break because of the slippery surface of the professional flat iron plates. CHI hair straighteners come with an ultra-long chord (10 feet long), are lightweight, heat up in less than 10 seconds and are known for being durable. Still, you CHI hair straighteners will not work with an adapter – so don’t plan on taking out of the U.S. These babies start in the neighborhood of $100 and go up in price from there. The most expensive models can cost well over $200.

FHI Hair Straighteners

FHI hair straighteners are one of the world’s best line of professional flat irons. These sweethearts heat up in less than 15 seconds and are available with ceramic tourmaline plates. Tourmaline is actually a crystal silicate mineral compound and is used to naturally transform water into mild alkali water. These tourmaline plates on the FHI hair straighteners reduce water clustering and have deoderant and anti-bacterial qualities. FHI hair straighteners help to defrizz and moisturize your hair as you straighten by using negative ionic-charged heat, which infuses your hair with moisture by changing the molecular structure of water on your hair so that it gets sealed into your hair shaft. You can use an FHI hair straightener on damp hair without fear of damaging it, and they can be used outside of the U.S. These professional flat irons start in the neighborhood of $120 and end at around $200, depending on the model.

Hit the Deck Review

Hit the Deck is a super great workout plan devised by a lady named Jenny Evans. Jenny is a stress & exercise physiologist, who is seriously a genius when it comes to that kind of stuff. How many products out there have you seen that are targeted to “relieving stress”? TONS, right? From stress balls, to aromatherapy candles, to teas, there is a lot claiming to relieve the stress you’re feeling. According to Jenny, “stress will never go away completely. It’s not about eliminating the factors that cause your stress; it’s more about training the body to adapt and recover from it more successfully.” I tend to agree with this! Your bills won’t ever stop coming, your kids won’t ever stop yelling, and there is always going to be laundry to do [unless you live in a nudist colony, I guess]. You just need to teach your body how to handle the stress! That’s where Hit the Deck comes in.

Hit the Deck is an innovative workout, designed for at home or on-the-go, that tones the body while burning off stress hormones. It comes with a timer and 35 cards that go from pretty easy to feel-the-burn tough! It makes it so simple to fit exercise in. Got a spare 10 minutes while the kids nap? Turn on the timer and work it out! Plus, it will help your stress levels, which in turn makes the rest of your life easier. And, it’s not the same thing over and over, so you could talk your kids into doing it with you. What better way to keep them and yourself active, than to do it together? Go get Hit the Deck. You can thank me later.

Buy it!
You can purchase Hit the Deck by clicking here.

CLEAN+green Review and Giveaway

SeaYu is a fantastic company that makes pet products that are eco-friendly [their product line is called CLEAN+green]. What a great idea! Here is a little about them, from their site:

At SeaYu, we love animals -- and we care about the world we live in.

But we know firsthand that every pet lover needs a quick, powerful and convenient solution to pet cleaning problems. That's why we've carefully developed the safest, most effective, pet cleanup system you'll find anywhere. Completely free of harsh chemicals -- and personally tested in our own home. All natural. Fur friendly. Kid safe. And able to stand up to any pet cleanup challenge -- even skunk.

We're committed to making sure all of our products are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and eco-friendly. Easy on the environment and easy to use. Our unique, patented Advanced Eliminator Formula doesn't just cover up the smell. It permanently eliminates odors, deep cleans and removes stains -- everything you'd expect from the only eco-friendly aerosol pet cleaning products on the planet.

So, breathe again. The world is a safer place. And life just got easier!

What can I say, except that I love CLEAN+green!? I got to review a litter box cleaner and odor eliminator. And it works WONDERS for both! To eliminate odors, you just spray above the litter box. No need to soak it, just lightly mist it. It makes the smell go away! I clean Turbo’s cat box pretty frequently – I don’t want people to walk into my house and instantly know we have an indoor cat – but no matter how often I change it, there is a smell. Whether it be kitty stink, or litter stink, it’s always there. With this, I just spray a light coat on top of the litter after I change the box, and I can smell the difference immediately. We keep his box in the bathtub and sometimes litter gets stuck, or the dust is there... I just spray this on and wipe with a cloth, and it cleans it right up. I really, really like this product!

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from CLEAN+green by clicking here.

Win it!
CLEAN+green has generously offered one of my fabulous readers one can of Litter Box odor eliminator & cleaner!

To enter, visit their site and tell me something, besides the litter box cleaner, you would like to try. **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 one of my giveaways [enter as many as you want, but only 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, September 1st 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.

Your Business and Your Life Winner!

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy, and giving a copy away! The winner is...

Here are your random numbers:
1
Timestamp: 2009-08-19 16:05:02 UTC

Kent

Congrats! I've e-mailed you.

Summer Social Retreat '09

First off, I have to tip my hat to April from Sweet Life in the Valley. She is the one who organized this amazing event and much kudos to her! It was super fun and there were so many amazing ladies there to meet and mingle with. Also, thanks to Jones and Sha' because I know you helped a lot, too. :)

I swear I am the last post about it, but don't take that as meaning I didn't like it; I had so much fun! Can I tell you guys a little secret? I'm pretty anti-social when it comes to life in the real world. Being at this even was a little stressful for me, only because there were so many women who have such great sites and blogs and ideas, and I was SOOOOOO intimidated by them all! I had to take a personal pow-wow and amp myself up so I didn't slink off into a corner and hide all night. But, am I ever glad I didn't!

We got to go to the amazing Soldier Hollow for this retreat, and that place is beautiful! They have all sorts of super great activities for you to participate in, like horse-back riding, hiking, golf, snowshoeing... Anyway, I chose to do the Reins and Trains activity. The Heber Valley Railroad [formerly known as the Heber Creeper] took us through the canyon and the sights were amazing!


Part way through the ride, we were ambushed by cowboys!! Oh me, oh my.


Well, unbeknownst to us, WE were supposed to be the kidnappees. Hrm... uh, yah... someone forgot to give us our bracelets, so we didn't get stolen away off the train. But, we got things straightened out and were assured that if we got off the train, the wagon would be up to pick us up in just a few minutes!



...



Yup, that's us walking to find our wagon ride...





What a lovely bunch of women!

Anyway, it all ended up okay and we all got back to the lodge in one piece. Note to self and others: if you are on a wagon ride and tell your cowboy host to eat a grasshopper, HE WILL DO IT!! Do not tempt this truth, it's pretty horrible. Dude should go on Fear Factor.

Then we had dinner [which was so amazing I forgot to take pictures] and then dessert from The Chocolate, who might just be my favorite bakery yet [I'm super sad they don't have a cupcake cart anymore but am WAY excited they are opening a storefront!]...



That freaking pineapple cake has been haunting my thoughts lately! I NEED to eat it again.

Not only did April provide us with an amazing day full of activities, a fabulous dinner and a to-die-for dessert, but we got SWAG!!! April took us through some of her favorite things, which we got some great stuff from, like Shirley J, Yes to Carrots, Sorel boots, and much more! It was an absolutely delightful day and I hope to do it again. Like, next week. What do you think, April? ;)

Neat Solutions Review

Neat Solutions is a company that makes products for on-the-go moms [which ones aren’t?] with babies and kids. One of my biggest worries when it comes to the littles is germs. I worry about germs with myself, and kids are even worse because they are in it all! They have to touch, smell, taste anything they can. That’s where Neat Solutions comes into play. They make products to help you keep your little germ-free [or as close as possible] without being a hassle. They offer products like table toppers [great for eating out], potty toppers [great for public restrooms and newly potty trained kids], changing pads, disposable bibs, and more. Seriously, a great company!

I got to review the potty toppers. Punk is 8, so she’s been potty trained for plenty of time, but she’s really small for her age! She’s barely big enough to get her bum up onto most public bathroom seats. These are great for her because she can stick one down and then doesn’t have to worry about getting germs from the toilet seat. Not only are these great for kids, but moms too! Don’t you ever worry about using public bathrooms? I know I do. Plus, they come folded up pretty small so it’s not like you’re carrying around something gigantic – it easily tucks into your purse so you can use it when needed. I would definitely suggest these for anyone that uses public bathrooms, ever.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Neat Solutions by clicking here.

doTerra Giveaway

Here is a little about the fabulous doTERRA, from their site:
In the spring of 2008, a group of healthcare and business professionals who shared profound personal experiences of the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils came together with a common vision of bringing a new standard of therapeutic-grade essential oils to the world. They wanted something different that would appeal to all people, from those who knew nothing of essential oils to those who were considered the experts in the field.

They asked themselves some defining questions—"What if we could provide the world with a new and powerful wellness alternative?" "What if we could provide this new level of wellness through a mainstream approach to essential oils?" "What if we could source, test, and manufacture a higher quality of essential oil more pure and more potent than any other oil available on the market today?" "What if we, in a most professional manner, could partner with major hospitals, doctors, scientists, and opinion leaders to provide the most compelling authentication of essential oils on the planet?"

They concluded that, with the hard work and commitment of others with a similar passion and vision, they could and would create a new paradigm for essential oils. With that conviction, they organized a company and named it dōTERRA, a Latin derivative meaning "Gift of the Earth." dōTERRA's first offering of 25 single oils and 10 oil blends were introduced for sale on April 25, 2008 to the acclaim of essential oil experts and product enthusiasts who immediately recognized the superior quality of dōTERRA's therapeutic-grade essential oils at first experience.

In addition to ongoing development of new essential oils and proprietary essential oil blends, dōTERRA's future product offerings will include nutrition, spa, and healthy living products based on essential oil technologies and a comprehensive wellness philosophy of nutrition, exercise, rest and stress management, reduction of toxic load, informed self-care, and proactive healthcare.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from doTERRA by clicking here.

Win it!
Nicole, who is an independent doTERRA rep, has generously offered one of my fabulous readers a Dr. Mom kit [retail value=$146.67]!!! This is an AMAZING prize, so make sure you enter. [See details about the kit by clicking here]

To enter, visit their site and tell me something they offer that you would use. **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, August 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.

Sothys Winner!

Thanks to Sothys for providing such a great prize! The winner of the tanning body lotion is...

Here are your random numbers:
2
Timestamp: 2009-08-17 19:17:10 UTC

-nickk and whitleyy-

Congrats woman! I've e-mailed you. Thanks everyone for entering!

Also, posting will be a bit sporadic for me this week. I've got a boutique that lasts from today through Friday and will be in and out of that, so yah. Check out the details HERE, and you should all stop by!

A Father’s Odyssey Review and Giveaway

What would you do if your soulmate died, you lost your job, and you found yourself with your three young children depending on you alone?

For most, it would be a struggle to survive, let alone "keep it together." Even putting one foot forward every day would become an epic act of bravery. One man defied these very circumstances, and managed to do much more than just survive in the years following his wife's death.

Terry Hitchcock, age 57 at the time, ran 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days. He travelled over 2,000 miles to bring awareness to the financial and emotional hardships faced by single parents and their children - everyday heroes who run quiet, yet extraordinary, daily marathons.

Terry Hitchcock proved that "impossible" is only a word.

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing Terry Hitchcock’s story is! He turned one of the worst combinations of events into an amazing plea for help for single parents. At the age of 57, he ran over 2,000 miles in just 75 days. Now, I’m only 24 [25 in 12 days!] but I don’t know if I could muster up the determination, not to mention physical ability, to do what he did. This book is full of inspiration and drive and determination. For what? For a cause he believed in with all his heart. It is amazing to be able to read about his journey; why and how and for what. I truly appreciate this story and love A Father's Odyssey!

Buy it!
You can purchase this book by clicking here.

Win it!
The publisher, Bascom Hill, has generously offered one of my fabulous readers their very own copy!

To enter, visit the book's site and then come back here and leave me a comment. **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, August 27th 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.

Dedicated Woman Winner!

Thanks to Dedicated Woman for this great giveaway, and for my review product! Our winner is...

Here are your random numbers:
7
Timestamp: 2009-08-14 16:07:39 UTC

JennyMac

Way to be chosen, JennyMac! I've e-mailed you.

Thanks to all for entering!

Pure Bliss Essentials Luxury Lotion Bar Review

See more about Pure Bliss Essentials by clicking here, in another review by yours truly.

I have heard of lotion bars before, but had never had the opportunity to try one, until now! It comes in a little tin and is completely hard [like, bar of soap hard]. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it, honestly! But the instructions said to just let it melt in your hand, so I put it in my palm and waited. And you know what happened? It melted! After a few seconds, I had a layer of lotion, just waiting to be rubbed into my skin. I put the bar back in the tin, and within just a minute or two it was completely hard again. The lotion it melted onto me is really moisturizing and left my skin feeling happy. I like it a lot! I am now a believer in lotion bars, and an even bigger believer in Pure Bliss Essentials!.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Pure Bliss Essentials by clicking here.

Just To Clarify

I am well aware that there are millions of amazing mothers out there! I personally know a TON of women that are fantastic mothers and are my shining example and what I strive to be like every day. My bestest truck pull friend [you know who you are!] is the most dedicated, loving, caring mother on the planet; she's amazing. There are 'real moms' out there that totally deserve the Mom title. [There are stepmoms out there that deserve it, too!]

When I talk about 'real mom', I am only talking about the one I have to deal with in my life. Never in a million years would I go so far as to assume all 'real moms' are not-so-great as my daughter's. I know my situation is a difficult one and I fully understand that there are some 'real moms' and 'stepmoms' out there who get along extravagantly and really like each other. I can only WISH and HOPE that some day, it will be that easy for me. But right now, it's not.

Everything I say is either based from my own personal opinion, or pure fact, from happenings in my own life. PLEASE don't think that I assume all situations are the same as mine, and that all the 'real moms' out there are not great mothers, because I know better.

I write about my situation to not only vent my frustration [it is my blog], but also to help other stepmoms know that they are not alone. I want other amazing stepmoms to know that they have someone they can come to or talk to or whatever. I don't write to get sympathy; I don't write for any attention. I do it because I know I am not the only one dealing with what I deal with, and I want others to know that they are not alone either.

I don't want anyone to take this personally, or think that I am trying to be mean, because I am not. I just want you all to know that I know almost all mothers out there are great! I just so happened to end up having to deal with one that's not, for at least the next 10 years.

WAT-AAH! Review

Recently, I got the opportunity to participate in the WAT-AAH! summer challenge. Before I tell you about that, let's talk about WAT-AAH!

It all started with one mom wondering what she could do to get her kids to drink more water. After talking with a few other moms, and still not knowing what to do, they asked the kids. "How can we convince you to drink more water?" That's all it took for the kids to take off with the idea! They decided it needed personality, and a new name. After screaming "water" over and over, it started to sound like WAT-AAH! and boom, there was the name! They added a kid with a big mouth, and really bright colors, and there it was. A way to make water less boring.

WAT-AAH! comes in 4 "flavors": body, brain, bones and energy. Each has its own blend to make you healthy and strong. And it all tastes like water! Weird, right?

Their summer challenge was simple: put the WAT-AAH! in with the other drinks - soda, juice, whatever - and see what the kid picks. I'm pretty lucky in the fact that Punk actually will drink water most of the time, and this is no exception! She opened the fridge, and said, "What's this with the pink words?" I told her it was water, and that's what she chose. Of course, going for the pink one first! She asked if all of the colors were different flavors, and I told her she was going to have to try them to find out. [They aren't, FYI] So throughout the weekend she tried them all, and said pink was her favorite. Funny how kids are so influenced by colors!

I challenge all of you to go get some WAT-AAH! and put it in your fridge. Your kids will think you're the coolest for bringing home such a fun-looking drink. Just don't tell them it's plain ol' water. :)

Vat19.com Review and Giveaway

Have you ever heard of Vat 19? If not, I suggest checking it out! They market themselves as the “purveyors of curiously awesome products”, and they are not lying! I’ve found some of the funniest stuff on their site, and can’t wait for the opportunity to give some of it to friends and family. Not only do they have funny, gag-gift type items, like a flashing Santa hat or animal-shaped rubber bands or a giant gummy bear on a stick, but they also have really useful items, like a no-battery, shake-powered flashlight or a stuffed lion that has a heat-able pouch in him for warm cuddling. How cute is that?!

I got to review an Operation pen from Vat 19. Operation was one of my favorite games when I was little, so I was super excited to get this! It is AWESOME. You can use it as a normal pen [though it is a bit bulky], but then the top screws off and there are little tweezers in there, and you can really play! Buzzing effects and all, this is just like Operation, only smaller. I love it. LOVE IT.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Vat 19 by clicking here.

Win it!
Vat 19 has generously offered one of my fabulous readers an Operation pen of their own!

To enter, visit their site and tell me what you would like to buy for someone in your life [or yourself!]. **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, August 25th 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.

Tropical Traditions Winner!

Thanks to Tropical Traditions for a great giveaway! The winner of the amazing raw honey is...

Here are your random numbers:
40
Timestamp: 2009-08-12 17:14:43 UTC

monmon

Congratulations! I've e-mailed you. Thanks to all for entering!

Serious Question

What is the best way for me to instill in Punk standards for clothing? Here is my main problem. The 'real mom' does not dress how I would ever want to see my daughter dress. I have on more than one occassion seen WAY more than I ever wanted to see of real mom's body, and it makes me kind of sick, to be honest. How am I supposed to tell Punk that you shouldn't wear certain things when her mom dresses like that? Two years ago for Halloween [she was 6 at the time], her mom dressed her up like "Pumpkin Spice". In my head, I'm thinking lots of orange, lots of sparkle, cute idea. Then she tells me that her skirt was so short she had to wear dance shorts underneath because her butt hung out. NOT OKAY! She was freaking 6 years old!! We go clothes shopping, and she picks out things that are way too small for her, and when she tries them on, she tells me they are fine. Not at our house!

What's the best way for me to say, "You can't walk around looking like a ho," to an 8-year old with a mom that dresses, well, like a ho?

I would love for any input if any of you have been through this!

Pediped Review

Pediped is a cute company that makes really darling shoes for babies and kids. Their goal for their shoes is to be “the next best thing to bare feet”, and I agree that they are! Their Pediped Originals line is for the really littles [0 – 24 months], and their Pediped Flex line is for their not-so-littles [2 – 5+ years]. The Originals are super flexible with leather soles [good for inside or outside!], extra padding where little feet need it, and Velcro fasteners for ease of putting on and taking off. The Flex line are much the same, but are designed for kids that are on their feet more. They’ve got cushioning in the heel, skid-resistant soles, and customizable insoles. Plus, they come with an additional insole for “Flex Fit”, basically meaning that the shoes will fit for longer. Very cool!

I got to review these darling shoes from the Flex line. They are called the Abigail, and I love them! I would totally wear them in my size. They are holding up well [even with my never-ceasing energetic child] and I love that they are Velcro because that means less time waiting at the door for shoes to be tied.


But they don’t only carry girly shoes; they also have some super cute boy shoes like these! I love little shoes.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Pediped by clicking here.

Thanksgiving Point WInners!

Need I remind you that Thanksgiving Point is awesome? Well, they are. Here are the lucky winners of the 4-packs of tickets!

Here are your random numbers:
4
6
7
10
Timestamp: 2009-08-11 16:24:12 UTC

DigandStacee
Rosalynn
chelsea
brandon and jakell

Congrats to everyone! I know you will have a blast. I've e-mailed you.

Meet Me on the Paisley Roof Review and Giveaway

This delightfully quixotic coming of age story, set in Columbus, Georgia in the 1950s, truly has something to shock or beguile even the most jaded reader. Its irreverent protagonist will take you on a road trip of hits, near misses, twists, and sudden turns that'll set you on your ear. You'll be unable to put the book down until you reach its charming yet totally unpredictable conclusion.

Meet Me on the Paisley Roof is an amazingly entertaining book! I loved it. It took me back to my years as a somewhat rebellious teenager. :) It’s easy to relate to and really easy to feel for the main character, Trussell. I had a hard time putting the book down once I started reading. It was great!

Buy it!
You can purchase Meet Me on the Paisley Roof by clicking here.

Win it!
The publisher has generously offered one of my fabulous readers their very own copy!

To enter, visit the book’s site and then come back here and leave me a comment. **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, August 23rd 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.

MolliCoolz Winner!

Thanks to MolliCoolz for sponsoring this awesome giveaway, and for sending me their great product to review! The lucky winners are...

Here are your random numbers:
1
20
Timestamp: 2009-08-10 16:49:12 UTC

justicecw
Debbie

Congrats! I've e-mailed both of you.

Pure Bliss Essentials Goat Soap Review

See more about Pure Bliss Essentials by clicking here, in another review by yours truly.

[NOTE: this image is from their site and is not how I got mine; I just don't have a camera right now to take a picture of mine.] The goat soap from Pure Bliss Essentials is great and I absolutely love how it came to me – attached to a loofah! What a good idea, eh? That way, you have your soap and your scrubber all in one. Genius. This soap did exactly what it’s supposed to do; it cleaned me. :) Plus, it didn’t leave my skin all dry or weird feeling. And I like the smell. I have to say, Pure Bliss Essentials offers some really great products!

Stay tuned for more great product reviews from Pure Bliss Essentials!

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the great items from Pure Bliss Essentials by clicking here.

Awww, I Love My New Look

Do you?

Please still pardon my dust while I get the links actually going to somewhere and all that jazz, but for now, please enjoy the new colors and look of the place!

GoPicnic Review and Giveaway

Move over brown bag lunches! There’s a new lunch in town, and it’s here to stay. GoPicnic is this freaking awesome company that does meals in a box. Not just any meals though! Healthy, natural meals with various yummy things you will absolutely love. Their meals are shelf-stable, which means no refrigeration, no worrying about preparation; just open, devour, and enjoy. They have meals for everyone, too – Kosher, gluten-free, vegetarian, and Halal meals – so many different options that cater to anyone’s specific needs. AND, they can make custom meals so you can get whatever you want or need in one box. What a great company!

I got to review a few different GoPicnic boxes, and I can honestly say there was not a single one I didn’t like! I have to admit, I’m a kid at heart. I would eat a pizza L****able [all about protecting the innocent here] over quite a bit, but these GoPicnic boxes absolutely blew me out of the water. There wasn’t a single thing in any of the boxes I tried that went uneaten – if I didn’t like it, Husband or Punk did. They ROCK! My favorite that I was able to try was the ExploreMunch [see, I picked a kid one], Husband’s favorite was the AnywhereBreak [it comes with beef jerky, chips and salsa – it doesn’t get much more Husband-y than that!], and Punk’s favorite was the GoPower [she liked the bagel chips a lot]. Needless to say, these didn’t last long in our house. And I now crave the Snapea Crisps all the time.

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

Win it!
GoPicnic has generously offered FIVE of my perfect readers 4 boxes each! WOW!

To enter, visit their site and tell me a box you would like to try. **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, August 20th 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.