Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all enjoy the dinners with family and friends! ... Oh, it was 3 days ago?

Crap.

My computer had some sort of computer flu and was not functioning well, so I couldn't post on Thanksgiving. So, I hope you all had a wonderful day and were able to spend some time with the people [or things] you are thankful for. I know I did!

And I am thankful the cop that stopped at the school when we were playing with our RC cars decided to be a cool cop, even though I'm pretty sure it was past sound ordinance time. Thanks, cool cop, for not impounding the RC cars.

Relish! Winner!

Okay, so I may or may not have forgotten completely about this giveaway ending last Tuesday. I'm losing my mind, alright?

The super lucky, soon-to-be well-eating winner of the year subscription to Relish! is...

Here are your random numbers:
4
Timestamp: 2009-11-29 15:19:58 UTC

Kara @ His, Hers and Ours

Woot! I know you'll love it. I've been loving it! I've e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to respond or a new winner gets picked.

Goldberger Toys Review

Goldberger Toys. If you haven’t heard of them, you are missing out. If you don’t own one of their dolls or Waterwonders, you’re missing out even more! Goldberger Toys is a company that actually stands behind their product. They are so proud of what they sell, that all of their dolls come with a lifetime guarantee – should it ever break or rip or lose an eye or whatever, they will repair it. If it can’t be repaired, they will replace it. Now, with a product that is only used by littles that destroy everything in their paths, that is a good guarantee!

Goldberger Toys has a bunch of different types of dolls for girls of all ages, and because they are awesome, Punk got to review the ‘Mommy’s Baby’. This baby is super cool! She actually reacts to what’s going on! If you throw her in the air, she giggles. If you clap your hands, she’ll sing for you. When she eats, she slurps. WOW! Definitely one of the coolest and most interactive baby dolls I’ve ever seen. I know Punk really enjoys playing with her, and that makes me happy.

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the amazing dolls or Waterwonders from Goldberger Toys by clicking here.

Also, find Goldberger Toys on Facebook and Twitter. Or, if you've already come to know the awesomeness that is Goldberger, register your doll to get future discounts and members-only offers here!

Silk Review

Do you guys know what Silk is? If not, you should become acquainted. Silk is milk, but made from soy instead of coming from a cow. It sounds much more appealing to me. :)

Silk makes a few different types of products, but I got to review their Heart Health. Silk Heart Health is different because it can help bring your cholesterol down, just by drinking it! Now that’s a great product. Pair it up with that one cereal that also lowers your cholesterol and you’ve got a good thing going.

I must first say that I am not a big milk fan. I don’t like the taste of it and will very rarely drink it by itself [only with cookies or brownies]. Silk is different! It actually is really creamy and the vanilla that I tried had a really good flavor to it. Plus, it’s lowering my cholesterol as we speak [or as I type, whatever], which is awesome. Go get yourself some Silk and be happy!

Buy it!
You can purchase any of the Silk products at pretty much any grocery store near you.

The Ultimate Cloth Review

The world is all about being green right now. But what about cleaning supplies? I’ve tried ‘green’ cleaning supplies, and everything I’ve tried has, well, been less ‘clean’ than I had hoped. But, there’s something on the market now that brings a whole new meaning to ‘green’. What’s it called? The Ultimate Cloth! No cleaning supplies, no harsh chemicals; just a cloth that you get wet. No, seriously; that’s all there is to it. Oh, but does it work? Why, yes it does! I have no idea how, but it works. All you have to do is get the cloth damp and go to it. You’ll have a cleaner house in no time! You can use it on any surface, even windows – no streaks from the Cloth. How freaking cool.



I received The Ultimate Cloth to try out and I am glad I did. I really am amazed that it works, but it does! It’s the easiest cleaning method on the planet. And because it can be used to clean anything, no more switching products and towels and whatnot while you’re cleaning, just get it done and move onto something entirely more fun, like a bubble bath! :) Plus, you can wash it in the washing machine when it gets too dirty. Easy peasy! I dig this cloth.

Buy it!
You can purchase The Ultimate Cloth by clicking here.

Vat19.com - Check It Out!

So, do you remember the review and giveaway I did with Vat 19 awhile back? They offer some of the funnest an weirdest gifts ever. You should keep them in mind for Christmas, especially if you are going to anything with a White Elephant gift exchange.

Vat 19 is having a gigantic giveaway on Cyber Monday [November 30th] and you should go enter! The giveaway is worth over $325 and includes 19 [as in Vat19] of our "curiously awesome" products, including the Operation Game Pen, World's Largest Gummy Bear, the Original Slush Mug, the Li'l DaVinci Store & Display Art Cabinet, and more! And, all you have to do to enter is sign up for their newsletter. Super simple, and some great prizes to make Christmas hilarious! Want more info? Check out their blog.

Good luck! And if you win, feel free to pass some of the hilarity onto me. :)

Divado Review

Divado. Creating fabulous hair all over the world.

Okay, so that’s not really their tagline or anything, but that’s just what they are going for – fabulous, but simple, hair-dos. And I think they’ve achieved it! Divado is a product that will help you get the diva bump in your hair, without the ratting and tangles. It is a silicone product [a ‘bump’] that you clip into your hair, and viola! The bump. [I don’t know what else to call it; I know there is a word for it but don’t ask me because I just call it the bump. Obviously.] There are two different styles – the Brigitte and the Audrey. I personally think the Brigitte is more for ponytails and pulled-back hair, and the Audrey is good for giving you the cute bump up top. But you can choose to think whatever you want! They come in three different colors – black, brown and natural.

I got to review the Divado Brigitte, in natural. Right now because I can’t afford to get my hair done, my hair is a combination of blonde [my preferred color] and reddish [my natural color]. The natural-colored Divado blended into my hair nicely, both the blonde and the red! When I covered it with my hair, you couldn’t see it at all. Now, as much as this did work on my head, I think it would work better for someone with a not-so-square shaped noggin, as it was not quite wide enough for my pumpkin head. I was able to rock it though. See?



I tried to put it in with my hair down, but it was too big for me. I will use this for pulling my hair up, for sure. I think the Audrey would be perfect if you wear your hair down a lot but want to pull the front up into a bump.

Buy it!
You can purchase the Divado by clicking here. Mention the code ‘smom20’ and receive 20% off your order! This would make a great Christmas present for those red carpet divas in your life, or for yourself to rock the holidays with great hair!

Things Remembered Review

Christmas is fast approaching. Faster than I had ever imagined it could approach. Are you ready? Do you have all of your gifts? Now, for me, I love handmade. Make me something and I’m yours. But, if you aren’t crafty or just plain don’t want to make your gifts, I think something personalized is the next best thing. Things Remembered is a company who sells a lot of really amazing products, like the Max the Make-a-Wish bear, personalized USB drives, and much, much more!

I got to review this gorgeous Custom Couture bracelet from Things Remembered, and it’s so pretty! I love it. It’s that super popular link bracelet with a circle charm, with my own special personalization on it, and a heart charm. Plus, the clasp opens up so I can take out or add on any charms I want to. I think this is a great idea! You can order one bracelet and then a bunch of charms and decide what you want for each day. I love it. And I guarantee you would love it. And your mom. And your sister. And possibly your aunt.

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

Trident Layers Review

I chew a lot of gum. I am a total sugar addict, and I think having something to chew on that has flavor really helps me not eat so much dang candy. When I saw the commercial for Trident Layers, where they are paying the people with gum rather than money and the people are ecstatic about it, it intrigued me. So of course, when the opportunity to review the gum came my way, I said heck yes!



Trident Layers is an entirely new kind of gum. With most ‘new’ gum, you’ve had the flavor before or it’s similar to something else; not this gum. There are two flavors in each kind – strawberry & citrus, and pineapple & apple. You can actually tell that there are different flavors in each piece. You taste the strawberry, then the citrus. It’s really cool! I enjoyed this gum a lot. The strawberry & citrus was definitely my favorite, but that’s not to say the pineapple & apple wasn’t good, it just wasn’t as good, in my opinion. :)

Buy it!
You can purchase Trident Layers at a grocery or convenience store near you!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
I dream big when it comes to my wish list, but honestly, I don't expect anything at all.

• Dyson vacuum
• sewing machine
• DSLR
• a penguin :)
• new TV

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
I always love the blankets my grandma makes for me.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I would love to learn how to crochet, and then make some really cute crocheted hats and scarves.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
I can't even remember. I know I loved my Snuggle bear to death, and my Bixby. I was pretty partial to things I could cuddle with.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
a Wii, anything that shows up on a commercial on the Disney channel

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
I love egg nog! And anything, really. I love to eat.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
I haven't decided yet, but since Husband just got laid off, I'm sure pretty much everything for the families will be handmade for Christmas this year.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
A Christmas Story. I die when the younger brother is in his snow gear!

9. Favorite holiday song?
Thistehair the Christmas Bear by Alabama

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
When I was little, we used to go sledding around Christmas. My dad manages a tire shop so we would get huge tubes and go to one really big hill and I loved it! I also really love Christmas lights, and we would go to our grandparents' house on Christmas Eve, have dinner, open one present, and then drive around and look at Christmas lights until all of the kids were asleep [or pretending to be, like I did a lot!] I still love just driving around looking at lights.

What Are Giveaways Without Winners?!

Thanks to Landon Street Press for sending me a copy of Bad to the Last Drop to review. The lucky winner of a copy for themselves is...

Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2009-11-14 17:43:02 UTC

brandon and jakell

And, the winner of the soap and lip moisturizer from Tropical Traditions is...

Here are your random numbers:
38
Timestamp: 2009-11-14 17:46:05 UTC

Belinda M

Congrats to you both! I've e-mailed you, and you've got 48 hours to respond. Thanks to all that entered!

Dream Dinners Review

Aren’t there days in your life where you get home and are so tired/annoyed/frustrated that you just want to get a pizza and call it dinner? We all know how healthy that ISN'T. What if you could just pull something out of the freezer, cook it, and have a fantastic meal ready in minutes? I know what you’re thinking – they are called frozen dinners and they are far from fantastic. Well kids, I’ve got news for you! There is a new frozen dinner in town that’s looking to knock your socks off. They are called Dream Dinners, and they are just that - dreamy. And they aren’t so new; they’ve been around nationwide for quite awhile now! At Dream Dinners, they have monthly meal plans of really heavenly meals [things like crispy coconut chicken, teriyaki meatballs, chicken parmagiana and more]. You go in at a scheduled time, prepare the dinners [you can prepare a month’s worth of dinners in just a few hours], and then take them home and toss them in the freezer. When you are ready [okay, a day in advance is needed to thaw], you pull them out and cook/heat and voila! Amazing dinner in minutes! Ohhh, but that sounds expensive, right? Wrong! It costs about the same to make a dinner at Dream Dinners as it would cost you to buy all of the ingredients at the store. The difference? You can get just one TBSP of something if you need just one TBSP, instead of having to buy a whole dang jar. And you only pay for one TBSP.



I got to participate in a review of the Orem location of Dream Dinners, run by two of the cutest women in Utah [Danielle and Jean]. And, I am in love. I got to make three dinners, and I chose the honey glazed chicken, manicotti and pulled pork sandwiches. Husband is pretty picky when it comes to food, and he actually really liked all three meals! I love that it is so easy – everything is ready in a bag for you, and all you have to do is cook it. No mixing, no prep work, just heat or toss it in the oven, and you are done. It was so simple for really good food! I definitely recommend this. This would be great for any household!

Buy it!
Find the closest location of Dream Dinners to you by clicking here. If you’re local and want to check out the Orem location, mention my blog and get 5% off your first order!

Relish! Review and Giveaway

Have you ever wanted there to be a place you could go, that would create your weekly meal plans for you, and give you the shopping list for all needed items? Consider it done! Relish! is this super amazing site that does just that. Each week, you can go in and create your meal plan from the dinners they have featured that week. Then, it creates a file for you to print that includes your shopping list and the recipes for your meals. Your shopping list is even marked by which recipe the item is needed for, so if you decide not to make something, you can just cross off that recipe’s items from your shopping list. Cool, right? Now, I know what you’re thinking. There is some sort of catch. [I can totally read your thoughts, yah.] Well, there is just one little one. You’re going to have some extra time on your hands. Terrible, yes? I know I hate extra time in my day [please tell me you can sense the sarcasm in that sentence].

Ladies and gents, there is no catch. With Relish!, it gives you menus and recipes and shopping lists all done for you. And you want to know my favorite thing? It’s all really easy. But at the same time, it’s not your typical easy meals! You won’t find any boring meals at Relish! My ultimate favorite so far is the honey-glazed chicken with roasted sesame asparagus. Does that sound divine or what? And it is! Plus, the best thing is that there are only 12 ingredients in the entire dish. WOW. That’s my type of meal! I love Relish! LOVE IT. And I think everyone should go there and love it, too.

Win it!
Relish! has generously offered one of my fabulous readers a one-year subscription to their site!

To enter, visit their site and then come back 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 Tuesday, November 24th 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.

Dove Review

You have all heard of Dove, yes? They make all sorts of lovely things that are good for your skin. Seriously, if you haven’t heard of them, you ought to watch TV, open a magazine, or go to the grocery store once in awhile. :) Dove recently came out with something they like to call Nutrium Moisture. Why, you ask? Well, because most body washes actually damage your skin, which leads to skin being dry, and they wanted to create something that did just the opposite – helped and hydrated your skin. Nutrium Moisture actually gets deep down into your skin and moisturizes. Want picture proof? Check this out.



Thanks to Rocket XL, I was lucky enough to be able to review all three of the new Nutrium Moisture body washes – deep moisture, sensitive skin and exfoliating. All three were great, but I really enjoyed the exfoliating the most because it really makes your skin feel superb when you get out of the shower! I definitely recommend the new Nutrium Moisture body washes.



Buy it!
You can purchase any of these body washes, or any other Dove product, at basically any store near you.

Marshall's Winner!

You guys were excited about this one, I know... The winner of the Marshall’s gift card is...

Here are your random numbers:
29
Timestamp: 2009-11-10 01:22:19 UTC

JenniferB
Congrats! I've e-mailed you, and you have 48 hours to get back to me or another lucky person gets a chance at the gift card. Thanks to all that entered!

When It Rains, It Pours

Hey everybody! Sorry about not posting for a week. Seriously, it's tough getting into a new schedule when you are so used to something entirely different. But, the job is good so I'm hoping it turns into a long-term thing!

You know how they say, when it rains, it pours? I feel like I live this over and over in my life. Sometimes it's good but mostly it's bad, which I don't understand. I live a pretty decent life and I don't screw people over and I feel like I'm on the good side of Karma. Apparently, I'm not. I was laid off in January, from a job I had given my ALL to for SIX YEARS, and was without a job until last Monday. I got a job, which I am super thankful for, but you want to know what? Karma turned around and smacked me and told me not to get my hopes up.

Husband got laid off Friday.

The rush in me getting a job was so that while we transition to my MIL's house and get everything taken care of, we could make ends meet. My new job is by no means a super great income, and is now the only income we have. I will be making about a third of what he was making, which means our income just shrunk by about 66%. I don't make enough to pay our bills. I don't make enough to pay even half of our bills. My only hope is that we can sell our house quickly, because that's the biggest payment we have.

I totally know that it could be a lot worse and that we could both be without jobs and have no home to live in, but this sucks. I feel so horribly for people that are even worse than we are now because I'm so stressed and freaking out, and I know it could be worse.

Do you know what the worst thing in the world is for someone with OCD? Screwing with their routine [like, hypothetically, a new job or a husand without a job]. If this week hasn't wrecked me for life, I don't know what will.

A Bunch of Winners!!

Yay for winning! And sorry for the late posting of the winners.

First, the winner of The Power of Women United is...

- Marybeth I. [she was the only entrant]

The winner of the Softlips winter flavors is...

Here are your random numbers:
40
Timestamp: 2009-11-08 16:59:31 UTC

Cinde

And, the winner of Rumer & Qix is...

Jingle [the only entrant with a valid first entry]

Congrats to you all! I've e-mailed each of you, and you have 48 hours to respond. You know the drill. Thanks for sticking around!