Bijoux Blitz! Day 6!

The days are quickly passing, but there is still time to get in on this great sale! Bijoux Blitz is taking place at Guy and Eva. Since December 26th they have been offering beautiful pieces at unbelievable prices. This sale will continue into the New Year and come to an end January 2nd. So you still have some time to save up to 80%!

Hurry on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop and treat yourself to something pretty! Happy New Year!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 5!

Day 5 has arrived! Bijoux Blitz is in full swing over at Guy and Eva. Now is your chance to save up to 80% off on beautiful pieces. This sale has been going on since December 26th and will continue until January 2nd. Don't miss out on these fabulous deals!

Check out the Alana... and for only $7! Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to shop today!

Purex Triple Action Laundry Detergent

With a toddler in the house laundry is a big part of our lives! This little one can sometimes manage to go through 2 to 3 outfits a day. And getting her clothes bright, white, and clean can be a challenge. Between food, grass and dirt, and art supplies.... her clothes can be quite a mess!

Purex will soon be offering a triple action product that helps keep your clothes looking bright, white, and clean. Their scientists have worked up a new formula that delivers great cleaning plus improved whitening power. This laundry detergent will be available in all your favorite varieties.

I was lucky enough to get to check this new detergent out in person. I received the Free and Clear kind, which I love since I have a little one with delicate skin. We put it to the test and I am very pleased with the results. Our whites really are looking bright!

Just like all of Purex's current products, the triple action formula has been specifically formulated to work in both traditional and high efficiency washers. So everyone can have the chance to give it a try!

While it is very important that this formula works well, one of the things that I appreciate the most with this product and all of Purex's products is its affordability. Purex really takes the consumer into account when placing these items on shelves and makes sure that they are reasonably priced. I would highly recommend you check it out.

Reindeer Food

Did you make reindeer food? This was our first year doing it. We took oats and the sugar sprinkles and mixed them all together. Then on Christmas Eve we went out in the yard and sprinkled it everywhere. This way the reindeer can see the sparkles and won't miss your house. It worked really well because Santa arrived right away!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 4!

Today is the 4th day of Guy And Eva's Bijoux Blitz! This event is taking place from December 26th through January 2, 2012. That's an entire week of amazing sales where you can save up to 80% off on gorgeous jewelry.  They have everything from bracelets to necklaces to earrings.

Head on over to www.GuyandEva.com/shop to see the awesome deals! I adore the Donatella.

Eden Fantasys Review

I think that one of the most challenging aspects of being a parent is playing two roles. Sometimes it's really hard for me to be both a mom and a wife, and usually the role that gets forgotten is being a wife. My husband and I communicate all day, but it's usually us talking about our daughter. We rarely get out for dinner just the two of us. And by the time our little one goes to bed I am crawling into my own bed because I'm exhausted.

Eden Fantasys is a great place to browse for items that can help you bring a little spark back into your relationship. Whether you are looking for something cute and flirty to wear or some relaxing massage oils, you can find a wide variety of items on their site. They even carry a bunch of beauty products with everything from bath and shower products to makeup. Sometimes just touching yourself up can make you feel great!

With Valentine's Day around the corner, now is the perfect time to look around their site and see if you can find something special.

Bijoux Blitz! Day 3!

Today is the third day of Bijoux Blitz over at Guy and Eva. If you've missed the first two days have no fear. There are some hot items available today at up to 80% off! Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to see some beautiful pieces at unbeatable prices!

This sale will be going on until January 2, 2012... so be sure to check back each day to see what's new.

The Lull

After over a month of preparing... Christmas is over. This year was the most exciting yet! Our little one is 2 and a half and really got into it this year. She knew who Santa was and "wrote"  him a letter, visited him at Santa Land, and looked for his sneaky little elf every day. Her face lit up Christmas morning as she peaked from the staircase to see if the big man had left any goodies under the tree!

This year the hot toys in our house were Buzz Light Year and Woody figures and Rock N Roll Elmo. For me, it's my new iPhone! Yes, I have made the leap into the world of Smart Phones. I love being able to check my e-mail and facebook whenever and wherever I want. I just need to make sure it doesn't become like an extra limb. And as for my husband, he is enjoying a new watch and looking forward to going to a hockey game that he got tickets to. A great Christmas for all!

But the best part was being with our family. This year we were so lucky to have my grandparents with us for the whole weekend. Seeing my daughter with her great grandparents was priceless!

What were the hot items in your house for you and your kids?

Bijoux Blitz! Day 2!

Guy and Eva is on Day 2 of their Bijoux Blitz sale! Remember, you can save up to 80% on select pieces of jewelry.  Here is what is being offered today:

Gorgeous pieces at unbeatable prices! Stop in today at www.guyandeve.com/shop to see the selection! This sale will continue all the way until January 2, 2012!

Bijoux Blitz!

Guy and Eva is having a HUGE sale! You can save up to 80% off the jewelry listed in their Bijoux Blitz sale.

Here are the great pieces offered today!

This event will be going on from today, December 26th, through January 2, 2012! You have to head over to www.GuyandEva.com/shop today to check out all the gorgeous pieces that are available!

This is one sale you don't want to miss!

Gift Cards Rock!

The holidays are upon us! Christmas is mere days away and the big questions is.... are you done shopping? Well, the good news is that if you're not there is still plenty of time to give a great gift by picking up a gift card. This year I asked for several different kinds of gift cards for clothing stores, restaurants, and salons. They are exactly what I want!

My mom always asks me why I ask for gift cards when it's basically like giving money. But to me it's really not. If you give me cash I am most likely going to use it on gas or a quick stop at the grocery store. The likelihood that I will put it aside and use it on something I really want is pretty unlikely. But if you give me a gift card to one of my favorite places I have no choice but to use it there! My mother-in-law gives my husband and I gift cards to restaurants all the time. This way we have to use them on ourselves getting out for a night!

But for me one of the best parts of giving a a gift is the packaging. I love to pick out special paper and decorate a gift with a great big bow. So what my family loves to do is package our gift cards up in boxes. This way you could never guess that a gift card was inside, the person receiving gets the joy of opening a gift, and the person giving gets to tie it up pretty in ribbons and bows!

And... the thrill of a gift card keeps giving long after it's been opened! You get the excitement at the moment and you get to experience it all over again when you pick out just what you want and then use your gift card to pay. I love that feeling of not having to spend any of my own money while still getting just what I want.

I love giving and receiving gift cards for all kinds of occasions and to all kinds of family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and others. They are easy and convenient. I can pick up a variety of gift cards in one spot at my local grocery store. And have you seen the deals this holiday season? Some places are giving you a gift card for purchasing one for someone else! Can't beat it!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates Review

The holidays are literally around the corner! If you are anything like me you have a few gifts left to purchase. I tend to leave the "tough" ones to the end, and then some others always come up last minute. And once I am done with the majority of my shopping it's like my brain shuts down and those last few gifts become impossible. Well, now I have an answer that will be sure to please.

I recently had the opportunity to check out Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates. I am a big chocolate lover, so I was super excited. When the box arrived on my door step I was shocked by the selection that had been sent my way! Inside I found several samples, including some of their extra dark truffles and no sugar added chocolate bars. Being the traditionalist that I am, I was most excited to dive into their signature truffles.

Judith Raye Art Review and Giveaway

Judith Raye has a slogan at the top of her website; Unique, affordable art that brings joy and a smile to all. This statement is incredibly true of this very talented artist. Judith Raye began her journey into art by painting for her granddaughter and quickly realized her passion and a way to escape the business of life and find a sense calm in her work.

Her Inspired by Caden Collection offers bright colors and whimsical characters that are sure to bring a smile to any child's face. From the cute and fluffy animals to the beautiful dancing ballerina, there is something for every little boy or girl.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

I hope you are enjoying this wonderful holiday season! We have been busy spending time with family and friends and trying to make the most of the season. While I will still be around with reviews, giveaways, and general ramblings of a busy momma... I will be slowing down. I want to make sure I enjoy every moment with my little one and my family, as time goes way too fast!

Scrolls from Santa Review

The magic of Christmas truly comes alive in the eyes of a child. I have always been a bog fan of the holiday season, but it has taken on a whole new meaning now that I have a child of my own. To see the excitement and joy in her eyes just makes me melt.

This year things have gotten really exciting with her acknowledgement of Santa. She is a huge fan of the big guy and wants to talk about him and her list every day. It also helps that I can use the "Santa is watching" trick to keep her on the "nice list." So when I saw this awesome idea on Tomoson I crossed my fingers and toes that I would be selected to get a Scroll from Santa.

Snuggle Exhilarations® White Lilac & Spring Flowers Review

I get really excited about laundry products. Is that weird? As much as I don't enjoy doing laundry, I love fresh,c lean clothes straight from the dryer! I try to fold my clothes while they are still warm and it relaxes me. And if there is a lovely, fresh scent to go along with it then I am really in heaven!

So when I was offered the opportunity to check out the new Snuggle Exhilarations® While Lilac & Spring Flowers fabric softener I was excited. It arrived this week and there is never a shortage of laundry at my house, so I put it right to the test.

It only took a small amount of fabric softener for my pretty good size load. After it was done drying I reached in and pulled out a towel and took a big sniff. Ahhh, you really could smell the flowers! I loved that the scent was not overwhelming, but it was present.

The next morning I went into my closet and I could very faintly smell it again! It had lingered on my clothes long enough that I could still smell it the next day. I love that! Fresh smelling laundry is the best! And my clothes and towels felt soft and looked great. I was pleased with the product!

Disclaimer - I was provided with a free sample of the product by smiley360.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nonni's Gingerbread Almond Biscotti Review

Nonni’s Biscotti grew out of true Italian tradition. In the little town of Lucca, Italy along narrow cobbled lanes surrounded by elegant piazzas, our Nonni (an endearing term for Grandma) made biscotti to share with family and friends. When Nonni came to America, almost a century ago, she brought the family recipe with her.

To this day, the same family recipe using real eggs, butter and gourmet bittersweet chocolate is still used to give our biscotti a light, crunchy texture that is delicately sweet. Our devotion to quality ingredients has been the foundation for the growth and continued success of the company, and the key reason Nonni’s Biscotti is the number one selling biscotti in the country.

Wordless Wednesday!

Wholesale Costume Club Review

Dressing up is not a once a year thing in our house. We have a huge dress up box with all kinds of random pieces of old jewelry, skirts, hats, princess dresses, and more. So I am always on the lookout for fun things to add to my daughter's dress up box. Wholesale Costume Club is the perfect place to go!

My daughter just recently got really into pirates. I think it's because she watches Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney. But she walks around saying yo ho ho! So I wanted to get her a fun pirate costume that she could use in her box. And it's something different than the typical princess dresses and tea party hats that she has in there!

Do you like her "Arrrrr" face?

Kidorable: New Dragon Knight Collection and Special Offer!

Kidorable is one of my very favorite companies. I adore that they were able to take functional and fun and make it interchangeable with their products. If you're not familiar with them you really must visit their website! They make practical items (like raincoats, rain boots, umbrellas, hats, gloves, and more) but design them in such a way that they transform into fun themed items!

I have several Kidorable products for my daughter so I can safely say that these items are high quality and built to last! She wears her rain boots even when it's not raining! And they offer such a wide variety of themes that there is something for every boy and girl out there. But in case their variety wasn't wide enough... they have introduced an all new collection!

My Little Ballerina!

My little one has started doing dance classes through our town recreation program. We wanted to test it out and see if it would be worth signing her up at a dance school next fall. I think it will be... she loves it!

CakeSpy Contest!

Calling all sweet teeth!  Jessie Oleson (a.k.a. sweet treats blogger extraordinaire CakeSpy) and Sasquatch Books have teamed up to offer a lucky winner a trip for two to CakeSpy headquarters in Seattle! Here's a fun contest for all who delight in baked goodies, fantastic prizes, and a creative kitchen challenge.

CakeSpy is "accepting applications" for dessert detectives in the So You Wanna Be a CakeSpy? Contest. To enter the contest, submit a color photo of your own decadent, sugar-filled dessert and a brief description.  The one that strikes Jessie's fancy will win a trip for two to Seattle and visit to one of her favorite bakeries.  Other prizes include original signed CakeSpy artwork, CakeSpy goodies, and signed copies of Jessie's new book CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life.

I'm not much of a baker... my desserts are typically from the box. But Jessie's book looks really fun! And this contest sounds like a great opportunity. If you have any fun desserts that you're going to enter, be sure to leave a link for me to check it out. Maybe I will venture out of my instant cake mix world and try to mix up something spectacular.

For full information and details, please visit So You Wanna be a CakeSpy? Contest.

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Review

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD ON 

BLU-RAY™ AND DVD 

The Fourth Film In The Popular SPY KIDS Film Franchise, 

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is now available!

The action packed franchise is back…with the next generation of Spy Kids!  Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all: married to a famous spy-hunting television reporter (Joel McHale), with a new baby and intelligent twin step kids, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook).  When the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) disrupts her domestic bliss—threatening to take over the planet—Marissa comes out of retirement as a top secret agent.  With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action!  With a little help from some familiar Spy Kids friends, Carmen (Alexa Vega), Juni (Daryl Sabara), their faithful dog Argonaut (Ricky Gervais) and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world! 

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Special Edition

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

Available on Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack, DVD and Movie Download

My daughter adores Belle. She is by far the favorite princess in her world, and she is frequently requesting that we watch Beauty and the Beast. So when I learned that they were releasing this Special Edition of the holiday movie inspired by her favorite Disney classic I knew this was a must have for our home!

Holiday Gift Guide: Dora the Explorer: Celebrate with Dora DVD Review

Dora the Explorer: Celebrate with Dora

Three DVD Box Set

I can see this at the top of many little one's lists this year! With a two year old in my house I know how popular Dora is. My daughter is a huge fan and gets so excited when we get to watch it. This box set is FULL of some of the best episodes all in one place, perfect for gift giving this holiday season!

Inside this box set you will find 3 DVD's; Dora's Christmas, Dora's Halloween, and Dora's Big Birthday Adventure.  Each disc has a funfilled celebration themed episode plus 3 more episodes (Dora's Big Birthday only has three extra episodes because the birthday episode is double length). This provides hours of fun with your favorite characters.

Holiday Gift Guide: Somersault Snacks Review

Somersaults are the result of our quest to create healthy, tasty snacks for people who want more than just empty nutrition. What followed was a philosophy and lifestyle that adds joy and delicious goodness to your everyday life. We invite you to share in the unexpected pleasures that Somersaults offer, with crunch, zing and a little zest for adventure!


With a toddler at home I am always on the look out for new snacks that are healthy and delicious. I had never heard of Somersault Snacks, but when I looked into what they offered I was intrigued.

My Memories Review and Giveaway

I love to scrapbook! There is something so special about taking your precious memories and creating a book that you can share with friends and family. And since I take a ton of pictures, it's important for me to organize them and keep up with them. But scrapbooking takes a tons of time. From cropping and mounting to digging through your supplies, it could be hours before you finish one event. So when I was offered the chance to try out My Memories I was intrigued.

My Memories is a scrapbooking software that allows you to create digital scrapbooks. I love the idea of this because it seems like a time saver and I can share my scrapbooks with family and friends who live far away.

Holiday Gift Guide: Ethical Ocean Review

Our purchasing decisions affect our society and the planet.

It’s up to each of us to know what we are buying and why—and how each product we spend our dollars on impacts other people, animals, and the environment.

But that doesn’t mean we have to know everything. We can share our knowledge, and ideas, to help one another choose wisely. That’s what Ethical Ocean is all about.

Ethical Ocean takes only the best products that meet one of their criteria - Good for People, Good for Animals, or Good for the Environment. They then offer all of these products in one spot for convenient and ethical shopping. They have such a wide variety of items that you can shop for everyone on your list. From clothing and shoes to electronics, food, and toys... it's all there. And each product offers an explanation of what it is and why it matters.

Holiday Gift Guide: Zumba Fitness 2 Review

Featuring hot new music tracks, electrifying choreography, new venues and double the number of dance styles from the original video game, the Zumba® Fitness 2video game invites players to party their way into shape with a fun and proven program. Get moving with amazing Zumba® presenters, Beto, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant as they guide you through each exhilarating routine, ranging from Merengue and Hip-Hop to Bollywood and Latin Pop. For the first time, players can customize their own class with their favorite routines and track calories burned.  Whether playing in Single Song, Full Class or multiplayer mode with support for up to four dancers, players will have a blast with this unique dance-fitness experience that shapes, tones and transforms their bodies, and makes them forget they’re even exercising.

A New Spin on the Cookie Exchange: Host a Chex Party Mix-Change!

The holidays are coming and I am always looking for tasty treats to serve my guests. But lets face it... the holidays are a busy time, and finding the time to create the perfect snack can be tough. So Chex Party Mix might just be the perfect answer! You can create a tasty treat with minimal ingredients and minimal time.

This past weekend we had a Chex Party Mix Party! MyBlogSpark provided me with a great party package to get me started.  It included 2 boxes of Chex Cereal, 5 yummy recipes, 10 take-out containers to share my party mix, and a $20 gift card to get more ingredients!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Gift Guide: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Video Game Review

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS™: CHIPWRECKED VIDEO GAME NOW AVAILABLE ON KINECT FOR XBOX 360, Wii AND NINTENDO DS!

Dance Along with Your Favorite Chipmunks and Chipettes in this Exciting Musical Adventure

The game is based on the forthcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked movie in theaters December 16th, which finds the trio vacationing aboard a luxury cruise liner until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. The Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked video game continues the story with an around-the-world journey that has the ‘Munks visiting six tropical locations inspired by the movie. While dancing as the playable Chipmunks or The Chipettes, players perform more than 50 different dance moves to excite the crowd while rocking out to 30 of the greatest Chipmunk tunes that all generations can enjoy together.

The first thing I need to say about this game is that I love the song choices! There are 30 amazing song choices that include hits like La Bamba, Life is a Highway, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Crocodile Rock, Love Shack... oh, I could go on!

Holiday Gift Guide: J.A.S.F. Review

Here's a great gift idea for the teen or guy in your life! I didn't feel qualified to write this review, so I used my expert video game reviewer.... my husband. Here is what he had to say about Jane's Advanced Strike Fighters:

I'm a big fan of flight simulator video games.  There's nothing like being in a dogfight with an enemy jet, hearing that radar lock on before launching your rockets and watching the enemy blowup.  However, now that I'm a dad, I don't have time to play the traditional flight sims.  There are too many options and it takes too long to get into a mission and play it through.