Skin MD Natural Review and Giveaway

Am I the only one who feels like the winter is dragging on? It has been a bitter, bitter cold winter with lots of snow. We had a tease of one gorgeous day and now we are back to being frigid. Not to mention how frequently we are washing our hands with a little one in the house. Winter is flu season!

My husband and I both suffer during these long months from dry skin. My husband has it the worst. His hands get cracked and chapped and look so painful. He's really good about putting on lotion every night and morning, but he often complains about how flowery or fragrant my lotions are. So when I was offered the opportunity to review Skin MD Natural I knew I should go for it and let my husband give it a spin.

Skin MD Natural is the lotion goes on easily, absorbs fast and has no greasy

feel at all. It's unique formulation and natural ingredients makes this

shielding lotion far superior to any convention skin cream. Feel as soft a

silk with Skin MD Natural, that's the "wow" factor when you try it. You feel

the results but you don't feel the lotion.

My husband and I were both very impressed. I love how it feels going on and how quickly it's absorbed. You only need to use a small amount to cover your hands. I don't like the lingering greasy feeling left by some of my lotions. And the best part was that it lasted. My hands felt moisturized for hours and my husband was noticing a difference in just a couple of days.  He also liked that it doesn't smell like anything. If you really really try to smell it you can get almost a subtle minty scent, but you really have to put your hands up to your nose and inhale hard... haha.

Skin MD Natural is also an eco friendly skin care option. Our product is

made in the US using solar power energy. Our lotion is never tested on

animals and contains no animal ingredients making it both 

vegan and cruelty free.

You can learn more about Skin MD Natural on their site.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will a full size bottle of Skin MD Natural.

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Simply tell me you want to win!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)
6. Like Skin MD Natural on Facebook
7. Follow Skin MD Natural on twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway ends on April 14, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

PureAyre Review and Giveaway

Eliminate Foul Odors Instantly with PureAyre
The All Natural Odor Eliminator Spray

If you're looking for an odor eliminator spray that really works, without exposing you or your family to risky chemicals, choose the healthy alternative. Choose PureAyre. PureAyre is the strongest, most effective odor eliminator you can buy, and it's completely safe.

I recently had the opportunity to try PureAyre. If there is one thing I love to do it's freshen up my house. The windows have been closed for months and that always gives me the hebby geebys. So I often find myself spraying air freshener to try and perk the place up. But then I get the play room and the baby's room and I stop. I don't like the idea of the fragrances and chemicals falling onto the couch that she rubs her face into, or the floor that she crawls all over, or the crib mattress that she sleeps on. 

Of all the rooms in the house those are the two that probably need freshening the most! Diapers, drool, all kinds of fun baby stuff. So I was really excited to learn about PureAyre and how safe it is. I was also interested because it says it not only eliminates odors, but it also removes stains. Oh how I wish you could see my couch. Ok, no I don't. It's kinda gross.

So when my PureAyre arrived I put it to the test and sprayed down my couches and the carpet. I loved that it didn't have an overwhelming scent that was purely masking odors.  I used it on spray to go over the entire room and then switched to stream to clean some lovely stains from the couch. I was really impressed with how well it worked on the stains. I also felt like the room was fresher!

PureAyre is the only food-grade odor eliminator available. That means that PureAyre is the safest and surest way to get rid of disgusting smells, even around food, and on people and pets. You can control the smells in your environment while being friendly to your environment. PureAyre is made from plant-derived enzymes, purified water and essential oils. It eliminates odors and cleans the air so you can breathe easier. Get PureAyre now.

While there are many things I love about PureAyre my favorite by far is that it's safe. I finally have a product I can feel confident using on my babies belongings and in her room!

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win a  14oz and a 4oz bottle of PureAyre!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Simply tell me you want to win!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)
6. Like Pure Ayre on Facebook
7. Follow PureAyre on twitter

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on April 13, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Yo Momma So Extraordinary: A Treasury of Yo Momma Compliments - Book Review

I have never been a fan of the yo momma jokes. I have always found them to be cruel and offensive. I have also never understood the point of them. You want to hurt someone else's feelings by making a bad joke about one of the most important people in their lives? Not cool.

So when I heard about a new book from Quirk, entitles Yo Momma So Extraordinary: A Treasury of Yo Momma Compliments, I was interested to check it out. A new twist on some bad jokes.... sweet yo momma sayings! This book is full of yo momma compliments that should take the place of those horrible offensive jokes.

Here are a couple of my favorites:
"Yo Momma so wild, her Tupperware parties go until question mark."
"Yo Momma so considerate she always washes the whites separately even though we all know you can mix them together."

This book would make the perfect mother's day gift for yo momma! It's filled with funny photographs of moms and their boys (or should I say men) and has a cheesy, heartwarming feel to it. Everything in the book is bright and fun. I think it's great for the cool guy who doesn't like to get mushy, but wants to show his mom how much he cares. And she can get a chuckle out of it, too!

Gummy Lump Review and Giveaway

Gummy Lump is one of my favorite sites to browse. They have an amazing selection of the hottest and best toys!  The website is bright and cheery and very well organized. It's easy to shop by age, specific categories, or by manufacturer. I typically jump right to their selection of Melissa & Doug toys because my daughter loves their toys and is at the perfect age for their First Play Baby and Toddler Toys.

Gummy Lump was kind enough to send me one of the fabulous products that they carry, the Melissa and Doug First Play Pretty Purse Fill and Spill. My daughter has recently turned into a little mini me. Whatever I do she wants to do. Whatever I wear she wants to wear. So I knew this purse would be a huge hit because it came with several of her favorite things... keys, a cell phone, and pretend money.

My daughter has a blast with this First Purse Soft Toy! She fills her purse up with all her important things, carries it around the house, takes important phone calls. She has even run to grab it when we are leaving the house! This toy is very well made and will last for many years. It is intended for ages 18 months and up, and I am sure that my daughter won't lose interest in it any time soon!

I would recommend you check out Gummy Lump to see their fantastic selection. They have great prices and they offer free shipping on orders over $75.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win their own Melissa and Doug Fill and Spill Purse from Gummy Lump!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Check  out Gummy Lump and tell me another item you love that they carry!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)
6. Follow Gummy Lump on twitter
7. Like Gummy Lump on Facebook 
8. Sign up for Gummy Lump's Newsletter
9. Become a Gummy Lump Affiliate (5 extra entries) 
10. Follow Gummy Lumps Blog 


*Any household that has won a giveaway from GummyLump.com in the past 90 days is not eligible for this giveaway. Should an ineligible entrant be chosen as the winner, all rights to the prize will be considered forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on April 11, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Winners!!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Playtex and Apothica Giveaways!!

Apothica - #62 GabbieLowe
Playtex -  #123 Sweet Panda

Congratulations to our winners! E-mail notifications have been sent. The winners will have 48 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Purex Complete with Zout - Review

Purex has come out with another exciting product that will make your life easier. I think one of my least favorite jobs is doing the laundry. People always told me that my laundry piles would grow after having a baby. Wow, were they right. I find myself with mountains of laundry every week. I just don't understand it, I do a load and it reappears.

While I may not have the magical powers to make my laundry loads disappear, I do have Purex to help me cut down the time I spend in my little laundry room. Purex Complete with Zout comes in Fresh Morning Burst fragrance or Free and Clear (which is fragrance free and hypoallergenic). My sample came in the Fresh Morning Burst scent and it provides a subtle scent of freshness, just the way you would want your clean laundry to smell... ahh!

So what is Purex Complete with Zout? Well, it's an amazing stain fighting detergent. It consists of three powerful stain fighting enzymes that target different types of stains. Who knew there was so much science behind stains?

With a toddler I find a ton of stains. Aside from the ones I notice, like when she has her dinner all over the front of her, I often find mystery stains when it comes to laundry time. By using Purex Complete with Zout the guess work is taken out and I can treat all my stains with one easy to use detergent!  I can simply add the detergent to my wash, or i can put it directly on my stain for even the toughest stains.  Check it out at your local major retailer!

Carmex Moisture Plus Orange Flavored Lip Balm - Review

I am a full on chap stick, lip balm, lip gloss junkie! I have several in my purse, desk, car, and always one in my pocket. Not only do I love how lip balm feels on my lips, but I want to protect my lips. This was a rough winter and I am happy to say that my lips have survived thanks to Carmex. They offer a variety of lip products that protect, moisturize, soften, glisten... whatever you need they have it!

I was really excited to learn about a new flavor from Carmex, The Carmex Moisture Plus™ orange flavored lip balm. I love orange. I think it's a very yummy flavor, so I was definitely interested in giving it a try. When my sample arrived I was so anxious to give it a smell and a try. Mmm, to me it smelled like an orange creamsicle with a hint of that chap stick scent that always makes me feel like it's working! Ok, not the best description... you gotta smell it to know it, but it smelled great!

When I applied it I had the fantastic Carmex tingle. Yes, that's what I call it. It's when it oozes into your lips moisturizing, cooling, working! I love it. It went on smooth, felt great, and smelled yummy. You can't beat it, right?

Check out Carmex at your local major retailer and keep your eyes out for new flavors!

Wordless Wednesday

On Friday we went to the park and played in 70 degree weather.

Today we have about 3 inches of snow and another 5 coming.....

News from bareMinerals!

I am really excited to share some news with you! BareMinerals is launching a new skincare line! 

Experience our revolutionary new skincare line powered by our proprietary miracle ingredient RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex-clinically proven to deliver brighter, younger-looking skin and that famous bareMinerals Naturally Luminous glow.

This line will consist of 8 fabulous products. Take a look at their website and leave me a comment here letting me know which products you are most excited to try! I myself am very excited about the moisturizer. I have very dry skin and when I get out of the shower my face feels very tight.

Extraordinary Volunteers!

This National Volunteer's Week I want to nominate my mom. For as long as I can remember my parents have instilled in us the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. I have spent hours upon hours helping my parents set up and clean up for different events, main refreshment stands, selling tickets, I've even dressed up as a scarecrow for a local harvest festival.

As a kid this was just my norm. We were at every event and my parents were often busy for weeks before helping to get ready. Now that I'm an adult and have my own job and my own family I can truly see what a sacrifice they made. Whether they were building a playground, picking up garbage on rid litter day, chairing the Harvest Festival, selling flowers with the fire department, or selling 50/50's to raise money for childhood illnesses it seemed like every month they were doing something.

My parents and their co-chairs at a very rainy Harvest Festival

So as you can see, this was very often a family affair. So why would I nominate my mom and not my dad? Believe me, he is just as deserving taking part in all of those activities as well as being a volunteer fireman. But the difference is that over the past years my father has been honored by the community on multiple occasions for his volunteer efforts, even becoming "Volunteer of the Year." But what fails to be mentioned is his silent yet strong supporter. My mom has stood by his side through every event. She has stayed up till all hours of the night putting her artistic talents to work making banners and signs.

In my eyes my mother is already a winner. She has made a difference in her community and that's all she ever wanted out of her work. But she has also made a difference in my life. I am no where near the volunteer that she was and still is, but I am thrilled when she asks me to help her out or when an opportunity arises in my own community to put my life lessons to work. I can only hope that as the years go by and my children grow that I can increase my time and efforts in the community and lead by example for my own children.

Do you know a special volunteer who deserves some recognition?  Do you know someone who always puts others first?  Do you know someone who will volunteer to clean up a the end of an event and not complain?  Do you know a volunteer who will be the first to arrive and last to leave a school function, church service, awards ceremony, etc?  If so, we want to hear about this special volunteer.  


Carolina Pad and VolunteerSpot.com have teamed together to make National Volunteer Week special for those people who do the dirty work and don’t get the recognition they deserve.  We would like to hear from YOU about your special volunteer!  We are looking for bloggers to write an original post about a special someone you know who makes a difference in your life and community and promote the CarolinaPad/VolunteerSpot giveaway.  We would love to hear a teacher's story about their room mom, a Room Mom’s story about the parent that never fails to step up, or a story about a coach or Scout Leader that inspires her kids.


VolunteerSpot is a FREE online resource for volunteers to organize events, a soccer season, church fundraiser and many, many more other volunteer events. VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy for anyone to schedule and coordinate parent volunteers  -- say goodbye to reply all email and clipboard sign up sheets this spring!


Click the image to enter this exciting contest! 
Contest is open from March 21 - April 1

Week 11 Weight Loss

Wow, these past 11 weeks have been a roller coaster. Literally. Up and down and up and down. Well, I am happy to say that this week things seem to be back on track! So what am I doing differently? Not all that much.

This past week I definitely cut back on the junk I was eating. I decided to eat an apple every day with my lunch to try and fill myself up and not snack as much. It worked to a certain extent. I did still find myself eating the occasional cookie, but I have to give myself some credit for not going overboard the cookie count like the last couple of weeks. I've also been on a huge fish kick lately, and I think having fish for dinner a couple of nights a week is a good thing.

This weekend I went out to lunch with my sister and my husband. I was SO good. I passed on the alcohol and had water, and I also ordered grilled salmon over a salad. Yay me! Then dessert time came and I didn't have the will power. Ugh, I ordered Peanut Butter Silk Pie. IT was so good! I didn't finish it though... I guess that helps a little.

The weather had been beautiful this week! Little Miss and I got out several times for walks. We also went to the park which is a workout in itself... up, down, all around... chasing the little one. So while I wasn't at a gym or doing an exercise video, at least I did get some exercise.

All these little efforts did seem to pay off! I hope I can keep it up for the next few weeks. Though we seem to be back to winter today with SNOW! Seriously? It's spring!

Starting Weight: 177.2

Week 1: 174.8

Week 2: 175

Week 3: 173.4

Week 4: 175

Week 5: 174.4

Week 6: 174

Week 7: 173.4

Week 8: 175.8

Week 9: 175.8

Week 10: 175.8

Week 11: 174.2

Weekly Gain/Loss: -1.6

Total Gain/Loss: -3

 Goal: 165 by April 30th

So how did you do? Anything really challenging happen this week? Any great tips or recipes?

LifeForms App for iPad - Review

When I first got my iPad I pretty much settled on the fact that it could never replace my computer. It was a really cool device and I loved the apps I could get to play games, watch movies, and read books. This was purely going to be for entrainment for me. But as time passed and I became more and more familiar with what the iPad could really do for me, I wanted to try and incorporate it more into my every day life and my job.

As many of you know I am a technology coordinator at a school for children with multiple disabilities. I spend a lot of time writing reports! Whether it's a quick informal note that I need to keep on file or a more detailed take on a student assessment. I often find myself needing to take some quick notes at a moments notice while observing in the classroom. My past process was to jot my notes down on my notepad and then hustle it back to my office to type them into my computer while they were fresh.

How I function at my job has now changed with a new app called LifeForms. Here is a little bit about the app from it's recent press release:
LifeForms replaces the old process of having to download PDFs, print them, find the information you need, fill out by hand, scan the completed form, then email or fax it back to the sender. LifeForms makes the process easy and almost fun. Never dig around looking for information to put on a form again, feel secure that your essential information will be literally at your fingertips whenever you need it and with tap place it on any PDF form.

Now I can simply open a standard PDF form that I use for reports, fill it out, and dropbox it to my work computer or e-mail myself or another teacher. Saving me time, energy, and paper! But that's not all. LifeForms also has a really cool feature:
As great as it is to be able to finally fill out a PDF form without the hassles we all experienced before, the most compelling feature is The Word List. The Word List automatically saves your entries so that you can use them on the next form, just tap and drag the information onto the form, send it and you're done! If you type in a phrase or sign your signature in LifeForms, you’ll never have to re-enter that data again; LifeForms keeps it for you to use over and over again, simplifying one the most painful processes of a form-filled world. Folders provide the ease of organizing your documents for quick resending or revising.

This is a great app that can serve you in many ways. When I saw the price ($9.99) I thought it was reasonable, but I am used to purchasing communication apps and other special education apps that can run $39.99 - $189.99. When I was talking to someone else about this app they were surprised by the price and felt it was high. I guess your view would depend on your needs and how often you would use it. You can check it out on iTunes.

Hannah Montana Forever: Final Season - Review

Hannah Montana Forever: Final season was released on March 8th! This 2 disc DVD set features all 13 of the final episodes, exclusive alternate ending to the series finale, series retrospect, cast goodbyes, and an all new memory book! This is a great set to complete your collection or to relive the final season over and over.

I was introduced to this fun Disney series when it first began, almost 5 years ago. I was babysitting for two sisters who were about 8 and 10. I have never seen two girls get so excited over a show. I was really interested to take a look and see what all the hype was about. That hype continued to grow as Hannah Montana became a household name. This young girl and her adventures living a double life became a hit with kids ages 6-11.

What I liked most about this show was how they touched on real life issues and promoted important positive life lessons. It's a show that promotes inner beauty, following yoru dreams, helping your friends, and more. It's a great way to give your preteens positive messages in a fun way. Disney is famous for wholesome family fun, and Hannah Montana is no exception to that. It's a show that kids will love and parents won't mind pulling a chair up as well.

6.2 million viewers enjoyed the final episode that aired in January of 2011. But now you can enjoy it whenever you want with the complete final season!

Happy Easter Store Review and Giveaway!

I was recently given the wonderful opportunity to review a product from a new site called Happy Easter Store. This site is in the family with Red Envelope. Red Envelope has often been my go-to-site for gifts because of their unique and affordable selection of items. Their Easter Gifts are no exception. It felt like spring just browsing through their beautiful and bright floral arrangements and unique outdoor decor. And you certainly can't go wrong with their personalized items. They have everything from jewelry to monogrammed slippers. They have something for everyone in the family!

So since I know Red Envelope is an amazing company I was happy to take a look at the Happy Easter Store Easter gifts. Let me just say that for a site dedicated to one holiday they have a lot to offer! I thought it would be easy to browse through a few items and make my selection, but it was tough to decide amongst so many great things!

Their section for gifts for kids is filled with Easter baskets, candy, toys, and clothes. I just loved their personalized Sesame street pails. But their selection doesn't stop at gifts for kids or Easter baskets. They have an incredible selection of snacks and chocolates that looked good enough to eat the picture. This is the section that really won me over once I saw the chocolate covered strawberries. They are a true indulgence for me!

I settled on the Chocolates and 12 Swizzled Berries and I am so glad I did! The box arrived just a couple of days later. I was impressed with the care in packaging. Everything was well packed to protect the delicate berries and kept cool with an ice pack. When I opened the berries up I was amazed to see that they arrived in perfect condition and were huge! I was excited that we were having family over and could share the berries.

They tasted as good as they looked. Everyone was happy with the variety of milk, dark, and white chocolate because everyone got what they wanted.  They were a definite crowd pleaser. The berries also came with a box of 8 chocolates that my husband and I devoured ourselves. They came with a guide so we knew exactly what each piece was and they were heavenly!

Red Envelope is a fantastic place to shop for any type of gift. And with the wide variety of shops, such as the Happy Easter Store, associated with them you are always sure to find exactly what you're looking for!

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win any one item (up to $50 in value) from the Happy Easter Store!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: "Like" Red Envelope and Personal Creations on Facebook. Then simply post on their wall the item you would love to win. Then come back here and tell me you did so in a comment!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on March 31, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Wordless Wednesday

Talk about imitation.... I hope she likes to do what Daddy does when she's older!

Week 10 Weight Loss

This whole diet thing is really becoming frustrating. But I have no one to be frustrated with but myself. Two weeks ago I really but a kink in my plan. I gained over two points in one short week. Did you ever notice how easy it is to put it on and how incredibly hard it is to take it off?

Last week I did weigh in but never got the chance to do my post. Life has just been crazy. There's nothing really "going on." My kitchen is done, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. It's just the every day stuff that is draining me. But last week I had stayed exactly where I was. I maintained to the ounce.

This week I have been trying to be much more conscious of what I'm eating. But that's just it, I am aware that what I'm eating is bad! When I started this journey I basically stocked the house with healthy food and eliminated the junk. Since then the junk has come back in. A major downfall this week.... Girl Scout Cookies. I can't resist them! Ugh!

So in short, I haven't been exercising much and my eating has barely improved. And here I sit with a third week at the EXACT SAME WEIGHT! How is that even possible? In the words of my husband, "you haven't been exercising and you're not eating much better, so I would view this as a tiny victory." I guess he's right. At least I'm not gaining.

I need spring! I need to get outside with my little girl and go for walks and run around. I need to work harder.

Starting Weight: 177.2

Week 1: 174.8

Week 2: 175

Week 3: 173.4

Week 4: 175

Week 5: 174.4

Week 6: 174

Week 7: 173.4

Week 8: 175.8

Week 9: 175.8

Week 10: 175.8

Weekly Gain/Loss: 0

Total Gain/Loss: -1.4

First Goal: 165 by March 31st 

My goal is now totally unreachable. Sigh. So I'm going to push it back by a month.

Second Goal: 165 by April 30th

Winners!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Lilla Rose Flexi Clip and the Felicity and Cordelia book  Giveaways!!

Lilla Rose - #4 Tabathia
Felicity and Cordelia -  #63 Nat A

Congratulations to our winners! E-mail notifications have been sent. The winners will have 48 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Abazais

I am girl who loves diamonds! I don't have many. In fact, I have one on my engagement ring and a few tiny ones on a promise ring my husband gave me many years ago. A fact about me that you may not know is that I got engaged at the very young age of 22. I was still in college with just a few months until graduation. You can imagine my surprise when my boyfriend who was also still in college whipped out a ring.

Clearly, as a college student he was lacking two major things for purchasing a ring..... money and knowledge. Abazais is a website that can help any person shopping for a diamond find exactly what they are looking for. This website would have been so helpful for my husband, though I have to say he did a good job. But this would have helped him understand the characteristics of diamonds and explore options right within his price range without going all over the place.

On the website you can easily search for your criteria in terms of price, shape, cut, size, color, and clarity. You can also build your perfect engagement ring by selecting the diamond and setting. It allows you to view your completed ring. This is great if you are trying to figure out what you want (or if you need a visual "hint" for someone). I am planning on sharing this website with my husband as our 5th anniversary is quickly approaching.

Aside from the great selection of diamonds and engagement rings they also offer lots of other pieces of jewelry. They have everything from necklaces to fashion rings to watches for men and women. They also provide you with an entire section of why you should buy from them. Some of the highlights include that they have great prices on over 150,000 diamonds. You get to pick the diamond YOU want and not what is available at your local jewelry store. They also provide you with a 10 day no questions asked return guarantee. So you can get your diamond, check it out, ask your friends and family, have it appraised. If you aren't 100% satisfied you can send it back.

The website is very organized and easy to use. Check it out and see the huge selection!

Winners!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Distance Doodler, My Blog Spark and Green Giant, and IMAX Giveaways!!

Distance Doodler - #68 Emmy's Closet
My Blog Spark and Green Giant - #25 Gabby Lowe
IMAX - #74 Flower Child

Congratulations to our winners! E-mail notifications have been sent. The winners will have 48 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

My Kitchen Make-Over!

You remember many moons ago a precious little beauty arrived on my doorstep. I wrote a blog post sharing the wonderful news that this fabulous Delta Faucet had sent my husband over the edge and he agreed to a kitchen make-over! Well, with many things in life.. this project got put on hold. Blame it on the economy, blame it on life with a toddler, blame it on laziness. Whatever the reason was we finally got our act together!

After a VERY long month of having lots of people in our house at all hours of the day and night, of having no water or power for hours at a time, of having a gas leak, of having no place to feed my child... ok, I know... whoa is me. But it is all over now and our kitchen is done!

BEFORE

DURING

 AFTER!!

And this is where it all started.....

And this is where it ends....

 Thank you, Delta Faucet! For having an easy to install,

beautiful to look at, amazing product!

Playtex Review and Giveaway

Playtex introduces the first trainer cup that combines squeezable functionality and a straw 

to help children learn to drink on their own.

Playtex recently sent me an incredible package with some of their products. My daughter has been a Playtex baby since birth. When we needed to supplement with formula we tried the Playtex Drop-Ins System and were very pleased. I loved how easy it was to just drop the liner in and fill it up. The lining made it so easy to clean the bottles and convenient when on the go.

Then, when it was time to move on, my daughter transitioned to the First Sipster. I loved this cup because I never had a problem with it leaking. Some of the other cups we tried would leak if you tightened the top too much. This one also has a soft spout and sturdy handles that had like almost a slip proof material on them. They were great and my daughter took to this cup pretty quickly. And it is dishwasher safe, which is very important to this busy mom!

So when I learned about the new Playtex Infant First Lil' Gripper cup I was really excited to check it out. It's designed in a very unique yet functional way. It actually allows you to squeeze the cup, which starts the flow. The child is then able to start sucking. This helps to develop mature mouth movement and fosters independent sipping.

I think this is great! You can start your child on a sippy cup even younger than most would think. This cup is designed for ages 4 months and up. But it also allows mom to continue to be involved with this new learning experience. This cup also has the same features from the other cup that I love, such as it being spill proof, leak proof, and break proof. It's also BPA-free and Phthalate-free. And it has those fantastic handles that my little one clung to!

I would strongly recommend that you check out Playtex and all of the fabulous products they offer! You can find Playtex products at most major retailers.

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a Playtex Infant First Lil' Sipper cup along with other great products from Playtex!
Including:
·       Playtex® First Sipster® Trainer Cup
·       Playtex® Drop-Ins Original Nurser
·       Playtex® Ortho-Pro® pacifier and Playtex® Ortho-Pro® pacifier with sterilizing cover
·       Playtex® Binky® Silicone pacifier
Great for a new mom or a shower gift!

How to Enter: Leave a comment below for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

Mandatory Entry: Just tell me you would like to win!

Additional Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly
2. Add my button to your blog and tell me where it is (3 entries)
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook

This giveaway is open to Canada only.
This giveaway ends on March 25, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Baby Star is Having a Huge Tote Sale!

Baby Star is having a HUGE sale of their fabulous totes! 

You can save over 60% off! Hurry over and check it out!!

super sale on totes at over 60% off! our signature and stylish rock the tote comes with a wipe case and is the perfect accessory for spring. plus great prices on bedding, fitted sheets, knit blankets, ruffle skirts for girls and johnny pants for boys.

Apothica.com $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Apothica.com can really be your one stop shopping for all your beauty needs. They offer an extensive slection of the finest beauty care products. You can find everything from make-up to skin care and body care to aromatherapy products. I have fallen in love with the convenience and benefits of shopping on Apothica.com for my make-up needs.

A few years ago I decided that it was time to up my game in terms of my skin care and make-up. I had always been a bargain hunter and purchased whatever was on sale at the food store. I knew my skin was not looking it's healthiest and went on a quest for something new and revitaliazing. I decided to try Clinique's three step process. It consists of a face wash, toner and moisturizer. After just a few weeks I noticed a big difference. My skin wasn't as dry as it had been, my pores looked healthier, and I wasn't breaking out. I was so impressed that I decided to upgrade my make-up and purchased a few of their products.

Let's just say that I have never turned back. I love Clinique's selection. They have amazing colors for eye shadow and their foundation goes on smooth and blends so nicely with my skin tone. I also love how light the makeup looks and feels.

I recently ordered several Clinique products from Apothica.com and I couldn't have been happier with the experience. Their site is easy to navigate and browse for exactly whay you're looking for. Thc check out process went smoothly and I promptly received an order confirmation. But here's the best part... their shipping is so fast! I was truly impressed with how quickly my products arrived and how everything was handled with care. The eye shadows came wrapped in bubble wrap for extra protection.

Apothica.com has something for everyone. It's an easy way to shop for what you need, and they have a 60-hassle free return policy. You can also receive free shipping on orders over $49. Check out their selection and the many other benefits at Apothica.com.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Card to Apothica.com

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Apothica.com and tell me your favorite brand or product they carry.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Like Apothica on Facebook and write on their wall what you love about their site.
2. Follow Apothica on twitter and tweet about their site.
3. Sign up for their newsletter
4. Write a blog post about an Apothica product you love and link to Apothica. Be sure to leave me a link (5 entries)
5. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
6. Follow my blog
7. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
8. Fan me on Facebook
9. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)

This giveaway is open world wide (Apothica.com doesn't ship to ALL countries, so check if you are unsure).
This giveaway ends on March 24, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Harry Potter: The Quest

PREPARE FOR THE FINAL BATTLE!
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT GROUP PRESENTS
HARRY POTTER: THE QUEST

Exciting online adventure allows fans to unlock exclusive never-before-seen content

Burbank, CA, March 8, 2011 – As preparations for the final battle commence, Harry Potter fans can do their part by joining Harry Potter: The Quest, a global online adventure celebrating Harry  Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ - Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ - Part 2. Harry Potter fans can register now for Harry Potter: The Quest in advance of the Blu-rayTM, DVD and Digital Distribution release of Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM – Part 1 on April 15th. Harry Potter: The Quest will continue through the Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Distribution later this year.

Harry Potter: The Quest allows registered users to play games, watch videos and have all new Harry Potter  experiences  to  earn  points  as  a  global  community.    As  the  global  community reaches a predetermined point level each week, they will earn exciting rewards such as exclusive never-before-seen content from all the Harry PotterTM movies and more. Registration for Harry Potter: The Quest is free.

Registered  participants  in  Harry Potter: The Quest  are  eligible  to  receive  monthly  prizes  such as Noble Collection Harry Potter merchandise, tickets to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at  Universal  Orlando  Resort, Blu-rays,  DVDs,  Games  and  more.    In  addition, there  will  be  two Grand  Prize  sweepstake  opportunities for  registrants  of Harry Potter: The Quest.  The  first
sweepstake opportunity  is  a  chance  to  win  tickets  for two  to  attend  the  world  premiere  of Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM - Part 2 in  London  this  July.  The  second  sweepstakes opportunity will be announced later in the year.

For more information about Harry Potter: The Quest visit www.HarryPotterTheQuest.com.

 

From  celebrated  director  David  Yates  (Harry PotterTM  film  series  Years  5-7),  Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM - Part 1 brings back the highly-acclaimed cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as well as Academy Award® Nominee Ralph Fiennes (Clash of the Titans, The English Patient),  Academy  Award®  Nominee  Helena  Bonham  Carter  (The Kings’ Speech, Sweeney Todd), Academy Award® Nominee Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Alan Rickman (Sweeney Todd, Love Actually), and Michael Gambon (The Good Shepherd, Gosford Park).  Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM - Part 1 also introduces Golden Globe® Winner Bill Nighy (The Constant Gardener, Love Actually) as Rufus Scrimgeour.

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM - Part 1 will  be  available  on  Blu-ray  Combo  Pack, featuring a hi-definition, a standard definition, and a digital copy of the film, for $35.99 and on Single Disc DVD in widescreen format for $28.98 SRP.  Also on April 15th, Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM - Part 1 will  be  available  to  buy  through  DIGITAL  DOWNLOAD  from  digital movie retailers and select game consoles.

Mars Needs Moms: An IMAX 3D Experience Giveaway

Mars Needs Moms: An IMAX 3D Experience 

opens on March 11th!

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one. The IMAX release will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.

Giveaway: One lucky winner will win an 'Out of This World' Prize Pack!

The prize pack includes:  

·        1 Mars Needs Moms: An IMAX 3D Experience poster
·        1 copy of the Mars Needs Moms! book written by Berkeley Breathed
·        1 Mars Needs Moms: An IMAX 3D Experience youth t-shirt
·        A family 4-pack of IMAX tickets

How to Enter: Leave a comment below for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!


Mandatory Entry: Complete this sentence: "If I were a martian my name would be _______." (Have fun and be creative! I would probably be Slumberbaut.... because I really like to sleep)


Additional Entries:
1. Follow my blog publicly
2. Add my button to your blog and tell me where it is (3 entries)
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook

This giveaway is open to world wide (please note the IMAX tickets are only valid in the US and Canada).

This giveaway ends on March 11, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!