Fibers.com Review

Fibers.com is a really fun site that allows you to create custom t-shirts, hoodies, and more! I love this idea because it allows you to create the perfect item for someone on your list. I had a great time exploring this site because they have so many ideas and pre-made designs to offer. I love the I Heart t-shirts. They really have something for everyone in that category. They have a ton already made up, or you can create your own.

They also have some really clever family t-shirts. I laughed out loud when I saw a shirt that had "only child" crossed out and "big brother" written underneath it. How cute would that be for announcing a new addition? I also found a bunch of cute shirts for dads that I will be keeping in mind for father's day!

Fibers.com gave me the great opportunity to create my own shirt. The process is so easy and they really walk you through it. You can take ideas from their designs and change them up to fit your style, or you can start from scratch. You can change colors, text style, images, pretty much everything! I decided to go with one of their pre-existing templates that says "born to sleep," but decided to go in and change the colors. I took my favorite color (pink) and my husband's favorite color (orange) and created this really funny shirt. It's perfect for me because before I had my daughter sleeping was my favorite activity. I slept a lot and now I miss it, haha!

I love thee way it came out! I was a little concerned about the size because when I looked at the size chart I fell into the XL category. Usually I wear a medium or large in fitted t-shirts, so I was afraid this was going to be huge. But I followed their guide and ordered the XL and it fits really nicely. So definitely use their guide and don't go by your regular size.

The shirt seems to be a really nice quality. I've washed it a couple of times and the image still looks like new. It hasn't faded or peeled and it still fits nicely. I would recommend your check them out!

Mommy's Time-Out

It was just one of those days. I had gotten into a fight with Rite-Aid, my package didn't come from UPS, the baby tore through the house and left a disaster zone, and I was tired.... just plain tired. I had to run out to fight with Rite-Aid in person as soon as my husband got home. So when I walked in the door he greeted me with something fantastic.....

A Mommy's Time-Out wine glass from Lolita. I love the Lolita glasses and he has gotten me the engagement and princess martini glasses. So he must have been prepared for my next rough day.

This glass is adorable and has little sayings all over it like "let's play the quiet game" and "Ok kids, time for a video." I just took the glass and sat down. He then proceeded to tell me the baby needed a diaper... to which I replied "I'm in time-out."

You need one.

Winner!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Sprout Gear Giveaway!!

#146 - Emmy's Closet

Congratulations to our winner! An e-mail notification has been sent. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Family Matters - Review and Giveaway

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters

101 Unforgettable Stories about Our Nutty but Lovable Families

Nearly everyone thinks their own family is "nutty" or has at least one or two nuts. With 101 stories of wacky yet lovable relatives, funny foibles, and holiday meltdowns along with more serious stories about abuse and outbursts, this book is usually hilarious and occasionally poignant. Readers will feel comforted, amused, and encouraged by these unforgettable stories about "nutty" families just like their own. This book shows readers that we all have the same family matters and what really matters is families. It is a quirky and fun holiday book, and a great bridal shower or wedding gift!

I love the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I love that they are short stories that I can read when I get a free minute, and I also love that they really are a source of healing for your soul. They have a huge variety of books for every person you can think of... moms, dads, teens, teachers, and so many more. Some of the stories make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you thankful. 

When the latest book, Family Matters, arrived I was really excited because right on the cover it says "Warning: May Contain Nuts," and this is what I needed during the hectic holiday season. I needed to be able to laugh and realize that my family isn't the only one who is weird or quirky, we aren't the only ones who fight or get on each other's nerves. The holidays can definitely bring out the worst in us as we deal with the stress. But it's also the perfect time to remember how lucky you are to have your family and how much you love them.

I have spent the last several evenings cuddled up reading about other people's families. The kids that make the messes and how angry the moms and dads get, but how they all end up hugging and thankful for those moments. The husbands and wives who argue or have very different views on things, but love each other none the less.  As always, I laughed and teared up at times. I related to a lot of them and wondered with others if my future would be similar. I had a lot of fun reading this book.

GIVEAWAY: One Lucky Reader will win a copy of the newest Chicken Soup for the Soul Book - Family Matters
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me your favorite Chicken Soup for the Soul book OR tell me why you would like to win this one.



EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter 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 Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook

7. Follow Chicken Soup for the Soul on Twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway ends on December 23, 2010 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!

Zippo Hand Warmer Review

Zippo has created something really cool! The Zippo Hand Warmer is small and metal. It's the perfect size to fit into your pocket. Here is a little more about it's design and features.
It has a high-polish finish and a sleek, thin design so it easily fits into pockets, and it’s virtually odorless (great for hunters) and stays warm for up to 12 hours. Plus, it’s reusable with Zippo lighter fluid and includes a convenient filler cup and warming bag.

• Rugged metal construction
• Sleek and compact design
• Reusable w/ Zippo premium lighter fluid
• Virtually odorless – great for hunters
• 12 hour burn time (new version)
• Includes convenient filler cup and warming bag
• Ideal for hunting, ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and outdoor sporting events.

We recently received a Zippo Hand Warmer for review. I was impressed with the design and just how small it really is. It's also very easy to use. Just fill it, ignite it, and keep warm!

We used this when we went to a holiday parade on a very cold day. It was very popular amongst my family members and we were passing it back and  forth to give everyone a chance to warm up. I guess we will all need our own!

This really is perfect for people who spend some time outdoors in the winter. Whether you're hunting, ice fishing, skiing, snowboarding, or just watching the kids play in the snow it will be a treat to keep you warm!

Check it out on Zippo's website for more information.

Winners!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Despicable Me and Gourmet Gift Baskets Giveaways!!

Despicable Me - #56 Candy

Gourmet Gift Baskets - #289 Amy

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!

Newman's Own Organics Review

I try really hard to give my daughter organic food. It's just something that is personally important to me. But I often let my husband and I slip and we eat anything and everything. Well, now that we know about Newman's Own Organic and their huge selection of organic foods it will be much easier to keep us all on a diet that is healthier for us and the environment.

I recently received an amazing sample of some of their snacks!

It has taken me and my family a long time to get a taste of everything in this pack! It's an amazing variety of different kinds of cookies, soy crisps, dried fruit, chocolate and more. Some things are even missing from this picture because my husband was sneaky and got to them before I could even take a picture!

I am SO impressed with this selection of snacks! Everything is delicious and I feel so much better letting my daughter go to town on cookies. Ok, maybe not to town... but she has been munching away for the past few days. My husband and I have also been enjoying the wide variety. I am all about the chocolate bars and he devoured the chocolate chip cookies.

We had family over for Thanksgiving so we showed them our stash and allowed everyone to taste test. Everyone was raving! It also brought up a lot of questions about organic food. I was able to direct all of them to the Newman's Own Organic website where they provide some great information about what organic food is and why it's  healthy choice. Check it out here! You can also browse the website to all the great products available, including organic coffee and pet food. You can also find a list of retailers near you that carry Newman's Own Organics.

Also, be sure to check out Newman's Own Organics on Facebook for news and giveaways!

Name Frame Review

This is such a cute idea! Name Frame allows you to create a unique and personalized item at an affordable price. Your frame will feature a name and inside each letter you get to put a photo. The website is so easy to use and walks you through the process step by step.

You begin by putting in the name you would like to create. You then get to pick the font, frame color, and matting. You also have the option to add ornaments to your frame for an even more personalized look.  Then you get to decide if you would like to upload photos and complete your frame online or have the frame sent to you and you add the pictures later.

I decided to do the photos online and am glad I did. It was easy to upload the photos and then select where I wanted them to go. You can resize and move the pictures around so they are exactly where you want them. It's so cool that you can see your frame coming together as you build it.

I am so pleased with the final outcome! It's the perfect addition to my daughter's nursery. I was able to match the frame and matting to her room's colors. This is something I will treasure for a long time!

You can create a name frame of your very own and have it shipped anywhere in the US or Canada for only $59.95.

Oompa Review and Giveaway

Oompa is a refreshing site to visit. They offer a huge selection of items for babies and kids. But here's the best part, none of the items they carry have batteries, flashing lights, music, or are created after themed cartoons. They offer items that allow children to use their imagination!

Here is a little bit about the company:

We offer our constantly expanding collection of European wooden toys, baby toys, educational toys, lunch bags and modern children's furniture to urbane and discerning adults who want to expose the young children in their lives to non-character branded, quality toys that are designed to withstand generations of use. In addition to baby toys, we now offer a wonderful selection of baby gear, including stollers, high chairs, diaper bags and meal & bath time items. Recently we expanded our children's furniture collections to include modern cribs, tables, seating, beds & beddings and tons of playroom storage. We believe baby toys should be natural, safe, eco-friendly, non-violent and from manufacturers who provide safe and nurturing environments for their employees. We believe in fair, competitive pricing and strive for 100% customer satisfaction.

I was recently given the wonderful opportunity to review one of the products they offer. I received the Alphabet Matcher: The Alphabet Matcher is an ingenious toy that will challenge a child’s verbal and written knowledge. A child twists the rings on the toy to choose a letter, then attempts to find the five objects on the ring that start with that letter! Alphabet Matcher engages skills ranging from logic to spelling. It contains three extra sets of rings, covering 24 letters and 120 images!

I absolutely love this toy. I think it's so great they they took something educational and turned it into something fun that can be done independently or collaboratively. It really offers a huge amount of options with it's simple design. You can make it a game, a timed challenge, a parent led interaction... the possibilities are endless! It is recommended for children 3 and up, so my daughter is definitely too young to do this independently. But that didn't stop me form exposing her to it. She sat on my lap and I pointed out the letter. Then I turned the pieces to match the letter and said the word aloud. She watched and participated when she could. When we came to the picture of the mouse she said "mouse"! When we got to the dog she barked. We had a great time interacting together!

You can check out the Alphabet Matcher and tons of other great items on their site!

GIVEAWAY: One Lucky Reader will win their very own Alphabet Matcher!
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Oompa and tell me another item you love!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways(1 entry per giveaway)
2. Follow my blog 
3. Follow me on Twitter 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. Subscribe to my blog via e-mail

7. Follow Oompa on Facebook

8. Follow Oompa on Twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway ends on December 20, 2010 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!