Friday, July 30, 2010

Inspired By Finn Review and Giveaway




By now you all know I love jewelry! It doesn’t matter if it’s rings, necklaces or bracelets I love it all! I’ve got myself quite a collection of jewelry in my jewelry box here at home but I’m constantly looking for new and unique items to add to my collection. Recently I came across a company known as Inspired By Finn that offers a variety of jewelry items that are made to help with different kinds conditions and my husband has pretty bad acid reflux so we decided to try out the 12.5 inch Amethyst Gemstone (chip) Hazelwood necklace.

About Hazelwood Necklaces (Taken From Website):

Hazelwood has the medicinal property of neutralizing the body's acidity. It is an ancient remedy first used by aboriginal people. It relieves or prevents ailments such as acid reflux, skin problems, and constipation. In order to receive a therapeutic benefit the necklace must be worn as much as possible.

Hazelwood necklaces are made from the branches of a hazelwood tree alternated with Amethyst gemstone beads. No chemicals of any kind (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) are used to grow the hazelwood trees these necklaces are made from. (Often when wood comes from a plantation chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used.) The necklaces are handmade - from the gathering of the wood to the stringing of the beads. All of the metal used to fasten the clasp and the clasp itself is solid sterling-silver (a lead-free metal).
This necklace has small parts and is not intended for children under 3 years old. Children should be supervised while wearing the jewelry, and the jewelry should be removed from the child's neck when he/she goes to sleep.

These necklaces work effectively for adults as well! Please see our listing of adult necklaces for more information. (Helps with many things including pregnancy heartburn and nausea!)

The life span of the necklace will depend on the level of acidity of the body. In general, a necklace will maintain its medicinal benefits for 6 months to 1 year. Higher acidity may mean a shorter lifespan of the necklace. Indicators that a necklace is losing effectiveness are: the ends of the wood beads will darken and/or symptoms return.

Keeping the hazelwood moist aids the body in absorbing the beneficial properties of the Hazelwood. Though it is not recommended to wear the hazelwood in the pool, spa, or in other highly chlorinated water.

Don't be alarmed if/when the bark comes off the hazelwood beads - the wood beads will change over time.


Our Thoughts:

We were sent the 12.5 inch Amethyst Gemstone (chip) Hazelwood necklace to review and since my husband has such bad acid reflux I decided to let him try it out. Now purple isn’t really his color but since it’s supposed to help he decided that he would just suck up the anti-purpleness and wear it anyways :0)

He has been wearing this necklace constantly since we received it and he only takes it off to shower. Now at first he said there really wasn’t a change in his acid reflux and he was still taking Pepcid and Tums like candy but after about a week he said that he did notice a slight change and his acid reflux wasn’t near as bad as it had been a week before he started wearing the necklace.

Now, he has pretty much been able to eat as he wishes again with less pain form the acid reflux but he does still occasionally have to hit the bottle of Tums but it doesn’t happen as much as before he started wearing the necklace.

Bottom Line:
I think the necklace itself is beautiful and I would wear it as an accessory if I had it for myself but since it seems to help the hubby I will let him continue to use it. I’m not going to say that this necklace will cure his acid reflux but it has seemed to help it a little and I hope the longer he wears it the better it will continue to get. We are both very impressed with the durability of the necklace being that Chad works as a mechanic and tire technician and gets so dirty and sweaty but it’s still as beautiful as the day we received it in the mail.



Buy It:
To purchase a Hazelwood Necklacefor yourself visit their website!


Win It:
Inspired by Finn has offered one of my readers their choice of anything 16 inches or SMALLER that is in stock from their online store!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Inspired by Finn and tell me what jewelry piece you would choose if you won! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Inspired by Finn be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Inspired by Finn on Facebook (also if “like” them you get a 20% savings on an order and if you both “like” and share with your friends you get a 25% savings)


Giveaway ends Aug 12, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the necklace mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Slix Closer™ Review




My husband happens to be very particular about the types of underwear he will wear, mostly it’s just boxers but I recently ran across a company called Slix that offers not only underwear but also shirts and socks! After reading a little bit about Slix I decided that my husband should really give them a chance so when we had the opportunity to do a review on the Slix Closer™ boxer briefs he seemed really excited!


About Slix (Taken From Website):

Slix founder Greg Hall had been searching for underwear that fit his active professional and personal lifestyle for years. Traditional cotton underwear, with its shortcomings --it stretches out, retains moisture, comes untucked, and doesn’t move with you -- just wasn’t cutting it.

Department stores still predominantly offered cotton underwear, differentiated only by brand and value. You could select the $52 pair with the designer label or the generic 3-pack for $12. Functionally, there was very little difference.

Athletic stores offered garments that utilized performance materials, but none that were designed with the versatility to meet the daily needs of an active professional. Hall wanted underwear that would not only be functionally superior to cotton, but also versatile enough to wear to the office, under jeans or shorts, working out, or under his board shorts at the beach.

There the idea was born: Slix would do for professional men what garment manufacturers had done for athletes a decade before – provide them with revolutionary products that fundamentally enhanced their comfort and performance.

Slix launched in November 2009 as an online, direct-to-consumer business with the mission to enhance the lives of professional men through superior products and exceptional service.

Get your Slix on.



Chad’s Thoughts:

Chad was sent a pair of the Slix Closer™ boxer briefs in black to review. At first when they arrived he was a little more than iffy about them because like I said before he is very particular when it comes to his underwear, boxer only for him because he says with his job consisting of being outside in the hot and sweating other types of underwear cause him to get chafed easily.

A little about the Slix Closer™ boxer briefs (taken from website):

The Closer is simply the greatest boxer brief ever made. Comfort, style and functionality combine to deliver unparalleled benefits that help you close the deal.

Features:• Superior breathability and wickability
• Slix™ Soft material
• Perfect 7" inseam
• Vented and breathable pouch
• Flatlock seams

Benefits:• Maximizes Comfort
Breathes, wicks and dries quickly
Eliminates chafing and need for powders/gels
Maintains shape and moves with you
No more adjusting, tucking or shifting
• Offers versatility - wear:
Under slacks, jeans, shorts or swimwear
• Allows you to look your best

Material:
81% Cationic Polyester
19% Elastane

They come in sizes small to XX-large and is available in either black or white.

Now back to the review, I have asked my husband to be the one to mostly do this review being that he is the one that has worn the Slix Closer™ boxer briefs.

He has worn these several times since receiving them just to make sure we did a completely honest and thorough review and he says he has to admit that these are the most comfortable boxer briefs he has ever worn. Normally he would have stayed away from these while choosing his underwear but he has never been happier with a pair of boxer briefs!

He also states that they really help to keep him cool while working and he has not had a problem with chaffing since starting to wear the Slix Closer!

Now, I know that he must really like these boxer briefs because somehow they end up in the daily wash well daily and he wants them washed in a rather big hurry so I’m planning on purchasing him more in the very near future to save the life of the pair he has now! I will admit that I think they are very sexy on him…I think of them as his man lingerie ;0) I much prefer him in these then his normal baggy boxers he has sported since we long before we ever became and item!

I also want to state that these boxer briefs have defiantly stood up to his almost constant use of them and held up like a gem during the wash and dry process!

We are both very impressed with these Slix Closer™ boxer briefs and Chad says he will continue to order and wear these for a very long time. He is also wanting to get his hands on the shirt and socks that Slix offers to see if they work just as well…but I feel like they probably do being that we’ve had such a great experience with the boxer briefs I would not hesitate to purchase anything at all from Slix as a gift or just because Chad needs them!

Chad has a birthday coming up real soon like Aug. 16 so I think I’m going to get him one of the Slix™ Executive Pack II that includes the Slix™ Downsizer, Slix™ Closer Boxer Brief and the Slix™ Movers so that he can get a feel of all of them!


Buy It:
To purchase Slix products for yourself or the lucky man in your life visit their website!

I also have a discount code to offer all of my readers so that you can enjoy 15% off your order!! Just use coupon code: cartoon

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. My husband did receive the Slix boxer briefs mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

NOVICA.com Review and Giveaway


I love unique home décor items, Handmade Jewelry and clothing! What makes it even better is when you know it’s all handmade and it’s top quality, right? Well I don’t know if you heard of NOVICA.com but I recently had a chance to check it out and I love it!! There is endless pages of products available that range from unique gifts, unique corporate gifts, gifts for her and so much more! Not only do they offer the artist and artisans a place to display their unique products they also offer them microcredit which allows them to not be charged any interest and the credit that they need to grow!

About NOVICA.com (Taken From Website):

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.
NOVICA. The World is Your Market.


My Thoughts:

I was given a $50 gift certificate to experience NOVICA.com for myself! Now I thought that it would be a piece of cake to go shopping and pick out something special and unique, but boy was I ever wrong! I spent days and days searching for just the right item but it was so hard to choose from all the incredible shops and items they have for sale.

After a couple of days of going back and forth I decided on two necklaces, the $50 gift certificate didn’t quite cover both of them so I ended up paying the difference but in the end I could not be happier and I will be ordering more items from NOVICA.com and the wonderful artists and artisans in the very near future!!

The first item I chose was the Gold plated natural orchid flower necklace, 'Timeless Dancer' necklace and I couldn’t be happier with it! It was shipped really quickly and was packaged wonderfully and in a cute little jewelry box!

I’ve worn this necklace several times since receiving it and the compliments I’ve gotten has been amazing! I’m telling you the pictures just do not do this piece justice, even the pictures from the website don’t show it’s true handcraftsmanship and beauty!

Next I decided to go ahead and get the Marcasite heart necklace, 'Love's Exuberance' and I’m just as pleased with this necklace as I was with the first! Again the pictures just do not do it justice!

The craftsmanship of this necklace is just as impressive as the first! My sister is really wanting this necklace and I’m thinking that it would be a wonderful Christmas gift this year!

Now NOVICA.com doesn’t just offer jewelry they have a huge variety of items available! I had a hard time just choosing the two items above but I wanted to show you a couple more items I have on my wish list:

First this Bamboo chests, 'Lahu Diamonds' (set of 3) would be perfect to use in our guest bedroom and bathroom for extra storage!

I also love this Ceramic bath set, 'Ginger Garland' (set of 3) isn’t it just gorgeous?


Bottom Line:

I have never been happier with the necklaces I’ve gotten from NOVICA.com, I’ve bought handmade before but never with the quality and beauty that I got with my order on NOVICA! I feel that there are some really talented people out there and this is there time to shine with such a wonderful website that allows their products to be seen! I think that if you just took a few minuets out of your day to check out the selection of unique and different pieces they offer on NOVICA.com it would change the way you look at all things handmade! I also feel like if you purchase someone a gift from NOVICA.com you just a can’t go wrong! The prices are wonderful and the shipping is very fast and you will not be disappointed!

Buy It:
To purchase any of the items mentioned above and so much more for yourself visit their website!

Win It:
NOVICA.com has offered one of my readers a $50 Gift Card to use towards the items of your choice!

Mandatory Entry: Visit NOVICA.com and tell me what you would choose if you won! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to NOVICA.com be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow NOVICA on Twitter

6. “Like” NOVICA on Facebook


Giveaway ends Aug 11, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I was provided a $50 gift certificate complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Savvycents Wallet Review and Giveaway


I will be the first one to confess my purse and wallet are a disaster area! I like to be able to keep all my gift cards and free product coupons with me at all times because I can’t always remember to take them with me when I go shopping so it’s best for me to keep them in my purse and/or wallet. But with that being said I have the worst time finding the gift card or coupon when I go to use them because they are just a jumbled mess in my purse! I recently ran across Savvycents Wallets and I thought this could be my solution to my messy purse and wallet problem!

About Savvycents (Taken From Website):

Savvycents was first formed in January of 2009 after Melinda Claudpierre read a book about becoming debt free and following the cash envelope system of budgeting.

Frustrated with paper envelopes and disorganization with her wallet, she wanted to create a wallet that would allow her to keep her cash in separate categories and also give quick access to her drivers license, coin holder, and all of her discount cards and coupons. The Savvycents wallet allows you to have all these thing in an attractive wallet that every woman would love to carry.

Melinda Claudepierre - President and creator of Savvycents is a stay-at-home mom of three kids and has been married to Jon for thirteen years. She is a former teacher.

About Savvycents Wallet (Also From Website):

The Savvycents wallet is not only functional but also fashionable. It contains everything you need to organize your monthly or weekly budget using a cash system. With an accordion style file system inside the wallet you can separate money, coupons, receipts or store discount cards by categories. Your wallet comes with file cards where you can label each category with our pre-printed labels. There are also blank labels where you can customize your wallet based on your personal categories. You no longer have to carry envelopes or zip lock bags to separate your money and coupons. Your change will fit nicely in a coin pocket located on the backside of the wallet.

It also has 6 pockets for debit cards and store discount cards. On the opposite side there is a place for your driver’s license and a place for your checkbook.

Wallet is 8” x 4”


My Thoughts:

I was lucky enough to get to review the Black Patent Leather Wallet from Savvycents! Like I said earlier I have a hard time keeping up with my gift cards and coupon Free’s so I dedicated this wallet to be my savers wallet and keep all my gift cards and free coupons in it to carry with me at all times.

The first thing I did was clean out my purse and main wallet and went to organizing all of my gift cards and coupons:

I used the pre-printed labels to label my file cards so that I could keep up with gift cards that wouldn’t fit in the slots (I have a large number of them) and also to keep up with my electronic gift certificate numbers so that I will have them no matter where I’m at.

I labeled one file card as Grocery where I keep all my free grocery item coupons. The next I labeled as Clothing so I could keep my gift cards and certificates that are for clothing stores and such. Next I made a file for Restaurants to keep all my gift certificates and coupons for different restaurants. I also make a file for Gifts which I use to keep my gift list for my family and friends birthday, Christmas and other special occasions. The last file I made was for Entertainment where I keep my gift cards for movie tickets and event tickets I’ve bought or won!


As you can see this is how my Savveycents wallet turned out once I got it all organized and I couldn’t be happier!! It took some time to get it all together but WOW, was it ever worth it! It not only keeps all my important cards and coupons in my purse but now I’m able to find them quick and easy when I need to use them!

Bottom Line:

I love my Savveycents black leather wallet I received for review and I truly recommend everyone grab you one of these super stylish and very functional wallets! I have never been happier with my free’s coupons and gift card organization as I am with this wallet! I wish I had found it a whole lot sooner, it’s not only made it more convenient to carry my frees and gift cards it’s seemed to save me some money having them at my fingertips when I shop because now I’m way more likely to use them since I don’t have to dig them out of my purse or other wallet!

Buy It:
To purchase a Savvycents Wallet for yourself visit their website!

Win It:
Melinda has so kindly offered one of my readers their very own Savvycents Wallet in Black so that you can get organized too!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Savvycents and tell me another color you would like to see added or something else you learnt that I did not mention! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Savvycents be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Savvycents on Twitter

6. “Like” Savvycents on Facebook


Giveaway ends Aug 10, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the Black Patent Leather Wallet from Savvycents mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Kuki Kids Review



I’m always on the lookout for my son new and unique clothing that fits his personality and sense of style (I know he is only 2, but he likes what he likes) and I recently ran across a company called Kuki Kids and I knew from the moment I entered the website and seen their line of toddler boy clothing that they would be a perfect match for “Bug” they have clothing that is sure to make him stand out in a crowd no matter where we take him and I feel they give “Bug” a Rock Star look that is just adorable on him!

About Kuki Kids (Taken From Website):

Kuki's Philosophy

Kuki was born out of the desire to make bold and funky clothes for little kids.

Simple garment designs let the fabrics speak for themselves and let your little adventurer stand out in the crowd. Quality and attention to detail are foremost in the Kuki philosophy.

Even though some of the styles are casual, the stitching process is not! We hope you and your family will enjoy Kuki as much as we enjoy creating it.

Thanks for being a part of the story!


Our Thoughts:

“Bug” was sent a pair of Kuki Kids Mike's New Stripe Two Pants for review and let me tell you when the first arrived he had to put them on as soon as we got them! There was no waiting until tomorrow to wear these awesome pants, It was so great to see the sparkle in his eyes when he seen these pants!

These pants are made from mid weight soft 100% cotton canvas which makes them feel great as well as making you look dapper! The adjustable elastic waist gives you some flexibility at snack time and if you want to you can even take advantage of the belt loops to wear your favourite belt . (Taken From Website)

Now, my husband isn’t really a fan at all of what he calls “loud clothing” which these pants are definitely considered but he admitted that they look great on “Bug”! I really love these pants and what really puts the icing on the cake is that they come with an adjustable waist band and that’s a must have with “Bug” he is so small in the waist that we can’t find pants to fit him that are both long enough and small enough on the waist so we have to have an adjustable waist!

“Bug” has sported these pants several times over the last month or so and I’ve gotten quite a few compliments and asked where they could get their kiddos the same cool pants so these have been quite a hit! I also love to pair them up with an acid washed looking shirt or a rock band shirt and it’s just too adorable!

The pants stand up amazingly to the wash and dry process and I’ve got absolutely no complaints what so ever about the pants! Now Kuki Kids not only has these adorable pants but the also offer quite a few other clothing options for both boys and girls and I would like to show you some of the item I have on my shopping list for “Bug”!

First up I love this Bright Spark Stripe Jacket that would be wonderful for this fall during our play dates at the park!

I’m also loving this pair of Smart Red Striped Pajamas

Now if you have a little girl I think this Bulls Eye Orange Skirt would be just precious!


Bottom Line:

I love Kuki Kids and their selection on products for boys and girls! I think they would make a wonderful gift for a new mother or as a gift for a very lucky toddler! Not only do they offer some pretty unique and cute clothing items they are also some of the more affordable items in their range. We are very pleased with the pants we received and “Bug” will continue to wear them until he out grows them I’m sure and we are planning on making an order of some more of their unique clothing items as gifts for some family members.

Also be sure to check out Kuki Kids on Facebook!

Buy It:
To purchase any of the clothing items mentioned above visit their website!

If you use code blog10 you will get 10% off your order!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the pants mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Noodle Head Toys Travel Buddies Neck Pillow Review and Giveaway



I’m almost certain that I’m not the only parent that looks back at their child in the back seat while they are sleeping and think “man, he sure looks uncomfortable, he’s gonna wake up with a crick in his neck!” Am I not right? Well I was recently introduced to a product that will help to take the pain in the neck away from your child and you while sleeping in the car! What is it you my be asking? Well it’s from Noodle Head Toys and it’s called Travel Buddies Neck Pillow!

About Travel Buddies Neck Pillow (Taken From Website):

Snuggles to go!

Travel Buddies children’s neck pillows comfortably support sleepy heads on planes, trains and automobiles and are perfect for naptime on the go! Travel time is a lot more enjoyable for little ones with these irresistibly soft and cuddly travel companions. They are adorable, fun and practical and are a great way to stimulate tactile learning…kids will take them everywhere and won’t leave them behind!

Machine Washable and Hypoallergenic

Age: 18mos. +
MSRP $14.00

AWARDS:
Dr. Toy – Best Vacation Products
Creative Child Magazine – Seal of Excellence

Our Thoughts:

“Bug” was lucky enough to be able select a Travel Buddies Neck Pillow to review and after quite a while of I want this one and I want that one we finally decided to go with the Wolf Travel Buddies Neck Pillow to review!

I was very pleased with the shipping and handling time for the Travel Buddies! It seemed like it arrived in just days and “Bug” was so excited to get his Wolf and it wasn’t long before we were off in the car to do our weekly errands and of course we decided it was the perfect time to try it out! On the first trip when I actually remembered to take my camera “Bug” was not willing to give it up and go to sleep so I didn’t get a shot of him snoozing on his new Travel Buddy.

The Travel Buddies are super soft and made of high quality materials and trust me it has held up beautifully to my monster toddler, he is very rough on all of his things and he loves his Travel Buddy and not only uses it in the car on long car rides but he uses it every time we get in the car just to go 3miles down the road to my parents house and he loves to use it while relaxing watching cartoons in bed before sleep! So we have really gotten good use out of the Travel Buddy and we are extremely pleased with its performance and I personally myself would love to see an adult size Travel Buddy because I love all of the buddies offered, but the Alligator is my absolute favorite and would be my pick if they offered them for adults :0)!!

I have noticed when “Bug” does decide to take a quick nap in the car when he has his Wolf Travel Buddy he seems way more relaxed and comfortable and his head does not bob around like it did without the buddy and he seems to sleep longer since his head and neck doesn’t get jarred around as much as before!

Bottom Line:

We feel that Travel Buddies are a must have for any toddler that likes to nap in the car during car rides! I really recommend this product to every parent that has ever took a look at their child in the back seat and thought “Man, that just can’t be comfortable”! We have used “Bug’s” Travel Buddy several times and could no be happier!

Buy It:
To purchase Travel Buddies at the extremely reasonable price of $14.00 (it’s totally going to be worth it) visit their website to find an online retailer!

Win It:
Noodle Head Toys has offered one of my readers their choice of Alligator, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Cat, Frog, Giraffe, Hippo, Horse, Lion, Moose, Raccoon and Wolf Travel Buddies neck pillow!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Noodle Head Toys and tell me another item you would like to have for your child and which neck pillow you would choose if you won! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Noodle Head Toys be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Noodle Head Toys on Twitter

6. “Like” Noodle Head Toys on Facebook


Giveaway ends Aug 10, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the Wolf Travel Buddy mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Shirts That Go Review


As you know by now “Bug” loves bugs but what you may not know is that he also loves trains and well just about any other big vehicle or anything else that makes him look like a teeny tiny ant! So I’m always on the lookout for cool new apparel for him that includes his interest of either bugs or trains and such so when I found Shirts That Go I knew that they were a perfect match! They have Kid T-shirts for just about vehicle that moves!

About Shirts That Go (Taken From Website):

Our Inspiration - It is what we are about
When our children see vehicles such as trucks and trains they are just AMAZED and captivated by them. We share that feeling at Shirts that Go! All vehicles are interesting, but certain ones are really noticed by kids and tap into their imagination and wonder about the world. Let's consider a few examples that have inspired us.

We take our boys to watch the trains go by at a local train line. We park in, of all places, a fire station parking lot! The parking lot happens to be right on the rail line and only 50 feet from a railroad crossing (with the gates and everything). We know the times roughly for when the Amtrak comes by on Sunday mornings, so we sit in our van and wait for the train to come. Soon, a train horn can be heard off in the distance... the boys start to get crazy excited. The excitement builds as we hear a few more train horns as the train approaches other nearby crossings on the way toward us. Then... the crossing gates start to come down with the familiar "ding ding" warning bells. We are all at the windows now and the boys are riveted. Then - here comes the diesel engine at about 60 miles per hour. It's loud, it's HUGE, and the ground is shaking a bit. WOW!! Boys are there with eyes wide open and just blown away by the experience of this incredible machine. Soon, it is gone, and we are kind of spinning as the energy level comes down a bit. We all have a bit of adrenaline surging from that experience for the next 20 minutes or so, and we are so excited about our day.

Sometimes we find ourselves at an intersection in our van and there is nothing too exciting going on. Just sitting there waiting for the light to change and the kids are in the back chatting. Suddenly, a siren is blaring and a massive bright red fire engine is trying to get through the intersection. The boys forget whatever it was they were fighting about and are wide eyed with WOW! They have seen this before, but it never gets old. What an amazing machine!

There are many examples of this that we all see with our children. What we are seeing with these experiences is their sense of wonder about the world being brought right to the surface by these amazing vehicles. So, what is Shirts that Go! all about? Cool designs on t-shirts... or is there something more? We are trying to connect with that sense of wonder about the world with our line of kids t-shirts. We understand that we cannot bottle that energy and put it down on a shirt somehow. What we can do though is provide awesome shirts with realistic vehicles shown in motion to let the kids share their love for these vehicles. To us this is all about adventure, travel, transportation, early concepts about careers, imagination, dreams, possibilities, awe, and of course FUN!

Our Thoughts:

“Bug” was sent one of the Steam Train T-shirts in a size 2T and he loves it! He was so very excited when he seen the box arrive in the mail! I will admit the box was very well marked with a cute picture on the front of it so there was no mistaking where it had come form or who it was for!

The design on the shirt was perfect for “Bug” since he loves trains and it is a very realistic train indeed! The shirt itself is very soft and seems to be really comfortable on “Bug” since he is always asking to wear his train shirt!

This shirt has held up fantastically to his wear and tear of a toddler and has held up great to the wash and dry process!


They don’t just have Train T-shirts they also carry Motorcycle t-shirts , Fire truck t-shirts, Airplane t-shirts and many more to choose from!

Bottom Line:

“Bug” and I love Shirts That Go!! These unique shirts would be perfect for the little vehicle lover in your life! I do think it would be wonderful if they offered a shirt for Ford Mustang little enthusiast though but I’m sure between the great selection they offer you will find something perfect for the little ones on your shopping list!

Buy It:
You can purchase your own shirt from Shirts That Go by visiting their Website!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the Steam Train T-shirt mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Pantzies Designer Panty Liners Review and Giveaway


Ever want to go out with your man and realized that you don’t want the insecurities of wearing a traditional panty liner? Not very romantic at all if you ask me, but I’ve recently ran across a pretty awesome concept of designer panty liners that will not only keep you comfortable but would be perfect for your special date with your man! Pantzies Designer Panty Liners gives you the protection of traditional panty liners but with style!

About HY-Jean Corp and Pantzies (Taken From Website):

Hy-Jean Corp. was founded by Laura Stearn in 2008 for the purpose of taking old, tired, and tasteless hygienic products and revamping or re-developing them! Hy-Jean Corp.'s mission is to create and bring to market fresh new products with quality and fashionability to replace commonly used items that should have been retired long ago. With the constant evolution of sophistication of today's consumer, HY-jean Corp. perceives the need to offer the customer more in regards to a better quality product that not only functions great but LOOKS fabulous!

Hy-Jean Corp. understands the emotional psycology of every decision we make, every day, in today's hectic world and therefore comprehends the need and desire for products that ultimately make the consumer happy and satisfied...and that need definitely extends into the arena of hygiene. Old wives tales of 'sterility' in a style sense = sanitary has kept the hygienic market stagnant for ages...but now through more understanding and new technology we discover that clean can also be fun, and good health doesn't have to be so darn serious!

Hy-Jean Corp.'s first creation, Pantzies, has perfectly proven this point. With today's technologies, new materials, and being able to color and print on them, are available for safe use on human skin. Clean doesn't mean just white anymore. New technologies in fabrics allow for the use of a variety of materials on sensitive areas on the body where only cotton was accepted before. Today textiles can be treated with anti-bacterial compounds that are non-toxic and safe for use on humans and animals which inhibit the growth of bacterial and fungal cells on the fabrics to which they are applied to! This keeps the fabric more sanitary and bacteria free than when compared to untreated cotton which alone can be a breeding ground for bacteria, especially when warm and moist! These treatments also render the textiles more moisture wicking and reduce normal dry time when wet.

Pantzies's fabrics are treated with such technology, to ensure that the wearer remains as clean, dry, and bacteria free as possible, while at the same time protecting the garment to which they are applied to from stains and moisture! Hy-Jean Corp's special proprietary fabric is patent pending. The technology and construction used in the making of HY-Jean Corp's textiles and products can, and will be, expanded into a variety of uses and products...so stay tuned for more ground breaking information and hot new products launched from Hy-Jean Corp!

My Thoughts:

I was sent a couple of the panty shaped Pantzies and a couple of the thong shaped Pantzies to try out! These liners if you can call panty liners cute are very cute and stylish! I love that they can be worn with or without panties if you decide to go all-natural and even as panty substitutes with panty hose and tights, as well as be worn with your bathing suite out swimming. These fashionable liners are disposable, made of biodegradable polyurethane and with a stronger adhesive than traditional cotton panty liners, so you know they are going to stay in place longer and you can wear them as panty substitutes with anything to prevent the dreaded panty lines!

Now, I like wear a panty liner almost daily because I just like to feel fresh and clean. The panty shaped liners are awesome they dry really quickly and are very breathable! I’ve worn them jogging and just out doing errands and I must say I’m very impressed with the comfort and results I’ve gotten with them. When we take “Bug” swimming I like to wear the thong shaped liners because they just seem to fit better in the suite and I’ve got no complaints about these products.

I think these would make a wonderful addition to a gift pack of sorts for a young girl who is just getting starting her woman hood to kind of make it easier for her to adjust to her new “gift”!

Bottom Line:

I’m super impressed with the Pantzies liners, I’ve wore them almost every way imaginable and while swimming they dry pretty quickly and can be worn until you get home and don’t come apart in the water (which could be totally embarrassing)! I feel that this is a product that would be wonderful for a pre-teen or teen girl that would not only be stylish but also very functional! I love to be able to match my favorite dress and hose with a cool stylish panty liner and not have to worry about panty lines and such! I would love to see these available at our local stores.

Buy It:
Pantzies sells for $7.95 for a pack of 16 and you can get them at their online store!

Win It:
I have 2 packages of Pantzies Designer Panty Liners one thong shaped 16 liners in 4 different fashion prints and one thong shaped 16 liners in 4 fun prints to giveaway to two (2) of my readers to try for yourself!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Pantzies.com and tell me a design you would like to see them come up with and if you would like to win the fun designs or the fashion designes! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Pantzies be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)


Giveaway ends Aug. 09, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the samples mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

PearlParadise.com Review and Giveaway


Don't all girls dream about beautiful pearls? I know when I was a child my grandmother had a beautiful black pearl necklace that I was just dying to get my gritty little hands on, but still to this day I haven’t got to wear it a single time :0(! I was searching for my own set of pearls when I discovered PearlParadise.com, and let me just say they have everything for your little heart desires when it comes to beautiful Freshwater Pearls, Exotic Pearls, Chocolate Pearls and the list keeps on going! So when I had a chance to review a pair of their beautiful Pearl Earrings I didn’t hesitate to say yes!

About PearlParadise.com (Taken From Website):

We are the world's largest online pearl company. We specialize in providing affordable, high-quality, classic, elegant and stylish pearl jewelry designs at up to 80 percent below retail prices. This includes pearl necklaces, pearl bracelets, pearl pendants, pearl earrings, pearl rings and pearl jewelry sets.

Our commitment to quality, customer service, and unbeatable pricing and selection has helped us become the Internet’s premier source of pearl jewelry, with more than 100,000 satisfied customers to date. Please browse our enormous selection of top-of-the-line pearl jewelry (one of the largest pearl inventories in the United States) and find that special gift for your loved one or the perfect piece of pearl jewelry for any occasion.

Need help? At Pearl Paradise, every associate is a world-class pearl expert. We train our team in pearl grading, selection, matching, and drilling, with every team member required to complete the Gemological Institute of America's pearl diploma program. Call, email or chat with us live, and we can answer any questions you may have.


My Thoughts:

I was sent the 7.5-8.0 mm Lavender Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings to review in 14k white gold! When they arrived, which was lighting fast, my breath was taken away when I opened the package and seen the beautiful earrings! Not only did the earrings arrive packaged beautifully and securely, included in the packaged was cleaning supplies to keep the pearls looking their best and an official appraisal for the earrings that you will want to keep in a very safe place incase something happens to your pearls!

Trust me I know my earrings and quality with 6-7 earrings in each of my ears I know what I’m talking about and these are not only beautiful but they are very top quality! For some reason before I even got to try them on my little sister managed to snatch them from me and since she had just graduated I decided that if she loved them that much I would let her have them. Now with that said I figured that this would be the perfect opportunity for these earrings to prove themselves as top quality because my sister has to have very special earrings, her ears are very sensitive and they have to be high quality gold or silver!

She has been wearing these earrings nearly everyday since she snatched them from me and she says they are perfect they don’t cause her to itch or break out and she can wear them comfortably! She also wanted me to note that these pearl earrings are the ultimate fashion accessory, that goes with any outfit from a nice dress to her typical t-shirt and blue jeans!

Now PearlParadise.com doesn’t just carry earrings but they have a whole website full of beautiful jewelry and there is something there for everyone! I want to take a few minuets to show you some of my other favorite items at their website that are on my wish list this year!

First and foremost on my list is the gorgeous 6.5-7.0 mm Lavender Freshadama Freshwater Pearl set

Yes, I am quite partial to the Lavender colored pearls I just think they are so gorgeous and I’m partial to the color purple so it all works out :0)

I’m also in love with the 7.5-8.0 mm Black Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

This bracelet would match my grandmothers necklace almost perfectly!

Bottom Line:

I’m super impressed with the pearl earrings I received to review even though I didn’t get to keep them my sister is super happy with them and that’s what counts the most! I love the customer service at PearlParadise.com and the shipping is wonderful and the items come packaged very securely along with a cleaning kit and the official appraisal of the item it’s perfect! I would recommend PearlParadise.com to anyone looking for high quality, beautiful and affordable pearls! If you gave jewelry from PearlParadise.com as a gift I’m sure that it would be a big hit!!!


Buy It:
To purchase a gorgeous pair of pearl earrings or any of the other items mentioned above for yourself visit their website!

Win It:
PearlParadise.com has offered one of my readers a pair of their very own pair of 7.5-8.0 mm Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings in your color choice of white, black, pink/peach or lavender!


Mandatory Entry: Visit PealParadise.com and tell me another item you would love to get your paws on! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

NOTE: Previous PearlParadise.com blog winners will not be eligible to win sorry.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to PearlParadise.com be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow PearlParadise.com on Twitter

6. “Like” PearlParadise.com on Facebook


Giveaway ends Aug. 09, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the lavender pearl earrings mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Miss Lucy’s Monograms Review and Giveaway



I just love to find different items with “Bug’s” name on them and with his name being Zane we kind of have a hard time finding things like bike license plates, key chains, pencils and the general things that have names on them in stores and on vacation in specialty stores, so we get a lot of his personalized items online and I’ve recently found an awesome shop called Miss Lucy’s Monograms and let me tell you she has it all! I was amazed at the selection of items she offered that you can personalize for yourself or if you’re like me for your little “Bugs”!

About Miss Lucy’s Monograms (Taken From Website):

Welcome to miss lucy's monograms! We are an online business dedicated to providing you with top quality, distinctive, and unique monogrammed accessories that scream,"tooo cute " for every age !!

As a teacher of 33 years, I recently made the decision to retire from the occupation I loved dearly, but I turned my focus to starting a business selling items that I have always loved... monogrammed accessories! I have always loved the monogram, and when I started miss lucy's monograms my desire was to offer an opportunity for the monogram customer to take part in the creating and of course, the purchasing of fun-loving, classic, personalized accessories! From polka dots to damask, to solids, to houndstooth, to zebra, to much more, our monogrammed accessories have a creative twist and will certainly be a bright, useful addition to any wardrobe !

With the help and support of my family, miss lucy's monograms became a reality, and our company has had an amazing year. We are so appreciative to the many customers who have found us and who have referred so many of their friends , and we look forward to an even more exciting year in 2010 ! As you shop with us, we know you will agree with our customers that we are a highly reputable, service oriented, and creative company. We strive to provide you with unique, top quality products and exceptional monogramming service. Our staff is committed to offering outstanding service to all our customers.

Above all, we hope that you find shopping at miss lucy's monograms an enjoyable experience, but most of all, we hope your purchase from miss lucy's monograms will put a smile on your face!

Thanks again for visting us... have a great day!
debbie

Our Thoughts:


“Bug” was sent the Toddler's Striped Towel in Caribbean Blue Stripe with his name in black with Boyz monogram Font, and let me tell you for this to be customized with his name the shipping and processing was lighting fast! I was absolutely amazed at how quickly it arrived and boy was “Bug” excited when he seen it had his name on it! Now he can’t read yet but he definably recognizes his name when he sees it on things and written down and he can tell us every letter in his name so that’s one of the reasons I like personalized items because I feel it helps us to teach him how to spell and write his name!

Anyways back to the review. Once we received the towel he just had to take it out and snuggle up with it, and believe me its really soft and makes a good bath or swimming towel (we have used it as both), and I think its perfect for when we go to the pool so that his towel doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s since of course it says his name!

The quality of this towel and monogram workmanship is awesome as well, ever since we got the towel it’s been you very regularly so it’s seen it’s fare share of the wash and dry process and we have yet to have any problems from the towel itself or the monogram, in the past I’ve had some problems with the monograms coming undone but this one is perfect in everyway!

Not only does Miss Lucy’s have awesome Toddler Towels but they have a HUGE assortment of other products that would make a wonderful gift for any occasion and for anyone on your list!! I wanted to show you a few of my other favorite products that she offers:

Brown and White Polka Dot Duffle Bag

I think this would be wonderful monogrammed for my sister since she if off to her first year of collage about 3hrs away for her tips home on the weekends!!

Royal Blue with White Polka Dots Quilted 3 Piece Diaper/Purse/Tote Bag

Wouldn’t this make a wonderful baby shower gift for a new mother with the baby’s name monogrammed on the front? Even though “Bug” is a toddler this would still come in very useful for when we go to the pool or just out on family outings to carry his necessities!

Really the possibilities are endless and like I said before Debbie has a very nice selection of great gift ideas!

Bottom Line:
Miss Lucy’s Monograms are a wonderful gift idea, high quality, unique and great customer service! What more could you ask for? I’m extremely pleased with our Toddler Towel we reviewed and I’m planning on using Miss Lucy’s Monograms for a few different gifts this year! The prices are unbeatable for the quality of work and the item you will receive it will be worth every penny! If your looking for that super special gift this year be sure to stop by Miss Lucy’s and have a look at their unique selections.


Buy It:
To purchase a Toddler Towel or one of the other items mentioned for yourself visit their website!


Win It:
Debbie has offered one of my readers a Toddler Towel in your choice of color and monogrammed as you wish!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Miss Lucy’s Monograms and tell me another item that you really like! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (current follower count too)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Miss Lucy’s Monograms be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Miss Lucy’s Monograms on Facebook


Giveaway ends Aug. 08, 2010 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the toddler towel mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.