Olive Bungalow $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

As each and everyone of you who visits my blog on a regular basis knows that I love jewelry and I’m always on the lookout for fun and unique pieces to share with you all. So, recently when I stumbled across Olive Bungalow and seen all the unique pieces they have to offer I just couldn’t wait to share it with all of you and to top it all off Michele has been so kind and offered one of my lucky readers a $50 Gift Certificate to purchase their favorite item!

About Olive Bungalow (taken from website):

My name is Michele and I'm a self-taught jewelry artist. I have been a fulltime jewelry designer for the past 9 years. During the past 9 years, I've sold my work both retail and wholesale.

All of the items on the site are handmade by me in my studio overlooking the desert and mountain range here in Arizona.

Every component in my jewelry is handcrafted by me. I create all my bezels from scratch. The accents on the jewelry are also handcrafted either by sheet or wire. When you purchase a piece of jewelry from me - it's all created from start to finish by me. I also use sturdy 20 gauge sterling silver in my jewelry. You are getting a substantial piece of silver in every item you purchase. The jewelry will last forever, the rings will not warp or bend. I won't use anything less than 20 gauge silver because I want your piece of jewelry to last a lifetime.

I use only eco-friendly, recycled and reclaimed sterling silver and gold. I use only natural and genuine fair trade gemstones(*) in my jewelry creations. I take pride in using only high-quality gemstones.

I am also a lapidary artist and cut and polish my own cabochons. I use these cabochons to create my one-of-a-kind pieces and they can be found on my one-of-a-kind page. I will try to update this page once a week (and possibly more often). When new items are added, I will update my blog page to notify you of new pieces.

I am constantly working on new designs and make an effort to add new pieces on a weekly basis. New items will be listing on the new items page.

*Fair Trade Gemstones and Diamonds are stones that are sourced ethically. All fair trade gemstones are traced back to the cutting center, and whenever possible traced back to the source mine. Workers who produce these gemstones have reasonable work hours and humane work conditions. Fair trade gemstones are tracked meticulously to ensure the process is honest and documented.

My Thoughts:
When I first seen the beautiful handcrafted artisan jewelry available at Olive Bungalow I just could not believe my eyes, some of the pieces are so beautiful I picture them on the finger or around the neck of a princess during the Renaissance era. I’ve spent lots of time window shopping at the website and I’ve got a wish list a mile long of some of my favorite pieces. I want to take a few seconds before I get to the good part which offers the giveaway to let you know the top three items on my wish list (hunny if your reading this I’m sure there is a special occasion coming up!)

The first piece I want to share with you is the absolutely breathtaking Autumn Olive stackable peridot ring:

This ring features my husbands birthstone and I just absolutely love the design! There is something so elegant but simple about this ring that just calls to me, I would love to have it to wear on my finger daily to remind me of my true love, my husband Chad :0)!

The next piece I want to share with you all is the Gemstone Drop Pendant:

What makes this piece special to me is the simple design, I really think it’s a beautiful piece and I would love to add it to my ever growing jewelry collection.

The last piece I want to share before I get to the discount and giveaway is the Daisy Mini Bloom Earrings:

I think these would look amazing as an everyday casual look to spice up any outfit and make it a bit more special and not so ordinary!

Those are just a very few of my favorite items available at Olive Bungalow and I will admit although I love all the pieces I have to say my favorite is the stackable rings! I have my eye on the Stackable Birthstone Rings and I am going to talk my hubby into letting me create a set that has each of our birthstones so that I can keep my entire family close even when they are not with me.

Bottom Line:

I’m really loving all the items available at Olive Bungalow and I can guarantee that before to much longer I will be sporting a set of beautiful stacking rings and who know what else I will end up adding to my collection from Olive Bungalow!

If you are looking for that one unique piece of jewelry that is a must have in your collection I suggest checking out the gorgeous pieces available from Olive Bungalow, there just isn’t anything better than a custom piece of jewelry to really add the finishing touches to your favorite outfit.

Buy It:
To purchase any of the products mentioned above and many more visit the Olive Bungalow website!

Discount Alert:
When you place your order just enter the code clm10 to get a 10% discount and right now she is offering free shipping on all orders over $75.00!

Win It:
Michele has very generously offered one of my readers a $50 gift certificate to purchase their favorite piece.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Olive Bungalow and sign up for Michele’s newsletter. 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 (2 extra)

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 Olive Bungalow be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

Giveaway ends March 13, 2011 @ 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 not receive the products mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Tellurian Baby Review and Giveaway

When I look for products for my little man I tend to be pretty picky and only want the best for him. Over the past three years we have tried many different brands of skin care and bath products on “Bug” and we have found a few that are favorites in our household. Recently I was introduced to Tellurian Baby and was given the opportunity to try out their line of baby bath and body products and I have to just give you a warning, “Bug” and I love these products!

About Tellurian Baby (taken from website):

Tellurian was founded by Jane Leeves and Ron Lewis. Jane Leeves has made her mark in the world of television, theatre and film. TV audiences know her as “Daphne Moon” in the long running hit series Frasier for which she won a SAG award and was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe. She can currently be seen as “Joy” on the new TV Land series Hot in Cleveland. Ron Lewis is the founder and president of Cosmetic Technologies one of the countries leading contract manufacturers of skin and hair care products. In his 35 year career he has been involved in creating thousands of skin and hair care product including many nationally and internationally known brands.

Q. What prompted you to start a line of Baby Products?
A. Ron
Well, going from 0 to 4 grandchildren in a 24 month period, having 2 of our staff members have babies in the same time period as well as my neighbor it seemed from my perspective that there was a second “baby boom” going on. It really prompted me take a serious look at the baby category. There was also a big expose in the Washington Post a year or so ago that revealed that there were a lot of questionable ingredients being used in baby care product. I felt the need and opportunity was big enough to do something about it.

A. Jane
Once I became a mother myself, I naturally started paying a lot more attention to what was going in my children as well as on them. I’ve tried a lot of different products with my kids. Once I got to know Ron I was convinced we could create something really special.

Q. How did you meet?
A. Jane
We were introduced by a mutual friend Vicki McCarty.

A. Ron
Vicki is a personal manager and knows a number of celebrities. A product line we had developed was accepted by one of the shopping channels. They were looking for a spokesperson so I called Vicki who suggested I meet with Jane. When I explained to Jane the time commitment she said she wasn’t willing to spend that much time away from her children. I was really touched and impressed by the priority she gave her children and family. When I thought of creating a baby line I knew Jane would be the perfect partner.

Q. What is unique about Tellurian Baby?
A. Ron
It stands out almost as much for what it doesn’t have as for what it does. The objective was to create products that were scientifically / dermatologically advanced and at the same time as pure and natural as possible. What evolved in the process is a redefinition of what natural skin care means. We are actually using the natural components of the skin to maintain the optimum condition of the skin. Although it has taken many years of research the concept in many ways is quite simple. We’ve referred to this as “skin care based on the nature of the skin itself”.

A. Jane
My biggest concern was making sure that we weren’t using any of the bad stuff and that the products were pure and gentle and effective as we could make them. I also wanted them to be as enjoyable to use as possible for both mom and baby. No matter how advanced they may be, if they don’t smell good, feel good and work well no one will want to use them, at least not more than once.

Q. What do you hope to achieve with your venture?
A. Jane
Besides making the best possible products, products that we can be proud of, Tellurian is really a vehicle for us to try to give back and hopefully create positive change in the lives of those less fortunate, particularly children.

Our Thoughts:

We were sent an assortment of all the baby products available from Tellurian Baby to review: 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Baby Oil, Baby Body Wash, Baby Shampoo, Baby Lotion and the Baby Diaper Cream (all seen above)! Our package arrived very quickly and I couldn’t wait to try them out at bath time especially after getting a sneak peak at the smell of each of them (they are heavenly!).

When our first bath time rolled around after these products arrived the hardest part was trying to decide which of the products we wanted to try first but we decided to go with the Baby Body Wash, Baby Shampoo and Baby Lotion. Now, when I choose a shampoo and body wash for my man I am very careful to make sure that they are tear-free because he does have a tendency to throw a tantrum when it’s time to wash the shampoo out of his hair and Tellurian Baby is just that tear-free so we used the shampoo with no tears and “Bug” said that it smelled really good and I have to totally agree, and it made his most of the time unruly hair look and smell amazing! I love that it tamed the wild stands of hair that tend to stick up at the very top of his head and it left his hair extremely shiny and soft! We also really enjoyed the body wash as well, it smells great and is very easy on his skin, other products we have tried has sometime broke him out but with Tellurian we had absolutely no problems and I noticed that it seemed to moisturize his skin as well to relive some of his itchy dry patches on his little arms. Of course afterwards we used the baby lotion in place of our usual after bath time lotions and again this product is great! It smells amazing and leaves our skin super soft and didn’t leave an oily residue like some other lotions we have tried.

We have also started using the 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash and I have to admit that this is my absolute favorite out of all the products we received because it’s not only great to have the shampoo and body wash all in one but it cuts down on the clutter on the bathtub. This product smells just as great as the others and leaves “Bug’s” skin so soft and his hair silky smooth, shiny and looking great! Just between me and you I’ve used it a couple of times on my own hair and body and I love it! It’s so gentle that it makes my skin more moisturized and my hair looks amazing and I don’t have to use a conditioner!

We have used the baby oil and the diaper rash cream as well and I’m very impressed with the diaper rash cream, it is one of the best creams on the market as far as I am concerned! It seems to sooth his little bottom and clear up the rash rather quickly and “Bug” doesn’t fuss when I use this cream unlike some of the others that he says burns.

Bottom Line:

Simply put…..I absolutely love Tellurian Baby Products! As far as we are concerned they are the BEST products available on the market today! Not only are they super gentle and smell amazing they leave my son’s skin and hair looking beautiful and feeling silky smooth! I have a couple of friends who are expecting and I’m making diaper cakes and I can guarantee that I’m going to be tucking the 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Baby Lotion and Diaper Rash Cream into the stack of diapers because I feel like every baby should be pampered the way only Tellurian Baby can!

If you are looking for the ultimate in luxury baby skin care products I highly suggest checking out the baby product like at Tellurian Baby and if you are looking for something special for the new mom or yourself check out their line of mom products as well….your babies skin will thank you!

Buy It:
To purchase any of the products mentioned above and many more visit the Tellurian Baby website!

Win It:
Tellurian Baby has very generously offered one of my readers the 2-N-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (ARV $17.00)!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Tellurian Baby and tell me what one product you would like to try! 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 (2 extra)

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 Tellurian Baby be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

Giveaway ends March 13, 2011 @ 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 products mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

My First Yoga Book Review and Giveaway

Last year I really got into doing Yoga and let me tell you I have been loving it ever since doing it for the first time, I have even signed up with a couple of my good friends for a weekly Yoga class. Well here while back “Bug” was watching me doing some of my beginner Yoga moves and decided he wanted to do Yoga with me so we got him a small mat (one of the little red/blue school mats) and he attempted the moves with me. So after seeing how interested he was in doing Yoga himself I set off on a mission to find the perfect product to help him do his own Yoga moves that would be easy for him and when I was introduced to My First Yoga Book by Abbie Davies, I knew that it would be perfect for “Bug”. I was thrilled when Abbie agreed to let us do a review on her book!

About My First Yoga (taken from website):

Our Style
My First Yoga offers an engaging, exciting and innovative approach to youth’s yoga education. A series of age appropriate exercises and educational activities stretch both mind and body, providing students with the mental and physical tools necessary to lead healthy, balanced lives.

Our Curriculum
The My First Yoga patent-pending curriculum, taught exclusively by our staff, follows a unique formula to further expand upon our innovative approach to yoga education. The year-long curriculum is specifically designed to help young students reach personal, physical and educational developmental milestones.

Our Buzz
My First Yoga has gained nationwide attention in publications such as The New York Times, Parents Magazine, iVillage, Creative Living Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and Root & Sprout and has captivated audiences at venues such as the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England Aquarium and Natick Collections.

Our Thoughts:

We were sent a copy of My First Yoga: Animal Poses Book by Abbie Davies for “Bug” to review. Our book arrived very quickly and I could not wait to show “Bug” his very own Yoga book so that he could now do Yoga with mommy! Once “Bug” seen this book he immediately went and got his “Yoga mat” and wanted to start posing!

Now this book is just adorable as well as very informative to toddlers because it shows them with cute little illustrations exactly how to make the pose and turn themselves into all kinds of animals such as a cat, a flamingo, a cow and my son’s favorite of all the poses the monkey and the snake!

I love that this book is not designed with the parent in mind…that it is specifically for your toddler with no long explanations and how-to’s it simply shows one colorful pose illustration per page and a very short explanation that you can read to your little one, and offers some fun additions such as animal noises and movements to add to the pose to make it more fun for your little one so it doesn’t seem like such a routine and you can mix them up day after day to keep the little one’s interested! This book makes it so easy for my son to get the book and look at the pages and do it all by himself (like on days he thinks he is a grown up and that he needs no help for anything), just by looking at the pictures….it’s really awesome!

My 3year old son really picked up quite quickly with all the poses and like I mentioned above has his two absolute favorites that he has memorized and I have noticed since we started using the book regularly that he will be sitting watching TV and start doing some of the Yoga moves all by himself. I have to say the we are thrilled with this book and I am so happy that “Bug” and I can do Yoga together and it’s a blast doing all the fun animal poses along with him making the silly noises and moving along like the animal pictured in the colorful illustrations.

My son just started “Pre-School” (an in home daycare, but he calls it pre-school) and I have let the teacher barrow the book and she has now ordered one to keep in the classroom so that all the little ones can do Yoga daily, she said they all loved it and even the tiny ones was doing their best to do the poses with the bigger kids!!

Bottom Line:

I have to say that I think the My First Yoga: Animal Poses is a fun and exciting way to get your kiddos interested in Yoga and to get them up and moving even when it’s cold/hot, rain or shine outdoors, and a plus is that the whole family can join in for a great workout anytime! We absolutely love our book and I do hope that Abbie comes out with more Yoga books geared towards toddlers, we would love to learn some more fun poses!

If you are looking for a fun way to get your toddler interested in Yoga, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this fun and colorful book from Abbie Davies, trust me your toddler will thank you! Also one last thought, if you are looking for a fun and unique birthday gift for a toddler how about a copy of My First Yoga, they won’t look at it as exercise they will think of it as a fun new game!

Buy It:
To purchase copy of My First Yoga: Animal Poses visit the My First Yoga website!

Win It:
Abbie is so awesome, she has decided to offer one copy of My First Yoga: Animal Poses to one of my extremely lucky readers (ARV $12.99)!

Mandatory Entry: Visit My First Yoga and tell me what you think you would like most about this book! 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 (2 extra)

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 My First Yoga be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow My First Yoga on Twitter

6. “Like” My First Yoga on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 09, 2011 @ 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 book mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Box Creations Review and Giveaway

I can remember when I was much younger playing with all my cousins in cardboard boxes using our imaginations to turn ordinary cardboard boxes into something extraordinary from our own princess carriage, to a horse and buggy even as far as turning several of them into a maze we called our mansions! Well, since “Bug” is getting to about the right age for his imagination to really start blooming and we spend a lot of time pretending with the cardboard boxes we get in the mail, but recently I was introduced to a really awesome company called Box Creations! So naturally when they agreed to let “Bug” review one of their “box playhouses” we were both very excited!

About Box Creations (taken from website):

Box Creations is dedicated to providing unique, sustainable product innovation to the marketplace as well as good old fashioned fun!! We are founded on the principle that a richer play experience should involve the child’s imagination as well as encouraging the child to be an inherent part of the finished product.

Box Creations believes in safe and affordable product - while acknowledging our Eco-system to insure sustainability in our World. All of our products are made from recycled materials and are safety tested. We pride ourselves on developing sturdy as well as easy to assemble products. Our designers are kids at heart and their love for play shows in the uniqueness of each piece! You’ll get hours of play at a fraction of the cost of the more permanent play structures!

And as everyone knows - KIDS LOVE TO PLAY IN THE BOX!!

Our Thoughts:

We were able to choose the Pirate Ship to review and I have to say we were both waiting by the door very impatiently for it to arrive and as soon as it arrived we immediately started putting it together so that we could become pirates! Although it seemed like it took months to arrive it actually arrived very quickly.

(I plan to post pictures up just as soon as I get my camera cord replaced)
Once we got our Pirate Ship put together and ready to go, which took my husband and I about 15 minuets give or take a few. The kit came with everything we needed to put the pirate ship together quickly as well as the instructions and makers so that we could decorate the ship as we like. “Bug” and I decided to do a bit of artwork on the outside of our ship to make it personal just for him!

Since receiving the Pirate Ship “Bug” has been playing in it quite regularly and at least once a day and for his birthday party we had it out for all the kiddos to play in and I can tell you they all really enjoyed playing with the swords and we actually had to cut a few more out of some spare cardboard we had lying around. I know they spent at least two hours running around acting like pirates!

Not only has having the Pirate Ship around been a blast for us all (yes, I’ve even been a pirate once or twice J) but I can not believe how well these pieces of cardboard has held up especially with all the abuse it took at “Bug’s” birthday party! It still looks like new and is still standing, what I love most is that each of the kiddos that has gotten to play in the ship has been able to add a little something to the side of the ship to make it that much more special! We are all looking forward to many more play dates with our Pirate Ship in the very near future.

Bottom Line:

“Bug” and all the other kids love the Pirate Ship and I have to say that it is one of the most simple toys I have ever seen but I think that is exactly why it’s so great! We all know that most kiddos love boxes, and what could be better than a box shaped so that their imagination can really take them places!

If you are looking for a simply yet extremely fun toy for your kiddos or maybe for a birthday party activity or a gift for someone special “Bug” and I highly recommend checking out the awesome cardboard playhouses at Box Creations and let your imagination take you to new places!

Buy It:
To purchase the Pirate Ship mentioned above and so many more visit the Box Creations website!

Discount Alert:
If you want $10 off your purchase from their website just enter the code PROMO10

Win It:
Box Creations has so very generously offered one of my readers a cardboard playhouse of their choosing (ARV $39.99)!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Box Creations and tell me which item 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 (2 extra)

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 Box Creations be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Box Creations on Twitter

6. “Like” Box Creations on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 09, 2011 @ 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 Pirate Ship mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Everyday Minerals Review and Giveaway

I’ve got some very awesome mineral make-up products to share with all of my fellow make-up lovers who read this blog! After reviewing the products from Everyday Minerals for the past several weeks, I think that you are all going to love these products and best of all I have a very special giveaway to offer one of my lucky readers!

About Everyday Minerals (taken from website):

Everyday Minerals products are free of nanotechnology, carmine,
dimethicone, fragrance, animal by products, bismuth oxychloride,
silicone and lake dyes. We are a vegan line, offering high quality mineral makeup at a price affordable to all women.

Everyday Minerals is about:
1) Being healthy. That means taking care of my skin by using all-natural products that are actually good for it! That's why Carina started this mineral makeup company.
2) Saving money. I am not going to pay 25-40 bucks on foundation. Period. Our products are ridiculously inexpensive. That's also why Carina started this mineral makeup company. Women shouldn¹t have to pay a premium for looking stunning.
3) Thinking globally in everyday actions. As a woman and mother with a daughter, women’s issues are very important to me. At Everyday Minerals, we believe that women’s issues are the moral battleground of this century. As such, we recently launched our Everyday Forward mission, in which all proceeds from a designated product go to a selected woman’s charity, such as Kiva.org, Womenforwomen.org, Care.org, and Globalliving.org. One day every woman in the world will
be given the love, dignity, and appreciation they deserve to fulfill their gifts and dreams.

My Thoughts:

 I was sent two amazing products to review from Everyday Minerals, now I did not get to choose the two items that I got to review but I did describe my skin tone to the lovely Carina and Kate so they could ship out the products they felt would be best for me and let me just say they nailed it! I also want to note that after letting them know my skin tone it didn’t take long at all for my products to arrive safe and sound at my door!

The first product I was sent was the Our First Date Eye Palette that is a collection of four gorgeous eye shades: Sea Horse (eye shadow), Comfy (eye shadow), Wallaby(eye shadow) and Black (eyeliner) all in an adorable little compact with it’s own applicator brush so that you have all you need to create a beautiful look! Now, the Everyday Minerals website has a guide to follow to create a super easy and very beautiful look just follow these four simple steps:

Step 1: Place Sea Horse all over the lid and brow bone.
Step 2: Use Comfy to darken the crease.
Step 3: Lightly sweep Wallaby over the crease to give a contrast and depth to the look.
Step 4: Finish the look with bold, black eyeliner

Of course I’m always up to try new looks so I immediately decided to try the colors just as stated on the website and I could not have been happier with the look that I achieved and best of all it took little time and looked amazing! I don’t know if you know this by now but I’m pretty particular about the eye products I use and generally I stick to the same brands and such but after using the Everyday Minerals eye shadows and eye liner I am totally in love! I love how silky smooth the colors go on and how light they feel on my eyes, it’s almost as if I’m not wearing much make-up at all! I also hate eye products that make it difficult to take them entirely off before bed at night but Everyday Minerals last all day with no touch-ups but they are very easy to remove before bed with simple makeup remover! I’ve also used these colors mixed with other colors of eyeshades that I already owned and I have to say that I am very impressed with Everyday Minerals and will continue to have them apart of my cosmetic cabinet from now on!

I was also sent the lovely Apple Blush, now I am a huge blush fan, and I wear it daily even if I don’t put on all my make-up blush is a must have to brighten up my entire look and I generally go with a light pink color so this blush was perfect! I have also been wearing the Apple Blush from Everyday Minerals just about daily and I’m loving it as well. I love that it goes on so smooth and it only takes just a tiny amount on my blush brush to give my face the nice rosey cheeks that I love to sport! I love that this blush works with foundation/powder or alone to create a very nice everyday look.


Bottom Line:

I’m loving my Everyday Minerals products and I can highly guarantee that I will be adding more of the eye shadow pallets and other products to my collection! I love the way they apply silky smooth and how amazing they look on my skin! I have never tried a mineral make-up that has preformed as well as Everyday Minerals and I can honestly say that they have changed the way I look at all mineral make-up!

If you are looking for beautiful mineral make-up to create gorgeous and unique looks for everyday or that special occasion I recommend checking out the products available from Everyday Minerals!

Buy It:
To purchase any of the products mentioned above and so many more visit the Everyday Minerals website!

Win It:
Everyday Minerals has generously offered one of my readers a blush and an eyeshadow of your winner's choice (ARV $16.00)!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Everyday Minerals and tell me another product or color you would love to try! 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 (2 extra)

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 Everyday Minerals be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Everyday Minerals on Twitter

6. “Like” Everyday Minerals on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 08, 2011 @ 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 two products mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Winners for the giveaways ending February 17-22!

Congratulations to all the lucky winners and so sorry for taking so long to choose them…school has been heck the last couple of weeks, but without further disruptions here are the lucky winners(all have been e-mailed by me and have 48hrs to respond to claim their prize)

 

 

• Winner of the Dinosaur Train Make a Match Game comment #29 Raven In A Blue Room
• Winner of the $40 Gift Certificate to The Natural Clothing Company comment #58 Nancy
• Winner of the Kiss Premium Lashes Prize Pack comment #40 pmj
• Winner of the QuackBack Item of Choice comment #13 Kristen
• Winner of the Chuggington DVD “Let’s Ride The Rails” comment #84 Becca Ann
• Winner of the Flipper Dino Egg Toothbrush Holder comment #66 Forget Shyness Reviews
• Winner of the Race Ya Wall Decals Set comment #49 kinnairdkath
• Winner of the Bricor Shower Head comment #145 Sarabeth

 

Again congrats to you all and I hope you all enjoy your prizes and don’t forget to keep checking back because I’ve got some really cool products to share with you and some pretty fine giveaways to go with the majority of them :0)!!!

Becoming Jewelry Review and Giveaway

As you all already know by now I love jewelry, but I love personalized jewelry even more than I do other everyday type jewelry! I have many unique and different pieces of jewelry but I only have a couple pieces of jewelry that is personalized and they are the pieces that mean the most to me. Recently while looking for a unique personalized piece with “Bug’s” name on it I found Becoming Jewelry and I was immediately intrigued and just loved every piece of jewelry on their website, so naturally when Tracey agreed to let me review a necklace and offer a giveaway I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to find the perfect necklace with my little man’s name on it.

About Becoming Jewelry (taken from website):

I love simple jewelry, nothing too frilly or fussy for me :) This is the design sensibility I bring to my work. I especially love creating personalized pieces that will be meaningful to my customers and will be a reminder of the good things in life. I make each piece of jewelry with my own two hands in my home studio in middle Tennessee.

Welcome to Becoming Jewelry!
~Tracey


My Thoughts:

I was given the opportunity to choose my favorite necklace from Becoming Jewelry’s beautiful selection (which was a hard choice) to review and I finally decided to go with the My Whole Heart Personalized Name Sterling Silver Mother’s Necklace and could not be happier with the way it turned out! After letting Tracey knowing my selection and all the information she would need to create my one of a kind personalized necklace, it didn’t take much time at all for it to me created and sitting on my doorstep!

Upon opening the package and actually seeing my necklace for the first time I was left breathless, this necklace is simple yet so beautiful and being it is the only personalized piece of jewelry I own with my son’s name on it just makes it that much more special. I can tell you that this is one piece I will never part with! I have worn this necklace daily and very rarely ever take it off my neck, even in Chemistry lab when we aren’t allowed to wear jewelry I tuck this little gem under my top and wear it anyway (hope my teacher isn’t reading this LOL)!

I have received so many compliments on this one single piece of jewelry that it’s not uncommon anymore for a mother on campus to see it and ask me where they could get one with there little one’s names on it. And I’m very happy to tell them Becoming Jewelry and give them the link to the website! As much as I’ve worn this necklace I can honestly say I love it and have absolutely no complaints what so ever about the quality or any other aspect of the entire process to order.

Bottom Line:
I absolutely love my necklace and I will not be leaving the house with out it around my neck, it makes it super easy for me to keep “Bug” close to my heart even when we aren’t together! I’m also thrilled at the price on these necklaces they are very affordable and so totally worth the money! I’ve got two really close friends that are expecting and already have a little one each and I’m thinking for the in-hospital baby gift about getting each of them one of the New! My Whole Heart necklaces with their little ones and the new addition (once I find out their names)! I know that both of them would be so thrilled to have one.

If you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry to add to your collection or maybe that perfect gift for someone special I highly recommend checking out the collections at Becoming Jewelry because I’m positive that you will find something that you will fall in love with!

Buy It:
To purchase any of the products mentioned above and so many more visit the Becoming Jewelry website!

Win It:
Tracey has so generously offered one of my lovely readers a $50 gift certificate to purchase their favorite piece or get something for a super special person!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Becoming Jewelry and tell me your favorite piece that you may buy if you win! 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 (2 extra)

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 Becoming Jewelry be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Becoming Jewelry on Twitter

6. “Like” Becoming Jewelry on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 08, 2011 @ 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.

Happy Feet Insoles Review

Ever since I’ve started College, I can tell you my daily activity level has pretty much doubled due to having to walk like 10 miles (okay, maybe not that far), but pretty far and I tend to wear my shape up shoes and to be honest they aren’t all that comfortable after so much walking so I thought it would be a good idea to get a pair of insoles to help. So, when I stumbled upon Happy Feet I immediately wanted to try them out, and when I was given the okay to do a review for you all here on The Cartoon Lovin’ Mama, I was double excited!

About Happy Feet (taken from website):

Why Happy Feet® Insoles?

It's Impossible to Feel Your Best When Your Feet Hurt!
Every day, the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps, sustaining thousands of pounds of pressure on the 26 bones in their feet. This constant compression causes pain, discomfort and fatigue. Over time serious disorders like arthritis, heel spurs and Plantar Fasciitis practically cripple many people. Fight back with Happy Feet® 100% glycerin filled insoles!

Features & Benefits of Happy Feet® Insoles:
Highly Breathable
Happy Feet® Insole's unique, breathable fabric wicks moisture to help keep your feet dry and comfortable all day long.

Anti-Microbial
Happy Feet® Insoles are anti-microbial and resist odor and mildew.

Versatile
For most shoes and activities – Happy Feet® Insoles are perfect in any flat, dress or casual shoe. They are designed for standing, walking, and low impact sports such as golf, bowling, hiking and aerobics.

Cost-Effective
Happy Feet® Insoles easily transfer to different pairs of shoes and last up to six times longer than ordinary brands.

Perfect Fit
Happy Feet® can easily be trimmed at the toe for a perfect fit.

Made in the USA
Happy Feet® insoles are manufactured in the USA by American craftsmen and come with both a one year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.

How Happy Feet® Insoles Work
Revolutionary 3-Way Action Design Provides Maximum Comfort.
Happy Feet's proprietary manufacturing process bonds a breathable, lightweight fabric to a high-strength bladder containing viscosity-controlled fluid to provide comfort and relief by distributing weight evenly, absorbing impact and massaging with every step. Happy Feet® Insoles fit in any shoe, including sandals, and are recommended by people everywhere to treat foot pain.

Three Distinct Actions Deliver Maximum Comfort:
Absorbs Impact & Reduces Fatigue
The insole “floats" the foot on a cool cushion of natural food-quality glycerin to absorb shock and fill all the spaces between your foot and shoe giving a custom fit. This action reduces fatigue, relieves foot, ankle knee and back pain.

Distributes Weight & Reduces Friction
With every step, dynamic fluid-flow spreads pressure across the entire foot, from heel to arch to ball of the foot. This is especially useful in relief of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.

Dynamic Fluid Action Massages with Every Step
The dynamic fluid action constantly massages nerve endings in the feet which facilitates circulation to the feet and legs.

To understand the physics that make Happy Feet® Insoles so effective, step back 2,500 years:
“Fluid moves in response to pressure, to the area of least resistance and greatest need.” – Archimedes

This lasting principle is exactly why Happy Feet® Insoles cushions and massages your feet with each and every step you take.

Happy Feet® Insoles help relieve:
Corns & Calluses
Heel Pain & Spurs
Poor Circulation
Back & Knee Pain
Metatarsalgia
Morton’s Neuroma
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Bunions
Fibromyalgia
Plantar Fasciitis

My Thoughts:

I was sent a pair of Happy Feet Insoles to review and as soon as they arrived I immediately put them in my favorite pair of shoes (my shape up shoes) and immediately started using them. I did notice that even with the largest insert for my shape up shoes the Happy Feet Insoles fit in perfectly and still left my feet room to move and breath freely.

The first day I wore my shoes with the Happy Feet Insoles it did take me some time to get used to the insoles. I’ve wore several different insoles in the past but none of them were quite like Happy Feet. The best way I can describe these insoles is that you can really feel the liquid moving as you walk to cushion the part of your foot where the most impact is going to be. I like to think of it as my feet getting a free massage, it really does feel quite nice once you get over the initial “weird” feeling from the liquids moving under your feet.

I have been wearing my Happy Feet Insoles daily since they arrived, which has been really close to two weeks or so and I can say I am in love with my Happy Feet….they really do make my feet happy :0), I know it sounds corny but it’s true! Before using the insoles everyday that I had to walk to two or more classes from the other side of campus, my feet, legs and lower back would be killing me by the time I got in bed at night, but now since using the Happy Feet Insoles I have no foot or leg pain and just very little back pain (though I don’t think it’s due to walking)!

Bottom Line:

I love my Happy Feet Insoles and I will never wear another pair of shoes without Happy Feet! After having so much success with the pair I received for review my husband who has extremely flat feet and constant foot and back pain has decided that he is going to try a pair for himself. I’ll tell you all right now I would rather fork out the $39.95 for Happy Feet Insoles that actually work than spend it on other brands that claim to work that doesn’t make a difference in the way our feet, legs and back feel.

If you are looking for the perfect pair of insoles to keep your feet and body feeling great after a long day of running or walking I highly recommend checking out Happy Feet Insoles, they really do give you a foot massage on the go!!!

Buy It:
To purchase Happy Feet Insoles visit the Happy Feet website!

Stay Connected:
Follow Happy Feet on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and promotions!

Win It:
Happy Feet has very generously offered one of my readers a pair of Happy Feet Insoles to try!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Happy Feet and tell me why you would like to win a pair of these insoles! 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 (2 extra)

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 Happy Feet be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow Happy Feet on Twitter

6. “Like” Happy Feet on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 132011 @ 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 Happy Feet Insoles mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Ultimate Bait Holders Review and Giveaway

Today I’m going to revile something to all of my readers that I have never posted ever before, although I’m not sure why I have never mentioned this but I have not so now’s as good a time as any….I’m a fisherwoman LOL! I love to fish and particularly Bass fish, we own a family Bass boat that my husband and I went in with my parents to purchase so as you can imagine my most favorite place in the world is out on the lake catching bass!!! Well I recently discovered a product on the InventHelpStore.com website that I was really interested in an I have to say I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review the Soft Bait Storage System!

About Ultimate Bait Holders (taken from website):

The Ultimate Bait Holder is a set of 5 storage products that organize bait and fishing accessories. The organizers can be installed anywhere on a boat – under storage lids, in storage compartments, on side walls, in fishing tote bags, etc. No tools are required for installation. The entire set retails for $94.95, or you can purchase each of the components individually at the listed prices. Eliminate the hassle of "fishing" around to untangle supplies and fish more efficiently with the Ultimate Bait Holder storage systems!

My Thoughts:

I was sent the Soft Bait Storage System ($24.95) to review and after looking over the description on their website and much debate over which holder we would benefit most from and after discussing it with everyone who uses the boat we decided to go with the Soft Bait Storage System that features:

Organizes worm bags and other soft plastic baits
Once in the holder, items stay attached with a security cord
Comes with 2 holders per pack

We use mostly worms when fishing so having the Soft Bait Storage System to store our bags of worms in easy reach, so that we don’t have to dig through tackle box after tackle box is really great! Our system arrived very quickly and we quickly found the perfect spot for our storage system, right in the middle of the boat attached to the side of the live well so that it will be well within reach of whomever is in the boat at any given time. The next step was to organize our massive stack of worms putting the most used packages into the storage system.

Now, with the weather being the way it has over the last month we haven’t gotten out to do much fishing, but my dad and uncle did take the boat out a week or so ago, and although they didn’t catch a thing they did utilize the new Soft Bait Storage System and my dad said that he absolutely loves having it on the boat and makes changing worms a lot faster and get’s you back to fishing. Not to mention it stays exactly where we put it and the worms are securely stored in the clips so we don’t have to worry about them being loose in the bottom of the boat which can cause major accidents!

Bottom Line:
So far we are all very happy with the soft bait storage system InventHelpStore.com sent us to review and we are looking forward to using it much more this summer and for now on. We also have our eye on the rest of the system so as soon as we can get some time to get everything organized I’m sure we will be purchasing the rest of the set and some multiples as well so that we can have all our baits in arms reach at all times.

If you are a fisherman or know somebody who is, we would highly recommend picking up a set of the Ultimate Bait Holders to keep all the best baits on hand! This set or individual pieces would make a wonderful gift for any time of the year but the first thing that comes to mind is most defiantly Father’s Day, I know it’s a little early to think about but is it really ever to early for great gift ideas??

Buy It:
To purchase the Soft Bait Storage System mentioned above and many more visit the InventHelpStore.com website!

Win It:
InventHelpStore.com has very generously offered one of my readers a Soft Bait Storage System to help get your soft baits organized!

Mandatory Entry: Visit InventHelpStore.com and tell me another product you would like to try! 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 (2 extra)

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 InventHelpStore.com be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

Giveaway ends March 08, 2011 @ 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 soft bait storage system mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Nuzzle 1.7 oz. bottle Eau de Parfum Review and Giveaway

As some of you may already know and the rest of you are fixing to discover is my love of fragrances and perfumes. I just love them and I guess you could call me a collector of fragrances! I love to have a large selection of scents to choose from on a daily basis because with only one fragrance it gets kinda boring right? Well as you probably do not know I come from a very small rural town in North West Arkansas so I pretty much grew up in the country and been around horses all my life and I have a deep love for them and now that we have a home in the country with plenty of land we are currently working on the land to get it ready for a couple of horses of our own so naturally when I was given the opportunity to review the Nuzzle fragrance I was so excited and couldn’t wait to share it with all of you!

About Nuzzle (taken from website):

Here is our story
We were all sitting around talking about the one thing we all loved the most-Horses! When Patrick mentioned he wanted to launch a fragrance especially designed for the equine enthusiast, we loved it. There are fragrances for everyone else. Rappers,movie stars etc. Isn't it about time horse riders have their own fragrance, designed just for them?

We knew it was not going to be easy. Equestrians are strong, dedicated, passionate about what they do, and are very particular.
We like to think of ourselves as an elite group.

We went to work, and finally after many long days and sleepless nights, it is with great pride and joy we give you Nuzzle™.

The Nuzzle Team

Patrick M. Etchaubard, President of Beauté Marketing, Inc.
He is the voice of reason and creativity. Patrick studied at the University of Haute Bretagne (France). With 20 years of experience in the packaging industry for fine fragrances, Patrick is higly respected in the fragrance industry.

Leslie Molinari, VP Sales and Marketing.
Horses have been her passion for almost 40 years. Her father introduced her to horses, and she will forever be grateful to him. Her experience has taken her from the show ring to the winner's circle of Thoroughbred Racing where she was the leading female trainer at many eastern racetracks. In the early 90's she decided to trade horses for horse power and went to work for BMW. Although she was top 25 in sales in the US, each of the 5 years she was employed; her heart was with the horses. So, in 1998 she fulfilled her dream of owning her own show barn. After 7 successful years, she sold the farm and bought a smaller property where she lives with her patient husband Sean and "chidren", which are 2 horses, 2 dogs, and 4 cats. She continues to ride and enjoys competing.

Sean Homsher,VP Operations.
Sean is very instrumental in making sure the inventory of Nuzzle products is up to date and orders are shipped in a timely fashion.Sean loves travelling and will tell you everything you need to know about Nuzzle when you meet him at a Horse Expo across the nation.


Béatrice Caboche
Rounding out this dynamic team is Beatrice Caboche, our fashion conscience, who comes with her own set of credentials. She has twenty years experience in the fragrance/cosmetic industry as a supplier of caps and bottles. Béatrice has a degree in Marketing from the University of Lille, France. Beatrice has helped launch and contributed to the success of many fragrance designers.

Patrick, Béatrice and their daughter Kim are passionate equestrians. Kim shows her horse Cléo on a regular basis in the Northeast region.


My Thoughts:

I was sent Nuzzle 1.7 oz. bottle Eau de Parfum and a tube of the Nuzzle™ Lip Moisturizer to review and I must say they arrived very quickly and was very well packaged so they were not damaged in any way during shipping (very important to me). I can honestly say that after reading the description of the fragrance I just could not wait to get it open and give the fragrance a try.

I immediately had to try on the fragrance and I have to tell you this is one of the best fragrances I have ever had the pleasure of trying. The fragrance itself is such a light and refreshing fragrance that really reminds me of the open country air in spring time. The design of the bottle itself is simple yet elegant and comes with a very cute horseshoe charm that can be put on a chain of your choice to make a lovely little charm necklace or bracelet. I decided to use mine as a necklace and I’ve worn it quite often, it’s one of my go to necklaces for my everyday wear.

Not only do I wear the cute little charm often, I’ve found that I choose the Nuzzle fragrance over the other fragrances I have on my bathroom counter for my everyday wear, it’s so causal that it fit’s in on just about every occasion and everyone seems to love it! Usually I get board of the same fragrance day after day but with Nuzzle it’s hard to get board because it just smells so wonderful and it’s fragrance notes blend so well that it seems like it’s a new fragrance every time I spray it. I love the fact that I only have to spray once and the fragrance last all day vs. other fragrances that have to be reapplied during the day. I’ve gotten so many compliments on this fragrance since I started wearing it.

I was also sent the Nuzzle™ Lip Moisturizer to review and I’m also in love with this lip gloss it’s perfect for everyday wear and really adds a nice finishing touch to my everyday “natural” look and feels so luscious on my lips. I keep this lip moisturizer in my purse at all times and I wear it quite often. I just love the soft pink shimmer this lip gloss gives to my lips to really complete my look.

Bottom Line:

I love the Nuzzle fragrance and lip moisturizer I was sent to review and I can tell you one thing I will be purchasing more once I run out of the items I was sent. Also I’ve noticed that Nuzzle offers men’s fragrances and I can’t wait to get my hubby the Wrangler cologne to try out. The one thing that I have to comment about this company besides the fact that their fragrance smells wonderful is that each purchase you make helps save the abused and neglected horses.

If you are looking for a fragrance to get in touch with your inner cowgirl, I totally suggest picking up a bottle of Nuzzle and helping save the horses!

Buy It:
To purchase the Nuzzle products mentioned above and more visit the Nuzzle website!

Win It:
Nuzzle has very generously offered one of my readers two a Nuzzle 1.7 oz. bottle Eau de Parfum.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Nuzzle and tell me why you would like to win this! 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 (2 extra)

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 Nuzzle be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Share this giveaway on a linky, blog, website or forum (2 extra per link)

Giveaway ends March 04, 2011 @ 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 Nuzzle products mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Fling Bins Review and Giveaway

Ok, so last weekend we had “Bug’s” 3rd birthday party and as all parents the worst part of a birthday party that involves small kids is the clean up, am I right? Well when I was introduced to Fling Bins, I knew they would be perfect for “Bug’s” party and the fact that they come in cute party designs to match the festive décor is awesome! So, when I was offered the opportunity to review 2 Fling Bins I was very happy to do so!

About Fling Bins (taken from website):

Put Trash in its Place With Innovative Recycling And Trash Containers

New Flings Pop-Up Bins make trash and recycling easier in your home, at events, parties or on the go. These decorative, portable containers arrive flat for easy storage and pop open in an instant. All Flings Bins have a 13-gallon capacity and feature an easy-to-use drawstring closure. And each Flings Recycle Bin saves 60 cans or bottles from the landfill. Try Flings Pop-Up Bins at your next gathering, big game day party or just around home.

Flings Bins: The Ultimate Collapsible Trash Cans!
These bins are convenient, portable, and always ready to use. Place them around your event and let trash and recycling clean-up take care of itself so you can sit back and enjoy the party. Afterward, just tie and toss or recycle and re-use. Flings Bins really make cleanup a snap! Every Flings Bin is 13 gallon tall kitchen size and leak proof so you never have to worry about a thing.

You can use them anytime and anywhere: dinner parties, graduation, music festivals, tailgating, picnics in the park, weddings, holiday gatherings, sports games, at home, and more!
4 for $15.99
10 for $29.99
Party Pack (2 bins + 2 Recycle Bins) for $15.99

Our Thoughts:

We were sent two Fling Bins to review to use at “Bug’s” birthday party so the designs we were sent was the Celebration Bin and the Birthday Bin. Our bins arrived in plenty of time for “Bug’s” party and I was quite happy to see them to say the least. On the day of the party we set up the bins and let me just stress how easy it is to set these bins up. All you have to do is take the bin from the wrapper and then simply pop it open and make sure the metal straps are stable to make the bin stand and your done! Super simple and easy and best of all you can put them in plain site of your party guest so that they don’t have to wonder where to put their trash once they have eaten their cake and ice-cream and the bins blend right into the party décor so they aren’t an eyesore like a plain black trash bag would be.

I set the two Fling Bins we were sent on each side of my parents bar so that they were easily assessable to each of the guest and the both of them held all the party trash very easily and I was so happy to see that they are leak proof, lets just say with a bunch of kids running around throwing away cups with ice and pop still in them and then bowls of half eaten ice-cream to not have a wet sticky mess when we took out the Fling Bins was so wonderful and make after party clean up a whole lot less work. We just simply tied up the bags and tossed the entire Fling Bin into the dumpster and went about our cleaning of the dishes and such. It really could not have been more convenient nor easier to use Fling Bins vs. traditional trash cans or garbage bags.

(You can see our Fling Bins in the corner, if you want to see more party pics check back in a day or so for a whole post about the party!)

Bottom Line:

I absolutely love Fling Bins and I can guarantee that for all my parties and get together from now on from birthdays, anniversary parties, BBQ’s and holiday parties I will be investing in Fling Bins and I am more than happy to recommend them to everyone I know and those of you whom I don’t know personally because I feel like this is one product I can fully stand behind and I know you will be thrilled with! I do wish though that they would come up with a cute little design for baby showers, I have two to host in the next few months and although I’m planning on using Fling Bins I would love to have a blue and a pink bin for each of the showers ;)!

If you are currently planning a party or get together of some sort I highly recommend picking up a Fling Bin or two for easy trash access and easy clean up to make your job as host a whole lot easier! They also even offer recycle bins so that you can make sure your guest separate the recyclables from the trash for you for easy disposal.

Buy It:
To purchase the Fling Bins mentioned above and so many more designs visit the Fling Bins website!

Win It:
Fling Bins has so very generously offered two(2) of my readers two (2) of the same design Fling Bins I received.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Fling Bins and tell me what design you would most like to use or a design that you would like to see produced (mine would be a Fling Bin for baby showers)! 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 (2 extra)

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 Fling Bins be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Fling Bins on Facebook

6. Share this giveaway on a linky, blog, website or forum (2 extra per link)

Giveaway ends March 04, 2011 @ 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 Fling Bins mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Vaultz® by Ida Stream Products Review and Giveaway

Do you have a bunch of index cards lying around loose? Maybe you keep all your addresses, recipes, or you use index cards to enter sweepstakes, whatever you use your index cards for do you have a special place to keep them from getting lost or damaged? If not you want to keep reading this post! I was recently introduced to Ida Stream Products and more specifically Vaultz® and their acrylic index card box, and I just knew that it would be perfect to hold all my favorite pictures that I am planning on using in upcoming scrapbook pages!

About Vaultz® (taken from website):

Vaultz® is a wide range of fashionable security storage products that allow you to store, transport and protect the things that are important to you. Whether you are a DJ who needs a safe place to store CDs, an attorney moving around with sensitive case files, a construction worker with an expensive set of tools, or just someone who wants a good place to keep a nice camera, there is a Vaultz® product for you. The range represents an attractive array of storage products for just about anything you can think of. These products are sturdy, with reinforced chrome-steel corners, metal support rails, and offer security with combination or key locks.

If it’s important, play it safe and LOCK IT UP!™ with Vaultz®.

My Thoughts:

Vaultz® was kind enough to send me a Vaultz Acrylic Index Card Box, 4x6,Acrylic White to review and I must say that it arrived very quickly and I immediately set to work organizing my pictures by date in my box. I love that I can buy the index card dividers and put the date of the pictures or the holidays they were taken on or around to help organize them so they are easy to find while scrap booking and sure beats a stack of unorganized photos!

The box also came with a key that is really nice especially if you have a little one around that likes to get into the photos and stickers in the box and mix them up and use stickers on the wall and anywhere else he can possibly put them. I have been using my box for quite sometime now and I love it! It’s small enough to take with me in my travel bag when I know I will be away from home for some time and want to scrapbook or if I just want to show off our family pictures to friends. Since I started using the box I can tell you it’s been though a heck of a time getting dropped, knocked off the table and just general usage and I must say it has held up wonderfully, no cracks, chips or scratches to be seen. I love my “photo box”!

Bottom Line:

I am thrilled to have this little box to keep my most precious photos and scrap booking stickers in and organized. It is truly nice to be able to transport them with out all the hustle of taking them in albums or boxes and best of all I can lock the box when I’m not using it so that my photos don’t get dumped out or sticky little boy fingers don’t mess them up! Now that I have found Vaultz® and discovered their line of durable and secure products I can say that I will be turning to them for all my storage and organizational needs. I’ve actually got my eye on the Locking media binder for all my favorite CD’s to keep my hubby from taking them from my car to his truck!

If you are looking for a secure way to store your index cards, recipes or favorite photos, I recommend investing in a couple of the Vaultz Acrylic Index Card Boxes or some of the other products to make storing your favorite items safe and secure!

Buy It:
To purchase the Vaultz Acrylic Index Card Box mentioned above and so much more visit the Vaultz® website!

Win It:
Vaultz® has so very generously offered two of my readers a Vaultz Acrylic Index Card Box each.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Vaultz® and tell me what other product you would like to own! 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 (2 extra)

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 Vaultz® be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Vaultz® on Facebook

Giveaway ends March 04, 2011 @ 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 Vaultz® product mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.