Bright Starts “Sense”ational Stocking Stuffers Review and Giveaway (Christmas Wish List 2010)

While doing so research on my Christmas shopping list a while back I realized the for the first time since “Bug” was a tiny baby I have a baby on my shopping list and my first thoughts was “I don’t have a clue want to get this new baby” but lucky I was offered the chance to review several amazing little stocking stuffers that will help engage the babies senses and tons of fun for the little one from Bright Starts, so how could I say no????

About Bright Starts (Taken From Website):

Our Thoughts:

We were sent several toys from Bright Starts to review that would make amazing gifts for babies this holiday season as stocking stuffers or gift basket fillers!!! We received the following to review:

Lil Squeakers ($3.99) babies will squeeze these plush characters for the ultimate surprise that is sure to delight! Lil Squeakers make the perfect fit for baby’s small hands. Available at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us.

Take n’ Shake ($4.99) – pull these fun toys and watch them go! Take n’ Shake toys come different characters that can easily attach to strollers and carriers. Available at Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Target.

Lights, Tiger, Action ($5.99) - this adorable tiger character bobbles back and forth activating lights and sounds. This character is sure to light up your baby’s world with 12 silly sounds and blinking lights. Available at Toys R Us.

Spin Around Pals ($5.99) - this fun toy is sure to keep baby engaged with 3 rotating toys and activities. The multiple textures of the frog rattle ball, mirror, and spinning elephant ears stimulate babies self discovery. Available at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Babies R Us Canada.

All these toys are so adorably cute and each of them are brightly colored to really catch the babies attention and help them focus their little eyes! I think all of these toys would make a wonderful addition to any baby gift basket or stocking stuffer this holiday season or even if you are looking to go to a baby shower ( I’ve got one coming up really soon myself) these would make amazing gifts for the new babies! Each of the toys mentioned above have different features to keep your baby engaged and grab their attentions!

I spit the above toys into two gift baskets for this holiday season, one of my husband’s aunts and uncles recently had a new baby and one of my closest friends has a little boy due this April so she will be getting one of the gift baskets, but we did take my husband’s aunts and uncles baby boy his gift basket on Thanksgiving and they have reported that he has really enjoyed the two toys that we gave him and that they have held up great to his play and his brother and sister who also has been enjoying them.

Bottom Line:

I think all four of the above mentioned Bright Starts baby toys are wonderful and they each do something a little different which I feel is important to keep a babies attention and really help their senses develop! We used several toys and such from Bright Starts when “Bug” was a baby and we loved them just as we love all four of the stocking stuffers we were sent to review and we feel that toys from Bright Starts is both very safe for your baby and very high quality and will last for quite some time “Bug” has actually still got most of his Bright Starts baby toys that he played with when he was little that are still in great shape and have much more use to them and when we welcome our next bundle of joy you can bet we will be introducing him/her to Bright Starts as well!

If you are looking for the perfect stocking stuffers or gift basket fillers for tiny babies or new parents this holiday season I really recommend checking out these four toys available from Bright Starts!

Buy It:
To purchase the items mentioned above from Bright Starts visit your local Wal-Mart or Toys ‘R‘ Us!

Win It:
Bright Starts has graciously offered one of my lucky readers the Lil’ Squeakers and Take n’ Shake!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Bright Starts and tell me another item you would like to give or receive this holiday season! 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 Bright Starts be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Bright Starts on Facebook

Giveaway ends Dec 22, 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 Bright Starts toys mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

FragranceNet.com Review and Giveaway (Christmas Wish List 2010)

Every year we each make up our Christmas Wish lists and I usually on have one or two items on mine but every year there is one thing that always seems to end up on my list and that’s a new bottle of perfume! I’m not very particular about the brand or the scent if it smells good and is affordable then it will make a perfect gift or stocking stuffer for me, I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to Christmas gifts. So while I was looking for the perfect perfume for my list this year I discovered FragranceNet.com and their amazing selection of fragrances for really affordable prices so when they agreed to allow me to do a review and giveaway right here on The Cartoon Lovin’ Mama I was so excited!

About FragranceNet.com (Taken From Website):

FragranceNet.com was created to provide the public with access to the largest inventory of genuine, brand name fragrances, skincare, candles, aromatherapy and more at the lowest possible prices.

All of the products showcased throughout FragranceNet.com are 100% original brand names. We only carry genuine brand name perfumes and colognes. Absolutely NO imitations or knock-offs.

We work hard to ensure that your shopping experience is completely satisfying and enjoyable. Along with great selection and prices, our number one concern is offering superior customer service and our staff is here to serve you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. 1-800-727-3867 or 631-582-5204 or info@fragrancenet.com

FragranceNet.com is a distributor of genuine brand name fragrances and skincare. Please note that we are not the manufacturer of any of the products we carry.

My Thoughts:

I was sent the Thierry Mugler Variety Set by Thierry Mugler that is a 4 piece mini variety set with La Rose, Alien, Angel & Eau De Star (All EDP Minis) to review. I have to say that making my choice of what to review was quite an ordeal, even though I’m pretty easy to shop for when it comes to fragrance products when I’m shopping for myself that’s a completely different story and when you put a place like FragranceNet.com right in front of me and say go for it, that just doubles the hard decision to be made! I have to say that this site has all of the great brand name fragrances at very reasonable prices that will allow you to give an awesome gift without breaking the bank this holiday season! I was thrilled with the customer service I received and my order was shipped super fast and I had my variety set in my hands in just a matter of days!

I absolutely love the Thierry Mugler Variety Set I was sent to review, all four fragrances are just heavenly and I can honestly say that I love them all and don’t have an absolute favorite but I’ve always been fond of the Angle scent but since trying the other 3 I can say honestly that Thierry Mugler has the best fragrances I have ever smelt….EVER!

Now, maybe Thierry Mugler isn’t your fragrance cup of tea and that’s alright because FragranceNet.com has so many other fragrance designers to choose from including Christina Audigier (ED Hardy), Nina Ricci, Hugo Boss, Paul Sebastian and Dolce & Gabbana just to name a few and that’s just a mighty few of the selections they offer online! I’ve spent quite some time surfing their website and I love how easy it is to navigate and find the perfect fragrance you are looking from for women or men….or maybe you are looking for gift sets and they have you covered there too as well as they offer a line of makeup, hair care, aromatherapy and candles, so they pretty much have everything you are going to need for everyone on your holiday list this year including a selection of fragrances for kids…how awesome is that!

Not only does FragranceNet.com have a great selection of almost everything you could be shopping for this holiday season they also have some of the best prices that I have ever seen…they are so affordable and when you start purchasing fragrances your going to get into spending some cash and this time of year don’t we all need to save a buck or two and that’s exactly what you will do if you buy from FragranceNet.com

Bottom Line:

I’m so happy to have found FragranceNet.com and I can tell you that from now on when I’m in the market for a new fragrance I will be turning to FragranceNet.com for all my needs either for myself or as a gift!!! I have had a wonderful experience dealing with FragranceNet.com and their selection is absolutely fabulous! I have a couple of people on my shopping list this year that I know would love a new fragrance so now that I know where to buy them I just have to decide on which of the many fragrances I want to buy them!!!

If you are looking to give a gift of fragrances this holiday season I truly recommend FragranceNet.com because they have amazing customer service, fabulous selection, lighting fast shipping and of course prices that will make your bank account very happy!!

Buy It:
To purchase the Thierry Mugler Variety Set by Thierry Mugler visit FragranceNet.com!

Contest Alert:
Be sure to head over to FragranceNet.com for your chance to win a $250 Shopping Spree!!! Imagine all the goodies you could stock up on with that kinda dough!

Win It:
FragranceNet.com is so awesome because they have offered one of my extremely lucky readers a $50 gift certificate to purchase their favorite fragrance with!

Mandatory Entry: Visit FragranceNet.com and tell me your favorite fragrance they offer that you would use your gift certificate on 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 FragranceNet.com be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. Follow FragranceNet.com on Twitter

6. “Like” FragranceNet.com on Facebook

Giveaway ends Dec 22, 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 Thierry Mugler Variety Set by Thierry Mugler mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Crunchy Clean Review and Giveaway!*CLOSED*

The giveaway is now closed and the winner has been sent her winning e-mail!

First off I would like to thank Ashley from Crunchy Clean for giving me a chance to review the Vanilla Lavender EO everyday detergent and for offering one lucky winner a regular size detergent of their choice and scent.

This is directly from the Crunchy Clean website:
This amazing clothes detergent is ALL NATURAL and ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!

-Phosphate free
-Chlorine free
-Non-toxic
-Planet friendly

This detergent works in any temperature wonderfully, and is also high efficiency compatible!

SAFE for sensitive skin and baby skin

You can choose ONE scent to try - please choose the scent you'd like to try in the drop down box.

This is for approximately 160 loads of detergent in a regular machine, 320 loads in a high efficiency machine.

Item will be shipped in a recyclable, reclosable paper bag with directions for use.
Price: $17.50

Now onto my Review:

I have to say this detergent smells so wonderful! I was able to smell it before I even opened my mail box the day the sample arrived and of course I couldn’t wait to use it on a load of laundry (and boy do I have plenty)! I hurried up and got me a load and put it in the washer and added the detergent with the recommended amount and I am pleasantly surprised that it actually left my clothes just as soft as it would have if I would have added my usual brand of fabric softener to the rinse cycle. And unlike many of the other detergents I have tried the smell actually stayed with the clothing thru the drying and sitting in the closet for a day!!!! I am very excited about ordering a full size detergent soon though I’m not quite sure the fragrance I want to order this time she offers a long list of fragrances (69 to be exact) that it’s a hard decision.

To buy these wonderful detergents visit the Crunchy Clean website.

To win you’re very own regular size detergent of you’re favorite scent all you have to do is be a follower of my blog and visit the Crunchy Clean website and leave me a comment here with you’re favorite scent and the comment must include you're e-mail address. The giveaway will run from Aug. 21 until Sept.1 at 11:59pm CT. I will choose a winner via Random.org and will send the winner an e-mail and they have 72 hours to reply with there mailing address or another winner will be chosen.

Coraline.....Greatest Animated Movie Ever?

Well I finally got around to seeing Coraline I was unable to catch it in theaters and now I want to kick myself in the butt for it. I know this movie would be awesome on a big screen in 3-D!!! I have to admit I love animated films and this one is no exception it is perfect in every way for me it has the dark/goth feel and gives Tim Burton a run for his money on his Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride! This movie in no way lets you slip into boredom it keeps exciting new twist at every turn it keeps getting stranger and stranger but I have to give it 5 stars and 3 thumbs way up! If you haven't seen this movie yet RENT IT!! I will say tho that there are some scenes in the film that may not be suitable for smaller children and that it may scare them a bit.