Sunday, December 30, 2012

Lil Diner Baby Dish Holder Review!

If you have a toddler, have had a toddler or have even been a sitter for toddler then you know how much fun they can be.

On the other hand, you also know how frustrating it can be..especially during mealtimes. Here in my home it feels like mealtimes are a constant battle. Morning, noon or night there's always various foods splattered here and there; Sophie never fails to impress/baffle me with her food flinging abilities. For someone so small she sure does have one heck of an arm!

For months now I've been searching high and low for a solution to our food/bowl flinging problem but could never find anything that worked. Those toddler bowls with the flimsy suction cups attached to the bottom? Forget about it! Sophie managed to pop them off countless times and after many failed attempts it seemed to me that the only way I'd get the darn thing to really stay and be of any use would be to superglue the darn thing to her High Chair tray.

Not handing over her plate/bowl was simply not an option either. I just so happen to be a Mother to the worlds most stubborn child, who would rather NOT eat than have me feed her. Such a ridiculous thing but unless she's the one holding the spoon/fork and in control of the bowl, we don't make much progress.

You can imagine how intrigued I was to read about Lil' Diners Baby Dish Holder. While I was hopeful as I read about their invention I was also skeptical as well. Nothing else had worked so why should this product be any different?

Regardless of the outcome I had to take a chance and find out. I sent an email out to the company inquiring about doing a review for their Baby Dish Holder and was excited to get an email back approving my request.

In no time at all I had a Lil' Diners Baby Dish Holder in my hands and was applying it to Sophie's High Chair tray during dinner.




Once I'd suctioned the cup to her tray I was amazed and appalled. I was amazed that I'd finally found something that worked against Sophie's mealtime shenanigans but yes, I was also appalled. I was appalled that I, the adult, couldn't get the thing back off! Score!

Lil' Diners Baby Dish Holder definitely works and is most certainly baby proof! In the two weeks that we've been using the Baby Dish Holder, we haven't had a single incident and how glad we've been.

If I seem overly impressed with this product, don't let its simplistic design fool you. I may be a frazzled Mom with a future baseball player in the works but that doesn't take away from the awesomeness of this product.

Unlike most suction cup products of its kind, the Lil' Diners Baby Dish Holder has not one suction cup but THREE. One on the top to hold your plate/cup/bowl in place and two on the bottom to ensure maximum suction to whatever smooth surface you stick it to.

One of the best parts about this product isn't that it protects from accidents or that its so easy to use but that its capable of being used anywhere there's a smooth surface. Whether your dropping your little one off at the sitters or going out for dinner as a family, Lil' Diners Baby Dish Holder is totally portable and can be taken anywhere!

Talk about a lifesaver. I've been at my wits end for a long while now with Sophie's destructive dinner habits but Lil' Diner has guaranteed mealtimes will be peaceful and mess free from now till the end of time!

To find out more about Lil' Diner and their products you can head over to their website and take a look around!

To stay connected with Lil' Diner visit them on Facebook!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Jewel Of The Lion Fudgy Goodness Review and Giveaway! ENDS 1/13

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have a pretty sizable sweet tooth. My greatest weakness is an ice cold Soda, followed closely by the occasional Milkyway. As a kid I used to be able to consume large amounts of sweets without it ever phasing me but in recent years my taste for sweets has taken a drastic nosedive. I still frequent my local gas station for my jumbo Pepsi but usually pass on the additional sweets I used to crave on a regular basis; I especially pass on the Chocolate.

During the Holidays there are two types of sweets I live for and that make the season bearable: Cordial Cherries and Fudge.

There isn't much to say about Cordial Cherries except that they are the one of the most delicious treats EVER and best served frozen.

Fudge on the other hand, I could talk about Fudge all day. Even though I can't eat much of it in one sitting due to its natural richness, Fudge is one of my absolute favorite Holidays treats.

When we were kids my Mama would always make two kinds of Fudge for our family: Chocolate and Chocolate Walnut Fudge. While I'm not a fan of the walnuts or any nuts really, besides pistachios, it was always great to be able to sneak into the Kitchen while her back was turned and sneak a fresh square from the Fridge while she continued her Holiday baking.

Always what she calls a "Fudge Purist" our Mama never deviated from the traditional Fudge..but by sheer luck and pregnancy cravings alone, a late night Etsy search had me stumbling over a brilliant woman who did! I knew without even scrolling down that I would be hooked but even as I started to salivate I couldn't help my continued perusal of Julie's shop. I blame the baby!

I set out to speak with Julie immediately about reviewing her fudgy masterpieces and was delighted to hear back less than 24 hours later with her enthusiastic consent.

Scrumptious Fudge aside, I was blown away by Julie as a person. She was all too happy to chat with me about her start in Fudge as well as life in general. She was so sweet, so genuine and relaxed. Even with my track record of being socially awkward, I had no problem communicating easily with her about what ever happened to come up.

Julie had absolutely no problem with sending me a sampler pack of her Fudge to review. She very generously allowed me to choose 4 types of Fudge and I'll tell you what, it was quite a tough decision. I spent an entire day deliberating over what fudgy goodness I wanted to try.

Maybe a short rundown of Julie's flavors will give you an idea of how cruel it was to leave me with such a tough decision ;)

In her shop at this very moment Julie has:

Bubblegum
Buttered Popcorn
Caramel
Chai Tea
Candy Corn
Caramel Popcorn
Carrot Cake
Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust
Cherry Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust
Cherry Cordial with Belgian Milk or Dark Chocolate
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cheesecake with Oreo Cookie Crust
Coke Float
Cotton Candy
Creme Brulee
Creme De Methe
Creme Soda
Dark chocolate Chipotle
Dr.Pepper
Fruit Punch
German Chocolate
Green Tea

and thats not even all of them!

 In the end I decided on these delicious flavors:

Creme Brulee

Keylime




Chocolate Walnut (for my Mama of course)


And of course, my all time favorite, Cheesecake!




Once my decision had been made it seemed like just a handful of days before my Fudge was at my front door. I was thrilled and couldn't get the box open fast enough! What awaited me was beyond my expectations. I had 4 wonderful flavors delicately wrapped in tissue paper, sealed with a too-stinkin-cute candy cane sticker and a handwritten note from Julie herself. In my experience with sponsors, you DON'T see that everyday! I was impressed way before I even took the first bite!

And I guess I should probably mention how good that first bite was. The Cheesecake was first, because it IS my favorite, and boy did I melt into that first bite. I had been expecting an artificial Cheesecake flavor and nothing could have prepared me from the realness of what I was tasting. I didn't even need to close my eyes and pretend, I could have sworn I was eating a bit of chilled Cheesecake!

The other 3 flavors were just as real and just as spectacularly delicious. I had never, ever tried anything that tasted so close to the real deal in my life! Even the Key Lime was spot on.

In my house Julie has been labeled the Fudge Master or as my Mama calls her, The Master of Fudgy Goodness. Whatever she's called, suffice it to say Julie has our stamp of approval when it comes to Fudge!

I should mention now that Julie doesn't just whip up delicious Fudge but she also has a list of other yummy creations as well including Cookies, Scones and Breads. Is that a plus or what?!

To find out more about Julie and her delicious shop, visit her on Etsy!

Follow her on Facebook!

So now that I've hopefully got my readers salivating enough, would anyone happen to be interested in a lovely giveaway?

Julie has been good enough to offer my readers the chance to win their own One Pound Sample Pack from her Etsy shop, JewelOfTheLion!

You know what to do. To get your entries in just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and keep your fingers crossed for some superb Fudgy Goodness!



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Friday, December 21, 2012

Sooth Away The Stress Of Breast Feeding! Medela Tender Care Hydrogel Pads #Giveaway! Ends 1/03

Disclosure: I received Medela product(s) and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.

Early on in my first pregnancy I decided I wanted to Breastfeed my baby. Breast is best and all that but nobody ever told me it would be easier said than done.

Immediantly after Sophie was born they had to place her in the nursery to be monitored due to low blood sugar. They kept her for a full 24 hours and seeing as how I wasn't even allowed to hold her, bottle fed her until the 24hr observation period was over.

As you can imagine I was ecstatic to finally have my baby back with me and immediately set out to nurse. I'm sure you know what comes next..

Absolute and utter confusion on Sophie's part. Due to having been bottle fed for the first day of her life, it was a bit of a challenge for her to adjust to the change. Despite 2 more days of attempted breast-feeding, there wasn't much progress, that is not until we got home.

After much coaxing and frustration, we finally managed to get her going on the breast-feeding band wagon and afterwards there was just no stopping her. She either slept or nursed, nothing in between; breast-feeding soon went from bliss to a nightmare.

As it turns out, we didn't find out for months later, Sophie and I had both contracted yeast. Breast-feeding was never relaxing nor was it pleasant; most days I dreaded our established routine and cried while thinking to myself that every time was the last time and I'd be breaking out the bottles..

All in all it took about 5 months to rid us both of yeast but I will never forget the constant pain I suffered from day to day.

Now, 18 months later, we're a successful breast-feeding pair and still going strong. This doesn't mean I don't still suffer from occasional pain. Being pregnant with my second baby has my body undergoing a dozen changes and tenderness is a big one.

You can imagine how glad I was when I got the approval from Medela to review their Tender Care Hydrogel pads.
Finally, some relief from the double attack I was under!

Each pack of Medela Tender Care Hydrogel Pads contains 4 reusable, sterile gel pads and easy-to-use instructions. Just remove the gel pad from its wrapper, and gently place directly over the sensitive area. 2 easy steps that will have you on your way to relief.

Although Sophie and I don't breast-feed as often as we used to, I'm still plagued by occasional soreness and found that Medela Tender Care Hydrogel Pads worked wonders for my discomfort starting with the very first use.

If you've been plagued by tenderness brought on by breast-feeding and have searched for a cure, then look no further than Medela's Tender Care Hydrogel Pads! I'll definitely be stocking up on this handy creations after the new baby gets here!

To find out more about Medela or their products you can visit them online!

Become a Facebook or Twitter follower!

In addition to being able to review for Medela, I've also been given the awesome opportunity to host a Giveaway for their Tender Care Hydrogel Pads as well! Quite simply that means one of you fantastic readers will be given the chance to win a pack of these amazing soothers!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to get your entries in and keep those fingers crossed!!

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Proof That Santa is Real! iCaughtSanta FLASH #Giveaway! Ends 12/23

HTML: ss www-icaughtsanta-com-full-2892What would the perfect gift be for any child? Catching Santa leaving gifts under their tree! You can surprise the kids in your life with I Caught Santa! All you do us upload your picture 1355960847650into their site and then pick the pose of Santa that suits you best, it's that easy and you can try it here for free before you buy! Unlike videos this is a photo you can frame or put in your memory book as a lasting easy to access treasure that is sure to surprise and delight your children! Plus this year you can get your pictures in black and white, with Hispanic Santa or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer! iCaughtSanta.com has offered a special discounted price for you! Normally priced $9.99 you can catch Santa in your home this year for only $7.50. Get your discount by clicking this link: http://www.icaughtsanta.com/contest. iCaughtSanta.com is also giving away iPads this season enter to win one here! You Can enter to win your photo of Santa in your home by completing the easy mandatory Rafflecopter entries. Do one or do them all that's up to you! a Rafflecopter giveaway I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

My Baby's Heartbeat Bear Review and Giveaway! Ends 12/29

Disclosure: I received a My Baby's Heartbeat Bear product(s) and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.


When I was pregnant with Sophie I remember wanting to capture every possible moment of my pregnancy. I recorded movie clips of movement in my belly, took a VHS tape with me to every ultrasound appointment and took notes on every day/week of my pregnancy. There wasn't anything I wasn't fascinated with when it involved the little life I was growing in my belly.

With this new pregnancy I've been a little more contained but with these last few months closing in I've been worried I haven't done enough. I've gotten the customary black&white ultrasound pictures, made arrangements to have belly shots taken and still have continued to read updates for each passing week of my pregnancy. Still..I feel like there's something I'm missing. Something more I could be doing to remember these precious months.

My Baby's Heartbeat Bear has given me the opportunity I've been looking for; a unique and precious way to capture an unforgettable part of my pregnancy.

My Baby's Heartbeat Bear sent me one of their darling Heartbeat creatures to try here at home. I was sent their Heartbeat Owl in Pink and if the design wasn't a big selling point, its purpose sure was. Nestled inside my Heartbeat Owl and secured by two lines of Velcro is a recording device that records the sound of my baby's Heartbeat! My dilemma was solved and all by this sweet little Owl and its hidden treasure.

Every Heartbeat Bear/Animal comes packaged with an incredibly soft plush of your choice and its own  heartbeat recorder.

Just take the recorder along to your next Doctor appointment or if you have a Doppler listening device at home, turn on the switch and record the sweet sound of your Baby's thriving heartbeat. Afterwards, just open up the Velcro backing, insert the recorder and Voila! Now you're ready to begin listening to your little one's heartbeat whenever or wherever you please! Simply press the heartbeat logo located on the front of your Heartbeat Plush and enjoy.

My Baby's Heartbeat Bear is great for expecting Moms, Dads and even Grandparents! They'd be a great baby shower gift!

Unfortunately for me my Heartbeat Owl was delivered AFTER I had already left to head to my last Doctors appointment so I haven't been able to capture my sweet girls heartbeat BUT my end of the month appointment is coming up on the 31st so I'll definitely be keeping my Heartbeat recorder handy!

To find out more about My Baby's Heartbeat Bear just head over to their Website!

Become a Facebook fan!
I'm so excited to be able to capture my baby's heartbeat in such a cute and unique way and almost as equally excited to announce the $25 Gift Certificate My Baby's Heartbeat Bear is giving away to one of my winners!!

You know what to do next. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below and get those entries in! Remember, the more entries you fill out the more chances you have a winning! Good luck readers!



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Hug Your Littles A Little Tighter Tonight..

I may not be the most patient Mother or the most hands-on but I'm here with my daughter everyday. We give kisses and hugs a hundred times a day, sometimes more. I tell her I love her more times in a day than I could ever count and do the very best I can by her each day.

She's been the center of my world for the last 18 months and through the frustration, I'm thankful for every day I've been able to stay at home and be with her.

I can't help but lay in bed next to her these last few nights and hold her a little closer as I think of the Mothers and Fathers mourning the loss of their babies taken in the shooting Friday..While I've been gifted with her presence for another night, I can't imagine being in the homes of the parents who've had their children taken from them.

I know what its like to live in an empty home but one devoid of happy giggles and the sounds of little feet throughout? My baby is home safe and yet I can still feel the effects of such devastating loss. I'm not a praying girl by nature but I have been and will continue to pray for the families who are without their little ones today as well as for the families of those who were killed protecting their precious students.

For those of you who have been given the gift of having your little ones with you today, give them some extra love and keep them close. 
 
Thank whatever/whoever you believe in that you've been given another day with them because we've never been promised tomorrow.

tradjedy

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Australian Natural Soap Review and Giveaway! Ends 12/28

 Disclosure: I received a Australian Natural soap product(s) and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.


 With so many different styles, brands and scents of Soaps available on the market today, its been my experience that choosing a soap that's right for me can be an exhausting challenge. I often save the personal hygiene aisle for last when I'm completing my grocery shopping, specifically because its takes so much time and thought.

As I stand there contemplating the selection of soaps I always feel completely overwhelmed. Do I want round soap, square soap, mini soaps, liquid soap, organic soap or soaps with an animal-fat base? There are so many choices, not to mention so many different scents to consider.

Do I want something floral or do I want something seasonal? Natural or fruity? I just can't ever stick with a decision and most often turn to my Mama for suggestions. Sound like anyone else?

At Australian Natural Soap they take the worry and stress out of picking the perfect soap. Each bar of soap from Australian Soap contains sustainable palm oils, Certified Organic Shea Butter, vegetable glycerin and other all natural ingredients; they also come in a variety of tantalizing scents.

Fortunately for me I've recently gotten the chance to be in contact with the Australian Natural Soap company and was allowed the opportunity to do a Review and Giveaway for them.

With my track-record of indecision with Soaps, I was truly excited to review for them and was sent 3 bars of their wonderful soap in Wild Honeysuckle, French Pear and Lemon Myrtle.

Considering how delightful these scents were I could not wait to get the baby to bed and jump in the shower that night! FYI they were absolutely amazing and although I was sorely tempted to try them all in one night, I only tried Lemon Myrtle that first night.

Now, two weeks later I'm genuinely shocked to feel the difference in my skin. I was warned by the company beforehand that I'd be surprised but I thought it was just a marketing technique; like I said, honestly impressed.

My skin has never been particularly dried out but then again I've always been jealous of those with naturally baby-soft skin so when, after 2 weeks of using these soaps, my skin rivaled the silky skin of my friends I literally could have done a happy dance on the spot! Not only did the soap leave my skin smelling subtly fragrant but it also gave me the skin I'd been coveting my entire life.

In addition to smelling great and giving me soft skin, one of my favorite things about Australian Natural Soap is that unlike store-brand soaps that dry out and get slimy after use, these soaps stay moisturized and smooth after each use! I absolutely LOATH grabbing a bar of soap that feels like sludge so having a bar of soap that maintained its shape and feel after even the longest of showers just put the cherry on top of my soap sundae!

Did I mention that Australian Natural Soap also comes in a HUGE variety of scents? Thank goodness my sponsor helped with the choosing process because I would have never been able to make up my mind! Some of the scents they carry include but aren't limited to:

-Orange Zest
-Pineapple
-Vanilla Bean
-Peaches
-Rainforest
-Green Tea
-Hawaiian Flowers
-Sandalwood
-Sweet Pea and Jasmine

Can you say soap Heaven?!

If you want to learn more about the Australian Natural Soap company you can check out their online site at Australian Natural Soap

To find out more about their soaps head on over here.

If you've made it this far then you know its time for everyone's favorite part of my reviews; time to get our giveaway started!

The lovely folks over at Australian Natural Soap has offered 3 of my winners 4 Craft Soaps each! Say what?!

All you've gotta do to get your entries in is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and get yourself entered to win!

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Email Woes: Switching to a New Email Subscription Service!

To my fantastic readers and email subscribers via Feedburner, as of yesterday 12/13/2012 I've switched from Feedburner to a new Email Subscription service. If you became a subscriber on my blog before 12/13/2012 I would be forever grateful if you could become an email subscriber using my new email subscription service. It works the same as before: just head over to the left sidebar and you'll see where to enter in your email. You'll still only get an email when I post new content to my blog but it will mean the world to me if you could do me this huge favor!! Thank you so much!

Happy Holidays From Sublime Media: Magic Cabin Giveaway! Ends 12/21

Tis the season for great giveaways! The Sublime Media Connection wants you to win a super fun toy that will entertain children of a variety of ages! We are pleased to be giving away the Cash Register from Magic Cabin. This fun and educational toy is made of Rubberwood and features a functioning calculator, a roll of paper for adding and subtracting, a scanner that sounds just like one at the grocery store, play money and a bank card. 
You will want to check out the review to find out more about this toy.  You can read the review here. If you feel lucky enter to win this super fun toy from Magic Cabin! This giveaway begins on 12/14 and ends on 12/21.

Happy Holidays from the Sublime Media Connection! The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for the shipment of this prize.

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Happy Holidays from Warner Bros! Blog App and FLASH Giveaway! Ends 12/20

Warner Bros is at it again! To celebrate the Holiday season Warner Bros has very generously decided to give away one of the following Christmas Collections to one of my lucky readers. Have you been coveting those cherished childhood memories hidden in the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, Classic Christmas Favorites or Dr.Suess's Deluxe Holiday Collection? Well then here's your chance to enter to win one of the three! All you've gotta do fill out the Rafflecopter form below! Happy Holidays! NOTE: The prize will be picked Randomly by the sponsor from the above listed titles!


Ho Ho Ho, it’s the holiday season and that can only mean one thing... Shopping! But finding presents for your loved ones can be no easy task! That’s why Warner Bros. has come up with their awesome Happy Holidays Blog App featuring some classic and new movies out on Blu-ray sure to please everyone from your teeny nephew to grandma wrinkles!
•Holiday Movie Challenge! Are you a true cinephile? Then take the WB Holiday Movie Challenge! Keep your movie skills sharp with this awesome quiz! Ready. Set. Go! •Decode-A-Scene Game! Time is running out! Can you figure out what movie scene is slowly being decoded in front of your eyes? The sooner you figure it out the more points you earn! •Holiday Survival Guide! Throw an epic holiday party this season! We have some awesome tips to make you look like a total holiday master!

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A Little extra Holiday Cheer: $10 Starbucks GC!

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I purchased a Starbucks GC with my own funds and decided to host a giveaway just because I can!
 I know a lot of people who live and breathe for Coffee but when I'm faced with the prospect of drinking a cup of the murky liquid I'm usually left with a grimace on my face and a bad taste in my mouth. I once had a terrible experience with a pot of iced coffee back in my Child Care days and since then have always given Coffee a wide berth...

Except for Vanilla Bean Frappe's. I just can't help it, every time I visit my local book store I HAVE to stop in at Starbucks and grab one to sip at one of their quaint little wire tables. Thinking about it now already has my mouth watering! I'm a sucker for anything Vanilla but Starbucks Frozen treats are just too much temptation for me, ESPECIALLY when you throw in a good book!

Since it is the season of giving and because I just love Starbucks that much, I've decided to host my own little giveaway for a $10 Starbucks giveaway. Sound like a nice little treat?





Ya'll know how this works. To participate in this super easy mini-giveaway just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and get those entries in! One of you lucky readers will be making a pit-stop at the nearest Starbucks very soon! a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOVICA Review and Giveaway! Ends 12/26


Disclosure: I received a NOVICA product(s) and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.


Not to toot my own horn or anything but when it comes to Christmas shopping and picking gifts for my loved ones, I'm usually pretty darn good at it! Gourmet Chocolates for Mom, a humorous shirt for Dad and various little knickknacks for my younger brother.

This year I've been so stumped. I've scoured the stores, surfed the internet and asked all around but nothing seemed to fit. You can only do the Chocolates and T-shirts thing so many years in a row before its not longer exciting. I spent the better part of the day just yesterday bouncing from one store to the other searching for the perfect gifts but to no avail.

Thankfully when it comes to my Mom, that gift was easy!

A few weeks ago I was in contact with NOVICA and I'm sure many of you are familiar with the Company that has put true Artisan Jewelry and Crafts on the map. Turns out, the wonderful people at NOVICA were more than happy to allow me to do a Review for their flourishing company.

For my review I was sent these stunning Amethyst beaded bracelets and let me tell ya, the pictures do not do them justice!




Not only are they made of beautiful Amethyst but these bracelets, much to my relief, are also made of stretch material to ensure a perfect fit for everyone. I was worried at first that the bracelets might be too big or two small but my worries were for nothing. I was VERY tempted to keep these beauties for myself but they are just too perfect of a gift for my Jewelry loving Mama to keep them.

For those of you who aren't familiar with NOVICA, they "give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity."

NOVICA doesn't just supply Artisans and Artists with buyers but they put a face to the wares they host on their website. Each item includes a description of the artist behind the Jewelry and crafts; enabling the creators to be come much more than just the jewelry they produce. NOVICA makes buying jewelry and crafts personal.

Did I mention that with each purchase you get a detailed card on the creator of the piece you purchase AND that each item is wrapped carefully in tissue paper before being shipped out? NOVICA not only takes care of their artisans but their customers also. Why would you ever go to another company?

In addition to their unique crafts, there are other exciting happenings going on over at Novica, as well. They are excited to announce the launch of their new NOVICA Curation effort – a feature that lets everyone create their own curated collections of products, with the option to add mood shots from our ever growing image library – its a lot like Pinterest… only more responsive, and all for a great cause  Check out this fantastic new feature here:  http://www.novica.com/curation/

To find out more about NOVICA you can visit their website, become a fan on Facebook or become a Twitter follower.

Now for the part everyone has been waiting for. NOVICA has gladly offered to host a giveaway for my awesome readers. One lucky duck will win a $30 Gift Code to use on the NOVICA site!

Let’s get started! First, head over to Novica and create your own Curated Board(s) then come back here and get your entries in on the Rafflecopter form below!

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Monday, December 10, 2012

TextBook Shopping Made Easy AND Affordable: CampusBookRentals

When it comes to continuing education, going back to school can be a very exciting thing. Some of us head off to college not long after graduating High School but then there are a huge portion of us who don't return to school for many, many years after graduation. Regardless of what category you fall into, College can be a great adventure but more often than not, its not very fun for your wallet.

On top of your usual expenses, going back to School requires quite a large amount of preparation and we all know what that means: School supplies and lots of them! Paper, notebooks, binders, pencils, pens; the list is endless but most importantly, we can't forget about those Text Books.

Whether you're renting or buying the needed course materials, you'll definitely feel the drainage on your budget by the time you're all done and trust me, with expenses piling up, Text Book fee's are the LAST thing you want on your plate.

Fortunately for all of you College-goers out there CampusBookRentals offers affordable solutions for your not so affordable Text Book dilemma. After all, why spent mega-bucks on a book you'll only use once when you can rent it for a fraction of the cost?!

Using CampusBookRentals for your text book needs has so many benefits, including:

-you can save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-you can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
-they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

If those aren't some fantastic reasons to rent from CampusBookRentals, then I don't know what else could possibly motivate you.

Many years ago when my oldest brother was attending Christian College here in Florida and my parents were helping to get him through, I remember what it was like for our expenses. Text Books were a huge drain on their wallets, it was ridiculous! I can only imagine how many hundreds of dollars they would have saved if CampusBookRentals had been around during that time.

A single textbook alone can cost up to as much as $250! Yikes! In 2009 alone, a 4-year college student was priced at having paid $659 in text book fees.

When researching text book fee's I did a price comparison between my local college bookstore and was amazed.

Take a look at the price differences between "Architectural Drawing" at CampusBookRentals and "Architectural Drawing" at my Community College. If I were still a student, it'd be a no-brainer when deciding where to do my Text Book shopping.

To find out more about CampusBookRentals you can visit their website at WWW.CampusBookRentals.com or take a look at the video posted below.

Good luck Text Book hunters!






Sunday, December 9, 2012

Three Kings Christmas Giveaway Event! 12/10-1/6

Once again I've teamed up with some amazing bloggers to host a HUGE giveaway to help spread that Holiday cheer with readers from all over. Here's your chance to enter below for some absolutely amazing prizes! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form and you're all set; just keep those fingers crossed!


The Christmas season ends on the Three Kings Day or the Epiphany which traditionally falls on January 6.
Wikipedia defined it as “a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.”
The description in the New Revised Standard Version of Matthew 2:1–12 says the Three Wise Men had offered baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
But of course, we cannot offer you those as our giveaway prizes! But we have few gift codes or Paypal cash and other products to give as a way of sharing our blessings!
With the full support of our beloved sponsors and together with awesome bloggers, we are bringing you a humble giveaway to welcome the new year!
three kings day giveaway
There will be LUCKY NINE Winners!
1 - $200 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash — (Open Worldwide)
1 - $100 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash — (Open Worldwide)
1 - Crate & Barrel Pitcher + Bowl — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
1 - Body Massage + 1 Facial (The Zen Institute) — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
1 - Ceelin Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
1 - Celeteque Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
1 - Asian Secrets Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
2 - Casa de Lorenzo Natural Liquid Soaps — (Open to participants with Philippine address)
Our big thanks to the following sponsors:

Geiser Maclang

Unilab

Casa de Lorenzo

This giveaway will run until January 6, 2013 at 11:59 PM. Open WORLDWIDE! Kindly submit your entries using the raffle form below. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: I was not compensated in the posting of this giveaway. Slow Road To Insanity is not responsible for the prize fulfillment.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Happy Holidays From Sublime Media Connection! $20 Paypal Giveaway! Ends 12/22

Happy Holidays from the Sublime Media Connection!
Who couldn't use an extra $20 with the Holiday Season approaching quickly?  With a Side Of Thriftiness, Saving For My Family and Sweet Silly Sara of The Sublime Media Connection want to give you a little extra paypal cash to make your holiday a little greener. This giveaway begins on 12/8 and ends on 12/22.  Enter via the rafflecopter form below. The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for the delivery of this prize. The Sublime Media Connection is responsible for prize fulfillment. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Three Kings Giveaway!

Bloggers are encourage to join this FREE giveaway event to celebrate the end of Christmas season, which is the Three Kings Day!
three kings day giveawayRediscovering Health together with awesome bloggers will host a huge giveaway that will end on January 6, 2013, in time of Happy Three Kings Day.
There’s an offer of FREE Facebook fanpage or Twitter account link in exchange of helping us promoting this giveaway.
Sign-up ends on December 9, 2012 and the giveaway will immediately start on December 10. This giveaway is open worldwide!

A Total Value of $500 Prizes includes:

- $200 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash -- (Open Worldwide)
- $100 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash -- (Open Worldwide)
- Crate & Barrel Pitcher + Bowl -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)
- Body Massage + 1 Facial (The Zen Institute) -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)
- Ceelin Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)
- Celeteque Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)
- Asian Secrets Gift Pack (Worth Php 1,000) -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)
- Casa de Lorenzo Natural Liquid Soaps -- (Open to participants with Philippine address)

Sign-up here >> THREE KINGS GIVEAWAY Please say Slow Road To Insanity referred you!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

2012 Holiday Gift Guide&Giveaway!


Welcome to the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway hosted by Lynchburg Coupon Mama and co-hosted by Mommy Coupon Swappers! We are excited to be bringing you a whole list of gift ideas and giveaways from some amazing companies. Throughout the first couple weeks of November, we will be adding new items to the list so be sure to come back by and check it out! Not all companies have chosen to host a giveaway but they have been gracious to offer discounts for our readers. 

We have gift ideas and giveaways for everyone from 1 to 99 - you're sure to find something that would make the perfect gift for several people on your list this year!

A special thank you goes out to all of the companies who have sponsored our first Gift Guide - we appreciate each and every one of you! A thank you is also needed for our sponsoring bloggers:


We hope you enjoy our first Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway! Good luck to everyone who enters!

SIPP: The Champagne of Sodas Review and Giveaway! Ends 12/14


 Disclosure: I received a SIPP product(s) and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.





When I received word that I was all set for a Review for SIPP Organic Soda, I couldn't have been happier. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post I've been on the hunt for a healthier alternative to my Coke obsession and SIPP seemed like another great alternative.

The good folks over at SIPP sent me 3 of their intriguing natural flavors to try: Ginger Blossom, Mojo Berry and Honey Pear. With my never-ending thirst and natural eagerness, I didn't waste any time getting started in my taste test just as soon as the box was opened.




Each of the 3 flavors I reviewed proved to be quite refreshing and easy going down while still having that wonderful carbonated taste I love so much. Like most beverages here in my home these drinks didn't last long and left a house divided in opinion.

While the sophisticated taste of SIPP Organic Soda isn't for everyone, my youngest brother and my Mother sure did love it! The pair took such a liking to it that when I went back the next morning to grab the half bottle of Honey Pear I'd stashed away in the fridge, it was gone. The drink thieves had made off with my drink stash.

To find out more about SIPP and their products you can find them online at www.haveasipp.com
To find a local SIPP distributor near you head over to their handy product locator and find yours today!

You can also become a Twitter follower!

To win your very own 4pack of Ginger Blossom SIPP Organic Soda, simply visit the Rafflecopter below and get your entries in! Keep those fingers crossed folks and enjoy!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Say Goodbye To Those Scaley Feet: Micro-Pedi by Emjoi Review and Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received a Emjoi product and information to facilitate and host this review. I received no other compensation for this post and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions contained within, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may be different.

I recently mentioned my love for Flip-flops in a previous post but what I didn't mention was that if I'm not in flip-flops I'm usually barefoot. To put it bluntly, if I don't have to wear shoes I'm just not going to! That being said, I'm sure its not hard to imagine the state of my country feet.

Cuts, scrapes, splinters and yes, callouses have been my friends for years but have never hindered my barefoot wanderings around our property or the town. If anything they've made me tougher and more surefooted than ever; while hot asphalt makes others jump, I can stand unaffected and proud of my tough skin.

There comes a time in every girls life though when unsightly, cracked, calloused feet become more trouble than their worth. When being a guest in someone's home, removing your shoes and revealing those scaley feet can be an embarrassment. Cuddling is not so cute when your feet feel like sandpaper to your partner!

Luckily for me I was approved for a review by the folks at Emjoi for their handy-dandy Micro-Pedi AP-3RP! It was like receiving an answer my prayers.



At first I was skeptical that this little battery operated callous remover would be much help for the heavy-duty job that are my feet but after reading the instructions, I popped in 2AA (not included) and turned the thing on. Did I mention that I was also terrified that it would be an unpleasant, uncomfortable experience?

Imagine my surprise when not only was the Micro-Pedi painless but also started to immediately remove the rough, dry skin on my feet. It was like watching a magic show people!

Unlike the countless pumice stones I've tried over the years, there were no special tricks or vigorous rubbing to go through to start seeing results. Seconds after moving the Micro-Pedi over the affected area's I was experiencing baby smooth skin and feeling like a million bucks..Well, my feet were anyways.

One of the nifty things about the Micro-Pedi that I liked best were the two textured rollers that come along with it. Emjoi thoughtfully includes one regular roller for your average calloused feet and one extra-coarse roller for those tough callouses such as mine.

Seriously, getting your feet to look spa pampered has never been easier and whats best is you can do it in the comfort of your own home, without dishing out those mega bucks!


Now I actually enjoy reaching for my Micro-Pedi and repeat my decallousing routine every 2-3 days to keep my tootsies looking buffed and oh-so-pretty. No more sitting on the edge of the tub and fighting with those awful Pumice stones for me. No siree!

If you want to learn more about this miracle worker of a callous remover, you can find more information on Emjoi's website.

To keep up with the latest news you can like their Facebook page and become a follower on their Twitter.

Last but definitely not least, the awesome folks over at Emjoi are also offering my readers the chance to win their very own Micro-Pedi! Hurry and get those entries in using the Rafflecopter form below and keep those fingers crossed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway