Handmade Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - Become a Featured Shop!

It seems year after year, I say to myself I will start to prepare for the holiday season early. Like February early. Start buying gifts, find last season's decor on sale, whatever. But try as I might, like many others, I am never as prepared for the holidays as I would like to be. What do I buy? Where do I begin? That is why I love Holiday Gift Guides! Everything in one place! Hence the reason for THIS Holiday Gift Guide.

Do you have an online shop? Are you a smaller business, run with a local business mindset? Does your shop feature items that are handmade? Eco-friendly? Made with natural ingredients? Are you looking for sponsorship opportunities this holiday season? Or maybe you are simply looking for a way to increase your traffic and sales this winter? Our first annual Holiday Gift Guide may be the answer you are looking for!!

This year we have teamed up with the gals at Naturally Frugalicious as co-hosts for their handmade, homespun Holiday Gift Guide 2013. Would you like to your online shop or small business featured? Submit your shop and product information now to be considered for inclusion in our Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - which will be viewed by thousands of readers/social media followers and fans! Every inclusion will be promoted on all Naturally Frugalicious, Life in the Lost World and Slow Road to Insanity social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

Holiday Gift Guide Features

• Holiday Gift Guide 2013 spot
• Each Holiday Gift Guide spot will include:
• Shop/Company name
• Brief description
• 1 -150x150 photo or button
• Link to Featured Blog Post
• Links to website and either Facebook or Twitter page (one additional social media account can be included for $5)
• Social media promotion of the holiday gift guide through February 1, 2014
• Additional exposure possibilities through Triberr (3M possible reach)
• Sponsored opportunities for companies who choose not to offer a review or giveaway are available.
• Upgrade to Featured Shop Holiday Gift Guide spot will include:
• Shop/Company name and location
• Brief description, including 1-3 favorite items from shop and price range
• 1 - 200x200 photo or button
• Link to Featured Blog Post
• Links to website and up to 3 products, either Facebook or Twitter page (one additional social media account can be included for $5)
• Social media promotion of the holiday gift guide through February 1, 2014
• Additional exposure possibilities through Triberr (3M possible reach)
• Sponsored opportunities for companies who choose not to offer a review or giveaway are available.
• Featured Post
• Each featured post will include:
• Honest product review
• Company overview
• 1-3 original photos of the product reviewed
• Links to website and up to 3 products, Facebook and Twitter pages (one additional social media account can be included for $5)
• Feature post shared, once, on each of the Naturally Frugalicious, Life in the Lost World and Slow Road to Insanity Facebook pages
• Feature post tweeted about, twice, on each of the Naturally Frugalicious, Life in the Lost World and Slow Road to Insanity Twitter pages
• Feature post pinned to the Naturally Frugalicious Holiday Gift Guide 2013 Pinterest Board
• Feature post repinned, once, to each of the Life in the Lost World and Slow Road to Insanity Pinterest accounts
• Additional exposure possibilities through Triberr (3M possible reach)
• Sponsored opportunities for companies who choose not to offer a review or giveaway are available.

Holiday Gift Guide Inclusion Opportunities

• Product Review - no cost
• Full sized product or products, shipped to us to review, must be valued at at least $25. Products valued at less than $25 may be considered if they fit within the overall theme of the Naturally Frugalicious blog.
• Product Review and Giveaway - no cost
• Full sized product or products, shipped to us to review, must be valued at at least $50 in order for us to offer a giveaway, too. Products valued at less than $50 may be considered if they fit within the overall theme of the Naturally Frugalicious blog.
• Length of giveaway is typically 10-14 days, but will be determined by how many giveaways we will be hosting and promoting.
• Additional promotional efforts of giveaway will be made.
• Featured Shop - $ 10 upgrade, with review/giveaway
• To be included as a featured shop payment must be made via PayPal no later than November 15, 2013
• Featured Shop, Sponsored - $ 25 paid inclusion in the Holiday Gift Guide, no review or giveaway
• To be included as a featured shop payment must be made via PayPal no later than November 15, 2013
• Add a Sponsored Feature Post to your paid inclusion for an additional $25, payment made via PayPal no later than November 15, 2013

The Holiday Gift Guide 2013 will launch Monday, November 18, 2013 and will run through February 1, 2014. In order to host a fun and successful holiday gift guide we are only accepting a limited number of shops. Sponsorship is available on a first come, first serve basis. Please be sure to secure your spot today!

Holiday Gift Guide 2013 Categories

• For Him - featured shop spots filled
• For Her
• For the Geek
• For the Teens
• For the Kids
• For the Tots - featured shop spots filled
• For the Home - featured shop spots filled
• For the Kitchen - featured shop spots filled
• For the Pets
• For Chanukah - featured shop spots filled

Accepting Submissions From

• Online Shops
• Small businesses with a local mindset
• Other companies will be taken into consideration if their products fit within the guidelines of our holiday gift guide

Items & Goods We are Looking to Include

• Accessories, Seasonal/Winter Wear & Jewelry (for mom, women, teens, kids, babies)
• Handbags, Totes, Camera Bags
• Home Decor
• Natural Skin and Body Care (makeup, lotions)
• Children's items
• Art (photographs, paintings, illustrations)
• Journals & Writing items
• All Things Geek (tees, jewelry, gifts)
• Food items (spices, gourmet mixes, candies, baked goods - vegan goods welcome)
• Pet Items
• Judaica and Chanukah items
• Buddhist items

All Judaica, Chanukah and Buddhist items will be featured on the Naturally Frugalicious blog and all vegan and pet items will be featured on the Life in the Lost World blog, as they are more suited to their readership and provide more of a niche focus.

• November 11, 2013 - Social media marketing of Holiday Gift Guide begins in full swing
• November 15, 2013 - All payments for featured/sponsored spots/posts, as well as any add-on payments must be paid in full via PayPal
• November 18, 2013 - Holiday Gift Guide 2013 goes live. Featured posts begin

Secure Your Spot in the Holiday Gift Guide

Fill out my online form.

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American Jewel 3-in-One Hair Tie Teaser!

Coming to you soon, handmade all the way from sunny California, is another terrific review for all you Mama's out there with little fashionista's! Soon and I do mean, very, soon Slow Road to Insanity will be taking advantage in the opportunity to work with the wonderful and clever folks over at American Jewel, the company introducing the 3-in-1 Hair Tie.

American Jewel has really hit the nail on the head with their 3-in-one hair tie. Not only can it be used for tying back you or your kiddo's hair but it also converts to a bracelet AND anklet for those littles who like to accessorize.

American Jewel is an entirely family owned and operated business working out of their own home to bring these wonderful, adorable and stylish hair ties to you. I'm so stoked and know my oldest will absolutely LOVE the different ways our hair tie can be worn once it arrives!

Stay tuned soon to see my full review for American Jewel!

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Nursing Multiples Made Easy: My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow Review

There are so many challenges when it comes to Breast Feeding and I think with Sophie I faced a lot of them. Crackage, bleeding, leaking, poor latch etc. After a long road of problems we became a very successful BFing couple and to this day we're still going strong.

With the exception of the first 3 days after bringing little Desmond home..I cried often during those first days when I should have been blissfully unaware of anything but my beautiful new addition; instead I was painfully aware of the chasm that had opened between Sophia and myself, seemingly from out of nowhere.

My 2 year old took one look at our newborn and decided right then and there that she didn't want a thing to do with her. With either of us. The pitiful girl I'd talked to on the phone just the night before was gone and in her place was a resentful toddler.

Many tears (on my side) and tantrums (on her side) later I was surprised when Sophie, rather reluctantly, cuddled up to me and, I think, in a jealous moment as Desi was nursing, decided she was ready to forgive me and resume her place. On the available boob.

Balance was restored that night and in its footsteps came yet another bump in the road. I was now nursing two babies.

I don't know too many women who have or are tandum nursing but I can say from experience that its no easy feat. Desi had her preferred side and Sophie had hers. Sophie was constantly wanting to switch and Desi, as a newborn, was constantly changing sides as well; you can imagine the challenge, especially given the fact that no Milk Supply is infinite.

I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was trying to nurse them both at the same time!

Let me tell ya, I tried everything those first few weeks to help aid me in finding my niche while Bfing my two girls. You know how it is: You try using everything available to you to make it easier on you while just having one infant at the breast. Trying to make life easier with two was almost impossible.

I tried using folded up diapers to help support one Breast while holding the other, I tried doubled-up socks, folded towels, pillows and even the Boppy I used while nursing Sophie as an infant. Not a single one of those methods worked, nothing stayed in place (keeping in mind I'm also a bigger busted woman anyways) and most importantly Desi was constantly losing the latch we'd just barely perfected. Period! I was a week away from losing it!

Lucky for me I had just gotten in contact with one of the most life saving companies I've come across in the BFing world. I'd like to introduce you Nursing, Tandum Nursing and Expectant Mothers out there to My Breast Friend.

"My Brest Friend was developed in a “laboratory” of new moms, babies, and breastfeeding experts who set out to do what no one had done before: create a pillow whose sole purpose was to answer all the needs of breastfeeding moms and babies.

Spearheading the effort was inventor Andrew Zenoff, a bachelor who proved that sometimes the best ideas come from those who have just enough distance from a problem to imagine solutions that have never been considered before.
First, Andrew and his team compiled a list of every complaint breastfeeding moms could think of with the existing pillows. The list ranged from lower back pain due to improper support, to poor latch-on, to babies “rolling” inward or away during the feeding due to using U-shaped pillows.

This began a lengthy cycle of design and test, followed by redesign and retest until we had built over 50 prototypes in a single year. We poked, prodded, raised, lowered, tightened, loosened, shifted and adorned until, at last, we had a pillow that our mom testers loved so much, they couldn’t find a single way to improve upon it. Then, and only then, did we introduce My Brest Friend to mothers everywhere."

16 years later and My Brest Friend Pillows are stilling going strong and are being sold in 33 different countries. This unique and revolutionary pillow is also used in Birthing Hospitals and is recommended by Lactation Consultants as well.

I can say from personal experience that My Brest Friend has a new friend in this Tandum nursing Mama; I honestly don't know what I was doing before coming across this amazing Nursing Pillow.

I was sent a Twin/Plus Size in the Fireworks Design and have been using my Nursing pillow faithfully for going on 6 months with absolutely no complaints and no plans to deviate from its usage.Breast Feeding both Sophia, the boob hog and Desi, the constant nurser, has never been easier!

In addition to having a cute design, the My Brest Friend Pillow is also very easy to use and clean. I've found that if I'm feeling particularly lazy that I can just slip the pillow over my head and adjust it around my middle but really its so easy that even on my laziest of days its a 2 second process. Just unlatch the clasp, place it around your waist and clip it closed again. Voila, time to break out the Nene's and give your babies a little tummywash!

To clean, the cover just unzips and can be throw in the wash for a quick, easy clean; additionally, once dry, the cover simply slips right back on again!

I also love the comfort of this particular Nursing pillow. Its soft but not so soft that it causes myself or the girls discomfort and also helps with back support which is a common issue with Breast Feeding Mothers. We're often hunched over while nursing which leads to pesky back problems later. Ouch!

I've never been more comfortable while nursing than I've been these past 6 months while using My Brest Friend's Twin pillow. Its my personal, though not professional, opinion that if you are expecting or if you're already BF and struggling to find that comfortable BFing zone then you should throw out that old Boppy and give this wonderful pillow a try.

To find out more about My Brest Friend, their products and their History you can find them online at www.mybrestfriend.com.

To keep up with the latest happenings at My Brest Friend you can become a follower via Facebook or Twitter or both and never miss a thing!

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Join Us for The Exciting Opportunity To Feature Educational Toys Planet On Our Blog!

Here at Slow Road to Insanity we've been given another wonderful opportunity to review with a company that has become one of my favorites since joining the Mommy Blogger industry a little over two years ago; we've recently been asked to participate in another string of reviews for Educational Toys Planet and its no surprise that we've happily agreed!

There are no shortages of Birthdays and special occasions for the youngsters in our home so it goes without saying that we're always wandering through the toys sections at our nearest Walmarts, Targets and on occasion, Toys 'R' Us looking for the latest gadgets. This year Educational Toys Planet it making it easy, yet again, to find playthings that are not only fun but educational for our kiddos as well.

Interested in seeing what Educational Toys Planet has up its sleeve this time around? Check back soon and read our review on the latest from our favorite Educational friends!

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Ponytail Pals Review and Giveaway! 11/06

I freely admit to having little to no knowledge of what it takes to fit in with the other girls. I mean, in all honesty, I still have my older sister do my makeup from time to time and am still asking for fashion advice at 24. Sad, right? What can I say I was raised by the boys and never excelled at fitting in with the other girls. 

When I had Sophie I thought there might be some hope..If I had another little girl with little girls needs I'd be forced to adapt and I'd come out with some necessary girl skills that I'd always lacked..right? I managed to delude myself big time. Sophie, now two, still only sports one of two hairstyles..Crooked ponytail and a plain ole hanging at the shoulders do, unless of course my sisters have gotten ahold of her and then in which case she might be sporting a cute braid or some pretty pigtails. Obviously I can't do either.

So, now that I've admitted yet another short-coming of mine I'd like to say what this post is really about. Its about hair, yes but not of my lack of managed it per say.

I'd like to talk a bit about Ponytail Pals and the opportunity I've been given to work with them. 

Ponytail Pals were born when designer, Lisa Moy, visited a New York baby boutique and purchased a baby blanket with a little stuffed bunny on it.  Once home, she cut the bunny off the blanket and sewed it onto a ponytail band. Ponytail Pals are a high quality hair accessory that combines the utility of a ponytail holder with the friendship and emotional attachment of a favorite cuddly stuffed animal.  The brand captures the innocence and uninhibited imagination of childhood through unique and affordable products that bear elements of surprise, whimsy and delight.  Ponytail Pals are available online at www.ponytailpals.com and at select stores nationwide and retail for $8.99 each.

Ponytail Pals are available in 12 cuddly animal pals and to my delight I was sent an the super sweet Elephant Ponytail Pal to help facilitate my review.

Sophie loves her new buddy and the Elephant is her constant companion whether its in her hair or wrapped around her wrist. We can't hardly ever leave the house without it and we're subject to endure a toddler sized meltdown if we even try.

Ponytail Pals are not only cute and the perfect hair accessory but it also happens to be super easy to use. Just like a regular hair tie it goes around the hank of hair you're wanting to put up and making sure you place the Ponytail Pal at the base of the ponytail, first, you wrap it around to the desired number of times to keep it in place and voila, even the clumsiest of hair doers have a cute ponytail they'd be proud to send their little princess out with.

Want to make sure you stay in touch with the latest happenings over at Ponytail Pals? Head on over and add them on Facebook. Never miss an update again!

If you love ponytail pals as much as we do head on down to the Rafflecopter form below and fill out the easy entries for your chance to win one Ponytail Pal (selected at random) for your little one or heck, for yourself! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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