JOT Giveaways

Retractable Clothesline & Project Laundry List

2010-04-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

{ MY WISH LIST }

My post yesterday featuring absolutely adorable clothespins, gave me the inspiration to go after and find an amazing retractable clothesline.

I was absolutely shocked when months ago I attempted to get a Clothesline on my way home from work. Target didn't have one and Bed Bath and Beyond had nothing of the sort. Luckily we are privy to the world wide web.

That brings us to these two beauties: The Lehigh RC20 and Moen RR5506HD

While these two functional beauties may not be as glamorous, cute or chic as my typical post products, they are safe saving, money saving and help support a lifestyle that lifts up our planet. Also, it gives you a chance to be a bit of a rebel!

A rebel? That's right, during my search for quality products (Don't worry the Lehigh and Mohen will go through our typical pro and con list below), I found a really neat movement called Project Laundry List.

Here is a trailer from their film, "Drying for Freedom"

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Lehigh RC20 : Made out of plastic, so may not last as long. Requires a trick to make sure there is no slack on the line (make sure to read Amazon reviews to find it). Should be easy to find.

- Moen RR5506HD : Not a lot of reviews (only three). That always makes me nervous. Only 8 feet long, so not as appropriate for outdoor drying.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Lehigh RC20 : A massive 20 feet long, though can be used for shorter distances. 80 reviews on Amazon talking about its greatness!! Only $9.00 on Amazon and qualifies for super saver shipping!! (can't guarantee it is always $9.00 that is a sale price.)

- Moen RR5506HD : Made from chrome, will probably last longer. Looks more professional.

**All in all, I'm leaning towards the Lehigh RC20. It looks great for versatility sake (indoor and outdoor) and is a bit cheaper! And although it doesn't have that beautiful chrome finish, it is definitely not an eyesore.

{ BUY IT }

Buy the Lehigh RC20 HERE, for $9.00

Buy the Moen RR5506HD, HERE for $16.38

**Check out 10 reasons to line dry, at Project Laundry List

A Ladybug Landed on Me Today

2010-04-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Does that mean I will have good luck?

What's your favorite thing about Spring?

BabyCake & Lollipop

2010-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

{ MY WISH LIST }

Ooooh Babycake & Lollipop Etsy store makes me drool. Ok, it doesn't actually make me drool... but, it does make me excited about absolutely adorable gifts for Baby Showers.

Maria builds upon the classic diaper cakes and makes a variety of sweet looking delicacies out of personally handmade baby onesies, bibs and washcloths. She packages them perfectly and ships them out ready to be gifted. I am in awe of her Etsy store and am excited to share her products with you!

Her standard washcloth cupcakes are made with two handmade washcloths and topped with a crocheted cherry. The buyer can choose from designs that are male, female or unisex. Each comes wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon and hang tag (as pictured below!!) These washcloth cupcakes cost only $6 including shipping and make an ADORABLE and long remembered gift or addition to a gift basket!!

The washcloth lollipops also contain two washcloths and are wrapped for delivery. $6 (including shipping) for the cutest gift around, I think I will take it.

**Check out the Babycake and Lollipop Etsy shop for more variations using onesies, bibs and more!

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Can't think of one.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Packaged for instant gift giving!! (Much better than I could package it)
- Perfect assembly.
- Cute and functional.
- Option to personalize.
- Maria offers ongoing specials!! ie. Spend $10 get a free washcloth lollipop!! oooh, lala, that's an incentive!

{ BUY IT }
Purchase Babycake and Lollipops products, here.

*Make sure to read the top for current specials!

Little Ones Apron Giveaway

2010-04-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
As a child, aprons made me think of Cinderella, Spring Cleaning, and my fantastical adventures pretending to be a poor worker girl for a mean boss. (For whatever reason this was one of our favorite pretend games growing up.)

Aprons were a valuable tool in playing "House," cooking exciting new dishes with Mommy, gardening and making amazingly fun crafts.

When there was a mess to be found or an exploration to be had, Aprons were part of it. That is why I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway for Lots of Ladybugs Little Ones aprons.

LotsofLadyBugs Little Ones aprons inspire imagination in their colors, beautiful design and handcrafted beginnings. According to the Lots of Lady Bugs homepage, they are for kids who like to "play hard and look stylish."

These hand stitched beauties are made from 150 year old French weavers, Les Toiles du Soleil. They are 100% cotton, machine washable and made with a canvas material which is perfect for wear and tear.

This family owned enterprise is named after a line from the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun."

Katherine is tired of seeing Frances look so sad, so one day she tells her a story…
“When I was a little girl, I used to spend hours looking for ladybugs. Finally, I’d just give up and fall asleep in the grass. When I woke up, they were crawling all over me.”
When Frances returns from Rome where she has met Marcello, she seeks out Katherine to tell her:
“Ladybugs, Katherine. Lots and lots of ladybugs.”

Lots of Lady Bugs is a family owned business that is motivated by a mother's love for her children. Heidi Wellington says it this way, "At the depth of my determination is my long-held desire to be an example to my daughters Chloe and Annabel. I want to show them that they can achieve anything their heart desires and not to fight life’s challenges but to accept life with all its surprises. "

{ REVIEW }
Heidi and Nathan Wellington sent me one of their Little Ones Aprons to review and I have to say, I can recommend it with full confidence. Here were my observations.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- I actually could not find a thumbs down for this rich and unique garment. My mother said its only downfall is that it might be too nice for a child. She wanted one for herself.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Deep pockets to hold stones, flowers or craft supplies.
- Adjustable neck to fit a variety of sizes and ages, it is supposed to fit ages 3-9.
- Machine Washable - woo hoo!
- Excellent craftmanship in the adorable polka dot lining.
- Fun muted, but beautiful colors. Serious style for your messy little one. He/She will love the diversity of colors and polka dots.
- 15 different color patterns to choose from.
- Luxe is a great word for these aprons. Your child will stand out in a positive way. These just feel very special and somehow hand tailored to your child.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase from Lots of Lady Bugs, here.

**At $34.00 per apron, these make the perfect gift for the child of a loved one. Both functional and fashionable, makes their kiddo look like a million bucks. It is also a perfect purchase for the million dollar kiddo in YOUR life!! What a fun accessory to explore with!

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win one Little Ones Apron of their choice!!!

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Contest is open Internationally! All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 19, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 20, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours). I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner. I have received a sample item for this review. This review reflects my unbiased opinion.

**Good luck everyone!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit Lots of Ladybugs and peruse the adorable aprons. Write me a comment stating what design you would choose and what your favorite apron wearing activity is.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well, so I can contact you if you win.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (current followers qualify)
2. Follow LotsofLadybugs Blog and leave a comment on one of her posts letting her know you were sent over by JOT Giveaways!
3. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (leave Twitter ID)
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet) (one entry per day)

"Play hard and look stylish - Win a Little Ones Apron worth $34 NOW!!! http://bit.ly/cxb0yT High Quality, functional fun! Ends 4/19"

5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and LotsofLadyBugs. Write a comment for each entry.
7. Purchase an apron from LotsofLadyBugs for FIVE extra entries. Write a comment for each entry. (leave Etsy ID)

~ WINNERS ~
Congratulations to Lace!!

" I like the Candy 1 apron. We love to bake when we were aprons."

The Hat Peddler Giveaway - Ending April 14, 2010

2010-03-31T05:46:00.000-07:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
I am a true romantic. And part of what embodies the ultimate romance fantasy for me is flowing dresses, a sea scented breeze and a beautiful hat to hide a demure or a fierce gaze.

The wonderful thing about hats though, is that they exist quite nicely outside of my fantasy. In fact, they bring a bit of that fantasy into my real life. If I could, I would wear a hat outside for every Summer and Spring day of the year. A beautifully made hat can bring whimsy, high fashion or a look of completion to any outfit. This beckons in Martha Jo, our wonderful Hat Peddler.

After 32 years of teaching, Martha Jo decided to spend her time attempting to "rekindle spirits and inspire more ladies to purchase hats."

Her classy, comfortable and stylish designs are sure to do just that. Martha Jo understands women. "A hat signifies confidence and mystery, both qualities to which women aspire."

Let's take a look at some beautifully made pieces from her collection and then I will take you through my experiences with my handmade hat from The Hat Peddler.

These three products from the Hat Peddler's Etsy shop are really telling of the diversity of products found there. From the chic Great Sunhat (left) to mother daughter hats (center) to the fashion forward Bridgett Fedora style (featured on the right), these handcrafted headpieces appeal to all types of women. One of the things that I love about the Hat Peddler is that I could shop for my 93 year old grandmother, 27 year old sister and 16 year old cousin at the same place. AND I would end up with a hat screaming of high quality and bringing looks of admiration from those around.

{ REVIEW }
When Martha Jo asked me to review a hat for the giveaway, it was hard for me to know which one to choose. My husband and I sat down and scrolled through the high quality beauties until we came across the Lynda Hat in Cream/Irish. While, I knew I wanted to review a sunhat for the upcoming sunny season, I also wanted to get a hat that was versatile. The Lynda Hat, also coined as "The Hat for Everyone" seemed to fit this perfectly.

The Lynda hat arrived in a flurry of pink tissue paper. Included with it were two sturdy and professionally made business cards. (While, I would never judge the quality of the business solely by its business cards, TheHatPeddler's cards were impressive and added to the this shop's image of top notch quality)

Once I got the hat, I didn't want to take it off. In fact, I am wearing it while writing the review right now. It is absolutely stunning and extremely comfortable. Every stitch adds to its perfection. While I had guessed at Martha Jo's precision by her product images on FLICKR and quality of customer service, I really had to see the product to believe it. And I am impressed.

The first thing I received when I walked out the door wearing the hat was a compliment my neighbor. "Cute Hat." This product is highly recommended.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Price. With prices ranging from 40-65 dollars, buying a hat at the Hat Peddler Etsy shop is not an inexpensive experience. I can, however, tell you the product will be comfortable, high quality and backed up by excellent customer service. Its durable stitching and classy style will insure that this investment in yourself will last for many years.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Beautiful classic design.
- High quality textured fabric - absolutely stunning.
- Impressive craftsmanship and high attention to detail. (even the flower is perfectly stitched)
- Comfortable, easy to clean and care for.
- Functional as well as fun!
- Warm and personable customer service. (out of all the vendors I have worked with, Martha Jo has made me feel like I actually know her. In fact, I could see myself having her over for lunch and giving her a hug like an old family friend. That's a talent to portray such warmth and care over the internet.)
- Can be custom made to fit any personality or style.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase from the Hat Peddler, here.

**This would make an excellent Mother's Day present! Consider the Mother Daughter hats (pictured above) for adorable photos and a fun Summer of hat wearing. It would also make a stunning gift to yourself.

**See more of Martha Jo's hats at her Blog, and Flickr page

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win a $50 Gift Certificate to The Hat Peddler Etsy shop.

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Contest is open to US only. All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 14, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 15, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours). I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner. I have received a non-refundable sample item for this review. This review reflects my unbiased opinion.

**Good luck everyone!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit TheHatPeddler's Etsy Shop and peruse her fashionable collection of hats. Write me a comment stating which hat you would choose and why.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers qualify)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (leave Twitter ID)
3. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)

"WIN a $50 Gift Certificate to The Hat Peddler!!!! http://bit.ly/9tICIW High Quality, comfortable and fashionable! Ends 4/14"

4. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
5. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and TheHatPeddler. Write a comment for each entry.
6. Purchase a hat from TheHatPeddler for FIVE extra entries. Write a comment for each entry. (leave Etsy ID)

~ WINNERS ~
Congratulations to Mim!!

"follow this blog!"

Money Savvy Pig

2010-03-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
My heart starts to beat quickly and tears come to my eyes. The thought that I could give my children a better life through the teaching of money management is actually emoting a physical reaction from me.

This is an area which I have failed in. During college, I always had an emergency fund of a couple thousand dollars and I had inherited a good credit score from my parents (we shared a credit card while I was in high school). I completely failed them. While planning for my wedding and not working, I naively spent too much money. My husband had debt, now I have debt and it is a huge stormy cloud putting pressure on us.

Woooo! Moving on to the product which brings hope and inspiration to me. Because my current knowledge of finances is at a baby level, I know I will need help teaching my children excellent money management skills. The Money Savvy Generation is offering to help me, and those I represent to achieve this.

{ REVIEW }
Now, let's move on to the product I am supposed to be reviewing and then I will talk more about further resources.

The elegantly simple, perfect for children (and adults at children level), Money Savvy Pig.

This adorable plastic piggy bank comes in six different colors and three different varietals. Keep your money in a 4-chamber "Money Savvy Cow," "Money Savvy Pig" or "Money Savvy Football." The Money Savvy Piggy bank collection is designed for children ages 4-11 and helps to teach money management skills.

It's four compartments comprise of

SAVE - for things you want to save up for in the short term

SPEND - the money you are planning to spend soon. Helps put the child in charge of his/her own spending and avoid the idea that "money grows on trees."

DONATE - promotes community involvement, allows child to choose favorite charity.

INVEST - for long term savings. While a 4 year old may not understand this one as they child gets older he/ she definitely will.

It is 8.5 inches long, 6 inches diameter and holds up to $300 worth of coins. The money from each compartment exits separately from a designated foot. The Money Savvy Pig comes with a sheet of stickers for goal setting and a pamphlet with tips on how to use each compartment and a few fun facts on piggy banks in general.

My Money Savvy Pig Plan:

I intend to keep the Money Savvy Pig in a special Money Saving spot! I will keep consistency in the beginning. Every time I give them their allowance or they receive money as a gift, make sure to cash it or coin it and spend the time going through how and why we divide the money. Slowly, I will let them do more and more of it themselves and have them tell me why and how. Eventually they will be doing it all by themselves, only telling me if they want to change a goal.

**As they get older, I intend to use more Money Savvy Generation material, including the Money Savvy Kids Home program (which I am really excited about).

{ THUMBS DOWN }

- While the release gates at the foot of the pig are perfectly sized for a child's hands, it was hard for my adult sized fingers to get it open. My husband would have to use some other object to open them, it is too small.

**I did like how secure the gates were and would love for a tool to help adult fingers or an easier design for us big people (we will probably be helping our 4 year old's anyways).

{ THUMBS UP }
- Excellent concept!!
- Stickers included to choose the Money Savvy Pig's eye color.
- Inexpensive price. At $16.99 to $19.99 these piggy banks are affordable for many families.
- The Money Savvy Generation provides a lot of support to parents. The goal setting stickers, pamphlet guide and additional resources to buy such as the coloring book make this perfect for parents and children. On the website, they recommend books for parents to improve their money management knowledge as well. There is support provided throughout the child's life. - Family owned company with excellent customer service!!

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase a Money Savvy Pig, here for $16.99.

- Purchase the Money Savvy Pig HOME set HERE for $39.99. This includes a Money Savvy Pig, 44 page parent handbook, 8 chapter CD rom with over 100 colored images, 4 sing-along kids songs about money, 21 page soft-cover student workbook, 22 page coloring and activity book and 17"x22" When Your Smart with Money poem poster.

**These make excellent and thoughtful gifts for children. Not only will the parents be thankful, but the children will be really excited about their new cool piggy bank (which they can decorate with stickers).

{ WIN IT }

One lucky reader will win a blue Money Saavy Pig! (the best selling color!!)

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Open to US only. All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 13, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 14, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Money Savvy Pig will be shipped directly from the sponsor. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

**Good luck everyone, I think you will find this product absolutely AMAZING!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Go to the Money Savvy Generation website and peruse the products they offer. Come back here and write a comment telling me which product you are interested in, in addition to the Money Savvy Pig.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.

1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers qualify)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (Leave Twitter ID)
3. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)

"Enter to WIN Money Savvy Pig NOW!!!! http://bit.ly/cToDBp Award winning, 4 chambers, colorful stickers, educational tool. Ends 4/13"

4. Visit Susan Beacham's Money Savvy Blog and leave a comment. (Leave the url of the post you commented on.)
5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Mention this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Money Savvy Generation Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNERS ~

Congratulations to Nicole!!

"I follow on Twitter @pittsy82"

Skoy Cloth Promotion

2010-03-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
Skoy, Skoy, Skoy!!! If you can't tell, I am shouting "SKOY" from the virtual rooftops.

Why is that, you may ask? Well, it is only the most eco-friendly practical money saving product that has scooted into my life lately. Oooh, let me tell you, Skoy Cloths are as good as they sound.

How good do they sound? Let's give you some "wow" facts:
- On average, ONE Skoy Cloth is equal to FIFTEEN rolls of Paper Towels!
- Skoy Cloths are 100% biodegradable and compostable!
- Skoy Cloths can be cleaned in the microwave, washer/dryer and dishwasher. wooo!

Now, that I've got you interested, let's talk about an inspiring story. Skoy Cloths was created by two stay-at-home moms, Michelle and Karen! They saw the need for a better US product, put their heads together and WALAH - started making a positive difference for the world.

Skoy is named for the German word "Skoj" (pronounced Skoy) which means "Just for Fun."
Skoy is an amazingly eco-friendly product which brings some extra fun to your kitchen and life.

{ REVIEW }
I was given the wonderful opportunity to try out a 4 pack of Skoy Cloths for myself and put it to the test.

Here are some pictures from my experience:

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Both the flower design and inspirational quote design are perfect for a family household or a woman's kitchen, however it may not fit as well in the men's kitchen. Perhaps, in the future Skoy Cloths could offer a design that could comfortably be used by older single Males, like my Dad or younger college men.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Excellent presentation! The pack came with a professional looking care guide and tied with eco-friendly tie.
- Design and bright colors are perfect for a family kitchen and make it much more cheery and even fun to wipe up messes.
- Saves Money!!! 4 Skoy Cloths cost $5.99, 15 paper towel rolls cost almost $31.25, plus wastes a lot of paper.
- 100% natural and recyclable (made from natural cotton and wood-pulp cellulose).
- Feels almost like I imagine seal skin would, nicer to hold than a regular paper towel.
- Washable in microwave, washer/dryer or dishwasher.
- Feels good knowing you are doing your part for the environment with a fun and effective product!

**Even my husband loved this product. We've had it a week and it is a staple in our kitchen. With reuseable napkins and "just for fun" Skoy cloths we now have a pretty eco-friendly and beautiful kitchen.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase Skoy Cloths NOW! Only $5.99 for a 4 Pack on Amazon, buy HERE.

**This also makes the perfect gift for an eco-friendly friend who likes to try the newest products. It is thoughtful and fun!

{ WIN IT }
Two lucky readers will win a 4-pack of Skoy Cloths!!

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Open to US only. All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 9, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 10, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Skoy Cloths will be shipped directly from the sponsor. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

**Good luck everyone, I think you will be AMAZED with this product!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Look at the feedback on the Skoy feedback/testimonial page. Come back here and write a comment telling me which testimonial impacted you most.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers qualify)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (Leave Twitter ID)
3. Follow Skoy on Twitter. (Leave Twitter ID)
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)

"WIN Skoy Cloth Now!!!! http://bit.ly/9i6gQG 100% biodegradable, Reusable, compostable, cool looking, earth saving cloth. Ends 4/9"

5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Mention this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Skoy Cloths Write a comment for each entry.
7. Purchase Skoy Cloths from this link for FIVE extra entries. Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNERS ~
Congratulations to ky2Here!!

"Here's my tweet:

http://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/11797314062"

Congratulations to Busy Working Mama!!

"I like Crystal's review (from GA) about how the cloth retained color even after bleaching."

Spanx Swim Suits

2010-03-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

{ MY WISH LIST }

Beach season is coming up and I have been craving a fashionable, flattering and flirty one piece.

That's right! I haven't worn a one piece since I've been about 8 years old, but that is not for lack of trying. I just haven't found the right mix yet. That is, until now.

Introducing............Spanx by Sara Blakely.

Let's see some of these adorable, tasteful and more importantly, shape controlling suits..
My favorite part about these swim suits is their flattering and body shaping elements. Each suit is made to look good on women!!

Here is a direct quote from Ms. Sara Blakely:

"Since I grew up in Florida, I've always been a beach lover with a drawer full of swimsuits. Unfortunately, most of these suits seemed to squeeze and pinch in all the wrong places. So, I was inspired to create a comfortable, slimming and stylish swimwear for myself and for all of the SPANX fans who have been asking for it for years."

This is the swim suit I would purchase without a doubt!! I love the gathering under the bust line, the placement of the straps and the fact that this swimsuit is absolutely PERFECT for sunbathing. I am one of those sunbathers who take off my straps so I don't get the tan line and then desperately hug the rest of my swimsuit so it doesn't fall off.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Buying online is always scary. Spanx's 100% guarantee makes it a bit less scary, but still, it is nice to see how it looks on you before purchasing
- Price! These are high quality expensive bathing suits. Each one piece goes for $178.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Each onepiece comes with a lightweight inner body shaper to flatten the tummy, smooth the back and slim love handles.
- Made with soft premium Italian jersey.
- The leg openings are made specifically to prevent bulges.
- There is adequate built in support for your breast region.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from SPANX, here.

**Spanx also has sells body shapers, bras and panties, shaping sheers and tights and spanx for Men at various price ranges. Check them out!!

Wrap It Up Crayon Roll

2010-03-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

Remember, my beautiful dreams of being the prepared, whimsical, Mary Poppins of a mom who has everything she needs in a "magic" bag?

Well, Mom N Mia Quilts is going to make that possible for one of my readers.

Check out my FEATURE of Mom N Mia's Quilts' drool-worthy Creative Kids line on March 18th.

Mom N Mia Quilts Etsy Shop is offering one of my readers (that's YOU folks!!) a high quality handmade quilted Wrap It Up crayon roll.

"Our Wrap It Up Crayon Rolls (TM) are a great gift for kids of all ages! No ties to mess with, making them great for toddlers too! Simply roll it up, wrap the band around and press the velcro pieces together to close.

Each Wrap It Up Crayon Roll (TM) is made from a variety of fun coordinating fabrics (all pre-washed), quilted together with an inner layer of batting, and finished off with machine-sewn binding. 100% Cotton - Machine washable!"

Check out the feature from before, ladies....but, this product is made with the highest caliber of materials, excellent attention to detail and with love and care from a working mother of two children.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase a Wrap It Up Crayon Roll, here for $13-$14.

*This would make an excellent gift for a variety of art loving moms and children!! It will stand out with its ingenuity, vibrant colors, functionality and attention to detail.

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win their own Wrap It Up Crayon Roll from Mom N Mia Quilts pre-made listings!

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 7, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 8, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Wrap It Up Crayon Roll will be shipped directly from Mom N Mia Quilts Etsy shop. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner. Contest is open internationally!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit Mom N Mia Quilts Etsy Store and peruse her beautiful selection of products for Creative Kids, Quilts, Bibs and Seat Belt Covers. Write me a comment stating your favorite item in the store.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers still qualify for this entry)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter
3. Follow Mom N Mia on Twitter.
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
5. Go to Mom N Mia's Blog, and leave a comment on one of her posts. Come back here and post a url of that comment.
6. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
7. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Mom N Mia Quilts Etsy Shop Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNER ~
Congratulations to Shelby!!

"I commented on a post on mom n mia's blog!"

Medibuddy - First Aid

2010-03-22T07:29:00.001-07:00

{ FEATURE }
I am really excited to feature Me4Kidz (Medical Emergencies for Kids) Medibuddy.

I am not just excited because their product is child friendly and perfect for busy parents, but because of their company motto and practices.

Let me give you an example. Me4Kidz.....

- Is family owned (see picture to right)
- Is eco-conscious (Uses only 100% recycled plastic in products, US & EU Certified Lead free)
- Supports the disabled (All products are put together by loving and capable individuals who are disabled. They also donate 10% of their profits to the disabled community.)
- Give back to the country - by creating jobs and producing all products in the States.

**This family strives to "be the difference they want to see in the world."

I not only respect that endeavor, but I feel incredibly inspired and honored to support them in that endeavor. Read more about it, here.

{ REVIEW }
Ok, now let's get to the product!!! Me4Kidz gave me the opportunity to review their Medibuddy.

The Medibuddy, as opposed to their larger and more extensive Medibag4Kidz, is for boo boos that happen in on the go.

It is about the size of an eyeglass case and includes:
(15) 3/4 “ X 3” Red, Blue & Yellow Crayon Bandages
(1) 3” Knee & Elbow Bandage
(1) Sting Relief Pad
(4) 2” X 2” Gauze Pads (2 Two Packs)
(3) 5” X 8” Antiseptic Wipes (sting free)
(1) Burn Relief Cream
(2) Antibiotic Ointments
(12) Kid Friendly Fun Stickers
(1) Carry Anywhere Case.

All the products are latex free. Medibuddy comes in four vibrant and happy colors: yellow, blue, red and pink. This is a product that you can easily carry in your purse or car! I love it!! Watch the quick slideshow below for my experience with Medibuddy!!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- I felt like the inside of the Medibuddy could have been organized better. While the wrapping, 100% recycled Medibuddy case and contents of the Medibuddy seemed planned to perfection, there wasn't as much organization on the inside of the case.

**Perhaps if the contents wrappers were color coded or showed pictures of the contents, it would make for a more organized experience. Another suggestion would be to have grooves and indentations for each first aid item (this however would make it more difficult to add your own ingredients.)

- I would have liked maybe a tiny pamphlet on what to do for major and minor incidents. Maybe with #'s to poison control, and directives such as CALL 9-1-1.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Perfectly sized to fit into even a small or medium handbag.
- 100% recycled plastic case is inscribed with Medibuddy name, making it feel personal.
- The colors really pop!! Making the Medibuddy easy for a child to gravitate to and more difficult for an adult to forget to pack.
- Excellent Concept!! For less than $10 you can buy a pre-made First aid kit, so you are prepared in any situation. And believe me when a child gets a scrape on the play ground and you whip out your Medibuddy, you will get both appreciation and a reputation as a prepared loving parent.
- Very thoughtful design and contents. Extreme attention to detail, even includes stickers!
- Awesome customer service with quick responses!

**Even though, Medibuddy is sold through major corporations such as Costco, Target and ToysRUs, they are still choosing to advertise through blog giveaways (the online word of mouth). This shows a confidence in their products and a desire to relate to the Mom's who buy their product!!

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase Medibuddy on Amazon, Here.

- To find a different local or online retailer, click here.

*At $9.99 this is a perfect way to be a prepared parent for your child!!

{ WIN IT }
One lucky readers will win a Medibuddy, their choice of color from Me4Kidz.

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
Contest open to US only. All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 5, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 6, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the Medibuddy will be shipped directly from Me4Kidz. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
A)Visit Me4Kidz: Where to Buy page.
B)Type in your area code and find out where the closest place to buy Medibuddy is.
C) Write me a comment telling me the name of the closest store to you selling Medibuddy (I don't need address or city, just store name).
D) Tell me what people will say when they see you whip out the Medibuddy. :)
E) Leave a way for me to contact you in case you are the winner.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column, current followers still qualify for the extra entry)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter
3. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
4. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
5. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Me4Kidz Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNER ~
Congratulations to Nancy!!

"I follow via Google Friend."

B' Bye Butterfly Wine Charm Giveaway

2010-03-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

{ REVIEW }
Oooh, la la! One of a kind, handcrafted, beautiful and attention getting... from the moment I saw Christine's Scrabble wine glass charms, I knew I wanted to feature them at JOT. These attention getting wine glass charms have just the right balance of "personal" and "amazing!!"

B'Bye Butterfly Etsy Shop, whose name is chosen from the second line of the famous child's poem, demonstrates a sense of whimsy, creativity and beauty befitting of its fluttering butterfly name.

Christine Stewart aims to "add a little bit of joy to your day. [she] wants to make your cheeks lift at least a little every time you look at your piece."

She also invites you to,

"Come in...Relax, have a cup of coffee or glass of wine and look around."

In that spirit, let's kick back and take look at sample of her lovely work:
**Be prepared to "oooh" and "aaaah"

Christine's signature piece is her reversible scrabble wine glass charms. B'Bye Butterfly carries a huge diversity of these charms which exude themes of adventure, serenity, laughter and more.

I had the pleasure of using Christine's "Red Wine Yummy" Double sided wine glass charms to accurately review her product.

One of the first things I noticed was the impeccable presentation of the product. My beautifully delicate B'Bye Butterfly wine charms came gift wrapped in order to ensure a memorable first impression.

The next thing I noticed was the craftmanship and high quality of the product. Although the wine charms come as a set (complete with Scrabble rack) each wine charm is truly a masterpiece in itself.

Christine's Wine Charms have:
- a glaze on both sides of the tile for durability and shine
- shiny silver and gold plated hoops and findings
- quality crystals and Czech glass beads

I was very impressed with the simple, delicate yet durable clasp on each charm.

My husband and I placed this set among our wine serving area immediately. It looked absolutely beautiful!!! As I guessed it would. I can not wait until our next hosting opportunity to wow our guests with these adorable and creative wine charms. How could someone not gasp about their unique and beautiful "charming" charm.

**Each charm can easily be flipped while on the wine glass in order to reveal whichever side the drinker wants to show.

Here are some pictures from our experience:

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Although the Wine glass charms clasp is clever and simple for those with decent fine motor skills, I could see it being more difficult for the elderly or those verging on elderly. While my mom could probably do this easily, she would also have to put her glasses on.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Excellent, warm and personal customer service!
- High quality product with lots of well thought out details.
- Huge variety in aesthetic of product.
- Can be custom made to fit any personality or style.
- Beautiful presentation of product.
- Will ship directly to recipient (if given as a gift).
- High quality and numerous pictures on her Etsy Store website, so you know exactly what you are getting.
- Creative, beautiful and a definite conversation piece.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase B' Bye Butterfly wine, coffee and tea charms, here.

*With prices ranging from $24.50-$34.50, these would make an excellent house warming or hostess gift!!

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win their own set of wine glass charms from B' Bye Butterfly's pre-made listings! (21 different options of vibrant, diverse and beautifully handcrafted charms!)

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on April 2, 2010. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 3, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the wine glass charms will be shipped directly from B'Bye Butterfly Etsy shop. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner. Contest is open internationally!

**Good luck everyone, I think you will have a lot of fun with this product!

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit B' Bye Butterfly and peruse the beautiful wine glass charms. Write me a comment stating which set you would choose and why.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter
3. Follow B'Bye Butterfly on Twitter.
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
5. Subscribe to B'Bye Butterfly's Newsletter
6. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
7. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and B'Bye Butterfly Etsy Shop Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNER ~
Congratulations to Debbie!!

"I like the I enjoy wine reversible charm. "

Mom N Mia Quilts - For Creative Kids

2010-03-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
When I was a kiddo, we carried our art supplies around in plastic closed containers. My mom was thrifty, organized and ready for us to be able to color in random places.

As an adult, I know I want to be the kind of mom who has a magic Mary Poppins bag. Ok, it doesn't need to be that extensive. Hmm, I want the kind of bag that has random toys, snacks, medical supplies, etc. all packed away in case of an emergency.

Here enters, Mom N Mia Quilts. While it may be easy to find an ordinary way to carry art supplies, Mom N Mia offers the EXTRAordinary!! I absolutely adore her products. Her motto is "Handmade with Love... One Stitch at a Time."

Let's take a look at some of her products:

Product #1: The Creative Kids Art Bucket. This stand alone fabric bucket comes with outside pockets perfectly sized for 10-12 markers and four inside pockets to hold notepads, crayons, stickers and more. I love the lively colors and organization!! It would be perfect for the car or art section of the home.

The second product that I love from Mom N Mia Quilts Creative Kids collection is the "Wrap It Up Crayon Roll." This crayon roll is quilted from a variety of fun 100% cotton fabrics. It holds 10-20 crayons and is 3"x7" rolled up. Did I mention it is machine washable?? LOVE IT! This would be the perfect accessory to my wonder mom purse/tote. At $12.50 a piece, this is a beautiful, fun and unique way to stay organized.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
Can't think of any.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Made from soft machine washable fabric.
- Has a perfect Mom N Mia label sewn in, love the special touches!!
- Bright vibrant colors!!
- Beautifully handmade with love.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Mom N Mia Quilts, here.

*She also sells absolutely wonderful quilts, boutique bibs, boutique burp cloths and more.

Animal Tales Catnip Toy

2010-03-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
This current giveaway was geared towards one of the smaller members of our family, Tipsy.

Tipsy is our two year old Grey and White Tuxedo kitty, pictured to the left with my husband. He loves to eat grass, climb into boxes and play with lasers.

Lately, he has also been enjoying playing with his new Animal Tales kitty body pillow.

Animal Tales Etsy shop specialized in cat toys filled with 100% organic catnip!! Store Owner Tara, tests new products on her own two cats to insure their cat friendliness.

Her signature product is the handmade kitty body pillow and is offered in a variety of different styles.

This kitty body pillow is 8 inches long and 3 inches wide, just the right size for your kitty to kick, hug and lick! Filled with 3 scoops of delicious 100% organic catnip -this will easily be your kitty's favorite new toy!

After seeing the adorable patterns and hearing the description, I couldn't wait to find out for myself how my kitty would respond.

{ REVIEW }
If Tipsy alone give this review it would be with FLYING colors!! My Tipsy Boy LOVED this product. It was absolutely irresistible to him. He was drawn to it.

As soon as I walked through the door with the mail (even before I opened the package), Tipsy was following me with his nose in the air. As I sorted through bills, he stood on the sofa and reached his neck out towards the package. Teeming with excitement, I started his review immediately. Here is some footage from the review:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is only a short sampling of Tipsy's time with the Kitty body pillow. You can see how easily it fits in his kitty paws. As suggested by Animal Tales owner Tara, I will be putting the kitty body pillow away in a plastic bag and taking it out as a treat.
{ THUMBS DOWN }
This section should really be entitled, "Things to Improve" for this specific product. While I wouldn't consider these true negatives, if they were changed..... I would like the product even better.

- Card/Care Manual was made on simple printer paper and is not very durable. Would be better if laminated or on a cardboard more sturdy substance.
- I would love for this item to be refillable. Even if it cost a bit more, it would be worth it to keep this adorable perfectly sized catnip toy fresh.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Came in sealed plastic bag in order to keep catnip "fresh." (As noted earlier Tipsy could still smell it through the bag. But once it came out, he went bananas.

- Perfect size for a kitty!

- 100% organic catnip

- Extremely well made and durable.

- Nice to look at it!! We received the "Happy Kitties" pattern and the colors were vibrant and the design tasteful.

- Animal Tales has so many patterns to choose from. There are unisex patterns and some tailored to female kitties and male kitties (such as the pink leopard print and camo pattern.)

- Etsy store contains lots of pictures with many views to give you an accurate idea of what you are purchasing.

- Only $3.25 minus shipping and handling!! If your kitty loves this as much as mine did, it is a wonderful investment!!

{ BUY IT }
-Purchase your own Animal Tales Kitty Body Pillow, here.

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win a Kitty Body Pillow from Animal Tales, design of their choice!

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on March 31, 2010 . This contest will be open internationally. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on April 1, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the toy will be shipped directly from Animal Tales Etsy Shop. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit Animal Tales Etsy Shop and peruse the products. Write me a comment telling me which of the patterns you like best and who the kitty body pillow will be for.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well on each comment.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (Leave your Twitter id in comment)
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Animal Tales Etsy Shop. Write a comment with your blog URL for each entry.

~ WINNER ~
Congratulations to Ellen!!

"I don't see Google Friend Connect to follow you with but I have followed you on Twitter. scentednights"

Just Plain Old Me - Featuring Upcoming Giveaways

2010-03-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

{ JUST PLAIN OLD ME }

This is my first non feature blog on JOT Giveaways and I've got to tell you.... it feels weird.

JOT Giveaways is for me to share new and exciting products with you. It is to help you become inspired, organized, eco-friendly etc. etc. etc. Blogging at JOT without amazing material at my finger tips makes me feel like the world is a bit upside down.

The good news is that we have a lot of wonderful giveaways coming up! In fact, that is the reason you get a taste of little old me. I am in the process of preparing photographs, reviewing products and making sure to offer the highest quality reviews I'm capable of.

What's on the agenda for this week?

Check in tomorrow to find out!!

Until then, why not enter our current giveaways...

Scrapblog Feature

2010-03-15T00:06:00.000-07:00

{ FEATURE }
I am a wanna-be scrapbooker.

I have a few scrapbooks, which I covet, and if anyone invites me to join a ladies scrapbook night....I am joining!! But, I'm not very talented in that area. We are all made differently and I am just not all that artistic.

That leads us into ScrapBLOG!!! Scrapblog is my easy to use tool for creating anything artistic.

See the tutorial here:

We created Scrapblog because we wanted to go beyond sharing our photos and videos online. We made Scrapblog drag-and-drop-easy so that everyone can tell their stories and create beautiful multimedia scrapbooks. Our goal is to enable everyday people to express themselves online in a creative way.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Although there are no downloads required, it does seem to slow down my computer a bit when using it.
- At first it may seem like it costs money to download all the backgrounds, stickers, themes, etc. Some do cost money/ "credits," but many also do not. In order to avoid cost do not use a pre put together "themes" and search by least credits.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Sooo easy to use!! Really this is for the non photo-shop crowd.
- Lots and lots of free backgrounds, stickers, etc. I have never spent a dime on this program, but have gotten so many awesome designs out of this program.
- No downloads!
- So much diversity and tools available. You can edit photos, upload your own photos, turn and twist and crop and zoom. It is pretty amazing and gave me the ability to be as cute as I wanted to be when presenting stuff.
- This can be used for more than just scrapbooking and scrapblogging, it can also be used to decorate webpages, school products, birthday cards, etc.

{ TRY IT OUT }
- Try Scrapblog, here.

**Let me know if you end up liking it. Or if you have any other ideas for editing solutions. I found it from a fellow blogger and a passing on the love. :)

Amish Peace

2010-03-11T23:42:00.001-08:00

{ GIVEAWAY }
I am really excited about this current giveaway!! While I often focus on products that are fun, functional and eco-friendly, there are not many products I feature that have the ability to positively change my readers' way of life. I truly feel that this book is the exception.

Amish Peace by Christian author Suzanne Woods Fisher is a lifeline for the modern mom. With short chapters, an easy to read style of writing and a wealth of truth, Amish Peace is a must read book for Christian mothers.

'Of all the gifts that Jesus left us, his peace is most elusive. We long for it in our homes, in our relationships, in our life situations. One place we can look and see "living peace" is in the lives of the Amish. But you don't have to become Amish to bring these simple, practical ways of living into your own life--and make personal peace a reality.'

Interested in her Grandfather's old order German Baptist beginnings, Suzanne Fisher set out to interview and understand the world of the Amish. By using 2-3 page stories, she has not only given her readers an understanding of Amish Peace, but endowed them with peace themselves.

Organized around five central themes in Amish life, each section will include real-life stories, callouts of Amish proverbs, and interesting facts about Amish communities. Each section will also contain questions for reflection and action--things you can do in your own life that "make for peace."

This easy to read format allows us busy mom's to savor her writing moment by moment and bit by bit. You do not need to read this book all at once. In fact, each few pages introduces a story to resonate inside you, a proverb to enjoy and an action to simplify your life.

'I was curious to read this book and see what Suzanne found out in her research, visits and interviews with the Amish. What I didn't expect was the peace I would get just from reading the book.' - Janna R. Ryan

'We are not talking about perfect human beings here, just about people like ourselves.
Suzanne paints a beautiful portrait of the good characteristics of this Christian group.

Tears came to my eyes reading the chapters.'
- Oscar Cardozo

'I am going through a lot in my life and this book really calmed me down and let me concentrate on what's important. It was a blessing to me and I plan to share it with others and give this as gifts.' - Grace Winn

{ THUMBS DOWN }
Haven't been able to find a negative yet. This book would be an excellent match for those of all faiths.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Suzanne's style of writing!! (Read an excerpt, here)
- The style is simple and stories powerful. Ability to transport the reader into an Amish home.
- Organization of Amish Peace allows readers with only a small time commitment to reflect on the its truths.
- Excellent resource for daily devotions or book study.

{ BUY IT }
Amish Peace is an excellent book to give as a gift or for personal edification. It is currently being offered on Amazon.com for only $9.35. But can also be found in bookstores and libraries across the country.

-Purchase Amish Peace, here.

**If you would like more information on Amish proverbs, peace and wisdom, explore Suzanne Woods Fisher's Webpage, Facebook, or Twitter. She is in the process of writing and publishing several more books and has just begun hosting a radio program called "Amish Wisdom." Listen online, here.

{ WIN IT }
One lucky reader will win a signed copy of "Amish Peace!!"

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on March 26, 2010 . Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on March 27, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the book will be shipped directly from author Suzanne Woods Fisher. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Write me a comment telling me which of the five Amish themes you most need to focus on in your life and why. Themes include: Simplicity, Time, Community, Forgiveness, The Sovereignty of God.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well on each comment.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column)
2. Follow Suzanne Woods Fisher on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter id in comment)
3. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter (Leave your Twitter id in comment)
4. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
5. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
6. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Amish Peace' Amazon home page. Write a comment with your blog URL for each entry.

Congratulations to CarolSue!!

"I posted your contest on my Blog

http://carolsbloggys.blogspot.com/2008/10/contests-from-our-bloggy-friends.html"

Myx Tea Review - Lucky Green Tea

2010-03-11T10:30:00.001-08:00

Now, I am not a coffee girl, but I do enjoy my tea. My favorite writing position (when I do my freelance writing) is with my feet sprawled across my green sofa, my laptop computer on my lap and a cup of warm tea. This next review will be particularly interesting for those who enjoy tea, those who know those who enjoy tea and those who are looking for a creative way to wish St. Patty's Day good luck to a neighbor.

MYX Te as, an eco-conscious online seller of premium teas, has come up with a unique, healthy and thoughtful way to wish a friend a "Happy St. Patrick's Day" Here is a quote from their PR man Louise:

Parents need some much needed relax and rejuvenation...

MYX makes long-distance gifting easy with "lucky" green teas arriving to your door just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Available online for shopping made easy, MYX's specialty green tea blends are a perfect alternative for healthy leprechauns.

{ REVIEW }
Myx provided me with two custom blended naturally based green teas to review for St. Patrick's Day: Green Jasmine Sunset and Green Pomegranate Mint.

Green Jasmine Sunset: Sail away into an Irish sunset with the exotic flavors of Green Jasmine Sunset. Enjoy a zesty combination of jasmine green tea, rooibos, lemon verbena, ginger and orange!

Green Pomegranate Mint: Forget the Guinness and soggy cabbage and relax with the blissful taste of Green Pomegranate Mint flavored with tangy pomegranate and refreshing mint.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Now this may be nitpicky, but I love online shopping done well. While I love the graphics and design of the MYX Teas website, I would have liked to have been able to click into bigger pictures of the products. MYX had an excellent presentation when delivered, but I could not see that on the website.

{ THUMBS UP }
- MYX Teas only works with eco-conscious partners.
- Every flavor is custom blended and naturally based. MYX uses exotic flavors and creative combinations to find a truly refreshing and relaxing taste.
- Excellent packaging!! This is truly great for a gift. The teas were impressively packaged in a stylish pouch and included a tea guide in order to help the consumer brew the tea to its best flavors.
- Tea was smooth, warm and relaxing. While I am not an expert tea taster, it was truly refreshing and delicious. My personal favorite was the Green Jasmine Sunset.
- Smart concept and advertising idea for gifting.

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase MYX Teas, here.

These premium teas are a fairly inexpensive and thoughtful gift for
$9.99 ¼ lb
$11.99 ½ lb
$20.99 1 lb.

I would have never thought to send tea as a gift for St. Patrick's Day or any other occasion, but I now will consider it as a thoughtful gift for the stressed out Mom.

Beads Story Promotion

2010-03-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

{ REVIEW }
Delicate, feminine, elegant..... Well-made jewelry has the gift of making a woman feel special.

For jewelry to really stand out in my mind, however, it has to make me feel a certain way or tell a certain story. That's where Beads Story Etsy shop comes in. As a behavioral therapist working with kids all day long, I find joy in a well told story and am always looking for ways to bring some sophisticated whimsy into my life.

Beads Story's collection of handcrafted beaded jewelry does just this...

With a mixture of elegance and enchantment, Beads Story jewelry draws positive attention towards the wearer. More importantly, however, it allows for her to make her own story about how the piece of jewelry fits into her life, what it symbolizes to her and who she is.

I especially like Beads Story emphasis on nature!

{ THUMBS DOWN }
I can't think of a negative at the moment. Clasps could be hard to undo? The weight of the jewelry could be higher than average?

{ THUMBS UP }
- Assymetrical styles turn classical designs into stylish fashion for today.
- Each handmade jewelry piece is designed to tell a story.
- Awesome customer service with quick responses and frequent deals (ie. buy 5, get one free).

{ BUY IT }
- Purchase Bead Story jewelry, here.

*With prices ranging from $13 to $28 this magical jewelry is the perfect one of a kind gift for ages 9 to 90.

Current deals include
- Free Shipping through March 31, 2010
- Buy 3, get 10% off
- Buy 5, get one free

{ WIN IT }
Two lucky readers will win their item of choice from Beads Story Etsy shop.

~ GIVEAWAY RULES ~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm pacific time on March 24, 2010 . Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on March 25, 2010 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and the jewelry will be shipped directly from Beads Story Etsy shop. I will also announce the winner on this blog. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.

~ HOW TO ENTER ~
Visit Beads Story and choose your favorite piece of jewelry. Write me a comment stating your favorite piece of jewelry and what "story" it tells about you.

~ EXTRA ENTRIES ~
You must do the "how to enter" entry first. Leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Remember to write your email address as well.
1. Follow JOT Giveaways through Google Friends Connect (Top of right hand column)
2. Follow JOT Giveaways on Twitter
3. Tweet about this giveaway (post URL of tweet)
4. Put my button on your blog (tell me where to find it!)
5. Blog about this giveaway on a personal blog for THREE extra entries. Include links to both JOT Giveaways and Beads Story Etsy shop. Write a comment for each entry.

~ WINNERS ~
Congratulations to Michelle Ame!!

"my favorite is the Falling Tears Necklace

I have a swarovski bracelet I treasure very much because it was the first jewelry that my husband gave to me"

Congratulations to MemoriesForLifeScrapbooks!!

I love the Dynasty Necklace!
It says that I like to wear a piece of jewelry with many different outfits and this necklace would be great for that because it goes with so many things!

Imagination Kids Toys

2010-03-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
I am a toy snob. I hate to say it, but I truly am.

As a behavioral therapist, I see soooo many of the same plastic, noisy toys that I get excited when I see something new. My favorite toys are those that inspire creativity, hence my excitement at discovering Imagination Kids Etsy shop.

Imagination Kids is a colorful whimsical place on Etsy. Toys made of sustainably harvested wood and painted with AP certified non-toxic/ACMI non-toxic water colors jump off the virtual shelves and promise to spark the imagination of your kiddos. Handmade, eco-friendly wooden toys are my cup of tea, and this is just what Imagination Kids offers.

Let's take a look at some of the toys, before I gush some more:

One of the things I really like about Imagination Kids toys is that they invite YOU to create a story and fantasy world to play in. Your child is given the freedom to set the stage for magical play.

These are some of the many Stackers offered by Imagination Kids. Don't you love them? I do. I love how they can serve as a backdrop for magical play, used as creative building blocks, serve as colorful decor or simply be put to use as a stacker. At $11-22 these stackers are the perfect way to buy a 4-in-1 toy!

{ THUMBS DOWN }
The selection. These toys and backdrops are so wonderful, I want more!! I don't just want the bunnies around a bush, but a forest and deer to expand my play set.

**My hunch is that Imagination Kids is working on expanding on their collection and also available to do custom work. I found them to be extremely quick at correspondence, just shoot out an email if you have a specific request.

{ THUMBS UP }
- All items are handmade at their home in Indiana.
- Prices are inexpensive!!
- Customer service is excellent!!
- Beautifully handcrafted colorful toys, made with thought for thoughtful creative kids.
- These are the types of toys that will spark your child's imagination.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Imagination Kids, here.

*If you want to know MORE about Imagination Kids use these links to find them on Twitter and Facebook.

Gifts and Talents Recipe Boxes

2010-03-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
Lately, I have been collecting recipes. Tasty, low-calorie, cost friendly recipes which make my husband and I blush from deliciousness. Are they really that yummy? Well, some of them are.

Which leads me to my next point, despite the delicious nature of these recipes, I have not found a good place to keep them. In fact, they are in a very boring file on my computer.

In my search for a place to house my collection of recipes, I came across Gifts and Talents Etsy shop. I was immediately wowed by G&T's massive collection of custom made decoupaged recipe boxes and colorful tab dividers. They seem like the perfect place to house and to organize my deliciously delightful mess of recipes.

Here is a sample from this little, but bright corner of Etsy:

I can't overemphasize the immense amount of possibilities for the design and color scheme of your Recipe or trinket box. Each one is CUSTOM made for your delight!! These would make the perfect house warming gift at $13-$21 each (depending on size). To view past sales and many more design options, click here.

A recipe box, however, is not complete without some organization. These adorable tabbed organizers are made to match your recipe box and make your life so much easier. Gifts and Talents sells six recipe card tab dividers for $12.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
This is another Etsy shop that is super popular. Know that good things come to those who wait. Expect your custom made recipe box to come 4 weeks after your initial order!

Also expect to pay for shipping. Although the recipe box prices are relatively low, figure in an additional $7 for shipping if you are in the US, $8.50 to Canada and $16.00 to everywhere else.

{ THUMBS UP }
- Custom made!!
- Excellent customer service. (I had a dialogue with owner and she was extremely quick to answer emails and extremely helpful in her information).
- Over 1600 of past designs to choose from.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Gifts and Talents, here.

Browse past designs, here.

Sevi 1831 Toys & ToothBrush Timers

2010-03-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
I came across Sevi when looking for a toothbrush timer for my family and boy was I impressed.

Sevi was founded in Italy in 1831. It is associated with the oldest European toy company that produced wooden toys!! Sevi was around when it all started and has continued to stay innovative, eco-friendly and personal in the developing toy market.

"It uses tradition, hand in hand with innovation and research in design and production, to always offer products with the highest intrinsic quality and value. Sevi also wishes to protect our environment: the varnishes used are non-toxic."

Ok, so now that we know a bit about Sevi, let's look at what first attracted me to them in the first place - their adorable toothbrush timers.

Sevi offers many different styles of children's toothbrush timers, to fit many different decorating styles. While I think a child may outgrow these adorable designs pretty early in life, they are an extremely cute start to a life of dental hygiene.

Sevi also offers colorful wooden timeless toys which impressed me, I think even more than the toothbrush holders. I love the magical creative wooden block set (pictured on the right) and also the pull along toy on the left. I love the international cultural flavor of the Marajah pull along toy. Sevi also offers a cowboy pull along toy and an arab Tuareg.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
There are not a lot of reviews on Sevi toys as they are mainly international. These would be my questions/concerns.
- Is the timer functional? Does it stay up easily or fall back down?

{ THUMBS UP }
- Love the company history!!
- Love the company philosophy.
- Love the bright colors of the toys.
- Really liked a lot of their educational toys - very creative.
- Love that it is eco-friendly and care is taken to use non toxic materials!

{ BUY IT }
Purchase Sevi products, here.

Browse the Sevi website, here. (There will be an option to choose your language after the intro)

Mod Cloth Dresses

2010-03-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
I am a dress woman. In a dream world, I would be wearing an adorable, flirty, sophisticated, flattering dress everyday. This isn't a dream world, but it is my wish list, and ModCloth dresses are definitely on it.

Mod Cloth clothing was founded by high school sweethearts Eric and Susan Koger in 2002, when they were only 17. Since then, they have experienced enormous growth and success selling true vintage clothing and vintage-inspired pieces by indie designers.

Here are some of m favorite from their rapidly expanding collection:

These casual dresses would be perfect for summer, running errands with flair, lounging around the house or going to a day party. **This is just a TINY sampling of the numerous day dresses I would love to snatch up from Mod Cloth. Many of these could be paired with leggings fora winter look!

ModCloth also has so many dresses that are appropriate for night time events, the work place, and even for weddings. Some of these dresses would be the perfect unique and beautiful bridesmaid gowns so many are looking for. **Once again the few ModCloth dresses I am showing is almost an embarrassment, because there is such diversity in color, cut and style I am not being able to show.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
These stylish dresses don't come cheap. If they did, I would own them all!! Also, I noticed a lot of the dresses are of a somewhat shorter cut. I don't know if that is a negative or not, but if you are looking for flowing floor length gowns ModCloth is not the place to be. If your looking for stylish knee length or higher vintage inspired dresses, come on in!

{ THUMBS UP }
- ModCloth also offers, shoes, accessories, outerwear, tops and bottoms.
- ModCloth has FREE domestic returns (with a prepaid return label).
- ModCloth has REVIEWS on their websites from consumers, which give great insight into the product.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase or browse ModCloth clothing, here .

Sea Pinks Etsy Store

2010-03-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
Today, we are featuring a cozy little store on Etsy called Sea Pinks. Sea Pinks offers up darling embroidered sewing accessories: such as pin cushions, fabric boxes and needlebooks. She also offers decorative accessories.

Her designs range from whimsical to impeccably soft and stylish and I would love to use them to organize and decorate my sewing corner.

Let's take a look at why these Etsy products have captured me so:

Sea Pinks pin cushions often take the shape of fruit and gourds. Pin cushions cost anywhere from $12-$25 and would make the perfect gift for mom's who love to sew, seamstresses and crafty Grandmas. They would also make a great thank you gift for the seamstresses in your life.

This adorable hand embroidered natural linen needlebook was found in the past sales section. It included three pages of cotton flannel.
Both the fabric box on the left and each decorative wren costs $7

{ THUMBS DOWN }
I can't think of a thumbs down. Make sure your children learn safety awareness rules because these pin cushions look cute enough to be a toy??

{ THUMBS UP }
My favorite part about Sea Pinks cozy store is the ability these darling embroidered sewing objects have to bring some magic into the sewing room. While some of Sea Pinks products are made to be elegant and charming, most of these fantastical designs would make even the most mundane sewing jobs a bit more fun.

Read through Sea Pink Etsy Store's feedback, here, for more positives about these products.

**Did I mention that the product descriptions are drool worthy? Jenny, owner of Sea Pinks is very specific in the description, helping you realize how special each individual product is.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Sea Pinks Etsy shop, here.

**I highly recommend looking through past sales to see the variety of products which can be custom made!

NuxieMade Etsy Store

2010-03-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
Melissa Donnelly designs handcrafted hats and accessories and oooh, they make me giggle.

There is something about her handmade colorful collection which makes me want to adorn that precious child in my life. These little beanies and newsboy style headgear strikes a perfect balance for me between precious and fashionable. They seem vintage yet modern at the same time.

Here is a sampling from her timeless collection:

Her collection is sized not just for newborns, but all the way up to adults. My favorites though are for the young babies and toddlers. At $25 each on Etsy, these baby beanies would be a perfect Baby shower gift!!

Don't you love these colors? Nuxiemade also produces adorable flower hair clips and headbands!! These beanies vary in price from $25-$40 depending on the size.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
These beanies have got to be worth the wait. Expect at least a four week wait for the hats, 10-14 days for the hair accessories. Rest assured though, if you want to give a give certificate, it will be in the mail the next day.

{ THUMBS UP }
Ooooh weee. Let's see, other than the adorable handcrafted design....... Free shipping in the United States is another perk. (It costs $2.00-$3.50 internationally)

Another wonderful touch is the customer service. You can have these custom made. (I personally, would get a neutral color and several double flower hair clips to switch for outfits.)

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Nuxiemade Etsy store, here.

See Melissa's Nuxiemade blog, here, for more adorable photos and designs.

SparkPeople Review

2010-03-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Chris Downie and his wonderful wife created SparkPeople after gaining huge financial success as very early Ebay employees. They decided to use their earnings to make the world a healthier place. SparkPeople is their way of giving back to the world.

Great!! So, what exactly is Sparkpeople? Sparkpeople is an online community and toolbox for success in the world of health.

"We offer nutrition, health, and fitness tools, support, and resources that are 100% free, while other sites like Weight Watchers and eDiets.com charge their members for similar services. "

"In addition to informative articles and interactive tools, such as fitness trackers and meal plans, members can find support and encouragement from our vibrant, positive community of members and experts."

Here's a video to SPARK your interest even more.

{ MY REVIEW }
I was told about SparkPeople by my Mom. It just kept coming up in conversations: "Someone on SparkPeople told me this", "Someone on Sparkpeople told me that," "I forgot to track my foods on SparkPeople today," "They have some really good free exercises for abs."

Before I knew it I was typing it into my browser

http://www.sparkpeople.com

Up came an extremely vast website. My mom had prepared me that there was so much to do on the website it was difficult to know where to start.

I started, however, at the Nutrition Tracker. (Which I absolutely love). I continued to explore the Nutrition Tracker, Goal Setter and Community Element.

My favorite element is the Community element. Not long after signing up, I was getting motivational messages from my SparkTeam members and more importantly being able to offer support to others.

I have found Spark People to be an incredibly inspiring and thorough resource for achieving better health for myself. My favorite part of SparkPeople, though, is how it has helped my mom. My mom has been a yo-yo dieter for most of her life. SparkPeople has provided her the support to keep her on path for lifelong health. Her goals are to be able and healthy for her grandchildren. She is extremely active in two support groups: Emotional Eaters and Over 50.

I joined a group perfect for me: 20 Somethings with less than 10 pounds to lose. SparkPeople caters to all who want to be and stay healthy.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
The website truly can be overwhelming.

Not all groups are as active or supportive. The process of finding a great group can be trial and error.

{ THUMBS UP }
This resource is absolutely amazing for a free resource!! In fact, it would be amazing even if I paid to use it!

From diets, to exercises, to recipes, to support, it is extremely thorough! Anyone can find what they need through this website.

The newsletters I get from SparkPeople are extremely interesting and feature motivational stories, delicious recipes and easy to do exercises.

SparkPeople also offers 20-day, 30-day, 90-day programs with a diet or exercise provided for each day.

I truly hope you visit this website and take the first step to sparking a positive change in your life.

{ SIGN UP }
Sign up for Sparkpeople.com, here.

To see my personal SparkPage, go here.

JHA & Marianne Handmade Watch Studio

2010-02-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
Marianne hand crafted watches have a bold, vintage, steampunk, absolutely original, unique, timeless and beautiful style which taps in to my inner me.

Do I like beautiful sparkly watches? Yes.
Do I like dainty sophisticated watches? Mmm Hmmm.
But, do I want a handmade watch made specifically for me? You bet!!

I was not aware watched like these existed!! My guess is that wearing a watch like this, would encourage a lot of positive attention and feedback. Now, let's hear some feedback from actual purchasers.

2/26 - "Very nice watch. Perfect for a lady's wrist; dainty, yet eye-catching. Quality craftsmanship, and a very friendly and communicative merchant." - raemcsween

2/23 - "It was beautiful and arrived earlier then expected. I was able to customize it for my boyfriend and he really loved it. " - keppel23

2/22 - "Lovely and beautiful packaging. Thank You so much!" - littlezen

2/17 - "love it !!! It looks just like I wanted it to from the photo. The personalized engraving was perfect. It arrived immediately & was well packed, even wrapped in wrapping paper. I love it & want to order another one!!!" - verrazano

{ THUMBS DOWN }
- Made in South Korea, so $20 shipping.

{ THUMBS UP }
There appears to be excellent customer service, handmade watches, adorable high quality packaging, quick shipping and a one year warranty offered on each watch!!

Also, an excellent touch is the personalization!! You get to personalize the watch to exactly how you want it. Obviously, you get to choose the face. But, you also get to choose the band color and specify the style and stitching. Each watch has the option of engraving the back of the watch or the name plate.

The best "thumbs up" feature however, is the quality of watches and watch bands. It will be hard to find watches like this anywhere else. They are absolutely stunning. Each and every one.

{ BUY IT }
These watches would make an excellent gift or splurge on yourself.

Browse and Buy these beautiful watches, here, at JHA & Marianne's Handmade Watch Studio.

Oompa Toys Review

2010-02-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

"NO BATTERIES. NO BLINKING LIGHTS. NO CARTOON-THEMED TOYS. PERIOD."

"Oompa Toys offers an expanding collection of European wooden toys, educational toys, lunch bags and modern children's furniture to urbane and discerning adults who want to expose the young children in their lives to non-character branded, quality toys that are designed to withstand generations of use. In addition to baby toys, we now offer a wonderful selection of baby gear, including strollers, high chairs, diaper bags and meal & bath time items. Recently we expanded our children's furniture collections to include modern cribs, tables, seating, beds & beddings and tons of playroom storage.

We believe baby toys should be natural, safe, ec0-friendly, non-violent and from manufacturers who provide safe and nurturing environments from their employees. We believe in fair, competitive pricing and strive for 100% customer satisfaction."

{ MY REVIEW }
I had to leave the introductory paragraph to Oompa untouched. That little excerpt came from a tiny paragraph at the bottom of the "About Us" section on the beautifully formatted Oompa Webpage.

What can I say? Oompa Toys is my favorite place to shop for baby toys!! As a behavioral therapist, I travel to the homes of the kiddos I work with and I see a lot of toys. I see a lot of the same toys over and over again. They are usually plastic, loud (some have off buttons, some do not) and cause and effect in nature.

As a therapist, my favorite toys are "contingent toys." Toys whose sounds and actions are contingent with the actions the child makes. I also love toys that have dual purposes. So, at first can be used for sensory exploration and then eventually evolve into pretend play toys. I love toys which foster imagination and creativity.

As a future mommy and women, I like "soft" or cloth toys, toys which make gentle, soothing or quiet sounds and toys which I don't have to worry about being recalled. I also like toys which seem like they will last forever (wood is ok, in this case!).

So, I think its pretty easy to see why I like Oompa. Oompa is the best place I know for choosy, thoughtful moms. There are so many more positives, as you will see below.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
The only deterrent could be the price. Some of these toys seem to be the same price as their plastic noisy equals, some seem to be much more.

Also, sometimes popular items are out of stock. You have the option to be emailed when they are in stock again.

{ THUMBS UP }
**The choice of products is the number one factor which makes Oompa Toys exemplary. The close second, however, is the wonderfully organized and well thought out website.

**Oompa Toys website provides options to search for toys by age, brand, location made (U.S. or Europe), and category toys fall in. ie: Baby Toys/Baby Blocks or Baby Toys/Mobiles

Inside of the category you choose you can search by brand, price or top reviewed. I personally flip flop between searching by price and top reviewed. I love the top reviewed option. I am obviously a BIG fan of reviews.

The item page features consumer reviews, pictures (from manufacturer and consumers), safety standards and educational features of the product. It is amazing!

**Oompa Toys offers a loyalty reward program which is just wonderful. You receive points for purchasing toys, writing reviews, posting pictures, referring friends or family and being the first to report a bug on the website.

The rewards program will not make you rich, but it is a nice incentive to get involved in the Oompa Toys community. Which is another thing I love about Oompa.

**Although Oompa Toys is an online store it has successfully given the feeling of a community of Mom's. As you read the reviews and look at pictures of other women's children playing with the toys, you feel a connect. That is a huge success for the designers of Oompa!!

**The toys are also packaged very nicely with a little pamphlet of other adorable Oompa Toys!!

{ BUY IT }
Oompa Toys is my favorite place to buy unique, well made and yes, thoughtful, gifts for children! I feel a lot of pride in giving a gift that will be used for years to come.

Buy Oompa Toys here!!

The toys pictured above in order of appearance:
Haba Baby Vegetables Rattle Set
Sevilla Building Blocks from Haba
Large Wooden Shape Sorter from Bajo

I have personally purchased the:
Haba Baby Vegetables Rattle Set
Haba Biofino Petit Fours
Haba Mushroom Ball Clutching Toy

**I have found every item to be outstanding in construction.

The Surrendered Wife Review - Changed My Life

2010-02-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

The book I am reviewing today is, The Surrendered Wife: A Practical Guide to Finding Intimacy, Passion and Peace with Your Man by Laura Doyle.

I came across this book as a fluke. I was researching a different title I'd heard about on Focus on the Family and was directed to The Surrendered Wife. First let me share some quotes about the book from editorials, reviewers and the author, to give you an idea what this is all about.

The underlying principle of The Surrendered Wife is simple: The control women wield at work and with children must be left at the front door of any marriage. - Laura Doyle

Many women will find such advice archaic and offensive; some will simply laugh off this credential-free anachronism when they receive the book as a bridal-shower gag gift. Still others, identifying with Doyle's profile of a controlling wife, will be curious enough to dabble in her proposed art of "surrendering." - Liane Thomas

{ MY REVIEW }
I was skeptical about this book, but decided to give it a try. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. This book changed my life!

A little background information is probably important. My mom completely emasculated my dad. She was borderline verbally abusive and as kids, we were taught that even the dog came before my Dad in terms of respect.

Now, my mom is an AMAZING women and my dad is pretty great too. They were wonderful parents despite their deficiencies. I grew up pretty emotionally stable, knowing that I never wanted to do that to my husband. Keep in mind, my mother never intended to do it either. I majored in psychology, read a lot of books and dated my husband for three years before getting married.

Now, I know its time to say that despite my efforts, I still became on ogre. Well, that's not even close to true. I tried my hardest to show my husband respect. Something did not seem right though. After 2 1/2 years, I knew our marriage was not as good as it could be and it was me. I had become a nag. I had to stop it, couldn't afford therapy. This book became my solution.

While many of the wonderful books I read (especially Christian based books) pounded down the point that respect is key to a husband, they never taught me how to properly show respect (and I had no idea).

To be fair, some of them gave tips or tricks, but never rules or guidelines. That is what The Surrendered Wife provided. It told me how to respect my husband and through that respect myself.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
The writing style is not my favorite. I hate to say it, but it's just very simple and some of it is a bit repetitious. It is definitely readable though, and the pearls of wisdom are more than worth the less than A+ style. It is also well organized.

Another thumbs down - this book is extremely controversial. As much as it changed my life, I would be hesitant to share it with people in my life without a huge warning tag on it. "Try not to get offended" "You don't have to do everything in the book." "Have an OPEN mind."

Honestly, there is not much to be offended by in it, but us women flinch at the word submit, so imagine the reaction at surrender.

**Also different Amazon reviewers noted that this book is really only great for the controllers out there. It is not as amazing for everyone else. I was a borderline controller though (that didn't even know it), so I can only give my personal opinion.

{ THUMBS UP }
Oooh la la, I could rave for hours. This book helped me realize:

- Intimacy is more important than always being right
- I don't have to take care of everything, my husband can and should be doing certain things.
- Trusting my husband is easier than trying to do everything myself.
- I should state what I want, instead of hinting at it.
- I need to make sure to take care of myself. That will relieve frustration.
- Invisible duct tape is really important in avoiding arguments.
- If my husband says something mean, just say "ouch" instead of fighting back.
- If my husband is in a bad mood, do NOT keep asking him why. Either let him figure it out or come to me.

etc. etc. etc. Since I read the book two or three weeks ago, my life has really changed. My husband takes care of all the money, does the dishes and started sharing food making responsibility. I feel a lot less responsibility since I don't do the money and less accountability (since I get my allowance in cash) and he has the ability to treat me like a princess.

I haven't been perfect at this method. But, I feel like all the arguments and stuff come back when I slip up.

**Many readers on Amazon said they liked a lot of surrendering principles, but chose which ones they wanted to practice. Not everyone wanted to give up money handling and they still said the book was valuable to them.

{ BUY IT }
Buy a signed copy of The Surrendered Wife for $15, go to the official website here. If you want to purchase a used copy or a new copy from Amazon, use this link.

**At Amazon, you can also look inside the book. Happy Reading!!

:::::WARNING:::: This book is not meant for wives whose husbands are physically abusive, involved in infidelity or active addictions. Do not buy this book, if this the case.

Starshine Baby Couture

2010-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

{ MY WISH LIST }
Starshine Baby Couture inspires me.

Amber Arce, designer Mom, extroardinaire, wanted to create a line of clothing for babies that was both stylish and environmentally friendly.

She achieved this goal by making designer one of a kind pieces out of recycled vintage clothing. She also donates 1% of every sale to the Environmental Youth Alliance!

Here is a sampling from her yummy collection:

These bibs makes me DROOL with excitement!! Seriously, I think these are some of the cutest baby bibs I have ever seen. She also offers bow ties and stars, but these long neckties, just make me melt. At $14 each on Etsy, this would be a perfect Baby shower gift!!

Starshine Baby Couture produces baby dresses which are truly stylish with fun matching bloomers which make the whole outfit child appropriate. This is the first place I would go for baby clothes suited for a wedding, baptism or special event! This line produces dresses for newborns up to toddler age and prices vary from $45-60.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
Can't think of a thing! Except you would have to get over a kiddo dirtying such beautiful clothes.

{ THUMBS UP }
Obviously, I love this place or it wouldn't be on my with list!! My favorite part is that they are made from recycled vintage clothing, each dress, bib and bloomer has a story. I am also impressed with the design of the clothing. I love the details (go to Etsy store for close ups)

{ BUY IT }
Purchase from Starshine Baby Couture, here.

Introducing B2B

2010-02-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

I found out about Business 2 Blogger from Mission Mommy's blog. Business 2 Blogger is a website which links bloggers with businesses who are interested in advertising through Product Review. It is an excellent idea and I am excited to see how it works.

If this turns out to be a source of giveaway action, I will definitely let you know.

**Be aware, that I will only blog about product reviews or product giveaways that I believe in and think fits with the core positive family friendly message of this blog.

Carolyn's Kitchen Apron Review

2010-02-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Carolyn's Kitchen creates vintage-inspired aprons in a flirty, sexy and fun way.

{ MY REVIEW }
I was given the opportunity to review the Dorothy Apron in yellow from Carolyn's Kitchen.

This apron made me conjure up thoughts of "I Love Lucy," making Christmas cookies and entertaining guests.

I wasn't sure that I would like the black vertical and horizontal stripes, but in person I absolutely love the style. I actually wear this apron quite often and it never fails to make me feel like a flirty, fun homemaker. My husband finds it sexy, I feel like I'm playing house (instead of grinding away at the real thing). It's a win-win situation. And even just hanging it in my kitchen makes me feel like a better caretaker of the home.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
The only negative on the apron is that the pocket is not sewn on. This apron is made to be decorative and stylish instead of extremely functional.

My biggest pet peeve with Carolyn's Kitchen is with the website (which has been revamped since I last visited it). While I feel these aprons can definitely be worn to increase sex appeal, I am uncomfortable with the amount of skin shown by the models hi-lighted on the headings of the website. I think the gallery is much more representative of the variety of ways women can wear this product.

{ THUMBS UP }
As alluded to earlier, Carolyn's Kitchen Apron is extremely versatile. It can be worn for everyday use, as a costume at Halloween or a Murder Mystery Party or it can be worn with the purpose of inspiring romance. It will fit older children and be flattering on women of differing body types. Carolyn's Kitchen aprons come in over 30 styles!

I really feel like Carolyn found a great niche between flirty, fun and vintage. She has succeeded in bringing a little bit of whimsy into my kitchen and I highly recommend this product.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase the Dorothy Apron in yellow from Carolyn's Kitchen for $39.95.

Purchase complimentary gloves here, for $22-$24.

**I received this product through a promotional giveaway at Angela's Bits.

Joolwe Review

2010-02-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

Oh, I do love adorning myself with beautiful jewelry, (or should I say for this review, "Joolwe").

Joolwe is a new online jewelry store which prides itself on its excellent customer service and a "fun shopping experience." They offer a massive amount of different styles and gemstones and have a comprehensive searching system which allows you to search jewelry by eight different criteria, varying from theme to price. They also have free shipping.

Joolwe Jewelry appears to be elegant and reasonably priced.

{ MY REVIEW }

I had the opportunity to review the Sterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia Dual Textured Open Circle Pendant.

I received it as a prize for a giveaway I had entered at the Veater Family Blog and was intending to give it away as a gift for Christmas.

It arrived in the mail with a personal letter from Joolwe (which I thought was a nice touch). Once I tried it on, I knew I was keeping it.

While, I typically choose a more earthy, organic or homemade style, this beautiful necklace really classes up every outfit I wear. I think it is appropriate for going out with friends, but also on a fancier date night! LOVE THIS!! And so does my husband (which is interesting). He is actually much pickier than I am in my jewelry. Yet, he feels this circle pendant makes me look "sophisticated." Which I love.

{ THUMBS DOWN }
I didn't necessarily find the website as "fun" as it promised. However, it was very well organized and you could send a commitment to high quality customer service. I felt that the "retail" prices next to the Joolwe special prices were a little inflated. Otherwise, everything was very satisfactory.

{ THUMBS UP }
Joolwe offers FREE shipping to all US customers. They also have a really cool rewards system which enables you to get a piece of select jewelry in exchange for an honest blog review. Check it out here! Joolwe also offers bi-monthly giveaway contests.

I found the website easy to navigate. Joolwe offers a lot of original, beautiful and affordable jewelry to choose from.

{ BUY IT }
Purchase the Sterling Silver and Cubic Zirconia Dual Textured Open Circle Pendant that I reviewed for $24.99 using this link.

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