Momanthology.com

Weekly Card Project 3 - Blue Butterfly

2012-02-03T00:57:00.002-05:00

Below is another card I did using some of the same colors in the last project I posted. Again I used the turquoise cardstock and scrapbook paper.

I prefer to decorate not only the outside of the card, but also the inside and back. You can see below what the card looks like front to inside to back. A blue butterfly welcomes you and a blue bird waits for you at the end.

The front of the card is simple with embossed cardstock in turquoise and cream with die cuts, one stamped, ribbon and rhinestone embellishments and a focal butterfly. The edges of the card were "aged" with chesnut ink. You may have noted a small tear in the paper under the left rhinestone - this will be easily reparied

The inside of the card has a retro-modern patterned turquoise border. Kraft paper is centered for writing senitments and signing your name. A small tag is "stiched on" and another tag dangles with birthday sentiments. This is fun because the birthday greeting pops out as the card is opened.

The back of the card is embellished with stamped images and pen for fun.

Back to blogging

2012-02-03T00:25:00.002-05:00

Over the last year and a half and we have experienced several sorrowful events. My father in law passed a little under a year ago, my neighborhood was ravaged by tornados and over the last 2 months I have lost two grandparents - my grandmother Thanksgiving weekend 2011 and my grandfather about 2 weeks ago.

Due to traveling for the funerals, catching up with work, Girl Scout Cookie sales kicking off and fighting off the remnants of a cold, I am behind with blogging.
I hope to catch up over the weekend! Winners from the recent giveaways will be posted this week. I also have some fun giveaways to post from Lovable Labels, Freeman, Cherrios, Pilsbury and Yoplait so keep checking back. In addition, I will post a couple of new Card Projects to catch up.

Thanks for continuing to visit and I hope to have many things to share in 2012!

Progresso Souper You Giveaway

2012-01-30T00:36:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for a new look this New Year?

I personally love Progresso® soups - they are definitely my preferred brand. I may try others but always go back to Progresso® . Here is another reason to love Progrsso. Progresso® is kicking of 2012 with another Souper You® Contest - If you enter you have the chance to win an incredible makeover! Simply tell Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!

We are almost through January and many of us made resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle which may include exercising, eating differently or losing weight. If you made a similar resolution but had a great start that slowly stuttered to a halt OR if you just have not started, it is never too late!~

Thanks to Progresso®, you can have your soup and eat it too! With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

This year, the Souper You^® Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season’s live finale of NBC’s The Biggest Loser

Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd

Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th

In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup (while supplies last)

Tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

Want to find out more? View the video or visit the links below:

Souper You Website - http://bit.ly/SouperYou
Progresso Website - http://bit.ly/ProgressoSoupSite
Progresso on Facebook - http://on.fb.me/ProgressoFB
Progresso Online Coupon - http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup

Thanks to Progresso I have a fun giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a prize pack that includes the following:

(2) VIP Coupons for Progresso Soup
(1) copy of “The Biggest Loser” Workout DVD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark

Disney Release Schedule - 2012

2012-01-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

I love Beauty and the Beast - we actually have the original on VHS. Yes, I need an upgrade... Until then Beauty and the Beast has been re-relased at theatres. In addition the theatre version currently features a new short from from Tangled Ever After - the Tangled saga continues!. Miss E. LOVES Tangled so I plan to take her to the movie.

Here is also info on other coming movies - Brave and The Secret World of Arrietty also look fab!

January 13: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D

also in Disney Digital 3D

February 17: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY

March 9: JOHN CARTER

also in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D

April 20 (Earth Day): CHIMPANZEE (Disneynature)

May 4: MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS

also in 3D and IMAX 3D (Marvel Studios)

June 22: BRAVE, also in Disney Digital 3D (Disney/Pixar)

August 15: THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN

September 14: FINDING NEMO 3D (Disney/Pixar)

No image currently available

October 5: FRANKENWEENIE, also in Disney Digital 3D

November 12: WRECK-IT RALPH

also in Disney Digital 3D (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Return to School with Sams Club - Giveaway

2012-01-14T22:05:00.001-05:00

The holiday season flew by and it is already back to school, back to routine. Back to school did sneak up on us this year for certain - Miss. N. loves to make her own lunch every day and I realized I had to stock up on snacks the night before school started!

To keep your pantry filled with goodies for school lunches and snacks breaks, do not forget about Sam's Club..... Sam's Club offers a wider variety of products, including some of your favorite General Mills brands. In January you can also earn more cash for your local school with the Sam’s Club “6 Box Tops on a Pack” promotion!

At least 6 Bonus Box Tops will be located on your favorite select return-to-school brands such as Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars, Yoplait and Progresso From groceries to pens and paper to computers to notebooks, Sam’s Club makes shopping for all of your return-to-school needs simple.

This January, be sure to visit your local Sam’s Club to find all your return-to-school necessities. To learn more about the Box Tops for Education Program and how you can help contribute to your school, visit www.BoxTops4Education.com

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Sam's Club I have one $25 gift card to share with one reader.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks - Review, Giveaway and Coupon!

2012-01-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

I have used Ocean Spray products for years - Cranberry Juice is one of my favorites and Ocean Spray is synonymous with cranberry! Now Ocean Spray is also known for great snacks...

This week my family and I were able to review NEW Ocean Spray Fruit snacks. These are simply gummy snacks. I was excited to try these because I love cranberry so much but was not sure if my husband and kids would enjoy these. Well, I had no reason for concern. My kids LOVED these.

We received these for review this week and out of the six boxes, only two are left! I discovered the kids were even eating these for breakfast when I came downstairs and found 4 empty wrappers (As much as we LOVE these, I do not recommend substituting for breakfast LOL).

We tried the Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks in "Assorted Flavors" and "Berries and Cherries". Assorted fruits are more of a Traditional fruit mix (orange, cherry, grape, etc) - Berries and Cherries are berry and cherry flavored (*thus the name). These really do not taste like cranberry at all. The kids even said that these were their favorite fruit snacks and my husband commented that they were "really good" - (unsolicited feedback from both!) I will definitely be buying these again.

Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks are....

Made with real fruit juice and natural colors* and flavors.
80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.
Available with year round Double Box Tops.

These Fruit Flavored Snacks are made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate. See package for a list of complete ingredients. They are not intended to replace fruit in the diet.

Save $1.10 on 2 boxes of Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks with this COUPON. While supplies last. United States only

You can find out more HERE:

Ocean Spray´s® Website

Ocean Spray´s® Facebook page

I am thrilled to share that FOUR of my readers will win 6 boxes of Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks, one of each variety. Enter using the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray through MyBlogSpark.

My True Nature - Review and Giveaway

2012-01-14T20:36:00.001-05:00

My True Nature (love the name - very catchy!) is a company that produces non-toxic bath products for children.

We were able to review the holiday set of All-In-One shampoo / body wash and the bubble bath. This is a great product for kids. We have not used the bubble bath yet as the girls typically take showers instead of baths.   I do love the body wash, especially since it is a 2 in one product and thus more econimical.

- The Milo scent is light, sweet and fruity with a hint of citrus notes.   Kids love fruity scents and something that smells good means that they are more likely to use it.

- These products are packaged in kid friendly sizes. Even though the bottles are smaller, the product is concentrated so less is needed and it is actually more economical.    This produces a nice frothy lather - another plus for kid

- In addition to the great size, the labels on the bottles are decorated with freindly kid characters, appropriate for younger kids.

Here is information on the bath set from the website:

•All-in-one gentle cleanser & moisturizer for face, hair and body.

•Plant-based, non-irritating cleansers, get your baby squeaky clean without irritating eyes or skin.

•Full of nourishing and calming organic botanicals including olive oil, aloe, and pure essential oils.

•Contains natural silk amino acids and panthenol (pro-vitamin B-5) to penetrate skin and hair, add essential moisture and enhance natural plumpness.

•Not tested on animals.

•Completely free of genetically modified organisms, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, triclosan or preservatives.

•100% recycled and reusable plastic bottle.

•Big, big bubbles that kids love to play with.

•No slippery residue left on skin or tub.

•Rich in organic botanicals including aloe, plantain & white peony tea extracts, & pure essential oils.

So cute!!!!!

(original drawing of chacters above)

I love that the company uses safe ingredients in their products but also promotes using recycled materials. Find out more about the company by clicking HERE.

Prices on products offered range from $8 - $45. You can also review all of the products below

Kids Bubble Bath
Shampoo and Body Wash
Lotion
Hand Soap
Gift Bags

Thanks to My True Nature, I have one bath set to giveaway to a lucky reader. Please see the Rafflecopter form below.

Disclosure: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a product for review purposes. For more information on this website or on my posting practices, please refer to the disclosure policy at the bottom of the page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekly Card Project - Week 2 / Greetings from Paris

2012-01-10T00:29:00.000-05:00

Here is another card project that I recently completed. I was not happy with the quality of the photographs- the color depth, crispness and clarity did not accurately display the pictures. (I am not a great photographer by any means). The pictures were slightly enhanced using Picnik and the "after" picture is much closer to how the card looks in person.

**********************************************************************************

This was such a fun card to create. A variety of materials were used and the end result was a wonderful, whimsical shabby chic creation!

FRONT OF CARD:

This card was created on an ecru card base - Kraft Paper was pasted over the front of the card, essentially creating a new base.

Turquoise card stock was embossed using a Sizzix folder that came with the Texture Boutique machine kit (swirls and Swiss dots). and cut a rectangle, corner piece and small square. A corner punch was used on the corner section. All pieces were lightly and gently stamped over with a gold stamp.
For the next step, simple shapes were cut from metallic Christmas paper and a lighter shade of craft paper with a punch and also with scissors; these were distressed with a dark brown stamp and gold stamp, both on the front and the edges until achieving the desired effect.
The card stock shapes were arranged and pasted on the card stock.
The turquoise card stock was stamped with brown ink and a Parisian postal stamp. Small sentiments were also stamped and handwritten with brown ink and highlighted with a rose colored gel pen.
Flower shapes using a mini punch on the turquoise craft stock, distressed at the edges, pasted on the "photo holder" embellishments and adorned with mini rhinestones.
A flower was decorated with brown ribbon, an avocado green button and a mint colored rhinestone.

INSIDE OF CARD:

The inside of the card was covered at the top and bottom sections with turquoise scrapbook paper; this was then overlapped with slightly distressed Kraft paper centered at the middle of the card. This provides ample room for writing a meaningful note.

The back of the card was treated as a canvas of sorts - it was stamped using what I call a tattoo stippling technique - basically stamp multiple images are stamped, overlapping one another to where only some parts of the images are clear. On a different section a clear image is stamped. For a final step, various sections of the card are colored in with gel pens and embellished with rhinestones.

BACK OF CARD:

For fun I did go slightly overboard in Picnik on this one using the HDRish enhancement (I love the funkiness of the after picture). In person the colors are more muted and the tattooing is less crisp - very much in between the two shown below. You can get a good idea of the overall effect from the pictures below though.

I look forward to sharing more projects. I have been experimenting with raised embellishments to add a little more dimension as well as using different embossing and stamping techniques.

I would love feedback - please free to comment or post links to your paper crafting projects.

CoverYourHair.com- new review and giveaway

2012-01-08T23:59:00.001-05:00

A while back I did a review for CoverYourHair.com. The company reached back out to me and asked if I would be interested in doing another review, which I happily agreed to. It was somewhat ironic that Miss C. had asked me just a couple of days earlier to purchase some headbands for her for xmas . She had even already selected some online that she liked. When I received the email from CoverYourHair.com I immediately went to the site and started browsing the selection

Miss C. prefers the wide headbands. What is great is that instead of tieing these like you would have to do with a bandana, you simply slip over your head and then slide it back over your face until the end reaches the hairline. VERY easy (see video below)

I sent CoverYourHair.com a variety of items that I thought my daughter would like. She does not like anything girlie at all so I stuck to neutral colors like black, brown and blue denim. See the selection we received below!:

My daughter LOVED these. The were all great quality. They seem like they will stand up to a lot of wear and tear but are also very affordable at between $7 to $14 each. If you are looking for hair accessories, hats, Tichels or turbans, CoverYourHair.com has a vast selection in every color, fabric, material and style imaginable.

One reader of Momanthology.com will win a surprise box of hair accessories. For information and to enter see the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure - I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I did receive products for review purposes.

One for Grandma and Grandpa!

2012-01-08T23:23:00.001-05:00

Grand Camp Adventures (http://www.grandcamp.com/) is a unique company whose vision is to strengthen the bond of the grandparent - grandchild relationship. The company supports building this relationship through meaningful interactions / quality time. You can read more about the company via the "Our Story" link on their homepage.

The products offered help grandparents and grandkids connect:

GrandCamp Adventure products and services are all carefully crafted to create the space and conditions for building your most treasured relationships. Our products, sold primarily via our web site, fit within a series of themes, much like Disney ties products to a movie with themed-inspired activities. Our first theme is called, "Here We Go – Around the World Family Adventure." So when Grandparents wonder this holiday season what to get the GrandKids, or turn to parents for ideas, GrandCamp Adventures has the answer.

We were able to review the "Here We Go" storybook. I received this a while back but with the craziness of work and the holidays, just got around to opening it up. After I opened the packaged and thumbed through the book, I left it out to see if the kids would notice.

When Miss E. saw the book she immediately asked "Whose book is this". I told her it was hers if she wanted it. She immediately sat down and started reading as she LOVES to read :) She looked through and asked if she could read out loud to me which she never does unless it is for homework. I said she and she read through the first few pages.

The story is cute - It is about kids and grandparents scouring the globe for lost treasures on a wacky but fun adventure. What I was really, really impressed with are the outstanding graphics. The pages were truly stunning - the drawings were colorful, crisp and fun with a realistic yet dully playful element.

This is a wonderful book for children and grandparents to read together and begin plans to start their own adventures! With families spread out, this book can help kids and grandparents build a relationship, even with distance. It would make a great book for kids to grandparents or grandparents to grandkids. It is also unique in that it is a gift that can be handed down in the future to a parent from the child when a new generation begins :)

GrandCamp Adventures has other products including puzzles, an adventure kit, a CD to go along with the book and some of the cutest stuffed animals I have ever seen! (see left). If you are a grandparent I really encourage you to take a look at this product line.

You can visit GrandCamp Adventures on their website or via Facebook.

Disclosure: I received a product for review purposes but did not receive any form of compensation for this post.

Weekly card project - Birthday Birdie

2012-01-04T00:39:00.003-05:00

Weekly Card Project:

Birthday Birdie

A little bird told me it was your birthday........

What a fun way to share your birthday greetings for a friend - the recipient is sure to love the special touch of a handmade card!

The girls and I have been busy crafting and creating. I photographed the card the best I could but I am not a great photographer. It was very difficult to capture the depth and dimension of the layered effects and the distressed finish on film. Here is a quick tutorial.......

Front of Card

-The base for this project was an olive and white plain, blank note card. This was purchased at Michael's craft store for $1 a pack. Michael's is a great source for inexpensive blank card sets.

- The front was partially covered with an embossed rectangle of light gold cardstock - this was created using the Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine with a swirl and Swiss dot embossing folder included within the package.

- The edges of the embossed cardstock were "aged" with a light application of a gold art marker. This shows up a little more stark on film - in person the actual effect is much more muted.

- For a debossed effect, the embossed side was adhered to the card face down using craft glue stick.

- Embellishments added were a Cricut bird (Straight from the Nest cartridge I believe) and a flower created using a punched black cardstock circle and black patterned foiled cardstock flower. The flower was adorned with a layered "3-D" foil and cardstock butterfly sticker). The bird was adorned with a sea foam green rhinestone eye.

- The olive sections at the sides not covered with cardstock was given a decorative border in black ink using a clear acrylic block and ornate border stamp.

- The stamped image was distressed by lightly sponging over the image with a stamp pad and the brushed in a cross hatch style using a "dry" ink wash (black ink semi-dried on dry paintbrush). Once fully dry this was lightly sanded for an aged finished. This same technique was used on the Swiss dot section at the bottom of the card.

- "Happy Birthday" rub-on lettering that was included in the Sizzix Texture Boutique kit was added.

Inside of Card:

- 2 identically sized gold squares were glued to the inside left and right panels of the card.

- The squares were given an aged patina by using the distressing technique outlined above repetitively (black and brown stamp pads, inkwash and sandpaper). This was done until finish desired was achieved.

- The white border around the cardstock was painted with a heavy, black wet ink wash, blended with the cardstock and set out to dry.

- The left side of the card was adorned with a piece of black cardstock with intricate "lace" decorative shaping at all 4 corners using a Fiskars corner punch.

The black square was embellished with a flower created using a circle punch on black print card stock with a foiled / shiny finish. The Cricut flower cutout was aged using the distressing techniques outlined earlier.

- A vellum "quotes" overlay was added. Because the vellum is translucent, the glue dots used to adhere to the card were slightly visible through the paper; these dots were covered using larger sea-foam green rhinestones.

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There is quite a bit of dimension on both the front and on the inside of the card. The gold against the olive, black and brown gives a great pop of color. The distressed finish gives a great rustic, vintage feel but the bird, foil and rhinestones add a touch of contrasting glitz for a great combo.

Congrats!

2011-12-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Joy and WWillow6 - you are both winners in the sister Schubert's giveaway. I misread the press communication - There will be two winners and the company will be sending the coupons to the winners directly (so I did not use the winner's coupon accidentally).

Congratulations ladies - I have emailed both of you! :)

December 2011

2011-12-28T01:31:00.000-05:00

Hello - I picked a couple of new winners today. Both of the winners are regular visitors and have won other giveaways on Momanthology.com. Names are drawn completely at random - in fact Rafflecopter has a feature which does this with the click of a button - if a giveaway is set up via blogger comments I go to random.org to select a number/name. It is ironic but wonderful that so many of these people have won more than once! What that means for you is to keep visiting and entering :)

Congrats to Cheryl who won the World Vision Giveaway and to Valerie who won the Chick-Fil-A giveaway! I do not have any immediate giveaways lined up but hopefully will soon. January should be busy, busy, busy. I am the girl scout cookie mom for my youngest daughter's troop and things are really picking up at work.

Hopefully I will also have some "me" time. Today I purchased some new scrapbooking/cardmaking supplies and am looking forward to receiving these. I am excited about my new purchases and cannot wait to come back and share my creations. It is so easy to get inspired by other bloggers - I love looking over scrapbooking blogs. Although I am a beginner, I have made huge strides in increasing my skill set over the past few months.

I am really into paper-crafting lately although do not have as much time to invest in creating as I wish I had.
If you are thinking of papercrafting I will warn you, this is a highly addictive and very expensive hobby. I have a vast number of supplies but still feel like I never have enough. There are always new techniques to try that require different materials/tools. I am confident that the most recent purchases will keep me occupied for a while though. (see below)

Some of the items I purchased:

Creative Express:

A variety of deeply discounted Embossing Folders:

Cricut Florals Embellished Cartridge

Cardstock:...........

Scrapbooking For Less:
Great prices here! It takes a while to browse but the results are worth it. Huge variety available.

I scored a huge grab bag:

I also scored a few papers including Earth Love Elements by Cosmo Cricket. I love the vintage images from different generations.

Amazon.com:
Amazon is actually a great place to score scrapbooking materials. You just need to keep checking for changes in pricing

Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine Beginner's Kit
I am really looking forward to trying this! This only embosses. Since I already have a Cricut I did not feel the need for a machine that both embossed and die cut. I plan to use it primarily for card making and embellishments to do not need one of the more robust (and more expensive) models.

Darice,1201-15 Value Pack Hole Punches in 3 Shapes - when creating tags these are great for a clean finish.

Glue Dots Pack
A lady at work told me about these and I am very grateful. I go through these dots like crazy! I arm myself with glue sticks and glue dots and go to town.

There are different sizes and styles. Some give an almost indestructable hold and others are removeable. Most are flat but I have some that raise the embellishment or item being glued to give more dimension to the project.

EK Success Inkadinkado Lace Doilies Cling Stamp
I love mandalas - great to color with Gel Pens.

Sew Easy Tool, zig-zag stitch head and piercing mat.
I love the crafty touch of sticking on cards and embellishments

I also snagged a Heat It tool and embossing powder for stamping and floss and needles for use with the Sew Easy tool.

Scrapbook.com

Multi-colored cards and envelopes

Stickers Galore!

Check the Sales link

Tags
Perfect for cards or gift bags

I look forward to sharing my creations with you! I also plan to use upcycled materials as well. Until then happy crafting......

Duct Tape Wallet Project

2011-12-25T10:56:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago I won a handmade duct tape wallet off of Etsy. I LOVED the wallet and immediately knew that I would take this project on when I had time.

Duct Tape crafts are currently so popular that you no longer need to venture to the hardware store to find the tape - you can find at many retailers including your local craft store.

Duct Tape manufacturers now offer various brightly colored versions in fun prints. For Miss E. I purchased a pink/purple/blue tie die pattern with blue tape to match; for Miss N. we chose zebra print with turquoise and neon orange to match; and for Miss C. I found a rock and roll - skull print with the same blue contrast tape I purchased for Miss E. matched.

For myself I grabbed a roll of clear tape to use with scrapbooking paper. What I also like about using the clear tape is that you can use more upcycled materials (gently uses but sturdy paper, cloth, etc) for a greener project.

When we were ready to take on the project I reviewed a few duct tape wallet tutorial videos on You Tube. We made three wallets - I used dark and light patterned scrapbook paper but found that the clear tape works MUCH better with the light paper. I will do another one and post a tutorial here. Ms. E's wallet is similar to the one above.

To construct Miss. N's wallet, we used the orange and turquoise as contrast colors and the zebra print for the trim. Behind the inside panels are inserts for a checkbook (top section pictured above) and bills (bottom section pictured above above). The bills section also has credit card and license inserts on the front of the panel.

This was a fun, quick and relatively inexpensive project - if you are looking for something to do with your children, consider making one of these wallets. There are also many other crafts you can make including purses, cell phone cases, photo boards and even clothing. These also make fantastic gifts. If you and your kiddos are looking for some inspiration look no further than the duct tape aisle at your favorite store!

PopArt Pixies Giveaway Winner

2011-12-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

Patricia Crowley - congrats!

I have emailed you - please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Sister Schubert Review & Giveaway (US)

2011-12-24T22:19:00.005-05:00

Enjoy restaurant-quality rolls in the convenience of your own home – no reservation required.

Making Christmas Dinner? Want something fabulous but easy and struggling for ideas? Consider making your favorite dish and pairing with Sister Schubert rolls.

Tonight I made a great dinner of stuffed peppers and spinach salad To complete the meal I added Sister Schubert Dinner Yeast Rolls to the side (bag of 10). My local grocery store was out of the baguettes which I had hoped to review; this was the very last bag of Dinner Yeast Rolls so I quickly grabbed them.

These rolls were so easy to make. When I dinner was close to being ready I simply opened the bag, set the rolls on a baking sheet and placed in the oven approximately the last 10 minutes before the peppers were done cooking . The rolls came out warm and were ready to be served with a hot dinner.

My kids LOVED the Yeast Rolls however and asked who made them. I told them "Ms. Schubert baked them"! :) That resulted in a few questions but ultimately I received credit as being the one who placed the fabulous bread treats in the oven and serving up minutes later.

********ALL NEW! ********
Want to hear a little more about the newest additions to the Sister Schubert’s^®line? Sister Schubert’s^®Homemade Rolls is bringing two long-time restaurant favorites home with the introduction of NEW Soft Pretzel Rolls and Mini Baguettes. Now you can bring the delicious flavor of soft pretzels or the bakery-fresh taste of artisan bread straight to your kitchen table! Ready in a little as 7 minutes, these rolls are a convenient addition to any meal. Plus they contain only the finest ingredients with no preservatives, artificial flavors and 0 grams trans fat.

Tomorrow I am making a traditional ham dinner with green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and Pretzel Rolls. Now I know this sounds traditional until you get to the last item on the menu. The Pretzel Rolls totally make the meal more interesting! I am very excited about making and serving these. I LOVE soft pretzels - they are one of my favorite foods. Every time I go to Philly I make a point to buy some. As such, I cannot wait to try these and will be posting pictures and a quick review. - Pretzel Rolls are a unique and tasty way to jazz up an ordinary meal with something out of the ordinary.

Soft Pretzel Rolls
Sister Schubert’s NEW Soft Pretzel Rolls have a thin, slightly crisp outside and a soft, warm center. Whether it’s a delicious snack, a soft roll for your favorite slider or a complement to dinner, Sister Schubert’s Soft Pretzel Rolls are a versatile way to enjoy restaurant-quality taste at home.

Visit SisterSchuberts.com for more recipe ideas.

Mini Baguettes

Sister Schubert’s NEW Mini Baguettes bring the bakery-fresh taste of artisan bread straight to your kitchen with a golden, crispy crust and a soft, airy center. Ready in as little as seven minutes, simply slice Sister Schubert’s Mini Baguettes and fill with your favorite sandwich ingredients to create a delicious meal, or enjoy a tasty appetizer by dipping the warm artisan baguette in olive oil.

Sister Schubert’s Soft Pretzel Rolls and Mini Baguettes are available for a suggested retail price of $3.79 for a six-count bag (prices may vary by store).

Look for Sister Schubert’s Soft Pretzel Rolls and Mini Baguettes in your grocer’s freezer section.

Visit SisterSchuberts.com for recipe ideas AND to download a recipe booklet *while supplies last.

Want to try Sister Schubert's? Thanks to Sister Schuberts and the Family Review Network, one winner will be able to try the new Mini Baguette Rolls OR Soft Pretzel Rolls.

I will be sending the winner $5.00 via paypal to use towards the purchase of Sister Schuberts rolls.

*** Edited to add: We tried the pretzel roles Christmas Day and they were also great! The Soft Pretzel Rolls were a little heartier than the yeast rolls but definitely different than normal dinner fare. My kids preferred the yeast rolls but I preferred the pretzel rolls.

To enter simply comment on which variety of Sister Schuberts you would like to try and confirm your

An extra entry for posting the giveaway to facebook or twitter
An extra entry for posting your favorite recipe on Sister Schuberts.
Please comment 1x per extra entry

*****Rules:*****

Must be a follower of this blog via GFC OR Google Plus and follow mandatory entry as required US entries only
Must be 18 years of age or older to win
No PO Boxes email must be in your user profile or posted in your comment.
If I cannot contact you I will select another winner (email address must be in your blogger profile or submitted with your comment)
Winner selected at random
One main entry per person
Momanthology.com is responsible for prize fulfillment
This giveaway ends on December 29th, 2011 at 11:59pm.
The winner will be selected by random.org or randomizer and will have 2 days to respond to email notification email before another winner is selected.
The winner is responsible for all taxes associated with prize, if applicable, according to state and/or federal law
By acceptance of a prize, winner agrees that momanthology.com will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by winner against, any and all liability for injuries, loss or damage of any kind to persons, including death, or property damage resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize and/or participation in this promotion.

Disclosure - I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Family Review Network to host a Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls giveaway. They provided me with product to test myself as well as prizes for my readers. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

SaleLaLa

2011-12-21T00:46:00.000-05:00

SaleLaLa is a new site that has great savings opportunities posted. SaleLaLa! http://www.salelala.com

The Hottest Deals for Women" - this is a website that offers various savings including:

National Deals
Local Deals (http://www.salelala.com/deal/local)
Sales and Coupons
and more! There is even a link for Users to submit deals :)

Today I found a link for up to 70% off of toys at Amazon.com and 15% off at Crocs. Tomorrow there will be new deals posted! Some deals are time sensitive so make sure to visit daily and see what deals are available that you!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post but will have my name entered into a drawing for sharing information with my readers.

Crossword Cubes Winner

2011-12-21T00:34:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Christina! I have emailed you for your mailing address :)

New Winners

2011-12-19T23:49:00.002-05:00

Chex Mix it Up Quanda! Quanda was also another recent winner and is a regular visitor. Congrats Quanda :) Chex Mix it Up and Sams Club - Susan Smith! Congrats Susan :) DVD Giveaway - Melissa / Lisa_Blogs! Congrats to you too! All winners have been emailed.

It's not too late! The gift that keeps giving - World Vision review and giveaway

2011-12-19T23:25:00.003-05:00

Struggling with last minute Holiday gifts? Do you have someone on your list who is passionate about charitable causes? A great option it to purchase a charitable gift from World Vision. With gifts from $18 to $1000, there are options for every budget. View over 100 life changing gifts!

Who is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian Humanitarian Organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

World Vision works a little differently than other charitable organizations. You can opt to make a traditional donation and buy a gift for a family in need (chickens, goats, feed a family, help build a well, etc). You can even sponsor a child. Alternatively you can also buy an actual gift - many by local artisans - and a large portion of the money is donated towards a cause. Many of the causes help individuals work towards self sufficiency.

I had the chance to review the ornament set. At first glance this IS pricey. The set is $150 for 3 ornaments. normally I would never pay that much - in this case though you can see where the money goes:

$150
- $27 FAIR MARKET VALUE
_______
$123 Towards the cause (Maximum Impact Fund)

What a great way to give back! Questions? Click HERE.

The picture does not do justice but these ornaments are truly beautiful. They are heavy duty and beautifully crafted. (by Kenyan Artists) I have one of these great prizes to share with one lucky winner. Also, because this is such an important cause, anyone who donates or contributes will receive 25 extra entries

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I did receive an ornament set for review purposes but did not receive any compensation for this post

Chic-Fil-A - Who's watching the time? Giveaway

2011-12-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

Cow Watches are available in Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals! Check with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant for availability: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations Limited quantities available while supplies last.

Love the watches? Want a shot at winning this great prize? Check it out......Take the “Holiday Quiz” and share your results in the comments section on your Facebook or Twitter page then fill out the rafflecopter form below. Easy peasy!

The prize pack will consist of:

Five Cow Watches!
Two Chick-fil-A Plush Cows!
A Free Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake Coupon with speciality Christmas ornament!
10 Family Holiday Activities and take The Holiday Quiz!

The Widget below has great tips for a fun holiday along with a great holiday quiz! Fun for the whole family!

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Last Minute Gift Idea! Review and Giveaway

2011-12-19T00:31:00.002-05:00

Are you looking for a last minute gift idea? Crossword Cubes from Marina Games is a fun and inexpensive option. At $7.99 ARV, it is worth giving it a shot. Crossword Cubes is a fun choice for men, women or kids!

This is a fun little game. Instead of drawing tiles, you simply roll the dice when it is your turn (similar to Yahtzee), to create words, crossword style, attempting to make the highest scoring words possible. When your turn is up your opponent rolls the dice for his or her turn.

This is great for kids who are in school or for adults (like me) who love word games. This is also one that the entire family can play together.

Crossword Cubes is an exciting word game with three levels of play - easy, hard & Solitaire. Roll all 13 cubes and create words from lettered dice in a crossword fashion to create the highest score possible. This simple yet challenging, educational game is appealing to spelling game fans of all ages. Crossword Cubes is portable, fast and fun. Ages 8+, 1+ players.

My kids were very excited when we received this. I have not sat down with them to officially play, but they have played on their own. In fact I went to grab the box for information for this review and it disappeared as the girls took it upstairs to play. I like that this is educational - they like it because it is fun.

Whomever gets to 300 wins the game. For younger kids however, you may opt to modify the rules somewhat. You can easily set limits on how long to play. Instead of waiting for a full board game which can be tedious to younger kids, you can set the game at 5 turns each or the first one to get to 100 points!

I have one game to giveaway to one lucky reader. To enter to win, simply comment below. Winner will be selected tomorrow

RULES

Must be a follower of this blog via GFC and follow mandatory entry as required US entries only
Must be 18 years of age or older to win
No PO Boxes email must be in your user profile or posted in your comment.
If I cannot contact you I will select another winner
Winner selected at random One main entry per person Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment
This giveaway ends on December 19th, 2011 at 11:59pm.
The winner will be selected by random.org or randomizer and will have 2 days to respond to email notification email before another winner is selected.
The winner is responsible for all taxes associated with prize, if applicable, according to state and/or federal law
By acceptance of a prize, winner agrees that momanthology.com will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by winner against, any and all liability for injuries, loss or damage of any kind to persons, including death, or property damage resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize and/or participation in this promotion.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. I did receive a game for review purposes.

Pop Art Pixes - Review Giveaway for Tween Girls.

2011-12-13T00:46:00.000-05:00

I still cannot believe it has been a year since the girls and I went on our fabulous NYC trip thanks to Crayola and The Pop Art Pixies. For a little history.....

MAIN POST

It was such an amazing weekend - we learned about the Crayola Pop Art Pixies activity kit line - designed for tween girls, they are encouraged to enter world of self-discovery and creativity through Skye, Maya, Naomi and Tatum aka the Pop Art Pixies.

You can look over the original craft kits on my former giveaway HERE. Look below for info on the latest and greatest in the PopArt Pixies.

Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Wristlet - lets tween girls design a one-of-a-kind purse wristlet using "Fab Snaps" - fabulous designer fabric patches featuring cool colors and hip designs that can be layered and snapped together to create hundreds of unique looks. Want to change up your wristlet to match another outfit? Just unsnap and layer different patches together to create totally different styles! Kit includes: 1 purse wristlet, 20 Fab Snap fabric patches (satin and felt) and 3 snaps.

My Favorite!
Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Jewelry - helps girls to design unique jewelry by layering and snapping different combinations of Fab Snap fabric patches onto necklaces and bracelets. To add style to your wardrobe, just pop off the Fab Snaps, layer a new set of patches onto the special attachment, and clip on a new silver snap. Kit includes: 32 Fab Snaps patches, 6 snaps, 5 attachments, 2 bracelet bands, and 2 necklace cords.

Miss N's Favorite*
Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Water Bottle - lets girls put their imaginations in motion as they decorate a reusable water bottle. In addition to placing stickers in any pattern on the water bottle, tweens can also decorate the silver cord that hangs from the water bottle with Fab Snaps. Choose up to three fabric patches that can be layered on top of each other and secured onto the cord with the snap. kit includes: one 500ml aluminum water bottle with cap, sticker sheet, 1 attachment, silver cord, 14 Fab Snaps patches, and 2 snaps.

Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Chandelier - allows girls to design their own dazzling room décor by creating icy effects on shimmery discs using Crayola Ice Markers. As the ink dries on the discs, which can be linked and re-linked together in endless designs, Ice Markers crystallize before girls´ eyes for an icy effect that makes any room look cool! Kit includes: 134 metallic links (circles & diamonds), 128 dual-sided metallic paper discs, 1 circular base with 6 arms, 1 hanging ring, and 3 Ice Markers.

Miss E's Favorite*
Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Jewelry - helps tweens use their creativity to design chic jewelry with "icy effects." Use Crayola Ice Markers to draw on the metallic discs and slip them into a slot on necklace pendants, bracelets, and rings to show off unique designs. You can even upload your own photos at PopArtPixies.com to perfectly size them to fit each piece of jewelry. Kit includes: 2 rings, 2 pendants (with cords), 2 bracelets, 28 metallic paper discs (pre-printed and blank designs), and 3 Ice Markers.

Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Refill Kits - allow girls to layer and snap together different combinations of fabric patches, creating hundreds of different looks. Fab Snaps can be used in countless ways from clipping them onto a hair tie, using a safety pin to attach them to a bag or shoes, or using them as refills on any of the Fab Snaps products that girls already own.

Refill kits are available for each of the four Pop Art Pixies characters - Skye, Mya, Tatum, and Naomi. Kit includes: 20 Fab Snaps patches, 3 snaps, and 2 universal attachments.

*******************************************************************************

My girls LOVED the new kits. I should have taken pictures right away but the good thing about most of these kits is that you can create and recreate! With the Fabsnaps you can easily mix it up. Mess it up? Start over. Even the ice jewelry can be created and re-created.

Pop Art Pixies Web Site http://bit.ly/PopArtPixies
Crayola on Facebook http://on.fb.me/CrayolaFacebook
Crayola on Twitter http://bit.ly/CrayolaTwitter

Thanks to Crayola I have a prize package of variety of Pop Art Pixies kits available to one very, very lucky winner! The Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps prize pack will contain:
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Wristlet
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Jewelry
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Water Bottle
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Chandelier
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Jewelry
(1) of each of the Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Refill Kits

To enter, simply share in the comments section who this would be for and which kit is your favorite

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Disclosure: The Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps products, information, and giveaway have been provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark

Chex Mix-up Giveaway #2 (Sam's Club and Chex)

2011-12-12T01:37:00.000-05:00

What is a Chex Mix-up? Read my post HERE. Sound like fun? If you are thinking of hosting your own Chex-mix party, consider shopping at Sam's Club. Sam's Club has the ingredients you need to make Chex Mix at home.

Set the date and spread the word. Announce your Chex Party Mix-Change using some of these festive invites
Mix it up. Use these mouth-watering Chex recipe cards including Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch and Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix and this shopping list to make party prep a snap
Share the fun. Use some of these easy tips & tricks to add some extra flare to your party and check out some of the packaging ideas so your guests don´t go home empty handed

Visit ChexPartyMixChange.com for even more party-planning tips and be sure to also check out Sam´s Club, your one stop Chex spot that has everything you need to throw a Chex Party Mix-Change!

Sam's Club conveniently has Corn Chex, Rice Chex and Wheat Chex available in one box! (while supplies last). Here is a batch of original Chex Mix we made at home. Having all of the Chex flavors in one box made it SO easy. I simply added pretzels, butter, seasoning, Worstershire Sauce and peanuts. The girls LOVED it. We also shared with the neighbors....

Chex Club and Sams would like to offer one Momanthology.com Reader their own Chex Mix Prize Pack. One winner will win a Sam's Club / Chex Prize package consisting of a $25 Sam's Club Gift Card and a box of Chex Cereal to get you started on making your own Chex mix.

Disclosure: The Sam´s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Sam´s Club, Chex Party Mix and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.
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Mix it Up with Chex - Review and Giveaway

2011-12-12T00:36:00.000-05:00

Instead of a cookie exchange this year, consider a Chex exchange! Invite some friends over for a party and ask everyone to make enough of their favorite Chex Party Mix recipe to exchange with party guests. Taste, mix, swap, and share the recipes, putting the treats in easy DIY packages for everyone to take home.

We LOVE the differ types of chex mix recipes - last year we made White Peppermint Chex Mix a.k.a. Reindeer Food). This year we made traditional Chex Mix. Miss N. is begging for Nutty Chocolate Chex Mix so we will also be making a batch of that before Christmas, which is also her birthday.

The great thing about hosting a party is that you only have to make ONE batch and share with friends and family. Your guests will also bake one batch and share at the party. This is a fun and easy way to indulge in all of your favorites.

There are two weeks left until Christmas - still plenty of time for a Chex Party! Have guests volunteer to make one of their favorites and keep track of sign ups to minimize duplicates. From decadent to savory your guests are sure to love with these delicious favorites that can be made in the microwave in 15 minutes or less. These five Chex Party Mix recipes are just some of the fabulous 15 minute recipes that can be found at ChexPartyMix.com.

Original Chex Party Mix - A tried and true classic of many holiday gatherings. Chex PB & Chocolate Blast - Is there really a better combination than peanut butter and chocolate? Yes, when Chex cereal is added!

Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch - Mix things up and try this mouthwatering alternative to the beloved holiday pie. Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix - A combination of cinnamon, brown sugar, honey and marshmallows blend effortlessly together in a crazy-delicious, gluten free crunchy mix.

Chex Caramel Chocolate Drizzles - Melted chocolate, chewy caramel and a delightful crunch carry this gluten-free party mix recipe from microwave to table in 15 minutes. Check out these great tips from fellow bloggers to serve as inspiration for your Chex Party Mix-Change!

With my grandmother's passing, I was unable to host a Chex exchange this year as planned. I did make a batch though and shared with my daughters and the neighbors. We love sharing :)

Thanks to General Mills and MyBlogSpark, I have a fun giveaway to share with readers. If you are interested in hosting YOUR own Chex Mix-up party, look no further! One lucky winner will win a prize pack to get you started on your own Chex Mixup Party. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below and comment as required!~ Good luck to all of you Chex fans :)
Disclosure: The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark.

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