Giveaways and More!

Sorry about the silence

2012-01-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

You're probably wondering where I've been over the past couple of months. Well, I obviously haven't been blogging. We spent the holidays in the sun with my parents and came back to work, lots of it. My husband and I own a local fitness center and January has been extremely busy this year. Yay for an increase in business! I'm going to try to get back to blogging soon but can't promise anything right now. Hopefully, this is the year I have some interesting blog fodder!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Kelo-cote Scar Gel & Spray {REVIEW}

2011-12-11T10:01:00.001-08:00

About 7 years ago, I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Fortunately, the doctors were able to use a laparoscopic technique so the scarring was minimal but I do have a few small scars on my stomach. When I was approached to test a scar treatment gel, I was happy to oblige. Although the surgery was not recent, I still do have some light redness around the scars. Kelo-cote is an advanced scar gel that offers an easy and effective way to reduce the appearance of scars and heal the skin.

Background
Kelo-cote was created by Advanced Bio-Technologies, Inc, which is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Georgia. Advanced Bio-Technologies specializes in creating products for the treatment of scars with unique patent protected formulas based on cross-linking technology.

Science
Unlike traditional silicone gel sheets, Kelo-Cote is very easy to use, and is free of the limitations associated with gel sheets, such as the difficulty of usage on the joints and face. Silicone gel works by protecting the scar from external stimuli and helps to modulate the cells which contribute to scar growth. Kelo-Cote gel dries to a waterproof and gas-permeable layer that acts as an extra layer of skin.

Solutions
For those looking for an easy way to reduce scarring, Kelo-Cote is a new advancement in scar treatment. This gel will flatten and smooth the scar, while also maintaining the moisture balance and elasticity of the surrounding skin. This gel can be used to treat scars as soon as skin is closed, or when stitches are removed.

My thoughts? I prefer the spray to the gel just for ease and less clean up. I applied the product twice daily as is recommended which was easy after jumping out of the shower. The product dried as I applied my makeup. As I said above, my scars are not all that visible so I didn't see a major improvement in the appearance but there was not much to improve upon. I would love to see the product used immediately following a surgery to see how effective it is on fresh scars. I do plan to continue to use the product just because I'm curious to see if there is a change after the 90 days of use that is recommended by the manufacturer.

Kelo-cote can be purchased at SkinCareRX.com.

Disclosure: There was no monetary compensation for this review. I was sent a free product in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Carmex Healing Lotion & Cream {REVIEW & GIVEAWAY}

2011-11-27T08:58:00.001-08:00

Like most people, winter is really tough on my skin because of all the moisture in the air and washing my hands every ten minutes to keep germs away doesn't help. Thank goodness for Carmex! Carmex offers so many wonderful products from lip moisturizers to skin care products which help lock in the moisture and keep your skin soft and supple. As a member of the Carmex Blog Squad, I was recently sent a package of the Carmex Healing Cream and Carmex Healing Lotion. You can read my review of these products that I wrote last year here.

Carmex is also offering one of my lucky readers the same package that I received to help you get through this winter with soft, moisturized skin!

Disclosure: I received free products in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review nor offer a giveaway.

Ornaments with Love Personalized Christmas Ornaments {REVIEW & GIVEAWAY}

2011-11-13T19:41:00.001-08:00

Christmas is probably my favorite holiday of the year (along with just about everyone else!). I love all of the aspects of Christmas including baking cookies, spending time with loved ones and decorating! Ever since I can remember my family has spent one full evening or afternoon spending time decorating the Christmas tree with Christmas ornaments. Dad always complained about unraveling the lights and hanging them and Mom just wanted everything to look good so she tells us where the holes in the decorating are. Now we have a prelit tree so no more lights to unravel but we still have fun listening to the background stories of all the ornaments and where they came from which always brings back wonderful memories. Someday, I will carry on the tradition with my own children.

Another tradition in my family is that every year my mom gets us each an ornament. Back when we were younger, we always received ornaments related to an activity that we had been involved in that year like basketball or music lessons. This year, I had the opportunity to chose an ornament from Ornaments With Love and I'm so excited to share with you what I chose! My husband I are love to drink wine and are blessed to live in an area where a delicious wine region is coming alive. I decided to highlight this "hobby" (if you can call drinking wine a hobby) in my choice of ornaments!

Isn't it cute? The selection of ornaments at Ornaments with Love is really impressive. You can chose from family to military to sports to religious themes and even beyond those!

Not only was I impressed with the selection but the turnaround time was amazing! It only took about 3-4 days from when I placed the order to actually receiving the ornament in my mailbox. The personalization is always free and you also can receive free shipping when you spend more than $50. Any of these ornaments would be the perfect gift for a family member or friend this holiday season.

Guess what? One of my lucky readers is going to win their choice of a FREE personalized ornament from Ornaments with Love!

Mandatory Entry

Please visit Ornaments with Love and tell me which ornament you love most and leave a comment below. (Please make sure that I have an email address to contact you if you are the winner either in the comment itself or on your profile.)

Additional Entries (Make sure you leave separate comments for each entry. For example, if you post my button on your blog, leave three separate comments letting me know you did.)

3 entries - Become a public follower through Google Friend Connect of Giveaways and More or let me know if you already follow this blog.
3 entries - Grab my button and post it on your blog. Don't forget to include your blog address so I can go see it! (You can find my button in the column on the right)
3 entries - Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and the Ornaments with Love website. Leave the link to your blog post in your comment.
1 entry - Become a Giveaways and More email subscriber. Check your email and make to sure verify your address to gain this entry!
1 entry - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 entry - "Like" Giveaways and More on Facebook.
1 entry - Enter another active giveaway on Giveaways and More! (1 entry per giveaway entered)
1 entry per day - Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway using the green "Retweet" button at the top of the post. Make sure to include the link to your tweet in your comment.

This giveaway will close on December 3rd at 11:59 pm PDT. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen via random.org, announced on this blog and notified by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen and notified.

Thanks to Ornaments with Love for sponsoring this giveaway!

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Tropical Traditions Organic Moisturizing Lotion {REVIEW & GIVEAWAY}

2011-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

As you well know, I am a huge fan of anything from Tropical Traditions! They have some of the best natural products for everything from laundry to haircare to cooking products. I am also a religious user of lotion. Everyday I use moisturizing lotion because the climate is so drying here in the Northwest so if I didn't use some sort of lotion, my skin would be insanely dry. That's why I elected to review Organic Moisturizing Lotion from Tropical Traditions. I was curious to know if coconut oil really is a wonderful for skin as they claim.

I chose the Baby Silk Organic Moisturizing Lotion because it's the most popular lotion so I figured I couldn't go wrong, right?

Filipinos are well-known for their youthful appearance and soft skin, even though they live in a climate that exposes them to the sun’s rays year round. Coconut oil is their main dietary oil, and is also the main ingredient in their skin care products.

All of the moisturizing lotions that Tropical Traditions offers are made with organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Virgin Palm Oil. No other products on the market are made with finer oils as their base. Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil is traditionally made from fresh organic coconuts, and independent laboratory tests show that it has a higher level of antioxidants than other coconut oils.

Virgin Palm Oil contains high concentrations of a powerful form of Vitamin E called “tocotrienols” which published research has shown is 40–60 times more potent than alpha-tocopherol (the most common form of Vitamin E found as an additive in most skin care products.) In addition to these powerful Vitamin E tocotrienols, Virgin Palm Oil is also rich in natural carotenes. It is one of the richest natural plant sources of carotenes with concentrations of 500–700 ppm. It is 15 times more retinol-equivalent than carrots and 300 times more than tomatoes, for example.

So, what did I think? I really like this lotion. The consistency is thick but not heavy once it's applied to the skin so you feel moisturized but not weighed down. The Baby Silk scent is amazing! It's not overpowering but just slightly floral and refreshing. I can definitely tell why it's the most popular scent and is a geat bargain at $15.99 for 8 oz.

Guess what? One of my lucky readers will win a bottle of this amazing lotion! Enter below!

Dei Fratelli 4th Annual Recipe Contest!

2011-11-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

Are you a good cook? Want to win FREE Dei Fratelli all-natural tomato sauces, salsas and other fabulous tomato products for a year?

It’s easy! Enter the 4th Annual Ripened Recipe Contest by submitting your favorite tomato-based recipes at http://www.facebook.com/DeiFratelli and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Submit as many recipes as you’d like but hurry the contest ends November 30th!

Dei Fratelli is a fourth generation, family-owned company based in Toledo, Ohio that makes all-natural, Kosher and gluten-free tomato products. Check out their complete product line here: http://www.deifratelli.com/.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I was offered a free packets of sample products in exchange for my support of this contest. I was not offered any monetary compensation.

CouponCabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz - Enter to win great prizes! {GIVEAWAY} | #CouponCabinHop

2011-10-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz! This multi-blog event is hosted by Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA and is sponsored by CouponCabin. This is the biggest event the blogosphere has seen with over 400 giveaways each at $25 value or more plus a huge giveaway with some major prizes like a MacBook Air, iPad2 & Visa Gift Cards. You can find all the giveaways from the participating blogs by visiting the host blogs, Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA. Each host blog will feature a different set of giveaways for you to enter!

No matter what type of coupon you're looking for, you'll find it and over 100,000 others at CouponCabin.com, a leading destination for coupon codes, printable coupons, deals and more. Now with a new and improved grocery coupons section and the largest selection of coupon codes that are guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start your search for savings. This holiday season, CouponCabin is dedicated to making holiday savings as easy as pie by bringing you the best deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You can also download our CouponDetector and we'll let you know when the site you’re shopping has coupons and deals available. Never pay full price again with help from CouponCabin.com!

CouponCabin is giving away the following fabulous prizes:

Grand Prize: MacBook Air (11-inch, 128GB; ARV $1,199)
2nd Runner Up: iPad2 (16GB, with Wi-Fi +3G; ARV $629) & $200 Visa Gift Card
3rd Runner Up: iPad2 (16GB, with Wi-Fi +3G; ARV $629)
4th Runner Up: $300 Visa Gift Card
5th Runner Up: $200 Visa Gift Card
6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Runner Ups: $100 Visa Gift Card each

Please visit Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA to enter the giveaway and make sure to say Giveaways and More referred you! You can enter on all three sites or just one- it’s up to you! If you enter all three giveaways that just means more chances for you to win.

I have two amazing sponsors for this event! First is Scentsy! I don't know if you have ever been to a Scentsy party but they are so much fun and the products are really nice. I have a couple of wall warmers for my bathrooms and they are perfect when you are expecting company because they are not only pretty but smell fantastic! Lora is an independent consultant with Scentsy and she has generously offered a warmer and scent bar of the winners choice! The scent of the month is Pumpkin Roll which is one of my favorites around this time of year. Take a look around the site and check out the beautiful holiday warmers.

My next sponsor is Fashion to Figure. This is an awesome site dedicated to trendy fashions for the plus sized woman. I mean, check out this dress. It is so cute and would be very flattering on any sized woman.

They have some super cute pieces and even offer accessories for those who aren't plus sized. Fashion to Figure is giving away any one item worth $30 or less on their site!

Enter here to win! Giveaway ends on November 25th!

Enter the other blogs' giveaways in the CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz by visiting the links below!

Repechage C-Serum Seaweed Filtrate {REVIEW}

2011-10-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm back with another amazing product from Repechage! This time around, I was sent a bottle of the Repechage C-Serum Seaweed Filtrate to test out. Since the Fall season is when my skin begins to get dry and uncomfortable, I was pleased to review a product that claims to prevent dehydration and restore moisture to the skin. I have never tried seaweed based skincare products but if it does what it says than I'm happy to sign up!

C-Serum, short for cytoserum, is a highly concentrated seaweed extract full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements. All of these things help to increase cell renewal as well as detoxify, oxygenate, hydrate and renew the skin. Who wouldn't want to use a product such as this one? If skincare products with vitamins can achieve all of these things, I'm in! For the short time that I have been using this serum, I have noticed that my skin feels softer. Maybe that's the seaweed working it's magic? It certainly seems to be with the following ingredients.

Laminaria Digitata– Algae - This EcoCert seaweed provides hydrating, nourishing, and anti-oxidant properties. Natural sources of 12 vitamins including B12, C, E, K and Beta Carotene, 18 amino acids, and 42 trace elements. Essential fatty acids help maintain the skin barrier while Alginic Acid – a polysaccharide – helps to lock moisture into the skin. Known to help increase cell proliferation.
Carrageenan – Red Algae - Derived from red algae known as Irish Moss (Chondrus Crispus), Carrageenan is a gel with excellent emollient properties.

This is not the only amazing seaweed product that Repechage sells. In fact,there is a whole line of products using seaweed for normal skin. If you tend to have sensitive or oily or combination skin, Repechage offers products for you, too. There are multiple lines of products to meet any and all needs out there.

You can purchase C-Serum Seaweed Filtrate on the Repechage website as well as at specified spas all over the world. Check out this amazing product!

Disclosure: I received a free sample of this product in exchange for my honest opinion of the product. All opinions are my own.

FRESCHETTA - PROUD TO SUPPORT PINK! {GIVEAWAY}

2011-10-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and FRESCHETTA is celebrating and supporting research through the PROUD TO SUPPORT PINK Program! Breast cancer is a disease that has impacted just about everyone in this country and we all should do our part to help fund research to find a cure for this horrible disease. From September 25th - October 31st, you can purchase specially marked packages of FRESCHETTA pizzas and Artisan Pizza crusts with codes that can be entered at www.ProudToSupportPink.com. For every code that is entered, the makers of FRESCHETTA products will donate $1 to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center towards their goal of reaching a $50,000 donation. Not only will $1 be donated but you will also have a chance to win one of 50 pink iPod Shuffle players each week!

I received a cute package from FRESCHETTA which included 2 pairs of FRESCHETTA PROUD TO SUPPORT PINK earphones and a coupon for a free FRESCHETTA pizza. I love FRESCHETTA pizzas so I'm really looking forward to getting to the store and picking up my free one! FRESCHETTA pizzas are one of my favorites in the freezer case because they always use delicious ingredients that make the pizzas taste like they were made fresh that day. I'm not sure what they use to make the crust but it definitely hits my taste buds in a positive way. I know that they use real cheeses and tomatoes that are picked at their ripest so the flavors are true and fresh.

I gave one set of earphones to a friend so she could enjoy them, too!

How would you like to win your own package just like the one I received? Well, you can! Enter the giveaway below via Rafflecopter.

Disclosure: I received the prize package listed above from FRESCHETTA as a member of the FRESCHETTA Fresh Connection team in exchange for my honest opinion of the brand. All thoughts and ideas are my own.

Carmex Click Sticks! {REVIEW}

2011-09-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Carmex products have been a staple in my life since I was young and needed a product that would really work to keep my constantly chapped lips soft and supple. Carmex definitely was that product for me. So, when I was contacted by Carmex to try out some of their newest products and write about them, I immediately said yes.

I received the above pictured package at home (minus one lip balm that my husband stashed somewhere). In the package came Lime Twist Click Stick, Vanilla Click Stick, a picnic blanket and a Moisture Plus Satin Gloss. I don't know about you, but lip balm is one of those items that can always be found in my purse. I usually have two or three for backup, too. These Carmex click sticks both kept the good name of Carmex intact. I prefer the Vanilla just because it's such a pleasant scent but the Lime Twist is actually pretty refreshing as well! It's a nice scent for the warm days of Summer. Not only do these lip balms smell good but they also have SPF 15 sunscreen in them. That is must have in my book because I am very conscious about keeping my skin protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

I'm also very impressed with the Moisture Plus Satin Gloss. Like the click sticks, it includes SPF 15 sunscreen to protect your lips and vitamin E and aloe to keep your lips moisturized and nourished. It's a great product to apply before you put your lipstick on to make sure the color stays on your lips for a little while longer. The Moisture Plus gloss comes in tinted options, too. You can apply a hint of pink, peach, berry or plum to jazz up your look!

Carmex products are sold just about everywhere so look for them the next time you are shopping in the cosmetics aisle at your local retailer. They really are the best products out there!

Disclaimer: As a member of the Carmex Blog Squad, I received this package for free in exchange for my honest opinion of the products. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Blog Hop!

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to gain new followers and possibly win some amazing prizes? I just signed up to be a part of this amazing blog hop event and you should, too!

CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz is hosted by Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA and sponsored by CouponCabin.com, a leading online destination for coupons including coupon codes, printables, grocery coupons and more.

Can you believe these AMAZING prizes that CouponCabin will be giving to readers who enter the giveaway?

Grand Prize: MacBook Air (11-inch, 128GB; ARV $1,199)
First Runner Up: iPad2 (16GB, with Wi-Fi +3G; ARV $629)
Second Runner Up: $250 VISA Gift Card
Other Prizes: $100 VISA Gift Cards will be given out to four (4) additional winners

Not only will your readers be allowed to enter but CouponCabin will ALSO be giving away the same awesome prizes to bloggers who participate in the giveaway hop:

The blogger who refers the most readers to the giveaway will win a MacBook Air
The blogger who refers the 2nd most readers to the giveaway will win an iPad2
The blogger who refers the 3rd most readers to the giveaway will win a $250 Visa Gift Card

Total Value of Prizes: $4,300!!

But WAIT. There’s more. Yes, It gets EVEN BETTER!!

Not only will each blogger who joins be eligible for the Blogger Prizes, they will also receive one (1) $20 Target Gift Card for every blog they refer who registers to participate in the event. Please note you cannot refer yourself.

We told you this was CRAZY!!

The main giveaway for these fantastic prizes will be held on the three host blogs and we will also feature a linky so that readers can hop to enter all the other giveaways on participating blogs. Reader entries will start on November 1st and go through November 25th.

Sign-up now to secure your spot!

How to Participate:

When:

November 1 at 12:01 am EST to November 25, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced during a live event on Twitter on November 28th. Further details will follow at a later date.

Requirements for participating blogs:

Have a giveaway specifically for this event and cannot start before start time, or end before specified end time
Minimum prize/pack value of $25
Display the event button in your post so hoppers can easily identify it
Display the linky in your post to encourage hopping
Comply with proper disclosures, no entries that violate Facebook policies (i.e. requiring comments on walls), must follow FTC guidelines (no extras for making purchases, etc.)
Sign up for CouponCabin’s Blogger Email Newsletter. They will send you top coupons, promotion and giveaway announcements geared specifically for bloggers. There is no cost to joining their newsletter. By providing your email address at sign up, you will be automatically enrolled.

Since this event is sponsored by CouponCabin, we ask that your giveaway sponsor for this specific event not be in direct competition with them (ie. another coupon website).

Only bloggers who are participating in CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz are eligible for the Blogger prizes (Macbook Air, iPad2 and VISA Gift Cards).

The Blogger & Reader Prizes will be open to both US & Canada.

What does all this mean for you?

A great deal of traffic to your blog, opportunities to network with other bloggers and eligibility to win the Blogger prizes! Plus it will be lots of fun!

Want to take part in CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Hop?

Sign ups are now open! Please fill out the form and say Giveaways and More referred you and submit your administrative fee of $5 to SassyScorpYM@gmail.com. You will be emailed within 24 hours to confirm your participation. Then please spread the word and tell others about this amazing hop and to say that YOU referred them!!

This is going to be an AWESOME event! Don't pass up the opportunity to be a part of the fun!

Opps! Late winner announcement...

2011-09-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

My life got a little crazy there and I totally forgot to pick a winner of the Tropical Traditions Glass & Surface Cleaner giveaway! Sorry about that!

Congratulations to #69 - all natural katie

The winner has been notified and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thanks to all for entering and for your patience. Have a great day!

Kanshi Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray {REVIEW}

2011-08-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

My job as a bank teller keeps me on my feet all day long, all week long. After a day at work, my feet are usually pretty tired and sweaty (sometimes I even experience foot odor...shh!) and it's been very difficult for me to find shoes that keep my feet from aching. Can you see why I was so pleased to find a bottle of Kanshi Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray in my mailbox for review? If a product can provide cooling relief after a long day at work, I'm in!

So, what's in this stuff that makes it so great? That's the best thing! The ingredients are all natural and paraben-free. There is Lemon Myrtle which acts as a natural anti-microbial, anti-fungal and odor cutting agent (this is my favorite ingredient!). Next is the Triple Mint formula of peppermint, spearmint and cornmint which combine to provide the ultimate soothing and cooling experience! The last one (but not the least) is Horse Chestnut to help improve circulation. All of these come together to give you a unique experience that awakens and refreshes your tired feet.

Now, you ask, does this really work? I mean, for $10 can you really claim that a spray can make your feel feel better after a long day? Well, I'll be honest with you, it certainly helped cool down my feet as well as help keep the odors at bay. I did notice that after putting my feet up and spraying them with Kanshi Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray, they felt better. Especially being that it's summer, the cooling relief of the Triple Mint is a welcome feeling. I also sprayed my husband's feet and he was happy with the cooling relief, as well. If you like to pamper yourself and loved ones, Kanshi products are a great, natural way to soothe and refresh! Find Kanshi on Facebook and Twitter to learn about new products being released and events coming to your area!

Disclosure: I received a free sample of this product in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not given any other compensation nor was I required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com Winner!

2011-08-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the lucky winner of the GourmetGiftBaskets.com Midnight Snack Care Package:

#64 - Brooke C

The winner has been notified by email and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Household Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner {REVIEW & GIVEAWAY}

2011-08-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Cleaning is one of my least favorite things to do mostly because of the smelly chemicals that seem to permeate the cleaners out there on the market. When I was trying to decide what my next product to try from Tropical Traditions would be, I took this fact into account and chose to try the Glass and Surface Cleaner. Would it really work like the cleaners that have those chemicals? Well, I found out.

Household Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner uses a revolutionary technology which guards your health from harmful irritants and inhalants yet effortlessly cleans glass and most surfaces without the use of ammonia, alcohol, or harsh, volatile solvents normally found in most glass and surface cleaners; even those labeled “natural.” Household Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner contains no fragrances or dyes.

This product doesn't contain any ammonia, alcohol or harsh volatile solvents. Once you've used it on a surface, there is no need to rinse it off. All you have to do is spray it on and wipe it off with a towel. I love how easy it is to use and how comfortable I feel that the chemicals are not going to hurt my family. Also, this cleaner will work on just about any surface (not including wood). I love that I can clean not only my kitchen counter tops but my bathroom mirrors and other surfaces with this same solution. I even was able to clean off my kitchen table because it's not real wood but wood veneer. It cleaned up very nice with no sticky residue or streaks.

How would you like to try out Household Traditions Glass and Surface Cleaner for free? One of my lucky readers will win a 1 gallon jug of this product thanks to the folks at Tropical Traditions! Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with a free sample of this product in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received. I was under no obligation to write a positive review nor offer a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Christmas in July winners!

2011-08-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all my recent winners and thanks to all who entered my giveaways. I'm working on a couple more so stay tuned for a chance to win some great stuff!

Christmas in July - Thompson's WaterSeal Deck Care Kit & iolo's System Mechanic

#427 - amanda l h

Christmas in July - Stella & Dot GC and Lilla Rose Flexi Clip

#100 - Alicia Schroeder

Christmas in July - Snazzy Crochet Designs & Peter Rabbit Cases

#139 - janetfaye

All winners have been notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email. Thanks to everyone involved!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer fun!

2011-07-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

We finally have summer weather here in Oregon so we spent Sunday afternoon having fun on a friend's boat at the local reservoir. This is my husband rocking the innertube!

For the Ladies Gift Basket {Christmas in July - Giveaway}

2011-07-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

This one is for all you ladies out there! We all like to feel beautiful and what better to make us feel that was than some new jewelry and hair clip? Stella & Dot is offering $50 to spend on their website and Lilla Rose is giving away a Flexi Hair clip worth up to $15! These are fantastic prizes and will make any woman out there feel like a queen!

Love Your Baby Gift Basket {Christmas in July - Giveaway}

2011-07-24T21:14:00.001-07:00

Here's another fun gift set for all of you with young children! Snazzy Crochet Designs is giving away your choice of any of the handmade items that are pictured on their Facebook page! Check them out and pick your favorite piece! This prize is worth up to $20.

Peter Rabbit Organics is also offering a fantastic prize of 2 cases of 12 pouches! You will receive 100% organic and 100% natural fruit and veggie puree pouches. This prize is worth over $35!

Honey Do Gift Package {Christmas in July - Giveaway}

2011-07-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

Christmas is July is here! Have fun hopping around to the different blogs and entering all the giveaways because there are some amazing prizes being offered! You can find the linky at the bottom of this post and I've got a few giveaways for you to enter so let's get started!

One lucky reader will win a Thompson's WaterSeal Deck Care Kit {ARV $120} which includes a case of deck cleaner and a case of waterproofer. The winner will get to choose the best option for their summer deck project! This winner will also win a year license to iolo's System Mechanic {ARV $39.95} to help clean up and speed up their home computer or laptop. This is the perfect package to keep your man busy this summer!

Peter Rabbit Organics Puree Pouches {Christmas in July Sponsor Spotlight}

2011-07-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Are you like me and have a hard time getting your fruit and vegetable servings in throughout the day? Do you have young children who don't want to eat their vegetables? Maybe you're out and about and you forgot to pack your child's pureed food? Peter Rabbit Organics has come up with a wonderful solution to all of these problems; fruit and veggie purees in portable, easy to eat pouches!

Here's a bit more about Peter Rabbit Organics in their own words:

Peter Rabbit Organics is a small, privately-owned company. We produce all our products in Oregon, USA. We are passionate about what we do and have a lot of fun working together!

We started Peter Rabbit Organics for the simple reason that we found it hard to find healthy snacks with no added salt or sugar. We wanted to ensure what we (and our children) eat contained no artificial ingredient and always tastes delicious.

So, not only are the pouches 100% natural and organic, but they contain no added sugar or salt so you can feel confident that you are feeding your family and yourself fruit and vegetables as natural as if you picked it off the tree or out of the ground and ate it. I love that! I also love that this company is located in Oregon because so am I!

Peter Rabbit Organics puree pouches come in seven different flavors:

Apple & Grape
Mango, Banana & Orange
Strawberry & Banana
Peach & Apple
Carrot, Squash & Apple
Peach, Spinach & Apple
Sweet Potato, Corn & Apple

I received a box with all seven flavor pouches and was excited to try them! The first one I tried was the Strawberry and Banana pouch. It was sweet and delicious! My husband even ate one right before he went out for a long run and said it was the perfect way to start a run. So, you can see that Peter Rabbit Organics pouches can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.

You can purchase Peter Rabbit Organics in stores nationwide like Whole Foods, Starbucks, Albertson's and REI as well as online at Amazon.com, BabiesRUs.com and Diapers.com. You can also find Peter Rabbit Organics on Facebook and Twitter. The next time you're out and about and see Peter Rabbit Organics puree pouches, try one. I think you and your family will enjoy them!

Disclosure: I was sent product samples in exchange for my opinion of the product. I was not obligated to write a positive review nor was I obligated to offer a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Stella & Dot {Christmas in July Event Sponosr Spotlight}

2011-07-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Pretty jewelry is so much fun, don't you think? When I get cute pieces as a gift, I am so happy because I'm just not the kind of person who buys jewelry for myself. It's a character flaw, I know, but it's never been high on my "need to have" list. Stella & Dot has some of the most beautiful and elegant jewelery around. Look at these earrings. I would wear the heck out of these!

How about this ring? It just says chic to me.

Stella & Dot also sells travel cases so that you can take your jewelry with you in an organized manner. I'm the worst about that. I just throw it into my makeup bag and it gets all twisted up in the bottom of the bag. One of these would be awesome to have!

Tiffany, an independent consultant for Stella & Dot, has generously donated a $50 credit towards anything on the Stella & Dot website! Thanks Tiffany!

Disclosure: I received a product sample for a previous review and giveaway and was offered a store credit for another giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Snazzy Crochet Designs {Christmas in July Event Sponsor Spotlight}

2011-07-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

While I'm not a mom, yet, I'm getting closer to being one which means that I'm starting to do some shopping around to find out what products I want to use when I do have children. I was thrilled when Monica contacted me from Snazzy Crochet Designs because her baby clothes are so cute and inexpensive! Where can you find a homemade hat for $15 or less? And as cute as these to boot!

Not only does she do hats, but Monica also makes bibs, diaper covers and headbands. I think one of these hats would make a great baby shower gift, don't you? I know I would be thrilled to receive one as a gift.

Check out her Facebook page and let her know how cute her items are. Monica's been very generous and has donated one of her designs to the Christmas in July Event! The winner gets to choose whichever one she/he wants so pick out your favorite one today!

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation in exchange for this post. One free item will be sent to the winner of the giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Thompson's Water Seal {Christmas in July Sponsor Spotlight}

2011-07-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is the best time to tackle those pesky home improvement projects because not only is the weather better and more conducive to outdoor work but the days are longer! Thompson's is just the company to help when you need to protect and beautify your deck at home. In fact, Thompson's has been around since 1929 protecting some of our most famous concrete structures and finally decided in 1980 to enter the home improvement market by catering towards homeowners through Thompson's WaterSeal. Since that time, Thompson's WaterSeal has become and remains the undisputed leader in the exterior waterproofing market.

Does your deck look like this one? Thompson's WaterSeal line includes an array of cleaners, both ready to use and concentrates which all remove dirt, mildew, algae and fungus stains so that you can move on to the next step of sealing, waterproofing and protecting your surface. The Thompson's waterproofing products are each specially formulated for different surfaces like wood, concrete, brick and leather/fabric. The last step, if you're working on wood such as a deck, your house or a fence is to choose a stain. Guess what? Thompson's has that covered, too, with oil, gel and latex waterproofing stains as well as plain old wood stain. They come in up to 50 different long-lasting and scuff resistant colors so you can choose how to personalize your project. Do you want your deck to look like this one?

Thompson's WaterSeal products will help make your home improvement project easier! You can purchase Thompson's products at many different retailers and can find the closest one to you by clicking here. Some of the larger retailers include Lowe's, WalMart, Ace Hardware, Home Depot and True Value. Check out Thompson's products the next time you have an outdoor project to do!

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. A free sample is being offered as a giveaway. All opinions of the company are my own.

iolo's System Mechanic {Christmas in July Sponsor Spotlight}

2011-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had your computer, either desktop or laptop move so slow that it was painful for you to sit there and watch it? Well, if you've ever had a computer you've probably experienced some sort of slowness. We have so many different programs and stuff that can bog down the memory on our computers so wouldn't it be nice if you had access to a program that would help keep your computer running at it's optimum capacity? iolo technologies, LLC has just the program for you! It's called System Mechanic and it really works to help speed up and fix your PC.

System Mechanic is a great program that takes just minutes to scan your computer and help you optimize the memory . It gets rid of unnecessary files, programs and history by cleaning up Windows. System Mechanic also eliminates root problems that are leading to the slowness and restores stability and performance. If I knew more about computers, I would talk about all of the technical aspects of System Mechanic but I don't so I'll just tell you about my personal experience with System Mechanic.

My laptop is 6 years old and has been used for both personal and business purposes so there was a lot of extras loaded on the laptop that was bogging it down. It would take forever to load up and even opening up the internet program took a few minutes. I am pretty impatient so this wasn't working for me at all! When I loaded System Mechanic and it started running the scan, it literally sped up my computer! I was able to shut down and boot up the laptop in no time. It cleaned up some of the old systems that were running unnecessarily which helped a lot with opening my internet program. All in all, it worked really well on my older laptop. For $39.95, it is a very good buy if you are like me, impatient and can't stand waiting for your slow computer to boot up.

Disclosure: I was given a free license from iolo technologies for this product and was not under any obligation to write a positive review or offer a giveaway. All opinions are my own.