Over 100 blogs have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer… with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner. Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize!

So what’s this Grand Prize we’re talking about? Thanks to Kid’s Creations one very lucky winner is going to win a Two Ring Adventure Playset valued at $3,598! Made from the highest quality Redwood and loaded with fun activities, this swing set is sure to make this summer one to remember! (Please note that the grand prize is only open to residents of the Continental United States and does not include assembly/installation.)

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About Hapari 

(website)

Hapari Swimwear was founded when a couple of designer moms put their heads together to try to solve all the problems found in a traditional swimsuit. Unhappy with the available options—it seemed impossible to find a swimsuit that was both flattering and stylish—they decided to create a line of swimwear that real women would love to put on. From that beginning Hapari has seen incredible growth, largely thanks to our commitment to provide quality, modest swimwear that help women everywhere feel beautiful and confident.

What Makes Us Unique

Hapari’s line of swimwear is distinctive, since each suit is designed with body shaping secrets that help women feel attractive. No woman should feel uncomfortable or insecure when she is trying to have fun, and our suits are made with that purpose in mind. Very few of us are blessed with absolutely perfect bodies, and all our tankinis, bikinis, and one piece suits are especially made to enhance the curves you love while downplaying those you don’t.

We truly offer a stylish swimsuit for every figure. Most women have trouble with their midsection, but Hapari’s exclusive Tummy Tuk bottoms can be your little secret for tummy coverage and containment. Most of Hapari’s tankinis and one pieces are made with secret pockets sewn into the breast area that can be fitted with our Illusions silicone enhancements that will supplement your curves. Our S.O.S. tankinis feature the same gorgeous prints as our other suits, but are built with an underwire directly into the suit to give you added support where you need it most.

Up-to-the-Minute Fashions

At Hapari, we stay on top of the latest swimsuit trends, and we believe that great coverage and support should not come at a sacrifice to fashion. With hip suits ranging from trendy tankinis to anything-but-boring one pieces, you are sure to find something to love.

Most tops in our line of tankini swimwear can be worn in three ways: halter-top, criss-cross back, or tank style, which gives you the option of choosing which works best for you. You can also match any of our tankini or bikini tops with any of our bottoms, which means that you can design a one-of-a-kind swimsuit that fits your individual needs. All our stunning, modest swimwear is made to move. They look great and stay comfortably in place no matter what your activity.

Hapari’s Success

In the last year alone, Hapari has seen a 68% growth in online sales from 2010 to 2011, we hope to continue to increase our growth in 2012 through our online, and wholesale channels. We know this would not be possible without our loyal customers who share the good news about Hapari’s shape saving secrets with their friends and family. With our women’s swimwear line, an expanding line of plus size swimwear, men’s and boy’s swim trunks, Hapari is poised to remain at the top of the swimsuit game for years to come.

My Thoughts:

The first thing that I noticed about Hapari is that they offer  plus size tankini bottom’s & skirts! I am a plus size lady and it is so difficult to find pretty bathing suits that fit my needs for affordable prices. I can not go to Walmart or Target and get a suit that is going to last me longer than one summer. They offer such a wide variety of swimwear that you could literally get a bathing suit for everyone in the family. They offer tops, bottoms, bikinis, tankinis, cover ups, shorts, junior sizes, mens, and boys swimwear.

It’s so awesome that you can mix and match the bottoms and tops to suit your taste. I have always been a fan of tankinis and skirts, but as of late I have really been digging the cover up shorts. They are cute and they cover what needs to be covered. I love the fact that their swimwear for plus sizes is just as stylish and pretty as the rest of the swimwear they offer. If you are not a plus size person you probably do not notice that most stores do not offer a whole lot of color ion larger sizes. You pretty much get black and if you are lucky you might get a little splash of color.

I also think that is is pretty cool they offer mastectomy swimwear. You don’t see that very often. This shows how much they care about their customers. They have a great return policy, but honestly you won’t need it if you use their sizing chart. Their suits can also be worn three different ways:

They also built in pockets for breast inserts and their bottoms are Tummy Tuk to hide those unwanted curves. This is by far the best swimwear site that I have ever found. They are made with high quality and definitely have their consumers in mind.

Hapari has generously offered one of my lucky readers an $85 gift certificate to pick out their own swimwear!

ENTER HERE!

I RECEIVED  A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR SWIMWEAR TO REVIEW. THIS REVIEW IS 100% MY OPINION ALONE AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED OR REVIEWED BY ANYONE. I WAS NOT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.

About Shadora:

(website)

Want to look like a million bucks without having to spend it?

Shadora is your solution. On shadora.com, you can find fabulous finds at impossibly low prices.

Our quality is top rate! Using top quality sterling silver and real gemstones, the pieces we feature are always well made, fashion forward and incredibly inexpensive. All of our jewelry is selected with elegance and longevity in mind. We only choose pieces that we consider classic – jewelry that will be as tasteful in 10 years as the day it arrives at your door.

Simplicity is key. We feature a limited number of items at a time, and each item is up for sale no longer than 30 days… That is, if it does not get sold out before then! Because we don’t maintain a huge inventory, we can bring you exciting new looks for a fraction of what you would pay in retail store or at the mall.

Giving a Shadora piece as a gift?
Every Shadora item comes in a beautiful gift box at no additional cost to you.

Need another reason to shop at Shadora.com?
Shipping is free every day! There is no minimum order!

They have awesome deals and here are just a few:

$9.99

$19.99

$12.99

The deals are always changing so it’s a great idea to keep checking their site or better yet sign up for their newsletter! I get their deals in my e-mail daily so I never miss out. I had the opportunity to review their White Topaz Stud Earrings. I have sensitive ears so it’s hard for me to find nice earrings at a decent price that won’t break me out.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

I love them! They are simple, classy, and they were good to my ears Every girl needs a nice pair of studs. These will never go out of style and I can wear them with anything. I am very excited to try some more of their jewelry. It’s so elegant. They have necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and sets.  With FREE shipping you really can’t go wrong.

Shadora was generous enough to supply me with a second pair of earrings to giveaway to one of my lucky readers. Make sure you go check out their site and sign up for their Pinterest Sweepstakes and their Sex in the City Ring Sweepstakes!

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I RECEIVED  A GIFT CERTIFICATE PAIR OF WHITE TOPAZ STUD EARRINGS FOR REVIEW. THIS REVIEW IS 100% MY OPINION ALONE AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED OR REVIEWED BY ANYONE. I WAS NOT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.

I love shoes! More importantly I love unique shoes. I love all the pretty colors and varieties is of style. I love it even more when I can find a good deal or decent priced shoes. I recently stumbled upon a website called OverLabeled.

Have you ever heard of it?

About OverLabeled: (website)

We all appreciate brand name products from time to time. But sometimes, we just want something that looks and feels great. We at Overlabeled are dedicated to providing ladies with a huge selection of quality, attractive shoes, all without the brand name price premium. Now you can stock your shoe closet with all kinds of classy, fun and sexy sandals, slippers, heels, flats, wedges and boots, all while maintaining a guilt-free conscience. With our great prices, it’s easy to fill your shoe closet with everything you need for the coming season or simply find something unique for a special occasion.

Overlabeled sorts through tens of thousands of ladies shoe styles in order to provide you with the best selection of ladies shoes we can. We work with a collection of fantastic boutique designers located throughout the world. With boutique designers, production runs tend to be limited. This ensures our customers up to date fashions that are unique and hard to find elsewhere. Unfortunately, this also means that quantities tend to be more limited than those at larger women’s shoes retailers. So if you see something you like on our site, be sure to act quickly. Also, our selection is updated frequently with the latest, in season fashions, so be sure to visit us often to see what’s new.

We are all about providing our customers with great looking, high quality ladies shoes at the best price possible and with great customer service.

I fell in love with these:

And these:

And these:

And ALL of THEM!

They have really nice shoes at great prices.

The best part about this is that I am getting a chance to review a pair of their shoes so be looking for my review in the days to come.

Go check them out!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Hint: Get a head start on the giveaway by following them!

 I RECEIVED  A GIFT CERTIFICATE TOWARDS A PAIR OF SHOES FOR REVIEW . THIS REVIEW IS 100% MY OPINION ALONE AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED OR REVIEWED BY ANYONE. I WAS NOT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.

Same Sex Marriage

Did I just say that? Yes…I did. North Carolina is getting ready to vote on whether or not they will recognize same sex marriages from a legal stand point or if they will keep the “one man, one woman” marriage amendment.

This has been of great debate across the nation among all the states. I have read article for and against, I have watched shows for and against, and we just this past Sunday spoke about it in church during Sunday School.

If you have been reading my blog then you know I am a new Christian. My husband does not go to church and quite honestly it’s a battle to try to get my kids to go. When this topic was raised in my household and then in church I found myself really struggling. I have friends that are gay and I love them dearly. That is not going to change, because I became a Christian.

I was so relieved when our Sunday School teacher expressed the same feelings. I know what the bible says. I know that it condemns homosexuality. In fact the bible speaks against many sins. The bible states adulterers should be put to death, women should cover their heads in church, and sports should not be played on Sundays, yet my own preacher is a huge football fan. Why are we not speaking out against those infractions?  The bible also tells us not to judge, to love one another, and forgive.

I feel that by voting we are judging. We are judging the lifestyle of a group of people. We are yet again being bullies, trying to force people to be what we want them to be. This is not our place. God is the ONLY one who will judge us when the time comes and only he knows if we have pure hearts.

I do not believe that gay people choose to be gay. I feel (and maybe I am wrong) that it is a biological, chemical imbalance. Just like with anything else whether it be physical, mental, or psychological. I feel that it is something that happens in the womb long before the baby is even born.  I do not think that this is a sin that can be stopped like adultery or addictions.

Aren’t we all born sinners? Is that not what Jesus Christ died for us? What makes your sin any less than a gay persons? The bible teaches us that a sin is a sin no matter what it is. It also teaches us that if we give our selves to God (which I think is a personal relationship) then he will welcome us on our day.

I could go on all day with examples and reasoning, but the bottom line is that it’s not hurting anybody. If Christians stand up against homosexuality and promote that kind of anger and hate then they are just hypocrites.

ALL OPINIONS IN THIS POST ARE %100 MINE.

I WAS NOT COMPENSATED OR INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY.

What do you do for a living?

Do you have a job?

Are you working?

What is your response? I tell people that I have a part time job, because I teach online at night, but I never mention that I am a blogger.  My family didn’t even know that I did it until about 6 months ago (I have been blogger for 2 years+).

I do not tell my family about my ventures, because they are very rarely supportive and they always think that the things I do are stupid. “There goes Renee with another hair brained idea again.” (yes that is my real name).

I have told a few people in my life and my good friends are supportive. They think it’s cool that I get to do all these reviews and stuff.

Then there are the users..you know. “Hey Renee can you show me how to do that?” or “Hey Renee can you get me…?” or “Hey Renee if you ever want me to review something for you…”

Is that why I shy away from telling people?

Maybe

Then of course there is my husband who thinks it’s a neat hobby, but it’s never looked at as a job. He makes comments about all the time I spend on the computer and blah, blah, blah.

I guess the issue for me is that I do not make money doing this. It’s just something I enjoy. I guess you could say that I get paid with products, but that is hardly a justifiable reasoning when it comes to my husband.

No one takes it seriously. My friends think that I am just a stay at home mom and they expect me to be able to just go shopping, watch their kids, or just take off for the day.  They don’t understand if I take a day off from blogging it puts me behind. Then I have to play catch up.  I wish I could just say, “Sorry I have to work today.”  No one sees it as work except for me.

I think if I made money doing this I would be more apt to admit proudly that I am a blogger and sorry, but I DO have to work today. I feel like I have this other life that no one knows about. Well I guess I kind of do.

How Do You Handle It?

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Have you ever heard of Fab.com?

It is a great discount site where you can get awesome deals on the things you love. Here are just a few examples…it’s FREE to join.

pür cashmere

Super Soft Wraps and Scarves

$24 to $45

CLADE & VINE

Fall in Link Love

$23 to $55

H A I G H T. Ashbury

Wear Your Flower Power

$35 to $55

I AM AN AFFILIATE WITH FAB.COM. THIS REVIEW IS 100% MY OPINION ALONE AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED OR REVIEWED BY ANYONE. I WAS NOT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.

We are so excited to have teamed up with Home Grown Families and several other blogs to bring you the Spring Into Fashion Event!

About Fantasy Jewelry Box:

(website)

FantasyJewelryBox.com is one of the leading online retailers of celebrity and designer inspired jewelry. Although celebrity inspired jewelry is our specialty, we are also a leading online retailer for replica celebrity rings, fake engagement rings and faux wedding sets.

Our sterling silver jewelry collections primarily consists of high end genuine .925 Sterling Silver with high-quality cubic zirconia stones. We also proudly carry gold jewelry collections as well as fashion jewelry and costume jewelry for our more budget-friendly shoppers. Our cubic zirconia jewelry prices generally range from $10.00 to $500.00 so it is easy to see why our affordable diamond replica jewelry collections are so popular! Whether you are a financially struggling college student or a successful, wealthy woman who enjoys a good deal, our collections are perfect for you!

Although we specialize in women’s cubic zirconia jewelry, our growing men’s stainless steel and titanium collection is quite popular! We believe this is due to our competitive, substantially lower prices that is rare in today’s jewelry market for men. Of course, that statement can be said for all the sterling silver jewelry within our collections! Our famous slogan says it all:

“FantasyJewelryBox.com is Affordable Jewelry for Expensive Tastes!”

Look at that Sparkle!

They have absolutely beautiful jewelry. I had the opportunity to choose something from their collection and I chose a wedding set. There is a couple of reasons why I did that: First of all I have not been able to wear my wedding rings since I had my last son, because my fingers are too chubby. I wanted something that would show that I am married. I miss my them. Secondly, I just think they are gorgeous! When I got my wedding set I was not disappointed. I have had so many compliments on my rings. People think they are real! You can not tell they are cubic zirconium.

Fantasy Jewelry Box  is my new #1 Go to place for jewelry. They have fashion rings, wedding sets, Celebrity inspired rings, Cocktail rings, earrings, necklaces, and just tons of beautiful jewelry for any occasion.  They have a new service where you can have some things engraved as well.  The quality is excellent. I love that the bands are nice and sturdy with no chipping or tarnishing.  I have sensitivity to metals and I have not had any breakouts or green fingers I just love the elegance of their jewelry and you will too!

Fantasy Jewelry Box has generously offered to give one of my readers a $25 GC towards anything that would like. This is going to be part of my Spring Into Fashion Giveaway Event so follow this link to enter.

You can catch up with the latest from Fantasy Jewelry Box on their website , Twitter, Facebook, or their blog.

 I RECEIVED  A SET OF RINGS FOR REVIEW . THIS REVIEW IS 100% MY OPINION ALONE AND HAS NOT BEEN EDITED OR REVIEWED BY ANYONE. I WAS NOT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS PRODUCT REVIEW.