Jolly Mom

Wordless Wednesday: A Playdate

2009-11-11T00:00:00.008-05:00

Lucas hanging out with his cousin, Blanca.

Feliz Navidad! Celebrate the Holidays with Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure DVD {Review & Giveaway}

2009-11-11T00:00:00.007-05:00

Lucas and I are loving all the children's DVDs that are coming out for the holidays! Seeing his favorite characters celebrate the holiday season has really helped Lucas learn a little more about this special time of year. One of his most beloved children's characters--Dora the Explorer--is also celebrating Navidad in her new dvd: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure!

Synopsis: This holiday season, children everywhere are invited to join Dora and Swiper as they explore the past, present and future of Christmas in the all-new Nickelodeon direct-to-DVD feature-length adventure Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure. Along with this brand new holiday retelling, the DVD contains six minutes of bonus footage not airing in the TV special and two exclusive music videos.When Swiper tries to swipe the Christmas Star from Dora’s Nochebuena Party, he lands on Santa’s naughty list. To get back on the nice list, Dora must help Swiper travel to the past, the present, and the future to discover the true spirit of Christmas. Will you help too? Filled with original songs and exclusive extra scenes, this all-new Christmas special, exclusive to DVD, will become a holiday favorite for the whole family!

Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure is a sweet DVD that teaches kids valuable lessons like what the true meaning of Christmas really is and that it is always better to give than to receive. Dora fans will just LOVE this DVD!

Want It: Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure is available for purchase at Amazon.com and retails for $12.99.

Win It! One Jolly Mom reader will win Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure and Dora's Christmas on DVD {pictured above}!

How To Enter:
1. Leave me a comment telling me one of your holiday traditions.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.

This giveaway will end November 25th, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Fun Contest & Coupon PSA: Charlie's Playhouse Asks Kids: What Is Evolution?

2009-11-11T00:00:00.006-05:00

Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s “The Origin of Species,” Charlie’s Playhouse is encouraging parents to ask their kids one simple question: “What is evolution?” Launched November 4th, the “Ask the Kids Project” spotlights kids’ knowledge of evolution and is designed to spark discussions in family rooms across the country.

Parents are being asked to submit by the deadline of Nov. 16 their children's honest responses to the question online. The project will culminate on November 24th, the anniversary of “Origin of Species,” with the release of a professionally-edited video compilation of kids’ responses to the question “What is evolution?” Kids’ recent answers include:

"Evolution is accidental copies of DNA in a bad way and then results in changes and sometimes the changes can be helpful or the changes can lead to extinction. I think Charles Darwin can explain it better."
"Something about the evolutionary war."
"Well, one thing's for sure, it's not the cave times when they had to sleep on rocks."
"The first living things appeared, like medusa and the first fish. And fish evolved. And fish became something very important: a sleepwalker."
"Evolution is candy."
"Ummm, it's science."
"You mean like when we were animals and now we're humans?"
"I have no idea."
"When animals change to adapt to the weather!"

LOL! Kids say the darnedest things, don't they?!

The purpose of the Ask the Kids Project is not to tally “correct” or “incorrect” responses, but to touch off a lively discussion between parents and children about evolution. The hope is that when parents hear their children’s responses – sometimes hilariously off the mark -- they’ll take the opportunity to discuss evolution more accurately.

To thank parents who submit a child’s response, Charlie’s Playhouse is offering a 10% coupon for written responses and a 20% coupon for video submissions. Instructions and a parental release form can be found on the Charlie’s Playhouse website. The video will be posted to www.CharliesPlayhouse.com and on YouTube, and no names or ages will be used. The submission deadline is Nov. 16.

Holiday Recipe: Quick and Easy French Apple Tart Anyone Can Make! {Recipe}

2009-11-10T00:03:00.002-05:00

One of my all time favorite desserts is French Apple Tart--it's not just my favorite, but also my pretty much everyone in my family. That means I am making French Apple Tart for every special occasion. The problem is that my usual French Apple Tarts are a labor of love. They are really time intensive and get gobbled up within seconds of cutting!

Recently, though I stumbled across an Ina Garten recipe that I tried and fell in love with. Not only is it easy and quick to make, but it is equally as delicious as the French Apple Tart I have been making for years! I did change it around a little bit so here is my slightly different version.

Ingredients
For the pastry:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 12 tablespoons (11/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
* 1/2 cup ice water

For the apples:
* 4 Granny Smith apples
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, small diced
* 1/2 cup apricot jelly or warm sieved apricot jam or preserves

Directions
For the pastry, place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 by 14-inches. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.

Peel and core the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples making rows on until the pastry is covered with apple slices. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of sugar and dot with the butter.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Rotate the pan once during cooking. The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine! When the tart's done, heat the apricot jelly and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

TIPS:

If you can't find apricot jelly {which you probably won't--I have never found it}, then preserves or jam will work. However, you need to heat it and then press it through a sieve. You can skip sieving it IF you are extra careful and don't get any bits of fruit on the tart. You want the jam or preserves to act as a glaze so you don't want any chunks or bits of fruit!
You can also skip making the pastry dough and use premade pie dough instead. Either make the tart round and adjust your ingredients OR join two premade pie crust doughs together.
Make sure that you use parchment paper to line your baking sheet. Do NOT use wax paper--it WILL stick.

Join Us For a #GNO Twitter Party Tonight to Talk About Creative Holiday Gift Giving With Crayola

2009-11-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

Join us at the #gno Twitter party this Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET as we discuss creative holiday gift giving with our friends from Crayola. This is my first time paneling a GNO party so I am super excited--especially since it is in partnership with Crayola--a company that I love and we are talking about something I love even more--HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING!

I, along with other amazing women in our community, will be sharing shopping tips and highlighting the latest and greatest from Crayola—just in time for the holidays.

What: Crayola is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)

When: Tuesday, November 10, 9-11 p.m. EST

Where: Click here to party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtags #gno and #whrrl.)

Topic: Capturing Holiday Traditions and Memories

Who: @carissarogers @cerisecheri @crayola @gograhamgo @jollymom @makeandtakes @noflashcards @skybluestacy

Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win products from Crayola just in time for the holidays.

RSVP: Please RSVP at the Mom It Forward site.

I hope to see you guys there and can't wait to hear your creative holiday gift giving tips!

Crayola® Beginnings Color Me A Song {Review}

2009-11-10T00:02:00.000-05:00

There are two things that Lucas loves lately--his crayons and anything to do with music. He can regularly be seen either sitting down with a big pack of 64 Crayola crayons and a few coloring books or grooving to his favorite tunes and shaking his little toy tambourine. I think Crayola must have read Lucas' mind because they have come out with the perfect product for him--the Crayola® Beginnings Color Me A Song!

Basically, the Crayola® Beginnings Color Me A Song melds a preschoolers love for music and creativity into one. The Color Me A Song unit is really like a lap desk which holds paper on the front and contains built-in storage for eight triangular crayons. Here's the cool part: as your child colors, the unit makes music! The faster your child scribbles, the faster the music plays and vice versa. Kids can even choose among four different instruments--piano, banjo, trumpet, and drum music! Plus, there are even four different musical styles to choose from--rock, salsa, country, and swing.

All moms know that kids should be exposed to music and that it's important to encourage creativity and the development of the imagination. What better way to do that than with Crayola's Color Me a Song?!

See It In Action:

Want It: Color Me A Song retails for $24.99 and can be purchased at major retailers and online. It is recommended for children ages 24 months and up.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Crayola. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Unique Photo Holiday Cards: Paperspring Review & Giveaway

2009-11-10T00:00:00.006-05:00

I'm back with another super unique holiday card company that you should know about---Paperspring! They offer such a large array of photo holiday cards from--whimsical, modern, and fun to classic, elegant, and traditional. Their designs are beautiful no matter what style you choose. What I really love about Paperspring is that they offer such unique options such as their very popular StickyStock and Digital Name Art Cards!

Paperspring allowed me the opportunity to personalize a complimentary set of photo holiday cards for me to review. Personalizing the cards was easy. All you do is choose a card design that you like, upload the pictures you want to use, and add in your text. You get an instant online proof! I love not having to wait for a proof so that if I don't like the card, I can try another card design. You can also create a free account at Paperspring where you can save your photos and all the card designs that you like. That way you can play around with different pictures and card designs as much as you want until you get it exactly the way you want!

I ended up choosing the Merry & Bright design and we absolutely love them! Now, here's the really cool part--you can order your holiday cards on StickyStock rather than traditional cardstock--this is what I did and it is so cool! StickyStock is this really unique paper that sticks onto any dry, flat surface--without leaving any residue. You can see my holiday card is "stuck" onto my stainless steel refrigerator in the picture below.

Paperspring describes it like a Post It--I see it more like a cling-on. StickyStock will stick for up to 6 months and is great to use on pretty much anything, but where it really shines is photo cards! When the card recipient receives their card, they peel off the backing and can now stick their photo card onto any flat surface! It is really cool!

More Info About StickyStock:

Another cool card option that Paperspring offers is their Digital Name Art Cards. These are a wonderful way to personalize the cards that you send for a real wow factor! Basically, the front of the card has the name of the recipient within the design of the card. Paperspring sent me a few Digital Name Art Cards, which I personalized for my nieces. Each of the cards has their name--as you can see in the pictures below. My 8 year old niece is going to flip when she sees HER NAME on the front of the card! It's just a really special, unexpected surprise!

Another positive about ordering from Paperspring is that they have been officially certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as a chain-of-custody provider of recycled paper made from environmentally sustainable forests. All of their matte cards are printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled thick cardstock and they even utilize chemistry-free and waterless printing processes in their operation.

If you're looking for unique, out of the box holiday cards this year--I highly recommend Paperspring!

About Paperspring {from the website}:
Paperspring was launched in 2008 by Charlie Chan Printing, a commercial printing company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by none other than Charlie Chan (not the detective, just a regular guy who happened to be named "Charlie Chan") in 1969, their printing company has produced beautiful print products for over 40 years. Their corporate clients include ESPN, Paramount, and the Westin hotels, to name a few. In 2002, Charlie's son, Hamilton, took over the family business after graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and thoroughly burning out of the corporate lifestyle. He is now the proud father of two wonderful (and unruly) toddlers, and delights when they play with Paperspring products, marking them up with crayons and placing them all over the house. Today, Paperspring's family of designers, project managers, programmers and presspeople aim to please our clients with our trademark and legendary standards of service and quality.

Want It: For more information, including prices and card options, please visit Paperspring.com.

Win It! One Jolly Mom reader will win a $60 credit to spend at Paperspring.com!

How To Enter:
1. Visit Paperspring.com and leave me a comment telling me which card design you would choose if you won.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Paperspring (http://www.paperspring.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Paperspring AND Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.
7. Become a Paperspring Fan on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did and include your Facebook name.

This giveaway will end November 24th, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Paperspring. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Winners!

2009-11-09T03:07:00.000-05:00

I have drawn winners for the following giveaways:

Women's PJs by Hatley
Kidorable Full Knitwear Set
Three Shankman & O'Neill Children's Books
Alpha Sherpa Backpack

Congratulations to all of the winners! As always, all of the winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to contact me to claim their prize.

Click on the links above to see if you won!

Jolly Mom Holiday Gift Guide 2009 Is Here!

2009-11-09T03:03:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed a few changes to Jolly Mom today. I have been working on my first annual Holiday Gift Guide and it is finally up and running! Click on the Holiday Gift Guide 2009 banner on my sidebar to see my top Holiday Picks. I have chosen my favorite products reviewed over the last year and will be adding new ones throughout the coming weeks. Also, keep in mind--I was not paid to include these products or companies in my Gift Guide--if they are there--it's because I love them! I hope that it helps you find some great gifts this holiday season!

Super Affordable, Quality Pearl Jewelry at Pearl Paradise! {Review and Giveaway: Open to US & International!}

2009-11-09T02:16:00.001-05:00

If diamonds are a girl's best friend, then pearls have to be a favorite cousin or something. I mean, you can't get more classic than a strand of pearls. My grandmother used to say that "every woman--young and old--should own a pearl necklace." I have to agree with her. Pearls go with everything--jeans, a little black dress, or a wedding gown. They can be classic or modern. Pearls just never go out of style. The one problem with pearls is that they are expensive. That's why I was shocked when I was introduced to Pearl Paradise where they strive to sell pearl jewelry for 80% below retail!

About Pearl Paradise {from the website}:
Founded in 1996 and brought online in 2000, Pearl Paradise has grown into the world's largest online pearl company, with 2006 sales topping $20 million. With a custom-built, 1,400-cubic-foot vault filled with pearls, they offer a selection of pearls unlike any other pearl seller, online or off. Their commitment to offering prices 80 percent below retail has accelerated their growth. With more than 100,000 satisfied customers to date, they have benefited greatly by word-of-mouth advertising. Their commitment to quality, customer service, and unbeatable pricing and selection has helped them become the Internet’s premier source of pearl jewelry.

Pearl Paradise sent me the 35-inch 6.0-7.0 mm Black Freshwater Pearl Necklace {pictured above and below} for me to review. Speechless was how I felt when I opened the beautiful box this necklace arrived in. It is stunningly beautiful. I own a white pearl necklace that Mike gave me years ago and it is also beautiful. However, these black pearls are breathtaking and so unique. The necklace is dramatic and sophisticated and modern while still remaining a classic piece of jewelry. I love the long length and it is the perfect necklace to wear to wear with an evening dress or gown. I have worn it several times already--out to a nice dinner and casually with a pair of jeans and white blouse {SO CUTE!}.

To be honest, I don't know a lot about freshwater pearls or pearl quality, but this necklace has a really nice, substantial weight and looks amazing! The necklace is composed of round (AAA) or near-round (AA+) 6.0-7.0 mm black freshwater pearls. According to the website, the pearls are perfectly matched and have a treated black body color featuring varied dark multicolored hues, subtle overtones and smooth surfaces. Each pearl is individually knotted on twin silk and finished with a solid 14-karat gold clasp {you can choose white or yellow gold}.

What really shocked me though is the appraisal the necklace came with, which says this necklace is worth $1,100.00! However, Pearl Paradise sells it for $228! Unbelievable. In fact, every piece of pearl jewelry at Pearl Paradise comes with the following:

I suggest you forward this link to the hubbies, ladies and offer them a BIG HINT for their holiday shopping this year. The jewelry is gorgeous and the men will be happy to not have to break the bank! Or, Pearl Paradise is the perfect place to shop for your own mom, sister, or best friend this holiday season!

Win It! Pearl Paradise has offered to give one Jolly Mom reader a 6.0-7.0 mm freshwater Pearl Necklace in black! Winner can choose white or yellow gold clasp and necklace length {35 inches like I reviewed or shorter}.

How To Enter:
1. Visit Pearl Paradise and leave me a comment telling me which piece of jewelry OTHER than the necklace that I reviewed is your favorite.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Pearl Paradise (http://www.pearlparadise.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.

This giveaway will end November 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. Open to US AND international entries!

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Pearl Paradise. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Fancy Friendship Bracelets by Klutz Review and Giveaway

2009-11-09T01:35:00.002-05:00

When I was a kid, I loved making friendship bracelets. Loved it! It was a hobby of mine and just about all of my girl friends. I mean, even the boys wore friendship bracelets! That's why I was so excited to hear about a really cute book called, Fancy Friendship Bracelets by Klutz.

About the Book: Introducing Fancy Friendship Bracelets, the original Friendship Bracelet’s new best friend! Klutz started with super-simple instructions for a flock of all-new bracelet designs. We added five different colors of cord and more than 200 sparkling beads. Then we threw in some stylish charms for good measure. The result is even better than we hoped.

Fancy Friendship Bracelets is a book that just about any young girl will love to own. Not only does it come with instructions on how to make beautiful and new friendship bracelet designs, but it also comes with everything a little girl needs to make the bracelets in the book! The book comes with embroidery floss or cord, a ruler, beads {both large and small}, and even adorable silver charms. What I love about it is that the friendship bracelet tutorials are easy to understand and feature large, glossy color pictures of the steps. This makes it easy to follow along and create pretty bracelets! I would have LOVED this book when I was a kid!

Fancy Friendship Bracelets is really a great way for young girls to bond with one another and have a positive experience while having a lot of fun. This is a great book to give as a gift this holiday season!

Want It: Fancy Friendship Bracelets retails for $19.95 and can be purchased online or various retailers across the country. For more information, please visit Klutz.com.

Win It! One Jolly Mom reader will win TWO Fancy Friendship Bracelet Books! One for your daughter to keep and one for her to give to a friend or sibling!

How To Enter:
1. Visit Klutz.com and leave me a comment telling me another product that you love or would like to own.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Klutz (http://www.klutz.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.

This giveaway will end November 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Klutz. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

New Bumkins Keith Haring Bibs! {Review & Giveaway}

2009-11-08T01:02:00.001-05:00

Our number one bibs of choice have always been the SuperBibs by Bumkins. I have loved them since Lucas was a teeny baby and way before I started blogging. Bumkins Superbibs are the bibs we bought when we realized that 99% of the other bibs were not getting the job done. What I love about them is that they are soft, flexible, machine washable, BUT they also keep Lucas clean and dry. The Bumkins' secret is, of course their proprietary waterproof fabric. It is what keeps the bib comfortable and effective and also the reason it blows most bibs on the market right out of the water!

Superbib Features:

Stain and odor resistant
Adjustable Velcro closure
Features catch-all pocket
Machine washable, hang dry (flip pocket)
Measures 10" across, 9" from neck down
Sized to fit 3 months - 2+ years
PVC, BPA, Phthalate & Vinyl Free

They have always come in really cute prints--all Bumkins products do, but recently Bumkins released a new line of Keith Haring prints that are really special.

The Keith Haring Collection will feature bibs, layette, diaper bags, art smocks and aprons. I received two Superbibs in two Keith Haring prints and they are adorable! If you've never heard of Keith Haring, he was an amazing artist whose work can be seen today in the exhibitions and collections of major museums around the world. Keith Haring believed that art was truly for everyone and now with Bumkins you and your kids can experience and share this visionary’s work to the world!

Want it: Keith Haring Bibs by Bumkins can be purchased online at Bumkins.com or at various retailers and retail for $7.95.

Win It! Bumkins has offered to give two Jolly Mom readers a Ketih Haring Bib!

How To Enter:
1. Visit Bumkins and leave me a comment telling me which Keith Haring pattern {Radiant Baby or Animals} is your favorite.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Bumkins (http://www.bumkins.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Bumkins AND Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.
7. Become a Bumkins Fan on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did and include your Facebook name.

This giveaway will end November 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Bumkins. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

CVS Coupon Matchups (Week of 11/08)

2009-11-07T21:30:00.001-05:00

Thank you to Lori from Moms by Heart for compiling the best deals at CVS this week! For the full list, please make sure you stop by Moms By Heart!

Maximize savings with:
-bring in your reusable tote to earn ECBs!
- Season to Save coupon booklet! It contains a coupon for a $4 ECB when you spend $20!
-Stop over HERE for a $5/$20 printable!

Spend $15+ on select candy get $5 ECB

Hershey Kisses $3 (buy 5)
-$1 from 9/13 SS x 5
-$5 ECB when you spend $15
Final Price: $1 each wyb five

Lindt Excellence Bars $2 (buy 8)
-$1/2 from 10/4 SS x 4
-$5 ECB when you spend $15
Final Price: 8/$7 or $.88 each

Glade Sprays $.99
-$1/2 from 11/1 SS
Final Price: $.49

Rimmel Mascara $6.99
-$4 ECB
-$2 from November ALL YOU magazine
Final Price: $.99

Garnier Nutritioniste from $5.99
-$7 ECB wyb two
-$2.50 from 11/8 RP, use two
Final Price: as low as FREE

Colgate Max White or Max Fresh toothpaste 2/$5.50
-$1 ECB on two
-$1 from 11/8 SS, use two
Final Price: $1.25 each

Huggies Jumbo pk $9.88
-$2 printable HERE
-$1.50 uPromise eCoupon HERE
-$.75 Caregivers Marketplace rebate
Final Price: $5.63

Select Bengay cream or patches $5.99
-$2 ECB
-$2 from 11/8 RP
Final Price: $1.99

EarRinse $7.99
-$7.99 ECB
Final Price: FREE

Children's Allergy & Cold Remedies ECB Deal: Spend $20+ get $10 ECB
(perfect purchase for the $5/$20 CVS coupon to turn this into a money maker!)

Claritin liquid 4oz $10
-$3 printable HERE
Final Price: $7

Robitussin $6
-$2 printable HERE
Final Price: $4

Dimetapp $6
-$2 printable HERE
Final Price: $4

Spend $20+ on any Duracell batteries, get $10 off the UP DVD
-$.75-$1 from 11/1 PG - Duracell
-submit for $5 UP & Birds Eye Voila rebate HERE - requires additional purchase

Select Crest Toothpaste 2/$6.98
-$4 ECB on two
-$1 from 11/1 PG, use two
Final Price: 2/$.98

Walgreens Coupon Matchups & Best Deals {Week of 11/8}

2009-11-07T11:27:00.003-05:00

These are the best deals at Walgreens this week. A HUGE thank you to Lori from Moms by Heart for compiling the list. Make sure you stop by her blog to see all the matchups for the week!

helpful links:
-November Register Rewards Deals
-Walgreens November coupon booklet
-Walgreens Healthy Savings coupon booklet
-Walgreens Diabetes & You coupon booklet

Halls Cough Drops 20-30ct bag $.99 (limit 4)
-$1/2 from 11/8 SS
Final Price: $.49 each

Folger's Classic Roast 11.3oz 2/$5
-$1 from 11/8 RP
Final Price: $1.50 each

Ocean Spray drink or juice 64oz $1.99
-$1 from Walgreens November coupon booklet
Final Price: $.99

Cheez-It & Keebler cookies or crackers 7.5-16oz B1G1 free
Use printables HERE for the following deals:

Keebler Sandies $4.29 B1G1 free*
-$1 printable, use two
Final Price: 2/$2.29 or $1.15 each

Keebler Fudge Shoppe $4.50 B1G1 free*
-$1/2 printable
Final Price: 2/$3.50 or $1.75 each

Keebler Club crackers $4.50 B1G1 free*
-$1/2 printable
Final Price: 2/$3.50 or $1.75 each

Cheez-It Baked or Whole Grain (9oz) $3 B1G1 free
-$.75 printable, use two
Final Price: 2/$1.50 or $.75 each
*look for specially marked Keebler packages to get a $10 toy voucher rebate!

Jell-o Gelatin 2/$1 (with insert coupon)
-$.50/2 printable HERE
Final Price: $.25 each

Windex 2/$5
-$1 printable HERE
-$1.66 SC Johnson rebate ($5 off 3 products)
Final Price: $.16 overage

Scrubbing Bubbles spray 2/$5
-$1 from 11/1 SS
-$1.66 SC Johnson rebate ($5 off 3 products)
Final Price: $.16 overage

Bayer Contour or Breeze2 blood glucose moniter $14.99
-$14.99 rebate in box
-$5 RR
Final Price: $5 overage

Bayer Aspirin 24-36ct 2/$3 (with insert coupon)
-$1 from 10/25 RP
Final Price: $.50*
*works with $5/$20 monthly RR deal

RR Deal: Spend $20 Get $10 RR
Tylenol Cold or Allergy Liquid 8oz $4.99
-$1 from Walgreens Healthy Savings coupon booklet
-$1 from 10/4 RP
Final Price: $2.99

Benadryl Childrens liquid 4oz or dissolving tabs 18ct $4.99
-$1 from Walgreens coloring/activity book
-$1 from 8/23 RP or printable HERE (click on SKIP INTRO, then NEWS tab on far right of screen)
Final Price: $2.99

Sudafed PE or OM 20-24 ct $5.99
-$2 from 10/4 RP
Final Price: $3.99

Scenario:
(3) Tylenol or Benadryl products listed above x $4.99 = $14.97
(1) Sudafed product listed above = $5.99
Total: $20.96
-$8 coupons
-$10 RR
Final Price: 4/$2 or $.50 each

Kotex RR Deal: select items 2/$6
-$1 RR wyb two
-$2/2 from 10/4 SS - pads
Final Price: $1.50 each

Clearasil from $4.79 B1G1 free
-$2 printable HERE - bottom of page, print two
Final Price: as low as $.40 each

Scotch Magic Tape $1.79 B1G1 free
-$.50 from 8/9 RP, use two
Final Price: 2/$.79 or $.40 each

Hershey's Holiday Candy 8-8.5oz 2/$5
-$1 RR on two
-$1/2 from 11/8 SS
Final Price: 2/$3

Huggies Jumbo $8.99
-$1 from Walgreens color/activity book (located near children's books/coloring books)
-$2 printable HERE
-$.75 Caregivers Marketplace rebate
Final Price: $5.24!

WRAPAROUND AD:
Don't forget to use the $5/$25 coupon you'll find here!

Gold Medal Flour 5lb. 2/$3 (with insert coupon)
-$.50 printable HERE
Final Price: $1

Nestle Toll House Morsels $1.79 (with insert coupon)
-$.50 from 11/1 RP
Final Price: $1.29

Betty Crocker Warm Delights $.99 (with insert coupon)
-$.50 printable HERE
Final Price: $.49

Carnation Evaporated Milk $.99 (with insert coupon)
-$.50/2 from 11/1 RP or printable HERE
Final Price: $.74

Progresso Soup $1.25 each (with insert coupon)
-$1.10/3 printable HERE
Final Price: $.88 each

Fun & Easy Craft For Kids! Shrinky Dinks by Joobli Studio Review and Giveaway

2009-11-07T11:21:00.005-05:00

By now, you guys know that I am a big crafter and love being creative whenever I get the chance. As s mom, I think it's important to encourage children to be creative as well and crafts are a great way to do that. Not only does crafting spark the imagination and help children learn many different skills, but it is also FUN and a great way to connect with your kids! If you've been looking for some new crafts to do with your kids, you must check out the award-winning Shrinky Dinks Kits by Joobli Studio.

If you've never heard of Shrinky Dinks, they have been around since I was a kid and have truly withstood the test of time and moms everywhere. Joobli sent me one of their Christmas Fun Packs for me to review and it was such a fun and rewarding craft to do--even for me as an adult {lol}. The Christmas Fun Pack comes with 72 holiday-themed templates of 24 different designs in varying sizes, six 8'' x 10'' sheets of shrinkable plastic, a foldout holiday poster, and you even get a cute Christmas poem!

So, what are Shrinky Dinks exactly--you ask? Basically, what kids do is trace the provided images or their own original artwork onto the plastic sheet. Color the drawings in and then cut them out.

Here you can see the process of tracing and coloring of a few pieces that I did.

Finally, the pieces are then baked for a few minutes. Shrinky Dinks then shrink to about a third of their original size AND become nine times thicker! The really fun part is watching them shrink--it is really kind of like magic.

Here's a few pics of mine actually baking in the oven and beginning to shrink:

Lucas is too young to really do this craft project with me, but I did bring him into the kitchen to watch the Shrinky Dinks shrink down in the oven and he got a real kick out of it. What's really cool is that when the pieces shrink, they don't lose any of the design elements or colors. They look GREAT and can be used in many different ways! I punched holes in mine {before I baked them} so that Lucas can use them as ornaments for his little Christmas tree.

If you're looking for a great way to bond with your children this holiday season, then The Christmas Fun Pack is really the way to go. Plus, kids can use the pieces they create as ornaments, gifts, bag tags, and much more. However, Joobli has many Fun Packs available that kids will love--from Wild West to Enchanted Kingdoms--there's something for everyone! You can even get Party Packs that come with Shrinky Dinks invitations and more. They are really a fantastic way to spark a child's creativity. I LOVE them and can't wait for Lucas to be a little older so we can do these together, but in the meantime--mom is having fun with her new Shrinky Dinks! Joobli Shrinky Dink Kits have received a lot of recognition and praise--they have received the Seal of Excellence Award (Creative Toy category), Creative Child Magazine, TDmonthly Magazine's "Top-10 Artsy Toys for Toy Fair 2008", and they were named an awards finalist in "TDmonthly Magazine's 2008 Specialty Toys Report"!

Want It: Shrinky Dinks retail for $17.95 and can be purchased at various retailers across the country {i.e. Toys R Us, Barnes and Noble, and more}.

Win It! Joobli is giving one Jolly Mom reader either a Fun Pack or Party Pack!

How To Enter:
1. Leave me a comment telling me which Shrinky Dinks' kit you would choose if you won: Wild West Party Pack, Tiki Island Party Pack, Enchanted Kingdom Party Pack, Circus Jubilee Party Pack , Wild West Fun Pack, Tiki Island Fun Pack, Enchanted Kingdom Fun Pack, Circus Jubilee Fun Pack, or Christmas Fun Pack.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to Joobli Studio (https://www.joobli.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.

This giveaway will end November 21st, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Joobli Studio. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Get Your Family Organized with BusyBodyBooks Personal & Family Organizers & Calendars {Review & Giveaway}

2009-11-06T13:43:00.002-05:00

If there's one thing that most all moms want more of, it is time. Besides magical powers that I do not possess, the only way that I know to get more time out of my day is to organize and manage my time wisely. Admittedly, I stink at managing my time so I need all the help that I can get from calendars and planners. That's why I was super excited to try out BusyBodyBook's line of family planners and calendars.

BusyBodyBook sent me two Family/Personal Organizers and the Wall Calendar for me to review. The Family Organizers are available dated with either the school year in mind {August to August} or January through December and come in several modern designs. What is unique about the Personal and Family Organizer books is that they are not just typical planners. They have the BusyBodyBook Grid Format, which allows you to plan and coordinate your own and your family members' busy schedules SIDE BY SIDE.

I don't even have to tell moms how wonderful of a feature this is! Basically, what you do is title each header with your family members' names and then record their daily activities, schedules, appointments, etc. You can then quickly see if you have any scheduling conflicts. It is a real lifesaver! Now, of course, this is a great planner for moms--especially moms who have more than one child, moms with kids in school or involved in extracurricular activities--but it is also great for students, work, or as a personal planner. For example, students can use the grid by naming the headers according to school subjects {math, science, etc}. You can even use the columns to track personal diet and fitness goals, meal planning, household and work projects. The possibilities are endless.

Other great features:

2 Monthly Planners: One planner to record birthdays & anniversaries! Another to note next year's appointments & future events.
Months-at-a-glance: An overview to help plan ahead for the holidays, vacations, or special events.
Key contact pages: 2 Pages for your emergency contact information, doctors, coaches, babysitters...
Removable shopping lists: Perforated pages for creating handy grocery or gift lists.
2 Pockets: Inside front & back covers provide a deep pocket to hold important papers, receipts, coupons...
Bookmark: Easily flip to the current week with this unique bookmark that grabs the spiral.
Notes: A full page each week for notes, to do's, lists, or alerts. Plenty of notes pages in back of BBB too to record and keep
important information.
Sturdy, clear plastic covers now provide BBB's beautiful covers with even more protection.

I also received the BusyBodyBook Aug '09 - Dec '10 Wall Calendar and I have to say that this has really helped my family get it together! It is basically just like the Personal and Family Organizer in that it has the BusyBodyBook Grid system, but it is a wall calendar. Both Mike and I are work at home parents with ONE CAR so we have to schedule and plan accordingly. The Wall Calendar is great for us because it allows us to individually schedule our week without "double booking" the car {lol}. Also, we can both see what is in store for us as a family, what I have planned for Lucas, household projects, what we're having for dinner every night, and much more. It is an amazing system for large families or families in situations similar to ours.

Check out the features:

seven spacious columns for your larger family or your additional planning needs
a week-per-page layout that can hang as a one- or two-week view
two six-months-months-at-a-glance pages to help plan ahead for the holidays, vacations, or special events
a page for next year's important appointments and events
key contacts pages for your emergency contact information and the phone numbers of doctors, coaches or babysitters
a 4-inch pocket on the inside back cover to hold important papers, receipts or coupons

Want It: BusyBodyBooks Organizers and Calendars can be purchased online and start at $14.95.

Win It! BusyBodyBooks has offered to give one Jolly Mom reader a Wall Calendar and a Personal/Family Organizer Book!

How To Enter:
1. Visit BusyBodyBooks and leave me a comment telling me how these organizers would help you AND which Organizer design/pattern is your favorite.

Additional Entries:
2. Blog about the giveaway and link to BusyBodyBook (http://www.busybodybook.com) Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or Follow on blogger.
4. To Gain One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow BusyBodyBooks AND Jolly Mom on Twitter AND Tweet about the contest {daily}.
5. Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
6. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar.

This giveaway will end November 20th, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by BusyBodyBooks. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

FREEbie Friday!

2009-11-06T01:11:00.001-05:00

Thank you to Lori from Moms by Heart for sharing her Big Fat Freebies List with us! For the full list, please make sure to visit Moms by Heart and tune in every Friday for a new list of FREEbies!

FREEBIES & SAMPLES
-Free sample Garnier Nutritioniste HERE
-Mystery freebie when you become a Facebook fan of Clarins HERE
-Free sample Kirkland Signature Supreme diapers HERE
-2 free issues of Family Circle magazine HERE
-Free soccer ball with purchase HERE
-Free 5 sample pack from Nescafe HERE
-Free subscription to Remedy Life magazine HERE
-Free 2010 calendar from Eukanuba HERE
-Free sample of Greenies pet chews HERE
-Free with purchase Rubber Duckie HERE
-Free online digital scrapbooking class HERE
-140 free personalized Holiday address labels - you pay sm shipping fee HERE
-Free sample Avery shipping labels HERE
-Print your coupon for a FREE Steaz Zero Calorie drink HERE
-Free with purchase M&M candy dish HERE
-Free loofah set with Olay purchase HERE
-Free sample Prilosec OTC HERE
-Don't forget to send your Halloween candy wrappers HERE for a free yogurt!
-Free online kids music making games HERE and HERE
-Earn free Target gift cards HERE
-Check out how I got FREE dinner & a movie for my family HERE

Win a Zigo Leader X2 Carrier Bicycle! {RV $1,399 Open to US & International!)

2009-11-05T06:00:00.003-05:00

I am really excited about today because I get to partner with two of my best bloggy friends: BabyLuxe {daily} and Go Graham Go for a huge giveaway! Among the three blogs, we will be offering you several options and entries for the exclusive giveaway below...Why? After you see what we're offering, you'll know why, since you'll want to enter as many times as you can to win this fabulous prize!

Months back Dana from BabyLuxe {daily} happened upon a Twitter link about this revolutionary product called the Zigo. I had never seen or heard of anything like it, but as soon as I saw the Zigo--I knew that I wanted one! The Zigo is thought of as the most modern and active product on the market for families on the go and we are really excited to introduce you to it!

Think GREEN, but to a whole new level! An all-natural, healthy adventure everyday, away from the pollution of automobiles. A brilliant way for moms and dads to exercise while getting the kids out of the house and into the fresh air! And it's not just what you see above, keep looking, versatility is key with Zigo!

Ride alone, or with your kids {front or back}, or use in stroller or jogger mode {easily converted into any mode in 30 seconds or less, no wasting time}. All-in-one; no need to buy a new bike, a bike trailer, or a jogging stroller...Zigo Leader X2 has them all in one spectacular product {with so many additional features {and accessories available} as well, view them all here}! Think of the possibilities! A "ride" to the park could mean so much more for the entire family! Anyone who is ready for a more active family lifestyle should look into this, cheaper than buying a "home gym system" for yourself, and that's just for you...what about the kids? If you've ever seen how thrilled little ones are to ride in a bike trailer, you'd been sold already!

Here's what founder Michael Ehrenreich has to say about the history the Zigo invention: "I was sitting on my front porch with my wife and then six-month old son one beautiful summer evening. My wife complained that her feet hurt after jogging with a jogging stroller. I said, "you need to cross-train." She said, "I want a foot massage." The rest is history. Over a period of more than three years and several designs, the Zigo LEADER took form. A fearless group of engineers, industrial designers, and now manufacturing and sales and marketing specialists were added to the growing Zigo family. We hope that you enjoy using your Zigo LEADER as much as we enjoyed building it."

I haven't had the opportunity to try out the Zigo, but I really, really want to! Just the other day, Mike was telling me how much he wanted a bike trailer--the Zigo is like the ultimate bike trailer and MUCH MORE! For now, the Zigo will stay on our wish list, but it doesn't need to be that way for one of you!

Want It: Zigo retails for $1,399 and can be purchased online at MyZigo.com or at dealers across the country. Special Offer! Get 10% off with the code ILUVZIGO1.

Win It! Zigo has offered to give away one Zigo Leader in orange {RV $1,399} among the three blogs! *When the contest is over, we will combine all of the entries and draw ONE winner using random.org.

How to enter:
1. Visit the Zigo website and leave me a comment letting me know what you think...i.e. how fabulous is this product, a feature you adore, why you need {want} it.
After you have completed the first entry, you are eligible for the extra entries listed below.
Additional Entries:
2. Become a Facebook MyZigo Fan AND leave a comment on their wall letting them know you've entered our contest for another extra entry! {this also gives you another chance to win in their exclusive Facebook giveaway which ends January 31, 2010, see details here}
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader, email or follow Jolly Mom on Blogger.
4. Add the Jolly Mom button to your blog.
5. Blog about the giveaway and link to Jolly Mom, BabyLuxe{daily}, and Go Graham Go.
6. Follow Jolly Mom on Twitter and Tweet about the giveaway. One additional entry per tweet per day!
7. For one additional entry for each: Enter at BabyLuxe{daily} and Go Graham Go. Come back here and let me know that you did.

This contest ends November 20th at 11:59 PM EST. All entries from the three blogs will be combined and one winner will be drawn at random. Open to US AND INTERNATIONAL entries!

EyeClops Mini Projector by Jakks Pacific {Review}

2009-11-05T00:21:00.002-05:00

Technology just keeps getting better and better. With the EyeClops Mini Projector by Jakks Pacific you can now take a big screen TV wherever you go. The EyeClops is a small (I mean really small…it fits in the palm of your hand) projector with audio and video inputs so that you can plug and play just about anything.

Your iPod video, video game console, DVD player, computer...whatever you want. Just find a flat light colored space, turn off the lights, and project away. You can make the screen larger or smaller simply by moving the projector closer or father away from the screen. It uses LED technology so the screen is very bright, and you don’t have to change out expensive bulbs. You can even adjust the sharpness of the picture. It also comes with a built in adjustable speaker and a battery pack so you can use it almost anywhere.

You could set it up for your kids (or big kid) to use in the car on a long trip. You could take it camping along with a portable DVD player and watch a scary movie around the camp fire. You could even hook up the kids' video games to it and set it up in their room so Mom and Dad can have some quiet. The first thing that Mike thought of was being able to use it so he could watch the Falcons football game outdoors while he grills out on Sunday nights. The possibilities seem endless.

We first tried it out by hooking up our video camera to it and watching some home videos that we projected on to a wall (as you will see below). The first thing I noticed was how quick and easy it was to use. We literally had it set up and going within a couple of minutes. The picture quality was pretty good, and would be better with a better video source, like a DVD player or other digital device. Keep in mind, this product is not designed to replace a high quality projector or make you feel like you are in a theater. It is designed to give you the flexibility to have a quality picture screen wherever you go.

The EyeClops Mini Projector is truly an excellent product with a price tag that can't be beat! I think that it would make a great gift for the holidays. Put it under the tree as a gift the whole family can enjoy, or give it to a teen, college student, or even your husband or partner. Mike has pretty much staked his claim on our Mini Projector {lol} and I bet most men will love it as well!

See It In Action:

Want It: The EyeClops Mini Projector can be purchased online and at many toy retailers across the country. MSRP is $99.99. Walmart currently has it priced for $79.99!

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by Jakks Pacific. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Promote Your Giveaways! Giveaways Galore

2009-11-05T00:10:00.000-05:00

Link up your giveaways!

Please make sure to link directly to the giveaway and list the name of the giveaway along with the expiration date. Don't forget to stop by Go Graham Go to link up over there as well!

Free $20 Gift When You Shop at LUSH!

2009-11-04T22:04:00.003-05:00

LUSH is running an awesome promotion for early Holiday shoppers! From now until November 14th, enter code FREE20GIFT09 at checkout and receive a FREE pre-wrapped gift under $20 with the purchase of a pre-wrapped gift over $40! Limit: One free gift per order.

Plus, LUSH is also offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $75 and above until Dec. 24th!

US: Free standard shipping on orders of $75 and free express shipping on orders of $90
Canada: Free expedited shipping on orders of $75 and free Xpress shipping on orders of $90

Free Thanksgiving Recipe Book!

2009-11-04T15:24:00.003-05:00

Free Thanksgiving recipes ebook available! Includes coupons, tips from experts and much more! To get your copy, click HERE.

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Memories

2009-11-04T00:07:00.000-05:00

{Above} Lucas hanging out with his cousins after a night of trick-or-treating.

Trick or treating was so much fun. All the kids just got it right away even though it was their first time doing it. To be honest, I almost cried because I could not believe that Lucas is old enough to trick or treat. I know--I'm a sap, but it made me so sad and proud all at the same time. It was a great night.

Daily, Quick Clean Ups are a Breeze with the Shark Cordless StickVac {Review}

2009-11-04T00:01:00.005-05:00

One of my least favorite things to do is sweep my floors. I abhor it. Unfortunately, in a home that has mostly hardwood floors, a dog, and a toddler--sweeping on a daily basis is a fact of life for me. This is true for most moms whether their homes have hardwood floors or carpet--either way--we spend a considerable amount of time cleaning, sweeping, and vacuuming every day. That's why I was so looking forward to trying out the new StickVac by Shark. I saw it at the Ninja Master Prep launch I attended in NYC not long ago and it seemed like the answer to my sweeping woes.

Check out the features!

2-in-1 Easily converts from a stick vacuum to a hand vacuum
POWERFUL Two-speed motorized brush roll for customized suction on bare floors and carpets.
RECHARGABLE Removable batteries charge anywhere.
TELESCOPING HANDLE Adjusts to your height for comfortable cleaning.
SWIVEL STEERING Makes it easy to maneuver into tight spaces.
LIGHTWEIGHT AND CONVENIENT Can clean up messes anywhere you want to go.

Shark generously sent me a StickVac to review and it is everything that I thought it would be! As you can see from the features listed above, the StickVack is more than just a typical, cordless vacuum cleaner.

It is both a stick vac and a hand vac, which is very convenient and allows you to clean more than just your floors. I use the hand vac for cleaning out drawers, counter tops, hard to reach places, and more.

What I really love about it though is the fact that it is cordless. There's something about plugging in the cord that makes me NOT want to vacuum {lol}. Vacuuming with the StickVac makes quick, everyday clean ups feel easy and not as big of a hassle. I also love how light and easy to maneuver the StickVac is. It has swivel steering, which allows the StickVac to easily get into hard to reach spaces. You can probably tell just from the pictures that the vacuum is really lightweight. Let's put it this way--Lucas, my 2 year old who is obsessed with cleaning--can lift and push this vacuum cleaner all by himself. It is extremely light.

So, now let's talk about the suction power. It is really powerful for what it is {you can see that demonstrated in the video below}--a cordless stick vacuum cleaner, but it will not replace a full size vacuum cleaner. This is the type of vacuum that you should use to maintain a clean home not to deep clean your home. There is a big difference. However, I will say that the Shark StickVac holds up really well to the constant stream of dog hair and dust that my house accumulates on a daily basis. It has really simplified my life by allowing me to quickly clean my floors and do small jobs around the house. Priced at $69.99, I think it's pretty affordable and totally worth every penny! I highly recommend it!

See It In Action:

Want It: The StickVac can be purchased at Target for $69.99 or you can get it at SharkClean.com for $99 and get an extra battery.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by Euro-Pro. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Join The Big Warm Up! Give a Coat, Warm a Heart & Get a Lands' End Coupon!

2009-11-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

Lands’ End is doing something really cool...or I should say warm really...they have joined forces with the National Coalition for the Homeless for the Big Warm-up. The Big Warm-up provides an opportunity for people across the nation to donate a gently used coat that will then go on to warm one of more than 3.5 million homeless women, men and children in the United States right now – each facing a cold winter.

Beginning today until November 30, Lands’ End is hosting Big Warm-up coat donation sites at its 252 Lands’ End Shops at Sears and 13 Lands’ End Inlets®. Donated coats will be distributed via the National Coalition for the Homeless in communities nearby. AND… Lands’ End is giving 20 percent off the purchase of a new coat for each one donated!

This is a great way to help those in need and even get kids involved in the process. We will definitely be donating a few coats! Visit WWW.BIGWARMUP.COM to see how each coat can warm a heart, track donations, find donation sites, watch an inspiring video and spread the word.