Sweet Silly Sara

Soy Serenity Review

2013-05-25T01:30:00.000-04:00

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I like to burn candles whenever the chance arises, but with a toddler in the house with very curious fingers it is not always an option. I had all but given up on the luxury of burning candles, but when Soy Serenity offered to send me 2 candles to review I couldn't resist.

My toddler never sleeps, I swear it feels that way anyhow. It took me nearly a month to have the opportunity to light the first candle and sample the quality.

I have never used a soy candle before. I didn't know what to expect as this was a new experience for me.

The first fragrance I tried was Apple Crumble. This has a great aroma to it, and I liked that it was clean burning and didn't produce a lot of soot or black smoke as some candles do. The fragrance was pleasant unlit as well as burning. It made my house smell great, as if I were baking something delicious.

Next I tried Blackberry and Sage. I liked that it was fruity and natural smelling, I liked that it burned evenly and without any thick smoke. My husband really liked this one, and tried to snatch it from me to use in our basement, where he likes to tinker and paint. I wasn't giving it up that easy!

When I can burn candles safely, I would love to use the Soy Serenity Brand.

Connect with the Candle Shop to learn more or to order.
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Facebook

Mohawk Rug Giveaway!

2013-05-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

We all love great deals, and my blogger friends: My UN-Entitled Life, Utah Coupon Deals, Sweet Silly Sara, Pittsburgh Frugal Mom, & Tammie's Reviews have all teamed up to giveaway a great rug from our sponsor Mohawk Rugs.

Our winner gets to choose an area rug: any Mohawk Home rug up to size 5x8 and under $99 valued on site! Imagine the new change coming to your room!

This is what my area rug looks like

ALL ABOUT MOHAWK

Mohawk has floor coverings for every room imaginable in your home. If you are looking for hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, ceramic tile flooring, stone and marble flooring you will also be able to find that with Mohawk. It is even more dynamic to know that they have offerings like woven bedspreads, tapestries, pillows, throws, and window blinds. You can consider Mohawk the master for home design! Where can you find all the Mohawk products? In major retail locations like: Walmart, Home Depot, Bloomingdale's, just to name a few. Mohawk helps make your home beautiful everyday by being everywhere!

If you want your rooms to look great from flooring to bedding, my guess is, MOHAWK will touch your life in some way, in any major retail store that you shop in! You will love their products as they are crafted with quality and you know they are known for their durability!

Want to read the review of my Mohawk Rug you can, right here!

A few of my great blogging friends and I have teamed up to let all of our fans participate in this great giveaway! We hope that one of you win!

Entry -Form

My Blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Fernando

2013-05-24T21:32:00.000-04:00

My heart is broken tonight, as we lost a beloved member of our family today, our American Box turtle, Fernando.

Fernando was a unique pet, but he was more than just a turtle. He was family, he was loved so much that our home feels different without his presence. My heart feels heavy, yet empty.

Last weekend we noticed Nando was making an odd noise, then he began having a mucus discharge from his mouth. I called our vet for days to never get an answer. I got him into a new vet, and he warned me it didn't look good for my dear turtle. Fernando had an infection in his lungs, and we began an antibiotic treatment in hopes that we could beat this.

Yesterday I was optimistic, I had hopes that he was recovering as the weird noise had stopped and Nando was responding to my voice.

Today he was peaceful, and I really hoped he was on the road to recovery. After lunch when I checked on him, my heart sank. I hoped he was asleep... but he didn't wake up when I touched him, I frantically said his name and touched his turtle head. No response.

I felt defeated, alone, and desperate.

Some of you might think, geez lady, it was a turtle. No, he wasn't just a turtle. He was family, he was a part of our history, he was wonderful, cute and friendly with everyone he met. He was fun, he was like one of my children after 11 years together.

11 years ago, yesterday, a friend brought him to me, as I had been talking about how badly I wanted a pet turtle. I couldn't have a traditional pet at the time as my apartment was no dogs, no cats, no exceptions. I was so excited to have a creature to share my space and my heart with. I knew that by taking him in I was making a commitment to last a lifetime, as turtles can live for 100 -150 years depending upon the source

Fernando had been taken away from a dog that was chewing his shell, he needed a home and some TLC.

Our first years together were a learning experience, people thought I was odd to have him as a pet, but you couldn't deny our bond. Fernando loved me, and Adam. We loved him, it was a good set up. We traveled together, taking Nando to Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Kentucky, Cleveland, Florida, Charleston, and well, every where really. If I had to leave for a few days, when I got back home to him he would literally climb up my jeans to get into my lap. He would lean into my gentle touch on his head, he would seek me out if he heard my voice. I like to nap on the floor, and when Nando roamed free on his exercise days, he enjoyed curling up with me for a nap.

We were just peas in a pod. Quiet, gentle creatures that needed each other. 11 years was not long enough to live together in my opinion. I will miss Fernando every day for the rest of my days. My family no longer feels complete without this little not quite one pound guy.

I know this is probably of little interest to anyone else, but it is good therapy to be able to express my grief. It also shows you, if you read this post, that there is more to me than reviews and giveaways. I have a heart that loves deeply, and finds beauty in nature and animals. I have feelings and I live a life that is not always perfect.

I know life is about changing. I wish this was one change I didn't have to adapt to. We buried our dear turtle under the pine trees in our yard with heavy hearts and a note from "Mom". Now we begin to deal with reality that he is never coming back home. If you have pets, give them some extra attention tonight and cherish them, you never know when your last days together will be. An animal loves completely, and deserves to be loved completely in return.

Dry Mornings Thanks To White Cloud Sleep Pants

2013-05-24T20:11:00.000-04:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants

Bedwetting can be a challenge that is difficult to overcome for children and parents. While you are glad your child sleeps well at night, not waking up to use the potty can be embarrassing and frustrating for your child, and a mess for Mom or Dad to deal with.

Rolfie is getting to be a pro at using the potty! I am so proud of him because he just turned 3 earlier this month. While he can go without a diaper during the day time, night time is another issue. He gets very offended if I try to put him in a diaper after he has made such huge steps in being a big boy, but he still has accidents at night.

We looked at sleep pants and nearly fainted at the price... then we discovered White Cloud Sleep Pants.

Rolfie was a few pounds below the recommended weight on these, but after taking a leap of faith and trying them, I found they were a great fit for him and they offer exceptional night time leak protection at an affordable price. They have sizes which fits children from 45-125 pounds. For $7.75 you get 15 or 12 sleep pants depending upon the size you need.

I expected a complete tantrum from my son when we put these on, but he said "Underwears!" He was ready to try them out, and was happy with the design, as he has a thing for stars. White Cloud Sleep Pants don't look or feel like a diaper. They are soft, they are not bulky and they seem like underwear to my son. They were absorbent, comfortable and we woke up with dry pajamas and a dry bed. The no frills design is a great thing, as you can use them for boys or girls. I think the price is just right for nearly any budget.

Did you know that over 5 million kids a year experience bedwetting and it is one of the most common experiences during childhood development?

White Cloud Sleep Pants have been developed to provide exceptional comfort and leakage protection while looking like underwear. White Cloud Sleep Pants offer thin, discrete absorbent protection for your child. They have soft, stretchy sides that fit like real underwear, plus leak guards to help protect against leaks. The soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe for skin protection.

Each bag contains two unisex graphic designs and at $7.75, White Cloud offers exceptional value.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants.

Saturday #159

2013-05-24T10:50:00.000-04:00

On Saturday #159 my family and I went to a park in a nearby city for a picnic and some play time. We tossed around a Frisbee for a while then explored the playground. We had a nice walk together and enjoyed watching the little guy live it up. I basked in his cuteness. I was feeling enormous and my feet were very swollen that day, but I enjoyed the time outside in the sunshine with my family.

After our trip to the park we ran into Big Lots to find pool filters, we are anxious to set our pool up this weekend and spend most of our days in the water.

After that we drove in the country for a while and were rewarded with a sighing of a Bald Eagle, a quick scan of the area showed us their nest, complete with a few babies moving around inside. What a treat to find the Bald Eagle not far from our home.

We came home to see our dogs, and we all enjoyed dinner on the deck together.

It was a simple day, but it was filled with time spent outdoors together as a family.

It seems like the weeks fly by, and I am writing another post in the 940 Saturdays series before I know it. Each weekend is more precious as the time goes by, as our daughter Harper will arriving in the fall and our threesome will turn into a foursome. I am excited to meet Miss Harper, but I am also anxious to make the most of these remaining weekends with Rolf making memories before things change. I worry that while I am giving him the gift of a sibling, which he probably won't appreciate until he is much older, that I am taking something away from him at the same time. It will be very hard for him to adapt to sharing his Mommy with someone else. We have such a close relationship that he gets jealous of my husband and the pets when they get my attention.

I hope that you had the chance to spend time with your family over the weekend. As I get older I realize how fleeting our time together really is and how it should be cherished. Life is always changing and we never know what the next day will hold. Taking the time to hear my child laugh, to see him run and play and look happy, to see my husband holding Rolf's hand and teaching him to do things that only Daddy can teach, to just hold onto the moment is like a gift that I will cherish forever.

#ShineNaturally with Bio Ionic Agave Oil

2013-05-24T08:59:00.000-04:00

My hair has a mind of its own. Some days it is gorgeous and shiny without using any products, but other days it is a frizzy, unmanageable mess that makes me resemble a mad scientist.

On those crazy hair days I have resorted to many products to help me tame my mess and look presentable and not encourage strangers to laugh and point at my hair. When I got the chance to try Agave Healing Oil from Bio Ionic I was curious. Of all the solutions I have tried, I had never used an oil treatment as I was under the impression that using oil would make my hair oily.

This is a really simple product to use. You can apply it to damp or dry hair then blow dry. I liked that there were not a lot of steps to follow or complicated instructions.

After applying Bio Ionic's Agave Healing Oil I was amazed at how shiny and soft my hair was, and it was not at all greasy or oil as I had worried it might be. I couldn't resist giving the product a sniff and I liked the fragrance as well.

I will continue to use this product on my crazy frizzy hair days and I would recommend it to others, including my mother who passed her wild hair genes on to me.

Connect with Bio Ionic to explore their product line and learn more.
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Stay tuned! One lucky reader will win a bottle of this great healing oil in a Sublime Media Connection giveaway.

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Sock Panda Review

2013-05-24T02:30:00.000-04:00

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I love fun and funky socks and I love subscription services. When I heard about Sock Panda I knew I wanted to try this out. Sock Panda delivers a pair of socks to your door each month for $11.

Sock Panda sends you a pair from the Bold or Cool line, and the style is a surprise until it lands at your door.
The socks for men will fit shoe sizes 8- 12 and the socks for women will fit shoe sizes 5-10. Making this a fun subscription that will fit a variety of shoe sizes.

I would like to receive this as a gift. I am known for enjoying funky socks. I cannot bring myself to wear a pair of plain white socks and I am always pushing my husband to switch things up from his standard black dress socks.

I was impressed with the appearance and quality of the socks I received. They held up well after multiple wearings and washings and they were a lot of fun and a welcome addition to my sock collection.

These are the pairs I received.

For me

For Husband

I loved the polka dot pair, they were adorable and fun. I liked wearing them around the house and out and about.

My husband was not as easily convinced, he is a manly man, and pink is just not his color. I really had to plead with him to get him to wear his funky green and pink striped socks.

Overall, this is a fun subscription to get or to give to a friend or loved one. The element of surprise makes it a unique experience and a great gift option. I think $11 is a little pricey for a pair of socks, but as they say, you only live once, and you might as well look awesome while you are doing it!

To learn more or to order connect with Sock Panda.
Facebook
Website

Woolzies Giveaway with 3 winners

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

I think it is safe to say almost everyone wears clothes. Most people in the world rely upon the modern convenience of using a washer and dryer to keep their clothes clean, in good condition and smelling lovely. Without giving it much, if any, thought, most people add fabric softener to the laundry to be washed, and many toss a dryer sheet in the dryer as they add their clean clothes.

Did you know dryer sheets are actually bad for your family and the environment? Many dryer sheets are packed with known carcinogenics such as benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, chloroform and linalool. Not only are dryer sheets made with toxic chemicals that are bad news for you, but they are also bad for your clothes and your dryer. The waxy component of the dryer sheet can build up on your lint screen and make your dryer less effective over time.

A few ladies in the Sublime Media Connection had the pleasure of trying a great all natural product called Woolzies Dryer Balls, which are a great alternative to dryer sheets. They are guaranteed to last for 1000 loads of laundry, they are made with Wool, they soften fabrics reducing the need for fabric softener, and they reduce static. Sounds pretty great right? This makes them even better... they reduce the time it takes to dry your clothes in a dryer by about 25%!!!

You won't want to miss the reviews from the ladies of the Sublime Media Connection! Click on the links to the reviewing blogs to find out what the lovely ladies thought of this unique product.

Connect with Woolzies to learn more:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

If you feel lucky enter to win a set of Woolzies in this giveaway with 3 winners! This giveaway begins on 5/24 and ends on 6/7.

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with facebook, I hereby release facebook from any possible liabilities. The sponsor is responsible for the delivery of this prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Natures Logic Review

2013-05-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

As I have mentioned before I have a dog with special dietary needs. He cannot have anything made with corn, which can be a challenge. I had no worries offering Natures Logic Canine Beef Meal Dinner Fare to either of my boys.

I liked that the food was in small bits, making it easier for my smaller dog to eat. I loved the reaction that they gave when this food was delivered to our house. They love to help inspect any packages that come, and they get very excited when they realize a package is for them and the contents are edible!

My cat even wanted to get in on this action, I had to hide the bag of dog food on top of the refrigerator to keep it safe from his curious claws.

When I was ready to introduce this dog food to the hound boys, they were quite excited. My red bone eagerly dove into the bowl I offered, and gobbled it up within a minute. He licked his lips and wagged his tail, a sure sign of approval. Honestly he would eat anything, so the true test came with my beagle.

My beagle is a funny pooch. If he hears the following words he will turn his nose up in the air and walk away.
Cheap
Sale
Coupon

So needless to say, he has a discerning palate and he won't even consider eating something he deems to be "cheap".

When I offered him a bowl of Natures Logic to try, he sniffed it skeptically for a moment, when he decided this was edible and of the quality he desires he dove right in and happily munched away, cleaning out his bowl and wiggling in delight.

As you can see in the photo below this dog food was a hit. My discerning beagle found it to be delicious and it inspired him to roll around happily after eating his sample!

I have a giveaway starting on 5/25, make sure you stop back for your chance to win Natures Logic for your dogs.

Connect with Natures Logic to learn more.
Website

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Buttons Diapers Review and Giveaway

2013-05-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

When you begin using cloth diapers you must prep the inserts, I ran my inserts from Buttons through the wash 4 times and they were ready to be used They were easy to put together, as easy as snapping 2 buttons, and I had my son in his latest cloth diaper right away.

I was pleased with how absorbent they are. My little guy drinks a lot of water during the day and he requires a lot of diaper changes. This works well as we are trying to potty train and frequent changing gives us plenty of time to practice on the potty. I noticed that when I use the night time doubler we can go an extra 40 minutes or so during the day before we need a change. We don't use it at night, as Rolf doesn't wets himself at night very often which is my clue that he is ready to be potty trained. The daytime insert is absorbent yet not bulky and has exceeded my expectations.

The diapers are sturdy and hold up well. I am very happy to have a Buttons Cloth Diaper in my collection. I have been using it daily for a few weeks now and it holds in liquid very well, it is a stylish little number and it is helping us to reduce our environmental impact while saving money. I really liked how easy they are to get clean as well.

I would recommend this brand of cloth diapers to other parents. The covers are priced at $11, and inserts run from $3.50 to $5 each.

Connect with Buttons to learn more or to order.
Website
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One lucky reader is going to win a diaper cover and 2 daytime inserts.
This giveaway will begin on 5/23 and end on 6/6.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fysiko Before Photos

2013-05-22T09:40:00.002-04:00

It seems funny that many men have gorgeous eyelashes while many women strive to get the same results with the use of a ton of mascara and products. I am always trying to make my lashes longer and thicker, so when I heard about this product called Fysiko which helps you grow natural eyelashes I was excited to get to try it out.

I have been using this product for a few weeks now, but I wanted to share my before photo of my lashes with you so that in about 10 weeks you will be able to refer back to this post and see the results for yourself.

Simply Soapberry Baby Laundry Detergent

2013-05-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I am always looking for better alternatives to keeping my family, my home and our clothes clean. When I heard about Simply Soapberry Baby Laundry Detergent I knew I wanted to try it out. My son has very fair and delicate skin, and with a baby on the way I knew it was time to start figuring out what we would use to wash her clothes.

Simply Soapberry Detergent is all natural, it deep cleans and softens clothes. It is biodegradable, long lasting is made with non GMO ingredients.

I put this to the deep clean test right away. My 3 year old son gets very dirty on a day to day basis. He attracts dirt and is attracted to dirt. It is not uncommon for his clothes to be utterly filthy within a short amount of time, and I more times than not end up changing his clothing at least 4 times during the day.

The first thing I liked about this detergent is that it has a clean, pleasant fragrance, but it doesn't smell like perfume. I love that the bottle has a pump, meaning there is less opportunity for me to spill detergent as I measure it out.

I was impressed that there is an ingredient list that I could understand printed on the bottle.
I was also impressed with the performance of the product. It really did get the clothes that my son works so hard to get filthy really clean.

I like that the product contains aloe vera and it is gentle enough for the most delicate skin. I will be looking for this detergent when it comes time for my little girl to be born.

If you have an HE machine, a 32 fluid ounce bottle will last you 128 loads. You can use the detergent as a simple preteater for stains as well, overall I was very pleased with the detergent and would recommend it to environmentally conscious consumers.

Connect with Simply Soapberry to learn more or to order.
Website
Facebook

This giveaway is in no way endorsed by or affiliated with facebook. I hereby release facebook from any possible liabilities.

One lucky reader is going to win a prize pack featuring:

One (1) Simply SoapBerry Original Free & Clear Bottle good for 128 loads
One (1) Simply SoapBerry Baby with Aloe Bottle good for 128 loads
A pack of sock clips so you’ll never lose your socks again – great for washing, drying and sorting in the drawer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 Bars & a Band Snapshot Retractable Leash

2013-05-21T14:00:00.000-04:00

Princey Poo...

The leash is a very sturdy nylon belt that held up well to my dog that has been known to wait until I am not paying attention and give me a good tug at every opportunity. We had tried a retractable leash when he was a puppy (7 years ago) and he snapped it within moments. I was pleased that he could not break free with the Avant Garde Leash as he did with our previous retractable leash.

The comfort grip handle was a huge bonus for me. I had been using a leather leash that looped around my wrist for quite some time and it never failed that at the end of a walk my wrist was sore and aching. The comfort grip ergonomic handle made walking my dog super comfortable and easy on my hand and wrist.

I also really liked the one button brake and release feature. My beagle boy would be thrilled to use all 15 feet of the retractable leash, but being able to keep him safe and out of trouble when need be is a huge bonus with this leash. The leash retracts smoothly which is great.

I like that the Avant Garde leash from 26 Bars & a Band for medium dogs will hold up to 48 pounds and that it has a 3 year warranty. I feel good using a product that the company stands behind for a substantial amount of time.

This leash retails for $34. It is a good product for the price in my opinion.

This is a really cute video from 26 Bars & a Band you might want to watch:

You might want to check out the Snap Cases from 26 Bars & a Band as well, these are great for anyone that likes to change up their style or that cannot decide which leash they like best, you can change the look of your Avant Garde leash in a snap with these fun cases. This video can show you how easy it is to change your snap case:

One lucky reader is going to win a Snapshot Retractable Leash from 26 Bars & a Band! This giveaway will begin on 5/21 and end on 6/3.

This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, I release facebook from any potential liabilities.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with 26 Bars & a Band to learn more or to explore their line of products for dogs.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Color Me Monthly Review

2013-05-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

My husband was eager to get to his task of making my nails look cute.

He painted half of my toenails in this shade and the other half in a dark blue. I have to admit, he matched the nail polish to the colors of my new dress perfectly.

The color is long lasting. This photo was taken 10 days after he painted my nails, I have been wearing sandals almost everyday and the color has held up surprisingly well, despite the fact that my tootsies are exposed to the elements of life 24 hours a day. The nail polish was very thick and required only one coat, which I love.

The first day that he painted my nails I rocked the new dress. I had an appointment that day and all the ladies in the doctors office went crazy over my toe nails. They loved not only the light blue color, but also how I completely matched from head to toe. They couldn't believe that I had been able to paint my nails to look this cute despite my ever expanding baby bump, I was happy to fill them in on my secret, one of the perks of pregnancy, that my dear husband did them for me.

Color Me Monthly offers a new shade every month, prices start at $7 for one month, $40 for 6 months or $75 for a year long subscription. I like that I can try a new shade each month without agonizing over which one to purchase, and I love the element of surprise when the box arrives. I have been super pleased with the service, the selections sent to me and the quality of the nail polish.

I would highly recommend this as a gift for a lovely lady in your life, or as a way to indulge your inner goddess.

Connect with Color Me Monthly to learn more or to order.
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Woolzies Review

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love products that are natural and that save my family money. When I got the chance to try out Woolzies Dryer Balls I was really excited to put them to the test. I honestly didn't know much about them, so I didn't know what to expect.

When they arrived I was intrigued. I was checking out the package and my son came running up to say "Balls Mama!" I felt bad to disappoint my son, but these were not toys for kids, but I felt like they were toys for Mama in a sense.

They are 100% Eco Friendly. They are super easy to use, you just toss all 6 into your dryer and they take the place of dryer sheets and fabric softeners. They are guaranteed to last for 1,000 loads of laundry. They naturally reduce static and soften the fibers of clothing, they eliminate wrinkles and they reduce drying time.They are easy to recharge when needed. You can just put them in a sock and put them in the wash with your other laundry.

Don't they sound like a dream come true? They totally are a ball of New Zealand Wool goodness. I wasn't sure how well they would work, but I quickly found out these are absolutely amazing. My dryer is a few years old now, and it gets a lot of use. I was finding that I needed to turn it on for an additional 20 minutes at the end of the dry cycle with each load. After I started using Woolzies I no longer needed that extra 20 minutes of dry time, they really do save energy and reduce drying time. I love that I no longer have to use fabric softener or dryer sheets which helps us reduce our environmental impact and it saves my family money every month.

Would I buy these? Oh heck yeah! I would recommend them to anyone that does laundry. They are quiet, there is no noise of balls thumping around in the dryer, they really do work and they will help you save money on energy and laundry supplies.

Connect with Woolzies to learn more or to order.
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I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Spring Cleaning to Make Room For Baby

2013-05-19T19:57:00.001-04:00

Spring is finally here! With the new season and fresh signs of life popping up everywhere I look outside, I am inspired to make changes on the inside of my home. As you probably know, we are expecting a new baby in just a few months, and my tiny house is bursting at the seams as it is. Babies and their gear can take up a lot of space, which leads me to worry about where will we put all of the gear that our daughter will require?

Knowing how fast time passes, I have decided there is no time like the present to begin organizing and deciding on what items should go and what should stay. As I have been going from room to room I am amazed at some of the things we have accumulated in such a short time frame.

What is one to do with all of the unneeded and unused items that they collect over time? Donate them to Goodwill? Have a yard sale? Throw them away? Normally I would donate everything I no longer needed, but in reality, I know how expensive a new baby can be. We need many things for our daughter, and it would be wise to make a little cash while spring cleaning.

I have already sold 6 random things on ebay, and now I know where to sell my dvds online too. Selling online is so much easier than holding a yard sale, and for each dollar I can earn I am closer to the new crib I have my eye on and my house has one less thing taking up space in it.

After beginning this process of sorting, organizing and minimizing, I made a vow to myself. I will never allow my family to collect random things they never have any intention of using again. I realize having stuff doesn't lead to happiness, it leads to headaches, clutter and the reality of future hard work to rid your home of all the 'stuff'.

How do you stay organized and clutter free? Do you routinely gather things up and dispose of them? Do you resell your used clothing and entertainment items? Do you donate things to thrift shops? If you have a great tip, please leave a comment and share what you know.

Another Mickey DVD Giveaway!

2013-05-19T15:23:00.003-04:00

On May 21st, MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: THE QUEST FOR CRYSTAL MICKEY arrives on DVD! Full of magic and mystery, the DVD includes four extra episodes of Disney Junior's Emmy®-nominated series "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" (over 2 hours of content!) and a FREE Adventure Activity Map plus Stickers.

Synopsis:

Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all their pals in the newest Clubhouse crusade. When the legendary Crystal Mickey goes missing, Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. Grab your hat, buckle your seatbelt, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey!”

There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will

disappear forever!

Can the world’s most extraordinary hero "Kansas City Mickey," get the magical statue back in time? Only with help from young viewers at home…and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete’s trickiest traps!

Episodes include:

1 – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey

2 – Donald of the Desert

3 – Donald the Genie

4 – Goofy’s Coconutty Monkey

5 – Goofy’s Giant Adventure

Here is a preview for you to see for yourself what fun this DVD holds:

Would you like the chance to win a copy of your very own? It's Free At Last has teamed up with other amazing bloggers to bring you this awesome giveaway. Simply follow the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. Giveaway is open to U.S. & Canadian residents, ages 18+ years of age. Please see the Rafflecopter form for full giveaway rules and disclosure.

Good Luck :)

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Intelligender Review

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

When the kit arrived I was ready to try it immediately, it was a test of will power to follow the instructions and conduct the test in the morning, but I managed to do it.

The test was easy enough to take. I urinated into a clean disposable cup and used the included syringe to insert the specified amount of urine (20 mls) into the test jar. I swirled the test jar for 10 seconds as directed and I sat it on my flat, white sink basin. I walked away for 5 minutes, as directed.

When the 5 minutes were up, I walked back into the bathroom to read the results.They clearly said "Boy", based upon the color of the contents of the cup. I started dreaming about having another baby boy, and had my heart set on the name "Harper Anderson".

When I went back to the doctor and they told me everything came back normal in the results for Maternit21. I was glad to hear that my baby wasn't at any genetic risk-they asked me if I wanted the gender results and I happily informed them I did.

When the doctor came in, he asked my son who had dropped by with my husband to find out the gender of the baby if he was ready to have a little sister.

I have to admit, I was disappointed to hear this, like I mentioned I had been dreaming of having another boy and had named him already. But, knowing my baby was in good shape, regardless of the gender was all that mattered.

The Intelligender kit was fun, it was easy to preform, however it does not appear to be completely accurate. I would take it again if I were to have more children, but I would do so without hope of it accurately predicting the gender of my baby.

Connect with Intelligender to learn more or to order this kit that can be used as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy.
Website
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Simply 7 Review

2013-05-18T15:48:00.000-04:00

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I have been on a quest to eat healthier. With this pregnancy I am simply put... always hungry. In the first trimester my appetite was non-existent but after the queasy feelings subsided, all I have wanted to do is munch. I worry about gaining a lot of weight with this pregnancy, now that I know how hard it is to take the weight off after having a baby, and I worry about what I am eating, for myself and for my baby. I also know if it is in the house, it is fair game to my husband and son. Making healthy choices is very important for the benefit of the entire family.

Simply 7 Snacks is a company that is after my heart. The line of yummy snack options began after the trend of foods with unpronounceable ingredients started, Simply 7 Snacks are made of simple and natural ingredients. The end result is a unique line of goodies that actually taste GOOD! No, strike that, they taste great.

I admit, when my review samples arrived I was skeptical. I asked a friend who told me she loved all of the flavors, "Really? The Pomegranate ones are good?" She said "Yes!" I said "Lentil chips... I mean, really, are they good?" She said "Yes, I am telling you I didn't find one I didn't like."

I still wasn't convinced.

Finally my little boy brought over a bag of Tomato Basil Hummus Chips from the review box. He said "Please?" So I opened them, he tried one and gave it his quack like a duck seal of approval. If my son, the picky eater liked them, I knew I would like them too. Boy! I was surprised in a good way when we started munching on them. They really were good, addictive and simple.

Next we tried the Lentil Sea Salt Chips. My husband wasn't open to the experience, but my trusty snacking pal, my beagle was more than happy to join me in a new experience. I liked them a lot. But the question is, what did my trusty hound think? He sat up and begged for another chip. He rolled over and gave me his adorable look at my teeth face, he nudged my hand hopping to talk me into just one more chip. When my son saw us snacking on these, he had to get in on the action. Again, this flavor got his quack like a duck seal of approval. My husband said "Okay, I will try one to see if they live up to the hype." He had to agree, they are simple yet delicious.

In the name of experimenting, and to satisfy my curiosity we tried the Pomegranate White Cheddar Chips next. Okay, I was skeptical of sweet chips... notice that I said was. These were simply amazing. They were yummy, crunchy, slightly sweet and creamy. A total treat for the taste buds. I hated to share them, but being a Mom, I did. They were a hit with the family!

We tried Sea Salt Pomegranate Chips, Black Pepper Pomegranate Chips, Hummus Chips in Spicy Chili, Roasted Red Pepper, and Sea Salt, and Lentil Chips in Bruschetta, Creamy Dill and Jalapeno. We loved them all. Seriously, there wasn't a single flavor that we didn't go crazy over. These are a keeper for my family.

Simply 7 Snacks have 0 grams of cholesterol or trans fats. They are free of artificial colors and flavors, as well as preservatives and additives, they are gluten free, made from a natural recipe and they are simply good and made with simple ingredients. What more can you ask for?

Connect with Simply 7 to learn more.
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Doc McStuffins Giveaway!

2013-05-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

Doc McStuffins is one of the cutest shows on Disney Junior! Sweet Silly Sara had the chance to review Doc McStuffins Time For Your Check Up on dvd and she has a giveaway to share with my readers. One lucky reader is going to win a copy of this dvd which just hit stores a few days ago.

2012's #1 cable TV series in Kids 2-5, "Doc McStuffins" tells the story of a nurturing six-year-old girl who heals stuffed animals and broken toys out of her backyard playhouse

clinic. Assisting Doc at the clinic are her trusty team of lovable stuffed animals including: Stuffy, an overly proud dragon; Lambie, her cuddly best friend lamb; Hallie, a jolly and

caring hippo nurse; and Chilly, a snowman who spends a lot of time getting check-ups at the clinic. Whether it's a case of loose stitching, low batteries or a blow-up toy who

has sprung a leak, Doc and her pals are always there to lend a helping hand, while imparting to young viewers the importance of taking care of oneself and others.

Talent:

Kiara Muhammad (as Doc McStuffins); Loretta Devine (as Hallie); Lara Jill Miller (as Lambie); Robbie Rist (as Stuffy);

Jess Harnell (as Chilly); Jaden Betts (as Donny McStuffins); Kimberly Brooks (as Mom McStuffins); and Gary Anthony

Williams (as Dad McStuffins)

Creator/Executive Producer:

Chris Nee

Episodes:

1 – Gulpy, Gulpy Gators! / One Note Wonder

2 – Tea Party Tantrum / Blast Off!

3 – Arcade Escapade / Starry, Starry Night

4 – Bronto Boo-Boos / Brontosaurus Breath

5 – Doctoring The Doc / Hot Pursuit

This giveaway will begin on 5/18 and end on 5/25.
This giveaway is in no way affiliated with facebook. I hereby release facebook from any potential liabilities. The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize delivery.

Good Luck!
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Healthy Surprise Giveaway

2013-05-17T08:28:00.000-04:00

Healthy Surprise is a great subscription service that delivers gluten free, natural, vegan snacks right to you door each month. The box is filled to the brim with tasty treats to delight the taste buds and alleviate the guilt of snacking on junk foods.

Sara had the chance to review this subscription box, you can check out her review on the Sublime Media Connection blog.

Subscriptions begin at $33 per month for a Starter Box and there are several plans to choose from to meet the healthy snacking needs of your family. You will enjoy trying new snacks each month without having to search the shelves of the grocery store to discover them.

Connect with Healthy Surprise to learn more or to order.
Website
Facebook

One very lucky reader is going to win a one month subscription to a Starter Box by Healthy Surprise!

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Facebook. We release facebook from any liability. The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.

The giveaway begins on 5/17 and ends on 5/31.

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Everly Grey Maternity Review

2013-05-17T00:30:00.000-04:00

It is a comfortable dress, I love the feel of the material on my skin. This is a perfect dress for spring weather, and I can imagine that it will be great for the miserable hot summer months. The dress is breezy and feminine, and my husband can't help but stare at me in awe whenever I wear it. The only thing I don't like about it is that with each wash I have to thread the straps back into the dress which is time consuming.

I love cardigans. They are great for covering up when I don't feel like showing my shoulders in strapless or sleeveless tops and dresses. They are nice for taking the chill out of the spring air, and for adding a little something to any outfit.

The Sherman Sweater Wrap is everything I have ever wanted in a cardigan/ wrap. It is lightweight, which is important to me as the human oven, but it keeps me warm when I need to be warmed up. It looks great with a variety of outfits and it is very stylish and comfortable.

I have another dress from Everly Grey that I purchased. I have been super impressed with the quality of all 3 items in my maternity wardrobe and I would be happy to recommend this company to other pregnant women. They have affordably priced clothes that will make you look and feel like the goddess that you are during a special time in your life.

Connect with Everly Gray to learn more or to explore their line of maternity clothes.
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Saturday #158

2013-05-16T18:49:00.000-04:00

This was a special Saturday as we truly spent it together as a family, a big happy family that is.

We made the trip to my parents house where we celebrated Rolf's 3rd birthday with our family. My Grandma, aunts, uncles, my sister and brother in law, nieces and nephews, cousins and mother in law attended. We had a great turn out and a lot of fun.

We had a huge spread of food, cake and ice cream and a small bonfire for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Lots of family meant great company too. What more could you ask for?

My son was great, he was friendly, he interacted with everyone that attended. He fell in love with my dads lawnmower, he played, he ate a ton of junk and got some fun gifts.

It was really nice to spend the day with family. We left our house around 11 am, and we returned around 11:30 pm. Yes, it was a long day and we spent nearly 6 hours on the road, but it was very worth it.

Sunday we spent the day enjoying our son as a 2 year old for one last day, we took him to the toy store and let him pick out a few toys (he opted for a stuffed Goofy, a few cars and a bird whistle), then we went to Wal-Mart to return the barbie dolls that a relative thought would make a fun gift... (Another day I will tell this tale...) Rolf found another car, chalk and a squirt gun he preferred to barbies, he is hanging onto his remaining gift card for a rainy day. Then we went out for dinner as partially his birthday weekend, partially mothers day.

We came home to play with his new toys and to relax a little.

On Monday morning, Rolfie woke up to lots of smiles from Daddy and Me. We sang Happy Birthday to him and the dog jumped in bed with him to shower him with kisses. I spent the entire day focused on him, I let the housework go as well as my business responsibilities. We played with every toy in the house, we made lots of messes and got filthy outside playing. My husband brought us home lunch on a whim and we showered Rolf with gifts through out the day. We had a nice lasagna dinner which he loved and followed it up with cake and ice cream. His day was amazing! He fell asleep happy that night!

So, that was a weekend in our lives. Saturday #158 was fun, special and out of the ordinary. It was enjoyable to say the least. I hope you had the chance to have family fun this past weekend as well. I would love to hear how you spent your weekend.

I write this post every week to keep track of how I spent the day with my family. There are approximately 940 Saturdays from the time your child is born until he or she is ready to leave for college. I hope you find ways to make them count!

OraMD Giveaway

2013-05-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

Do you know what’s in your toothpaste?

Did you know that your toothpaste has a warning label that says to contact a Poison Control Center if more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed?

As a pregnant woman I am cautious about what I use personally, and I make my husband use Ora MD because of my sensitivity to smell right now and his coffee chugging habit (Coffee breath... yuck!)

Melissa Say What? had the opportunity to review OraMD and revealed some astounding facts about the toothpaste you use everyday. After checking out the review, enter for a chance to win your very own bottle of a natural alternative to toothpaste.

There will be 3 winners. This giveaway is open to residents of the US/DC, ages 18+. It begins on 5/16/2013 at 8:00 a.m. EDT and ends on 5/31/2013 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Good luck!

Entry -Form

Knocked Up After Baby Workout DVD

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I am in my second trimester of pregnancy and I am already planning how I will get my body back after giving birth. A main part of my plan is to remain active during this pregnancy. I take my son for a walk almost everyday and we have a 'dance party' several nights a week in our living room. We put on videos (thank you VEVO channel on Roku) and Rolfie and I (and sometimes Daddy joins the fun too) get our groove on. We usually end up giggling a lot and sometimes getting quite sweaty.

After I had Rolfie, I struggled to get my body back. I ended up gaining all the weight I lost after birth plus a few pounds due to lack of sleep, lack of time for myself and eating whatever was easiest. While I strive to feed my family healthy, sadly there were too may times that for breakfast or lunch I settled for something horrible for myself, think poptarts, hot pockets and other assorted garbage. I was also on birth control which my doctor said would lead to weight gain.

Last year I started getting active again. I took up walking, I started getting selective about my food intake and making an effort to cut my portion sizes back, to exercise daily and to take time for myself, even if that meant walking to the store to get what I needed instead of driving, I considered it me time.

I was really pleased to start dropping the pounds. I lost 17 in 2012 and I had lost 21 pounds more from my last weigh in until the day of my first prenatal visit. I was within 10 pounds of the weight I was at when I got pregnant the first time. I felt pretty good until I realized... wait. Now I am going to gain all that weight back.

This time around I eat a lot healthier, I am active daily and I am determined not to gain too much weight, only what I need to gain to be healthy for my baby. I am also prepared to start a fitness routine 6 weeks after delivery.

Knocked Up Fitness sent me a copy of After Baby Pilates-Infused Functional Workouts. I have scoped this out and tried a few of the moves included in the 2 + hour, 2 dvd set of 10 workouts, but honestly, these are not intended for pregnant women, so there were not a lot that I could do with my baby bump in the way.

I do think that when I am ready to start exercising this will be a great resource for me. The first dvd is for beginners to intermediate exercisers. I like that it included workouts focused on kegels, squats and arm sculpting. I can work on my arms with ease at this time in my life, so I have jumped all over this part of the dvd.

The second dvd is focused on rebuilding abdominal strength and leg and butt sculpting and advanced full body Pilates.

This seems like a very functional dvd workout series that only requires some weights and a yoga mat, which means there is very little you need to get to use this program to get your body back after baby.

I would love to try the Prenatal workouts. I think these would be a good gift for a Mom to be that is trying to stay active and healthy during pregnancy.

Connect with Knocked Up Fitness to learn more or to order.
Website
Facebook

One lucky reader is going to win a copy of the dvd I reviewed. This giveaway begins on 5/16 and ends on 5/30.

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with facebook, I hereby release facebook of any liabilities.

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