Thanks, Mail Carrier

Valentines for Kids from Peaceable Kingdom {Review}

2012-01-27T17:22:00.001-06:00

I love the way that kids view holidays. There's just something so great about the innocent excitement in their eyes when they talk about what they're going to dress up as for Halloween or how cool it was that a leprechaun visited for St. Patrick's Day.

Valentine's Day is no exception. Whereas it is easy for adults to get jaded against February 14th if they aren't in a relationship, kids just know that it is one day that symbolizes love. Love for their family, love for their friends, love for their teachers... just love.

So when it comes to handing out Valentine's Day cards, I find it fun to get in on the joyous spirit with my kids. Whether they are decorating a shoebox to collect all of those colorful cards at school or just hand-delivering a sweet message to neighbors, I enjoy helping them find valentines that they are excited and proud to hand out.

This year I was introduced to a new collection of adorable styles and unique features thanks to the innovative minds at Peaceable Kingdom.

From traditional Valentine Heart Packs that can be folded and sealed with stickers to creative Valentine Super Fun Packs that include scratch-and-sniff, temporary tattoos, paper airplanes, and more, there is a bright, cheerful option for boys and girls of all ages. Whether your child is into trucks, unicorns, monsters, monkeys or many others, Peaceable Kingdom has a style that is sure to be a hit!

After much discussion and contemplation, Big Sister E narrowed down her favorite to the Scratch & Sniff Chocolate Super Valentine Fun Pack and couldn't wait for them to arrive.

Showing up in their own cute handled tote box, this Chocolate Valentine Pack contained 28 valentines (seven of each of the four designs) and 28 envelopes that, due to the fun chocolate treat-themed illustrations, would have been enough on their own.

After all, who doesn't love a chocolates, ice cream cones, cookies or cupcakes?

Along with the bright colors and cute-but-not-overly-cutesy designs on the front of these cards, the back of each one revealed a short message, enough room to fill in the recipient and sender's names, and a little reminder that the valentines are scratch and sniff.

While the chocolate scent is there as soon as you pick them up, these cards aren't anywhere near overpowering enough that they would be bothersome — something I definitely appreciated. Instead, they have just enough yummy smell to them that it's hard to keep from giving them a big sniff over and over again.

Now we're left to anxiously count down the days until February 14th, as Big Sister E can't wait to hand these out to all of her friends. Who wouldn't be excited about spreading a little chocolate-smelling cheer to those that you care about?

For a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, Peaceable Kingdom's Super Valentine Fun Packs and Valentine Heart Packs are sure to grab some attention and bring a smile. These fun cards have retail prices of $13 and $5, respectively, but are actually priced slightly less on Amazon when you go to make your purchase.

Visit Peaceable Kingdom on their website to browse all of their fun valentine designs (they also offer great games, birthday cards, books and stickers) and be sure to connect with them on Facebook as well.

(Other than the Super Valentine Fun Pack I was provided by Peaceable Kingdom, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this company and their fun products.)

Clorox Lemon Fresh Scent Disinfecting Wipes from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

2012-01-27T10:30:00.001-06:00

When it comes to cleaning, I think it's pretty safe to say that convenience and time-saving are two of the features that are high on the list of must-haves. Who wants to spend all day scrubbing and scouring with a bucket full of a million different products?

Instead, when you've found the ideal quick cleaning choice for everything from everyday household cleaning to stains and spills to janitorial applications, you know that you've found a winner. And when that product provides a quick and easy way to clean and disinfect a variety of surfaces and environments and leaves your home smelling clean and citrus fresh? Then it just has to be Clorox Lemon Fresh Wipes from CleanItSupply.com.

Specially formulated to handle a wide range of cleaning jobs, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are the disposable cloth wipes that are designed to disinfect while providing a deep and thorough clean when used. With these simple to use wipes there is no need for multiple products and the convenience of being able to pull one out and know that you can wipe, clean and toss can't be beat.

As I was already loving the convenience of the original Clorox Wipes, I was pretty excited to have the opportunity to use a case of six canisters of the Lemon Fresh Scent thanks to CleanItSupply.com.

Around here, everything from the counter tops in the kitchen to the sink in the bathroom to the chairs in the dining room (and let's not forget the doorknobs, toys, windows, and more), need to not only be wiped off, but disinfected to keep away the germs. And these Wipes are just the thing to do it!

Offering powerful disinfecting and sanitizing power, these pre-moistened wipes kill up to 99.9% of germs including viruses that cause colds and flu. So the idea that I don't have to even get out a washcloth or paper towel to clean faucets, tiles, wood, glass, mirrors and much more has proven to be just the versatile solution that I needed for quick cleaning.

In less than a minute, I've pulled out one sweet-smelling wipe and have watched my house go from its typical state to a clean, disinfected, sanitary, lemon fresh replacement!

There's no doubt about it that these Clorox Wipes are here to stay. Plus, just as our past experiences with CleanItSupply.com have proven, picking up their household cleaning products in bulk means that I don't have to worry in the slightest that I'll be running out any time soon. I have a container of these Lemon Fresh Wipes in multiple rooms of the house and love knowing that they're always ready and waiting.

A case of these Clorox Wipes would retail for more than $46 elsewhere online, but CleanItSupply.com offers it for $28.82. With this one affordable purchase (that's a savings of almost 40%!) and their lightening fast shipping, you'll be able to relax the rest of this winter knowing that you are keeping your home germ-free quickly, easily and with a quality product.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, two people are going to be prepared to disinfect in a lemony fresh way as well, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (6 canisters) of 75-count
Clorox Lemon Fresh Scent Disinfecting Wipes!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that catches your eye.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

2 winners: Win a CASE of Clorox Lemon Fresh Scent Wipes from www.CleanItSupply.com! http://bit.ly/wbYbDG @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 17th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Clorox Lemon Fresh Scent Wipes for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Sassi Momma Handbags {Review}

2012-01-27T10:23:00.000-06:00

From the time I was pregnant with Big Sister E until now, I've gone through a variety of bags.

At first, I went with the diaper bag that seemed to be rated highly in baby books... only to find that it was huge and bulky and not something that I wanted to carry around unless we were taking longer trips. I also had a stylish little diaper bag that was given as a baby shower gift, but it was impractical in its small size as well as its mainly-white fabric that was instantly dirty the first time I used it.

There were others (many others, actually) over the years and yet, here I am now on the tail end of needing a diaper bag and I'm looking back thinking of the wasted money. Not only did it add up by purchasing multiple bags, what am I left with? I'm not going to carry a bag that looks like a diaper bag when I no longer need to, so they're destined for friends, donations or my next garage sale.

Instead, it makes much more sense to select one. One unique, high quality, ultra-fashionable, extremely versatile handbag that can be used pre-baby, throughout childhood, and then beyond that essentially transforms to meet the needs of women through all of the stages of their life.

Introducing: Sassi Momma.

With a desire to improve the dreadful appearance of current diaper bags as well as alleviate handbag organizational difficulties for all women, Sassi Momma's elegant, one-of-a-kind line of D'imorga Handbags are everything you need all in one place.

Hearing that I would be able to utilize a handbag as a diaper bag, an ordinary purse, a laptop bag, an overnight bag or more and still have it be this attractive, well, I was just slightly over-eager to see the Jordyn Bag in Tangerine in person.

Jordyn, where have you been all my life?

Measuring in at 16.75" x 16.75" x 4.25," this is a substantial handbag that really does managed to include every feature that I could possibly need. The genuine leather is soft and vibrant (it is also available in Sky Blue) and from the moment I removed it from the dust cover, it was clear that this was a very high quality bag.

Opening it up, I was amazed at the two large zippered compartments - not only because there was plenty of room to store all of my belongings (and those that I might need for my children), but at the sheer number of pockets. I have never been more organized in my life since Sassi Momma came into it!

As I peered inside, it became evident as to why they had so thoughtfully included illustrations as a hint to what each compartment might be used for...

I have never been so amazed by the organizational possibilities of a handbag before, I really haven't.

First, the side for mom:

The outer portion of this compartment features a key hook, cell phone pocket, wallet pocket, and a jewelry/accessory pocket and each one is exactly the size it needs to be. Instead of trying to cram my wallet in where it doesn't really fit or slipping my cell phone into a pocket where it slides around, Sassi Momma found just the right measurements.

On the other side of this compartment, there is a small upper pocket where you could put change or keep the included Sassi Momma Signature Mirror safely tucked in, a sunglasses/eyewear pocket, and a makeup pocket.

I have never been a fan of dropping my prescription sunglasses into the depths of my purse, not to mention that always leads to me not being able to find them when I want them. Instead, they now have their own pocket... and I can even pull out the perfect little Signature Mirror to check how I look in them!

Just on "my" side alone, there is plenty of space so that I can easily have all of my items within reach and no matter if I'm going to dinner, for an overnight trip or traveling, the multifunctional aspects are really great.

However, that's just one side! The second compartment for baby (or bonus) contains just as many innovative and convenient touches:

The outer portion of this compartment features a pacifier or iPod nano elastic pocket, a diapers or iPad/Kindle pocket, a wipes or coupons/receipts pocket, a covered, separated pocket for jars of baby food or small bottles of water, and two slots for baby utensils or pens and pencils.

Did I mention that the Jordyn Bag can keep you organized? Love it! Of course if you don't carry coupons or your iPad, you can use those pockets for just about anything, but the fact that they are there and make it possible to place your items into their own spots makes it so much less likely that you'll be digging and digging when you are trying to find them.

The final side to this bag, the inner portion of the second compartment, features a pocket for a changing pad (the Jordyn Bag comes with a gorgeous genuine leather one), baby clothes or an address book/calendar and two elastic pockets that are designed for toys, bottles, lotion or clothes or shoes for you.

The entire interior of this bag is made of waterproof nylon, so wiping up spills or liquid is a breeze and just being able to reach inside and know precisely where my water bottle or Little Sister B's extra pair of shorts are located is nearly priceless.

The attached arm strap measures approximately 16" and easily rests on my shoulder or in the crook of my elbow without problem...

...but for longer trips or when I just feel as though I need extra length, the detachable shoulder strap, which measures around 32," allows the Jordyn Bag to hang comfortably over my shoulder or across my body as well.

I have yet to find something that the Jordyn Bag can't do.

When I'm driving, I don't have to take my eyes off of the road to pull out a tissue for Big Sister E. When we're at the park, it takes only a second to go straight to the pocket with Band-Aids for Little Sister B. When I'm heading to the library or a coffee shop for peace and quiet, my laptop slips right in and I use the elastic pockets on the bonus side to hold my mouse and cord.

I've seen handbags in the past that have claimed to be multifunctional, but Sassi Momma has created one that truly can transform to work for all of the different needs that women have and which role in our lives we are in.

Although their bags cost more than what you might find in the store (the Jordyn Bag usually retails for $280 but is on sale now for $170), these aren't just going to serve as a diaper bag or just as a laptop bag, the high quality of their items are going to last a lifetime. A handbag from Sassi Momma would make an amazing, frustration-eliminating, jaw-dropping, stylish gift!

More information (and drool-worthy pictures) about Sassi Momma's collection of bags (as well as their D'imorga Handbags, they have beautiful oversize clutch bags) can be found on their website. You can also connect with this innovative company on Facebook and Twitter.

(Other than the Jordyn Bag I was provided by Sassi Momma, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this company and their amazing products.)

Reed Timmer and Storm Chasers trust Bosch ICON Wiper Blades {Prize Pack Giveaway!}

2012-01-26T15:38:00.002-06:00

What is it about reality television that draws us in? Do we just want to compare our own lives to those featured to see if we appear to be normal? Or, more likely, is it just that we want to shake our heads at those on the screen and wonder how in the world they ended up doing something quite so crazy?

The perfect example: Reed Timmer and his fearless team on Storm Chasers on the Discovery Channel.

I don't mind a nice rainstorm or even a little lightening now and again, but I strongly prefer to watch it from the warmth and safety of my couch (or possibly peeking out from under the covers in bed) rather than being out on the road driving in it. The darkness, the rain, the unknown... no, I'm not purposely heading out there in that.

Reed, on the other hand, is out there with his crew driving straight for the action. They not only want to track down the twisters, but their goal is to actually go inside them. I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Fortunately, the Chase Team isn't out driving around in my minivan, but rather in the "Dominator," a technologically-advanced vehicle that is built to acquire all of the data that they are gathering while also keep them from getting swept up and away and dropped down in Oz.

Check out what this mobile marvel can do!

Crazy, right?

One of the features that Reed talks about in the "Dominator" is the importance of a great set of windshield wipers, because what good is chasing a tornado if you can't see where you're going out the window? After doing research to find the most advanced wipers, the Bosch ICON wiper blades were determined to be the highest quality and best for heading directly into a storm.

These bracketless wipers are designed without metal or plastic brackets, joints or hinges, which means they're an improvement over conventional wiper blades. Not to mention that everything from high-tension springs to an aerodynamic design to the customized, precision fit to the curve of the windshield means that these wiper blades will be able to perform in all types of weather.

Although when I'm out driving it's not to get precisely in the path of a tornado, I still want to know that I won't have a problem clearing my window in anything from rain to sleet to a splatter of mud and the Bosch ICON wiper blades are just the thing to do that to keep my family safe.

Plus, with up to a 40% longer life, it is easy to see that the amount of engineering that went into these wiper blades has resulted in a long-lasting, high quality, must-have product — no matter if you are driving home from soccer practice or into the path of a tornado.

To celebrate the release of the Bosch ICON wiper blades, Bosch is currently holding a contest on Facebook for a prize pack of incredible prizes (e.g. iPad 2, Bosch ICON wipers, iTunes gift card and more). On top of that, one lucky fan will win an experience of a lifetime: an all-expenses-paid, five-night VIP Storm Chasing trip for themselves and a guest with Reed Timmer!

If you've ever wanted to experience storm chasing, this is the contest for you! Be sure to visit the Bosch Facebook page to enter as well as to see Reed documenting his experience with the Bosch ICON wiper blades in a series of great webisodes.

And, thanks to the generosity of Bosch, one person will be prepared to head out safely in their car in nearly any type of weather, because...

One lucky person will win a Bosch ICON Prize Pack (total ARV $195!)*!

*The prize pack includes:

• A set of Bosch ICON wiper blades ($50 value)
• "Storm Chasers - Season 4" DVD ($55 value)
• A signed copy of Reed Timmer’s book "Into The Storm" ($20 value)
• A Bosch C3 6V/12V Fully Automatic 4-Mode Battery Charger ($70 value)

To enter to win: Leave a comment telling me your favorite or least favorite type of weather. (For instance, do you love thunderstorms? Hate hail? Thrive in the snow?)

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you Like Bosch on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a Bosch ICON Wiper Blades Prize Pack (ARV $195) for quality & safety on the road! http://bit.ly/AaIxd1 @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 16th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Bosch for providing a pair of Bosch ICON wiper blades for me as well as a prize pack for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

i play., Inc. Aqua Bottle and Organically Grown Footie {Review & Giveaway}

2012-01-26T10:03:00.001-06:00

When it comes to buying products for our children, we as parents continually do the best that we can. We all want our kids to grow up happy and healthy, so when it comes to the clothes they wear, the toys they play with, the utensils they eat off of, and more, finding a company that cares just as much as we do always makes it a little easier to sleep at night.

And when that company is known for feeding, toys, and baby care items that are not only high quality and stylish but held to the highest standards of safety, then it's easy to see why i play., Inc. is a favorite time and time again.

Founded in 1982 and based on values that prioritize protecting our earth and our children, i play., Inc. offers products that encourage healthy and safe development through play. As a company that has been at the forefront of children's health and safety issues, they are continually researching ways to make safer baby products and follow the idea that children grow and learn by playing.

So what better place to shop for newborns and toddlers alike? Because when it comes to the essentials, i play., Inc.'s Organic Cotton Knit Collection and green sprouts feeding products are perfect examples of the quality that i play. can provide.

Made with babies in mind, i play.'s Organic Cotton Knit Collection features quality, organic cotton that is free of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. The adorable cottage design (for girls, farmyard design for boys) of the Organically Grown Footie is printed with low-impact dyes and the overall feel is extremely soft and comfortable.

The contrasting edging is smooth around the neckline and the snap closure makes getting it on and off of little ones quick and easy.

Along with the cute built-in feet at the bottom, I love the stitching detailing that i play. included to give this outfit an added touch of sweetness and style.

Machine washable (an obvious must) and perfectly suited for multiple types of weather — light enough to not cause overheating in the spring and summer but with enough coverage for the fall and winter — the Organically Grown Footie retails for $33.99 and is easily one piece of apparel that will be reached for again and again.

For the slightly older crowd, the Aqua Bottle is designed for ages 2+ and features a straw top with a sliding lid to please just about any toddler.

Available in aqua, green, lavender, pink and royal blue (each with their own fun animal character embellishment) this BPA and PVC free cup fits right in with green sprouts' line of bottles... each of the parts is actually interchangeable with any of the others so that your child can progress through the levels without having to get used to a completely different cup each time.

I think it's great that i play. includes a replacement straw top in case the original gets lost (or chewed on) and that, along with being dishwasher-safe, the straw components are easily removed from the lid for cleaning.

Having used cups for my girls in the past that were small enough that they either had to constantly be refilled and/or were difficult to get inside to clean, the 10-ounce size of the Aqua Bottle has proven to be a great compromise of not too little, not too big. Plus, for small hands, the contoured shape means that it is easy to hold and manage.

Retailing for $7.99, the green sprouts Aqua Bottle is a safe and convenient choice to have on hand for at home or while out and about.

From adorable layette to sweet little rain boots to toys that will bring a smile, i play.'s high quality and affordable prices will keep you coming back for more. Available online or in retail stores across the country and worldwide, you can easily find these amazing products throughout the internet or check them out in person at your favorite nearby store.

And, thanks to i play.'s generosity, two people will get to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of color Aqua Bottle and one lucky person will win their choice of color and size Organically Grown Footie!

To enter to win: Visit i play. and leave me a comment telling me another item there that you would like to own or give as a gift. Also, you MUST indicate in your comment whether you are interested in the Aqua Bottle, Footie or both, as there will be one winner drawn for each.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow i play. on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN an infant Organically Grown Footie or a toddler Aqua Bottle from i play! http://bit.ly/xJpBnX @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 16th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to i play. for providing an Organically Grown Footie and green sprouts Aqua Bottle for me to review as well as for each of two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Valentine's Day Bouquet: Paper Flowers Craft

2012-01-25T16:55:00.000-06:00

Having children, the meaning of Valentine's Day is quite a bit different than it was in the past for me. Of course I love my husband and know that it would be nice to spend time with him and exchange the classic gifts... but there's just more than that now.

When I look at Big Sister E and Little Sister B I know that Valentine's Day isn't just about flowers and chocolate and jewelry (although those are nice) or any gift at all, really. They just want to wear pink and red clothes, bake some cookies, hand out cards to their friends, and hear about any Valentine's Day ideas and crafts that they can have fun creating.

Considering there are 110 million roses sold and delivered for this holiday, I thought that this year we could "grow" our own right at home that the girls would enjoy even more.

I had heard about this easy method to make flowers from a few people I know, so it was time to sit down and give it a shot. Being our first attempt, I didn't even go with red paper, but just with an ad that I pulled out of a magazine with some mixed colors of mostly blues and browns. Festive, right?

Ripping the two pages apart and then into quarters, I had the makings for my eight roses.

After rounding the edges and drawing a spiral, I cut along my pattern to form one long strip.

After the first flower or two, I realized that the oval shape of my papers were making it a little difficult to roll them up evenly, so I trimmed the remaining sheets to make them more round.

All that was left was to roll the spirals from the outside in, applying a dab of glue at the end to hold them in place.

Although the fact that they aren't red makes them a little harder to distinguish that they're roses, I was happy with the outcome and used a combination of tape and glue to balance the flowers onto small shoots on my branch and voilà! Instant flowers!

My husband has already teased me about the look, but I'm really liking the crafty, homemade feel. Besides, unless he's planning on shelling out a whole lot more money than what these cost ($0) and bringing home a bouquet or ordering flowers by post, I don't think that he should be the one complaining.

I'm sure that the kids and I will be partaking in more Valentine's Day crafts as the holiday gets closer... and the act of spending the time together making them is just as entertaining and satisfying (if not more) than the end results. The best gift from them has always been a big smile and an even bigger hug, so paper flowers might just be the icing on the cake.

Do you take part in any crafts or baking or special events for Valentine's Day?

Scentsy Wickless Candles {Valentine Warmer Review & Warmer and Scent Bar of Choice Giveaway}

2012-01-25T09:23:00.002-06:00

When it comes to the decor in our house, there weren't a whole lot of changes made once we had children. My husband wasn't a fan of knick-knacks before, so there weren't all that many that needed to be put away out of reach of little hands. So other than transitioning the sitting room into a play room, we were basically set.

But one aspect that I miss? The cute looks and the soothing scents that can come from a great candle. Instead of the smell of leftover pizza or dirty socks (are my kids the only ones who take them off and leave them everywhere in the house?) I would much rather take a deep breath and be met with something pleasing.

Whether something vibrant and fruity or breezy and calming, a great aroma has the ability to give your home a completely different feeling. The downside to candles, however, are the dangers that come along with flames, heat, smoke and the idea of even mixing those with children.

The perfect solution? The look, smell and safety of Scentsy and their fabulous line of wickless candles, ceramic Warmers and delicious fragrance products.

Providing everything that you love about candles but without the features you'd like to avoid, Scentsy’s wickless candles make a home smell great, accent a room's décor and provide a safe alternative to candles. The fragrant wax is heated in an elegant Warmer using a low-watt light bulb, so there is no flame, smoke or soot. The long-lasting wax slowly melts, infusing a room with fragrance.

With more than 100 ceramic Warmer designs, there is sure to be at least one that works for the size of your room as well as your personality. The options include modern, traditional, nursery-inspired, seasonal and the college-themed Campus Collection... or you can even create your own Warmer design with DIY Scentsy Warmers and rub-on transfers.

As if making the decision on the style and color of the Warmer wasn't difficult enough, there are then 80 different fragrances to go along with them. Containing 3x as much fragrance oil as regular wicked candles, Scentsy wickless candle Bars include scents that are reminiscent of the spa, a corner café, romance, baked goods and much more.

Although Scentsy products are great as a year-round accessory for your own home or as a gift, they're especially perfect for Valentine's Day. Did you know that, according to the National Fire Protection Association, candles are responsible for more than 15,000 fires in the United States each year, and cause more than 1,200 injuries and $450 million in property damage?

Not exactly the way that you want to end your Valentine's Day holiday, now is it? Instead, the Valentine Warmer from Scentsy provides the fragrance, romance and style without the added risk of open flames.

A delicate white design with fluted edges and darling details, this Valentine Warmer is tied up with a pretty polka dot ribbon and accented by a cherry-red heart pendant made of glass. Having never experienced Scentsy firsthand (but I've always heard great things!) I couldn't wait to try this sweet Warmer out in preparation for Valentine's Day.

I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of assembly or preparation, so I was pleased to find that it was nearly non-existent with this Warmer.

After screwing in the provided light bulb and placing the dish on top, all that was left to do was plug the Warmer in and choose which enticing Scentsy Bar to try first.

I appreciate that Scentsy Bars allow you to customize the amount of scent that is given off simply by how many sections of the Bar you choose to melt. The Bars are easily broken apart, so for a smell that is not as strong, just add one piece. For a more robust smell, add more.

Within 15 or so minutes, the Scentsy Bar melts completely in the ceramic dish and the melted wax is left dispersing the fragrance into the air.

Love it! Just from having used this stylish Warmer recently, I can definitely see why Scentsy has so many fans. There is no worry about leaving candles unattended or keeping them away from fabrics or liquids that are flammable, instead this warmer can be left on to safely continue making my house smell delicious!

Switching between the scents is easy, as the melted wax can be poured right back into the plastic container that it came in so that a new Bar can be placed on the dish. But so far all three of the scents that we have tried (Love Story, French Kiss and Vanilla Creme) have been met with extremely positive responses, including from the most difficult to please around here, my husband.

I know that when he walks in the door after work and the first thing he says is, "It smells good in here!" that we've found a winner. Plus, with the great glow that this Valentine Warmer gives off, I can definitely see keeping it on throughout the house and making it a part of the romantic decor for Valentine's Day.

I love that Scentsy included a cutout behind the heart pendant so that the light behind it really makes it glow!

Scentsy products are not available in retail stores but instead through home parties, open houses, fairs and shows, and fundraisers. But with 145,000 Independent Scentsy Consultants, there is sure to be one in your area to help you order just the right Warmer (retailing from $20 - $35), fragrance and more that is right for you or as a gift.

As well as finding information about their products and hosting a party, the Scentsy website can help answer your questions about becoming a Consultant. If a flexible job (where you can set your own hours and get to hang out at parties talking about products that you love) sounds like something you're interested in, check them out!

And, thanks to the generosity of Scentsy, one person will be able to experience the design and ease of these stylish alternatives to candles as well, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of
Scentsy Warmer and Scentsy Bar!

To enter to win: Visit Scentsy and leave me a comment telling me which Warmer and/or Bar (other than those mentioned above) you might select if you win.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Scentsy on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

I want to WIN my choice of Scentsy Warmer and Bar to enjoy the style and great smell! http://bit.ly/xmhkQ1 @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 15th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Scentsy for providing a Valentine warmer and three Scentsy Bars for me to review as well as the choice of Warmer and Bar for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Pine-Sol Lavender Scent Cleaner from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

2012-01-24T00:14:00.002-06:00

Do you ever wonder if the color blue that you see is the same color that other people see? Meaning, what you call blue might actually be green to someone else but you've been taught that what you see is named blue?

No? I guess that must just be another of the odd things that I think about sometimes.

The science behind things like color interests me and how it's possible that one person can view and like or dislike something so completely different from someone else. I love blue (as does Big Sister E), so how is it possible that it is my mom's absolute least favorite color? Clearly color preference isn't genetic.

Same goes with scent. What is it about one person's nose that they catch a whiff of the original pine-scented Pine-Sol and want to take deep breaths while the same smell might cause someone else to go running?

I'm far from being a scientist, so these probably aren't answers that I'm going to find out anytime soon. What I do know? Is that those people who don't prefer the smell of pine are still able to have sparkling clean surfaces thanks to the fact that Pine-Sol Cleaner comes in a sweet-smelling Pine-Sol Lavender version at CleanItSupply.com.

With the same strong, safe and timeless features of original Pine-Sol, this lavender scented version is also specially formulated to clean and deodorizes any nonporous surface. Ideal for food-service or industrial environments, this versatile cleaning agent comes with a fresh lavender fragrance and is able to clean anything from walls, sinks, countertops, microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, range hoods, deep fryers and more.

And here you've been thinking only of clean floors, right?

Instead, pull out this single multi-purpose cleaner and Pine-Sol Lavender Scent will go to work cleaning and deodorizing tile, garbage cans, toys, plastic furniture, baseboards... there's just no beating the proven disinfecting power that Pine-Sol is known for.

But when you're preparing to wage a war against grease and grime and instead leave your surfaces spotlessly free of mess and germs, you need to be ready. Instead of buying a single bottle of this cleaner and then having to keep track of just how much is left to know when to head to the store, CleanItSupply.com and their bulk cleaning products make things much easier.

As I've mentioned in my past posts about this great company, there's no worry about running out when you order from CleanItSupply.com. Is that even possible when you have this many bottles of Pine-Sol and its sweet lavender scent awaiting you?

Count 'em, eight 48-ounce bottles... and with 72 gallons per bottle, we're talking 576 gallons of Pine-Sol! Whereas a case like this would cost you over $50 elsewhere on the internet, CleanItSupply.com offers it for $31.41, a savings of 37%. One purchase and their lightening fast shipping will have it at your door and ready to leave your house clean and smelling lavender-fresh for quite some time to come.

If you haven't visited CleanItSupply.com to see the size of their selection of home cleaning products, air fresheners, trash cans, vacuum cleaners and MUCH more that they have to offer, what are you waiting for? The prices are affordable and it's all delivered quickly and easily right to your front door. It's a win-win!

Thanks to the generosity of CleanItSupply.com, two people are going to have a home that is clean and lavender-scented soon, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (8 bottles) of
48-ounce Pine-Sol Lavender Cleaners!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that would help keep your house clean this winter (and beyond).

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

I want to WIN a CASE of Pine-Sol Lavender Scent from www.CleanItSupply.com - 2 winners! http://bit.ly/wF0VFw @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 14th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Pine-Sol Lavender Scent Cleaner for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon with P.F. Chang's {Red Envelope Celebration Kit Review}

2012-01-23T17:59:00.001-06:00

Chinese New Year has arrived! Prosperity, peace, happiness and longevity all symbolize this holiday, one of the most important and festive Chinese holidays of the year.

For 2012, January 23rd is ringing in the "Year of the Dragon" and last night, the eve of Chinese New Year, marked the start of the celebrations with a reunion of loved ones for a feast.

And I can't think of a better way to take part in this centuries-old custom than by igniting our good fortune with a Red Envelope Celebration Kit from P.F. Chang's China Bistro and P.F. Chang's Home Menu.

Ready to commemorate and spread the goodwill of the Chinese New Year, we were all pretty excited to open this Kit and get the celebrations underway. Along with checking out the food for our dinner, it was fun to open the Red Envelope itself, as it represents another significant tradition in Chinese culture.

Red Envelopes, filled with gifts, are presented to family and friends during the Chinese New Year. The color red symbolizes good luck, and this Kit of P.F. Chang's items was just right to celebrate and share the good fortune.

While my party attendees got to work getting dressed in "Year of the Dragon" T-shirts and decorating with red paper lanterns to make the place festive...

...I headed into the kitchen to cook up some of the tasty P.F. Chang's Home Menu noodle entrees. Although the Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles sounded tasty, the Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with Lo Mein Noodles was first up on deck (the Home Menu noodle entrees also include Pepper Steak with Chow Fun Noodles, Shrimp Lo Mein, and Garlic Chicken with Dan Dan Noodles).

The instructions were extremely easy to follow, as the entire meal was right in the package and simply had to be cooked on the stove. After dumping it all into the pan...

...I only had to do a little stirring before it seemed as though we were sitting down to eat right at our favorite P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

But as great as it was to have a plate filled with juicy meat, crunchy veggies and yummy sauce, the fact that we could enjoy it without having to get the family in the car, wait to be seated, and have to go through a meal wondering if anyone was going to cause enough of a stir to cut it short... well, that just made it all the better.

In terms of the taste? I'm pretty sure there weren't any complaints.

Want to join in to celebrate Chinese New Year and the "Year of the Dragon" with P.F. Chang's? You can find their Home Menu items in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store, check out their locator to find the P.F. Chang's China Bistro near you, and, from now until February 12th, you can visit their Facebook page once each day to get your fortune and enter for a chance to win fun prizes!

Simply click on the red envelope to reveal your good fortune. Plus, every day 10 lucky fans will receive a daily dragon prize, including a $25 gift card to dine at P.F. Chang's or a tasting certificate for a complimentary frozen P.F. Chang's Home Menu Meal and a dragon t-shirt.

Don't want to wait and see if you win? Head into your nearest P.F. Chang's China Bistro between January 23rd and February 6th and you'll receive a red envelope to be opened at your next visit with a surprise inside: anything from 10-50% off of your meal or a free appetizer or dessert. Yum!

Don't miss out on celebrating the "Year of the Dragon" this Chinese New Year the P.F. Chang’s way, whether savoring your meal at home or at the Bistro. Keep up with them on Twitter and be sure to head over to Like them on Facebook to take advantage of the good fortune that they are passing out each day.

(Other than gift card and products that I was sent by P.F. Chang's Bistro and P.F. Chang's Home Menu, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their tasty products.)

OttLite Natural Daylight Desk Lamp {Review & Giveaway}

2012-01-23T09:09:00.001-06:00

I love discovering what hobbies other people enjoy. From reading to knitting to scrapbooking to building model airplanes, there is always something interesting that we all like to do to occupy our time.

So when it comes to spending our valuable spare moments cracking open that book or pulling out the sewing machine, we need to make the best out of them. A cup of coffee and some background music, perhaps? And light. Definitely light.

Instead of straining your eyes to see the tiny beads in your jewelry-making kit or squinting at the glare of the computer screen, enjoying what you love can only be made better with a light that combines form, function and style. Which is exactly what you'll find from OttLite.

Built on the expansion of Dr. Ott’s original vision of providing natural sunlight indoors, today OttLite offers many technologically-advanced (and modern-looking) products. With everything from makeup mirrors to safety flip-lites to desk and floor lamps, there is something for everyone in a variety of styles and colors.

With their High Definition Natural Lighting, OttLite has found a way to bring the sunshine indoors through its 508 Illumination. Their products generate very low heat, reduce glare, eyestrain, and headaches and provide the ideal balance of brightness and contrast, allowing users to see colors that are true to life, and details with more clarity and accuracy. Better still, they are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. What more could you need?

For me, the OttLite Natural Daylight Desk Lamp was the perfect fit, as its sleek look and versatility works in nearly any room of the house.

Available in five bright colors, the Natural Daylight Desk Lamp is modern, lightweight and so unique looking that my 3-year-old took one glance at it and ask, "What is that thing, Mommy?"

I, on the other hand, loved the contemporary arc and could tell right away that the weighted base was going to keep the entire 14" height steady and eliminate the possibility of it tipping over.

Assembly for this lamp couldn't have been much easier, as I simply had to firmly push the 13 watt OttLite bulb (which is rated to last up to 10,000 hours!) into place under the top...

...and then give a push to the easy on-off switch on the base to experience the clarity of the 508 Natural Daylight Illumination.

Who would have thought that one light could make such a difference? Although I had initially been a little skeptical, once I had the Natural Daylight Desk Lamp turned on, I understood what OttLite meant when they said that it would bring less eye strain and make it easier to see the details of your project. Everything was just so white and clear!

Whether piecing together a puzzle or embroidering your latest design, the OttLite Natural Daylight Desk Lamp has the ability to provide a bright, crisp environment no matter where you are. As this only weighs 5 pounds, I haven't had a problem picking it up and bringing it from room to room to enjoy the convenience... as well as the cool, contemporary look.

Typically retailing for $79.99, this lamp is currently on sale for $57.99, so if you are in the market for a way to add some quality and style to your desk, a bedside table, your craft room or next to your favorite chair, now is the time!

As the OttLite collection features lights for traditional needs (e.g. floor lamps, beauty lamps for the bathroom, etc) as well as for more specific purposes (e.g. magnification lamps, lamps for planet growth, etc), there is sure to be at least one that will work in your home or make a wonderful gift. You just can't beat bringing a little sunny goodness right indoors!

And, thanks to OttLite's generosity, one person will be able to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of color OttLite
Natural Daylight Desk Lamp!

To enter to win: Visit OttLite and leave me a comment about another of their innovative products that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow OttLite on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN an OttLite Natural Daylight Desk Lamp (ARV $80) and bring the outdoors in! http://bit.ly/AEBVrV @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 13th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to OttLite for providing a Natural Daylight Desk Lamp for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Job Opportunities... that I hope they will pass up.

2012-01-23T08:56:00.004-06:00

As usual, I've been looking at my girls and thinking about how much older they seem than a year ago... or even a few months ago... or heck, last week even. Where does the time go?

While the days are flying by, some things have changed and some things have stayed the same. Changed? Much more independence and less of my help needed for things like getting a glass of water or putting on shoes and zipping up coats. The same? A love of school, sisterly competition and Big Sister E's desire to be a teacher when she grows up.

And while I tell her all the time that she can be whatever she dreams of being when she gets older, there are moments when I'll have a flash of a random job and think: no. Nope, I wouldn't be okay with that one. Some are what you'd call normal or traditional and some? I don't know where these pop into my head from, but here are five professions I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like to see either of my kids grow up to be...

1. Coal Miner.

We've all heard the stories. I know that the percentage of times miners that actually get trapped is extremely small compared to how many times they dig into the earth, but I just couldn't handle knowing that my kids could be stuck under there.

2. Roofer.

We had our roof replaced this past summer (thank you, hail storm) and, let me tell you, our roof is steep with a capital S. The entire time I heard them hammering away up there I just kept hoping that I wouldn't hear the sounds of anyone slipping and falling because that's a long way down.

As well as our roof, nearly the entire neighborhood (and quite a few surrounding areas) had their roofs replaced as well. It seemed like every time we drove somewhere I would see those hardworking roofers up there in all kinds of weather, including the blazing sun. It just doesn't seem like something that would let me rest easy at night if I knew my kids were up there.

3. Umpire.

I'm sure it would be great and all (especially for my husband if it meant he could go see more sports), but have you seen the abuse that umpires for professional sports have to endure? Players are yelling at them, coaches are screaming from the sidelines, and disgruntled fans? Oh man, no. No way that I want my kids in the path of those crazies.

4. Stunt person.

Do they just have a serious accident attorney on call? I find it hard to imagine that someone could light themselves on fire, crash a motorcycle, jump out of a window, and fall down a flight of stairs day in and day out and not get hurt. I get that they're trained for that sort of thing, but still. I'd probably have to have a report on all upcoming stunts so that I could have my motorcycle accident attorney on retainer just to calm my nerves.

5. Taxi driver.

On top of the extremely low salary, did you know that deaths among taxi drivers are about evenly split between traffic accidents and assaults/violent acts... except that there are actually more fatalities due to assaults? Who gets out of a cab and kills the driver? Was the ride that bad? No, thanks. Let's skip this one too, please.

There is obviously no "safe" profession (I'm sure anyone could come up with risks to every job out there!) and each year seems to bring about more stories that indicate that Big Sister E's chosen teaching career is far from being free of danger. All I can really do, of course, is hope that my girls end up happy, healthy and as far as possible from any harm. What more could a mother want?

What jobs would you like to see your children veer away from?

Save Money with the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-01-21T19:00:00.002-06:00

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know that the common cold is the most infectious disease in humans and the average adult contracts two to three colds a year? Even worse, the average child contracts between six and 12? Yikes, that's a lot of illness!

So when it comes to picking up medications, whether those for a cold, the flu, to stay healthy or much more, we all want to save a little money wherever we can. Thanks to the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club now that isn't a problem!

When it comes to drug coverage, everyone wants to save money. Fortunately, not only has Walgreens made that easy, but their Prescription Savings Club membership is risk free. If you don't save more than the cost of your membership during the course of the year, then they will refund the difference. So no worries!

Right now it only costs $10 a year for a family membership and that covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents age 22 and younger and pets. Need to add more? Other individuals may join for only $5.

When you join, you will not only receive discount prices on your prescriptions but other benefits as well:

Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

Want to find out more? Visit Walgreens.com as well as connecting with Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook.

Bugaboo Stroller Tray: Tray Vous {Review}

2012-01-20T17:30:00.000-06:00

I'd be hard-pressed to tell you the make or model of pretty much any car driving down the street (unless Red counts as a brand name), and the idea of trying to learn about them or even test drive them doesn't really interest me at all.

However, put me in a room with a bunch of strollers and now you're talking my language. I want to touch them, push them around, fold and unfold them... and there's a good chance that I can pinpoint the company they came from without too much trouble.

When it comes to luxury strollers, one of the names that jumps to mind as one that I've always admired is definitely Bugaboo. The quality, the durability, the comfort, this is one stroller that has it all. Except... a tray.

That's right, a tray. Instead of the flat surface that kids depend on to hold snacks, cups, toys and more, the Bugaboo Frog and Bugaboo Cameleon strollers feature a carry handle that can be used to easily move the seat to a different location.

Great for portability but not so much for plopping some Cheerios on there, you know?

Fortunately, Bugaboo parents everywhere can now end their search for the perfect snack and activity tray thanks to the innovative, mom-invented Tray Vous.

The first full-sized tray accessory for the Bugaboo Frog and Bugaboo Cameleon strollers, Tray Vous is designed to fit snugly and securely around the carry handle and provide a flat space that works for toddlers and children of all ages.

Intrigued by the added convenience of such a unique and much-needed product, I was interested in seeing if the Tray Vous would prove to be as valuable, stylish and easy to install as it claimed.

Sure enough, it was.

Tray Vous sent along clear and detailed instructions that only took a minute or two to follow. After removing the carry handle and snapping the two provided connectors into the stroller frame, the handle was then reattached and the tray was lowered right on top.

After applying pressure to the tray to get it to lower fully into place (I was hesitant to press too hard in fear that I might break it, but it did need to be pushed down strongly to get it snug), the three Velcro straps on the bottom ensured that it stayed completely secure.

The quick installation of this tray also means that it can easily be removed when not needed or for cleaning... but in the meantime, what a convenience! The raised edges keep snacks or toys from sliding off, the cupholder fits standard sippy cups, and suddenly there is a place for toddlers to keep themselves entertained while you are out for a stroll, shopping, running errands, and more.

With a stylish and durable appearance that complements the overall sleek design of the Bugaboo stroller, Tray Vous is a simple concept that has turned into a versatile, useful, desirable accessory that is sure to get rave reviews (and big smiles) from users of all ages.

Find more information about Tray Vous online and on Facebook, as well as to place your order - sold worldwide - for one of these convenient and safe trays (they are FDA compliant and free of lead, BPA, PVC and all phthalates). The U.S. price is $34.95 + shipping and, for any Bugaboo owner, this would make a welcome gift.

(Other than sample that I was sent by Tray Vous, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this product and its convenience.)

Clorox Disinfecting Spray from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

2012-01-20T09:52:00.001-06:00

While talking with friends about winter, kids and colds recently, I made the mistake of mentioning that we seemed to have gotten past all of the germs that were floating around and everyone was finally healthy.

I should have known that I would be tempting fate with a remark like that and, sure enough, Big Sister E has once again started sniffling, sneezing and altogether is beginning to look miserable. Darn you, microorganisms!

As well as piling on the vitamins, encouraging her to get her rest, and doling out extra hugs, another cold around here also means I start getting antsy to sanitize every possible surface in hopes of not spreading anything around. One product that I reach for just for that reason? The powerful cleaning that comes from Clorox Disinfecting Spray.

Stored in a convenient aerosol can, Clorox Spray is designed to be used for any number of cleaning jobs, from cleansing kitchen counters to wiping down bathroom sinks. Easy to use and apply (simply spray it on and wipe it off), Clorox Disinfectant Spray doesn't just mask odors — it eliminates odor-causing bacteria, leaving only a clean, fresh scent.

In addition to its cleaning and disinfecting power, the spray's innovative bleach-free formula also kills and prevents the growth of mold and rids your home of a wide range of germs. So you're left with not only a clean surface, but a product that helps prevent the spread of many common and dangerous illnesses.

And, considering these are sold by CleanItSupply.com, that means that you not only get one bottle to use, but their awesome bulk shipping means your case contains a full 12.

Oh, yes. You're in for it now, germs.

As soon as I saw these bottles and the large number of viruses that they were designed to kill, I was excited to put them to use.

But then I turned the disinfectant spray around and found that the list of bacteria that it would power through was much, much longer.

Even though I can't pronounce a large portion of them, that doesn't stop me from wanting them off of my surfaces, out of my home, and away from my kids!

Using Clorox Disinfecting Spray and knowing that it is proven to eliminate the germs that cause tuberculosis and MRSA as well as eradicating dangerous germs found in foods, such as E. coli, has been making me happy. In all, this spray can be used effectively to control both bacteria and viruses as well as those that cause smells. Therefore the bonus to the clean surfaces is that the space smells refreshed and deodorized also!

If you've read any of my past posts on CleanItSupply.com, then you know that I'm going to say that purchasing their commercial cleaning products for your home just makes sense. The affordable prices mean that while you're saving money buying in bulk, you also no longer have to worry about running out and continually having to head to the store. I know my house is going to stay disinfected with this case from Clorox for quite some time to come!

Elsewhere on the internet it would cost over $76 to purchase 12 bottles of Clorox Disinfecting Spray, but CleanItSupply.com offers them for $47.29. Simply make this one purchase and their lightening fast shipping will have a case at your door and ready to rid your home of germs, bacteria, and all sorts of viruses that you want to stay away from your family.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of CleanItSupply.com, two people are going to be prepared to sanitize for the rest of the winter and beyond, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (12 bottles) of 19oz cans of
Clorox Disinfecting Spray!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that would help keep your house clean.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

2 winners: Win a CASE (12) of Clorox Disinfecting Spray from www.CleanItSupply.com! http://bit.ly/zt8ZUi @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 10th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Clorox Disinfecting Spray for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

The Company Store Buy One, Give One Comforter Program is Helping Keep Homeless Children Warm this Winter

2012-01-19T20:35:00.000-06:00

It's one thing when I like a company and their products. But I find it an entirely different level when I'm impressed by them and what they stand for... not to mention what they do to support worthwhile causes.

Therefore, having already liked The Company Store for its comfort, design and value in their top quality down comforters, pillows, sheets, towels and home accessories, I couldn't have been happier to hear what they are up to now. While celebrating their 101st anniversary, The Company Store is hosting a Buy One, Give One Comforter Program to benefit children in need.

For every comforter purchased from The Company Store's website or catalog now through the end of January, they will donate a new comforter to a child in need... ultimately benefiting thousands of homeless children throughout the United States.

This amazing charitable program is partnered with Family Promise, the nation's leading nonprofit committed to helping homeless and low-income families achieve lasting independence. Founded in 1986 in Summit, NJ, Family Promise today comprises 171 Affiliates across 41 states and engages 140,000 volunteers from coast to coast. The organization has served more than 400,000 people since its inception, including 50,000 last year alone.

"The Company Store's loyal customers can participate with us in an act of kindness and generosity every time they purchase a comforter," says Karen Feldman, Director at The Company Store.

"There are a significant number of homeless children in this country who are living without a warm bed, and The Company Store is committed to bringing some comfort and warmth to children in need throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. We are pleased to deliver these comforters through Family Promise and their affiliates in the United States. Last year, The Company Store donated tens of thousands of comforters, and this year the hope is to fulfill an even greater amount."

The statistics on the growing number of homeless children and families in the United States are staggering and heart-wrenching:

Families comprise nearly 40% of the homeless population and are its fastest growing segment.
This year 3.5 million people will experience homelessness in the U.S.
One out of every 50 children will experience homelessness before the age of 18.
More than 200,000 children are homeless in America tonight.
More than 1.3 million children will experience homelessness this year.
15% of Americans live in poverty, including 1 in 5 children.
Every 29 seconds a child is born into poverty in the United States.

The temperatures outside here are predicted to reach -5° tonight, so the idea there is a single person, let alone a child, without a warm blanket to call their own and snuggle under is nearly unfathomable.

"The Buy One, Give One initiative was so beneficial for our Affiliates last year, and we're thrilled The Company Store is expanding it even further this winter," says Karen Olson, President of Family Promise. "A comforter is something many of us may take for granted, but it makes a big impact on the lives of the children we work with daily—not only by keeping them warm at night, but by providing them in some small way with the comfort of home at a very difficult time. The Company Store’s generosity will help us truly make a difference to thousands of families in need."

With more than 170 regional affiliates of The Company Store throughout the United States, this worthy initiative is an easy way for consumers to give back to the children at Family Promise simply by shopping. All you have to do is place your comforter order and you will automatically be donating another to a child in need!

This winter, be sure to visit The Company Store to see how you can make a difference for your own family as well as children that aren't so fortunate. Find out much more about the Buy One, Give One Comforter Program on their website as well as on Facebook.

(I was provided with the information and product from The Company Store, however, all thoughts, opinions and feelings of the importance of this post are my own.)

Lugz Brigade Fold Men's Boots {Review & Giveaway}

2012-01-19T07:45:00.003-06:00

When it comes to footwear, I just might own a few more pairs of shoes than I need.

A handful, maybe.

Okay, two handfuls.

Fine, they're spread into multiple closets as well as under the bed. I can't help it!

My husband, on the other hand, is much more practical. Although there have been a few instances where he'll start browsing and I'll remind him that he already owns shoes similar to what he's looking at, mostly he sticks with being logical and rational and all that.

So when it comes to finding a pair of boots that he will be satisfied with, they have to meet his high standards for quality, durability and comfort as well as style. Fortunately, all of that can be found in the new Brigade Fold from Lugz.

Always a leader in footwear, Lugz first made a name for itself in 1993 and has continued to be an innovator in the footwear market with its signature styles. From those original boots to casual shoes to athletics for men, women and kids, Lugz is continually reinventing and taking its fashions to the next level.

Most recently, Lugz has released a new collection of boots to add to their selection of fashionable yet rugged footwear that is built for whatever street you reside. The new line, titled "The Elite Collection," features unique designs that emphasize the Lugz dedication to long-lasting durability and cushioned comfort. All are suitable for the workplace, yet stylish enough for the street, with attention given to detailed seams and industrial grommets.

When the Brigade Fold arrived, right away I was impressed with just how many features Lugz had included to make these great.

With a smooth suede outside and a lush fleece inside, the Brigade couldn't have arrived at a better time than when the temperatures around here have plummeted and the snow is a permanent sight. Who wants to do just about anything outside unless they can be assured that their feet are going to stay warm and toasty?

After running my hand along the Nubuck leather, I reached inside and was immediately jealous that my boots don't have such a soft fleece lining. Not only does it work perfectly with the cushioned insole, but the extra warmth and comfort is just the thing to pamper a man's foot - whether he spends all day standing or only 10 minutes at a time.

To ensure the outside of the Brigade is as nice as the inside, the durable rubber outsole is extremely thick and I appreciate that it provides support as well as good traction for when my husband is out on the snow and ice.

From the overall look and feel to the quality and detailing that is apparent in the Brigade Fold, Lugz has designed these boots so that they are versatile as well as long-lasting. From the secure stitching to the padded tongue to the grommets on the laces...

...these top-of-the-line boots are great for men everywhere. Available in Wheat, Charcoal and Black color options, the adjustable, fold-down collar makes it possible to customize these to fit a multitude of wardrobes.

Retailing for $99.99, the Brigade Fold (as well as the other boots in "The Elite Collection") are built to last out of quality materials and sturdy craftsmanship... and are able to just keep feet feeling great all day!

Find out more about the full collection of Lugz footwear on their website and be sure to Like them on Facebook as you can enter to win a pair of shoes on the first day of each month by simply submitting your name and email address. Who doesn't like free shoes?

Speaking of which, one person will be able to introduce the man in their life (or themselves) to a pair of boots that will be sure to be a hit this winter, because...

One lucky person will win a pair of Brigade Fold boots in their choice of color and size from Lugz!

To enter to win: Visit Lugz and leave me a comment about another pair of shoes or boots that catches your eye.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Lugz on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a pair of men's Lugz Brigade Fold boots (ARV $100) for quality, comfort & style! http://bit.ly/y9KNjh @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 9th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Lugz for providing a pair of Brigade Fold boots for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Boboli Pizza Crust {Review}

2012-01-18T21:59:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but I feel like each year it takes me a little longer to recover from the holidays. Even though it is halfway through January already, there seems to be a considerable portion of my brain that is still grasping for a few more days of rest and relaxation.

So when it comes to the kitchen, I've found myself even more on the hunt for quick, easy and tasty meals than usual. I want to spend less time cooking but have it result in creations that my whole family is going to enjoy... is that too much to ask?

Not when Boboli ready-made pizza crusts have made it possible to customize your pizza perfectly, whether for a family night in, quick appetizers for dinners with friends or a great starting slate for those leftovers from last night’s dinner. Simply personalize, prepare, bake and eat!

Delicious Boboli pizza crusts are just the thing to help with all of my home cooking needs, from tasty pizzas to delicious desserts. Whether the menu calls for veggie pizzas or fruit pizzas (or anything in between), Boboli products can help get you started and on your way to a meal that will receive rave reviews.

There's no need to compromise on toppings and families can create options to satisfy anyone's craving or need, from fun and cheesy to nutritious and delicious. The versatile crusts, available in 8" and 12" sizes and Original, 100% Whole Wheat and Thin Crust, offer endless customization ideas. Plus, all Boboli products are cholesterol-free and have zero grams of trans fat. It's a win-win!

Fortunately for me, not only was I given the opportunity to feed my family a tasty pizza, but Boboli's Chef Mark (a Brooklyn-born chef that has worked in a 5-star restaurant) helped point me towards Boboli's A Taste of Italy recipe when I told him pizza toppings that I typically enjoy. All that was left to do was put this custom pizza together and give it a try!

A Taste of Italy

12" Boboli Original Pizza Crust
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb fresh Mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 tsp salt
Fresh basil, sliced
Pinch of Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 450°. Brush pizza crust with olive oil. Drain fresh Mozzarella and thinly slice. Place cheese slices on the crust. Spread diced tomatoes over entire crust. Sprinkle salt and Italian seasoning over all ingredients. Snip fresh basil leaves to cover the other ingredients. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and enjoy!

I love the taste of basil, so I left my pieces nice and large as I put together this quick and easy recipe.

I ended up taking my pizza out of the oven at the 8-minute mark because the cheese was melting and dripping off (mental note: next time don't place the cheese so close to the edges), but I think it could have used to have stayed in a little longer to fully brown.

But even with the early removal, the results still looked delicious!

Mmmm! We sliced this up and the sound of contented munching was all that was heard.

The combination of the toppings with the tasty Boboli crust was a perfect match and we weren't even done with the meal before Big Sister E was asking when we were going to have this pizza again. I'd call that a hit!

With the easy customization, quick assembly, and mouth-watering results, I have no doubt that we'll be having Boboli again in the future. Available in major supermarkets nationwide, keep an eye out for these pizza crusts in a store near you and be sure to connect with Boboli on Facebook for coupons, offers, recipes and inspiration for your next dinner.

(Other than the information and sample that I was sent by Boboli, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their tasty products.)

Hoover Nano Cyclonic Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner {Review #CBias}

2012-01-17T17:32:00.001-06:00

My views on vacuum cleaners seem to have changed over the years and, oddly enough, seem to somewhat mirror the way that I feel about strollers.

Strange connection? I agree.

Here's how: before I had children, I gravitated towards the large, bulky, heavy, flashy, packed-with-every-possible-feature-even-if-its-not-one-I-will-ever-need strollers because, well, they just had to be the best, right?

Well, before I had a house of my own to clean, I felt the same way about vacuums. The ones that must be the best surely had to have all the bells and whistles, bright colors, 18 different attachments, and weighed nearly what I did. Who cares how easy it was to push, we're talking horsepower, Baby!

Right.

Now that I have kids, I wouldn't take a second glance at the monstrous stroller systems and now that I have a house, I don't want to have to deal with a vacuum that is so heavy that I'm going to feel like I ran a marathon after having cleaned my first floor.

Instead, when given the chance to head to Walmart to purchase a vacuum for our home, I wanted something bagless, portable, lightweight, and designed for carpets as well as hardwood. After some research online at Walmart.com as well as right on Amazon.com...

...I was ready to head to the store with my 5-year-old shopping buddy to pick out a vacuum cleaner that would meet our needs.

After meandering our way through the store (check out our entire shop in photos here) and spending some time browsing all of the options available, the Hoover Nano Cyclonic Compact Bagless Upright Vacuum ended up coming home with us.

The first thing I noticed when pulling the Nano Cyclonic out of the box was that it was nearly fully assembled, something that I definitely appreciated. Knowing that I wasn't going to have to spend a great deal of time (or any amount, really) sifting through an instruction manual to get things put together was a welcome realization.

After snapping the cleaning wand (which doubles as the handle) into the base with a click and wrapping the 20' power cord in place, I was ready to put this vacuum to the test and see if I had made a good choice.

Hitting the power button, I was happy to see that Hoover had truly made this vacuum compact and lightweight, weighing less than 12 pounds. That's it! It glides smoothly and effortlessly and even after cleaning room after room, you aren't left feeling worn out or exhausted from lugging it around.

When it comes time to move from our carpet or rug to the hardwood, the lever to turn off the brushroll is easily accessible right on the base. Considering that I spend a great deal of time moving between multiple floor surfaces, I was glad that I never have to go far to give it a simple press and release!

As well as the floors, switching over to use the cleaning wand in tight spots, on upholstery, on the stairs or reaching up high is done in moments. The quick-release wand pulls right out...

...and the stretchy hose adds an extra 5' of length. I love that the crevice tool is permanently attached to the end. Instead of having to keep track of it (and, most likely misplacing it like many of its predecessors), it is always there ready to go.

When I need a little more and want to attach the brush, it is easily removed from its storage location right on the side of the vacuum and slides right on over the crevice tool.

While the cyclonic technology included in this Hoover provides strong suction power, I also appreciate that the HEPA and foam filters are able to be rinsed and reused so that I won't have to worry about spending money on replacements. Simply release the body of the vacuum...

...and twist off the top to reach the HEPA filter...

...or lift up the base to find that the foam filter is easily accessible right underneath.

When it comes time to clean out the dirt cup, that is also made easy by the convenient bottom-release design. Just bring the body to the garbage can to unclasp the bottom and let the dirt fall out - never worrying about getting your hands into the debris.

The Hoover Nano Cyclonic Compact Bagless Upright is a great vacuum for small or large places, multiple surfaces, and is plenty easy enough to push and use for anyone. With its light weight and easy maneuverability, going from room to room is simple... and the addition of the stretch hose and extension wand make it possible to get every nook and cranny from floor to ceiling clean.

Best of all? While many vacuums with this size retail for well over $100, the Hoover Nano Cyclonic has a price tag of $58.84 at Walmart and Walmart.com (it is also available on Amazon for slightly more). For a vacuum that has comparable features and performance to similar uprights that cost a considerable amount more, why spend the money?

Instead, for all the power you need to get your floors clean, Hoover has invented a way to give peace of mind that you are getting your home truly clean without spending unnecessary time and effort. Find out more and read many other positive reviews on the Walmart and Hoover websites.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias but all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Improve Your Workout with Jockey and Purex Crystals {Review & Giveaway}

2012-01-17T09:45:00.001-06:00

This probably won't come as a big surprise, but I found out recently that 12% of all gym memberships are started in January. So it looks like not only do the majority of people make New Year's resolutions to lose weight, but quite a few put their money where their mouth is and want a place to jump start their goal to get in shape.

But when it comes to following through on our aspirations to get healthy, exercise means more than just signing our names on the line, it means getting geared up and putting in the sweat of a good workout.

And no one knows better about creating high quality, comfortable products and those that help keep them clean and performing well than the powerhouse team of Jockey and Purex.

The combination of the Jockey Tech Terry Sports Bra and a bottle of Purex Crystals Tropical Splash Fabric Softener is a great way to get started with workout apparel that is breathable, supportive and convenient. Although normally fabric softener is not recommended on performance sportswear (because the oil content prevents the wicking process), Purex Crystals is a perfect pairing.

As I can always use another reason to get to the gym, when a package from Jockey and Purex arrived, I was interested in trying out both of these innovative products.

Created out of a 93% polyester/7% spandex mix, the Tech Terry Sports Bra contains all of the features that a woman needs for a comfortable fit. The moisture-wicking and breathable mesh panels keep you cool and dry when your workouts are heating up and the soft bottom band doesn't feel binding or tight.

Although I haven't found the need for it yet, this sports bra also contains a convenient key pocket in the middle front so that you can tuck your key in place if you're heading out for a run. What a unique idea!

Of course being able to machine wash and dry athletic gear is a must, so hearing that Purex Crystals has a formula that will not impact the quality and performance of this sports bra was great. Plus, with the way that these crystals go in at the start of the wash (therefore spending more time with the laundry) and infuse clothes with long-lasting freshness, now I never have to worry about the possibility of any lingering odors that I'd rather not sniff.

This is one fabric softener that really couldn't be much easier... or safer. Instead of traditional liquid versions that leave oil that can interfere with the absorbency of your towels, reduce the effectiveness of your sportswear, or impair the ability of children's sleepwear to meet certain flame-retardant standards, these 92% natural crystals are simple, easy and can be used on your entire family's clothes.

The result of this bottle of Tropical Splash has been soft laundry and a fresh, sweet scent that we can't help but enjoy. I'm ready to workout and my kids are happy that anything from their shirt to their socks smells like a little taste of the tropics.

Are you heading to the gym anytime soon? Thanks to the generosity of Jockey and Purex, one person will be able to do so in comfort and style, because...

One lucky person will win a Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra and a bottle of Purex Crystals!

To enter to win: Visit Jockey or Purex and leave me a comment about an item from either site that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

3 Extra Entries if you sign up for a 20% off coupon from Purex Crystals for Jockey products.
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Jockey on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Purex on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a Jockey Tech Terry Sports Bra and Purex Crystals for a better workout today! http://bit.ly/ycXqHZ @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 30th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Jockey and Purex for providing a Jockey Tech Terry sports bra and Purex Crystals for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Getting Fit for the New Year: Special K Challenge Results

2012-01-16T17:43:00.001-06:00

Two weeks ago I mentioned that I was embarking on the Special K Challenge and, unsurprisingly, the past 14 days have really flown by.

Although I felt the need to mentally prep myself for this program, it became clear after the first day that it really wasn't necessary. All of the Special K meal plans were designed by dietitians to help you see real, positive changes in how you look and feel and they clearly lay out all of the steps, meals, support and more that you need to get started.

Just pick which one is right for you, your lifestyle, and your weight goals and you can get started in minutes!

Having chosen to take on the Special K Challenge, right away I was happy to see that there was plenty of actual eating involved in this plan. There's just no way to be starving when you're eating five times a day!

Starting my morning off with a bowl of any one of the varieties of Special K cereal was tasty and easy and I found that I was often not feeling remotely hungry by the time my morning snack rolled around.

Little Sister B often likes to eat the strawberries out of my cereal, but it's still quite tasty!

I especially loved the convenience of the cereal bars and protein meal bars, as they were perfect to throw into my purse as I was running out the door and eat while on the way to our next destination. But my favorite food out of all of them?

I have been known to eat a large portion of a container of Pringles (and then feel sick afterward. I don't even want to know the calories in that) so I was extremely happy to find that the Special K Cracker Chips in sour cream and onion were an amazingly tasty substitute.

They're crispy, they're flavorful and I can eat 27 of them in a 110-calorie serving! I've been enjoying these so much that I put them on our grocery list and when my husband was at the store last week he found them on sale... so now I have half a dozen more boxes waiting. Yum!

So, how did the Special K Challenge end up for me?

I do have to admit that there were days that I had a more difficult time following the plan than others (e.g. when we were out of town), but I was still thrilled to step on the scale and find a loss of four pounds this morning.

Four! From drinking delicious shakes (the Dark Chocolate Protein Shake is divine) to eating things like Special K Strawberry Crisps and Special K Chocolately Chip Cookie cereal bars, I never felt hungry or deprived and I still lost weight... that's what I call a success!

I'm debating on whether or not to try the Special K Challenge for another two weeks or to try the "Achieve a Goal Weight" plan and try to make it to my goal in the upcoming months. Even though my determination and motivation seem to waver on some days more than others, I know that if I put my mind to it that I can make it there eventually... and I'm thankful for Special K for getting me started!

Interested in seeing how they can get you on track as well? Check out the Special K meal plans and see what a difference two weeks can make in your life. You can also chime in with Special K on Facebook and Twitter, where they share content and spread positive words of encouragement to impact the conversation around weight loss.

Disclosure: I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience. Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program. Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds. Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

2012-01-16T08:49:00.001-06:00

In the same way that my children question how it's possible that Mom knows the answer to every question, I want to know their secret to how they manage to make everything in their wake end up sticky.

From the counter tops in the kitchen to the sink in the bathroom to the chairs in the dining room (and let's not forget the doorknobs, faucets, windows, and more), it seems like every time I turn around there is something that needs to be wiped off. And, with the number of colds that we've been through already this winter, I don't only want to wipe off our surfaces, I want to disinfect them to keep away as many germs as possible.

Instead of having to dig out a multitude of different cleaning products to move from room to room and from surface to surface, life is so much easier with the versatility and quality of Clorox Disinfectant Wipes.

Specially formulated to handle a wide range of cleaning jobs, Clorox cleaning wipes are the disposable cloth wipes that are designed to disinfect while providing a deep and thorough clean when used. By being able to rely on only one cleaning product to handle any number of cleaning projects, people cleaning at home or for a business know that a single container of Clorox wet wipes can be used to clean the vast majority of surfaces.

Already loving the convenience, I was pretty excited to find a case of six canisters of Clorox Fresh Scent Wipes on my doorstep thanks to CleanItSupply.com.

That's right, CleanItSupply.com did it again and has ensured that everything from our floors to our counters to our appliances will be spic and span quickly and easily. As these wipes are safe on plastic, the majority of wood surfaces, as well as glass and mirrors (thanks to the clear-drying, streak-free finish), I hardly have to do much more than open the top and pull one out.

I've been using these wipes everywhere in our home and the resulting cleanliness has not only improved the look and smell of each space, but knowing that they are helping keep things safe and sanitary helps ease some of the worries in my mind.

Each pre-moistened Clorox wipe is guaranteed to eliminate up to 99.9% of germs, including the viruses that cause colds and flu, so now I'm just hoping we'll make it through the rest of the season without coming down with anything more!

As with our past experiences with CleanItSupply.com, purchasing their wholesale cleaning supplies just makes sense. The affordable prices mean that you no longer have to continually head to the store, but can instead stock up on the products that you already know and love - just now in bulk!

A case of Clorox wipes like this would retail for around $44 elsewhere on the internet, but CleanItSupply.com offers it for $28.08. Simply make this one purchase and their lightening fast shipping will have it at your door and ready to rid your home of dirt, bacteria, and all of the mysterious sticky substances that you have to deal with as well.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, two people are going to be prepared to wipe away germs for quite some time to come, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (6 canisters) of 75-count
Clorox Fresh Scent Disinfecting Wipes!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that you would love to have in your home.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

2 winners: Win a CASE of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes from www.CleanItSupply.com! http://bit.ly/y5egIk @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 6th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Clorox Wipes for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Pong Cases: Protect your iPhone, Blackberry, Android or iPad as well as your Health {Review}

2012-01-16T08:27:00.000-06:00

When I spent time on the telephone as a kid, it was for practical, functional purposes. I'd spend my 20 seconds pushing the dial on that old rotary phone (and listening to the click, click, click as it spun) so that I could talk to my friends about school, boys or just life in general.

These days, however, phones are so much more than just a way to give someone a call. With so many apps and games that are designed for children of all ages, parents hardly think twice about handing over their phone or tablet for any number of educational or entertainment purposes.

But all that time spent with technology isn't necessarily positive, as recent research has shown the radiation is especially harmful to children. So what are we to do about it? Instead of keeping the gadgets out of reach, Pong Research Corporation has found a way to instead protect our children with their innovative cases for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones and both versions of the iPad.

An article published last month in the scientific journal, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, reported that children absorb twice as much radiation from cell phones as adults do (most vulnerable are a child’s brain, eyes and bone marrow, which can absorb as much as 10 times the amount of radiation an adult’s body does) and more than FCC guidelines permit.

Developed by scientists out of MIT, Princeton, UCLA and Harvard, Pong is the world’s leading maker of cell phone and iPad cases that protect smartphone and tablet users from the wireless device radiation that was classified in 2011 as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. In fact, Pong cases have been scientifically proven in independent, FCC-certified labs to reduce cellular radiation by up to 95% below the FCC target.

Protecting myself and my children while not interfering with the service or quality of my phone or tablet? Why in the world wouldn't I want that?

As my kids are constantly intrigued by my iPad, I was looking forward to seeing how a Pong case could ease my worries about the possible harm that they might be in by staying in such close proximity.

A Lexan case with a metallic silver finish on the inside and a Leather Touch finish on the outside, the Pong iPad case impressed me right away with its sleek, modern look and extremely easy usability.

As Pong's unique case design ensures that the iPad's antenna is exposed at all times, that means that the transmission power stays optimized (and you don't have to worry about not operating at full powers). At the same time Pong's patented antenna technology spreads and redistributes the electromagnetic radiation, lowering the absorption rate by up to 82% below the FCC limits.

It's the best of both worlds - power plus safety!

Snapping this case into place took only a few seconds, as it simply pops right on and holds sturdily to all four corners.

With all of the ports and buttons easily accessible...

...the only thing that was noticeably different after adding the Pong case was that the iPad weighed slightly more. Other than that, it had a stylish, contemporary look and provided me the knowledge that my head and body (and those of my children) were being protected from unnecessary radiation exposure.

Success! Available in a variety of colors and retailing between $49.99 and $99.99, depending on the device, Pong cases have been designed and tested to work anywhere in the world, so you never have to worry about being protected.

For the children (or adults) in your family, be sure to check out PongResearch.com to see how these unique and quality products can help for you. Also, be sure to Like Pong on Facebook for news of special promotions, new product introductions and more.

(Other than the iPad case that I was sent by Pong, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this product.)

Winners!

2012-01-14T10:31:00.000-06:00

The lucky winner of a pair of women's fashion rain boots from Chooka is...

Congratulations, Penny Kathleen!

The lucky winner of three bags of delicious Lindt Lindor Truffles is...

Congratulations, amp!

The lucky winner of a White Vapor COMP Epiphany iPhone case and a Joule iPad stand from Element Case is...

Congratulations, brich2222!

Thank you to everyone who entered these fun giveaways! Have a great weekend!

pediped footwear Purchases with Purpose Sale and the pediped Rewards Program {Review & Giveaway}

2012-01-13T00:13:00.003-06:00

One of the other moms from Little Sister B's preschool class asked me recently if she was able to wear Big Sister E's hand-me-down shoes. I didn't even have to glance over at my daughter before answering, "Of course!"

After all, part of the benefit of having a pair of high quality, comfortable, distinctive and fashionable shoes for an older child is the knowledge that they're going to easily hold up well enough that they can be worn by a younger sibling.

And, when that footwear is available in styles from casual to dressy and for a wide range of stages of development (infants through 6+ years), it's clear that pediped has shoes that will always keep growing feet safe, healthy and looking good for years to come.

As much as we have always loved pediped footwear for their amazing shoes, everything that I have learned about them as a company has made me even more smitten.

First, they created the pediped foundation.

Headquartered in Henderson, NV, the pediped foundation is the work of pediped footwear’s founders and co-owners Brian and Angela Edgeworth and co-owner Rudy Glocker. The mission of the pediped foundation is to enhance the lives of children through financial and product support to charities and organizations that are aligned with the foundation's mission.

Through working with charities that are dedicated to the health, education, basic necessities and the personal fulfillment of children around the world, 100% of the funds raised by the pediped foundation will go directly to these life-changing organizations.

So how can you help? By outfitting the child(ren) in your life with fantastic shoes, of course! pediped footwear is hosting a fundraiser called Purchases with Purpose that is going on now through February 5th that will directly benefit the pediped foundation. Select styles on pediped.com are marked down as much as 50% and half of the sales from those shoes will be donated to the pediped foundation to help children in need.

In addition to kicking off the New Year with the Purchases with Purpose sale, pediped has announced the launch of the pediped Rewards program. Customers who make a purchase on their website are automatically enrolled in the pediped Rewards program, which allows for them to earn cumulative rewards for every purchase they make:

Level 1 (spend $100 or more) - At Level 1, customers will receive a $5 credit to use on a future order and they will continue to receive a $5 credit for each additional $100 spent.

Level 2 (spend $150 or more) - At level 2, customers will receive free shipping on any order of $30 or more for the remainder of 2012.

Level 3 (spend $200 or more) - At level 3, customers will receive free return shipping for the remainder of 2012.

Level 4 (spend $250 or more) - At level 4, customers will have through December 31, 2013 to use all of the rewards they have earned.

Who doesn't like to be rewarded for their shopping?

I love knowing that pediped is commited to giving back to the community and to their customers and the Purchases with Purpose fundraiser is the perfect time for shoppers to receive pediped Rewards and make a difference in the life of a child at the same time.

Around here, pediped has already made a difference by sending over a pair of their award-winning shoes for Big Sister E. Being the non-girly girl that she is, she ignored all of the designs with pink or Mary Jane styling and couldn't have been more excited when the Caleb Brown (no longer available) arrived for her.

These rugged tennis shoes are water safe and washable and the Velcro top closure and elastic laces make them extremely easy to get on and off. As well as the easy care, I love that the eco-friendly make up of these shoes are not only good for the earth, but also for Big Sister E's feet as the flexible uppers and soles encourage healthy foot growth.

But one of my absolute favorite features of these pediped shoes is that they contain their trademark Flex Fit System. By providing an additional set of insoles, these can be inserted for a more snug fit (they reduce the shoe size by almost half a size) and then removed for room as the child's foot grows. Talk about extending the life of a shoe!

I did choose these shoes in a size larger than what Big Sister E is just growing into, so I wasn't surprised when she put them on and found that they were a little loose. However, once we tried again with the extra insoles, they were nearly a perfect fit and she has been bursting at the seams waiting for her current pair of shoes to be fully outgrown so that she can start wearing these.

pediped footwear is sold in over 3000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 120 designs for boys and girls between their three lines: Originals, Grip ‘n’ Go and Flex.

I always enjoy seeing the new styles and colors that are added to the collections and I appreciate that pediped is continuously working to improve their footwear (e.g. they are coming out with new soles on their Originals shoes) to be the very best possible. You'll want to be sure to sign up to be a pediped Insider (right on the homepage) so that you don't miss special promotions, new products, sales, discounts and more.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to outfit the young child in their life with a pair of great shoes as well, because...

One lucky person will win a pair of pediped Originals*!

*The giveaway winner will select the size and whether they would prefer a boy or girl design and pediped will select which style.

To enter to win: Visit pediped and leave me a comment telling me which shoes are your favorite (it will be difficult to pick just one)!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow pediped on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up to become a pediped Insider (found on the pediped homepage).
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a pair of pediped footwear Originals shoes (ARV $32) - stylish & high quality! http://bit.ly/yfwJZj @thxmailcarrier #win #giveaway

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 3rd at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to pediped for providing a pair of Flex shoes for me to review as well as a pair of Originals for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Pine-Sol Pine Scent Cleaner from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

2012-01-12T12:54:00.001-06:00

In our recently completed house remodeling project, my husband and I started out focusing on the kitchen... and then slowly found ourselves adding more to the work order.

Downstairs bathroom? Sure, let's rip that out as well. Move the washer and dryer up from the basement? Absolutely. Get rid of the carpet and put hardwood down for nearly the entire first floor? Sign us up!

However, now that those changes have been made, I've found a few aspects that I hadn't previously considered. One is that the color we chose for the new bathroom wasn't quite right. Two is that I had NO idea how much work it is to take care of hardwood floors. All this time I was sure that it would be easier than the carpet... but why didn't anyone warn me that I would have to sweep multiple times a day?

But when it comes to keeping this expanse of floor clean, disinfected and polished, nothing beats the classic power of Pine-Sol.

Strong, safe and timeless, original Pine-Sol is the foremost name in liquid cleaners and is chosen time and time again for small or large janitorial jobs. Specially formulated to clean and deodorize counter tops, tile, sinks, garbage cans, no-wax floors, toys, plastic furniture, baseboards and more, there's just no beating the proven disinfecting power that Pine-Sol cleaner is known for.

No rinsing required, this powerful formula cleans off dirt and grease quickly and easily while leaving a fresh pine scent in its wake. Pine-Sol is the ideal cleaning choice to be used against grease and grime and instead leave your surfaces spotlessly free of mess and germs.

And where better to stock up on this must-have cleaner? CleanItSupply.com, of course. If you've read any of my past posts, you already know that their bulk cleaning products and affordable prices mean that instead of having to continually head to the store, I now have my own little army of Pine-Sol cleaners poised and ready to take on the job of keeping my new floor sparkling clean.

That's right, 12 bottles! Whereas a case like this would cost you around $42 elsewhere on the internet, CleanItSupply.com offers it for $26.31. That's it! One purchase and their lightening fast shipping will have it at your door and ready to clean your floors for quite some time to come.

I love knowing that I'm not going to run out of Pine-Sol anytime soon and that every time I reach for the bottle that I'm going to be left with sparkling clean floors and that distinctive pine scent that just means clean.

If you haven't visited CleanItSupply.com to see the size of their selection of household items, paper products, cleaning supplies and MUCH more that they have to offer, now is the time! Everything they sell is top-notch, the prices are affordable, and it's all delivered quickly and easily right to your front door. All they need to do now is send over someone to do the actual cleaning for me...

While I wait for that, how clean are your floors? Thanks to the generosity of CleanItSupply.com, two people are going to have theirs shined to perfection soon, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (12 bottles) of
28-ounce Pine-Sol Cleaners!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that you would love to have delivered in bulk.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Sparkling clean floors! Win a CASE of Pine-Sol from www.CleanItSupply.com - 2 winners! http://bit.ly/z0Z1kd @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 2nd at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Pine-Sol for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.