Bring it on 2010!

I can't believe yet another year has flown by, it seems like it was just yesterday I was planning for 2009!
Where has the time gone? What did I accomplish and what do I STILL have to get done?

I have many goals for 2010, the biggest being getting back to school! I have been thinking about it for awhile now, but something just feels right about doing it this year. I'd love to get into Dental Hygiene, so I'm hoping that 2010 will open up the pathway to becoming what I want to be : )

Of course, I've got a few resolutions too, I'd like to start going to bed early, lose a few pounds, and some more personal ones that I really need to work on. All I know is that something feels good about thinking about the future, and I hope that feeling is right!

I wish you all a Happy and safe New Years, and can't wait to welcome in 2010!

Happy New Year from Momma Loves 2 Shop!!!!!

Fizz Cups Review and Giveaway!

Even in the middle of winter, I get cravings for a Root Beer float! The kids love them too, and now, thanks to The Fizz Cups, we can have them without even having to leave the house! Fizz Cups are a fun, and yummy invention that will get the entire family smiling and wanting to make their own floats!

David Chodosh created The Fizz™ as a way to put a fun new spin on an all-American classic: the root beer float. He sought a way to simplify the process of making a soda float, at the same time making it more fun to drink. His concept was to devise a “mixing chamber” that would separate the ingredients and allow the float drinker to mix them as desired, and also make it fun visually as the soda mixes with the ice cream to create an eruption of foam. After many experiments and prototypes, he arrived at design that was both innovative and easy to produce.

When we recieved our Fizz Cups, my daughter wanted to make a Root Beer float, and my son wanted to try and Orange Crush float. I have to say, I loved the Crush float, but the Root Beer was sooo yummy! And then I thought of all the other flavors we could try out, Strawberry, Grape, Cherry Coke, the possibilites are endless! You can also use with milk to make a chocolate shake, so many options!
Fizz Cups can be purchased online here!

The ONLY thing I must warn you about The Fizz Cups, is when a child is making their own, make sure you tell them NOT TO SQUEEZE TOO HARD! Otherwise, you will be cleaning up a spray of pop and ice cream, not fun, I know from experience : )

Here's the best part! One lucky reader is going to win a 4 pack of their own Fizz Cups, to make yummy treats for themselves! All you have to do is let me know what flavor float you would like to try! (Mandatory entry!)

Extra entries-

1. Subscribe to my blog ( 2 entries)

2. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

3. Grab my button ( 2 entries)

4. Blog this giveaway ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me and tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

This giveaway will end on Jan. 4th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org, and will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize!

Thanks to Fizz Cups for the fun opportunity to review! Definetly a yummy treat, and can't wait to experiment some more!

Fiber One 50 Calorie Yogurt Review and Giveaway

I'm always looking for healthy snacks for myself and my hubby, and when I was given the opportunity to try out the Fiber One 50 Calorie Yogurt, I was very excited! See, I love yogurt, and hubby could eat it everyday, 2-3 times a day, if he could find one that was low in calories and tasted good. Well, now we've got a winner!
Not only does Fiber One 50 Calorie yogurt satisfy our hunger, but it also provides our bodies with much needed fiber! So we're getting a yummy snack, and it's also helping our body!
I also introduced these to my 6 year old daughter, she has tummy issues and I decided to try these instead of her usual powder that goes in her drink. Well, she loves the yogurt, and I think it is helping her with her issues! Again, I love that she also is getting a healthy snack, and it's helping her body! She just thinks it tastes yummy!
Fiber One is available in a variety of flavors including, Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla and Key Lime Pie. So I'm sure that there will be a flavor for everyone to enjoy! I especially like the Strawberry, and hubby loves his Vanilla with some fresh fruit mixed in! Of course, my daughter will eat it all, she's pretty easy to please when it comes to yogurt!

Want to try it yourself?
Well, here is a $1 off coupon to get you started! And, thanks to MyBlogSpark, 2 lucky readers are going to win their own  "Healthy & Fit Weight Management" gift bag that includes a Fiber One yogurt VIP coupon (good for a free 4-pack of Fiber One yogurt), cooler pack, and other storage items for you to carry your snacks and yogurt! This is a great way to start off the New Year, and for anyone, (like me), trying to lose some weight for their resolution, well, you just HAVE to enter!

Heres how to enter

1. Tell me your guilty snacking pleasures! ( Mandatory entry!)

2. What are your dieting secrets? ( 1 entry)

3. Subscribe to my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

5. Grab my button ( 2 entries)

6. Follow me and tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

This giveaway will end on Jan. 2nd. Winners will be chosen using Random.org, and winners will be notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize!

Fiber One has provided me with the product, gift pack, information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own, and thank you to MyBlogSpark!

Win a blog makeover, enter now!

Head over to Gisele Jaquenod and Birdie to enter to win a blog makeover, what a great way to start off the new year, with a new look to your blog!
Contest ends January 20th, hurry and get entered!

When will I learn?! Christmas shopping rants!

This year, I honestly didn't know if Christmas was going to be a good one for the kids. We have to be careful with our money the next few months, and hubbys business is slow right now. Thankfully, he made some good sales, and I was able to get out and make sure Christmas was going to be a good one!
Every year, I tell myself that I will be completly done shopping at least 2 days before Christmas, and every year, I am out on Christmas eve doing last minute shopping! I mean, we're talking out until the very last minute, then I rush home to get ready to go to the family party. EVERY YEAR! I stress myself out, give myself a migraine, and end up exhausted before I even began setting up for Christmas day!
I don't know how I get so behind, I make my lists every weekend, I go thru the internet to find coupons and deals, yet every year, I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, trying to tie up all the loose ends. I do have to say,this year wasn't AS bad, because I decided to cut back on cousins and aunt/uncle gifts. I tried to make it easy, perfume for the girls, gift cards for the boys, and candy for Aunts/uncles. However, I did forget the candy on Christmas eve, and came home to an entire box of Fannie May Pixies devoured by the stupid dog! Oh how I wanted to throw her in the car and dump her far far away! I think hubby would probably divorce me, so I just bitched and moaned about what a PITA dog she is : )
And then, Christmas morning finally arrived, the kids opened their gifts, and were VERY happy, aside from the fact that Santa forgot to give my daughter the ONE present she specifically asked for (BAD SANTA), a Spongebob game for Wii, that cost $50, and I just couldn't do it, I had bought more than I thought, and wasn't going to go return $50 in gifts to get that darn game the night before Christmas!
I do have to say, the Zhu Zhu Pets were really a great gift! We were able to get 2, one for each, and the playhouse and exercise wheel! What a cute, fun toy! Even my 10 year old son enjoyed watching them run around their house and fight to get to the wheel, it was so sweet watching him sit with his little sis and have something they could enjoy together!
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and on to a Happy New Year!

Adorable Kinders Review

Picking out a doll for my daughter used to be an easy thing to do. Now with all the different types of dolls out there, I never know what to buy her!

Recently I was able to review a beautiful, sweet rag doll from Adorable Kinders. I had shown my daughter the many types of dolls to choose from and she had such a hard time finding a favorite, she loved all of them! Each doll has a special theme, are a group of Kindergarten friends, and the dolls name go from A to Z! Each doll comes with an internet key-code that may be used to register online at the “Adorable Kinders eSchool”. There children can play educational games that make learning fun (Preschool and grades K-6). When all of the games for a grade level are successfully completed, the child graduates to the next grade.

We couldn't decide between the Hope or Marie doll, so we were surprised with our Hope doll! It was so exciting to open it up, it is wrapped in tissue paper in a box, so you can preserve the doll well. My daughter was so, so excited, she told me that this was really her first favorite! Adorable Kinders has girl AND boy dolls, 26 in all to choose from,which I really like! My daughter has so many girl dolls, now I can find her a boy doll that will stand up to her many hours of playing house!
Each doll also comes dressed in a sweet little outfit, which is all machine washable, thank goodness!  As my daughter plays, sometimes she gets carried away and wants to feed them REAL juice or food, so I know I'll be able to make the doll as good as new if we come to that problem!  Additional clothing outfits and accessories are available and may be purchased separately. New designs of seasonal and holiday apparel and accessories will introduced each year.
These dolls are so soft and sweet, I cannot say enough wonderful things about them!

Adorable Kinders not only offers the adorable dolls, they also sell Doll clothing, Paper dolls, and Friendly pillows! Head over to their site to see their great selection of goodies!
I am so glad I was introduced to this company, I know my daughter will continue to have a wonderful time playing with her Hope dolly, and I will definetly recommend these dolls to anyone looking for a great doll that is not only cute, but durable and will hold up to any childs playing!

Thanks to Adorable Kinders for giving me the opportunity to review the Adorable doll. All opinions are my own, and I recieved the doll free of charge for this review.

Something I've noticed..

This is something that I've noticed lately, and mabye because I'm thinking about it I notice it more, not sure! But, do you ever notice how sometimes you recieve a text, or email, or message on Facebook, and right away, you assume that person is feeling a certain way? Now, how would I know that? It's a freakin text, not someone talking directly to me!
For example, last week I texted my hubby to make sure he was up for work. His reply was, I'm up, going in awhile. Right away, I texted him back, What's wrong with you? Are you ok?! I guess because usually I either get a Love you included, I assumed he was in a bad mood or mad at me.
Same thing goes for hubby and my mom, he sent her a message joking around about getting my daughters hair cut too short. She assumed he was being an ass to her, because he hates short hair, and texts me basically, What the hell is his problem? Of course, I too, figured he was being over reactive of the haircut, but when I actually called him, ready to bitch him out, he told me he was absolutely kidding, and had meant it all as a joke.
I am always assuming how someone is feeling thru a message or text, but how the heck do I really know?! Unless I see a sad or happy face on it, I shouldn't assume I know how they are feeling, or how the message should be taken.
It's been driving me nuts, and I just had to get this out to make myself feel better!

Win a Build a Bear Portugese Water dog!

Head on over to Simply Being Mommy to enter to win a Portugese Water dog from Build a Bear! I know my daughter would love this pup, so I'm entering right now!

Enter to win, giveaway ends Jan. 1st!

I finally got my Zhu Zhu Pets! Thanks Nowinstock.net!

If there was one thing my daughter REALLY wanted for Christmas, it was a Zhu Zhu pet! She had first found them while watching tv, and I thought they were cute, but never expected them to take off the way they did! So, as the weeks went by, I just kept telling myself I would pick one up closer to Christmas, and that mabye I would find a deal on Black Friday.
Well, man was I wrong! After seeing all the hype on blogs, I knew they were going to be this years Big ticket item, and I was going to have a hard time finding one. So, every week I would check our Target, Walmart and Toys R Us, with no luck whatsoever. Then, a few weeks ago my mother in law told me that a cousin had a few hamsters and different sets. She'd give me whatever I wanted for the regular price, thank god! I asked for a hamster, and the house. My mother in law paid her and told me to give them to my daughter from Santa : )
Then last week I stopped at Toys R Us for something else, and I found the Skateboard and Uturn Ramp, so I bought it and checked Ebay and Craigslist, hoping to make a few bucks. But the prices they were going for where crazy, so Ebay was out of the picture. I replied to a few ads on Craiglist, with no replies so I figured I'd keep it for daughter.
Well, Friday I got an email alert from Nowinstock.net that Zhu Zhu's were available online at Walmart.com! But, I wasn't home, no way to get to a computer, there goes my chance to get one for my son! Then around 2pm, I got 3 more alerts and jumped right on my computer, ordered it for $8 and $2 shipping, and now BOTH kids get a Zhu Zhu Pet! I'm so damn excited about this, my hubby thinks I'm nutty, lol!
And while we were looking thru the sale papers last night, Toys R Us has them on the front page, and my daughter said to me, "Oh, I really wish Santa could bring me one, I'd love to get this as my present" So, I know my little girl is going to be one happy camper come Christmas morning!

I would definetly recommend signing up at Nowinstock.net, if you are looking for a Zhu Zhu Pet, Accesories or any other hot item you're looking for! This was a lifesaver to me, and I didn't have to wait in any lines, or fight other mom's for a little fake hamster!

We have a Winner!

The winner of the Pawparrazzi Pets giveaway is....

Jaime- Congrats!!! I'll be sending an email shortly to confirm your prize! Please reply within 48 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Santa Swap 2009!

I was able to participate in the Santa Swap hosted by Shannon at The Mommy Files! I love these swaps, I have already done a Christmas in July swap and a Halloween swap, so I knew the Christmas swap was going to be SO much fun!
My partner was Alexis from Running Away? I'll help you pack!, she is awesome and so is her blog! I've been following her blog since I started blogging back in June, so I felt like I already knew her a bit. I love reading her posts and looking at the pics she posts to go with them! We each got a little survey of our partners likes/dislikes and some other ideas to pick out some really great gifts. 

All I have to say is, Thank You Alexis! I received a cute basket filled with bath and body products, in Coconut Lime Verbena scent, I've always wanted to try it but just never bought it for myself, and I really like it!  So, now I get a great smelling relaxation bath ahead : ) I also got the most adorable set of Snowman salt and pepper shakers, a pretty beaded bracelet, Peppermint Chocolate Chip Scone mix (this sounds SO, SO good, I want to make them tomorrow, but I also want to try and save them to make for Christmas morning!), and the best part, Candy Cane Roca! I fell in love with Almond Roca a few years ago, and actually didn't put it on my list, but Alexis told me that in Tacoma, they have the Roca plant! So I lucked out big time : )

Thank you so much Alexis, you really made my day today, and picked out some wonderful gifts for me! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I'm enjoying mine...the Candy Cane Roca is 1/2 gone and now I have to hide it from hubby who just took a piece and tried stealing the container from me, lol!
And thank you to Shannon, for organizing this fun swap! I will definetly be participating in the Valentines Swap, and I'm pretty sure every single one that comes after that! Meeting new friends, shopping for them AND getting presents myself, is just way too much fun to pass up!

Chia Goodness Cereal Review

Here is a new food product I never thought I would see! It's Chia Goodness Cereal, made from, Yes, Chia Seeds! Just like you'd find in a Chia Pet! At first, I had a hard time thinking about eating what was a Chia Pet, lol, but, it turned out to be really, really good!
My hubby and I tried it out first, right around the time it came he had decided to start a diet again. So, seeing as this is a cereal that's definetly good for you, we each had a bowl. I had mine cold, he has his hot. I would say I liked it hot better, it just seemed more filling and tastier. Both of my kids had to try it, just to say they ate something Chia, to tell their friends. My son isn't a big fan, unfortunetly, I think he's more of a Cheerios kind of guy. My daughter on the other hand, who is only 6, really liked it! She asked for a 2nd bowl, and I was shocked! She is the better healthy food eater of the 2, so I did have a feeling she'd be the better taste tester : )
I have now found other way to eat Chia Goodness, I sprinkle a little bit in some Vanilla yogurt, so, so good! I've even sprinkled some on Ice cream, and it gave it a nice tasty flavor!

A bit about Chia Goodness-

The little seed that sprouted into pet-shaped plants in the ‘70’s is back. It’s growing on consumers again, this time as a super food.


The chia seed still associated with mini-topiaries is actually one of the most nutritious seeds on the planet. According to the FDA’s nutrient database, chia (salvia hispanica L.), has five times more calcium than milk, and more Omega 3 than salmon. It is chock full of antioxidants, protein, fiber, and minerals. It is gluten-free, lactose-free, fat-free, and low glycemic. Chia is filling, and its energizing effects are long-lasting, making it perfect for casual and hard core athletes, as well as anyone seeking weight loss


Chia Goodness is available in three flavors: Original, Cranberry Ginger, and Apple Almond Cinnamon. “Chia is among the most nourishing, energy-giving, endurance-sustaining foods ever discovered,” says holistic pharmacist Sherry Torkos, B. Sc. Phm. “Chia Goodness makes it easy for anyone to access chia’s many benefits.

 Chia Goodness is water soluble and will absorb any liquid, hot or cold. It can be mixed with milk, water, juice, yogurt, applesauce, cottage cheese…It thickens within a few minutes into in a tapioca-like texture. It’s ready to enjoy with no cooking. Chia Goodness, like oatmeal, is supremely filling!

 Available at Whole Foods, select supermarkets and independent health food stores nationwide.

Thank you to Light Years Ahead for the opportunity to review Chia Goodness, I've found a great tasting treat the whole family enjoys!

Bored Inc. Review

I am always on the lookout for unique gift ideas, and because I have a very large extended family, I like to give gifts that nobody else may give. So, when given the opportunity to review products from Bored Inc., I was all for it!

I chose to review the Womens "Not So Sweet" Tee, the Kids "Lil Dumping" Tee, and the "Don't Pollute" Tote bag. When I recieved my goodies, just pulling them out of the cute wrapping I knew I had found a company that I could order from over and over again, and have the gift recipient smile when they opened up their gifts! The tshirts are so soft, and adorable! My daughter has to wear her Lil Dumpling shirt every week, and paired with her hot pink pants, it a really cute outfit! Me, well, I wear my Not So Sweet shirt, whenever I'm feeling, well, not so sweet : ). Lately, I'm wearing it often!

The tote bag is also wonderful, sturdy and well made, I've carried about a dozen kids books in it, I've brought it with me to the grocery store for small items, and I plan on using it over Xmas break while the kids and I go on our planned outings. I love that people are asking me where I got these items, and as I'm telling them about Bored Inc., I always mention my favorite shirt, the "Friends Forever" Tee, Stinky Poo and Toilet paper, lol! Any company that can make a pile of poop look adorable gets Kudo's from me!

Bored Inc. has something for everyone, Women, Men, Baby, Toddler and Child/Youth sized Tshirts, Belts, Totes, Aprons, Boxers/Undies, and also Decor and Gifts for the home! All shirts are around $20, but right now alot are marked down at $9.99- $12.99! Great deals for Xmas! Totes are $18 and well worth it, I think mine will last a LONG time! Everything is priced very well, you could probably make a cute little gift set for under $30!
If you order now, you will recieve free shipping on any order, a great deal for the holiday shopping! Please stop over, especially if you are looking for that hard to buy for person in your life, a gift from Bored Inc. will be one they will never forget!
Whether it be for a child, or a grownup, Bored Inc. is sure to bring a smile to anyones face!

Thanks to Bored Inc. for giving me the opportunity to review their products. All opinions are my own and no money was recieved, just these great gifts!

Build A Bear giveaway!

Looking for a special gift for that special child in your life? How about a Build A Bear, who doesn't love them?!
If you head over to Days Like These, you can enter to win either the Darth Vader bear, or the Frosty Snowman!
Hurry, contest ends tonight!

Mary Kay Giveaway

Simply Sondra is hosting an awesome Mary Kay giveaway, with 7 winners altogether! I love Mary Kay cosmetics, so I'm getting my entries in right away!

Head over to her blog and enter, this giveaway ends Dec. 8th!

My own better than Black Friday shopping trip!

Last week, I went out shopping for Black Friday, and believe me, I got some great deals! But this Friday, I went out shopping again, and I got some AWESOME deals!

First, I went to Bath and Body Works, I picked up 2 Victoria Secret Pink perfumes (my favorites!), at 2/$20, and a few Anti-Bacterial mini bottles. Originally, my total came to $24. I had a 20% coupon, AND a $10 gift card, so I paid around $10 for everything! I was excited, and even the salesgirl commented on what a great deal I got! Plus, I got a coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase, which will be used to finish up my cousins for Xmas.

Then I went to Old Navy, because, thanks to Super Coupon Girl, I won a $50 off a $100 purchase coupon!! I figured I could pick up some shirts and lounge pants for my stepdaughter, along with a few shirts for the kids for Xmas. Well, everytime I threw something in my bag and tallied up, I still had more money to spend! I love that : ) I got everything I needed above, PLUS, an outfit for niece, 2 shirts for myself, a stuffed giraffe for my little sis, and an air freshner, all for $64! That was 6 adult shirts, 5 kids shirts, 2 pants for daughter and a pair for my stepdaughter! All for $64! Thank you SO much Super Coupon Girl, this really helped out with stretching my Xmas money a long, long way!

I ended up at Kohls, where I have $20 Kohls cash and $8 left on a gift card. After rummaging thru the kids dept, I found nothing good so I went over to shoes. Yea, my Addidas gym shoes are on sale for $39.99! Unfortunetly, they didn't have my size so I have to go to another one tomorrow, but it's ok, because I found a 15% off coupon I can use!

If only everytime I went shopping I could walk out with deals like this! And this is the reason I LOVE to shop, bargains are my best friend!

Enter to win a Zhu Zhu Pet! Another great giveaway!

I NEED a Zhu Zhu pet, to be the worlds best mom to my kids! And I've been scouring the stores and calling anywhere I can think of that may carry them, with no luck!
So, I'm entering all giveaways that are Zhu Zhu! And heres a great one, you can win your own 2010 Zhu Zhu! Your child will be one of the 1st to get their hands on one, so I want to win, BAD!
Head on over to http://www.thenotsoblog.com/, and enter to win a 2010 Zhu Zhu Pet!

April Showers Blog Design Giveaway

April Showers Blog Design is having a HUGE giveaway and celebrating her OPEN waiting list that starts January 1st! April not only does blogs - but also invitations, announcements, calendars, cards, business cards, custom illustrations, and so much more! Just by pasting this paragraph on my blog I'm a winner!

Prizes: (Can also be given as gifts! Gift wrapping available! Okay...just kidding. But I do have an adorable gift certificate made up just for this purpose!)


Services include Blog Design, Custom Illustrations, Logos, Business Cards, Invitations, Announcements, HTML editing, and any other custom requests that are graphically related! (Services without a price listed on my blog are $20 an hour.)

Commenters 1-3: $100 gift certificate to spend any way they want for any services I offer!

Commenters 3-10: $50 gift certificate to spend any way they want for any services I offer!

Commenters 10-20: $25 gift certificate to spend any way they want for any services I offer!

Commenters 20-30: Win a FREE Custom Signature!

Commenters 30-40: Win 75% off any service I offer!

Commenters 40-50: Win 50% off any service I offer!

Commenters 50-60: Win 25% off any service I offer!

Commenters 60-1000000: Win 10% off any service I offer!


Your FIRST comment with the LINK to your blog post is the only one that counts towards the prizes. Comments are TOP SECRET until December 5th when the winners will be revealed at 10pm MT. Prizes must be claimed by December 10th at 10pm MT by using the "Contact Me" tab above. Winners will not be personally contacted. All prizes are for redemption between January 1st and January 31st 2010 and may be finished at any point within that time frame.

Kajeet Phone Review

As a mom to a preteen, I have heard this question many, many times..."Mom, can you get me a cell phone?" To which, my answer has always been, "When you're a little bit older." There was never a real need for him to have one, he wasn't in any activites and his friends all live within a few houses of ours.
Well, recently my answer changed, as I was introducted to the Kajeet cell phone! Kajeet is a cell phone specially made for kids! When I got the opportunity to review this phone, I knew both myself and my son would be very greatful.
When we recieved the phone, my son figured out all the programming modes, games, etc., within minutes. I on the other hand, had to check and recheck the instrution manual, lol! My son is 10, and is very tech savvy for his age, he just enjoys playing around with electronics, like his daddy!

Since he has Karate 1-2 nights a week, and is now on patrol at school, I thought this would be the perfect way to test out his phone. There are so many great things about Kajeet, from the TimeManager and ContactManager, allowing us parents to set limits on when the phone can and can't be used, to setting limints on who can and can't call or text my son. My favorite feature has got to be the GPS Phone Locator, we've used it more than a few times already, and it's great knowing that we can find it within minutes!

There are 3 different service plans for the Kajeet phone, from your basic plan at $9.99/month, the Great Deal $29.99/month and the Special $14.99/month. You decide what plan to start out with, and you can always change it as you find exactly how much the phone is used.
My son got a kick out of taking pic's with his phone, he took them of his friends while getting their numbers in his phone. I cannot say enough good things about Kajeet, mostly because it has really made my son become more responsible within a matter of weeks! He checks his balance, figures out who he'd like to call or text, and has a time limit for talking, it's amazing!

The only downside I found was that after your minutes run out, each addt'l minute runs 10 cents. If you purchase this phone, MAKE SURE you let your child know that! My son thought that it was 10 cents per call at first, so we could have ended up with a pretty hefty bill if he did not know how it worked corrrectly!
And of course, if you have a family plan with your own phone, it may be a bit cheaper in the long run, but I feel that giving my son his own phone created another opportunity for him to learn about so many great things!

If you would like more info on Kajeet, please head over to the website http://www.kajeet.com/. You can purchase Kajeet online, and also some stores thruout the US. They offer many different phones, from flip phones to Slider phones.
The Kajeet would make a great Christmas gift for your child, and I plan on having my son continue to use this phone until he decides he needs an IPhone, lol!

Thank you to Kajeet for allowing me to review this product. Kajeet has provided this phone free of charge for testing and review.All all opinions are my own and my sons.

It's time for some winners!

I've been a bit behind, these past few weeks have been absolutely crazy! Between sick kids, Thanksgiving, my birthday AND anniversary, I completely forgot to pull winners of the 2 giveaways!

So, here they are!!!

The winner of the Kidorable Umbrella
Congrats to Lace! I'll be emailing you shortly, you have 48 hours to claim your prize!
Thanks for entering!

The winner of the Hip-T giveaway

Congrats to SoccerMom! I'll be emailing you shortly, you have 48 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and please stop over and check out my current giveaways!

Pawparazzi Pets- Review AND Giveaway!

My daughter is a big animal fan, real or play, she just enjoys having pets around. So when given the opportunity to review Pawparazzi Pets, I knew she would be a great tester! Every time we go to the store, she sees the stuffed animals and starts naming them, and has a plan in her head about how she will take care of them.
We recieved Misty the cat, a Reporter for CNN-(Cat News Network). As soon as my daughter saw her, she was in love. We used to have a kitten that looked just like her, my daughter wanted to keep her, but we had to give her away. After opening her kitty up, an instant plan was made! She took her out of the purse/holder, and began caring for her. We also recieved an adorable Flower Fairy Clothing Set, which is the cutest little thing in the kitty! My daughter changed her, "fed her", and showed her where she would be sleeping, and her story has continued every day : ) I love how a stuffed animal can spark such imagination in a 6 year old, and oh the stories she has!
Pawparazzi Pets offers both cats and dogs, along with great accesories for your pet! Adorable outfits and pet beds will make a great Holiday gift for your animal lover!

If you head over to the site, you can sign your child up for the Fan Club, and they will recieve a special thank you gift for joining! My daughter recieved a cute charm bracelet, which doubles as a jeweled collar for her kitty.

Pawparazzi Pets can be ordered online, and are also available in stores thru out the US. Order in November and recieve 20% off, just use code PAW20 when checking out! There is also free ground shipping on orders over $75, so head over and make your purchase soon!

Heres the best part! One lucky reader will win their very own Pawparazzi Pet, all you have to do is head over to Pawparazzi Pets and let me know your favorite animal! (Mandatory Entry!)

Extra Entries-

1. Sign up for Pawparazzi Pets Fan Club ( 2 entries)

2. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

3. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries) ( Current subscribers count)

4. Blog this giveaway ( 3 entries)

5. Follow me and tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day)

This giveaway will end on Dec. 6th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize.
Good luck and thanks for entering!

Thank you to Pawparazzi pets for the opportunity to review your product. My daughter is enjoying her new pet, and I'm enjoying the creative ideas she keeps coming up with!

MyGrandParentsRock.com Review AND Giveaway!

I love to shop for gifts for family, but I always run into problems when it comes to the Grandparents! My own grandparents have everything and don't give me any ideas, and my mom and dad, well, they're pretty much the same way! So, when shopping for gifts, I need to be creative and find something that will make them smile, and be something they'll use.

When I was introduced to MyGrandparentsRock.com, I knew I could find some really neat gifts that would be useful and in my budget. What I REALLY like about the site is that they give pretty much every single way you could say Grandma and Grandpa, and you can personalize your items that way! My son used to call my mom "Gramma" and dad "Grampy" and they are both on the site!
Not only do they have Grandparents shirts, but they also offer Mom and Dad shirts, Aunt and Uncle, Baby gifts, and maternity shirts too! This is definetly a cool site to find that unique gift for your grandparents, or other family members!

I picked the shirt "Worlds Coolest Grandma, Stare if you Must!" for my mom, because, well, to us, she is the coolest! I know she's going to get a kick out of wearing it, and the kids are very excited to give it to her!

About MyGrandParentsRock-

Welcome to MyGrandparentsRock.com! We specialize in t-shirts and gifts for Grandparents.

Featuring more than one hundred different grandparent names, spellings, and variations, you're sure to find the perfect t-shirt, mug, hat and more for any beloved grandparent.

Here is the best part! One lucky winner will recieve a $30 Gift code to purchase their own unique shirt for their family member! All you have to do is head over to MyGrandparentsRock.com, and let me know your favorite shirt! ( Mandatory entry)

Extra Entries-

1. Sign up for their newsletter ( 1 entry)

2. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

3. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

4. Follow me and Tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day. Leave link!)

5. Grab my button ( 3 entries, leave a link!)

6. Blog this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave a link!)

This giveaway will end on Dec. 6th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and winner will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.
Thanks for entering and Good Luck!

Thank you to MyGrandParentsRock.com, for giving me the opportunity to review their product! Definetly a great company with so many wonderful items!

New Winner of High IntenCity giveaway!

Since the original winner did not claim the prize, I have now chosen a new winner....

Congrats to Anne J, you are the winner of the Hello Kitty Charm Gift Set!

I am sending you an email, please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize!

Great Halloween finds at Walmart!

I forgot to post this earlier, but I stopped at Walmart today for some things and decided to see if they had any Halloween stuff left. Well, they had a TON! It was more party favors, window clings, etc., but at 90% off, I figured I could get enough stuff to use for goody bags for bday parties AND use the leftovers for Halloween next year!
So, I scored-
2- 20 pack Porcupine balls $.25/each

2- 20 pack Vampire Teeth $.25/each

2- 10 pack Activity pads $.50/ each

3- Window clings $. 20/each

Pumpkin Carving Kit (Stencil book and 5 carving accesories) $1.00



And the best items I got were the 2 costumes I picked up!

Hippie Chick for daughter- $1.40!

Zombie man for son $2.00!

I was so happy finding this stuff! I should know to ALWAYS go to Walmart, they seem to have to best selection of 75%-90% Clearance items for all holidays!
And, if the kids decide they don't want to be what I got them here, I will donate the costumes to their school for the families that cannot afford costumes! Good deal for all : )

100 Followers!!!!

I am so happy! I have 100 followers, thank you all for following me! Now, to really thank you I'd like to do a little giveaway for you all, so, what would you like?
I'm up for any ideas, a nice bath and body basket, a reading/coffee basket, I'm all about baskets, lol!
Or, mabye a gift card with the holidays coming up?
Let me know, because I want this to be for YOU!

Thanks again everyone!

Kaskey Kids Review

My son is very hard to buy toys for, even when he was younger, I could never find toys he would play with for more than a week or so!
I was able to review the Kaskey Kids Hockey Set, which I chose because our family LOVES hockey! A few weeks ago, a set of army men was broke out and both my son AND daughter had been playing with them for days. So, when the Hockey set arrived, they were estatic! Now both of them could play and have a "game" going on, it was too fun to watch!

What I really like about the set, not only that it kept the kids entertained, and still is, is that they come packaged in a nice plastic carrying case, so the pieces stay in one place. I have found a few men lying around the living room a few times, but my daughter has been quick to get him back in the box, because it's always a team member of hers!
Finding toys that both of my children will play with, together, is a challenge for me. My son is 10 and my daughter is 6, so they do have different interests. I was very happy to see that both of the kids have enjoyed this set, together, and still are enjoying playing!

A bit about Kaskey Kids-
Kaskey Kids was founded by Bruce and Christy Kaskey in 2001 with the purpose of creating simple sports action figures.



As a mother of four sports-loving children, Christy saw that her children and their friends were happiest and most enthusiastic when sports were involved. Playing in the park, in the backyard or at the beach kept everyone active and occupied, but when playtime was brought inside, none of the traditional toys held the Kaskey Kids' interest.


Christy took a look back at her own childhood for some inspiration and could vividly remember her two brothers engaging in hours of imaginary play with simple action figures like Army Men, Super Heroes and Cowboys and Indians. After a few years with her house filling up with every bucket or bag of action figures, animals or cars, Christy realized that a simple box of sports action figures could be the key.

Kaskey Kids comes in 5 different sets-
Football
College Football
Baseball
Soccer
Hockey
And also carries Mini Sets, for your team to play against a new team!
Each kit sells for $24.99, and the Mini Sets are $9.99! Kaskey Kids Sets are available online, and also at select stores thru out the US!

Kaskey Kids have a great product for both boys and girls, and I would recommend checking them out for a fun, new toy for your kids!

Thank you to Kaskey Kids for the opportunity to review their sets, my children are enjoying it and will for a long time!

HIP- T-- Review and Giveaway!

If you are anything like me, you will want to read this review and enter this Hip-T giveaway!

Since I can remember, I have had problems finding jeans and pants that fit me just right. Either they are too small and I feel like I'm showing business that doesn't need to be shown, or they are too big and I need a belt! I have a very weird shaped body, so while I WANT to wear the cute and stylish tops, they are too short and I don't like showing my undies! Therefore, I end up wearing Tshirts or oversided sweaters that don't do anything for me : (

Now that I've been introduced to Hip-T, I know I can finally wear the shirts I've been dying to wear!
When I first saw Hip-T, I thought, "Wow, that is really creative!" And, such a simple solution to a problem that many women have.

Hip-T offers many styles and colors to choose from, so any shirt can be accesorized with the Hip-T for a great look. I even found that some old shirts I hadn't worn for years could now be worn again, and it was like showing off a new shirt!

A bit about Hip-T-
After years of loving and living in our low rise jeans and layering t-shirt over t-shirt, we had to acknowledge there was a problem. Daily activities such as sitting at a restaurant or bending to tie a shoe were met with constant rear end exposure of one type or another. To make matters worse, we were tired of dealing with bulky messy layers of t-shirts in hopes of camouflaging what might make an appearance with the next bend and snap! Let's not forget, layering in itself is a great look. So, whether it was butt crack hanging out of the trunk, or using that thin sweatshirt as an additional "cover-up" accessory around the waist, something had to be done short of walking away from the investment we had made in the denim department.



It is true, the best products are the simple ones which make our lives easier and more comfortable. With that in mind, we took an old white t-shirt and cut the bottom half off. We slipped it on around the scene of the crime and layered with another t-shirt. Now it was time for the test – a good deep squat in front of the mirror. Hey – no thong exposure, no bum cleavage and no t-shirt tangle. How easy! The first hip-T was resurrected from the depths of the t-shirt drawer. hip-hip hurray!

Hip-T's can be purchased online starting at $19.95, and are also available in select stores thru out the US and Canada! I would definetly recommend checking these out, for anyone who has suffered the dreaded Muffin Top or Plumbers Crack! Hip T is the best and easiest solution to these problems, and I bet you'll be satisfied with your new clothing wardrobe after purchasing!

Here's the best part! One lucky reader is going to win their choice of any Hip T in stock! All you have to do is head over to Hip-T and let me know your favorite style! ( Mandatory Entry!0

Extra entries-

1. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

2. Become a subscriber ( 2 entries)

3. Grab my button ( 2 entries, leave a link)

4. Blog this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave a link)

5. Follow me and Tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day, leave link)

Giveaway will end November 20th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to claim their prize!

Good luck!

Thank you to Hip-T, I have finally found the perfect solution to what has been a huge problem most of my life! I cannot thank you enough!

KIDORABLE- Review and Giveaway!

I love to have fun and cute things for my kids, for a few reasons... the biggest one being I like to know which item is my daughters or sons! Being in school, every kid in the class seems to have the same colored umbrella, or hat and gloves, so if my kid loses something and I have to dig thru the Lost and Found pile, I don't always know that I'm getting the same one my kid was wearing before they lost it!

At Kidorable, they offer so many cute and different choices! From umbrellas and rain gear, to winter hats, gloves and scarfs, each item will definetly stand out!

We choose the Fairy Umbrella, my daughter is loving Fairys right now, so she is in LOVE with it! Not only is the umbrella very well made, but it is a good sided one too. Last time I purchased a child umbrella, she barely stayed dry. Kidorable offers many styles for boys and girls, such as a Butterfly, Ladybug, or Mermaid for the girls, to a Dinosaur, Fireman or Frog for the boys! To complete your child for the rainy season, Kidorable also offers Raincoats and boots in the same styles, so your child can be matching from head to toe! Living in Illinois, I never know if we're going to wear our winter apparel, or have to break out the rain gear : ) The week we were sent out products, we were able to use BOTH in the same week, within days, lol! Gotta love Illinois!

We were also sent the Hearts knit hat and scarf for review, I loved that with the different colors, she can wear her replacement coat when the other is being washed. The hat and scarf match perfectly, and again, if she does misplace them, I can at least be sure that they will be easy to find!

The past few winters I have gone cheap and bought the kids $1-2 hats and gloves, because they were losing them or the hats were falling apart, so I felt like I was shelling out way too much money on the same thing over and over again. I have no doubt in my mind that this hat and scarf will stand up to her playing and running around, and that they will keep her warm while waiting to get into school : ) I only wish I would have found Kidorable earlier, for both Raingear AND winter items because they are well worth the money!

A bit about Kidorable-
In 1997, Kidorable sprung from the minds, hearts and efficiency apartment of Liping and Jonathan Domsky. They proclaimed, "The world needs someone to create children's apparel and accessories that are both functional and fun. We can do that."


And so Kidorable was conceived. Starting with lions and cats and bears, oh my, manifested as umbrellas and hangers, Kidorable generated enough sales during its first year to break even and plant fruitful Kidorable seeds throughout the land. The following year sales grew ten fold. Every year since, give or take, a new style and/or product line debuted. And every year, the world joyfully embraced more Kidorable delights, give or take, than the year before.
Today Kidorable is a striking presence, not just in stores, but across the vast landscape of the children's apparel and accessories industry. By encouraging personal and professional growth in the service of imagination and smiles, Kidorable's own growth projections continue to soar.

Kidorable products can be ordered online, but they are also in stores thru out the United States. I was at the mall today and saw the Kidorable umbrellas in a Stride Rite store, so be on the lookout! If you are looking for a creative and fun gift, they also offer gift certificates!

Here's the best part- One lucky reader is going to win an umbrella of their choice! All you have to do is head over to Kidorable and let me know your favorite item! ( Mandatory Entry!)

Extra Entries-

1. Become a Facebook fan of Kidorable ( 2 entries)

2. Follow Kidorable on Twitter ( 2 entries)

3. Follow my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Become an email subscriber ( 2 entries)

5. Grab my button ( 1 entry, leave a link)

6. Blog about this giveaway ( 3 entries, leave a link)

7. Follow me and Tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day, leave link)

This giveaway will end on November 20th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to claim their prize!

Good luck!

Thank you to Kidorable for the chance to review these products! My daughter is enjoying all of the compliments on her items, and I'm loving knowing I won't be digging thru the lost and found for days : )

Time for some Winners!!!

Here are the winners of the giveaways I had going on-

Winner of the High IntenCity Hello Kitty Gift Set is-

#26-  Lacey-
Congrats! I'll be sending you an email shortly, you have 48 hours to claim your prize!

Winner of the "Name Your Tune" Personalized Childrens CD-

#5- Jessica-
Congrats, I'll be sending you an email shortly, you have 48 hours to claim your prize !


Thanks to all who entered, and a big thanks to Name Your Tune and High IntenCity for giving me the opportunity to review these great products!

Kristines Shower Bath and Body review

I recently was able to review some products from Kristines Shower, and I'm so glad I got the opportunity! I suffer from Excema AND Psoriasis, so I am always trying to find products that won't irritate my skin. I love smelling pretty, and these were great on my skin!

I was sent CocoVan Aloe Vera Body Whip, Shea Butter Sorbet Moisturizer, and a bar of 100% soap!

First off, I have to say the scents are AMAZING! When I used the CocoVan Body whip for the first time, my daughter told me all day long how good I smelled : ) The Shea Butter Sorbet goes on smoothly and doesn't leave a greasy feeling, it just absorbs right in to my skin and leaves it feeling soft and moisturized!
The 100% soap has a light, clean scent to it, I love using it in the morning to wake me up. It also leaves a nice smell afterwards.

Kristines Shower offers many other products and has over 25 scents to choose, from Soft and Sensual, Fresh and Clean, Tropical Getaway, Fun and Fruity and Can't Miss Favorites! I'm pretty sure you will be able to find a scent for everyone!
Products available are- Bathbombs, 100% Soap, Shea Sorbet, Body Frosting, Aloe Vera Whips, Yummy Lips and they also offer products for men!
Kristines Shower also offers Gift Sets, whether you are shopping for a Birthday or a Shower Gift, this would make a wonderful surprise to anyones day!

I am almost out of my products, so I will definetly be making a purchase soon from Kristines Shower! The prices are great, the products are wonderful, I can't say enough good things about Kristines Shower : ) Any product that helps my skin AND smells great gets a thumbs up from me!

Thank you to Kristines Shower for giving me the opportunity to review these products!

Karito Kids "Florence Fiasco" Book review

When asked to review the book Florence Fiasco from Karito Kids, I jumped at it! Not only does my daughter LOVE to read, she is 1/4 Italian and I enjoy teaching her as much as I can about her heritage!

My daughter is 6, and she loves to be read to, so this was the perfect book to snuggle up together before bed and read a few chapters every night. We usually pick out a few books, she reads a bit then I read a bit. This book is a chapter book, a bit hard for her to read on her own, but I read to her and when I found words she knew or could sound out, she went for it!

We really enjoyed Florence Fiasco, learning about Gia, who wants to become a fashion designer, but works at her family's Inn in Italy. Each chapter was exciting and brought a ton of questions from my daughter. I think she got so much information, and because it was told thru a childs eyes it made it so much more interesting for her!
My husband is Italian and he can always get the answers to our kids questions about what their heritage is, but reading about it stuck with my daughter. We finished the book a few days ago and she is still asking questions about being Italian, and wanting to read more about Gia! So I hope Karito Kids comes out with more books for my daughter to read as she gets older : )

Karito Kids also has other Heritage books, including-

Mexico Mystery
Shanghai Secret
Sydney Scandal
and
The Manhattan Menace

I like that each book gives so much information and also holds the childs attention. When my daughter actually wants to get ready for bed, it must be a good book!

To find out more about Karito Kids and their products, please head over to their website.
These books, along with their other items would make a great stocking stuffer or a gift itself!

Thank you to Karito Kids for the opportunity to review Florence Fiasco, we enjoyed the book very much and look forward to reading more in the future!

High IntenCity Review AND Giveaway!

I have a 6 year old daughter who LOVES jewerly, necklaces and bracelets being her favorite! The only problem is, after wearing them a few times they either break and get lost, or just break and that's the end of the piece! When I was able to review a piece of jewerly from High IntenCity, I jumped at the chance! They have the most adorable selection of Charms and  Bracelets, Necklaces, Gift Sets and Hair Accesories!
I was able to review the Hello Kitty Fun Gift Set, because lately Hello Kitty is one of my daughters favorites!

When we recieved the set, first thing I liked was the actual box it comes in, rainbow colored and magnetic so it opens and closes easily. I gave it to my daughter and when she saw it was Hello Kitty AND a bracelet for her, she was so excited to wear it! She wore it around the house that night, and I forgot to take it off before bed, but the next morning it was still on her wrist. And, she's a restless sleeper so I figured it may have fallen off, but it stayed!

That morning she wore it to school to show her classmates, and the nice thing is it is very easy to take off herself. There is a bigger clasp so it's not a problem for her little fingers to get in unclasped. Of couse, all of her friends liked her bracelet and asked her where she got it, and being 6 year old girls, that made me laugh a bit! They are growing up so fast, and to hear them talking about jewerly like they were, was really cute!

I could definetly see myself purchasing the Birthday gift set for a birthday party gift or even for some of my family members, I've got sisters that LOVE Hello Kitty as much as my daughter! But, High IntenCity also offers other selection, such as the Animal set, Friends set and another favorite of mine, the Rockstar Giftset!
You can also make your own Charm Bracelet or Necklace, with over 100 charms to choose from and 15 different selections of bracelets and necklaces! There is a charm for every girl : )

This company isn't only for the girls, High IntenCity also offers Cool Stuff For Boys, with Cord Bracelets and Beaded necklaces. Very cool and very reasonable! I think my son would wear the Skull and Crossbone necklace, it's neat!

Right now High IntenCity has a contest going on, the Design a Charm Contest! If you have a neat or creative idea for a charm, please head over there and enter! Each winner will receive $100 of charms AND if your charm is a winner High IntenCity will donate 10% of proceeds to a cause selected by YOU!

Here's the best part! One lucky reader is going to win a Hello Kitty Fun Gift Set of their own! Just head over to High IntenCity and let me know your favorite item! This entry is mandatory!

Extra entries-

1. Sign up for High IntenCity email promotions ( 1 entry)

2. Follow High IntenCity on Twitter  ( 1 entry)

3. Subscribe to my blog ( 2 entries)

4. Follow my blog  ( 2 entries)

5. Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway ( 1 entry, per day, leave a link!)

6. Blog about this contest ( 3 entries, leave a link!)

7. Grab my button ( 2 entries)

This giveaway will end on Nov. 5th. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and an email will be sent. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize! Good luck and thanks for entering!

Thank you to High IntenCity, from my daughter and myself! It's great to know we now have a place to purchase great jewerly that will last a long time!