Think Geek Review and Giveaway!

Many of you may remember the Think Geek review and giveaway I did last fall, and guess what, we're doing another one this year! For those of you who may not have ever heard of Think Geek, you have seriously been missing out! This company has seriously become one of my hubby's favorite places to get gifts from, and whenever anyone asks him for gift ideas, he directs them to their website. They feature products that are sure to be a hit for anyone on your list who is passionate about technology, and this site isn't just for computer programmers or video game lovers! The fun, creative products range from clothing, home and office items, books, electronics, childrens toys, and much more!

My hubby had the pleasure of helping me review a bunch of great new products from Think Geek, and boy did we have fun! The first item we reviewed was the Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt ($29.99), which has got to be one of the most fun products you could ever give this holiday season! You can literally play the electric guitar on the shirt, and it plays all the major chords. It is battery powered and can even be washed in the washing machine. This shirt is a MUST for the person on your list who plays guitar, or is a fan of Guitar Hero or Rockband video games. It even comes in child sizes!

We also got to review the Coffee Cup Power Inverter ($29.99), which is something everyone should own! Not only does this product offer you the chance to charge your phone or other gadgets without a car charger, it also would come in handy in case of any emergency situation. You can plug in 2 things to the AC plugs, and there is also a USB port! My favorite way to use this handy device that fits into any standard cup holder is my heating pad during long car rides! This is a great gift for the person who you have no idea what to get, but also the perfect item for yourself.

Another item we were able to review was the Portable Photo Studio ($49.99). I think this was our favorite product, because my husband has his bachelor's degree in studio art, so of course he loves photography. The studio comes with a photo lightbox, 2 table-top photo lights, a mini tripod, and a zippered carrying case. This product is a great gift idea for anyone who sells things on eBay, etsy, or any other website. The portability is also a great feature, and would also be a great gift for any photography student in your life.

This next item is seriously cool. The Universal Gadget Wrist Charger ($34.99) is the perfect gift idea for any busy person on the go. I love this item because if you are anything like me, sometimes you get so busy you forget to charge the important gadgets you use regularly. It seems like everytime I want to use my iPod, it's never charged enough. Well, with this battery-powered gadget, the problem is solved! It even comes with any necessary adaptors to charge whatever item you need to. If you have a little or not so little guy who loves his Nintendo DS, this would be the perfect thing to help him extend the life of his game system.

I am completely in love with the next item I get to tell you about. The Staple Free Stapler ($5.99) is a great product, and it uses no staples whatsoever, which means you don't have to worry about little hands getting hurt if they accidentally get a hold of it! My daughter and I had a lot of fun making paper chains with it, and she loved getting to use the "stapler". I loved that I didn't have to worry about her getting hurt with it. If you have this product, you also never have to worry about running out of staples!

The last item we got to try out was the Tiny USB Car Power Adaptor ($7.99). This handy gadget plugs right in to your cigarette lighter and is super handy for those days when you run out the door but forget to charge your other gadgets before leaving. This makes the perfect stocking stuffer for pretty much anyone, and while you're at it, get one for yourself as well!

So, have you fallen in love with Think Geek yet? One of you lucky readers is going to be extra in love because the team at Think Geek has generously offered one of you a $100 gift certificate!

Mandatory Entry (please leave me your email address in this entry): Leave me a comment telling me which Think Geek item you want the most!

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment with each entry):
2 Entries- Become a Follower of The Mommy Homemaker
1 Entry- Become an email subscriber of The Mommy Homemaker
2 Entries- Grab my new button and let me know where to find it
1 Entry per day for following me on twitter
1 Entry for every person you tell about this giveaway
1 Entry per day for linking your facebook status to this giveaway

This giveaway will end on January 3, 2011 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

SodaStream Review and Giveaway!

I think it's safe to say that summer is officially here! It seems like we were in the midst of chilly May weather and then all of a sudden were in burning hot summer weather! On summer days like we've been having it's really nice to have something to cool you off. Lately, our favorite thing way to cool off is with fun drinks we make with our amazing SodaStream machine!

Our family was so excited when we found out that we were going to get to review the SodaStream Penguin Starter Kit. Our kit came with the Penguin Sparkling Water and Soda Machine, 2 60 Liter Carbonators, and 2 glass carafes. We couldn't wait to get started! We aren't huge soda drinkers, but that's mostly because the soda you buy at the store is so unhealthy for you. With the SodaStream machine, you are able to create yummy concoctions that aren't quite as bad for you as traditional sodas. When I found out that SodaStream sodas didn't contain high-fructose corn syrup and have much less sugar than traditional sodas I jumped for joy! Finally I can enjoy a soda without so much of the guilt! This also made me happy because on the rare occasion that our daughter gets to drink any soda, I can rest assured that it's not as bad for her as traditional sodas.

Now, let me back up a bit, because I know you've got to be wondering how this works! Well, all you have to do is fill your carafe or bottle with water to the fill-line, pop it in the soda machine, press the lever to carbonate, and in less than 30 seconds you have carbonated water! Another thing about this that's great is that you get to decide how much carbonation you want, which is especially handy for kids, so they don't drink too many bubbles.

It's been so much fun coming up with yummy concoctions with our SodaStream. If you simply want carbonated water, you can do that. If you want to make sparkling lemonade, simply add some fresh lemon juice to the carbonated water. If you want to make a soda, simply add the yummy flavor of your choice to the water. We've tried most of the flavors, and I have to admit, I was very skeptical at first. I didn't really expect them to taste like the traditional name-brand sodas on the market. Boy, was I wrong! Not only do they taste very similar, but there are a few flavors that I think taste better than the other ones on the market! Some of my favorites were the Root Beer, the Diet Cola (which contains no aspertame: BIG PLUS!), and the Cranberry Raspberry. Even my husband (who drinks more soda than I do) thought the flavors were amazing! One of the really cool things about the flavors is that you can buy a Variety Pack which allows you to try lots of flavors in small quantities while you decide which ones are your favorites! Also, one of my favorite aspects of the SodaStream is that the soda doesn't go flat nearly as fast as other sodas on the market, because the caps that come with the carafes and bottles really seal the air out, which keeps it fresher longer.

With four different types of SodaStream machines, you're definitely bound to find one that fits your budget and style. Click here to see the chart that helps you choose your machine based on the features you want. I would recommend the SodaStream to any family who enjoys soda, especially because it saves so much space, it's fun for the whole family to make, and it's a healthier choice when it comes to soda. It's also a plus that it's environmentally friendly since it cuts down on waste with the reusable carafes and bottles.

I bet you're all itching to buy one of these cool SodaStream machines now, huh!? Well, you can also try your hand at winning one! One winner is going to receive the Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit (worth approximately $100), which will include your color choice of the Fountain Jet Soda Maker, 1 60 Liter Carbonator, 2 Carbonating Bottles, and your choice of 2 SodaMix flavors!

Mandatory Entry (please leave me your email address in this entry): Leave me a comment telling me which flavor you would most like to try, along with what color of the Fountain Jet Soda Maker you would choose if you win.

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment with each entry):
2 Entries- Become a Follower of The Mommy Homemaker
1 Entry- Become a facebook fan of SodaStream
1 Entry- Become an email subscriber of The Mommy Homemaker
2 Entries- Grab my new button and let me know where to find it
1 Entry per day for following me and SodaStream on Twitter and tweeting about this giveaway
1 Entry for every person you tell about this giveaway


This giveaway will end on June 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Cutesy Caddy Review and Giveaway!

If you have a daughter, chances are that hair accessories are a topic of great frustration for you. Storing them, organizing them, and the biggest one, finding them when you need them can be very difficult! My daughter is quite the little hairbow diva, so we have a lot of hair bows, hair ties, scrunchies, and clips to keep straight. It never fails when we are running late and she wants a certain one, we can never find it! However, we don't feel this way anymore now that we've discovered the amazing Cutesy Caddy!


The Cutesy Caddy is an innovative new accessory organizer that can be used for many different items, which can be organized by color. The best part of organizing by color is that every time you reach for a color specific item, you know exactly where it is! This feature is also great for little girls who are learning their colors, because they can help out in the organizing process, having fun along the way! It's also a lot more stylish to have on display in a little girl's room than the typical boring plastic containers on the market.

The creator of the Cutesy Caddy is Diane, a very creative mom and inventor who, along with her daughter, was very frustrated with the hair accessory organizing products already on the market. They were tired of making due with plastic containers, bags, jars, and tins to store hair accessories, so out of frustration, Diane decided to try her hand at creating a better product that would offer a solution to others in the same boat. Well, she definitely achieved her goal because now moms all over the country are enjoying the fun they are having teaching their daughters to organize all of their hair accessories!

To use the Cutesy Caddy all you have to do is place the accessory in the matching color-coded flower petal compartment. The Cutesy Caddy's features have been well planned and thought out, with one of my favorites being the ridges of the base of the flower, which helps keep the removable petals and lids in place. Another great feature is how much space there is, and even the girls with hundreds of hair accessories will be able to fit them in this product! The adorable butterfly handle is also great for taking your Cutesy Caddy on the go! And the Cutesy Caddy isn't just for hair accessories! You can store jewelry, craft, sewing, or scrapbooking supplies, office items, and pretty much anything else you can think of! I'd recommend this organizing item for baby shower, birthday, holiday, teacher gifts and more, and I'm sure this unique item would be right up any little girl's alley as a just because gift!

I was so impressed with this product, and we love using it everyday. All you moms of girls out there will probably understand how crazy it can get when you have a little girl's bows to organize, and the Cutesy Caddy really does get the job done. Now that we have the Cutesy Caddy, it's so easy for us to keep track of all of Izzy's beautiful hair bows and accessories, and we can always find what we're looking for, which comes in handy on those especially busy mornings! The best part of the Cutesy Caddy has been how much fun Izzy has had in helping out and taking care of her hair accessories, which has taught her some responsibility for her possessions. This product retails for approximately $21, but it replaces so many other products that I think it's totally worth it!


Want to win an adorable Cutesy Caddy for yourself?

Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Cutesy Caddy and telling me what you'd store in your Cutesy Caddy! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for publicly following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive one entry per day for following me on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
7. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
8. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on February 2, 2010 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Tastybaby Review and Giveaway!

I am so excited to have discovered my new go to item when it comes to stocking stuffers (keep reading to hear about the fruit snacks)! If you have been on the lookout for a healthier option when it comes to baby and toddler food, look no further, Tastybaby is here!

Tastybaby was founded by friends and collaborators Liane Weintraub and Shannon Swanson, and both have a remarkable passion for creating healthy food for children. Tastybaby's products include Frozen Organic Purees, Organic Infant Cereals and Gummy Fruit Snacks, all of which can be found at your local supermarket and online, making it convenient for parents to buy. Either find a retailer near you or buy Tastybaby at Amazon.com, where you even get free home delivery! Tastybaby's website not only helps you navigate where and what to buy, but they are also "a place to find interesting, entertaining, helpful & sometimes provocative original features. It’s an online magazine, a blog & a planet-conscious guide. It’s a Tasty approach to food, fashion, family & giving back ... most importantly, Tastybaby.com is always FUN!"

Tastybaby sent us their amazing Tasty Brand™ Organic Fruit Snacks and after tasting just one bite, we were hooked! They make a great snack for anyone over age 2, including busy moms and dads on the go! They are vegan, gluten-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, certified USDA Organic, and contain absolutely no high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, or flavors. We've pretty much cut out all corn syrup in our family, and it's been very hard to find fruit snacks without it in them, until now! Izzy had so much fun sharing her Tastybaby fruit snacks with her friend one day, and I even caught them practicing their colors with them! What I was most impressed with is that these fruit snacks actually taste like fruit, they are even juicy! Most fruit snacks are dry and chewy, lacking any sort of natural fruit flavor. Not so with Tastybaby! I am so glad to have found a healthier alternative to the traditional fruit snacks that are currently on the market, and I know that I can rest assured in giving them to Izzy!

Want to win some Tastybaby fruit snacks to try for yourselves? Then enter this "tasty" giveaway! One winner will receive 1 case of Tastybaby fruit snacks (a $28.75 value), I know you will just love them!

Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Tastybaby and telling me product you most want to try! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for publicly following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
6. Receive one entry per day for following both me and Tastybaby on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
7. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
8. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 30, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Snorg Tees Review and Giveaway!

T-shirts. Everyone loves them, from your husband to your toddler to your teen to yourself. It's one of the easiest articles of clothing to throw on when you're in a hurry or don't know what to wear. Needless to say, t-shirts are very popular, especially for men. My husband has way too men, (think 50+), yet he still thinks he doesn't have enough of them! We recently set off on a closet cleaning adventure and were able to donate a lot of clothing, especially t-shirts, that we don't wear that often. I was proud of our whole family for this, and I was really excited when I received a new t-shirt to give to my husband in return. Want to know where his favorite new t-shirt is from? It's from Snorg Tees, one of the coolest t-shirt companies around!

Snorg Tees has been around since 2004 by a creative group of friends seeking to start their own business. Snorg Tees specialty is in creating pop-culture inspired, random, and funny t-shirts, and most designs are created by their employees! The other designs are created by their customers, which is totally cool! I know I can think of a few budding t-shirt designers that should submit their ideas to them! Snorg Tees is always on the lookout to bring customers exactly what they want, and they are always excited to receive feedback to help them do just that.


Snorg Tees sent us the BRB t-shirt (photo below), and my husband LOVES it! He wears it all the time, which means it has been washed numerous times, and it still looks like new! My husband's favorite thing about Snorg Tees is the wittiness of their apparel, and I can agree! Snorg Tees is definitely the place to shop if you're looking for clothing that is funny, random, or witty!


Snorg Tees has decided to award one of you lucky ladies with a t-shirt of your own! You'll have so much fun deciding which one to choose since they are so many fun ones! Here are some of my other favorites:

We Will Rock You T-Shirt


Rule 76 Play Like A Champion T-Shirt


The Only Thing We Have to Fear T-Shirt


Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Snorg Tees and telling me what T-Shirt you'll choose if you win! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
6. Receive one entry per day for following me Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
7. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
8. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Personalized Parcels Review and Giveaway!

I'm a huge fan of the gift basket. I love how much fun it is to give and receive gift baskets that are packed with love, and the person's interests and favorite items inside. While it's fun to give someone one large present, I've found it's equally as fun to give an array of items devoted to being special for the person to receive it. Personalized Parcels accomplishes just that, and you definitely need to hear about how great my experience was in working with such a great company!

Personalized Parcels was created by Dez Stephens, who had a passion for creating customized care packages for the special people in her life. Whhile Dex was pregnant, she decided it was the right time to venture out and start her own business so that she could work at home after having her baby. Dez enjoys the whole process of putting care packages together for people, and it brings her great joy to know she's making a difference in someone's lives when they receive their package. Whether a customer knows exactly what they want right away, or have no idea what they want to include, Dez accommodates anything. She has great ideas for those unsure of what to include, and offers great tips and suggestions along the way!

In creating a person's care package, Dez typically starts off with the person's likes and hobbies, keeping in mind what occasion the gift is for. Some popular themes include care packages for college students, spouse birthday gifts, and corporate business gifts. Dez does a superb job in collaborating with the client, always striving to come up with just the right gifts to include in the parcel. Most parcels usually include items relating to music, magazines, specialty food items, personal care products, books, customized gifts and more. Check out their great Parcel-of-the-Month Club by clicking here, it would make for great planning ahead in gift giving!

I had the opportunity to review a care package from Dez geared at my husband's birthday. From the very start of my collaboration with Dez, I knew I was going to be very impressed. It's almost like Dez knew my husband, she did that great at coming up with gifts he would like! She did a really good job at bouncing ideas back and forth with me, and she really took the time to understand what his likes and hobbies were. The best part is that she emailed me a photo of the care package contents before mailing it, just to make sure I was happy. She does this will all of her clients, and I really that shows that she goes the extra mile in desiring to make the experience very satisfactory for her clients. She even included a special handwritten note (with a message from me) to my husband, making a great final touch to the package! She also wrote "Do Not Open Until Your Birthday!" on the outside of the package, ensuring my husband wouldn't accidentally open his surprise too soon! If you look at the photo below, you can see the items in the care package!


I am very confident in recommending Personalized Parcels to everyone in need of that special care package gift. Not only was the end product fabulous, but the entire experience with Dez was really enjoyable, especially since I got to help pick out gifts from the comfort of my own home! And you want to know the best part? One of you lucky ladies is going to be winning the $50 Parcel of your choice! Click here to see some great ideas for themes!


Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Personalized Parcels and telling me what themed parcel you'd choose if you win! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
6. Receive one entry per day for following me Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
7. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
8. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Out of the Box Games Review and Giveaway!

***UPDATE: This review now has a giveaway attached!***

One of my favorite activities to do when we have friends over is play board games. I know, call me a dork, but I love to play games! If you ask my husband, he'd probably say I like games too much, since I tend to get very competitive! Whenever we have couple friends over, it somehow always ends up being girls vs. guys, which is always fun. One of our favorite games to play is Apples to Apples. If you know what game I'm talking about, then you probably wonder what company is behind that awesome game. Out of the Box Publishing is responsible for bringing customers some of the best games around, and if you love to play games, listen up, this company is for you!


Out of the Box Publishing specializes in games that are quick to learn and fun to play. I love that they feature so many non-traditional games, and they have so many unique games that incorporate different themes and situations. Click here to learn more about Out of the Box as a company.

You will definitely love the selection of games Out of the Box Publishing has to offer. I'm especially a fan of their party games, which are so fun to play at family get-togethers, because it gets everyone interacting and laughing! Another favorite of mine includes the Classroom Games, which would make a great addition to any teacher's classroom.

Out of the Box Publishing sent us the game Word on the Street, and we've had so much fun thanks to this game! It's geared at ages 12-adult, for 2-8 players, and is a great game that's fast to learn. The instructions are really simple, and it's a game that gets the players really brainstorming and working together strategically. You can click here to watch a demo of the game.

Overall, what has impressed me the most about Out of the Box Publishing is how true to the game they are in how they describe each game on their website. You can really trust that what you see and read about is really what you'll get. The game demos are a great way to see a game played out, so it can help you better determine what game would suit your needs best. I know my new favorite place to buy games is Out of the Box! Choose Out of the Box this holiday season and you'll have lots of fun and laughter in store at all of your holiday gatherings!

Want to add this game to your family game stash? Win one here!


Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Out of the Box Publishing and telling me what your favorite game is! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
6. Receive one entry per day for following me Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
7. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
8. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Monster Gift Card Review and Giveaway!

Have you ever received a gift card to a store or restaurant you don't ever go to? While it's fun to receive gift cards, would you rather have cash during these tough economic times? Or, maybe you'd like to buy some gift cards at discounted prices? If any of that applies to you, then you will LOVE Monster Gift Card, the website where you can buy, sell, and swap gift cards for what you really want!

There have been many times where people who don't know me that well give me gift cards to places I don't shop at. One time I received a gift card to a restaurant that only serves seafood, and I don't eat seafood! Had I known about Monster Gift Card at the time, I would have been able to trade it for a place I'd rather go to! The concept of Monster Gift Card really struck me as being innovative and a great tool for customers' ever-varying needs. Especially in these tough economic times, it's great to have an online marketplace where you can buy, sell, and swap gift cards to fit your needs. They really do have something for everyone when it comes to what they offer customers. First, if you are just in the mood to buy a discounted gift card, you can usually save a decent amount on them, some as high as 35% off what you'd normally pay for the gift card (which, when combined with the savings from sales at the store, means you are saving a lot)! Second, if you want to sell your gift cards, this is the place to do it! What's really terrific is that every transaction is guaranteed, and they have fast and secure cash payouts, which is great if you need some extra cash this holiday season! Lastly, you can swap the gift cards you have but don't want for some that you do want, but I'll get back to that in a minute!

In terms of selling your gift cards to Monster Gift Card, I have some exciting news! They will be offering any of my readers who sells a gift card to them, a "monster bonus" of 10 free points (worth $10) towards the purchase of a gift card listed for point purchase. To learn more about the point system (it's fairly simple, with each point equaling $1), or if you have any other questions, click here. By taking advantage of this special "monster bonus" you will not only get a little extra cash to use this holiday season, but you'll also get to pick out a gift card to purchase with your free points!

Now, back to the swapping, which is also great fun! Monster Gift Card features gift cards from many different categories, including clothing, travel, automotive, and much more! You're sure to have no problem finding a gift card to swap out for one you do want because you have so many options.

Now, here are some great facts to remember about Monster Gift Card:
*MGC will match all competitors published prices when you sell your card to them. They will also give you 5 "monster bonus" points when you do this as well!
*MGC offers you an easy and secure online marketplace where you can sell your unwanted or unused gift cards online allowing you to make quick and easy cash!
*MGC allows you the freedom to trade gift cards without having to have matching card value amounts. This is possible because of their point system.

I am so excited to have discovered Monster Gift Card, and I know I will be going through them for all my gift card needs in the future! MGC sent me a gift card in exchange for this review, and they will also be awarding 2 of you lucky ladies with gift cards of your own! One winner will win a $10 gift card to iTunes, and the other winner will win a gift card to Motherhood Maternity valued at $59.97.

Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open in the US only, unless noted otherwise later):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Monster Gift Card and telling me what gift cards you particularly have your eye on! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive one entry per day for following me Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
6. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
7. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 22, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Monster Gift Card sent me a gift card to the Body Shop in return for my participation in this review and giveaway.

Lanyapi Designs Review and Giveaway!

A girl can never have too many pretty necklaces and accessories. After all, they say accessories can make or break an outfit, right!? Well, if you choose your jewelry from today's giveaway sponsor, you will definitely MAKE your outfit! Lanyapi Designs is one of my favorite new places to find beautifully unique jewelry. Lanyapi Designs is an Etsy shop run by Daisy, and her jewelry pieces are
"inspired by nature, travel, romance, vintage fashion, and whimsical magic"!

I have fallen in love with the beautiful simplicity that is found in all of the jewelry from Lanyapi Designs. Not one detail is overlooked when it comes to the care Daisy takes from the creation of her pieces down to how she ships them. Each piece comes in a beautiful satchel, protecting it and keeping it as nice as when you first buy it. When you look at the pieces that Daisy creates, you can definitely tell this about them.

Daisy sent me the beautiful Hammer and Heart Charms Necklace (see below) from the Love Takes Work Series, and I love it! First off, I love the message it sends, because love does take work, and second, I love how interesting the necklace looks! I get so many compliments on this necklace each time I wear it, and I've truly never seen a necklace like this before. The details on the small charms are especially nice!

Some of my other favorite items are Daisy's wonderful earrings, and she's running a sale that ends tonight (hurry and order fast!) where the shipping is free on all earrings! Also, if you follow her on twitter or facebook, you get 10% off your order (this sale is until further notice)!

*One of my favorite pairs of earrings: Simple Dangle- Green Faceted Glass Bead with Gold Filigree*

Want to stay up to date on all the happenings at Lanyapi Designs? Click here to visit Daisy's blog, and here to sign up for her mailing list!

Daisy has been kind enough to offer one of you lucky ladies a beautiful necklace of your own, just in time for the holidays! One winner will receive the adorable LOVE Stamp Necklace (see below) and it will definitely look great while dressing up a holiday dress this year!


Here are the entry rules (this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!):
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting
Lanyapi Designs and telling me what your favorite piece is! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive one entry per day for following both me and Lanyapi Designs on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
6. Receive one entry per day becoming a fan of Lanyapi Designs on Facebook, and for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
7. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 21, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Janey Mac Review and Giveaway!

Want to know what one of my favorite decorating discoveries was this year? Vinyl decals. I love them! I love the versatility they offer for many different do-it-yourself projects in your home, and the fact that they add that special finishing touch to a room is great too! Recently I got the chance to review some vinyl decals from my the wonderfully creative Janey Mac, an Etsy shop run by a mother-daughter design and creative team. Together, they feature some of the hottest trends in home decor! Vinyl decals are so versatile because they can be applied to almost any surface including: walls, windows, glass, furniture, and pretty much any surface you could imagine, inlcluding semi-smooth surfaces like beadboard.

Janey Mac sent me a selection of samples to review, and I loved them! One thing I definitely want to point out is how user-friendly Janey Mac vinyl decals are. Now only do they send along a list of detailed instructions, but they also send a small decal to practice with, which is great for people who have never used vinyl decals before.

I chose to apply one of the vinyl decals that I reviewed to a canvas to hang on the wall, and it turned out great! The photo is below. I love how it turned out!


Janey Mac has decided to give one of you lucky ladies 2 sets of vinyl decals! The winner of this giveaway is going to have so much fun decorating their home! The first set is the Safari Set, which features a selection of safari animals, perfect for a small child's room! The second set is an assortment of vinyl sayings and decor for the home.

Click here to check out the Janey Mac blog!

Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting
Janey Mac and telling me about some of your favorite vinyl decals! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive one entry per day for following me on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
6. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
7. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 18, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Little Fox Fashions Review and Giveaway!

I'm a shoe person. I love to find unique pairs of shoes and plan outfits around them. I think Izzy has taken after me in that sense. She LOVES her shoes. She loves to organize them, wear them, and create outfits with them. Even my hubby loves his shoes! So I guess it's no surprise then that when I first heard about Little Fox Fashions, I knew I was hooked!

Little Fox Fashions is owned and run by Lisa, a fabulous lady who not only features boutique quality shoes on her website, but she also has jewelry and hair bows! I love the selection of everything that Lisa has on her website, it really makes you feel like you're shopping at a boutique- just online instead of in a store!

Lisa sent Izzy and I the Morgan & Milo Sparkle Mary Jane in pink sparkle (see photo below), and they are absolutely adorable! These shoes are perfect for Izzy's girly-girl personality, and she just loves to prance around in them! What I really love about these shoes is that they are so durable. These shoes can definitely withstand all the wear and tear brought on by an active toddler, which I'm sure all you moms of toddlers would appreciate!

Some of my other favorite shoes from Little Fox Fashions include the beautiful Little Angel Purple Ballet Flats, the soft and cozy Jelly Beans White Fur Boots, and the classy Wee Squeak Brown Mary Jane with Ribbon Tie. While Little Fox fashions specializes in shoes for little girls, there are also some cute options for boys, too! One of my favorites that you are also sure to love for your little man are the Morgan & Milo Boy's LTT Oxford in Strong Blue Flame, they are perfect for your action-loving guy!

Whether you have a little girl or a little boy, you are sure to find a great pair of new shoes at Little Fox Fashions! And guess what... one of you lucky ladies is going to be winning a $15.00 gift certificate!

*Lisa has also included a coupon code for all of my readers to save this holiday season! Just enter "HOLIDAY15" to save 15% off your order, but you have to move fast since this code will expire at 11:59pm EST on December 11th!*


Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Little Fox Fashions and telling me which pair of shoes is your favorite! Make sure you leave your EMAIL address in this entry.
2. Receive two entries for following my blog and telling me that you do in two separate comments.
3. Receive one entry for being an email subscriber and telling me that you are in a comment.
4. Receive three entries for grabbing my new button and putting it on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive three extra entries for posting my Christmas button on your blog. Leave three separate comments.
5. Receive one entry per day for following me on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! Leave me a comment each day to let me know that you did.
6. Receive one entry per day for updating your Facebook status and including the link to this giveaway. Leave a comment with a status link.
7. Receive five entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

This giveaway will end on December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm. At that time I will choose a winner using random.org and let them know through email. The lucky winner will have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner will be chosen.