Zazzle Review!

*Note to readers: my blogger account seems to be acting up, I will try to figure out why and post pics of everything asap!*

I'm a huge fan of creative and personalized shirts, bags, magnets, and pretty much everything else you could think of. That's one of the reasons I LOVE Zazzle. This is the perfect place to find a gift for anyone on your list, not only during the holidays, but all year round. You can choose to create your own one-of-a-kind item or choose from thousands of already designed products. If you try your hand at creating and find you really like it, you can even sell your creations! Click here to learn more about selling through Zazzle.

I had the fun chance to review more items again this year from Zazzle, and I was just as impressed as always. I had been on the lookout for a long time for big and little sister shirts for Izzy and the baby to wear, but hadn't had any luck in finding them. Good thing I checked Zazzle because they had exactly what I was looking for! When we celebrate the arrival of our newest addition, the girls will get to wear adorable matching shirts. If you are on the lookout for similar shirts, click here to check them out!

No matter what you are looking for, Zazzle is sure to have some great possibilities. Two of their newest products are the iPhone and iPad cases, which are so completely amazing that it makes me so jealous of people who have them! I want an iPhone or iPad just so I can use the cases, haha! Another product that I really like is their personalized calendar, it would make a great gift for grandparents, with all the pictures of their adorable grandkids! And when all else fails, gift certificates to Zazzle do just the trick! No matter what the occasion, Zazzle is the perfect place to find whatever it is that you need!

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.

You're making me blush!

Today's "Fall into Beauty" post is again brought to you by Mary Kay! I had the chance to review one of the Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Colors (basically the same idea as the mineral eye colors, but as a cheek color) and like the other mineral products, I really love the cheek colors. They also snap into place in the Mary Kay Compact. One thing I've grown to love about the mineral cheek colors is that you can make them as subtle or as bold as you'd like. I personally prefer a more subtle look when it comes to blushes and bronzers, so it's nice that I can easily control my look by using more or less of the mineral color.

The mineral cheek colors retail for $10 and there are many different shades to choose from, making it easy to find something that compliments your skin tone. I also want to point out that if you go to the Mary Kay website there is a fun section called "Beauty on a Budget" where you can browse through 90 different products that retail for $10 or less! Especially in our rough economy, and as penny-pinching mommies, that is something that is very important to us. You will also find some great gift and stocking stuffer ideas for the Holidays as well! See you for tomorrow's "Fall into Beauty" post!

It's all about the eyes!

Ok ladies, today's post is like the title suggests, all about the eyes! My favorite makeup products have always been those for the eyes, so I was very excited when I got to review more of the Mary Kay Mineral Eye Colors!

I have personally been a fan of the mineral eye colors ever since I reviewed them for the first time last fall. For one thing, I can't believe how long the eye color stays put on my eyelids after it's applied. I have tried many eye shadows on the market (that cost more than the Mary Kay ones) that simply do not have the staying power that these do. They also last for a very long time once you start using them, making them a bit more cost effective than other brands that seem to get worn down after only a few applications.

Another aspect that I LOVE LOVE LOVE (did I mention I love them?) is that the color choices are amazing! There are so many colors to choose from, and it really has made me a bit more adventurous in trying new looks. It's really fun to experiment with different color combinations, and there are endless possibilities.

Lastly, my favorite feature of the mineral eye colors is how they work with the Mary Kay Compacts. The mineral eye colors snap right into place and are held in place magnetically, so you don't have to worry about them falling out and breaking. The compact has worked wonders in scaling back the size of my makeup bag, especially when traveling. It's really simple to just pop the colors into place, add some of my other products into it, and throw it in my bag.

Retailing at just $6.50 per eye shadow, these mineral eye colors won't break the bank, and you can add a new one every once in a while to help change up your look. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post to hear about another fun Mary Kay product, and then on Saturday you can look forward to the finale post which will feature the unveiling of the awesome prize package you can win if you enter the giveaway!

CSN stores!

One of my favorite new stores online is CSN. They have anything and everything you could ever desire! Lately, I've especially been interested in their suitcase and luggage selections. We travel a lot, and with the holidays coming up we could definitely use some new luggage to cart all of our gear around in.

My daughter has been begging for her own set of luggage (God only knows what she would try to pack in it... probably her entire room!). This Disney Princess suitcase would be perfect for her, since she loves anything with princesses!

As for my hubby, I know he would LOVE this Samsonite hard shell luggage, because it's extra sturdy, perfect for him to lug around and not have to worry about damaging!

And last but not least, my favorite pick for new luggage for myself would definitely be this luggage set from International Traveller! The bright pink color would make the suitcases super easy to spot in baggage claim at the airport!


No matter what luggage choices you make from CSN in gearing up for the Holiday travel rush, you are sure to find so much of a selection that everyone in your family will be happy!

The Sweet Smell of Mommy!

Let's face it, as moms we deal with messes all day long. With the diaper changes, sippy cup spills, spagetti sauce splatters, and laundry disasters, we don't exactly deal with the most delightful things everyday. Sometimes we're lucky if we even get to shower before noon! Moms deserve a special little something to cheer up their days, not that we don't love what we do everyday, but sometimes we forget that we need to take the time to pamper or take care of ourselves along with everyone else.

One easy way that we can perk ourselves up each day is by adding something special to our beauty routine (let's face it, we don't always have the time, so quick and easy things are best). Spritzing yourself with a sweet smelling fragrance is one fast way to cheer yourself up each day, giving you a little bit of added confidence and flair, especially amidst the messes of mommyhood. I had the fun experience of reviewing one of the new fragrances from Mary Kay, and let me tell you, I wish this blog had smell-o-vision or something so you could smell how amazing the new Thinking of You fragrance is! Mary Kay describes the scent by saying, "The message in this bottle is all about relationships and celebrating them with a gift that turns a moment into a memory. This feel-good fruity floriental fragrance also features a keepsake heart charm that can be removed and added to jewelry and unique packaging that allows you to handwrite a note inside."

When the fragrance first arrived, I was very impressed with the chic packaging. It comes sealed up in a pretty little box, all tied up with a bow. The fold out box features a special place where you can write a personalized message to the person receiving it as a gift. I really like the colors of the packaging, the blue and brown design is a nice choice compared to some perfumes that are on the girlier side. The light, breezy scent is so easy to wear, and it isn't overpowering like many other perfumes I've tried. I'm a bit sensitive to some perfumes, I think I'm a little allergic to them sometimes, but this one was perfect everytime I tried it.

The new Thinking of You fragrance is sure to be a hit not only as a gift for yourself, but also a gift for a special friend, mother, grandmother, or anyone else on your holiday shopping list this year. It also works great as a "just because" gift! No matter who you give this gift to this year, they are going to LOVE it.

Check back later in the week to try your hand at winning your own bottle of Thinking of You ! It will be featured in a great prize package with some other amazing products from Mary Kay!

Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

I have a confession to make. It snowed about 3 flakes of snow last week, and when I saw those tiny little flakes, out came the Christmas music! I know it's super early to start listening to Christmas music, but it's never too early to start planning your family's Christmas cards!

I am super excited to be ordering our Christmas cards from Shutterfly this year. I've ordered photo prints from them before, and I've always been extremely satisfied, not only with the quality and inexpensive cost, but also with the speedy delivery!

There are so many great choices for you to choose from this year, including Photo cards, Religious cards, and even beautiful Christmas invitation cards!

With so many choices, I'm not sure which one I'll decide on, but I do know that I want something super festive, since Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year! Some of my favorites are the Nativity Blessing card, the Top Ten Moments card, and the Hip and Happy Holiday card!

No matter which holiday card you choose this year, if you choose Shutterfly, it's sure to be a hit!
***Bloggers, click here to learn how you can receive 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly!***

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.

Sew Fantastic Review!

I absolutely love it when I stumble upon fabulous handmade items. I just love the workmanship and care that goes into each unique item, and this is why I'm so excited to tell you all about Sew Fantastic!

Sew Fantastic is a great Etsy shop run by the very talented Terri. She offers handmade items that are both trendy and classic. She also loves custom orders, because it offers her the potential to get even more creative! One thing that I really love about Terri's shop is that she works with only the highest quality supplies, all within the comforts of her smoke-free home (which is a big deal in my book, since my daughter has asthma). Terri also writes a blog all about crafts, you will love it! Click here to check out Terri's wonderful blog where you can stay up to date with her great designs!

I was so excited about getting the chance to review the Black Damask On the Go Daily Organizer, because it's not only functional, but it's also beautiful! It even matches my blog! The Carryall Clutches are great for organizing and storing coupons, credit cards, notes, lists and much more. The possibilities really are endless! My favorite way to use my clutch is when I run errands. I can store any coupons or store ads that I need, and I can also throw some cash and miscellaneous things in and I'm ready for the day! This works great if you're still using a diaper bag, because you can keep all your "mom" stuff separate and easy to access within the bag.

Here's a detailed description of the clutch from Terri's shop: "This sew-cute carryall clutch is very well made with a sturdy oatmeal colored osnaburg, then accented with your favorite fabrics. All pockets are doubles lines, and there are no raw edges. Everything is also interfaced completely for long lasting durability."

I've definitely been really impressed by this clutch. I've been using it everyday now for over a month and it still looks brand new! The handy notebook that is included is perfect for your lists of errands, groceries, or for being able to find your pen and paper the second you need it while you're out and about! Also, the pen is such a great accent to the clutch, because it comes made to match your fabric choice! The clutch I received retails for $21, which I think it is totally worth the price, because organization makes a mom's everyday life so much easier!

You all will definitely need to check out Sew Fantastic! You simply must order a Carryall Clutch, they are so handy, I wonder how I ever found a pen and paper before having one! Also, some of Terri's new items are definitely worth looking at, especially the Crayon Wallets and Kindle Clutches!

***Terri has offered you lovely ladies 15% off your orders if you mention The Mommy Homemaker!***

Sugar Coated Cookies Review!

I have to admit, freshly baked cookies are a huge weakness of mine. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal, or SUGAR COOKIES, it doesn't matter to me! So when I found out about Sugar Coated Cookies I was so excited!

Sugar Coated Cookies is a fabulous Etsy shop that is run by the very talented Shana. Shana prides herself on her love of baking that has become such a fun business. She bakes with only the finest ingredients, and since orders are baked and decorated to order, that means your cookies will be super fresh and never frozen! Shana has many different fun designs to choose from, and if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, she is able to do custom orders so you get just want you want!

If you're anything like me, you like to see an artist at work while they are creating. It gives you a sense of what they do, and how they do it. Here are a few photos of Shana as she decorates some adorable pirate cookies! *Normally Shana wears a hair net and gloves, but for the sake of the pictures, she didn't wear them in these model shots.*



Aren't those pirates adorable?

Now, wait until you see the lovely cookies that Shana created for Izzy's birthday party! Izzy is going through quite the Tinkerbell phase, so Shana helped me decide on some cute fairy wands for the cookies. She did purple star wands for the girls and green circle wands for the boys. They were such a hit at Izzy's party, everyone wanted to know where we got them!

I was so impressed with Shana's work, because everything looked so professional! She took amazing care in packaging the cookies with layers of bubble wrap to ensure that each cookie arrived in perfect condition, and they did! There was not a scratch or a crumble on any of the cookies. Shana also added special touches to the cookies with the cellophane bags and curly ribbons that she tied them with. I can't tell you all enough how special Izzy felt as she handed out the cookie wands to her party guests!

Want to know what else? The cookies tasted even better than they looked! I have to admit that I was apprehensive at first about tasting cookies that I ordered over the internet. BUT- I was so pleasantly surprised about how great the cookies tasted that I would recommend Sugar Coated Cookies to all of you! The cookies actually tasted as if they were baked the day we tasted them, they were amazing! I'm so glad we were able to feature Shana's delicious cookies at Izzy's birthday party, and I'd highly recommend ordering them for your next party! Most of the cookies cost about $2-3, which is pretty reasonable considering how much work goes into them. You'd also have to pay at least this much at your local bakery for cookies like these!

Next time you're in need of a great party favor, or just in the mood for some yummy cookies, choose Sugar Coated Cookies and you won't be disappointed!
***Shana has graciously offered you all 10% off your orders at Sugar Coated Cookies! Just mention The Mommy Homemaker when ordering!***

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.

Surf Sweets Review

My husband is addicted to sugary snacks, and sometimes I worry that Izzy will inherit his sugar tooth. We are pretty strict on limiting Izzy's candy intake (she's only 2, so a little goes a long way), but when we do allow her to eat something sweet, I try to give her something that is as healthy as something sugary can be. If this sounds anything like your family, then listen up, because Surf Sweets is a company you need to hear about!

Surf Sweets is a brand inspired by healthy life choices, sunny weather, and of course, surfing! Their goal as a company (they're a part of TruSweets, LLC.) is to manufacture candy that serves as a better choice for both families and the environment. Surf Sweets uses all natural, organic ingredients in crafting candy that is not all bad for your child! Each serving of candy has 100% of your daily vitamin C recommendation, and their candy contains absolutely no trans fats, GMOs, corn syrup, gluten, artificial colors, or artificial flavors! Their production facilities are also free of the common allergens of peanuts, wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, shell fish, and fish. That was a BIG deal in my book, because Izzy has egg and dairy allergies, so it's nice to know there's a company that takes food allergies that seriously!

Surf Sweets sent us a variety of candy confections to review and boy was my husband happy to help out on this one! We got to try the Gummy Worms, Gummy Bears, Sour Berry Bears, and the ever popular Jelly Beans! We were very satisfied with all of the products, and I was amazed at how fresh they tasted, especially because it was candy! Another thing I liked was that most of their products are vegetarian and vegan, which makes it a great treat to have on hand for your friends who are vegetarian or vegan! Overall, the thing that most impressed me about Surf Sweets has been how open they are with their customers about what ingredients are used in making their candy, because we all know that most companies out there simply wouldn't be bothered! So kuddos to Surf Sweet, you've made a life long fan out of me!

Surf Sweets is the new solution to all of our sugary cravings, and I know I can be confident in choosing the healthier alternative offered by Surf Sweets products to give to Izzy on the occasions that she gets a special treat. You will love the Surf Sweets experience, and has they always say, "Being responsible never tasted so good"!

***Click here for some great recipe ideas with their candy, and here to visit their blog!***