Folica Review and Giveaway!

My hair used to be really long. Then, when I was pregnant with my daughter, in an irrational hormonal spree, I got it cut really short. Not super short, but still, too short to do anything with. Now, it's finally grown out pretty long, and I am SO excited! I can finally style it with curls, straighten it, and blow it dry with a style. This is why I was so ecstatic when Folica gave me the opportunity to review two of their great hair styling products. They sent me the Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic TGR 4000i Hair Dryer and the Amika 1.5" Ceramic Styler (in Zebra print, it's so fun!).

The Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic TGR Hair Dryer worked like a charm. Normally I can't blow dry my hair fully dry during the fall and winter months because my hair gets dry and staticky, yet with this hair dryer, my hair stayed smooth and I could tell the moisture didn't get sucked out of my hair as it dried. I am in LOVE with this hair dryer. Not only did it do everything it says that it does, but it also did so quickly and quietly! I can not recommend this hair dryer enough, that's how much I love it. I have fully blown my hair dry everyday since receiving it because how much better it works than my previous hair dryer. Now, on to the next fabulous product!

Since my sister knows even more than me about hair styling products, she helped me out with this review. Plus, her hair is REALLY long, so she made for a great model! Normally, she has wavy hair, and she told me that she normally never straightens her hair since she hasn't found a straightener that she really likes. However, wait until you see and hear about the results...

My sister said that normally it takes her at least 20 minutes to straighten her hair, yet with the Amika 1.5" Ceramic Styler it took less than 7 minutes, which she said was enough to convince her to straighten her hair everyday if she had one like it. Some of the bonus perks of this hair tool are that the grippers on the outside of the straightener really help in holding it, and the outside of the tool stays cool while the inside heats up. The ceramic plates heated up in less than one minute, which is great for busy mornings. Her hair (as you can see in the pictures) was left shiny, soft, and silky after using the straightener. All in all, we both highly recommend this product! I love how my hair felt softer than it's ever felt after I straightened mine!


I seriously can not recommend these products enough, that is how much they helped this busy mom! Now, I know you guys want to hear about how to win the Amika 1.5" Ceramic Styler now right!? All you have to do is enter now! The winner will receive the Amika Ceramic Styler in hot pink.

*Make sure you check out their great sales and promotions going on for the Holidays! Use the code "sale25"to save $25 off a purchase of at least $100, and get free shipping (ends this Monday, November 30)!*

Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Folica and telling me what your favorite item 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 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 5, 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.

Mary Kay Review and Giveaway!

As mothers, it's rare that we get a lot of time to pamper ourselves, relax, and just chill for a bit. This is why I'm so excited to announce that four, yes, FOUR of you mommies are going to be getting some products this Christmas to pamper yourselves! The Mary Kay company graciously sent me some of their Sugar Scrubs and Shower Gels to review, making this one of the most relaxing review experiences ever! I had so much fun using these products, let alone the amazing condition the products left my skin in! The Sugar Scrubs and Shower Gels come in the four amazing scents of Exotic Passionfruit, Simply Cotton, Sparkling Honeysuckle, and Warm Amber. Each of the four winners will win one Sugar Scrub and Shower Gel set in one of the lovely scents!

The Sugar Scrubs and Shower Gels would make a great gift idea for any lucky lady in your life, especially those who may not have much time during their day to relax. It would be a great gift idea to drop some hints to your husbands about, too! I really have no complaints about these products, and they really cleansed my skin, leaving it noticeably softer after the first time I used them. These products are sure to be a hit with every lady on your holiday shopping list!

Each of the Sugar Scrub and Shower Gel sets is valued at approximately $30 and for four of you lucky ladies, all you have standing between you and relaxation is entering this Mary Kay giveaway!

Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Mary Kay and telling me what your favorite scent of the Sugar Scrubs and Shower Gels would be! 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 5, 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.

Tree Frog Creations Review and Giveaway!

***UPDATE: Get a bonus entry for following Tree Frog Creations on Facebook!***

You guys all know that I love handmade creations, especially when it comes to gift giving! I love knowing that extra special care went into the creation of each item. This is why I really love the Etsy shop Tree Frog Creations, which is run by Renae, a former educator turned stay at home mom. Renae's passion is found in creating items that are both useful and beautiful, especially for children. All of Renae's items are made in a smoke and pet free home, which is something I greatly appreciate as a mother of a child with asthma. Shes makes customized lunchbags, buckets, market totes, backpacks, and more!

Renae sent me the beautiful Pink White Swirl Department Store Reusable Tote Bag, personalized with the initial of my choice. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail, it is perfect for the pink lover in me! This bag is perfect for shopping trips, and I know you'd feel so stylish using this bag at the grocery store! Ít's made with 100% polypropylene and is easily cleaned with wiping the bag with a damp cloth. It holds up to 40 lbs, which is great when you are shopping! Vinyl is used for the personalization, and you may choose one initial, a 3 initial monogram, or a name. Letters come in a variety of colors, and the custom options are endless!

Be sure to check out Tree Frog Creations for all your personalized gift needs, but please keep in mind that the last day for Christmas orders is December 11th.

Now, want to win a great Tote Bag like the one Renae sent me? Just enter this giveaway for a chance to have this beautiful handmade gift in your gift stash this year!

Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Tree Frog Creations and telling me what your favorite item 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 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 5, 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.

Think Geek Review and Giveaway!

Are you a self-proclaimed "geek"? Does your husband, dad, brother, or son go crazy for techie gifts? Do you like giving your children gifts that encourage creativity and imaginative play? If you answered yes to any of these questions then Think Geek is the company for you! Think Geek has been around for about 10 years, with a mission to bring products to customers who are passionate about technology, from computer programmers to students to children. Think Geek features a large range of products that includes clothing, home and office items, books, electronics, childrens toys, and much more! If you want a unique gift for any of the fun "geeks" in your life, then Think Geek is sure to offer you so many options it will be hard to choose just one!

Think Geek has recently been expanding their children's gift section, so they sent me three of their most fun products. They sent me the Water Flutes, the R/C Color Bug Doodling Toy, and the Lite-Brite Cubed. All three have turned out to be great toys, and would be a wonderful addition to your gift items this year.

The Water Flutes are made up of five separate flutes, with each flute being individually tunable. You just fill them with water to the designated fill line, and then you are ready to play! Each set of Water Flutes comes with five easy to to follow songs on waterproof laminated cards, which is great because it allows you to stick them to the wall while you are playing! The Water Flute is for ages 3 and up and features a full one octave range, tuned to the key of C.

Next we have the wonderfully creative Lite-Brite Cubed, which is sure to be an instant success with any child! The Lite-Brite Cubed features four faces instead of the traditional single one, which means that you can make up to four designs at once! I like this toy because it means that up to four people can use it at once, which is especially good if you have children who are still trying the grasp the whole sharing concept! This newly designed version of an old favorite combines all of the great traditional feautures, but adds the joy of keeping your design for a longer amount of time! The Lite-Brite Cubed is for ages 4 and up because it does contain small pieces. The two storage trays keep pegs handy for whenever you're ready to design and includes over 400 pegs, 10 refill sheets, and a light bulb. Overall, this is a great toy, bound to give your whole family endless hours of fun!

The last (but certainly not least!) toy is the R/C Color Bug Doodling Toy. This toy is great, and a very fun product for children who like remote controllable toys! It was a Top Toy of the Year winner in 2008, chosen by Creative Child Magazine, and if you keep reading, you'll definitely understand why! Before you get started, just pop an included marker into the center, place the Bug onto a large sheet of paper, and then use the dual-stick tank style controls to start drawing! It takes a little getting used to for kids to use it, but it's very simple. If you want to draw a straight line, just push both sticks forward. To draw a curvy line, just push one stick forward. There's no end to the creative possibilities that your children will have will this toy! This toy is for ages 4 and up and comes with four washable markers and a remote. Paper is not included but can easily be found at your local craft store. This toy does require batteries, which are not included, so just remember to purchase your batteries before Christmas morning with this one!

We had so much fun testing these toys out, and I think they'd make great gift items for any of the "geek" kids on your list!

Now, want a chance to win ALL THREE of these Think Geek great toys for your own kids this year? This prize package is valued at approximately $67 and will make a great fit under one of your Christmas trees this year!

Here are the entry rules:
1. (This is the mandatory entry) Receive one entry for visiting Think Geek and telling me what your favorite item 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 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 5, 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.

Micro Beer Club Review!

Hello everyone, this is a special post from Marina’s husband Adam. I got a special opportunity to try an assortment of beers from different microbreweries from around the US. The Micro Brew Club is a beer of the month club that you can sign up for and every month you will be sent four different kinds of beer to try. I really enjoyed that the beers are not all one kind or taste. I am definitely a beer kind of guy rather than a wine kind of guy, so if your man is similar to me then I suggest the beer of the month club. Being a busy parent it is tough to find time to go a bar and enjoy a good beer. The times that I do get to go to a bar I am hardly in a mood to try a new beer cause I want my “usual”. The Micro Beer Club is like bringing a bar to you that is full of unique beers will be an experience to drink not just an activity. If the man in your life has no problems going to bars or is a frequent visitor then the Micro Beer Club is great for that inspiring beer connoisseur. The membership includes (this is taken from their website):

• A Micro Beer of the Month Club membership makes the perfect gift for any beer lover.

• Every month club members will receive four different selections, three of each (12 total) of 12 ounce bottled microbeer from award winning domestic microbreweries.

• Along with the beers comes our monthly newsletter The Micro Brew Review. Here you will find information on the featured breweries for the month, their beers tasting notes, food pairings, and other beer related articles.

• The first shipment also includes a custom gift card notifying the recipient of their membership plus any personal message you would like to add.

• Prepaid club memberships range from one to twelve months, or simply sign up for yourself or as a gift and be billed monthly. All memberships can be shipped every month, every other month (ships on odd months only)

• Some clubs have monthly minimums; not here! And memberships can be cancelled at any time.

• Quality and variety are what you can expect from our beer club. Unlike other clubs, members will experience beers from all over the United States and be able to sample beers not readily available in their local stores.

• We guarantee your satisfaction with every beer you receive from any one of our monthly clubs. Occasionally, you may discover a bottle which has not traveled well. Tell us. We'll replace it or reimburse the purchase price. Ordering is easy.

The Micro Beer Club is sure to be a hit with any beer-lover on your holiday shopping list! This gift undoubtably gets the stamp of"guy-approval"!

Mabel's Labels Review!

Let's face it. Kids lose everything. They go with us everywhere and it seems like everything they own comes too. The problem is that this stuff likes to lose itself everywhere or get mixed up with other people's stuff. Want to know the cure...Mabel's Labels!

Mabel's Labels was birthed out the frustration of moms who felt this same way! They researched and tested until they were able to come up with the best possible labels that were both fun and durable to save the things their kids would lose. They make both sticky labels and clothing labels, and they are dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe, making them both practical and personal. The labels are so fun for children because they get to help customize their name with their favorite colors and an icon of their choice! In recent times, Mabel's Labels have expanded their business into personalized stationery products, ID wristbands and household labels. Check out Mabel's Labels innovative design products for the whole family, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

I love organizational products, so Mabel's Labels is probably one of my favorite companies when it comes to helping me organize and keep track of items. Mabel's Labels sent me the Back-to-School combo and it was love at first sight! We chose the cotton candy color theme with a butterfly icon, and the different labels turned out so adorable! The Shoe Labels have turned out to be really handy when we go to different places that have play structures that require you to leave your shoes in a cubby. One time another little girl had identical shoes as Izzy in a similar size, so it was great that we were quickly able to see which ones were ours! The Skinny-Minis have worked great in labeling sippy cups and other miscellaneous items, and the labels have survived many trips through the dishwasher! The Tag-Mates work great to put in all articles of clothing, but especially the items that your kids may take off throughout the day at school, such as sweatshirts or coats. Lastly, the Teeny Tags are a great option for backpacks, lunchboxes, and more. I like that they are so easy to attach to them, too!

Also, for the holidays, check out these Holiday Gift Tags and Holiday Return Address Labels! Mabel's Labels products would make a great gift or stocking stuffer for the organization lovers and kids on your lists! For every holiday themed purchase you make between now and the end of the year, Mabel's Labels will make a donation to a local family in need. Be sure to check out the LOL Sticky Labels too, as Mabel's Labels will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the family of Anissa Mayhew, a fellow mommy blogger who suffered a stroke, and is in need of support.

Choose Mabel's Labels for all of your labeling needs and you'll never have to find yourself fishing through the lost and found box at school looking for lonely items!

*I'm an affiliate of Mabel's Labels, so if you'd like to purchase something, you can click the ad at the very bottom of my blog* :-)

Winners!

The winner of the Magpie Designz giveaway is... comment #1! It's always wierd when random.org picks the first or last entry!

Joshlin said...
I love the Katherine Mommy Bracelet.
savingmomssanity at gmail dot com


The winner of the Covenant Farm Soapworks giveaway is... comment #39!

Attila & Tamara said...
Have your Christmas button on my blog #3
szogediek.blogspot.com/
szogediek at yahoo dot com


Congrats to both of you! I will be emailing you both shortly!