One thing I love about my next sponsor for the In Honor Of The Tatas event is their commitment to preserving the carefree innocence of our children and protecting the environment they will live and grow in by providing organic, sustainable products of the highest quality that are created in an eco-friendly and socially responsible manner. Levana Naturals utilizes organic fabrics that are completely non-toxic, durable, and made to withstand the active lifestyles of our children.Their products are also manufactured fairly, in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This standard also includes fair labor criteria. This means a lot to me as a parent and a global citizen, since it means not only are these items wonderfully made, the workers who create them are doing so in a safe environment and are being fairly compensated for their work. This is ideal for the workers as well as the communities that they live in. In plain English? No sweatshop labor! Not only is Levana Naturals a company with wonderful ethics and a big heart, their clothing is simply amazing. Levana Naturals offers beautiful, timeless styles for boys and girls, and all of their garments are made of the finest organic cottons and wools, and even silk! These classic styles are ageless and can be passed down from child to child, or even generation to generation. Here are some of my personal favorites from the Levana Naturals collection: I received the Levana Naturals Ruffled Bow Top for my review. This great little top is 100% Organic Egyptian Cotton, and is incredibly soft. I love the ruffled detail on the hem of the sleeves, and the adorable bow makes this top a simple yet beautiful wardrobe staple. This top can be dressed up by pairing it with a cute skirt, or can be dressed down for more casual occasions by adding a pair of jeans or cute leggings. Another thing I really like about the simple elegance of this top is that it can easily fit into any child's wardrobe, and will never go out of style. Here is my Sophie playing in her Ruffled Bow Top from Levana Naturals: Sophie loves wearing her Ruffled Bow Top from Levana Naturals, too! She has worn it a few times now, and has definitely put it to the test. My daughter is very active and loves to run, jump, roll and play, and this garment can withstand her craziness without losing it's shape or getting torn. That's a huge plus for me, since I can feel comfortable dressing her in cute and feminine outfits even when she plays like a rough and tumble little boy! I have also noticed that the more I wash this item, the softer it gets! This little gem of a shirt is definitely very high quality, and I can feel good about dressing my child in it since it is completely organic and eco-friendly. As parents, we only want the best for our children and their futures. Part of our responsibility to them is to teach them to love and respect the planet that we live on. Teaching children about sustainability and how they can reduce their carbon footprint from an early age is imperative. After all, we want their children and their childrens' children to have the same innocent wonder of nature that they do when we take them to the park or beach, or when they see wildlife or a butterfly for the first time. Buying organic, sustainable products is one way that we can help ensure that future generations will be able to experience the natural world, and hopefully, if we all help do our part now, the world they grow up in will be even better than it is now. It's not too late to make a difference! Levana Naturals can help by providing eco-friendly clothing that your children will love wearing and you, as a parent, can feel good about buying. I am thrilled to announce that one lucky follower will receive the Levana Naturals Ruffled Bow Top (the same one I received) as a part of my In Honor Of The Tatas event this October! This truly is a wonderful wardrobe basic that any little girl would be pretty as a princess in! How cool is that? In the meantime, here's how you can connect with Levana Naturals! HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase Levana Naturals products on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game once the In Honor Of The Tatas event begins! ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
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Who's ready for another UPrinting.com giveaway?! This time, I will be hosting a giveaway for some wonderful labels or stickers featuring YOUR custom design! Whether you're a small business owner, a busy mom, or a family, labels such as these can really come in handy. Sure, they can be used on mailing envelopes or product packaging, but there are so many other possibilities for their use as well. Maybe you're an avid reader with a large library who lends books out to friends and family. You can affix these great labels to the inside cover so the borrower will be sure to remember who to return it to... Maybe you're a home-baker who takes part in bake sales or PTA functions. These labels will give your goodies an attractive, professional appearance... These would also make fantastic gift labels for the holidays... Or put them on your childrens' notebooks for school... Maybe you would like some fun reward stickers for a child who is potty-training... Or reminder stickers for a forgetful husband... See? There are TONS of possibilities for labels from UPrinting! UPrinting offers a great selection of sheet labels that can be used well, everywhere! They are even water resistant and come in a variety of different sizes and materials! Love the idea of custom labels but can't come up with a design? UPrinting can help! They have a large selection of standard label templates that can help guide you towards creating the perfect labels to suit your needs! I have worked with UPrinting in the past, and am very pleased with the quality of their products and their lightning fast turnaround time. I actually got my blog business cards from UPrinting, and I couldn't be happier with the results! I can't wait to get my labels! I just have to decide how I'd like to use them! WIN IT: One lucky follower will receive the following: 250 Stickers 2" x 3.5" 70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing, 4 Business Days Turnaround Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
***Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com. No monetary compensation was given and I will receive labels for hosting. Check out standard label templates on UPrinting.com.***
My 11 year old son has been very enthusiastic about learning how to cook and helping me in the kitchen. I have taught him how to make simple things, like quesadillas, macaroni and cheese, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Nothing too terribly hard yet, since he is still learning the basics. So when I got the opportunity to review a brand new product from Betty Crocker, I immediately thought this would be a great mother-son project to take part in with my son. With 2 babies in the house, we don't get enough one-on-one time together, and since he loves learning to cook, I knew he would be really excited. Boy, was I right! When my package arrived, I let him open the box and told him we were going to bake together, and I was going to let him do all of the work, under my supervision, of course. He was ecstatic, to say the least! Especially when I told him this a brand new product that isn't even found in stores yet! That made it all the more special for him! Fun da-middles are a brand new concept in do-it-yourself cupcakes. They are filled, so there is no need for messy icing at all! This was a major selling point for me, since I do not like finding ooey-gooey messes all over the place. The filling is in the middle, kind of like a Twinkie, but in cupcake form! This makes Fun da-middles the perfect snack for a kid on the go! Kyle really enjoyed making these cupcakes. He read the instructions, got the ingredients ready, and even mixed them together all by himself. He then filled the muffin tin, added the filling, and then topped them with additional batter to seal in all the creamy goodness! Here are some photos of my little chef's creation! Please note, these are not professional results, as he IS only 11 and this was his very first baking attempt! Helping Kyle make Fun da-middles was a lot of fun, and he was so proud that he made cupcakes all by himself. They were really tasty, too! The filling was very creamy, and we all really enjoyed them. Even Sophie happily gobbled them down! No special tools were required to make these, and they were so simple to make! This is the perfect project for budding chefs like my son! And they were a lot less messy than traditional cupcakes. A+ from my family!
I look forward to seeing these on my grocer's shelves. I will definitely be picking some more up in the future. WIN IT: One lucky follower will receive a box of Betty Crocker Fun da-middles of their own! I will keep this very simple. Please complete the mandatory entry first. Also, leave a valid e-mail address in your comments. I cannot contact you if you're the winner without this! Feel free to use the following format to ward off annoying spammers: yourname(at)yourprovider(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
***Disclosure: The Betty Crocker Fun da-middles product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.*** I am super-excited to introduce you to my next Christmas In July Sponsor. Crab Apple Kids is an awesome online boutique that specializes in only the cutest, highest quality baby and children's wear for fashion-forward boys and girls. Crab Apple Kids is different than your average children's retailer, because they are family owned. The family that owns this awesome boutique lovingly hand-selects the products that they sell, so you can rest assured that only the best products make it on to their shelves. A lot of trendy, boutique-style clothing can be rather pricey, but Crab Apple Kids is committed to providing fantastic children's wear at a variety of different price points. So they are perfect for that must-have splurge item as well as for a family on a budget. Not only does Crab Apple Kids carry absolutely to die for apparel for little ones, they also carry adorable accessories, sure to complete any look, as well as great toys and gifts! They even carry some breathtaking Christening gowns! This is literally a one stop shop for all of your little ones' fashion needs! Oh, just a fun fact: The Crab Apple Kids family is in Illinois! We're DIE-HARD Chicago Bears fans here, as my husband is an Chicago-area native, so I am curious to see if they have any Bears gear come football season! I am always on the lookout for team spirit wear for my kids, and here in the DC market, we're not lucky enough to have an abundance of Chicago gear available to us. Anyways, I love this shop, and have spent hours drooling over their amazing selection. They carry much coveted names like Mud Pie, Flapdoodles, HALO, Trumpette, Melissa & Doug, Lollipop Kids, and dozens more! Over 75 of the top brands in children's wear, to be exact! The owners of Crab Apple Kids are absolutely genius...It's as if they have read my mind, and taken everything I would want in kids clothing and condensed it all into one convenient place! Brilliant! Here are some of my absolute favorite pieces at Crab Apple Kids: Aren't these pieces adorable?! As the mama of a toddler daughter, I am all about cute baby clothing. I love dressing Sophie up in cute dresses, tops, tutus and pettiskirts! Crab Apple Kids is my favorite site for such items. Mamas of boys? They have you covered, too! As a matter of fact, once Xander is a bit bigger, I plan to get his special duds from Crab Apple Kids as well! For now I don't see the point. He's still so small, and with the scorching summer heat here in Virginia, it's just far more practical for him to wear just a onesie. For now. Oh believe me, once he is sitting and walking on his own, I fully intend to dress him up like a proper little man! I can just see him in some board shorts or a baby-sized Fedora. Maybe even a teensy little suit, a la Scott Disick! How cute would that be?! Anyway, the generous folks at Crab Apple Kids sent me this spectacular little ditty for my review. This is the Giraffe Tutu Dress by one of my favorite companies ever, Mud Pie.(Insert Ooohs and Ahhhhs here) I have been a Mud Pie fan for years. They offer simply adorable, trendy, and colorful baby and children's clothing that is guaranteed to make your child stand out in a crowd. Mud Pie apparel is superior quality, and moms as well as babies tend to fall hopelessly in love with their fun prints and vibrant colors. Their Giraffe Tutu Dress is no exception. This is a gorgeous, one piece dress that consists of a ribbed cotton, racer-back style tank with a full turquoise tulle tutu skirt attached to it. At the hem of the tutu, you will find a beautiful satin trim that is perfectly matched to the blue in the tutu! I love the fun ice cream cone adorning the front of this amazing little dress. The "cone" portion is a fun, giraffe print, and the "ice cream scoops" are made of brightly colored chiffon, and make this outfit POP! There is even a cute little cherry on top to make this dress almost as sweet as your little princess. This dress came beautifully packaged, complete with its own durable hanger and coordinating ribbon. I felt like it was Christmas when I opened the box! I actually removed the ribbon and used it in Sophie's hair when I initially put this cute little dress on her! It was the perfect touch! The Giraffe Tutu Dress is not only super-adorable, it is also comfortable and does not restrict the child's movement at all. Toddlers love to run, jump and play, and some clothing can put a damper on these types of activity, making for an unhappy and fidgety child. With this, as well as other Mud Pie apparel, this is not the case at all. Mud Pie designs their clothing for active children, and their outfits are perfect to play in as well! Just check Sophie out wearing her Mud Pie Giraffe Tutu Dress from Crab Apple Kids: As you can see, my daughter loves her Mud Pie Giraffe Tutu Dress! And she looks pretty darn cute in it, too, if you ask me! Of course I may be a little biased, wink, wink! I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of this item, as well as with the fantastic service at Crab Apple Kids. They are a pleasure to work with, and their expert team is dedicated to providing only the best children's products to their loyal customers. Want some exciting news? One of my very lucky followers will win a Mud Pie Giraffe Tutu Dress of their own during my upcoming Christmas In July event, courtesy of the nice folks at Crab Apple Kids! How cool is that?! I hope you're just as excited as I am about this awesome event! In the meantime, here's how you can connect with Crab Apple Kids and see all of the fantastic items they carry that are sure to bring countless smiles to the little ones in your life! HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase this and many other adorable items on the Crab Apple Kids website. They offer FREE SHIPPING for orders over $50.00, and a standard flat rate of $5.95 for all other US orders! Please sign up for their newsletter, found at the bottom of their home page for their latest sales and new items. You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of all their newest products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game once the July event begins! For even MORE Crab Apple Kids fun, check out their YouTube Channel and their Blog! ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
As the mother of a preteen, a toddler and a baby, I have very limited time to get things done. Add to that a marriage, a household to manage, and a blog that I invest full-time hours in, and it's amazing that I can stay afloat at times! I will admit, I don't get a lot of sleep,lol. It can be difficult at times to deal with the demands of my busy day. There seems to always be something that needs my attention, and I rarely get a moment to catch my breath some days. There are babies to feed, diapers to change (and wash!) kids to read to and play with, chores to be done, dinner to be prepared, bills to pay, and then I have the blog to worry about as well. I know just how stressful and overwhelming being a mom can be, and I would like to take this opportunity to share 10 Time-Saving Tips that make MY life just a little bit easier! Try them out! You might be able to squeeze in that bubble bath, after all!
Being a mom can be tough, but the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices. We have little bodies to hug, we get baby kisses, and there is no better sound in the world than "I love you, Mommy." By utilizing time saving tips, you'd be amazed at just how much more time you can devote to these simple pleasures. What tips do you have? I would love to hear them! ***Disclousre: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.*** Before I begin my review, I have to be completely honest with you all. If I don't, I know countless people who read this blog who know me in real life who would call me out on this in a heartbeat! I have a small confession to make: I do not eat seafood. Ever. At all. As a matter of fact, at a friend's wedding a few years ago, I was offered a stuffed mushroom appetizer, and not knowing it was stuffed with icky crab meat, I bit into it...And immediately started crying and spit it into my napkin. I then chased the awful flavor with a whole glass of champagne. Yeah. So it's safe to say, I am not a seafood fan by any means. So why am I posting a review of StarKist Tuna? Well, lucky for them, I do not force my picky eating habits on my family, and they DO happen to like seafood. In fact, tuna is one of my husband's favorite varieties of fish. So when presented the opportunity to review StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouches, I jumped at the chance. I mean, not everything can be about me, and I knew my family would enjoy these products. StarKist is a household name when it comes to tuna. Most of us have their products in our pantries, and I don't know a single person who isn't familar with Charlie the Tuna, StarKist's jovial mascot. StarKist is a name that is synonymous with quality, and one that people have trusted for over 50 years. They have recently launched a new product line that does away with the little cans we're all so accustomed to: Flavor Fresh Pouches! That great fresh taste that you have come to love, together with the no-mess convenience of the portable Flavor Fresh Pouch makes it easier than ever to add nutritious tuna to your families’ diet.I received a variety of flavors for my review: Ready Made Tuna Salad, Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Low Sodium Chunk Light Tuna, and Low Sodium Albacore White Tuna. These convenient pouches are shelf stable, and take up very little room in our crowded pantry. These great little pouches contain between 2.6oz-3.0oz of tuna, depending on the variety. (The Tuna Salad contains 3oz.) One thing I happen to love is that there is no messy draining necessary with these pouches. The tuna is ready to eat, straight out of the pouch! HUGE plus for me, since I hate getting fishy smelling fluid on my hands! I know...I'm odd. It is what it is, haha. The first pouch we tried was the StarKist Sandwich Ready Tuna Salad. My husband worked up an appetite the other day doing yard-work, and he decided to make himself a nice tuna sandwich with this product. He really enjoyed it! He indicated that the pouch contained just enough tuna salad for one hearty sandwich, and that the mayo-to-tuna ratio was spot on. He did say he wished there was a bit more relish in the mix, though. He happens to be a relish fanatic,though,so I am willing to bet that the amount contained in this mixture would be plenty for most people. I got my next opportunity to try these Flavor Fresh Pouches tonight! Dan called from work around 6:45PM and asked me to "Please have dinner ready as soon as I get home because I'm STARVING!" Usually, we eat fairly late. I will feed the kids and then Dan and I will have something else later on. He never wants dinner ready when he gets home, as he likes to unwind before he's ready to eat. So asking for dinner to be prepared so quickly presented a challenge, since the chicken I had taken out to thaw was still partially frozen. Oops! I rummaged through my pantry trying to find something relatively quick and painless to make that I could have prepared within an hour, and immediately I was drawn to the StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouches. I had a light-bulb moment. I would make Tuna Casserole for dinner! (I will include my recipe below.) So I got to work and cooked my egg noodles, made a roux base for the sauce, sauteed my mushrooms and veggies, and pieced together all of the components for my casserole. I used 2 of the StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouches for this meal: the Albacore and the Chunk Light. Dan was absolutely thrilled that dinner was fresh out of the oven when he arrived home, exhausted and starving after a long day. Kyle, my 11 year old was happy too, since I let him help me prepare the dish. (He pummeled the Ritz crackers for the topping and helped spread them over the casserole.) Both of my guys loved this dish, and licked their plates clean. Sophie, my toddler, must have inherited my taste buds, because she did not care for it. The entire casserole disappeared between my 2 hungry men, and they both proclaimed the meal to be delicious! My family really enjoyed the StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouches. They are convenient, mess-free, and make a perfect on-the-go snack. I plan to buy more of these handy pouches when I go grocery shopping. We'd love to try more of the wonderful varieties that they have to offer! Am I going to eat them? Not a chance. But after seeing my family devour them, I know they must be yummy for those who actually eat fish. Interested in StarKist? To learn more about StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouches, please visit their website. StarKist products can be found at a trusted grocer near you! Brandy's No-Soup Tuna Casserole Recipe: Many of your conventional Tuna Casserole recipes rely on various "Cream Of" soups. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these recipes (except maybe the sodium content), I prefer to make my meals from scratch. Well, with the exception of mashed potatoes. My family actually prefers instant potatoes, so I doctor them up and serve them rather than "real" mashed potatoes. While a soup-less Tuna Casserole may seem daunting to a novice home cook, I assure you not only is it simple to make, your family will love it! You may never want to break out those soup cans again after seeing how easy and delicious this from-scratch version of this classic casserole is! Ingredients:
Enjoy!!! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
As many of you already know, one of my favorite guilty pleasures is a gorgeous handbag....or 10! It is my humble opinion that much like shoes, a woman can never have too many handbags. After all, handbags are important accessories that not only give us a place to put all of our daily must-have items such as cosmetics, cell phones, and wallets, they are also a fashion statement. A great handbag can pull your look together effortlessly by adding a pop of color to an otherwise dull and lifeless outfit. I have stated in a previous review that my handbags generally end up weighing 15-20lbs...This is not an exaggeration! I am a beauty junkie, so I have a whole myriad of cosmetic products, a hairbrush, accessories, and even body sprays that I carry with me daily. Hey, a girl always has to be prepared, right? Add 2 babies to the mix and I have spare pacifiers, sunblock, and other baby products added to the already crazy amount of "stuff" in my purse. So for me, a generously sized handbag that is still high-fashion is an absolute must have! Just because I am a mom doesn't mean I am willing to sacrifice style. Sure, I have diaper bags, but there are times that I am running a quick errand and lugging a diaper bag is just plain over-kill...This is when I rely on my trusty handbags to meet my needs! One handbag company I have recently discovered and absolutely LOVE is Nicole Lee USA. Nicole Lee has made quite a name for themselves in recent years, as they have been featured EVERYWHERE! Their awesome handbags have been showcased in TONS of trusted women's publications including Cosmo, Redbook, Lucky, Allure, Glamour, People, Marie Claire, and O Magazine...And many, many more! I think it is safe to say, Nicole Lee is taking the fashion world by storm! And for good reason! Their luxury bags are fashion-forward, incredibly high quality, and downright gorgeous! Here are some of MY personal favorites from their extensive collection of awesome handbags: I was thrilled to receive the Sade handbag in Crystal Green for my review. This is a lovely color, and my photos simply do not do it justice. This handbag is absolutely FABULOUS! This leatherette handbag features a perforated design, which is quite eye-catching. Underneath the perforated "cut-outs" is a beautiful, shimmery layer of fabric. This is a beautiful touch and demonstrates perfectly just how unique and detailed Nicole Lee USA handbags are! There are 2 compartments to this bag. The HUGE and super-roomy main compartment, and a smaller front compartment that is protected by a fold-over flap with Nicole Lee turn lock.This front compartment is rather roomy as well, and will hold your wallet or make-up essentials effortlessly. Just think of it as a purse within a purse! The main compartment of this purse is incredibly roomy, and even offers convenient pockets for your keys, cell phone, and other important items on the interior of the handbag. The main compartment is secured by a standard zipper closure. This bag also features 3 over-sized eyelets on both sides for a fun, trendy look, as well as two very durable handles that make this purse easy to carry around during your daily errands. This is a good sized bag, measuring at LENGTH 18.00" HEIGHT 11.00" WIDTH 6.00. Yep, it is large enough to carry all of my "woman stuff" as my husband likes to call it! Here are some more detailed photos highlighting the features of this drool-worthy handbag: Check out this wonderful video from Nicole Lee USA's YouTube channel featuring this awesome bag! Overall, I LOVE my Nicole Lee USA handbag! It is beautiful, trendy, and extremely well made. This bag is feminine yet durable enough to go wherever I do, even with my babies in tow! I love the roominess of this bag, and have received TONS of compliments on it already. The color is stunning, the design is striking, and the quality of workmanship reflected in this bag is absolutely superior. I am proud to carry this handbag with me, and I plan to own several more Nicole Lee USA handbags in the future. With all their flirty, high-fashion designs, can you blame me? If you haven't heard of this awesome company yet, brace yourselves, because I am sure they will quickly become the go-to bags of celebrities and REAL women alike! Their beautiful handbags will make you the envy of your friends and colleagues, and I guarantee you will be stopped by strangers asking "Where did you get that bag?" Nicole Lee USA also offers gorgeous wallets, clutches, jewelry and other awesome accessories! I am very happy with my Sade bag by Nicole Lee USA, and I am going to make 3 of my lucky followers VERY happy, because they will win a Sade bag of their own, in their choice of color! Now get your jaw up off of the floor, and I will tell you how you can check out Nicole Lee USA for yourself! BUY IT: You can purchase Nicole Lee USA handbags on their website. Feel free to click the logo below to check out their HUGE selection of luxury handbags! You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! You can also check out their bags in action on Nicole Lee USA's YouTube Channel! WIN IT: THREE lucky followers will receive the Nicole Lee USA Sade Handbag in their choice of beautiful colors. This is the same awesome bag I received! I guarantee you will absolutely LOVE this bag! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
#GIVEAWAY Win A @nicoleleeusa Sade Handbag @oopsimpregnant 3WINNERS!Ends7/9http://alturl.com/i8pvi
***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** When approached by 39 Dollar Glasses to do a review and giveaway, I was a little bummed...I thought since no one in my family wears prescription lenses, I wouldn't be able to provide an accurate review of the products they offer. Well, actually, my husband SHOULD be wearing Rx lenses, but he is stubborn and won't go get his eyes checked. Go figure. Leave it to a man to be difficult, right? But I suppose that his pig-headedness is part of his charm and one of the multitude of reasons I fell in love with the guy in the first place! Anyway, I was thrilled when I was informed that 39 Dollar Glasses offers non-prescription glasses, too! So of course, I hopped on board right away. I was going to get some cute new sunglasses for myself, but my husband's shades broke. He was driving my Mercedes and left them on the seat when he got out of the car after work one evening. The next morning, he was a bit zombie-fied since his coffee had not yet kicked in, and he sat on them. You all can guess the outcome...SNAP! He not only cracked the lenses, he also broke the frames. Needless to say, I went ahead and ordered him a new pair of sunglasses for my review. Yes, I am a nice wife,haha. Plus Father's Day was coming up and I thought this would be better than the oversized necktie and Cosby Sweater I had planned on buying him! When we sat down to look at the selection of sunglasses at 39 Dollar Glasses, we were amazed at the huge variety they have to offer. Not only do they have a large selection of great frames to choose from, you can also customize them by choosing the color of the frames as well as the color of the lenses. You can even get different lens options, such as polarization or progressive lenses. How cool is that?! We spent about 2 hours mulling over the many, many options before Dan finally settled on the pair he loved the most. Ordering was very, very easy. Joe at 39 Dollar Glasses was very helpful and walked me step-by-step on how to properly order non-prescription sunglasses. It was really simple, and only took a few minutes to fully customize our new glasses. When ordering from 39 Dollar Glasses, you can even choose which case you'd like to accompany them. They had some really nice options. I really liked the chrome-looking case, but Dan opted for the classic black clamshell case. No surprise, since he tends to have a more traditional taste in such things. The sunglasses arrived very quickly, too! They were very well packaged, and even came with some surprise extras, like lens cleaning cloths, a velvety pouch, and an eye-glass repair tool to tighten the screws if need be. Nice added touch! We were immediately impressed by the quality of the sunglasses we received as well. The frames are super-lightweight, flexible, and strong, and the lenses were very attractive and obviously much better quality than found in the el-cheapo sunglasses you'd expect to find at WalMart. As a matter of fact, these glasses are such high quality that they rival sunglasses that cost hundreds of dollars! The best part? They were a fraction of the price! These sunglasses are attractive and definitely made to last! Here's a photo of Dan wearing his new glasses from 39 Dollar Glasses. Sophie is just acting as "Arm Candy." Dan has been wearing these sunglasses for over a week now, and he absolutely loves them! The fit is exceptional, and the temple (or arm) of the glasses are snug without digging into his head or leaving odd indentations behind his ears. The lenses are ultra-thin and lightweight, as are the frames. He chose the gray lenses for these glasses, and his only complaint is that he wishes they were darker. But he chose the color, so that's really his own fault and not that of the manufacturer. I do not recall if they offered darker lenses than these, though.
One HUGE selling point of these glasses is that my husband could actually SEE the road at night in the rain wearing these. This is something he can never, ever do, since the glare pretty much blinds him! Needless to say, he is very impressed with these sunglasses, and even went so far as to say they are just as good if not better than sunglasses that cost several times more! Overall, we are extremely impressed by 39 Dollar Glasses. They offer exceptional quality products at an affordable price, and their customer service has been simply outstanding. Joe was a pleasure to work with, and I know where I am going when MY glasses break, since I decided to forgo new sunglasses for myself since Dan needed them more! BUY IT: You can purchase your own pair of prescription OR non-prescription glasses on the 39 Dollar Glasses website. You can receive 10% off your 39 Dollar Glasses order by using this reader-exclusive code during checkout: *MAMAOF3* You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! WIN IT: The generous folks at 39 Dollar Glasses are so sure you'll love their products, they'd like to offer one of my very lucky followers a pair of glasses (or sunglasses) of their own! (Up to $75.00) How awesome is that?! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
#GIVEAWAY Win A Pair Of glasses from @39dollrglasses and @oopsimpregnant up to $75!Ends 7/6http://alturl.com/h35og
***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** The next sponsor I would like to feature for my upcoming In Honor Of The Tatas Blog Hop event is Ma Mi Skincare. This awesome company was created by Moms, FOR Moms, and is committed to providing natural skin care products to help women look and feel their best! Ma Mi's products are special because they contain NO toxins, NO parabens, NO fillers, NO Petrolatums, and NO Sodium Laureth! That's right! All of the wonderful products Ma Mi Skincare has to offer are GOOD for your skin because they are inspired by nature! These products are of the highest quality, and are clinically formulated by doctors to ensure maximum levels of effectiveness and safety. These products offer an exceptionally high level of active ingredients due to the lack of wasteful fillers, and offer true anti-aging properties at an affordable price. Ma Mi is dedicated to helping you stay beautiful and radiant throughout all stages of Motherhood! Here is Ma Mi's Mission Statement, taken from their website: "Our mission at Ma Mi is to help moms and expecting moms around the world look and feel healthy, youthful, and vibrant by providing a highly effective, natural , and safe skin care line made to address their unique needs. Everything we do is firmly grounded in a belief that purity is essential to your skin’s health. We strongly believe in working in harmony with your body’s inherent renewal abilities to promote and protect healthy, glowing skin. With Ma Mi, your skin receives everything it needs and nothing it doesn't; our products contain pure, highly concentrated active ingredients that produce quick, visible results. In a few simple steps you can experience dramatic, positive changes in your skins health and appearance." I received 2 fabulous products from Ma Mi Skincare for review. They will be offering these same amazing products to the winner of my In Honor Of The Tatas event this October! These items were hand-selected specifically by the skin care experts at Ma Mi because they are not only must haves for any mama, they are also PINK! PERFECT for a breast cancer awareness event, wouldn't you agree? REAWAKEN CLEANSER This completely natural, rose hip foamer will calm, clean, soothe and tone! It is enriched with a combination of rose hip seed, seaweed and essential oils to provide a complete spectrum of skin nourishment and protection every time you clean. Seaweed conditions and hydrates the skin with vital nutrients and vitamins while the Rose Hip treats overexposure to the sun and pigment spots. Lastly, the essential oils revitalize and renew Mom’s skin back to its natural state and prepares it for exfoliation and moisturizing. Specially formulated for normal to dry skin. MY OPINION: I really like this cleanser. It cleans very gently, and produces a nice later. A little bit really goes a long way! With natural ingredients like Olive Oil Castile, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Kumquat Oil, and natural Seaweed Extracts, this cleanser packs a powerful and supremely moisturizing punch! It also smells very fresh and clean, which is something I love in a skin care product! I have been using Ma Mi Skincare's Reawaken Cleanser often, and I have noticed that my skin feels soft, smooth, and seems brighter somehow. I use this before exfoliating and moisturizing, and my skin is always left feeling fresh and clean, with no icky residue or greasiness. Just a clean, soft canvas ready for lotions, make-up, and whatever else the day may bring! Speaking of make-up, Reawaken Cleanser does a fantastic job removing my daily "spackle" as well! This product is a highly effective, gentle, and natural alternative to your conventional facial cleansers. Try it! You won't be disappointed! This product is generously sized at 4oz, and for a mere $16.00, you won't break the bank! SUNNY DAYS This technologically advanced sun block, rated SPF 30, combines specific ingredients to defend against free radical production, collagen breakdown and the premature aging of skin. Sunny Days is a physical sun block that serves as a safe alternative to chemical sun block products that use Benzophenone (or its derivatives Benzophenone-3 or Oxybenzone) that can pose health risks for pregnant or breastfeeding moms and children as well. Sunny Days utilizes the mineral Titanium Dioxide along with Plant-Derived Peptides and Green Tea Polyphenols to form a natural, protective layer on the skin to provide broad spectrum protection against UV-A, UV-B and infrared rays. This lightweight, transparent, fragrance-free formula provides quality sun protection while minimizing the signs of premature aging and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. In fact, it’s so gentle it can be used to protect the delicate eye area, recent scars (c-section) and even on kids. This large pump is convenient to lather your whole body or any other little ones bodies as you run out the door. MY OPINION: I am a HUGE advocate of sun-protection, not only for me, but for my children, too. I have seen the extensive damage over-exposure to the sun can do, such as leathery skin and premature aging. But the sun and it's harmful rays can even cause more serious problems, such as Melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. My husband actually lost the adoptive mother who raised him, a beautiful and kind woman whom I remember well, to this horrible and merciless disease. So I am a huge believer in protection from an early age. Even though I am more olive complected and do not burn easily, I have been using sun block DAILY, year round, since my early 20's. I do not go tanning, and I don't take any chances where sun exposure is concerned. Call it vain, but I get my tan out of a box or a tube. I do not want to look older than I am because of the sun, nor do I want to open up the door to skin cancer. I am just as diligent when it comes to my children as well. I love the Sunny Days Mineral Sunblock from Ma Mi Skincare because it is free of harsh chemicals and fragrances, and is incredibly lightweight and easy to apply. It is also very gentle. Gentle enough, in fact, to use on your children. Since this is formulated from natural ingredients, there is no need to worry about exposure to harsh ingredients than can be harmful to the skin. This product gets an A++ from me! Like I said before, one of my lucky readers will be receiving both of these amazing products during my October In Honor Of The Tatas Event! Ma Mi Skincare is amazing, and I know you'll absolutely love their all natural products! In the meantime, here's how you can connect and learn more about this wonderful company, whose products are dedicated especially to the most important people in the world: Moms! HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase Ma Mi Skincare products on their website. You can also connect on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game once my October event begins! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
I want to start out by saying I do not drink coffee...Well, unless I am in Canada. They have Tim Horton's, and their coffee MUST be laced with heroin or something, because once you try it, no other coffee will ever do. (Why do Canadians always seem to have the best stuff?) While at home here in the States, I tend not to indulge in coffee at all. Okay, maybe the occasional iced cappuccino smoothie concoction at Wawa, but even that is a rarity! I am just not a big fan of coffee. Unless, of course, I am using it on my skin. You heard me right: I use coffee on my skin, and I LOVE it! This may seem odd to you. It did to me when I first discovered the b3 barista bath & body product line, but let me tell you, these people are absolutely genius! Want to know more? Let me tell you more about this company and their revolutionary products. the science (taken from the b3 website.) barista bath and body – b3 – products are formulated with organic coffee, coffee extract, essential oils and herbal extracts to maximize the therapeutic benefits of coffee. In recent years, coffee has re-emerged as a natural restorative exhibiting numerous advantageous properties. Published studies have documented the benefits of topical application of coffee and its major constituent, caffeine. To understand why b3 chose coffee as the key ingredient in our formulations, it is important to understand how pH levels affect your body, the complex structure of the hair and the skin’s natural defense system. pH balance pH (potential of Hydrogen) measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A balanced pH is critical to maintaining healthy hair and skin. Hair and skin is slightly acidic in nature, with a pH of 4.5 to 5. Coffee also has a pH of 4.5 to 5. A high pH causes hair cuticle cells to swell and become rough and contributes to residue retention. Soap and water (pH of 12) strips away the body's natural defense system. hair Hair is made up of complex proteins that originate in the hair follicle. Each individual strand of hair is composed of three distinct layers: The cuticle, a shingle-like layer of over-lapping cells, acts as a protective barrier for the softer inner structures and is said to be water resistant. When the cuticle is damaged, the hair appears dull, tangles easily, and has a rough texture. The cortex, a spiral structure beneath the cuticle, makes the hair extremely strong and gives it elasticity. The cortex also holds the hair’s water content. The medullary canal is a hollow or partially hollow shaft which appears in some hair strands; its presence or absence can alter the way in which the hair interacts with light. Hair products with a high pH cause the cuticle cells of the hair to swell and become rough. Residue is a major factor with hair products that have an unbalanced pH. skin Skin is the largest organ of the body. The outer layer, epidermis, protects the body from external factors such as bacteria and chemical contaminants. Our skin’s first line of defense is called the acid mantle, a thin oily film that sits on top of the epidermis. The pH of the acid mantle is about 4.5 to 5.5. Our slightly acidic skin helps to fight off harmful bacteria. Many of the contaminants that might enter our skin are alkaline in nature (pH greater than 7). The skin’s natural acidity neutralizes these chemicals and bacteria. Beneath the epidermis is the dermis composed mainly of collagen and elastin which gives our skin its strength and elasticity. Retaining moisture in the dermis is an important factor in smooth, soft skin. Soap and water used by many to routinely cleanse the skin (pH of 12) neutralizes the skin’s natural acidity stripping away the body’s natural defense system. the raw truth Our formulations do not contain endocrine disrupting or mutagenic agents - they are paraben-free, phthalate-free and sulfate-free. We use natural preservatives (e.g. citric acid) instead of parabens and have replaced sulfates with natural salts to provide a rich lather. Our formulations use pure essential oils for fragrance rather than phthalates. Sounds great, doesn't it? Who knew that coffee, that familiar morning beverage, could be so beneficial to the skin and hair? I had no idea the wonderful benefits that coffee could bring to the world of beauty and skin care before trying these products! But b3 has made a believer out of me. I received a large assortment of these awesome products to review. I was impressed by them all! I would like to share my experiences with you. I think you might be surprised. I sure was! I would like to tell you about my absolute favorite products from this line: perk it up energizing shampoo This coffee-based shampoo received its name because it really does energize your hair – providing a “cleaner clean” as it awakens the senses. Benefits When researching the formulation, b3 was determined to create a shampoo that is pH balanced, removes impurities, and is free of parabens, sulfates or phthalates. The result is perk it up, a natural shampoo that delivers brighter, shinier hair that is full of life. Brewed organic coffee gives this shampoo a pH of 4.5 to 5.0 – critical for moisture retention and shine. perk it up uses a naturally derived surfactant-based formulation that spreads easily and rinses out fully. Since perk it up won't strip your hair of it's natural beauty, it is ideal for both color treated and non-color treated hair. MY OPINION: When I first opened this shampoo, I was immediately struck by the rich aroma of coffee. It smells like a freshly brewed pot of the finest java! I was a bit worried that I would smell like coffee all day after using this shampoo, but I was wrong in my assumption. Perk It Up is wonderfully energizing and leaves hair very clean, without stripping the hair's natural oils or leaving behind a gross residue. It also provides a nice, rich lather. My hair was soft, bouncy, and somehow lighter and healthier feeling after using this product. And no, my head did NOT smell like a pot of coffee all day. I love this shampoo, since it seemed to take away that icky feeling hair can acquire from styling products and everyday exposure to the elements, leaving it soft, supple and clean feeling. This product gets an A++ from me! triple shot3 3-in-1 coffee shower gel triple shot3 percolates the senses as it cleanses your body. A hydrating combination of organic coffee and vitamin E, triple shot3 energizes as it exfoliates for soft, supple skin. Benefits Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it protects you from bacteria and external contaminants. Maintaining the skin’s pH at the proper level is vital to healthy, glowing skin. Soap and water (pH of 12) neutralizes our skin’s acid pH - stripping away our natural defense system. This 3-in-1 gel has a pH of 4.5 to 5 which supports the skin's natural healing properties to condition and moisturize your skin. Add an exhilarating experience to your morning routine – let this silky-smooth 3-in-1 shower gel cascade across your body to stimulate every pore. MY OPINION: Again, here is yet another product that is a total must have. This shower gel is nothing short of amazing! It, too, smells like freshly brewed coffee! Perfect for a wake-up call to the senses during your morning shower! While this smells rather strongly like coffee during use, you will NOT smell like coffee all day long. This shower gel lathers wonderfully, and leaves the skin feeling super-soft and renewed in a sense. Again, there are no harsh chemicals so there is no residue left behind, just the feeling of soft, healthy skin! one lump or two coffee & sea salt body scrub Imagine silk sheets, a baby’s face, a cashmere sweater or whipped cream – that’s what your skin will feel like after using one lump or two. Our body scrub is a fusion of coffee, sea salt and turbinado sugar combined with avocado and neem oils to detoxify and hydrate the skin. Benefits Your skin, the largest organ of your body, regenerates itself every 25 to 50 days depending on your age. The epidermis sheds millions of dead cells, daily, to make room for new cells. The best way to assist the natural process is to exfoliate your skin - remove the outer layer to reveal the newer, softer, more supple skin beneath. MY OPINION: This body scrub is fantastic! I am a huge fan of exfoliatiors, especially during the warmer months. I wear a lot of sundresses and love my skin to be soft and radiant. This body scrub leaves my skin amazingly soft, smooth, and moisturized. The combination of coffee, sea salt and sugar gently and effectively sloughs off dead, dry skin, and the avocado and neem oils provide so much moisture. This product doesn't smell as strongly of coffee as the previous 2, and again, does not leave you coffee scented. This is truly a spa quality product that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home! Another A++! room for cream exotic origin body creme b3 formulated our exotic origin body crème as a luxuriant way to indulge the skin. Benefits Creams don't replace lost moisture but form a barrier between the skin and the air to prevent evaporation of your skin’s natural moisture. This crème has a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5, which provides the natural balance necessary for moisture retention and a smoother appearance. room for cream is simply amazing – everyone who had tried this product, no matter what age or skin type, has raved about how fabulous their skin feels even after just one use. MY OPINION: This has got to be one of the absolute BEST lotions I have ever tried, if not THE best. (And I have tried a LOT of lotions and body creams in my day!) After the very first use, my skin was ridiculously soft. My husband couldn't keep his hands off of me! This creme is ultra-rich and luxurious and penetrates quickly into the skin leaving it velvety and super moisturized. This creme has kind of an odd smell, but it's not at all unpleasant. Just different than any other creme I have tried. I use this creme every single day, and my skin has never felt so wonderful. If they sold this by the gallon, I would buy it. Yes, it's really THAT GOOD! And these are just my personal favorites among their huge selection of products. They are all wonderful, though! I also really love the Froth lip balm.The expert team at b3 barista bath and body have created a line of superior, spa quality products that nurture and pamper the skin and nails, leaving you feeling absolutely beautiful and radiant. b3 even won the 2010 Discover Beauty Award from CosmoProf, the largest beauty trade show in North America AND they were a finalist in the 2011 CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) Awards! They have even been featured in leading publications such as Cosmo, Parent, Southern Living, and Bon Appetit! b3 is literally revolutionizing the skin care world and changing the way we look at coffee! Who knew that coffee could provide more than just a wake-up call?! So while I am not a coffee drinker, I will definitely be a coffee "wearer" from now on. These products are amazing, and perfectly Ph balanced to bring out the absolute best qualities your skin and hair have to offer. What a way to start every day, don't you agree? BUY IT: You can purchase b3 barista bath and body products on their website and at select fine retailers. You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their newest products and promotions! WIN IT! b3 is so sure you'll become a believer, too, they would like to give TWO of my lucky followers a b3 Essentials Set of their own! One winner will receive the b3 Bath Essentials Gift Set, which includes 8 oz. sizes of perk it up, soothe those jitters, triple shot3 and a full size bar of make mine black beautifully packaged in an 8 in. by 8in. decorative wooden gift box. ARV: $70.00! My other lucky winner will receive the b3 Body Essentials Gift Set! The b3 body essentials kit contains 8 oz. sizes of room for cream, pump of flavor, one lump or two and a .15 oz. froth packaged in a beautiful wooden 8 in. by 8in. decorative gift box. ARV: $75.00! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
#GIVEAWAY Win A Set Of b3 Barista Bath and Body products @oopsimpregnant Ends 7/4 http://alturl.com/7cg8s
***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** |
PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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