I can't wait! I have a great prize during this event with 5 WINNERS! It's a high-value prize, too! So definitely make sure to visit me and the 96+ OTHER BLOGS that are participating in this giveaway event! TONS of prizes to be won!
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Oooh, I am SO excited about this giveaway. Someone is going to be very, very happy because Tina, the very generous owner of the NY Cupcake Co. will be making them their very own tasty and decadent treats! And the best part is, the winner has a choice between a few different treats that are all simply yummy-licious! Is yummy-licious even a word? If not, it is NOW, because I can't think of any better way to describe anything that comes out of the expert kitchens of the NY Cupcake Co.! A little something sweet and sinful to share with a special someone or keep all to yourself...Does it get any better than that? This mama thinks not! Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that cupcakes are all the rage right now, and for good reason! Cupcakes are fun and whimsical, or they can be classy and elegant...Some are filled, some are plain, some are decorated with smooth fondant, while others are topped with creamy, flavorful, and sometimes colorful icings. You can top a cupcake with elaborate little cupcake toppers that are often edible, or you can sit down with your favorite wee ones and have them "decorate" with sprinkles and colored sugars. With cupcakes, the possibilities are endless. Cupcakes are definitely versatile enough for any occasion, and they are portable enough to take to parties or to your child's school come birthdays. They are also the PERFECT serving size for those of us who are trying to lose a few pounds by summer and might not always help ourselves to the smallest sliver of cake! Can we say portion control? Tina over at NY Cupcake Co. has you covered when it comes to fun gourmet treats that will make every occasion just a little sweeter. NY Cupcake Co. specializes in custom, made-to-order cakes, cupcakes, cookies, handmade chocolates and other sweet treats-always made to order in their own kitchens and always using only the finest ingredients available, like Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate, Pure Madagascar Vanilla, Real Fruits, Fresh Citrus Zests, and of course, what is baking without real sweet cream butter!? And let me tell you, not only is Tina a wonderful lady to work with, she also pays close attention to even the tiniest of details. The people at NY Cupcake Co. work closely with each and every customer, ensuring that they understand the wants, tastes, and desires of each individual client. This ensures that all the details and colors fit the theme and spirit of your special occasion perfectly. This is the commitment of the NY Cupcake Co. They want to make every occasion just as sweet and memorable as it can be. I received a TON of goodies from Tina to sample with my family. When the box arrived, my husband and son were perched, waiting like vultures, just ready to devour its contents! I was shocked to find not only cupcakes, but edible image cookies, adorable and chic cupcake toppers, chocolate covered marshmallow pops, chocolate dipped Oreos, yummy meringue cookies, and FABULOUS whoopie pies! I really got a sense for the love that Tina puts into her edible "art" (cause let's face it: baking IS an art, especially when things turn out so beautiful to the eye!) I also was amazed by the close attention to even the tiniest of details. Take a look at what I received from the NY Cupcake Co. These photos do not do these heavenly desserts any justice. As you can see, there is a TON of variety coming out of the NY Cupcake Co. kitchen! And let me assure you, it is all delicious! We loved it all! My husband especially loved the Chocolate Covered OREOs, the Chocolate Marshmallow Pops, the Chocolate Cupcakes that I could not ice for the life of me, and the Whoopie Pies. (If you're noticing a theme here, it's because my hubby is a self-proclaimed choco-junkie!) My son loved it all. I really liked the buttercream icing that Tina sent for me to ice the chocolate cupcakes with. It was sweet, somewhat fluffy, and creamy all at the same time. The vanilla flavor was deep and rich, and I could tell that she uses a superior quality vanilla for her goodies. Yes, you can really tell. Quality of ingredients definitely makes a difference when it comes to the overall taste of things. I also loved the cookies! I could not bring myself to actually eat the images of my babies, so I performed minor "surgery" with a butter knife to get just the cookies! No, I don't have a weird hang-up about eating someone's face...I just thought these were too full of awesomeness to eat, so I am keeping them! Okay maybe that IS a little weird, but whatever. The cookies themselves were WONDERFUL...I am not sure if they are a shortbread or a sugar cookie, but they are sweet, have an amazing texture, and they are just packed full of a light, vanilla flavor that I just adored. Overall, we LOVE the NY Cupcake Co. and would recommend their sweet creations for any special occasion you might have...even if that occasion is just a rainy Sunday spent indoors with family, surrounded by babies and covered in baby goo. Yep. They're really THAT good. Give them a try! BUY IT: You can order your own custom goodies from NY Cupcake Co. on their website. You can also connect with them on Facebook. Or follow the NY Cupcake Co. blog where you will find great tutorials, recipes, and features! WIN IT: Tina at NY Cupcake Co. is very generously offering one of my very lucky followers THEIR CHOICE between the following items:
To enter, simply LEAVE A COMMENT telling me what you would love to try from NY Cupcake Co. and then fill out this easy entry form, which also includes extra entry opportunities. Commenting AND filling out the form will allow entrants to see how many others have entered, which helps them determine their odds for winning! This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. I will draw the winner using random.org, and they will be announced on this blog as well as contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to draw a new winner! Good luck! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and my opinions are 100% my own and have not been influenced in any way.*** I ran into Erin, owner of Skirt of the Month Club over on her blog a couple of months ago, and I loved her designs so much, that I asked if she would be interested in sponsoring a review and giveaway for my event. I am so happy she agreed, and that I have the chance to share her amazing skirts with you all! Skirt of the Month Club is a unique and FUN club where you can choose a 3, 6, 9, or 12 month subscription. Each month you're a subscriber, you will receive a wonderful boutique-style skirt that is handmade with only the highest quality materials and designer fabrics, such as Michael Miller, Amy Butler, and Alexander Henry. Each skirt is lovingly made with great attention to detail, and are serged and top-stitched for added durability. That's right! Don't be afraid to let your little princess play hard in these skirts in fear of ruining them. These skirts can stand up to the adventures of even the most curious and playful little gals! So let them run, jump and frolic in these twirly skirts, as they are very well-made and durable enough for everyday wear! I recently interviewed Erin, owner of the Skirt of the Month Club to learn more about her inspiration and how she got into making these whimsical, adorable skirts. I love getting to know the person behind the business, since I feel it gives a little more of a personal touch to the wonderful creations they produce. Erin is a joy to work with, and is a very sweet person, too! Here is a little more about her, in her own words: "I'm a wife of ten years and a stay at home mom of two girls, ages 5 and 7. I grew up in a family full of very creative people, and some were/are really good at sewing. While I've always been good at more 'right-brained' pursuits, like art and dance, I was afraid to try sewing. I felt I would be lousy at it because it takes some patience and problem-solving! But I still put it on my bucket list of things to do, and finally got around to trying it, expecting to hate it and that would be that. Well, I not only didn't hate it, but I actually took to it easily. The funny thing is that I was right about needing patience, but it actually helped me learn it instead of being a source of aggravation. Well, most of the time! Having two little girls is a huge inspiration for me. I love picking out fabrics and styles that I know they will like. A lot of the fabrics I pick are with them in mind, of what they will like and what I think their friends will like, too. It helps having two very different personalities! My older daughter likes pretty much anything, especially anything Kawaii/Japanese or with cute animals, while my younger daughter is all girl and if it's pink or purple, she loves it! I personally love Woodland themes, or anything retro, so I like to mix those with my daughters' tastes! Picking fabric is the most fun and most addicting thing ever! I also started sewing things for friends' kids and found I liked sewing for others, too, and that's what led me to opening an online shop. It's been so much fun, and an added bonus is that I've made some really great friends through customers and other online sellers!" I know I am glad she decided to try her hand (and her patience) at sewing, because her skirts truly are gorgeous. Just look at some of her designs: And an added bonus to joining the Skirt of the Month Club is that every month, you will receive one of these gorgeous skirts, as well as a newsletter and other fun goodies for your little diva! Here is an example of what you will receive each month. Please note that skirts will vary, so these skirts may or may not be included in your monthly subscription. Doesn't that look fun? I love that Erin includes little goodies for the girls she creates these skirts for. It's part of that added touch you only get with WAHM's. No factories or mass-produced goods here! You can be sure that your little girl will be the envy of all her friends in her skirts from the Skirt of the Month Club! BUY IT: There is also an amazing sale going on over at the Skirt of the Month Club through May 31, 2011. With every subscription, Erin will be including BONUS SKIRTS!
I KNOW you want some of these skirts...And Erin has generously offered one of my very lucky mamas a 2 month subscription to the Skirt of the Month Club during my Mad About Mama event! That's right! One of you will get 2 monthly twirly skirts from the Skirt of the Month Club! To enter, please fill out the easy entry form AND comment on this post telling me you follow on GFC and what kind of prints you'd love to see from Skirt of the Month Club. (Mandatory entry.) Using the form AND leaving one comment will not only remind you that you've entered, it will show you how many other entrants there are! This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. I will choose a winner using random.org and the winner will be announced here as well as contacted via e-mail. They will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner! ***Disclosure: I received a product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and my opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** I was recently contacted by Rachel, the owner of Vandies Crafty Tree asking if I would like to review her Diddles and host a giveaway for her. My first thought, of course, was " What the HECK is a Diddle?!" I later learned that my dear old friend, Mary, came up with the name, and that explained everything. Mary, if you're reading this, I mean that in a nice way! You've always been creative and just a little kooky! :) So I rushed on over to Vandies Crafty Tree, Rachel's Facebook shop, and went to find out for myself what on earth a diddle was! One look, and I was HOOKED! And for your information, diddles are awesome, completely custom hair accessories that come as a clip, a barrette, headband, or hair tie. She even makes adorable knitted headbands you can attach a clip or barrette diddle to for the wee-tiniest of heads! Vandies Crafty tree also makes custom baby blankets, pins, corsages, and other accessories! Rachel's mission is to do her part to fill the world with fun, beautiful, and totally unique handmade gifts. I don't know about you, but I LOVE handmade items. They have much more diversity and character than their store-bought counterparts. And since each piece is custom made to your specifications, you can be sure that you or the little girl in your life will be the chicest around, since no one will be able to duplicate your look when you wear a diddle from Vandies Crafty Tree! Just look at some of her adorable diddles! The first pics are of my little diva, by the way...She was tugging at it and made a mess of her hair, but it's still cute! Her diddle is clipped onto a handmade headband that Rachel generously included for my review! Aren't these just adorable!? And there are MANY more styles to choose from! I personally love my diddle. I just love the fun colors and the fact that the clip actually stays in Sophie's fine baby hair. Diddles from Vandies Crafty Tree are very well made and durable, as well as being absolutely adorable!
BUY IT: I know you want a diddle for your little girl now! You can order your own on her Facebook shop! And FYI: Vandies Crafty Tree is VERY affordable, so you can buy several without breaking the bank! WIN IT: Rachel will be offering one lucky follower the diddle of their choice during my Mad About Mama event. How cool is that?! Since I am testing out several different entry options to find what my readers like the best, I am going to do a simple, comment entry with only a few extra entries available, rather than tons. I am trying to decide between comment entries or keeping the form entries that I have been trying out, so bear with me if I try some of each in the meantime. MANDATORY ENTRY:
EARLY ENTRIES:
This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be contacted via e-mail and announced here. They will have 48 hours to reply or I will have to redraw. ***Disclosure: I received a product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** A change in season means a change in your skin care regimen also. This is because the climate has something to do with your skin’s condition and its reaction to the products you apply. For instance, when the weather is warm, your skin needs to breathe and would therefore appreciate lighter formulations. Using the same products you had for winter could result to oiliness, clogged pores, and pimples among many others. This is true for people of all skin tones. People with darker skin should modify their black skin care regimen to suit the warm months in the same way Caucasians and Asians do. And as long as they know what their skin type is, this shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. Below are some black skin care tips to get your skin ready for some sun and sweat. Keep it Light Black skin care products for the winter are usually heavy and greasy so replace them with lighter formulations such as oil-free and water-based products. The same should be done with your makeup. Additionally, clean your makeup tools more frequently during warm months because bacteria growth is faster when it is hot. Another tip is to keep your makeup as minimal and natural looking as possible. Instead of using heavy foundation, a tinted moisturizer will do. Go for tinted lip balm instead of lipstick. Not only will your skin thank you for it, it will also make you look better. After all, summer is all about looking fresh and natural. If you are not sure of the black skin care product’s effect on your skin, perform a skin test first. Quench Whenever, Wherever Aside from updating your stash of African American Skin care products, keeping your skin hydrated is very important during this season so drink at least eight glasses of water and more if you perspire a lot. Bring some bottled water with you so you will remember to take a sip even if you’re busy. Artificial fruit juices and soda are flavorful but do not substitute them for water. If you want a little flavor, put some slices of lime in your water. You can also squeeze fruits or put them in a blender with ice cubes and milk for a little pizzazz. Here Comes the Sun Summer is all about outdoor fun, so sun exposure will be the last thing you can avoid. Fortunately, people with black skin are naturally protected with higher SPF than those who have fairer skin. However, it doesn’t mean that you can be careless about sun protection. An SPF or sun protection factor of 30 is what black skin care specialists recommend for daily protection. People with black skin can switch to SPF 15 but if you are going to the beach, you might as well use a sunscreen with higher SPF such as SPF 30. Today, it’s not difficult to find a good sunscreen product. Choose a non-greasy formulation for a better feel and absorption. Finally, avoid direct or overexposure from the sun. Bring an umbrella or hat to shield your skin. Even with sunscreen, your skin can still get damaged so better err on the safe side. Re-apply sunscreen as necessary and leave it on your skin at least a good half hour before you head out for the outdoors. African American skin care becomes more essential during warmer days or the summer season than any other seasons. Why? Because it is also the best time to bare a little skin! So use the tips above and don’t be afraid to show them what you got. About the Author: Juliette Samuel is a person who definitely knows beautiful when she sees it. Juliette has had a very eclectic career working in and around the beauty industry. She has worked as an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has also been a Professional Image Consultant. Currently Juliette works as a Skin Care Therapist, acting President and Chief Nose for NYRAJU Skin Care. As such she is in charge of product formulation and development of all scents produced for the line. Juliette is also a member of NAHA-The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, The Society of Cosmetic Chemist and is the Fragrance Editor for BellaOnline. What does that do for you? It keeps Juliette on her toes when it comes to the type of information that she’ll be able to share with you as readers of her blog or articles that she publishes on and off the web. I still have a few giveaways lined up over the next couple of days for my Mad About Mama Event. You've all gotten to know my most of my sponsors through my various Sponsor Spotlight posts. So you know I have TONS of great giveaways going right now! Did you notice what was strangely missing? Something that ALL moms LOVE to receive, especially on Mother's Day? You guessed it! FLOWERS! What woman doesn't enjoy getting a beautiful bouquet of fragrant flowers to brighten up her day? I dare you to find me one. Flowers are one of the most sure fire ways to make a woman feel loved and appreciated, on Mother's Day or any other day of the year. There is nothing that gives me the warm fuzzies more than receiving a nice floral arrangement from my husband or children. It's even better when it's because they love me rather than because someone made their way into the proverbial dog-house,lol. The folks at 1-800-FLOWERS know the value of a smile and positive actions in our day to day lives. You know, the little things we all do to enhance our lives and the lives of those around us...Things like spending time reading to your children, taking family walks together, eating more fruits and vegetables, and even paying down debt! These and many other seemingly normal day to day tasks have a positive impact on families, therefore increasing smiles! 1-800-FLOWERS has recently joined forces with DailyFeats.com, a new online social media platform where you can actually track your positive actions and earn points for them! Log in daily and earn points that can be redeemed for wonderful items from local and national partners, like 1-800-FLOWERS gift cards! This is an awesome new community that celebrates all the little things we do in life that mean so much. To earn points towards your DailyFeats.com preferred reward, head on over and share a story about the Mom in your life by clicking on the MakeMomSmile feat! Then cruise on over to 1-800-FLOWERS and share your story there, too, to be entered to win a FABULOUS 7-day cruise courtesy of the very generous folks at Norwegian Cruise Lines and 1-800-FLOWERS! That's not all, though! 1-800-FLOWERS is in the business of smiles, so they are also working with one of their sister-sites, Celebrations.com, that has recently been redesigned and relaunched to bring to you all another fabulous promotion! To celebrate the new look of Celebrations.com, they are offering even more chances to win special gifts for the mama you love the most, including a $75.00 savings pass to 1-800-FLOWERS! Simply subscribe to their newsletter for your chance to win one of several great prizes, and to receive great offers and party ideas! This site has everything from party planning such as online invitations, party games, to recipes and theme party ideas! How cool is that?! I have 3 kids and a 30th birthday coming up, so I know I will definitely be visiting Celebrations.com often! 1-800-FLOWERS is so excited about these special events that they want to pass the smiles along to one of my lucky readers! One winner who shares their Mom Story at both DailyFeats.com AND 1-800-FLOWERS and signs up for the Celebrations.com newsletter will be receiving the beautiful Modern Enchantment Bouquet AND a special book celebrating moms, "Celebrating Mom: Share, Remember, Cherish" by Jim McCann, CEO and founder of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Isn't that exciting! I know I am entering, will you? And JUST in time for Mother's Day!
Requirements to enter are: The only requirement to enter this giveaway is to enter the three amazing promotions that 1-800-Flowers has going on right now!! You have the chance to win even more fabulous prizes, like a 7 Day Cruise and 1-800-FLOWERS Gift Cards! (And many, many more prizes, too!) And the best part is that the cash-out requirements are LOW so you can start getting awesome rewards very quickly by sharing your positive actions!
Please leave a comment below letting me know that you entered all three required entries and the email that you used to complete the mandatory entries. This email address will be used to contact the winner. EXTRA ENTRIES:
Ends 5/2 http://alturl.com/nrwtg" This giveaway will be open until 12:00AM EST on May 2, 2011 to ensure the winner receives their flowers in time for Mother's Day, if possible. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be announced here on my blog as well as contacted via e-mail. They will then have 24 hours to claim their prize or I will be forced to redraw. ***Disclosure: I am receiving a product in exchange for my posting about this giveaway. No monetary compensation has taken place, and all opinions are my own.*** Today's AWESOME giveaway is coming from Michele, fellow blogger and owner of Miki's Hope and The Very Best Of The Best. (Which are both awesome sites, in my humble opinion!) Please check out her wonderful sites, and follow her blog. She has a blowout Mother's Day event of her own, and you will NOT want to miss out on it! But to stay in the loop, you'll need to head on over and become one of her lovely followers, like myself. :) Michele is also a consultant for Eclipse Spa, and has generously donated not 1....not 2....but 3 AMAZING products for my Mad About Mama Mother's Day event! These products are fantastic! I received the same products that will be given away, and I tried 2 of them last night, and all I can say is that these products seriously pamper! They *almost* made me forget that I had 2 babies and a preteen that could call for me at any second and interrupt my blissful relaxation. If you had blindfolded me, I would honestly have felt that I was living the high life and being pampered in a luxurious spa setting. But that's the great thing about Eclipse Spa products. You can recreate the whole spa experience in the comfort (or chaos) of your own home! Eclipse Spa offers many decadent products, such as wonderful, skin softening sugar scrubs, nourishing body and hand lotions, soy candles, and amazing massage oils. They also have gift baskets and a men's section so the hubby can spoil himself a little, too! These products give everyone the chance to have an organic, sumptuous spa experience. About Eclipse Spa, from Michele's Eclipse Spa website: Using a synergistic approach in formulating our products, we use ingredients that soothe and protect your skin, and use natural fragrances that can transform your emotions and heal your body. We are committed to sustainable practices and providing the best ever natural and organic bath & body products for you to turn your bath into an organic spa experience. Eclipse Spa does not support animal testing and uses natural raw ingredients in its products. Most of our herbs and additives have been certified organically grown. Taking further steps to being green we use recycled shipping boxes to send you your orders, and use recycled tissue paper in our all-natural gift packaging. All of our product containers are recyclable, therefore we encourage our customers to recycle their product containers. Our Team All of our labels are hand-applied by individuals who have developmental disabilities that range mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, downs syndrome, etc. We are privileged to be providing meaning, opportunity and support to these severely disadvantaged and mentally handicapped adults who would otherwise find it difficult to find a job on "main street. So please excuse a label that might be a little crooked, knowing that you purchased a product from a company who provides assistance to these fabulous individuals. To reduce our carbon footprint I now hand-pour all of our candles in-house. We use all natural 100% soy wax in our candles and pure essential oils for fragrance which is less toxic to people and the environment. We love providing you with eco-friendly light and comfort while you Spa at Home Tonight. You heard that right: Eclipse Spa is a company with a conscience and a big heart. They provide eco-friendly, organic products, and they enlist the help of disabled individuals in the labeling process, giving them a sense of purpose and pride, knowing that they, too, can be contributing members of society, when it may have otherwise been hard for them to find employment. I LOVE that! On a personal note, I have worked with developmentally challenged and disabled children before, and they are some of the most beautiful, happy, optimistic individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. It angers me when people are quick to judge them for being "different". I applaud Eclipse Spa for recognizing these wonderful individuals and for giving them a chance to be a part of something great. I wish more companies would follow suit. Anyway, take a look at the awesome prizes from Eclipse Spa that Michele is offering one lucky reader: Natural luxury that will make your skin fall in love. Emerald Bath's peppermint vanilla sugar scrub is the candy your skin craves. Nutritious therapeutic oils mixed with our wild-crafted Shea Butter and sugar will leave your skin radiant, unbelievably soft and protected from the elements , whether you are exposed to sun, wind and cold. Size: Net Weight: 9 oz Key Ingredients: Shea Butter and Pumpkin Seed Oil Key Benefits: Skin that is ultra soft and luxurious feeling I love, love, LOVE this scrub! It has an amazing scent that literally filled my bathroom with the aroma of vanilla and mint. Even my husband who happened to come into the bedroom, knocked on the bathroom door and asked me what smelled so good! The scrub is also extremely moisturizing and leaves skin soft, supple, and silky to the touch! Transform your skin with our aloe rich white tea and ginger organic body lotion and you'll soon discover how silky smooth your skin will become.
Thia lotion is wonderful! It is light, yet very moisturizing and doesn't leave behind a heavy, "lotiony" residue like so many others do. The smell is light and clean as well. This lotion is especially great on my legs after shaving. It leaves them feeling soooo incredibly soft! Makes me want to break out all my skirts, shorts and dresses! It would be a crime to hide legs so soft and smooth! We love the quote "I've never met a piece of chocolate I didn't like". This inspired us to come up with a way to enjoy chocolate, but without all the calories. Meet our new chocolate mint bath salts! Dead sea salts has many therapeutic properties and the natural cocoa butter is full of terrific moisturizing properties. Directions: Use one scoop of bath salts in your hot bath. 9 ounces Key Ingredients: dead Sea salts, cocoa butter and essential oil. Don't these look like fantastic products? I love my Eclipse Spa products, and am so glad that Michele introduced me to them! BUY IT: You can purchase your own Eclipse Spa goodies at Michele's Eclipse Spa website. WIN IT: One VERY lucky winner will receive ALL 3 of these awesome products! It is Mother's Day, after all, and Michele would love to spoil one of you with a unique, at home spa experience! HOW TO ENTER: I am going to keep entering very easy on this one. Please complete the MANDATORY entries before an extra entries. I am using an easy entry form for this giveaway, but I encourage you to comment to remind yourself that you've entered. I love comments, but a comment will not count as an entry. This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chosen using random.org. They will be announced here on my blog as well as contacted via e-mail. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond or I will have to choose a new winner. Thanks, and good luck! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and my opinions are 100% my own and have not been influenced in any way.*** So today I was feeding Xander, who is 3 months old. All was well. My little Xan-Man was happily slurping away and pausing to smile at me, making my heart melt to a big pile of goo in the process...And then it happened. Sophie, who is OFF the bottle at 15 months old, (not by HER choosing, let me tell you...) saw me feeding him. Her eyes locked onto that bottle, and she proceeded to throw the biggest tantrum ever while trying to forcibly TAKE the bottle from her little brother. She was MAD...And my 11 year old decided to take pictures of the whole ordeal. Let this serve as a warning: Toddlers can be TOUGH! Whew...The joys of having babies 12 months apart.
I have a confession to make. One SO bad that you may just have to call in the Fashion Police to cart me away and enroll me in Fashionista Rehab! I LOVE Ed Hardy. Now, don't get me wrong...I would never in a million years become of one those odd people who walk around looking like walking billboards, decked in head to toe Ed Hardy designs. I actually chuckle to myself when I see that. But I DO love their hip and trendy tattoo inspired designs. I have 2 purses, 2 diaper bags, 2 dresses, and my car's seats and steering wheel are all Ed Hardy. Yeah, I know...Very Jersey Shore. But no, I am not trying to imitate Snooki or JWoww. This mama has the boobs AND a brain to go along with them! But alas, I know that my well-loved Ed Hardy won't always be in style. It's already losing some of it's popularity. Now I am by no means a slave to fashion, as I will wear what I like regardless of how hip it is at that given moment, but I like having other options that are still trendy and cute, but don't necessarily scream "Label Whore." I will proudly admit that while I do love my designer duds, I will gladly shop at Target or WalMart if I see something that is to my liking. But you can't always find unique styles there. That's why I am psyched to announce my next Mad About Mama Event sponsor: May 23 Online! May 23 Online is a fun, fresh online clothing boutique that specializes in cute, trendy clothing that will have a longer shelf life than my Ed Hardy designs that are slowly but surely making their way to the back of my closet, even as we speak. They have awesome silk-screened T-shirts that are fun, fashionable, and oh-so-comfy, as well as sweaters, jackets, hats and mittens, bags, and even some adorable socks! They also carry a very cute selection of babies' and childrens' items! Here is a little more about May 23 Online. Originally, they started by creating unique designs for a local charity pub-crawl they organize. (Big Wheel Pub Crawl.) People absolutely loved the fresh designs as well as the wonderful quality of their shirts. So naturally, with such popular demand, they decided to branch out. That is how May 23 Online was born. They use Alternative Apparel shirts as their base, (as well as some American apparel for some of their older designs that are still in stock) and that says a lot for the quality of these items. The T-shirt I received is very soft and provides a nice fit. It's not your typical starchy, huge T-shirt that seems to be so common these days. These are fashion-quality items. These would be great for a mama on the go to paired with a nice pair of skinny jeans. You could even pair these shirts with some killer heels for a night out with the hubby at a pool hall or bar, if you're lucky enough to get out once in awhile! May 23 Online even includes a "Pet Monkey" with every order! No, it's not a real live, poo-flinging monkey. It's an adorable miniature pocket monkey! My 11 year old actually used a silk cord and made a monkey necklace out of the little guy! What a nice touch! I just happen to be obsessed with monkeys, though. :) Oh, and did I mention that the clothing at May 23 Online is CUTE? Take a look at just a couple of items they are currently offering: Aren't these items adorable? I especially love the sock monkey hat! And they have SO much more! Here is the shirt that I received for review. I just LOVE this because obviously I just happen to be a brunette, and I love appreciation for us non-blondes out there! (FYI: May 23 Online also carries fun designs for all the blondes and redheads out there, as well!)The shirt is very soft and comfortable to wear, and I have received a ton of compliments on it! The only thing I DID notice about this shirt is that I HAD to wear a white or neutral colored bra with it, as bold prints or dark colors showed through the fabric. That doesn't bother me one bit though because I, like most women, have many different undergarment options to choose from. May 23 Online will be offering one lucky reader of mine a tee shirt of their choice from their awesome store during my Mad About Mama event! How cool is that?! BUY IT: You can find these and other cute designs on the May 23 Online website. They have also given us a discount code for our readers for 15% off your purchase! Enter CRUNCHY during checkout to receive your discount! Good through May 8, 2011 WIN IT: MANDATORY ENTRY: To enter, please LEAVE A COMMENT on this post indicating your favorite item from the May 23 Online shop and become a PUBLIC GFC follower of this blog. Then complete the easy entry form so I can track your entries. ***The reason for the comment AND form entry is so that you can clearly see how many people are entering by looking at the comments, and then you can save a ton of time completing extra entries by using the form. Also, the entry form allows your info to remain PRIVATE.*** This giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on May 8, 2011. I will choose my winner using random.org, and they will be announced here on the blog as well as e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to reply with their required info or else I have to choose another winner. ***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.*** When I had my first child 11 years ago, I was a fairly young and naiive mother. I was just about to turn 19, and I didn't really give much thought to preparing for my son's financial future. Sure, I knew that I would need to set up a college fund or savings account eventually, but due to my lack of life experience, I didn't get around to actually setting forth on actually doing any of these things until he was about 6 years old. I guess as a person hits their mid-20's, the realities of being a responsible adult and parent finally just click. For most of us, anyway. I definitely know of some people on their 30's who still just don't get it!
So when Kyle was in the first grade and I was working at a local elementary school, I opened him up a savings account and also began a small account to put money away towards his education. Sometimes I can put $100.00 a month away, sometimes it's only $5.00-$10.00. But at least it's something. You'd be surprised just how quickly these seemingly insignificant amounts add up. Plus, for a long-term account like a college fund, the interest gained long term can be pretty substantial, as well. I should have started this account for him when he was a baby, as his financial buffer would be much larger by now. I kind of kick myself for not having the foresight when he was little to actually take action sooner than later! Now I have 2 more babies, and they already have their own interest bearing juvenile bank accounts. We contribute a small amount to each account every week. By the time they turn 18, that will help to give them a nice start in life as they venture out into the real world. Another thing we're looking into is making investments for the children. In the current economic nightmare we're facing, it sounds like it may be risky to buy stocks, but there are still companies that are doing well and will continue to do well, so as the economy improves, these investments would have the potential to grow substantially. We're considering buying some stocks in the company my husband works for. They've been around forever, and are a globally prosperous company. Maybe once we get our tax return, we'll do that if we can afford to. There are many different ways to help kids get off to a great start. Have you done these things for your children? Do you have any other tips? I'd love to hear about it! |
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
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