Nondyebo Art Hand Painted Apron Winner

Thank you all for entering the Nondyebo Art  hand painted apron giveaway. The winner is # 41 Bhav. Congratulations Bhav! I will be emailing you shortly.

Thank you for reading and subscribing to Moms Own Words!

Boutique On Feet Sunglasses and Wallet Winner

Thank you all for entering the Boutique on Feet Sunglasses and Wallet giveaway. The winner is # 81 Mirfaye. Congratulations Mirfaye! I will be emailing you shortly.

Thank you for reading and subscribing to Moms Own Words!


Stay tuned for these upcoming giveaways.

Dr. Sears Prime Time Health (A Scentifically Proven Plan for Feeling Young and Living Longer.)
5 book giveaway!

Blush your topless Undershirt -

From Blush: "Blush Accessories welcomes you to a product that helps adjust the clothes you already have to fit you perfectly. This is a shirt that is to be worn like a tube top, but around the waist. Our product is made of a poly/rayon/spandex blend, allowing a huge amount of stretch and great support."

The Usborne Castle Jigsaw Book Giveaway

Are there any moms out there in cyber space who haven't heard of Usborne Books? If so, you need to check them out! Usborne books are awarding-wininng children's books that make reading and learning fun. There are over 1500 titles to choose from! Do you have little ones that like castles and knights and puzzles? If you answered yes, then the Usborne Castle Jigsaw Book is for you!

The Usborne Castle Book Jigsaw Book
Author: Alice Pearcey
Illustrated by Dominic Groebner
Designed by Hannah Ahmed and Michelle Lawrence
ISBN - 0794511376

About the Book: In the Usborne Castle book, readers will discover what life was like inside a castle. The full-color pictures and diagrams help one "see" (for example) what life was like in the baily (yard), at a giant feast and when a castle was under attack. There are six colorful pages that contain jigsaw puzzles to develop problem-solving skills and improve comprehension. Each picture contains items to find.

From the Usborne book website: Usborne books have appeared in over 50 languages. The Smithsonian Institute highly recommends Usborne books. Usborne books have received numerous book awards: Learning Magazine's Teachers' Choice award, Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children Products Awards, Parents' Choice Awards; Approval Ratings, plus more.



Buy: The Usborne Castle Jigsaw Book is available on Amazon.com for $14.95.


Win: The Usborne Castle Jigsaw Book provided by Moms Own Words. There is just one mandatory entry.

1. Mandatory Entry - Subscribe to my blog via email and you must confirm your email and activate your subscription. Leave a comment telling me you are a new subscriber or already subscribe. :) Thanks!

Extra Entries - For the following entries please make sure to include your email and if appropriate your link.

2. Follow my blog.
3. Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kristiannm) AND tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily).
4 Blog about this giveaway.
5 Grab my button for your site.
6 Post this giveaway on a linky or forum.
7 Follow me on Facebook.
8 Follow me on Facebook Networked Blogs.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and the winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway is open until May 18, 2010, at 12:00 pm Eastern time and a winner will be announced soon thereafter. If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours then I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

Full Disclosure: I purchased this Usborne Book for this giveaway. I am not affiliated with Usborne books and opinions expressed are my own.

She-Rain A Story of Hope (by Michael Cogdill) Book Review

About the Book: She Rain: A Story of Hope by Michael Cogdill (Morgan James Publishing; March 2010: 978-1-6003770202.

In the early 20th Century, a pair of North Carolina mountain children sow the seed of a love that becomes their only solace in the hard yet beautiful world they know. They grow it from a steep ground of poverty, ignorance and violence.

Years later, bloodshed sends Frank Locke on the run, deep into the wilderness, abandoning his love, Mary Lizbeth. A whitewater river washes this desperate soul into the hands of Sophia. Frank discovers a luminous woman steeped in mystery, trapped in a tragically brilliant life. Sophia is far ahead of her time and secreted from the world. She awakens Frank’s mind and they rise to meet a love that binds three people for a lifetime.

She-Rain speaks of lives soaring beyond heartbreak, fundamentalism and self-destruction. Through the most graceful longing, two women in love with one man ultimately prove the power of human hearts to answer high callings.

About the Author: Michael Cogdill is blessed as one of the most honored television storytellers in America. His cache of awards includes 24 Emmys and the National Edward R. Murrow for a broad range of achievement, from live reporting to long-form storytelling. His television credits as a journalist include CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and The Today Show, and Michael's interview history crosses a wide horizon: The Reverend Billy Graham, Dr. Mehmet Oz of Oprah fame, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Abby Hoffman, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, Howard K. Smith, James Brown, Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops and many other newsmakers. His coverage credits include Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States.

Michael spent ten years writing She-Rain, letting it evolve into a world of fiction drawn from his upbringing in Western North Carolina but reaching far beyond. His other writing credits are Cracker the Crab and the Sideways Afternoon -- a children's motivational book, and a self-help volume, Raise the Haze. Michael makes his home in South Carolina with his wife, Jill (a publishing entrepreneur), and their second-generation golden retriever, Maggie. He's currently working on his second novel.

Check out my post of one of Mr. Cogdill’s articles called The High Calling of Hard Times: Leadership, Hope, and Radical Love -- Even on the TV News.

The Review: For Frank Locke Jr., the protagonist of She Rain: A Story of Hope, it is all of the women who come in and out of his life who shine the light of hope through their passion, nurturing and undying love.

There is a strong, protective love shared between Frank Jr.and his mother.
The story begins with the drug-induced rant of Frank Locke Jr.’s father. His violence is taken out on Frank Jr., who suffers a hurt neck and a wound from a chair. In an effort to protect her son, his mother (Dovie) attempts to step in and gets beaten right in front of Frank Jr.

Dovie’s sister Mattie has a poor family, an unfaithful husband Ulysses, and is always depending on Dovie for help. More tragedy follows Frank Jr, as he and Ulysses end up in a fight over the neglect of his family, and Dovie, trying to protect her son, kills Ulysses with a log splitter. Now in an effort to protect his mother, Frank Jr.tells his mother to say that he killed Ulysses and he flees.

Frank Jr. had these thoughts about his grandmother as he was on the run through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

“With it along the ridges came some of Granny’s she-rain, scattered like lace. Little scraps broken off the clouds to drift alone, wherever the day might take them. Seeing it propped me up with the thought of her. How I had never seen Granny truly afraid. Heartbroken, she had sometimes been – but always lighter than fear it seemed – never letting it gain a full grip to pull her down.”

Despite his father’s addiction, the physical and mental abuse, and the horrible crime his mother has just committed, Frankie, alone and on the run, is able to reflect on something his Granny had said to him. She had a strong faith in God and a mountain mystic view of things.

“As she saw things, no human scrap of this life is made for the trash. Even the most ragged are fit to beautify somewhere. Fit for some quilting into the finery of creation.”

It’s Granny’s faith, spiritual guidance and love that helps Frank Jr.to see beyond the sorrow and heartbreak within his life. He is able to find the hope and courage to keep going.

It was these words of his Granny’s that influenced him to defend a poor, bullied girl named Mary Lizbeth in the schoolyard. While on his journey, he recalls the time, years later, he comes to her aid again, and she confesses her undying love to Frankie.

“Frankie, ever since you thought enough to offer a piece off your mother’s bread makin’ to that little pile of filth I was in the schoolyard, I have chosen you, Frankie Locke. You had little choice in that. I chose you. Put you down into my bones. Made you every bit a part of me as the legs that grew under me.”

The love that Frank Jr.and Mary Lizbeth share seems to have a strong biblical theme. It reminds me of the story Jesus tells in one of the gospels. “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.” Despite the tragedies of both of their lives, they have found a love in each other that transcends their place in time.

Now that he is on the run, Frank Jr.has abandoned Mary Lizbeth to protect his mother, but with sorrow, as he is still in love with her.

It is no coincidence that Frank Jr.literally falls into the arms of Sophia Proctor. Sophia ends up rescuing Frank Jr. from drowning. As fate would have it, Frank Jr. came to the aide of Mary Lizbeth, now Sophia has come to his aide. She is nurturing and loving and believes it truly was fate that she found and rescued him.

Sophia, like Mary Lizbeth is an outcast, shunned by society for the color of her skin. She was adopted by the wealthy, mill-owning Proctor family, but lives in secrecy, secluded from society. She is alone, except for her ailing mother, until she meets Frank Jr.

Frank Jr.’s life changes forever after meeting and falling in love with Sophia. The love triangle between Frank, Sophia and Mary Lizbeth takes some amazing turns but in the end it is the love of these women that heals and prevails.

The women are intricately woven into Frank Jr.’s life. Just like a tapestry, each one, is connected somehow and part of the whole. The author not only brings the southern characters to life with his clever dialect, but the beauty of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge mountains shines through in his fine written prose. When I consider the characters, the plot and the interwoven themes, I would not be surprised if this book becomes a classic, it is that well written and highly recommended.

She-Rain a story of hope is available on Amazon.com for $16.47.



Thank you to Caitlin from FSB Associates for the reveiw copy of She-Rain: A Story of Hope.

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Cascade Complete Review and $25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway

Price of Product: Cascade Complete All-In-1 ActionPacs are $15 for a tub of 48 at Amazon. They are also available at convenient locations like Target, Walmart and most grocery stores.

Description of Product: "Make every load a complete load by putting Cascade Complete's advanced cleaning system with extra enzymes to work for you. Each All-in-1 ActionPac contains pre-treating, food dissolving, stain fighting, shine shield and rinse aid power. Put your pre-soaking days behind you, and lighten your load with Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs. They break down, dissolve, and rinse away tough food particles, leaving your hands free and your dishes sparkling."

Review of Product: As directed, I made a blueberry cobbler (which we all enjoyed!) I left the dirty, blueberry stained, white Corning Ware dish out for 24 hours. Without rinsing, I put the dish on the bottom rack of the dishwasher and put my Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPac in its little cup, closed the lid, closed the washer and set the dishwasher for a normal wash.

In a perfect world, I would say my dish came out sparkling white and stain free. It was very close. My dish, while very clean, had a slight ring around the edge. Here are the before and after pictures. There is a faint ring-a-round stain on the inside of the dish. I thought getting that dirty dish clean was a very tall order, so I was still pretty impressed with the results. I did wash it with other dishes and I only used a regular cycle. I will give the product another try. P&G is offering you a chance to try the Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs too! P&G has provided a $25 gift card to Walmart (through My Blog Spark).



Win: A $25 Walmart Gift Card, provided by P&G through My Blog Spark. Thank you to Laura from My Blog Spark for the chance to participate in this review and giveaway. There is just one mandatory entry.

1. Mandatory Entry - Comment on what meal leaves the most mess on on your dishes.

Extra Entries - For the following entries please make sure to include your email and if appropriate your link.

2. Subscribe to my blog (either via email using the box in the left sidebar OR via RSS feed). If you already subscribe fill in the form saying you do. If you subscribe by email you MUST confirm your email and activate the subscription.
3. Follow my blog.
4. Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kristiannm) AND tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily).
5 Blog about this giveaway
6 Grab my button for your site
7 Post this giveaway on a linky or forum
8 Follow me on Facebook
9 Follow me on Facebook Networked Blogs

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 years old or over, and the winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway is open until May 14, 2010, at 12:00 pm Eastern time and a winner will be announced soon thereafter. If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours then I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

The Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPac kit, the information and the $25 Walmart gift card to give away were all provided by P&G through MyBlogSpark. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Winners of the Power of Middle Ground Book

Thank you to all who entered the Power of the Middle Ground Book giveaway.

The winners are # 4 Steph and Brady and # 16 Robyn.


Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly!


Thank you for reading and subscribing to Moms Own Words.

A Day at the Boston Children's Musuem

If you are visiting the city of Boston with your young children, a trip to the Boston Children's Museum is a great way to spend your day. The museum is a private, nonprofit educational institution that has been entertaining and teaching children for over 90 years. It is located on Children's Warf, 308 Congress Street, Boston and is open every day from 10-5 (and until 9:00 pm on Fridays). We spent Tuesday of our April vacation exploring all of the interesting exhibits.

There is nothing like having an entire area devoted to making bubbles and the wetter, soapier and messier, the better! The boys tried to make a huge bubble by standing inside a ring, that was dipped in bubble solution, and hoisting up the ring by a pulley. No boy in the bubble here, it was harder than it looked! They had a blast using the large rings to make enormous bubbles. James was proud of his gigantic bubble that I caught in a picture moments before it met its demise.

Read more »

CSN Stores $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to give one of my readers a $50 gift card to CSN Stores! CSN stores will email one lucky Moms Own Words reader a $50 gift card to use at any of their 200+ online stores. What do CSN stores offer? You can find tv stands, furniture, toys, home decor, and so much more! To view a full list of CSN stores, click here.

Check out these great CSN store offers on Le Creuset:
Le creuset stoneware 10.5” x 7” Baking Dish with free 7” x 5” Bonus Dish
Le Creuset 6-Quart Stock Pot

How to Enter

1. Follow my blog. AND

2. Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back using InLinkz below. Please enter the link to your post and not to your entire blog.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

Winner to be announced soon!


Giveaway ended on May 7, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US and Canada. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, links not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Elieen for the CSN Stores Gift Card giveaway.

The product(s) featured in this giveaway were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

She-Rain Author Michael Cogdill Guest Post

I am currently reading She-Rain A story of Hope by author Michael Cogdill.
The story takes place in North Carolina in the early 20th century. Frank Locke is the young main character who suffers family tragedy and sorrow and finds himself on the run deep into the wilderness. He abandons one love and finds another. It is very interesting and well written. I am really getting into the story now and will be posting my review soon.

In the mean-time, here is an article (provided by Caitlin Price at FSB Associates) written by the author Michael Cogdill that I found very moving. Hope and love are always present, it all depends upon one's perspective. Enjoy.

   The High Calling of Hard Times: Leadership, Hope, and Radical Love -- Even on the TV News

By Michael Cogdill,
Author of She-Rain: A Story of Hope

The complaints sail almost daily into my professional life. People tell me they find the news so depressing they can't watch anymore. I understand their longing for hope, even as I say the news contains a mother lode of the hope they crave. We journalists and viewers have a way of missing it, even as we look straight at it.

Read more »

Living Proof No Frizz StylingTreatment for Healthy Hair - A Review

Everybody strives to have healthy hair. I have coarse, naturally curly hair that I blow dry straight at least every other day. As I have gotten older, I have noticed my hair is not only getting thinner, it appears to be getting drier, duller, and frizzier than I ever remember.

Could it be the fact that I have color treated my hair for several years? Maybe it’s my hormones, choice of shampoos, damage from blow drying, or the salt and sweat from exercise. Most likely it is a combination of all of these things that have had a negative influence on my hair’s condition.

I am always in the market for hair products that can add more shine, straighten, eliminate my hair’s frizz caused by humidity and friction and overall, make my hair look healthy. That’s a tall order for a hair product!

Imagine my surprise when I discovered Living Proof – a no frizz styling treatment for thick, coarse hair. Thank you Ali for sending me a sample of Living Proof’s no frizz styling cream.

From Living Proof – “No Frizz styling treatment is part of a new collection of breakthrough, anti-frizz products which contain the first new frizz-taming technology in over 30 years. Invented by Living Proof scientists, PolfluoroEster is a new, proprietary material not found in any other beauty products that creates an extremely thin barrier on hair and eliminates the main cause of frizz. Humidity is prevented from penetrating the hair shaft and friction between hair fibers is reduced for the most effective anti-frizz action.

This rich, conditioning daily treatment provides optimum frizz-reduction and conditioning benefits for thick coarse hair, without weighing it down. The NO FRIZZ Styling treatment is available in two formulations: Straight Making for women who prefer straighter styles, and Wave-Shaping, Curl Defining for women who prefer to refine their natural curls and waves.

The Review: I really put this Living Proof product to the test. Let me set the stage. I usually wash my hair every other day. However, last night I was out with my best friend for margaritas and South-of –Border appetizers and naturally I blew my diet. This morning I had to jog on the treadmill to make up for it. My hair was wet with sweat and I was washing it for the second day in a row! When you already have dry, frizzy hair, this is a sin!

I used a dime-sized amount of Living Proof on my damp hair and really worked it in. I blow dried my hair and was pleasantly surprised with my results. My hair had a nice shine, little to no frizz and looked healthy. Here is how it came out.



Please note that I only used a dime-sized amount. The directions require using a dollop or at least a quarter-sized amount. Unfortunately, I read that after using the product. Now I know. Also, in all fairness, the air was not humid, which normally causes excessive frizz. I was impressed at how conditioned and shiny my hair appears. (I only used a blow dryer.) Next time, I will use a generous amount of the product and the result should be shiny, no frizz, healthy hair!

Living Proof No Frizz Styling Treatments are available at Sephora stores nationwide, Sephora.com, QVC.com and www.livingproof.com.

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Scandle Body Candle® (Body Massage Candle) Review and Giveaway

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

What is a Scandle Body Candle® you ask? This is a candle that burns at 2 degrees above body temperature and produces a soothing healing body oil. The Scandle may be used for massage, cuticle treatments for manicures/pedicures, or as an everyday moisturizer. A candle that can also be used as a massage oil? (They had me at candle.)

The Scandle Body Candle is another unique gift idea for you Mom! For Mother's day!

Thank you Charlie for sending me the Scandle Candle Travel Tin in the Uplifting Blend for this review and giveaway.

From abodycandle.com - Are you fond of body massage oil and fragrant spa candles? What if you could combine them both into a massage oil candle that combined the potent scent of a candle with the comfort of an essential oil massage lotion? Our Scandle body candles do just that, beginning as a delightful soy candle that melts into a wonderful body lotion suitable for skin care or as a soothing massage lotion. There is nothing quite like a body candle massage, with the wonderful aroma of our massage oil aromatherapy candles working equally well as a room-enhancing scent and as a aromatherapy soy lotion for your skin. Consider a soy body candle for massage purposes, or just use one of our massage candle varieties for aromatherapy purposes—our spa candles have many uses, and are sure to become your favorite body lotion candle.

The Review – The Scandle Travel Tin is 2 ½” x 2 ½” – a nice small travel size. The travel tin has a silicone band that reads Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, reminding the consumer to “think green”. According to the company, the candles are healthy for the environment - emitting less soot and toxins into the environment than parrafin candles.

I burned the Scandle Candle for thirty minutes, until it melted to the edge of the canister. This ensures an even burn each time. I extinguished the flame and touched the oil. I honestly expected the oil to be very hot to the touch, but as the company indicates, the candle burns at only 2 degrees above body temperature and the body oil simply felt warm. I massaged some of the oil into my arm and it felt nice. The aroma of Uplifting Blend was a subtle clean scent. After about twenty minutes, I checked my arm. It felt moisturized and smooth, not at all greasy.

I plan to burn the candle again and massage my dry cuticles. I foresee a nice body massage in my future as well! This candle will burn for up to 30 hours. That is a lot of massages! If you love candles like I do, you must add the Scandle Candle to your collection and get more use out of your candles (wink wink)!

But It: The Scandle Candle Travel Tin is available online at www.abodycandle.com for $13.95.

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Win It: The winner will receive the same aromatherapy Scandle Candle Travel Tin in the Uplifting Blend scent. There is just one easy, mandatory entry!

Mandatory Entry: Please visit abodycandle.com check out the products in their Scandle Store and leave a comment about which product caught your eye.

Additional (optional) entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. As always, please include your email address in your comments!

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Tweet about this giveaway.

4. Grab my blog button and place it on your side bar. (Leave a link to your blog.)

5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.

6. Follow me on Facebook.

7. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

8. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog. (Leave a link to your blog.)

Giveaway ended on May 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Charlie for the review and giveaway Scandle Candle Travel Tins.

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Wordless Wednesday Signs of Spring in New England

I am always amazed that my perennial plants and shrubs are able to survive our tough New England winters. Seeing the signs of new life is just as amazing to me as seeing the plant in full bloom. 


I actually thought my Peony plant didn't make it. I brushed aside some bark mulch and this is what I found. 


Last season, I added this Honeysuckle plant to one of the planters on my deck. I am thrilled to see signs of new life here! 


And here we have my American Bittersweet - nothing short of a nuclear disaster would take the life of this hearty plant! You've gotta love perennials! Happy Spring!

Green Sewn 100% Recycled Vintage Silk Scarves/Saris Winner

Thank you all for entering the Green Sewn Recycled Vintage Silk Scarves/Saris giveaway. The winner is # 92 Kat. Congratulations Kat! I will be emailing you soon.




Thank you for reading and subscribing to Moms Own Words.

The L Tote Sondra Roberts Eco-Friendly Handbag Giveaway

Are you looking for a versatile handbag that is bright, bold and eye-catching? If so, the L Tote from Sondra Roberts fits the bill. In addition to the bright colors and shiny nickle hardware, the L Tote has intricate trapunto circle stitching, a large outside zipped pocket, an optional extended shoulder strap and amazingly, these handbags are eco-friendly - made of faux leather!

These bags retail for $124.00, but you have a pretty good chance of winning one! Visit Handbago.com and enter to win one of ten L totes!

I am sharing this information because I believe my reader’s can benefit from the opportunity. No monetary compensation or product was received for sharing this information.

WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Sterling Silver Heart Drop Earrings

Nondyebo Art Decorative, Hand Painted Apron Review and Giveaway

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.
Mother's Day is fast approaching and you may be in the market for a unique gift for your Mother, a friend, your sister or better yet, something for yourself. While you may think an apron isn't a very exciting gift idea, these hand painted, cotton fabric aprons are certainly an exception. These aprons are decorative, hand painted originals made by Nondyebo Art. These aprons comes all the way from a small township in South Africa called Masiphumelele.

The Artist:
Nondyebo is a Xhosa artist who lives in Masiphumelele, which is near Cape Town, South Africa. Masiphumelele is a township with about 25,000 residents, many very poor, most living in shacks, all coping with the resultant economic and social deprivation and often difficult health problems. After training with another artist, Nondyebo established her own workshop. With the assistance of Jane Philippi and the Masiphumelele Corporation, Nondyebo has built a home and supports her mother and three children through her craft.

Nondyebo employs several other women who all work on the products. Nondyebo products are sold in Cape Town South Africa at the waterfront markets and are available in the US through Jane Philippi.

Jane Philippi and the Masiphumelele Corporation:
The Masiphumelele Corporation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the housing, education and microbusiness development in the township of Masiphumelele, South Africa. Jane Philippi is a volunteer who supports and mentors the enterprise recipients like Nandyebo who are running their own small businesses. Jane, who lives in the US, visits Masiphumelele annually.

Nondyebo is the first entrepreneur to appear on the Masiphumelele Corporation website.

From Masicorp.org: Nondyebo Art products are made with a sturdy cotton fabric, hand-painted with acrylic paints and machine stitched. Most designs are available across a range of products for example; table cloths, aprons, table runners, placemats and pillows covers.

A heat process assures the materials are machine washable. We recommend machine-washing in cool or cold water, using a cool drying cycle to maintain colors. Placemats are double-sided and lined with a light batting. Pillow covers are best filled with 20 by 20 inch pillows.Tea and dish towel fabrics are softer than the other products.Table cloths are available in rectangular and round. Please visit masicorp.org to see all of the Nondyebo Art products.

The Review: I received two Nondyebo Aprons for this review courtesy of Jane Philippi. The aprons are 100% cotton fabric and machine washable in cold water. The tag states "Hand painted...Made in South Africa Cape Town."

The hand-painted zebra apron has four zebras painted on the front of the apron. The horizontal and vertical white stripes on the black sides are a nice compliment and add interest. I have never seen an apron quite like it.

The green apron with blue flowers is my favorite. The colors are bold and beautiful. The green and white stripes on the side are eye catching. The brush strokes give the fabric the appearance of having a different texture.

Buy It: Nondyebo Art Aprons are $30 plus shipping. Orders may be placed through Jane Philippi (janephil@aol.com). Please Note: Neither Masiphumelele Corporation nor Jane Philippi receive any compensation on sales of Nondyebo Art.

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Win It: The winner will receive either the zebra or green floral apron. There is just one easy, mandatory entry!

Mandatory Entry: Please comment on which apron you would like to win!

Additional (optional) entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. As always, please include your email address in your comments!

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Tweet about this giveaway.

4. Grab my blog button and place it on your side bar. (Leave a link to your blog.)

5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.

6. Follow me on Facebook.

7. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

8. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog. (Leave a link to your blog.)

Giveaway ended on April 30 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Jane Philippi for the review/giveaway aprons.

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.