Community Coffee Father's Day Gift Set Review and Giveaway

Name of Product: Community Coffee Private Reserve Father's Day Gift Set

Community Coffee Private Reserve Father's Day Gift Set

Price of Product: $22.95

Where the Product May be Purchased: The Community Coffee Company.

Description of Product: This gift set includes 12 oz. House Blend ground coffee, 2 oz. Breakfast Blend and French Vanilla coffees completed with a Vintage Cap Saurage Collector's Cap. Everything comes wrapped in a red gift box.

About Community Coffee: Community Coffee Company invites you to enjoy the unique taste of Louisiana's most distinctive coffee. We start with only quality, 100% Arabica beans selected by the Saurage family. Then, through generations of roasting experience, we have perfected a full-bodied yet smooth flavor that reflects the extraordinary culinary traditions of Louisiana. Today, Community® coffee is served in the best New Orleans restaurants and is shared in homes across the South. To understand why, simply sit back and enjoy a cup.

Community Coffee Company is steeped in tradition as rich as our coffee. As the largest family-owned retail coffee brand in the U.S., our company grew from a small country store in Baton Rouge where more than 90 years ago, founder Henry Norman "Cap" Saurage brewed his popular coffee.

The Review: I selected the Private Reserve Father's Day Gift Set with Dad in mind. He does get a cool hat! However, for the purposes of this review, I wanted the opportunity to sample different flavors of the Community House coffee. This set includes the house blend, the French vanilla and the breakfast blend.

Grant and I agree that the house blend is terrific. I was not surprised to learn that this medium-dark roast is served in New Orleans style coffee houses. He enjoyed it black and I added a little soy milk and sweetener. The house blend wasn't too strong like some darker roasts can be and tasted much better than our usual morning coffee.

I am the only fan of flavored coffees, so the french vanilla was all mine. It was delicious - on par (if not better) with the coffee that I get through a certain drive-through on occasion. We have yet to try the breakfast blend, but knowing Grant's taste for a nice non-flavored, medium to dark roast, I am confident he will like it. For all of those coffee drinking Dad's out there, this gift set will be a much appreciated Father's Day gift!

The Giveaway: The Community Coffee Company is generously offering either the Private reserve Father's Day Gift Set (shown above) or the Traditional Blends Father's Day Gift Set (shown right). This gift set includes the popular 16 oz. Dark Roast ground coffee, a Community Coffee-Fresh Canister, Logo Coffee Scoop and a Community Coffee Premium Tumbler. Everything comes wrapped in a wooden crate. The price of this gift set is $24.95.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

Mandatory Entry: 1. Become a fan of Community Coffee on Facebook and leave a comment stating that you follow. While you are there, you may want to enter their New Orleans Great Taste Giveaway!
Not on Facebook? Just visit Community Coffee and comment on what coffee you would most like to try.

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

2. Follow my blog.
3. Subscribe to 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 now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and the winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway is open until Tuesday, June 15, 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 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.

Upcoming Reviews and Giveaways

I am so excited about two upcoming giveaways at Moms Own Words!

The first great giveaway item is Jenna Scott's Bohemian Wrap Bracelet. The bracelet that I am reviewing is made with brown leather cord and white Swarovski crystal pearls. It is stitched with thread and the closure is a flowery decorated brass button. Jenna (iheartjenna) sells her handmade jewelry on her Etsy site and can also be found at Artfirestudio. Jenna is offering one lucky Moms Own Word's reader one of these bracelets, so stay tuned!

Leather Wrap Bracelet: White Swarovski Pearl

The next giveaway is a call to all coffee lovers...and Dad's. I will be reviewing a Private Reserve Father’s Day Gift Set from Community Coffee. For this giveaway, Community Coffee is generously offering one Mom's Own Words reader a choice of either the Traditional Blends Father's Day Gift Set or the Private Reserve Father's Day Gift Set.

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Blush Topless Undershirt Review and Giveaway

Name of Product: Blush Topless Undershirt

Price of Product: $15.00

Save:You can save 20% when you purchase two or more blush undershirts by using the coupon code: “welovebloggers” at checkout.

Where can the product be purchased: The blush topless undershirt is available in many stores and online.

Description of Product: “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."

"For Everyone - If you love the look of layering without adding the extra bulk and straps, this is a product for you. Unlike a tank top or long shirt, it does not have straps, which cause your undershirt to constantly ride up."

"For Maternity- Make any shirt a little long with a Topless Undershirt. As your shirts start to fit smaller over your growing belly, you can add this layer to keep covered."

Review of Product: I can’t tell you how many t-shirts that I have that are too short for me to wear comfortably. Imagine my surprise when I read about the blush undershirt! Rachel sent me a chocolate brown topless undershirt for this review and coincidentally, I wear a lot of browns, so the color is perfect for me. (Check out the Blush website to see the eight available colors.)

This topless undershirt looks like a tube top. I put it on, over my head and placed it so it covered my hips. I put my lighter brown, short t-shirt over it and the results were impressive! The poly/rayon/spandex fabric blend is perfect for this application. The topless shirt stayed in place, with just the right amount of stretch, and it did not create a bulky look.

If only I had this product when I was pregnant - I could have used it to keep my expanding tummy covered! This is one of those clever products that makes me wonder, why didn’t I think of that?

Giveaway: Rachel from Blush is generously offering one (1) lucky Moms Own Words reader their own Blush Topless Undershirt.

Mandatory Entry – Follow Blush Undershirt Twitter and become their fan on Facebook. Please leave a separate comment for each (2 entries!)

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

2. Follow my blog.
3. Subscribe to 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 and the winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway is open until May 25, 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!

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.

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.

Boutique on Feet Sunglasses and Wallet Review and Giveaway

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Do you ever wonder where people are getting their trendy looking sunglasses? Are they really spending hundreds of dollars for that look? Consider your wallet. Are you ready for a designer inspired change?

I have discovered a traveling boutique that offers trendy sunglasses, wallets, handbags, clothing and other must-have accessories all in one online place for bargain prices. The sunglasses that I am reviewing are called "Santa Cruz" and the wallet is simply called "Mandy". Thank you to Erica and Shelley, founders of Boutique on Feet, for these review and giveaway gifts.

From Boutique on Feet: Boutique on Feet was started by two moms who happen to love fashion, NYC, celebrity trends and great bargains! After dipping in to a few "purse parties", they decided to take their parties a step further. After doing some research and finding the looks and prices that fit their vision, they decided to launch "Boutique on Feet".

Boutique on Feet is just that . . . a traveling boutique. The ladies of Boutique on Feet wanted a fun way to bring shopping and friendship together. . .in the comfort of your own home or office. Their parties are relaxing, fun and always a hit among the guests who attend.

Now, realizing they wanted to expand and offer their great products to ladies outside the NC area, they went ahead and launched their online boutique . . . another way to shop trendy pieces at reasonable prices, in the comfort of home. Boutique on Feet's online parties bring the same concept as their home parties . . .without leaving the home.

Boutique on Feet is constantly growing and adding new merchandise. Many styles you see are often similar to what is seen on celebrities ... without the high price tag. You do not have to pay top dollar to look good and stay on top of the current trends . . . it's all about putting the right pieces together that fit your style and personality.



The Santa Cruz Sunglasses: The sunglasses are black plastic with the words "Italian Design" stamped the inside frame as well as "Made in China". The frames have an interesting design which looks like two silver horseshoes that attach the frame arms. The frame arms have the same horseshoe design, giving it almost an animal print appearance. I like the size of these glasses, the lenses aren't too big. I will certainly wear them and I'm sure people will wonder if they are an expensive designer pair of sunglasses.

Buy Them: The Sant Cruz Sunglasses are available online at Boutique on Feet for $14.00.




The Mandy Wallet: This wallet is made of a dark chocolate brown faux-leather and measures 7" x 3.75". As you see in the picture is has a cute ruffle design. There are ten silver rivets placed between the ruffles. The wallet opens by pushing down on the top silver button. The wallet is actually more of a case and once opened, it lies flat. There is a pocket for cash and a zippered pocket for change. The opposite side has a long pocket and on top of the long pocket are six slots for credit cards, license etc... I like the unique look and feel of this wallet.

Buy It: The Mandy Wallet is available on Boutique on Feet for $14.00.

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Win Both: Enter to win the Santa Cruz Sunglasses and the Mandy wallet! There is just one mandatory entery.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit Boutique on Feet and browse! Come back on comment on an item you really like.

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 Facebook.

3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

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 Twitter.

7. Tweet this giveaway, may be done once daily!

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


Giveaway ended on April 28 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 Shelley and Erica for the review and giveaway sunglasses and wallet.

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.

Green Sewn 100% Recycled Vintage Saris Silk Scarves and Wraps Review and Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. 

One of the quickest ways to dress up an outfit is to add a colorful scarf or wrap. This simple accessory can turn a plain outfit into an "OMG" outfit in a snap.

While many traditional silk scarves consist of a few colors, one simple pattern and fabric, Green Sewn scarves and wraps are unique in that they are "green sewn" from 100% recycled vintage Indian Saris. A 35" wide silk wrap consists of at least eight different patterns recycled from a variety of vintage saris. Thank you Dan from Green Sewn for sending my the 35" wide wrap for this review.

From Green Sewn - GreenSewn is an eco fashion design company that creates unique eco-chic one of a kind scarves by recycling old vintage saris. If you don't know what a sari is, it's a long (usually 15 feet or more) garment worn by women in India. Our recycled vintage sari scarves are colorful, intricately patterned, and sometimes have intricate gold "zari" work hand woven into the borders. We collect the softest and prettiest old saris and lovingly recycle them into luxurious, authentic, ultra limited edition and gloriously colorful green fashion creations that are both sexy and sustainable.
Our designs are made from upcycled materials, and each piece is unique, with it's own special history and charm. Slight imperfections and signs of wear from a past life are normal and we believe they add to the beauty and authenticity of the product. To make selection easier, we group colors together into families and the colors shown on our site are representations. You will get close to, but not exactly what you see on this site. We are confident that you will love your one of a kind item.

The Review - The wrap I received is similar to the one shown in the picture above, with colors in the red family. The colors are so vibrant and will certainly make this wrap the focal point of any outfit. This accessory can either be worn as a wrap or a scarf.

Upon close inspection, the slight imperfections only add character, just enough to make me wonder about the "past lives" of this wrap. Notice the different patterns that all come together to make this one-of-a kind wrap.





The wrap measures approximately 6 feet long, 35" wide and is made from a minimum of 75% recycled silk saris. The balance is made from other assorted, recycled materials. As a fragile, silk item the wrap is dry clean only. The Green Sewn scarves and wraps are made in India.

While red is not for everyone, I am able to wear tomato red shades and love the patterns and colors that make up this "green" item. I tried it on with a white top as a wrap, and tied it into different configurations and wore it as a scarf. I tied the ends together, wrapped it around my neck and wore it as an "infinity" scarf also.


For all of us that believe in recycling and eco-friendly products, Green Sewn accessories like this wrap are a beautiful way of going green.




Buy It: Wraps of all different colors are available on Green Sewn for $65.00 each.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  

Win It: Dan from Green Sewn is offering one of my readers one of these 100% recycled vintage saris wraps. To enter is easy - There is just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry: Since the winner will be able to choose their favorite, what better way to enter than to go to Green Sewn and take a look at the wrap's color choices and come back here and comment on your favorite.
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 Facebook.

3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

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 Twitter.

7. Tweet this giveaway.

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

Giveaway ends on April 12st 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 Dan for the review and giveaway Green Sewn Wraps!

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.

Kiss My Face Breath Blast Mouth Rinse Review and Giveaway

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Picture this. You are out for a night on the town with your girl friends and your laughing about the good old days and then, speaking of the good old days, in walks (who you think is) your old high school flame. Let’s call him Mario. But it’s dark, so you aren’t quite sure. Oh-My-God, you think. You two love birds were “engaged ” all four years of high school and you haven’t laid eyes on him in fifteen years. Your heart starts fluttering.

He approaches and your eyes widen as you see he has put on weight, has a road-map on his face from all the tanning, and is that? Yes, clearly those are hair plugs. He comes over and gets right up in your face and says, “I thought that was you!” and proceeds to kiss you right on the mouth. You are horrified. It’s not the extra weight (but he is F-A-T) It’s not the wrinkles on his face (but he looks like your grandmother) and it isn’t even the hair plugs (well maybe it is the hair plugs). No. It’s his bad breath that leaves you speechless and teetering backwards in your chair.

While there is no quick fix to lose fifty pounds, erase years of sun damage or male pattern baldness, there is a quick fix for bad breath! Too bad Mario didn’t know about “Kiss My Face” breath blast, naturally healthy mouth rinse.

From Kiss My Face – Kiss My Face Breath Blast healthy mouth rinse is a natural and organic personal care product made by Kiss My Face, a company that has been feeding body and soul for over 25 years. Kiss My Face takes great care in utilizing the most potent and pure botanticals, (grown organically) natural vitamins and minerals. Properly formultated natural and organic personal care products are not only good for you, but are actually more effective than their commercially produced counterparts.

For the ultimate fresh breath and healthy mouth, the Kiss My Face Natural Formula Mouth Rinse is:

• A natural formula that kills bad breath
• Promotes healthy teeth and gums
• Contains a super fruit antioxidant boost of goji berry, pomegranate and green tea
• Contains natural Xylitol and no alcohol, or artificial sweeteners or flavors.

The Review – Kiss My Face healthy mouth rinse is available in four flavors – Spearmint, Spearmint anti-cavity with fluoride, Vanilla Mint, and Orange Mint. Thank you Sara for sending me the Kiss My Face Mouth Rinses for this review.

I have sampled each flavor and they all have an excellent taste. The taste isn’t overwhelming (like Listerine). It is very refreshing. I actually checked my watch a half hour later and I still had the fresh orange mint taste in my mouth. I especially like the orange mint and the spearmint with fluoride. Kiss My Face is another “green” natural and organic product that I feel good about using.

Buy It- Kiss My Face healthy mouth rinse will be available on the Kiss My Face Website in March 2010 for $9.95 each. Kiss My Face is offering 25% off of your online purchases and a free lip-balm as part of their "Kiss It Green" special offer which ends March 31, 2010.

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Win It- Kiss My Face is offering a gift pack of each of the four types of healthy mouth rinse, a total giveaway worth about $40. To enter is easy, just one mandatory entry:


Mandatory Entry- Visit Kiss My Face, check out their products and comment on anything that you would like to try.


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 Facebook.


3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.


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 Twitter.


7. Tweet this giveaway.


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

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Giveaway ends on April 7st 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 Sara for the review and giveaway bottles of Kiss My Face Breath Blast!

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.

Ann-Made, Handcrafted, Eco-Friendly Bracelet Review and Giveaway

The next time you open up a can of soda, take a look at the soda can tab.
What do you see? I see a piece of aluminum that's only purpose is to help me open up a can. Period.

If you are Ann Skydell Harmon, of Ann-Made Art (Ann-Made LLC) you would see that soda tab's potential as a beautiful resource for handcrafted jewelry. The "Sweet Birch" bracelet shown below is hand-crafted using 22 soda can tabs along with elastic, wire-wrapping and a sea green glass bead with wood accent beads. Thank you Ann for sending me The Sweet Birch bracelet for this review.



From: Annmadeart.com (Ann-Made, LLC) The vision and passion behind Ann-Made's line of jewelry is Ann Skydell Harmon, a special education art teacher. She set out to design a unique and chic product to promote recycling, as well as to show that a business can "do good" for society and the planet in all aspects of its operation.

Ann-Made jewelry is Ann's unique creation made from recycled soda can tabs to remind us that a little creativity can put many discarded materials to new use. The bracelets were the first item in the line and were originally conceived as a project for her alternative school art students.

The popularity of the bracelets were immediately apparent as Ann, her daughters, and fellow teachers received numerous enthusiastic comments each time they wore theirs. Earrings and Pendants have now joined the bracelets in this unique line of jewelry.



The Review: The Sweet Birch Bracelet was nicely packaged as shown above. This bracelet is handcrafted from 22 recycled soda can tabs. Each tab is hand-selected, washed and polished and then woven into a one-size fits most design using either silver or gold elastic. I have a large wrist and the bracelet fits nicely, not too tight. I do wear green (note my green shirt) and tend to wear silver jewelry, so the color choices suit me perfectly.

I don't usually think about jewelry as making much of a statement, however, wearing this bracelet makes a variety of statements regarding creativity, resourcefulness, consciousness, uniqueness and it is a "beautiful conversation piece."

As past reviews on this blog indicate, I am fond of products made from recycled materials such as Rebagging It's recycled juice bag totes, the Up With Paper pop-up greeting cards, and the Say it With Vases, plastic reusable vases made from recycled materials. Going Green is the wave of the future and Ann-Made Art is along for the ride!

The recycled tabs Ann uses are purchased from a non-profit group in New Jersey dedicated to teaching students of all ages the importance of recycling. A portion of each sale is donated to environmental causes. I appreciate that Ann "set out to show that businesses have the power to 'do good' for society and the planet in all aspects of their operations."

Now, when I pop open my diet soda, that little tab will remind me of my Ann-Made bracelet, and how that one piece of aluminum has evolved into an eco-friendly jewelry with a global-sized cause.

Buy It: The Sweet Birch Ann-Made Bracelet is available on www.annmadeart.com for $18.50.

Win It: Win your own Ann-Made eco-friendly Bracelet right here! To enter is easy- just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the Ann-Made, LLC website and check out all of the bracelets and comment on which one you like best. Please leave your e-mail address in your comment.

Extra Entries:

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.

2. --Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

3. --Subscribe to my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Current subscribers are eligible too.

4.--Follow me on Twitter . Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

5.--Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).

6.--Post my button on your blog and leave a link to your blog.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on April 1st 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 Ann for the review and giveaway bracelets!

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.

Chococoa Baking Company Mini-Whoopie Pie Review and Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed! Thanks for stopping by!

A local Massachusetts bakery called the Chococoa Baking Company has come up with a twist on the classic whoopie pie. They call it "the Whoopie." This bite-size treat comes in a variety of flavors. Thank you Julie for sending me five types of mini-whoopie pies for this review.

From Chococoa: I spoke with Julie at the Chococoa Baking company and she described "the Whoopie" with great pride. Each 2" pie is lovingly made with farm-fresh local ingredients and all natural products like free range chicken eggs, organic butters and a combination of three different chocolates (including Dutch-process cocoa, dark chocolate and sweet chocolate). Organic (healthy) essential oils like peppermint, vanilla and ginger are used in place of extracts. The essential oils create a softer flavor.

According to Epicurious food trends, the mini-whoopie pie has been named one of the top ten dessert food trends for 2010! Julie said that "The whoopie" is being ordered for weddings (as an economic alternative to wedding cakes) and for baby showers, made-to-order with pink or blue cream centers. The mini-sized treats have gained popularity with local New England catering companies as well, keeping the Chococoa Baking company very busy.

The Review: I received five types of mini-whoppies, 3 ea. per pacakge:

vanilla cream
peppermint cream
pumpkin ginger cream
rasberry cream
espresso cream

Shipping: The mini-whoopie pies were shipped refrigerated in insulated packaging and arrived semi-frozen. The Whoopie pies taste best at room temperature. Although it was difficult, we waited 15 minutes for them to "warm up" to room temperature.

Size: Each mini-whoopie pie is 2" in diameter and about 1.5 ounces each. (Traditional whoopie pies are at least twice as big with twice the fat and calories!)

Taste: My mom used to bake whoopie pies growing up and I remember their taste fondly. When I took a bite into the vanilla cream mini-whoopie, well, shucks, it reminded me of the whoopie pies I used to stuff my face with as a kid!

But "the Whoopie" is meant to be savored. The cake was rich, moist and had a hint of dark chocolate flavor. The fresh cream filling tasted just like my mom's homemade butter cream frosting. This is what I expected when I read that "the whoopie" was made with farm fresh all natural ingredients.

And the best part? I just ate this satisfying mini-chocolate treat and I didn't blow my diet! It was no surprise that my kids gobbled up the other two vanilla cream frosted whoopies and they said, "Yes!" when I asked them if they liked them.

I also tried the pumpkin ginger cream whoopie pie. The best way to describe the flavor is an appetizing fresh ginger pumpkin combination with a sweet butter cream frosting. We are not fans of peppermint and so we plan to share the peppermint cream whoopie pies with Grant's family.

The espresso cream and rasberry cream whoopie pies were also a hit. As a small supplement to the review, we made this fun video. Check out my husband Grant's reaction when he takes a bite into the espresso cream whoopie pie. (I think I need to clarify that he is imitating Patrick from the cartoon Spongebob.)






Buy It: "The Whoopies" are available for purchase ($4.95 for a pkg. 3) at several New England locations (listed on their website) and orders may be placed by visiting the Chocococa Baking company website.

Win It: The Chococoa Baking Company is offering a gift of five packages of "the whoopie" mini-whoopies for two of my readers. Winners will decide which flavors they would like! Thank you to Alan and Julie for this generous giveaway.

This giveaway is now closed! Thanks for stopping by!

To enter is easy! Just one mandatory entry:

1. Mandatory entry - Comment on which flavor of "the whoopie" that you would like to try. Check under the Review section above for the different flavors.
(1 entry).

Extra entries -

2. Follow my blog. (2 entries)
3. Grab my button and put it on your site and add a link in your comment telling me where it is. (3 entries)
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a comment. (2 entries)
5. Subscribe via email. (3 entries)
6. Sign up for Networked Blogs (Facebook - located on the right side) (2 entries)

This Giveaway is open to U.S. only and will end on Friday, 3/5/10 at 12:00 pm EST. Please include your email address in all comments. The winner will be selected using Random.org and I will post the winners names by 5:00 pm EST on Friday 3/5/10. Thank you to all who enter and good luck!

This giveaway is now closed! Thanks for stopping by!



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

Ella's Kitchen Stage 1 Baby Food and Smoothie Fruits Review and Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for stopping by.

If you've read some of my previous reviews and posts, you will know that I am a fan of whole foods and a fan of organic products. When Erika, from Ella's Kitchen, contacted me about a review and giveaway for Ella's Kitchen stage one baby food and smoothie fruits, I was very interested. I was interested in trying the smoothie fruits and little did my five-year-old know, he was going to be part of this review.

(A little about Ryan- his love of sugary junk food is cause for an intervention! I envisioned these no-sugar added smoothies as a fine place to start!)

From Ella's Kitchen: Ella's kitchen was created by Ella's Dad, Paul Lindley in the UK just a few years ago. Ella's Kitchen baby food is the fastest growing brand of baby food in the UK and is now available in the US. Ella's kitchen products are 100% organic fruits and vegetables. There is nothing else added, not even water. All products are gluten free, wheat free and egg free. Products are 100% pure organic goodness. The re-screwable pouches make them easy to use for babies 4 months and up at home or on the go. This is great for a busy mom who wants to feed their kids healthy food anyplace. Ella's Kitchen fruit smoothies are healthy and convenient snacks- great for kid's lunchboxes.

The Review: I received six pouches of stage 1 baby food (4 months and up):

carrot, apple, parsnip
broccoli, pears & peas
sweet potato, apple, pumpkin & blueberry
peaches & bananas
strawberries & apples
apples & bananas

and two pouches of smoothie fruits:

The Red One - strawberries, raspberries, apples and bananas
The Yellow One -bananas, mangoes, apricots and apples

Packaging

The stage one baby food comes in 3.5 oz. pouches and the smoothies are in 3 oz. pouches. These pouches are similar to juice bag pouches. I am sure it won't be long before these are recycled into juice bag totes! I must admit, I love the packaging - bright colors, fun fruit and veggie graphics and a comic sans like text (how appropriate!) The re-screwable caps are convenient for preserving unused portions.

The Red One Smoothie Fruit

I knew that once I showed Ryan the Red One Smoothie, he would be anxious to try it. He took a small sip and with a shudder said, "Mom, I don't like it." (Really, what did I expect when high-fructose corn syrup wasn't an ingredient?)

I was very disappointed, because I took a sip of the Red One and absolutely loved it. The smoothie fruit is a perfect blend of strawberries, raspberries, apples and banana. Without added sugar, I admit, I thought the smoothie might be bland and tart - not the case at all. This is a tasty, healthy treat. I thought, Wow! Forget about picky, sugar-loving kids like mine, this was a convenient, healthy product for mom. I could add this to Greek-style yogurt!

I contacted Erika and told her my sad story, that my little guy just didn't embrace the the Red One like I did. She was fine with that and remained very positive. She urged me to try the Yellow One for myself (yes they are great for moms too) and perhaps try to sneak the( stage one) sweet potato, apple, pumpkin & blueberry to their pancake batter. Great idea! We will be trying the stage one baby food after all! Ella's kitchen has several smoothie fruit and baby food recipe ideas.

The Yellow One Smoothie Fruit

A few days later, when I pulled out the Yellow One, guess who wanted to try it? Amazingly, Ryan requested a sip of the Yellow One smoothie. This time, I didn't expect much and gave him the smoothie. He took a sip. I studied his face, he smiled at me (without shuddering) and said that he liked it. Wow, I had to capture the moment in a photo - too bad his "thumbs-up" was cut out of the picture. (Yes, that is dirt on his mouth and marker between his nostrils. )



My theory as to why he liked the Yellow One is that of the fruits this smoothie contains- the bananas, mangoes and apricots-these are some very sweet fruits, but Naturally. Yes Naturally, no sugar added. Yeah! There is plenty of room in Ryan's lunch box for these smoothie fruits - a healthy, organic product I can feel good about.

I wish that these Ella's Kitchen products were available when these guys were 4 months old. With combinations like carrots, apples, parsnips and sweet potato, pumpkin, apples and blueberries, I think they would have loved eating their fruits and veggies and (perhaps) would eat more of a variety of healthy food today.

Buy It: Ella's kitchen stage one baby foods and fruit smoothies are available for purchase at several online locations and several stores like Toys R Us.

Win It: Ella's kitchen is offering one of my readers a sample pack of the eight stage one baby foods and smoothies that I received. Thank you Erika for this generous giveaway. To enter is easy! Just one mandatory entry:

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for stopping by.


1. Mandatory entry - Visit Ella's Kitchen and comment on the stage one baby food or smoothie fruit that your little one(s) would like best. (1 entry).

Extra entries -

2. Follow my blog. (2 entries)
3. Grab my button and put it on your site and add a link in your comment telling me where it is. (3 entries)
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the Tweet URL in a comment. (2 entries)
5. Subscribe via email. (3 entries)
6. Sign up for Networked Blogs (Facebook - located on the right side) (2 entries)
7. Sign up for my Women are Crazy Men are Stupid Book giveaway (2 entries)

This Giveaway is open to U.S. only and will end on Friday, 2/19/10 at 12:00 pm EST. Please include your email address in all comments. The winner will be selected using Random.org and I will post the winners names by 5:00 pm EST on Friday 2/19/10. Thank you to all who enter and good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for stopping by.


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

Crazy Aaron's Putty World Thinking Putty Review

What is Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty? It is a multi-purpose toy for adults. (Not that kind of toy.) Crazy Putty is a desk toy designed for adults to relieve stress, strengthen hands and (hopefully) spark creativity by keeping hands busy and thoughts flowing.

When I saw Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty, I knew I wanted to check it out. The putty is available in over thirty different colors, including metallic and electric swirl. I was curious to see if it could do all that Crazy Aaron promises, or at least entertain me during breaks from the computer! Thank you to Elizabeth at "Puttyworld" for promptly sending me a sample of Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty.

From Crazy Aaron's Putty World: "Thinking Putty is Made in the USA which puts consumers' minds at ease. It makes a great stress ball. It is also excellent as a therapy putty for stiffness or as an exercise putty for hand strengthening. As a desk toy you'll find you aren't able to put it down. These are all reasons why Thinking Putty puts other marketing gifts and promotional toys to shame. When you use it as your next promotional gift, your customers will rave! I guarantee it!" - Crazy Aaron.

The Review: The thinking putty arrived in a 4" diameter tin with a colorful caricature of Crazy Aaron's face. The putty I received is the heat sensitive hypercolor called "Chameleon." Heat sensitive means that the putty changes colors from the warmth and cold from your hands. As you can see in the pictures, the putty does change to a lighter shade of green from the heat of my hand. Cool.



The putty reminds me of silly putty. It has the same consistency and feel.

Along with the putty, I received three cards: a card with several hand exercises, and two others with pictures and ideas showing me all the things that I can do with my new toy. I put the putty to the test according to each idea. With success, I was able to stretch it, pop it, bounce it, tear it, snap it and knead it. Popping it is quite fun. (I used to do that with silly putty, as a kid!)

Exercises are shown for fingers, thumbs and the full hand (full hand grip, shown above). I tried each of the exercises successfully and easily- my favorite is the full grip, which, to me, is the best putty exercise for stress relief.

The putty is also available in a magnetic color. In addition to relieving stress, the magnetic color will lift small metal objects.

I am glad that my kids have not discovered my thinking putty, and I intend to keep it that way! It will stay right on my desk for those times when I need to take a little break and relieve a little stress. Who knows, maybe it will keep my hands away from the cookie jar. (I can dream can't I?)

Whether you work at home or at an office, this little stress relief ball does all that Crazy Aaron promises, and it will make a fun addition to your desktop!

Buy It: Crazy Aaron's Putty (in Chameleon) is available for purchase at Puttyworld for $9.95.

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