Silver Dolphin and Nurture My Body Winners

Two of my giveaways have ended and I have randomly drawn the winners.
The winner of the Silver Dolphin Book Giveaway is #35, justicecw

justicecw said...

I am an email subscriber
August 17, 2009 11:59 PM

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The winner of the Nurture My Body Volumizing Organic Shampoo is #13, Tamara B.

Tamara B. said...

I registered my email address to win a $50 gift box from Nurture My Body.
August 24, 2009 11:46 AM

Congrats to the two winners! I have emailed you and you have 48 hrs to respond to the notification. Thanks to Nurture My Body and Silver Dolphin Books for sponsoring the giveaways.

Lipo-Flavonoid Review & Giveaway - 9/10

I have dealt with ear problems all my life. I've had countless ear infections and have had tubes inserted in my ears a total of five times. There's been times I've had hearing loss. Frustration and sadness are just a couple of things that come to mind when I think about all the problems I've had with my ears. Luckily, I have not had ringing of the ears. But I can only imagine how frustrating and saddening it is as well. 50 million people of all ages suffer from ear ringing, also known as Tinnitus. Tinnitus is a serious condition that can also be a symptom of Meniere's Disease, which causes loss of balance and vertigo in addition to the ear ringing. I was checked for Tinnuitus and Meniere's Disease a couple of years ago when I went in to see my ear, nose, and throat specialist. So far I am clear of both, but I know that I can get it at any time especially with my ear infection history.

This short video chronicles one person's account of ringing of the ears and her feelings of devastation upon learning of it. She found out about a product called Lipo-Flavonoid and it is a product that has worked for her.



Lipo-Flavonoid is a dietary supplement in the form of a pill that safely provides nutritional support to improve circulation in the inner ear for overall ear health. Although I do not have ringing of the ears, I have taken Lipo-Flavonoid to see if it helps combat my ear woes. With it, fluids in the ear canal flow better. I have not had any ear infections as of late. Although I cannot say that Lipo-Flavonoid has cured me of my ear problems, I can say that I will continue to take it. I'm going to continue using it in the hopes that it does, in fact, keep my ear problems from reoccurring.

Buy It!

You can buy a bottle of Lipo-Flavonoid Plus here. It comes in 30, 100, and 500 ct bottles. It is also available for purchase at CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Win It!

One of my readers has a chance to win a 30 ct bottle of Lipo-Flavonoid (a $12.95 value).

Mandatory Entry:
Go to Lipo-Flavonoid FAQ's and leave a comment with one thing you learned.

Extra Entries:

Take the Lipo-Flavonoid Quiz and comment here with the results.
Leave a comment with a fact you learned about Tinnitus.
Leave a comment with a fact you learned about Meniere's Syndrome.
Follow my blog
Subscribe to my blog by email
Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to the post (+3 entries)
Follow me on Twitter, partymix25
Tweet about the giveaway and leave a link to the tweet
Post my button on your blog

Leave a separate comment for each entry. Please include your email address in your comment.
Giveaway ends 9/10/09 at 8 pm CST and is open to US residents
Winner will be randomly drawn and will have 48 hrs to respond to email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn.

I received a sample product to review. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. The quiz is not a diagnostic tool and please do your own research before purchasing a product.

Terra's Terrible Teeth

I can't bare to look at myself in the mirror right now. My days of a full smile have been over for quite a while, but it was reached to a whole new level today. A couple years ago, I was drinking a milkshake from Wendy's and the straw encircled one of my teeth. This caused my tooth to fall out. It was one of my side teeth. A few months later, I was grinding my teeth in my sleep and another side tooth fell out. Today, I was eating something and the corner of my front tooth chipped off. I could be mistaken for a meth head. Definitely makes a person feel insecure and even ugly sometimes.
I have horrible teeth. My fault totally. It's due to lack of regular visits to the dentist and practically living off soda for my liquid intake. Drinking soda has been one of my vices for years and I know the acid is sooo bad for my teeth. I don't need a full disclosure (unlike some people that think all bloggers should have one or they are at fault for faulty products or reviews) and I don't have anyone to blame but myself.
I also have a full-on fear of dentists. I'd rather go through child birth ten times over than go to a dentist. This fear started years ago when I had an abscessed tooth and went to see a dentist. He did not numb the area all the way and I cried and screamed in pain. He didn't much care and went through with the procedure anyway. From there on out, dentists have been my enemy. I seriously have panic attacks when I have to go to the dentist. Any dentist I've ever been to has not been able to give me relief from my fear. Years ago I found a dentist that would give me gas and that helped, although I'd still stop breathing and would cry like a baby. There is no one in the area where I live now that gives gas and I'm very weary about being put completely to sleep just to have teeth work done.
Guess I'm going to have to buckle up and find a way to get over my fear and find the money to get my teeth fixed. I have dental insurance, but it is not even worth it. I know I need upper dentures which requires getting all my top teeth pulled. Even if I was ready to let go of my fear, I don't have the money to get them fixed. I don't have the greatest of credit, so getting a loan or putting it on a credit card it out. I have six children to raise and their needs and wants come first. Somehow, someway I'm going to have to figure this out.

If anybody is to learn anything from this post, here are a few pointers:
1. Soda can be the devil. Drink it like there's no tomorrow and there will be a price to pay. The sugars sit on your teeth and eat them like candy. Drink soda in very low doses.
2. See your dentist regularly. Even if you brush and floss daily, it is important to have a dentist take care of any tooth problems before they get out of hand.
3. Have money in a savings account for emergency purposes and health care problems that may arise. I'm broke as a joke and will have to live looking like a jack-o-lantern until I come up with large sums of money.

Great Blog Giveaways #18

There are numerous blog giveaways going on at any given time. Here are just a few:

Feuerwear makes sustainable fashion bags and accessories from recycled fire hoses. Enter to win a fire hose laptop bag at Green Earth Journey. Ends 9/3.

CSN Rugs has a vast selection of rugs. They offer oriental rugs, shag rugs, contemporary rugs, and much more. Enter to win a kid's rug of choice under $40 at A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts. Ends 9/10.

Flirty Aprons has an awesome collection of super cute aprons. Enter to win an apron of choice at The Last Blog on Earth. Ends 9/3.

Kohl's has you covered with back to school shopping with their cute, affordable line of clothing. Enter to win a $25 gift card to Kohl's at Short Pump Preppy. Ends 9/15.

If you're looking for a cute frame for your picture, Giggles & Grins Design has handmade decoupage picture frames. Enter to win one of these frames at Project Nursery. Ends 9/4.

Blog Hop Friday - Giveaways

It's time to blog hop and enter some great giveaways!

GotFreeCards.com Review

Birthdays and holidays are a big deal with my family. One great resource for helping celebrate those occasions is GotFreeCards.com. I know I like to be acknowledged during these occasions and with GotFreeCards.com, I can send the same nice gesture. They offer Ecards for nearly everything: birthdays, holidays, congratulations, thank you, sorry, and more.

These are a few things I particularly like about GotFreeCards.com:

1. I can receive email notification of event reminders. I never have to worry about missing another person's birthday, anniversary, etc.

2. There is no cost in sending the ecards. Some sites want to charge you for sending them. Every ecard on this site is free to send and receive. No pennies out of my pocket is always a good thing for me.

3. No registration is required to send or receive ecards. I can quickly personalize and send my ecard without typing in a bunch of extra info. How easy is that?!!

4. Some of the cards allow you the option of adding personalized photos or music. Makes it more personable to the recipient.

5. They never sell email addresses to third party vendors. This is especially important to me because I don't like having my email address given to others that I did not approve or especially know about.

6. They have the option of creating and printing your own free printable birthday cards at home. There is no registration or download needed and you can add a photo to the cards. This is especially useful for me when I am in need of a card for a birthday party I will be attending. Instead of rushing to the store to find a card, I can just make one and print it off from my computer. And it doesn't stop there. You can print free cards from home for other occasions and holidays as well.

Next time I want to send free ecards or have an actual card for any occasion, I will be using GotFreeCards.com.

I received compensation for this review. However, the opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way. I actually would use this company as stated.

Money Saving Book Review & Giveaway - 9/7

With the economy as it is, more and more people are looking for ways to live frugally. I consider myself one of those people. I rarely buy clothes full-price. Yard sales are places of treasure for me. I use coupons faithfully. My menu is planned around what food is on sale that particular week.

I thought I knew quite a few tricks of the trade when it came to saving money. After reading 10,001 Ways To Live Large On A Small Budget by the writers of Wise Bread, I was in awe of how many more tricks I learned. For instance, I learned that there is more than one reason to keep the fridge stocked up with beer. It is great for killing slugs, curing your lawn of brown spots, and removing stains. I also learned a wealth of information on how to choose a financial planner. This book gives you tips on living large within your means.

With books, I will usually read them and then donate them to others to read. This is one book I will not be giving up. The plethora of tips and references makes this book a keeper. These are just a few of the things that are covered in the book:

* 9 Ways to See the World For Free
* Claim Big Savings Even After You Missed the Sale
* 12 Ways to Live Rent or Mortgage Free
* 6 Steps to Eliminating Your Debt Painlessly
* 20 Signs a Pink Slip is Coming
* 10 Killer Ways to Feel Like a Millions Bucks
* 50 Ways to Get the Most Out of Health Care
* 6 Horrible Financial Products to Avoid
* 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Money
* 6 Ways to Pay Less for College
* 7 Ways to Score Free Food
* Bulk Buying 101
* Get Hidden Cell Phone Discounts With One Email
* Easy Way to Save 3 Months' Salary
* Best & Worst Places to Stash Cash at Home
* 12 Fabulous Frugal Party Ideas

Buy It!

You can purchase 10,001 Ways To Live Large On A Small Budget online at Amazon or Walmart.com.

Win It!

One of my readers has the chance to win the book, 10,001 Ways To Live Large On A Small Budget.

Mandatory Entry:

Go to About Us and leave a comment with one of the authors of the book and a fact about them.

Extra Entries:

Sign up to receive the Wise Bread email newsletter to receive the best deals, coupons, and freebies.
Follow my blog
Subscribe to my blog by email
Follow me on Twitter, partymix25
Tweet about this giveaway, leave a link with the tweet
Blog about this giveaway, leave a link with the post (+3 entries)
Put my button on your blog
Comment with a tip you have for living frugally.

Leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave your email address in comment.
Contest ends 9/7/09 at 8 pm CST, Open to US residents.
Winner will be randomly drawn and will have 48 hrs. to respond to email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn.

Sneak Peek of Upcoming Review & Giveaway

I have an exciting giveaway coming up and I wanted to let everyone in on it. Soon I will be posting a review and giveaway for CSNMirrors.com. Ornate, traditional, contemporary, and frameless mirrors are just a few of the selections available. In addition to mirrors, they also offer home decor.

I will be doing a review and giveaway of the BASS LED-DECO - Led Deco Ball. I'm excited to be able to review it and also offer one as a giveaway. Be sure to follow my blog or subscribe. You don't want to miss out on this one!

Great Blog Giveaways #17

Here's a list of blog giveaways going on right now. Not only can you learn about companies and products, you can enter to win great prizes.

Unique, high quality sterling silver charms, charm bracelets, and more can be found at the Charm Factory. Enter to win a bracelet with 8 charms of choice at Live, Love, Laugh With Leslie. Ends 9/10.

Ecousable invents, produces and markets reusable eco-friendly products that are fashionable and affordable for everyone. Enter to win two 16 oz. reusable bottles at A Family Completed. Ends 9/9.

Seeryus Mama wants you to keep on grilling! Enter to win a Preseasoned Cast Iron Grilled Pizza Set from Teak, Wicker, And More.com. They carry patio furniture and so much more! Enter before midnight CST on August 30th.

My Good Greetings offers beautifully designed custom photo cards, invitations, and stationary printed on 100% recycled, carbon neutral paper. Enter to win a $25 gift card to My Good Greetings at Annies Home. Ends 9/9.

If you're looking to spice things up in the bedroom, Eden Fantasys has you covered. Add some sparkle to your love life by entering to win a $50 gift card to Eden Fantasys at I Like It Frantic. Ends 9/1. You can also enter to win a $25 gift card to Eden Fantasys at MomStart. Ends 9/14.

International Playthings delivers innovative and entertaining children's products. Enter to win a Fairyland Playhouse at Life Starring The Kids & Me. Ends 9/10.

2 Lulas strives to bring fresh, modern, fun fabrics and practical styles to the world of children's clothing and accessories. Enter to win a 2 Lulas Changing Pad at 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires. Ends 9/14.
Crazy Dog T-shirts carries a line of funny and unique t-shirts with stylish designs. Enter to win a t-shirt of choice at She Scribes. Ends 8/31.
Boogie Wipes are gentle saline wipes for stuffy noses. Enter to win two packs of Boogie Wipes at The Mommy Files. Ends 8/30.

Blog Hop - Time To Laugh

This one particularly makes me laugh because "I peed in your pool" was a running joke between me and my father. He even said it to me towards one of the last days of his life. Brings back great memories.

What I'll Be Wearing In The Wedding

No, it's not my wedding (thank goodness). I will be a bridesmaid in my nephew's wedding next month and this is a picture of the dress I will be wearing. I think it's a beautiful dress. However, it is a dress that I will own and I'm not so sure that I'll ever have another occasion where I will wear it again. My husband is best man and I can't wait to see him in his tux. I'm sure he'll be handsome.
What do you think? Do you like the dress?

Red Apple School Supply Review & Giveaway -9/7

Summer is almost over and school has either started or will be starting soon. If you're in need of supplies now or will need to replace some later in the year, Red Apple School Supply has the school supplies you need. Red Apple School Supply would also be a great place to shop when needing supplies for your office.

If you are concerned about the environment or would like to teach your children about recycling, you can purchase supplies that are earth-friendly. You can buy a variety of school and office supplies that are made of either recycled, reclaimed, or managed forest products. They are the only supplier of wide rule spiral notebooks, filler paper, and composition notebooks that have 100% waste fiber content. One recycled item is the Green Apple Recycled Wood Pencils that are made from wood scraps in the pencil manufacturing process.

The Green Apple Recycled Ballpoint Pen is made with recycled paper and the clip is made from reclaimed wood. One of the notebooks my children received had facts and tips about recycling on the front cover. My kids enjoyed reading it and learning new things.

Win It!

Red Apple School Supply is generously offering four (4) of my readers the chance to win a recycled ballpoint pen and notebook of choice from the Illusions line.

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment with which Illusions notebook you would choose: fish, peacock, cricket, or flower.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment with a product that you like from Red Apple School Supply line.

Leave a comment with a product that you like from Green Apple School Supply line.

Follow my blog

Subscribe to my blog by email

Follow me on Twitter, partymix25

Tweet about this giveaway, leave a link with the tweet

Add my button to your blog

Blog about this giveaway, leave a link with the post (+3 entries)

Enter any of my other giveaways, leave a comment with for each one you've entered

Leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave your email address in your comment.

Contest ends 9/7/09 at 8 pm CST. Open to US residents.

I will randomly draw the four winners and they will have 48 hours to reply to notification.

I received a box of school supplies for review. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Artistic Sensations Review

I have six children, all with different tastes in design and style. I came across a site that offers hundreds of unique items, with numerous themes to cater to my children's varying tastes. Artistic Sensations is your one-stop-shop to create your child's dream room.

Artistic Sensations is a family business with products personally chosen by experienced parents. The customer service department is open 24/7 to answer your questions or offer help. If you're stuck in a rut and need decorating and theme ideas for kids' rooms, they have a page dedicated to that.

My youngest son is a fan of race cars and anything that goes fast. The Race Car Speedway Bedding would be a great set for him. There are over twenty room themes to select from when choosing for your child.

This Fancy Frogs Pocket Pillow has a soft 7" frog hidden in the pillow's pocket. My middle step-daughter loves all things frog, so she'd be thrilled to have something like this.

Artistic Sensations not only offers items for room decor, they also offer items that would make great gifts.

This Hand Painted Tea Pot would make a great gift for someone of any age. It can be personalized for an extra special touch.

. I received a black and pink Skull & Crossbones Bath Towel . This isn't your average bath towel. It's pretty rare I come across bath towels with such unique designs. Don't let the decorations fool you. Not only is the towel trendy, it is also useable. I've used and washed this towel a few times without any wear and tear. The only problem I had with it was trying to keep it away from my oldest daughter.

Be among the first to hear about exclusive offers, sales, and upcoming events by subscribing to Artistic Sensations' newsletter. You can also follow Artistic Sensations on Twitter.

I received a bath towel for review. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Top This and Auntie Anne's Winners

Two of my giveaways have ended and here are my lucky winners that were randomly drawn:

The winner of the "Top This" Prize Pack giveaway is #30:
janetfaye said... 2. Blogged: http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2009/08/top-this-prize-pack-review-giveaway-821.html
August 16, 2009 6:09 PM

The winner of the Auntie Anne's At Home Pretzel Kit is #56:
Nancy said... From the on-line store, I'd buy the Cinnamon Bun Kit.
August 11, 2009 4:33 PM

I am emailing the winners now. They have 48 hrs. to reply or I will randomly draw another winner. Congrats to the winners and thanks to those who entered.

Virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share

Hellman's and Best Foods mayonnaise have teamed up with Billy Ray Cyrus to encourage people of all ages to celebrate their childhood ritual of swapping sandwiches. The virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program was created to raise money for Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

To be a part of this program, enter here. For every sandwich created as part of the virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program on Facebook, Hellman's and Best Foods will donate 7 lunches (a $1 donation) to Feeding America. For every friend you swap a sandwich with, they'll donate an additional 7 lunches. In addition, you'll also get an entry into their sweepstakes for a $250 grocery gift card. Every day is a new chance to win! I encourage you to be a part of this program. It's easy, costs nothing, and helps those less fortunate.

Century Novelty Review

I posted a few days ago about two of my children turning another year older. We celebrated with a joint birthday party a couple of weeks ago and most of the party supplies came from Century Novelty.
Family owned and operated, Century Novelty has been helping people since 1951 with their extensive collection of party favors, supplies, and decorations for nearly every occasion. They cover everything from birthdays and weddings to vacation bible school and more. There are no minimum requirements on orders, so you can order exactly what amount you need.

I received a number of birthday supplies to review and these items were a great addition to the party:

1. Happy Birthday Buttermints - The mints were in a decorative wrapper and tasted good.

2. Happy Birthday Rubber Ducky - These are adorable and made great party favors for the gift bags.

3. Happy Birthday Paper Party Bag - I used these as bags for the party favors. I liked them quite well. They held up well and were not flimsy like some bags.

4. Prismatic "Happy Birthday" Streamer - I taped this to the camper and had no problems with it falling down or tearing.

5. Foil "Happy Birthday" Horn - These were added to the gift bags as well. The kids enjoyed blowing the horns and making lots of noise.

6. Happy Birthday Centerpiece - We placed this on the center of the picnic table. It did not stay up very well, but that may have been due to it being a windy day.

7. "Happy Birthday" Confetti - We scattered this confetti on the picnic table and it added a nice touch.

8. Birthday Hat - Both Adam and Juliann proudly wore these around all day. It made them feel special and they are keeping them to wear again their next birthday.


Overall, I am pleased with what the company has to offer. I will definitely consider it when I need to purchase items for my next event.
Right now if you sign up for their e-mail promotions, you can receive $6 of your order of $60 or more. Sign up before 9/3/09 to receive this discount.
Thanks to Century Novelty for allowing me to review their birthday products. Although I was given products to review, I was not influenced and the opinions within this post are of my own.

Blog Hop Friday - Giveaways

Here's some great giveaways to enter. Don't forget to enter mine as well. I have two ending very soon. Good luck!

Who Says A Castle Can't Be Built In A Day?!

For his birthday I got my son, Adam, a King Arthur castle set from Mega Blocks. I bought it off Amazon at an amazingly low price. I knew when I received it that there would be some building to do. However, I did not realize that it would require the patience of a saint and the skill of a constructionist.

What's hard to see in this picture, due to still being in the wrappers, is the itty bitty pieces.

When it was time to put this castle together, the pieces came pouring out and my jaw dropped to the floor. I bet there were over 1000 pieces threw on the table by the time we got it all out of the box and wrappers. I looked at my son and told him that it may be this time next year before he got to play with it. There was a book of pictures that illustrated where each piece went and my son and I started the task. He handed me the first piece and we worked for what seemed like forever on it. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the piece I had in my hand was flip opposite of the piece that was shown in the book. It wasn't until my husband came home from work a couple of hours later that I was informed I was working on the wrong piece! All that work for nothing.

I threw my hands up in the air. Luckily, my husband can look at an illustrated manual and figure things out. He worked for hours with just a short break so Adam could have his castle complete. I'm sure that it still wouldn't be done if Adam and I were working on it. But thanks to my husband's patience and building skills, Adam can now dabble in the medieval world.

Both of my boys now want the complete King Arthur set for Christmas. Apparently, there's a warship and more castles to be built. Oh, won't my husband be so thrilled!

Adam showing off the inside of his castle

The outside view

Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant Review & Giveaway - 9/2

I have been cursed with itchy, dry, sensitive skin. It's so severe that I should probably see a dermatologist about it, but have instead dealt with it for years. Because of this, I have always had a problem with breaking out in red bumps due to deodorant. It's quite noticeable if I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt or swimming suit. I've tried MANY different brands of deodorants and have been disappointed because, without fail, my underarms break out. I also have somewhat excessive sweating, especially in my right underarm. No matter the weather, I need to apply deodorant or antiperspirant several times a day. So it's a catch twenty-two. I either sweat or break out. It's embarrassing having all these problems.

I was given the opportunity to try Certain Dri Antiperspirant and, although I was a willing participant, I did not have high expectations. I have tried almost every antiperspirant known to man and have not found one I like until I tried Certain Dri. I kid you not when I say that it has been a lifesaver. This is a brand that I will be sticking with. I no longer have to apply antiperspirant several times a day. And although I still have a few bumps on my underarms, they have been reduced to just a few. Certain Dri is specially-formulated to provide all-day dryness for those who suffer from excessive underarm perspiration. Certain Dri is colorless and fragrance free. I think the fact that it's fragrance free is one factor in helping get rid of the bumps. Now my excessive sweating and bumps are becoming a thing of the past. It is the number one over-the-counter antiperspirant recommended by doctors for treating excessive perspiration and it offers 72 hours of protection with each application.

Buy It!

Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant is available in mass market retail, supermarkets, and drug stores nationwide. It is sold for the suggested retail price of $5.50.

Win It!

Two of my readers have a chance to each win a stick of Certain Dri Solid.

Mandatory Entry:

Go to the Where to Buy page and leave a comment with one place you can buy Certain Dri.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment with why you'd like to try this product.
Go to the No-Sweat Fashion Tips page and leave a comment with one tip you learned to stay dry
Follow my blog
Follow me on Twitter, partymix25
Tweet about this giveaway, leave a link to the tweet
Blog about this giveaway, leave a link to the post (+3 extra entries)
Add my button to your blog

Leave a separate comment for each entry and leave your email address in your comments.
Contest ends 9/2/09 at 8 pm CST. Open to US residents.
I will randomly draw winners and they will have 48 hrs. to respond to notification or a new winner will be randomly drawn.

I was given a sample of Certain Dri to review. The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not persuaded in any way.

For those who suffer from excessive sweating, there isn’t one solution for everyone, since each individual is unique. And, while Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant is highly effective in treating excessive sweating, it is recommended that you make an appointment with a dermatologist if you suddenly begin to experience profuse sweating, since it can be related to an underlying medical condition that may need to be treated.

Great Blog Giveaways #16

Step right up and enter this great array of giveaways!

Bake Me A Wish! makes delicious gourmet cakes at their award-winning New York City bakery. Enter to win a Triple Chocolate Enrobed Brownie Cake at Busy Mom. Ends 9/8.

The Shred Sled is a 4-wheel inline, dual-deck board that combines skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding into one unique sport. Enter to win one at Potamus Prefers. Ends 9/15.

Enjoy your summer treats in style. Enter to win a Yoplait Whips "Summer Cool Down" Gift Bag at Just Another New Blog. The gift bag includes two free coupons for Yoplait Whips!, a cooler tote, popsicle molds, and a set of 12 color-changing spoons. Ends 8/30. You can also enter to win one at Robyn's Online World. Ends 8/26.

The Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer is the world's first infrared thermometer that is designed to measure the body temperature by taking a reading from the temporal artery. Enter to win one at Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports. Ends 8/29.


If you can't cook like a pro, be stocked like one! Enter to win a 2 piece ceramic knife set from Keramikos Kitchen at My Organized Chaos. Ends 8/24.

Rhoda Rose is an Etsy shop that specializes in hand dipped chocolate treats. Enter to win an ice cream cone dish filled with some of these treats at Melinda Joy. Ends 8/28.

Umi shoes are children's shoes made with nappa and leather and they are flexible and built to last. Enter to win a pair of Umi shoes at A Family Completed. Ends 9/9.

Out Of The Box Publishing creates innovative party, board, and card games. Enter to win a game of choice from Out of The Box at Gobs of Giveaways. Ends 8/28.

The Start Of A New School Year

Today marks the beginning of a new school year for my children. I gotta tell you, it's not something I've been looking forward to. I've enjoyed the quality time I've been able to spend with the kids and this whole education thing cuts into that. I'll even admit that I've been known to cry on the first days of school because it means that my quality time will be shortened and that I've spent a bunch of money on supplies and clothing. I also have a minor fear of my children growing up too quickly and this only confirms it.

My oldest daughter received her white slip a couple of weeks ago, so I've been having a minor stroke everytime I let her drive me around. It's not that she's a bad driver; it's that I'm a Nervous Nellie. She's been catching on quick and getting the hang of driving. By this time next year she will have her license. Shelby is officially a sophomore in high school and she's excited. Although she was a "high schooler" last year, she was still in the jr. high building due to how the school system works here. It's a whole new school for her this year and she officially feels like she is embarking on a journey towards a life after school.

My two boys, Logan and Adam, are in the same grade. They have been ever since Logan was held back in kindergarten years ago. They are also entering a new school because they're both in Junior High (5th grade). Thank goodness they have not been given the opportunity yet to be in the same classes with the same teachers. I prefer this because I do not want them grouped together or bullying each other during class.

My two oldest step-daughters are enrolled in private Catholic schools. The 14 yo, Allyson, is also in attendance at a new school. She is a freshman. Juliann is in 4th grade at the same school she's been going to for a few years. Both of them are very smart and I'm sure there'll be no problems with their studies.

Emma, my 7 year old step-daughter, has started 1st grade. She's quite the social butterfly, so learning sometimes comes second to that.

I look forward to seeing how all my children advance this school year and partaking in their activities. I wish them well. I have my Kleenex on reserve for when I see them off later this morning.

Nurture My Body Review & Giveaway - 8/31

Nurture My Body offers a handmade line of organic skin care, organic body care, and organic hair care. They have formulated products for babies and adults. Nurture My Body was launched in June 2006 with a passion to provide the safest and most natural personal care products. Nuture My Body products are made with certified organic ingredients, have no chemical preservatives, are not tested on animals, are phthalate-free, and are packaged with eco-friendly materials. That's a whole lot of reasons to like this company!

All of the products at Nurture My Body have a 2 or less rating with the EWG Skin Deep Database. The majority of their products rate at zero. This means that the products have an extremely low to no hazard of toxicity. The ingredients in some health and beauty products are not good for your skin. I like knowing that the ingredients in Nurture my Body products are safe to use and will not be harmful to my skin.

If you're not sure of which skin type you are or which organic product to use, Nurture My Body has taken the complication out of finding out. At What's Best for My Skin?, they describe what the different skin types are and which of their products would be best for you.

I was given the opportunity to review the Organic Volumizing Shampoo. The shampoo contains oat extract and honey that helps strengthen the hair strands to give hair a fuller, healthier look and feel. I have dull, flat hair and am always on the lookout for something to give it volume. This shampoo smelled great and helped get rid of buildup. I was able to more easily fix my hair to my liking after using this shampoo because it did help give volume. The shampoo does have a watery consistency. I'm used to shampoos that have a thick, creamy lather. Although the consistency is quite different, it still cleaned well and I was able to use the same amount as I would have with other shampoos. After using this shampoo, my hair felt healthier and looked shinier.

Buy It!

Purchase an 8.5 oz bottle of Organic Volumizing Shampoo here. It sells for $24.38.

Win It!

Nurture My Body would like to offer one of my readers the chance to win an 8.5 oz bottle of Organic Volumizing Shampoo.

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment with a product from Nurture My Body that you'd like to try (besides the volumizing shampoo)

Extra Entries:

Follow Nuture My Body on Twitter, Rich_Arnold
Register your email address to win a $50 gift box from Nurture My Body.
Follow my blog
Subscribe to my blog by email
Follow me on Twitter, partymix25
Tweet about this giveaway, leave a link to the tweet
Blog about this giveaway, leave the link to the post (+3 entries)
Put my button on your blog

Leave a separate entry for each comment. Please leave your email address in your comments.
Contest ends 8/31/09 at 8 pm CST, Open to US residents.
I will randomly draw the winner once the giveaway ends and the winner has 48 hrs. to respond to notification or another winner will be randomly drawn.

Great Blog Giveaways #15

I have a few giveaways going on from time to time. Here's some other blogs with giveaways going on right now:

Bake Me A Wish! creates gourmet cakes made with the finest and freshest ingredients. Enter to win a Triple Chocolate Enrobed Brownie Cake at Golfersmom. Ends 8/30.

Boon Inc. is committed to creating innovative modern baby products and toddler gear. Enter to win a Squirt baby food dispensing spoon in your choice of color at An Island Life. Ends 8/21.

At Better Mommy Fashions you will find top quality and fashionable nursing clothes. Enter to win a $25 gift certificate for Better Mommy Fashions at The Funky Monkey. Ends 8/24.

Spa Boutique is an online store that specializes in offering professional skin care products, cosmetics, and spa gifts. Enter to win B. Kamins Bio-Maple Cellular Renewal Serum at My Organized Chaos. Ends 8/28.


Piera from Jolly Mom is about to celebrate her son's second birthday! To celebrate, Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go are hosting a birthday blog party starting August 24th. They will feature the coolest toys and gifts for kids and there will be lots of prizes.

Bibi & Mimi is an award winning company that creates baby accessories and gifts that are uniquely packaged. Enter to win an organic onesie in your choice of design and size at Tout-est-des-roses. Ends 8/21.

Fabkins are soft and durable everyday cloth napkins for kids, available in an array of bright colors and playful designs. Enter to win a set of Fabkins at The Not-So-Blog. Ends 8/21.

Silver Dolphin Books Review & Giveaway - 8/30

Silver Dolphin goes above and beyond your ordinary book. They publish activity, novelty, and educational nonfiction books for preschoolers to 12-year-olds. They've received numerous awards and it's no surprise why. Silver Dolphin takes reading and learning to a whole new level.

I think there are many benefits to reading books and I highly encourage my children to read. What I particularly like about Silver Dolphin Books is that they are interactive. Not only do children read and learn, they also get to be hands-on.
My children received two books to review. One of the books was Uncover A Frog by Aimee Bakkan. The kids learned A LOT of facts about frogs and were able to view a 3D layered model of a frog. The model demonstrated the hidden workings of a frog's body. All six of the children were amazed at how real the model looked and spent a long time learning so many new things about frogs.
The other book reviewed was Fine Art Studio Drawing by Jim Bradrick. My 10-year-old son was particularly interested in this one. He loves to draw, but this brought out a whole new dimension for him. The kit came with a complete set of drawing tools, lessons on drawing techniques, and step-by-step drawing projects. Although my son is not a professional artist now, his drawing skills have greatly improved.

These aren't books that my children have read once and then put away. They refer to these books often and have gotten lots of use out of them.

Win It!

Silver Dolphin Books has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win a book of their own.

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment with which book you would choose.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment with one of the awards they've received.

Follow Silver Dolphin Books on Twitter, SilverDolphin

Follow my blog

Subscribe to my blog by email

Blog about this giveaway, leave link to post (+3 entries)

Follow me on Twitter, partymix25

Tweet about this giveaway, leave link to tweet

Add my button to your blog

Please leave a separte comment for each entry

Contest ends 8/30/09 at 8 pm CST

Open to US residents

Many thanks to Silver Dolphin Books. I was sent two books to review. The opinions within this post are of my own.

Great Blog Giveaways #14

Here's a list of some giveaways going on at other blogs:

Little Fit offers custom-sized baseball and trucker hats especially designed for infants and toddlers. Enter to win a hat of choice at Me And My Boys! Ends 8/25.

How To Tame A Modern Rouge is a lighthearted romantic book by Diana Holquist. Enter to win one of 5 copies of the book at Just Another New Blog. Ends 8/27.

Stitches So Sweet offers charming personalized gifts for the whole family. Enter to win a $25 Stiches So Sweet gift certificate at A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts. Ends 8/28.

Storkie Express has a vast selection of birthday, wedding, and party invitations. Enter to win a $50 Storkie Express gift certificate at Look What Mom Found...and Dad too! Ends 8/21.

Gala Glass creates world-class handmade crystal glass creations. Enter to win a $25 Gala Glass gift certificate at I Like It Frantic. Ends 9/1.

Scandinavian Child has high-quality children's products with beautiful design, functionality, and safety. Enter to win a Svan Scooter at the Mom Buzz. Ends 8/21.

MolliCoolz Shakers Winner

I have randomly drawn the winner for my MolliCoolz Shakers giveaway. The winner is #4, blueviolet. I have emailed the winner and they have 48 hrs. to respond or another winner will be randomly drawn. Congrats blueviolet!

Thanks to those who entered and to MolliCoolz for the review/giveaway.


Don't forget to enter my "Top This" Prize Pack giveaway which ends 8/21 and my Auntie Anne's At Home Pretzel Kit giveaway that ends 8/22.

Blog Hop Friday - Giveaways

Be sure to enter my "Top This" Prize Pack giveaway. Ends 8/21.

Blog Hop - Favorite Photos

This week's blog hop is to post your favorite photos. I recently deleted a bunch from my computer, but here's some favorites that I have left.
My son, Logan, came out of his bedroom and flopped on the kitchen floor doing this. He is portraying a rat and his sign says "Do not smoke cigarettes. It is the same thing as rat poison." How's that for truth!

This photo was taken in April when my daughter competed in the local Outstanding Teen pageant. She is in her interview outfit. She placed second at the pageant.
They may not be blood, but they're sisters by marriage and by heart.
This is my nephew, Justin, chilling near the woods by my camper. He is getting married in September. My husband is best man and I am a bridesmaid.
This is my great-niece, Faythe. I love her big brown eyes and spunky attitude.
This is me and my son right before we left for vacation bible school. It was a western theme.