The Giveaway

2009-07-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

current giveaways

note: you must enter on the specific giveaway page, not on this page

click here for even more giveaways!

2009-07-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Giveaway! Your source for fabulous giveaways, product reviews, coupon codes and easy to get free samples. We have giveaways starting 5-7 days a week, so feel free to come back often to see what's new! You never know when you're going to be the next winner!

Total Given Away So Far:

$14,948.80 worth of Prizes

grooming lounge review

2009-07-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

Today's review is for 'The Greatest Shave Ever' Travel Kit from Grooming Lounge! (arv $25)

I can't tell you how excited I was to be able to get something like this for my husband to review. He absolutely hates shaving, it just hurts too much. When he saw this, he was super excited to see if it could help out. So excited, in fact, that he shaved that night right after we got it (he never shaves at night). When he got done, I asked him the verdict.

He said that he loves the smell. (It's this nice, light musky/manly scent.) He loved that it had oil to go in with the shaving cream and said the two together worked amazingly. Especially when he applied them with his shaving brush. And it definitely took off some of the edge during shaving. He also said the aftershave really helped soothe the bit of pain he still had. Overall, he loved it and now uses it everyday. Even the facewash, which he hasn't really commented on, but the fact that it's in the shower being used daily attests to what he thinks about it. I would say that that's a 'two thumbs up' from him.

So then I decided to try it out, because the guys at Grooming Lounge say that this works well for women too. I tried it on my legs. It went on nice and smooth, and when I was shaving it didn't hurt as much. And the aftershave felt so wonderful. I was very tempted to take this from him. But, since it's his, and I already gave it to him, I guess he can keep it ;)

Want to get some for your man? (or for you) Or some other amazing products? Here's the link: http://www.groominglounge.com/

More great products from Grooming Lounge:
(click on picture to go to product page)

sheer miracle review

2009-07-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today's combined review is for a Mineral Starter set from Sheer Miracle.

Sheer Miracle offers premium mineral makeup at discount pricing that will give you an airbrushed glow. Our mineral makeup is all natural and contains no chemicals or preservatives.

An important difference between Sheer Miracle mineral makeup and the expensive, big name brands is that many of the big name brands' products contain Bismuth Oxychloride which has been shown to cause some women's skin to itch and/or break out. Using Bismuth Oxychloride can also give a overly sparkly finish to mineral makeup. Sheer Miracle's products are completely Bismuth Oxychloride free.

I never used to take pictures of myself, and I'm not saying I really like to do it now, but at least it gives you an idea of products we review in use. Here is a picture of lil' ol me after using my Mineral Starter kit. Here is what I found. I love the way it feels, I love how it goes on, I LOVED the brush that came with it, but for me personally it didn't do enough for the shine. This is literally right after putting it on and I still have too much shine on my oily spots. At least for my taste.

But here's the deal. My sister came to visit and she does not have oily skin. So I let her try it and she loved it so I let her have it. And she really does love it! She has been wanting to find good mineral makeup and now I know she has something good and safe for her beautiful skin! What I love about Sheer Miracle is that they want to provide great products and prices even I can afford. And I would love to try some of their fabulous eye shadow colors, lipsticks, blushes and more! I hope that Katie and Theo had a great experience. I'm pretty sure your skin isn't oily like mine is it girls?"

"Sharla, you come out nice in pictures so you should take more of them! You have those gorgeous blue eyes!

I too consider Sheer Miracles to be a favorable brand of mineral makeup. I had no idea I would like it so much until my sister asked me one evening, "What do you have on right now? Your face looks so flawless." Truth be told, I didn't have anything much on except for a minimal amount of Sheer Miracles (in Light Cool --which was the perfect shade and did not make me look like a ghost).

Unlike Sharla, my skin is not oily but it does break out here and there. Apparently, Sheer Miracles seemed to do the trick and cover the "danger" zones. And, Sharla, I so agree with you on the magic of the bronzer brush they sent. (I don't know what the bristles are made out of but what I do know is that my face has not experienced any form of an allergic reaction and it applies the makeup beautifully.)

Although I loved the brush and mineral foundation, my favorite item turned out to be the Finishing Powder in Glow. Obviously, I do not wear this everyday because it seems too fancy for walks and work but, oh my goodness oh my goodness, it leaves skin looking absolutely luminous (sort of like Edward Cullen and his vampire family standing in direct sunlight)!"

"I LOVE the Finishing Powder in Glow too, but I do use it everyday. The trick? I put some of the foundation on my brush, and then I add a bit of the finishing powder (about 1/4 of the amount of foundation) and mix it all together. It gives my skin a nice subtle glow that I can't get enough of.

And Sharla is right that it doesn't take the shine entirely away. I have an oily t-zone, but a long time ago I realized no powder was going to take the shine away entirely. That's why I use my super awesome oil control lotion from Mary Kay, and it takes the shine away all day. And with a beautiful powder foundation like my Sheer Miracle, my skin looks beautiful. My skin doesn't look flawless, but it does look better.

The brush I got is fabulous, but I got one to put on bronzer, which is too thick to put on foundation. It put it on too heavy for my liking. I like my powder on as light as possible. So I use my cheap-o brush to put on the foundation, and the bronzer brush for blushes and bronzers. For them it works beautifully. And it is super soft.

Overall, I am very pleased with Sheer Miracle. I think they have done a fabulous job. Keep up the good work!"

Check out their website here: www.sheermiracle.com

Check out other fabulous products from Sheer Miracle!
(Click on the pic to go to the product page)

healthy kitchenware giveaway

2009-06-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for Small 3-tier Stainless Steel lunch carrier
from Healthy Kitchenware! {arv $22.99}
Open to US & Canada

Throwback to the Laura Ingalls days!

Many of us use plastic frequently throughout our daily lives. After all, it's just plastic...right? Turns out that even plastic comes with its health risks, especially when it comes in contact with our food. My mother has warned me numerous times not to heat food in the microwave with its original plastic on because plastic is malleable and because of this property, potentially hazardous chemicals from the plastic can leach into the heated meal. Sound yummy? Not so much.

Healthy Kitchenware is a company that is aware of the growing health concerns involving plastic and they are offering alternatives. For example, upon venturing to the company site, you can order stainless steel bottles (made from safe, non-leaching polypropylene), adorable little bowls, sturdy glass jars, and lunchboxes reminiscent of the good ol' prairie days. All of these items are devoid of toxins. Another benefit of using Healthy Kitchenware's reusable products is that waste is eliminated. No more brown paper bags, plastic water bottles, or crinkly sandwich wraps. Essentially, Healthy Kitchenware is a wonderful company that modernizes wholesome items for the purpose of promoting salubrious and eco-friendly lifestyles.

Here is the company's two-fold mission statement:

Product Mission - To empower you to take charge of your health by providing cookware and storage containers made of materials that do not leach chemicals into food or drink.

Community Mission - To provide community support through tithing.

Additional finds from Healthy Kitchenware:

(Click on image to go directly to product page)

Got chemophobia? Healthy Kitchenware might have a solution - head on over!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Healthy Kitchenware & select one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US & Canada
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

extra entries:
1 Extra Entry into this contest and every other one if you link to The Giveaway with the button or widget in my Link to Me section (for as long as the button/widget is up)
1 Extra Entry if you blog about this contest with a visible link back to this post
1 Extra Entry if you subscribe
1 Extra Entry if you become a Fan of The Giveaway on Facebook & post about this giveaway on your Wall (leave Facebook username in comment)
1 Extra Entry for Following Us on Twitter and Tweeting about this giveaway (leave Twitter username in comment)
1 Extra Entry if you "Stumble" this giveaway and all of my current giveaways (leave Stumble username in comment)
2 Extra Entries if you purchase something from this store during the contest
Comment to let me know you deserve an extra entry!

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 9th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

kid guides giveaway

2009-06-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a Kid Guides: Aquarium DVD from Kid Guides! (ARV $19.95)
Open to US Only

Your kids are going to love this! Mine did, check out my review HERE!

This giveaway is pretty special, not only does our winner get a great DVD for their kids, all of our readers get to find out about a great show that is set to launch in the Fall!

"When looking at the current crop of television programming intended for younger viewers it appears the networks predominantly look towards age-specific, live action series or cartoons. However, an Emmy-Award winning television travel log program called Kid Guides is looking to change that.

Set to launch on KQED (SF PBS) this fall, Audiences (ages 6-12) are invited behind-the-scenes to learn from experts about the wonderful worlds of nature and science while they join the hosts on their fun adventures such as swimming with sting rays and performing a physical on a shark. The video is captivating, the content engaging and the show serves as a strong inspiration for children to explore the world around them."

My boys loved this DVD and were so excited to find out that it was going to be a show on TV! They loved that the hosts were kids, and they couldn't stop talking about all the cool animals! They also can't wait to see the Zoos and Museums DVD's as well! It's great because it is a learning show, but it definitely still keeps their attention. I know you want to win this for your kids.....don'tcha?

Also, here is a link to the kid Guides youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kidguides so you can check it out!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Kid Guides and learn something new about the show
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US Only
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 7, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

kid guides review

2009-06-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Today's review is for a Kid Guides: Aquariums from Kid Guides.
Check out the giveaway HERE!

Just thinking about this review makes me smile, my kids are so cute. (of course maybe just because they're with Grandma right now;) Anyway, when we first got this in the mail my 8 year old and 5 year old were all over it. "Is this ours?" "Can we watch it?" "What is it, Mommy?" "Is it about animals?" "When can we watch it?" As I unloaded everything else from the post office I think I mumbled a yes. About ten minutes later I notice they are nowhere to be found. So I go upstairs and there they are, glued to the TV, completely in the zone.

Honestly, I couldn't even talk to them until it was over. And then they were tripping over each other to tell me about it. "Did you see the sharks?" "They were scary Mommy." "I liked the dolPINS, Mommy, and the optopus." "Did you see it Mommy, did you?" It was so cute. Since then they have watched it way more times than they probably should. But they always come back and tell me all of the things they've learned, which I just love. And when I told them they could see more on TV they were so excited! They can't wait to see the Museums and Zoos DVD's as well. And what Mom isn't going to love a show that teaches her children but also keeps them occupied. For this mom, it gets a TWO thumbs up!

You can check out clips on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/kidguides

And their website here: http://www.kidguides.tv/

And don't forget to check out the show on KQED this Fall!

lelimelo giveaway

2009-06-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a Rosalie Necklace from LeliMelo! {arv $39}

Open to US Only

A soft beauty just like Rosalie
(Check out Theo's review HERE!)

Inspired by Rosalie from Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight Saga' series, this necklace embodies beauty and elegance. The Rosalie Necklace consists of rose quartz, bewa pearl and sterling silver. Now sure, these stones and metals are lovely but they also mean something. The rose quartz is supposed to remove fear and stimulate our creativity and capacity to love. The bewa pearl gives us intuition and sensitivity.

A nice part about this jewelry, aside from the stunning earrings and necklaces, is that should your adored piece ever break, repairs are free within the first four months. Moreover, LeliMelo seems to feature a lot of meaningful gems and stones, such as the ones mentioned above, in its collection. The site is blazing with various colors and styles which makes sense because the one-woman-show designer, Yin Chang, is very creative and artistic. M Here's more information about LeliMelo designer Yin Chang (who you can also catch on the CW's Gossip Girl):

"Yin is self taught in jewelry making, including wire-wrapped rings. For additional skills, she learned the ancient lost wax technique of rings from a professional jeweler. Yin also attended classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology to fine tune her craft. Her main inspiration for her designs is drawn from the unprocessed beauty of nature."

Some more gorgeous pieces from LeliMelo:

Leeann Earrings

Kelly Necklace

Has anything caught your eye? Join LeliMelo's newsletter and get an extra 10% off!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to LeliMelo & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US Only
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 5, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

LeliMelo Review

2009-06-28T10:11:00.001-07:00

Today's review is for the Rosalie Necklace from LeliMelo! {arv $39}

Inspired by Rosalie Cullen from Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga series
(Check out our giveaway for the Rosalie necklace HERE!)

When I first spotted the Rosalie necklace online, I was afraid it was going to be big and bulky. Sure, it looked pretty enough, but I'm not one for large, flashy pieces. However, upon receiving it, I was delighted. The Rosalie necklace was sophisticated, elegant, and indeed as delicate as the pale pink packaging in which it arrived. (Stephanie Meyer's would certainly be proud of it!)
I am a fan of the rose crystalline mineral part of the necklace. It is truly lovely and understated. Moreover, the bewa pearl part is not presented as a sphere but hammered out in a rather intriguing fashion. LeliMelo designer Yin Chang, who plays Nelly Yuki on the CW's Gossip Girl, did a great job in terms of handcrafting this piece.

The only part of the Rosalie I am not crazy about is the 16" chain. Although sturdy, it's too short, almost choker length. Otherwise, I sincerely do appreciate this necklace. Not only is the rose quartz meant to heal psychic wounds of the heart, the pearl is supposed to repel fear, give intuition and (when worn on a chain) protect the wearer from accidents. Talk about a multitasking necklace!

For more stunning pieces, head on over to LeliMelo!

lever 2000 flip ultra camcorder giveaway

2009-06-27T15:17:00.001-07:00

Today's Giveaway is for a Flip Ultra Camcorder in White & Silver {arv $149.99}

little chickie wear review

2009-06-27T14:36:00.001-07:00

Today's review is for a Motorcycle onesie from LittleChickieWear by gwen designs! ($24)

Now that Calvin is older and realized that there are cool pictures on his clothes, he seriously can't get enough of them. Everytime we put on one of his shirts, or his pajamas, he holds out his shirt and starts asking me about the picture on it. For example, he adores his dinosaur pjs and always "roars" when I put them on, and points at all the dinosaurs.

So when we got this onesie, Calvin was instantly fascinated by the cool motorcycle on his shirt. First he looked at it and asked me what it was, then I told him it was a motorcycle and started making motorcycle noises. He quickly joined in and couldn't stop "talking" about his cool new onesie. (he's even talking about it in the picture, lol)

What I love about this onesie is that not only is it organic; but it is made with a nice, thick, high quality fabric; and the motorcycle design that is unique, fun, and very cool. It instantly became one of my favs, and one of Calvin's as well.

If you dig organic onesies with fun and unique designs, then I suggest you head on over to LittleChickieWear now! Here's the link:

http://www.gwendesigns.com/

Here's some other fun products from LittleChickieWear:
(click on picture to go to product page)

little luv letters giveaway

2009-06-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a Circle of Luv Necklace from Little Luv Letters! (arv $37)
Open to Cont. US

Isn't it just beautiful? You can check out Katie's review for it HERE!

One of our lucky readers is going to be luvin' life when they win this gorgeous Circle of Luv necklace from Little Luv Letters! Ashley, the owner and designer of Little Luv Letters, got her inspiration from her little ones, Will and Maren. She found that she couldn't get enough stuff with their names on it from blankets to burp cloths and of course, jewelry! She took that love and combined it with her amazing talent to start Little Luv Letters. Every one of her pieces is hand stamped, and made with a lot of luv. After coming from a childhood of jewelry, it didn't take much for her to make the transition. And her jewelry is unique and lovely.

I've already got mine all picked out, and you may like them too! To show off my four boys I would have their names stamped on this Linked Br acelet. I love to show off my kids but getting stamped jewelry gets a little harder the more kids you have! Now, even more importantly, I would get this beautiful Edgy Design necklace with mine and my honey's names with that cute itty bitty heart that I just love! Isn't it fun imagining what you would put on your very own piece of jewelry? Well, go check them out and then enter to win!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Little Luv Letters & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to Cont. US
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 7th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

little luv letters review

2009-06-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today's review is for a Circle of Luv Necklace from Little Luv Letters! (arv $37)

If you'd like to enter to win one, check out our giveaway for it HERE!

I am a HUGE fan of handstamped jewelry. It's so personal and meaningful; also, it's very beautiful while maintaining an every day feel. All in all, it's my kind of jewelry. And when I first saw the Circle of Luv necklace, I thought the design was fabulous. Very simple, but still eyecatching.

And the possibilities for the personalization are endless! Someone could put their children's names in the circle, then "Mom" in the heart, their husband's name and their own in the circle with their wedding date in the heart, a child's name with their birthdate in the heart, or a deceased loved one's name in the heart with the dates of birth and death in the circle (wouldn't that make a beautiful memorial?). Needless to say, it took me a couple of days to make a decision on what I wanted.

I finally decided on a suggestion from the artist herself, 'Katie & Aaron' in the circle with 'Calvin' in the heart. Because our love helped make Calvin, so of course he would be the heart! It is so beautiful and so perfect, I absolutely love it.

If you are looking for a meaningful piece of jewelry that is completely personalized to your liking, (for a very affordable price I might add), then head on over to Little Luv Letters and get shopping! Here's the link:

http://www.littleluvletters.com/

Other fab products from Little Luv Letters:

(click on pictures to go to product page)

protect-a-bub review

2009-06-25T16:07:00.001-07:00

Today's review is for a Car Seat Sunshade Attachment with UPF 50+ from Protect-a-Bub

When I first heard about the Protect-a-Bub company, I was excited to know that there was a company out there focused on protecting our kids against harmful sun rays. I have always been super paranoid about skin cancer and am always looking for new ways to protect my little guy against getting it. So I of course jumped at the chance to try one of their car seat shades.

I have to admit, when I first got it I was a little intimidated. For some reason, when I see straps I get this overwhelming feeling of, "I'm going to do this wrong, I know it". But, lucky for me, it was suprisingly easy to put on and I got it right my first time! Yay me! :)

After I put it on and got my carseat back in the car, I noticed that it seemed to make my already larger carseat seem bigger. Like it took up more room. And when I went to put Calvin in, it was a lot harder, especially since his seat is higher up than most, and in the middle. I had to untie the front strap so I could pull the shade back and put him in. Then retie the straps again. It was more effort than I would like.

The other option to putting him in was, instead of putting him in from the top and sitting him down, was putting him in from the front of the seat and slide him back. But it was more difficult to do up the straps for his carseat. It's not a whole lot of extra work, but sometimes even a little extra work can get in the way.

That's when I had to decide whether I would rather give my son extra protection from the sun, and put in some more effort; or don't give him that extra protection and save myself some time. I compromised by using it off and on. Weeks that I know I'm going to be busier, I leave it off. (Because there are weeks that I just don't have the time to do the extra work) Weeks that aren't as busy, I put it on. I think it's definitely worth the bit of effort for the extra protection.

If you would like a car shade for your little one, or other fab products that protect them against the sun (like hats and swimwear), I suggest you check out Protect-a-Bub now. Here's the link:
http://protect-a-bubusa.com/index.shtml

Other great products from Protect-a-Bub:

(click on photo to go to product page)

allamericandirect

2009-06-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

*Note: AllAmericaDirect.com is hosting a fabulous sweepstakes. Find out more details below!

(You can't enter here, but must go to AllAmericanDirect.com to enter)

Who says you need to go to the cinema for the big-screen effect, when you can enjoy the same experience right in your own living room! Comfortable. Check. Popcorn. Check. A night full of full-throttle sound and high resolution. Check!

Just head on over to AllAmericanDirect.com to enter for your chance to win a free LG 42" 1080p LCD HDTV (arv $1049). All-American.com is a leading e-commerce provider of consumer electronics and satellite services, and the company hosts a monthly contest. Woohoo! Hopefully everyone is excited just as much as we are. To enter from now through June 30th, log on to http://www.allamericandirect.com/enter-win-monthly-contest and simply complete the Sweepstakes entry form. Good luck!

plasmacar giveaway

2009-06-24T17:12:00.001-07:00

Today's Giveaway is for a PlasmaCar! {arv $69.95}

Open to US & Canada

Note: The PlasmaCar company will send the winner a PlasmaCar in a neutral color

Wish I was a kid again so that I could cruise around in this hot ride!

Excitement. Joy ride. Innovation. These terms describe exactly what PlasmaCar as a company is all about. So what exactly is a PlasmaCar? What do you mean is has no pedals and wheels, and doesn't require batteries? If you guessed a fun, easy-to-operate, mechanical toy that gets going by harnessing kid-power (aka inertia, friction, and centrifugal force) as an energy source, then you're correct! Imagine that --a wonderful vehicle that requires no tire changes, tune-ups, or ridiculously expensive gas fill-ups. ::Sigh::

Extensively tested (meets all safety standards), durable, and remarkably affordable, the PlasmaCar will fascinate any child (and grown-up for that matter)! Apparently, they must be doing an excellent job over at PlasmaCar because the company was awarded the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2005, and has only grown better since then.

Additional Products from PlasmaCar:

20Q Hand Held Game (Music Version)

20Q Hand Held Game (Sports Version)

If you and your kids love invigorating toys, then head on over to PlasmaCar!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to PlasmaCar & find a retailer near you
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on the retailer you found (must be a different retailer each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US & Canada
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 6th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

eureka giveaway

2009-06-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for your choice of a Lady Bug, Lightning Bug or Minnow sleeping bag from Eureka! (ARV up to $39.99)

Open to US Only

And make sure you check out my review of the Minnow sleeping bag HERE!

Don't those look comfy?

Eureka is your one stop place for everything outdoor! They have a huge selection of everything you need for camping. Plus, they have products for military, events and parties and links to great sites for camping, diving, fishing and boating, and paddling. If you like the outdoors, you could spend a lot of time on their website and visiting their links!

I absolutely love to read the history of these different companies we write about and Eureka! is one of my favorites so far! Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka!'s long history begins prior to 1895, in Binghamton, NY, where the company still resides today. Isn't that cool? This is definitely a company that has been around so long that their first products were wagon covers, horse blankets, store awnings, American flags and of course, tents! Now if that's not a company you can trust, I don't know what is.

Eureka doesn't just sell items, they are a company that gets behind organizations and causes. Eureka!® is proud to support organizations that build awareness of the world's wild places and the need to preserve them. Because getting away from it all just wouldn't be the same if there were no places worth getting away to.

Once we move we have plans to go camping and I would absolutely love to have this very cool Eureka Condo Tent where we could actually give the kids their own room! Then at meal time we could sit together at this awesome Table & Bench set. Eureka definitely has you covered!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Eureka & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US Only
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on July 1st, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

eureka review

2009-06-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today's review is for a Minnow Sleeping Bag from Eurek a!
Don't forget to check out the giveaway HERE!

Ebug was so excited when he found out this very cool sleeping bag was his! He had it opened and was inside of it in about 2 seconds flat. And then the next instant he was asking when we could go camping or if he could sleep outside that very night. He spent about twenty minutes "playing" in it and discovering it. When I asked him if he liked it he said: "Yeah, and it's my favorite colors too!" (this I did not know) Then he proceeded to show me the exclamation point on it (which means it's a Eureka!) and the pocket, and how he fit just perfectly inside.

See? Snug as a bug in a rug. We haven't had a chance to actually go camping yet because we're in the middle of a move. But I know what a great company Eureka! is, so I know my Ebug will be nice and toasty warm. And in a couple of years when he starts going to scout camp he'll have the best sleeping bag there!

Warm

Single layer quilt construction with floating shell
Rectangular cut

Comfortable

Polyester taffeta liner
Inside "stash pocket" (toy not included)

Tough

Polyester taffeta shell
#5, 2-way, self-repairing zipper

Stuff sack included

Check out the Eureka website here: http://www.eurekatent.com/

Here are a few of their other great products:

(Click on them to go to their page!)

maidenform giveaway

2009-06-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for your choice of FLEXEES Fat-Free Dressing from Maidenform! (arv up to $30)!

Open to US & Canada

The winner has a choice of the following three Flexees:

Slim, Shape, and Smooth!
(Click on the image to visit each product page.)

Summer is here and like it or not all those extra curves will need to make their way out into the sunlight. I agree--this is neither ideal nor fair, but Maidenform has turned a hopeless situation into a much more manageable and pleasant one. If you want to look slimming while sporting a minimal amount of clothing (and without sweating profusely in the heat or looking bulky due to unnecessarily heavy intimate apparel), then Maidenform will definitely excite you with its vast variety of bras, panties, and quality shapewear! Specifically, the company's new Fat-Free Dressing collection is meant to hide away that extra tummy area. The pieces in this specific collection are comfortable enough to wear all day long and talented enough to slim, shape and smooth your body using microfibers, cotton and spandex.

Another important thing to note about Maidenform is that the company has an outstanding reputation, having served and delighted women of all sizes and shapes for over 80 years! Now that's a major feat, I'd say! Here's additional information on the company's history:

"The Maidenform story began with Ida Rosenthal and Enid Bissett, partners in Enid Frocks, a custom dress business on New York's West 57th Street. Although the flat-chested look was the rage, Bissett believed that a dress fit better over a natural bust line rather than a flat one. She restructured the boyish form bandeau to have two cups separated by a center piece of elastic. Rosenthal's husband William transformed Bissett's creation into a garment shape to support the natural contours of the bust and named it the Maidenform® Brassiere, which was then built into each dress."

More items from Maidenform :

Asteria 1 PC Tank Swim Suit & Active Motion Wire-Free Sports Bra

In need of some comfortable intimate apparel?

Then head on over to Maidenform!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Maidenform & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US & Canada
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on June 30th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

skin free review

2009-06-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today's combined review is for various products from Skin Free

Skin Free is a company that is dedicated to keep the skin FREE! Free from toxins, irritants, fragrances, colorants, petroleum derivatives, and animal products and also affordable. All of their products are 100% natural and 100% non-toxic. In fact, their

Skin Free Extra Moisturizing Soap and Shampoo Bar has recently been awarded the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance. Read on to see how their products worked for us!

"I had the opportunity to review the Skin Free Extra Moisturizing Soap and Shampoo bar and the After Shower Moisture Spritz. Since my reviews are a bit mixed, I will do a slightly separate write up for each product.

First, with their soap and shampoo bar, I was interested to find out on their website that "Most commercially available “soaps” are actually detergents. They remove skin oils and break down the protective barrier that helps [keep] skin healthy. Removing skin oils causes itching and can contribute to cracking and infection of delicate skin." I have incredibly itchy skin, but at the same time it is very oily. I am always on the lookout for products that can help me with this problem.

I was excited to use this soap, but found that for me, it didn't seem that different from many other soaps. My husband and I have this joke that he likes the sticky soap that leaves him squeaky clean, and I like the moisturizing soaps that leave me soft and smooth. For me, their soap fell into his category. And in fact, he really likes it. It has helped clear up some acne on his back and in fact I need to buy more for him! Unfortunately for me, it left my skin more itchy, even after using the after shower moisture spritz."

Speaking of their after shower moisture spritz, I love it! So many lotions and body sprays leave my skin extra oily and oddly enough, itchy. While this spritz feels oily to the touch, putting it on while still damp and then drying off rubs it in perfectly for an amazingly soft feel to my skin. Using this on my legs has made it where I never have to lotion my legs after shaving! And this has also cut down on the oiliness and itchiness of my skin. So for me, a mixed review but overall I still love the Skin free line!

"I received the Skin Renewal System 1. I honestly have great things to say about this product. The Sweet & Smooth Sugar Scrub actually did an amazing job exfoliating and my skin always felt so clean after my showers. (I wouldn't use the scrub on is my face because it definitely is a little rougher than most facial exfoliators, but for the body it is gently enough!) Also, I experienced a heck of a time trying to unwrap and open the sugar scrub --it was a bit too secured but if my only issue thus far has been with the packaging then that definitely says a lot about the product!

However, my favorite of the two products that I received is the Tamanu Body Butter. It literally leaves my skin feeling so smooth and soft. (My hands no longer feel dry nor do they feel sticky as some overly scented moisturizers tend to do.) Moreover, I have received so many compliments from people who tell me "you smell so good". I credit my new, tantalizing scent to the deliciously whipped Body Butter. :)"

"I also received the Skin Renewal System, as well as an Extra Moisturizing Soap & Shampoo bar to try out. On the bar, I have to agree with Sharla's husband, I absolutely LOVE it! I didn't feel itchy after I used it, I actually felt clean and moisturized. Maybe it's just different skin types between you and I, Sharla. I was also able to use this is an emergency shaving cream; since it's so silky soft it worked perfectly!

And the Skin Renewal System is a-m-a-z-ing! That sugar scrub left my skin so soft, and the Tamanu Body Butter smells beautifully while moisturizing very well. I love to use all 3 of these together to have the ultimate in soft skin. I think the Skin Free products are absolutely fabulous, and the fact that they are natural is such a bonus! I have no problem recommending Skin Free to you guys :)"

Want some Skin Free for yourself?
Visit their website here: http://www.skinfree.net/

kena kai review

2009-06-19T14:35:00.001-07:00

Today's review if for a Zippered Datasafe Mediterranean Wallet from Kena Kai! {arv $79.99}

First off, if you noticed, there are no cards in my wallet. Why? Because Calvin hid it somewhere and I have yet to find it. That boy... Hopefully I'll find it soon, though :)

Even though I haven't gotten the chance to thoroughly use this wallet, there are so many aspects of it that impress me:

- The DataSafe technology so thiefs can't pass you by, scan your wallet, and steal all your card info without you being the wiser. (Okay, I have to admit, I didn't know people could do that until I got this wallet. Then my dad, who's been a Police Officer his whole life informed that that does happen a lot, especially in bigger cities. Yikes!) So this really gives me some piece of mind.

- The overall beauty if the wallet. It's got some style to it, so I'm not embarassed to carry it around.

- The size of the wallet is nice and small. I thought it would be the size of a medium planner, but it's actually just a little wider than a wallet made for checks, but not as long. So it fits nicely into my purse or diaper bag.

- All the compartments! I can actually organize it instead of having cards all together in one place. I can't tell you how happy that makes me :)

- And last but not least, the quality of the wallet is outstanding. It really doesn't get better.

I have not complaints about it at all. I think this is the perfect wallet for any woman to have, especially when she is traveling and in tourist spots where they will get targeted by this high-tech-scan-your-wallet thiefs. So to Kena Kai, all I have to say is "Well done!"

Want a DataSafe wallet for yourself? They have a bunch of different styles for men and women alike, plus a lot of other fab, innovative products. Here's the link:

http://www.kenakai.com/

Some other great products from Kena Kai:
(click on picture to go to product page)

the leakey collection giveaway

2009-06-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for 5 strands of Zulugrass from The Leakey Collection! {arv $64.75}

Open to US Only

The strand colors include: 1. Pink Hibiscus 2. Fiesta (mango tint) 3. Kimberly (a light pink) 4. Red Turquoise (red zulugrass with turquoise glass beads) 5. Lemon

What a beautiful spectrum!

Bright and dynamic, the Leakey Collection features beautifully handcrafted jewelry pieces that bring a smile to your face. Each piece bursts with color but also a surprising touch of carefree elegance. Usually, you would not expect a yellow multistranded necklace or a bracelet carved from heartwood to be defined as classic (that's what pearls and diamonds are apparently for) but The Leakey Collection brings a new, shimmering meaning to the word. Best of all, the collection's designers, Phillip and Katy Leakey, are based in Kenya where, with the help of local Maasai women, they produce these stunning pieces of jewelry.

Moreover, the Leakey family works with the women to arrange a schedule that allows them to partake in traditional ceremonies while maintaining their jobs. Adios, demanding globalization. Hello, the true meaning of community. It's nice to know that the designers are not off mass producing weak pieces in a cheap factory (the women prefer to work under trees) but rather depending on local Maasai artisans and eco-friendly materials.

Here's more info about The Leakey Collection from their About Me section:

"Using natural elements such as fallen wood, grass and porcelain, these renowned designers create unique products while protecting the environment and providing economic opportunity to the local communities."

Simultaneously sophisticated and refreshing, the Leakey Collection selections from the Zulugrass, Zuluwood, and Porcelain lines are unique to the core. Case closed.

Additional lovely pieces:

Kuponya - a gorgeous, pink multistrand bracelet. In Kiswahili, Kuponya means "to heal"and 10% of the bracelet's sales is donated towards Women's Health Research")

(Click on the image to visit each product's page)

Does natural elegance sound good to you?

Then head over to The Leakey Collection and start browsing!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to The Leakey Collection site & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US Only
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on June 28, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

jcpenny giveaway

2009-06-17T16:24:00.001-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a $100 JCPenney Gift Card!

Open to US Only

If you haven't heard the buzz around the blogosphere yet, JCPenney is doing a HUGE Father's Day event, called 'From Slob to Suave', by giving away several $100 Gift Cards on a bunch of different blogs. Well, we're one of those lucky blogs! I just could not pass down being able to help one of you provide such an awesome gift for the guy in your life (or yourself, but don't tell anyone I said that *wink wink*)

Soon Aaron and I will get the chance to go on a $100 shopping spree for him and I will be posting his 'Slob to Suave' pics in that review. So keep your eyes peeled! I can't wait to go shopping there because first off, I have always loved JCPenney because they have stylish clothes, and second off, they are having some MAJOR sales going on right now. (Though I have noticed they usually have really good sales, which is another reason I shop there. Gotta save money where I can, and if I can save money while still looking good, I'm going to do it!)

To give you an idea on the awesome sales, I picked out an outfit for Aaron. This American Living Polo is on sale from $42 to $19.99! (and they also have a bunch of polos for only $9.99! Aaron is going to flip!) The Lee Belted Cargo Shorts are on sale from $44 to $21.99. And the Skechers Apogee Men's Oxford shoes are on sale from $70 to $54.99! That's a whole stylin' outfit for under $100! It really doesn't get better than that!

You have to head on over to JCPenney.com to see all of the great sales that are going on because trust me, you don't want to miss them!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to JCPenney.com & pick one of your favorite items (not giveaway item) (just once per day)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you chose (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US Only
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on June 27th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

tie buddies giveaway

2009-06-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a set of Tie Buddies! Two winners! (arv $7.95 each)

Open to US & Canada

Are you thinking, what in the world are those?

If you are, the answer is one of the greatest inventions ever! Hop on over HERE to read my review of Tie Buddies. And then skip right on back here for a chance to win of set of these for your little one! I'm not going to go into detail here but let me just tell you, these are fabulous!

But what is it, and what does it do? These nifty little gadgets are the trick for teaching your toddler to tie their shoes! (Just had to get that alliteration in there;) They do require some grown up help right at first, but before you know it your child will be tying their shoes all by themselves! The instructions are really easy to follow, and at least for us, it really worked!

"WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL??? Tying your shoes is a small but essential skill, one you use for the rest of your life. Help your little one learn faster with Tie Buddies^TM. These cute, kid-friendly devices act as easy pull-tabs for small hands, taking messy loops out of the equation. The happy characters make a game of it, resulting in a strong knot and even stronger recall."

Any parent with young ones knows how difficult teaching this can be! (Or maybe it was just me, but I'm guessing there are more of you out there) Take a minute to go see what people are saying about Tie Buddies, and then go ahead and get shopping! And don't forget to enter to win some of these yourself, for your own kids or for someone you know!

rules to enter:

1. Simply leave your name and email address in the Official Entry Form! Yes, that easy!
2. For optional extra entries, every day you can head on over to Tie Buddies & learn something new about Tie Buddies and the company (just once per day)
3. Then come back here and comment in the official entry form below the extra entries section on what you learnt (must be a different item each day)
4. Leave an extra comment in the official entry form for any extra entries (Please leave blog url if you have my button on your blog or wrote a post)

Note: If a second winner has to be chosen, that winner will be chosen based on the most creative, detailed comment!
Also Note: Add me to your safe list or else your winning notice could end up in your Junk Mail folder! babylyons (at) live (dot) com

Open to US & Canada
Comments that don't meet these requirements won't be entered

official entry form:

This contest will end on June 24th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST
A winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator from random.org
The winner will be listed and contacted within 3 days of end
If I cannot get a hold of the winner 3 days, a new winner will be chosen

tie buddies review

2009-06-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today's review is for a boy set of Tie Buddies!
Enter our giveaway for a set of these HERE!

Of course we reviewed a set of boy Tie Buddies, since I have four boys! I'll admit I didn't really know what these were before I received them. But I was eager for anything that could help me teach my 5 and 8 year old how to tie their shoes. Yes, you read that right. I'm embarrassed to admit that until we tried these my 8 year old did not know how to tie his shoes. We started teaching him in Kindergarten and have tried so many times since then but he just hasn't been able to pick it up. Therefore, most of his shoes have not needed laces.

When we received these they each had one pair of shoes that had laces. (That have basically never been worn, lol) We started with our 8 year old, Ebug. We actually had him read the steps and try it on his own, he needed a little help from us but was soon figuring it out. It took a couple of days for him to be able to do it all on his own but he finally figured it out! And now a whole new shoe world is opened up to us!

Roo, our 5 year old, still can't do it completely on his own. However, he loves to try and since he just turned 5 I know that he will soon using these! And in the meantime he loves having the little "car squares" on his shoes! These were really easy to use for both parents and kids, and a great invention!

My only complaint is that they are small and very easy to lose. We are currently down to three but I am really hoping I can find the last one as we move. If you take these off of their shoes, just make sure you put them somewhere safe, maybe in a little baggie. And if you have a little girl, you'll love their girly tie buddies with the pretty dragonflies and dandelions in pink!

Well, what are you sitting there for? Hop, skip and jump on over to get some of these for your little critter. You'll soon see just how grown up they can be!

Here's the link, so get hoppin': http://www.tiebuddies.com/