Pip Squeakers {GIVEAWAY!!}

My son and nephew have really been enjoying the Pip Squeakers' shoes. Please see my review.

WIN IT!!

Pip Squeakers has generously offered one of our readers a $25.00 gift certificate to their website.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Pip Squeakers and then come back here and let us know what pair of shoes you would choose.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Pip Squeakers(Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 9th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 10th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

Tracy

Winner!

And the winner of the Sweet Wee Bairn nursing cover and diaper clutch is...

#216

dinisha

Congrats! I will e-mail you shortly. Please respond within 48 hours.

Misikko Hana Flat Iron Review & {GIVEAWAY!!} CLOSED

I love my hair as straight as possible. I have been through so many flat irons, it is hard to believe. Unfortunately, I have always been disappointed with my purchase. I have had issues with flat irons that included them not getting as hot as I would like it, it would pull my hair, it would die after only a few weeks, my hair began to look damaged, the cord would break, I would have to run the iron through my hair multiple times before it would start to look straight, I have even had a flat iron discolor my bathroom counter. I have spent $30-$200 on attempts to find the perfect flat iron. This is why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Misikko. I was able to choose a flat iron that was exactly what I wanted.

I decided I would like to try the Hana Professional Flat Iron. I could not be more thrilled with my decision. The iron comes with a tin box for safe keeping, a pouch perfect for travel, and a rubber mat to prevent counter discolorations like I experienced.

From the Misikko site,

• Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
• Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color & retards fading
• Floating 1” Plates Auto-Adjust To Glide Over Any Hair Texture
• Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling - Curl, Flip or Straighten!
• Adjustable Temperature Dial - 5 Settings from 140-450° F for All Hair Types
• Flash Heats in Seconds with Instant Compensation for Heat Loss
• Ergonomic Handle Design with No-Slip Grip
• Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Strands Separate and Snag-Free
• Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord Swivels 360°; Convenient Hanging Loop
• Energy Efficient at 38 Watts
• Independent On/Off Switch
• Includes Luxe Heat Proof Storage Pouch, Heat Proof Silicone Mat, & Special Edition Tin Case
• Made in Korea
• Two Year Warranty

I am so impressed with the heat options that the Hana provides. With temperatures from 140-150 F, you are sure to find the perfect setting for your hair. With a little experimentation, I found the appropriate setting for my hair was 370 degrees. At this temperature, I was able to run the iron through my hair just once to achieve the straightness I desired.

Because I try to air dry my hair, I really love you can style damp-dry hair with the Hana Professional Flat Iron. Normally, straighting my hair while damp would leave my hair frizzy and damaged. With the Hana, my hair looked as if I had straightened it completely dry.

BEFORE the Hana Professional Flat Iron

Aww...The Hana. Hallelujah!

AFTER

I love my Hana Professional Flat Iron. The quality is unlike the previous flat irons I have used. Even though, Misikko offers a 2 year warranty with this product, I have a feeling I won't be needing it.

WIN IT!!

Misikko has generously offered one of our very lucky readers their very own Hana Professional Flat Iron.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Misikko and then come back here and let us know what your ideal flat iron would be.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Misikko (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 15th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 16th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

Winners!

We have our five winners for the 191 Unlimited men's shirts.

#24

Anne

#48

Kristin Wynder

#151

Jennifer

#55

I am Lee-Ann...

#99

•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Erin.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´•

MyGeneImage Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

If you have been looking for unique artwork, look no further. I have never seen anything quite as neat MyGeneImage art and I instantly fell in love with this fantastic idea. The process of choosing and taking a small part in creating your art is very fun.

Here is how it works:

1st: You will choose what kind of art you are interested in. Your choices include myArtwork, myCrystal, and myGenetic ID.

Below are some of the amazing designs for the myArtwork that you can choose:


After you decide on the design you would like, you will choose the background or the size of the product.

Then, the process starts to get really fun! You next will choose a gene of interest. One of my favorite parts was reading about the genes. I ended up choosing the Human Pheromone Gene, which supposedly controls our sexual behaviors. I thought this was an appropriate gene considering this art would be my husband's DNA. Other gene choices include: hair color, eye color, taste, circadian rhythm, and mood.

After you have completed your choices, you will receive a DNA extraction kit in the mail. We loved this part. I felt like a real scientist. My son loved to watch me scrape my husband's cheek with the DNA sample stick. We had to rub the inside of my husband's cheek about 7 times, I believe. We then, repackage the sample and send it back to MyGeneImage in their pre-stamped envelope.

After about two weeks, I received a digital copy of the artwork. It really is so beautiful. I was very impressed with how it turned out. We went with the Green Mosaic, like the one pictured above. It is so neat to see my husband's DNA on a piece of art. We are planning on printing out the digital image soon. When it arrives, I will post another picture of our personalized art.

WIN IT!!

MyGeneImage has generously offered one of our readers their choice of either a digital print (MyArtwork valued at $120) or a MyCrystal.

Mandatory entry:

Visit MyGeneImage and then come back here and let us know what you would choose and in what design.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Subscribe to MyGeneImage blog.

1 Entry: Follow MyGeneImage on Twitter.

1 Entry: Become a fan of MyGeneImage on Facebook.

1Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to MyGeneImage (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 10th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 11th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

ThinkFun Review & {GIVEAWAY!! (5 Winners!!)} CLOSED

ThinkFun offers amazing games for children that are not only fun, but educational too. With so much entertainment for our children that is just time consuming, it is a relief to know there are options that allow children to use their clever minds. ThinkFun offers games for Kindergarten and Preschool age, Kids 5-7, and Kids 8+ to adult.

I had the opportunity to review three really fun games that even I enjoyed.

First was S'Match, a matching game.
From ThinkFun site,

A Memory Matching Game with a Spin!
A new take on the classic memory game, S'Match challenges young players to find matching pairs by color, number or category. Only here, it's the S'Match Spinner that decides which way to match-and every player gets a spin! Pictures and words allow pre-readers and early readers to play together and enjoy hours of memory-building fun.

Ages: 4 and Up, Multi Player

Next, was Clever Castle, a pattern game.

From the ThinkFun site,

A new pattern matching game from ThinkFun designed specifically with younger kids in mind. Players use the clues that the King and Queen of Clever Castle have provided to help all nine of the party guests find their rooms in the castle. When every princess, knight and dragon finds their assigned room, flip the challenge card over to see if you are right! With a Parent's Guide and 40 Challenges ranging from Easy to Super Hard, Clever Castle has been specifically designed to encourage children to explore, succeed and have fun.

Ages: 5 to 7

I brought the pattern game to an activity night at church that I am in charge of for 10-12 year old girls. The girls absolutely loved it. The game comes with a flip chart letting you know which pattern you need to figure out how to create on the board. The patterns start at easy and go to super hard. The girls found the easy to be appropriate for the intended 5-7 year old. The super hard patterns even took my 10-12 year old girls a while to figure out. Even at an older age, the girls did not want to stop playing this game. I have to be honest, I was really in to it, too! This game is meant for a single player, which I think is great to keep a little one entertained, but working together to figure out these puzzles was also very fun.

Finally, I was able to review Hoppers Jr., which reminded me of a game of checkers for a much younger crowd.

From the ThinkFun site,

Young kids can now enjoy their own version of our popular Hoppers Peg Solitaire game as they help Red Frog Freddy win the leaping contest by being the last one on the pond. Players choose a challenge and place the frogs on the playing board to match the picture shown. To win, players hop all of their frogs around the pond until only the Red Frog remains. The 40 challenges, ranging from Easy to Super Hard, will keep kids' minds busy, they will need to use smart moves to win the title of "King of the Lilies"!

Ages: 5 to 7, Single Player

I also brought Hoppers Jr. to the activity night. The girls thought this was a fun game, but enjoyed the Clever Castle game a bit more. Even though they struggled with the super hard challenges, they felt this game was definitely more directed to the intended 5-7 year old age group. I felt differently. My opinion is that the concept of this game would take some thought for little ones. The easy-medium challenges would be perfect for 5-7 year old, but as they challenges get harder, I think a parent would have to step in to give the child some clues. I liked this game more because I like the idea of a child focusing on figuring out the correct solution and I like the idea of the parent having to step in to give little clues.

WIN IT!!

ThinkFun has generously offered FIVE of our readers their choice of either the Clever Castle or the Hoppers Jr. game.

Mandatory entry:

Visit ThinkFun and then come back here and let us know your favorite game.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to ThinkFun (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 6th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 7th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

Winners!

We have our 4 winners for the Graco diaper bags!

#185

Jeff and Holly

#77

Staci

#174

*Heather*

#1

Rachel Chappell

Congrats, winners! I will be e-mailing you all shortly. Please respond within 48 hours.

YMI Jeans Update

I just updated the YMI Jeans review and giveaway.

Winner will be able to choose any style of jeans they would like!

Enter giveaway now!

Pip Squeakers Review.

I had the opportunity to review the Pip Squeakers sneakers. These are baby and toddler shoes that make a squeaking noise every time they take a step (or in my son's case, every time they push off on their feet to crawl). These were really cool shoes. What a great idea to make shoes that make noise.

Check out these squeaky options:

The Squeaky Toddler Baby Shoes in Navy Blue.

The Squeaky Baby Toddler Shoes in Pink Camo.

I put them on both Graham, my son, and Carson, my nephew. Graham is 10 months old and showing absolutely no signs of being interested in learning to walk so I was hoping these shoes would motivate him to move his feet. They did not disappoint. When I first put him in the shoes and moved his feet for him (with me holding him by his hands) to show him that they make noise, he got all excited and then tried it himself! He got more and more excited with every squeak he made. It was really adorable. I'm excited to have him keep wearing these shoes for continued enticement to start walking.

When we were done practicing walking in them, I let him crawl around and discovered that he can still make the shoes squeak when crawling. This was great because I could hear him everywhere he went so if I had my back to him, I could tell if he strayed too far away from me.

After having Graham try them out, I put Carson in them and he loved them too. It took him a minute to realize he was the one making the squeaking noise, but as soon as he figured it out, he was off and running, trying to make as much noise as possible.

Although I have only tried these shoes out in my house, I think they would be perfect for having your child wear when out in a busy public place so you can hear them in case they start to wander off. The only downside to these shoes is that the squeaking can start to wear on you after awhile. Besides that, I thought they were great!

BUY IT!

If you are interested in squeaky shoes for your little one, check out http://www.pipsqueakers.com/

Tracy

Winner!

The winner of the $50 GC to Eden Fantasys is...

#187

Tylerpants

Congrats! I will e-mail you shortly. Please respond within 48 hours.

Giveaway on The Shopping Mama

Enter to win one of four gift certificates to Ju Ju Beane Boutique. One grand prize winner will get a $100 gift certificate and 3 winners get a $25 gift certificate to the baby boutique. Enter at The Shopping Mama by August 19.

YMI Jeans Review & {GIVEAWAY!!} CLOSED

YMI offers stylish, premium denim at prices that aren't breaking the bank. They offer skinny jeans, flares, bootcut, straight leg, capris, shorts, and skirts.

Check out these fabulous options:
These Bootcut jeans are only $38!!
I love these Skinny Jeans. Because of their simplicity, they can be dressed up or down. This is a pair of jeans every woman should own and for $32, you may want to buy two pairs.
These Premium Skinny Jeans are only $39.99. I love this style. It is so hip and fun.
These Denim Capris are such a great summer option. I love the look of shorts that don't make you look sloppy. These are very fashionable.
I had the opportunity to review the Premium Bootcut Jeans. I am ashamed to say that a few years ago I spent nearly $200 on a pair of premium denim designer jeans. I know it is a large amount of money to spend on one pair of jeans, but there really is a difference in quality and design. At least, that is what I thought until I tried YMI Jeans. Even though YMI Jeans are affordable, they do not compromise their quality.
The denim really is premium. My jeans are thick and well made. I love the details where there are some light distressing. I also love the back pockets, the design is very eye catching. I do wish I had chosen a size smaller just because they are a little loose on my behind. Overall, I am impressed with these jeans and will definitely purchase YMI Jeans in the future.

WIN IT!!

YMI Jeans has generously offered one of our lucky readers a pair of jeans in their choice of style.

Mandatory entry:

Visit YMI Jeans and then come back here and let us know your favorite pair of jeans.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Subscribe to the YMI Obsessed Blog.

1 Entry: Become a YMI Facebook Fan.

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to YMI Jeans (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 4th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 5th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

Win A Stroller

Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is giving away an awesome Bumbleride Indie Twin Stroller. This may be my favorite stroller ever. Go check it out!

Winner!

The winner of the 3 pack of burp cloths from Bebe Au Lait is...

#143

SCMOMOF2BOYS

Congrats! I will e-mail you shortly. Please respond within 48 hours.

Skin Free Review & {GIVEAWAY!!} CLOSED

Skin Free offers 100% natural skin care products.

From their site,

Recommended for individuals with:

• Extreme Dry Skin
• Skin or Fragrance Allergies
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Eczema
• Pregnant Moms
• Babies
• The Elderly
• Diabetics
• Renal Patients
• After Radiation or Chemotherapy

Pharmacist formulated and doctor recommended patented formulas for delicate, sensitive and very dry or damaged skin.

• All Natural, Vegan Ingredients
• No Perfumes
• No Petroleum Products
• No Harmful Chemicals
• No Steroids
• No Colorants
• No Greasy feeling
• No Animal Testing, Cruelty Free

I had the opportunity to review two products, one being the After Shower Moisture Spritz. I am very particular about lotion because I have sensitive skin that breaks out when I use scented lotion. I also hate the greasy feeling on my hands and body even after rubbing in lotion well. The After Shower Moisture Spritz was amazing. I sprayed my body after I got out of the shower then towel dried. Because the spritz is 100% natural oils, I was expecting to feel very oily, though, I didn't. My skin felt lightly moisturized all day. I am now using this product after every shower and absolutely loving it!
The Green Clay Mask for Blemish Prone Skin was the second product I was able to try, it was also my favorite. The scent is very powerful, to the point that it brought tears to my eyes. I wasn't sure if I would like it until I tried it out. I decided to get my husband in on the action as well. Don't be alarmed by the picture below.
After the mask is applied, the scent fades and the spa experience begins. We both relaxed and enjoyed the sensations the mask provided. You can actually feel the mask pulling at all of your skin impurities. We removed the mask after about 20 minutes. Our skin was extremely soft and fresh looking. Any acne spots were lightened and within a couple of days, completely gone. While Skin Free doesn't recommend using this everyday, you can use it on blemished spots during sleep.

WIN IT!!

Skin Free has generously offered one of our lucky readers a $30 gift certificate to skinfree.net.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Skin Free and then come back here and let us know what product you would want to try.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Skin Free (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on July 31st at midnight. Winner will be announced August 1.

Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

Misikko Styling Tools

 
   
The Hottest Hair Straighteners
   
There is no substitute for awesome hair straighteners. Face it ladies. Right now hair-versatility is paramount and you don’t want to spoil your natural waves with a chemical straightening. Not only will it lock you in to one style for months (that’s right, even chemical straightening is not permanent), chemical straightening totally damages your hair and, for those ladies who want to grow it long, it sets you up for breakage and split ends in the long run.
   
That is why, if you want to flaunt a stick-straight ‘do, you’ve got do invest in good hair straighteners. Babyliss straighteners, FHI straighteners and CHI straighteners are top of the line. Couple one of these baby’s with a good hairstyling video and you have got a recipe for a hot head of hair a la mode.
 
 
   
CHI Straighteners
   
Any hair swami will tell you, CHI straighteners are some of the best hair straighteners on the market. While they will run you anywhere between $100 and $400, they are totally worth it. Their high-tech ceramic plates use ionic and infrared technology to zap your frizzies fast. You won’t snag you hair, either because the CHI iron’s one-inch ceramic plates are ultra smooth and sealed to the handle – eliminating creases where your hair could get caught. Plus, a CHI straightener heats up in the neighborhood of six seconds and is designed to save energy, using only about 20 watts. With a couple cool hairstyling videos (which you can find easily online or buy for a nominal price) you can learn how to curl or flip your hair easily with this high-speed tool.
 
 
   
FHI Straighteners
   
Comparable in quality to the CHI straightener and FHI straightener are slightly more economical. You can get an FHI straighteners for less than $100, and the prices go up from there. These hair straighteners are made with ceramic plates too, so your hair will stay protected, moist and healthy for the long haul.  These come in a variety of size and colors, including the ultra-chic Platform Pink version, which is skinny enough to flip, twist or curl long, medium and even short hair. FHI even has a variable temperature straightener, which allows you to adjust your hair straightener’s temperature to suit the type of your tresses.
 
 
   
BaByliss Straighteners
   
A BaByliss straightener offers an even broader range of hair straighteners, so lavish-lovers and bargain-babies alike can get a mane-du jour. BaByliss straighteners start at about $30 and go up in price from there. These hair straighteners are ceramic and made for the girl-on-the-go. Lightweight construction and compact sizes make BaByliss straighteners easy to throw into your gym bag or pack into a carry-on for a Jamaican vacation. BaByliss also makes a Nano Titanium hair straightener (runs about $130), which is ultra lightweight and works great on even the thickest mane.

Winners!

And the THREE winners of the Best Friends Forever book is...

#55

joannamarieprice@yahoo.com

#126

dinisha

#20

Upper West Side Writer

Congrats! I will be e-mailing you all shortly. Please respond within 48 hours.

Stop Staring! Dress Review

When they say, "stop staring," they mean it. All eyes will be on you in one of the Stop Staring! vintage inspired cocktail dresses. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Zoe Deschanel, and Kim Kardashian have strutted their stuff wearing pieces from the Stop Staring! collection.

Looking through their site, I fell in love with every dress. They are truly unique dresses, all while remaining very classic and gorgeous.

Stop Staring! offers fantastic choices, perfect for those still looking for "the" dress in time for BlogHer. Check out these options:

This Vogue Glamour Blush Dress in Grey is appropriately named. It look so glamorous and it retails for only $141, not too bad for a dress that will last a lifetime.

I am absolutely in love with this Pleats Dress in Eggplant. I am definitely planning on owning this dress in the future. It retails for $122.00.

This retro dress looks so stunning. I think the color and style is fitting for any occasion, especially the sexiest occasions. This Starlette dress is $110.

I am currently all about vintage dresses, hence why I think 30's Sexy Bombshell Dress is a must own. You can purchase it for $126.

I had the opportunity to review the Classic Ashley Dress in Black. This dress retails for $145. I can honestly say this is THE perfect black dress. I decided to put together three different ways to wear this dress by adding different accessories just to show you the versatility of this dress. Above is a more professional look in all black.
This is a look I would wear during the day, as it is a little more casual and fun.
Adding pearls makes this look complete as an evening look.

Why am I obsessed with the Classic Ashley dress?

-It has great details. I love the pleating around the waist, chest, neckline, and sleeves. It is such a feminine feature.

-The fabric is stretchy so that the dress even flatters flat-bottom girls, like myself.

-The material is thick so there aren't any underwear lines or bulging areas.

-It is the perfect length. Coming just below the knee, I feel confident that I am not exposing too much. Though, it does have a sexy slit in the back for the appropriate amount of sex appeal for nights out.

-Stop Staring! sizing is true. A small fits like it should, hugging my body without squeezing.

-I love the black belt. It is ultra stylish and chic. It is also removable so you can add another belt to add color, like I did, or wear the included black belt with another outfit.

BUY IT!

Visit Stop Staring! to purchase their fabulous dresses!