Unique Gift Ideas from Heart of Haiti and Macy's

Last year I shared with you Macy's Heart of Haiti project. It's an initiative that gives men and women in Haiti an opportunity to share their talents with the world, and make money to support their families while doing so. I love that we, in America, can have unique items made by such talented individuals, that we may not have otherwise come in contact with.

This year is the five-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. I'm flattered to be part of on the amazing efforts of Heart of Haiti and Macy's.

A couple of months ago I was in Atlanta for the Type-A Parent Conference and bumped into, again, the Everywhere Society. {It's always nice to see familiar faces at conferences.} When I saw the new line of products coming from the artisans in Haiti, I knew I wanted to again get involved in spreading the word! Take a look at a handful of what I was able to see:

It's all so beautiful, right? Would you believe that the Sunflower frame is made of hammered oil drums and the Catch-All Bowl is made from tobacco leaves? Amazing stuff!

I partnered with Heart of Haiti and Everywhere Society to share with you the Metal Waves Texture Tray. It's absolutely stunning. Handcrafted with an intriguing wave motif along the border, this nature-inspired tray recalls the lush and beautiful Caribbean coast that inspires so many Haitian artists.

The best part about each of Heart of Haiti's pieces, exclusively sold at Macy's, is the partnership between the two. 50% of each item sold is given right back to the artisan. In a country that is less fortunate than the United States of America, this is a big deal! When you make a purchase of a Heart of Haiti handcrafted item, think of it as putting food in the mouths of father, mother and child or providing a roof over a newborn child's tiny head. "The people of Haiti aren't looking for a handout, they are looking for a business relationship", as told by Bill Hawthorne, Senior Vice President of Macy's. You can bet that Haitians aren't throwing their money away on fast food or the latest Blu-Ray release. Buy in confidence. Know that YOU are giving back.

I absolutely LOVE my new Heart of Haiti Metal Waves Texture Tray, but my favorite part is that the artists name is hammered into it, as well. Now, whenever I look at my tray I can be reminded of the good life that he/she now has because of the collaboration between Macy's and Haiti Artisans!

If you're looking for a unique gift for someone who has everything, go check out Heart of Haiti items at Macy's stores or on Macys.com. Prices start at only $9.99!

Thank you, Everywhere Society for providing me this Heart of Haiti Metal Waves Tray for review. All opinions are my own. 

A Protein-Packed Snack Choice {Hillshire Snacking}

Disclosure #spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

It's no secret I have a large family. I mean, we're not the Duggars but, five kids in one family is considered large these days. While I would love to have a healthy snack of cut-up apples, gluten-free crackers and sliced organic cheese laid out for my kids when they walk through the door from school, it's just not that easy. I use every minute they're away from home to clean the house, take care of Mabry {who's still at home}, do the laundry and tend to any other household duties. Enter the NEW Hillshire Snacking plates! I CAN now have a healthy snack laid out for them that is also packed with protein {at least 15g per serving!}. Know what that means? Full bellies until dinnertime! {my kids would set up camp in the pantry, if I let them!}

New Hillshire Snacking features premium meats like grilled, seasoned chicken breast and hand crafted salami, and at least 15g of protein per serving. Available in 8 different varieties, including Grilled Chicken Bites paired with Teriyaki or Sweet Chili dipping sauce and Small Plates with Genoa Salami and Gouda, Hillshire Snacking options are perfectly portioned for an everyday snack at home or on-the-go, no prep required. 

Hillshire Snacking Grilled Chicken Bites and Small Plates are going to be perfect for moms {and dads} when they need to pack a lunch for the next field trip they chaperone! {I sure wish I had one of these on the zoo field trip I went on last week. You better believe I'll have one when we go to the museum in two weeks!} 

There are many days that I am working at home and just don't have the time to stop and make myself something for lunch. With any one of these varieties in my fridge {they are ALL delicious!} I can have a quick lunch that will satisfy my hunger. 

I have to also share this story with you. I went to Super Target the other day to pick up a handful of these to share with my family. I also needed them for photos. The next morning I went to the fridge and found that two of the snack plate varieties were missing. It was a huge mystery until I sent a text to my husband. He said "I'm sorry but, those things are GOOD". Okay, I can't argue with that! So, a little warning...these are sure to disappear from your fridge almost as quickly as you stock them!

Want to get your hands on Hillshire Snacking varieties today? You can find them in the refrigerated aisle of Cincinnati, OH, Dayton, OH and Northern Kentucky Kroger stores, as well as at King Soopers and Super Target stores nationwide! What are you waiting for? Go!

Also, check out the sweeps that is going on now through November 15!

Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Fruit Cups {a review and a giveaway}

Every day my four school-aged children burst through the front door and run straight for the pantry or the refrigerator for an after school snack. It's my job, as their mom, to make sure there are healthy, filling snacks behind those doors.

When a box filled Fruit Burst Squeezers and Fruit Cups from Del Monte showed up on my doorstep I was super excited to give these new products a try. Most of all, I was excited to share them with my kids.


{I grabbed one of the Fruit Burst Squeezers on my way out the door to sit in the carpool line. Yum!}

For years my family has enjoyed Del Monte fruit cups, in all varieties. I'm really pleased with the new flavor combinations that have been added to the line-up!

Here's a little more info on what you can expect from the new Del Monte products. Notice the first highlighted bit...MADE IN THE USA! I love that!

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

                Fruit Burst® Fruit + Veggie Squeezers:

-          Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

-          Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Fruit Burst® Simply Fruit Squeezers:

-          Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

-          Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

-          Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Mango Fruit Cup® Snacks

-          These rich and luscious mangos are a healthy way to add a little sweetness to your day - fat-free, cholesterol free, and high in Vitamin C - that you can enjoy anywhere.

Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks:

-          Del Monte® Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks combine two of the world’s most popular fruits: mango and pineapple. Made with rich and luscious mangos and pineapple, they contain no high fructose corn syrup and are a rich source of vitamin C.

Available at your local Walmart, be sure to add these squeezable snacks and fun fruit cups to your cart while picking up essentials for your family!

Now is your chance to WIN A $25 Walmart Gift Card and @ VIP Del Monte coupons! Leave a comment below telling me which Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezer or Fruit Cup Snack will be your new favorite. You can tweet about the giveaway for an additional entry.

Giveaway ends on February 27 at midnight EST. Good luck!

Disclosure: The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte.

Macy's Heart of Haiti

Two years ago at BlissDom I was introduced to Heart of Haiti. While talking to the gal at the booth in the expo hall I fell in love with the purpose behind the Heart of Haiti project. They had a heart for Haitian artisans living in poverty who wanted more for their lives. And Heart of Haiti was making dreams come true for them.



A couple of weeks ago I was reintroduced to Heart of Haiti through a Twitter party. Again, I fell in love with their cause.

Heart of Haiti is an initiative that grew out of a partnership between Fairwinds Trading Co. (Formerly run by Willa Shalit), the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy's. Macy's had already worked with Willa and Fairwinds in the past on Rwanda Path to Peace, an initiative similar to that in Haiti that purchases products from basket weavers in Rwanda who are recovering from the genocide almost twenty years ago. 

Very shortly after the earthquake in 2010, Willa established a group of artisans that she thought had immense talent and simply needed an opportunity and some training to be successful at selling their art internationally. She brought in designers such as Rachel Roy and Martha Stewart to help the Haitian artists find products and designs that would sell in the U.S. Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren also visited and wanted to find a way to help. Therefore, Macy's Heart of Haiti was born. It was formed and for sale online with months of the earthquake, putting income back into the pockets of the artists. Originally around 450 artists as a part of the Artisans Business Network, and is now closer to 750. 

The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts,

metalwork, jewelry and paintings all made almost entirely from recycled and

sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local

gommier wood. 

Macy’s Heart of Haiti upholds the belief that “trade not aid” is a powerful way to

create sustainable work and much needed financial opportunity.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and despite the

devastating earthquake people there are filled with hope and a desire to improve

their lives through employment.

The Spotted Black and White Paper Mache vase you see in these pictures is from Macy's Heart of Haiti. It is truly a work of art. A piece of handcrafted beauty.



I'd love it if you'd watch the following video to get a sense of what Heart of Haiti is doing to help the people in Haiti. Then, I challenge you to head over to Macy's and take a look at all of the beautiful pieces of art that are for purchase. I know you'll love them!




Everywhere has provided me with this Macy's Heart of Haiti product to review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Happy Baby Wrap {a product review}

If you ask me what my most favorite piece {or pieces} of baby gear that I own is I would say my baby wrap {and baby carriers}! If you're looking for a gift for a mommy-to-be, I would highly suggest a wrap or carrier. Hands down. No questions asked. Every mom needs one {or two}.

It seems to me that as soon as you get elbow deep into a project or the dishes or laundry or any other daily task that must get done the baby starts crying. Or she just wants to be held. Or she's sick and needs extra snuggles. There comes a time, on an almost daily basis, that Baby needs you and you wish you had an extra set of hands to hold her.




This is why a wrap is so amazing! I can pop Mabry in and she's held, like she wants to be, and I can go on about my daily chores.

This is a Happy Baby Wrap. That's a pretty accurate name for a baby wrap, if you ask me! I put Mabry in and within five minutes she's out like a light. She loves it.



{Mabry is 2 1/2 months in the above two pictures}

The Happy Baby Wrap isn't just for newborn babies. You and Baby can enjoy the special bond that comes with baby wearing in a Happy Baby Wrap until she weighs 30 lbs.


{Mabry is 5 months old in this picture}

I take my wrap with me to church, to the grocery store {I just don't like to plop the car seat carrier into the buggy...and what's more, I need all the space in my cart for groceries for my family of seven!}, to the park, around the house so I can vaccuum...I wear Mabry a LOT!

Did I mention that it's EASIER to wear your baby? SO much easier to wear a baby than it is to hold her on your hip or chase after her once she starts walking. A Happy Baby Wrap is going to be your best friend. I just know it.

Do you wear your babies? Where's the BEST place you've ever worn your baby? A cool adventure? An amazing theme park? Tell us about it in the comments!




Disclosure: I received this wrap from Happy Baby in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

#GetItDone with Microsoft Office 365 {a review and giveaway}

Before today, I was using Microsoft Word 2010 with little issues and was very excited to try Microsoft 365 Home Premium. Let me begin with the initial setup…one word, EASY… okay, two words, TOO EASY!

I absolutely fell in love with this software from the start. One of the most significant aspects I love comes from Microsoft Office 365 brilliantly utilizing the “Cloud.” If you haven’t heard of the Cloud then I urge you to google "the cloud" and discover the new age of database.

I will start with the greatest advantage, SkyDrive. So, let’s say you began working on a blog post, college paper, work assignment etc. The SkyDrive is simple and makes your life simple as well. Instead of saving the document on your computer, you can also save it in SkyDrive. SkyDrive utilizes the Cloud to which you can access and allow others access to view your document from any device that has internet access. So, what does that mean for you? For instance, what happens if you began working on a document from home/work? All of the sudden an urgent matter requires your attention and you have to leave town. You can access your documents from SkyDrive on even someone else’s computer; meaning you can complete your work without the worry of bringing your computer or saving your documents on a flash drive.

Microsoft 365 also makes group projects simple. Everyone can add notes, edit, and highlight, etc. any document in SkyDrive. You have access to your files in the SkyDrive folder on your PC, even if you’re offline. Once you’re back online the SkyDrive will connect to the Cloud and sync automatically any changes you made to the document.

I have always dreamed of adding photos and videos to my Word documents. Guess what? Now you can! You can also open PDF’s and edit them in Word!

As a mom of five, now full-time sewist and wife to {for right now} stay-at-home-dad, we need to stay "on the same page" in our daily tasks and events. There's school events, field trips, PTA meetings, Band Booster meetings, monies due, middle school lock-ins...we have a hard time remembering who goes where when and at what time. We are constantly checking each other's calendar to see what is on the schedule for the day. Now we can be in sync! With Microsoft Outlook we can manage our calendars and see each other's schedules on our personal phones. When Hubs puts something into his calendar it'll automatically be added to mine. Being on the go has never been so easy!!

Today Hubs is headed to the grocery store for the ingredients to make Pineapple Upside Down Cake for his dad's birthday. With OneNote I can add to his grocery list WHILE HE'S AT THE STORE! No more forgetting items and having to run back to the store. {unless, of course, your husband doesn't look at his phone again...you can't win them all.}

This is life-changing, y'all! OneNote is a digital note-taking app designed to keep you organized. Use it at home, school or work for recipe collecting, class notes, projects and more. Not only is OneNote part of Office 365, but it also comes as a free app for Windows Phone, iPhone, iPad and Android. Capture thoughts, ideas and to-dos in one place with OneNote, then access them across your devices via SkyDrive.

You and your family work on more than one device and so does Office 365 Home Premium. With one subscription you can put Office on up to five PCs or Macs and five phones (iPhone or Android). 

So many great features I could write page upon page. In all, I must say that I’m impressed with Microsoft’s newest software. It’s user friendly, convenient, and makes my hectic life a bit simpler. Way to go, Microsoft!

*****

These are a few ideas on how Microsoft Office 365 can help YOU!

1. Keep on top of your fitness goals, nutrition plans, workout routines and more by tracking them in Excel and uploading to the cloud with SkyDrive to share with your trainer, or just to have on-hand when you’re at the gym or on the go with your phone
2. Collaborate with friends and family on your next dinner party using SkyDrive to share your latest documents (Word dinner menus, Excel RSVP lists, décor inspirations in OneNote, etc.)
3. Stay connected with friends and family using Office Web Apps from anywhere (Office in the browser – so you can collaborate in real-time on documents)
4. Keep track of all your priorities like grocery list and carpool schedule with digital notes in OneNote and accessing them from the OneNote mobile app
5. Keep a family calendar in Microsoft Outlook to manage an ever-changing busy schedule
6. Track all of your family’s travel in a OneNote notebook during the upcoming holiday season
7. Keep track of entertaining planning, creating shopping and to-do lists in OneNote and Excel around the holidays
8. Plan all of your Thanksgiving or holiday recipes in a OneNote notebook and sharing them with your family via the cloud in SkyDrive for input
9. Write a blog post from a coffee shop, then saving it to the cloud so that you can make edits from your phone or tablet when you’re on the go
10. Have the kid share their homework assignments with you for review in the cloud with SkyDrive, and editing them while you’re watching their soccer game
11. Coordinate the next playgroup activities with the other moms by sharing documents in the cloud with SkyDrive, and using Outlook calendar invites to stay on track with friendly reminders

*****

This software is truly amazing!  I don't want to leave anything out. So, here's a fact sheet.

Office 365 Home Premium includes the following benefits:

• The latest and most complete set of Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access.
• One license for the entire household to use Office on up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs or Macs, and get Office on Demand from any Internet-connected PC.
• An additional 20 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, nearly three times the amount available with a free SkyDrive account.
• 60 free Skype world calling minutes per month to call mobile phones, landlines or PCs around the world.
• Future upgrades, so you always use the latest time-saving technology.
• Automatic save to SkyDrive, so your documents — and even your personal settings — are always available from virtually anywhere and on your favorite devices.

*****

The 9 to 5 has blurred and today people need modern technology to find balance. From the home to the office, and especially on the go, people all around the world are working differently than the past.

According to a recent study conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Microsoft, more than half of office workers (53%) would be willing to work more hours—and one in five would be willing to take a pay cut—to have more flexibility in where and when they got work done.

How about we give one lucky reader a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium? That lucky gal {or guy} is going to see first-hand how amazing this software is for FREE! {a $99.99 value}

Follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter to be entered. I'll draw a winner next Thursday evening. Ready? Go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I participated in the Microsoft Office 365 campaign on behalf of One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own. 
 

Werther's Original Baking Caramels {a review}

**disclaimer: werther's sent me a great big box of yummy baking caramels in exchange for this post. all opinions are my own.**



when i think of werther's original candies i think of childhood. these candies were one of my favorites growing up.

a couple of weeks ago i received a great big box of sweet, ooey-gooey, yumminess. i'm talking about werther's original baking caramels. {did you know werther's made soft caramels?} in my box were bags of easy-to-unwrap, delicious caramels, coupons for friends and recipes to make and share with friends. and share with friends i did.

last week i invited a few people over to enjoy caramel pecan brownies. i mean really, those sound amazing, right? they were.

these caramels are perfect for caramel apples, cashew-caramel brownies, salted caramel candies...look HERE for more than 250 original caramel recipes! you will not be disappointed!

what will you make with werther's original baking caramels? HERE's a coupon for you to give them a try. :o)

SodaStream Sparkling Summer House Party

Being a member of House Party definitely has its perks.  Like, receiving a SodaStream Party Pack in the mail just days after Hubs said he'd like to buy one for our family!!



In exchange for hosting a party and telling our friends and family about SodaStream we received:

• (1) SodaStream® Source starter kit (Black) with 6 miniflavors
• (1) Flavor variety pack
• (1) Country Time® Lemonade (full size flavor)†
• (1) Crystal Light® Raspberry Lemonade (full size flavor)†
• (1) Kool-Aid® Tropical Punch (full size flavor)†
• (2) 1-liter bottles
• (1) Sidewalk chalk
• (1) Water balloon kit
• (1) Popsicle tray
• (1) Beach ball

House Party also sent Sun Visors and $20 Rebate Forms for each of my guests.

I'm a huge fan of soda, particularly Diet Coke and Dr Pepper.  Those two are my absolute favorites!  Because I don't tend to stray from those flavors {or brands} I was skeptical of the SodaStream at first.  The thought of turning normal, everyday WATER into soda seemed a little strange.  But, after making our first liter of soda I was sold.  The SodaStream is so much FUN! And YUMMY!

At our party we tried Root Beer, Lemon-Lime, Sparkling Lemonade, Sparkling Fruit Punch flavored Kool-Aid, Cola, Orange soda...and a few others.  My favorite was the Root beer!  Orange Soda and Sparkling Lemonade were my kids favorites.


{Hubs showing us how it's done.}


{my brother-in-law in action}

I had a few people ask me, "is soda made from the SodaStream cheaper than buying 12-packs of soda from the store?"  My answer was always, I don't think it's cheaper as much as it is better for our environment and it saves time and space in your kitchen pantry.  The cost of owning a SodaStream and buying soda from the store is pretty comparable.

What's more?  You can use your SodaStream to make Sparkling H2O!  I've recently become a fan of putting sliced cucumbers or strawberries in my ice water preferably drank from a mason jar with a CUPPOW}.  Now that I own a SodaStream I will be adding sliced cucumbers or strawberries to my SPARKLING H2O!  Yep!  Genius, I know.

A few more pictures from my party...

{everyone who attended}


{the kiddos all enjoying their dinner on the back patio}

Do you own a SodaStream?  Do you LOVE it?  What is your favorite soda or sparkling beverage to make?


{Disclosure: Thanks to House Party and SodaStream I received everything mentioned above as compensation for having a gathering with my friends and family.  All opinions are my own.}

Paper Culture {a review}

A few weeks ago I was asked to give Paper Culture a try.  Until then I had never heard of them.  I'm guessing you may not have heard of them either.

Well, today's your lucky day.  I'm gonna tell you all about them and how fabulous they are!

When I was asked to try their products I was super excited because I was specifically asked to give the baby shower invites a try.  Um, DUH!  Of course, I will absolutely, positively check that out!  I am pregnant, after all.

There was one drawback for me...we decided to not find out the gender of this baby. How in the world am I going to pick out a baby shower invite if I don't know if I'm having a boy or a girl. Paper Culture made it easy, believe it or not. I found a super cute gender-neutral invitation that I immediately fell in love with!



This baby is due at the end of summer. What better color scheme than red, white and blue? And whales? I love whales! This invitation was made for me!

I promptly ordered what I needed in the whale design and waited for my order to arrive on my doorstep. I was so very impressed with their shipping time. I received my order in less than seven days. That was from hitting 'submit' to pulling them from my mailbox. SUPER QUICK!

My invitations are perfect! The color is bright. The cardstock is 130lb, 17 pt. That's a considerably heavier weight paper than other printing companies. The corners of the invitations are rounded. For me, that's a special touch. It makes the invitations look so much more professional.

If I knew all of the names and addresses of the gals I wanted to invite at the time of ordering I could have had Paper Culture address, stamp and ship them all for me. For no extra cost. {other than the actual cost of the stamp}

Overall, I am highly pleased with my order...if you haven't already picked up on that. :o)

*****

What if I was having a girl?? I would choose these uber cute Babushka nesting dolls.


And if I knew I was having a boy? These little foxes would be my number one choice.


Wanna know some other fun facts that make Paper Culture stand out from the other printing companies?

*Paper Culture plants a tree with EVERY order (planted over 300,000 trees to date)

*Cards and envelopes are made from 100% post consumer recycled paper (so no new trees are cut down to produce your cards or envelopes)

*Paper Culture offsets it's entire carbon footprint

Fun, right?!

Who else is talking about Paper Culture??

*Paper Culture has been featured in publications like Real Simple, People, Martha Stewart, the Wall Street Journal, Parenting and dozens of others.

*Paper Culture has been used by celebrities such as Jewel, Toby Maguire, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Kerri Walsh and more.

Paper Culture specializes in so much more than baby shower invitations.  You can find stationary, labels, wall art, holiday cards, birthday invitations, baby announcements and much more!

You can find Paper Culture on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or on their blog.



I was given a credit to Paper Culture on behalf of Global Influence to review their product.  All opinions are my own.

tophatter.com {a review and BONUS!}

ever seen this guy?



he is Sir Wendell Wattington, auctioneer at Tophatter.

i experienced Tophatter for the first time last week.

it's a auction site, that runs in real time, where you can buy jewelry, supplies, handmade goods, bath & beauty, electronics and so much more.


{an example of the goods at Tophatter}

when i first entered the site i saw a huge crowd gathered around what i was checking out.



if you know me, you know i went into the supplies auction room first.
i was hoping to find fabric or findings for my sewing addiction.
instead i found lots of beads and flowers.
but, and that's a huge but, there are different auctions all day, every day.
what isn't there today may be there tomorrow.

something else i saw that i really liked was a chat section during each auction.
if you have a question about the item on the block you can ask in real time. similar to texting or instant messaging.

are you wondering what sorts of stuff i bid on?

well, there was an e-reader that started at only $15.
and then there was a bracelet that started at only $5.
oooh, i was really hoping to win a solar powered cell phone battery charger. the bidding started low and went to nearly $75. {i didn't need it that bad, right before christmas.}

the site works like a real live auction.
the auction opens, bids are placed, and items are won.
easy peasy.

tophatter.com is a really fun site and there are tons of different items to choose from all day long.


GUESS WHAT?

Tophatter wants you to see what all the fuss is about.
EACH of you will receive a $10 credit when you sign up for Tophatter and spend $11 on an auction.
{just click on any of the TOPHATTER links within ths post.}



Have you discovered the addictive new auction site called Tophatter, where buyers bid for sellers’ unique goods in fast-paced virtual auction rooms? From crafts and DIY projects, to antiques, jewelry, home décor and much more, there’s no limit to what you can discover on Tophatter.

With live auctions every day, sellers get to showcase their wares from around the world to a community of thousands of buyers, and answer questions via chat as the clock ticks down. Each lot sells in an average of two minutes, so buyers must bid quickly!

Tophatter’s auctions become interactive live events where buyers and sellers can hang out, chat, and win. Led by the esteemed Sir Wendell Wattington and his animated family, Tophatter auctions keep the fun rolling in.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tophatter. The opinions and text are all mine.

does this church make me look fat? {a review and a giveaway}

yep, you read that right.

does this church make me look fat? by rhoda janzen

when asked to do this book review i initially said yes because i was intrigued by the book's title.
and then i read the word mennonite on the cover and i knew i had to read it.
because mennonites and amish folks make me smile.
i love everything about their simple lifestyle.


a few words from rhoda's site...

What does it mean to give church a try when you haven’t really tried since you were twelve? At the end of her bestselling memoir Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family and her roots, though her future felt uncertain. But when she starts dating a churchgoer, this skeptic begins a surprising journey to faith and love.

Rhoda doesn’t slide back into the dignified simplicity of the Mennonite church. Instead she finds herself hanging with the Pentecostals, who really know how to get down with sparkler pom-poms. Amid the hand waving and hallelujahs Rhoda finds a faith richly practical for life–just in time for some impressive lady problems, an unexpected romance, and a quirky new family.

Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? is for people who have a problem with organized religion, but can’t quite dismiss the notion of God, and for those who secretly sing hymns in their cars, but prefer a nice mimosa brunch to church. This is the story of what it means to find joy in love, comfort in prayer, and–incredibly, surprisingly–faith in a big-hearted God.


so far, i'm four chapters in and there isn't a whole lot of talk about mennonites.
but, i'm not disappointed {i mean, really, a glance at the cover and you know it might not be entirely about a mennonite lifestyle} it's a fun read.
rhoda has a way of writing to keep you engaged. wanting to read more.

as a matter of fact, i'm gonna get off of here and get back to it.

rhoda's book is available on amazon, indie bound and in barnes and noble.

if you're like me and you like to read books in order as to how they are written you can find rhoda's first memoir, mennonite in a little black dress, here.

here's a chance for you to own a copy of does this church make me look fat?.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


this is a review post from global influence. i was provided with a copy of the book. all opinions stated are my own.
amazon afilliate links are used in this post, also.

UNREAL Candy. Let's UNJUNK Halloween!

have you heard of UNREAL candy yet?



here's a short, and eye opening, video from a few of our favorite celebs.



thanks to UNREAL and global influence i was able to try each of the UNREAL candy choices for myself.
and i was able to share with a bunch of my sweet friends.







did you read that bold print?

NO artificials
NO hydrogenateds
NO corn syrups
NO preservatives
NO GMOs
UNREAL

and i'm here to tell you guys...it's good.



especially if you tell yourself as you're eating it that it is made with all natural ingrediants.

even my kiddos love it!


what's not to love.

you could almost eat it guilt-free.
{there are still calories, girls.}


here's a bit of fun background info on UNREAL.

UNREAL™ exists because a thirteen year old boy asked one Halloween why candy needs to be so unhealthy. After an argument with his father, he did a bit of research only to find that candy is filled with bad things like hydrogenated oils and artificial colors and flavors. And what’s worse, he found out that those ingredients don’t make candy taste better, they simply make it cheaper to produce.
Nicky believed that candy without the junk could be made and that it would taste better. And he and his father and brother decided to prove it.
And they did.
UNREAL™ provides many of the great flavor combinations we love in our treats, but without the corn syrup, without the partially hydrogenated oils, without the GMOs, without the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and with 40% less sugar per serving on average. The key ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the candy is available in the stores we all shop, at a price point we can all afford.

burger king love. {giveaway}

***giveaway closed***

have you been by burger king lately?
noticed anything different?

the good folks at burger king and myblogspark shared with me a prize pack that i'm so excited to share with you!

but first, before i could share with you, i had to make sure it was worth it.
the $25 BK gift card burned a hole right through hubs' wallet.
we went the very next day and enjoyed dinner, as a family, at a restaraunt.
mark it down, folks.
with four kiddos, we don't go out to eat often.
it's pricey and our kids are loud.
we are just a crazy bunch!


luckily, the night we went to burger king we were, literally, the only family dining.
there was the occassional single person or to-go orders.
but, on tuesday night, there were no families out.

here's a bit of inside info for you to chew on...


*The BK CROWNTM/MC Program comes in a fully interactive Kids Meal box. Sitting atop each box is a newly redesigned BURGER KING® crown, because every kid deserves to be treated like royalty at BURGER KING®! With crowns on their heads, kids can dive into the box, taking it apart, playing fun games and activities that challenge their minds, inspire their imagination and engage with the whole family.

*With the BK CROWNTM/MC Program, Burger King Corporation invites kids to tell BURGER KING® what matters to them most. BKC has established a fund to help support the Wildlife Conservation Society, National Parks Conservation Association, DonorsChoose.org and Have It Your Way™ Foundation. By visiting BKCrown.com, kids learn how BKC’s charitable partners make a difference. Upon entering BK CROWNTM/MC Codes and clicking on their favorite cause, each kid’s vote helps BK® choose which charity to give back to.

*The fun doesn’t end at the restaurant; the BK CROWNTM/MC Program experience lives on at www.BKCrown.com where kids can place their vote for how BKC should give back, as well as find more games, win prizes and enjoy interactive play.

*Also at BURGER KING®, for just $9.99 your family can enjoy the “BK™ Family Bundle” which includes a WHOPPER® sandwich, WHOPPER JR.® sandwich., two small fries, two small soft drinks and a Kids Meal. Now that’s a deal worth getting together for! Limited time only. Price and participation vary. Prices higher in HI.

that "BK Family Bundle" had my family's name written ALL OVER IT!
times two.
for $19.98 we ate 2 whoppers, 2 whopper jrs, four small fries, four small soft drinks, and two NEW kids meals.
and we were stuffed!
my whopper jr {w/ cheese, no mayo, no tomato, extra onion} was fabulous!
i enjoyed it MY WAY to very last bite.
YUM!


jett and mckinley were the proud recipients of the kids meals.
the crowns attached to the box were a definite winner.
instead of first grabbing for their toy, they went for the crown!





i am happy to announce that just about every morsel of food was consumed.
my goodness it was good.

we {the kiddos} saved room for dessert.
the $0.89 soft serve cone was the perfect end to their meals.


we still have $2.77 on our gift card.
so, grand total for a family of six to eat dinner out {with dessert} was $22.23.
amazing.

thank you, burger king and myblogspark.
you rak!


*****************************************
wanna win a burger king prize pack of your very own???

tell me...why is it important for your family to have a fun mealtime experience?

for additional entries
*become a follower of this blog via google friend connect
*follow me on twitter @jonahbonah
*follow me on instagram @jonahbonah {iphone app}
*tweet {i wanna win a #burgerking prize pack from @jonahbonah and #myblogspark http://www.theperfecttrio.blogspot.com @myblogspark @burgerking}
*follow burger king on twitter @burgerking
leave a comment for each entry option you complete.

giveaway ends on november 28.
winner to be announced on november 29.
good luck!

mirra Product Review and Giveaway

***WINNER is Stephanie O'Donnell!!! Please email me your mailing address so I may forward it on to the important people over at mirra!!!***

Let me first say, I am so behind on life...my blog(s), a review or two, sewing, life...oh, I already said that. I'm sorry. Truly. Forgive me? Thanks.

Now, on to business. I was recently sent some newly released beauty products by mirra...everyone wants something that can make them look and feel more beautiful, right? These products were fabulous!

In my goodie box was the new mirra shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, day and night facial moisturizers and a wrinkle cream. (cause being almost 30, er, I mean, 29 for a second year, I need all the help I can get....really!!!)

I have used the shampoo and conditioner everyday for the last two weeks and I love it! It has a very "salon product" smell to it. The conditioner leaves my hair feeling like silk.
The body wash reads moisturizing on the bottle...and that it is. It is very dry here in the winter and while using this body wash I did not feel the need to use lotion throughout the day like I normally would.
mirra's lotion is very light after application. It doesn't leave a greasy, slimy, must-wait-20-minutes-before-putting-clothes-on feeling on your bod.
The facial moisturizers were a tad heavy for my already oily skin. I will say, though, that they felt great going on, I just couldn't keep them on due to my skin type.
My overall review of these products is.....drum roll, please....FABULOUS!!!
I will definitely take my $5.00/2 coupon and get some more shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I'm almost out of my freebies.

Want see why I think mirra is so great???
You can win your very own gift set much like the one I received!!!
Just leave a comment on this post telling me you'd LOVE to win.
I'm gonna make this a 24 hour giveaway....
You can comment as often as you'd like until 4:30pm (central) tomorrow, March 18.
Tell your friends.
Tell your tweeps. (make sure to include @jonahbonah so I can thank you for tweeting!)
Blog about it.
Let's show mirra some love!!!
(open to US entrants, only)

Here's a copy of a press release from mirra products. In it you will find a $5.00/2 coupon for yourself to use at Kroger grocery stores.

Here are a few of the highlights within the press release....some of the reasons I love mirra products.
Launching now, mirra products include shampoos and conditioners; hair styling products; body washes and mists; facial and skin care lotions, cleansers and cleansing cloths; eye firming and age defying creams; and cosmetic brushes.

mirra products are made with natural ingredients, such as olive oil, aloe leaf juice, and cranberry, bamboo, honey and chicory root extracts. Proven technologies are used for many of the products too. For example, the revolutionary oleosome emulsion technology is used in skin care products to deliver long lasting moisture that keeps protecting and nourishing skin long after application.

mirra products can be found in the beauty care aisles exclusively at all stores that are part of the Kroger Co. family. For a limited time, mirra is offering $5 off when you purchase any two mirra products. To download the coupon visit www.kroger.com\coupons.


the fine print...mirra products courtesy of The
Kroger Company for review and giveaway as a part of the Global Influence Network

Urban Baby Bonnets Review

This review is long over do...but, it just HAD to be done!

McKinley has received compliment after compliment on this uber cute bonnet from Urban Baby Bonnets!!! I have told countless gals where to go to get their kiddos their very own bonnet.

The workmanship and attention to detail are definitely not lacking. Every bonnet is truly a piece of art....and that, I believe, is the designers whole purpose!

You find these words on her etsy shop home page. UB2 Bonnets give a bit of postmodern flair to a classic design! With adjustable straps & truly substantial protection from the elements, they'll shade your little ones from the sun, stay on their heads & add a bit of funky fashion flair to their wardrobes! For BOYS and GIRLS!

I'm gonna see about getting McKinley one of her skiBonnets, made with fleece lining...it gets frigid here in Kentucky!!! You should absolutely look into one of these! You will NOT be disappointed!!!!











Seriously, UB2 (Urban Baby Bonnets) are second to NONE!

When you visit UB2, will you tell Colette I sent ya? Thanks!