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Wear Your Music Guitar String Bracelets: Giveaway

June 6, 2009 By 189 Comments

Father’s Day is only 2 weeks away!  Do you have the perfect gift for the perfect Dad?  If you are still searching, and your Dad is a music lover, you are going to want to keep reading!

Wear Your Music Guitar String Jewelry is definitely one of the most unique gifts I have run across!  This company, whose philosophy centers around a love for music and a desire to contribute to a worthy cause, makes jewelry that literally ROCKS!

wearyourmusicEach bracelet is made of the used guitar strings from artists such as Santana, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer and Eric Clapton.  The bracelet is 100% eco-friendly and comes with it’s own certificate of authenticity.

From the website:

“These are strings that these musicians have used and would normally throw away,” says co-president and designer Hannah Garrison, “It’s great that we can recycle them and also offer people a chance to wear rock n roll on their wrists.”  In addition, the fine silver used on each bracelet is also 100% recycled, as is the DVD case each bracelet comes in.”

Artist bracelets run from about $75 to $300 depending on the artist.  You can feel good about your purchase because not only do you get an incredible conversation starter, but 100% of the profits goes to the artists favorite charity.  For example, Carrie Underwood supports The Human Society of the United States.

wearyourmusic2Even if the artists bracelets are out of your price range, you can purchase a fashion bracelet made from real guitar strings! These one-size-fits-all, unisex guitar string bracelets come in all different colors!  Wear just one or stack on a ton!  A percentage of the profits from these bracelets are donated to charities that support music.

Are you a music fan, or know someone who is?  Wear Your Music will give one Not-So-Blog reader the fashion bracelet of their choice (please note that this is NOT the artist bracelet)!!

How to enter:

1. Visit Wear Your Music and tell me which artist’s bracelet you would love to own!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me on Technorati.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Buy a Frosty, Help a Child

June 5, 2009 By 1 Comment

Looking for something special to do on Father’s Day?  Show Dad how much you love him and help other children find families of their very own by supporting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption!

wendysOn Father’s Day weekend (Saturday, June 20th and Sunday, June 21st), treat dad to a Frosty at Wendy’s and $.50 for every Frosty sold will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA).  The DTFA is dedicated to finding permanent, loving homes for 150,000 children waiting in Foster Care.

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You can also support this cause by having your kids create a unique Father’s Day card on FrostyCard.com.  Not only can your child create an awesome card for Dad, they can print “certificates” entitling Dad to a variety of complaint-free chores to be honored by your child.  Certificates such as “Mow the lawn”, “Clean My Room”, and “Take Out the Trash” are available for printing.   For every card sent, twenty five cents will be donated to the DTFA.

This Father’s Day, give the gift of a Foster Dad to a child who desperately needs a home.  Support this initiative and feel good about honoring Dad while also making a difference in the life of a child.

Thanks to Mom Central for making me aware of this great opportunity!

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Hot Picks from Haute Mamas!

June 4, 2009 By 1 Comment

Looking for some new blogs to read with some fabulous content and giveaways?  I have been asked to be a part of a new feature on Cool Baby Kid called “Hot Picks from Haute Mamas!”  Each month, we will be bringing you some bloggy picks that you do not want to miss!  Check out the June edition below:

hautepicks

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Post-it Recycled Notes: Review and Giveaway

June 4, 2009 By

hypothesis Post-its Recycled Notes will be a convenient way to jot down important facts and reminders while I am at work in my lab.

materials Post-it Recycled Notes, Post-it Super Sticky Recycled Notes and a busy work day.  About Post-it Recycled Notes:

“Post-it Recycled Notes are made from recycled materials that contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer and are available in a variety of stylish colors including tropical tones and natures hues. They are a fast, fun and simple solution to help you stay organized with minimal environmental impact.“

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methods Being a lab technician, I am always in need of a piece of paper to jot down important notes and calculations before I put them into my lab notebook.  I am a big fan of Post-its and use them just about everyday at work.  I brought the provided Post-its to work and have been using them this past week during my daily tasks.

results First of all, I absolutely love the colors of the tropical pack.  Lab coworkers always tease me about having a bright, fun, feminine lab, so these Post-its fit right in to my “lab decor.”  I generally use the smaller square unlined Post-its, but I have discovered that the larger lined pages are more useful for my line of work.  I used the Super Sticky Post-its to display a lab protocol on a shelf for a new student worker.  The Super Sticky note did not fall off of the vertical surface the entire day.  I also love that I can use these Post-its knowing that they are made from recycled materials reducing my carbon footprint.

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I really like the new Recycled Post-its.  Honestly, I could not tell a difference between the regular Post-its and the recycled ones.  I would definitely buy more of these when my provided samples run out!

references Post-its can be found many places online including Office Max and Target. Have an immediate use for some fabulous recycled Post-its??  The Not-So-Blog is giving away 3 packs of Post-it Recycled Notes AND 3 packs of Post-its Super Sticky Recycled Notes!!

How to enter:

1. Visit Post-its and tell me which other product you would love to own!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 18th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Urbanity Invitations and Stationary: Giveaway

June 3, 2009 By 79 Comments

Are you throwing a Summer Swimming Party?  How about a 4th of July party, or even having a Summer wedding?

Now the more important question……Are you inviting me? LOL!

If you have any stationary or invitation needs, you have to take a look at the selection of awesome designs at Urbanity Studios!  About Urbanity:

“At the end of May, Urbanity celebrated its three year birthday. The company has continued to grow and strives to help each and every customer make their special event or announcement unique, stylish and refined (and in some cases, just plain fun). We invite you to allow Urbanity to work with you on your next event, special announcement or just help you to brighten someone’s day. Check out what our customer’s have said and what leading editors think of our products. Let the celebration begin!”

Urbanity is now celebrating their 3rd Birthday by offering YOU shome great deals on their products including:

Envelopes Pre-shipped Free with any Birth Announcement Purchase

Get $30 off your next wedding purchase

Spend $30 and get $3 off

Take advantage of these deals and take a look at the adorable products!  My personal favorite is the Message in a Bottle Invitations – as seen in The Oprah Magazine! And what’s a party without gifts?!?

Urbanity Studios would like to give one Not-So-Blog reader a $25 gift card!  Product+shipping cannot exceed $25.

urbanityHow to enter:

1.  Visit Urbanity Studios and tell me how you would spend the gift card!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Gear up for Summer: Day 2

June 3, 2009 By 278 Comments

**Notice!  This giveaway has been extended until 11:59pm CST on June 14th.  The initial entry requirements have changed for the Ju Ju Be bag.  If you have previously entered (before June 3), your entry WILL count, but you may gain an extra entry by signing up for Let’s Go Strolling newsletter! **

The hosts of Day Two of the Gear Up for Summer Block Party are none other than yours truly and Karen from 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires! Karen is giving away a $15 gift card to RoxStar Designs and a Tracey Singer Kids CD!

If you have plans to head to the beach this Summer, you have GOT to see this bag!  The WannaBe from Ju-Ju-Be can be purchased from Let’s Go Strolling and is probably the most perfect beach bag I have ever seen!

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From Let’s Go Strolling:

“Ju-Ju-Be has thought of all the essentials you will need while soaking up the sunshine and has created a tote with spaces for all of them. Need a towel? It attaches easily to the bottom with built in towel holder elastics. Want your ipod? There’s a pocket for that too. Best of all the SandTrap allows you to take everything you brought with you without the sand you didn’t!”

Some of my favorite features of this bag are the towel holder on the bag for super-easy access and the incredible sand trap!  The bottom of the bag unzips to let all the sand fall out while your things are held in with a mesh liner.  Pure genius!  This is organization at it’s finest!

Check out the inside:

strolling2inside

Let’s Go Strolling has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader the Ju-Ju-Be BeMine bag,  This wristlet holds all of your essentials when a larger tote isn’t needed.  Great for a quick trip to the park or grocery!

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So, the WannaBe and BeMine bags are great for summer outdoor activities, but what happens when it  rains?  Be sure to have some fun activities on hand to entertain the kids!

Who doesn’t love Play-Doh??  The kids (and Mom, too!) can have hours of fun making a yummy Play-Doh spaghetti with The Spaghetti Factory!

playdoh1

From Hasbro:

“Pretend pasta playset lets you create PLAY-DOH-style pasta covered in all of your favorite “toppings!” Mold “meatballs,” “veggies” and more “PLAY-DOH-licious” toppings! Playset comes with more than 25 half-molds, a playmat, fork and spoon accessories and 4 three-ounce cans of compound.”

Here at The Not-So-Blog, you can win a prize pack including BOTH a Play-Doh Spaghetti Factory AND a Ju-Ju-Be BeMine bag from Let’s Go Strolling!

How to enter:

1.  Visit Let’s Go Strolling and sign up for their newsletter.  Visit Play-Doh and tell me which other item you would love to have for Summer!

Additional entries (please leave each entry as a separate comment):

1.  Subscribe to my blog

2.  Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway.

3.  Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

4.  Visit the other stops on the “Gear up for Summer” Block Party and receive an extra entry for every other contest you enter (9 extra entries total).

5.  Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

Contest ends at 11:59pm on May 31st.  Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited.  Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Wordless Wednesday

June 2, 2009 By 29 Comments

017Bathing Beauty

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Tyson and Robin Miller need YOU!

June 2, 2009 By 4 Comments

I have had the opportunity to work with Tyson a few times this year.  I have learned so much about their products and Tyson frozen pre-cooked chicken strips are now a staple on my grocery list.  Now, Tyson needs your help!

tysonlogoI have showcased some of Robin Miller’s “Mealtime Minute” videos on The Not-So-Blog where Robin gives excellent tips on how to use the Tyson products to create fabulous and fast meals for your family.  Now, Robin will be starting a monthly column that will be featured on Tyson.com in order to answer YOUR questions about topics that are important to Moms and everyday cooks.

Do you have a burning question for Robin? It can be anything from meal prep to questions about cooking chicken, beef and pork to questions about feeding her family and how she gets everyone together for a nice, family meal.

Please leave your question in this post and Robin will be reading through the questions to decide what to feature in her next “Mealtime Minute!”  YOUR question could take the spotlight at Tyson.com!

Keep checking back here at The Not-So-Blog because I have a very exciting Tyson review and giveaway coming up on June 16th!

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The Bomb Mom: Review and Giveaway

June 2, 2009 By 134 Comments

hypothesis The Bomb Mom Tee will make me feel and look like a hip, cool and trendy Mom (even thought I am about to turn *cough* 35).  You know…..the BOMB!

materials One completely adorable tee proclaiming that I am “The Bomb Mom” and me!  About The Bomb    Mom:

“One day a guy was watching his beautiful wife tend to his precious children and the phrase came to him… The Bomb Mom. For awhile he wasn’t sure what to do with it but eventually he realized it was a clothing line… a series of statement tees for all the beautiful (inside out) women who give their lives to mothering. The bomb moms.“

bombmom

methods After looking through all the great products at The Bomb Mom (did you know they even have toddler and baby shirts, too?), I could not decide between the Bling Bomb Mom Heather Grey tee or the Rocker Bomb Mom tee.  To my surprise, I received them BOTH!  I couldn’t wait to try them on!  I wore my new shirt to a dance rehearsal and to the park.

results I have to say that I LOVE this tee!  First of all, it is just so cute!  I love the design (especially the blue foil lettering) and the fit is very flattering.  I would have normally worn a medium, but got a small because the fit runs a bit big, and it was perfect!  This is also THE softest tee shirt I own which makes it the first shirt I grab when I want to get comfortable!  When I wore my Bomb Mom tee, I received many compliments and “Where’d you get that shirt?” from the Moms at my dance studio.  All the attention made me feel like “The Bomb!”  Mission accomplished!

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summary

I absolutely love my Bomb Mom tee.  Would I buy it for myself?  YES!  Would I buy it as a gift?  YES!  The Bomb Mom got it right….cute design, flattering fit and incredible softness!  What’s not to love?!?

references The Bomb Mom tee shirts can be purchased online for $28.00.  Really want to try one?  The Bomb Mom has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader the shirt of their choice!

How to enter:

1. Visit The Bomb Mom and tell me which tee you would select!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5.  Follow The Bomb Mom on Twitter!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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Bon Bon Cupcakes: Review and Giveaway

June 1, 2009 By 142 Comments

hypothesis Bon Bon Cupcakes childrens leggings will look incredibly cute on my two girls and provide an adorable accessory for the otherwise bland outfit!

materials Two pairs of Bon Bon Cupcakes Double Layer Leggings in Pink and Brown Dots and two beautiful girls (ages 1 and 4).  About Bon Bon Cupcakes:

“Bon Bon Cupcakes is a children’s legging and apparel company based in Kansas City, MO.  We are proud to serve children’s stores all over the country as well as internationally!”

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methods When the Bon Bon Cupcakes leggings arrived, I had to stop Lily from immediately ripping open the package because it was adorable!  After taking a few pictures, Lily and Aubrie both tried on their leggings with their favorite denim skirts and posed for a few pictures.  Although Aubrie loved her leggings, it is hard to reason with a one year old and she was NOT having her picture taken.  LOL!

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results My first thoughts when receiving the Bon Bon Cupcakes leggings was that the packaging was so cute!  The leggings were folded in such a way that they actually looked like cupcakes!  These would make a perfect gift for a birthday party or dance revue!  After unfolding the leggings, I was pleased to see (and feel) that the quality of the leggings was first rate.  Being a dance teacher, I can spot cheap stockings from a mile away, and I loved the feel of these!  The leggings did not bunch at the knees on either girl and stayed on their waist through an afternoon of active play.

Bon Bon Cupcakes Leggings

Bon Bon Cupcakes Leggings

summary

Both girls and I loved the look of the Bon Bon Cupcakes leggings!  I was impressed with both the quality and the packaging.  Make sure you take a look around at all of the options available from basic leggings to cupcakes with “icing” and team leggings to holiday leggings, you can find an accessory to match any outfit!  I just love the Peppermint Leggings for the Holidays!

references Bon Bon Cupcakes can be purchased online from $22.00 for basic leggings to $45 for leggings with “icing.”  Really want to try them? Bon Bon Cupcakes has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader their choice of leggings (excluding the Cupcakes with Icing line)!

How to enter:

1. Visit Bon Bon Cupcakes and tell me which pair of leggings you would select!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 14th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

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