I was so excited when I received this amazing and totally personal handmade pendant in the mail the other day!

I would love to be more crafty but I just don't have the time or the ideas to make handmade gifts for people.  

When I had the chance to review Our Handmade Gifts custom pendant service, I knew right away what I would put on a custom pendant.  Amber draws such wonderful characters in her sketch books all the time, and I was so excited to put one of those on a piece of jewelry for her.  (I ♥ handmade items!)
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I have a lot of things on my list every year that I want for Christmas, sometimes I get them, sometimes I don't, but they are on my list every year.

A few years ago, I started adding more "comfort" things to the list.  Items that were fuzzy, warm and comfy.  My family knows that they will have a happy girl on their hands if a gift contains all three of those things.  So imagine my delight when I was asked to review the Chenille Lounge Socks from PatientStyle.com.
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Back in November Google announced that it will be offering free WiFi in 47 participating airports this holiday season.

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Starting with Thanksgiving, a lot about the holidays and the gatherings is about food.  I still try and watch what I eat, but not nearly as much as other times.  I want to enjoy the goodies that others and myself have prepared.

Of course that sometimes means that by Christmas, some of my clothes, don't quite fit me the way I want them too.  Do you have that problem?  If you do, you might want to look at a body shaper from Amon Maternity.
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When it comes to a holiday gift list, there is always somebody that you have to buy for that has everything, right?

So what is it that you get them?  Get them a gift that is personal to them, something from Things Remembered would fit the bill, and there are so many items available!
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Pearl Paradise was founded in 1996 and established an online presence in 2000.
While more than 99% of their business in done through their online store, you can make an appointment to shop their showroom in Los Angeles.  You need to be prepared to wait though, they only book one showing per day.  That sort of attention draws a celebrity and connoisseur following!  Over the busy holiday season, it doesn't matter who you are they're closed for appointments.  Phew, good thing I have access to the internet 24/7/365 then isn't it!

Pearl Paradise provides their customers with high quality pearls yet surprisingly low prices. The quality and prices speak for themselves, and their 90 day money back guarantee shows that.
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To make your traveling experience trouble free, items from The Satin Collection by Gutzees are so useful. 

I recently took The Revival Bag on my last two trips to Canada and Minneapolis. 

I thought the best feature was that this travel bag has 8 pockets, in two different sizes, made of a clear vinyl so you can quickly see all your things.  This made it easy for me to place my toiletries in the various pockets according to their purpose and size.  All of the items I use on a daily basis fit well in the pockets.

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In an unofficial polling of moms and dads that I did (some seasoned parents, some brand new), the question was asked: What are the features you look for or would like to see in a diaper bag?

Survey says......
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Patti Tang, owner of Chic Moderne.  is a lover of all things creative and is socially conscious.  Her store, Chic Moderne pairs style with sustainability. Chic Moderne's products include Italian recycled leather business accessories, natural palm oil candles from Austria, and French soap made from vegetable oil and shea butter. Chic Moderne also offers corporate gift orders for employee recognition, sales force incentives, client appreciation and/or special event favors. Chic and green!

 Patti was kind enough to send me one of the French soaps to try out and review.

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New Year's Resolutions.  Those pesky things we tell ourselves we're going to do.  We commence on them with full vigor for a few days, maybe even a couple of weeks and then...splat, we fall off the wagon.

The problem for a lot of us is, if we don't have something visually or tactile to remind us to do something, it just never gets done.  Habits are something we do without even realizing it, but we didn't just wake up knowing how to do it, we practiced it or learned it even subconsciously, but still we started somewhere.

Habitwise is a company that was originally founded upon a weight loss tool called "A-Wrist-A-Trac" which was discovered by a team of clinicians at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska.  They have since branched out from just providing products for weight loss to products for water intake and soon to include fitness and comfort.

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One of my favorite things about cruising is dressing up for dinner. The little black sleeveless dress and high heels, really make me feel special. One of my least favorite things is that the dining rooms are always cold. I suppose they need to keep it that way when you have so many people in the room, but somehow the goosebumps and stand up hairs don't go well with the look I'm trying to achieve .

Packing space is always a premium when we travel, and sweaters are bulky and take up too much real estate in my suitcase. What to do, what to do?

I came across Nimli in my daily jaunt across the internet a couple of weeks ago. They seemed to be the solution to my dilemma.

Nimli offers clothing, accessories, home décor, beauty products and much more from independent designers.

One of the brands Nimli carries is Azuri. Azuri makes scarves and shawls in many fabric and color choices. I received an Azuri Wool Wrap to review courtesy of Nimli. I chose a neutral color so that I would be able to pair it with any outfit.

I had the perfect opportunity to try it out last week. You see, I think our church has a colony of penguins that they are giving sanctuary to. I have come to that conclusion because  on Sunday mornings it is frigid in there . I have a number of sleeveless dresses that have been hanging in my closet all summer collecting dust, as it is just too chilly to wear them to worship.

So last Sunday I donned one, and brought along my Azuri Wool Wrap. Not ten minutes into the hour and I was positioning it around my shoulders and arms. I stayed cozy and warm for the remainder of the service. The nice thing about it is that it is not oppressively heavy.

Folded up this shawl takes up a fraction of the space a sweater does in a suitcase and it is the perfect accessory to take with on any vacation.

Visit Nimli to view all of the different Azuri items they carry, as well as a whole host of other natural and organic products. Read the full story

If you are looking for opaque tights, We Love Colors is your one stop shop. The styles of hosiery they offer are exciting and fashionable. You can choose natural shades or step out in something bold, since We Love Colors is true to their name and carries over 50 colors!

September has arrived and soon the tights will be broken out not just for a fashion statement but to keep our legs warm too!

Hosiery can be expensive, and it can be helpful to know the quality of a brand before you buy, so you don't wear the item once and then have to toss it.

This is where (or wear!! lol) my review comes in  .  We Love Colors sent me a pair of tights to try out so I could tell you how they look, feel and fit!

I wore my Mocha colored tights for a couple of days before writing this review.



The 80 Denier Nylon/Lycra MicroFiber content of these tights has a wonderful feel to them.  They are so comfortable which makes them perfect to wear all day and night.  I had not "slouching" of tights down my legs which is generally an issue for me since I am very short and usually fall under the height range (in this case I did as well, I am 4'9" and the starting height in the s/m size is 4'11").

The mocha color was perfect throughout, which if you're looking for colored opaque tights is important.

The footed tights are constructed well, though they have a seam at the toe, and as much as I tried I could not get hat to stay in position at my toe line  .

They kept my legs warm and I'm pretty sure they'll last me the entire fall/winter season. They'll be perfect paired with a pair of boots and a knee length skirt!

Don't miss the other great products We Love Colors sells. Take a look at these fun socks.


If you already own products from We Love Colors take some pictures and send them to emem@welovecolors.com, you just might show up on Their Friends blog!


To enter visit We Love Colors and comment with which product you would love to have.


This giveaway will end on September 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews statement at the bottom of this page and my Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them. Read the full story

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A while ago I did a review on a Hana Mini Flat Iron, which I ♥ ♥ ♥ ! Well those nice peeps over at Hana Salon, recently sent me some of their cleaner to try and share with you what I think about it.


I haven't had my flat iron very long, but regular use, especially when using hair care products tends to leave residue on the ceramic plates, and the moisture in the bathroom often leaves things sticking to them as well.

The same day I received the Hana Styling Iron Cleaner, I made quick work of cleaning the gunk off the plates. Now the gummy junk (hence the word gunk), was not that bad on my flat iron, but I have no doubt that even when it is caked on because I leave it for months weeks it would loosen the dirt easily.

To use, you just spray this safe, non-toxic cleaner on warm plates (not hot, and make sure it's not plugged in). Since my plates were not overly dirty I just used a microfiber cloth to rub it clean. A soft toothbrush would work well for if you have to scrub a little harder ☺.

If you have a flat iron having the Hana Styling Iron Cleaner is a definite investment for it. This will keep it looking and working as good as the day you bought it.

A 6oz bottle is $22.99 and for best results should be used daily. You can find out more information at HanaSalon.com.


This product review was made possible due to It's A Glam Thing and Hana Salon. A bottle of Hana Styling Iron Cleaner was provided to me for use prior to writing this review. Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.
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If you want an easy and affordable way to make over your teen's room, check out the Your Zone line currently available at Walmart.


From throw pillows to furniture, there will be something your teen will like, actually with the variety of colors and patterns offered it may be difficult for them to decide!

As one of More Than Eleven Moms I was chosen to do a room make over using the Your Zone line for my 13 year old daughter Amber's room. Some of our favorite items from the Your Zone collection include:


Floor Cushion ($20.00) - This is a great alternative to traditional seating. It's perfect in Amber's room for when she and her friends are playing her Wii. She also likes to put it up against the headboard of her bed for extra support and comfort when she's reading.

Reversible Comforter & Sham Set ($29.50 - $39.50)- This comforter is a deal for the price. The full/queen is a generous size (it hangs over to the box spring on a queen size bed). It is a nice weight, washable and it is well made.

Pop It Storage Bin ($12.00) - A fun way to add color and keep things contained. Amber's using hers as a laundry hamper, but really it could store stuffed toys, sporting equipment, the never ending handbags that girls seem to own....

Gadget Charging Station ($12.00) - This is a cool accessory and would make a great gift for a teen. It holds 3 electronic devices and comes ready for them to plug and charge so t hat the cords are contained and kept neat. Your teen can finally keep all of those toys in one place. The devices are easily removed from the station and your kids can charge their phones, mp3 players and cameras while they sleep.

Amber is so pleased with her new room make over using the Your Zone line from Walmart. If you'd like to see what we did with it you can check out a video we made of the room.






Walmart's Your Zone landing page is full of cool tools and fun stuff to get inspired and design a room. Seeing it in 3D is very fun! That is how Amber got started in deciding which bedding and accessories she wanted in her room. at http://instoresnow.walmart.com/Your-Zone.aspx

In comparison to other stores that market furniture, bedding and accessories for teens, Walmart's Your Zone line is inexpensive. Another bonus to Your Zone is, you can order it online and have it shipped using Walmart's Site to Store option and then shipping is free! I ordered over 90% of the items we got for the room make over using this method, and I was thoroughly impressed with it.

Walmart is giving one reader of my blog the chance to snag a $500 Gift Card!!

This giveaway will end on September 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. Due to the time constraints in which the gift card will be delivered, the winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews statement at the bottom of this page and my Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

In order to enter this giveaway visit the Your Zone line at Walmart.com and comment with a piece of the line your child (or you!) would like.

For extra entries you can: (the item above must be done first before extra entries can be submitted, please leave a separate comment for each you are eligible for)

1. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveway (this can be once per day, please leave the direct link to your tweet in the comments).
2. Follow my blog publicly.
3. Subscribe to my feed via e-mail or reader.
4. Blog about this giveaway linking back to my blog.
5. Add my button to your blog.



I was provided a $500 gift card to purchase items from the Your Zone line by Walmart prior to filming my video located at walmart.com and publishing this post.
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If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that we like to travel. And since we live in the middle of nowhere, traveling almost always includes flying. I like to have a bag to use when we fly that is durable, but still stylish. Jumeau delivered that and more, with the bag they sent me to review.

The last thing one wants when traveling is for something to break or fall apart. No worries with a Jumeau bag. With a 45 day no questions asked return policy and a five year replacement warranty, they are pretty sure you're going to be satisfied with your bag.

I received the Ninja bag from the Commando line to review. Really, how can you not love a bag called Ninja? I got the one in the Black/Charcoal Digital Camo print. I have honestly never liked any handbag I own better.

This particular bag also comes in four additional colors of the Digital Camo print. And the Commando line has seven bag styles in all. Made with a triple dense nylon fabric this bag is extra strong. The Ninja bag is considered a medium handbag or a small utilitarian bag. In my opinion that is an accurate description; it is bigger than what generally would consider a small handbag, but perfect as a handbag carry-on for a plane flight, when you want something just a bit bigger to hold your essentials. The hardware on this bag is constructed with the utmost quality. Take a look at how much (and how organized you could be with all those pockets!) you can fit in this bag.

I have carried it both with the shoulder strap and with the handles over my shoulder. The latter is the way I prefer to carry it just because I'm tiny and find the shoulder strap, even on its shortest length, is too long for me (keep in mind I'm under 5 feet tall).

What I really like best about this bag though is, because it is nylon, I can wipe it down inside and out. When it gets dirty or it has come in contact with places that maybe aren't the most sanitary, something that happens quite a bit when we travel, I can just take a wet wipe or a damp paper towel and clean it up. This is a must for me.

Jumeau sells bags of all sizes, shapes and styles, I'm positive there is one on their site you will fall in love with. Not just bags are sold by Jumeau though, they have the cutest belts too!

Jumeau also has an opportunity for you to be a Fashion Specialist with their company. Think Mary Kay or Pampered Chef, but for Jumeau Bags. If you have a handbag obsession, this would be the perfect position for you. Spend time with family and friends, meet new people, while introducing them to a quality product and doing something you love! As an independent sales rep, you'd receive a flat commission, there are no upfront costs (you can earn your whole starter kit for free!), and there is no recruiting required or down line to maintain. These bags will literally sell themselves too, have a couple of your own and people will be asking you where you got them from, just by carrying them around! Almost an instant sale! If this interests you check out the Jumeau Fashion Specialist page for more information.
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This creative invention has testimonial approvals by pediatricians on its effects of eliminating rashes and keeping tiny necks clean from sour milk.

So this all sounds wonderful, but does it work? I thought a good place to try it would be in our church nursery, which I am a coordinator of. All those hungry babies with those cute adorable outfits on, no mom wants those to get soiled with sour milk! You know what, the Scrunch Bottle Bib worked great! I only wish I had a product like this when Amber was little.

Another really nice thing about the Scrunch Bottle Bib is that because of its Velcro closure, it fits virtually every bottle size. It's made of 100% cotton and is reversible so you can get double duty out of it and is machine washable (which we know is very important for moms!)

You can use this with newborn infants and up, it comes in a variety of colors and at $7.99 retail price it's affordable and a great gift for a baby shower!

You can purchase them at www.ScrunchBottleBib.com and until August 1, 2009 they are offering a 10% discount off your entire order with Coupon Code BOSPR616

So pick a few up if you are expecting or know someone who is and you want to surprise them with a unique and practical gift.

Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of this page.

Jennifer Edison the "auntie-preneur" who invented the Scrunch Bottle Bib is giving one of my readers a Scrunch Bottle Bib. (In a Green/Yellow color)

To enter the givewaway:

Visit Scrunch Bottle Bib and comment with what your favorite feature of the product is.

This entry must be completed for all extra entries to count.

For extra entries you can:

1. Sign up for my RSS feed via e-mail or reader
2. Place my button on your blog
3. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (this can be done daily)
4. Blog about this giveaway leaving a link back to me and ScrunchBottleBib.com

Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents ages 18+ and will end at 11:59 pm cst July 7, 2009. Winner will be contacted by e-mail. Read the full story

I love socks!

That being said, my daughter hates them!

SmartKnit Kids sent us some of their seamless socks for kids to try out.

These socks are sized differently than most companies. Because of the way they are designed with no seams (read NO HEEL sewn in), they will grow with your child and hopefully get more wear than a traditional "heeled" sock (read SAVE $$).

I actually tried out one of the Knee High Length pairs that was sent in an XXL for kids. I have tiny feet (I buy anywhere between a size 3 1/2 in girls shoes to a 6 in ladies depending on the make). Traditional socks are often a problem for me because children's socks in a size 6-8 are too small and ladies socks in size 9-11 are almost always too big. The SmartKnit Kids socks fit me perfect ☺ No more embarrassing sock heel halfway up my calf!


I also find myself pulling my socks up a lot. Not with these. The elastic at the top, while not constricting, performed well, and they never fell or "slouched" on me.

The socks are comfortable, soft and don't bunch up when you put your shoes on either.

I tried to get Amber to wear them and tell me what she thought. She put one on for a whole 15 seconds and said "they're too tight" and pulled it off. Let me clarify when she said "too tight" she didn't meant the top elastic she meant the whole sock. Here's the rest of our conversation:

Me: They're supposed to be like that, they're like gloves...for your feet.

Amber: I like my socks big.

Me: So they fall off?

Amber: So they're comfy.

Me: *Shakes Head* Comfy? You say you don't even like socks.

Amber: No. I. Don't.

Ah well apparently I still have some work to do with her......

SmartKnit Kid socks are made from a super stretchy fiber so the socks are form fitting, snug and comfortable (So There Amber, take that!)

What I really like about these is that with no heel, kids can never put their socks on "upside down" (I make no guarantees about inside out though).

Overall, I think these socks are great.

Please Read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.

So, the good people at SmartKnit Kids sent me enough socks to share some with my readers.

I have a "girl" set in a Pink M (kneehigh)& Purple XL(crew) and a "boy" set in White L(kneehigh) & Navy L (crew).

To enter simply let me know whether you want the girl set or boy set.

For additional entries (the above must be done first) Please leave each in a separate comment

* Visit Thereawear.com online (where SmartKnit Kids socks are sold) and tell me which product you like the best
* Subscribe to my RSS Feed by email or reader
* Follow my blog publicly
* Blog about this giveaway and link back to me
* Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (Can be done daily)
* Add me to your blog roll
* Add my button to your blog

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents ages 13+. It will end on June 22, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst. Read the full story

Between you and me...I'm frugal, yeah I know you probably figured that out already from a lot of my other posts. The thing is, I have figured out (from buying one too many cheap products), that sometimes it pays to buy the brand or item that costs more, because it really is better quality and I'll be happier and more satisfied with my purchase.

Case in point - A Flat Iron.

When my husband bugs complimented me about my "poufy" hair, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and get a flat iron. So I went shopping and ended up with a sale price of $12.00 and picked one up. A $12.00 flat iron won't get you much more than 30 minutes of tugging on your hair, a headache as you wonder where you put it down while it's hot and clutter on your counter top because you have no idea where to store it (a $12.00 flat iron does not come with accessories....).

So you can imagine when Hana Salon sent me the Hana Mini Flat Iron to review, I made quick work of opening that package and in no time I plugged it in to "flatten" my hair!

The size of it is wonderful. I can not wait to bring this when we go traveling. I actually left my flat iron at home the last time we cruised because space is both a premium in our suitcases as well as in a stateroom bathroom. Those bathrooms are tiny! As is the Hana Mini Flat Iron.
Just 5" in length for storage - the ceramic plates (yes ceramic even on this mini model) pull out so that you have an 8" length for styling. The plates are so easy to pull out and push in too.



Storing my original flat iron was a pain. Besides a lock button to hold the two plates together, the unwieldy product had to have the cord wrapped around it, and was pretty big to store. The little case the Hana Mini Flat Iron comes in is ideal for storage and traveling. The case cushions and protects your iron from damage as well as provides a heat resistant surface for placing you iron on while it's heating up, while you're styling your hair, as well as when you are waiting for it to cool off. *Just be careful when you zip it up that you don't get the mat caught in the zipper.

This mini iron heats up quickly and is ready to use fast, all told it took me 10 minutes to straighten my entire hair using both the mini iron and the Hana ShineShield styling product. With my old flat iron it took 30 minutes or longer to get the look that I was trying to achieve, and usually without total success. Take a look at the "poufy" side and the straight side, total time for one side of my hair 5 minutes.


See so even though it's small, it still packs a punch! That's because Hana Salon made this mini iron with advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine, just like it's full sized models.

Available for $74.00 on sale at Missiko, the Hana Mini Flat Iron is available in the pink you see above as well as in blue. And this frugal chick declares it to be worth every penny you will spend on it! Check out Hana Salon for a whole range of flat irons. There is bound to be one to fit your needs.

Thank you Hana Salon and It's A Glam Thing for allowing me to review this fabulous product, now I need to even out my look, so back to my flat iron I go! Read the full story

When the call was sent out from Calypso Studios about their S.H.O.P Tote line, I volunteered to try out and review one of these re-usable shopping bags.

I received the purple "Fresh" tote to review, like the one pictured below with the lemon on it.


These bags are a great size. Our family now owns many re-usable shopping bags and some of them are barely wide enough for one box of cereal. When I went out with my S.H.O.P. Tote I was able to pile this tote full of things, much more fit in it than other bags we have, it was piled full!

The construction of them is quality. They are very lightweight but they are strong too. The material of the bag is easy to wipe down also if it should get dirty. I love the fact that they are easy to fold down. There is a little loop with a plastic snap attached to the bottom of the bag. You fold it half width wise and then start folding it down, and or rolling it. You put the loop around it, snap and instantly you have a tiny package. When you purchase a package of three you even get a small outer bag to carry the reduced size totes in.

One of my biggest gripes of eco-friendly bags is the handles. So many of them are made in such a way that either the handle straps start fraying or they aren't easy to slip over your shoulder. This is a must for me, because we live on a second story and have to carry our groceries up a flight of stairs. The handles on the S.H.O.P. Tote exceeded my expectation, they didn't strain under the weight of what was in the bag and easily slipped over my arm to the shoulder.

Plenty of people have commented on my S.H.O.P. Tote as I've been out with it, their assortment of patterns are indeed "fresh"!

While I admittedly won't be a leader in the effort to save the planet, as I have a lot of habits to change to become more green, in this case I'm not ashamed to be a follower. Follow along with me and start using re-usable shopping bags, every little bit counts.

Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.

Calypso Studios is giving away a set of S.H.O.P. Totes on my blog!

To enter the Calypso Studios S.H.O.P. Tote giveaway visit their website and tell me which set of S.H.O.P. Totes you like best.

For extra entries you can:

1. Subscribe to my blog
2. Follow my blog publicly
3. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (please leave a link to your tweet)
4. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link back to my site

You can let me know which ones you are eligible for in the extra entries box in the form below.

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. ages 18+. It will end on June 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst.


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