Heart of Haiti

Can you believe it's (almost) been a year since the earthquake in Haiti? I remember the images on the TV, reading about it online and in the newspaper - I was in shock. It was scary for me to think about how the people would recover and what they would do if another earthquake happened during the recovery process. I know that Haiti is still recovering and dealing with the aftermath, which is why I am so proud to be writing this post!

I want to present you with this: http://bit.ly/HeartofHaiti-ShopforABetterWorld ... a way to help with the recovery! Go, take a look, and tell me what is your FAVORITE!? What would you do with it? Where would you put it?

My favorite?! Easy-peasy: Heart of Haiti Bowl, Watermelon!! This is my favorite because it's so beautiful - bright, colorful and fun! But, what's better?! It's $16! I wasn't looking at prices when I picked my favorite, I was just looking to see what caught my eye. When I looked at the price, I was SO impressed! Prices range from $10 - $275. Where would I put such a beautiful bowl? I honestly believe that you should acutally USE the things you own, rather than putting them in a cabinet. So, I would put my watermelon bowl in the center of my table and fill it with fruit for my family to eat!

Would you like to know more about the Heart of Haiti founder and Fairwinds Trading CEO Willa Shalit? http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Woman-Who-Makes-Shopping-Meaningful

"If you shop wisely," Shalit says, "you get to own this really wonderful object and also transfer money to those who need it—in a straight line. It goes right from you to people who may have lived only by barter and never held cash in their hands before. That's a very direct way to effect reform. It's not abstract; it's not a fantasy. It's real. Let's hear it for consumers! You have the power to change the world." I really love that Willa Shalit is doing something so tremendous for Haiti (and other countries)!

I really hope you will visit Macy's and help in any way you can!

I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

Better in Blu at MommyPR!

You can enter to win a Better in Blu prize pack from MommyPR!! This is a 24 hour giveaway, so if you want a chance to win, you better jump at the chance, I know I did!!

Good luck!

The Best Gift I Ever Gave ...

SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.

For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000.

Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.

The best gift I ever gave was a Blu-Ray player ... let me tell you the story!

About 2 weeks before Christmas (2 years ago) I entered a contest and the day after, I got an email saying that I won the Blu-Ray player!! I was shocked to say the least, but BEYOND excited! I gave my info, and then asked if I could ship it to my Mom's house, as I didn't want my husband to suspect a THING! (We open gifts at Mom's house anyway.) The prize came just a few days after I sent in my info! I had my Mom wrap it up and put it under the tree. Christmas came and my husband was completely confused by this HUGE box with his name on it. He saved it for last, and when he finally opened it, he was speechless! All he could do was smirk, turn the box to the specs side, and smirk even bigger!

When we got home, I asked what he thought, and he said, "It's great, but how did you manage it?!" I told him that I had to be able to make great things happen, and I have to keep my ways of letting those great things happen to myself!

Secrets are great, aren't they?! I LOVE surprises, but I am horrible at keeping secrets! I am so glad I was able to keep that one from my husband (although, I told everyone else I knew so that I wouldn't tell him)!

What's the best gift you ever gave, and why was it so great?!

Learn more about the coolest new app that revolutionizes the whole shopping, gifting, and gift card-organizing experience and Download the SWAGG app to your iPhone or Droid. I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity.

SWAGG has partnered with non-profit Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to SU2C up to $125,000. Awesome, right?! Visit the SU2C site for more info http://www.standup2cancer.org/

More info about the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/82357

Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a lucky pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! The sweepstakes is offered exclusively through the Clever 1000, and it has a pretty kick butt prize, including:
2 night/3 day stay at Yarrow Hotel in Park City Utah (Jan 21 - Jan 23, 2011)
Ground transportation to and from hotel to airport in Park City, Utah
Dinner for two at Tao Lounge, including 2 nightclub passes
All access to The House of SWAGG Gifting Suite
2 tickets to a movie premiere on Saturday, January 22nd -- movie tbd
$4,000 value

Butter Bell® Crock Review & Special Offer

FIRST: Let me start off by saying that life has gotten SO crazy around here! So, ACT QUICK for your special offer:

For every two Butter Bell crocks that you purchase, you get a free crock. Go to www.butterbell.com and use the key word "Butter Bell crock". The offer runs through Dec. 15th, 2010 (Tomorrow, I know, I am SO sorry!)

Ok, so now that you know that you have to be SUPER quick in getting your Butter Bell ordered, let me tell you a little about them!

Butter Bell® crock is a brand name of butter crocks owned and distributed by L. Tremain. We are the brand leader and largest seller of butter crocks in the US, with many styles and colors to choose from.








Product Description from Butter Bell:
A modern version of the original French butter crock, the Original Butter Bell® crock allows butter to be kept at room temperature, on the counter or tabletop, for up to 30 days without spoilage, refrigeration or odors. Made from New Bone China, the highest quality ceramics available, the Butter Bell crock insures that under reasonable, correct usage, butter storage time can be up to 30 days. Most Butter Bell users consume a crock’s worth of butter within one week.

The unique design keeps butter at the perfect “spreading” consistency by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling the butter. Flavor and freshness is protected by an airtight seal of water at the base of the crock.

The Butter Bell crock holds up to one full stick (1/2 cup) of butter. Softened butter is packed firmly into the bell-shaped cup of the lid. Cold water is poured into the base of the crock. The lid is then placed upside down back into the base of the crock. Soft, spreadable butter may be enjoyed and served right from the crock. Proper maintenance: Water should be changed out every three days. Replace existing water in the base with fresh, cold water.

Benefits:

- They are SUPER cute!

- Your butter is ready to use when you want to use it. (Which is awesome and so convenient!)

- It holds one stick of butter!

- It's dishwasher safe!! (This is by FAR my favorite part!)

How do you use the Butter Bell? Check this out! They are so easy - wash it, add water to the base and butter to the top!

So, do I have you convinced?! Remember, You can buy the Butter Bell online for about $22.95 (but, don't forget about the buy 2, get one free special mentioned above!).

How do I feel about the Butter Bell? I really like it. It's so great to be able to reach over on the counter and have butter already at room temperature! It makes it so easy to butter toast or make cookies or whatever your "butter need" may be!

What would I change? I wish it were easier to set it (butter side up) on the counter, but other than that, NOT A THING!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

We Caught Santa!!

Every year since I can remember my Uncle dressed up as Santa and "appeared" in the bar closet at my Grandma's house. We (sadly) don't get to see my Uncle as often as I'd like to. Last year, he agreed to meet at my sister's house so that he could be Santa for my kids! However, he forgot his beard (STUPID move, I know!) so he used a Hannah Montana wig (which was in the house because my niece had one) as his beard. J was 5 and he KNEW it was Uncle J, so after that he started with the "Santa isn't real" bit. We talked about it, and then I found a REALLY COOL site, iCaughtSanta.com, and knew that I had to do that to help "prove" to J that Santa DOES exist!

I was BEYOND thrilled with the quality of the picture and how easy it was!

All you do is take a picture of your living room after Santa has come, upload your photo to iCaughtSanta.com and insert Santa into the photo using one of there many options!

The cost is usually $9.99 per picture (but really, it's a priceless memory for you and your kids!), however, I have a SPECIAL 25% off coupon code for you!!

Enter: MONKEY-MAYHEM at check-out to get 25% off of your order!!

Now, for the REALLY exciting news?! iCaughtSanta.com has given me the opportunity to give FIVE (yes, 5!) of my readers a code for a FREE picture!

GIVEAWAY!

Main Entry: Visit iCaughtSanta.com and tell me what you like best about the site!

Bonus Entries (Please post a separate comment for EACH extra entry):

1. Follow my Google Friend Connect.

2. Follow me on Twitter!

3. Follow @CatchaCharacter on Twitter!

4. Tweet this giveaway (make sure you leave the link)! You can do this 2 times a day (please, at least one hour apart) for a total of 2 entries per day.

" You can #win a photo from iCaughtSanta.com and @Doodle741! Ends 12.23 http://bit.ly/hpdqXi 5 winners!! "

GOOD LUCK!

This contest will end on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. I will draw a winner the next day using random.org, and the winner will have 48 hours to respond. If no response, I will re-draw. This giveaway is only for US/Canada residents.

***I was given a code to review the site, but the picture posted above is one I purchased last year. All opinions are my own! :)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

SmartKnitKIDS Review & Giveaway!!

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Have you heard of SmartKnitKIDS? I have followed them on twitter for quite some time, but I only just got to try their socks for the first time recently!

I love the socks - they are thick, warm, they don't have any seems for tiny toes to get "caught" in, they have no heel so kids can put them on without needing help, they come in different "styles" (crew, ankle and knee-high), and they come in five colors (pink, blue, white, purple and black)!!

Things I might change or do differently: I would add more colors - or at least green! And, I would add rubber gribs so that kids don't slip in the socks (though, that might defeat the purpose of the SmartKnitKIDS being heel-less).

J loved the socks as I thought he would! He loves socks - colors, prints, you name it - he thinks they are fun!
C also enjoyed the socks! He could (mostly) get them on by himself. But, he doesn't really like shoes so he kept slipping! So, we took the socks off so he wouldn't crack his head open!
I loved them because they have the size "stamped" on the bottom of the socks!! The Mom in me thinks that is so practical!

From SmartKnitKIDS:

SmartKnitKIDS Socks are 100% truly seamless; they have “No Seams to Bug Ya!” A truly seam free sock is great for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, or for those who simply cannot stand annoying sock seams. As well as being completely seamless, our socks are also form-fitting. This ensures that there are no wrinkles or bunches. A form-fitting design makes SmartKnitKIDS perfect for infant socks. No matter how much your little one may wiggle, the socks don’t come off. SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks do not have a heal so they can easily and confidently be slipped on. The heal-less design also keeps your child from out growing their socks as fast. For more information about SmartKnitKIDS, please visit us online at http://www.smartknitkids.com/.

GIVEAWAY!

Main Entry: Visit SmartKnitKIDS and tell me which ONE pair of socks you would pick for your kiddo!!

Bonus Entries (Please post a separate comment for EACH extra entry):

1. Follow my Google Friend Connect.

2. Follow me on Twitter!

3. Follow @SmartKnitKIDS on Twitter!

4. Tweet this giveaway (make sure you leave the link)! You can do this 2 times a day (please, at least one hour apart) for a total of 2 entries per day.

" You can #win a pair of socks from @SmartKnitKIDS and @Doodle741! Ends Saturday November 6, 2010: http://bit.ly/96hbrb "

GOOD LUCK!

This contest will end on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. I will draw a winner the next day using random.org, and the winner will have 48 hours to respond. If no response, I will re-draw. This giveaway is only for US and Canada residents.


This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Sears!!

I love Sears!! Here is a blog post where you can WIN Sears money!!

http://sensiblecents.com/2010/10/win-75-from-sears/

Enjoy!
Sara