Day 1 of the 13 Days of Halloween!!

2010-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

The 13 Days of Halloween has started!! Head over to Mama Must Have It!!

New Giveaway over on Mama Must Have It!!

2010-10-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

There is a new giveaway over on Mama Must Have It! A great new toy for any toddler-- perfect for Christmas!

New Blog, New Name, New Platform!

2010-10-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

Very soon, TicTacDough will be no longer. Instead, I will be heading to a Wordpress blog called Mama Must Have It! I know exciting, right?! I do love change!

During this transition, there may be some technical glitches-- see, I am pretty tech savvy, but only to a certain point. For some reason newer comments are not being transferred over to the new blog. The posts are there, just not the comments.

So what this means is that the current giveaways on TicTacDough, will continue as is. Once the giveaways have ended, then TicTacDough will too.

Any new giveaways, will be over on the new blog at Mama Must Have It! We have some really great giveaways coming-- so you will not want to miss them! Head over there, check out the new digs and snoop around-- you are all welcome!! The Google Friends Connect Widget has already made the move over to Mama Must Have It. The RSS feed will soon be transfered as well. No need to delete the feed or un-friend me-- it's all the same! =)

Here is a sneak peak at some reviews & giveaways coming over
on Mama Must Have It:

Prima Princessa DVD Review

Little One Books

Sahale Snacks

Company 5

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

Anne Geddes

Stevia

Solise

PLUS-- I will be having a super duper special Cyber Monday Event on November 29th! Each giveaway on Cyber Monday will end 24 hours later-- talk about a quick win!

13 Days of Halloween!

2010-10-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Starting October 18th, everyday until Halloween, expect a spooktacular recipe or craft from TicTacDough! Make sure to subscribe to the feed-- so you get the recipe or craft in your email in-box!

Happy Halloween!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Zevia Soda Giveaway!

2010-10-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ok-- so this review and giveaway is not technically for women only per say, but I know masses of women that drink diet cola that need another, healthier option! I like soda- Anything bubbly, sweet and that quenches my thirst, I love! But unfortunately, soda and soft drinks are not very good for you with all the added sugar, colorings and preservatives.

ZEVIA is the first all natural zero calorie soda. With only pure ingredients, ZEVIA contains none of the chemically processed artificial sugar substitutes, artificial flavors or artificial colors found in other diet sodas. ZEVIA is all-natural, has zero calories, zero net carbs, zero fat, and little or no sodium (depending on the flavor).

I was so lucky to try all six ZEVIA varieties - ZEVIA Natural Cola, ZEVIA Natural Orange, ZEVIA Natural Twist, ZEVIA Natural Root Beer, ZEVIA Natural Black Cherry, and ZEVIA Natural Ginger Ale.

The ZEVIA Natural Cola definitely tasted different than the run of the mill sodas in the grocery isle. You could actually taste the natural flavors that went in to each can. The first flavor that immediately hit me, was the natural caramel. I am a sweet junkie and anything caramel-y is great in my book! I didn't miss the overly sweetmess that comes with the high caloric sodas either-- ZEVIA uses Stevia -- a natural herb native to South and Central America. For centuries, native Americans of Paraguay and Brazil called it "sweet leaf" and used it to sweeten native foods.The extract from the stevia leaf has no calories, no effect on blood sugar levels, and is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. Stevia sweetens all six ZEVIA™ Natural Diet Soda flavors.

My favorite soda from ZEVIA had to be the ZEVIA Natural Ginger Ale. It was like you took some nice sparkling water and mixed it with fresh ginger! I loved the natural taste of it. It wasn't a processed "ginger-like" taste-- if you smelled a slice of fresh ginger, that is what the ZEVIA Natural Ginger Ale tasted like! I loved it!

Would you like to try ZEVIA for yourself? Do your own taste test! Go to their great website and try them all!

or you can win some ZEVIA of your very own here!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive a 6 pack of mixed variety!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Zevia and tell me the soda flavor you would like to try most! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

**You must complete the mandatory entry as your FIRST comment before any additional entries count.** For each of these Additional Entries, make a separate comment:

Tell all your friends on Facebook about this great giveaway! Leave a message here telling me you have! (1 extra entry)
Facebook Fan ZEVIA .
Follow TicTacDough and ZEVIA on twitter and tweet the following message and then comment below with the link to your tweet (once per day) (1 additional entry per day)

Win @ZEVIA soda! http://www.tictacdough.blogspot.com RT @tictacdoughshop #giveaways #natural #soda #WOMENONLY

Blog about this giveaway! Place a link back to this post and leave the url of your blog post here! (5 extra entries)
Enter any other TicTacDough Giveaway! (1 extra entry per giveaway)
Vote for TicTacDough Blog on each of these websites-- all you have to do is click on each button below! By clicking on the button, it helps bring new visitors to my blog! (2 extra entries, per day, per website!)

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 19th, 2010

- Contest open to US Residents.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Zevia for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Elana Skincare Giveaway!

2010-10-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lawrence Presant is quick to share his passion-- phlebology-- the diagnosis and treatment of vein disorders. After years and years practicing and teaching, Dr. Presant decided to share his desire to create skin care products where all the ingredients are beneficial to skin. Learning that many popular products contain cheap, artificial or potentially harmful ingredients, such as petroleum distillates, suspected carcinogens or xenoestrogens increased his resolve to formulate safe, effective products. At the same time, he wanted to incorporate much higher amounts of key ingredients for maximum value and effectiveness. The end result of his research was Elana Skincare.

"Elana Natural Skin Care products have been formulated to make your skin feel healthy, balanced and rejuvenated, leaving your skin with a radiant glow.
*Elana is an ancient, melodious word for tree*
It is said that the branches of the Elana tree reached out to bring delight to all who viewed it and shade to all who needed comfort and respite from a relentless world.
The soft, supple, shimmering leaves of the Elana tree inspired joy and calm.
The spirit of the Elana tree has been infused into a natural line of skin care products that will nurture your mind, body, and soul.
Step under Elana’s welcoming branches, and experience a luscious, botanical blend
designed to uplift your skin.
Elana Natural Skin Care products are rich in natural ingredients created with loving care for you."

I was happy to try out Elana's Foaming Cleanser and Anti Oxidant Firming Complex Moisturizer. I loved the soft scent and gentle cleansing properties of the cleanser. It cleaned and refreshed nicely.

The moisturizer left my face feeling great. Soft and dewy, but not overly oily. With moisturizer, there has to be a good compromise of moisture and oil-- Elana has it! Both are reasonably priced at $27 and $65 dollars.

I loved that each product was Paraben free, propylene gyycol free and hypoallergenic. Plus there is no Phalathes or petroleum distillate.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win a Elana Foaming Cleanser and an Anti-Oxidant Firming Complex Moisturizer!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Elana and tell me one other product you would like to try! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

-Enter any other giveaway on TicTacDough -- 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win Foaming Cleanser and Moisturizer from Elana Organic Skincare! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2wzmmyg #WOMENONLY #SKINCARE

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 19th, 2010

- Contest open to US Residents.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Elana Skincare for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Nimli Review

2010-10-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't know if anyone no interested in living a more natural and organic lifestyle. Free of contaminants and/or harsh checmicals can only be a positive for your family and loved ones.

Nimli is a company devoted to making the world more natural, organic and green. It's basically an online marketplace that carries anything and everything natural and organic. Nice to have a one stop shop, instead of having to find all the brands scattered across the web!

I received from Nimli a beautiful Azuri Feather Pashmina in Stone. It's lightweight and finely woven. It will keep me warm and looking stylish. The natural, soft sheen of the silk adds elegance and lightness to the Pashmina Shawl. I can definitely see this pashmina being worn at formal events and even casual outings! It can be worn as a shawl, wrap and scarf. It is the ideal & perfect wrap you can carry with you all the time.

Nimli has other great brands all facilitating the organic lifestyle. Check out these killer boots by Neuaura! They are fairly traded, sustainable and vegan-- nice!

Go to Nimli.com for sales and great prices on all your organic necessities!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Calabasas Candy Co Giveaway!

2010-10-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have to pose a question about a very sensitive subject...

What woman does not like chocolate, caramel and candy?

Really though-- have you ever encountered a woman for her to say "eww-- please get that rich chocolate away from me. How dare you!!"

I have not. nope. And I challenge you to find a woman (or man) who will not like the heavenly confections from Calabasas Candy Co. Calabasas is a small town near the coast in Southern California. It's where the healthy and the beautiful converge. Don't get me wrong-- they love their candy and sweets there too, but they choose only the best to devour. The best organic cocoa beans, the best sugars, the best milk and butter-- and Calabasas Candy Co. only chooses the best. They have recently been featured in LA Magazine's May issue of "LA's List." A huge compliment for a small scale candy shop.

I was lucky to try out their lemon caramel and lavender nougat. heavenly... I like chocolate, but it's not my top choice. Honestly I would dive in to a buttery caramel over a chocolate any day. So needless to say I was thrilled when I opened up the box of nougat and caramel! The lemon caramel was sweet and rich, not overly lemony, but rather a sweet hint of tartness. Almost like there was essence of lemon in the caramel. Very subtle and delicious!

The lavender nougat was divine. It hit the spot when I needed a mid afternoon pick me up. A little bite was like a lavender field. That smell, the intensity all rolled in to this perfect little candy. yum

Calabasas Candy Co not only makes nougat and caramel though-- oh, no. They make marshmallows too. And I don't mean those stale ones you see in a bag at the grocery stores. I mean Caramallows, and delicious Peruvian Chocolate Caramels. The price could literally be a million dollars a pound and it would be worth the cost-- but nope-- try $9 dollars for 15 pieces of Caramallow! It's a steal ladies.

Are you hungry yet?

GIVEAWAY

One lucky lady will win a checkboard sampler box of caramels from Calabasas Candy Co.!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Calabasas Candy Co and tell me another candy your would like to try! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Go to Etsy and make Calabasas Candy Co a favorite! -- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a caramel sampler box from Calabasas Candy Co! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/274s8xx #WOMENONLY #candy #food

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 17th, 2010

- Contest open to US Residents.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Calabasas Candy Co. for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Lisa D. Jewelry Giveaway

2010-10-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Lisa D. Jewelry sells timeless pieces with a modern flare. A shop on Etsy devoted to handmade luxury. The jewelry designer takes gorgeous elements; pearl, gold, rhinestones-- and combines them into a piece that to me, represents everything "Earthly."

I received the Kayla necklace from Lisa D. Jewelry. I have always eyed the necklace for it's beauty. It had been in my Etsy faves for a long time. So needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to review Lisa D. Jewelry and offer a giveaway to my lovely readers!

The Kayla necklace combines a delicate gold branch, which reminds me of a piece of coral, with a perfect white coin pearl, and lastly a juicy petite briolette of garnet. Simply heavenly. The chain is beautiful is gold as well. It hangs effortlessly. I love that it's just the right length and not too long, nor too short. What I also love is that the necklace is the perfect "Southern California" piece. What I mean by that, is that down here in socal, we tend to be on the more casual side. Maybe it comes from the idea that we go from beach to work to mountains all in one day. I love that the necklace can make jeans and a cute tee look beautiful, but also make the little black dress look finished too!

The Kayla necklace sells for $29 dollars. Really--Only $29....... it's a steal......... and would make such a wonderful holiday gift!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky lady will win the Kayla Necklace from Lisa D. Jewelry!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Lisa D. Jewelry and tell me one other piece you love! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow Lisa D. Jewelry on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

- Go to Etsy and make Lisa D. Jewelry a favorite! -- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win the Kayla Necklace from @LisaDJewelry! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2d7g227 #WOMENONLY #fashion

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Lisa D. Jewelry on Facebook -- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 16th, 2010

- Contest open to US Residents.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Lisa D. Jewelry for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY: Tea Collection Giveaway!

2010-10-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

Tea is a beverage that is shared in nearly every culture and country around the world-- Tea Collection is a company that exudes the basis of tea-- "offering inspiration, warmth and mindfulness" through their line of fashion and accessories. Tea Collection offers clothing for women and children in stunning, classic styles sure to be adored by young and the young at heart.

"Tea started in 2002 in San Francisco with three pima cotton sweaters. Now, we offer two full assortments, Tea Collection and Daily Tea, available in more than 400 stores including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya, and the best boutiques throughout the US and abroad."

I was thrilled to be able to review a Cafe Merino Sweater in Coal. It's beautiful worn alone or layered for a definite Fall look. I can't wait to pair it with my favorite pair of jeans and great boots! It's comfortable and soft, lightweight and on the thinner side-- not quite what you expect from "wool". It's not quite a winter sweater so definitely pair it with something warmer. It retails for $88 dollars through Tea Collection.

GIVEAWAY

Are you ready to win your very own Tea Collection Cafe Merino Henley?

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Tea Collection and tell me what other piece from their Fall Collection you would love to have! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a merino wool henley from Tea Collection! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2clo8o6 #WOMENONLY #fashion #fall

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Tea Collection on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 15th, 2010

- Contest open to US Residents.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Tea Collection for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY: Hapari Review and Giveaway!

2010-10-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

I know what you are thinking....it's not exactly swimwear season, but in many of the states, people are still beach going. Why just last Monday it was 107 degrees here in Southern California. So yeah, we are still a-swimmin'!

Now for many women, swimsuit shopping isn't at the top of their lists of fun things to do. Honestly, I would rather go for my yearly appointment than try on swimsuits. But Hapari takes the "trying on" out of the equation. Yay for online shopping!

Hapari has been paving the way in online swimwear shopping for women, men and children.

"Hapari is the answer to the swimsuits saga! A couple of designer moms put their heads together and decided to solve all the problems in a swimsuit! It seemed impossible to find hip swimwear that is flattering and stylish. Very few of us are blessed with absolutely perfect bodies! Why not create swimsuits with body shaping secrets to enhance, decrease and even lift and separate?
Our mission is to allow every woman to feel beautiful and confident in a swimsuit! Let us enhance the curves you love and hide the curves you don't!
Hapari's tankini line offers mainstream designs, gorgeous prints and a suit for every figure. With trendy tankinis, a modest swimwear line, full coverage bikinis, a junior girls swimwear and junior boys swimwear line, and cool men's swimwear line, there is a Hapari swimsuit for every one! See Hapari's Body Shaping Secrets and discover which suit is best for you!"

I was so excited to review a tankini from Hapari! I chose the GNO Butterfly tankini. It has some flare to it with the purty metallic pink design on it. Then you add in the brown and white polka dot ties and modest bottoms and you seriously have one super cute and stylish bathing suit! Now yes, this is me below. I am kinda modest when it comes to getting my picture taken-- because I am just that gorgeous-- plus I have no cellulite (i am so kidding). Hapari swimsuits come in sizes from extra small to 3X.

I loved that the suit was stylish. So many times, when you purchase a "larger" swim suit, you end up feeling like you wrapped a drapery panel around you. The prints are usually drab and out of fashion-- not with Hapari! The suit was comfortable, and flattering too. It did smoosh the girls down a bit at first, but with some adjustments I had it under control. The bottoms-- I adored. Tummy tuck panel ladies-- can it get any better than that!? I think not.

The Hapari Tankini sells for $39.00, and the bottoms are $31 dollars. Not bad for a quality , comfortable bathing suit that is for sure to last through a couple seasons of warm weather!

Are you ready to look fab and win?!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky lady will win a gift certificate (a $96 dollar value) from Hapari!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Hapari and find the suit you loooove!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

-Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

-Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url or the entries will not count)- 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER BUTTON

-Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

-Follow Hapari on Twitter-- 1 EXTRA ENTRY

-Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a bathing suit from @hapari ! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/26l4s6u #WOMENONLY #bathingsuit #fashion

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

-"Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 EXTRA ENTRY

-"Like" Hapari on Facebook-- 1 EXTRA ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 14th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Hapari. A special thanks to Hapari for participating in a review and giveaway!

Tiny Prints

2010-10-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

I remember specifically a Halloween memory where we must have walked 10 miles for candy-- pillow case full to the brim. We talked, walked, ate until we were full of sugar, saw friends and boasted about how we were alone without parents-- but most importantly we were carefree. No worries about what was in the candy, no fear. I wish that for my girls-- the innocence of being young. Halloween isn't about being scary, or even having ghoulish ideas-- but rather the fun of it. Dressing up, scary or not, and being free.

Tiny Prints has some great Halloween cards right now. They are having a Twitter Party on Monday where you couls win some fabulous prizes!-- http://resourcefulmommy.com/3969/tiny-prints-halloween-party-monday/

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from photo cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards and business cards. Offering exclusive designs from the nation's top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side the Holidays will be a cinch! They offer adorable Halloween Cards, Thanksgiving Cards, Christmas Cards, Hannukah Cards, and even New Years Cards. All fully customizable and personalizable.

WOMEN ONLY Event: California Blooms Review

2010-09-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

I like to receive flowers. There-- I said it. I really don't know of any woman that doesn't. Some may say-- they die and it's a waste of money. But I would have to argue that they are beauty, and gives health and happiness. I have never seen a person who was down or under the weather, turn to their flowers and say "what a waste!" never.

California Blooms carries beautiful "blooms" from yes, you guessed it-- California! They are family owned and operated. And each of their bouquets are hand selected and hand cut and the peak of freshness. They are then over-nighted to your door -- from farm to your front door in less that 24 hours! amazing! Plus, they use eco-friendly practices-- see below:

"Our roses are grown utilizing eco-friendly methods that drastically reduce the demand for energy. The greenhouse roofs are double-lined as opposed to the typical greenhouse with a single-lined roof. In addition, energy curtains are used throughout the greenhouses. This alone reduces energy consumption by over 30%. Water used throughout the growing operation is continually recycled back into the operation as well as into nearby pastureland and complimentary crops."

I received a beautiful bouquet of fresh orange roses. Gorgeous blooms right of the box. I trimmed them and used the water additive they arrived with. I then placed them in a vase and voila-- instant centerpiece!

Overall, the roses lasted about 3 days. I changed the water daily, but they still wilted. I was a little let down that they didn't fully open, but nonetheless, they were still gorgeous! The orange long stemmed roses sell for $39 dollars for 1 dozen. You can add in a vase for another $8 dollars.

All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from California Blooms. A special thanks to California Blooms for participating in a review!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Dr. Perricone Hydrating Nutrient Mask with Skin Firming Qualities- Giveaway

2010-09-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

"Refresh tired, dull skin with Perricone Hydrating Nutrient Mask. The therapeutic mask instantly imparts a healthy, radiant glow as it delivers rich nutrients and antioxidants."

It does-- it really, really does. I chose the Hydrating Nutrient Mask to review, in part to make my face more supple and moisturized for longer. And low and behold, it does it's job! I also have some enlarged pores-- I can definitely see a difference in the size and amount of them by using the Perricone skincare line and Perricone makeup.

The mask incorporates great ingredients that are good for your skin. It's lightweight, and leaves skin so soft and hydrated. To apply the mask, you simply smooth on the Hydrating Nutrient Mask over your face and neck. Wait 15 minutes and then rinse off or tissue off. I like to use the mask once a week for optimal results-- especially here in dry Southern California!

Dr. Perricone's Hydrating Nutrient Mask combines:

Alpha Lipoic Acid: provides the ultimate antioxidant protection and reduces surface imperfections, such as fine lines, enlarged pores, and discoloration.
Olive Oil Polyphenols: deliver antioxidant benefits, nourish and hydrate skin, and calm dry or sensitive skin.
Tocotrienols: deliver skin firming antioxidant and emollient benefits, nourish, and increase elasticity.

I love the price too-- $65 dollars for a nice 2 ounce jar. It may seem pricey at first glance, but a little of the mask goes a long way! It's so very hydrating and creamy-- it spreads well and evenly.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky TicTacDough reader will win the Hydrating Nutrient Mask from Dr. Perricone!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Dr. Perricone and tell me one other product you would like to try!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

-Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

-Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url or the entries will not count)- 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER BUTTON

-Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

-Follow Dr. Perricone on Twitter -- 1 ENTRY

-Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win Hydrating Nutrient Mask from @DrPerricone! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/286eduo #WOMENONLY #skincare #health

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

-"Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 EXTRA ENTRY

-"Like" Dr. Perricone on Facebook-- 1 EXTRA ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 12th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Dr. Perricone. A special thanks to Dr. Perricone for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY Event: Fantastic Sams Giveaway

2010-09-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Sams is a name that I am sure most of you have heard before. They began in 1974 when Sam Ross opened the first Fantastic Sams in Memphis, Tennessee.I have been going to Fantastic Sams for a long time. Probably since I was at least six! I always go to them for a nice cut or style at a reasonable price! They don't rush through the service-- they take their time. Plus, I like it that you can customize your service-- if you want your hair washed? Ok. Blow dried? Ok too!

I received a gift certificate and Nourishing Serum from Fantastic Sam's to use for the Back to School Event. I took Hannah to get her hair trimmed before school started. The salons are clean, friendly and up to date on all the latest trends in hair styles. Don't worry-- you won't walk out with "The Rachel" Haircut-- it will be modern and sophisticated!

Fantastic Sams has salons all over the United States-- you can find you closest one here. If you go to their Facebook Fan Page, AND "like" them, you can get a $2.00 off coupon! EASY!

Would you like to WIN a gift certificate from Fantastic Sams and a three bottle set of fantasticcleanse volumizing shampoo, fantasticcleanse volumizing conditioner, and fantasticstyle volumizing root lifter?!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky TicTacDough reader will win all of the items mentioned above!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Fantastic Sams and tell me where the closest one is to you! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

Get your hair cut & styled! #WIN a gift certificate & hair products fr FantasticSams! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/273hx6u

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Fantastic Sams on Facebook-- Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 11th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine. A special thanks to Fantastic Sams for participating in a review and giveaway!

WOMEN ONLY EVENT: BEARPAW Shoes Giveaway

2010-09-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

live life comfortably

That is the motto of BEARPAW shoes. And why wouldn't you want to live your life comfortably?! I have spent enough time in heels. Yes they are pretty to look at, but have you seen the feet of a woman after years and years of heel wearing? Corns and crooked toes abound-- one word-- UGLY.

Not only are BEARPAW shoes comfortable, but they are stylish, warm and super fun to wear. They pamper your feet in the best quality materials-- wool, leather, high quality suede-- the shoes can't be beat! With winter right around the corner (yes ladies-- it's coming), you need a fun, stylish boot ready and able to endure the elements! BEARPAW makes gorgeous boots, but some really fun slippers, and casual shoes too! I love these brown slip on's! BEARPAW also makes shoes for the rest of the famiglia, but the woman in the family is who matters! right?!

BEARPAW has carved out a niche area by providing customers with comfort and sensibility to set itself apart. From slippers to boots to casual footwear, only the finest materials are used to produce BEARPAW shoes. Built to deliver quality and style, every pair of BEARPAW shoes focuses on comfort and fit, using the highest standards of craftsmanship.

I received a pair of boots from BEARPAW shoes.... it was love at first sight. I ran to the post man everyday-- and finally one afternoon, they arrived! The Emma Boot. Clean, classic, warm and fuzzy. Really it's everything a boot should be. I received the pair in Hickory color. Gorgeous! Definitely a color that goes with everything.

The price is right too! Not too expensive where you might feel guilty for buying a pair, but not inexpensive where you would expect poor craftsmanship. Just right at $62.00 dollars. They do go up depending on style and height, but all around $100 dollars. You can find BEARPAW shoes online or in-store at the following retailers:

ARE YOU READY TO WIN LADIES?!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky TicTacDough reader will win a pair of Emma Boots from BEARPAW shoes!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to BEARPAW shoes and choose another shoe that you would looove!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

-Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

-Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url or the entries will not count)- 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER BUTTON

- GRAB THE BEARPAW shoes button and post anywhere you can (facebook, twitter, your blog...) 5 extra entries per post-- please make sure to leave the url of the place you posted the button or the entries will not count.

<center><a href="http://www.tictacdough.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mbpeik/BEARPAWBUTTON.gif" /></a></center>

-Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

-Follow BEARPAW on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

-Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a pair of EMMA Boots from @BEARPAWSHOES! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2ceun79 #WOMEN #shoes #fashion

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

-"Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

-"Like" BEARPAW shoes on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 10th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from BEARPAW shoes. A special thanks to BEARPAW shoes for participating in a review and giveaway!

The WOMEN ONLY Event STARTS TOMORROW!

2010-09-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

The WOMEN ONLY Event is starting tomorrow! There will be 11 reviews and giveaways just waiting for you to check out!

Don't forget to grab the WOMEN ONLY button! You can gain extra entries!!

CSN Stores Review-- COMING SOON!

2010-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

CSN Stores and I have partnered up for another review! This time around I am thinking ahead to some Christmas gifts! I have two new nieces that will need some fabulous Christmas gifts and CSN Stores is where I am headed!

I found this really cute Leap Frog Learn and Groove Musical Table-- perfect for any toddler!

What is really nice about CSN Stores, is that you can get most of your holiday shopping done in one easy online stop. From dad to grandma, they have a little of everything! I was looking for a coffee table recently and CSN Stores had tons to choose from-- Really innovative ones too and at competitive prices too! Go check them out!

Nostalgic Graphic Tees by Elizabeth Horton Design -- Review and Giveaway!

2010-09-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Childhood is a time of innocence, inspiration, love and nostalgia. Little girls want to be fairies and ballerinas, little boys want to grow up to be strong firefighters or fishermen. When I was little, I wanted to sell popcorn at the movie theater. Really, what could be better-- fresh popcorn, new movies anytime you wanted, candy at your disposal... it's really a perfect job.

Elizabeth Horton Designs evokes the sense of childhood~ from reading in a garden, fishing at a nearby pond or pulling a wagon down a dirt road-- they all bring a sense of wholesomeness. She takes these memories and makes them into comfy clothing for children of all ages.

"When a parent sees the shirts, I hope that they will feel nostalgic of their own childhood memories. Picking a flower, playing on a see saw, twirling in a tutu, catching that first firefly of the summer, looking at clouds against a blue sky, blowing bubbles, fishing in a pond, riding a bike.....these are all of the images I want to convey.

When a child sees the shirts, I want them to be drawn to the whimsical graphics that relate to their interests, and the colors and soft comfort. This is the shirt that I hope your children will reach for time and time again!"

My daughter received a beautiful long sleeved tee in bright pink with a timeless fairy on the front. At first I thought I would give it to my youngest, but low and behold my oldest daughter saw it, asked to try it on-- it was really love at first sight! The tee was a bright beautiful pink, the graphic was white. I do have to say it feels like one of those tees that you want to wear day after day-- super soft! Plus, the graphic seems of extremely good quality. Many times after you wash clothes that has graphics, it will peel up or fade away-- Elizabeth Horton Designs graphics feel as though they will stand the test of time!

The tees are $21.00-- I think that is a heck of a deal for a handmade tee made with great materials-- and it's not everyday that you find timeless childrens clothing that doesn't make kids look older than they are-- especially girls! Plus Nostalgic Graphic Tees supports the Look Good...Feel Better organization - a public service program serving cancer patients.

The next time I have a baby shower to go to, I am for sure buying one of these infant sleep gowns. So cute-- I looove the mermaid!

It's your lucky day readers! Are you ready to win?!

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky TicTacDough reader will WIN a Turquoise Fairy Tee with white graphic, in choice of size (18 months through Size 8)!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Nostalgic Graphic Tees by Elizabeth Horton Designs and choose one tee that encompasses your child and tell me why!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

-Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

-Grab buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER BUTTON

-Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

-Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a Fairy Tee from Elizabeth Horton Designs! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2g9e885 #kids #children #clothing

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

-"Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY
-"Like" Nostalgic Graphic Tees on Facebook and Write on your own wall about this giveaway!-- 2 ENTRIES

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on October 6th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Nostalgic Graphic Tees. A special thanks to Nostalgic Graphic Tees for participating in a review and giveaway!

EO Review and Giveaway

2010-09-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of EO? I hadn't before this review, but I am sure happy I know of them now! My friends and I have been trying to find a company that produces personal care products that are not only safe for people, but the environment too. Why use harsh chemicals, when they are not needed. I hate putting something on my kids bodies that is chock full of chemicals-- what effects are these chemicals having on them? hmm...

"EO is a family owned and operated, Certified Organic Manufacturer of personal care products using the highest grade natural and certified organic ingredients. We create products that are natural, gentle, effective and free from animal testing. We know that providing a product with integrity and sustainability is a choice and we make this choice consciously to ensure that only the finest products are created."

They truly believe in the words "natural" and "sustainable" to be more than just pretty marketing terms that are in fad nowadays. It seems that "organic" and "environmentally friendly" are terms that are thrown in at the end if that have one or two natural ingredients-- But I ask you, what about the other ingredients?

EO products are free of parabens and synthetics.

Their passion is to create the highest quality products that are natural, gentle, effective and free from animal testing. Every product EO creates are carefully crafted to meet the needs of their clients. Nothing is left to chance; every detail is considered.

"We manufacture consistently excellent essential oil formulations that are efficacious, safe and made from natural, sustainable botanical sources.
We create products for our customers that allow them to treat or relieve specific needs and to maintain overall good health through the benefits of therapeutic botanicals.
The continued and ongoing development of new and innovative products that meet our stringent formulation criteria.
Innovation without compromise: Personal care must perform. We pledge to continue to research new natural ingredients that can provide function and benefit without compromising our natural integrity or product performance.
We develop innovative formulas based on researched herbal and aromatherapy knowledge.
We know that the formulation of beneficial herbs, essential oils and natural ingredients is truly an art form.
We work continuously to source natural and organic ingredients with uniquely therapeutic properties.
We also choose not to include synthetic colors, fragrances or harsh chemicals in our products.
EO products must perform given the expectations of our customers."

I had the absolute pleasure to review 3 products from the EO line:

All three are wonderful! I looove the Meyer Lemon and Sage Liquid Hand Soap. It's fresh, light smelling, cleans well, and is perfect for the kitchen or bathroom. The Mandarin Spice is a beautiful scent as well-- great for the upcoming holidays!

The gift set was absolutely lovely. The lavender is tranquil and soothing-- mixed in with a warm bath, and ladies, it was heaven on Earth. The gift set included a Baubble Bath and a Bath Salt in the kit. Loved both!

Would you like to receive the same holiday edition products from EO?

GIVEAWAY:
One lucky TicTacDough reader will win the three special holiday products from EO!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to the EO website and tell me two other products you and your family would like to try!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

- Grab the buttons (The Petunia Button, The Women Only Event Button and the TicTacDough Button) from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 5 EXTRA ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow EO products on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win 3 NEW HOLIDAY products from EOProducts! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/27tbstk #health #organic #family

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY
- "Like" and Write on the EO Products Facebook wall about this giveaway!-- 2 ENTRIES

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 30th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from EO. A special thanks to EO for participating in a review and giveaway!

Why I would like to go to Blissdom!

2010-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Do you even need to ask for reasons? Really though! It's Blissdom... in Tennessee.... at the Grand Ole Opryland Hotel!! That should be reason enough!

1. I could be your walking billboard. Consider my body ad space! It's actually a quite large billboard-- no skinny chic here. I will hand out business cards, goody bags, wear your company logo, pass out hats, stickers... I won't sing though.

2. Blissdom is a mecca to meet talented bloggers from across North America! I would love to gain ideas and some different perspectives when it comes to blogging!

3. I would get to hang with my BFF! She is a blogger that lives in New Jersey, I am in California. We really could not be further away. Unless I move to Japan or maybe if she moves to Italy-- but, yeah that's not happening.

4. I may be able to snag Tim McGraw away from old Faith. I hear he frequents Tennessee-- I may run into him at the Grand Ole' Opry and he will serenade me some rather beautiful ballads. It could happen.

5. I hear Tennessee has some good BBQ. yum

6. I have relatives that live in a holler. Not quite sure where, what or why the holler, but they are there! I could meet them and "Hollla" back at em'. (never thought I would utter or write those words-- see where blogging takes you!)

Sponsorship~~ Would your company like to sponsor me? I would be thrilled! We can discuss different sponsorship plans and details such as:

I can provide you with a detailed written report on the conference. Complete with “insider information” like who was there, and how did the brands and the bloggers interact.
Get the word out about your products or services by passing out coupons, products and promotional goodies.
Tweet about the sponsorship, the company/brand, and any activities I will be doing on your companies behalf.
Post updates on my Facebook profile and fan page-- I have over 500 fans!
Post about your company on my blog before, during and after the conference.
Conduct giveaways before, during and/or after the conference.
Take video and photos for your company website of the product “in action” at the Blissdom conference.
Put a badge about the sponsorship on my blog, Facebook fan page and Twitter profile.

"Blissdom is the premiere conference for women who find and express their bliss by publishing online. Blissdom ‘10, our third conference, is a welcoming oasis in the ever-changing blogging world. Speakers and panels featuring the best blogging, public relations and social media pros will be gathering to mentor new and old friends alike."

Remember: Children's Literature about September 11, 2001

2010-09-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

To all of our brave service men and women and their families; firefighters, police, EMS, Military and beyond-- thank you for your time, your service and perseverance. You all are valued and appreciated.

Here is a list of children's books for primary through high school, that touches upon the September 11th tragedy. Books about heroes, reflection and remembrance.

Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms
Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
Christine Maclean
This lively picture book celebrates imaginative play and family togetherness as it pays a subtle tribute to today's heroes.

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey
Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
Maira Kalman
This is the inspiring true story of the John J. Harvey, a retired New York City fireboat, reinstated on September 11, 2001.

Lucy and The Liberty Quilt
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle
Victoria London, Angela Liang (Illustrator)
This story takes place in modern-day America. The character, Lucy Lee, like everyone else in the world, is rocked by the events of September 11. Her response to the events makes this book an inspirational and heartfelt story.

Peace
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
Tucker Shaw
Teens from across the U.S. and around the world share their thoughts on peace, what the world was like before the tragedies, how their lives have changed as a result of those events, and what their hopes and dreams are for the future.

September 11: A Testimony
Grade Levels: Secondary
The Staff of Reuters
This book serves as a testament to those who lost their lives, to those who fought to save them, and to those who are endeavoring to rebuild. The book is filled with more than 135 stunning photographs from Reuters.
Note: Some images in this book may be disturbing

Terrorism (Understanding Issues)
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle
Gail B. Stewart
Stewart discusses the images, causes, and effects of terrorism, as well as what can be done to prevent it.

Understanding September 11th: Answering Questions About the Attacks on America
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle
Mitch Frank
In this important book, Time magazine reporter Mitch Frank clearly and concisely explains and answers essential questions about September 11th.

Bravemole
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle
Lynne Jonell
Inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, Bravemole is a moving story of courage. Perfect for prompting conversations about the tragedy or remembering the brave efforts of all who came forward to help, the tale celebrates the extraordinary capacity of the most humble to make a difference.
United We Stand: America's War Against Terrorism
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle
Carole Marsh
Timely, factual, sensitive information for children about America's response to terrorism.

With Their Eyes: September 11th: The View from a High School at Ground Zero
Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary
Annie Thoms (Compiler), Taresh Batra (Editor), Anna Deavere Smith
Tuesday, September 11, 2001, began like any other day at Stuyvesant High School, only a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. Within a few hours the students experienced an event that transformed their lives. Here are their firsthand accounts of that day.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag Giveaway on Facebook!

2010-09-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

In case you would like to double you chances of winning a beautiful Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag, they are giving away their 10th and final 10th Anniversary Heirloom Bag this month on Facebook!

Heirloom Giveaway
Become a Petunia fan on Facebook because they are having a fashion show this month! They are giving away a final Heirloom Boxy Backpack that features 10 years of their most adored and iconic fabrics! Tell them, who your fashion icon and how you incorporate this person’s style into your look? Post a picture of you in your icon inspired garb with your Petunia bag – don’t forget to tell us how your Petunia bag fits into your style! See Facebook contest tab for full details!

**Make sure to enter the Petunia Pickle Bottom Giveaway here at TicTacDough too!!
It runs through September 30th!

HelpMeSpeak-- Care Cards for Speech Impaired Patients

2010-09-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

"A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. "A" means no or negative. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "Trophic" means nourishment–"No muscle nourishment." When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region." ~~ ALS Association

ALS ~~ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but many times, people are left with the inability to communicate with their loved ones. Simple tasks we take for granted everyday; drinking, eating, speaking, are never the same. Patients affected by ALS, often become speech impaired due to the muscle loss in and around the mouth.

HelpMeSpeak-- Care Cards for Speech Impaired Patients are designed to help people communicate their emotional and physical needs. ALS, stroke, multiple sclerosis, paralysis from injury, are all conditions that cause mobility and communication challenges. Imagine being cold, wet, thirsty, or in pain, and unable to pull up a blanket, pour a drink of water, or get to your medicine. Now, imagine if you could not speak clearly enough (or at all) to your caregiver, so that your discomfort continues, unnecessarily. HelpMeSpeak Care Cards are a simple, affordable way to dramatically improve the care-giving and care-receiving experience for anyone with speech and mobility related issues. The cards allow loved ones, doctors, nurses, therapists to provide proper care without the guesswork. If a patient is thirsty, they simply hold up the "I am thirsty" Care Card. The Care Cards come in English on one side and the identical Spanish translation on the other side.

"HelpMeSpeak cards are providing a break-through in eliminating frustrations and improving the care experience for incapacitated patients like me who need a high level of assistance but cannot speak to communicate their needs. The cards are designed to help patients easily communicate basic care needs in a hospital, nursing facility or home setting, thus making them more comfortable and helping their caregivers do their jobs more effectively." -Paul Henderson, ALS patient, diagnosed in 2005

Place a pre-order, request more information through the HelpMeSpeak website. When you order a set of HelpMeSpeak cards, $1 dollar of each purchase will be donated to the ALS Association.

*If you think this is a product worth sharing, please tweet the following-- you can gain 2 extra entries in any current TicTacDough giveaway!*

"For speech impaired patients- Is someone you know & love in need of care? http://www.helpmespeakcards.com @tictacdoughblog @alsassociation"

No compensation was received from this post. I simply thought the topic and product were important and needed extra exposure. Thank you to HelpMeSpeak for allowing me to write about your company.

Give your Sandwich a Makeover!

2010-09-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

Mayo is a delicious addition to any sandwich. It gives a little moisture, a little tang, but all too often it's calorie and fat laden-- which makes your healthful sandwich a bit counter productive.

Kraft has come up with some amazing flavor combinations! From Chipotle, Horseradish- Dijon, Hot & Spice to Garlic & Herb-- they all taste great and give a wonderful flavor to any boring sandwich!

Each are a bit different in the flavor department. I absolutely looove the Horseradish- Dijon on a homemade roast beef sandwich-- yum. And the Chipotle gives plain ole' turkey a southwestern flair that is heavenly! My kids love grilled cheese sandwiches. I use the flavored mayo from Kraft, instead of butter or margarine to grill the bread. It comes out crisp, flavorful and delicious! You gotta try it! The girls and the hubby seem to enjoy the Chipotle on their grilled cheeses-- but I think the Garlic & Herb would be fantastic!

Each of the new may flavors from Kraft are reduced fat, which means you can go ahead and make your sandwich-- and eat it too! Ready to win?!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win an assortment of the new Kraft Mayo's!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to the Kraft website and tell me two other products you and your family uses!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

- Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 5 EXTRA ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win an assortment of Kraft Sandwich Shop Reduced Fat Mayo! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/ydkabgc #health #food

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY
- Write on your own Facebook wall telling everyone you know about this giveaway!-- 5 ENTRIES

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 20th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Kraft. A special thanks to Kraft for participating in a review and giveaway!

Guest Post-- Early Childhood Education- Acquiring Sign Language

2010-09-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Early Childhood Education – Acquiring Sign Language

One of the keys to surviving in a tilted economic system in which opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living will be limited is versatility – and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience. This includes bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

At the same time, a growing shortage of qualified interpreters fluent in American Sign Language has led to more career opportunities – and if current trends continue, it's likely that skilled ASL interpreters will have little problem securing lucrative employment in a society where such a commodity is destined to be in short supply.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly demonstrated that the early years – ages 2 to five – are the best time to educate children in different modes of communication and language. This goes beyond the spoken word (though it is an optimal time for children to learn a second language); many young children have an aptitude for signing as well.

This is not as odd as you may think. As you know, many indigenous peoples around the world, including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language. Some paleontologists and anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals – who apparently lacked the vocal mechanism to produce many spoken words – depended a great deal upon hand gestures to communicate.

In fact, recent research suggests that sign language is innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that babies as young as six months old communicate with their hands:

"...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves before they know how to talk."

The author also cites study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrating that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older. The ability to sign has also helped parents in communicating with autistic children; one parent reports that "using sign language allowed her to communicate with her [autistic] son and minimized his frustration...[he now] has an advanced vocabulary and excels in math, spelling and music" (Glarion, 2003).

The Best Time To Start

Not only does early childhood education in signing give pre-verbal youngsters a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the Zionsville educational child care facility, a member of the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose Schools (located in 16 states throughout the U.S.) and part of the network of Indiana educational child care preschools delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum.

WOMEN ONLY Event COMING SOON!

2010-09-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

This September 27th through October 7th is TicTacDough's WOMEN ONLY Event!

So many times, as women we are 100% focused on our family and loved ones. Time flies by and we choose our families over ourselves. I know for me, if the girls need clothes, they get them first; and when you are a mom-- that's ok-- we love being able to provide for our children. This next event is focused all on us. What we want, love and need! WOMEN ONLY!

9/27-- Bearpaw
9/28-- Fantastic Sams
9/29-- Dr. Perricone
9/30-- California Blooms
10/1-- Hapari
10/2-- Tea Collection
10/3-- Lisa D. Jewelry
10/4-- Calabasas Candy Co.
10/5-- Nimli
10/6-- Elana
10/7-- Zevia

**Grab the new button and receive 5 extra entries on any of the giveaways!**

**Post about the event on Facebook or Twitter before the event begins, and get an extra entry per wall post or tweet, per giveaway! As many tweets or wall posts per day as you like! SPREAD THE WORD LADIES **

Aqua Leisure Giveaways

2010-09-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

With summer coming to an end in most of the country, sometimes you can find some great deals on summer necessities for next summer now. I live in Southern California-- the sun is blaring usually through November-- so the Aqua Leisure products are always useful for our family!

Aqua Leisure is a company that focuses on sun, safety and fitness in the great outdoors. From swim aides to fun pool toys-- they have a little bit of everything necessary for a great family day. Plus, Aqua Leisure doesn't stop at the pool; how about some great fitness products designed with the health of your child in mind!

I reviewed the Quick-Click Pop-Up Cabana by Sun Smart; an Aqua Leisure brand. It's strong, durable, but what I find most important is that it shields our precious children from the suns strong rays. I can definitely see Hannah and Emma taking a breather in the cabana. It's also very easy to put up and take down, plus it comes in a handy bag for storage and portability.

Opens and closes in less than ten seconds
Treated fabric provides excellent protection from sunlight

The other Aqua Leisure product I reviewed was the Jumbo Hop Ball, by First Fitness. Sometimes kids need a little push in the right direction when it comes to fitness and fun. The Hop Ball combines both and literally provides hours of fun. Hannah loves bouncing around on the deck. I love it because it gives her that extra bit of exercise that otherwise she might not get-- great for building leg strength and for cardio! I can definitely see this product being an invaluable resource for preschools or elementary schools!

Kid-friendly, grab ’n grip handles
Recessed inflation valve for safety
Indoor/outdoor use

Aqua Leisure products are found all over North America--

Academy
Ace Hardware
Albertsons
Aldi
Amazon.com
Army/Air Force Exchange
Benny's
Big 5
BJ's Wholesale Club
Brooks Drug
Buy Buy Baby
Canadian Tire
Costco.com
Dollar General
Duckwall-Alco Stores
Dunhams
E-Toys
Fred Meyer
Grocery Outlet
HEB Grocery
Home Hardware
Kay Bee Toy
K-MartLeslie's Swimming Pool Supplies
Loblaws
Ltd
Meijer
Mills Fleet Farm
Namco
National Stores
One Step Ahead
Pamida
Publix
Raley's
Safeway
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoprite
Sports Authority
Stop & Shop
Target
The Right Start
Toys R Us
Tru-Value Hardware Stores
Walgreens
Wal-Mart
Zellers

GIVEAWAY

TWO WINNERS~~One winner will receive a Hop Ball and one winner will receive a Quick-Click Pop up Cabana! (sorry, no choices)

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Aqua Leisure and tell me one other product they make!

(You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

- Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 5 EXTRA ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a Pop up Cabana or Hop Ball from Aqua Leisure! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2dz3z9n #children #sun #fitness

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY
- "Like" Aqua Leisure on Facebook AND write on your own wall telling everyone you know about this giveaway!-- 5 ENTRIES

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 17th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Aqua Leisure. A special thanks to Aqua Leisure for participating in a review and giveaway!

Delta Faucet Review

2010-09-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

I had the great opportunity to review a new Delta Faucet. I chose the Signature Single Handle Pull Out Kitchen Faucet in a beautiful Brilliance Stainless. It retails online at Delta for $367.87. Not bad for a gorgeous addition to a kitchen!

Plus the features and benefits are stellar:

Simple yet stylish looks complement any kitchen... and get the job done.
Elegant form with functionality you can depend on.
Pull-out spray wand provides 38″ reach, maximizing work space
High-arc spout provides 9″ of reach, 8″ of height, swings 120º for added convenience
Includes optional 10-3/4″ escutcheon/base
Lifetime Faucet and Finish Warranty

Smart Features

ADA Compliant
DIAMOND™ Seal Technology:With the Diamond Seal Technology you can trust and depend on the Delta faucet to be leak free and durable for years to come.
Touch Clean: Easily cleans hard water and calcium with a touch of a finger.
Brilliance® Finish: This faucet had a Brilliance Finish which resists abrasions and discolorations.
CA/VT Compliant: which is a law that further limits the weighted average (amount of) lead content in pipes, fittings and plumbing fixtures used to convey drinking to a maximum of .25% on wetted services. This is less than the allowable level in most states whose standards are based on the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which has been very effective in making drinking water safer.

I could not be happier with my choice in Delta and my specific faucet. It compliments the kitchen nicely and updates with a new touch!

All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Delta. A special thanks to Delta for participating in a review!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag Giveaway

2010-08-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies-- it's here!

I had the absolute pleasure to review a fabulous bag by Petunia Pickle Bottom! It's the bag of choice, the one we all envy-- you know those ladies walking down the street with their fabulous hair, well behaved kids, fancy stroller- you know the type-- they are easy to spot-- no sweat pants in sight! I kid, I kid-- well half way....

Petunia Pickle Bottom is a fabulous company that makes even more fabulous of products. From diaper bags, to bedding to great accessories-- they have a little bit of everything for the new mom with an inner fashionista.

More than three little words, Petunia Pickle Bottom is a lifestyle—a different way of looking at the world. And perhaps nowhere else is that difference more distinct, unique or decidedly fashionable than in the Petunia products themselves. A perennial exhibit of bold lines, daring colors and darling designer details, Petunia Pickle Bottom was created for the steadfast sophisticate inside every woman. Silk brocades, hand-woven tweeds, plush chenilles, intricate cut velvets, and exquisitely detailed embroidery—every one a Petunia hallmark, and every one an expression of motherhood’s myriad facets.

I received a Boxy Backpack from their Original Collection in Classic Copenhagen. The design of the backpack is not only fun, but oh-so-functional. It can carry all the necessities, plus more! And we moms, know we all carry more than just the necessities! Our bags become an extension of us. We carry make-up, money, pictures of loved ones-- and the Petunia Pickle Bottom bag fits right in.

The fabrics their bags come in, look and feel like quality and fashion. They are not the plain Jane navys and browns of yesterday, but rather an extension of your wardrobe. Beautiful floral designs, gorgeous damasks, lovely embroidery-- it's all there with a Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag. The Classic Copenhagen is inspired by the Scandinavian cross stitch. It comes glazed for easy clean up, plus water resistant straps and lining. We've all had a sippy cup or bottle leak-- it can be a mess, but with the Petunia bags, clean up is made easy.

Hands-free backpack or long messenger strap
Built-in changing station with detachable changing pad
2 large diaper/wipes pockets
4 bottle pockets
2 organizational pockets
Small pacifier pocket
Detachable dirty diaper pouch
“No more digging” key clip
Water-resistant liner
PVC-Free Glazed “wipe-able” exterior
PPB monogrammed wipes case
Dimensions: 13 X 13.5 X 5.5 in.
Compatible with Valet Stroller Clips (Sold Separately)
Wipe clean with damp cloth only. Spot clean liner with damp cloth.

The Petunia Pickle Bottom bags are not inexpensive-- but I look at it rather like an investment. A fashion piece that is classic and timeless and will last through many children.-- kind of like that go-to little black dress. Rather than purchasing 2 to 3 diaper bags and spending money on a bag with less quality and beauty, purchasing a Petunia Pickle Bottom designer diaper bag is buying something that you know will last and that you will feel comfortable in showing off-- because it is just that great! The Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack in Classic Copenhagen sells for $170 dollars online and in select stores across the country.

GIVEAWAY

One fashionista will win their very own Petunia bag-- the Boxy Backpack in Classic Copenhagen!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me why you need/want a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag! (You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

- Grab the buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 5 EXTRA ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/26f43wo #babies #moms #fashion

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY
- "Like" Petunia on Facebook AND write on your own wall telling everyone you know about this giveaway!-- 5 ENTRIES

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 30th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Petunia Pickle Bottom. A special thanks to Petunia Pickle Bottom for participating in a review and giveaway!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag Giveaway-- COMING SOON!

2010-08-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

You can win your very own Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag! -- Aw, but wait, it's more than just a diaper bag ladies-- it's a stylish accessory no mom will want to be without!

Come back here on Tuesday August 31st and win!

Grab the button below and earn 5-- yes 5 EXTRA ENTRIES!!

or Tweet this out and gain another 5 EXTRA ENTRIES(one tweet per day please) On Aug 31st, #WIN your very own Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag! @tictacdoughblog @followpetunia http://www.tictacdough.blogspot.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the day of the giveaway (August 31st), make sure to comment you have done all of these things! For each thing you choose to do (Twitter, button), Make sure to leave the right amount of comments! Please do not comment on this post-- comment on the giveaway post coming on August 31st! Thank you and Good Luck!

Pediped Review and Contest!

2010-08-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

pediped footwear Debuts Fall Winter 2010 Collection

With Grip ‘n’ Go for the Active Toddler

The Fall/Winter 2010 season marks the debut of pediped Grip ‘n’ Go a shoe specially designed for the active toddler. The Grip ‘n’ Go™ line is a bridge between the pediped Originals and Flex lines. With this introduction, pediped footwear now offers a complete footwear system for children from newborn through 6 years of age.

The new collection has more than 70 new styles across pedipe footwear system’s three lines, Originals, Grip ‘n’ Go and Flex.   With a range that includes 25 Originals styles, 4 couture collection style offerings, 13 Grip ‘n’ Go styles and 39 Flex styles, parents have even more choices when it comes to finding the perfect pair of pediped shoes for their child.

·         Original - the best first shoe ever: pediped Originals are the best first shoes for children and remain the best choice as children learn to walk. The soft flexible soles are recommended by pediatricians and podiatrists as they allow children to closely mimic barefoot walking.

The Originals Fall Winter line for girls features updates on classic styles, including Abigail purple and chocolate brown. Two adorable styles of faux fur boots are offered in the Giselle and Avery styles. pediped uses sheepskin for the first time in the Isabella for girls and the Charlie for boys. The boy’s line also includes a variety of casual athletic styles like the Christopher and the Luke.

The Couture Collection was inspired by the American West with metallic cowboy boots and Mary Janes. The Originals collection will retail for $32 and is available for children 0-2 years. The Couture Collection styles will retail for $42.

·         Grip ‘n’ Go - the perfect shoe for the active toddler: pediped® Grip ‘n’ Go™, are the perfect shoes for a toddler transitioning from early walking to walking with a more confident stride. Grip ‘n’ Go, are made with all the benefits of Originals but with thin, flexible rubber soles. The rounded edges mimic the natural shape of a child’s foot and the heel stability and soft toe box allow toddlers to feel and grip the floor. Grip ‘n’ Go is ideal for both indoor and outdoor wear.

The Grip ‘n’ Go Fall Winter line has classic pediped styles like Alyssa, Giselle, Isabella and Jake. It also includes some exciting new styles like Ellie and Jamie.   The Grip ‘n’ Go collection will retail for $44-$48 and is available for children 9 months to 3 years.

·         Flex - the ultimate shoe for confident walkers: pediped Flex are the ultimate shoes for confident walkers who have developed a solid, natural stride.

The Fall Flex line has a fabulous array of boots for girls including the suede Elizabeth fashion boot, the red Carrie Cowboy boot and the Tonya riding boot.   Fall also brings the expansion of athletic washable styles and ballet flats will Memory Foam Technology. Flex styles range in price from $34-$79 and are available in EU sizes 20-29 with select styles now offered in larger sizes going to EU 31.

A range of coordinating pediped socks and hosiery, jewelry and pediped hair clips by No Slippy Clippy are also offered to complete any and every fall and winter ensemble.

In addition to providing the perfect combination of style and comfort, all pediped shoes are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for the promotion of healthy foot development. The pediped footwear system has recently been endorsed by researches associated with Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston.

I was recently sent a great stylish pair of pediped shoes fro Emma. She is running and on-the-go, all the time. So the pediped Flex shoes are perfect for her! She received the Abigail, (shown above) which is a pink leather show with sweet petaled flowers on the sides. The show flexes with Emma's foot, and even came with an insert to make the fit as perfect as possible!

Soft & Flexible - Exceptionally soft, flexible soles and uppers help to provide healthy foot development. Ultra flexible FLEX ZONES provide maximum flexibility and support natural foot motion.
Heel Cushion - Shock absorbing cushions on each heel protect against impact and distribute pressure through-out the foot.

Flex Fit System - pediped Flex offer a unique fit system. Each pair comes with an additional 2mm insole to customize the fit so it just right for each child. If the child starts with both insoles, as the child’s feet grow the additional insoles may be removed to extend the length of time the child can wear the shoes.

Pediped can be found at www.pediped.com and select stores across the country!

CONTEST:

Four great brands are teaming up for a fantastic contest!

Pediped, Mutsy, Kokopax and Kushies are giving away products!

Prize: One of four Great Prizes for Baby

Winners will be selected after September 30, 2010!

Go to the Mutsy Facebook page and "like" their page and enter the contest! I have! =)

Tweet this to tell your friends:

Hot Summer Fun Giveaway from @Mutsy @Pediped @Kokopax & @Kushies -- http://tinyurl.com/283ykw4 @tictacdoughblog

CostumeSuperCenter.com Review

2010-08-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hey mamas-- Did you know that Halloween is right around the corner?! Well alright-- it's not right around the corner-- you have two months, but man if you don't get your costumes for Halloween early, your kid will definitely end up the ghost with a sheet over his head.

Unless....

Unless you visit Costume Super Center for all of your costume needs! They have over 1700 new costume items just ready for you to browse through! Great selection for boys, girls and adults, awesome prices, quick shipping! If you purchase a costume over $40 dollars and use the coupon code FREE40 at checkout, you will get free shipping! It's win, win, win!

I had the great opportunity to review a costume from the girls Halloween costumes. We chose one of the Cowgirl Costumes for my daughter Hannah. It features a dress with tiered skirt, belt, vest, hat and hat band. A great deal for $34.99.

She cannot wait to give it a whirl at school and on Halloween night! Yee haw!

Ella's Kitchen Giveaway

2010-08-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

So upon receiving my sampler box of Ella's Kitchen, I had a picky eater who would not eat her veggies, nor most fruits. Her menu for the day consisted of cheese, juice, crackers, an occasional strawberry, and perhaps some chicken if she was really hungry. Most moms of two year old's have a daily battle to get their little one to eat something out side the dairy group.

Ella's Kitchen is the brainchild of Paul Lindley. Paul wanted to provide his children and others to eat better food and also to discover that healthy food can be fun, tasty and cool.They have taken simple, natural ingredients that ooze goodness and created foods, and packaging, that should connect with kids - with flavors, colors, textures and even names that will appeal to all of their senses. Ella's Kitchen has two types of organic foods-- the Smoothie Fruits and the Stage 1 Baby Foods.

The Stage 1 Baby Foods are combination's like Carrots, Apples and Parsnips or Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkins, Apples and Blueberries. The Smoothies are come in two flavors-- The Yellow One and The Red One. Each smoothie contains fruits from red fruits or yellow fruits.

I had put the Ella's Kitchen sampler in the fridge; I thought it being cold it might taste better. Emma loved that it was own little pod of goodness! You twist off the cap and voila-- fruits and vegetables mixed into one yummy container. I tried giving her her normal breakfast of oatmeal, but lately she has been pushing it away. I broke out The Yellow One Smoothie and instantly Emma wanted it! She loved it and sucked down the whole thing. At least after I knew she had gotten some nutritious vitamins and minerals that she wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I even squirted a little in her oatmeal-- and she ate it all down! I love that what you see is really what you get! There is nothing else in the smoothies and baby food other than the stuff listed. You can trust the foods to be healthy and helpful!

There are 4 new flavors too! The Stage 1 Butternut squash, carrots, apples, and prunes and then the Spinach, apple, rutabaga. And then the Smoothies: The Green One - Apples, pears, banana, kiwi fruit and The Purple One - bananas, apples, blackcurrants, blueberries

Now when Emma is a bit fussy with her meal, I give her one of her smoothies or baby foods-- it kind of acts like an appetizer and then eventually she usually eats her regular meal!

Ella's Kitchen can be found online and at stores across the US including Babies R Us and Whole Foods.

Would you like to win a Sampler Pack of Ella's Kitchen?

~GIVEAWAY~

One lucky winner will receive a 4 pack of the new flavors from Ella's Kitchen!

Mandatory FIRST Entry:

Follow TicTacDough publicly-- please tell me in your first comment (leave your email address please)

and

Visit Ella's Kitchen and tell me the flavor that you would love to try!

**You must complete the mandatory entry as your FIRST comment before any additional entries count.** For each of these Additional Entries, make a separate comment:

Follow TicTacDoughshop and Ella's Kitchen on Twitter and tweet the following message, then comment below with the link to your tweet (1 extra entry per day):

#Win a 4 Pack of new flavors from @EllasKitchen! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2gayznw #food

Write a blog post about this giveaway (at least 50 words) and leave the link to your post below. (10 extra entries!)
Facebook Fan TicTacDough and leave a comment on my wall! (2 extra entries)
Enter any other giveaway listed here on TicTacDough (1 extra entry per giveaway)

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 7th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Ella's Kitchen. A special thanks to Ella's Kitchen for participating in a review and giveaway!

Sunscreen Tips for Kids Going Back To School (how to protect them when you are not with them):

2010-08-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation may be over, but that doesn’t mean kids will be out of the sun. Data suggests that the majority of sun exposure in a person occurs before the age of 18. So… how can you be sure to protect your children when they are back at school and out of your sight? Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Beth Israel Medical Centers, suggests following these simple rules:

- If your children play sports, pack water-proof spray-on sunscreen in their backpack. Make sure you tell them to spray it on while getting ready for practice or the big game (30 minutes before sun expDear Maryann Peik,osure). The spray version is easy to apply and they don't have to feel shy about asking a team mate to help them out.

- Consider washing your child's practice clothes and uniforms with Rit Sunguard. Available on-line and in most grocery stores, the easy to use powder can be washed in with clothes in the laundry and confers added SPF to t-shirts, shorts and socks - good for multiple washes.

- Buy empty lotion bottles (travel size) and fill them with sunscreen to pack in your child's backpack. That way it is easy to transport and easy for you to monitor their use.

- Don't forget sunglasses. Beyond a fashion accessory, sunglasses protect your child's eyes from harmful UV rays

- Encourage wearing a hat. Though most children are resistant to wearing a broad-brimmed hat, baseball caps are better than nothing. Just remind your child to put sunscreen on their ears and the back of their neck!

- If your child is in tournaments lasting the whole day in the fall, designate a "sunscreen parent." Just like the "snack parent" who provides nourishment to keep the kids on the field, the "sunscreen parent" can keep them safe and free from sunburns. Making this part of the sport environment creates healthy habits early on.

What is the data to support the importance of sunscreen use?

Data shows that basal cell skin cancer is rising in people under the age of 40. In addition, a study done in 2000 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that children who wore sunscreen consistently developed fewer moles than those who did not. The same study showed that sunscreen use is even more important for children with freckles because it decreased the number of nevi or moles they acquired by up to 40%. An epidemiologic study completed in 2009 showed that male children are at higher risk than female and additional risk factors for developing moles include spending 5 - 6 hours /weekly/ between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm outdoors. That's not a lot of time considering most sports practrice at least 1 - 2 hours a day. And don't forget those soccer tournaments!

So, if your child is playing sports when school gets back in session, remember these tips and keep them protected even when they are not under your watch.

Basic Bread Making {Recipe}

2010-08-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

This was my first time baking bread-- I guess you could call me the bread baking virgin... but I am pretty darn proud of my creation. I even doubled the recipe and it turned out fantastic!

Airy, light, no preservatives, wholesome organic ingredients, easy to make, inexpensive, it's even fun to do with the chitlens!

Here is the recipe-- as I gain some confidence and add or take away ingredients, I will let you all know!

1/4 cup milk (I used 2% milk)
5 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons butter
1 package of active dry yeast (I bought a jar of the yeast which is 2 and 1/4 teaspoons)
2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
nonstick cooking spray or butter to grease the loaf pans

*makes one nice sized loaf-- double the recipe to make two nice sized loaves*

Warm up a large bowl with hot water (or if you are using a stand mixer, warm up that bowl). The purpose is to warm the bowl, not use the water. Place your yeast in the dried bowl, then add a cup of warm water at 110 degrees F. Stir until the yeast is completley dissolved.

Melt the butter in the microwave, then add it to the yeast and water. Add in the milk, sugar, and salt too. Stir gently. Then add in two cups of the flour. If you are using a stand mixer like I did, turn on the mixer to low. Don't forget to use the bread kneading attachment!

Slowly add in the rest of the flour 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough is just coming away from the bowl and not sticking to your hands. Transfer to a floured surface and knead to your hearts desire-- for a good ten minutes. If you are using the stand mixer, let it go on low to level 2/3 for about ten minutes.

Make a ball with your dough, then place it in a greased bowl. Cover it with a dish towel and leave in a nice warm place for one hour. It should double in size.

Once one hour has passed, punch down the dough a couple times. Bring the dough to a floured surface and press out to the size of a rectangle. The width up and down should be the length of your loaf pan. Roll it up in a nice long bun. Sorta like a cinnamon roll. Place in loaf pan.

Take your loaf and cover with the dish towel for one more hour. Doubling should occur.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and cook for 30 minutes. *enjoy* ~~ More bread recipes to come!

Baby Aspen {Giveaway}-- Part two

2010-08-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

I know what you are thinking-- another Baby Aspen review?! I know-- how lucky can we get right?! AND IT GET'S EVEN BETTER!!

This giveaway has SIX WINNERS!!

I was thrilled to receive a box of super cute Caterpillar Crawlers. They are sweet little baby socks that are gender neutral and a perfect gift for any baby shower. If you give these darling socks as a gift, you will for sure be the envy of all the gift givers. People will "oooohhh" and "ahhhhh"-- they are that cute.

Four pair of socks with perky prints in cute caterpillar presentation

Dots, stripes and a smiley face decorate the socks in shades of purple, green, yellow and orange

Machine-washable cotton-poly blend

Gift presentation includes sage-green base accented with a band of fuschia grosgrain ribbon, an applique with Caterpillar Crawlers, a clear display top, socks in ball-shape lined up like a caterpillar, and two green antennae topped with small, fuzzy, fuschia balls

Size 0-6 months

The Caterpillar Crawlers are the perfect gift, and sells for the great price of $14.99! It's nice when you can find a cute and useful gift for under $20 dollars! You can find the Baby Aspen Caterpillar Crawlers at CornerStorkBabyGifts.com

GIVEAWAY

SIX lucky winners will win one box of the Caterpillar Crawlers from Baby Aspen! That's right-- SIX WINNERS!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me who you would give these too! You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY PER GIVEAWAY!

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

6 WINNERS!#Win Caterpillar Crawler Socks from Baby Aspen! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/3xh2kza

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 4th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Baby Aspen. A special thanks to Baby Aspen for participating in a review and giveaway!

CSN Stores Review

2010-08-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to be able to review a product from CSN Stores! At first I was going to go the ice cream maker route, but then the goats fell through (yes I was going to get goats), and my milk supply fell short, so I changed my mind. I chose the great L ittle Tikes Sand and Water Fun Factory for my daughter Emma.

It is truly fabulous, built extremely well, easy to put together (I did it myself), and even came with a nice umbrella for extra shade and sun protection! It also cam with a whole bunch of sand and water accessories, like shovels, and twirly things that the water and sand can run through. Plus, what's even nicer, is that it comes with built in covers. The white parts that stand up and hold the twirly toys, also comes down and closes the water or sand from animals. We have tons of birds and rabbits in our yard. I am sure the height of the table may deter the little cotton tails, but eventually they would find a way-- but with the covers, there is no way!

Features:

Multicolored
Includes water scoop, rake / shovel, car ramp, boat and front end loader
Gears and gadgets, funnels and cogs make for hours of sand and water play
Drop down lids protect sand and toys from the elements and animals
Raised design helps kids stay clean
Fabric sun shade canopy offers protection from sun
2008 iParenting Media Awards
2008 Parent's Choice Awards
Ages 2 to 6

CSN Stores has tons-- really tons of products. From baby to furniture, you can find it all at CSN Stores!

Baby Aspen Review and Giveaway!

2010-08-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

I have reviewed Baby Aspen in the past during The Labor of Love Event. Back then I was surprised by the craftsmanship and style of the products-- and again this time around I am astounded!

Baby Aspen's motto is Give. Play. Cuddle. Dream. It definitely fits! The products I received included a super cute lovey called Jakka the Giraffe. My daughter Emma was given something very similar to this when she was just and infant-- and at two years old, she still carries it around with her daily. Jakka is soft and cuddly, and perfect a perfect gift for a new baby--boy or girl!

Plush, beautifully detailed lovie in giraffe print with giraffe's head, front legs holding a sound-making, green crinkle leaf and tail on the back

Other features include baby-safe embroidered eyes, giraffe horns, cream-colored satin trim, a decorative leaf applique and embroidered accents along the bottom of the lovie

Polyester lovie can be surface-washed

The other product I received was another lovie called Ekko the Elephant. Again, so sweet and soft-- really, how could you resist an elephant lovie?!

Plush, beautifully detailed gray lovie with elephant's head and trunk, front legs holding a sound-making, green crinkle leaf and tail on the back

Other features include baby-safe embroidered eyes, cream-colored satin trim, a decorative leaf applique and embroidered accents along the bottom of the lovie

Polyester lovie can be surface-washed

The new lovies sell for $19.99-- a perfect price for a wonderful shower gift! You can find Baby Aspen products at CornerStorkBabyGifts.com

Are you ready to win, win, win?

GIVEAWAY

Three lucky winners will win their choice of either Ekko the Elephant Lovie or Jakka the Giraffe Lovie! That's right-- THREE WINNERS!

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me which lovie you would like to win (Ekko or Jakka)! You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Enter any other giveaway on my site-- and tell me you have in a comment! --1 EXTRA ENTRY

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

3 WINNERS! I just entered to #win a lovie from Baby Aspen at @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2ad8ung

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on September 3rd, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Baby Aspen. A special thanks to Baby Aspen for participating in a review and giveaway!

Popchips Review and Giveaway

2010-08-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

yum, YUM, yum....

My family, my parents and I all have a new favorite snack. Have you tried popchips? No?! You have to seriously run out to the nearest grocery store and buy a trunk load. Why a trunk load you ask--- silly silly readers--- because popchips are addictive... and soon the nice full bag you have, will be overtaken by little hands (and big ones too), and there will not be enough for yourself. So arm yourself-- take the necessary actions. If you need to get mace-- get mace-- fight off the grubby hands.

So what are they you ask? They are heavenly little "popped" chips that are good for you and delicious. Yes, ladies-- I said good for you! They come in a variety of flavors-- my personal fave is the salt and pepper, but how about sour cream and onion, or perhaps bbq, or parmesan garlic! Or, mmmm cheddar. They are light and crispy-- how a potato chip should be. See how They make them below:

We don't fry it (unhealthy). We don't bake it (undelicious). We take wholesome potatoes, add a little heat and pressure, and pop! It's a chip. The only thing added is a flavorful blend of seasonings for a snack so delicious and crispy, you won't even notice it's (we hesitate to say) healthier.
What's out? More than half the fat of fried potato chips, trans fats, and cholesterol. All gone. For good. What's popped in? Only what's natural, tons of delicious, and plenty of crunch.

popchips is my new favorite snack. See, I am trying to eat more healthfully, so I am in the market for purchasing better choices. And popchips are certainly on that list now. popchips sell online for $20.40 for a 24 pack-- that's less than a dollar a bag!

GIVEAWAY
One lucky reader will win a box of popchips (a variety of flavors)!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to popchips and tell me the flavor you are most excited to try! You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow Popchips on Twitter- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

I just entered to #win a box of @Popchips at @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2ap3akk

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Popchips on Facebook--Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 30th, 2010

- Contest open to US and Canadian residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Popchips. A special thanks to Popchips for participating in a review and giveaway!

Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop {Giveaway}

2010-08-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

I love everything about the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop. plain and simple.

I have used the other so-called "spray mops"in the past, but to clean my house thoroughly, it took like 2 or 3 disposable pads and practically a whole bottle of cleaning solution. Then don't even get me started on the mop itself. If it didn't break in half from me trying to get the grime up from the 2 year old monster in the house, it would be a miracle.

Rubbermaid has taken all the woes of the other "spray mops" and made a superior product called the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop! It comes with two reusable/washable microfiber pads, and a refillable bottle to fill up with your favorite cleaning product or homemade cleaning solution (see some great homemade cleaning recipes below). Now I can easily break out the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop and efficiently clean the tile floors-- quickly and safely. If I choose to use a harsh cleaning product, I can-- If I want to make a cleaning solution that is safe for the family, I can do that too!

Cleaning Solution 1

2 Tablespoons ammonia

½ cup white vinegar

½ teaspoon of baby shampoo

Fill the rest with hot water

This solution works well on hardwood floors.

Cleaning Solution 2

2Tablespoons white vinegar

2-3 drops liquid soap

Fill the rest with hot water

This solution is perfect for glazed tiles, vinyl, soft tile, cement, brick, and laminate.

Cleaning Solution 3

2 Tablespoons baking soda

2-3 drops liquid soap

Fill the rest with hot water

This solution is great for unglazed tiles, marble, stone, and slate.

Cleaning Solution 4

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Fill the rest with hot water

This solution also works well on hardwood floors.

What types of flooring will Rubbermaid Reveal clean?
Rubbermaid Reveal cleans virtually any type of floor to a sparkling shine, including wood, vinyl, laminate and tile.
How do I remove leftover solution from the mop?
Just remove the bottle of solution, pull the trigger under the handle to dispense the remaining liquid, and you’re done!
What are the dimensions of the microfiber mopping head?
15” length x 4.5” width
Do I need batteries to operate the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop?
No! It’s one of the ways the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop saves you money. The spray is distributed using a trigger pull to allow you to dispense as little or as much liquid as needed without the hassle of batteries.
What types of solutions can I uses with Reveal Spray Mop?
Rubbermaid Reveal Mop lets you customize your own solution to get your floors brilliantly clean. Just mix two tablespoons of your favorite cleaner with water in the refillable bottle. We don’t recommend using bleach, and as with all cleaning products, you’ll want to check what types of cleaning solutions and methods your floor’s manufacturer recommends.
What is the spray range of the Reveal Spray Mop?
When the mop is held at the correct angle, the spray should reach the length of the pad so you get the maximum clean from every swipe. The mop can be tilted back or forth to increase or decrease the spray area.
REFILLABLE BOTTLE
What is the maximum temperature of solution or water that I can use in the refillable bottle?
We recommend that the water not exceed 120 degrees—typically the hottest temperature of water that comes from the tap.
Can I clean the refillable bottle in the dishwasher?
The refillable bottle can be cleaned by placing in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Can you leave solution in the refillable bottle for storage?
Yes! Use the extra refillable bottle to create pre-mixed solutions so you can simply pop a new bottle into Reveal and go!
MICROFIBER MOPPING PAD
How do I wash the Microfiber mopping pad?
The Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber pad is simple to wash and reuse. You can either hand wash the pad or put it in the washing machine and use a non-bleach detergent. It is recommended that you wash with warm or cold water and with like colors without the use of fabric softener.
How many times can I wash the mop pad before I need to purchase a new one?
The Microfiber Mopping Pad is durable enough to last 100 cycles in a standard washing machine. Do not use bleach or fabric softener when laundering the microfiber pad.
Can I dry my Microfiber mopping pad in the dryer? If so what setting?
Yes! Use the LOW setting (do not use fabric softener sheets) on your dryer to quickly dry the Microfiber Mopping pad and get on with your day.

Are you ready to try out the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop for your self? It sells for $29.95 plus shipping and handling-- but think about the savings-- no more disposable pads and cleaning solutions to buy! Also-- think about the "greenness" of the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop?! No more pads and bottles of cleaning solutions going to the trash heap!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win a Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop!

Mandatory Entry:

Go Rubbermaid and tell me one thing you looove about this mop!

You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow Rubbermaid on Twitter- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win win win-- a Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/23mnygn @rubbermaid

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- Sign up for their newsletter-- send an email rainbowswirlz [!at] gmail.com with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line-- 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Rubbermaid on Facebook --Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 22nd, 2010

- Contest open to US and Canadian residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Rubbermaid. A special thanks to Rubbermaid for participating in a review and giveaway!

GlideBikes {Giveaway}

2010-08-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Remember being a kid trying to learn to ride a bike? Teetering back and forth on your training wheels until your dad finally took them off. Then the endless falls began, until finally your balance kicked in. This potentially dangerous scenario is all too common and it scares many kids into not wanting to ride bikes! Sad, but true.

GlideBikes, is an American manufacturer of the popular European balance bike, has the solution to this problem. A balance bike is a smaller, lower bicycle (starting at 12” seat height) with no pedals that is constructed in a way that will allow children starting at two years old to learn two-wheel balance. Kids learn to balance safely without tears or training wheels and can start slowly by “walking” the bike without pedals getting in the way. Within a short period of time, they are confidently gliding along, balancing upright on two wheels.

GlideBikes also feature strategically-placed foot pegs that allow children to feel comfortable when gliding, much like resting your feet on actual bike pedals.

There are three GlideBike models for children of all ages:

· The Mini Glider (ages 2-5, up to 100 lbs.)

· The Go Glider (ages 5-10, up to 125 lbs.)

· The Super Glider (Ages 10 +, up to 250 lbs. and perfect for older special needs children)

We received a GlideBike recently and it has been super for my oldest daughter Hannah. She has tried learning to ride a bike on training wheels, but when we went to take them off, she completely lost it! She is the type that has to try something and do it perfectly the first time or else tears occur. She is very hard on herself. But by using the GlideBike, she is learning to balance one revolution of the wheel at a time-- so theoretically, when we transition her to her regular bicycle, she will be able to balance and ride.

The GlideBikes start at $99.99 for the Mini Glider. I great price for peace of mind (and your sanity).GlideBikes are sold at retailers throughout the USA or online at Glidebikes.com !

or you can win one for your son or daughter here!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win a GlideBike of their choice!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to GlideBikes and pick out the size of GlideBike and color you would like to win!

You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow GlideBikes on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

Help your #kids learn to ride a bike! #Win a @GlideBike! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/375loq4

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- Sign up for their newsletter-- send an email rainbowswirlz [!at] gmail.com with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line-- 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" GlideBikes on Facebook --Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 22nd, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from GlideBikes. A special thanks to GlideBikes for participating in a review and giveaway!

Who Doesn't like Walkie Talkies?!

2010-08-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Really though! Who does not like a walkie talkie?! I am immediately taken back to my childhood in the 1980's--Pac Man, The Smurfs, Connect Four, Walkie Talkies...

This time around though, it's donning the loved by many, Dora the Explorer! And what explorer-wanna-be does not want a good walkie talkie to talk to their other explorer friends?!

My daughters received a package of the Dora the Explorer Walkie Talkies. Simply put-- they. love. them.

They carry them around with them-- and really, why not? We have a half acre here to explore and being able to ramble to each other while being across the yard, or inside the house is pretty awesome for a 2 year old and 6 year old! There is a bit of static/and or interference-- but for the price of $9.99 on etoys.com, it's an inexpensive fun toy for an afternoon of enjoyment.

On/Off Switch to save battery life
flexible safety antenna
push-to-talk button
volume contro
uses (1) 9V battery for each (not included)

Back to School Event {Rainbow Swirlz}

2010-08-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

It's hard to dress kids. I like it when they are infants and don't have opinions on their clothes. But-- yeah-- they grow up and out of the onesies. So it's nice when you come upon a shop that caters to men, women and children that is not only cool, but fun too!

Rainbow Swirlz does just that. They have tee's, dresses, bags and more all designed with the fun element in mind. Everything is screen printed by hand by the owner. All the tees and such are American Apparel-- so you know that they are quality!

The colors are bright and vibrant, the screen printing is fun and unique! I received a super cute messenger pack perfect for back to school time! It's dark navy with a fun rar monster on the front. My daughters love it! It has a great amount of space inside the pack just for all the readin', ritin' and rithmatic learnin. The messenger bag sells for $29.00-- a great price for a cool pack!

Rainbow Swirlz would be the perfect place to do a custom order-- do you have a special party coming up? Why not get a personalized tee? Or maybe you need to raise some funds for the local elementary school? They do fundraisers too!

**Now through August 15th, Rainbow Swirlz is having a sale!** Or you can win something great right here!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive a screen printed messenger bag from Rainbow Swirlz!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Rainbow Swirls and tell me which color messenger bag you would like to win!

You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow Rainbow Swirlz on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

#Win a cool Messenger Bag from @RainbowSwirlz! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/27y7v7j #backtoschool

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- Sign up for their newsletter-- send an email rainbowswirlz [!at] gmail.com with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line-- 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Rainbow Swirlz on Facebook Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 20th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Rainbow Swirlz. A special thanks to Rainbow Swirlz for participating in a review and giveaway!

Bright Beginnings Now Available at Diapers.com -- Sponsored Post

2010-08-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Bright Beginnings available at diapers.com. Not only can you buy all your diapering needs at Diapers.com, but you can buy formula and all of babies needs there! Bright Beginnings also has a new look-- see above! I like the design, but what's most important is what is inside the can! Obviously, breast is best, but sometimes things happen that get in the way of breastfeeding and women have to turn to formula!

Are you looking for nutrition like breast milk in an affordable infant formula? Bright Beginnings is a smart choice! With my daughters, I tried to breastfeed, but with both it did not work out. I turned to formula and found that many generic brands were offering formula that are very competitive to those high priced formulas!

Bright Beginnings Provides Triple Benefits for your baby:

Brain & Eye: Fortified with DHA & ARA, nutrients found in breast milk to support brain and eye development
Immune support: Prebiotics, like those in breast milk, to support a healthy immune system
Growth & Development: All the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your baby needs for excellent growth and development during the first year

You can purchase Bright Beginnings in a six pack of 24 ounce cans for $86.94 from diapers.com plus you get FREE SHIPPING!! Use the coupon codes to save a little more! $5 off any (1) diapers or formula product (use code: FIVEBABY). Plus, 10% off almost anything else (use code: 10PERCENT).

Back to School Event {Ergonomic pen - UGLee Pen}

2010-08-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Comfort pens are hard to come by in my house. It seems when I find a pen I love-- you all know what I am talking about-- the pen glides well, it feels nice on your fingers and hand, perhaps there is a finger cushion, it doesn't leave globs of ink all over you or the paper-- someone seems to come along and snatch it up! The pen snatchers must hear through the pen grapevine that there is a pen in the house that mom likes-- they say "let's take the pen to where the missing socks are! bwaa, bwaa, haaa!"

Ok-- that was a bit dramatic-- but in a way it's true...

I have found a pen I like. It's not pretty-- but man does it feel nice to write with! It would be perfect for any high school or college student needing to take notes. It has a full-sized grip, great ink supply that writes smooth and flawless. It weighs hardly nothing at all--"The UGLee Pen only weights 11 grams. That is less than 1/2 ounce! Less mass, means less inertia, more comfort." UGLee Pen was researched and made by the Dr. James Lee. Read his story below:

As a medical student, I wrote volumes in terms of notes. In medicine, medical notes are all hand written. I averaged 20 full pages of hand written notes a day... day in and day out for years.
You can imagine how my hand kept cramping up! I spent a lot of time and money looking for a comfortable pen. After trying what I believe to be every pen out there, I failed painfully to find even one!
I was frustrated because most pens were not designed for comfort at all. The few that were listed as "comfort pen" were obviously mislabeled.
I was determined to create my own pen - one that would meet my expectations of comfort. Since then, I have spent over eight years to create the first truly comfortable pen. The pursuit of pen comfort became a hobby... no, an obsession during this eight year period. I dedicated an inordinate amount of my own time and resources in this endeavor...the result is the UGLee Pen. A pen that is not only the most comfortable pen, but is physician designed to be the most comfortable ergonomic pen around.

Would you like to WIN an UGLee Pen? You do!!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive an UGLee Ergonomic Pen 3 pack in their choice of color (valued at $19.99)!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to UGLee Pen and tell me which color suits you best!

You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow UGLee Pen on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

Don't get hand cramps when writing~~ Win an @UGLeePen @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/2am552s #backtoschool

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" UGLee Pen on Facebook- Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 19th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from UGLee Pen. A special thanks to UGLee Pen for participating in a review and giveaway!

Baby Swings-- Sponsored Post

2010-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me. All opinions are 100% mine.

When a new baby arrives, chaos can occur. Tread lightly. Throw in some siblings and it can be one tramatic adjustment for both mom and baby.

There are some products that can make the adjustment smoother, easier and quieter for mom. I have always had good luck with the following:

1) Vibration-- whether it be in the form of a mattress pad that vibrates slightly, or a bassinet with vibrations mode built in. From my experience, it has helped babies fall asleep faster and more soundly.

2) Sound Machine-- Did you know that a woman's womb is known to be as loud as a vacuum cleaner?! So when a baby is born-- naked, exposed and cold, that the mere silence can also be scary. I happened upon using noise when my first daughter was crying. Nothing would soothe her. I remember my mom mentioning that I would quiet down when a vacuum would turn on. I tried it-- I was at wits end and had no other ideas-- low and behold mom was right and it shushed Hannah to sleep within minutes. The next day I borrowed a sound machine to mimic the vacuum cleaner.

3) Baby Swings-- Baby swings are decked out these days! From lullabies to vibrations to timers-- they seem to have it all to help mom with the day to day troubles of a newborn. Click the link to see the 10 Best Electric Baby Swings. And you can check out all the Baby Swing Reviews.

4) Swaddle blanket-- Babies are used to being tight and snuggly inside mamas womb. Why not mimic that sensation for them also? I love swaddling blankets-- and nowadays they come in many, many styles! From velcro to keep hands and feet swaddled in, or a simple blanket sized right for the burrito fold.

Back to School Event {Fantastic Sams}

2010-08-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Sams is a name that I am sure most of you have heard before. They began in 1974 when Sam Ross opened the first Fantastic Sams in Memphis, Tennessee.

I have been going to Fantastic Sams for a long time. Probably since I was at least six! I always go to them for a nice cut or style at a reasonable price!

I received a gift certificate and Nourishing Serum from Fantastic Sams to use for Back to School time. As we draw closer, I will definitely be using the certificate for my daughter Hannah. School is just around the corner-- why shell out the big bucks for a style that could be done for a lot less at Fantastic Sams?! The salons are clean, friendly and up to date on all the latest trends in hair styles.

I also love that Fantastic Sams is a salon for the whole family! Many times a salon will cater to just women. Well what about the men and children in the family? They have hair too! Men have to go to barber shops, while the kids need to go to a kids salon-- that's a lot of needless traveling. Plus add in the cost of the individual hair services and it can add up! At Fantastic Sams, they know all the latest styles for men, women and children! PERFECT!

The Nourishing Serum was great! It finished my hair style and helped with the fly-aways and dead ends. It also added that touch of shine that without the serum, I would not have had. I also found that styling my hair with the serum in, helped to keep the shape and form better than super clean hair.

Fantastic Sams has salons all over the United States-- you can find you closest one here. If you go to their Facebook Fan Page, AND "like" them, you can get a $2.00 off coupon! EASY!

Would you like to WIN a gift certificate from Fantastic Sams?!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive a $25 dollar gift certificate to Fantastic Sams and a Nourishing Serum! That way if you choose to use the certificate for your kids, you have something special too!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Fantastic Sams and tell me where the closest one is to you!

You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

Get your hair cut and styled! #WIN a gift certificate to FantasticSams! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/278anox #backtoschool

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Fantastic Sams on Facebook-- Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 18th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Fantastic Sams. A special thanks to Fantastic Sams for participating in a review and giveaway!

Houston-- We have EGGS!!

2010-08-04T14:16:00.000-07:00

Attention, attention!! The layers are not defective!

The ladies of the roost have officially started to lay eggs! Here is a picture of our first egg. A little small compared to the store bought one on the top, but beautiful none the less!

Since the first one, we have received 4 more eggs!! I think the two Black Stars are our layers so far. I think the Plymouth Barred Rocks are a little behind in the the maturing department.

So in honor of the laying that has been going on around my house, here is a delicious egg recipe! Enjoy!

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Ricotta and Chives courtesy of epicurious.com

4 large eggs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel or coarse kosher salt plus more for sprinkling
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
4 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick slices whole grain bread or 8 whole grain baguette slices, lightly toasted and buttered
Whole chives (optional)

Whisk eggs, chopped chives, and 1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel in medium bowl until well blended. Melt butter in heavy medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. When foam subsides, add eggs and stir with heatproof silicone spatula until eggs are almost cooked but still runny in parts, tilting skillet and stirring with spatula to allow uncooked portion to flow underneath, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add ricotta and stir just until incorporated but clumps of cheese are still visible.

Arrange 2 toasts or 4 baguette slices on each of 2 plates. Spoon scrambled eggs atop toasts. Sprinkle with more fleur de sel and pepper. Garnish with whole chives, if desired.

Back to School Event {Citrus Clothing}

2010-08-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who worked and played in the trenches of all that was hip and trendy. Great music, late nights and wild parties-- Fast forward a decade and the same girl is now a mama of 3, Owner of Citrus Clothing, and still a lover of great music, but now the parties usually involve pizza and juice boxes, instead of late nights and dirty martinis!

Citrus Clothing firmly believes that we as moms do not have to give up that edgy side of ourselves and dress our kids in (gasp!) powder pink ballerina bears and fuzzy blue duckies. Citrus Clothing was formed out of the desire to create a fun, fresh and high energy company that will appeal to those who are looking to add some fun and funk into their kids wardrobes.

I was so lucky to receive two cute styles from Citrus Clothing-- both perrrrrfect for Back to School time! The book worm tank for boys and the cute smarty pants tee for girls-- both super cute and stylish, but also fun for kids that like to make a statement in their clothing!

I was impressed with the softness, and yet durable quality of the tee and tank. They both washed and dried well. Emma loves both-- even the boys tank!

Citrus Clothing also sells fun accessories for kids including hair clips and pins!

Would you like to win a top from Citrus Clothing?!

GIVEAWAY

TWO WINNERS will receive either the bookworm tank for boys, or the smarty pants tee for girls! Please specify which one you would like to win!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Citrus Clothing and tell me one other tee that you would like to purchase! Also-- don't forget to tell me which item (boys tank or girls tee) you would like to win!You must be a TicTacDough Google Friend and leave your email address in order to win!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Please leave a comment for each extra entry!)

- Vote for TicTacDough on Top Mommy Blogs once everyday! (simply click on the button on the top of the sidebar) – 1 ENTRY per day

- Grab my buttons from the sidebar and post them on your blog (Please leave me your blog url)- 2 ENTRIES PER BUTTON

- Follow TicTacDough on Twitter– 1 ENTRY

- Follow Citrus Clothing on Twitter-- 1 ENTRY

- Tweet about the giveaway-- 1 ENTRY per day

Dress your kids stylish- #WIN a boys tank or girls tee @CitrusClothing! @tictacdoughblog #giveaways http://tinyurl.com/248m37s #backtoschool

- Subscribe to my blog – 2 ENTRIES

- "Like" TicTacDough on Facebook-- 1 ENTRY

- "Like" Citrus Clothing on Facebook- Please leave a comment on their wall that you were sent from TicTacDough!-- 1 ENTRY

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 EXTRA ENTRIES

RULES:

- Contest will close at 12 noon. PST on August 17th, 2010

- Contest open to US residents!!

Thank you for entering and Good Luck! For questions about entering, please see the giveaway rules. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.-- I was given the product complimentary from Citrus Clothing. A special thanks to Citrus Clothing for participating in a review and giveaway!

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Back to School Event {Citrus Clothing}