giveaway

Blue Nile Earrings Giveaway

May 8, 2013 By Virginia 22 Comments

I can’t believe Mother’s Day is just a few days away. I haven’t even asked for anything! I’ve no doubt that Hubs and the kidlets will pull off something spectacular, because they always do. We typically go to my Mom’s church for Mother’s Day, and this year will be no different. It’s such a nice way to share the morning with her!

As for Mother’s Day gifts, my Mom is pretty simple and never asks for a thing. I guess I get it from her. I never really ask for anything, either. Of course I don’t mind getting chocolates, cards, flowers, or jewelry. LOL. Blue Nile recently sent be a beautiful pair of sterling silver earrings for consideration. These just may be perfect for my dress for my Sister’s wedding later this month! I’ve browsed their site and can honestly say that if you’re in need of a last minute gift for Mom or that special lady in your life, you should check out bluenile.com/momgift13, where you can save 10%! There’s still time to get Free FedEx shipping on your order!

Blue Nile was nice enough to send me a second pair of earrings to giveaway to one lucky reader. Just enter below.

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Filed Under: Current Giveaways, Giveaways, Jewelry, Reviews Tagged With: @BlueNileDiamond, earrings, giveaway, Review

Posts May Contain Compensated or Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Grow Your Cloth Diaper Stash Bash

May 1, 2013 By Virginia 1 Comment

Parents decide to use cloth diapers for a multitude of reasons. Some choose cloth diapers because it is kinder to the environment. Others choose cloth diapers because of the long term cost savings. We chose cloth because we like to save cash where we can, so we can spend it where we want. For us, cloth is a great option financially.

For some families, though, cloth would be the BEST option because they are truly struggling: they are part of the one in three families in the United States and Canada who have to choose between buying disposable diapers and buying food or paying rent. Regardless of why these families choose cloth, the start up costs can often be intimidating. Very intimidating. For that 33%, the start up costs can be crippling and seemingly insurmountable. That’s where Cloth for a Cause, Cloth Diaper Addicts, Viva Veltoro, and Leettle Baby… and the Build Your Stash Bash comes into play.

Cloth for a Cause is a brand new Canadian charity. They’ve been operating since 2011 with a simple mission: to help those 33% get their babies in diapers. Since they opened, Cloth for a Cause has expanded from one little chapter here in Prince George to fourteen stretching across Canada. They’ve helped nearly 150 families get their babies in cloth. Last month, Cloth for a Cause became a legal charity. Not only does that mean that their ability to help struggling families has grown, it also means that their need for assistance has grown! You can help by donating to Cloth for a Cause through their PayPal account or by sending a cloth diaper donation to one of their chapters. (If you live in Canada and are making a donation of $20 or greater, they can issue a tax receipt!) If you’re near one of the local chapters, you can donate material goods and cash directly to the chapter. If you’re not and you’d like to donate some diapers, their Nova Scotia chapter has a large need for services!

Now for the Grow Your Stash part of the Grow Your Stash Bash! This is an AH-MAZ-ING lineup! Just look…

Several wonderful companies have teamed up to put together to help us put together two awesome packages to Grow Your Stash!

Package #1 is open to Canada and the US:
One Best Bottom Shell and two medium inserts from Nicki’s Diapers

One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)

One newborn diaper by Diapers by Chris

One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear

One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!

One AppleCheeks swim diaper!

Package #2 is open to Canada only:

A Thirsties Package (Thirstiest Prefold, a Thirsties Stay Dry insert, a Thirsties Duo Cover, and a Snappi pack) and a Rockin Green sample pack, all nicely bundled in a Cozy Bums shopping bag.

A fifty dollar gift certificate to Lagoon Baby

One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)

One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear

One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!

One AppleCheeks swim diaper!

One diaper and wetbag from EcoWays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***No compensation received for hosting this, I just love cloth and I love a good charity!***

Filed Under: Baby, Charity, Cloth Diaper, Current Giveaways, Giveaways Tagged With: #CFAC, clothdiaper, clothforacause, giveaway

Posts May Contain Compensated or Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Fluffy Mail Giveaway

April 30, 2013 By Virginia 172 Comments

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I am SO excited to be participating in the Fluffy Mail Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop, hosted by: Blogging Mamas Network - According to Jenny and So Easy Being Green!! So much fun!

Fluffy Mail Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Fluffy Mail Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!

If you’re a cloth diapering Mom or Dad {or plan to be}, you know that one of the most exciting things about cloth diapers is… Fluffy Mail! There’s just something special about opening up a package of adorable fluff! I’ve teamed up with over 30 other bloggers to bring you LOTS of chances to get the best kind of Fluffy Mail – a Giveaway Win! Giveaways begin on May 1st (mine at 0100). So be sure to hop around to all the other giveaways at the bottom of this post before the event ends on May 15th!

I get to give away a few prizes! First up is a $25 Gift Card for All About Cloth, which is open to US & Canada.

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Next up is a bag of Rockin’ Green ($17) and a a Zookaboo One Size Custom Cover ($17)– open to US Only.

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Next up, I have a $15 Gift Certificate for Kerrific and a newborn cover from Juicy Ann ($7)– open to US Only.

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Now, check out all of the other Fluffy Mail giveaways!

Many thanks to my Fluffy Mail sponsors!

Read my All About Cloth Review
Read my Rockin’ Green Review.
Read my Zookaboo Review.
Read my Kerrific review.
Read my Juicy Ann review (coming soon).

Rockin Green

According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Fluffy Mail participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Filed Under: Baby, Cloth Diaper, Giveaways Tagged With: clothdiaper, fluffymail, giveaway

Posts May Contain Compensated or Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Skoy Cloth Review and Giveaway

April 22, 2013 By Virginia 19 Comments

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With all of the research I’ve done recently on cloth diapers, I found myself wondering about other ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Skoy sent me some Skoy Cloth for review, and I was eager to try them out. The Skoy Cloth is a nifty little cloth, that comes in multiple colors and designs, that can take the place of paper towels, sponges, dishcloths, rags, and more. It’s made in Europe and is 100% biodegradable (when properly composted) because it is made of natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp. The Skoy Cloth is reusable (score), is made with water based colors and inks, is chlorine free, and is durable. They’re also cute.

I put the Skoy cloth to test in my kitchen. I have two preschoolers, so we have messes galore. Using a Skoy Cloth is estimated to be equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels in the average home. We use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels, for the most part, but those are bulky and I have a basket full of them in the pantry. The Skoy cloth takes up much less room, and is more absorbent (it can absorb 15x its own weight).

Here’s what I like about the Skoy Cloth. It dries quickly, which reduces the risk of bacteria breeding (unlike the nasty sponge in the sink, that stinks after a week of use). Simply pop your wet Skoy Cloth in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, zap those germs into oblivion. ***Please Note- Skoy Cloth must be wet when microwaving. Allow to sit in microwave for a minute or two before removing, because it will be HOT.***

Skoy Cloth can also be used with household cleaners, but I’ve only used it with water so far. It can be washed in the dishwasher or laundered in the washer/dryer. It is important to clean your Skoy Cloth routinely to keep it healthy and germ-free.

Skoy Cloth retails for $6.99 per 4 pack and is online on Amazon and at the Skoy Online Store, as well as in all The Container Store locations and select Cost Plus World Market locations too.

The only thing I would change about the Skoy Cloth would be the availability of color options. I would like a pack of canary yellow and a pack of cobalt blue to match my kitchen.

Skoy would like to give one reader a set of Skoy Cloth to try out. Enter below.

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Filed Under: Eco Friendly, For the Home, Reviews Tagged With: @skoycloth, ecofriendly, giveaway, reuse, Review

Posts May Contain Compensated or Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Springfield Dolls MARIA

April 21, 2013 By Virginia 31 Comments

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Sister loves dolls. We recently received Maria, a Springfield Doll, for review, and Sister immediately fell in love. You might remember we reviewed the Springfield Doll Emma at Christmas time, and how Emma helped us decorate for Christmas. Sister’s dolls all join in the fun around here, and Maria is no exception to the rule.

As soon as she was unpacked, Sister started a game of Hide and Peek. Yes, I said peek, because Maria couldn’t help but peek around the corner to watch Sister count.

Maria joined us for our weekly swim lesson, too. I told Sister that Maria would have to sit the bench, since she doesn’t have a swim suit (because she’s a soft bodied doll) and Sister clutched her tightly. Her swim instructor coaxed her into the pool without the doll by telling her that Maria could explore the area. Boy, did Maria have fun with that. She checked out the pool ladder, the pool lift chair, the lifeguard chair, the diving board. She got a little close to the edge of the diving board for my comfort. After borrowing the lifeguards flotation device and pretending she was the lifeguard, Maria climbed the Ficus tree and got stuck. LOL. Silly doll.

As you can see, Maria has fit right in!

There are 5 Springfield dolls, each with their own look and story. Springfield Dolls and clothes are also sold at most major craft stores, including Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics. Doll retail for $21.99 and outfits start at $8.99. Springfield’s clothes, accessories & furniture fit American Girl dolls, and Springfield Dolls make great friends for AG dolls!

Maria is having a birthday party, over at the Springfield Doll Store, in honor of May being the number one month for birthdays, to help Moms all get their girls a birthday party present they are sure to love. The Sale is running thru May 6.

Check out the sale at: https://store.springfielddolls.com/Marias-birthday-sale

Find really fun birthday crafts, to help celebrate, at http://www.sfstyleclub.com.

Learn more about Springfield Dolls on Facebook.

And now you can win one! Enter below!

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