IHeart-Motherhood

Celebrate Christmas With Build A Bear Workshop

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Little Sister C loves visiting our local Build A Bear Workshop, from making the hard decision on which furry friend to create this trip to fluffing & finishing up her new friend with accessories, Build A Bear is always a fun & exciting adventure that she enjoys every time we visit!

Build A Bear Workshop allows your child to create & bring a stuffed animal to life, with a variety to choose from like a Happy Husky or a King Penguin, they even offer clothing as well as accessories to complete your child's new friend!

It's Holiday time around here & Build A Bear has an entire new line of Holiday Friends! Merry Mouse, Wishes Santa, Frosty The Snowman, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Clarice & more can be found at Build A Bear Workshop, I was so excited when I heard about the Holiday line up, I knew my daughter would love to own Clarice.

Clarice stands at 1.jpg5" & arrived all dressed up for Christmas, she is wearing a fun Red & Green Polka Dot Dress, Red Satin Panties & is finished off with a pair of Red Bow Glitter Flats. I love all of the colors of Clarice, she's super soft & her little heart even lights up! All items can be purchased individually or you can mix-match, etc at Build A Bear or you can purchase Merry & Bright Clarice for $58!

I can not wait to see my daughter's face Christmas morning when she unwraps Clarice! What are some of your favorite holiday items from Build A Bear, you can view them all online here!

Buy It: Visit your local Build A Bear Workshop & create your own furry friend or shop online!

Win It: One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to spend at Build A Bear!

Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

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Dezign With a Z Custom Decal Review

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Dezign With a Z develops wall decals for your home, the most stylish vinyl wall art decals that are easy to apply, remove & can completely transform any wall! From wall quotes to sports decals, wall clocks & more, Dezign With a Z offers a huge selection, they have something for everyone!

You've probably seen Dezign With a Z here on the blog before, a few months ago they came to my rescue with Baseball Stitches Decals for my son's room in our new home! This time around, I chose to create my own wall decal, yup Dezign With a Z let's you do that!

Customizing your own wall decal is super easy with Dezign With a Z, they offer a variety of colors, sizes & fonts for your wall decal! I found the wall quote/image I wanted online & sent it over to Dezign With a Z, you can also upload your image, etc straight to their website!

With great customer service & fast shipping, it was just a few days until my order arrived. I took everything out of the package & laid it out flat, it was perfect & I couldn't wait to put up my new wall decal!

I peeled the backing off of my wall decal & hung it up on the wall, using the hot pink tool provided, I ran over the letters a few times just to make sure they were sticking to the wall before I pulled the front paper off.

In less than five minutes, my new wall decal was up! I love it, it fits in perfect with my life as well as my room & hopefully I will find time soon to hang all of my family photo's up around it!

So what do you think? Browse around Dezign With a Z, what are some of your favorite wall decals? You can also stay connected with them by liking them on Facebook & following them on Twitter!

(I am a member of the Thrifty Nifty Mommy Blogger Network by Janessa at Thrifty Nifty Mommy. I was sent the item above for my review, all opinions are my own & no other compensation was received)

We're In Cahoots With Santa Balance Bike

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*This post has been written by Janessa of the blog Thrifty Nifty Mommy. Janessa received a Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike to facilitate this post. All opinions are her own.*

Not long ago, we got a balance bike for my 3 year old daughter. She LOVES it! What we hadn't realized was that her baby brother would fall in love with her balance bike as well. Jacob, my 1.jpg8 month old little guy, wants to ride his sister's balance bike SO badly. Maggie would gladly share with her brother, but the problem is that he's not coordinated or tall enough to really handle her balance bike. This found me searching for a balance bike that he could use; I think I finally found it in the Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike.

Bike Description (taken from the Balance Bike Outlet website): This Innovative Wooden balance bike designed in New Zealand and winner of several awards is a 3 in 1.jpg balance bike that grows with your child from age 1.jpg to 5 years old! (2 in 1.jpg now available in the standard Wishbone if Trike kit not needed). The 3 in one bike starts out as a trike with 2 wheels in the bike and can transition to a small balance bike around age 2 - 2 1.jpg/2 and then flip the body over as your child grow to a big balance bike for ages 4-5! This is the widest range wooden balance bike on the market! This bike has an adjustable seat heigh from 1.jpg1.jpg" - 1.jpg8" . It has a light bike weight of only 8.4 pounds or 1.jpg2 pounds as a trike. Made from kiln dried and preservative free plantation birch and eucalyptus; non toxic dyes; organic cotton; wheels from 60% recycled plastics as well as recycled packaging. This bike is Eco friendly and safe for your growing child! If you are looking for a wooden balance bike that will last, choose the Wishbone 3 in 1.jpg balance bike and keep your child having fun for several years to come! The Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike comes in 3 gender neutral colors and 2 fun prints!

If there is one thing I have learned from my kids, it's that one bike does not suit all. BalanceBikesOutlet.com is sponsoring this giveaway and they are THE place to look when you start trying to decide which balance bike is right for your child. They have composite, metal, and wood balance bikes in sizes 1.jpg2" and 1.jpg6". If you're not in the market for a balance bike, they have other fun ride-on toys like scooters, pedal bikes, and even snow sleds! The staff is very helpful, so if you have any questions when making your purchase design, just shoot them an email!

I can not WAIT for Jacob to wake up on Christmas morning and see his new balance bike. I know he is going to be SO excited to finally have a bike that he can ride with his sister! Connect: Visit BalanceBikeOutlet.com to find out more about the Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Bike and see their huge bike selection. Then make sure you "like" them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and follow on Pinterest as well. Buy It: The Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike is available from BalanceBikeOutlet.com. The Green, Red, and Natural colored bikes are priced at $229 and the Apple and Alphabet print bikes are $249. Win It: One lucky reader will win a Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike in green, red or natural color (your choice!). If you'd like to win, just enter using the easy Giveaway Tools entry form below. This giveaway ends at 1.jpg1.jpg:59pm EST on 1.jpg1.jpg/21.jpg/1.jpg3. Good luck!

Entry -Form

Disclosure: Janessa was sent a Wishbone 3-in-1.jpg Balance Bike in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All opinions are her own.

Winner

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Congrats to Fawn H who won the Learning Resources giveaway, you should have your prize soon!

Dickeys Barbecue Review and Giveaway-

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Dickey's Barbecue Pit all started in Dallas, Texas in 1.jpg941.jpg by Travis Dickey, creating Texas-style barbecue. Dickey's quickly grew in the Dallas/Fort Worth area & franchising began in 1.jpg994, Barbecue isn't just for southern states anymore thanks to Dickey's!

Living in Texas, we love Barbecue & eat it on a regular basis, it's the perfect staple for family get together's, football games, birthday parties & more! I love going in & having lunch at Dickey's with the family but I've never ordered a whole meat before, boy was I missing out!

Dickey's Barbecue Pit offers beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, polish sausage, turkey breast, even chicken, along with salads, Barbecue sandwhiches, as well as a variety of home-style sides from creamy coleslaw to fried okra. Delicious buttery rolls are served with every meal & every location smokes all of their own meats right in the restaurant!

I visited Dickey's online & in seconds had placed my order for a whole meat of choice-is your mouth watering yet? Dickey's offers a Whole Beef Brisket (8-1.jpg0 lb), Whole Barbecue Honey Ham (5-6.5 lb), Old Recipe Polish Sausage Loop (1.jpg lb), Whole Turkey Breast (6-8 lb), Whole Southern Pulled Pork Butt (4-5 lb) & Spicy Cheddar Sausage Loop (1.jpg lb) for their whole meat products.

I decided to order a Whole Beef Brisket, Little Sister C's birthday party was coming up & I knew this would be the perfect treat for the birthday guests! I picked up the Whole Beef Brisket a few hours before her party & wow, not only did it smell delicious, it was so tender! I didn't even really have to do any slicing, the meat fell apart & onto my fork with no problem, I dipped mine into Dickey's Barbecue Sauce & enjoyed it with a roll!

Their Whole Beef Brisket is slow smoked over Hickory & rubbed with their famous Dickey's Old Barbecue Rub, this is a sure crowd pleaser & I can't wait to order another one for our next get together. The holiday's are quickly approaching as well, Dickey's would be great for your upcoming holiday dinner, let Dickey's take care of the meat for you this year, so convenient & tasty!

I did purchase a Big Yellow Cup when I visited my local Dickey's to pick up my Whole Meat Brisket, as well as signed up for the Big Yellow Cup Club, & as a member you'll receive special members only deals & discounts!

Buy it: Visit your local Dickey's to place a whole meat order or order online!

Win it: One lucky reader will win a coupon for a free whole meat product of choice!

Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

(I am a member of the Thrifty Nifty Mommy Blogger Network by Janessa at Thrifty Nifty Mommy. I was sent the item above for my review, all opinions are my own & no other compensation was received)

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We're In Cahoots With Santa Scentsy

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I've been a fan of Scentsy for what seems like years, I remembering hosting my first party & immediately falling in love with the warmer & scent bar varieties! My collection has grown & I currently own a variety of warmers from plug ins to full size as well as a variety of bars. Scentsy offers a variety of products that make the perfect teacher gifts, birthday gifts, holiday gifts & more!

Most of you are probably like me, pretty familiar with Scentsy & their line of products. They sell warmers, bars, travel tins, room sprays, Scentsy layers & more, all in a variety of styles, scents & colors! Anna is my independent Scentsy Consultant & I'm sure you've heard about her before, she generously donates products for my reviews & giveaways as well as keeps me updated on the latest & greatest Scentsy products! Awesome right?

Since the holidays are quickly approaching & winter is around the corner, I headed over to Anna's Scentsy site in search of some items that would help decorate my home with holiday cheer. I decided on the Premium Snowman Scentsy Warmer, Snowberry & Very Merry Cranberry Scentsy Bars, Oakley the Owl Scentsy Buddy & finally an Eskimo Kiss Scent Pak for Oakley, I was so excited about my new products, I couldn't wait for them to arrive!

The Premium Snowman Scentsy Warmer is super cute & looks like he should be "coming to life" with his button eyes & carrot nose, his head is removable for the scent bars & he arrives with a bulb. Just plug him in, add your favorite scent & your ready to go!

Very Merry Cranberry & Snowberry are sure to bring winter wonderland into your home, Very Merry Cranberry is red winter berries with snow-covered cedar while Snowberry will fill the room with a mixture of loganberry, strawberry, peppermint & zesty cinnamon. This is the first time for me to try both of these scents & I absolutely love them, they are the perfect combination!

Scentsy Buddies are my daughter's favorite, she loves how soft & plush they are, Oakley is from the Forest Collection & is about 8'' tall when seated. Your child can help bring him to life by placing a Scent Pak in his back zippered pocket, filling an entire room with a lovely Scentsy fragrance.

What are some of your favorite products from Scentsy? Be sure to stop by & check out some of their holiday items!

Buy It: Purchase your own Scentsy items from Anna online (let her know your visiting from IHeart-Motherhood!)

Win It: One lucky reader will win a Scentsy prize pack similar to the one above, generously donated by my independent consultant Anna!

Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

Entry -Form

Winner

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Congrats to Alena Svetelska who won the Hauck Balance Bike giveaway!

We're In Cahoots With Santa Farming Simulator Video Game

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I don't know if I have ever met a boy who didn't love video games. My husband who is nearly 30 still enjoys playing video games. He says they help him to relax after a long day. I knew we had to include a new video game in our gift guide, and I'm excited to share with you a video game that is family-friendly. No violence or bad language, just good video game fun for the whole family! Check out the brand new Farming Simulator video game!

Description of the Game (from Maximum Games): Farming Simulator amazed the video games industry when its PC version (PC & Mac) became a global best-seller, with more than 1.jpg million copies sold within one year. Now the extremely popular Internet sensation arrives on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with even more farming fun added to the game. Farming Simulator brings a whole new experience to the video games landscape, offering up hours of casual–simulation gaming in a huge open world that becomes the player’s blank canvas. The sandbox aspect of the game appeals to players of all ages, while the vast array of vehicles and machinery from the biggest manufacturers in the business will delight agricultural enthusiasts. Loaded with bonus content for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Farming Simulator puts you in charge of a working farm where you will plant and harvest crops, raise animals, buy and operate machinery, and sell goods. Gear up and get growing!

Key Features of the Game:

A brand new American farming environment in addition to the pre-existing European farm
Loads of challenges representative of a true farmer’s life
New animals to breed and crops to grow
Large tractors and farming machines faithfully modeled after true farming brands such as Case IH, Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini, Same, and Horsh
The ability to create your dream farm in an open world full of possibilities

So many of the video games on the market today are FULL of violence, cursing, scantily clad women, and many other things that I don't want my kids exposed to or playing with. This game lets the user experience life as a farmer in a way they never have before. Normally I don't like to play video games with my husband, but I have to admit, even I want to play this one! I've always told my husband that it would be fun to run a farm together. Connect: Make sure you "like" Maximum Games on Facebook and follow on Twitter as well. Buy It: This game is available for purchase beginning November 1.jpg9th, 201.jpg3. You can purchase it directly through Amazon.com. It has a suggested price of $29.99. It is available for PS3 & Xbox 360. Win It: We're giving away not one but THREE copies of this brand new video game! Winner can choose the PS3 version or XBox 360.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below. This giveaway is open to residents of the US only and ends at 1.jpg1.jpg:59pm EST on November 1.jpg9th, 201.jpg3. Good luck!

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Give Skechers This Holiday Season

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The cold & rainy weather has arrived here in Texas, it's time for warm fires, bowls of soup, layered clothing & cozy nights on the couch! When it's time to pull out my hoodie, scarf & skinny jeans, it's time to switch up my shoes as well & thanks to Skechers, I have a new pair of stylish boots to step out in!

From the rugged Men's Brice in Ember to the Girl's Twinkle Toes Heart Sparkler, Skechers boots would be the perfect gift for your loved one this holiday season! Offering a variety of stylish boots for the entire family, you will have no problem finding the perfect boot for anyone & everyone on your holiday shopping list!

Skechers so kindly sent me a pair of Women's StarShip Star Shooter Boots, I was so excited, when they arrived I was singing Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me!

The StarShip Star Shooter Boots are available in gray, black or brown & are a slip on casual mid calf cool weather boot. Featuring a rounded plain toe front, low profile shock absorbing midsole as well as a flexible rubber traction outsole with a star shaped traction pattern. I love the soft suede upper & the inside is nice & soft fleecy faux fur, adding extra warmth!

I love my new Skechers boots, they are so comfortable & stylish, what do you think? What are your favorite boots from Skechers? Which ones will you buy for your family this year for Christmas?

Feel free to stay connected with Skechers by liking them on Facebook & following them on Twitter!

VSP Vision Care & a Designer Sunglasses Giveaway

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*The following is a guest sponsored post from SeeMuchMore.com. In case you are unfamiliar with SeeMuchMore.com, it is an excellent resource for learning about the importance of vision benefits and why healthy eyes are so critical!

SeeMuchMore.com is a one-stop site for all the information you need about enrolling in vision benefits. The site includes a virtual savings calculator to estimate your savings with VSP vision benefits and helpful information about maintaining healthy vision. You can also play an interactive game for a chance to win daily prizes!

About VSP Vision Care

As the only national not-for-profit in vision care, VSP reinvests in the things its nearly 60 million members value most – the best care at the lowest out-of-pocket costs. With a network of 30,000 doctors and highest credentialing requirements, VSP members have the freedom to choose the provider, location, and eyewear that’s right for them. It’s easy to see why VSP is consumers’ #1.jpg choice in vision care.

I highly recommend you checking out the Learn about your Eyes Page on the VSP Vision Care website to find great resources such as coloring pages for your child, a storybook to read your child about a girl’s first visit to the eye doctor, information on what parents of kids with eye glasses need to know, and to learn more why it's important for kids to get an annual eye exams!

Photo copy right from VSP

Here are the importances of eye health, vision benefits & annual eye exams for children:

Eye exams are important for everyone in your family – from babies to adults, and everyone in between.
Annual eye exams are important to your overall health. They allow eye doctors to detect early signs of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, among others.
This year, 1.jpg5 million kids will go back to school with undiagnosed vision problems.
An annual eye exam can help children learn and experience life to the fullest

Parents should take their children to the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam starting as young as six months old, then again at three years old, before kindergarten and every year after that.
In-school screenings do not provide the same level of detection as comprehensive eye exams.
80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes, making an eye exam essential for back-to-school checklists.
Common signs of vision problems include squinting, head tilting, avoiding “close work,” trouble focusing, continuous rubbing of eyes and headaches.
1.jpg in 4 children has an undetected vision condition that can negatively impact learning.

Connect: You can connect with VSP Vision Care on Facebook, Pinterest and follow them on Twitter.

Win it: VSP Vision Care is giving one of my lucky readers a pair of designer sunglasses with a retail value of $200!

Open to the US residents only. Ends 1.jpg1.jpg/1.jpg8/1.jpg3 at 1.jpg1.jpg:59 PM EST.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good Luck!

Entry -Form

*Check out all my current giveaways HERE!*

Winner

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Congrats to the winner & thanks to everyone who entered!

P&G prize pack winner is Tara C!

We're In Cahoots With Santa Gapingvoid Art

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Having original custom artwork for your children is ultimately priceless! Displaying a piece of art with their name on it is perfect for any nursery or child's room, and then it will remain as a great keepsake. I was so excited when Gapingvoid Art decided to participate in our Holiday Gift Guide! I was sent a custom Kid's Name print artwork to facilitate this review.

In case you are not familiar with Gapingvoid Art, here is a little information about them. Gapingvoid is a multifaceted agency, publishing and advisory firm that provides creative services to a broad range of companies based on the drawings and sensibilities of cartoonist, Hugh MacLeod and his business partner, Jason Korman.

They publish Hugh’s work in limited edition giclée prints and license it for corporate use. The limited editions as well as original works are available here their store. Gapingvoid also specializes in corporate installations for companies wishing to create dynamic workspaces, brainstorming areas, and enlightening offices. They also provide a variety of advisory services designed to help companies build better cultures, as well as strategies and implementation for social and paid media.

Hugh MacLeod is a cartoonist who has been drawing about life and business for twenty years. His work has informed an entire generation of entrepreneurs, advertising execs and senior leadership in enterprise. He has created work for some of the largest and smartest companies in the world including Intel, Microsoft, HP, Roche, Pearson, Dell, Havas Worldwide and Rackspace, just to name a few.

As soon as I saw Hugh uses cats in his Kid's Name artwork I knew I wanted to get a custom print made to give to my niece for Christmas. She LOVES cats, or as she says "meow meow's" and just look how cute it is! She is going to love!

The letter's are absolutely hilarious and adorable at the same time. You're not going to find a name print like this anywhere, and that's what I love about it, it's totally original!

I love the overall look and quality is definitely excellent! While you can of course choose any name to put have on the print, you also have the choice of 1.jpg0 different boy and girl cats to choose from. Additionally, a white or black frame can be added to the print (includes an extra $55 charge). I'm so excited to give this to my niece at Christmas and know she and her parents are going to love it!

Connect: You can connect with Gapingvoid Art on Facebook, Pinterest and follow them on Twitter.

Buy it: You can purchase a Kid's Name Artwork Print on their website for $1.jpg25, or $1.jpg80 if you include a frame.

Win it: One lucky person will win a custom Gapingvoid Art Kid's Name Print.

Open to the US & Canada residents only. Ends 1.jpg1.jpg/1.jpg9/1.jpg3 at 1.jpg1.jpg:59 PM EST.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I received the Gapingvoid Art name print at no cost in order to facilitate this review.

All thoughts expressed are my own and may differ from yours.

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*Check out all my current giveaways HERE!*

We're In Cahoots With Santa Jerry's Artarama Children's Easel & Art Kit

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Today is day three in our Cahoots Holiday Gift Guide. and Janessa from Thrifty Nifty Mommy has a great idea for children who love all things art!

When I started looking for Christmas presents for my kids this year, one of the things I knew I wanted to get for them was a wooden easel. We were given a plastic easel, but honestly, I'm not in love with the way it is designed or the cheap plastic look. I also really wanted to find an easel that had a roll of paper attached to it. We are limited on storage space here, so every time my daughter wants to color or paint a picture (which is basically daily), I have to go down to our basement where I store all the arts and crafts supplies. It's a pain, but I just have nowhere to store the paper on my main floor--until now!

Jerry's Artarama was nice enough to send me one of their Fundamental's Children's Easel, along with their First Impressions Complete Art Studio Set for Kids.

Description of Easel (taken from Jerry's Artarama Website):

This lovely, all wood, naturally varnished finished easel can be used by children 2 years old to young adults. It can not only be adjusted well, but it can also be stored with ease, as they are foldable. At its highest position, the easel measures 21.jpg¾" W × 22" D × 51.jpg" H—the largest variance of any children's art easel on the market!

The paper roll attachment encourages creativity and reduces waste. A bottom 4½" wide paper clamp keeps paper from flopping around like on other easels. A bottom paint and storage tray is made of wood and can hold cups of paint and any other assortment of supplies since it is 3½" H × 3½" D × 20¾" L. All these things are important for young artists so they draw different things in the right way. On the reverse side is a pen and marker tray for the wipe off board that is 1.jpg½" wide × 2¾" long. Both the 1.jpg8½" × 21.jpg" Chalkboard and Wipe-Off board are fully framed. The Fundamentals™ kids art easel is constructed very strong and durable it is already approved by many day schools for their active programs. Save on yours today!

Photos Adapted From: Jerry's Artarama

This easel also comes with a refill paper roll. This refill roll measures 1.jpg6" wide × 1.jpg1.jpg yards long. This neutral pH, white, smooth, medium weight paper is suitable for all the projects a young artist might want to do. The paper will take tempera, pen and ink, markers, chalks, pastels and of course crayon. You should also make sure the height is perfect for him/her to paint whatever they want to see on paper. Make painting an enjoyable activity and you will soon see your kid using his inner creative powers.

Photo Adapted From: Jerry's Artarama

Description of the Art Studio Set (taken from Jerry's Artarama Website):Your young artist should be inspired, and these assortments are the perfect art sets for all children exploring their creativity! No matter if they are age 7 to 1.jpg5, First Impressions art sets for kids are sure to get lots of use and your young artist will be able to create everything from sketches and drawings to cartoons and paintings!Along with a selection of fun art materials, each set includes a convenient case for travel and storage, so these art sets for kids keep supplies organized and makes travel a breeze!

Photos Adapted From: Jerry's Artarama

All supplies in these art sets conform to ASTM material safety standards and are non-toxic. Encourage your children to create art and watch their imagination blossom with the inspiring First Impressions Art Studio Set and Art-to-Go-Box!

Art Studio Set for Kids includes:

24 transparent watercolor cakes
24 assorted colored pencils
1.jpg5 assorted oil pastels
1.jpg0 water based markers
2 plastic trays for color mixing
1.jpg artists' paint brush
1.jpg pencil sharpener
1.jpg white vinyl eraser

Jerry’s Artarama is a national retailer of arts materials and supplies headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., with 1.jpg5 physical locations throughout the United States and an online store. Today, Jerry’s offers more than 70,000 top-quality art materials at direct savings — as much as 75 percent off traditional retail on products from the industry’s leading art manufacturers, as well as Jerry’s own exclusive product lines via the online retail store, art supply catalog and Jerry’s Artarama Superstores. Besides catering to established artists, Jerry’s also offers instructions workshops, new art supply demos and special art-related events.

Jerry’s caters to artists of all ages, beginning at pre-k and would love to introduce your child to the world of art.

I am SO excited to see my Maggie's face when she unwraps her new easel and art set on Christmas morning. I know she is going to be SO excited to see that Santa left this under her tree! I'm confident she will get hours and hours of playtime from her new easel and art set!

Connect: Visit the Jerry's Artarama Website to shop their entire line of art supplies for children and adults.

Buy: You can purchase the Fundamental's Children's Easel for $81.jpg.81.jpg and the Art Studio Set for $24.99 directly from Jerry's Artarama website.

Win: One lucky reader will win the Fundamentals Children's Easel and the Art Studio Set!

Open to the US only. Ends 1.jpg1.jpg/1.jpg7/1.jpg3 at 1.jpg1.jpg:59 PM EST.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good luck!

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post. Thrifty Nifty Mommy was sent the items mentioned above at no cost to facilitate this post. All opinions are her own.

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We're In Cahoots With Santa BrylaneHome

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BrylaneHome all started in 1.jpg998 to make it easy for you to decorate your home with today's latest colors, designs & styles, offering low prices year round! In 2000 BrylaneHome Kitchen was created to bring an impressive collection to customers of hard to find kitchen & home essentials. Well in 2005, BrylaneHome.com was born, two great websites BrylaneHome & BrylaneKitchen were combined into one, becoming America's Specialty Catalog & E-Commerce Leader.

I have so much fun shopping online at BrylaneHome, they have everything I could of imagined for my home & my kitchen. From storage & organization to furniture & decor, even bath towels & bedding sheets, BrylaneHome offers a variety of products you will genuinely fall in love with!

We have been in our home for a few months now & I adore my huge kitchen, although I don't always have as much time to cook as I'd like too, my new cookware set from BrylaneHome always get me excited when I bring it out! I've never owned an entire cookware set before, I've always had odd & end pots & pans, nothing ever matched either, so I love taking my cookware set out & showing it off as often as I can!

This 1.jpg4 Pc Carbon Steel Non-Stick Cookware Set is the perfect addition to any kitchen, it's lightweight, environmentally safe, PFOA-free, made with non-stick coating & the Colander lids contain drain holes. Even though these are hand wash only, they clean up within minutes, even some of my messiest meals wipe right out of these pots & pans!

Included in this set is:

- 1.jpg-qt., 2-qt. & 3-qt. covered saucepans

- 4 1.jpg/2-qt. covered pasta pot

- 5-qt. covered jumbo cooker

- 8" & 1.jpg0" open fry pans

- 9 1.jpg/2" covered skillet

Don't ya love it? What would you prepare in your kitchen with this non-stick cookware set? What other items do you love from ByrlaneHome?

Buy It: You can purchase the 1.jpg4 Pc Carbon Steel Non-Stick Cookware Set online at BrylaneHome for only $69.99!

Win It: One lucky reader will win a 1.jpg4 Pc Carbon Steel Non-Stick Cookware Set!

Use the giveaway tools form below to enter, good luck!

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Winners

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Congrats to the winners & thanks to everyone who entered, Happy Friday!

Cariloha Winner-Shelly T

Hotel Chocolat Winner-Rachel M

Zupers Review and Giveaway

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Zupers was created by mom Wendy Feller, who used to design & manufacture sweaters in 1.jpg987, she even had her own label that was sold to stores like Nordstorm & Saks Fifth Avenue. Over 1.jpg6 years later, Wendy was on a mission for tights that were made with knee pads for her little girl who was always falling & scrapping her knees or ripping her tights & leggings.

At Zupers you will find long leggings, shorts & capris, all made from rip-resistant soft & silky fabric. Zupers can be worn all year round, they are moisture wicking as well as UV protectant & contain removable heart shaped knee pads. These adorable & stylish bottoms will protect your daughter's knees & even have a secret treasure pocket on the side, available in size's 6 months all the way up to 1.jpg4 years & they are made in the USA!

I was sent two pairs of long leggings from Zupers for my daughter, I chose the chocolate & zebra print. I knew she would go crazy over these super cute leggings & I was right, she also really loved how soft & comfy these were!

Little Sister C loves her new leggings, she immediately noticed the hearts on the knees, these will be perfect for gymnastics because they are light weight & stretchy, the prints are so much fun!

Zupers has exciting news, they are launching a new leggings collection soon on Kickstarter but they need your help! Their new leggings will be featuring new styles & redesigned knee pads! Find out more about the Kickstarter campaign & how to help by clicking HERE!

Buy It: Visit Zupers to purchase leggings, shorts & more all in fun prints & colors!

Win It: One lucky reader will win a pair of long leggings!

Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

(I am a member of the Thrifty Nifty Mommy Blogger Network by Janessa at Thrifty Nifty Mommy. I was sent the items above for my review, all opinions are my own & no other compensation was received)

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We're in Cahoots with Santa Tidy Books

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Like most parents, we want to encourage our little guy to love books and reading. When I found out I was expecting, I started collecting my favorite children's books and registered for quite a few as well. We ended up with a lovely selection of stories, but no real storage solution. When I saw the wonderful book cases from Tidy Books, I knew I wanted to to have one for our son's room. They are adored by little bookworms worldwide, and for good reason! Not only are they whimsical and fun, they are functional and encourage independent reading.

In case you aren't familiar with Tidy Books, let me tell you a little about their company. Tidy Books is an independent company, established in 2004, by Geraldine Grandidier who created the first Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase for her daughter. They design products that are absolutely original and practical, with a goal of making books a natural part of your child's world. Their products are built to last, but also responsibly made.

I was thrilled when Tidy Books agreed to be a part of our holiday gift guide! They sent me a beautiful Tidy Books Bookcase in Natural to facilitate this review. Assembly of the bookcase was actually a bit easier than I anticipated. You can see from the photos that there were several pieces and a slightly intimidating bag of screws, but it was really a piece of cake! We just used the included Allen wrench and had this bookcase put together within 1.jpg5 minutes.

Once assembled, I brought the Tidy Books Kids Bookcase into my little guy's room so I could create a little reading nook for him. As directed by Tidy Books, I leaned the bookcase against the wall and left a 5 cm space at the bottom and used the included wall fasteners and screws to attach the bookcase to the wall.

I absolutely love the design of this bookcase. The fact that it is secured to the wall gives me great relief. I've heard horror stories of furniture and bookcases tipping over on young children and this bookcase gives me piece of mind, especially since my little guy has a tendency to climb. I also adore the natural finish. Tidy Books uses sustainable resources and eco-friendly water lacquer with low VOCs which is especially wonderful since this is designed for children.

The slimline design of this bookcase is fantastic. Although it stores up to 85 books, it hardly takes up any space at all. Once it's assembled, it measures 45.3" (h) x 30.3" (w) x 2.8" (d). There are four bookshelves, each with a front panel to keep the books in place. The front panels are each adorned with letters of the alphabet. The letters are raised and painted different colors which is not only attractive, but another tool you can use to teach your little one the alphabet.

The Tidy Books bookcase makes it easy for kids to access their books without assistance. You don't have to worry about them pulling out a book and having the rest of the shelf fall out with it. This bookcase encourages independent reading and learning.

Overall, this bookcase is a lovely addition to my son's room and the perfect home for his books. I love the natural color, but it is also available in white, pink, or blue. I'd highly recommend this well-made, beautiful bookcase to anyone!

Tidy Books is also offering a discount code for our readers!

Use code: VIVA1.jpg5 to save 1.jpg5% off of your purchase until Dec 1.jpg5th 201.jpg3.

Connect: You can connect with Tidy Books on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Buy it: You can purchase the Tidy Books Kids Bookcase on their website for $1.jpg79. Be sure to use code VIVA1.jpg5 at checkout for 1.jpg5% off of your purchase until December 1.jpg5th!

Win it: One lucky person will win a Tidy Books Bookcase in Natural!

Open to the US only. Ends 1.jpg1.jpg/21.jpg/1.jpg3 at 1.jpg1.jpg:59 PM EST.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I received the Tidy Books Bookcase at no cost in order to facilitate this review.

All thoughts expressed are my own and may differ from yours.

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Stokke Scoot Giveaway

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Welcome to the Stokke Scoot Giveaway hosted by Viva Veltoro and Thrifty Nifty Mommy and generously sponsored by Stokke North America.

The Stokke Scoot is taking compact and lightweight to new heights with "best in class" features rolled into one lightweight, compact, and easy to fold stroller. The Stokke Scoot offers higher seating that's both parent and outward facing. With 4 seating positions, including active and rest modes, your baby will stroll in comfort. The Scoot features a large, water repellent canopy that has a hidden ventilation window and an attached sun visor for extra protection.

photos adapted from Stokke

Suitable from birth to 45 pounds, the Stokke Scoot is the ideal solution for travel, navigating busy streets or public transit. It's lightweight and easy to push. It also features an intuitive one-handed compact fold.

photo courtesy of Stokke

Ruth from Viva Veltoro recently had the opportunity to review the fabulous Stokke Scoot.

You can check out her full review HERE.

The lovely people at Stokke want to give one lucky person the chance to win

a Stokke Scoot in their choice of color, valued at $599, I personally love the blue one!

photos adapted from Stokke

Open to the US and Canada, ages 1.jpg8 and up. Ends 1.jpg1.jpg/1.jpg5/1.jpg3 at 1.jpg1.jpg:59 PM EST. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Good Luck!

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Disclosure: This blog did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Please contact vivaveltoro{at}gmail.com with any questions.

Happy Halloween

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Stay on track with Tickety Toc

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I can't believe October is almost over & November has arrived, this year has gone by so fast! Since fall has arrived it's time to fall back & loose an hour! My children's favorite characters Tommy & Tallulah from Tickety Toc have a special announcement to help you stay on track this weekend!

Winners

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Congrats to all of the winners & thanks to everyone who entered!

Therafit: Michelle T

Okiedog: Natasha

Agnitus: Geraldine K

Popcorn Popper Review and Giveaway

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In my house, one of my children's favorite go to snacks is popcorn, they love making it, listening to it pop & enjoying that crunch while eating it! Popcorn is a fun & easy snack, available in a variety of flavors, it makes a perfect afternoon snack or grab a bowl during family move night, either way, popcorn is a snack we can't resist!

I was recently introduced to Popcorn Popper, a company that sells gourmet popcorn, poppers, accessories, even delicious gift sets! Popcorn Popper only carries the finest popping corn, straight from Wabash Valley Farms, they even offer Popping Kits so you have everything you need to make great popcorn at home!

After browsing their yummy looking selection of popcorn, poppers & seasonings, I chose the Simply Sweet Starter Pack! For a price of $32.99, your pack will include an Original Whirley Pop, 2 Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn All Inclusive Popping Kits as well as a Sweet Seasonings Sampler (Sweet Cinnamon & Peppermint Twist).

I couldn't wait to create my own popcorn with the kids, instructions are provided & it was super easy to get started! Just pour the contents from your popping kits into the popper, turn your stove on medium-high & crank the wooden handle for about 3-4 minutes! Your kitchen will quickly fill with yummy smelling popcorn & you will be able to hear it pop, pop, popping!

Once you can't crank the wooden handle anymore, or the popping has slowed down, turn your stove off & remove your popper. Pour your popcorn into a bowl & top with a seasoning of your choice, I decided on the sweet cinnamon first & wow was that a great choice!

The popcorn turned out delicious, I really couldn't believe how much better it was than bagged/microwaved popcorn! Little Sister C had no problem gobbling some up & we saved some in a bag for when Big Brother C gets out of school, it will be a sweet surprise for him!

Yum, what is your favorite popcorn?

Buy It: Purchase the Simply Sweet Starter Pack online from Popcorn Popper!

Win It: One lucky reader will win a Simply Sweet Starter Pack!

Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

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Grace Adele

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Within the last year I have developed a huge fetish with hand bags & purses, my collection has almost doubled & I love it! I love that I can walk into my closet & change my purse or bag out to coordinate with my outfit, from going out on a girls night to just some casual shopping, I think it's great how a purse or bag can complete your look.

That being said, I also have a minor addiction to Grace Adele, you have probably seen a few posts here before, Anna is my Independent Scentsy & Grace Adele Consultant & I've been with her for a while!

At Grace Adele you will find beautiful bags, clutches, wallets, jewelry & more, all in stylish colors & designs! Grace Adele allows you to shop, host your own party or become a consultant, either way you will have no problem falling in love with this company & what they have to offer!

Anna so kindly sent me the Heather Bag in black as well as the Britt Clutch in Ocean. Both items are available in a variety of colors like Orange, Stone even Metallic. The Heather Bag is a classic style, it makes a great day to day bag, there is a ton of room as well as zipper & snap pockets inside & a few exterior pockets as well. The large exterior pocket on the side also fits any Grace Adele Clutch, what a perfect way to dress up your Heather Bag while adding a pop of color too!

The Britt Clutch is the perfect accessory for any Grace Adele purse or bag but can also be used on it's own. Spacious on the inside & decorated with rhinestones on the outside, it even has slots for your cards & comes with a detachable strap.

(Yes, my Mother & I are both carrying Grace Adele purses on our recent trip to California)

Browse around online at Grace Adele, do you see any items that catch your eye? I personally have my heart set on the Carly Black Leather Bag, absolutely gorgeous! Be on the look out because Anna is joining me for our upcoming holiday gift guide in November, don't miss it!

(I was sent the items above for my review from my independent consultant Anna, all opinions are my own & no other compensation was received)

Home Renovations That You'll Need to Save Up For

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Guest Post, Home Renovations That You'll Need To Save Up For

When many of us buy properties, we pick something that isn’t completely perfect in terms of decoration or space. This is because we’re trying to find a place with potential that can be finished to our standards in the future. It’s expensive buying a property, so this is a sacrifice that many of us will make just to get on the housing ladder.

For that reason, starting a savings fund can be pretty essential once you’ve bought your house but it need not be traditional. One of the ways to find the funds could be through peer to peer lending for savings at Zopa. You’ll be able to do the renovations when you’ve got enough of a budget to do so, while helping businesses and people along the way! But what are the biggest expenses when it comes to work on your house? It completely depends on what your dream home would look like, but here are a few of the things you may need to save up for...

Extensions

If other properties on your street have set the precedent, you might be looking to extend your property. Many people claim that the best way to do this is to get an architect to work with the planning officer at your local council, as it can take some of the stress away from you. Once the extension is given the green light, you’ll need to get in professionals to do the job, paying both labour and material costs. Never pay the full price up front as you should check the quality of the build to make sure the job is being done properly.

Loft conversion

If you don’t have the space to build into your garden, it may be the case that you want to extend upwards. Depending on the height of the roof, it could be possible to convert your loft into a useable space - perhaps another bedroom or a study. I’ve seen examples where a loft space has been converted into a massive master bedroom suite with dressing rooms and an en-suite toilet; it could be perfect!

New kitchen

Your plans might not extend to these budget busting renovations, it could be that you are simply looking to replace your kitchen units instead. A cheaper way of doing this is keeping the existing cupboards but simply updating the frontage, but it can be nice to have brand new units put in. Also think about the white goods and whether these need to be adapted to fit in with your new look kitchen.

Open plan living

Finally, open plan living is worth thinking about. Older properties have very defined spaces: kitchen, living room, dining room and study. In modern times, many people choose to knock a couple of spaces together to create a more social space. Therefore you might want to knockdown a wall or two to make a kitchen-dining area, or even bring your living space closer to the action happening in the kitchen. Get an architect in to help you with this as you won’t want to take down a supporting wall! It can also be beneficial to hear their advice for how you should organise the space once the walls are removed.

There are a number of online resources where you can find floor plans, interior decorating ideas and more. Always consult a professional though before undertaking any renovations.

(The above is a sponsored post, I was compensated for my time)

EnerHealth Giveaway

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Recently I had the privilege of reviewing EnerFood & Coco Mojo from EnerHealth Botanicals, a USDA Certified Organic company that sells products ranging from herbal extracts too body detox, organic soaps & more!

To read my full review online & find out more about the products I reviewed, click HERE!

EnerHealth is giving one lucky reader a chance to win a yummy prize pack consisting of 1.jpg EnerFood, 1.jpg Coconut Milk Powder & 2 Coco Mojo's! Use the giveaway tools form to enter, good luck!

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