Decorate with style; step with confidence; stand in comfort.

GelPro

How much time do you spend in the kitchen?  Between meal preparation and clean-up for 3 meals a day, 5 days a week, I spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in the house.  And you know how much I enjoy cooking!  As a nurse, I am accustomed to being on my feet 12+hours a day.  My days off are filled with caring for a toddler, a household, and a husband.   For as much time as I spend in the kitchen, I can justify buying products that will make everyday tasks easier.  With all the standing and walking I do, it’s nice to get a break!  And a break I get, thanks to my GelPro Floor Mat.

GelPro’s Floor Mats are fashionable and functional.  They make incredibly unique and classy home decor items and they help relieve a mama’s sore, tired feet.  Oh how I love products that serve more than one function.  Here is a little more information from the site:

GelPro mats were created with one goal in mind: to make the time you spend standing in your home more comfortable.  GelPro has solved ergonomic problems with a line of stylish anti-fatigue floor mats manufactured with a soft, shock-absorbing gel core. The unique properties of the GelPro gel enable GelPro mats to provide the most comfortable surface to stand on, regardless of the type of hard flooring you have in your home.

I know from experience, that standing on my feet for lengthy periods of time results in foot, leg, and back pain.  People who suffer from painful arthritis, lower back pain, foot pain, plantar fasciitis, and diabetes are particularly susceptible.  So why does this happen? “Muscles tighten and constrict, reducing the body’s ability to effectively deliver blood to the constricted areas.  The result is pain, muscle spasms, pressure on the nerves, and fatigue.”

So how does it work?  “Anti-fatigue floor mats work by forcing subtle movements of leg and calf muscles, which promotes a less restricted flow of blood back to the heart and helps prevent spasms and muscle tension. Anti-fatigue mats also lower the overall shock forces that are transmitted to body joints with each step.”

We chose a 20″ x 36″ Basketweave mat in Truffle.  This color matches our kitchen decor perfectly and I like the interwoven leather strips design.  It compliments the modern theme we have in our kitchen.  This quality mat is cushy and comfortable and I can’t say that I’ve had sore feet since I started using it.  They’re easy to clean and don’t leave any indentations, regardless of the shoes I’ve worn (although I don’t own a pair of stilettos which apparently can damage the mat).  Mats are available in six designs and numerous colors and sizes.  You can tailor the mat to your own style and taste.  Pricing begins at $100 and goes up, depending on the style and size you’re interested in.  If you have no idea where to start, check out their interactive kitchen.  It will help you decide which mat will work best in your home, considering the type of flooring and cabinetry you have.

Why not give mom the gift of comfort this Mother’s Day?

It’s 2009 and I have one question…does anyone send cards out except me?  Growing up, my parents emphasized the importance of sending cards…on the exact date of the event, in fact.  I gave and received cards for birthdays, holidays, and any other occasion you can think of.  I know we live in a technologically-based society where going paperless and digital is hip and modern, but has the written card become obsolete?  I hope not.

When I think of greeting cards, I think of Hallmark (who doesn’t?).  For almost 100 years Hallmark has “helped people connect with one another and give voice to their feelings.”  How many times have you wanted to say something but didn’t have the words?  I know I’ve been in that situation, picked up a Hallmark card, and had that epic moment where I think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  Hallmark’s selection encompasses a wide range of cards beginning at only $0.99.  From humorous to sentimental, you’ll find a card that will echo your sentiments.  The company has cards for a cause and recordable cards with music.  The recordable cards with music are my favorite because I like hearing a real voice behind the card.  My husband and son recorded a sweet one for me for Valentine’s Day and this is one of the many memories I’ll have of his sweet voice.

Hallmark’s selection is not limited to cards.  Products include paper party supplies, gifts, wrapping paper, ornaments, home decor items, memory-keeping picture frames, albums, scrapbooks, and customized photo cards.  If you’re looking for a sentiment-filled card or gift, check out the entire Mother’s Day selection on their site or in-store.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is CMC.  Congrats!

I’m not sure about you, but one of the things I’d really like this Mother’s Day is something I would never buy for myself.  I can’t remember the last time I purchased something indulgent like a lotion or face cream or went out to a restaurant without my husband.  It would be wonderful to have a leisurely dinner  at a restaurant that didn’t have a kid’s menu.  What used to be something as easy as getting up and going, has now become more involved.  Schedules have to be arranged, my son has to be watched, and then there is the whole aspect of money!

This Mother’s Day, KMR Communications, Inc would like to celebrate one of you moms with a truly elegant giveaway.  One very lucky reader will have an opportunity to win a $50.00 gift certificate to the luxurious Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club in Manhattan and an Almond Pie Rich Souffle Lotion for the body from Votre Vu ($48.00).  Fortunately for all of you, I live all the way on the opposite coast (*smiles*).  Actually, I really enjoy reader giveaways and I’m just as excited when my winner receives a treat they weren’t expecting.  Here is a little more information about the sponsoring companies from their sites:

Treat yourself to Tart D’Amanda Souffle Riche Pour Le Corps day or night for luxurious moisture protection that’s never heavy or greasy, just divine.  Almond Pie exudes a warm fragrance, rich with coveted and healthy ingredients to treat your whole body.  Vitamins and tropical nut oils provide the ultimate in hydrated and sensuously silky skin.  While rich with fatty acids and decadent aroma, there are no calories to be gained here.  Guiltlessly dive into a big scoop of absolute deliciousness, and those lucky enough to be near you will savor the pleasure too.  Macadamia Oil, Vital, Grape Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, D Panthenol, and Cerasome A and E make up this truly indulgent lotion.

Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club brings the French Riviera to the upper east side. Where else can one dine in style until 3am with delectable cuisine such as chocolate soufflé and Foie Gras? The service and décor are equally impressive. The restaurant received the “Best Interior Design” award by Hospitality Design Magazine. The restaurant Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club may be located in a brownstone on the Upper East Side of New York; however the ambience is pure Paris where Executive Chef Hok Chin’s cuisine is as artistic as the stylish décor.  Celebrity patrons have included Billy Bladwin, Joan Rivers, Cindy Adams, Chazz Palminteri, and former President Bill Clinton.

Restaurant Information:

Reservations are suggested, chic attire is requested.

24 East 81st Street

New York, NY 10028

212 396 3444

Win It! One of you will the above package valued at approximately $100.  Simply head on over to BOTH sites and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a 3 part comment (I have to make you work just a bit for it!) including something you liked from each site (other than the Almond Pie Rich Souffle Lotion) and where you live (or where the person who will be receiving this lives).  Comments will close on May 9, 2009 and the winner will be announced on Mother’s Day (my apologies that you won’t receive this before then but it still makes a truly fabulous gift).  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

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This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Susan.  Congrats!

If you’re buying for a “sentimental” or “nostalgic” mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, or friend, you might consider creating a 3D gift from Shapeways.  This company takes me back to the days where I’d paint, draw, or sculpt for my mom in school (don’t you just love high school art and ceramics?) with more flair and modern technology.  Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

Shapeways is a place where you can create custom 3D gifts, such as a light poem with your own words/poem/thoughts, or a set of napkin rings personalized for your mom for mother’s day!

The process (from what I’ve heard) is simple.  Upload your design and the company prints and ships it to you within ten working days.  There are a variety of options including uploading your own designs or purchasing 3D artists’ designs.  Choose from a Lightpoem, Ringpoem, Lightsculpture and more!  This video actually explains the process really well:

Win It! One of you will win a $25 gift certificate to Shapeways (please note that you may not receive the actual design in time for Mother’s Day).  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with the name of a gift from the gallery that you’d like for that special mother in your life.  Comments will close on May 6, 2009 at 10 PM PST (please note the short timeline).  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I interrupt my “countdown to Mother’s Day” with something that is going to help all moms get dinner on the table a little faster, with less effort.  I don’t like to cook.  I’ve said it numerous times.  I won’t belabor the point (*smiles*).  Thankfully, I have a husband who does.  There are those times when my husband comes home late from work, or is out of town on business, where I have to “fend for myself.”  I’ve been known to mess up a meal (or ten) so I’m always looking for quick, simple, “doable,” meal solutions that are both affordable and palatable.

Thanks to Mom Central, my family had an opportunity to try two of Ragu’s new varieties of their Old World Style pasta sauce (Sweet Tomato Basil and Margherita).  Pasta is a meal that I am comfortable making and my husband doesn’t complain about the way it turns out (there aren’t that many ways to mess up pasta!).  My normal routine is to cook ground turkey in olive oil with some onions and garlic.  Then I add a can of tomatoes (bland, I know).  I sprinkle some store-bought mix of Italian seasonings, boils some whole wheat pasta, and dinner is served.  With Ragu’s new Old World Style pasta sauces, I can elminate the entire process of “making a sauce” which makes the entire meal preparation process less painful!  And…the sauces are healthy and taste good.  The sauces pack a full serving of veggies (per half cup) and are low in fat and calories.  I like the Sweet Tomato Basil for pasta and the Margherita for pizza (even thought it’s a pasta sauce).  Making a pizza is even easier.  We buy corn meal pizza crusts from Whole Foods, spread the Margherita sauce on the crust, sprinkle mozarella cheese, and top with cut up veggies.

If pizza and pasta are too simple, check out the site’s Quickmeal recipes which can be prepared in 30-40 minutes.  I may just attempt the Tomato Basil Skillet Chicken Cacciatore or the Hearty Baked Rigatoni.  For more ideas on meal planning, helping kids eat healthier, and budget meals, check out the site.

Profuse thanks to Mom Central for this review opportunity.

As a season pass holder, I frequent Disneyland about 2-4 times a month.  But last Friday, I had an opportunity to see Disneyland in a different light.  I was one of “the press” at an exclusive Media Preview day along with Amanda from Mommy Mandy.  Imagine my surprise when I was handed this:

After we “checked in,” we were escorted to a private Celebration Roundup and Barbecue Lunch at Big Thunder Ranch.  They apparently knew the way to my heart.

Borrowed with permission from Jason (aka Disneygeek)

The restaurant even offers a Tofu/Veggie skewer, which was much yummier than it sounds!

Borrowed with permission from Jason (aka Disneygeek)

Did you know the restaurant has been closed for 9 years?  That’s just one of the many interesting facts I learned last week.  I had the opportunity to meet the amazing chef, Sean Layne, who developed the menu.

Borrowed with permission from Jason (aka Disneygeek)

For $28.99 ($18.99 for kids 3-9) you’ll be served a family-style meal including barbecue chicken and ribs, cole slaw, corn on the cob, beans, beverages, and an AMAZING cupcake platter (well, it’s more like a display). I only had 3 by the way.

After mingling, practicing my photography skills (thanks Jason), and getting serious with Jessie,

we headed over to a special “media” section near “Small World” to dance along with a cast of nearly 100 dancers, DJs, and Disney characters. (Videos coming soon!)  Work it Tanyetta (it’s one of those…”had to be there” moments)!

After we danced the night afternoon away, we headed over to special auditorium (the name escapes me) over at  California Adventure for a presentation on what’s up and coming with Disneyland.  Now any other presentation would have been a great, big yawn.  But not at Disneyland.  There was music, dancing, and a lot of excitement.

We learned about Disney’s new summer entertainment called Summer Nightastic!  You’ll see changes to Fantasmic! including intermixings of HD technology, Dumbo will join Tinkerbell for the Fireworks show, the Electrical Parade will light up with advanced audio and lighting technologies, and little girls will be enchanted at Pixie Hollow. And if that wasn’t enough, the Food and Wine Festival opened last week (which I have yet to experience).

Perhaps the most spectacular announcement was the return of the 3-day Fun Pass for Southern California residents ($99).

Overall, it was an extremely informative, lively, magical day done in true Disney style.  Oh…and I met some fabulous bloggers, some of which have blogs entirely dedicated to all things Disney.

Thank you Disneyland!!!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Suanne. Congrats!

It’s so interesting to me how one’s sense of smell is closely tied to mood and memories.  What do you think of when someone mentions “home.”  Is it the smell of your favorite home-cooked meal?  Is it the perfume that your mother wears?  Is it the smell of Lysol your father cleaned with (yes, I associate the smell of Lysol with my parent’s home growing up…among other smells of coure).  How my house smells is important to me (and something we probably don’t think about on a regular basis).

I like candles because their aroma is milder and I like the ambience that low lighting creates, particluarly when we have guests over.  It sets a peaceful, inviting tone.  I just recently learned that your conventional, store-bought candles actually contain harmful ingredients like paraffin wax which emits carcinogenic fumes when burned.  Older candles may have lead or metal wicks which also release toxins when burned (Green Living Tips).

If you’re looking for a greener “burn,” soy candles are a great alternative.  Glade recently introduced the Fragrance Collection, “a new, irresistible and chic home-fragrance offering of reed diffusers, soy candles, and multi-wick soy based candles.”   The candles are made with over 90% natural ingredients, including palm wax and soy.  The wick is lead and metal-free and the fragrances are infused with essential oils.  The plastic jars they come in are adorable and make a wonderful home decor accent for living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms.  They burn FOREVER and their scent is pleasant but not overwhelming.  With a toddler in the house, I actually like the reed diffusers because they don’t have to be lit.  My favorite scent is Orange Vanilla.  The entire collection is available at Walmart. The following scent options are available:

orange vanilla

currants & acai

sheer white cotton

lotus bamboo

mcintosh apple

earthly awakening

Win It! One of you will win a reed diffuser in currants &  acai.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look at their scents.  Come back and leave me a comment with your favorite.  Comments will close on May 14, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Some women like shoes.  Some like jewelry.  Some like flowers.  And some…like stylish purses!  I happen to be all of the above (hee hee)!  My husband likes to tease me about all of my many bags.  A girl has to have a bag for every occasion…work…casual..formal…BlogHer…

I recently had an AWESOME opportunity to review the designer Logan Laptop Bag ($464.00) from Belisi.  I cannot tell you how amazingly chic, sophisticated and stylish this bag is.  A long time ago, my husband bought me a laptop bag from REI (it’s not the most feminine bag I own).  While I appreciated his thoughtfulness, I often wish I had a laptop bag that reflected my personality.  Here is a little more information about the laptop bag from the site:

The Logan Laptop Bag is constructed with the finest leather combined with innovative and eye-catching materials.  Perfect for the most formal of business meetings or the casual working environment.  Experience the rich texture of Tuscan Dark Chocolate leather with South Beach Sand leather trim and the Belisi Monogram in a gorgeous Alabaster Glow.

Don’t you just love the description of this bag?  This quality laptop bag is durable and fits up to a 16”(L) x 11.5”(W) x 3”(H) laptop (according to the site).  I have a MacBook and it fits nicely, despite the fact that my laptop is small.  I simply secure it with the padded strap.  What I like most about the bag (despite it’s gorgeous design) is the numerous organizational pockets.  Since I tend to like to throw everything into one bag, it’s nice to have compartments for pens, cards, keys, my smartphone, & my iPod.  The bag also has numerous zippered pockets/compartments, including one on the outside.  I like storing my camera and Vado HD in those zippered compartments so I don’t lose or damage them.  The bag weighs a mere 3 pounds although when I add all my “stuff” it probably weighs much more.  I can carry the bag or strap it over my shoulder (I prefer the shoulder strap).  The bag also comes with a lock and a storage bag (but I don’t plan on storing it!).

If you’re looking to splurge (or have the hubby splurge), be sure to check out Belisi.  They have an amazing selection of Mother’s Day gift ideas including silver jewelry, crystal jewelry, designer handbags, designer luggage, ladies’ wallets, scarves, shoes, beauty products,  and womenswear.

In light of some posts I’ve read recently about “mommy bloggers,” I thought I’d clear up a few things here on my blog.  I’ve recently written a disclosure policy with clear information on how I conduct reviews, giveaways, advertising and more.  If you ever have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I review products.

I receive a product for free from the sponsoring company unless stated otherwise.

I use/test every product I’ve receive and do my best to show it to you in action via photos, videos, interviews, etc.

I never charge for reviews.

I don’t publish negative reviews and I don’t really believe “any press is good press.”

If I don’t like a product, I don’t pretend to, and I am open with the company about my opinion.

I host giveaways.

I don’t charge a company to host a giveaway.

If I am doing a giveaway, you can assume I also received the product unless otherwise stated.

If you like receiving extra entries by subscribing, tweeting, etc. thank you for helping to spread the word.  However, you can unsubscribe or un follow me at any time (you won’t offend me), because I hope that each of you who have subscribed like hearing what I have to say.

The only compensation I receive in the form of advertisements is that little widget you see on my sidebar under the “Featured Video” and “Sponsors,” which pretty much translates into enough money to perhaps buy groceries for one meal a month (sometimes it’s less, sometimes it’s more).

On a personal note, I read each and every comment (which is why I moderate my comments), and while I may not respond to each one, know that I have read them, taken them to heart, and truly appreciate your readership.  There are thousands of blogs and I don’t take for granted how limited and precious your time is.  My goal is to always provide you with authentic content, honest reviews and fun giveaways… and the occassional rant (like this one)! Ultimately, I hope that the community of women who visit my site walk away inspired, educated and informed.