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

I’m not usually particularly fond of children’s music CD’s.  And yet here I am with another review in this genre of music.  Late last year, I had an opportunity to preview Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, which my son still enjoys listening to.  Since it was actually pretty good, I decided to go ahead and allow yet another children’s music CD into my car.  The little monkey is at it again with his sequel, Curious George 2:  Follow That Monkey.  Here is a bit more information about the movie from the site.

Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey [the soundtrack] is based on the motion picture adventures of Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat as they set out on a madcap cross-country adventure to reunite Kayla, a homesick elephant, with her family. This unlikely trio faces all types of comic calamities and colorful characters who in the end learn that with family, friends and determination you can achieve anything.  The soundtrack features the hit “California Sun” performed by Brian Wilson as well as all new songs by The Carbon Leaf, a special title track recorded by 429 Records’ artist Jackie Greene and an original score by Heitor Pereira.

The soundtrack is actually not geared as much towards children as it is towards adults (in my opinion). Many of the songs would only be recognizable by adults.  Several of the songs consist solely of music (without words) and I actually prefer those.  The CD has a very upbeat feel to it and I imagine it would appeal to children a bit older than my son.  Some of the songs deal with themes such as friendship and life struggles.  Curious George 2:  Follow That Monkey is scheduled to be released on March 2.

Win It! One of you will win a copy of Curious George 2:  Follow That Monkey.  Just leave me a comment with the name of your favorite track and you’re entered! Comments will close on March 4, 2010 at 11:59 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.

Vote for Rockin’ Mama for the Hot Blogger Calendar

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.

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

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for 429 Records, who supplied the product for review.

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

Last fall, Disney’s latest film, The Princess and the Frog was released in theaters.  I still haven’t managed to see it, but every time I listen to the soundtrack I snap my fingers and do a little jig.  The film is set in New Orleans and is a modern twist on the classic tale called “The Frog Princess.” The story is about “a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.”

The CD features the musical talents of Anika Noni Rose(Dreamgirls), Ne-Yo(R&B music star) and Academy Award winning composer Randy Newman.  The soundtrack is a diverse mix of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Zydeco genres. The music is mostly upbeat and lively…perfect for children and adults.  In fact, if you enjoy jazz, you might wat to check it out!

The CD is available for purchase on Amazon.

Win It! One of you will win a copy of the soundtrack to The Princess and the Frog.  Simply leave me a comment with the name of a track you like from the CD.  Comments will close on March 1, 2010 at 11:59 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.

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

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Walt Disney Records, who supplied the CD for review and giveaway.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Lily Kwan!

Because I *mostly* stay at home with my children, you will see me at any given moment with tussled hair and juice (or fill in the blank with the toddler substance of choice) stains on my clothes.  I have a closet full of gorgeous clothing and shoes that I don’t usually get to wear because I’m a mom…a stay-at-home mom.  Most days it seems silly to get “all dressed up with no place to go.”

I write a lot about how I think it’s important for moms to do whatever they need to in order to feel good about themselves.  For me, a shower, a touch of eyeshadow and lip gloss, and a pair of cute shoes are enough to make me feel like a woman.  Many companies are recognizing the need for women and moms to look and feel good about themselves, regardless of the task. Flirty Aprons is one such company.

I recently received an adorable apron from the company.  Flirty Aprons was actually founded by two couples (which surprised me) who wanted “to create a product that would help women find self-expression and excitement in their day-to-day activities and bring color and style to the home.”  You know how much I just adore being in the kitchen (ahem).  Now I have a very cute incentive to do so and my husband likes it too! I chose the Original Chic Pink apron which features a stylish, tailored cut and a gorgeous pink pattern.  I’m vertically challenged (i.e. short) so the apron falls lower on my legs than it would on a taller woman but I like the coverage and protection it provides from food spills.  And honestly, the apron is fun to wear (particularly if I had company over).  The apron is made from 100% cotton and retails for $29.95.

Flirty Aprons offers aprons for men, women, and children.  They come in a variety of vintage-like patterns (but they’re surprisingly very modern in terms of style).  I think it would be fun to get a matching apron for my daughter when she’s older (much older!). I could own several of these and have fun wearing them…especially when we have company over.  I really like how the company took something as monotonous as cooking and turned it into something exciting.  You can look beautiful while doing dishes (just ask my husband)  Pardon me…that’s my oven beeping!

Win It! One of you will win an apron, courtesy of Flirty Aprons.  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite!  Comments will close on February 4, 2010 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 them on Twitter and Facebook (2 entries max).

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.

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

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Flirty Aprons, who supplied the apron for review.

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Blue Note Records, who supplied the CD for review and sponsored the giveaway.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats Jenn E!

As we ready our home for Christmas, we’ve been listening to a new CD to get us in the mood for the rapidly approaching holiday season.  We have yet to see the holiday movie Curious George:  A Very Monkey Christmas, but I’m thinking about getting it because the soundtrack is a fun mix of some new upbeat songs and some traditional classics. I have to admit that my husband and I are not terribly crazy about some Christmas music but all 3 of us have really enjoyed listening to this CD.

Here is a bit more information about the new DVD and CD release from the site:

A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS is the first ever holiday-themed movie to feature the beloved children’s character Curious George and will air during PBS pledge drive programming beginning November 25th and continuing throughout December.   The soundtrack to “A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS” will feature the television show’s theme performed by SLG/429 Records’ Grammy winning recording artist Dr. John with songs and score composed by Nick Nolan.

My son’s favorite song on the CD is Jingle Bells.  He actually knows the entire song (we’ve been playing it over and over!).  My favorite song is the Christmas Medley.  The CD retails for $13.99 and is available at retailers nationwide.

Be sure to watch A Very Monkey Christmas on PBS.  It will air on December 6, 18, 19, 20, and 25th.    I’m setting our DVR to record it!

Win It! One of you will win a copy of Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas CD.  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite song from the track list.  Comments will close on December 18, 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.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

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.

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

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Denon Records, who supplied the CD for review.

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

I love being a mom, but sometimes I reminisce back to the days when I could get in and out of a store in 20 minutes, sit down with my husband at a restaurant and eat a warm meal, and go to my fitness classes at the gym.  I always keep the perspective that this time is only brief, and that my children will be grown before I know it.  So while sometimes, in the trenches, it seems difficult and tiresome, I treasure the moments where I get to nap with my son, read him a story, sing with him, color, or any other numerous activities we do together.

But, that doesn’t mean that we as moms should neglect ourselves.  In fact, it’s really quite the opposite.  I truly believe that it’s important for me to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.  It sets a positive example for my son and helps me de-stress.  To be honest, participating in any type of fitness activity is very difficult for me.  The closest family we have is an hour away and it was only recently that I started putting my son in preschool (which is my small window of time to get laundry, grocery shopping, etc. done).  The alternative to fitness classes at the gym has traditionally been the DVD workout.  There are a lot of great programs out there, however, it’s difficult to customize them to my personal fitness level and after awhile they can get boring.

I recently had an opportunity to try out the My Yoga 2 Go Practice System, a complete system “combining the flexibility of working out at home, the versatility of a yoga class and the hands-on guidance of an experienced yoga instructor.”  I actually find beginner yoga to be extremely relaxing.  I used to like to alternate on my days off from cardio.  Now that I’m pregnant, it’s the only “exercise” I can really do.

Before I talk about my experience with the program, I wanted to tell you about the program.  It’s really unlike anything I’ve ever tried before.  The My Yoga 2 Go Practice System includes 71 posture cards (I like that they’re pictures of real people doing the poses) and a clear multi-pocket display tote (you can also fold it up and use it as a carrying case).  The cards feature 3 beginner sequences, 2 intermediate sequences, and 2 advanced sequences.  Once you figure out what level you are, you select that color-coded sequence, organize the cards by number, and place them into the clear display tote.

Since I’m pregnant, and classify myself as a beginner, the founder of the program designed a prenatal sequence for me.  I recognized many of the poses, but I did find some of them a bit challenging (I’m almost 7 months pregnant!). I like the fact that each card has details on the amount of time it takes to complete each pose/stretch, detailed directions, variations, and benefits. It’s very thorough.  I will say that if I didn’t know the pose, I had to turn the card over and spend some time studying it which is really the only downside I see to the system.  Yoga can be used for improving strength, stretching, or simply relaxing and having to stop in the middle to read about the next pose might be a bit of an interruption.  However, I do like the thoroughness of the program, the ability to vary based on skill level, and the versatility of using this anywhere.  I definitely don’t think you’ll get bored with this system!

The My Yoga 2 Go Practice System retails for $29.95, but you can save 15% when you use the code “BLOGYOGA.”  (valid through October 31, 2009). The site also offers a variety of yoga products including T-shirts, jewelry, mat bags and more.

Win It! One of you will win a My Yoga 2 Go Practice System.  Simply leave me a comment with a way you as a mom find time to exercise or do yoga.  Comments will close on October 29, 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.

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

Profuse thanks to the Family Review Network for this review/giveaway opportunity!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are Pamela, joanmurraycefalu, and Sonya.  Congrats!

will be very honest in admitting that my husband and I are foodies (not in the snobby sense of the word).  We just like to eat really good food.  The dictionary defines a foodie as “someone who has an ardent or refined interest in food.”  I like that definition.  Going out to eat is a treat for us these days.  What used to be the “norm,” is now only a rarity.  It’s really difficult to bring a 2 year old to fondue restaurant with a four-course meal, a Spanish tapas restaurant, a Teppanyaki restaurant, or a Japanese restaurant for Shabu Shabu (yes, these are the types of meals my husband and I like to eat when we go out).  We’re in that stage of our lives where the words “family friendly” precede gourmet.

I’ve eaten at Souplantation numerous times.  We used to go there every Sunday after church.  The food is fresh and the prices are reasonable.  And it’s loud, so you can bring children inside and fit right in.  I’ve only eaten at Souplantation for lunch, so I can’t attest to their meal offerings at other times.  But for lunch, it’s good. And today, that is where all three of us ate (courtesy of the company).

It’s interesting for me to visit a restaurant from the reviewer point of view.  I noticed things I hadn’t noticed before.  Like the fact that my 2 year old (and yours!) eats for free and gets his own little tray.  And how the person behind the salad counter kept re-arranging and “tidying up” the salad bar.  And how the hot food section really had hot food (covered by cloth napkins for freshness and warmth).  And how they no longer serve pizza (really?) or offer the create-your-own pastas (again, really?).  And how the waiter kept taking our dirty plates away (he was very attentive).

The best bread selection ever!

I’m a meat and potatoes kind of girl!

The salad bar makes up a large portion of the food they offer.  It was fresh and offered a diverse array of veggies, toppings, dressings, etc. They also offer tossed and prepared salads.  I can’t remember how many soups were offered (at least 8 or 9)  but I liked the fact that the restaurant offers low-fat, vegetarian and vegan options.  Other hot entrees include baked potatoes and prepared hot pastas (vegetarian and meat-based varieties).  I wish the restaurant offered a little more in terms of hot foods and protein (I remember freshly-prepared hot pastas and pizzas at one time).  Their bread and muffin options are so delicious (I had their chocolate brownie muffin for dessert).  Desserts consist mainly of fruit, gelatin, ice cream, and mousse (and to be honest, none of that was super appealing to me, except for the fruit).

Soooo hungry!

Mmmmm…dessert!

Overall, I think that Souplantation is a great restaurant for lunch.  They also offer breakfast (which I did not know until just recently) and items include scrambled eggs, waffles, biscuits & gravy, oatmeal, potatoes o’brien, freshly baked cinnamon chip biscuits, muffins, make-your-own breakfast burritos and more. Breakfast is my FAVORITE meal of the day and I would definitely check Souplantation’s breakfast menu out in the future.  And, on October 18th, the restaurant chain is celebrating National Pajama Month with their Pajama-Rama event.  Children can head to the restaurant in their pjs for free breakfast from 9 am to noon with the purchase of an adult meal.

Souplantation is part of Garden Fresh Restaurants (and also goes by the name of Sweet Tomatoes in some states) and offers 112 locations in 15 states.  The restaurant offers all-you-can-eat dining at a fixed price.  The menu changes daily and the food is made from scratch (daily).

On October 1, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants announced the crEATe Recipe Contest and throughout the month, guests can submit their recipes for combinations made entirely from their menu items through their website, Facebook page or via email.  Ten finalists will be chosen in November and all guests will be invited to vote for their favorite in December.  The winning recipe and chef will be announced in January and will win a year’s worth of free passes and the opportunity to be featured in an upcoming ad.

Rules:  The contest is open to restaurant guests in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington.  Guests must submit their recipe and a photo of themselves alongside the completed dish by October 31, 2009.  The recipe must contain at least 2 to 5 Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes menu items only and will be judged based on menu and visual appeal, ingredient list, and creativity.  Recipes and photos can be submitted online, on their Facebook page, or by email.

You can also follow the company on Twitter!

Win It! Three of you will win a pair (that’s 2) dining passes.  Simply leave me a comment with a menu item you like or want to try from the site (be specific, not just salad or soup but what kind of salad or soup).  Comments will close on October 25, 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.

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

Disclosure:  Yes, we ate for free (except for the drinks we purchased).  And yes, I’d pay to eat there again. : )

Profuse thanks to the Famly Review Network for this review opportunity!

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

Chocolate is my weakness.  I blame chocolate for those last 10 pounds I still had left to lose before getting pregnant with baby number 2.  And self -control goes out the window when chocolate is in the house.  Now there’s nothing inherently wrong with chocolate.  In fact, it has some pretty amazing health benefits, particularly the dark chocolate variety.  Anti oxidants (which attack free radicals) are one of the many benefits inherent in dark chocolate.  So while I definitely don’t need to indulge in it, a little bit here and there may just be good for me!

Before I found out I was pregnant for the second time, I jumped at the opportunity volunteered to try out some chocolate samples from Celebrate Chocolate Truffles.  These chocolates are unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard of and they’re brand new!  These dark chocolate truffles are designed to help you control your appetite.  You’ll find ingredients in these truffles that you won’t find in others…like exotic fruits, oils, and nuts.  These truffles pack a lot into one bite (or a few).  Here is a bit more information from the site:

The delicate Celebrate chocolate blend is created from rare, 100+ year old Venezuelan highland cocoa trees, and rich coastal Guatemalan cocoa. The old plantations were cultivated organically before there was any other way. The ancient recipe enchants with exquisite honey from flowering banana trees, coupled to a touch of chile. Delivering powerful nutrition to your body with a sensationally unique taste, Celebrate Chocolate is accented with 59 concentrated whole foods – fruits, nuts, grains, and herbs. Cultivated sustainably, all are freshly harvested from pristine fields in southwestern Brazil.

I will be completely honest in saying that my husband was the one to try these.  Because of the sheer number of somewhat exotic ingredients and the appetite suppression that go along with the chocolate, I decided it might be better to hold off until after the baby is born.  All of the ingredients are natural, but many were new or unfamiliar to me so I thought I’d play it safe.  My husband readily volunteered (actually, I had to stop him from eating them long enough to look at them and smell them).  His opinion was that they were smooth and rich with an intense flavor.  He also said they practically melted in his mouth.  He prefers the taste of Celebrate Classics over Celebrate Creations because he’s not particularly fond of fruit and chocolate in combination.  Just smelling them made me want to go out and buy a box of dark chocolate truffles!  I also love the way they look.  Each chocolate has an imprint of the fruit or nut that it is supposed to taste like!

Regarding appetite suppression…the company claims that eating 1-2 20 minutes before a meal will help curb your appetite, causing you to eat less.  Honestly, my husband did not use these chocolates in that way.  He used them more as a dessert, so of course he was full right after eating dinner and a couple of chocolates.  So while I can’t comment on it’s effectiveness in suppressing appetite, I will say that losing weight is a very difficult process.  In the past I’ve lost weight with programs that basically utilize the philosophy of portion control.  Unfortunately, things that I would crave (like chocolate) would end up having more calories or fat then were allowed in the “plan.”  When someone is trying to lose weight, the focus can easily shift to those foods that are considered “off limits.”  I like the idea of allowing a bit of an indulgence (like chocolate) into one’s weight loss plan so that there is no feeling of deprivation (and subsequent diet failures when cravings are given into).

There truly is a “science” on how the chocolates work to suppress appetite, including the numerous health benefits.  I’ll let you read all about it on the site!  A 12-piece box retails for $19.95 and can be purchased directly from the site.

Win It! One of you will receive 2 mini boxes of Celebrate Chocolate Truffles.  Simply leave me a comment with a flavor that sounds yummy and something you learned on the site (which is packed with information).  Comments will close June 23, 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!

Profuse thanks to the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.

When I was a little girl, my mother gave me a gold necklace with my name on it.  I still have that necklace, tucked away in my jewelry box for safekeeping since it was made for a child.  While I love to wear jewlery, it’s not often that I actually purchase pieces for myself.  I prefer to leave that to my husband!

I recently had an opportunity to review a necklace from BeautyName.  I chose my own name in the “Kayla” font with a snake chain in silver.  It’s gorgeous isn’t it?

Here is a little more information about the company:

Beautyname is the place where a name turns into a unique piece of jewelry. Our family-owned company has worked in the jewelry and gold-smith industry for over 35 years in Jerusalem, Israel. We offer a beautiful selection of handmade, personalized gold and silver jewelry, high in quality and craftsmanship.

The first thing I noticed when I received the necklace was that it came all the way from Jerusalem!  I absolutely adore products from other countries. The necklace is handmade, but you would not know this from looking at it because it’s so intricately designed.  The size of my name is perfect, not too big and gawdy, not too small to see.  The necklace is solid sterling silver and the chain can be ordered in one of three lengths (14″,16″, or 18″).  You can choose any name, up to 10 letters in a variety of fonts and the cost is just $25 plus shipping (which is very affordable, considering it’s coming from Jerusalem).

If I had a little girl, I’d get her one of these necklaces.  As a parent, I spend a lot of time researching and picking out my children’s names.  And it’s only when I see my child for the first time that I settle on the name that I believe fits.  BeautyName necklaces are a wonderful way to celebrate the significance of one’s name.  Be sure to check out the designer’s Etsy and Ebay shops.

Profuse thanks to the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are JamericanSpice and Courtney.  Congrats!

My husband LOVES gadgets. He’s always looking for some electronic “toy” to play with.  What exactly is a gadget anyway?  I had to look it up and while there are tons of definitions, I like Merriam-Webster’s the best:

An often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty.

Thanks to the Family Review Network, I was recently introduced to an online store that sells every gadget you could possibly think of.  BudgetGadgets.com is an Asian-based company, dedicated to supplying a diverse array of affordable gadgets.  Here is where you’ll find camera lenses, bluetooth headsets, flash memory drives, toys, and so much more.  The company is constantly updating their inventory so that the products are the latest on the market.

I was sent a AA Battery Powered Happy Zoo Electronic Organ for my son and a Mini Keychain Universal TV Remote Control for my husband (of course!).  Despite the fact that the package came from China, shipping was timely.  My son has had a lot of fun playing with the piano which has 7 different animals and a ton of different “songs.”  I actually like it for the car (it keeps my son entertained while we’re driving).  My one small complaint is that it didn’t come with batteries.  The remote control is really handy and doesn’t even have to be programmed (which is nice for people like me who need simple gadgets!).  It has a key ring on it so you don’t lose it.  Don’t you hate “losing” the remote control in the couch?  It’s also compatible with numerous major eletronic brands which is nice to know if you’re concerned whether it will work on your own television set.

If you’re in the market for “gadgets,”  you’ll definitely find a complete selection at BudgetGadgets.com.  Right now you can save 5% on purchases by using the code CM5OFF11 at checkout.

Win It! Two of you will win a gadget from BudgetGadgets.com (one will win the electronic organ and the other will win the remote control).  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here with a product you’d like to own (not including the products being given away).  Comments will close on May 30, 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!