Category: Default

The 5th Day of the Gear Up For Summer Block Party is here!  I have teamed up with 9 awesome bloggers where every day from May 18th to 22nd, two bloggers will feature a Summer related giveaway to get you ready for Summer.  Cat from 3 Kids and Us and I are the finale of the party!  After you enter the 3 Summer filled giveaways I have going on here, be sure to enter Cat’s giveaway for a $20 Piggy Paint Gift Certificate!  My girls just love Piggy Paint, a non toxic, odorless, and kid-friendly nail polish so be sure to enter her giveaway to treat your little girl and paint her piggies in fun, Summer colors!

Meet the Company:

Carolyn West’s vintage-inspired aprons and dish gloves enhance the merriment of playing whimsical dress-up combined with the indulgent delights of naughty pin-ups. This range of appeal makes Carolyn’s designs perfect for gifts for all occasions.

These sets are also sweet treats for yourself and fun gifts for mothers, sisters, daughters, and brides. Carolyn mixes the domesticity of past decades with the working world of the 21st century woman by creating a business focusing on feminine domestic designs.

Inspired by a gorgeous apron and glove set from Paris, Carolyn began by discovering 1940’s patterns and bringing them to life with her modern interpretive designs. “I wanted to bring back the glamour, sexiness, and cuteness of a bygone innocent era. The gloves and fabrics are new and nicer – it’s a new and improved version of the ’40’s.”

“I let my imagination run, and originated the embodiment of that 40’s girl in the apron and gloves, living in our ultra modern age. Suzy Homefaker slaves over a hot microwave for minutes at a time, constant hostess to all, in and around her kitchen, enticing temptress to you know who, you know where.”

You too will find yourself transformed to that frivolous and fun part of you when you become Suzy Homefaker in Carolyn’s designs.

Through the Mom Trials: I’ve featured Carolyn’s Kitchen last year in late October where I mentioned how these vintage-inspired aprons turn up the heat in any kitchen!  Not only do these pin up styled aprons put the sizzle in your every day cooking, but they add a glamorous feel for any hostess in charge of a Summer party, event, or bbq.  They are made with the highest quality 100% cotton and eyelet lace trim right here in the USA!  She also offers matching dish gloves and garters that will surely make you the starlet of your kitchen and event!

I love entertaining as much as I love to cook and there’s no reason why your apron can’t do double duty in protecting your clothes while being a fashion statement.  I received the sassy Yellow Dorothy Apron from Carolyn (thanks Carolyn!) and I love how the combination of yellow and white polka dots plays against the black and white striping.  I adore the flirty attitude of the apron and the darling, ruffled pocket is perfect for keeping your cooking or personal essentials handy at all times.  The neck and belt ties are fully adjustable to fit and flatter any shape and maintains it’s sharp appearance through many washings.  My husband definitely thinks I’m smoking hot when I don this kitchen apron in and out of the kitchen!

You will certainly wow your guests with your hip hostess style when you serve guests in a Carolyn’s Kitchen glamour apron!  These practical and fashion forward features make these hostess aprons a must have for Summer entertaining!

What’s New: Carolyn’s Kitchen has now added the sexy “Safari So Good” line with a collection of animal print aprons that are just as demure and playful as the rest of her aprons found in her boutique!  It’s enough to bring your wild side out of you!  Rawr!

Where to buy: Carolyn’s Kitchen website for $29.95-$42.00.

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound winner will receive this hot Aqua Sweetheart Apron, perfect for Summer entertaining!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to visit Carolyn’s Kitchen and pick out your favorite apron!

This giveaway is included in the Summer Block Party where I have teamed up with 9 incredible bloggers get you ready for Summer!  Be sure to check out my other 2 Summer filled giveaways for a Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool and $25 Layers Clothing Gift Certificate!

Gear Up For Summer Block Party bloggers include:

What Mommies Need

The Ohana Mama

Cool Baby Kid

Life Starring Ellie and Eve

Mommy Goggles

Potamus Prefers

3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires

3 Kids and Us

The Not So Blog’s, Experimental Mommy

5 Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this Blessing.
2. Enter any Summer Block Party Giveaway from any blogger participating in the Summer Block Party.
3. Enter any of my other two Summer Block Party Giveaways found here:

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Twitter about this Blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Give this post a stumble.

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until June 5th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick two winners and announce it here on my blog shortly after June 6th! Blessing open to USA and Canada!

*This review & giveaway is based soley on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary from person to person.

 

The 5th Day of the Gear Up For Summer Block Party is here!  I have teamed up with 9 awesome bloggers where every day from May 18th to 22nd, two bloggers will feature a Summer related giveaway to get you ready for Summer.  Cat from 3 Kids and Us and I are the finale of the party!  After you enter the 3 Summer filled giveaways I have going on here, be sure to enter Cat’s giveaway for a $20 Piggy Paint Gift Certificate!  My girls just love Piggy Paint, a non toxic, odorless, and kid-friendly nail polish so be sure to enter her giveaway to treat your little girl and paint her piggies in fun, Summer colors!

Meet the Company:

The Little Tikes Company, founded in 1970, is a multi-national manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, innovative children’’s products. In November of 2006, Little Tikes became a part of MGA Entertainment. MGA Entertainment is a leader in the revolution of family entertainment.

Little Tikes”® headquarters and largest manufacturing facility are located in Hudson, Ohio. The company also has a number of locations outside the United States, including several manufacturing and distribution centers in Europe and Asia.

Little Tikes products are known for providing durable, imaginative and active fun. Products are manufactured in a wide variety of categories for young children, including infant toys, popular sports, play trucks, ride-on toys, sandboxes, activity gyms and climbers, slides, pre-school development, role-play toys, creative arts and juvenile furniture.

The red and yellow Cozy Coupe® Car, an international icon in toys, celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2004, with more than 6 million units sold since its creation.

Little Tikes” goal is to create and supply innovative products to customers and consumers around the world. To reach that goal, Little Tikes” associates” actions are guided by the principles of Customer Satisfaction, Teamwork, Innovation, Marketing and Continuous Improvement.

Through the Mom Trials: Since we purchased our own home a few years ago, I’ve been on a mission to collect outdoor kids toys but not just any outdoor toy will do.  I was on a mission to acquire quality made and name brand trusted kids toys that has stood the test of time since I was a little girl.  Little Tikes happens to be one of those brands that I clearly remember growing up with and have seen first hand the durability of their products.  Thanks to Little Tikes, my family was able to try out the Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool and Hop and Scoot ATV and add to our growing outdoor kids toy collection so my kids can have their own Summer adventures.

The Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool was easy to assemble and I had it put together within minutes!  It is adorably designed to look just like a butterfly and it has two butterfly wing shaped compartments that you can choose to fill with either sand or water.  It has been too chilly so far this Spring to take advantage of the wading pool option, but my kids can’t wait until warmer Summer days when they can fill it up with water.  Until then, we filled both sides with sand and you never would have guessed they were missing out on their wading pool.  They spend all day playing and digging in the sand and it’s hard to tear them away from their new sandbox.

It is a bit on the small side for group play and leaves only enough room for one child per side to play comfortably, but that doesn’t seem to bother my children in the least.  However, it is terrific for little ones who might get intimidated by playing with bigger kids or likes to play solo and it’s low enough that it’s not hard for little tots to get in and out of by themselves.  The kids wading pool is also an ideal size for babies and toddlers to keep cool on hot days and who like to splash their little hearts out!

The added umbrella is a nice feature and helps to shade my children from the sun, much needed when daylight gets to be 24/7 in the Summer and my children are overexposed to UV rays and can easily burn.  You can adjust the height so that you can customize how much shade is needed and it’s wide enough to cover the whole play area.  I like that it’s easily removable and that the pool side of the toy (when emptied) can be used as a lid over the sand box side so that it keeps them both safely and securely together in a compact size that’s easy to store once winter approaches.

Ethan has a blast when he rides his Hop and Scoot ATV!  He feels so grown up driving it around the yard, mimicking the way his daddy cruises around on his four wheeler.  One of the things I like best about this kids ATV is that it doesn’t require batteries in order for it to work!  It gets going by using your child’s bouncing movements to push this ride on toy along.  In fact, your child’s feet never have to hit the ground to keep this toy going, which is terrific for little kids whose legs aren’t quite long enough for their feet to touch the ground and it won’t leave you breathless having to push behind them like some other toddler ride on toys.

Liberty who just turned three years old, is able to steer and maneuver this toddler ATV with no problems and I like that it’s sturdy and well made to provide proper stability for safe play.  There are no complicated pedals for little ones to figure out so they can focus on learning how to steer the toy and enjoying the ride rather than getting frustrated on how to operate it.  This ATV is appropriately made for toddlers 2-5 years old and made to withstand the constant bouncing of small children.

Review brought to you courtesy of the MomDot Review Team and Little Tikes!

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound reader will win the Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool pictured above!  All you  have to do in order to be qualified is to visit Little Tikes and leave a comment with another kids toy that would be perfect for Summer outdoor fun!

This giveaway is included in the Summer Block Party where I have teamed up with 9 incredible bloggers get you ready for Summer!  Be sure to check out my other 2 Summer filled giveaways for a Carolyn’s Kitchen Aqua Sweetheart Apron and $25 Layers Clothing Gift Certificate!

Gear Up For Summer Block Party bloggers include:

What Mommies Need

The Ohana Mama

Cool Baby Kid

Life Starring Ellie and Eve

Mommy Goggles

Potamus Prefers

3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires

3 Kids and Us

The Not So Blog’s, Experimental Mommy

5 Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this Blessing.
2. Enter any Summer Block Party Giveaway from any blogger participating in the Summer Block Party.

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Twitter about this Blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Give this post a stumble.

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until June 5th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick two winners and announce it here on my blog shortly after June 6th! Blessing open to USA!

*This review & giveaway is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary from person to person.

 

Meet the Company:

Albert J. Dremel was the inventive genius who founded the Dremel Company back in 1932. The company was, and still is located in Racine,Wisconsin.

Albert J. Dremel held a wide range of patents, 55 in all. They included everything from electric erasers to the first design of the now standard gasoline powered walk-behind rotary lawn mower.

He formed the Dremel Company in 1932 with an electric razor blade sharpener as his first product. Before the advent of disposable razors, this little device was a real money saver. He quickly brought razor blade manufacturers to their knees. Then, the razor makers cut blade prices in half and quickly brought Albert to his knees.

Not one to give up easily, Albert then came up with perhaps his greatest invention ever. A high-speed rotary tool dubbed the Dremel Moto-Tool . Compact, lightweight and incredibly versatile, it was an instant success with hobby and craft people.

Other inventions of Mr. Dremel include the electric shoe polisher, an electric screwdriver, a whole line of power sanders and hand-held scroll saws, an electric fish scaler and more. A few of these inventions have survived the test of time. You ‘ll still see our shoe polishers around everywhere. However, now fishermen have to clean their catch the old-fashioned way.

Today there are more than 17 million rotary tools currently in use, with that number growing daily. Dremel is the leader in rotary tools. With numerous attachments and more than 150 available accessories, it truly is one of the most versatile tools any homeowner can own.

Through the Mom Trials:  Is your dad or husband a proud handy man?  Then you’ll want to treat him with the Dremel Multi-Max!  This oscillating tool is just the ticket for those who love do it yourself projects and is wonderful to use for a variety of repair, remodeling, and restoration projects.  It boasts a powerful 1.5 amp motor and 10,000 – 21,000 OPM wide speed range and is versatile for use in cutting, grinding, sanding, scraping and grout removal.  The tool comes with a hook and loop pad and sanding paper that’s capable of smoothing down bare wood, hardwood, softwood, chipboard, metal materials, varnish and paint removal.  The provided flexible scraper blade works great for scraping soft mterials, caulk, peeling paint, and adhesives while the included ¾” Wood Flush Cut Blade cuts to a depth of 1-1/4″ through wood, plastic, drywall, and other soft materials.

I love how the Dremel Multi-Max is lightweight at only 2 pounds, which makes it easy for even someone with a petite frame like myself able to use this tool easily.  The ergonomic design fits comfortably in both my husband’s large hands and my small hands.  This tool is compact enough to maneuver around in tiny, hard to access spaces and I like how simple and fast it is to change out the accessories with it’s quick fit feature when you need them.  There is a separate on and off switch that lets you keep the speed after the tool is shut off so it’s ready when you need to use it again.

I was relieved to find that this oscillating tool isn’t complicated to figure out and is a breeze to use.  I’m in the process of restoring a dresser and the sandpaper accessory has made the job effortless to smooth down the rough, uneven spots of the aging furniture.  My husband was impressed with the power this multi use tool has and is ideal for many home improvement uses.   When you’re done using the Multi-Max, the handy case stores the tool and its accessories neatly, keeping them well organized for the next time you have a home project.  My husband and I can’t wait to purchase the rest of the accessories so we can use the Dremel Multi-Max to its fullest potential for some much needed home improvement projects that need attention in our home!

Giveaway Time:  A lucky Blessings Abound reader will win a Dremel Multi-Max!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to visit Dremel Tools and leave a comment in the provided entry form with another tool that the handy man in your life would love!

10 Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway including a link back to this post.
2. Enter any other Father’s Day Fling Giveaway included in this event.

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog.
2. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Father’s Day Fling Event participating bloggers include:
7. Karen from 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires
8. Victoria from Life Starring Ellie and Eve
9. Louise from MomStart

• Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.
• Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until June 11th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick four winners and announce it here on my blog shortly after June 12th.  Blessing open to USA!

 

Food is always a top gift idea for Father’s.  You know that age old saying that food is a way to a man’s heart! Well, there must be some truth to it as men just love receiving food as gifts.  We’ve provided a Foodie Dad’s Prize Package from Edible Gifts Plus and the Food Network that will sure win the heart of your dad and man or at least satisfy their sweet tooth!  You can learn more about my positive experience from Edible Gifts Plus through my Edible Gifts Plus Review as well as read more reviews about this fantastic company from Karen and Louise!

About Edible Gifts Plus:

Edible Gifts Plus is a store that specializes in making special treats for any occassion.  Have a graduation coming up?  Get chocolate dipped fortune cookies.  Going to a baby shower?  Try their chocolate dipped fruit or fruit baskets.  By putting care and effort into their products, Edible Gifts Pluscreates great looking, tasty and fresh treats that are sure to satisfy anyone in your family, your business, or your circle of friends!

Featured Father’s Day Gift Ideas from Edible Gifts Plus:

Golfer’s Paradise Cookie Bouquet

The perfect gift for the Dad who already has a closet filled with clubs and funny looking pants.  This cookie gift bouquet will fill him up after a day on the greens with hand decorated golf bags, golf balls and hole markers. $53.95

Father’s Day Half  Cookies

Half Graham cookies dipped in white Belgian chocolate are 100% edible and spectacularly packaged and framed to your desire. Your full-color image (photograph, drawing, logo, etc.!) is applied to the cookie using our exclusive process. Next, we create a ‘Picture Frame’ by sprinkling your choice of nonpareils (either one color or two custom-blended colors), for a result that is truly “picture perfect”! Your guests, both young and old, are sure to be impressed and delighted. A perfect gift for your favorite Dad! These beautiful cookies are truly worth a thousand words!

Fishing For Cookies

Our cookies are always a Great Catch. This tasteful grouping is ideal for any holiday, birthday or just as a “Thank You”. It holds our most popular assortment: 4 Smore’s, 4 coconut dipped macaroons, 2 delicious and chewy peanut butter cookies, 2 chocolate chip cookies, and 4 nutty brownies. $61.95

About the Food Network:

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network and Web site that strives to be way more than cooking. The network is committed to exploring new and different ways to approach food – through pop culture, competition, adventure, and travel – while also expanding its repertoire of technique-based information. Food Network is distributed to more than 98 million U.S. households and averages more than 9 million unique Web site users monthly. Food Network programming is available internationally in more than 150 countries. Food Network is headquartered in New York, and maintains offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Knoxville, Tenn. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com) and Fine Living Network (www.fineliving.com), is the manager and general partner.

Food Network’s Featured Father’s Day Products:

Duff Ace of Cakes Takeout Collection

Louise’s Take on this collection:  Three discs containing the entire second season. My husband and I enjoy watching Duff and his crazy team of cake makers. We used to tivo every episode and watch them back to back after the kids went to bed. They put a lot of detail into their cakes and sometimes use chainsaws.

Diner’s Drive Ins & Dives Second Season
Louise’s take on this season:  Three discs contain the entire second season. I love Guy’s personality, but I’ve never actually seen more than 10 minutes of this show. I get bored with the places sometimes but he’s fun to watch because he’s always full of energy. If you eat out a lot on the road this is a great show to watch.

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound reader will win a Foodie Dad Prize Package that includes 6 personalized photo cookies from Edible Gifts Plus and a copy of both the Duff Ace of Cakes Takeout Collection and  Diner’s Drive-Ins & Dives Second Season.  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to:

1. Visit Edible Gifts Plus and let me know on the giveaway form what tasty treat you’d like to spoil your dad or husband with.
2. Visit the Food Network and let me know on the giveaway form what other product from the Food Network would make a great Father’s Day gift.

Both entries must be fulfilled to be eligible to win the Foodie Dad Prize Package!

10 Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway including a link back to this post.
2. Enter any other Father’s Day Fling Giveaway included in this event.

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog.
2. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Give this post a stumble.

 

Father’s Day Fling Event participating bloggers include:

Karen from 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires

Victoria from Life Starring Ellie and Eve

Louise from MomStart

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until June 1st at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick four winners and announce it here on my blog shortly after June 2nd.  Blessing open to USA!

 

Earlier this week, I introduced you to the Sam’s Club Holidays Made Simple website where you can find the tools and resources necessary to make this holiday shopping season go smoothly and get you in the spirit of the upcoming festivities!   I’ve been busy perusing this holiday online center in hopes to simplify and find great gift ideas for my loved ones without a steep price tag.  One of the features I love best about Holidays Made Simple is that they provide an online holiday catalog called More Joy for Your Jingle that includes a lot of this year’s hottest gift ideas in one handy gift guide and at prices that can’t be beat!

With a growing family, it’s much more convenient for me to sit back in my jammies in my warm, cozy home and do my holiday shopping and research online.  That way I can stay clear from the mad holiday rush and make sensible decisions without the distractions of my kids and other frazzled shoppers and when I do have to make a purchase in store, I don’t have to waste time because I know exactly what I’m there for and I’m happy that I can make my dollars stretch farther during this time of year.

That’s where the More Joy for Your Jingle catalog comes in to help me make quick and financially smart choices so I can stay within my holiday budget.  This online gift guide has 27 pages worth of gift ideas that adults and kids want the most and at amazingly low prices.  I am astonished by the variety of products found within the pages that would be terrific for stocking stuffers, Christmas gifts, to create a festive atmosphere in your home, and more.  If you’re struggling with finding gifts your family and friends can appreciate on your budget, the More Joy for Your Jingle gift guide would be a fabulous start to your smart shopping for the holidays!

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound Mommy reader will win a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card to get a head start on your holiday shopping!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to visit Holidays Made Simple More Joy For Your Jingle online gift guide and leave a comment with an item from the catalog you would purchase for someone special this Christmas!

10 Extra Entries: Blog about this Blessing with a link back to this giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Blog about this blessing and link back to it.
3. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
4. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
5. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update to reflect new url)
6. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design if you already have it please)

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim.  Please follow directions or you will be disqualified!  This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until November 21st 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win.  I will randomly pick one winner and announce it here on my blog shortly after November 22nd!  Blessing open to USA only!

This post is a part of a Sam’s Club Sharing the Savings blogger campaign. I may have received compensation in exchange for my participation, but the views and opinions expressed are solely my own.

 

Do you need to clue someone in on what you desire most for Christmas or know someone who could use a little help when choosing a gift for you?  After all, the thought does count, but sometimes what they think you’ll like is way off base and is something that will be returned after the holidays are over.  Now that we’re all grown up, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a wish list of our own and although we may not send our list over to Santa in the North Pole,  Sam’s Club has come up with a Dear Santa Program that will help those shopping for you easy and ensure that you get exactly what you what you need or want for Christmas!  It’s very simple to do and I’m going to give you a quick run down of how to put your wish list together and get it ready to send and sit in your Santa’s box!

Head over to the Gifts Galore on the Sam’s Club Website and look for the Gift-Giving Simplified section of the page:

Under this section, there are categories of gifts that you can browse through by price and recipient.  Click on the gift category that appeals to you most.  For this example, I decided to go all out and clicked the gifts that are $501 and above.  When you spot a gift that you would like to receive, you’ll notice a cute, little Santa image on the bottom of each gift idea followed by the text, Add to wishlist.  Click on that and it will automatically add that item to your wish list.  I selected the GE 7.0 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Electric Dryer because you never know, right?  Continue to look around at all the gifts offered at Sam’s Club and build your wish list to your heart’s content.  Once you’ve completed your list, you can hit the View your Wishlist button found at the top of the page or the last item you added to your list to get your list ready to send out to whomever needs you to drop hints on what you’d like this Christmas:

relieved that you won’t be leaving anyone in the dark on what you’d like the most for Christmas.  You even have the option to send it to more than one person at a time and leave a custom message for them.  This would also be fantastic for sending the grandparents and other relatives your child’s wish list as I know my own parents never know what to give my kids for their birthdays or Christmas.

Enter to win a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card!!!

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound Mommy reader will win a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to build your own wish list and leave a comment on who you think would benefit from you sending them a Sam’s Club wish list of the gifts you’d like to receive!

10 Extra Entries: Blog about this Blessing with a link back to this giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update to reflect new url)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design if you already have it please)

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim.  Please follow directions or you will be disqualified!  This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until December 16th 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win.  I will randomly pick one winner and announce it here on my blog shortly after December 17th!  Blessing open to USA only!

*This post is a part of a Sam’s Club Sharing the Savings blogger campaign. I may have received compensation in exchange for my participation, but the views and opinions expressed are solely my own.

 

There’s still time to take advantage of the Cyber Week Specials at Sam’s Club that I posted about earlier this week!  With only 22 days left until Christmas, there isn’t much time to wrap up your Christmas shopping and now can’t be a better time to shop at Sam’s Club and take advantage of the big savings on many of this season’s best gifts.  Even if you’re shopping at home, there are many products online at Sam’s Club where shipping is free, but with the countdown going at a fast pace, you’ll need to get your shopping done before the mad frenzy at the post office begins!  Trust me, I was at the post office today and got a little taste of what it’s going to be like the closer it comes to Christmas and I can tell you right now, it wasn’t fun to wait in line for 2o minutes to pick up one little package.

During this time, you can also find the gadgets and electronics that are high on so many people’s wish list at low prices at Sam’s Club.  Where else can you find bargains on a wide variety big flat screen televisions, loaded with must have features, with several of them shipping for free on top of it?  Maybe it’s a SLR camera that tops your loved one’s wish list?  There are two Nikon SLR cameras available at amazing prices and those cameras would bring that special someone a lifetime of cherished memories!  No matter what high tech toys or gadgets your family or circle of friends desire most, you will certainly find them at competitive prices at Sam’s Club!

Here are some featured Cyber Week Deals going on at Sam’s Club right now that you’ll want to snatch up before they’re gone:

 

Enter to win a $50 Sam’s Club Gift Card!!!

Giveaway Time: A lucky Blessings Abound Mommy reader will win a $50 Gift Card!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to take a peek at the Sam’s Club Cyber Week Specials and leave a comment with which special would be perfect for someone on your gift giving list!

10 Extra Entries: Blog about this Blessing with a link back to this giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Enter any other Sam’s Club Giveawayon Blessings Abound Mommy and leave a comment with which other Sam’s Club Giveaway you entered!
3. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
4. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
5. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update to reflect new url)
6. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design if you already have it please)

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim.  Please follow directions or you will be disqualified!  This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until December 17th 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win.  I will randomly pick one winner and announce it here on my blog shortly after December 18th!  Blessing open to USA only!

*This post is a part of a Sam’s Club Sharing the Savings blogger campaign. I may have received compensation in exchange for my participation, but the views and opinions expressed are solely my own.

 

Our 12th Sponsor in the 2010 Christmas Blessings and Holiday Gift Guide is Butter Bell Crock!

About Butter Bell Crock:
A modern version of the original French butter crock, the Original Butter Bell® crock allows butter to be kept at room temperature, on the counter or tabletop, for up to 30 days without spoilage, refrigeration or odors. Made from New Bone China, the highest quality ceramics available, the Butter Bell crock insures that under reasonable, correct usage, butter storage time can be up to 30 days. Most Butter Bell users consume a crock’s worth of butter within one week.
The unique design keeps butter at the perfect “spreading” consistency by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling the butter. Flavor and freshness is protected by an airtight seal of water at the base of the crock.

The Butter Bell crock holds up to one full stick (1/2 cup) of butter. Softened butter is packed firmly into the bell-shaped cup of the lid. Cold water is poured into the base of the crock. The lid is then placed upside down back into the base of the crock. Soft, spreadable butter may be enjoyed and served right from the crock. Proper maintenance: Water should be changed out every three days. Replace existing water in the base with fresh, cold water.

Through the Mom Trials:

There’s nothing like the convenience of always having softened, creamy butter on hand.  What I don’t like about regular butter dishes is that when my kitchen gets a tad bit too warm, the butter’s quality deteriorates and melts to create a mess all over my counter tops.  That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about this line of Butter Bell Crock, a French butter dish.  With a Butter Bell Crock, I get to enjoy the fresh, creamy taste of butter that’s easy to spread whenever I need it!

Our family of seven definitely goes through our fair share of butter on a weekly basis.  If we’re not spreading it on toast or a piping hot stack of pancakes, we’re using it when we bake homemade treats for our family and friends.  This means that softened butter is constantly needed and required to have on hand at all times.  With the Butter Bell Crock, the butter is always the perfect spreading consistency and keeps much longer than a butter dish- up to 30 days!

I received the Antique Butter Bell Crock in Sienna.  It’s a beautiful neutral color that will coordinate with any kitchen theme.  I love the leafy embossed designs near the top of the butter crock and how it takes less space on my counters than a butter dish.  It’s made out of New Bone China and you can tell it’s quality constructed and made to last.  I like how you can rest the lid on the counter top so you can use the butter effortlessly.  The Antique Butter Bell is a pretty and helpful addition to my kitchen and I consider it one of the best kitchen tools I’ve had in years!

 

Using the Butter Bell Crock is a cinch!  All you have to do is pour 1/3 cup of cold water into the base of the crock.  Then you take 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) at room temperature and pack it tightly and evenly into the bell-shaped lid.  Put the lid back onto the crock and it will keep an airtight seal.  You’ll need to replace the cold water every 3 days to maintain quality and freshness.  That’s perfect timing for us as that’s usually when we need a new stick of softened butter so it’s easy for us to remember when to change the water.  This butter pot really does keep the butter cool, spreadable, and tasting great!  When needed, you can either hand wash the butter bell or place the crock into the dishwasher to clean.

Deal Alert: Buy two Butter Bell® crocks, get one FREE until December 15, 2010.

Where to Buy: You can purchase the Butter Bell Crock at www.butterbellcrock.com or use their store locator to find a local store near you.

 

Giveaway Time (required entry): A lucky Blessings Abound Mommy reader will win a Butter Bell® Crock! All you have to do is visit Butter Bell and leave a comment with which item is your favorite!

10 Extra Entries:

1. Blog about this Blessing with a link back to this giveaway post!
2. Enter any other Blessings Abound Mommy Christmas Blessings and Holiday Gift Guide Extravaganza Giveaway!
3. Place my Blessings Abound Holiday Gift Guide button on your blog!  Copy and Paste the following code:

<a href=”http://akblessingsabound.com/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/lily_fair/BlessingsAboundMommyHolidayGiftGuideButton.png” border=”0″ alt=”holiday gift guide,christmas,blessings abound mommy,mom blog,mom blogger”></a>

1 Extra Entry Each (to be earned after required entry has been fulfilled):

• Like Blessings Abound Mommy Facebook Fan Page.
• Like the Butter Bell Facebook Page.
• Write on the Butter Bell Facebook Wall that you entered to win a Butter Bell Crock on Blessings Abound Mommy with a link back to this post.
• Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
• Enter any other giveaway on Blessings Abound Mommy and leave a comment with which other giveaway you entered.
• Twitter about this blessing with a link back to it and leave a comment that you did with your twitter id.
• Follow me on Twitter at @akblessings.
• Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design if you already have it please).

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.

One winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim.  Please follow directions or you will be disqualified!  This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until December 27th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win.  I will randomly pick one winner and announce it here on my blog shortly after December 28th!  Blessing open to USA and Canada only!

Sponsored by Tomoson.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

 

Chocolate is hardly ever synonymous with the words, weight loss, but Celebrate Life Nutritionhas introduced Celebrate Chocolate Truffles as an indulgent way to satisfy your hungerand control your appetite. They use three oils (Avocado, Macadamia nut, and Hemp seed oils) in conjuction with their combination of Criollo cocoas to provide a delightful blend of chocolates that are amazingly good tasting with many health benefits! Thanks to the Family Review Network and Celebrate Life Nutrition, my family was able to taste and test these fine chocolates and see for ourselves how wonderful they are!

This all sounds terrific, but how do these chocolates appeal to our taste buds? The kids and I are in agreement that the chocolate truffles and chocolate covered almonds are delightful, flavorful, and provide just sweetness that even my kids kept clamoring back for more. I loved the crunch of the chocolate covered almonds and the smooth, velvety richness of the chocolates. They melt instantly in your mouth and it really hit the spot when I had an overwhelming craving for chocolate. I was only saddened by the fact that I could not actually consume them.
Since I am still on my cleanse, there was no way I could swallow them, but one of my friends ate a couple of the chocolates and let me know that it did help her to curb her appetite and she ate less of a portion from her dinner than usual. For all those chocoholics like myself, that’s awesome news! It’s a guiltless pleasure that reaps benefits to to help stave of cravings and hunger and trim your waistline. That’s like having your cake and eating it too!
Giveaway Time: How would you like to try these amazing chocolates for yourself? A lucky Blessings Abound reader will win 2 boxes of assorted Celebrate Chocolate Truffles:
• 1 Celebrate Classic Box that contains 1 Light Chocolate Truffle (62% Cocoa), 1 Dark Chocolate Truffle (73% Cocoa), and 3 Cocoa Covered Almonds
• 1 Celebrate Creations Box that contains 1 Cherry Vanilla, 1 Roasted Almond Bit, and Mountain Raspberry Truffles
All you have to do in order to be qualified to be eligible for a chance to win is to bookmark their site, Celebrate Life Nutrion, and leave a comment letting me know that you bookmarked their website!
5 Extra Entries each: Blog about this giveaway including a link back to this giveaway post!
1 Extra Entry each:
1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Give this post a stumble.
Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.
Giveaway Rules: Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification and me posting the winner of the prize in the winner’s section will forfeit their prize and prize will be held in a live contest following failure to claim. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until June 18th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick a winners and announce it here on my blog shortly after June 19th! Blessing open to USA!

Did you know that May is Tennis Month? I didn’t know it either but how cool, right?  As someone who enjoyed playing tennis as a gym credit in high school, I love to pass along a sport to my children that we as a family can play together and there’s no better time than now to start!  The USTA Jr. Team Tennis (United States Tennis Association)  has an excellent way to bring communities, families, and kids together to learn and play tennis.

About the USTA Jr. Team:

USTA Jr. Team Tennis brings kids together in teams to play singles, doubles and mixed doubles against other teams. It promotes social skills and important values by fostering a spirit of cooperation and unity, as well as individual self-growth. Also, it’s a fun environment for kids in which they learn that succeeding is really more about how they play the game – win or lose.

How does it work?
USTA Jr. Team Tennis is designed for kids ages 6-18. They are immediately placed on teams. All you need to start a league are two teams. Matches can be held anywhere from a local park or school to a commercial or private club.  Teams are preferably co-ed but can also be single gender (boys only or girls only).  They are divided by the following age and play levels:

Age Groups: U18, U16, U14, U12, U10 and U8
Play Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Through the Mom Trials:  My family received tennis equipment for our family that included a raquet for each child, one adult raquet, tennis balls, and the USTA Quickstart Tennis Practice Sessions Guides for ages 5-10.  My kids were raring to learn the first moment I took this equipment out of the package and I had to burst their bubble and let them know we had to go over the Practice Sessions first so they would know all the ground rules before we get started.  I read the guidelines out loud to them and made sure they grasped what I was reading so they would be prepared for their first lessons.

The Practice Sessions are easy to read and very well laid out and are written for each age group separately.  The instructions were clear and easy to understand and I loved how they broke it up to help kids master their coordination first and gets them started according to their physical development for their age range.  They made it fun and easy to learn by teaching them the basics within a smaller court and equipment so it doesn’t overwhelm kids and they are able to use the equipment comfortably.

My kids enjoyed learning how to play tennis with each other and although my two almost three year old can’t quite play along, she does her best and her older brother and sister makes her feel good by including her anyways.  This has been a great way to build their coordination and tennis skills as the practice sessions were easy to follow.  Although we haven’t had a chance to play in an actual tennis court yet, they’ve had fun playing in the make shift court we made in our yard and once they’ve mastered a few more skills, we’ll take our whole family to the court and see how well they’ll do.  It’s been a wonderful family activity and bonding experience for our whole family!

Giveaway Time:  A lucky Blessings Abound winner will win tennis equipment for their family (2 adult raquets, children raquets, tennis balls, and practice session guides)!  All you have to do in order to be qualified for a chance to win is to visit The USTA Jr. Team’s website and leave a fact you haven’t learned about already from this post!

5 Extra Entries:  Blog about this Giveaway!

1 Extra Entry Each:

1. Subscribe to my blog. Current subscribers count too!
2. Twitter about this blessing and comment that you did with your twitter id.
3. Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/akblessings.
4. Fave my blog on Technorati. (update with my new url please)
5. Post my button on your blog or site. (update with the new code to reflect new design and url please)
6. Give this post a stumble.

Please leave a separate comment for each item that you have completed stating that you have done so.Winners who I am unable to contact and who doesn’t claim their prize within 72 hours of me posting the winner of the prize will forfeit their prize and I will redraw a new winner. Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! This Blessing is open to bloggers and nonbloggers alike. You have from now until May 14th at 11:59 PM (Alaska time) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. I will randomly pick a winner and announce it here on my blog shortly after May 15th! Blessing open to the USA!