OrganicVille Foods: Organic, Vegan, & Gluten-Free {Review & Giveaway}

I try my best to give my family things that are good for them... it makes me feel good when I can provide them with organic natural products instead of ones that are processed.

OrganicVille Foods was started in 2004 and it's goal since day one has been to "...create exceptional organic products that your whole family can enjoy."  They have pasta sauces, condiments, salad dressings, salsas, and more... even ice cream.  They offer healthy alternatives to all your favorites!

• Certified Organic
• Vegan
• NO Added Sugar
• Certified Gluten Free

You can find great recipes on their site too, like this Best Ever Coleslaw perfect for summer:

Ingredients

• 1/2 Green Cabbage, Shredded
• 1/4 Red Cabbage, Shredded
• 1 large Carrot, Julienne
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Pepper
• 1 bottle Organicville Non-Dairy Coleslaw Dressing

Directions

In a large bowl toss together cabbage and carrot. Mix in salt, pepper, and coleslaw dressing.

Cover with plastic, and let marinate at least 8 hours.

I was able to try two products- it was tough narrowing it down since a lot of the products were ones my family uses on a regular basis.  I decided to go with the Organic Mayo and one of the Organic Pasta Sauces.  When I used both of the items, I didn't tell my family I was using anything different and no one noticed a thing, including my husband.

We tend to go through a lot of mayo- between sandwiches, tuna, pasta salads, even on burgers!  The first time I used the Non-Dairy Organic Mayo, I put it on chicken sandwiches.  The taste is great- no weird flavor.  I also used it in tuna to make a healthy lunch and it tasted delicious!

The second product I tried was the Tomato Basil Organic Pasta Sauce.  It's seems some sort of pasta dish is usually a weekly staple in our house.  I thought the basil was actually a tad overpowering in the sauce but no one else seemed to mind.  I topped it off with some parmesan cheese before serving it.

OrganicVille Foods taste great and  I felt good knowing it was completely organic and good for my family.  I love that I can pronounce all the ingredients on the label too!

BUY IT:  You can use their store locator to find OrganicVille products near you in natural food stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets nationwide.  You can also order directly from their online store.

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win 2 products from OrganicVille Foods!!

Mandatory entry:  Visit OrganicVille Foods and tell me which product you'd most like to try

Extra entries (can be done after mandatory entry is completed, leave a separate comment on this post for each entry you do):

•  Follow OrganicVille on Twitter
•  Like OrganicVille Foods on Facebook
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC  +2 entries
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email  +2 entries
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways (+1 for each)
•  Vote for my blog at The Picket Fence Blogs (can be done daily)
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

#WIN 2 products from @Organicville Foods- organic, vegan, and gluten free!! via @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/aeLAm #Giveaway ends 6/10

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 6/10/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was given.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and completely honest.

JoeShopping.com- Shop, Share, Socialize!

Have you heard of JoeShopping.com?  It's a site to find you tons of incredible hot deals and bargains as well as a place to connect with other community members.  Think of it like a social networking site for couponing and deal hunting.

JoeShopping offers a ton of ways to save all in one place right at your fingertips.  You can comparison shop hundreds of items, read product reviews before you buy, and discuss the latest and greatest deals with other users.

You can also find the newest discounts for a variety of stores, including amazing Chadwicks coupon codes- a clothing outlet store.  They also even have popular Target coupon codes- one of my favorite places to shop!  And you can print your grocery store coupons right from the site to save you even more money.

While you're there, you can also click on the Hot Deals tab and find super savings from all over the web.  You can see the percentage of other members who thought it was a hot deal (ie. a great bargain!) and not to be missed out on.  And if you have your own hot deal you'd like to share, you can add it to the list for everyone else to see.

And one of the coolest things... the $100 Sweepstakes!  Every month JoeShopping is giving away $100 to one of their members.  You earn JoePoints for doing different things on the site- just for registering, free daily points, reviewing a product, referring a friend and more.  Then you can exchange your hard-earned points for entries into the monthly sweepstakes.

You only have to enter once during the month and then all the points earned during the rest of the month automatically get you more entries into the sweepstakes.  So you're saving money and getting a chance to win $100 at the same time... it doesn't get any easier than that!

Are Marie Callender's Pot Pies really Better than Homemade?

Is it possible that something store bought can taste as good as homemade, or even better than homemade?  According to the article "8 Grocery Store Products that are Better than Homemade (really)" it is possible.

One of the items on that list is Marie Callender's Pot Pies... a frozen pot pie!  Could a frozen pot pie seriously be better than homemade?   I was given the opportunity to try one for myself and find out.

I'll be honest, I was more than a little skeptical.  Most frozen meals I've tried have fallen far short of tasting anything like homemade.  The meat is the biggest problem for me- the texture usually doesn't resemble actual meat and tends to be fatty.  When I make anything homemade with meat, I always trim any excess fat off.

I tried the Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie with chicken of course and peas, carrots, and celery.  You can cook it in a conventional oven or for ultimate convenience in the microwave, with their new baking tray right in the box.  Most frozen foods taste better from the oven, but I really wanted to put it to the test so I opted for the microwave... and it was so much faster.

It definitely exceeded my expectations!  The crust turned out really well, even in the microwave it came out golden brown and flaky.  Inside there were big chunks of white meat chicken... and no fat or gristle to chew on.  Great tasting filling with carrots and peas mixed in.  I think the negatives for me was that I didn't really notice much celery and that you can't control the sodium amount when buying frozen.

So how did Marie Callender's Pot Pies ultimately stack up?  Did they actually taste better than homemade?  Well at the risk of offending all cook's and grandmother's out there, I'm going to say... pretty darn close!  The taste was definitely just as delicious as homemade, and what made it better than homemade was the fact that I didn't have to slave over a hot stove to make it!!

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of this review and was also compensated by Marie Callender's and The Motherhood.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and completely honest.

Color it by Numbers {Review & Giveaway}

I don't know any kid who doesn't like to color.  And coloring by numbers is something I remember doing as a child myself.  My almost 6 year old is now at the age where she likes to do more stuff on the computer too.

Color it by Numbers is an awesome computer download that combines the two!  Your child can 'color' right on the computer.  It has 3 different coloring book themes- Princesses, Animals, and Vehicles and works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

This coloring app is SO MUCH FUN!  My oldest two daughter's loved coloring in the pictures.  Each theme comes with multiple pictures (see full gallery) and you can choose to do color by numbers or let your child get creative and just color it in however they want.  It plays music and sounds and the image quality is superb- bright and vibrant.

My 6 year old has asked to color on the computer every single day since I downloaded it!  It's now her favorite thing to do after her younger sisters go to bed and before her bedtime.  And the best part is that you can clear all the pictures once your child has colored them all in so they can start again.  I've seen printable color by number pages before but Color it By Numbers is the best I've seen for computer coloring for kids!

BUY IT:  You can download a preview of each of the themes online or buy the full theme pack (with access to all the pictures) for $9.99/ea. or all 3 for $25.47

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win the entire collection- PRINCESSES, ANIMALS, & VEHICLES... trust me your child will love this!!

Ways to enter (leave a separate comment on this post for each entry you do):

•  Follow Color it by Numbers on Twitter
•  Like Color it by Numbers on Facebook
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

#Win 3 online Coloring Books for your child from @ColoritbyNumber via @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/1m4Xz #Giveaway ends 5/23

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 5/23/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was given a free product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Ayurvedic Roast Organic Herbal Coffee Substitute {Review & Giveaway}

I love a good cup of joe as much as the next girl, but sometimes it upsets my stomach or makes me feel jittery.  And sometimes I find myself wanting a cup of coffee because of the flavor and not really because I need the caffeine pick-me-up.  We all know caffeine isn't that great for us anyway, and it can become an addicting behavior to always have a cup of coffee in the morning.


So when I heard about Ayurvedic Roast, a 100% Certified Organic herbal coffee substitute that tastes like real coffee, I was excited to try it but also a little skeptical about how it would taste.  It includes three antioxidant, adaptogenic, and immunity-enhancing organic ayurvedic herbs.

Check out the full ingredient list:  organic rye, organic barley, organic chicory, organic ashwagandha, organic shatavari, organic brahmi, and organic vanilla flavor.  And here's a breakdown on some of the benefits of the herbs:

1. Ashwagandha:
Known as the the "ginseng of India", this incredible herb promotes strength and stability in the physiology, and is also an anti-oxidant. It builds immunityand strength, and calms the mind and body.

2. Shatavari:
Possesing many of the benefits of Ashwagandha, it counterbalances its somewhat heating quality with it cooling effect, and augments their mutually beneficial effects on the body.

3. Brahmi:
Commonly used in Ayurveda to lessen mental strain and worry*, it also helps increase intelligence and clarity*. In combination with the other 2 herbs, it has a soothing effect on the mind, while maintaining alertness.

When brewing the Ayurvedic Roast, which I did like I normally do using my coffee pot, I noticed it took a lot less to make a flavorful cup versus my regular coffee.  You don't get that 'coffee' aroma with the substitute (not that I can smell much with my cold right now anyway), but when you pour them into the cup there really is no difference between the two in how they look.

Can you tell which is which?

The one on the left is the substitute and the one on the right is the actual coffee.  And I could've used less of the Ayurvedic Roast to lighten up the color.  And the flavor?  Very good- smooth, not bitter or weird tasting! I always add sugar and creamer to my coffee also, so did the same thing with the Roast and it was excellent.  The best part though is that it's actually good for me, and it isn't going to upset my stomach or have me shaking like a crazy person if I drink too much.

If you're considering or have tried to quit drinking coffee before, you can download a Free ebook "10 Easy Ways to Quit Caffeine".

Do I have you interested in trying a cup yet?

BUY IT:  You can order Ayurvedic Roast online in an 11 oz. package, a 4 lb. bulk package, or a 1 oz. sample pack.

WIN IT:  1 reader is going to win an 11 oz. bag of Ayurvedic Roast of their very own!

Ways to enter (leave a separate comment on this post for each entry you do):

•  Follow Ayurvedic Roast on Twitter
•  Like Ayurvedic Roast on Facebook
•  Subscribe to the Ayurvedic Roast Newsletter (and get a free ebook)
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

#Win an 11oz. bag of @AyurvedicRoast Organic Herbal Coffee Substitute via @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/1FN6L #Giveaway ends 5/19

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 5/19/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was sent a product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion {Review & #Giveaway}

If you have dry skin and are looking for relief, you may want to ditch your regular lotion and try Skin MD shielding lotion instead.  It works by providing a natural barrier on top of the skin to protect it from outside chemicals and irritants, and also comes available with SPF 15 for extra protection.  It's manufactured in the United States using 100% solar power, free of animal products and animal testing.

Skin MD Natural is over 93% "natural" and the ingredients that are not "natural" are of food or medical grade quality and on the FDA's most safe list.  Their lotions are made to be free of parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, and other irritating ingredients.  Shielding lotion is a breakthrough in skin care and Skin MD Natural is the #1 shielding lotion wordwide.

Eco Friendly, Cruelty Free & Vegan Skin Care

My youngest daughter, who is 19 months old, has very dry patches on her legs and my hands get very dry and chapped from washing.  The Skin MD natural shielding lotion worked well for my hands, smoothing the ugly dry skin between my fingers.  It does feel a little different going on for me than regular lotion, and a little goes a long way so use sparingly!  I haven't noticed much improvement yet on my youngest daughter's legs, but I think hers is a more difficult case of actual eczema rather than just dry skin.

I zoomed as close up as I could so you could really see the difference.  Look between my fingers... click the images to enlarge photos

before

after

 BUY IT:  You can buy Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion online or find a local store near you (a lot of Walgreen's around me sell it)

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win a full size bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Ways to enter (leave a separate comment on this post for each entry you do):

•  Follow Skin MD Natural Twitter
•  Like Skin MD Natural on Facebook
•  Subscribe to the Skin MD YouTube channel
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

Have dry skin?  #Win a full size bottle of @SkinMDNatural Lotion via @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/3X3KZ #Giveaway ends 5/15

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 5/15/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was sent a free product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

FlipFlop Wines... pour a glass!

I don't consider myself a wine connoisseur by any means, but I do love to relax after a long stressful day with a glass of wine on occasion.  I also enjoy pairing a great wine with a great meal to spice up a boring dinner.

FlipFlop Wines was created by organic vegetable farmer turned vintner David Georges in 2009.  His goal is to stay true to each wine's varietal character, and to make great tasting wines that don't break the bank.

I was sent the Pinot Grigio, one of my favorite types of wine, and the Riesling.  With another brand I've tried, I like the pinot grigio best and didn't like the riesling, but this time that was 'flip flopped' (pun intended).

Speaking of 'flip flopped', have you ever noticed when you look through a wine glass that's how everything is... flipped upside down?

My Review:  With the flipflop brand I thought the Pinot Grigio didn't have enough of a zing to it and didn't seem to be as crisp as the brand I like- it just fell a little flat for me.  It did go down smooth though and didn't have a bad aftertaste or bite.  My husband tried a glass also but wasn't interested in finishing it.

The next night I took what was left of the Pinot Grigio and the Riesling for girls craft night at a friends house.  The first thing that came up was that we didn't need a wine opener... it's a twist off cap!  My friends thought the Pinot was dry but all were in favor of the Riesling.  I liked it also, which surprised me as I usually find it too sweet.  This was very smooth and tasted great.  One impressed friend said 'This is a really good Riesling!".

At only $7 a bottle, Flipflop wines is easy on the pocketbook and the convenient twist-off cap makes it great for taking on a picnic with your significant other or hanging out in the backyard with friends.  No need to use a wine opener, you can stay relaxed and enjoy the evening.  The label itself is really cute too, but it also makes drinking wine a no-brainer.


On the back of every bottle it tells you what that type of wine tastes like, whether it's dry, sweet or in between, and what foods to pair it with!  So no matter what your taste, you'll find something you like... to each, their own!

FlipFlop Wines has also partnered with Soles4Souls, and for each bottle of  wine purchased they'll donate a pair of shoes to someone in need (up to 100,000 pairs for the first 100,000 bottles sold).  The number of barefoot orphaned children, in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, is estimated to be above 20 million!

FlipFlop Wines can be purchased online at Underdog Wine Merchants, but they don't currently ship to all states yet so check to see if yours is listed.  If you're in CA you can probably purchase it locally.  You can also connect with Flip Flop Wines on Facebook and Twitter... Cheers!


Disclosure:  I was sent 2 free bottles of wine for the purpose of this review, no other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and completely honest.

Green Beaver Certified Organic Products {Review & #Giveaway}

More and more people are turning to natural, green products for their family.  They're staring to realize that the products and chemicals we use on our bodies may not actually be that great for us.  If you haven't already begun to use organic products for your family, or if you already do, here's an introduction to a company that takes being green so seriously they put it in their name.

The Green Beaver company offers wholesome, healthy personal care products that are safe and effective for you, your family, and the environment.  They rely on pure natural ingredients when formulating their products.

Green Beaver is located in Canada and has recently launched in the U.S.  They've partnered with Flora, Inc., and their eco-friendly products should be available in health food stores across the country soon.  The entire line is certified organic by EcoCert, the European Standard for Cosmetics.  Certified organic means:

• Non-toxic, safe
• Environmentally friendly, biodegradable
• High-quality
• Natural
• Synthetic chemical free
• NOT tested on animals

They also have a list of 'Ingredients to Avoid' on their website, aka. ingredients they don't use in their products!  I was sent several of the Green Beaver products for my family to try.  I used the Gluten-Free Body Wash and the Gluten-Free Body Lotion on myself.  The wash was foamy and wasn't over-drying, and the lotion left my skin soft.  The scent of both screamed clean but for me was too over powering... almost "pine sol-y" if you will.

My kids got to try out several products from the Green Beaver Jr. line.  I didn't use much of the Bubble Bath but it got nice and bubbly, tons of fun for the kids.  The kids Shampoo smells sweet like berries, lathers nicely, and is tear-free.  Afterward I used the Conditioning Detangler on my daughter's naturally curly hair to get any kinks out... the result- nice and smooth, without the 'Ouch'!

I think my 3 year olds favorite product was the Green Apple Natural Toothpaste- she loved the taste.  I liked it also, but not because it tastes like green apples.  I like it because it's safe if my daughter accidentally swallows some of it!  It's flouride-free and doesn't contain any harsh foaming agents (SLS or SLES), but yes it does naturally foam up.  This is perfect for toddlers transitioning from the training toothpaste to big kid toothpaste.  They also have Zesty Orange (another kid favorite) and Frosty Mint & Star Anise for the more traditional taste.

BUY IT:  U.S. residents can purchase Green Beaver products from FloraHealth.com, and Canadian residents can purchase directly from GreenBeaver.com, or check with your local health food store.

WIN IT:  1 lucky person is going to win the entire Green Beaver Jr. line!!

(this giveaway is via Flora, Inc. and is for U.S. residents only)

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me which Green Beaver Jr. product you're most excited to win or another product from Flora Health you'd love to try.

Extra Entries for more chances to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Like Green Beaver on Facebook
•  Follow Green Beaver on Twitter
•  Follow Flora Health on Twitter
•  Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe via Email
•  Like my Facebook page
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (blog, Facebook, Cafemom, etc.) +5 Entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link) may copy and paste the following:

#WIN the entire organic natural Green Beaver Jr. line via @florahealthy and @SusieBHomemaker #Giveaway ends 5/1 http://goo.gl/SMIqr

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 5/1/11 at 11:59 pm EST.  Open to U.S. Residents ONLY.  The winner(s) will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of the this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Prefense Foaming ALL-DAY Hand Sanitizer {Review & #Giveaway}

If you're a parent of little kids, you no doubt have used hand sanitizer... over and over and over!  Because we all know kids like to touch anything and everything and don't pay attention to what may or may not have icky germs all over it.  And though most kids don't like sharing their toys, they have no problem sharing their germs.

But wouldn't it be nice to just apply hand sanitizer once and have it last all day?  Well now you can... Prefense to the rescue!  Seriously, this stuff is amazing... you can read for yourself:

• No alcohol- it's made of all-natural organic ingredients
• Protects for 24 hours or 10 hand washings
• Non-toxic and safe for kids... won't hurt if swallowed
• Silica based so it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers
• Protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more

Are you impressed yet... I was!  It doesn't dry out your hands, or your kids, because there's no alcohol in it.  It actually makes them smoother and softer, and it has a nice fresh citrus scent.  Plus if your child eats afterward, or just decides to put their fingers in their mouth, you don't have to worry because it's completely non-toxic and safe.  And the best part, since “one spray lasts all day” a 1.5 oz Prefense Botanicals Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers.

I mean wow... isn't this what us as moms, and dads, have been waiting for?  We can now put this on our kids hands in the morning and let them play all day knowing that they're actually protected from all the things we can't see but that we know are there.  This is perfect for using right before sending your child off to school!

BUY IT:  Online at Amazon or REI or find it at a local store (the Feed & Seed near me sells it!)

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win a big 8 oz. bottle (that's 640 applications!)

Mandatory Entry:  Just leave a comment to be entered!

(U.S. residents only)

Extra Entries for more chances to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Like Prefense on Facebook
•  Follow Prefense on Twitter
•  Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe via Email
•  Like my Facebook page
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (blog, Facebook, Cafemom, etc.) +5 Entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link) may copy and paste the following:

#WIN Foaming Hand Sanitizer that lasts 24 HRS. from @Prefense and @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/iMreD #Giveaway ends 4/26

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 4/26/11 at 11:59 pm EST.  Open to U.S. Residents ONLY.  The winner(s) will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of the this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own and yours may differ.

PetCakes Review & #Giveaway

If you're looking for a fun imaginative toy that your child will love, look no further.  These adorable little plush toys are topped with a "frosting" hat and come snuggled in their own cupcake wrapper.  It's like a two in one- a delicious cupcake and then, surprise! it's a pet.

Well Made™ Toy Manufacturing Corporation introduces PetCakes™, a new collectible plush pet line that will be a sweet treat for children ages 3 & up. Each PetCakes animal features a "frosting" hat, comes nestled in its own cupcake wrapper and has its own whimsical backstory. At first look, children will see a delicious cupcake but will then be surprised by the pet they find snuggled inside! Combining sweet faces and cuddly plush with a clever cupcake theme, PetCakes are collectible and provide hours of open-ended imaginative play. PetCakes make perfect gifts for a special friend and for pet lovers. They are ideal for birthday party favors, stocking stuffers and as rewards for good grades. Most of all, PetCakes deliver the kind of fun kids eat up!

PetCakes are super cute and unique, and I think any child would love to have one.  It lets them pretend play and be imaginative- is it a cupcake or a pet?  My girls love playing with any food items and they love stuffed animals... PetCakes combines the two perfectly.  I think these are going to be great in the girls Easter baskets this year and I can't wait to see their faces when they see them!  Here's a sneak peek at their baskets so far:

BUY IT:  You can buy PetCakes Collectibles Series 1 & 2 online at www.petcakesetc.com, and right now when you buy 2 to 4 PetCakes Collectibles ($14.99 ea.) you get a package of 4 PetCakes Mini's FREE!!

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win TWO (2) PetCakes!!

Mandatory Entry:  Visit MyPetCakes.com and tell me which PetCake is your favorite

Extra Entries for more chances to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Like PetCakes on Facebook
•  Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe via Email
•  Like my Facebook page
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (blog, Facebook, Cafemom, etc.) +5 Entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link) may copy and paste the following:

Enter to #Win 2 Deliciously Cute Plush PetCakes @SusieBHomemaker #Giveaway ends 4/22 http://bit.ly/fQnMyS

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 4/22/11 at 11:59 pm EST.  Open to U.S. Residents ONLY.  The winner(s) will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of the this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own and yours may differ.

My Baby Clothes Boutique Review & $25 GC #Giveaway

Do you like dressing your baby in unique, stylish baby clothes?  Or would you love to dress your little one in designer outfits but without the designer price tag?

My Baby Clothes Boutique searches to find the cutest, most comfortable, and highest quality clothes and accessories available.  Our goal is to offer these unique and trendy boutique style clothes at affordable prices.

As a mom of 3 daughters I was in complete heaven when I browsed around at My Baby Clothes Boutique... everything is so stinkin' adorable!  They have beautiful clothes for both boys and girls in sizes newborn, infant, and toddler.  I loved the selection of all their items- clothes, shoes, baby headbands, bibs, blankets, tutus, diaper bags, baby hats... everything you need to make sure your little one is the cutest baby on the block!

After looking over every inch of My Baby Clothes Boutique I finally found the item I absolutely had to have for my youngest daughter.  My oldest two already have their Easter dresses but I still needed one for their little sister.  So when I saw this dress I knew it would be perfect:

The Floral Halter Dress has big peach flowers and a hint of light green leaves with silver sparkle details. There are simple ruffles around the neckline to make this halter dress simply beautiful.  The wonderful peach fabric shows out from underneath the dress and the fabulous bow on the side top this dress off to be the perfect picture to springtime fun!  Sizes 12- 24mos. come with matching floral bloomers.

This dress is absolutely gorgeous!  It's perfect for Easter and Spring, and the design and quality definitely says designer.  On Easter it may still be chilly here in Michigan, so I plan to pair it with a little white sweater to keep her warm (though I hope I don't have to).   Because how cute is the back of this dress!  I can't wait to take pictures of my 3 girls on Easter!

BUY IT:  You can order online at MyBabyClothesBoutique.com... the Floral Halter Dress is only $24.99!

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win a $25 Gift Certificate to spend at My Baby Clothes Boutique!!

Mandatory Entry:  Visit My Baby Clothes Boutique and tell me an item you'd love to have

Extra Entries for more chances to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Follow My Baby Clothes on Twitter
•  Like My Baby Clothes Boutique on Facebook
•  Subscribe to the My Baby Clothes Boutique Blog
•  Sign up for the My Baby Clothes Boutique Newsletter (lower left hand side)
•  Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe via Email
•  Like my Facebook page
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Vote for my blog in the MomCentral Grant Contest +2 Entries (may be done daily)
•  Post about this giveaway (blog, Facebook, Cafemom, etc.) +5 Entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link) may copy and paste the following:

#Win a $25 GC to My Baby Clothes Boutique http://bit.ly/hpAVs0 from @MyBabyClothes and @SusieBHomemaker #Giveaway ends 4/17

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 4/17/11 at 11:59 pm EST.  Open to U.S. Residents ONLY.  The winner(s) will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of the this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own and yours may differ.