Plein Air Life Review & Giveaway

Just in time for Christmas I received a new centerpiece for my table--it was a candle from Plein Air Life. The candle is a 20oz soy candle in the Cinnamon Forest scent with 3 wicks. As some of my readers know, I got sick on Christmas Eve. Despite my stuffy nose, I was still able to smell the wonderful aroma that this candle put off. It smells fabulous and I've already burnt it a few times! I love the way it looks with all 3 wicks lit.

I was also sent some of their "Clove Lemongrass" Lip Balm to try out. I love to try new lip balm. Again, since I've been sick I've had to breathe through my mouth all night long. This leaves my lips very dry by the morning. I've been keeping this lip balm next to my bed so I can use when I wake up to keep them feeling soft. It tastes really good and makes my lips feel much better!

The candle can be purchased for $38, the lip balm for $3.75, and can be found on their website, http://www.pleinairlife.com/. You can also find other fabulous products like handmade soap and moisturizing lotion.

Here is a little bit about the company from founders Danny Waller and Kenneth Llewellyn:

Plein Air Life is guided by relentless focus on our commitment to provide natural body care products to a diverse group of customers, from all socio economic backgrounds. We take pride in finding the best and freshest ingredients to bring the essence of nature into lives. Not with bold strokes but subtle strokes of fragrance. Plein Air Life uses real essential oils in the manufacturing of our products. Creating for as many people as possible a means to capture one perfect moment.


"Plein air” literally translates as “open air”.  Plein air artist paint in the open air and strive to experience the fullness of a single moment and capture the perfect essence of that moment with light and color. Similarly, we at Plein Air Life have a passion to produce handmade products that allow you to capture the essence of a perfect moment.  Our palette comes from the best ingredients on earth, and our masterpiece is the serene feeling you have when using our products, confident that they are not only pleasing to the senses, but healthy for your body.  Our mission is that our valued customer pampers themselves with our carefully-formulated products whether treating themselves to a full spa day or just a quick application of lip balm to soothe dry sore lips.  We control all aspects of our products from nature's incredible raw materials to the wonderful views we capture for our labels. We will constantly strive to implement the critical initiative required to achieve our vision. In doing this, we will deliver operational excellence in every corner of our company and meet or exceed our commitments to the many constituencies we serve. All of our long term strategies and short term actions will be molded by a set of core values that are shared by each and every associate. We will be known for our leadership edge, through our passion for high standards, our respect for diversity and our commitment to create exceptional opportunities for professional growth so that associates can fulfill their highest potential. We will be a committed global champion for the health and well- being of women through philanthropic efforts that eliminate breast cancer from the face of the earth and other issues that impact the health of our prominent client: women from all walks of life. Plein Air Life is committed to tirelessly pursuing new growth opportunities while continually improving our profitability, social responsibility and ethical production standards. Our company will become one that is watched and emulated as a model of success. When given the opportunity to paint a picture or create a masterpiece. Plein Air Life will always select the masterpiece. Regardless of the level of difficulty involved in the challenge.

President and Founder of Plein Air Life Danny Waller is the brain behind Plein Air Life. Starting the company in his garage 7 years ago, Danny has created all the recipes and product development from day one. Plein Air Life literally began while giving his products away as treasured Christmas gifts to lucky friends and family. Danny then began to work the natural products street fairs. Taking it to the streets talking to his customers hearing what they needed. Learning his industry and honing his craft as a gifted creative mixologist. Plein Air Life is a vegetarian brand let no animal be harmed or even made uncomfortable in the production of the Plein Air Life line of products. Learning to grow and harvest many of the herbs and flowers. Plein Air Life brand grew from the streets to an online boutique. It seemed like no time we grew into a showroom located in beautiful Laguna Beach California. Plein Air Life created a wholesale division four years ago. Since that point Plein Air Life has never looked back. Many customers have now captured their own moment of Plein Air!

And now, here's your chance to experience Plein Air Life. You can purchase all of their products directly from their website and you also have a chance to win your own 20oz centerpiece candle and lip balm from my blog!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada and will end at 11:59pm on Thursday, January 6th.

Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:
www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
Plein Air Life on Facebook
www.twitter.com/PleinAirLife
http://www.pleinairlife.com/




*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*


If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks

Jeremy Plays Guitar Review & Giveaway

So, I literally just popped the Jeremy Plays Guitar "Use Your Words" CD into my laptop so I could begin working on this review. It had been playing less than 5 seconds when I look up to see Maggie standing at one of her toys dancing along to the music.

The first song is "House Rules," and it's all about the things you should and should not do at home. Great song! I love the line that says, "cause we don't live in a zoo."  I also really like the song, "Use Your Words." Maggie still hasn't learned to say anything yet (although she has been picking up some baby signing!). "Use Your Words" is about how children should use their words instead of whining.  When I was a nanny, one of my main rules was, "I do NOT allow whining!" It will be strictly enforced in our house as well!

There are 14 songs all together on the CD, "Use Your Words" by Jeremy Plays Guitar. They all have a great beat and wonderful lyrics perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. All of the songs address important issues for your kids.  You can purchase Jeremy Plays Guitar products on their website, http://jeremyplaysguitar.com/. We give Jeremy Play Guitar 2 thumbs up for great kids music!

Every month, Jeremy Play Guitar picks on lucky fan who writes in, to receive a personalized song. You can check out this month's winner and enter yourself for next month by clicking here, http://jeremyplaysguitar.com/songofthemonth

Jeremy Plays Guitar would like to offer one of you a copy of their CD, "Use Your Words." This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada and will end at 11:59pm on Thursday, January 6th.

Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:

www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
Jeremy Plays Guitar on Facebook



*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks

Winners for Giveaways Ending 12/23

Symphsis Maternity Belt winner is: Amanda Coburn

*Amanda, I've sent you an email and you'll have 48 hours to respond with your address to claim your prize*

Nick Chavez Winners Are: Brittany Abigail Walker,Katherine Snyder and Holly Ward

*Brittany and Katherine, you supplied your home address so I have already sent your info to have the prize sent to you. Holly, I've sent you an email to get your address. You'll have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize*

All About Baby Boutique Winners Are: Faith Moore and Sindy.

* I have sent you both an email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize.*

Chicken Soup for the Soul Winners Are: Brianna Beers, Katie Kane, Kelli Jones, (book winners) and Melody Rabbitt (audio book winner).

* I have sent you all an email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize.*



Merry Christmas From My Family to Yours!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! Thanks for being such great fans!! This has been such a wonderful year for my family! New house, new baby--we couldn't be more blessed! I'm looking forward to lots more exciting reviews and giveaways happenning here in the New Year! Enjoy the time with your family!!

Wildtree with Khristine Fiesta Salsa Review and Giveaway

My name is Khristine Robinson and I welcome you to Wildtree!

Rediscover Cooking the Wildtree way!
Simple. Healthy. Natural.

Wildtree is an all natural food product line. That means no MSGs, no dyes, no preservatives, no additives, peanut free, and low in sodium and sugar. Wildtree is very beneficial to busy moms looking to provide a healthy meal that is quick and easy to use! Put yourself in control of what goes onto your family's table. You can have a good tasting healthy meal in about 20 mins! We provide recipes and menu planning to avoid going the fast food route, which we all know is sooooo bad for us! With menu planning you save time and MONEY! And with using Wildtree you only need to buy the staples: produce, dairy, pasta/rice, proteins. It helps you stay away from impulse buying, where you end up throwing away items that go bad, because you never ended up using them.

We believe in the value of making cooking a quicker, easier, more healthful project for those who are short on time, and a fun, interesting adventure for those who wish to be more creative in the kitchen.
Wildtree makes it an easy transition to eating healthier! With being delicious and economical, you can't go wrong!

For example, add one tablespoon of our Hearty Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning to a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes and heat. The sauce is great and does not contain any undesirable additives. You can also use your own garden fresh tomatoes. Add mushrooms, onions, a little Grapeseed oil or anything else to personalize the sauce. Cost? about $1.50 for 28 ounces - not $2.49 for 10 ounces.

I have been on a salsa and chip kick lately. It's like I just can't get enough. I must go through at least a whole bag of chips and a container of salsa every week. I crave it like I'm pregnant--only I'm not pregnant! I keep trying all these new brands to find the best and I was excited when Khristine from Wildtree offered to send me some of their Fiesta Salsa Mix to try out. It's really easy to fix. You just need a can of diced tomatoes, and then you mix in 1/4 cup of the salsa mix.

So, went to the store, bought my tomatoes and rushed home to try out my new brand. After mixing it all together, you need to let it chill in the refrigerator for an hour. After that was done, I sat down on the couch to savor my chips and--ugh, it did not taste good. WHAT?! I was shocked. I had tried Wildtree before and loved their other product.

Well, then the thought occurred to me that I had bought "no salt added" tomatoes, thinking I'd try to go a little healthier. It also says on the Wildtree container that you should salt to taste. Honestly, I didn't think a little bit of salt could make that much of a difference, but I figured I'd better try it.  SO, I added some salt and let it sit over night. The next day I grabbed my bag of chips again and sat down to eat, a little nervous about what I was about to pop into my mouth. And...drum roll...

I learned that salt makes a BIG difference! Okay, some of you may have known that already, but I am not typically a person who likes a lot of salt on my food (or so I thought!). The salsa is SO good now and I love it! It's absolutely delicious and I highly recommend it. I love the fact that there are only 8 ingredients in this mix and I can pronounce every single one of them!

You can see the whole line of available products from Wildtree with Khristine at http://www.mywildtree.com/khristine/

She'd also like to let one of you try some Fiesta Salsa!
Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:

www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildtree-Omaha-Khristine/148452468521674
http://www.mywildtree.com/khristine/

This giveaway will end on 12/30/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!


*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks

BMB Treasures Review and Giveaway

One of the thing I LOVE about all of the WAHM businesses out there is being able to get personalized, unique items for my family. I got this awesome onesie the other day from BMB Treasures. Most of you know by now that my daughter's name is "Maggie" so we were sent a onsie with the letter, "M" on it. Have a look!

Isn't it C-U-T-E?!? The work on it is great and I've looked and looked, but can not find a single stitching error! Here is a little bit of info about Brandy, the owner:

Hi, I'm Brandy, stay-at-home mom to three wonderful children (Michael, James and Cecilia.) I was never much of a "girly girl" but that soon changed after my daughter was born. I love looking for cute outfits and accessories for her, however most everything I find is pink....and I draw the line at pink! Ugh. So I decided if I wanted cute, girly, non pink things that I would have to make them myself. Plus, I like personalized things and her name is not the most common. I can't leave my boys out either! They help pick out designs and fabrics and I make shirts for them too.

I make everything as if my children were the ones going to be wearing it so I hope whomever wears it enjoys it as much as mine would.

BMB Treasures not only makes these cute onesies, she also make personalized mugs, sweet little tutus, hats, hair clips--you're bound to find something there that you'll love!!

Here's your chance to win $10 store credit so you can buy whatever you'd like from her shop!
Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:
www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
http://www.facebook.com/BMBTreasures
http://www.bmbtreasures.com/

This giveaway will end on 12/30/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

Winners 12/20!!

Castine Candles: Winner of the Sleigh Ride Candle is"soonercourtneyanne"
Castine Candles: Winner of the Balsam Candle is "Melissa"
ESalon: Winner is "jenn29love"
Candles for Compassion: Winner is "Zoe Hunter Lee"
Nothing But Nature Farm: Winner is "Tiffany"
Alphabet Kids: Winner is "Brianna Beers" *You supplied your shipping info already in the Google form Brianna, so I've already sent off the email to get them shipped to you!*
Natura Kids: Winner is "Amanda Coburn"


Congrats to all of today's winners! You should have each recieved an email from me (except for you Brianna--your prize is on it's way!) and you have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize, or I will have to draw another winner. Thanks everyone for playing!

"The Next Great Move of God" Book Review

I was sent the book, "The Next Great Move of God" to review.  This is a book about "Christians Returning to their Hebraic Roots." The book is written by Dr. LaSalle R. Vaughn who pastors New Life Christian Center in San Antonia, TX. Here is a quick overview from the back of the book:

Find the key to godly success in faith, family, finances, and fellowship with Him. Many Christians have understood the topic of salvation, but have never contemplated the Jewishness of Jesus. Understanding the culture in which Jesus lived will help you properly interpret the Bible. The Next Great Move of God: Christians Returning to Their Hebriac Roots will open your eyes to the Jewish world of Jesus. This profound book reveals that the Christian life is much more than salvation; it's a lifestyle of obedience to the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation."

You've received God's salvation...but find yourself frustrated and struggling in certain areas of your life. Your new found obedience to previously hidden meanings in the Scriptures will transform your life.

Just a few weeks ago, my husband and I were discussing with my in laws how nice it would be to be able to take classes in Hebrew history,so we could understand the culture of Jesus' time.  It is just impossible to find the time though, nor the extra finances to take a college course in this. This book has been a great resource and arrived just in time!

This book is very easy to understand and made me think about Bible passages in ways that I hadn't before.   Dr. Vaughn writes about the Ark of the Covenant, Sukkoth, Yom Kippur, and lots of other topics in this book. There are Biblical references for everything he discusses, which is very important to me. I was not born Jewish and have no close friends who are Jewish, so I have never heard the history behind many of the Jewish holidays and symbols. It was very interesting to read about these things because I have always been curious!

Although I may not agree with every single one of his points and interpretations, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who desires to learn more about the Hebraic roots of Christianity!

If you'd like to purchase "The Next Great Move of God" you can find it on Amazon and check out the website for the book at http://www.thenextgreatmoveofgod.com/

Chicken Soup for the Soul "Christmas Magic" Review and Giveaway

There's no holiday I love more than Christmas! Christmas just puts a good feeling in my soul, and what better way to help celebrate, than 101 feel-good stories about Christmas from Chicken Soup for the Soul! That's right, Chicken Soup for the Soul has come out with a book full of 101 different holiday tales of inspiration, love, and wonder. It is called "Christmas Magic!"  There is even an introduction by Santa Clause himself! So pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate (or my favorite Christmas-tasting drink, Chai!) and curl up on the couch to read this great book and get yourself in the Christmas spirit!

There are so many great stories! I like to flip through and pick a random number to read. So far my favorite is story #64--yes, I teared up. You're gonna love this book! Get it, read it, then let me know which story touched your heart most! You can buy it online on Amazon or in bookstores everywhere!

Here's a chance for you to win! Three lucky winners will receive a copy of this book, and one separate lucky winner will receive the book in audio! Enter now for your chance to win!

If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!


Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:

www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
www.facebook.com/ChickenSoupForTheSoul

This giveaway will end on 12/23/10 at 11:59pm EST and is open to residents of the US and Canada. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

KD Novelties-Personalized Children's Books Review and Giveaway

Maggie LOVES to read! She will sit so patiently still while we read books. She loves looking at the pictures and hearing us read aloud. KD Novelties-Personalized Children's Books specialize in Children's books personalized for your child. They are able to put your child's name and other information right into the book to make it extra special for them. 

I was sent the book, “Little One, Little One, What Do You See?” written by Alan Siewert. It is a book that helps to teach children number 1-10 in a cute, fun way. The book has colorful illustrations on every page, illustrated by Pam Jones. My daughter's name is used throughout the book, along with our hometown, and a few relatives! It's fun reading the book to her! I'm not sure that she really “gets” that this book is about her yet, but soon enough she will and I have no doubt that it will become one of her favorite books! She definitely recognizes her name when I read it to her and perks up at that!

KD Novelties--Personalized Children's Books have a huge selection for you to choose from. Not only do they have story books like the one I received, they also have DVDs, CDs, personalized picture books and baby books. I am also happy to report that as a thrifty mama, the prices for a personalized book are excellent!

Would you like one for Christmas? There's still time! Just get your order in by Midnight, December 19th! they even have special holiday books! You can see all they have to offer on their website, http://www.kdnovelties.com/ and stay up to date on what they've got going on at their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/KDNovelties.

Here's a chance for you to win! One lucky winner will win this same book, personalized for their own child! Enter now for your chance to win!


Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:
www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
www.facebook.com/kdnovelties
This giveaway will end on 12/30/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*



If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

All About Baby Boutique Review and Giveaway

All About Baby Boutique  (http://www.allaboutbabyboutique.com/) is an awesome online retailer where you can purchase natural products for mom and baby including cloth diapering supplies. I got send some goodies from her LuSa line--here's what I got:

1) Booty Balm 1.75 oz tin ($7.50) –  Soothe sore skin. SAFE for CLOTH DIAPERS!!!! (Per LuSa Organics)
Unquestionably our favorite product of all time, Booty Balm is in action in our home on most days. Diaper Rash, cuts, scrapes, drool rash, windburn, sunburn — try it on any sore or rashy skin.

Ingredients: *Olive oil, *jojoba oil, local beeswax, *avocado oil; flowers of *calendula, *lavender, and *chamomile; essential oil blend (lavender, patchouli, peru balsam, and chamomile), tocopherol (vitamin e); and grapefruit seed extract, citric acid, and silver citrate (natural preservatives).

2) Cheek and Chin Balm .8oz tin ($5.25) –  Gentle and effective, Cheek & Chin is perfect for sore, runny noses, wind-kissed cheeks, and drooly chins. Try it too for chafing, heat rash, diaper rash, and road rash.
Ingredients: *Olive oil, *jojoba oil, local beeswax, *avocado oil, *calendula flowers, *comfrey leaf, essential oil blend (lavender, patchouli, and peru balsam), tocopherol (vitamin e); and grapefruit seed extract, citric acid, and silver citrate (natural preservatives).

3) Oatmeal Goat’s Milk Soap 5oz size ($5.50) –  Ultra-moisturizing, ultra-creamy, ultra-yummy. Oatmeal, honey, and goat milk all add moisture to this dreamy bar. Try on rashy skin too.
Ingredients: Saponified oils of *coconut, *palm, *olive, and *sunflower; goat milk (local and sustainable), *oatmeal, local honey, and tocopherol (vitamin e).

*certified organic ingredient

4) Mint Sugar Scrub ($7.95)– Organic Sugar Scrub exfoliates and moisturizes you from shoulders to toes — without the bite of salt. Simply rub onto clean, wet skin. Rinse away with warm water and blot dry. Farewell, dry, itchy skin. Hello, radiant mamacita.

Let me talk about the cheek and booty balm first.  I LOVE the way they smell! They smell so wholesome and, well....natural! You'll just have to smell them to know what I mean. The booty balm and cheek balm look, feel, and smell the same but have a few different ingredients. When I opened up the booty balm I just so happened to have chapped, sore lips. So before I put it on Maggie's bum, I rubbed some on my lips. It felts really soothing and made them feel much better! Although Maggie's butt normally does not get too red, I've been putting the balm on her at night and it has kept her skin soft and rash free. I love that it is cloth diaper safe too, so I can use it all the time without worrying about it damaging her diapers! It has been cold and windy here lately, so I've been putting the cheek balm on her every night to help with the wind burn and on her chin because, at 8 months, she is drooling like crazy! Again, it smells SO good and has really helped the redness on her cheeks and chin!

And, now the goodies for me! My facial skin is pretty sensitive and I'm happy to report that the soap worked well on it. It did not dry it out or leave it red and itchy the way many cleaners can. It just feels fresh and clean afterwards. And nothing relaxes me like a nice, hot bath at the end of the day! The sugar scrub is amazing and is great for my dry winter skin! I'm trying to ration it out but it is hard because I love using it so much!

I have talked to the owner of All About Baby Boutique a lot lately and I have to say that she is so super friendly and awesome to work with!  After discussing the products I would review, she shipped my order out right away and it was here quicker than I expected. Her website is really easy to navigate and she's got a great selection! You'll love purchasing from her! And here's your chance to go shopping at her store with a little store credit! She'd like to give 2 of my readers each a $15 gift certificate! So buy yourself a diaper, these neat LuSa items, or something else you've been wanting.

If you like my blog, would you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ ? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

Some links that may help you for this giveaway are:

• www.facebook.com/ThriftyNiftyMommy
• www.twitter.com/ThriftyNiftyMom
• http://www.allaboutbabyboutique.com/
• All About Baby Boutique on Facebook

This giveaway will end on 12/23/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Nick Chavez Hair Care Review and Giveaway

I really neglect my hair and I shouldn't. I occurred to me last time that I got my hair cut that I feel so much better about myself when my hair is looking nice. It's funny how your hair can make you feel totally "blah" or totally sexy, just with a few changes! I have never splurged for salon quality hair products, because I've always been afraid that the cost just wouldn't be worth the difference in my hair. I was excited to put Nick Chavez's hair care products to the test to see if they really worked!

At his website, http://www.nickchavezbeverlyhills.com/ you can answer a few simple questions to get Nick's Perfect Match for your hair. I plugged in all of my info and was told to get these products:

• Nourishing Hair Shampoo
• Nourishing Conditioner
• Flocker: For Wet or Dry Hair
• Silk Smoothing Glaze

So that's what Nick sent me! I've been using the products for a few days now and notice a difference already! My hair used to have so many fly aways. Now it looks much more polished and put together--and I feel sexy again!I love the smell of the shampoo/conditioner and how it leaves my hair feeling. The styling products work really well too! I hate it when you can tell that my hair has a lot of product on it--and I don't have that issue with this stuff. It just works! My hair looks smoother, softer, and shinier.  Now I just need to go get my hair cut again! I wish he was close enough to do that!!

So, yes, obviously when you are buying salon quality hair products they do cost a little bit more--but the good news is that I've found I use half as much with these products and get better results! I think it just might be worth the extra $10 or so a month to spend on getting these much nicer products, and feeling better about myself!!

Did you take Nick's Perfect Match quiz? Well you should because THREE of my readers are going to win their very own Perfect Match set sent straight to their door!

If you like my blog, would  you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ ? That casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!


This giveaway will end on 12/23/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Symphysis Maternity Belt Giveaway

It seems like yesterday I was pregnant with Maggie and boy did my back ache by the time she was ready to come out! I was contacted by a company who has come out with a new maternity belts to help combat that lower back pain. Here's some info about them!

Like most of you moms know, pregnancy can be full delightful annoyances. Morning sickness, weight gain, constant fatigue and that unrelenting lower back and pelvic pain are just the tip of the iceberg. Solutions for these problems can be expensive and hard to find. If you are one of the 30% of pregnant women who struggle with relentless lower back or pelvic pain, the search for relief is over. The Symphysis Maternity Belt is the answer for the aggravating lower back pain and pelvic pain of pregnancy. It’s the first maternity belt designed by a physician to provide the pelvic support and compression lacking in other maternity belts. Most importantly, it works! Try it for yourself at http://www.symphysismaternitybelt.com/

Key Features: The Symphysis Maternity Belt can be worn under clothing , is fully adjustable and machine washable.

Symphysis Maternity Belt would like to share with you a discount code: DECEMB25 (25% off until December 31st) to use on their website, http://www.symphysismaternitybelt.com/


Symphysis Maternity Belt would also like to give one of my readers their own belt! I don't have time to put this one on the Google Docs (sorry guys!) so I'm using my old style entry. Maybe I'll do a little bit of both. That should please everyone!
 
Please make sure you leave one comment PER ENTRY so that all of your entries are counted for the giveaway. Make sure you complete the mandatory entry before moving onto the extra entries as well. Lastly, please put your email address in atleast one of your comments so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Entry:


Post the discount code with a link to their website on you Facebook page and/or Twitter . 1 Entry if you do 1--2 Entries if you do both! 
Extra Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thriftyniftymom-- 1 Entry
• Become a fan of Thrifty Nifty Mommy on FB-- 1 Entry
• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
• Tweet about this giveaway (make sure you tag Thrifty Nifty Mommy and leave a link to this blog)-- 3 Entries
• Post about this giveaway on FB (make sure you tag  Thrifty Nifty Mommy, and leave a link to this blog)-- 3 Entries

I can't offer you any extra blog entries, but if you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ that casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

This giveaway will end on 12/23/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary giveaway item.*

Natura Toys Review and Giveaway

I love getting unique toys for Maggie! Finding toys that are educational and natural make them even better! I've wanted to get my children "cutting fruit" since before I was even pregnant! I saw them one time at the home of a girl I was babysitting and was so impressed. When I was a little girl playing with my kitchen set, I would have loved having a set of these. Heck, I admit it, the Wonderworld Fruity Basket that Natura Toys sent me was as much for me as it was for Maggie! I'm having a blast showing her how to cut the fruit with the little wooden knife!

The basket includes 6 different fruits: banana, cherries, pear, kiwi, watermelon, and apple. 3 of those 6 fruits are able to be cut, and then put back together with Velcro that is attached to them. All of the fruits are made of wood and painted in nice, vibrant colors. The only thing I would say about the colors is that the apple is painted in a shade that, to me, looks more like orange rather than red. These fruits are also a little smaller than other cutting fruits I've seen. They are sized more in a way that matches kitchen set sizes.

Here is a little bit more about Natura Toys:

Natura is Nature in Latin. We believe that children should be nurtured with nature. We are committed to be the best resource for very high quality products and services that impact positively on people as well as the planet. We have carefully selected toys that are intellectually stimulating; enrich social understanding, confidence, humor, imaginative play, and most importantly fun for children of all ages and abilities, thereby providing parents with peace of mind knowing their children are being inspired and enlightened by safe and quality playthings.


Combining our experiences as child development specialists, architects, engineers, teachers, and stay-at-home mothers of children aged from new born to nineteen, we provide the best selection of the world's most unique and extraordinary toys which encourage open-ended unstructured play. We evaluate a toy based on its play value, quality, integrity, and impact on the environment. Natura Toys is proud to offer award-winning games and toys, unusual plush animals, special needs toys, wooden, retro toys, science/nature and educational toys are just some of the toys you will find in our store.


As an eco-friendly and green online toyshop we specialize in reusing and recycling to reduce our carbon footprint as much as we can. We only stock ‘nature aware’ toys and games, toys that incorporate learning about nature, keeping the environment clean and learning about recycling. Many of the toys at Natura Toys are made from recycled material, organic material or wood from verified sustainable sources and the toys are made in factories that have been checked to ensure they follow ethical working practices.


We also understand that Play is Child’s most important work and what matters to most parents is keeping their children healthy, happy, and safe. Whatever you select from our store, we guarantee that your children will learn and have fun while they play and enjoy. We sell toys that are an investment in your child’s future. Your child's safety is of utmost importance to us and we always closely monitor the quality of the playthings we provide. The majority of our wooden toys are made in Europe, US and Australia with many of them being hand made and hand painted with non-toxic paints and varnishes. Every single toy on the Natura Toys site has gone through rigorous safety testing by the manufacturers.

We don’t stock a toy just because a toy is popular or fun in flashy packaging, or supported with heavy advertising as we do not believe in the commercialization of children with licensed toys and, because we believe that these toys can limit the child’s own curiosity, imagination, and unique possibilities. Department stores and regular toy shops can sell you commercial toys based on movies, cartoons, or even breakfast cereal or a child’s meal. At Natura Toys, we take a different approach. We love less violent, more multicultural, eco-friendly green toys, toys catering to a multitude of development needs, but we will always admit to having toys that are just pure fun. We want our toys to be loved for months, years, even generations and toys that don't harm the environment our next generations will inherit.

With Christmas quickly approaching, if you still have children on your "nice list" to shop for, you should check out http://www.naturatoys.com/! They have great presents for children of all ages, and for parents with all budgets! Their website is easy to navigate and you're sure to find something you can both love!

Natura Toys has a Grand Openning/Christmas giveaway happenning right now! Here is the link so you can enter,and please tell them I sent you!Enter their Facebook giveaway here! You just might win one of FIFTEEN $25 gift certificates! Hurry though, this ends today!! Natura Toys would also like to give one of my fans a $20 gift certificate to their store! Please fill out the form below for your chance to win.

I can't offer you any extra blog entries, but if you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ that casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

This giveaway will end on 12/19/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items*

Alphabet Kids Books Review and Giveaway

It's really sad, but bullying seems to be growing these days. Just a few weeks ago, there was a junior high student in our community that committed suicide because he was being bullied. This breaks my heart! Children need to be taught that they should be nice to all children, no matter where they come from, the language they speak, the clothes they wear, etc. I will be teaching Maggie early on that, not only does she need to be nice to every person she comes in contact with, but that she should stick up for those who are being bullied. I was excited to find a book series that is written with the intent of giving children a multicultural experience!

Alphabet Kids was created by Allegra Joyce Kassin after she noticed a lack of multicultural children's books. Currently there are 6 books in the series. Each book focuses on a different child, his or her culture, and a valuable life lesson. Currently the characters are: Allegra, Italian-American; Elena, Hispanic-American; Isaac, Jewish American; Oni, African-American; Umar, Arab-American; and Yang, Chinese-American.

I was also excited to learn that they have a program for low-income families who have unable to buy books themselves. Alphabet Kids created their Buy One-Give One program. For all books purchased, they donate a book to a child in need!

Maggie is still a little young for these books, but I have read through them myself and I'm very impressed! I think they are a great addition to any library. You can read all about these excellent books and purchase them for your own children by going to their website at http://www.alphabetkids.com/. They also have a Facebook page, Click Here!!

Alphabet Kids has also offered to send one of my lucky fans their own set of all 6 Alphabet Kids books along with an AK reusable tote bag!

I am going to try using Google entries for this giveaway. Please feel free to leave your feedback about it as a comment!

Also, I can't offer you any extra blog entries, but if you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ that casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

This giveaway will end on 12/19/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items*

Mamas & Papas Lightweight Strollers Are Coming to the US!

Our family is planning a trip to San Diego, California early next year to visit my husband's side of the family. We're going to need a stroller to take along (as I'm sure we'll be visiting some parks/zoos while we are there!) and I've found just the stroller I want to take! We also just found out that we've got one of those recalled Graco strollers, so I really need to get us a new one! Mamas & Papas is a brand known in Great Britain that will be launching over here in the US!

Mamas & Papas has created a fleet of lightweight strollers that are perfect for situations where flexibility is paramount. All Mamas & Papas lightweight strollers also feature an over-the-shoulder carrying strap for when the stroller is folded and in transit.

A culmination of 29 years experience in baby transport, and in-house design force that is second to none and unequivocal quality and style has evolved the new lightweight umbrella stroller range from Mamas & Papas - the chic new design-led baby brand from Great Britain.

• Trip – This stroller offers vented side panels and is the must-have getaway product. 
• Trek – Featuring a simple seat recline system, little ones have the option to nap while on the move.
• Tour – Increased seat padding and a deeper recline will ensure comfort during longer journeys

• Cruise – Perfect for everyday use, this stroller features a five-position recline, adjustable foot rest, easypeek canopy window and additional storage pockets. 
• Voyage – Features an integrated sun visor and sun canopy, quilted seat and removable toddler pillow and chest pads for extra comfort, this stroller is the highlight of the new Mamas & Papas lightweight stroller range.

If you would like to buy one of these light-weigh strollers, you can by going to http://www.babiesrus.com/mamasandpapas. Mama & Papas also make other great baby products, like bouncers, high chairs, baby carriers, and toys! You can see all they have to offer at http://us.mamasandpapas.com/en-US/.

I also follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and you can too!

• http://www.facebook.com/mamasandpapas
• http://www.twitter.com/mamasandpapas

*By posting this, I am entered into a giveaway with a chance to win 1 of 5 of these fabulous strollers!*

HunnyBunny Designs Review

Yay! Maggie got some new hair bows in the mail the other day! This time they were from HunnyBunny Designs! I'll never get tired of getting new "pretties" for my little girl's hair! The great thing about handmade, boutique hair pieces is that you never run out of options! There will always be new styles of ribbon to accessorize your girl! I would much rather support a friendly WAHM than Walmart any day!

After talking about the review, my hair bows were sent out to me right away. These hair bows sent to me by HunnyBunny Designs are great! I can tell that she puts lots of time and care into each of the bows she makes! I think they look pretty good in my daughter's hair as well!

You can find HunnyBunny Designs on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hunnybunnydesigns and on her own blog, www.hunnybunnydesigns.blogspot.com. She's got great prices, beautiful bows and hair accessories, and even better, fabulous service! Make sure you are a fan of her FB page and follow her blog because she's always having fun giveaways and contests for her fans!  Head on over and tell her I sent you!

More Blog Winners!

Little Notes of Love Message Board: "StayAtHomeMomma"
Naturemade Sleep: "Sarah"
ConsignMom: "NavyNest"

Congratulations winners!

PRESENTS Winners!

1. Crunchy Angel Diaper Cover: "Momtoablessing"
2. Swedish Diet: "Kayla"
3. Novica: "Lynda Del."
4. CoupyKeep: "Jennifer Deck"
5. Costume Squad: "Shannon Foster"
6. Jessa's Sunshine Crochet: "Autumn13"
7. Erno Laszlo: "hargygirl"
8. A Dog's Purpose: "Pamela"
9. CrazyDog T'shirts: "Erika"
10. Melissa's 31 Bag: "Sarah" comment #98
11. Pork Chop Kids: "Crazy SAHM"
12. Nachomama Tees: "MommyTrenches"

Congratulations to all the winners! Please email me at thriftyniftymommy@yahoo.com to claim your prize!

BamBam Review

"A BAMBAM gift is a joy forever" that is their slogan and I think it's perfect! When I was first contacted by BAMBAM about doing a review of their products, I thought maybe they had the wrong blogger. See, BAMBAM comes to me all the way from the Netherlands! BAMBAM products are currently not sold at any US retailers--but don't worry, you can still buy them and have them shipped here to you. In fact, my package only took 2 days to arrive!

I was impressed immediately when my BAMBAM pruducts arrived neatly packaged in this beautiful box. It immediately made me think, chic baby.  BAMBAM sent me lots of their products to try out. Here's what they sent:

• Blue Duck Tuttle: The Blue Duck Tuttle is a blanket/stuffed animal friend. It is SO SOFT! On the front, there is a place to write your child's name and telephone number in case he would get lost. I remember one year, a friend of my sister's left her precious bunny at a park, hours from home. She was devistated! I'm sure her parents wished  that they had written their phone number on "bunny" somewhere because she cried for days! The tuttle is the perfect size for babies and toddlers to drag around with them.

• "Before You Ask, I'm a Girl" Hat: Okay, this is just genius! BAMBAM makes hats that say this (or the same phrase with "boy,")  for your newborn's head.  Even though Maggie is 8 months old now, the other day at Walmart I was needing one of these hats. She was wearing pink, PINK and someone kept saying, "he!" Sometimes I just don't know what people are thinking! This hat is perfect for a newborn baby's head, and lets the world know their gender without you ever having to open your mouth. They also carry a number of other newborn hats with fun sayings. My favorite is the hat that says, "Don't Panic I am Organic." Cute!

• Dinner Party/Brunch Bib:  This is a two-sided bib. On one side in pretty silver print it reads, "Dinner Party," and on the back side, "Brunch." This bib has an older-style look about it and closes with tie-strings. Now, I know, Velcro is much easier and at this point, I'm still safe using Velcro with Maggie. I used to nanny though, and there comes a time when children learn to rip the bibs that are fastened with Velcro right off--so these tie-string bibs are going to come in handy soon! Plus, it's just plain cute!

• Hotel Slippers: I have never been to a fancy spa. Frankly, it would pain me to spend lots of money on myself that way. If I were to win a spa trip, I'm sure I'd love it--but I just can't handle handing over that kind of money for pampering. Why do I bring up the spa? Because these slippers look like the kind of slippers a baby spa would hand out to your little one. They are white with silver crowns on them. They are really soft and would look so cute on a baby! They are the perfect post bath accessory!

• Towel, "See how I grow": Speaking of bath time, BAMBAM also sent me their "See how I grow" towel. This towel is marked with the metric system. My husband thought this was fabulous. He hates that we don't use the metric system more in the US and wishes we would all switch over to it.  It's a neat tool to be able to lay my daughter out on it and see her grow--which she does way too fast!

• "Dancing Feet" Socks: My pair came in pink (you can also get them in baby blue or white) and on the bottom written in non-skid they say "dancing" on one foot, and then "feet!" on the other. The socks are sized 0-3 months, but on a girl as tiny as mine is, I think she would have just grown out of them! They are so, so soft and 100% cotton.

• Duck Rattle: This duck rattle is grey, soft cotton fabric. It has, of course, a rattle in it and is really sweet. It's safe to wash in the washer as well which is great if you have a child like mine who spits up a lot!

• Star Teether: Just like the teethers that have been around for ages. This one is in a fun, star shape and can be put in the fridge to chill for baby's sore gums.

• Wooden Tower Pink: I think we've all seen the plastic Fisher Price ring stacker. I know Maggie has one herself! This toy is very similar but made of wood and 100x's cuter! It is also shorter than the Fisher Price stacker. You can purchase one in pink or blue. I love wooden toys for kids, don't you?

• Toothbrush holder: This arrived at the perfect time for us. Now that Maggie is sporting one little tooth, I've started brushing her teeth--err--I mean tooth. She didn't have a toothbrush holder yet, and this one is so cute!

• Snowglobe: I saved this one for last because it's my favorite! This is a beautiful work of art! It was the very first thing I saw on their website and knew I must have! It says, "Dreams Come True." I think it is beautiful and will be displaying it in Maggie's room as soon as I get a shelf put up!

When looking at the items that BAMBAM offers, you will no doubt think glamorous, chic, and high quality! The great thing about BAMBAM is that, even though all those 3 things are true, you will not have to pay an outrageous price to purchase them! It's Hollywood style for the average family!

I only mentioned a small fraction of all that BAMBAM has to offer. You can go to their website at http://www.bambam.nl/ to see everything they make. These items would be a perfect baby shower gift or Christmas present! I hope to see BamBam products in our US stores soon as well! BamBam is going to take the world of baby fashion by storm! Stay updated on what's happening with them through their BAMBAM Facebook page and tell them I sent you!

Lastly, I should mention that when you first visit their website, most likely you will be seeing a foreign language. Have no fear! At the top right, you can click on "EN" to read everything in English. Also, the prices you will see are in Euros. It is quite easy to find a currency converter to use. I just googled, "euros to dollars" and was able to convert the prices. Prices for the dollar are slightly more than what you see in Euros, but not too much. Have fun shopping, and let me know what you buy! http://www.bambam.nl/.

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinion. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review items.*

Nothing But Nature Farm Gift Basket Review & Giveaway

When my package from Nothing But Nature Farm arrived, I could literally smell the goodness inside it before I even took the tape off of the package! When I opened it up, I saw that the fabulous smell was coming from a hot chocolate mix.  These hot chocolate mixes are enough to serve 2 people and they are SO CUTE! I am saving mine for my hubby and I to enjoy on Christmas Eve night. We'll snuggle up, watch some Christmas movies, and enjoy some popcorn (popped with an air popper and lots of yummy butter!) and the hot chocolate. It looks so good, I want to tear into it now, but I know it will make Christmas Eve special! Are you still looking for stocking stuffers? This hot chocolate would be great!

My mail lady likes to throw our mail around I think.When my package got here, somehow everything was shaken up in my basket and the wrapping was a little ripped, but this is what it would have looked like before it went through the postal system :)

Besides the hot chocolate mix in my basket, I was also sent an awesome Nothing But Nature Farm t-shirt, yummy homemade apple butter, Cowgirl cookies, and their all-natural beeswax lip balm! When this basket arrived, I thought right away how it all looked so nice and would make a great present for someone this Christmas. There are always people on my list that I never know what I should buy them. A gift basket like this would be a great present this year for my Grandparents, pastor's family, neighbors--really just about anybody!

I love apple butter one nice warm rolls, and this apple butter tastes great! If you enjoy apple butter, I know you'll like it. It comes packaged in a  Mason Jar with cute decorative fabric. I made the Cowgirl cookies on Sunday. They were really easy to make--the directions were right on the outside of the jar. It was nice just to be able to dump the ingredients in with my eggs, vanilla extract, and button without breaking out the measuring cup! They came out of the oven looking delicious and my husband and I have been gobbling them up ever since!

Last, but certainly not least, is the great, all natural lip balm Nothing But Nature Farm makes!  It's made from the local beeswax in Indiana. I get chapped lips a lot--especially during the winter. The lip balm is so soothing on my lips and has a great peppermint smell and taste!

Nothing But Nature Farm has lots of different gift baskets you can choose from, plus lots of other great products.  Whether you're looking for a unique homemade gift for someone this holiday season, or just want to treat yourself, make sure you check out her Facebook page, Click here! and their website, http://www.localharvest.org/nothing-but-nature-farm-M31030

Would you like to win your own gift basket from Nothing But Nature Farm? Well, you're in luck 'cause here's your chance! Contents will be a surprise, but you will love it I'm sure!!

Mandatory Entry:

Become a fan of Nothing But Nature Farm on Facebook and thank them for the giveaway .  1 Entry

Extra Entries:

• The owner of Nothing but Nature Farm has a second business making sweet little tutus! Check it out and become her fan at Country Girl Couture-- 1 Entry
• Follow me on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/thriftyniftymom-- 1 Entry
• Become a fan of Thrifty Nifty Mommy on FB-- 1 Entry
• Tweet about this giveaway (make sure you tag Thrifty Nifty Mommy and leave a link to this blog)-- 3 Entries
• Post about this giveaway on FB (make sure you tag Nothing But Nature Farm,  Thrifty Nifty Mommy, and leave a link to this blog)-- 3 Entries

I can't offer you any extra blog entries, but if you click this link http://www.topmommyblogs.com/ that casts a vote for my blog and helps me continue to get great reviews and giveaways to share with all of you. Thanks!

This giveaway will end on 12/19/10 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

*This is not a paid post. I only share my honest opinions.  Thanks to the company for the complimentary  review and giveaway  items*