Perkstreet Winners!

Hi, it's PerkStreet here!

Firstly, I want to thank everyone for participating and sharing your stories about what you would do with an extra $600 cash back every year. Given that the average  PerkStreet Financial family earns over $600 every year from spending on our debit card, it helps to know how those hard earned perks would impact families around the United States.

Congratulations to Mary Oeldeman (6 FuzziBunz) & Hannah Skelly (3 FuzziBunz) for winning the cloth diaper prizes. At PerkStreet, we know that every little bit helps and we are happy to give deserving families the products that they need on a daily basis.

Also, I am very touched with all of the positive things that were said about PerkStreet in your comments. Here at PerkStreet, we are dedicated to providing as much cash back as possible to our customers to help pay down debt, save for their future, purchase everyday items for their family or just have some fun! If you're interested in hearing about future offers and promotions from us, as well as receiving great personal finance advice, visit www.perkstreet.com and subscribe to our PerkStreet Picks newsletter. Simply scroll down and enter your email in the empty field and click "subscribe".

If you have any additional questions about the account, or about banking in general, please don't hesitate to contact us: help@perkstreet.com.

Thanks so much and I look forward to welcoming you to the  PerkStreet Financial family,

Jenna Walker

Winners for Giveaways Ending 2/17/2011

Rockstar White Winner: Laura Lynch
Diaper Style Winner: Kati Polman
Adrienne Smith:Lilla Rose Winner: Kristin Ross

Congrats to all of the winners! You have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim your prize!

Kids 'N' Pets Review and Giveaway

When Kids 'N' Pets contacted me about reviewing their All-Purpose Stain and Odor Remover, I was quick to say yes! Why, well, you know I have a child, but I also have 2 dogs and a cat. Between Maggie, the cat, the mutt, and the English Mastiff, our house definitely gets its fair share of stains!

It didn't take long after I received the product for me to have the opportunity to try it out. Gaia, our English Mastiff was playing with our other dog, Emmy, and somehow she broke one of her toenails up to the quick. There were blood spots all over my white carpet. Agh! Obviously I was worried that my floor would  have brown, dried blood spots on it forever. I got up as much blood as I could with paper towels, then, after reading the instructions quickly, poured Kid 'N' Pets on the spots all over my living/dining room. The bottle says to wait 5 minutes, so that's what I did, and then you just blot dry. Amazingly, the floor is as good as new! No spots anywhere (and there must have been 30 at least!) I was so excited! Take a look at the before and after pictures from one spot:

I know the carpet looks like a different color. Sorry, I didn't have the flash on for the first picture! I was in a hurry to get the stain remover on there because I didn't want the blood to set it! But, I wanted to make sure the flash was on for the second picture so you can see just how clean it got.

I've had a chance to use it a couple of more times already (and really, I"ve only had this stuff for a little over a week!). Maggie got juice on the couch--it's gone now! I found an old spit up spot on the floor from Maggie, and a new spit up spot from her as well--both of them came completely clean! Really, I haven't found any spot yet that it didn't work to get clean! I will be keeping a bottle under my sink from now on!

Oh, and one of the best parts? You can buy it at your local Wal-mart for $4.95! I love it when I find a product that not only works, but it's affordable!

I did mention a giveaway, right? Well, I have 2 ways for you to win. Right now, Kids N Pets is giving EVERYONE who likes their Facebook page a free bottle of their product. You just need to send in the rebate form with proof of purchase. All of the details can be found on their Facebook page. I know I'm planning on doing that!

And, as a second giveaway, they've joined in on the 5000 fan giveaway on my Facebook page. Just look for the 5000 fan Giveaway Album, and then find the picture of their product for your chance to win there as well!

Bright Starts InGenuity Cradle & Sway Swing Review

When I was pregnant with Maggie, I was blessed to be given a lot of hand-me-downs from friends and family. One of the items given to me was a swing. It's one of those swings that you can turn, so baby can either swing front to back or side to side. I loved that about it. But, there were a lot of things that I didn't like about it:

• It seemed like we were constantly changing batteries.
• It was very, VERY noisy.
• If you tried to put a blanket on the baby and it hung down at ALL belong the swing, the swing stopped working.
• It has a hard, plastic body that doesn't seem like it would be very comfortable, plus the cover is starting to come off.

Bright Starts sent me their InGenuity™ Cradle & Sway™ Swing and I'm in love! My husband was nice enough to put the swing together, and it took him about 15-20 minutes. I am so thrilled with the look of the swing. The fabric is so soft and gender neutral. It also comes with a removable head rest for smaller babies. Even my husband, who doesn't generally get too excited over baby items, couldn't help but talk about how nice this swing is!

Here are some of the other things I love about the swing:

• The seat! Is is basically a cushion wrapped around a frame. Therefore, when my girl is lying in it, I'm sure it feels almost hammock-like. It looks so much more comfortable than our old swing.
• The tray! You can unhook one side, while leaving the other side attached. With our old swing, it just came all the way off. Now when I'm ready to put it back down, its right there where I need it.
• The mobile! Our old swing did not have a mobile. Maggie loves looking at it.
• Removable toys on the tray! This makes it easy to throw them in the wash or put on new, different toys when Maggie gets bored with the current ones.
• Battery life! These batteries certainly have lasted longer in this swing already than they did in the last swing.
• Swing Timer! There is a timer on the top of this swing (along with music/nature sound controls!) so you can set it to swing 30 ,45 or 60 minutes.
• The noise--or lack there of! This swing is so quiet. Honestly, you can hardly hear a sound when it's on (unless of course you're using the nature sounds or music,which are great!)

There was only one thing about this swing that I would change. I would love to find a swing that has an option to plug into an electrical outlet. I have a habit of forgetting to pick up batteries when I'm out at the store,and it would be nice to have that power option. I'd love to see a little box on the opposite leg that holds a retractable power cord. Other than that, this swing satisfies all of my needs and wants in a baby swing!

Here's the info on the swing straight from Bright Starts:

InGenuity™ Cradle & Sway™ Swing

This swing allows you to provide the motion that best suits baby's needs. The seat of the swing rotates 180° for either cradling motion, which provides a side-to-side movement; or swinging motion, which provides a traditional front-to-back movement. The innovative control unit on this swing, powered by Hybridrive™ Technology, is more efficient than any comparable swing and provides more than 2X the battery life.

Features:
•TrueSpeed™ technology that maintains 6 swing speeds even as baby grows
•Whisper Quiet™ operation for peaceful swinging
•Battery Savings – more than 2X the battery life of comparable swings
•Head rest and cushioned bolster system for ultimate comfort
•Comfort Recline™ seat with 2 positions to suit baby’s needs
•Easy-to-remove tray – can lift up left or right, or can be removed completely
•Pivoting Toy Mobile – swings out of the way for easy access to baby
•Swing timer with 3 settings: 30, 45, and 60 minutes
•Soft, plush toys on tray and on mobile
•10 Melodies and Nature Sounds to soothe baby
•Machine washable seat pad and head rest
•5 point safety Harness keeps baby secure

Age/Height/Weight Requirements:
Weight/Height: 6 lbs to 25 lbs
Age: Birth & Up

Battery Requirements:
4 D (Not Included)

Here is a picture from underneath the swing so you can see what I mean about the lack of plastic seat. I love this so much!

Even though Maggie is almost 11 months old, I still find a swing to be very helpful at times. She still wakes up during the night and occasionally will not want to go back to bed in her crib. If I bring her into our bedroom and put her in the swing though, she drifts right back off to sleep. Also, she was  pretty sick last week. I found that even though she couldn't sleep well in her crib, the swing really helped to soothe her. I'm sure she'll continue to use this swing for a little while longer, and I'm so happy that whenever baby number 2 comes along, he or she will get to enjoy this swing and all of its benefits from birth!

The Bright Starts Briarcliff line is available right now exclusively at Target, both in stores or online. You can purchase this swing for just $129.99.  They also have a matching playard and bouncer, with a high chair, and portable swing coming out very soon! Believe me, you want to add this collection to your registry!

Check out Bright Starts online at http://www.brightstarts.com/ to find out all about their awesome products!

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review item.*

Smart Bottoms Cloth Diaper Review and Giveaway

Smart Bottoms is a super neat company! I'm sure many of you have been to Thirty-One, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, etc kind of parties. Well, Smart Bottoms has parties for cloth diapers!

Smart Bottoms cloth diaper parties are not only for people who already cloth diaper, but they are also for moms and dads who are curious about cloth diapers. Attending or hosting one of these parties gives you the opportunity to learn all about cloth diapers in a way that is fun and informative. I really wish I had had the chance to attend a party like this before Maggie was born. I went into cloth diapering with only a little bit of help from a few friends, but most of my research was done online--for MANY hours! I so badly wanted to be able to touch the product and really look it over though before I bought it, and a party like this gives you the chance!


Smart Bottoms sent me a diaper to try out prior to my party (which is coming up THIS Friday! I'm so excited!!). I requested an All-In-One diaper from them in size small. Maggie is at an age where she is hard to size because she's starting to outgrow the smalls in some brands, but not others. The Smart Bottom diaper in the small still fits her, but it won't for much longer! At 10 1/2 months though, that's a long time! I'm sure that a sized medium diaper will fit her until she is out of cloth diapers.

We learn in kindergarten to read instructions and follow them, right? Do you always do that? Normally I do, with cloth diapers, I don't. I never "prep" my diapers. When I get a new one, I just put it on Maggie. I figure, let her pee in it, and then I'll wash it. When you get your Smart Bottoms diapers, they come with clear instructions on how to prep your diaper. You NEED to follow the directions on these. You won't get much absorbency the first 1-3 washes, but after that, you can use it. Just trust me on this one, prep the diaper! I'm sure I don't need to explain how my first couple of times using this diaper went. BUT, after I washed the diaper a few times, it worked great! I haven't had any more leak issues. The diapers are also really cute, and because they are an AIO, they have less bulk to them than most of the other cloth diapers we have.

I'm really loving my Smart Bottoms diaper and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the Smart Bottoms product line on Friday! I hope you'll join me! Even if you don't live close, you can still join me and my guests. Just click on this link starting at 7pm EST on Friday, February 18th to be a part of things. You'll be able to interact with us and see everything that is going on. Oh, and there just might be some giveaways! Please RSVP on Facebook by clicking here!

Smart Bottoms sells AIO diapers and also covers/prefolds. You can also purchase pail liners, wetbags, cloth wipes,and other goodies from them!


Smart Bottoms would also like to giveaway an AIO to one of you! Just enter below for your chance to win!

* I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Belle Baby Carrier Review and Giveaway

I've tried out a few different baby carriers. It has sort of become my quest to find the best carrier out there, especially with our vacation quickly approaching. My latest carrier to try has been the Belle Baby Carriers . I picked the "Orange Blossom" carrier.

When I first saw this carrier, I was excited because it is designed to put the babies weight on your hips, rather than the back or shoulders. I've seen and tried another big name carrier that is designed to do this, but it had one flaw--baby had to face me. That is great when Maggie wants to sleep, but now that she's over 10 months old, when we are out, she wants to look all around at her surroundings. And really, can you blame her? When we go to SeaWorld and Disneyland, I want her to be able to look out and see everything! That's why I love that baby can face mommy/daddy OR face outward in the Belle Baby Carrier!

(Ignore the bright white spot in this picture--it's just my flash!)

When my carrier arrived, I pulled it out of the box and was shocked at how NICE it looked. The pictures online truly don't do it justice! The outer fabric is actually a suede and it has detailed stitching. I was expecting it to just be screen printed fabric. This is SO much nicer! Really, I can't get over how pretty it is! The inner part is super soft brown fabric as well. This is how their website describes it:

Part of our Classic line, the Orange Blossom is made from our cappuccino fabric, a strong upholstery grade microsuede in medium-hued beige. It features a gorgeous panel of of delicate flowers embroidered on a deep orange microsuede background. The inside liner is dark brown teddy bear fur.

Really though, take my word for it. Pictures do not do it justice! It is just beautiful! I'm in love with this fabric!! I also love that when you purchase this carrier, included with it is the infant head support for younger or sleeping babies. The carrier also doesn't have a lot of extra fabric or straps, so it stays cooler than most carriers.

So, after I cleaned my drool off of this carrier, Maggie and I tried it out. Some of you know that I clean houses for a little bit of extra money (basically our grocery budget!) and always take Maggie with me. Some days she just doesn't want to play while I work, so baby wearing is a common occurrence while I clean--hence another reason why I need to find the best carrier on the market! My back can only take so much!

Yesterday Maggie started getting sick, so she was especially needy for mommy. When I grabbed the carrier to put it on, I was amazed at how easy it was to get her into it. Because of the way it is designed, first you connect the bottom band around your waist. Then it is so easy to hold baby in front of you, while you put the straps over your shoulders and connect them. For a baby carrier, this has been the easiest yet as far as getting her in AND out of it. Sometimes it is such a struggle to try to get her back out. With this carrier, you just hold on the baby with one hand, and release the straps on each side with the other. The front of the carrier just falls away and baby is free!

Most importantly, this carrier puts the weight where I need it to be! I can't say that I don't feel her weight at ALL on my shoulders/back, but the bulk of it is around the hips. The way the weight is displaced almost made me feel pregnant again.

When my father in law came home from work yesterday (I was cleaning at their house), he saw Maggie in the carrier and asked if I was going to take it with us on our trip (my in laws are travelling with us as well). Without hesitation, I said, "YES!" This will definitely be the carrier I take along on our trip, with possibly the addition of a sling for late nights out, in case Maggie wants to sleep lying horizontally.

I can definitely recommend Belle Baby Carriers to anyone without reservation. I know the print I got is feminine (cause lets face it, we moms are usually the ones who use the carriers the most) but they have plenty of options to choose from, and your sure to find one that daddy would be happy to wear as well. They have 10 different carriers, priced from $99.95-$119.95. They also have a few carriers on sale right now for $79!

Belle Baby Carriers would like to give one of my readers their own carrier! Winner get to pick whatever carrier they'd like!

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

The Eli Monster Cloth Diaper Review and Giveaway

I think the most common complaint I hear from cloth diapering moms is that some of them have a really hard time getting Daddy on board.

This I just don't understand. I mean, really, how many diapers does Daddy usually change anyways? My husband doesn't mind or complain about changing diapers, but still, I probably change 90% of them. Are you asking them to WASH the diapers, stuff the diapers, change them 100% of the time--NO, so why do they care so much?! On top of that, it should be saving the family money (notice I said should, because let's face it, some of us end of buying way too many diapers!) Regardless of their excuses, I have a diaper company that just might help to sway them over to our side. Let me introduce you to The Eli Monster!

The Eli Monster has all the hippest, coolest fluff around. No more dancing teddy bears or farm animals plastered on your baby's behind-The Eli Monster is Tough Fluff!

The Eli Monster formed in 2007 after Stephanie began sewing diapers for her little Monster, Eli. After months of searching popular brands for cute, edgy diapers while sewing her own for Eli, she discovered that other moms were in the same boat. So Stephanie began the long process of designing and redesigning a great fitting diaper that was both trim and well fitting for both skinny minis and buddha babies alike. Using her original pattern and skills learned in school (Southern Illinois University-go Salukis!) she began creating diapers that are both trend forward and practical.

Stephanie's diapers are amazing!! They truly are the coolest fluff I've ever seen! We have about 30 diapers now, and most of them are gender neutral ones. I bought them that way so I can use them again if/when we have a boy. But, I must say, none of them are really, truly BOYISH diapers. Sure, I've got blues and greens, but I know that when I have a little boy, I am going to want to buy some ultra cool BOY diapers and I WILL be shopping at The Eli Monster! Don't get me wrong, she's got lots of ultra cute diapers for girls too, but I find that it is a lot easier to find girl items.

My husband really loves the diaper we were sent (and I do too!). The minute I pulled it out of the mailing envelope, I already had her outfit picked out for it. She has a pink shirt that looks punk and says, "cherish thy father." She also has these cute little pink shoes with skulls on them and pink leg warmers that will round out the outfit. What do you think?

The only thing I think I would change is that I'd like to find some hot pink leg warmers for the outfit.  Of course, beyond the cuteness factor, it's also important to have a diaper that, umm, does its *true* purpose. This is a sized medium diaper and fits Maggie perfectly. It  is a pocket diaper that comes with a microfiber insert and it works very well! Maggie wore it for 3 hours the other day with no leaks! I love how trim it is on her also!

The Eli Monster also sells AIO, Fitteds, longies, covers, wetbags, nursing pads, and so much more! Everything in her shop is quality made, hip, and just awesome! Believe me, you are going to find so many goodies there that you'll love! Thank goodness it's tax refund time, right!

• Visit her on Facebook
• Visit her Etsy Store
• Visit her Hyena Cart Store
• Visit her Website

One lucky winner will receive a $20 credit to use towards purchasing whatever you'd like! Enter below for your chance.

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Winners for Giveaways Ending 2/10/11

Bargain Bakers Winners: Amy Lanctot and Marsha Doucette--you've both won a coupon for 40% off your next order.  Dawn Whitney, you've won a coupon for 50% off shipping!

Earthly Remedies by Erin Winner: Rachel Roberts

Baby Beanies Winner: Maria Hernandes

Winners, please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize! You should have an email from me in your inbox, but if you can't find it, send me an email at thriftyniftymommy@yahoo.com. Congrats!

Adrienne Smith: Lilla Rose Review and Giveaway

I've always wished I was good at styling my hair. I see other people with great, pretty hairstyles, but I am most definately hair challenged. I can french braid it, that's about it!

I was sent a Flexi hair clip from Adrienne Smith with Lilla Rose. She let me go on and pick one out. There were LOTS of styles to chose from, and I finally settled on the Antique Brass with Roman Cross in size medium. All of the Flexis are SO pretty!

When the clip arrived, it looked pretty basic and eay to use. It also came with a full-color sheet that showed all kinds of different ways to wear the clip. I ordered a medium because I wanted to use it to pull my hair up. I love when I can find some way to pull it up quickly and head out the door.

The first time I tried to use it, my hair was dry and it started falling out right away.  I wasn't too surprised by this because that happens with most clips. Next I tried my hair wet. It was still falling out a little bit, so then I realized that maybe my hair wasn't thick enough to hold it with the medium Flexi. I pulled it back up again and this time formed it into more of a bun shape and presto, it works and holds! I wore it all day yesterday while I cleaned and it stayed in really well. The other nice thing is that sometimes when I use other clips to hold it up, my head starts to hurt. I didn't have any problems like that at all with the Flexi. It holds my hair tightly enough that it stays in place, but not too tight, and without any plastic pieces digging into my head. I practically forget that I'm wearing anything in my hair! Don't laugh at my picture! Thrifty Nifty Daddy is not home and it took me about 20 tries to get this photo--so this is about as good as it's going to get. It is a whole lot harder to photograph the back of you head than you would think!

I'm actually wearing the Flexi again today as well. It is so easy to put in with my wet hair, and I'm loving not having to blow dry it! I want to get a flexi in the small size, or maybe even extra small so I can pull my hair halfway up.

The pictures show so many pretty ways to wear my hair, and I'm looking forward to trying them all out as my hair grows longer!

Lilla Rose also has other great items like pretty bobby pins, hairbands, hair sticks and more!

Adrienne would like to give one of you the opportunity to try out one of the Flexis! Make sure you visit her website and her Facebook page, then fill out the form below for your chance to choose your own Flexi, free of charge (up to $15!).

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

PerkStreet 5% Cash Back Deals for February

I had an email from PerkStreet Financial letting me know about their 5% cash back opportunities for this month.  It works out great for me since we are going on vacation at the end of this month to San Diego and surrounding areas. It will be nice to earn some cash back on our trip! And, anyone who has followed me for a while, you know my family loves Netflix! Here are the details for anyone else who has signed up recently!

This February, PerkStreet wants you to be able to find fun and feel good with your family all month long. That’s why this month, we’re bringing you some of our best 5% PowerPerks categories ever:


1.  5% Cash Back at Museums & Tourist Attractions: February is a great month to get out of the house and into a nearby museum! After all, how many more times can you watch Toy Story 3 before you go completely insane?


2.  5% Cash Back at Amusement Parks: If you’re already thinking about summer vacation, you’re not alone. Ordering that season pass to the water park now and it could be enough to make summer feel just a little bit closer (at least for the kids). Or, take advantage of last minute deals if you are heading someplace sunny on family vacation. Either way, we’ll perk ya for it!


Bright Idea: Sites like Kid Friendly Cities and Trekaroo can help you find museums and amusement parks in your area or in another city if you’re traveling.


3.  5% Cash Back at Florists: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but we’ve got you covered all month long! Show your love on the 14th, give someone a smile on their birthday, or add a pop of color to your dining room on a dreary winter day.


4.  5% Cash Back at Netflix: Makes for some great cuddling time with your family. Best of all: Move your recurring Netflix payment to your PerkStreet card and you’ll always earn cash back without ever having to worry about getting knocked with an inactivity fee. The one transaction a month is enough to keep you fee-free with PerkStreet!


5.  EXTRA BONUS: 5% Cash Back on Tax Prep Solutions: After thinking about it and talking to customers, we decided to extend our rewards at popular tax prep service providers. What does that mean? We’re boosting your cash back when you pay to get your taxes done. Earn 5% cash back at H&R Block, TaxAct, Liberty Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt, and on TurboTax Online.


Here are the details:


The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $250 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited. Unless specific stores are named, qualifying purchases are determined by MCC codes. Non-PIN debit card purchases will earn 5% cash back in February in the following categories: Tourist Attractions and Exhibits (including Museums) (7991), Amusement Parks (7996), Florists (5193), and at the following places: Netflix®. PowerPerks are also available through April 30, 2010 at: H & R Block®, Jackson Hewitt®, TaxAct®, Liberty Tax Service® & TurboTax® (online only).

My Little Valentine from Diaper Style Review and Giveaway

Okay, honestly, how many of you BEFORE having children would have drooled over a diaper. I know I wouldn't have! Even when I started thinking about using cloth diapers, I had NO CLUE how much I would grow to LOVE them. But, I think as most cloth diaper users would agree, I am totally attached to my cloth diaper now and completely in love with my fluff stash.

Diaper Style decided to be my Valentine this year and sent me an awesome Valentines Day treat.  (okay, truly I guess it is more for my daugther--but ya'll know how that goes as well!). I'm not sure how my hubby will top this!

Diaper style sent me a BumGenius 4.0 (BG)  in the Bubble color. I was pretty excited about this because we only have 1 BG so far and it is one with snaps--this one has velcro so I couldn't wait to see the difference in the 2. I also haven't bought my daughter very many diapers in girly colors. I always feel like I should buy gender neutral ones so I can use them again--so when I get a review diaper that is girly, I get to enjoy it without feeling guilty.

I'm actually loving the hook and loop closure! I have hesitated to buy hook and loop because of fear of them wearing out sooner. I have to admit though, that I am able to get a better fit with the hook and loop diaper than with the snaps. It's also about 10 times quicker to put on, which Maggie certainly appreciates! She doesn't want to lay still anymore when I go to change her diaper. Occassionally Maggie's aunt babysits her, and she always appreciates it when I bring Velcro diapers for her to use. She's afraid of snapping at the wrong position--so I know she'll be happy about another hook and loop diaper in the stash!

I also put this diaper to the test at night using both inserts and NO LEAKS! Yay!! This is always a big deal in our house! I'm loving this BG 4.0 and would definately recommend it to a friend!

That't not all I got though! Diaper Style also sent me a sample of Grandma El's Diaper Rash Cream. I think it works great, and I love that it is natural!

Lastly, Diaper Style sent me Redmond Clay. I have never heard about Redmond Clay before, but after reading about it, I want more! I want to try it for all of its uses! Diaper Style sent it to me because it works as a great diaper powder (which it did!) but you can use it for so much more! Ulcers, acne, detoxing, aches, the list goes on and on. You can take it internally or use it externally. I have to admit, I'm a little hesitant about taking it internally--but when I get more, I think I'm going to try it! I also want to get some more to try on my acne. Yes, I still get it----grrrr!

You can find many products at Diaper Style! She not only has cloth diapers, rash cream, and the Redmond Clay, she also has baby carriers, wet bags, pail liners, and SO much more!

Thank you Diaper Style for my special--I mean, my daughter's Valentine's Day treat!

Diaper Style wants to help you celebrate this Valentine's Day as well! They are going to give one lucky winner a $15 store credit so you can purchase whatever you'd like! They'd also like to offer EVERYONE 10% off of your entire first purchase from their store! Just use code "THRIFTYNIFTY10". That coupon code is good until the end of April 2011! If you'd like a chance at winning the $15 store credit, just enter below.


*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Winner of the Warner Bros. Valentines Giveaway

Congrats to Leah Koch! You've won this giveaway! Check your inbox for an email from me! Please respond within 24 hours to claim your prize!

Giveaways Today on Facebook!

You might be interested in these giveaways:

• Weaverwood will giveaway a child's rocking horse or chair when they reach 1000 fans!
• Bright Starts just launched a new product line and will have giveaways all week for their new swing, bouncer and/or travel yard.
• Mama to a Sweet Thing is giving away a coupon for a free Domino's Pizza at 250 fans!
• Baby Half Off has a bunch of giveaways up right now.
• Chubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper Naturals is giving away a $1000 shopping spree!
• Just a Clip Away has a 1500 Fan giveaway album up!
• Giveaway at Baby Chunk Punk anytime now for reaching 200 fans!
• Huge Giveaway album at My Precious Kid, LLC
• 5M Creations has a giveaway album open!
• Lovemook Knits has a giveaway up for a sweet watermelon hat!
• Mel's At Home Creations is having a referal contest and a giveaway at 500 fans!
• Baby Beanies will have a giveaway at 150 fans!
• Fluff's Enough has a giveaway album

PerkStreet's Ultimate Cloth Diaper Giveaway--Over $200 in prizes!

                              

So, you probably don't know this, but before I had my beautiful baby girl last March, I worked as a teller at a local bank. I worked in banking for the 3 years prior to my quitting work to be a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom). Although there were days I hated my job (like any other average American worker!) I am really glad that I had the experience. I learned SO much and hopefully I can impart some of my *wisdom* on you.

I recently learned about PerkStreet FinancialSM.  PerkStreet Financial was founded to help Americans live debt-free by rewarding them for making smart spending choices and avoiding credit card debt and big banking fees. They offer a checking account that gives 2% cash back on purchases – this amounts to over $600 cash back every year for the average American family.PerkStreet Financial  also gives their customers access to the nation’s largest fee-free ATM network, fast and live customer service 24/7 and free checkbooks. Now, I know what you're thinking. The little red lights start to go off most likely because it's all online. I had a lot of customers who came into the bank and were concerned about using our online banking feature as well.  I myself felt the exact same way before I started working at a bank. And then I learned something. No matter what bank you're using, whether you know it or not, you're already using an "online bank." Here's what I mean by this:

When you go into your local branch and make the deposit, the teller puts it into a computer program. Your information then is sent over the Internet to be stored. Then, a little while later, the checks you wrote, the deposit slip with your account number, all of that gets sent over the Internet (via picture images) so that everything can be properly processed. When I worked at a bank in Pennsylvania, all of our customer info was stored at a database in New Jersey. If the Internet went out, we couldn't access any customer information.
I just signed up for my ownPerkStreet Financial  account and I"m excited for my debit card to arrive so I can start making purchases. The PerkStreet FinancialSM Visa® Debit Card offers customers the opportunity to earn significantly more rewards than traditional debit cards. You will earn cash back (or you can choose coffee or music as your rewards) every time you use your card for non-pin transactions. For us, that is almost our entire budget. We pay our mortgage online with our card, school loans, electric, cable, etc. so I know we are going to start racking up cash back pretty quickly.


We have a regular old credit card that we can use to earn rewards like this, but my husband and I both just hating putting things on the credit card, even if we are going to pay it right off. So, we stopped using it--but I really hate not getting the rewards! This ensures that we are still earning cash back for our every day purchases, without ever having to go back to the credit cards!

Since I'm a SAHM, I'm always trying to find ways to help our budget, and I truly believe that this will be another way to help us out. Every little bit helps!

Now, one other thing I would say. I'm not encouraging you to completely close your local account. Why? There will be a time when you need a check cashed, and you need it cashed quickly. I plan on keeping about $50 in our local checking account, so if and when the need arrives for me to have a local account for such instances, it's there. Other than that, I'll switching our main banking over to PerkStreet Financial.

So, what does all of this have to do with diapers--and I did mention a giveaway, right?? Well, the average American family will earn over $600 cash back a year using thePerkStreet FinancialSM Visa® Debit Card . The average American mom spends $600 each year on diapers (sposies that is!). Imagine the number of CLOTH diapers you could buy with that much cash back!

So I reached out to PerkStreet Financial and told them how I love that you can save $600 on diapers every year, and that my fans would love to save $600 a year on CLOTH diapers.  After explaining how many people,like myself, use cloth diapers as another way to save money for their families, they agreed to host an awesome giveaway--since saving families money is what PerkStreet is all about!

They're offering up an awesome cloth diaper prize pack to TWO of my lucky fans! The grand prize winner will recieve a package of 6 FuzzinBunz One Size Diapers, and a second winner will recieve a package of 3 FuzziBunz One Size Diapers! Winner will be able to choose between gender neutral, girl, or boy colors.

Winner will be drawn randomly from all entries recieved using random.org. Contest is open to residents of the US only. This giveaway will end on February 18th at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Here are some links you may find helpful for this giveaway:

• PerkStreet Financial
• Thrifty Nifty Mommy on Facebook
• Thrifty Nifty Mommy on Twitter
• PerkStreet Financial on Facebook
• PerkStreet Financial on Twitter

*I was not paid for this review. I have opened up my own PerkStreet account, with my own money. It is my hope that in sharing about this company, they can help you save money as well! A big thank you to PerkStreet for providing the giveaway items!*

Lovemook Knits Review

A year ago, when I was still very pregnant, I had absolutely no idea of all the amazing businesses out there on Facebook and Etsy where moms are creating beautiful products for children.  I feel privileged to have the ability to review lots of homemade, unique items.

Today I'm pleased to bring you a review of Lovemook Knits. Lovemook makes handmade knit products for babies. Anna, the designer and creator sent me a little pumpkin hat to review. This hat is so precious! It is made really well. You can tell that she put a lot of time and care into making it!

Lovemook also sells lots of other great items including sweaters, various styles of hats, and now she's even making super cute stuffed friends and toys! Here's a little bit about Anna:

I'm a lawyer/banker by education/profession. I need a creative outlet and knitting is it. My mom showed me how to knit at 6 yo to teach me patience because I was a tomboy and wanted to climb trees. I learned how to crochet when we became refugees, I was 11; a woman used to come out to teach refugee girls crocheting in Yerevan, Armenia. I love making colorful things and to surprise people with beautiful pieces that don't look outdated or grandmotherly, what people usually expect from knitters. *smile* 

Check out Lovemook Knits on Facebook and shop her Etsy store at http://www.lovemook.etsy.com/.

And, as a bonus, she's got a giveaway for you--this one is on her Facebook page! She's trying to reach 373 fans and she'll be giving away an adorable watermelon hat! Head on over so you can be a part of it!

Rockstar White Review and Giveaway

I have never whitened my teeth. It's not, I can assure you, because they don't need whitened. I'm 25 years old and my teeth have definitely gone through a lot over the years. I've always wanted to try whitening them, but I was afraid to spend the $20-$50 on a whitening kit that I just wasn't sure would work anyways.

Rockstar White sent me one of their teeth whitening kits to try out and I was eager to see if it would work!

The kit comes with a arch tray that has food grade impression material in it. You bite into that in order to create a mold of your teeth. The kit also comes with a syringe that is full of teeth whitening gel. You use the syringe to put a thin layer inside the tray (instructions say you can use the syringe up to 27 times!) Then you are supposed to keep the tray in your mouth for as long as possible, but ideally at least 30-60 minutes.

The first time I tried this, everything went pretty well. I think I used too much of the whitening gel. I could taste it slightly so I kept trying not to swallow any. Well, obviously my saliva started to build up and after about 30 minutes I had to take the tray out. Then the next day I tried it again. Apparently I had brushed my teeth/gums too hard beforehand, and used too much whitening gel again, and my gums started to burn almost immediately. I was able to stand it for about 3 minutes and then I had to take it out. As I looked in my mouth, I realized that I had actually cut my gums when I had brushed, which was why it hurt so badly.

BUT, there was good news! After only that second time (and, like I said, the second time was only for about 3 minutes) my husband and I could both tell a difference already! I'm using the whitening for the 3rd time as I type up this review and it's working really well. There's no burn at all and I have gotten better at putting the gel in so that I can swallow.

I'm very impressed with this whitening kit! There is only one thing negative I'd say about the kit. It came with a Q-tip that had Vitamin E inside it. You use this to apply to the gums/lips. I tried and tried to figure out how to use it but could not. I thought when I opened up the plastic package that the cotton tips would already be damp with the solution, but they were not. I could see the liquid inside the middle part of the Q-tip, but it would not come out! Eventually, I just used scissors to cut both side of the Q-tip off, to get to the Vitamin E, to rub on my gums. This was really not a big deal though and maybe I just had a defected one.

One last thing I'd say--after reading on their website while writing this review, I realized that you aren't supposed to use it while you are pregnant or nursing. Whoops! (The box did say not to use it while pregnant but didn't mention nursing--although I guess I should have figured that!) I'm still nursing my little girl so it looks like I'll be letting Thrifty Nifty Daddy use the rest of it to whiten his teeth. The neat thing though, is that he can use this same kit! The mouth mouth can be reshaped to be molded all over again.

You can purchase Rockstar White from their website, http://purewhiteonline.com/ for $45. I'd recommend watching the quick instructional movie before you use it. It is only 4 minutes long and very informative! 

Rockstar White would also like to giveaway one whitening kit to one of my readers! Just enter below for your chance!

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*