Girlactik Winner!

This is the last winner I'll be announcing today and that winner is  Holly Siminski! Congratulations!! Watch for an email soon so you can let Girlactik know what products you'd like, or you can email me at thriftyniftymommy(at)yahoo.com to let me know what products you want.

Tasty Brand Winner

This winner of this giveaway is Brighid Kennedy! Congratulations! I know you'll love this prize!!

Weaver Chicken Giveaway Winner

Ann Fudge Cluck, you're the winner of this giveaway! You should receive your coupons soon!

Chick-Fil-A Prize Pack Winner!

Congratulations to Ada Miller! You've won this giveaway and should be receiving your prize soon!

Zazzle Winner!

This winner of this giveaway is Brandi Elam! Congratulations! I just sent you an email with the code you'll need to order your free case! I hope you enjoy it!

Early Lingo Winner!

Sara Wood--congratulations! You are the winner of this giveaway! I'm forwarding your info onto shipping now and you should have this prize soon. Enjoy!

MK Totem Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is..........(drum roll)........ Natasha Hudnall! Congratulations! I'm forwarding your info along for shipping right now. I hope you enjoy your prize!

Baby Milano Review and Giveaway

I love to dress up my little girl, so when I was contacted by Baby Milano about reviewing one of their products, I was more than happy to review one of their beautiful dresses!

Baby Milano sent me their Hand Smocked Red Corduroy Dress with three Terriers. This dress is a classic look for any little girl on any special occasion; it is perfect for Christmas.  I fell in love with this dress the moment I layed eyes on it and felt that is was perfect for Maggie!

I decided to order Maggie the dress in size 24 months. She is currently 21 months old so it's hard to guess for her what size to get. With some clothing brands, a size 18 is starting to be too small on her, and with others it still fits pretty well.  The dress did turn out to be a little long on her, but I'm not too concerned. It is long enough that I think it will probably still fit her at this time next year! So, remember, if you are trying to decide on a size, I'd recommend that you go with the smaller size for this dress. I still think she looks pretty darn cute in it, even though it's long on her!

This dress is just darling and very good quality. I am so impressed with it and pleased to add it to Maggie's closet!

Baby Milano sells baby clothes and outfits for girls AND boys and they are all stunning! They also have a brand new personalized clothing section. You can personalize bibs, onesies, blankets, and much more! The personalized items would make great baby shower presents!
Baby Milano wants to give one of my readers a chance to go shopping for free at their store. One reader will receive a $35 Gift Certificate to spend on whatever product(s) they'd like!



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

We Bought a Zoo Movie Prize Pack Winner!

Megan Sutliff--you're the winner of this giveaway! I hope you enjoy this prize!

Diaper Style Mystery Prize Pack ~ Reveal #4

Did you read the post on the 1st about the Mystery Prize Pack Giveaway that Diaper Style is sponsoring on my blog this month? If not, click here and go read all the details! On December 7th, I revealed the first prizes in the Prize Pack! You can see what it was by clicking here! Then, on the 14th I revealed the 2nd prize. Click here to see what that was. The third prize was revealed on December 22nd. Click here to see that prize.

Today I'm about to reveal the 4th and final prize that the winner of this giveaway will receive. It is (drum roll please).............a Thirsties Due Wrap Cover with prefold!

About Thirsties Diaper Covers

Thirsties offers a very popular diaper cover to families looking for a super cute yet effective waterproof wrap that is winning over the hearts of moms and babies all over the globe! Thirsties Diaper Covers are made from a single layer polyester laminate for optimal breath-ability and hassle-free washing. Want to get away with fewer diaper covers in rotation? The laminate that lines the inside of the soft polyester can be wiped clean between uses. Rotate between 2 covers each day then toss in the washer with your diapers and dry on low heat or air dry. Secures with Aplix velcro for a perfect and secure fit at every diaper change. Only the best in components are used in every Thirsties Diaper Cover: Aplix velcro and specialty elastic that will not wear out or stretch out. Leg gussets provide advanced leakproof protection and bindings are super soft against baby skin and will not wick moisture onto baby's clothes. The X-Small size features an umbilical cut out for your newborn's comfort and all sizes offer convenient fold-over laundry tabs. *Recent improvements to the already best-selling design includes the addition of a facing layer of laminated fabric that is now attached to the inside of the wings to improve on long-term durability. Also incorporated in the updated version of Thirsties Diaper Covers is another cross-over loop tab to allow users to choose which wing to fasten first (love this). The signature leg gussets on the newly released covers have been trimmed down just a hair for improved comfort on chunkier babies and for an overall trimmer fit.* X-Small - 6-12 lbs (3 - 5.5 kg) Small - 12-18 lbs (5.5 - 8 kg) Medium - 18-28lbs (8 - 12.5 kg) Large - 28-40lbs (12.5 - 18 kg)

What We Thought:

Prefolds with covers is about as basic as you can get with cloth diapering. It is also usually the cheapest method of cloth diapering. If you decide you want to go this route, I'd recommend 2-4 covers and about 1-2 dozen prefolds in each size. I'd also recommend a "Snappi" to fasten the prefold around your child. That will make using prefolds a lot easier! Even if you don't plan on using prefolds and covers as your main attack at cloth diapering, I still think it's handy to have a few of each around. These Thristies covers are GREAT to also put over fitted diapers. Prefolds make for great doublers in your pocket diapers or as an alternative to the microfiber inserts that most of them come with.  My favorite feature of these Thirsties covers are the inner leg gussets. They helps keep everything in where it belongs really well! Thristies makes a great diaper cover, and I highly recommend them!

Buy It!

You can purchase a Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover (and LOTS of other great items) from Diaper Style. Just visit www.diaperstyle.com! This cover costs just $12.75 and one prefold (of this size) is $3.

Win It!

The Mystery Prize Pack from Diaper Style will contain one Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover with Prefold(along with the other great prizes!) Here's your fifth and final chance to get entries into this fun giveaway.  Good luck!

PS. Don't forget, Diaper Style is having a huge giveaway right now on their blog this month as well! Click here to enter those giveaways!

Dr. Ava Skincare Winner!

Jada Harper, congratulations! You are the winner of this great prize package! I hope you enjoy it!! I've forwarded your info on already and you should have your prize soon!

Diaper Style Mystery Prize Pack ~ Reveal #3!

Did you read the post on the 1st about the Mystery Prize Pack Giveaway that Diaper Style is sponsoring on my blog this month? If not, click here and go read all the details! On December 7th,  I revealed the first prizes in the Prize Pack! You can see what it was by clicking here! Then, on the 14th I revealed the 2nd prize. Click here to see what that was.

Today I'm about to reveal the 3rd prize that the winner of this giveaway will receive. It is (drum roll please).............A Tie Chair!

About the Tie Chair™

Convenient. Functional. Safe. Stylish. Simple. The simplicity and timelessness of a tie. The Tie Chair™ is all fabric, with no hard plastic or metal buckles. Safely secure your child without them feeling detained. There are many places parents take their children where they do not have high chairs available. Friends houses, family members' houses, and some restaurants often do not have this convenience. This is why the Tie Chair™ was created , to make a mother's life easier.

The Tie Chair™ is a portable, washable high chair that works just about anywhere, and the best part is that it folds up and fits right in your diaper bag. For added security, the ties are long enough to wrap around again in the back.

The Tie Chair™ fits most dining chairs, and can be used as soon as children are able to sit up on their own. It also comes in ten different timeless and fun fabric choices. As with high chairs, never leave your child unattended.

What We Thought:

We of course, have a high chair for our house, but we go visiting friends and family frequently who do not have high chairs. It's always been a problem. Maggie sits in her chair pretty well, but she doesn't like to stay seated for long. These tie chairs take care of that problem. I also don't have to worry about her sliding out (or standing up!)  while she's in the chair. She has also gotten to the point where she thinks she's too grown up for a high chair when we go out to eat. She wants to sit in a chair or the booth like my husband and I. With the tie chair, we're able to sit at a table and Maggie can get a big girl chair.  It's great! The first time we tried the tie chair out at home Maggie loved it so much she didn't want to get out--even after she stopped eating!

We have a space saver high chair, but if you are like us and live in a small house, this would also be a great alternative to a high chair that takes up a lot of room.

Buy It!

You can purchase a Tie Chair (and LOTS of other great items) from Diaper Style. Just visit www.diaperstyle.com!

Win It!

The Mystery Prize Pack from Diaper Style will contain one tie chair (along with other great prizes!) Here's your third chance to get entries into this fun giveaway. Make sure you act now, because once the next prize reveal happens, this entry form will no longer work! Good luck!

PS. Don't forget, Diaper Style is having a huge giveaway right now on their blog this month as well! Click here to enter those giveaways!

FREE Ebook Download from Chicken Soup for the Soul!

I wanted to let you know that Chicken Soup for the Soul books are available in e-book format for your e-reader, smart phone or computer! As a Merry Christmas gift to all of you, Chicken Soup for the Soul is offering a free download of their newest book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times.  I reviewed this book not long ago. You can click here to read the review.

This free e-book works on all e-readers -- Kindle, Nook, iPad, Kobo, iPod Touch, iPhone, and others, and all generations of them. Don't worry, though. If you don't have an e-reader (or receive one this holiday season) you can still enjoy this free book on your computer.

The free download is included below.  If you want this freebie, don't delay! They are only available for a limited time.
To download from Amazon: http://amzn.to/shsW6O
To download from Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/tYS2cB

To download from Apple iTunes: http://bit.ly/tYiaoD

To download from Kobo Books: http://bit.ly/uMSyrX

Goldberger Sing & Learn ABC's 123 Baby Doll Review and Giveaway

Maggie is into baby dolls now, big time! She probably has at least 5 different baby dolls and loves them all! Well Goldberger Toy Company, a toy company that has been around for almost 100 years specializes in dolls for little girls.

Goldberger Toy Company sent us one of their Sing & Learn ABC's 123 Baby Dolls. These dolls come dressed up as different animals. They are so cute!

Maggie was sent the doll dressed as an elephant which is perfect for her because elephants are one of her favorite animals. When you press the doll's belly, she sings either the ABC song or a 123 song. Some of the things we love about this doll is that is is VERY soft and squishy. It is a doll that Maggie can take to bed with her, fall asleep on (yes, it's happened!) and still be comfy. The face on the doll is a plastic/rubber like material, but it is still very soft--if you know what I mean. It's not the HARD plastic doll faces that many have.

Another thing I love is that the doll is machine washable. You can easily take the music box out of the doll so she can be tossed in the wash. If you've got kids, you know how important this feature is!

Lastly, Goldberger dolls (all of them!) come with a LIFETIME Guarantee! If you aren't satisfied with your doll for any reason, you can return it for a replacement or your money back.

You can purchase these dolls from stores like Target, Babies R Us, Kmart, and others with a suggested price of just $10.99!

One of my fans will also WIN one of these dolls! Just fill out the easy entry form below for your chance to win!

Friends and Family DVD Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is Rebecka Lozano! Congratulations! You already supplied your shipping info, so I've forwarded it on and you should have the DVD soon. I hope you enjoy it!

VeggieTales Little Drummer Boy Winner!

Rose Alexis is the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your DVD/CD set!

Pourty Potty Review and Giveaway

There's a new children's potty coming to the States and I'm proud to tell you about it! It's called the Pourty Potty and we were recently sent one to try out. Pourty Potty got its start over in England and has quickly become a favorite in less than 2 years! Now Pourty Potty is launching in the US and you can purchase it easily from Amazon.com.

What makes the Pourty Potty different from others is that it is a potty with a built in pour spout in the back. It is just one piece which means you won't have to empty a separate bowl like many other potties. It is also fairly small, making it easy to pour and easy to store. We have been taking potty training VERY slowly in this house (I'm talking months) allowing Maggie to use it when she wants to. As time has gone by, she has gotten more and more excited about going when I ask her and almost always says, "Yes!" Not only that, but she truly gets the concept now and actually uses the bathroom 98% of the time! I think she is very close to being completely potty training--mommy just has to remember to ask her about it more often!

The Pourty Potty works just like it says it will. It is super easy to pour into our toilet after Maggie uses it. We haven't had any mess. After I pour it, I rinse it, pour that, rinse again, and turn it upside down to dry in the bathroom sink. It's been a nice, mess-free potty for us that I would definitely recommend to anyone! There is also a handle at the front

I did not take a picture of her using the potty--there are some things I will spare her from and that is one of them! She doesn't need that embarrassment later on in life! I can say though that she really loves using this potty. It is small but just the right size for her. She loves the pink color it came in AND the kitty-one of her favorite animals- on the front.

Lastly, the potty is only $14.95 on Amazon and eligible for their free shipping program after you spend $25.  Unless you have a tiny house, I'd recommend getting 2 potties--that way they are easily accessible to your potty-training child.  Oh, and for those of you with boys, have no fear! The potty also comes in blue and white, with purple arriving in January!

Pourty Potty is being generous enough to offer to give away one potty to TWO different fans! Winner can choose the color potty they'd like! This giveaway is open to residents of the US only.  If you'd like to enter the giveaway, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

So You Want To Start a Product Review Blog--Part 1

I get a LOT of emails from fans asking me how they can start a blog. Believe me, I'm always happy to help, but lately I seem to be SO busy and it's hard for me to get to my emails as quickly as I'd like. I decided I would start a series of blogs posts directed at helping those who would like to start up a blog. If that's you, listen up!

First, I don't say this to scare you off at all, so please don't take it that way, but I do want to tell you that blogging is a LOT harder and more time consuming that you realize. It may only take you 3 minutes to read a post, but writing that post, editing that post, taking pictures, uploading pictures, making a giveaway entry form, promoting a giveaway, etc--all of those things add up time wise. On average, I spend about an hour on each of my blog posts (not including the time away from the computer when I'm reviewing the product.) Now yes, some of that you can chalk up to me being somewhat of a perfectionist, but blogging takes time!

Now, add in maintaining a Facebook page, a Twitter page and responding to emails every day and you're talking a part-time job, at least! Again, I'm not saying this to scare you off. I love blogging and I'm really glad that I got into it--I just look back and realize that I was SO naive when I started out! I never knew it would take up so much of my time! If you are considering starting a product review blog and don't have, at the very least, 7 hours of free time in your week, then I probably wouldn't recommend it for you.

That being said, I'm going to hit on a few basics for this post. For starters, when you begin your blog I would suggest starting out with these:

• A Catchy Name. Think hard about your name. Some days I wish I had thought harder about mine. You want it to be easy to remember!
• Sign up for your blog with Blogspot or Wordpress. I use Blogspot and generally like it. I know nothing about Wordpress. One nice thing about Blogspot is that if you DO decide one day to purchase a domain like I did, they make it very easy to switch everything over!
• An Email Address. Make an email account for your blog next. You'll want to keep that email separate from your personal email account.
• A Facebook Page. Facebook is a great way to connect with possible fans!
• A Twitter Account (blog specific). I waited a long time-too long-to get a Twitter account. I didn't understand it and didn't want one. I also felt like I didn't have the time for it. I linked my Facebook page to Twitter though, so whatever I post to Facebook posts to Twitter.  Twitter is a big deal these days though and if you want to reach people, you should really sign up (if you haven't already!) Since I was able to link it, it really has been a lot easier to maintain than I thought!
• Design a Logo/Button. My first button was HORRIBLE! Luckily, my husband is better at designing graphics than I am, and he made me the great button I have now. It's not something he does all the time, but does design buttons on occasion and only charges $10. Email me if you're interested in that.
• Get a few tabs up on your blog. There are a few that I feel are most important. Those would be: About (you), Open Giveaways (so much easy to find if they are all in one place!), Disclosures and PR information. You will most likely have more tabs eventually, but I'd start out with at least those.

Obviously there will be more things you'll want to do, but I'd suggest those as a bare minimum to start with.  Doing all of those things might take you a bit of time, but take your time and try to do a nice job on them. Once you have all of those things set up, then you're ready to really start blogging!

Now, everyone wants to know how they can get companies to send them products to review/giveaway. Here are my tips for that:

• Take your time and write a nice, grammatically correct letter that can be used for a variety of review items. Make it a basic letter that you can "tweak" depending on the type of company you are contacting. In the letter you'll want to explain to the company what your blog is all about and why you think featuring them on your blog will be beneficial to them and your readers. As you are sending this letter to companies, try to add in things that are in reference to that particular company. You don't want the letter to sound like a "one letter suits all" kind of letter, even if it IS. Does that make sense? Let the company know that if they are willing to send you a free, full size sample of their product, you would be happy to review it (and host a giveaway if they'd like) for free on your blog.
• Next, look for other new blogs like yours. Look to see what companies they have been reviewing for and contact those companies. Odds are, they are looking for bloggers and willing to work with new bloggers. One big name company that was really friendly when I started out was Tommee Tippee. As far as I know, they are still very blogger friendly! Send them an email and see!
• Email, email, email! Any company you can think of you'd like to review for, send them an email! You are bound to get a lot of "no" answers, but eventually you'll get some positive answers too!
• Lastly,enter others giveaways. If you enter often enough, you are bound to win. Contact the company you won from explaining that you won a giveaway and you'd be happy to review the item you won for free on your blog if they would be willing to provide another item for giveaway.

Well, there is SO much more to write, but it is past midnight here and I need to go to bed. I will do more in this series--I promise! Hopefully this will be a start for those who want to get started for the new year! If you have specific questions you'd like to see addressed, please post them as a comment and I'll see what I can do!

Kettle Cuisine Frozen Soups Review and Giveaway

Cold weather is here for a while and one of our favorite meals during this time is soup! Soup is a great way to warm up after a cold day out. I remember my mom fixing us soup on days where we would play outside for hours in the snow. Hot chocolate and soup--two blizzard must-haves!

I recently learned about a brand of soup that I think my readers will love because they are made with all-natural ingredients. I'm talking about Kettle Cuisine soups! You won't be buying these soups in the canned soup section. They are actually frozen soups. I wasn't sure at first what I would think of a soup that's been frozen, but they warm up (in the microwave) to taste SO good! Hot, delicious, and just what I want on a cold, winter day! We try so hard to eat all-natural and organic foods in our house but to tell you the truth, sometimes I just run out of energy to take the time to cook us meals from scratch. I love that I can buy us a few packages of soups (and since each one is a serving size for 1 person, we can each pick our favorite flavors!) to make a quick, nutritious meal on busy nights. I was sent a variety of soups to try out, and my favorites are the Tomato Soup with Garden Vegetables and the Roasted Vegetable Soup. I didn't get to try the Organic Mushroom and Potato Soup but I'm looking for it next time I'm at the health food store because it sounds SO good!

Most likely you will not find these soups (at least not yet) when you're shopping at Walmart, but look for them at Target and Kroger.  Save some extra money and look for a Target coupon for Kettle Cuisine products. I didn't think these soups were sold in my area until I visited a natural food/herbal store a few weeks ago. I was walking past their small frozen foods section and saw these soups! I was SO excited to know that I CAN buy them locally! Click here to get a coupon for $1 off of 2!

Kettle Cuisine would like to give away a prize pack to one of my readers. The winner will receive a Kettle Cuisine cooler bag with 3 free soup coupons plus extra cents off coupons you can share with family and friends. If you win and live in an area where Kettle Cuisine products are not sold, Kettle Cuisine and arrange to have them delivered on dry ice for you!

If you'd like to win, just fill out this easy form below. Good luck!



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Array Gift Card Winner!

There were a lot of entries into this giveaway! Although I wish I was wealthy enough to give ALL of my fans a $100 GC for Christmas, there can only be one winner for this giveaway. Random.org has spoken! Congratulations to Linda Meyers-Gabbard! I'm forwarding your info on to Array Gift and you'll have your card soon!

The Night Before Christmas Book Winner!

The winner of this book is Jamie Howe! Congratulations Jamie! I hope you enjoy the new book!

The Twelve Days of Christmas Hardback Book Winner

Cheryl Alley is the winner of this giveaway! I hope you enjoy your new book!

Thomas and Friends Rescue on the Rails Review and Giveaway

Maggie started getting sick yesterday. Let me just say that I'm glad if it was going to happen, it happened yesterday and not next week right before Christmas! Since she just wants to relax, I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce her to a new Thomas and Friends DVD we received recently in the mail. I knew she'd love it because her favorite show right now features animals rescuing other animals. Well, this DVD is about trains/vehicles rescuing other trains/vehicles and she loves Thomas, so it's a win win!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Come aboard for edge-of-your-seat-excitement as Thomas and his new fire engine friend, Flynn, race to the rescue on the Island of Sodor in the all-new Thomas & Friends™: Rescue on the Rails coming to DVD, Digital Download and On Demand December 6, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Enjoy new adventures with Thomas and his engine friends in four heroic tales featuring stunning CG animation and never-before-seen content!
Thomas & Friends continues to teach timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, inviting children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

DVD SYNOPSIS
Ready to Rescue! The Sodor Search and Rescue Team is racing to the rescue -- Bertie's stuck on Shake Shake Bridge, Gordon's derailed and Thomas' firebox is on fire! In these exciting episodes, your favorite engines brave the rails to rescue their friends. Discover that being heroic is more than having speed and strength; it's about teamwork and a big heart – which puts every Really Useful Engine on the right track.

Episodes include:

• “Fiery Flynn”
• “James to the Rescue”
• “Edward the Hero”
• “Stop That Bus!”

Let me just say, that I was very right! Maggie has loved this DVD, in fact, she asked to watch it again when it was over. Now, normally I limit tv time, but since she's not feeling well and I want her to lie around and rest, I was happy to let her watch the DVD again! It's full of great lessons, and to be honest, Thomas and Friends is one of those kids shows that I don't mind watching with her. I hope she feels better soon, but until then, you'll find us snuggled up on the couch watching Thomas and Friends!

Want to win a copy of this brand new DVD? Just fill out this entry form for your chance at winning it. Good luck!



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Tasty Brand Giveaway!

Tasty Brand™ Organic Fruit Gummy Snacks are the delicious answer to sweet cravings for kids ages 2 to 102! They were created by 2 moms on a tasty mission to make healthier, fun foods and there’s no guilt because our gummies contain nothing artificial or unhealthy. They’re the ideal snack that’s sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Our new Sport formula contains carbs for energy and electrolytes for optimal hydration before, during and after athletics. Tasty Brand™ Sport Fruit Snack flavors include lemon, orange, strawberry, grapefruit, cherry and raspberry.. Certified USDA organic. Boosted with electrolytes for optimal hydration. Carbs for energy during athletics. Made with real fruit juice. 100% daily value of antioxidant vitamin C. NO high-fructose corn syrup. NO artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Gluten-free, fat-free and cholesterol-free. Vegan (gelatin-free). Each box contains five 0.8-oz pouches, only 70 calories each! Packaging made from 100% recycled paper and printed with vegetable-based inks, so it's “tasty … not wasty!"

Organic, Gluten-free, Fat-free, Vegan, Contain NO high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives 70-calorie pouches are perfect for lunch-boxes or a portable treat-on-the go.

I don't know about your kids, but my daughter LOVES fruit snacks! I love giving her Tasty Brand fruit snacks because they are so much healthier than most of the other brands you'll find.

In the spirit of Christmas giving, Tasty Brand would like to give one of my readers a case of their Sport Fruit Gummies! The case has 12 packs in it. If you want to win, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Timmy Time Go Kart Timmy Winner!

Krystina McMillen--you're the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy this DVD!

Grace at Christmas Hardback Book Winner

Amy Witherstine--you're the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations!! You should be receiving this book soon!

$50 Girlactik Makeup Giveaway!

Los Angeles native, Galit Strugano, grew up with an appreciation for beauty and an eye for spotting trends. Having built a successful career as a makeup artist in Hollywood, she quickly found a need for better beauty products that are unique and shimmering.

During the height of the "glitter makeup" trend, Galit was frustrated by the lack of integrity in the glittery products that her clients craved. She set out to develop a makeup brand that re-invented how shimmer makeup is applied and worn. In late 2000, she founded Girlactik Beauty, a revolutionary makeup line that gives consumers an effortless and flawless sparkle look without any of the mess.

Galit launched her first product, The Sparkle Eyeliner, which quickly acquired consumer, media, and celebrity fans to include Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Ali Landry, Kyle Richards, Eva Longoria, Kristen Bell, Marcia Cross, Odette Yustman, Jessica Lowndes, Paula Abdul and many more. The momentum of the Sparkle Eyeliner paved the way for Galit to develop a full line of beauty must haves a few years later. Since then, she has set a high beauty standard of refined, luxurious makeup that works for women of all ages to include staple beauty products of Pigmented Eye Shadows, Blushes, Glosses, Tinted Moisturizers, Concealers, Shimmer Dusts, Waterproof Cream Creaseless Shadows, Mascaras, Matte Bronzers and more. In 2007, Girlactik was honored by Allure Magazine as the "Best Brown" eye shadow of the year and The Vice President of New Product Development for L’Oreal considered Girlactik’s Star Glosses on of the most "goof-proof glosses" available as stated in O Magazine. Girlactik Beauty has become premier "affordable luxury" line of savvy makeup that is for women of all ages.

Christmas is the time for giving, so Girlactik would like to give one of my fans $50 worth of their products--winners choice! If you would like to win, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Chick-fil-A Prize Pack

Due to the overwhelming response to the Chick-fil-A calendar giveaway, I was just given a whole new batch of prizes to give away to one of my fans! The prize pack will consist of FIVE Cow watches and TWO Chick-fil-A plush Cows!

If you'd like to win, just use this easy entry form. Good luck!

Diaper Style Mystery Prize Pack ~ Reveal #2!

Did you read the post on the 1st about the Mystery Prize Pack Giveaway that Diaper Style is sponsoring on my blog this month? If not, click here and go read all the details! Last week I revealed one of the prizes in the Prize Pack! You can see what it was by clicking here!

Today I'm about to reveal the 2nd prize that the winner of this giveaway will receive. It is (drum roll please).............Redmond Clay talc-free Baby Powder!

Finally, an all-natural, talc-free baby powder!
Redmond Clay Baby Powder is talc-free and unrefined, perfect for your baby’s sensitive skin. This rare, high-desert clay has no chemicals or fragrances, so you don’t have to worry about allergies or skin irritations.

How does Redmond Clay work?

Bentonite clay has a negative electrical charge, attracting positively charged toxins. The formation of bentonite resembles tiny business card shapes, with negatively charged wide surfaces and positively charged edges, providing a powerful drawing effect. As most toxins are positively charged, clay naturally rids the body of toxins as it pulls and holds the toxins into its core.

How do people use Redmond Clay?

Throughout history, people have used bentonite clay when suffering from occasional diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, stomachache, acid indigestion, acid reflux, and other sever digestive problems. Clay has also been mixed into a poultice and applied to cuts, bruises, insect bites, bee stings, boils, rashes, acne, burns, severe dry skin, and achy joints. Redmond Clay™ remains as pure today as it was when the Fremont indians discovered its uses many years ago. We extract the clay from the earth and bring it to you in its pure, natural state. Discover for yourself the healing benefits of Redmond Clay. Many people consider it their first aid kit in a bottle.

I remember when I first found out I was pregnant with a girl. I was warned by others not to use baby powder because of the talc. Apparently it has been linked to ovarian cancer! Definitely not something I wanted to use on my daughter! I am so happy to have Redmond Clay powder--a safe diaper powder to use on my precious little girl. It works great and has SO many uses beyond a diaper powder!! I use the powder for a face wash and really love my results!

Buy It!

You can purchase Redmond Clay Baby Powder (and LOTS of other great items) from Diaper Style. Just visit www.diaperstyle.com!

Win It!

The Mystery Prize Pack from Diaper Style will contain one bottle of Redmond Clay powder (along with other great prizes!) Here's your third chance to get entries into this fun giveaway. Make sure you act now, because once the next prize reveal happens, this entry form will no longer work! Good luck!

PS. Don't forget, Diaper Style is having a huge giveaway right now on their blog as well! Click here to enter those giveaways!

Early Lingo 3 DVDs Giveaway!

Early Lingo now has numbers 4, 5, and 6 dvd's available in all their languages. To celebrate they are giving away dvd's 4, 5, and six of their Spanish series to one of my readers! I reviewed a DVD from Early Lingo not long ago. You can click here to read my review.

The Early Lingo DVD Series is the first of its kind, offering 12 animated and live-action videos to teach your child the basic foundation of a foreign language. The Series is organized into 12 interactive programs using a playful approach to learning with stimulating visual content of everyday activities featuring animated characters Jojo and Lulu.

If you'd like a chance to win these great DVDs, use the easy entry form below!

Swiss Colony Snowman Truffles Winner!

These yummy snowmen will be showing up at Ann Fantom's house very soon! I hope you enjoy them! Merry Christmas!

Shaklee Sample Winners!

There were FIVE winners for this giveaway! They are:

• Jamie Olson
• Sharee Jones
• Lora Wikle
• Melissa Huie
• Cynthia Downer

Congratulations ladies! You should receive your sample soon!

The Scrawny Little Tree Winner!

Alicia Crenshaw--you're the winner of this book! Congrats! You should be receiving it soon. I hope you enjoy reading it with your family!

A Christmas Tree for Pyn Winner!

I love announcing winners! It's even more fun around Christmas time 'cause I get to feel more like Santa. :) The winner of this fun little book is Amanda Alvarado! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy this book!

Zazzle Custom IPhone/ITouch Case Review and Giveaway

Believe it or not, until November 25th of this year, I did NOT own any type of App using device. No iPod, no smart phone, no iPad, no nothing! Why? Well, our budget, just like everyone else's, is tight. We use pay-by-the-minute phones and having one of those devices was not a necessity. BUT, my birthday was in November and this year I asked for money to put towards buying myself an iPod Touch! I get a lot of requests to review Apps and beyond that, I LOVE to listen to music, so I was really excited to have something to play my tunes on wherever I go. I was one of those crazy Black Friday/Late Thanksgiving night shoppers who stood outside of Target for an hour, but I got my iPod for a great deal!

Now, I was excited about my iPod (and still am!) but it was as if Zazzle.com knew it was my birthday and knew just want I was getting. They sent me an email about the same time about reviewing one of their iPod cases. It was PERFECT timing! I was even more excited when I got on their website and saw the HUGE selection of cases they had!! If you can imagine it, they can send you that as a case for your IPod!

This is the case I picked out and I just LOVE it! My iPod looks awesome and it's protected better from the little toddler hands that want to touch it all the time! It's called "Lotus Love."

Sleek, unique, and durable, Zazzle custom cases will not only make your iPod Touch, iPhone 3G/3GS or iPhone 4/4S look amazing, but it will also protect your phone from the dings and scratches that come from everyday use. Whether you get one with a lightweight hard-shell case covered with soft fabric, a form- fitting flexible plastic shell, or a tough hard-shell case with an interior skin of silicone, your Zazzle iPhone case will give you an extra grip in-hand, making your phone easy and comfortable to use all day long. Order one of their brilliant designs from the marketplace, or create a unique iPhone case using your own images and text, and you'll never want to put down your phone again! Zazzle iPhone cases make great gifts for the holidays and any other occasion for all the technology lovers in your life. Zazzle's iPhone cases ship in 3-7 days, so order yours today! Visit www.zazzle.com/iphone+cases to look for your perfect case!

About Zazzle:

At Zazzle, the vision is big: “To Re-define Commerce, Powered by the World’s Imagination”. Since launching in 2005, Zazzle has become a world leader in the customization world. With 17 international domains and more than 600,000 artists and designers from around the world who contribute designs, Zazzle allows users to create, sell and purchase billions of designs on 350+ customizable products.

Want to win your own case? Well, you're in luck! One of my readers will win a code to get a free case! Here are the "fine print" details for the giveaway.  $34.95 of the Case-Mate iPhone Case net sale price will be deducted when one Case-Mate case is purchased and a qualifying coupon code (this is what the winner will receive from me) is applied at checkout. This offer does not apply to Case-Mate case orders of two or more. The net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). Offer is valid until December 31, 2011 at 11:59pm PT. This offer does not apply to past purchases and may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

Because you must use your free code by December 31st, this giveaway will not be open as long as usual. I'm going to end it on Dec. 26th so you will have a few days to decide on the case you'd like. I will be emailing the winner of this giveaway with the free code, so make sure you put your email address on the entry form and maybe add my email address to your address book so it doesn't end up in Spam! Good luck!

MK Totem Con Pouch Giveaway- $97 Value!

Mk Totem is composed of business partners Maya Yogev and Keira Guez, who were introduced by their former Los Angeles based leather manufacturer. Maya and Keira were both on a quest to embark on a new adventure when they met. The duo came from a higher end fashion background, however, they wanted to start something new, fresh and a little more relaxed. Working in a more contemporary price point has allowed the girls to cater to all women, rather than the select few that could afford their previous lines. Mk Totem especially connects with women who love to scour thrift shops to find treasures, making it all look so perfectly un-perfect and effortless.They have found this way of working much more gratifying and enjoyable.

Maya, who designs the line and is responsible for Mk Totems laid back feel, lives and creates out of her studio in Los Angeles. While Keira, who handles the business end of the company, lives in New York City and works out of their showroom space. They have found a perfect way to work together and grow their "marriage" while living on opposite coasts.

The two are constantly brainstorming and thinking up ways to make Mk Totem even better for "their girl".

In the spirit of Christmas, MK Totem would like to offer a giveaway to my readers. One lucky reader will win this con pouch with fringe in black. Retail $97

If you'd like to win this, just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!

We Bought a Zoo Exclusive Holiday Giveaway!

Thrifty Nifty Mommy will be giving away an exclusive We Bought A Zoo Gift Pack which includes the soundtrack, book and movie poster! ENTER NOW!

In Theaters Nationwide December 23, 2011

We Bought A Zoo (Rated PG) - This holiday season, acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) directs an amazing and true story about a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo. With the help of an eclectic staff, and with many misadventures along the way, the family works to return the dilapidated zoo to its former wonder and glory.

The film stars Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, Elle Fanning, and John Michael Higgins and is based off of Benjamin Mee’s novel of the same name.

From December 12-23, 2011, you can enter to win a We Bought A Zoo Gift Pack which includes the soundtrack, book and movie poster! Enter the giveaway NOW for your chance to score some great We Bought A Zoo prizes!

ENTER NOW

We Bought A Zoo is a perfect family film for this holiday season. I dare you not to fall in love with it after viewing the trailer!

Follow We Bought A Zoo –

FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/WBZgiveawayFB

TWITTER: http://bit.ly/WBZ_giveawayTwitter

YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/WBZgiveawayYT

Prizes: We Bought A Zoo CDs, Books & Posters

Number of prizes: One (1) Prize Pack

Estimated Value: $35

Giveaway start date: December 12, 2011

Giveaway end date: December 23, 2011

Open to: US/Canada residents 18 & over

Twelve Books of Christmas ~ The Night Before Christmas

The 12th Book of Christmas I will review and give to one of you: The Night Before Christmas!

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement C. Moore and illustrations by Jan Brett(G.P. Putnam's; 978-0-399-25670-7; November 1, 2011; Ages 3-5; $20.00)

The Night Before Christmas is one of Jan Brett’s all-time bestsellers. This newly-packaged deluxe edition will include a DVD featuring Jan’s beautiful artwork, digitally rendered and paired with narration by award-winning narrator, Jim Dale, and original music performed by the acclaimed Boston Pops Orchestra. This classic story will come to life in a way it never has before – lifting the story off of the page and onto the reader’s television or computer.

Okay, so I just had to save this book for last! This is such a huge holiday classic! This is actually the first time I've owned a copy of this book, but I can still recite many of the lines, as I'm sure you could too! This classic is brilliantly illustrated by Jan Brett. If you aren't familiar with her, she does lovely work and shows the story not only with the main picture, but in side pictures on each page as well. It is very neat! She does a great job on this festive classic of really drawing the reader in--no pun intended! Jan is truly a great artist! Another great thing about this book is that in includes a DVD that your children can watch. On this DVD, a gentleman reads the story and illustrations from the book are shown on the screen. I was really impressed with the way they used the illustrations. It really brings everything to life! There is also background music played by the Boston Pops!

This is a beautiful, wonderful book that I think any family would love! I'm so happy that we have a copy of this classic now so that I can share it with my daughter year after year!

As with most books these days, you can purchase this one from Amazon.com and one reader will also win their own copy! Just use the easy entry form below. Good luck!

 

 

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway books.*

Thomas & Friends Adventure on the Tracks 6 DVD Set

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
All aboard for a very special holiday delivery with Thomas & Friends™: Adventure on the Tracks 6-DVD Set available December 6, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Fans everywhere will enjoy 36 of their favorite episodes with Thomas and his engine friends as they find adventures, help friends and discover new things on the Island of Sodor. Filled with surprises around every bend, this very special 6-DVD collection is only $29.98 and is a perfect gift for any Thomas collector!

DVDS INCLUDE:
Thomas & Friends: Percy's Ghostly Trick & Other Thomas Stories Discover laughs and surprises around every bend! Thomas thinks he's seen a ghost, Percy puffs into a giant pile of hay, Oliver encounters some troublesome trucks and Donald and Douglas rescue a mischievous engine.
Thomas & Friends: Thomas and the Jet Engine & Other Adventures Always expect the unexpected on the Island of Sodor! Thomas gets a surprising push from a jet engine, Percy lets his imagination run away with him, Harold makes a horse fly and Salty and Fergus prove they're useful on and off the tracks.
Thomas & Friends: Rusty To The Rescue Thomas and his friends discover that fun and excitement never end! Join in the adventure as little Rusty sets off where only big, brave diesels dare to go and Duke gets rescued and reunited with Stuart and Falcon.
Thomas & Friends: Percy Saves The Day Learn the importance of listening to others when Thomas ignores Percy's wobbly track warning, Rusty sets off to save a reckless Duncan and Fergus proves himself to be really useful.
Thomas & Friends: Thomas Comes To Breakfast & Other Thomas Adventures Everyone learns important lessons about good behavior when Thomas shows off a little too much, Diesel causes trouble between the other engines and Gordon finds out that sabotage can backfire.
Thomas & Friends: Steamies vs. Diesels Find out how just how much the Steamies and Diesels have in common when they put aside their differences and start working together to keep Sir Topham Hatt's railway running smoothly.

Okay, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of Thomas fans everywhere--this would make a great gift for your little Thomas enthusiast this Christmas! There are 6 DVDs, containing over 220 minutes of Thomas the Tank Engine action! Your kids will learn lessons about working together, listening to others, and playing nice with friends--among other lessons. Maggie has been loving these DVDs and as you can imagine, we've been watching a lot of Thomas & Friends lately! Of the 6 DVDs included, her favorite so far seems to be Percy Saves the Day, but she loves them all!

You can find this set at retailers everywhere. It has a suggested retail price of $29.98 but I'm sure if you search, you'll be able to find some great sales on it!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review item.*

The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers Winner!

This book is so cute!! Jackie Griebel, I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Lighthouse Christmas Book Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is Shannon Roberts! Congrats Shannon! I hope you and your family enjoy this book!

Weaver Chicken Giveaway

I’m sure you can relate to how busy schedules leave families with little time to spend together, especially during the work and school week. But with the weather taking a down-turn, maximize the time you are spending indoors to have more family fun! By adding a little creativity to your day – from play time to meal prep – you’ll quickly find that reconnecting won’t have to be yet another task on your list, it’ll be part of your daily routine.

On behalf of Weaver Chicken, I get to offer a month’s worth of Weaver Chicken Nuggets (four full-value coupons, one per each week) to one lucky winner to make dinner time a little bit easier for your family.  We love to have Weaver Chicken Nuggets for dinner over here. It is a quick, easy meal that we all like. It's also a meal that Maggie can help with. I get the baking sheet out, and Maggie takes the nuggets from the box and puts them on the sheet for me. Might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to her!

Check out these creative ideas from Professional chef, author and mother-of-two, Maureen Petrosky (www.maureenpetrosky.com) of things you can do to have more fun, quality time with your family even with a busy schedule. 

Dine-in together. Just because you don’t have time to create a meal from scratch, doesn’t mean you can’t put something on the table that’s wholesome and delicious. Keep it simple and serve chicken nuggets alongside a big salad and some fresh bread from the bakery. 

Spice it up. Revisit your pantry or spice drawer to avoid extra trips to the grocery store. With simple ingredients such as rosemary, garlic, oregano or cilantro, you can quickly transform your family’s favorite meals into an array of dinner options. Get everyone involved in meal prep and use this time as an opportunity to catch up with one another.

Go camping indoors. The rule: no lights, phones or computers from dusk to dawn. Drape the couch and chairs with sheets for a makeshift tent. Put your sleeping bags on the floor, grab your flashlights, and share your best ghost stories.

Start a dance party. A great way to have some fun with your family is to get everyone dancing. Turn off the TV and turn on some good tunes. Make homemade trophies and prizes to give to the winners. Create special categories for best moves, best spins, most creative, most enthusiastic dancer.

Turn chore time into an a-maze-ing race. In ten minutes, you can create an indoor maze, complete with clues to take your family on an at-home adventure. Incorporate simple chores like putting away laundry, cleaning under the bed, or setting the table. The final reward can be their favorite dinner or an extra bedtime story.

For your chance at winning this giveaway, just fill out the entry form below. Good luck!

Twleve Books of Christmas ~ The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 11th book of Christmas I will review and give to one of you: The Twelve Days of Christmas!

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Laurel Long (Dial; 9780803733572; October 13, 2011; Ages 3-5; $16.99)

On the first day of Christmas, it begins. The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved carol to life with breathtaking style. Set against a Renaissance countryside, nine ladies dance in the glowing moonlight among bird-shaped topiaries. Each day brings a new gift, and like each verse of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all.

I'm not sure there are any Americans who haven't heard this classic carol! You know what though, I have sung it SO many times and realized when I read this book that I've been singing it incorrectly! I always thought it was "Four calling birds" but it's actually "Four collie birds." Gosh, you truly do learn something new every day! If you have a child that loves the "seek and find" pictures or books, than they will love this book! As each verse is added to a new page, not only is the main line portrayed as the focus of the picture, but hidden within the picture are ALL of the other verses. It is really neat! The illustrations themselves are just stunning in this book! I've really enjoyed it and I think your family will do! I know that reading this book and finding all of the hidden pictures will become a family tradition in our house! As an added bonus,the piano music is included at the end of this book as well!

If you'd like to purchase this book for your family, you can find it at Amazon.com and enter below for your chance to win a copy!

 

 

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaways books.*

Twelve Books of Christmas ~ Grace at Christmas

The 10th book of Christmas I will review and give to one of you, Grace at Christmas!

GRACE AT CHRISTMAS by Mary Hoffman & illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu (Dial; 9780803735774; October 1, 2011; Ages 3-5; $17.99)

Grace loves everything about Christmas, especially acting out all the parts in the Christmas story. This year, though, guests are coming to stay, and Grace wants to say “no room at the inn.” But Grace learns that strangers can be just as worried about spending Christmas with people who aren’t their real family. The beloved heroine of AMAZING GRACE stars in this brand-new Christmas story.

Grace is a little girl who loves Christmas! But, when she's told that they will be having guests that year at Christmas time, she's not too happy about it.  One of the guests is a young girl about Grace's age. The visitor is sad that she won't be able to experience Christmas the way she is used to and Grace steps in to cheer her up. The girls quickly realize how much fun they can have together and just might end up having their best Christmas ever!

This was a really sweet story, and a great Christmas read! I'd recommend it for children 3 years and older. You can purchase this book from Amazon.com and one of you will WIN a copy!