Mocafe Winner!

The winner of this DELICIOUS giveaway is Maryann Drapkin! Congratulations Maryann! I really think you're going to love this prize. My chai is almost all gone--I am very sad! Let me know what you think!

Crazy Leggies Baby Shoes Review and Giveaway

So, my husband and I were determined not to find out the sex of our unborn baby until he or she was born--but we caved about a month after the "big" ultrasound and found out. In case you missed the announcement--Its a BOY! One of the great things about knowing already that we're having a boy is that I'm able to go ahead and start getting all kinds of CUTE items for him like these little pair of elephant shoes from Crazy Leggies!

Aren't they just adorable?!? I was sent the shoes in the 0-3 month size. I think they'll go great with this little outfit.

The shoes are really soft! They are made of cotton on the outside and the inner is made of fleece to keep your baby's feet warm and cozy. 

Crazy Leggins sells all kinds of sweet, handmade baby legs and booties. Click here to visit her Etsy store! You can also find her on Facebook!

Crazy Leggins wants to offer all of my readers 10% off of any purchase from her Etsy store. Just use code "Thrifty10".  Crazy Leggins also has an awesome package deal for a limited time offer. It is a pair of 0-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-18 month shoes for only $58 and free shipping. That is $10 off the retail price!  PLUS if you use the 10% off code on this, it will only cost $52.20!!!  That's almost $16 off the retail price!

In addition to that, one of my readers will also win a $10 Credit to her Etsy store! You can use this credit towards any item, but it can not be used towards shipping costs.  If you'd like to enter to win, just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Good luck!

Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster

Normally I am sent products from companies with the agreement that I will review it for them on my blog. Well, Maggie got the Up and Down Roller Coaster from Step2 for Christmas as a present from her grandparents, and after having it in our home for over a month, I just had to share our review of it!

When I saw this roller coaster on their website before Christmas, I had a good feeling that it was something Maggie would like. She is certainly a thrill-seeker!! Her grandparents, who love to spoil her, thought so too, and were therefore more than happy to buy it for her!

When she walked into their house on Christmas and saw it (they had it out of the package, set up and ready to go for her) she squealed and ran to it right away. It was as if she already knew what to do with it! We helped her onto it and pushed her down--and she was in heaven! I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Christmas Day she rode the coaster probably 100 times. By the end of the night, she had already learned how to push the car up the ramp and use her feet to push herself off (yes, all of us adults were SO happy when she learned to do it herself!).



We brought the coaster home to our house and now, even a month later, she is still riding it on a daily basis! Not only does she enjoy riding the car down the track, but she also likes to use it as a slide for herself. Sometimes when I'm trying to save room, I will take off the last 2 sections of the track and let her just use the top section as a slide and she loves it! The coaster is especially a hit whenever she has a play date. All of the kids want to take turns riding it! I'm looking forward to spring when we can set it up for her outside on our small hill and she can really go far!

If you're looking for a great toy for a child ages 18m-4 years, I'd highly recommend this toy from Step2! It has been her favorite Christmas gift, by far!

Cutesy Tushies Winner!

Congratulations to Lydia Spencer Fredin! You won the Yo Gabba Gabba inspired diaper!! I've already forwarded your info on and you should be receiving your diaper soon.

2 Cutie Patooties!

I want to introduce you today to a new company I just learned about, 2 Cutie Patooties!

2 Cutie Patooties is an embroidery and gift store headquartered in Savannah Georgia. Specializing in the highest quality items, 2 Cuties incorporates the newest trends with the ageless Southern Tradition of personalization. Personalization of their products is always included in the price!

Owner and CEO Awbrey Smith was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. Awbrey recognizes the sophistication and charm a simple personalization brings to an item. Awbrey has spent the last few years developing her concept and line of products to bring customers the finest quality of items at the most affordable prices! Having "2 Cutie Patooties" of her own motivates Awbrey to create that special item that you are looking for. Be it a blanket, towel, sham, piece of luggage, or shower curtain, 2 Cutie Patooties will bring you the most divine creation at the most affordable price!

Not only can you get awesome, personalized items from 2 Cutie Patooties, but 2 Cutie Patooties also wants you, yes you, to join their staff as a sales representative! Whether you live near or far, you can make some great extra cash by selling what people already adore! Get friends and family to host a home show, and then win big by getting FREE items and CASH from what is sold!

If you're not sure that a position as a sales representative will fit into your schedule, you can also consider hosting a home show to still earn some great rewards! When you host a home show, a sales consultant will come to you, set up, clean up, cook you dinner, and provide a ton of great items to show your guests! (Okay, I lied about the dinner part, but everything else is true--I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention!) All you have to do is invite your friends, family, & co-workers and provide a few snacks.

They have GREAT hostess benefits! Included in these are:

$200 show= $25 in free product & 20% off on 1 item
$400 show= $45 in free product & 20% off on 1 item
$650 show= $65 in free product & 20% off on 2 items
$1000 show= $100 in free product & 20% off on 3 items 

Contact 2 Cutie Patooties directly at 2cutiepatooties@gmail.com for more information on signing up as a sales consultant or to host a home show and visit their website at www.2cutiepatooties.com to see everything they have to offer!

DiViene Rings Review and Giveaway (Prize value $158!)

I was recently sent 2 rings from diViene to review. I do not own a lot of jewelry, so I was excited to be able to add a few new pieces to my jewelry box. These are the rings I was sent and their descriptions:

Sterling Silver Twist-detail Amber Cocktail Ring

This solitaire ring rocks! Experience how the elegance of this sizable pear-shaped genuine Amber cocktail ring adds a touch of glamour to your wardrobe. Whether you're off to a glamorous shindig, a night out with the gals, or a simple day at work, this right-hand ring will surely take you to places! Handcrafted in the USA in Sterling Silver to custom fit your finger size and carefully infused with vintage detailing. $87

Sterling Silver Ring with Large Heart Genuine Black Onyx Gemstone

A heart Black Onyx gemstone is lovingly set and becomes the centerstone of this sterling silver ring. Its unique design is made strong and durable that guarantees long time wear. Handcrafted in the USA, it comes in full, half and quarter sizes - from 5 to 10. Also comes in several gemstone options. $71

I really like both of the rings, but my favorite is the Amber Sterling Silver Twist-detail Cocktail Ring. I love the color and the style. As I said before, I don't own a lot of jewelry. In fact, before these 2 rings arrived, the only other rings I own I wear every day: my engagement ring, my wedding band and my yesterday, today and forever ring that my husband got me for my birthday a few years ago. I love that I have these 2 new rings to dress up my outfits and give my hands a little more detail!

You can find lots of different jewelry items at diViene: Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings, and more! Valentine's Day will be here soon--check out all they have to offer!! http://www.diviene.com/

One of my reader will also win their own set of rings, just like the ones I reviewed! Don't worry--you get to choose your size! If you want to win, just enter with the easy Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Happy Napper Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is Amber Jackson! Congratulation Amber! You'll be receiving your prize soon!!

Applebees Inspired Chicken Fajita Roll-ups

I made these for dinner the other night and have been meaning to share the recipe ever since. This is the second time I've fixed these and we LOVE them! These are Chicken Fajita Roll-ups inspired by the Chicken Fajita Roll-ups you'll find at Applebees. This is one of my (and my husband's) favorite items to order at Applebees. They are SO good and this recipe tastes almost exactly like them. I must warn you that this recipe does take a little longer to fix. I normally spend an hour and a half fixing them, but I always make enough that we have leftovers (which are just as good) for the next day.  Oh, also, this recipe does call for a small amount of Buttermilk. When I make these rollups, I plan for a "breakfast for dinner" night and fix Buttermilk Pancakes one evening so that the rest of the Buttermilk isn't wasted!

Applebee's Chicken Fajita Rollup

*Please note, this recipe was created by Todd Wilbur and can be found at TopSecretRecipes.com.*

Menu Description: "A large flour tortilla topped with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, grilled chipotle chicken, shredded lettuce and pico de gallo. Rolled, sliced and served with a Mexi-ranch dipping sauce"

Take Applebee's delicious chicken chipotle fajita recipe and wrap it up in a large flour tortilla with lettuce, cheeses and a simple pico de gallo and you've got an awesome meal. The dipping sauce clone here is made with just a little buttermilk, but if you don't want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk just to use a tablespoon of it for this recipe, that's okay. Just substitute the regular milk you've got sitting in the fridge. For the marinade it's best to use the ground chipotle pepper (smoked red jalapeno) made by McCormick. If you can't find it, cut the amount in half and use cayenne pepper. You'll need to half it since cayenne is much hotter than chipotle. For the cheeses, many major brands make a cheddar/monterey blend that will work just fine if you'd rather do that than buy the cheeses separately.

Marinade

2 cups water

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar

1 tablespoon ground chipotle pepper

(or 1 1/2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper)

2 teaspoons hickory smoke flavoring

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 chicken breast fillets

Mexi-ranch Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons minced onion

2 tablespoons diced tomato

1 tablespoon buttermilk

1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar

2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon canned green chile pepper

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch dried dill weed

pinch cumin

pinch cayenne pepper

Pico de Gallo

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1/3 cup diced red onion

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

2 teaspoons lime juice

2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 large flour tortillas

1 cup fancy shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup fancy shredded monterey jack cheese

4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce  

1. The chicken needs to marinate for 2 hours, so make the marinade first by combining the ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir well until the sugar has dissolved. Add four chicken breasts to the marinade, cover and chill for 2 hours. Don't let the chicken marinate for much more than that or it could get tough.

2. While the chicken marinates, prepare the dipping sauce by combining the ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir well then cover and chill. This will allow all the flavors to develop nicely while parked in the fridge.

3. The pico de gallo will also develop nicely in the fridge. Combine all those ingredients, then cover and chill it as well..

4. When you're ready to make your roll-ups, preheat your grill to medium/high heat. Grill the chicken breast for 4 to 7 minutes per side or until done.

5. Build each roll-up by first laying a large flour tortilla in a large skillet over low-heat. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of the combined cheeses over the surface of the tortilla while it heats up in the pan. When the cheese begins to melt, remove the tortilla from the pan. Sprinkle about 1 cup of shredded lettuce in a strip across the center of the tortilla, followed by about 3 tablespoons of pico de gallo. Slice one grilled chicken breast into bite-size chunks and arrange the chicken on the lettuce. Fold the ends of the tortilla over the filling, then roll the tortilla from the bottom. Make a diagonal cut across the center of the roll-up and serve with a small dish of the dipping sauce on the side. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com)

For Two Fitness Maternity Shirt Review and Giveaway

I'm now 25 weeks pregnant--woo hoo! I am so ready to have this baby!! I still have 15 weeks to go (give or take 2 weeks) and as my due date nears, I think more and more about how I need to excersize more frequently!

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, my husband and I took Bradley Childbirth classes. These classes emphasized a healthy diet and lifestyle. They also taught us some great exercises for pregnant women which I think really helped me during my first labor and delivery.

What better way to get excited about exercising than with some new fitness clothes, right? For Two Fitness sent me one of their signature long sleeved tees. These tees are a rayon and spandex blend, so they work great for exercising! This shirt has the perfect amount of stretch to it!  I got the "berry" tee and love the bright color! 

This shirt is SO comfortable! It is so comfortable, in fact, that I've worn it lots of times other than when I'm doing my pregnancy exercises! The shirt looks so nice that I wear it out too. I love the fit that I get out of it. It hugs my curves in all the right ways! The sides are so stretchy that it fits great now, but I know it will still be fitting great when I'm on week 40! I would definitely recommend this shirt for someone who is looking for something to work out in, or someone who just wants a comfortable, yet nice-looking tee to wear out and about! It's now one of my favorite maternity items!

When I asked my husband to take a picture of me in my new shirt, my daughter ran in to join the picture. She wanted us to sit. Of course, when I want to take a picture of her she runs! Go figure--kids!

For Two Fitness sells everything you need to stay in shape while you are pregnant! They've got pants, short and long-sleeved tees and tanks, and camis. Some of their shirts even have cute little sayings on them!  Click here to visit their website!

If you're expecting, you're in luck because For Two Fitness is going to give one of my readers the tank of their choice! There are a lot of options--you'll probably have a a hard time deciding what to get! If you're not expecting right now, sign up to win one for a friend or relative. They will thank you immensely!!

Free Cinnamon!

Right now, the Prepared Pantry is offering 4 ounces (about one cup) of free Korintje Cassia Cinnamon. Just pay shipping of $2.99. This is quality cinnamon and usually sells for $6.49, plus shipping. It truly transforms baking with its rich and complex taste. I’ve used it myself in our test kitchen and I was shocked at the difference it made in our apple pie. I think you’re followers will really go for this because everybody uses cinnamon, and this is cheaper than even the grocery store even though the quality is better.

To get the free cinnamon (limit 1), click here! When you go to this page, you will still see a price, but if you put it in your cart and then checkout, you'll see that the price has dropped to 0. You can also get two free e-books on how to make your own pancake mix, and our most popular “How to Bake” 250-page e-book by clicking here.

Incredibum Cloth Wipes Review and Giveaway

You might remember that back in October I reviewed a bamboo cloth diaper from Incredibum. You can read the review by clicking here. What goes hand-in-hand with cloth diapers? Cloth wipes of course! SO, Incredibum sent me some of their Bum-boo wipes to try out!

About Bum-boo Wipes

Bum-boo wipes are a perfect alternative to disposable wipes. Bamboo has a natural antibacterial element that helps keep your baby's bum nice and clean. The wipes are made of bamboo (90%) and polyester (10%). Size: 9"x9"

Cleaning instructions: Warm Machine Wash and line or tumble dry low. No fabric softener, no bleach, and please limit barrier creams that are not cloth diaper friendly.

What I Thought:

Cloth wipes are great not only for cloth diaper users, but even for moms who decide to use disposable diapers, but want to save money on baby wipes.  I've used cloth wipes ever since I started cloth diapering my daughter (when she was about a month old) and I love them! When I started out, I was trying to find something quick and cheap, so I picked up a few packages of wipes at Walmart that were 4 for $1. Well, let me tell you, the do get the job done but they aren't the best--not even close.  Here are comparison pictures of one of my Walmart wipes and one of these Incredibum wipes:

The Incredibum wipes are nice and soft and they are bigger which I love!  They are also textured which helps with the messier changes, if you know what I mean! I only have 4 right now, but I reach for these wipes first and I really think Maggie prefers them too! You can purchase a set of 4 of these wipes for $4.95 from Lovely Eco Chic.

One of my blog readers will also win their own set of 4 wipes! If you wanna win, just enter below. Good luck!

Fluff Friends App

Some of you might remember that I got my very FIRST app-capable device (an IPod Touch) in November. Ever since then, I've been exploring the wonderful world of Apps! There are so many cool Apps out there and a ton of fun games! There's a new mobile app that I  just started playing that I wanted to tell you about; it's called Fluff Friends. Fluff Friends introduces players to the real - world challenges of rescuing pets by nursing animals back to health while running your own animal shelter and ultimately contributing to The Humane Society in a unique, interactive gaming experience. Every other game on the market focuses on buying dogs but with this game, you'll be rescuing them!

Fluff Friends Rescue empowers players to rescue stray cats and dogs from sickness, injury and hunger back to tail-wagging health. Every Fluff Friends Rescue pet has a happiness meter which monitors healing and increases happiness as each pet spends time in four different vital areas of pet rehabilitation and nourishment including veterinarian, food, grooming and play-time/fun stations. By interacting with the animals and making the rounds to each one of these interactive rehab stations, players improve each pet’s outlook as he or she gets healthy and ready for adoption. This game is kinda like a Sim City, or Oregon Trail type game, just with the animal rescue theme.

We have a cat who was a stray that we rescued and one of our dogs came from our local Humane Society. She has turned out to be a GREAT dog and I was so happy to be able to give her a home. This is her--her name is Emmy:

I especially love that this game actually gives you the opportunity to help the Humane Society of the United States while you play it.  Purchasing Humane Society of the United States branded items throughout the game will translate to vital funding for the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the sale of these items will go directly to The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team which assists local authorities during natural disasters and man-made cruelty situations such as puppy mills and animal fighting rings. In the U.S., future versions of Fluff Friends Rescue will include a PetFinder feature — which will offer real-time access to real adoptions for pets as well as branded merchandise.

I love being able to support a good cause, while having fun at the same time! Visit an App store and check it out (oh, and did I mention it's a free App to download?!?) Enjoy!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Find Your Happiness Review and Giveaway

101 Stories about Finding Your Purpose, Passion, and Joy

Others share how they found their passion, purpose, and joy in life in these 101 personal and exciting stories that are sure to encourage readers to find their own happiness. Stories in this collection will inspire readers to pursue their dreams, find their passion and seek joy in their life. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope, reminding readers that they can find their own happiness.

I've loved reading this Chicken Soup for the Soul book! I like to read one or two a day and they've been very encouraging. It would be a great book to read each morning before you pop out of bed, or even a great bathroom reader! It's a tough economic time for a lot of families right now and hearing an encouraging word from something else when you're feeling down can be a great uplifting moment!

You can find this book at Amazon.com and many other retailers.  It has a list price of $14.95.

THREE of my fans will win a copy of this new book! For your chance, just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!

MyBabyClothes.com Winner!

Congratulations to Kami Allen! You are the winner of this giveaway!! You should be receiving an email soon with details on redeeming your GC! Enjoy!!

Superior Nut Company Winner

Congratulations to Dara Nix! You are the winner of this giveaway! I've sent you an email with all of the info you'll need. Enjoy this prize!!

Necktie Emporium Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is Katie Tanner. Congratulations Katie! I hope you enjoy this prize! You already supplied your info so I'm forwarding it on for you now.

Ad Space Winner

According to Random.org, the free ad space is going to comment #7 --Michelle! Congratulations! I'll send you an email!

Little Pim Winner!

Congratulations to Beth Rees! You are the winner of this DVD and you should be receiving your copy soon!

Children's Bedding Boutique Review and Giveaway

With baby #2 on the way, and Maggie's strong desire to be a "Big Girl" now, we decided it was the right time to move her up into a twin size bed. She has been a great crib sleeper ever since she stopped sleeping with us at around 3 months. In fact, she loves being in her own room, in her own bed so much, that ever since we started putting her in her crib to sleep, she does NOT want to sleep in bed with us. Believe me, I've tried a number of times when she's having fussy nights, but she is even more fussier when I bring her in our bed and minutes later asks to go back to hers!

I really wasn't sure though how she'd handle being moved to a different bed which is why I wanted to give it plenty of time before the new baby arrives. I decided that one of the things that would be important when we changed her bed was to make it something that she would be excited about. What better way to get her excited about it then to decorate her room with things she'd love and would make her feel like a "big girl."

I searched and searched for the perfect new bedding set for her room and finally found the Pretty Pony Bedding  set by JoJo Designs available at Children's Bedding Boutique. Maggie loves horses (don't most little girls?!) I contacted Children's Bedding Boutique about my project and they were thrilled to send me this set to be reviewed on the blog. The shipping time from Children's Bedding Boutique was SO fast! It was at my door days before I expected it! When we opened up the box, Maggie was so excited. She saw the horses and carried the bedding set all over the house. She kept asking me to open it up for her, but I told her we needed to wait for Daddy's help. I did give in and together we set up her hamper (it took about 2 minutes) and she was so pleased!

The following day Daddy was going to be home with us all day, so we decided it was a great day to get everything switched over. Here are some before pictures of her bedroom. In case you're wondering, this bedding comes from Glenna Jean. I wanted something feminine and yet sophisticated for Maggie when I was pregnant with her and fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Children's Bedding Boutique doesn't sell this bedding anymore (I'm pretty sure its discontinued) but they do sell a lot of other beautiful crib bedding sets from Glenna Jean and also Trend Lab.  The first pictures were taken right before she was born, the later ones are the morning of the big bedroom change!

Let me tell you that it took us a lot longer to get things moved than I thought it would! We actually had to take apart the crib to get it out the door. We started in the morning and we were able to get her bed set up just in time for nap time. The rest of the furniture was moved in later that evening. Here is the finished room:

I am SO pleased with how everything turned out, but even more important is that Maggie was very proud and very happy about her new big girl bedroom! In fact, right after we had her bed set up, she actually ASKED us if she could take a nap! She was so excited to climb into her new bed!! I do still need to find a few more items to decorate her wall, but what a change her room has gone through! The sheet set and comforter are so pretty, soft and cute. I'm really loving the quality of these items! The hamper is nice and sturdy too. It has a full load of clothes in it right now waiting for me to wash!

Children's Bedding Boutique specializes in not only bedding for girls, but also boys and babies. They have a great selection!! I'd be shocked if you don't see something you'd love to have for your kid(s)! Besides bedding, they also carry adorable rocking horses, bookshelves, and more. Visit them at www.childrensbeddingboutique.com!

Children's Bedding Boutique would also like to give one of my fans a $50 Gift Certificate to use at their store!! If you'd like to enter to win, just use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Good luck!

TimmyTime: Timmy Needs a Bath Review and Giveaway

Grab your rubber ducky and get ready to soak in some lamb-tastic good fun as preschool favorite Timmy Time™ returns for an all new family-friendly, good-hearted release, Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath, available on DVD January 24, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

With slapstick humor and not a single line of dialogue, Timmy Time follows a day in the life of barnyard preschoolers. With diverse animal characters along with a rich and colorful nursery school backdrop, Timmy and his friends learn life lessons that every preschooler needs to know. Whether fleeing bath time, becoming a walking collage, being bitten by the cleaning bug or engaging in a paint war, Timmy and his pals always bring joy, heart and a little silliness to any situation.

Timmy Time™ is part of Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming for kids ages 2-7 and their families, which airs in more than 99 million U.S. homes. The show is created by Aardman Studios, the Academy Award®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™.

DVD SYNOPSIS:
Enjoy some good clean fun with Timmy and his friends! Adventures with mud, glue and paint leave Timmy in some sticky situations. This clever little lamb uses his creativity to make tub-time fun and turn a paint fight into a masterfleece! Timmy cleans up and discovers the most fun of all is being with friends! Soak up the good times with Timmy…just don’t forget to wash behind your ears!
Episodes:

• “Timmy Needs A Bath”
• “Sticky Timmy”
• “Tidy Timmy”
• “Timmy Goes Camping”
• “Timmy The Artist”

DVD BONUS FEATURES

• Timmy’s Tune #2 – Music Video
• Shaun the Sheep Bonus Episode: Supersize Timmy

What We Thought:

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If your family hasn't watched Timmy Time (or Shaun the Sheep) yet, you're really missing out! I wish I could meet the people who write these stories because they are excellent and so funny! Timmy Time is always enjoyable and Maggie spends the entire time watching it with a big smile on her face.  This DVD is no exception and we're so happy to have it as part of our collection--even if her watching this DVD does mean that we spend the next 3 days randomly breaking out in the Timmy Time theme song! Oh, and make sure you watch the bonus Shaun the Sheep episode, Supersize Timmy. That is one of our favorites!!

If you want a chance to win a copy for your family, just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Retrospect Slideshows Giveaway

Do you have tons of loose pictures scattered throughout your house. I have this little end table that is hollow on the inside. It has become the home for all of my loose pictures. I have a LOT in there! Every time I get some developed, we look through them, and then end up tossing them in there. It was always my intention to scrapbook them, but well, like I'm sure most of you, I am pressed for free time!

I would really like to get my pictures organized so that when I do want to look at them, or share them with friends and family, I can do so easily and with pride. My husband made a really nice video on our last trip to the National Zoo. He took the time to edit it and put in music, great transitions, etc and then he gave copies to everyone who went along. His Grandmother was with us and she absolutely loved the movie. She is getting ready to move in a week and has begged us to continue to make her DVDs of our pictures/videos and send them to her so that she can still see what we've been up to, even though she will be on the other side of the country.

I wanted to tell you today about Retrospect Slideshows, an affordable, and creative slideshow service.  With Retrospect Slideshows, you can put those important pictures you have into slideshows and share them with anyone you want! They re-launched their company on January 1st with upgrades, new features, and incredible transitions and effects, unlike you've ever seen before. The general public can become a member for free, upload pictures, and customize slideshow options including song choice, pacing/theme, and titles. In addition to DVD and Blu-Ray copies of the slideshow, you can also request a digital copy that is viewable online so you can share it with your friends, family, and followers to any social media, or on any tablet or Smart Phone.  The shows are perfect for any occasion like new babies, birthdays, vacation photos, engagements, holidays, reunions, or just everyday pictures. Continue to upload photos, continue to share, but now in a whole new way! Their slogan is, "You make the memories, we'll make them unforgettable!"

I know that if you read my blog, most likely you are a fan of giveaways. They are having a HUGE giveaway for their re-launch right now! To say thank-you for helping them spread the word, they are giving away 500 silver package shows (up to 50 photos and 1 song worth $14.99)! 

 There are 5 different ways to get a free show and they are accepting the first 100 people who use each method. They are all pretty easy to do too! These are the ways you can win:

• Like them and post their demo on Facebook
• Follow them and tweet their demo on Twitter
• Blog about them or write a review on a website with a link to their website and demo
• Subscribe to them on YouTube and share their demo
• Email a link to their website and their demo to at least 20 friends/family members. 

After you've done one of those five option, then send them an email at RetrospectShows@optimum.net to claim your prize!

Hopefully some of you will be able to take advantage of this giveaway and get your pictures finally organized! Enjoy!