Classy Nail Files

I’ve always had weak nails, so whenever they break or peel (which is very often), I typically use a metal nail file to smooth them out, but sometimes it seems to make my nails worse. I’ve used emery boards before, but I just don’t like having to continuously buy them. Now I know there's an alternative to metal nail files and emery boards--crystal glass nail files from Classy Nail Files.

According to the website, "Classy Nail Files, LLC was created to bring a vibrant line of durable and unique hand painted and colored crystal glass nail files to consumers, gift stores, spas and beauty product distributors across North America.

• All files are double-sided.
• Files can be sterilized with heat, autoclave, liquid and UV lighting.
• Files can be used on natural or artificial nails. Dipping the file in water while using on artificial nails is recommended.
• The filing surface is created out of the file body, thus it will never wear out.
• Gives nails a remarkably flawless edge that's free of rough spots. Using the file on a regular basis, chipping and peeling of the nail will be reduced.
• The files are hardened, making it 74% stronger than common glass. Because they are glass, care still must be used with the file.
• Environmentally friendly in construction and use"

I was fortunate to receive a medium size (5 1/2") Palm Tree Hand-Painted File (ARV $7.00). The hand-painted design adds a nice personal touch, and the fact that it’s of an island is just so fitting considering I live on one!

At first I did feel wary about using a glass file fearing that it would break, but the nail file is sturdy and really easy to use, easy to clean (just rinse it under the sink), and I ended up with nice, smooth nails!

They even offer small sizes so you can file your baby’s nails instead of clipping them, preventing the risk of accidentally clipping your baby’s precious skin, and large sizes that can be used on your heels!

I never knew crystal glass files existed until I received one from Classy Nail Files, but now that I have one I can’t imagine ever having to use emery boards or metal nail files ever again!

Shop: You can purchase crystal glass nail files in various sizes and designs on the Classy Nail Files website, or at various retailers nationwide.

Thank you to Classy Nail Files, LLC for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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KINeSYS

I recently bought several bottles of KINeSYS sunscreen, a sunscreen that I’ve posted about a couple of times before and has won numerous awards, the most recent of which is the Seal of Approval from Parent Tested Parent Approved.

According to the KINeSYS website, “countless tests and trials have led to the KINeSYS line of Performance Sunscreens, which exceed the requirements of professional athletes and active individuals regardless of skill or age.”

I use the SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray for KIDS on both my boys, and DH and I use it on ourselves too. With two restless kids, the KINeSYS spray pump makes it quick and easy to apply sunscreen.

The KINeSYS KIDS Sunscreen Spray provides Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is:

• 100% Preservative-free
• Oil-free / Alcohol-free / PABA-free
• Water-resistant / Sweat-resistant
• Hypoallergenic / Non-comedogenic

Shop: You can purchase sun protection products on the KINeSYS website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Win: One lucky winner will win a KINeSYS prize pack (ARV $33). Prize pack description:

KINeSYS offers a line of sunscreen sprays and creams that are designed with your active family in mind. Included in this prize pack is a large bottle of their NEW SPF 30 Girl's Sunscreen Spray . This performance sun block is even better with the addition of Vitamin E and a new Vanilla fragrance in a cute pink bottle! Also included is a travel bottle of the SPF Girl and their award winning KINeSYS for kids. All of their sunscreens are gentle non-irritating sprays that go on easily and dry fast for little athletes on the go. They are alcohol free and continue to use the highest quality recyclable materials for their packaging and non-aerosol pumps for their sprayers. Their products are never animal tested.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Courtney!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­the KINeSYS website and comment on your favorite product or product you’d like to try.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and KINeSYS
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 6, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 7, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US and Canada addresses only.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to KINeSYS for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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LittleMissMatched

When I was asked if I wanted to do a review for LittleMissMatched, I browsed through their product selection and thought that their socks, flip-flops, and other items were super cute and fun, but when I saw the KnitWits, I just couldn’t resist getting one for my boys!

According to the website, LittleMissMatched’s “innovative products are fashion forward AND evergreen. And best of all, they balance high quality, ingenuity, and FUN! The media, celebrities and retailers alike have fallen madly in love with yours truly! Why? Cuz who else lets you: 1) be as missmatched as you wanna be, 2) go crazy with your creativity, 3) unleash your inner child to come out and play?!”

We were fortunate to receive a Flipwit KnitWit (ARV $25). Flipwit is floppy and fun, soft and squeezable, and so cute and colorful. Both my boys love playing with Flipwit (although I do have to be careful they don’t pull or chew his eyes off). I just think Flipwit is the silliest creature they have to play with, and I also think it’s awesome that Flipwit is made out of LIttleMissMatched’s scraps of leftover socks. What a great way to reduce waste!

For even more fun, you can check out the Witalator, which is the neat machine the KnitWits are made from. After checking out the Witalator, you can name your KnitWit and print out a birth certificate, find our more about your KnitWit’s personality, and play a memory game.

My boys have flipped over Flipwit, and I’m sure you’ll find fun products that your kids will flip over for too on LittleMissMatched!

Shop: You can purchase KnitWits, socks, flip flops, and more on the LittleMissMatched website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to LittleMissMatched for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Dove Visibly Smooth

I use an organic deodorant, but when I go out walking or somewhere that I know I’ll be perspiring a lot (to the beach, a picnic, etc.), I use an anti-perspirant/deodorant. I recently found out about a new anti-perspirant/deodorant from Dove--Dove Visibly Smooth, which is a multi-tasking product, and what mom doesn’t love a multi-tasking product?

According to the website, "Feel dry all day, and beautifully stubble free for longer. New Dove Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant deodorant minimizes the visual appearance of underarm hair over time.

• From first use, it smooths and conditions underarm skin.
• Within weeks, you’ll start to notice your underarm hair feels softer, finer, and easier to remove.
• Over time, your underarm hair will look and feel less noticeable."

Dove Visibly Smooth currently comes in Wild Rose and Nature Fresh fragrances (ARV $3.49 each) and sounds like a great way to help fight the underarm stubble!

Want even more tips on how to minimize underarm hair? Follow these steps from Dove and treat yourself to a PitiCure: "a PitiCure is to your underarms as a pedicure is to your feet. It removes dead skin that can trap impurities, cleanses the underarms and minimizes the look and feel of underarm hair over time in three simple steps:

• Step 1: Use gentle exfoliating scrub or wipes to cleanse underarms helping to draw out impurities
  - Impurities in the underarm area can cause unwanted underarm irritation (e.g., folliculitis/ingrown hair); exfoliation and cleansing will help to relieve this
• Step 2: Rinse off and gently dry underarms with towel
• Step 3: Apply Dove Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant
  
  For best results, repeat this body treatment as needed and apply Dove Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant as part of your daily beauty routine."

We’re all busy, so it’s great to find multi-tasking products, like Dove Visibly Smooth. Try it today—you may end up spending a lot less time shaving! What have you got to lose (besides the odor and the wetness)?

Shop: You can purchase Dove Visibly Smooth at various retailers nationwide.

Savvy Savings: You can click here to get a $2 off coupon to use on your next purchase of Dove Visibly Smooth Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant.

Win: One lucky winner will get a stick each of Dove Visibly Smooth Wild Rose and Nature Fresh!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to VickeC!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Dove and comment on a detail mentioned in the Dove Visibly Smooth FAQs Benefits interests you the most.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Dove
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 5, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 6, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Unilever for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Health at Every Size

I know a woman who is really slim, but she has really high blood pressure and cholesterol. I'm not slim like she is, yet my blood pressure and cholesterol were at healthy levels at last check. Such reasons are why I was so interested in reading the book Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Linda Bacon, PhD (ARV $14.95 Benbella Books).

Fat isn’t the problem. Dieting is the problem. A society that rejects anyone whose body shape or size doesn’t match an impossible ideal is the problem. A medical establishment that equates “thin” with “healthy” is the problem. The solution? Health at Every Size. Tune in to your body’s expert guidance. Find the joy in movement. Eat what you want, when you want, choosing pleasurable foods that help you to feel good. You too can feel great in your body right now—and Health at Every Size will show you how. Health at Every Size has been scientifically proven to boost health and self-esteem. The program was evaluated in a government-funded academic study, its data published in well-respected scientific journals. Health at Every Size is not a diet book and after reading it, you will be convinced the best way to win the war against fat is to give up the fight.

The book is divided into two parts: Part 1: Deconstructing Weight; Part 2: Health at Every Size.

Part 1 explains the concept of your set-point weight, which is the healthy weight your body aims for. This section also discusses emotional eating (which is one of my biggest struggles), facts about food (carbs, fats, sugars, etc.), and how many of us have grown to believe that fat equals lazy and unhappy.

Bacon makes many interesting points, basically telling you to be informed and make educational decisions when it comes to food and your health—don’t just believe all the hype that’s out there.

Part 2 was all about the Health at Every Size (HAES) program. Participants in the program learned how to do such things as respect themselves, satisfy their hunger, and manage stress. Basically, they simply learned how to live well.

The interesting part was that although such factors as LDL, blood pressure, and self-esteem improved in the HAES group, they did not achieve any statistically significant weight loss!

And that’s what really mattered most—not how much weight the women lost, but how much better they felt about themselves and how much healthier they became by learning how to respect themselves, embracing their bodies, enjoying life...by living well!

Health at Every size stresses how healthy refers to more than just weight. Healthy refers to your entire self--body, mind, and soul.

Take the Live Well Pledge today and start your own journey to health, no matter what size you are!

Shop: You can purchase Health at Every Size on the Benbella Books website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Benbella Books for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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By the Book by Melissa Bishop & Karen Berg

Next month Smiley Boy will be watched by certain relatives for the first time, and thanks to By the Book: How to Take Care of MY Kids by Melissa Bishop & Karen Berg (ARV $19.95 Hardbound or $9.95 eBook; Karmel Publishing), our sitters will have all the information they need to care for Smiley Boy while the rest of our family attends the wedding of one of my dearest friends.

Finally there is a comprehensive resource that focuses on getting all of the information — the big things down to the little details — and putting it in the hands of your caregiver. It will also help you have a handle on what happened while you were away. This resource can be used for both parents, the caregiver, the grandparents - whomever is in charge.

Even though Smiley Boy will be with new sitters for just a few hours, By the Book will still come in very handy, as the new sitters will have information on his feedings, diaper changings, bath routine, and more.

By the Book also has pages for you to leave information you may have not thought of leaving with your sitter in the first place. For instance, once DH’s parents came over to watch the boys and I never thought about leaving them instructions on how to open the safety gate to go upstairs (they ended up calling us for help). By the Book has space for you to leave such instructions, as well as space for you to leave information on how to operate remotes, alarm systems, and other items.

Your caregivers will know what your kids eat, what they are not allowed to do, who to call if there’s an emergency, and everything else they need to while your precious children are left in their hands to care for.

By the Book is even useful to parents—you’ll know exactly where to look up immunization records, doctors’ numbers, and other information--so much easier than looking in different places—on the fridge, in file folders, etc.

Whether you’re leaving your child with a caregiver for one hour, one day, or one week, and regardless of your child’s age, By the Book is an handy resource to have on hand for anyone who cares for your child.

Shop: You can purchase hardbound books or eBooks of By the Book on the By the Book website.

Savvy Savings: Use coupon code BTBK7757 (case sensitive) for a 25% discount on the hardbound copy of By the Book, expires on June 28, 2009.

Win: Once lucky winner will get the By the Book eBook along with a 3-ring binder and tabs (ARV $15.00).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Shanna!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­By the Book and comment on which topic(s) under the Table of Contents you think are the most useful.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­By the Book
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 4, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 5, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Karmel Publishing for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Celsius

DH used to drink a lot of soda at work to help him get through his long shifts, but he recently tried out some Celsius drinks that not only helped him get through his shifts, but they are much healthier than all of soda that he was drinking.

According to the website, “Multiple clinical studies have shown a SINGLE SERVING of Celsius burns calories by raising metabolism generating increased energy, alertness and focus. Our double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical research confirmed its functional benefit. Specifically, we discovered that a SINGLE SERVING of Celsius (one 12 oz bottle or can):

• Burns up to 100 calories
• Raises metabolism on average by 12%
• Provides sustained energy for up to 3 hours”
  Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You should speak to a health care professional if you have any concerns prior to drinking this product.

We were fortunate to receive the following flavors of Celsius: Sparkling Lemon-Lime, Ginger-Ale, and Orange (also comes in Cola and Wild Berry flavors), and Non-Carbonated Green Tea Raspberry Acai and Green Tea Peach Mango (ARV $1.99/12oz. can).

Celsius is “powered by MetaPlus™, a select, clinically validated combination of quality ingredients, such as Green Tea with EGCG, Ginger, Calcium, Caffeine, Chromium, B vitamins and vitamin C.”

DH tried out all the drinks (I couldn’t try them because the Celsius drinks are not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing, as well as people who are caffeine sensitive or children under 12), and his favorite was Lemon-Lime, stating that it tasted almost like a popular lemon-lime drink. He said the Ginger-Ale was good—he could really taste the ginger, and although he doesn’t really care for Green Tea drinks, he enjoyed the Green Tea Peach Mango drink. He said the Orange tasted like diet orange soda and it was okay, and his least favorite was the Green Tea Raspberry Acai.

Although there was no way we could tell if DH burned up to 100 calories more per can or his metabolism was raised over a 3-hour period, he did drink these while at work to give him the energy he needed (without any jitters) to get him through the rest of his long shift.

We both think it’s great that the Celsius drinks are just 10 calories each and don’t contain any sugar, aspartame, high fructose syrups, artificial flavors or colors like the drinks he usually drinks while at work.
If you’re looking for an alternative to sodas and other drinks with lots of calories and preservatives, you should check out Celsius, a refreshing drink in more ways than one!

Shop: You can purchase Celsius drinks on the Celsius website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Sign up for the Celsius Newsletter and receive a $1.00 off coupon.

Thank you to Celsius, Inc. for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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July 21, 2009: Kenny Loggins-All Join In

Kenny Loggins, one of pop music’s greatest hit makers with over 25 million albums sold worldwide, is back with All Join In, a lovingly crafted, extremely entertaining, up-tempo collection of songs -- a musical gumbo to please long time fans, parents and children alike. Commenting on the album Loggins says: "All Join In...It’s like putting on an old sweater. I want everyone to feel comfortable and have a sense they know what they’re getting."

The album – produced by Loggins and Jesse Seidenberg -- includes fresh, creative takes of classics such as The Beatles' “All Together Now” and “Two Of Us” (the latter being his first studio recording in decades with Jim Messina), Randy Newman's “You’ve Got A Friend In Me,” The Del Vikings' 1950's classic “Come Go With Me,” the heart-warming ballad “Gandhi/Buddha” (Cheryl Wheeler), Traffic’s “You Can All Join In” (appropriately joined by the song’s writer and former Traffic member Dave Mason) and Donovan’s 1960's classic “First There Is A Mountain.” Loggins’ 11-year old daughter Hana contributes vocals on “First There is A Mountain” and all five of his children provide backing vocals in various tracks throughout the album.

Loggins adds: “Even in a life that’s been so full of music, All Join In feels unique and meaningful to me, both as a musician and -- perhaps even more so -- as a parent myself.”

Loggins wrote two of the CD’s 13 tracks, “Long Tailed Cat” and “Moose N’ Me,” dedicated to Kenny’s pet dog of long ago – both songs were written more than 30 years ago. Also featured on All Join In is the song “Underneath the Same Sky,” culled from the soundtrack to the Disney animated film, “My Friends Tigger & Pooh: And a Musical Too.”

TRACK LIST:
“Underneath The Same Sky”
“All Together Now”
“You Got A Friend In Me”
“2 Of Us”
“Come Go With Me”
“First There Is A Mountain”
“Puppy Song”
“You Can All Join In”
“Gandhi/Buddha”
“Long Tailed Cat”
“Your Lollipop”
“Moose ‘n Me”
“1234”
“Go Fish”

After a string of successful singles and albums with Loggins & Messina (including "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Danny's Song" ), Kenny broke as a solo artist, with such hits as "Whenever I Call You Friend," "This Is It," and "Celebrate Me Home.” Throughout the years, he enjoyed hit after hit, many from popular soundtracks like Footloose, Caddyshack ("I'm Alright") and Top Gun ("Danger Zone" ). He also co-wrote one of the great singles of all time, the Song of the Year Grammy-winning “What a Fool Believes,” which both he and the Doobie Brothers recorded. Kenny also became the first major rock star to dedicate himself to recording music for children. His album, Return To Pooh Corner, is still the best-selling children's album of the last 20 years.

Kenny continues to write and record, and will embark on a Loggins & Messina tour later this summer and throughout the fall.

All Join In will be available on July 21, 2009 on Disney Pearl, a Walt Disney Records imprint.

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Super Natural Home by Beth Greer

I was fortunate to receive the book Super Natural Home: Improve Your Health, Home, and Planet-One Room at a Time by Beth Greer (ARV $15.95, Rodale), which provided me with a lot of helpful information to make my home safer for me and my family.

Beth Greer had been living what she considered a healthy lifestyle when a medical crisis prompted her to reevaluate everything-from the food she ate to the personal-care products she used and the environment she lived in. Now, in Super Natural Home, she shows the alarming extent of the dangerous chemicals we unwittingly expose ourselves to every day. As she did in her own life, she invites readers to put their lives under a microscope-to scrutinize what Americans put in and on their bodies and bring into their homes-and to make personal choices that will enable them to "live clean" in a toxic world.

The book begins with a Super Natural Home Quiz, asking you about certain products in your home to determine your exposure to various types of chemicals and toxins. It’s surprising how much toxins we’re exposed to—in the air, in our carpets, in our foods, in our toys, in pretty much everything in our home.

Then Greer discusses in more detail the toxins found in foods and drinks, beauty products, and other items that we use every day, and she offers suggestions, products, and websites that can help you in eliminating exposure to such toxins.

To help get you started, Greer offers 3 Ways to Make a Shift in various sections. For instance, to decrease your exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaners, she suggests being aware of smells that are strong or make your eyes water (which probably means there are bad chemicals in that product, so you should toss it); being wary of products that make cleaning effortless, (which should make you suspicious about the chemicals that are in the product, so you should toss those too), and making your own cleaners with vinegar, baking soda, and other safer alternatives.

One of the most interesting chapters was Chapter 2, Forget Food Additives, which goes into detail about the numerous additives that people consume each day, most of which I don’t give a second thought about. When buying foods, I usually look at sugar, fat, and salt content, but now I will take an even closer look at the ingredients to make sure there are no additives.

In Super Natural Home, Greer also offers so many other ways to help you detoxify your home. I found a great recipe for a veggie wash, a list of plants I can get to help improve indoor air quality, and even recipes for homemade skin care products!

Greer also features several Unsung Heroes who have made a positive impact in helping to protect our families as well as the environment.

Super Natural Home is a handy guide providing important information and practical tips that will make it easy for you to make changes today for a healthier tomorrow.

Shop: You can purchase Super Natural Home on the Rodale Store website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Rodale for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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First Juice

I’ve mentioned before how Little Music Man loves juice, and if it’s organic juice, all the better, which is why I was excited for him to try out First Juice for the very first time!

According to the website, “First Juice® is the first brand launched by First Juice, Inc. First Juice is the nation's first organic, low sugar, fruit and vegetable juice for infants and toddlers.”

We were fortunate to receive all four flavors of First Juice for Little Music Man to try: apple + carrot; banana + carrot; blueberry + purple carrot; peach + purple carrot (ARV $1.99/8oz. bottle or $4.99/32oz. bottle).

As expected, Little Music Man loved all four flavors, but his favorite was blueberry + purple carrot. He did not want to put the bottle down until he drank up all the juice. He also loves blueberries, which may be why this was his favorite.

I had a chance to taste the banana + carrot juice and it was very tasty, but not very sweet. First Juice encourages serving healthy, delicious foods and drinks that are not too sweet so kids develop healthier food preferences as they grow.

I love the unique flavor combinations that First Juice offers, as well as how it has 50% less sugar than the leading 100% juice brand, and that it comes in a sippy-top bottle that’s reusable and BPA & phthalate free.

Little Music Man loves First Juice and once Smiley Boy is old enough to drink juice, First Juice will be the very first juice he tries.

Shop: You can purchase First Juice on the First Juice website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: You can complete a form to receive an online coupon for $1.00 off of any 2, 8oz or 32oz bottles of First Juice®.

Win: Four lucky winners will each receive two coupons for a free bottle of First Juice (good for either an 8oz or 32 oz bottle; expires 12/31/09).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Kim, kathy pease, aamismom, lilyk!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­First Juice and comment what you found most interesting or important about First Juice as mentioned in the General Information.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and First Juice
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 2, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 3, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to First Juice for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Green Babies; Green Kids, Sage Families by Lynda Fassa

Since I started my blog, I feel I have gotten several shades greener. I’ve discovered great green products and read lots of books about going green, and I always love finding out about the awesome people behind the products and books. I found one person, Lynda Fassa, who not only wrote the book Green Kids, Sage Families, but she also created her own company, Green Babies, featuring some of the cutest organic clothing I’ve seen anywhere!

According to the website, “I started Green Babies with a simple idea: That every baby is wonderful and deserves the best, most comfortable, cutest, most well constructed, softest, irritant-free clothes. (Without breaking Mom and Dad's budget!)…We know that the most important baby in the world is the one you're thinking about. We hope you'll join us and consider making them a Green Baby.”

I was fortunate to receive some super adorable clothes that are made from 100% organic cotton for my boys. Smiley Boy received the Snails & Stripes Kimono set (ARV $36), and Little Music Man received a T.G.I.F (Thank Goodness it’s Fly Day) tee (ARV $20).

Smiley Boy can’t fit in his outfit yet, but it’s the first kimono outfit he’s ever had and I know he’ll look so darned cute!

Little Music Man's “T.G.I.F” tee is such a fun tee--I think the frog and the “Fly Day” statement are just so funny.

In addition to the clothing, I received the book Green Kids, Sage Families: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Kids (ARV $15.00, Penguin), which is an easy-to-read, helpful guide when it comes to going green.

Green living starts at home—where small changes can vastly improve family life. When little ones start exploring, parents want to give them a healthy, green world—at home, at school, and beyond. Jam-packed with helpful, money-saving advice, this book includes sections on:

• Eco-friendly toys, home repairs, holidays, and birthdays

• Pesticides—on the lawn and in food

• How to get a school to go green

• What to ban from house and garden

• What’s really in a food label

• Breaks for Mother Earth—going green while saving green

• And much more!

With tips that will actually save parents money, this guide shows them how to go green while protecting both their children and the planet their children will inherit.

In Green Kids, Sage Families, Fassa offers suggestions on brands of products to use, sites to visit, and a variety of things you can do to become greener. I really like how she ends sections with “Green at a Glance,” providing tips for those who are “Evergreen,” “Pea Green,” or “Spring Green,” since no matter what shade of green you are, you can always find a way to be just a little bit greener each and every day.

Fassa also shares a variety of ideas, recipes, and how-tos, and she features many “Green Gurus” who share their insight and knowledge on going green.

By buying clothes from eco-friendly companies, such as Green Babies, and reading books on how to become greener, such as Green Kids, Sage Families, you, your family, and the environment will reap the benefits!

Shop: To purchase super cute organic clothing for your little one, visit the Green Babies website, or click here to find a retailer near you. You can purchase Green Kids, Sage Families on the Penguin website, or at various retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Green Babies and Penguin for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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SunChips; ECOBAGS; Green Effect

More and more companies are taking steps to help the environment, and I was fortunate to receive products from two such companies who have taken the initiative to encourage eco-consciousness—SunChips and ECOBAGS.

I was fortunate to receive a Milano Style-Natural String Bag (ARV $7.00) from ECOBAGS. According to the website, “Eco-Bags Products, Inc. opened for business in 1989 with a simple goal; to produce quality bags at great prices so that ‘Reusable becomes a way of life.’”

This is my first string bag, and I think it’s pretty cool! It would be great for my next trip to the farmer’s market!

I also received a 10 1/2 oz. bag each of Garden Salsa and Peppercorn Ranch SunChips (ARV $3.99 each). The Garden Salsa had a little spicy kick, but the Peppercorn Ranch was my favorite of the two-I loved the flavor combination. I was surprised to find out that the bags are actually eco-friendly--"33% of every 10 1/2 oz. size SunChips® bag is made with renewable, plant based materials."

In addition to creating more eco-friendly chip bags, SunChips is doing a lot more to help the environment. They have teamed up with National Geographic to create the Green Effect, “an initiative to inspire individuals to spark a green movement in their communities.”

According to the website, “YOU could be the one to make a difference in your community—for the planet! Submit a description of your Green Effect idea by June 8, 2009. Ten finalists will be announced July 7, 2009. Online viewers and a distinguished panel of judges will review these inspiring ideas. We'll award $20,000 each to five people or groups that have the best ideas for green change. The five winners will also be profiled in National Geographic, and the winners will travel to Washington, D.C., to share their projects with environmental leaders.”

Check out the Green Effect for more information.

It’s great to see companies doing their part, as well as encouraging others, to save the environment.

Shop: You can purchase SunChips at various retailers online and nationwide. You can purchase a variety of reusable bags on the ECOBAGS website.

Win: One lucky winner will get a prize package consisting of two bags of 10.5 oz. SunChips (flavors may vary from those mentioned above) and an ECOBAGS Milano Style-Natural String Bag!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to dddiva!

• To enter, visit the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Green Effect and comment on your favorite idea (please leave a link to the idea in your comment).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Green Effect
  2))Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 1, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 2, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Frito-Lay and Eco-Bags Products, Inc. for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Posters Printing

DH recently read an article about decorating ideas for children’s rooms, and one of the ideas was to enlarge photos to poster-size prints. When he told me about the article, I thought the timing was perfect since we had an opportunity to create a poster from one of our digital photos through Posters Printing.

According to the website, “Our mission is simple; to delight our customers with the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to print posters. Through cutting edge technology and the guidance of some of the brightest minds in the business, we are achieving that mission each and every day.”

To begin creating your poster, first you choose your options: poster size, paper stock, finishing, and how soon you need your poster. The cost of your order, including shipping, is displayed on the very first page, so by the time you get to checkout, there are no surprises.

Next, you upload your file, crop it if necessary, and then it’s time to checkout!

It’s so easy!

We wanted a poster of our two boys, and after we finally found one that had both of them looking at the camera and not crying, we went through the ordering process. We ordered an 18” x 24” poster on photo paper, with no finishing options, and requested it in 6 days (ARV $18.00).

We received our poster really quickly and were impressed with the quality. The poster was nice and clear and the colors were vibrant. Little Music Man got a kick out of seeing himself so huge!

I would definitely order posters from Posters Printing again. The process is effortless and in a matter of days you’ll have a quality poster that will stand out in any room.

Shop: You can purchase posters created from your digital photos and files on the Posters Printing website.

Savvy Savings: You can get 30% off using code TRYUS30; cannot be combined with any other offers; expires 5/31/09.

Thank you to Posters Printing for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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ProActive Parenting

When faced with frustrating situations involving our children, we may sometimes wonder if there could be a better or easier way of handling things. We often look to various resources for guidance, and one such resource many turn to is ProActive Parenting.

According to the website, “ProActive Parenting is here to support parents as they lovingly teach their toddlers and preschoolers the basics. Things like how my parents handle saying no, interrupting, whining and potty mouth, running and wild behavior, self control, and listening. This type of education is not only crucial to the foundation of any child; it stops parental yelling and exhaustion and it’s what creates a well-balanced, well-behaved child who is respectful to him/her self and others. Without those basics a child’s relationship with family or with him/her self can flounder."

ProActive Parenting offers live and downloadable seminars (ARV $15.95-$34.95) on the subjects mentioned above, making it easy for you to learn the techniques on your own time.

Parenting is both the best and the hardest job in the world, and if you need help handling your little one in certain situations, ProActive Parenting may be able to provide you with the guidance you need.

Shop: You can download seminars on the ProActive Parenting website

Win: One lucky winner will receive download of the entire ProActive Parenting The Everyday Solutions Series (Set of 10, ARV $149.95).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to lilyk!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ProActive Parenting and comment on which of the seminars interests you most.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and ProActive Parenting
  2)Sign up for the ProActive Parenting Newsletter (please use the same email address that’s in your comment or profile for verification)
  3)Subscribe to my feed
  4)Add my button to your sidebar
  5)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is May 31, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 1, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to ProActive Parenting for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway!

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Second Spring by Dr. Maoshing Ni

I don’t consider myself in midlife yet, but that didn’t stop me, nor should it stop any other woman regardless of age, from reading Second Spring: Dr. Mao's Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age by Maoshing Ni (ARV $17.99, Free Press).

The Chinese refer to a woman's midlife transition as her Second Spring. Thanks to the simple, natural techniques of traditional Chinese medicine, the second half of a woman's life is a flowering of feminine potential rather than a physical and mental decline. Now, Dr. Mao's revolutionary Second Spring™ program gives you time-tested, completely natural treatments to enhance energy, sexuality, and health -- and initiate your own new season of vitality starting at age thirty-five, through premenopause, menopause, and beyond.

Much of what Dr. Mao shares in his book is common sense, such as eat lots of fruits and vegetables and exercise your brain and body, but what I appreciate most is how he offers simple and natural suggestions for everything from how to fight fatigue and colds to hot flashes and high blood pressure.

I learned a whole lot reading this book, such as how prunes boost your energy, how chives can help clear stuffy noses, and how cinnamon can help fight bladder infections. I discovered that my elemental type is Fire—passionate yet impatient, ambitious, but easily frustrated, and foods to avoid and eat based on my elemental type were recommended. I also discovered a recipe for an Anti-aging Brain Mix full of nuts, seeds, and berries that I’ll definitely be trying soon.

Dr. Mao offers so many more tips and techniques that will benefit you, and even your home! You’ll learn simple exercises to reduce floaters in your eyes, how acupressure can help you get a good night’s sleep, and how to practice the art of Feng shui to prevent positive energy from escaping your home.

Regardless of age, Second Spring is a great guide for women who want natural, common sense approaches to improve their bodies, minds, and souls.

Shop: You can purchase Second Spring on the Simon & Schuster website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to Free Press for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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JumpStart

Since Little Music Man loves to play on the computer, I’m always looking for educational and fun sites and games, and we recently found out about JumpStart, which is an online interactive adventure for kids to learn through play, and they offer great educational software too!

According to the website, “JumpStart is an award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world that is super-personalized, wildly imaginative and really fun, but don't let that fool you - it also teaches math, reading, and critical thinking skills so kids get a real jump start in life.”

On the JumpStart website, children ages 3-10 can begin an exciting adventure through games and other activities. You can sign up for free limited access or purchase memberships (ARV $7.99/monthly; $74.99/yearly), which gives you more games, more learning, and many more benefits!

Before Little Music Man started his JumpStart adventure, we created his avatar via the Jumpee creator, then it was time to start exploring! There are several areas to explore, each geared toward a certain age group. Little Music Man went to explore Storyland, which is aimed at kids 3-5 years old.

In Storyland he played all kinds of games, watched movies, read books, and met many new friends. He loved reading the ABCs book at the library, through which he learned about different objects and heard fun songs about the letters of the alphabet.

JumpStart is not only fun for Little Music Man, but I had fun watching how much he enjoyed singing and counting and identifying objects and letters.

There’s even a JumpStart Blog where parents can get great ideas on other activities to do with children , such as crafts and cooking, that foster every day learning!

We were also fortunate to receive a copy of JumpStart’s 3D Preschool & Kindergarten PC Game (ARV $19.99). There is one CD-Rom for preschoolers and another for kindergartners, and we’ve been trying out the preschooler CD-ROM. The adventures are similar to those on JumpStart.com, and I think it’s just so neat how Little Music Man can earn rewards, take pictures, and decorate his world while learning so much at the same time!

We can’t wait to try out the kindergartners CD-ROM when he’s ready!

Although Little Music Man is on the younger side and often times just randomly hits keys and the mouse to see what happens, he loves it when he meets a new friend or plays a new activity (often times with mommy’s or daddy’s help or guidance). I know as he gets older he’ll be able to explore the JumpStart World on his own and will enjoy it even more.

We still teach Little Music Man things through reading, playing, and other activities, but the technology that is available today to aide in children’s learning is simply amazing, providing hours of educational fun in creative and engaging ways.

We’re so happy to have discovered JumpStart, and I know Little Music Man looks forward to going on new learning adventures in Storyland, and soon Smiley Boy will be going on adventures of his own in the JumpStart World!

Shop: You can purchase JumpStart memberships on the JumpStart website, or at select stores nationwide. You can purchase JumpStart CD Games on the Knowledge Adventure website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will get a 3-month JumpStart membership!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Marianna!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­JumpStart.com and comment on what membership feature(s) interest you the most.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­JumpStart.com
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is May 30, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on May 31, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to JumpStart and Knowledge Adventure for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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Advanced Cosmetic Technologies

Coloring your hair usually involves lots of chemicals and other harmful ingredients, but Advanced Cosmetic Technologies (ACT) now offers a plant-based hair colorant system that DH was eager to use.

According to the website, "Advanced Cosmetic Technologies introduces the first and only PPD-free, 100% plant-based permanent hair color. Completely free of harsh chemicals, our products contain absolutely no PPD, resorcinol or ammonia. None."

We were fortunate to receive a Permanent Hair Coloring Kit for DH to try. Of the 13 shades, DH chose the Medium Natural Brown 5N shade (ARV $29.99).

DH said the instructions were easy to follow and liked how there was no irritating chemical smell (when I went to check on him I couldn’t smell anything either). Although the blow-drying step was time consuming, the hair-coloring process went pretty smoothly, and he ended up with hair color that was identical to the shade on the color chart and kit box.

DH did suggest that maybe there should be more than one processing cap and one pair of gloves in the kit, especially if you use only half the bottle of color like he did since he has short hair, and wanted to use the remaining product in the future.

DH and I both agree that it's great that ACT has introduced a Hair Coloring Kit that is a natural and safer alternative to the typical hair coloring kits that men and women use.

Shop: You can purchase Hair Coloring Kits on the ACT Naturals website.

Thank you to Act by Nature, LLC for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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NoThrow

This has happened too many times...when we used take Little Music Man out and he’d sit in his stroller, we would place a sippy cup in the cup holder. Then, eventually, down to the ground the cup drops, either by accident or on purpose. Since there’s no way I’m going to give his dirty sippy cup back to him, he cries and fusses. Thanks to Twin Beginnings, LLC, I now have the NoThrow so I will no longer have the same problem with Smiley Boy.

According to the website, “We are Karla and Karen, twin sisters, from Chicago…Karla's son Danny kept throwing his bottle around the plane and Karen's son Alex kept throwing his sippy cup all over the car. After one particularly embarrassing flight Karla called Karen and said 'there has got to be something out there to stop this embarrassment.'”

And thus, the NoThrow was born.

We were fortunate to receive the Blue with Sports NoThrow (ARV $5.00). The instructions were very easy to follow, and in no time I had a sippy cup nice and secure to a stroller. I tried it on a wide, disposable sippy cup and I was impressed with how secure it was.

One day while out for a walk, I used the NoThrow to secure a toy, and I also attached another toy with link rings. Half way through our walk, guess which one fell onto the ground? That’s right, the one using the link rings.

You can use the NoThrow on high chairs, car seats, strollers—on anything you need to secure an item to prevent it from falling to the ground.

The NoThrow is aptly named and a small price to pay for such a sanity-saving product!

Shop: You can purchase NoThrow on the NoThrow website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Win: One lucky winner will get a Leopard Print NoThrow!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to nightowl!

• To enter, visit NoThrow and comment on your favorite design.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and NoThrow
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is May 29, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on May 30, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Twin Beginnings, LLC for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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WonderWorld TV

Little Music Man and I recently discovered WonderWorldTV.com, which is home to Ribert & Robert’s WonderWorld and “Where Kids Love to Learn and Learn to Love,” as well as the place to go to enter your child in the Golden Ribby Awards for a chance to win some great prizes, “Helping Kids See Who They’re Meant to Be!”

Little Music Man and I never heard of Ribert & Robert before, but we had a chance to watch a Ribert & Robert’s WonderWorld DVD thanks to WonderWorld Entertainment.

According to the website, “WonderWorld TV’s flagship program, ‘Ribert & Robert’s WonderWorld’ is a unique new preschool series that combines 3D animation and live-action in an effort to help children become more curious, more knowledgeable and more confident about the world they live in.”

Little Music Man became a Power Pal and after putting on his pretend WonderWorld helmet, he took a virtual roller coaster ride and learned all about Winter and the Rainforest.

He helped Ribert complete challenges to get keys that opened doors to science, art, and other areas of expertise. After successfully completing each mission, he was able to get a secret word to input on Ribert.com, where he could get a diploma, and also access fun activities.

Little Music Man loves how bright and colorful each episode is (he always tries to name the colors), and pretending to put on his WonderWorld helmet and ride the roller coaster makes him laugh. It’s great that he’s learning so many new things, and I think it’s neat how the episodes are so interactive.

Little Music Man can’t wait to watch more Ribert & Robert's WonderWorld episodes, which can be found on WonderWorld TV.

WonderWorld TV is also where you can go to enter your child to win a Golden Ribby Award by showcasing your child’s special talent.

The Golden Ribby Awards features lots of awesome dancers, singers and more, and you could enter your child in these and other categories by uploading a video or picture highlighting your child’s talent.

There are lots of great prizes your child could be eligible to win. Ribby Mini Awards are awarded quarterly and prizes include gift cards. The quarterly winners qualify for the annual awards, and prizes include electronics, and the grand prize is $10,000!

For rules and more information on how to enter, please visit WonderWorldTV.com.

WonderWorldTV.com is a fun, educational, and imaginative place for kids to learn all sorts of cool things, as well as a place for them to share talents they’ve learned and be entered to win some great prizes.

Thank you to WonderWorld Entertainment for providing the product(s) for review/and or giveaway.

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MyPunchbowl

At my former job, I was in charge of organizing parties—birthday parties, holiday parties, retirement parties—all kinds of parties! I would often create my own electronic invite to email to everyone, however, since I was already so busy with work, I didn't have time to create really nice invites, and it was a pain keeping track of all the RSVPs and sending out reminders. Thankfully, there are websites that can help with the party planning--sending out invites, keeping track of RSVPs, etc., and one such website is MyPunchbowl.

According to the website, "We developed MyPunchbowl for one single purpose: to help you celebrate life's milestones in the most personal way. With sophisticated eCards and an award-winning event-planning site, MyPunchbowl’s innovative features are specifically designed to give you the ability to personalize your events and customize your eCards. We help you communicate personally with family and friends, personalize your Save the Dates, invitations, and eCards, and show your personality when planning an event or sending an eCard."

MyPunchbowl is a wonderful party planning tool. There are three types of accounts you can sign up for: a free account, which gives you access to such features as their eCards and party planning tools; a Plus Membership Account (ARV $29.95/yr) which offers ad-free eCards and priority tech support; a Premium Membership Account (ARV $49.95/yr), which gives you access to more design options and exclusive partner offers.

I was fortunate to receive a Premium Membership Account, and although I don’t currently have any parties to plan, I wanted to see just how easy it was to design my own invitations. Not only was it easy, but it was a lot of fun!

My favorite MyPunchbowl feature is how you can customize your eCard with videos and photos.

On MyPunchbowl, you can also request birthdays from friends and family, shop for gifts and personalized favors, set up birthday reminders, and so much more.

And if you need a reason to celebrate, MyPunchbowl has a list of fun holidays and party ideas so every day can be a day to party.

No matter the occasion, it's always fun to party with friends and family—and MyPunchbowl is the place to go to help you plan a party to remember.

Win: Two lucky winners will each get a one-year MyPunchbowl Premium membership!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to DG, mverno!

• To enter, visit ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­MyPunchbowl and comment on your favorite Party Planning Idea or piece of Party Planning Advice.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and MyPunchbowl
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is May 28, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on May 29, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!

Thank you to MyPunchbowl for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

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