Holiday Spectacular Day 16: Babybumz Review and Giveaway

Both my boys suffer from occasional diaper rash, and when they do, I use a popular diaper rash cream to help make the rash disappear. Thanks to Babybumz, I now have a safer diaper rash cream to use on my boys!

Welcome to Babybumz on Etsy. I am a stay at home mom of 4 great kids ages 13,4, 4 and an almost 3 year old. My products were made for use on my own kids, and about 9 months ago I decided to take a leap of faith and market them. Yabocream started it all, my oldest son had some medical issue's that would leave him with horrible diaper rashes that would never clear up. After being extremely frustrated I decided to take things into my own hands and I developed Yabocream. As for the name that also came from my oldest son!!! I have yet to find a diaper rash it couldn't heal up in record time, and everyone I hear from says that it smells great and they love how easy it goes on. The biggest thing is that it is preservative free, everything that is in it is pure healing goodness. There is no water and nothing that does not serve a purpose. All my products are made with organic and natural ingredients whenever possible. They smell great, are great for sensitive skin most of all are good for your babies sensitive skin.

I was fortunate to receive a tube of Yabocream (ARV $9.95).

The first thing I noticed about the Yabocream was how nice it smells. It reminded me of a certain orange-cream frozen dessert! It also appeared to work just fine.

I had put some of the Yabocream on Little Music Man one night before bedtime after noticing he had a bit of diaper rash, and the next morning the redness lessened. When my boys get diaper rash, fortunately it’s not too severe, and I usually don’t need to go more than one or two diaper changes while using diaper cream, and it seemed as if the Yabocream worked just as well as the popular brand-name cream.

What sets Yabocream apart from other diaper creams, and what I love the most about the Yabocream, is that it is all natural—I can pronounce all of the ingredients!

The next time one of my boys has diaper rash, I will definitely be reaching for the Yabocream.

Shop: To purchase Yabocream and other baby care products, visit the Babybumz site on Etsy.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Babybumz gift pack which includes: 1oz Yabocream, a 2oz Bumzolution a Babybath Sachet, and Oatmeal Lavender Bath Tea.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to one frugal lady!

• To enter, visit Babybumz and comment on your favorite product or which product you’d most 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 Babybumz
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 7, 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 December 8, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to Babybumz for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Begin Smart Books Review

Smiley Boy absolutely loves books. He loves being read to, and he loves going through books himself—turning pages, lifting flaps, and “reading” (babbling), so when we received a box of books from the Sterling Publishing's Begin Smart Books series, he was very excited!

Begin Smart™ is a developmental publishing program designed to encourage the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of babies and toddlers. Begin Smart is not just another book program. It addresses children’s need to take in information through all of their senses—eyes, ears, fingers, mouths, and noses—and to manipulate objects as much as possible.

We were fortunate to receive the following books, all of which Smiley Boy just delved right into (and Little Music Man couldn’t resist either!):
Newborn to 6 mos: Animal Faces (ARV $12.95), Look Around and Listen (ARV $10.95)
6-12 mos: Bouncy Baby: A First Lift-the-Flap Book (ARV $9.95), Baby Says (ARV $9.95)
12-18mos: Push the Button (ARV $12.95), Peek-a Boo What? (ARV $10.95)
18mos-2yrs: Hooray for Hands (ARV $9.95), How Many Beeps? (ARV $12.95)

I read all of the books to Smiley Boy, but his favorite books were the books that made noise—How Many Beeps? and Push the Button. He loved to push the buttons in each book and hear them squeak. He also really enjoyed Peek-a Boo What?. I would constantly peep through the two holes throughout the book and say “peek-a-boo,” and then I’d make Smiley Boy peep through the holes. He always giggled whenever one of us looked through the holes.

The Begin Smart books really engage Smiley Boy—allowing him to touch and feel, lift and look, and push and play. He really enjoyed all of the books! I thought they were all colorful and engaging, and the only drawback to one book, Baby Says, which is actually 6 round cards on a ring, was how the cards kept falling off the ring.

Each book also includes information on the skills the book encourages, such as memory, interaction, understanding of words, etc.

Ultimately, the books are not only fun and colorful, but they help to develop Smiley Boy's speech and cognitive skills, among other skills.

More Begin Smart books will be released early next year, and I’m sure Smiley Boy will be excited to get them!

Shop: You can purchase books from the Begin Smart series at Barnes & Noble.

Thank you to Sterling Publishing for providing the review products free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Emily Osment: All the Right Wrongs Review

I previously posted about Emily Osment’s single All The Way Up—the song is so catchy and made me want to sing and dance along!

I recently had a chance to listen to her entire debut CD, All the Right Wrongs (ARV $5.98 CD, $5.00 Digital Download), on which All the Way Up is featured.

The track list includes:
1. All the Way Up
2. Average Girl
3. Found Out About You
4. I Hate the Homecoming Queen
5. You Are the Only One
6. What About Me

Althought it was a short CD, I really enjoyed all of the tracks.

Average Girl was my favorite track—an addicting tune about young love, and What About Me, which is the mellowest of the tracks, is a touching song about heartbreak.

Most of Osment’s songs are energetic, making me want to get up and move, and all of them are very relatable, especially to teens.

For a debut CD, I think it only begins to showcase Osment’s talent, and I already can’t wait for her sophomore album, and hopefully it’ll feature many more tracks!

Shop: You can purchase a download of All the Right Wrongs on iTunes, or the CD at Amazon.

Thank you to Wind-Up Records for providing the review product free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 15: Photo Card Creations Giveaway

CIf you still haven’t ordered your holiday cards yet, or you’re looking for invitations or announcements, Photo Card Creations may have just the card you need for that special occasion.


Photo Card Creations was started by Allison Thomas, a bride who couldn’t find nice wedding photo thank you cards for herself. So she decided to create her ‘own’ photo thank you cards & to create a custom photo card company that would cater to brides just like herself – those looking for something trendy, hip & unique! That’s when Photo Card Creations was born. Since 2001, Photo Card Creations has grown into a design studio made up of a team of talented graphic designers, artists & people who share a love for paper, great design & offering top notch service & products.


Photo Card Creations offers many fresh designs. Some of my favorites include the following:

Photo Card Creations offers many more designs for a variety of occasions—it’ll be hard not to find a design you love!

Shop: To purchase holiday cards, invitations, or announcements, visit the Photo Card Creations website.

Savvy Savings: Get a 15% discount off any photo card purchase on Photo Card Creations with promo code Link15 (cannot be combined with other discounts).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a $50 coupon towards the purchase of any of Photo Card Creations cards (good towards the purchase of 75 or more cards and cannot be combined with any other promotions).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to rainmommy!

• To enter, visit Photo Card Creations and comment on why you’d like to win the coupon AND which design is your favorite.
• 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 Photo Card Creations
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 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 December 7, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Photo Card Creations for providing the product giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 14: Citizenpip Review and Giveaway

Thanks to Citizenpip, I received a very cool lunch kit that’s eco-friendly, safe, and stylish!

Citizenpip makes it easy to go green with products that are designed to be fun and stylish for kids, and practical and convenient for parents. munchgear reusable lunch kits by Citizenpip come with everything you need to pack a waste-free lunch.

Three reasons to love Citizenpip:
• Eco-friendly
- Reusable components reduce trash
- Recyclable materials
• Muck-free
- Lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free
- Lab tested products exceed FDA and CPSIA standards
• Practical & Convenient
- Flexible design accommodates different types of containers
- Easy to clean products have wide mouth openings and are dishwasher-safe
- Easy for little hands to open and close

I was fortunate to receive the Soup to Nuts Kit in the Tasty design (ARV $55). This kit really does contain all you need to take everything from soups to nuts with you! It includes: 1 insulated lunch bag with nametag and carabiner, 1 stainless steel water bottle, 1 stainless steel insulated food jar, 4 BPA-free airtight food containers, 1 stainless steel fork + spoon set, and 5 100% cotton napkins.

Most of the time I use the smaller containers to hold my boys’ snacks, often throwing a container or two in my purse or diaper bag. So far I’ve had no problems with anything spilling or leaking, even after Smiley Boy tosses and shakes them around!

This kit is great for school, work, picnics—anywhere you need to pack a meal! Whether you’re packing soup, pasta, a sandwich, veggies—there are a variety of containers to choose from, and everything you need is right in the kit, including utensils, napkins, and the handy carabiner clip, which attaches easily to a stroller, backpack, or a tote!

There are just so many things I love about the Citizenpip’s Soup to Nuts Kit—the cool, retro graphics, the ability to store as much or as little as I need in the lunch bag, the ability to use the kit contents by itself…

The kit is simply practical, eco-friendly, kid-friendly, and cute!

I’ve already admitted that I use too much plastic storage and sandwich bags, but I will seriously be making more of an effort to reduce my plastic bag usage, and the Soup to Nuts Kit will definitely help me in this effort. I know with the kit my boys will only be eating or drinking from containers that are not only safe for the environment, but safe for them too.

Shop: To purchase safe and eco-friendly lunch gear, visit the Citizenpip website.

Savvy Special: Through 12/31/09, receive a free fork+spoon set with every order over $50 (before tax and shipping). Just add a fork+spoon to your shopping cart and use coupon code: SAGEANDSAVVYgives. Note: Citizenpip will plant one tree in partnership with Trees for the Future for every $10 spent. Also, Citizenpip will donate $300 on behalf of the blog/site with the most coupon codes redeemed between 11/1/09 and 12/31/09 to one of these green non-profit organizations: Trees for the Future, Environmental Working Group, Healthy Child Healthy World.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Square Meal Kit (ARV $42.00)!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to ~Cee~!

• To enter, visit Citizenpip and comment on which Square Meal Kit design you’d choose if you won.
• 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 Citizenpip
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 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 December 6, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for Continental US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to Citizenpip for providing the products for review and giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 13: Children Inspire Design Giveaway

I previously posted about Print*Pattern*Paper, a company that offers whimsical pieces of handmade artwork and textiles, and they have recently transitioned to a new company--Children Inspire Design.

Artist and designer, Rebecca Peragine, has combined her passion for global design with her desire to teach children to create Children Inspire Design. Children Inspire Design launches with a line of stylish, eco-friendly and culturally diverse wall art, wall cards, posters and stationary full of whimsy designed to help children learn. Each eco art image is lovingly created with recycled papers, scraps and earth-friendly inks. Her collage art is what creative recycling is all about!

To celebrate the new launch of Children Inspire Design, they are giving away a Rebecca Peragine original (ARV $1,000). To enter, simply comment on the Children Inspire Design blog now through December 4th, and you will be entered to win an original, signed gallery wrapped canvas of Recycled Earth, sized 30”x40”!

Visit the Children Inspire Design blog for more information on the giveaway, and don’t forget to check out Children Inspire Design for delightful gifts for the holidays!

Shop: To purchase art, stationery, posters and more, visit the Children Inspire Design website.

Savvy Savings: Everyone who signs up for the Children Inspire Design will receive a $10 off coupon good from Dec 1 – Dec 15th on all Children Inspire Design merchandise.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate good for an 8x10 print of their choosing from Children Inspire Design.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to one frugal lady!

• To enter, visit Children Inspire Design and comment on which 8x10 print you’d use the gift certificate towards if you won.
• 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 Children Inspire Design
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 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 December 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  
  

Thank you to Children Inspire Design for the giveaway product. I received no compensation for this post.

Read more »

EnviroKidz Cereals Review

I always try to look for cereals that are low in sugar and/or organic for my boys, and thanks to Nature’s Path, I was able to try out some cereals from the EnviroKidz line that are a lot healthier than traditional sugar-loaded cereals, as noted in a recent study:

Food marketing has been under a microscope for some time, but the recent Yale study focusing on kids’ cereals and companies’ marketing strategies is highlighting the inconsistencies between package promises and actual contents.

According to the study, cereals targeted to children often contain 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber and 60% more sodium when compared to adult cereals, and nearly half contain potentially harmful food dyes. Despite “reformulation” and revised nutritional claims, most major cereal manufacturers have made minimal improvements when it comes to kids’ cereals.

For parents, it can be difficult to decide the best cereal options to feed their kids, especially if mainstream, sugar-laden cereals have been a go-to choice in the past. Luckily, Nature’s Path Organic Foods offers some kid-friendly options to help parents solve this common conundrum – the EnviroKidz line was listed in the Top 10 cereal brands for overall nutrition, and was one of the Top 5 companies.

And, because all Nature’s Path and EnviroKidz products are also organic, they don’t contain chemical pesticides, herbicides or GMOs, and they are free of artificial preservatives, flavors or coloring.

For more information, visit www.naturespath.com and www.cerealfacts.org.

We were fortunate to receive a box each of the following cereals: Gorilla Munch, Leapin Lemurs (peanut butter and chocolate), Panda Puffs (peanut butter) (ARV $4.59/box).

We enjoyed all of the cereals, which were all crunchy and delicious, but not too sweet. Little Music Man’s favorite was Panda Puffs, Smiley Boy’s favorite was Gorilla Munch, and so was mine!

Not only do the boys eat the EnviroKidz cereals for breakfast, but I also give them the cereals for snack too!

I love the fact that the EnviroKidz cereals are organic and low in sugar, and for those with celiac disease or those who choose not to eat gluten for other health reasons, the EnviroKidz cereals are a great breakfast (or snack) option since they are gluten-free!

I wish they sold EnviroKidz at the warehouse clubs we frequent, but the next time I go to our local health or grocery store I will definitely be picking up EnviroKidz cereals for my boys (and myself!)

Shop: You can purchase Nature’s Path EnviroKidz cereals on the Nature’s Path online store, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to Nature’s Path for providing the review products free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 12: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Superhighway Tour Giveaway

My favorite song by Tom Petty & the Heatbreakers is Free Fallin’, and it’s one of the tracks included on the upcoming The Live Anthology CD to be released on November 23, 2009. Thanks to Total Assault, I found out about a cool site-- Tom Petty & the Hearbreakers Superhighway Tour—which offers a unique experience in music for Tom Petty fans.

The Tom Petty & the Hearbreakers Superhighway Tour is a brand new online music experience developed by the Tom Petty Team. Simply put, it's a direct to consumer digital configuration of the upcoming The Live Anthology – a collection of 48 definitive tracks from 30 years of TPHB live touring. The fan value is extraordinary: 48 digital tracks for $24.98. What is unique is that the digital tracks are presented within a dedicated web site and delivered with truly compelling additional material. That material adds context, depth and understanding to what is already a career-defining live music anthology. It includes streaming audio commentary from Tom and the band, historic photos and videos, show reviews, recreated vintage merchandise (for sale), and areas for fans to share their experiences and photos from TPHB shows.

The tracks are delivered as MP3's, but also in FLAC format (lossless audio that is close to Blue Ray quality)...The Superhighway Tour represents a new means of delivering music to fans that is more than a collection of digital files; but one that deepens fans’ appreciation for, and love of, an artist and their artistry; that reinforces the importance of quality in the music experience; and that rewards a fan’s decision to spend their hard earned dollars.

The Superhighway Tour would make an awesome gift for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers fans, and it is truly an innovative experience in music.

Visit Superhighway Tour for more information.

Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a ticket to the Superhighway Tour (48 digital tracks; ARV $24.98).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to wendy!

• To enter, comment on your favorite Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers song (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
• 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 Superhighway Tour
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 3, 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 December 4, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  
  

Thank you to Total Assault for providing the product for giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 11: EcoSMART Natural Home Pest Control Review and Giveaway

Ever since I became a mom, I’ve been trying to find natural home pest control products to combat the ants that invade our home. I’ve tried all sorts of spices and looked online for all kinds of natural pest control concoctions, but most don’t seem to work. Thankfully, now I know there is an alternative to the dangerous, synthetic chemical-filled pesticides --EcoSMART.

EcoSMART Technologies, the world leader in safe pesticide solutions, is a venture-backed company with patented technology and a world-class management team. Our mission is to create the world's safest, most effective pesticides based on natural ingredients. We have 15 years of scientific research and a wealth of patents behind us. We make the only 100% safe insecticide that is proven to work. We offer the only complete line of EPA exempt pesticides sold in the US.

I was fortunate to receive a bottle of Home Pest Control (ARV $8.00).

Kills and repels over 100 home invading pests: Ants (including Carpenter, Red Harvester, Pavement and Argentine), Beetles, Centipedes, Cockroaches, Crickets, Earwigs, Fleas, Millipedes, Pantry Pests, Pillbugs, Silverfish, Spiders, Sowbugs, Ticks and other crawling insect pests.Unlike other insecticides, it is made from organic plant oils and kills bugs naturally to better protect your family. Plus, there’s no pesticide residue.

I sprayed it on a crack near one of our living room windows through which that ants were crawling out of. I immediately noticed the very strong mint-like smell. Although the smell was strong, I would much rather smell mint than chemicals!

Of course, what I liked best of all was that the Home Pest Control is safer than a lot of pesticides out there (but I still keep the bottle locked up in a cabinet, and I still make sure that my boys don’t go near where I sprayed).

I do find that I have to spray areas more than once to keep the ants under control, but despite that, I think it’s great that EcoSMART offers a natural home pest control that is safer for my home and for my family.

Shop: You can purchase EcoSMART natural bug sprays, insect repellent, and more online on the EcoSMART website, or enter your zip code on the EcoSMART website to find a retailer near you.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a bottle of Home Pest Control.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to nynekats!

• To enter, visit EcoSMART and comment on why you think EcoSMART products are important.
• 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 EcoSMART
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 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 December 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to EcoSMART for providing the products for review and giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 10: Sunsweet Ones Review and Giveaway

DH once bought a big bag of prunes after reading about how they're a “superfood,” with lots of health benefits. One day, hesitantly, I tried one. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it, and ever since I often snack on them! Thanks to the Family Review Network, I received even more prunes from Sunsweet for the entire family to enjoy!

Prunes are an ANTIOXIDANT POWERHOUSE. It’s the highest antioxidant fruit, ranking ninth among the top twenty antioxidant rich foods...And there is more… HIGH FIBER, LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX, HIGH MALIC ACID, NO SUCROSE, NO ADDITIVES, MOISTURE RETENTION, FAT REPLACEMENT and FLAVOR, FLAVOR, FLAVOR.

We were fortunate to receive a container of Sunsweet Ones-Individually Wrapped Prunes (ARV $2.35), as well as a 60-calorie pack of Pitted Prunes (ARV $2.35/8 pack). I already knew I would enjoy the prunes, but would Little Music Man?

He sure did! As soon as he ate one, he asked for another!

Now when Little Music Man comes home from school and asks for his afternoon snack, I can give him some Sunsweet Ones and I can enjoy some with him!

I can keep also keep some handy in my purse for whenever we're out and one of us is craving a snack.

Prunes are healthy, nutritious, and yummy, and I'm sure the Sunsweet Ones will be gone quickly in our home!

Shop: You can purchase Sunsweet Ones and other Sunsweet products on the Sunsweet Online Store, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Win: Five lucky winners will receive a Sunsweet reusable shopping bag and a Sunsweet VIP Coupon, which is good for ANY Sunsweet product up to $5.50 in value.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to mogrill, Sher, GabbyLowe, JC, kathy pease!

• To enter, visit Sunsweet and comment on your favorite product (excluding anything mentioned).
• 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 Sunsweet
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is December 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 December 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and Sunsweet Ones, who provided the product for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Read more »

K'NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Review

Thanks to Team Mom, Little Music Man received his very first K’NEX set—the K’NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Police Station (ARV $19.99).

Officer Ernie reporting for duty! Your child will enjoy hours of fun building the SESAME STREET Police Station - plus the NEW smaller scale buildable Elmo and police officer Ernie - and creating his own Sesame Street neighborhood! Includes "Play & Learn" activity sheet and additional building ideas. Loaded with 44 parts to build the police station, Elmo, Ernie, a stop sign and traffic light. Pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection Police Car for lots of building fun and after building play.

As soon as I showed him the box, Little Music Man kept telling me, “open please, open please.” So I opened the box and tried to empty out the contents as quickly as I could.

Little Music Man immediately took the Ernie and Elmo characters. He kept taking off Ernie’s hat and Elmo’s shoes.

While he was occupied with Ernie’s hat, and Elmo’s shoes, I tried to put together the police station, stoplight, and other parts.

Little Music Man did try to help, and what I noticed was that the pieces were a lot easier to snap together and pull apart than some of the other similar types of building blocks that he owns.

The K’NEX sets are great for helping to develop fine motor and cognitive skills, and to foster a child’s imagination! Little Music Man could try and build the neighborhood as it’s pictured on the box, or he can build the neighborhood any which way he wants! He can also do other activities, such as sort the pieces by color or size, create the tallest building possible, and so much more.

He is a new fan of K’NEX!

Is your child a fan of K’NEX? If so, you can enter the “Make a K’NEXion” Video Contest for a chance to win $1,000 worth of K’NEX Building Sets and be featured on the KNEX.com web site.

Visit the “Make a K’NEXion” Video Contest page for more details and official rules.

Little Music Man loves playing with his K’NEX set, and the fact that it includes Seasme Street characters makes it even more fun. I know a lot of little kids who would enjoy the K’NEX sets, and I’m sure Little Music Man would love to get even more sets to expand his collection!

Shop: You can purchase K’NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection at Target and various other retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Team Mom for providing the product for review. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 9: Douglas Cuddle Toys Giveaway

I previously posted a review of Douglas Cuddle Toys, a company that offers a variety of plush toys that boys and girls would love to play and cuddle with!

Douglas Company has been a family-owned business for over 50 years (since 1956)...Our success comes from our unique designs and high quality materials and craftsmanship. Our animals have gestures and expressions that clearly distinguish them as Douglas. Our faces evoke a sense of endearment.

Douglas Cuddle Toys are so soft, cuddly, and adorable! There are dogs, cats, penguins, lions…all sorts of animals, and right now they are currently offering cute holiday plush toys—such as reindeer and a snowman!

Whether your child is fond of creatures of the air, sea, land, or those of myth and magic, you’ll find the perfect plush toy by visiting Douglas Cuddle Toys.

Shop: You can purchase adorable plush toys and more on the Douglas Cuddle Toys website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Douglas Cuddle Toy non-oversized Stuffed Horse of choice (ARV $7-$25).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to ColleenMarie82!

• To enter, visit Douglas Cuddle Toys and comment on which stuffed horse you’d pick if you won.
• 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 Douglas Cuddle Toys
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is November 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 December 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to Douglas Cuddle Toys for providing the product for giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Glade Candles Holiday Collection Review

I recently received some candles from the Glade Candles Holiday Collection that helps to create the perfect atmosphere for holiday gatherings.

The Glade Candles Holiday Collection captures the warmth of the holiday season, adding that extra little touch to transform your home into a haven for family and friends. The collection is offered in Apple Cinnamon and limited-edition Bayberry Spice. Seasonal designs of falling stars or festive gift packages adorn the red or green candle holders.

I was fortunate to receive the Glade Scented Oil Candle tin in Bayberry Spice and the Glade Scented Oil Candle decorative glass holder in Apple Cinnamon (ARV $3.49 each). The warming plate of the Glade Scented Oil Candle melts the candle into oil, which allows it to release its fragrance. They both smelled nice—the Bayberry Spice smelled fresh and pleasant, but I really enjoyed the Apple Cinnamon fragrance the most. It immediately conjured up feelings of warmth, comfort, and homemade goodies! I also liked the decorative jar—the stars on the jar were a nice, festive touch!

To help create an inviting atmosphere in your home during the holidays, the Glade Holiday Collection candles can do the trick—providing delightful scents and festive touches this holiday season.

Shop: You can purchase the Glad Holiday Collection at various retailers nationwide.

Thank you to SC Johnson for the review products. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 8: YoPlus Light Yogurt Review and Giveaway

It’s been a hectic couple of months, and it’s only going to get crazier with the holidays around the corner. With all the craziness, I admit that I've been snacking on unhealthy treats. Thanks to My Blog Spark, I received a coupon to try YoPlus Light Yogurt, which is a tasty snack that I can grab and eat anytime that is much healthier than a lot of the other snacks I’ve been munching on!

I used the coupon to receive a free 4 pack of YoPlus Light yogurt in the Strawberry Banana flavor (ARV $3.19).

I thought it was quite surprising how something so creamy, fruity, and delicious could be only 70 calories with no fat! Its “unique combination of probiotic cultures and fiber, plus Vitamins A and D” make this not only a tasty treat, but a healthy one too!

The combination of Strawberry and Banana was really good, and I can’t wait to try the other YoPlus light flavors!

Shop: You can purchase YoPlus Light yogurt at various grocers nationwide.

Savvy Savings: You can now download a $1.00 off coupon for YoPlus Light here: http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=57800&ci=1&c=GM&p=4XeBjIEi

Win: One lucky winner will receive a "Get Healthy" gift pack that includes a stylish sports bag, sports towel, ear buds and two free coupons* for any flavor of the new YoPlus Light yogurt. (ARV $35.00) *Please note: These free coupons are not valid in Louisiana, Nevada and North Dakota.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to barbara.montyj!

• To enter, comment on how you plan to stay healthy during the holidays.
• 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 YoPlus Light
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is November 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 November 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to General Mills and My Blog Spark for providing the products for review and giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Pences Review

Thanks to Pences, I received some really cool eco-friendly notecards!

Pences offers unique and contemporary cards, invitations, and gifts with one goal in mind: Make gift giving fun and extraordinary. The word Pences comes from the archaic spelling of the French penser, meaning to think. Whether it be as important as your wedding invitation or as small as a greeting card, we believe it should flaunt your individual style and reflect all the thought that went behind it. We thrive in creating custom designs. If you don't see what you're looking for, or just don't know where to begin, just contact us and we will work with you to create your unique masterpiece!

I was fortunate to receive a sample of the “word to your mother” notecards (ARV $12.50/8 cards and envelopes). Made out of 100% recycled kraft paper, the notecards have a retro look and I think the statement is clever and so appropriate for today’s ever-growing concern for the environment!

I love these notecards--a simple design, but a strong statement, and I'm sure it would bring a smile to whomever I send it to!

Shop: You can purchase notecards, unique invitations, tees, and more online at the Pences website.

Thank you to Pences for the review product. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 7: Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner Review and Giveaway

I am a chocoholic. so when the opportunity arose to review Chocolate: A Love Story: 65 Chocolate Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner's Private Collection by Max Brenner, illustrated by Yonatan Factor (ARV $29.99), I could not pass it up!

With gigantic vats of churning chocolate, desserts like their famous chocolate pizza, and 12 varieties of hot chocolate served in custom mugs, Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man has turned their line of hip, colorful themed restaurants into an international sensation. Chocolate: A Love Story is a vibrant new cookbook that includes 65 original recipes narrated in the quirky, captivating voice of Max Brenner, the restaurant's visionary founder and "bald man." Bold original illustrations inspired by Art Deco poster graphics, full-color photographs, easy-to-follow, delicious recipes, and a serving of Max's unique vision for spreading "chocolate culture" around the world make this book a must for every chocolate lover.

Chocolate: A Love Story's recipes are categorized under delicious topics, such as Chocolate therapy: Comforting Pastries, and A Sugar Rush: Straightforward Chocolate Drinks.

Browsing through the recipes definitely made my mouth water, and the names of the chocolate creations made me smile. The “Guilt-free fried chocolate truffles, with generous extra cream of healthy happiness” looked and sounded so decadent, and the “Eco-friendly, chocolate bread pudding, made of all the leftovers and so good that none is leftover” sounds like something I would make as well as devour.

The only aspect about the book that I personally felt was missing was images of each decadent delight. There were a few that did have images of the chocolate treat, but I wish all of the recipes included a photo, since I personally feel photos of the finished product makes them all the more tantalizing. However, the recipes that didn’t include a photo did have funky, retro graphics that were engaging.

Chocolate: A Love Story would make a wonderful gift for the chocoholic in your life, or for someone who loves to bake, or for anyone who simply loves a unique book!

Shop: You can purchase Chocolate: A Love Story at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Chocolate: A Love Story!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Nancye!

• To enter, comment on your favorite chocolate treat.
• 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 Chocolate: A Love Story
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is November 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 November 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.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for providing the products for review and giveaway. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 6: NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32 Giveaway

NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32 is available now (ARV $18.98 CD, $11.99 Digital Download). The new compilation features 20 recent major hits from the pop, hip-hop and crossover charts with the likes of Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Jay Sean, Taylor Swift and more. It also includes a "What's Next Music Preview" featuring Katharine McPhee's "Had It All" which is meant to showcase a new track by an artist that may be destined for NOW compilations in the future.

NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 32 Track List
1. Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
2. Lady Gaga: LoveGame
3. Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne: Down
4. Drake: Best I Ever Had
5. Mariah Carey: Obsessed
6. Jason DeRulo: Whatcha Say
7. Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo: Knock You Down
8. Fabolous feat. The-Dream: Throw It In The Bag
9. Pitbull: Hotel Room Service
10. Michael Franti & Spearhead: Say Hey (I Love You)
11. Shakira: She Wolf
12. David Guetta feat. Akon: Sexy Chick
13. Jordin Sparks: Battlefield
14. Kelly Clarkson: Already Gone
15. Daughtry: No Surprise
16. Boys Like Girls: Love Drunk
17. Cobra Starship: Good Girls Go Bad
18. Katy Perry: Waking Up In Vegas
19. Taylor Swift: You Belong With Me
20. Keith Urban: Only You Can Love Me This Way
"WHAT’S NEXT" NEW MUSIC PREVIEW - BONUS TRACK
21. Katharine McPhee: Had It All

Talk about some of the hottest songs of the past year by some of today’s most popular artists! I’m sure NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 32 will get people singing and dancing, and this would make a great stocking stuffer or even a wonderful gift for the holidays!

Shop: You can purchase a download of NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32 on iTunes today, or purchase the CD at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Garner5!

• To enter, comment on your favorite track from the CD.
• 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 NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is November 27, 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 November 28, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Total Assault for the giveaway product. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

101 Things to do with Meatballs Review

Now that the holidays are just about upon us, I’ve been searching for new recipes to try out, and thanks to Casa Di Bertacchi, I received the cookbook 101 Things to do with Meatballs (ARV $9.99, Gibbs Smith), that offers quick and easy recipes that incorporates meatballs into a variety of appetizers and main dishes!

About Casa Di Bertacchi: Casa Di Bertacchi© meatballs trace their roots back to Mario Bertacchi©, who founded a small New Jersey meat market in the 1920s and expanded into meatballs roughly 40 years later.

Today we still make our family-recipe meatballs the original way. They're:

• Fully cooked to make every recipe faster
• Prepared with quality beef and real Italian ingredients
• 5/8 oz.—the perfect size for appetizers
• 1 oz.—the perfect size for dinner

Our meatballs are the focus of our business—not an afterthought. That means you'll find mouth-watering taste and quality in every bite.

About 101 Things to do with Meatballs: 101 Things to do with Meatballs is packed with easy meatball recipes that make everyone feel like family-and now it's available nationwide…Written by New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Ashcraft, the cookbook features Casa Di Bertacchi© fully cooked meatballs, and like all the titles in her popular 101 series, it's filled with fast and simple ideas for families on the go. She includes recipes for everything from soups and salads to stews, pastas and rice dishes. In fact, you'll find so many ideas that you'll never wonder what to make again.

I was very surprised at the variety of recipes found in 101 Things to do with Meatballs. There were a few I was familiar with, such as Teriyaki Meatballs and Open-Faced Meatball Sub, but there were so many other interesting recipes, such as Meatball Fajita Quesadillas, Meatballs with Orange Peanut Sauce, and Fall Cranberry Wrap!

One recipe I may try to make for a holiday gathering is Parmesan Meatball Biscuits. Using refrigerated layer biscuits, seasonings and of course Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs, it sounds like a really easy and delicious appetizer.

Most of the recipes require just a few ingredients and look like a cinch to make—those are my kinds of recipes!

With Casa Di Bertacchi frozen and fully cooked meatballs and the 101 Things to do with Meatballs cookbook on hand, I’ll always be prepared to make simple, yet delicious appetizers or meals for any occasion!

Shop: To purchase 101 Things to do with Meatballs, visit Amazon.com. To purchase Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs, click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to Casa Di Bertacchi and Gibbs Smith for the review product. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Holiday Spectacular Day 5: French Meadow Bakery Giveaway

Earlier in the year I posted about French Meadow Bakery:

Since 1985, French Meadow Bakery™ has used only top-quality all-natural and organic ingredients, old world bread-baking techniques, ancient healthy grains and seeds, and cutting edge performance foods research to create baked goods the world loves.

I received a coupon to try out some of French Meadow Bakery’s products, and DH and I ended up trying the Men’s Bread (ARV $5.50). Here is an excerpt from my review post:

We both thought the bread was very filling with lots of healthy good stuff packed into each slice—you can see all of the organic sunflower seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, and organic sesame seeds. It tasted good--there was a mild, nutty flavor because of all those yummy seeds (no actual nuts are in the bread), and each serving has 755mg of Omega 3, 3135mg of Omega 6, 15g of protein, and 3g of fiber.

The one thing DH & I both wished was that the loaves were bigger. The Men’s Bread is lot smaller than breads we normally buy, but then again, we don’t get that much nutrition per serving than we do with the other breads.French Meadow Bakery also offers tortillas, cookies, desserts, and so much more.

I can’t wait to try out their other products…especially their desserts!

Shop: You can purchase breads, bagels, desserts, and more on the French Meadow Bakery website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Click here to access coupons for savings off of French Meadow Bakery products.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a French Meadow coupon pack consisting of the following coupons: One Free French Meadow Product, $1.00 off Any One French Meadow Bakery Product, and $1.00 off Any One Gluten-Free French Meadow Bakery Product (coupons expire Dec. 31, 2009).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to intime!

• To enter, visit the French Meadow Bakery website and comment on your favorite product or product you’d like to try (excluding anything mentioned in this post; please be specific).
• 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 French Meadow Bakery
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
• The deadline for entries is November 26, 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 November 27, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to French Meadow Bakery for the giveaway. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.

Read more »

Belindra and Friends-Vegetable Delivery Review

It’s no secret that Little Music Man LOVES playing on my iPod Touch, so whenever there’s a new app for us to review I always jump at the chance, and recently we were able to review Belindra and Friends-Vegetable Delivery (ARV $.99).

Join the interactive adventure as Belindra helps her Mom deliver vegetables to the neighborhood. As you read, can click on the characters and they come to life. This original book is filled with page after page of quirky drawings and fun animations, like a modern day pop-up book!

Belindra and Friends-Vegetable Delivery was a cute story of how Belindra helped to pick vegetables and deliver them to people and places all over the neighborhood—the restaurant, cookie factory, even a clothing factory!

In order to make the animations come to life, you had to press the magic cherries. Little Music Man sometimes didn’t find all the cherries himself, so I had to point some of them out to him.

It was fun to see how Belindra helped harvest the vegetables, the cooks chop them, and how they were made into soup that was served to the less fortunate.

Since Little Music Man (usually) loves eating veggies, he enjoyed identifying all of the different vegetables.

It’s a quick, but cute story, and I just wish there were more sound effects and an option to listen to the story being narrated. Although I thought the cherries throughout each screen seemed a little out of place, the Belindra and Friends-Vegetable story itself was a fun one, and Little Music Man still enjoyed making the characters move and watching what they did throughout the story.

Shop: You can purchase Belindra and Friends-Vegetable Delivery on iTunes.

Thank you to Belindra for the review product. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Read more »

Busytown Mysteries Review

I enjoyed reading Richard Scarry books when I was little, and thanks to the One2One Network, I discovered how Scarry’s beloved characters can now be seen on Busytown Mysteries on Cookie Jar TV, CBS’ Saturday morning block of children’s shows!

Watch each week as Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and all the busy friends from Busytown use their detective skills to solve the many fun mysteries in their neighborhood.

I was fortunate to receive a DVD of two Busytown Mystery shows: The Falling Fruit Mystery and The Dragon Hunters.

In The Falling Fruit Mystery, the Busytown friends had to figure out how cherries had fallen off a tree. Little Music Man would keep saying “Cherry!” whenever he’d see the cherries or cherry trees, and in the end, it was quite interesting to find out why the cherries were on the ground!

The Dragon Hunters was also a fun episode, as we watched the Busytown friends try to determine what the “dragon” really was after they read how dragons are imaginary.

Smiley Boy also enjoyed the shows, and we all liked the theme song—“Who, what, why, how. Who, what, when, where, why, how…”—it’s quite catchy!

Not only do the Busytown characters come to life on screen, they come to life on their very own website too!

At the Busytown Mysteries website, kids can pick an animal, choose a silly car, and travel throughout Busytown playing games! They can make collages, find matching butterflies, get rewards, and so much more!

Seeing the Richard Scarry characters come to life on screen and on the internet is pretty neat! These classic characters were a part of my childhood and now they’re a part of my boys’ too!

You can watch Busytown Mysteries air on CBS Saturday Mornings. To check your local TV Schedule for Busytown Mysteries, click here.

Thank you to One2One Network for the review product. I received no compensation for this post.

Read more »