Follow Me Back Tuesdays!

It's Follow Me Back Tuesday and I am beyond excited to be a guest host and share such awesome company!

<center><a href="http://surveyjunkiegiftguide.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af324/staycee413/th_fmbt200.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

It's everyone's favorite day of the week again, Tuesday..

So that means it's time to link up & follow for

Follow Me Back Tuesday

Hosted By:   Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, 
  &  Boobies,BabiesAndABlog 
 

This week joining us as our Guest Host is:

Carrie from Carrie's Rambles

  

 

 How F.M.B.T Works

• Follow all 3 Hosts & Guest Host - Spots 1-4   leave a comment w/ link so we can follow back  ( only leave a comment that you follow if you actually follow )

• Snag our button & make a F.M.B.T. post. 
• After you post use that link to add your blog to the hop along with blog name  

( NO BLOG HOPs & GIVEAWAYS PLEASE  ) These entries will be deleted.

• Follow the blogs you like & Follow Back who follows you

Link up every Tuesday at 12:00 am est

Thanks eBay!

You may remember a couple days ago when I said Sometimes People on eBay Suck.

I had opened a case with eBay and the seller refused to work with me or even contact me, instead, yesterday he chose to escalate the case and have eBay customer support decide the issue. Obviously not the smartest camper since he was totally in the wrong.

Well I am happy to say that eBay customer support totally rocks. In less than 24 hours they made a decision and contacted me. I am to return the item to the seller for a FULL refund and as a courtesy they even sent me a pre-paid shipping label. Granted I am going to have to put on something besides my flour covered cookie baking ensemble and go to the post office but I think I can live with that. I won't even whine about how I won't get the money back for a couple weeks since I am so happy :)

EdenFantasys Review

Bringing you another naughty review from EdenFantasys! If you offend easily or sex talk freaks you out, this is a good time for you to run the other way. For the rest of you brave souls, click on the read more option below and we'll talk sex toys!

Winners

Hi everyone. The last two giveaways I have posted ended today:) 

I know that leaves zero to enter right now, but I sorta planned it that way.

The next two weeks I will be cooking, cleaning, and enjoying time spent with family.

I don't want to have to worry about posting a review, drawing winners or checking entries during time I could be eating Christmas cookies and drinking eggnog (okay, so I hate eggnog but I like booze)

I'll probably post off and on and I do have some reviews & giveaways lined up for the new year, so please keep checking in!

The winner of the GourmetGiftBasket.com is:

3Lilacs said... 153

http://twitter.com/#!/3lilacs/status/16785676150247424 spec@live.ca

December 20, 2010 4:23 AM

The 5 winners for the iCaughtSanta.com photo are:

MrsPhilipswithoneL

Chrissy Stinson

gustosa giveaways 

Doris Gosen 

Karen Propes 

Please respond to the emails I am sending out ASAP, so that you can have your prizes before the holidays!

Thanks to everyone who entered and to the sponsors! Wishing everyone a happy & healthy holiday season.

Sometimes People on Ebay Suck

Normally I do really well buying items on ebay and this is not a rant about ebay itself, I currently have no problem with them, it's about some of the asshats that sell stuff on ebay.

I recently purchased an item for my hubby to give to him for Christmas. Apparently I purchased it from an Asshat. It was listed as "like new" condition and "never left the house". So after browsing around, I cam back to this item and decided it was the best deal, "like new". I paid the $15 expedited shipping  on 12/9 (even though it wasn't $15 to ship it) and it came yesterday on 12/16.

I set the box on the table and opened it up. Item was all packed in bubble wrap, nice and snug inside of the original box, so looking good! I opened up the original box and removed the item. Okay, first inspection looks good. Turn it over and the battery cover falls out, so I try to put it back in but it's broke. The black dohicky is gone, snapped off and it was just wedged in there. Irritating but, it is just a battery cover, I suppose hubby can tape it closed. Then I notice that all the screws on the entire back panel are loose, so someone was probably inside it messing with the circuit board....grrr...

The cherry on the cake, the icing that just pulls all those little things together, is that underneath the pedal I notice a beige swirl on the WHITE metal. When I touch it my finger comes away with beige putty all over it. So this Asshat tried to use putty to hold the entire pedal to the base. Beige Putty. That didn't dry. Call me a bitch but I don't consider that to be LIKE NEW. If I purchased an item that had the defects listed or that said there was some wear and tear that would be different. Nothing in the listing said anything about anything except what great condition etc, etc.

So I email him and his response is: "but it works" Oh. Hell. No.
After going back and forth he says send it back and he will refund the sell price minus shipping. Since I am now so freaking irritated I opened the case with ebay. Why the hell should I have to pay shipping twice on an item that was falsely listed as "like new"?

 So, am I just being a super bitch, because sometimes I get started and just don't know when to give in gracefully or am I right?

Winter in Ohio

credit US coast guard / AP

I just wanted to share a little something from near where I live. All that crazy weather we have been having in Northeast Ohio created this amazing ice sculpture.

I know, who hasn't gotten that email of winter in Russia or those other crazy places? I've seen it a million times and while I am always amazed by the beauty, it's not really "real" to me, because those places are so far away. This is a real place, a place I have been and close to were I live.

You can see the full article HERE if you are interested

Winners!

We've got three winners to announce today!

The winner of the Stocking Stuffer Gift Pack is #16- Congrats Kathleen!

The Simply Fido prize goes to #19 Momtrx

Wits & Wagers will make a great gift for #4 Katy the country blossom!

Congrats to the winners, thanks for reading and entering!

A big thanks to all my sponsors who made the giveaways possible!

Winners, I'm sending emails now, hurry and respond so you can get your items ASAP! 

Experience the Holidays in Beautiful Branson

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hilton Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have heard people mention traveling to Branson here and there but never really paid much attention until recently, when I decided to research a little online. I learned that Branson has so much to offer as a getaway destination and would be wonderful for families, couples or even a group of friends. I never dreamed they would have so many interesting attractions like the Adventure Ziplines of Branson, the Titanic Museum, the Worlds Largest Toy Museum and many more.

The holiday season in Branson has even more to offer if you happen to be staying at the Hilton, because Santa is in town! From Nov 27th thru Dec 19th, every Saturday and Sunday Santa is available in the Level 2 Steakhouse for pictures in the mornings. From Dec 12-24 you can get a family portrait with Santa at the  Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Of course, you can't miss story time with Mrs. Claus on Friday and Saturdays.

There is so much to experience in Branson and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing  are the place to stay and experience the holiday season. Special Room rates with savings of up to 50% off in season room rates are available from December 12-30 at both of the Hiltons.

Only Wednesday.....

Really? It's really on Wednesday? You have got to be kidding me....

Let's see, what shall I whine to you about....the alarm goes off at a quarter before the butt crack of dawn and I slam the snooze button as usual. My little Roxie had other ideas and came up to my head and started pawing at me and shaking. I figure she's just cold but get up anyways. All 7 pounds of her goes barrelling towards the backdoor as I shuffle behind her in my fuzzy slippers using my phone as a flashlight. Fumble open the door and go onto the back porch, flip latch on storm door to let her out and promptly faceplant into said door. Why? WHY? Because the damn door is frozen shut.

Roxie is alternately sticking her nose the door jamb and looking at me. I'm rubbing my forehead, hoping my nose isn't broken, swearing and thanking God the loose glass pane didn't fall out and smash my idiot head in because I was so cheap I figured it would last one more damn year.  At this point the dog figures I am the dumbest human ever, pees on the door mat and I swear she looked at me and said "I dare you to yell, I TOLD you I had to pee, be happy it wasn't your slipper"

After I got dressed, and defrosted the door with the hair dryer I head to work where I discover that in the process of switching Internet providers my boss screwed something up.....so I was internet deprived all freaking day and he left early (I'm gonna guess it's because he couldn't get online and finish his kids Christmas shopping, the rat)

Later in the afternoon I finally had enough of the warehouse guys wandering to the upstairs offices and using my bathroom. Granted I do share it with the other men in my office, but they are trained to respect my wrath. Warehouse guys and truckers need to use the bathroom downstairs with the giant trough on the wall. Rick comes clomping out of the bathroom and I freak..."RICK! 1st-walk right back in there and put the seat down, 2nd wash your freaking hands and 3rd NEVER EVER use this bathroom again" (cue muffled laughter from a trained male down the hall) Can anyone say super bitch?

FINALLY time to go home. Park car and smile because hubby snow blowed the drive before he left for work. Walk to the mailbox and end up ass over tea kettle, laying on the ice, purse & contents everywhere and soaking wet. I'm pretty sure the people three doors down clapped their hands over their kids ears to keep them from hearing me. I'm guessing hubby did NOT use the bag of salt I brought home from work after his good deed snow blowing.

And just because I am so smart, I had a gift cert to Omaha steaks and they came today. I unpacked them and reached into the cooler and pulled the dry ice out. With my bare hands. In case anyone is wondering. NOT A GOOD IDEA. You get almost instant burns from doing that.

Lets recap. I have a lump on my forehead, a bruised ass and a freezer burned hand....and it's only Wednesday. I do believe I will go rummage in the fridge and see what sort of booze might be found.
How was your day?

iCaughtSanta.com Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com
I remember as a child, there was nothing more magical to me than Santa Claus. I loved all the stories, the claymation (yes, I just dated myself) Rudolph movie, baking cookies and leaving special ones out for Santa, that magical moment at some un-Godly hour where we would finally be allowed to get out of bed and our eyes would light up when we saw that "he did come!" I also used to vow, every year that I was going to lay in bed and stay awake to see Santa. Of course I never managed it, but to see Santa, in my house would have been the best.

If you have small children, I would imagine that they have pretty much they same goal. The website I was lucky enough to review is called iCaughtSanta.com and you can make that magic moment for your little one or maybe you have a slightly older child, on the cusp of not believing. You can create a fantastic picture and give them one more year of childhood belief in magic & Santa.

iCaughtSanta.com is so easy! It literally took me longer to take a photo I liked, than it did to upload and create it on the website. Here is the deal:
~Take a picture of your tree, fireplace or where ever you want Santa to be
~upload it to the site
~you can rotate the picture online, choose from 20different Santa poses
~insert Santa into your picture, adjust his size and coloring to match your photo
~choose a border if you want one
~fill out payment info and click submit
My photo was done within minutes and the link emailed to me. I can download my photo and print right on my home printer, print it directly to walgreens, email it to family and friends and more.
You can even turn your photo into a video that shows Santa moving around and your children could watch it online!
That is the picture I created and I think it's adorable!=========>


BUY IT: You can make Santa come alive for your child and create photo at www.icaughtsanta.com.
It is normally $9.99 but if you copy and past the code CARRIES-RAMBLES  at checkout, you will get 25% off! Remember, once you create the photo, you can print as many copies as you want! One for each kid, or make Christmas cards!

WIN IT: 5 of my readers, that's right FIVE are going to win a gift code so that they can create their own iCaughtSanta.com photo! I have the codes to email to the winners, so you will have plenty of time to make your photo before Christmas.

RULES: Mandatory entry must be completed or all other entries will be invalid and deleted. Make sure you follow through with anything you say you do as I will verify.  Each entry is a separate comment, if it says +2 then leave two comments. Tweets must be at least an hour apart or will be discounted. If your email address is not in your blogger profile, please leave it in your entry comment. 


Mandatory Entry: Visit iCaughtSanta.com take a look around and tell me which pose you like might use and who the picture would be for.

Bonus Entries (you can complete as many as you like or none at all, it's up to you)

~Follow Carrie's Rambles on Google Friend Connect (right side of page) +1

 ~Like Carrie's Rambles on Facebook +1

~follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your user name +2
~enter any of my other current giveaways +1 each

~blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to it +5 

~Follow Me on twitter and tweet this giveaway up to 3x daily +1 each

you may use the following tweet if you like:

#Win a custom photo of Santa in your house from iCaughtSanta.com

@yorkiemomma Ends 12-20  http://bit.ly/eGCXsC

Giveaway will end on 12-20 at 4pm EST. Contest open worldwide. Must be 18+ to enter. Winners to be drawn by random.org and notified by email, will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is drawn.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Follow Me Back Tuesdays

Yep, it's official. I am a neglectful blogger. I seriously give kudos to those women (and men) out there who can work full time, get ready for the holidays AND still post on their blog everyday. You people are freakin amazing. Unfortunately I'm not one of them. Seriously, I'm having nightmares about baking cookies, making meatballs for wedding soup, Christmas shopping I still haven't finished and being pecked to death by birds (but that's a whole 'nother subject).

Anycrazylady, I just remembered it's Follow Me Back Tuesday (actually I just now figured out it was Tuesday) so of course I'm gonna jump on the list even if it is a little late in the day. Here's how it works:

• Follow all 3 Hosts & Guest Host - Spots 1-4   leave a comment w/ link so we can follow back  ( only leave a comment that you follow if you actually follow )

• Snag our button & make a F.M.B.T. post. 
• After you post use that link to add your blog to the hop along with blog name  

( NO BLOG HOPs & GIVEAWAYS PLEASE  ) These entries will be deleted.

• Follow the blogs you like & Follow Back who follows you

Link up every Tuesday at 12:00 am est

Powermat Review

About Powermat:

The Powermat Wireless Charging System provides a simple, fast and efficient way to keep all of your favorite personal electronic devices charged. Enabling your devices with Powermat Receivers allows you to Drop and Charge them on any Powermat Mat to experience wireless charging.

Magnetic Alignment

A magnetic attraction between every Receiver and each access point on every Mat assures that alignment is precise and the most efficient charging will occur

The magnetic alignment feature works great. I don't have to be super precise or worry about setting my phone down just right, or worse come back and find a phone with a dead battery because I didn't set it down perfectly. As long as I place it close to correct area, the magnet will "suck it in" and I'm set.

Audio Confirmation

A unique sound tells you that a solid connection has been made and your device is charging. A second, similar sound is heard when the device is removed.

  I really like that I have an audio confirmation whenever I set my phone on the mat to charge and again when I take it off the mat. I also like that it is not an obnoxious or loud noise, just a minor sound that let's you know what's going on.

Full Charge Check

Once full power is achieved and the Auto Shut Off has occurred to save energy and avoid overcharging the device's battery, the system will monitor the status of the battery.

Another great feature. Plugging your phone into the wall and leaving it there for an extended amount of time can overcharge your battery, leading to a shorter battery life and who wants to plop down good money for a new battery? The powermat not only stops charging when the battery is full, it monitors the status of your charge, so if it goes down it starts up again. 

I received a Powermat 3x mat with powercube to test and have been using it for several weeks now. It works wonderfully and I love not having to try and find an outlet for every ones phones. I keep ours on an end table in the living room, the sleek black design and only one cord going to an outlet does wonders to clean up a previously cluttered table. Hubby, stepdaughter and I can just walk past and set our phones down, easy peasy, no more messing with cords and outlets. In my opinion it also charges remarkably quickly.

I also love having the powercube with the various connectors. It's great because if I have my niece and her DS runs low I can plug her into the cube, no case necessary. If we have company and someone needs to charge their phone, odds are I have the correct plug and can hook them right up to my powercube, no hassle.

The mats come in a variety of different shapes and sizes to fit your needs and now even more cases to wirelesly charge your device. I enjoy using it so much that I have asked hubby to pick me up the single base mat for Christmas. This way I can take it to work and easily charge my phone their too. It will make a big difference since I use my phone for work related purposes and am constantly plugging it in, unplugging when someone calls, then plugging back in. I'll be able to just pick it up and answer when I need to, then set it back on the mat to charge.

The Powermat definitely gets a 5 star rating from me!

This would make an excellent holiday gift for anyone on your list with a cell phone, iPod, Nintedo DS or similar device. You can purchase in retailers nationwide or online at http://www.powermat.com/us/

I received a powermat and accessories in order to try them and give my honest opinoin. All opinions are 100% mine, that of other consumers may  differ. No other compensation was offered.

Wits & Wagers Family Edition Giveaway

About Wits & Wagers Family Edition:

Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!
The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.

Wits & Wagers Family edition is a game the whole family can enjoy. It is very easy to play and would be ideal for families with children in the younger age group that maybe aren't ready for a longer more drawn out game with tons of rules. 

You start by asking a question from one of the 150 question cards. Questions like "What's the world record number of tennis balls a dog has held in it's mouth" or "how many men have walked on the moon?". Everyone rights down a guess on one of the included dry erase answer boards. After everyone writes down their guess, you look and guess who's answer is best, placing one of your "meeples" on the one you choose. It only takes about 20 minutes or so to play a game, which makes it ideal for younger children with shorter attention spans, family game nights or even slumber parties and as an added bonus it is educational.

BUY IT:

Game can be purchased at Borders, Barnes & Noble, local game stores, or online at www.barnesandnoble.com

WIN IT: North Star Games is going to give one of my readers a Wits & Wagers Family Game of their own. This giveaway will end on 11/16 at 7pm, so that the winner can receive their game before Christmas.

RULES: Mandatory entry must be completed or all other entries will be invalid and deleted. Make sure you follow through with anything you say you do as I will verify.  Each entry is a separate comment, if it says +2 then leave two comments. Tweets must be at least an hour apart or will be discounted. If your email address is not in your blogger profile, please leave it in your entry comment. 

Mandatory Entry: Tell me who you think would most enjoy this game.

Bonus Entries (not required, you may do as many or as few as you like)

~Follow Carrie's Rambles on Google Friend Connect (right side of page) +1

 ~Like Carrie's Rambles on Facebook +1

~Like North Star Games on Facebook (leave your user name) +1

~post my NEW button on your wall (leave me a link) +2

~follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your user name +2
~enter any of my other current giveaways +1 each
~follow me in a reader (top right) +1

~blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to it +5 

~follow North Star Games on twitter (leave your username) +1

~Follow Me on twitter and tweet this giveaway up to 3x daily +1 each

you may use the following tweet if you like:

#Win a Wits & Wagers Family Edition game. Great Family Fun!

@yorkiemomma Ends 12-16  http://bit.ly/fWcswy

Giveaway ends 12/16/10 at 7 pm EST. Open to US & CA, must be 18+ to enter. Winner will be chosen by random.org, notified by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is drawn.

I received a copy of Wits & Wagers Family in order to provide my opinion. No other compensation was received

Cowgirl Chocolates Review

Head Cowgirl Marilyn Lysohir founded Cowgirl Chocolates in 1997. Her two favorite things in the world are art (she has a notable career as a ceramic sculptor) and chocolate. In fact her first job was working in a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Marilyn mingled some favorite memories with some new ideas to create an American original, Cowgirl Chocolates...chocolates with a spicy cowgirl kick. She was the pioneer, one of the first companies to offer spicy chocolates in the world.

Cowgirl Chocolates has won a total of 19 product awards and 2 packaging awards and is located in Moscow, Idaho USA. It has also been featured on the Food Network on “Unwrapped” and “Extreme Cuisine” and on CNBC “On the Money”. They have also been written up in the New York Times, InStyle, the Toronto Star among others.

I think growing up one of the things I most wanted to be was a cowgirl, however, even though I live in a small town in Ohio, it's still not the kind of town that has cowgirls. Some of that little girl must still linger inside my head though, because I am always intrigued by "Cowgirl" stuff, so when I heard of Cowgirl Chocolates I new I was going to have to read more and possibly even see if I could do a review for them. Luckily for me, the Head Cowgirl is an awesome lady and agreed to send me a box of chocolates to try out.

I received a box of chocolates that was wrapped in tissue paper with the signature Cowgirl Chocolates sticker and after unwrapping that I discovered a very nice red box tied with a black ribbon and a star charm that I can attach to something else. Inside the box a variety of shiny wrapped chocolates awaited me.

The pretty colored wrappers are more than just for looks, they come with a flavor guide that tells you what color is which flavor. Some Spicy Truffle Flavors include: Raspberry Dark Chocolate, Double Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut Milk Chocolate and Cappuccino. Some of the Mild Truffle Flavors include: Double Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Ivory Orange and Raspberry Lemon.

Having never heard of spicy chocolate until recently and never having actually tried it, I wasn't sure what to expect. The Spicy Truffles were very good, with just a little bit of kick to them, an extra flavor, that lingers on the palette a little longer.

My favorites though were the Mild Truffles in Raspberry Lemon and Ivory Orange. The mix of fruit, spice and chocolate was divine and I keep wishing for more of them!

Cowgirl Chocolates not only sells their famous spicy and mild truffles, but also candy bars, caramels, brittles, cocoa and more!

BUY IT
If you are looking for a unique holiday gift or merely want to treat yourself, don't purchase one of those waxy boxes or chocolate from a department store, go to www.cowgirlchocolates.com and purchase a chocolate made from premium ingredients! Whoever receives these will thank you!


Sampling these chocolates was a rough job but don't let it be said I don't sacrifice for my readers!

I received the above pictured/mentioned item in order to review it and give my honest opinion. No other compensation was received, all opinions are 100% mine.

Simply Fido Organic Pet Product Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

About Simply Fido:

SimplyFido aims to enrich the lives of today’s families by fostering the imaginations of pets and celebrating the lifestyle of the eco-conscious home. SimplyFido is more than just playthings – we aim to teach values and environmental responsibility, all while touching the hearts of our pets through imagination and whimsy.

Starting with organic food, the organic movement has grown from its small beginnings into a large movement fuelled by people's desire to lead a healthier lifestyle. At SimplyFido we are taking this idea and applying it to our most precious resource of all, our pets.

 Now this is a review my furry friends were all to happy to assist me with! I have personally  tried organic bamboo rayon products for myself and was amazed with the softness and durability of them, so it was definitely something I was interested in trying for the dogs.

The first item we will talk about is the Simply Fido Bamboo Rayon Nap Mat. The Nap Mat is made from silky, bamboo-rayon fabric that is hand dyed in chemical free soy water (which is purified before it is released back into nature), is reversible and also quilted for extra softness. They come in two sizes; 24x19 and 28x20, perfect for puppies and small to medium dogs.

The first thing I noticed when I took it out of the box was how silky smooth and plush it was. Of course, always worried about loose seams or things the dogs can pull off and choke on, I did a thorough inspection and have to say that it is VERY well put together with nothing to worry me.

I set it down in the living room to let the "bosses" check it out. Everybody had a sniff, Chester loved rolling all over it and rubbing his back, but Spike loved it the most. He kept dragging toy after toy over to it and then laying down with them all.  (shhh....don't tell HIM he's laying on the pink side....I swear I'll turn it over so the pretty yellow side shows!) I love that it is reversible, each side being a different color and the colors are very vibrant!
This mat is perfect for putting on the seat in the car, taking with you on trips, in a large crate or sleeping area. I know it will be super easy to roll up and take with me when Roxie & I go to moms house for girls night!

We also received a 9" Limited Edition Holiday Penguin to test out. He is also certified organic cotton fabric, certified non-toxic & chemical free, saliva resistant and has the same dye process as the Nap Mat.
Holiday Penguin was surprisingly heavy--not in a bad way, but in a solid sturdy way. I'm used to Walmart toys that are very flimsy and poorly made, so that I have to constantly check for stuffing coming out or arms being pulled off. I won't have to do that with this one. He was also very soft to the touch and really darn cute. Chester the trouble maker ran off with him immediately and wouldn't let anyone else near for hours (I'm sparing you video footage of him)

 I had never heard of Simply Fido until I received these products to review, but I can now say that I will be shopping them. I would rather pay a tiny bit extra to receive high quality, organic, non toxic and extremely well made products than buy a cheaper product that I am going to have to replace over and over.

Over all, we give this Five Paws of approval!



BUY IT: To purchase simply go to https://www.simplyfido.com/store_locator.html and find a store near you or visit one of the online retailers. The Nap Mat comes in Pink, Blue or Green (all of them are reversable with a yellow back). The Small retails for $34 and the Medium retails for $40.


WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to bring both of these items home for their fur-babie!

RULES: Mandatory entry must be completed or all other entries will be invalid and deleted. Make sure you follow through with anything you say you do as I will verify.  Each entry is a separate comment, if it says +2 then leave two comments. Tweets must be at least an hour apart or will be discounted. If your email address is not in your blogger profile, please leave it in your entry comment. 

Mandatory Entry: Visit Simply Fido and browse their Collections, come back and tell me something else your pet would love to have.

Bonus Entries (not required, you may do as many or as few as you like)

 ~Like Carrie's Rambles on Facebook +1

~post my NEW button on your wall (leave me a link) +2

~follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your user name +2
~enter any of my other current giveaways +1 each
~follow me in a reader (top right) +1

~blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to it +5

~Follow Me on twitter and tweet this giveaway up to 3x daily +1 each

you may use the following tweet if you like:

#Win an Organic Bamboo Nap Mat & Limited Edition Dog Toy #pet #giveaway

@yorkiemomma Ends 12/16/10 http://bit.ly/gQJXI6

Giveaway ends 12/16/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to continental US, must be 18+ to enter. Winner will be chosen by random.org, notified by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is drawn.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Isabella Water Bottle Review

About Isabella Water:

Isabella Water was founded on the principle that everyone deserves clean water, as water is life’s most important resource. Our mission is to provide global aid and support for people in need of clean water. Through our products and partnerships, we aim to create awareness and empower people to expand their water resources, as well as encourage a greater respect for our own:
 health,our environment and  altruism.

 

The Isabella Water bottles are:

~made with the highest quality 18/8 food -grade stainless steel

~BPA Free

~Toxin Free

and are a 750ml (25.36oz) 100% recyclable container

I was sent a bottle to review and find it to be very well made. The cap screws and unscrews easily (don't you hate buying bottles where the lid just won't match the threads on the bottle?) and the lip is smooth for easy drinking.  The lid is easy to grip and has a hole where you could thread a backpack strap, caribeaner or what not for easy carrying. I found it works best as a water container, since this is not an insulated bottle, you really wouldn't want to carry coffee or tea in it.

26 year old Nick Ogden, founder of Isabella Water focuses on the fact that 1 out of every 8 people do not have clean water to drink. The Isabella Water Bottle is a two fold project. It is supporting sustainability since it is a recycled, reusable item AND when you purchase a bottle for $22, $10 of the purchase will help fund a well to provide clean water in Africa or Asia.

BUY IT: You can purchase your own Isabella Bottle at http://www.isabellawater.org/shop-isabella-water

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Winners :)

A couple of Giveaway winners to announce this afternoon, so I am getting right to the point. Winners are selected by random.org as usual.

Winner of the Cosmetique Makeup Giveaway is:#64 Ksceviour

Winner of the Steve Raichlen Complete Slider set is: #35 won
Winner of the Steve Raichlen Popper set is: #4 Three Giggle Monsters
Auric Blends 3 Winners: Winner 1 is #23 Kathleen, Winner 2 is #42 redfuzzycow and Winner 3 is: #18 Babesmami

Winner of the CoverYourHair Gift Box is:  #13 Michelle _B

Thank you everyone who reads along and enters and of course a big thanks to the sponsors for making the giveaways possible.

I will be emailing everyone shortly! Please respond within 48 hours.

Holiday Traditions Part 2

Hey everyone! Masshole Mommy is kickin it in Disneyland with her family and asked me to guest post. Since I am a horrible sentimental dufus around the holidays (and I had pms) I choose to write about holiday traditions and memories that mean alot to me. Since I tend to ramble on and on (I'm sure you haven't noticed) the post I wrote for her blog is insanely a bit long and I still wanted to talk about my ornaments. So I figured why not torture everyone post a second post on my blog!


Anyone ever ask you "if your house was on fire and you could grab one thing, what would it be?". Well as long as the family and dogs are out, I would totally grab my Christmas ornaments. Seriously. Not because they are worth any money or even that pretty, as a matter of fact some of them are quite raggedy at this point, but each one marks a year of the my life.

Every year from the time I was born, until the time I got married my Mother bought me (and my sister) a Christmas ornament. She would would find something that she really liked and get one for each of us, just different colors. That was always such a big deal, when she would say "I got your ornaments" and give them to us. The first year I was married and on my own, she gave them all to me so I could have them for my tree.

Now every year after my husband has been forced joyfully helped me put up all the rest of the lights and such, he plops down in his chair while I decorate the tree. I always get a little teary eyed pulling out each one and of course telling some sort of anecdote about it or when it was from while he rolls his eyes smiles lovingly at me.

Since they meant so much to me, I started doing the same for my stepdaughter when she was seven. It became a big deal to us. I would search for the perfect ornament, wrap it in tissue paper and gift it to her a week or so before Christmas and she would put her initials and the year on the bottom of it and then hang all her ornaments on the tree. While she is no way, no how interested at ALL in learning to cook an Italian Christmas, I can pass those ornaments on to her and hope one day she will carry on the tradition.

 Mom & Dad didn't have much money back then, but poor bozo was my first ever ornament. He doesn't make it on the tree anymore since his balloons are no longer attached.

Frosty is hanging in there pretty good for being 31 years old. Just missing some sparkles that used to be on his tree.

Sisters angel was red with dark brown hair

The matching one for sister was a blondish brown

Rudolph here is the only thing my Grandfather ever bought from someone selling stuff from a catalogue at his work. 1976











If you read all the way through the post, thank you for sharing a part of my holiday with me

"What's On"

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of GlideTV. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you one of the millions of people that is addicted to watching the latest YouTube Videos, NetFlix, Hulu or whatnot online? If you are then you will definitely want to read more!

I don't know how many of have realized that it is actually pretty easy to hook your computer to your TV. You could be watching your favorite videos or TV episodes from the comfort of your recliner or while laying in bed instead of hunched over your computer desk, getting a sore neck!

Once you are hooked up, then you definitely want to check out "What's On". This is a free online, visual guide that make searching for your favorite movies or tunes so much easier and more user friendly. When you use "What's On"  you have all the latest the internet has to offer in one space, organized by category and genre, which is way easier than going from website to website, clicking on links and reading lists. To me it feels like being inside the worlds best video store, where I can click on whichever "cover" catches my eye, read more about it and either purchase or put it back on the "shelf" and keep browsing.

So if you are internet TV or video watcher you really should check out What's On to see how easy it is to use! Plus GlideTv has a sweepstakes  on their Facebook page to win a Navigator to make your "What's ON" experience even BETTER!

It's Thoughtful

A friend of mine referred me to a new (at least to me) website called Its Thoughtful.

It is a great site that helps you find gifts for all occasions. More importantly they are having a holiday contest where the best gift idea wins a $500 prize. Also, if you refer 15 people right now, you will receive a $25 amazon gift card :)_

I am going to be honest, I really want that gift card so if you are interested feel free to use this link to sign up:

http://www.itsthoughtful.com/christmas-gift-contest/26592/ln/

It takes about 30 seconds!

If you do sign up under me, you can take an extra 5 entries in any of my giveaways :)

Thanks!

Stocking Stuffers! Softlips Review

 From Softlips:

Everyone loves to have irresistibly kissable lips, so why not give this perfect little gift to a friend, family member, or even yourself? To celebrate the winter season and help bring the holiday spirit, Softlips is offering their limited edition Holidays 5-Pack of lip conditioners- Sugar & Spice, Winter Mint, Sugar Cookie, Sugar Plum Berry, and Mint with a Hint of Vanilla.
Packaged in a festive, blue sachet, the new Softlips limited edition winter flavor gift pack is affordable, makes for the perfect stocking stuffer or a final touch on a gift attached to a ribbon. Each irresistibly, delicious flavor is reminiscent of the holidays, helping to protect lips with SPF 20 and great moisturizing properties.

If you read my blog with any regularity, it's no secret that I love Softlips products. You can read an earlier review I did here.
To put it simply, I love Softlips products, they keep your lips soft and moist no matter what the weather and come in a variety of yummy flavors. Add in the SPF 20 and what more can you ask for? These products are not just for girls either, my father swiped the Wintermint to keep in his pocket at work (he works in a mill and definitely needs protection from the elements!) Great for any age and a flavor for everyone!

I am making up gift bags for my three sister-in-laws and mother-in-law this Christmas and definitely plan to include Softlips!

BUY IT: Now through out the holiday/winter season, the Holidays 5-Pack is available exclusively in the new Softlips online store, www.softlips.com, for $9.99. 

WIN IT: Would you like to win a Stocking Stuffer Prize Pack filled with goodies? Softlips has graciously agreed to take part and is including one of their Holiday 5Packs for the winner.

Just go HERE to enter.

What else is included? Products from Scunci, Conair and Anti-Monkey Butt.

Happy Holidays!