Rave and Review

Libman Freedom Spray Mop {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event: Day 13

I know I’m likely the only one who feels this way, but I actually like cleaning my floors.  There’s something really satisfying about having sparkling clean floors and knowing that your kids can safely play on it without having to worry about what they might be picking up.  Since 95% of our main living area is hardwoods and I have a {slightly} messy toddler running about, I find myself scrubbing my floors quite often on my hands and knees. 

Most would wonder why I didn’t just use a spray mop, but trust me when I tell you that a 9 ½ month pregnant woman would definitely use a spray mop if she could instead of crawling around and hand scrubbing her floor.  The problem with traditional spray mops is that our large expanse of hardwood flooring requires a specific type of cleanser that can’t be found in other spay mop solutions.  So, when I heard about Libman’s new Freedom Spray Mop that allows you to use your own cleaning solution instead of having to buy a special spray, this {very} pregnant woman was more than thrilled.

Being able to fill the detachable, 18oz cleaning solution bottle with whatever you want – even hot water or your own special solution – means that you have control over what type of cleaners you use and ensures that you will never run out of spray mid-mop.  Besides being able to fill with your favorite scented surface cleaner, special hardwood floor cleanser, or even your own eco-friendly solution, the Libman Freedom Spray Mop also has a reusable and washable pad to deep clean your floors which means you won’t spend a fortune on reusable pads ever again.  

This freedom from having to store and buy extra cleaning solution and boxes of disposable mop covers is cool enough on its own, but I would say my favorite feature of the Libman Freedom Spray Mop is that the sprayer is self-powered.  This means that I can control how much liquid is being squirted on my floors as well as eliminating the need for batteries while cleaning.  Since we all know water is the nemesis of hard woods, this feature is especially important to me as I can use minimal cleaning solution while I mop. 

I mentioned the machine washable and reusable cleaning pad before, but there’s actually more to this mop pad than you might think.  Libman calls it a deep cleaning pad because it is a combination microfiber pad with strips of scratch-free scrubbers that help you really get your floors as clean as hand scrubbing can.  This reusable pad is said to be safe for all floor surfaces, which is great because we have wood, linoleum, and vinyl that all needs to be cleaned and it’s nice to use one pad on all. 

I did notice that the Libman Freedom Mop left my floors a little damp after cleaning, which I assume is in part due to the scratch free scrubbing strips that don't absorb moisture, but to me that is a very small price to pay since the floor actually dried very quickly.  We were all thrilled when we could resume our crazy running around without worrying about slipping pretty much as soon as the mop was hung.   

Overall I am extremely happy with the Libman Freedom Spray Mop and how versatile and easy to use it is.  While I could go on and on about the benefits of being able to choose exactly what goes on your floor and being able to ditch the disposable pads and batteries, I think I will instead list my favorite features:

• Using my own cleaning solution in the easy to fill, detachable bottle saves money and protects my floors!
• It comes with a scrubbing, reusable pad for the bottom that can be machine washed
• No batteries required and freedom to control how much cleanser you spray
• Head of the Libman Mop rotates easily and maneuvers just about everywhere in my house easily
• Comes fully assembled and is easy to hang with included loop on handle
• Made in the USA by a 4th generation family-owned company
• No more scrubbing on my hands and knees, which is the biggest benefit of all!

Price: The Libman Freedom Spray Mop has a suggested retail price of $19.99 to $24.99 but you can download a form for a $5 off rebate for a Libman’s Freedom Mop by mail.  Rebate must be postmarked by 4/30/11 and received by 5/7/11.

For more information about the Freedom Spray Mop, visit this link or go to Libman.com

http://www.libman.com/

 
 
To Enter: Visit Libman and let me know another Libman product that you love or would love to try

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Interact with Libman on Facebook by commenting on a post or writing a message on their wall about a product you love

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/9lZgUf) after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website and/or the Cozy At Home Event Button (2 extra entries for each button, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On October 24th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#141 lisa said... Emails subscriber.

 

 As part of a review campaign with the Mom Bloggers Club, Libman provided the Freedom Spray Mop at no charge to facilitate this review and as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Olivia Imaginative Toys by Spin Master

If you’re a fan of the best selling children’s book series or the popular Nick Jr. show, you already know about the inspiration that is Olivia.  Olivia is a 6 ¾ year old who loves everything red and is able to turn even ordinary days into magical adventures, and it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with her.  My daughter is absolutely smitten with all things Olivia and she cheers whenever the show starts, so I have been on the lookout for some Olivia toys that we could play with together. 

When a good size box arrived at our front porch that held two brand new Olivia toys, you can imagine what kind of celebration took place.  And, that’s even before we took the toys out of the packaging.  Inside that box was an Olivia plush complete with a painter’s outfit and a super cool little 2-in-1 Transforming Playset that even I was dying to open.  These two awesome toys are part of a new Olivia line by Spin Master that is based off the books and show that help bring the spunky little pig to life for your children.     

Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset:
As any good Olivia toy should, the 2-in-1 Transforming Playset inspires all sorts of creative fun and imaginative play.  On one side you open it up to reveal Olivia’s house just as it appears in the show and on the other side you can open it to reveal Olivia’s pirate ship.  Of course, an Olivia figurine is included in the set, which allows you to play along with your favorite stories and make up your own storylines.  The Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset includes 23 adorable little accessories to help decorate Olivia’s bedroom, kitchen and living room as well as pirate necessities.    

Besides being absolutely adorable, I love that all the little accessories including Olivia can store in the playhouse when your children aren’t playing and that the playset is completely portable with its own carrying handle so the fun can go with you.  Having two sides to the doll house is a definite plus and makes it so there really is double the fun as well as making playtime as imaginative as possible.  Now that I see how much fun the 2-in-1 Transforming Playset is, I will definitely be looking for more Olivia accessories.  I hope to find the figurines for the rest of Olivia’s family so they can join in the fun, too.       

Ages 3 and up, and priced at $29.99 at Toys ‘R’ Us, Target, and Kmart 

8” Olivia Plush – I’m a Star!: 
Dressed up like the artist that she is, plush Olivia is all set to create her masterpiece and become your child’s little buddy.  Ready To Paint Olivia is dressed in a painters smock to create her famous wall mural and includes a plush paintbrush and felt paint board so your kids can play along with Olivia.  As well as Olivia the Artist, there are three more Olivia plush stars to choose from: The Opera Singer, Olivia Outfits, and The Cow, that are all sold separately and are all ready to snuggle up for an Olivia marathon.

All ages, priced at $9.99 at Toys ‘R’ Us, Target, and Kmart 

http://www.spinmaster.com/

A big thank you to Team Mom and Spin Master for sending their new Olivia toys to be adored.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Art Prints for Kidz Vintage and Original Art {Review & Giveaway}

 
Cozy At Home Event: Day 12

Since I’m a photographer and my sister is an amazing painter, wall space is really at a premium in our house.  It’s not that I don’t love other people’s work, it’s just that I have a hard time choosing between pictures and paintings we already own so introducing other’s work is always a difficult decision.  But, when it comes to decorating my daughter’s room, I truly want her to enjoy her space and make it personal without decorating too young or too old.  It’s for that reason that I have actually avoided hanging anything on her walls while I waited for inspiration to strike. 

But, that all changed when I found Art Prints for Kidz and decided that she was definitely ready for some art of her own.  Art Prints for Kidz offers a wide selection of vintage prints for children that are taken from pre-1923 picture books (thus compliant with all US copyright laws) as well as beautiful original watercolor prints done by their family artist.  The vintage children’s book illustrations are all scanned and restored in color and brightness by Art Prints for Kidz to their original glory to make them ready for framing. 

Not only are the prints offered on their site adorable, they have that great vintage quality that makes them classically beautiful.  This makes them something that will grow with your child from birth until adulthood and will be pieces they can cherish for years.  And, since they are taken from well loved stories and books, I love that they are pieces of history as well as reflections on childhood.   

My daughter and I sat down together and looked through the impressive collection offered on their site.  I let her choose two pieces from one of my absolute favorite children’s authors ever, Robert Louis Stevenson in the book A Child’s Garden of Verses.  After much debate she and I chose two beautiful pieces together, Happy Hearts Happy Faces and Kites on High, both in 8x10, which I plan on framing on her wall.

We were really excited when they arrived just a few days later rolled securely in a cardboard tube.  I carefully unrolled the prints and ran them up to the nursery to hold them against the wall to see how they look.  They were absolutely beautiful and I am now really excited to get them permanently mounted on the wall.  The colors in the prints were deep and vibrant and they looked as I imagined the original work did.  This is something I was really relieved about because I hate when art has been overly “fixed” and ends up looking cartoonish and overdone.

Because the prints had a slight roll to them from shipping, I set them in between photo albums to gently flatten so I could mat and frame them for her wall easier.  Just a day or two later, they were flat and ready to be framed and displayed.  Now I’m on the search for the perfect frame for the two, something that will showcase how beautiful they are without overpowering the images themselves.       

Like most pieces of art, the prints from Art Prints for Kidz should be carefully protected until they can be preserved under glass.  All watercolor prints and vintage restorations are printed in your choice of 5x7 or 8x10 size on acid-free and lignin-free, 32 pound archival linen paper which is both simple and elegant. 

You should note that they are not laminated or sealed to protect against spills and little fingers, so you should plan on keeping them out of reach of young ones.  I’m hoping Art Prints for Kidz eventually offers an option to buy prints matted, or even pre-framed, since I know quite a few people who get overwhelmed with framing and I think that would make it even easier on non-artists.

If you’ve got a nursery to decorate or a playroom that needs a touch of art, literature, and history, you should look no further than Art Prints for Kidz.  In addition to being beautiful and classic, they are also incredibly affordable so it’s easy to get numerous prints for an even more impressive display.  Now that I’ve got two rooms to decorate, I will definitely be returning to Art Prints for Kidz periodically to check on the newest watercolor prints and see what new vintage finds are being offered. 

Price: $10 for each art print in your choice of 5x7 and 8x10 size

http://www.artprintsforkidz.com/

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win two Art Prints of their choice from Art Prints for Kidz!

To Enter: Go to Art Prints for Kidz and tell me which prints you would choose.  If you would also be so kind as to give Art Prints for Kidz a suggestion or an improvement you would like to see for the site they would welcome your feedback.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview with the link to this post (http://tinyurl.com/2dyt9jl) after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com and ArtPrintsforKidz.com homepages (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website and/or the Cozy At Home Event Button (2 extra entries for each button, must have an active link to R&R)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On November 3rd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canada!

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to... 60 Tiffany said...  Voted for you today, #10!
A big thank you to Art Prints for Kidz for providing us with the vintage art prints as well as a giveaway for our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Yoplait Go-Gurt Keeping Cool for School Prize Pack {Review & Giveaway}

I had never tried Go-GURT Portable Lowfat Yogurt from Yoplait before this last week because I had always mistakenly thought that it was full of fillers and sugar.  When I found Simply…GoGurt and took a look at the package, I was really surprised to find a yogurt that was free of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners and made with pure and simple ingredients just like the Yoplait that I love. 

The part that was no surprise to anyone is how much my daughter loved the GoGurt and enjoyed eating it from the tube all by herself – no utensils required.  She has loved yogurt since a very young age but has never been given yogurt geared towards children before.  That’s all about to change now that I have found a yogurt that we can both get behind.

Even though Go-Gurt has fun and fruity flavors that appeal to children, it certainly isn’t junk food.  The fact that there is a whole variety of kid-friendly flavors available will certainly help even non-yogurt fans reach for a tube, giving them a great source of calcium and vitamin D in a portable snack.  The kids don’t have to know that they are naturally flavored and full of wholesome-ness, but it certainly helps me buy them.  

One really cool thing that I also hadn’t realized about Go-Gurt and something that makes it absolutely perfect for back to school is the fact that GoGurt can be frozen.  Not only does it keep other foods cool in the lunchbox, it will thaw and be ready to eat by lunchtime!  While I don’t have a little one in school yet, I think this would be perfect for picnics and playdates away from home as well and am really excited to try Go-GURT frozen.  

You can also visit MyBlogSpark to download a printable coupon for $0.85 off one box of Yoplait Go-Gurt yogurt today*!

*This coupon offer for free Go-Gurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee. However, you can still enter to win the Go-Gurt giveaway!

One Rave and Review reader will win a Yoplait Go-Gurt “Keeping Cool in School” Prize Pack!

The “Keeping Cool in School” Prize Pack includes an insulated lunch tote, mini water bottle, sandwich keeper, cool breeze pen fan, and some really fun school supplies for the new school year!  Also included is a coupon* for a FREE box of any variety of Yoplait Go-Gurt!

To Enter: Let me know your children's favorite flavor of GoGurt or a flavor you would love to try.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Interact with Yoplait on Facebook by commenting on a post or writing a message on their wall about a product you love

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @YoplaitYogurt with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/bqpPPE) after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website and/or the Cozy At Home Event Button (2 extra entries for each button, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On October 22th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#56  meme said...I voted for you and you are #9

A big thank you to MyBlogSpark and Yoplait introducing us to Go-Gurt for the first time and sending us the “Keeping Cool in School Prize Pack” as seen above at no charge to facilitate this review.  All information and prize/gift packs were provided from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark as well as the giveaway prize.  All opnions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Wordless Wednesday: Destruction of a Pepper

 

Novica Home Décor and Gifts {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event: Day 12

Everyone who knows me well knows that I would shop only at farmer’s markets and art fairs if I could.  In fact, our summers are usually planned around the next artisan market within driving distance.  This is partially because I love having pieces that are truly unique but mostly because I adore having a story to tell about each of my purchases. 

When I was contacted by Novica and asked to check out their site, I truly felt like I was in the middle of the world’s biggest artist fair in the comfort of my own home.  Because NOVICA works in association with National Geographic, they offer a hugely extensive collection of over 2,000 master artisans around the world and give you one easy place to buy – no traveling required.

Looking for a hard-to-find item?  Want something truly unique for you, a gift or for your home?  Novica really has it all and is now my go-to site for those that are impossible to shop for. 

Novica has a huge selection of items from home decor to fine arts to sterling silver jewelry.  I will be honest that it can be a little overwhelming to shop at a site that has so many things you would love to buy, but because it does have a good search function and detailed categories, it is easy to find the category or subcategory of gifts you are looking for. 

I had a great time browsing categories and making wishlists of items I would love to own.  The pictures and descriptions were great as well as the artist profiles listed on each page that give you an idea of who you are buying from.  This feature makes it a truly unique shopping experience and why I could easily spend days shopping and searching.

After all of my searching, I finally settled on a parachute hammock to help make our backyard (and anywhere with two sturdy trees) cozy and relaxing.  Made of the same fabric used for parachutes, the parachute hammock is the definition of lightweight.  It is easily folded and packable, but still is incredibly durable and insanely comfortable.  The parachute hammock is made in Sudanayasa and comes in a variety of colors all with the same sewn on pocket that is also a convenient travel bag for the hammock.  As cool as all these features are, what was really exciting was the insanely low price.  Whereas similar style hammocks are sold for twice, if not three times the price, Novica offers a truly affordable version with all the quality features I expect. 

But then because I couldn’t resist and hubby was helping me shop, I found myself a little something that I can proudly wear and show off, the agate and carnelian Y necklace called Summer Flower.  It was a toss up whether I would go colorful or choose some beatiful silver jewelry like a new pair of earrings, but in the end we decided to be bold and I'm glad we did.  While I always love a fancy earring to dress up an outfit, I am truly a necklace person at heart.   

The orange agate and carnelian Y necklace is a gorgeous addition to my display of necklaces on my wall and even prettier when worn with a colorful top or dressing up a plain tee or sweater.  The floral pendant is a nice unique touch that makes it truly eye catching without becoming overwhelming and it can even be adjusted to the length you would like.  It comes boxed in a beautiful leaf print paper jewelry box and nestled around a small pillow, a presentation which I absolutely adore.  The necklace is made in Thailand and truly makes me wish I could go traveling right about now even though I’m so enjoying being Cozy At Home.

One thing to note when shopping is that when you purchase from Novica, your items come directly from the country of origin.  This can add a little bit of time to shipping, but to me that’s a small price to pay for handcrafted and unique gifts, décor and more.  And, when your gifts do arrive, they are beautifully wrapped and ready for gifting.  Even better is that they come with an artisan card to tell you the story of Novica and your specific item, a feature I found so endearing about the company.  Not only does it give your gift recipient information on their unique item, it also makes it easy to reference later as the compliments pour in.

http://www.novica.com/

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Gift Card to shop at NOVICA!

To Enter: Go to Novica.com and tell me what you would buy with your gift card as well as the artist who created it. 

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Interact with Novica on Facebook by commenting on a post or picture or writing a message on their wall about a product you found on their site.

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @Novica with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/bIMCpb) after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website and/or the Cozy At Home Event Button (2 extra entries for each button, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On October 30th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open worldwide!

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to...

#533 LAMusing said... I like Novica on Facebook and commented on their wall
(as AdrianeCoros)
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

A big thank you to Novica for providing us with the complimentary gift card to shop for whatever we wanted as well as the gift card for one fabulous reader.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Yo Gabba Gabba! There's A Party In My City! {Prize Pack Giveaway}

I can’t tell you how sad I was the last time YO GABBA GABBA! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! Tour was making waves and I found out the party actually wasn’t in my city.  For all of you that were as sad as I was that your city was passed by, I’ve got great news… the new tour is underway now and this time it’s nationwide as well as into Canada!  And, as it turns out, they are coming to my city… kind of. 

The whole YGG! crew is going to be live on November 13th mere driving distance from Seattle at the Tacoma Dome and we're going!  I can guarantee you the party is going to be all up and down the 1-5 corridor all the way to the Tacoma Dome and back as we rock out to Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 1.  If you remember, I was raving about Music is Awesome! earlier this year, which I must confess is the one and only children’s album I have ever listened to after the kiddos fell asleep in the car.  I can’t help it, it’s got The Shins, The Roots, and a whole bunch of other really great tunes, even if they were sung for preschoolers… seriously. 

I’m guessing that the whole way there will be an intense conversation about who will be the Dancey Dance special guest or what band will be featured on the Super Music Friends Show, information which is kept super top secret up until the event.  The way home I’m sure will be nonstop chatter about all the partying that we just partook in.  Well, at least until the little one inevitably falls asleep after all that excitement.   

If you’d like to get in on the party, you should check out the Yo Gabba Gabba Live website and see all of the remaining tour dates and pick up tickets today.  

KIA Motors presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! www.yogabbagabbalive.com or www.yogabbagabba.com

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a YGG! Prize Pack!

Prize Pack Details:

BOOK: Yo Gabba Gabba!, Party in My Tummy - Lift the flaps, sing along, and find out what everyone in Gabba Land is bringing to the party!
CD: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome! Volume 2 is out now and I get to give one away!  I’m so excited to hear this album since I love the first one so much.  Volume 2 has music featured from Seasons I, II & III including Weezer, MGMT & Jimmy Eat World.  You can get a sampling of the record with a free download of Weezer’s track “All My Friends Are Insects” A deluxe edition with bonus tracks is now available for pre-order at iTunes.

To Enter: Tell me where you are planning on seeing YGG! There's A Party In My City! or where you wish you were seeing it.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @YoGabbaGabba with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/bRxlZh) after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website and/or the Cozy At Home Event Button (2 extra entries for each button, must have an active link to R&R)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On October 22nd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#22 Erica E said... I subscribe #2

 
A big thank you to the Tacoma Dome for providing us with the complimentary tickets to the event and to Yo Gabba Gabba for providing the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review

Adiri the Ultimate Nurser Evening of Pampering

Most of you know that we've been spending the last few weeks Cozy At Home waiting for our baby to arrive.  While it has been nice just hanging out as a family and enjoying each other, it does mean that we've had to pass on some really exciting events.  One such event was the Adiri Ulimate Natural Nurser Evening of Pampering hosted by Tia Carrere that took place on Wednesday September 15th.

Unfortunately for me, it looks like the event was a whole lot of fun and the pampering would have been just what an expectant mother like me would really appreciate.  The Evening of Pampering was hosted by WaterGeeks and Adiri and they were both showcasing their wares for guests to check out.  I must admit I've been curious about Adiri for years now and was thinking I might give them a try for baby #2, so I would love to hear from anyone that got a chance to attend the event. 

I also have been dying to check out the B-Ready stroller by Britax which was one of the grand prize giveaways of the night.  Did any of you get a chance to play with it?  Is it really the answer to the double stroller that I am resisting?

I want to hear all about the fun you had if you were able to attend the event and all the cool new-baby and mother products you were introduced to.  If you weren't able to make it, either, you can check out the Adiri Post Event wrap up below...

 
 
  

 

Silver Condiment Stand from ATGStores {Review & $75 Giveaway}

Cozy At Home: Day 10

Since I’ve been spending the last few weeks Cozy At Home, I've been doing quite a bit of online shopping and research to find the things we need most for our expanding family.  As I have been searching, over and over again I am absolutely shocked by all that you can purchase online these days.  Whereas before I had to spend all day searching retail stores to find the perfect houseware, fixture, or gift, now I can comparison shop with just a few clicks of a button.  It's sites like ATGStores.com that have completely changed the way I shop and have made searching for just about anything easier, quicker, and ultimately cheaper… all without even leaving home.

But, as much as I love finding a really great deal on a product I've been eyeing for a few months, sometimes it's even better to find a totally unique item that you didn't even know you needed.  Even better is when that item is on sale and can be purchased with just a few clicks.  Such was the case on my last shopping trip at ATG Stores when I promptly found four items I had been searching for in retail and so much more.  

In addition to finding a toddler bed for my tot and a storage system for mail, I also found something special just for me.  That something special was a gorgeous silver condiment stand that matches perfectly with my pewter collection.  While the antique-looking condiment stand certainly wasn't on my shopping list when I began searching, I knew it was far too perfect - and too unique - to pass up.  

Once it arrived, I eagerly unwrapped the silver condiment stand and its 4 glass cruets with tops and assembled it.  Immediately I was really impressed by how well the silver stand and glass pieces were cushioned in the box for transport.  It actually took me about 15 minutes to get it fully removed from all the careful packaging, something I really appreciate as I hate when you receive something in the mail that has shattered and you have to go to the time and expense of sending it back to the shipper.

The condiment stand is even prettier in person than it is on the ATG Stores site and it has this great antique feel about it.  Besides being gorgeous and matching my pewter collection perfectly, I also love that the condiment stand is sturdy and solid, not some cheap and flimsy silver tray.  Even when fully loaded with oil, vinegar and more, the condiment stand feels really secure while carrying it to and from the table.  And, because I have a variety of pewter items that need homes, I was really excited to find out that my pewter pepper and salt grinders fit like a glove in the condiment stand, which makes it perfect for leaving out on the table year-round.    

I would have never guessed that a huge online retailer like ATG Stores would carry awesome specialty items like the condiment stand we received.  Before I found the ATG Stores website, I would have had no idea where to start searching to find a product like this other than trying my luck on an auction site or antique stores.  But, because ATG works with numerous companies and vendors to give you over 3 million items to choose from, it also means you have so many more options for finding that perfect item you're looking for, whether you knew you were looking for it or not. 

If you are looking for fixtures, furniture, décor, kitchen gadgets, home furnishings, and even baby gear and toys, you can find it at one of the ATG Stores 500 specialty shops.  But, the really cool thing about a shopping site like ATG is that it still only has one checkout, one return policy, and one great customer service team that has been helping people find that perfect item since 1999.

Condiment Stand With 2 Glass Bottles With Stoppers And 2 Glass Covered Jars

• Height: 8.75"
• Length: 8"
• Width: 6"

http://www.atgstores.com/

ATGstores.com has some really great stores like LightingUniverse.com, FixtureUniverse.com, DecorUniverse.com, HomeFurnitureShowroom.com, SportingGoodsCentral.com, NewBabySupply.com, OutdoorLivingShowroom.com and CookingandTableware.com.

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $75 ATG Stores Gift Card to spend however they like!

To Enter (mandatory): Go to ATGStores.com 500 websites and pick out another item you would buy with your $75 credit.  Post the URL link for the item you would choose to purchase in the comments below.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review. You can subscribe at the top of right sidebar (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Follow Rave and Review on Twitter(1 extra entry)

3) Tweet about this Giveaway "@raveandreview and @ATGStores are giving away a GIft Certificate #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/25pxxkq" (extra entry for daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Rave and Review and ATGStores.com (this is good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments with a link to the blog post)

5) Follow @ATGStores on Twitter (2 extra entries)

6) Become a fan of ATGStores on Facebook (2 extra entries)

7) Follow the ATGStores Blog (2 extra entries)

8) Subscribe to ATGStores Email List (3 extra entries)

9) Add Rave and Review to your blogroll - see HTML code in sidebar (Good for 5 entries so leave 5 comments with a link to the blogroll) 

On October 15th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian addresses only, no PO Boxes.  Anyone currently hosting a ATG Stores giveaway is not eligible to enter.

Winner, winner! This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to...

#136 Corrie Gompf said... Subscribed to ATGStores Email List. Supermomonwheels(at)gmail(dot)com

A big thank you to ATGStores for providing us with the complimentary condiment stand in exchange for my honest review as well as the $75 Gift Certificate for one lucky winner.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

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