Rave and Review

Cirago Bluetooth 3.0 USB Micro Adaptor – BTA3310

Cozy At Home Event: Day 23

Just about everything is wireless these days, so why does it feel like all of our “modern” technology isn’t?  Take a look around, behind, and even through any computer desk and you are bound to see a tangle of wires and cords that connect one piece of technology to another.  For those of you who hate clutter (me) or have small children (also me), these cords do more than drive you crazy.  In a push to get my office more streamlined and join the 21st century, I thought it was high time to find a wireless solution for all my tech gear.

The first step for me to rid myself of wires and cords is Cirago’s new BTA3310 Bluetooth 3.0 Adaptor that offers an affordable solution to wireless computing.  Small, portable, and incredibly easy to install, Cirago quickly gave my office a big push into wireless connectivity by updating my equipment and making it so my computer can talk to my smartphone, printer, headphones and more completely easily and affordably.

  Cirago claims that the BTA3310 is the smallest Bluetooth adaptor on the market and I have no problem believing that.  The BTA3310 is tiny... really tiny.  In fact, they might even be too tiny for some people who misplace things easily or have thicker fingers and are unable to get a good grip on the USB Micro Adaptor when it is plugged into the computer.  But, for most of us, the teeny tiny Bluetooth Adaptor is the perfect thing for Bluetooth connectivity that is portable, easy to use, and doesn’t stick out of your laptop or desktop computer and interfere your computer use at all.    

All you need is a USB port and you can instantly update your office and make it Bluetooth-ready and go wireless.  For me, this means being able to configure my printer to print wirelessly, which is a huge step for me in making it so I’m not stuck using my laptop in our office and instead can roam up to 33 feet away and still be able to print on a whim.  Having the Cirago Bluetooth 3.0 also means that I can wireless transfer documents to and from my smartphone and laptop easily, taking the hassle out of emailing documents or having to find that smartphone cord I misplaced months ago. 

Installation of the Cirago BTA3310 is incredibly easy with the included mini-DVD and the simple to use features that guide you through the set up process.  And then once you have the Cirago installed, using the Bluetooth function was easy and very intuitive.  I was able to quickly switch my smartphone to Bluetooth mode and then send information to and from my phone and laptop, even from across our large living room. 

My office isn’t entirely wireless at this point, but the Cirago Bluetooth 3.0 certainly decreased my dependence upon cords and reduced my desk clutter while I work.  The next step is for me to configure my printer to work wirelessly by enabling the Bluetooth mode, which unfortunately requires me to finally read the printer manual.  But, once I do figure all that out, I will be in wireless and clutter-free heaven and my daughter might even be allowed into the office someday. 

One thing to note about the Cirago Bluetooth USB Micro Adaptor if you are new to wireless connectivity like I am:  If you have an older printer that isn’t Bluetooth enabled, you can sometimes buy specific Bluetooth devices for your printer model by checking with the printer manufacturer.  Many other office items are either Bluetooth enabled or Bluetooth ready, so be sure and check around your office and see what other cords and wires you can eliminate.   

• Micro Design - RoHS compliant
• Bluetooth Specification 3.0 EDR — Class 2
• Enhanced Data Rata (EDR) compliant for both 2Mbps and 3Mbps modulation modes
• Full speed Bluetooth operation with full Piconet and Scatternet support
• Support for 802.11 Coexistence
• Full speed USB v 2.0 interface support OHCI and UHCI host interface
• Receiver Sensitivity -90dBm
• Stable, accurate search ability  

Find out more at www.cirago.com

A big thank you to Cirago for sending the Bluetooth Adaptor for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

AZO Emergency Kit and Vera Bradley Bag {Review & Giveaway}

 

No one likes to talk about UTIs and even fewer people like to run to the store in the middle of the night to diagnose and treat one.  Having a kit made up ahead of time is such a lifesaver and something before now I wouldn't have ever thought of doing.  Seems strange to think of because I always make sure my pantry is stocked or I have enough dog food ahead of time, but it never really dawns on me to think ahead and plan for illness. 

So, when AZO reached out to me and told me about the wide array of products they have to treat various “emergencies” that could arise, I thought it the kit was such a great idea.  Why head to the doctor or a walk in clinic and spend hours waiting and lots of money only to find that in some cases you can treat your symptoms in the comfort of your own home?  AZO cites the fact that UTIs account for more than 8 million doctor visits each year, and now I know that many of these could have been avoided.

Even better than merely treating your symptoms is the fact that you can use AZO products to actually help you reduce the likelihood you will contract a UTI in the first place.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?  Even better when it comes in an adorable Vera Bradley bag!  
 
From over-the-counter products to diagnose and treat a UTI to all-natural products to help prevent one, AZO has you covered.  Don’t just take our word for it, check out AZOProducts.com and see all the different products they have to make sure you’re covered no matter what. 

 

 
One Rave and Review reader will win an AZO emergency kit in a Vera Bradley toiletry bag; total retail value of $75 - Kit includes the full line of AZO Products and a beautiful 10" x 6¼" x 3¼" Vera Bradley Large Cosmetic Bag (note: the patterns provided will be randomly selected from the current collection and not from patterns being discontinued or retired… you can view the Vera Bradley collection here)

To Enter: Simply visit AZO Products and tell me something you liked or something you learned on the site {mandatory for entry}

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 AZO Products on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @AZOproducts with the link to this post (www.raveandreview.com) 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 (2 extra entries - 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 is in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On December 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.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #49 Rae Higgins said... #12 I voted for you in the Top Baby Blogs rjwhiggins@aol.com

 A big thank you to AZO Products for sending a kit for review and for offering 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.

{$150 Perricone Giveaway} Get Your Own Anti Wrinkle Face Cream!

Soon my twenties are going to be a thing of the past and I’m going to have to face the fact that I am a full-fledged grownup.  With a house, a husband and kids… plural!  Also on the horizon?  Wrinkles.  Even though I know the inevitable is approaching, it hasn’t stopped me from reading a wrinkle cream review or two.

  This research led me to Perricone MD where I found a whole selection of products that were developed by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a board certified dermatologist and anti-aging expert.  For anyone out there who loves skincare products as much as I do, the Perricone MD site is a virtual treasure trove of goodies that range from eye creams to firming moisturizers and anti wrinkle face cream.

The site is easy to navigate and you can shop the skincare line by skin concern, specific product, or even ingredients, as well as seeing their best selling items at a glance.  While there are quite a few Perricone MD products I would love to try, I would love to know what product you would choose. 

Go to http://www.perriconemd.com/ for more information on their products.  You can also go to the Perricone Blog and take a quick Skin IQ Quiz to get 20% off your order!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win their choice of any Perricone MD product valued at $150 or less.

To Enter: Simply visit Perricone MD and tell me another product of theirs {valued at $150 or less} you want and why you would love to try 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 with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/az8fAe) 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 homepage (2 extra entries - 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 is in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On November 12th 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.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to #584 Mary who said... I entered the Fiber One Giveaway

A big thank you to Perricone MD for offering 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.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards

There was a time when I created my own holiday card by Photoshopping pictures and digital scrapbooking pages together to create the perfect card to hand out at Christmas.  Not this year.  Not with an active toddler and a newborn who is in my arms 90% of the time I’m awake.

This year I’m looking for a quick and easy solution to the perfect holiday cards and I’m looking to Shutterfly to help me find them.  When you factor in the cost of stationery which then must be filled with the prerequisite family photos (I do have two young children that must be photographed for relatives), holiday photo cards really are the way to go for snap-happy parents and Shutterfly has a huge selection to choose from. 

Besides being fast, easy, and cost effective, Shutterfly offers some really beautiful designs in photo cards ranging from traditional to modern and everything in between.  I found a whole bunch of Christmas cards I fell in love with and now am just searching for the perfect pictures to add to the designs. 

The first one that caught my eye is the Tree of Hope American Lung Association folded card that gives 10% of all net sales to the cause.  Besides being classic and simple, I love that it allows me to showcase a large amount of photos of my kiddos, which means I can get the most personality onto the card.

Another design I love is the Warm Holiday Wishes folded card and All of Us folded card.  I love that both designs have enough room for pictures of both kids and then a spot for a family picture as well, which would make all the grandparents happy.

  
If you notice some similarities in the cards chosen it’s because all the designs are 5x7 folded card designs.  This is because I really love to personalize my holiday cards with a special message for our friends and family.  Yes, I’m busy… but I hope I’m never too busy to include a loving message to our friends and family letting them know what they mean to me.  To me, that’s what the holidays are all about and this is one tradition I really want my children to carry on.

Do you want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly?  Click here to go to Shutterfly for information on how you can get 50 free cards this holiday season, and make sure to select Clever 1000 as the referral source.

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly.  I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

WW: Babies Holding Babies

 

LG Kompressor LuV300B Vacuum Cleaner {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event: Day 22

LG has completely changed my mind about what I should put up with while vacuuming by creating what is quite possibly the most technologically advanced vacuum ever, the LG Kompressor LuV300B.  This was evident at first glance with its high-tech good looks and its Riviera Blue finish and became ever more apparent as I discovered what all this amazing machine could do.  With lists of features that make you think that vacuuming honestly might be rocket science and all sorts of clever design elements that make the LG Kompressor beautiful as well as beautifully engineered, it’s really no wonder that we’ve all fallen hard for the LuV300B.  

So, what makes the LG Kompressor different than every other vacuum on the market?  I’m so glad you asked.  You might want to get pen and paper handy – you’re going to need it. 

Unique compression system allows you to pick up more, vacuum less:
LG’s patented Kompressor technology utilizes the world’s first motorized compression system, which works to compact the debris that has collected in the canister while you vacuum.  This allows you to vacuum up substantially more than a traditional vacuum cleaner as well as keep the debris better contained inside the canister for disposal.  

Since my living room rug is an incredibly thick wool that sheds like crazy, I find that I am constantly vacuuming it, and worse yet, having to empty the vacuum canister halfway through the job to keep it from overflowing.  Unfortunately, I love this rug and am willing to put up with a whole lot to keep it the place where my family gathers at the end of the day.  But, up until last month I didn’t think there was any way around this mid-vacuum break and considered it a labor of love for my beloved wool rug. 

But now that I’ve found the Kompressor, stopping mid vacuum to dump the collection canister is a thing of the past.  Even though the Kompressor vacuum picks up a surprisingly large amount of debris and wool fiber with each pass, the canister on the vacuum compresses it magically to the point that I can actually vacuum my whole house without having to dump the container – a feat that I never thought would be possible.   

DualForce Technology is an amazing thing:
Although I must admit that the motorized compression system is what originally sold me on the LG LuV300B, I came to love another feature just as much, if not more so as I used this vacuum around my house.  That feature is affectionately referred to as DualForce suction technology, which actually adds two additional air pathways to pick up dirt and debris from both sides of the vacuum head. 

The DualForce suction means that instead of merely picking up dirt from the center of the vacuum head as most units do, the LG Kompressor vacuums pick up dust and debris over a much greater surface area and from the sides of the powerhead simultaneously.  This allows you to cover your entire floor with less passes and to clean around the edges of the room effectively.

Certified awesomeness:
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently certified the LG Kompressor LuV300B asthma and allergy friendly, which is only the second brand of vacuums ever to be awarded this distinction.  This is partly due to a permanent HEPA filter that captures 99.97 percent of allergens such as dust mites and pet dander.  This filter can be removed for you to rinse as needed and therefore doesn’t require replacement. 

The other part of this clean air commitment is the compression system that keeps all the dust, debris, and dirt you pick up contained and incredibly easy to dispose of without having to dig through the vacuum and canister to empty.  When you are ready to empty the canister, you do so simply with a press of a button and the debris drops from the bottom of the canister into the trash.

LG has other products that have been awarded the AAFA asthma and allergy friendly certification including 4 {beautiful} washing machines that are the only units to ever be awarded this coveted certification.  Since I’m absolutely crazy about cleanliness and am in dire need of a washing machine upgrade, I am incredibly excited to check these out and see what a difference certified clean can make!  

Ease of use:
All other upright vacuum companies could learn a thing or twelve from LG about the usefulness of onboard vacuuming tools. Their unique Click ‘N Go wand gives you all sorts of options for expanding your vacuuming potential on the fly.  With the simple push of a button, the magnetic hose, expandable wand and mini turbine unit comes out of the back of the Kompressor vacuum and gives you a small and portable powerhead to manuever into the tiniest of spaces as well as use as a wand, crevice tool and more.

Power controls on the handle make turning the unit on as well as switching between settings easy and simple while you go from room to room and even while using the wand attachments.  These RF (radio-frequency) controls allow you to turn the brush roll on and off and change the suction power all while vacuuming, making for smoother transitions from bare floors to carpet and from my beautiful wool rug to our durable wall to wall carpeting.  Since this handle is also the wand, it gives you the ability to change all of these settings as you clean, even if you are 15 feet away from the base of the vavcuum.   

While the Kompressor certainly isn’t a lightweight and actually is kind of bulky for a vacuum, its larger back wheels and its manueverability more than make up for its heft.  An incredible 40ft cord allows you to vacuum more without stopping and the Click ‘N Go wand and attachments add an additional 10 - 15 ft to your reach.  This allows me to easily do my whole main floor without having to stop and move electrical outlets as well as allowing me to reach the top of my stairs with the attachments. 

What does all this mean for you? 
Less time running the vacuum over the same areas to make sure you’ve gotten everything, dumping canisters, switching outlets, and messing with wands and attachments means less time is spent cleaning.  Even those of us who drool over the newest advances in vacuum technology don’t want to spend any more time than we absolutely must cleaning our homes, which is why the Kompressor gets a huge seal of approval from all of us here at Rave Central.  

Price: $399.00

http://www.lg.com/

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a LG Kompressor LuV300B Vacuum Cleaner of their very own!

To Enter: Simply visit LG and tell me another product of theirs you would love to own or a favorite product you already own.

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://bit.ly/d0YjnZ) 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 homepage (2 extra entries - 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 is in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On December 7th 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.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered (1,683 entries) and congrats to: #17 andrea d said... i follow and i tweeted
http://twitter.com/drea8685/status/28689836474 drea8685 at yahoo dot com

A big thank you to LG for providing the sample for review as well as offering 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.

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event: Day 21

When hubby and I first moved in together we were given the best housewarming present ever, a set of high quality knives that we have been using for the past 11 years.  These knives are still top of the line despite the fact that they are more than a decade old, but up until this week you wouldn’t have guessed how great these knives really are.  The thing is, we almost never sharpen our knives.  Yes, we have a knife sharpener, but it's so cumbersome that it rarely ever comes out of the drawer. 

  So, when AnySharp contacted me and told me about the AnySharp Pro Sharpener that was simple to use, easy to store, and extremely efficient, I was dying to try it out.  Once it arrived, I realized there were some really big features in this very small package. 

As the hilarious YouTube video says, the AnySharp utilizes the newest in octopus technology – a.k.a. a PowerGrip suction cup – so you don’t need a free hand to secure it while you sharpen.  Since I am clumsy and rarely allowed to use knives on my own, everyone who cares about my fingers loves this feature the best.  The amazing suction power is surprisingly stable on the countertop once you secure the lever and incredibly easy to move and reposition, and a far cry from your typical suction cups that you need to moisten in order to use. 

The second feature that makes the AnySharp stand out is its relatively small size and how easy it is to store it where you will actually use it.  At just under 2 ½” in diameter and roughly the size of a yogurt cup, it can easily fit in the knife drawer or even inconspicuously on the countertop by the knife block.  

Another feature my husband really loves is how open the design of the AnySharp is, which allows you to maneuver just about any knife, scissor, or blade into it easily without being restricted by the size or shape of the blade.  It’s this open design that makes it incredibly easy to use and makes it versatile enough to sharpen our whole collection of knives to perfection in just minutes. 

As if that’s not enough, the AnySharp comes with a 10 year lifetime guarantee that covers every part of the sharpener, not just the sharpening tools.  Since I firmly believe that kitchens aren’t big enough to be filled with cheap tools, I love when my favorite tools also have a guarantee.

The steps to use the AnySharp are incredibly simple:  Place AnySharp Pro on clean surface and press lever down to lock into place.  Place knife in the sharpener, starting at the base of the handle and gently draw knife back 3 – 4 times through the “v” shaped slot.  That’s it, your knife is sharpened and all metal shards are collected on the top of the AnySharp for easy cleanup!

AnySharp claims to be the world's best knife sharpener and while I’m not a knife sharpener expert, I can attest to the fact that it certainly is compact, efficient, and extremely effective.  And, now I’ve got a whole set of newly sharpened, high quality knives that can cut through anything with ease, which makes them far less dangerous when you’re as clumsy as I am.

Product Features from AnySharp

• Use on kitchen cutlery, gardening shears, lawnmower blades, serrated knives and more
• Diamond precision hones the blade to its proper angle; patented design produces results that are superior to those from traditional steel or stone
• Removes only microscopic amounts of metal
• Unique round design and PowerGrip suction bottom makes it safe and easy to use; exterior has zinc alloy finish

Price: $36.95

http://www.anysharp.com/ to find out more, see the YouTube Video and check out their great features like their own Recipe Club!

Price: $36.95

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win an AnySharp Pro Sharpener of their very own!

 

To Enter: Simply let me know how this would help in your kitchen by commenting below.

 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 (www.raveandreview.com) 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 homepage (2 extra entries - 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 is in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On December 10th 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.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #552 Lilac said... voted on tbb #7

A big thank you to AnySharp for providing the sample for review as well as offering 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.

BedVoyage Bamboo Bedding from ATG Stores {Review & $75 Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event: Day 20

If you’ve never slept on or cuddled in bamboo bedding you have seriously been missing out.  Bamboo clothing and textiles are certainly not new to the market, but in the past few years they have been growing in popularity.  And, after experiencing the luxury of the new BedVoyage Bamboo Linens from ATG Stores, I can completely see why everyone loves them so much.

I had the pleasure of reviewing some eco-luxury bamboo linens from BedVoyage for the past few weeks that consisted of a BedVoyage Sheet Set and a Bamboo Travel Blanket.  Both of these products are now available at ATG Stores and are high on my list of luxury items I would recommend for the perfect night’s sleep, whether you are home or away.   

BedVoyage says it uses bamboo in its linens for its naturally anti-bacterial, thermal regulating, moisture wicking, odor resistant and environmentally friendly properties.  They also use the highest thread count possible for that premium sleep experience which equates to approximately 1,000 + thread count in other fabrics.  This is something I really appreciate because I have gotten really picky about bedding in the past few years and detest sleeping on low quality sheets. 

Even though I was expecting high quality linens, I was still shocked by how soft and velvety the BedVoyage bedding is.  Even more surprising was how the bamboo fabrics had a silky-smooth coolness to them that somehow kept me at the perfect temperature whether I was sleeping on their sheets sets or relaxing on the sofa with the travel blanket.  I like to think this is because the company is based right here in Seattle and they know all about how unpredictable our Northwest weather can be.   

BedVoyage Bamboo Sheet Set from ATGStores.com

Besides being extremely soft and silky smooth, the Bamboo Sheet Set from BedVoyage has some really interesting features I have never seen in bedding before.  The most interesting of which is their unique sewn together top sheet and bottom sheet that allows you to make your bed by simply attaching the 4 fitted sheet corners to your mattress.  This ease of use also makes them the perfect traveling sheets since it’s not a huge hassle to make your bed once you arrive at your destination.

By sewing together their deep pocket fitted sheet and their extra long top sheet in one single piece two feet up from the bottom of the bed, it does more than make your bed easy to make.  It also means that your bedding stays neat and tidy no matter how you sleep at night and won’t come untucked while you sleep.  Instead of feeling restrictive, the BedVoyage sheet set has a very smart design that uses an elasticized panel which allows for ample room to move while you sleep. 

No wonder BedVoyage has such a huge fanbase that takes their sheets everywhere they go – they are easy to use, pack and store, and they provide a luxurious night’s sleep even when you are away from home.  “If you spend 1/3rd of your life in bed, why not sleep on the most luxurious linens that you can? And at a price that is affordable!” says Sharon Stuart, the CEO and founder of BedVoyage.

BedVoyage sheet sets include: One attached fitted & top sheet in Twin, Double, Queen or King, Coordinating zippered pillow cases with embroidery (1 for Twin size), Bamboo fiber matching fabric travel tote, Laminated Instruction card for maid service (double sided in English & Spanish), Each set folds up nicely into the size of a man’s cableknit sweater (13” long, 3” high, 10” wide)

BedVoyage Bamboo Travel Blanket from ATGStores.com 

The BedVoyage Bamboo Travel Blanket is one of those “can’t live without it” products for me these past few months.  Because I was huge and pregnant all summer but still really liked to be covered while I slept, there was a lot of cover throwing throughout the heat of the summer.  This was also true as we snuggled up to watch TV in the evenings and I really wanted that cuddled up feeling but couldn’t tolerate extra warmth that traditional cotton or wool blankets provide. 

The BedVoyage Bamboo Travel Blanket is surprisingly hard to describe because most of the descriptions I want to use seem to be contradictions.  It’s hard to believe that something can be delicate and lightweight but still provide a good snuggle weight that drapes perfectly and makes you feel all tucked in.

The truly amazing part is the Bamboo fibers which really do regulate temperature and makes it the perfect warmth for any weather.  Even as the temperature in our house fluctuated with the changing seasons, it has continued to be the perfect amount of cover without ever being too hot. 

The silky feeling of the Bamboo Travel Blanket is amazingly soft and supple, which makes it everyone’s favorite blanket.  The Bamboo Blanket has a delicate looking weave to the fabric, but is actually quite durable, something I was really happy about because it has seen quite a few long nights and naptimes since it arrived. 

The Bamboo Blanket we reviewed measures 40" wide by 70" long which makes it just long enough for me to use to snuggle up with a kiddo or two.  They also offer numerous other sizes to fit all sizes of beds. 

Find out more about BedVoyage at http://www.bedvoyage.com/ and see more BedVoyage products on 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://bit.ly/9eqSAJ" (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, leave 5 comments with a link to the blogroll) 

On November 16th 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 congrats to...

#534  hjm said... well there is a lot to choose from!
i like this mr barbecue gift set- my brother would love it:

http://www.atgstores.com/top-gifts-for-men/mr-barbeque-02182p-classic-prestige-rubber-finger-grip-top-gifts-for-men_g511697.html?isku=4821593

A big thank you to ATGStores for providing us with the complimentary bamboo linens from BedVoyage 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.

PTPA Launches New Site, Come Join the Fun!

 
If you've signed up to be a Parent Tested Parent Approved tester in the past then you might have already gotten an email with the announcement that the ALL NEW PTPA site has officially launched!  The new and improved site now allows you to interact even more with PTPA Media and make sure your voice is heard, which helps to improve the PTPA experience for everyone.

If you haven't signed up yet, you should stop reading this right now and head over to ptpamedia.com and do so immediately.  Why sign up?  Because it's the only way to get your hands on some of the great products PTPA tests each season and find out about all the latest and greatest gadgets, gizmos and more that other parents are recommending. 

The launch of the new PTPA site makes it even easier for you to keep up to date on all the products available for testing and make sure that your name is included in their lists of testers.  By simply completing your profile on their new site you can get involved in the process of reviewing as well as suggest other products for the PTPA to test, a feature I am going to be taking full advantage of.  The best part is that by telling them what products you would be interested in testing and a little bit about yourself they can better match the products to you for testing in the future!    

The PTPA also has an amazing group of Blogaholics (formerly the PTPA Panel of Moms - see badge in right sidebar, thus confirming I might be *slightly* biased about our amazing-ness) that write about all the great products and services the PTPA has awarded their coveted Seal of Approval.  Of course, there are also contests, giveaways and more that you can enter on the Blogaholics site.  

So, head over to the PTPA Media website and update (or create) your profile to get on the list of testers.  Once you log in to the PTPA site, you can access your own custom "PTPA Member Dashboard" where you can complete your profile and make sure you have the best chances of reviewing some of their awesome products! 

http://www.ptpamedia.com

 

I was not compensated in any way by the PTPA for writing this post, I simply thought you would be interested in getting free stuff in exchange for helping them evaluate products.  Of course you are... It's free products just for telling them what you think!  Awesome!

WW: First Photo Shoot