Discount: SproutBaby.com

I'm fortunate to have been introduced to SproutBaby.com a few months ago when Little Sister B was able to try out and review their delicious organic baby food, which she loved. Then, in October, I was able to host a giveaway for SproutBaby for their "Go Green AND Orange for Halloween" program, which was a lot of fun. Now, they not only sell even more great things than they did before, but SproutBaby is offering a full 33% off everything in the store (except for the yummy food) for Cyber Monday!

From now through Wednesday, December 2, at midnight PST, enter 333 at checkout to take advantage of this great deal! Also, for all orders over $75, free shipping is included for anywhere in the continental U.S.

What can you find at SproutBaby.com? As the web's leading provider of eco-friendly baby products, you're able to shop for biodegradable diapers, reusable feeding utensils, toys, non-toxic cleaning products, books, baby care and much more!

Looking for a unique baby item? The Keptin Jr. Rattle Ring Rabby, with its soft, organically grown cotton and warm sheep's wool makes a great companion for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. SproutBaby thinks "the fewer the toxins the better when it comes to toys, particularly ones that end up in the mouth" and I have to agree! I can see both Little Sister B and Big Sister E carrying this cute toy around by its long ears.

When family or friends ask what toys my girls like to play with, the ones that I always mention are the play food and dishes. My girls will spend forever putting pretend food on plates and filling and emptying cups, all the while chatting (Big Sister E pretty much rambled nonstop) and "eating" and having fun together. I think the Green Toys Recycled Plastic Cookware and Dining Set is not only cute, but the 27-piece set is made from advanced environmentally friendly materials, helping to reduce fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions - how cool!

SproutBaby offers such a wide selection of certified, family vetted, expert approved, eco-friendly products that you'll be sure to find something for at least one person on your list this holiday season. Just be sure to head there before Wednesday at midnight and use 333 to save 33%!

BuddyTops Adorable Hats {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

As winter is rapidly approaching, parents everywhere are preparing for the battles that are going to ensue when it comes to layering for going outside. What is it about babies, Little Sister B definitely included, that they have pull off any hat that even threatens to come in contact with their head? As for toddler and preschool-aged kids, are hats just that uncool that they would rather be cold?

At my house there will no longer be the continual replacement of Little Sister B's hat, over and over, while trying to convince Big Sister E that she indeed should wear her hat outside because they now have BuddyTops.

"Hey, look at you!" "No, look at you!"

Whether it is the adorable look or the amazingly soft feel, Big Sister E and Little Sister B both love their BuddyTops Hats and no attempts are ever made to take them off. Can you blame them?

The newest (and most unique) line of children's hats that I've seen in a long time, BuddyTops are not only warm and comfortable, they each have a distinct personality and are there to be your child's friend. Whether Darby The Honest Piggy or Benny The Persevering Bunny, each one sends a positive idea and life lesson to your child.

For instance, Big Sister E's BuddyTop is Stewart, The Courageous Tiger and "Stewart is a protector and comes from a long family of fearless tigers. Whenever you are afraid, your new BuddyTop will always be there to give you the courage to overcome any obstacle!" Unlike some of the characters that are out there for kids these days, the message from Stewart is one I actually like sending to my daughter.

Made out of 100% polyester, BuddyTops are soft on the inside and out and can be hand-washed and air dried. Right now they are available in sizes small and large and I recommend visiting their size chart and measuring your child's head before ordering to ensure a good fit. Big Sister E has plenty of room in her size large but I'm holding out hope that Little Sister B can still fit into her small throughout this winter.

Also, even though these are children's hats, the tag states that BuddyTops are "not suitable for children under 3," which I assume is due mainly to the long side flaps (which are great for keeping little ears warm!) and hard plastic eyes that could be a choking hazard if they were somehow pulled off.

However, I gave the eyes on our BuddyTops multiple tugs and wasn't able to even get a wiggle, so they are attached pretty tightly. I still wouldn't leave a young child alone with this hat on because even if they couldn't remove the eyes, one of the flaps could easily get caught on something. In all, these hats are made very well and will definitely last longer than the cold weather!

I can't stress how adorable and soft and warm BuddyTops truly are! The hardest part of owning one is selecting which of the characters is your favorite. My girls LOVE to wear them and the compliments we receive on their cuteness are endless. Are you prepared to spread the word about BuddyTops? 2 of you will get to repeat the name over and over when strangers stop you to ask about them, because, thanks to the generosity of BuddyTops...

2 lucky people will win BuddyTops of their own!

Any product that can illicit this response gets an A+ in my book!

To enter to win your BuddyTops Hat: Visit BuddyTops and tell me which one of these adorable hats you would choose if you were one of the winners. Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winners.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry if you follow BuddyTops on Twitter. You'll get to hear about great specials and coupon codes, too!
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Giveaway ~ CUTEST ANIMAL HATS (2 winners)! Kids love cuddly BuddyTops! @thxmailcarrier @buddytopscom http://bit.ly/7VbvMr #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and BuddyTops. Please leave an address where it can be found.
Giveaway will end on December 14th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

A big thank you to Luis at BuddyTops for providing a two hats for review as well as two for two lucky giveaway winners. These are SO unique and cute! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

GIVEAWAY: The Baby Dipper Bowl

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

It's pretty safe to say that moms are always on the look out for any product that accomplishes two things: it aids in multitasking and it makes life easier. Right?

At pretty much all times of the day, I'm trying to accomplish somewhere in the range of 17 things at the same time. During mealtimes, that number increases to around 36. Big Sister E needs another glass of milk, a clean spoon after dropping hers on the floor and more Parmesan cheese on her noodles. Always more Parmesan.

At the same time, Little Sister B needs her oatmeal continually spooned into her mouth at just the right speed so that her mouth is never completely empty but also not overfilled. I either need to grow another arm or find a way to cut down on having to use the two that I have for feeding her.


If I think that I have difficult mealtimes at my house, I can't imagine what Barbara Schantz, creator of The Baby Dipper Bowl, has going on at hers. The mother of TWO sets of twins, Barbara was frustrated with the lack of bowls available that would allow her to accomplish one-handed feedings with her then-6-month-old girls. So what did she do? Like any amazing mom, she took it upon herself to design and market the most unique baby bowl I have seen on the marketplace today.

The first thing that I noticed about the Baby Dipper was the most obvious - its interesting shape. Unlike traditional round bowls that leave you chasing the food around in circles, the Baby Dipper is triangular in shape and the bottom slopes down to one collection point. That means that you are able to easily gather every last bite by directing the spoon down the incline and into the rounded corner, which is made even easier by the vertical sides.

The other major highlight of the Baby Dipper is that it really is completely possible to feed your child with one hand due to the non-slip base and the weight of the bowl itself (heavier than normal). I set the bowl down on the table and was able to dip right in without having to use my other hand to hold anything still. That means I can feed Little Sister B at the same time that I cut more banana chunks for her... or at the same time that I dig out another handful of dried cereal for her... or at the same time I ACTUALLY GET TO EAT. It's quite a novelty.


When Big Sister E was first learning to use a spoon and eat from a bowl, one the most frustrating things for her was not being able to get the food on her spoon and then actually get it into her mouth without spilling it. The Baby Dipper would be a great for toddlers that are learning to self-feed as not only will the bowl stay in place, but the contoured bottom will make it much easier for the food to actually get on the spoon. As an added bonus, the Baby Dipper spoon has a curved handle to make it simpler to hold and the spoon base is curved deep enough that it will be able to scoop a decent amount.

Does one-handed feeding sound like a great idea for your house? Or do you know a toddler that could use a jump-start on feeding themselves? The Baby Dipper is available for purchase for only $9.99 right on their website or at select retail locations.

Also be sure to become a fan of Baby Dipper on Facebook to keep up with the latest promotions and new product information - I'm looking forward to hearing more about the larger Baby Dipper bowl that is in the works because Little Sister B can eat more than the 4 ounces that the current size holds! Also, due to the generosity of Barbara and the Baby Dipper...

One lucky person will win their own Baby Dipper Bowl!

To enter to win your Baby Dipper Bowl: Visit Baby Dipper and then come back and tell me how this would make mealtimes easier at your house. One-handed feeding for a baby? A great teaching tool for a toddler? Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Baby Dipper on Twitter or sign up for The Baby Dipper newsletter or become a follower of My Double Life, Barbara Schantz's blog.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Giveaway ~ Baby Dipper Bowl for easy one-handed feeding (babies or toddlers) @thxmailcarrier @babydipper http://bit.ly/4A5BiR #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and The Baby Dipper Bowl. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 14th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

A big thank you to Barbara at The Baby Dipper Bowl for providing a bowl for review as well as one for one lucky giveaway winner. What a genius idea! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

GIVEAWAY: WeeSqueak Beibi Shoes

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

In my pre-SAHM days, one of the jobs that I had was in charge of the circulation desk at one of the nearby branches of my city's public library. As with any situation, there were ups and downs to my job, but I mainly enjoyed it. Friendly patrons, happy children arriving for story time and the feeling of accomplishment when all the piles were sorted and finished had me looking forward to returning to work each morning.

Dealing with lost items, broken DVDs and the woman who was adamant that she shouldn't have to pay for the book that she returned covered in cat urine... well, that's another story.

One nice family that regularly visited the library brought their toddler in wearing squeaky shoes. Now, you'd think that it would have been bothersome to listen to the constant squeak, squeak, squeak sound that followed them throughout the place, but it really wasn't. In fact, it was not only cute, it was extremely practical. Those parents never had to wonder where their son was even with the tall shelves of books blocking their view. As a bonus, we all always got a good laugh seeing and hearing him toddle by as he explored the library.

But where would you go to find shoes that are both adorable and squeaky?


WeeSqueak shoes are not only comfortable and stylish, they even help teach children how to walk properly (they must step heal-to-toe in order to create the sound) at the same time. Knowing that there might be times that silence is important, WeeSqueak even made it possible for the squeaker to be removed - leaving you with an adorably quiet pair of shoes for your little walker.

When it came time to create their infant shoes, WeeSqueak left out the squeaky sounds and focused on the cuteness. The result is a line of simple, soft, charming shoes called Beibi. And for us, Little Sister B will always look put together when I finish her outfit with her Beibi Taylor Brown Baby Shoes.


I love the soft leather and corduroy combination of these shoes, as well as the way the rubber bottom not only comes up on the front to prevent the usual wear-and-tear to that part of baby shoes, but the small bumps give them traction for when Little Sister B does stand and take some steps.

I chose the all-brown color (they also come in hot pink and light pink) thinking that she would be able to wear these shoes with anything... and I was right. Whether I dress her in jeans, stretch pants or a dress, Little Sister B's Beibi Shoes have the right amount of dress and casualness to them that they will always go. The cute heart buckle is, in fact, a buckle and it worried me at first that I would never be able to get Little Sister B to sit still long enough to get it fastened but so far it has not proved to be a problem to just slip her feet in them.

With shoes ranging in size from 0 - 24 months, there is an adorable design for both boys and girls to suit your taste. Carried in over 600 stores worldwide, you can purchase WeeSqueak's Beibi Shoes right on their website or do a quick search to find which one of their numerous retail locations is nearest you. But how will you decide between the cute choices? One of my favorites is the Crawford Navy Baby Shoe (shown at right) and I think the classic look would be perfect for any little boy.

And if Little Sister B needed cute pink shoes (and what little girl doesn't?) I would love the Logan Light Pink Baby Shoe (at left) for her sweet little feet. How fun is the little yellow daisy?

No matter the weather where you live, as the temperatures drop it's time to cover those cute little baby feet with cute little baby shoes. WeeSqueak's Beibi Shoes are just the high quality, stylish shoes to keep those toes protected and warm this winter. Not only that, you can rest assured that you've contributed to a good cause, as WeeSqueak donates 5% of their profits to Half the Sky and to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Want to try out a pair of Beibi Shoes for your little one? Or do you know someone who has a baby who could use a pair of these adorable shoes? Thanks to the generosity of WeeSqueak...

One lucky person will win their choice of one pair of Beibi Shoes from WeeSqueak!

To enter to win your choice of Beibi Shoes from WeeSqueak: Check out WeeSqueak's line of Beibi Shoes and tell me your favorite! There are some pretty cute ones to choose from! Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Your choice of cute Beibi baby shoes from WeeSqueak @thxmailcarrier! ARV $32! Perfect for you or a gift! http://bit.ly/6r89YN #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and WeeSqueak. Please leave an address where it can be found.


Giveaway will end on December 10th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

A big thank you to Cara at WeeSqueak for providing a pair of Beibi Shoes for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. They're so cute! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

More Winning!

I love my Nelle & Lizzy ring. It means so much to me to have my daughters' names stamped in such simplicity and beauty on something that I wear every day. To anyone who is weary of spending the money on an item like this, I'm here to tell you that it's worth it. You'll really love it. However, one lucky person isn't going to have to decide whether or not to place their order...


Congratulations, Laurie! You're one lucky Clueless Mama!

Thanks to everyone who entered! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are having some rest and relaxation time today (especially if you were up early shopping for the deals this morning)... I've got more great reviews and giveaways lined up, stay tuned!

Snugfits Winner!

I don't think I have Blogger completely figured out but I do know that I can access all of the comments, so it's time for a Snugfits winner! I love all of the funny and cute designs offered there, not to mention the adorable BabyLegs and knit pants - the perfect outfit! Without further ado...


Congratulations, Andi! Enjoy shopping at Snugfits!

Thanks to everyone who entered, have you gotten your entries in for the other great giveaways going on? It took me until just today to realize that my Nelle & Lizzy giveaway ends on Thanksgiving (which shows just how detached from the real world I actually am) so as soon as I can get to the computer on Friday (we'll be out of town), I'm looking forward to giving someone one more thing to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Why, Blogger? Don't You Like Winners?

Lately when I've been visiting other blogs, I've noticed something a little strange with the comments. When I get there it will say one number but when I actually leave a comment it will say one completely different. And then when I try to go to "newer comments" or "oldest comments," the number magically changes to something else.

I didn't think it was affecting Thanks, Mail Carrier but, sure enough, this morning when I'm attempting to draw a winner of my Snugfits giveaway, Blogger is holding the last 100+ comments from me. Now that's just not nice.

I'm holding out hope that this clears up soon because I've heard some not-so-pleasant things about attempting to get help from Blogger or its forum. Until then, I'm going to wait on picking a winner for this giveaway (or any others that end before it's fixed) because that just wouldn't be fair. If you know of any fixes for this or if you're having problems too and just want to commiserate, let me know!

Thanks for hanging in there, hopefully we can all go back to being winners soon!

GIVEAWAY: PosePrints Stationary

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

When you go to the store for stationary, do you stand and look at the endless shelves of boring cards, announcements and invitations and sigh, too? The baby shower invitations feature either tiny socks or a generic pregnant woman that doesn't really resemble anyone, the birth announcements' baby doesn't look like yours and the thank you cards are just plain bland. It would be fun to have an artist on speed dial so that they could sketch up something cute and personal, wouldn't it?

Formed by a mother-daughter team, PosePrints.com was created out of Denise Foster and Jen Harland's love of homemade stationary, Jen's amazing artistic skills and Denise's business savvy to bring it all together. The result? Unique cards that come in all colors and styles that are personalized exactly how you want them with caricatures that fit all of the events in your life!


The first step to designing a card on PosePrints (assuming you have decided you don't want one of their other items, like cute notepads or magnets) is to choose which of the 40+ fun backgrounds will work best for you. From seasonal, such as a Christmas tree, snowflakes or spring flowers, to brightly-colored polka dots or paisley, to an adorable princess castle or beach scene, finding a scene to fit your occasion is definitely not a problem.

The decisions have just begun! Next it is time to add one or two people to your card and personalize them just how you would like. The characters can be male, female, boy, girl, baby or a silhouette (which comes in endless varieties and colors). The design elements are dizzying in number, including basics such as skin color, hairstyle, eye color and clothing but going much further with options such as smile size, jewelry, hats, sunglasses, freckles, stubble or a birthday cake.

Don't believe me? You will when you see that there are 21 different smile options for the female character alone... don't get me started on hair! Almost anything that you're looking for in your "pose" is available!

Once you have completed your character(s), your personalized message completes the design and, due to the full online preview, you can rest assured that your PosePrints cards will come out just right. Use their wording as a guide or write your own to say your message your way. As I chose to create thank you cards, I was able to position the words precisely where I wanted them so that there would be just the right amount of room the fill in a message later.

Who wouldn't want to give my girls a gift when they will receive this in the mail thanking them?

(Their full names are on the actual cards, of course. Plus you can really feel the 100-lb card stock and see the great shine they have.)

Not looking to completely design your cards from scratch but you still want a finished product that is chic and unique? PosePrints also offers packaged cards ($20 for 10 cards) in 140+ styles already created for you (including adorable pet cards)! Simply write in the information, whether it be a birthday party, anniversary party, moving announcement or for a graduation party and your guests will definitely comment on the fun mail that they received.

For $2 per card (with a minimum order of 15 cards), your PosePrints stationary will definitely surprise and delight your family and friends. For a small (FREE!) taste of PosePrints, create a "MyPose" avatar/character for your Facebook Wall and show off your style to all of your online friends! And while you're there, why not become a fan of PosePrints on Facebook as well? If that isn't enough, thanks to their generosity...

One lucky person will win a set of 20 personalized cards from PosePrints!
ARV $40!

Aren't I a cute PosePrints character?

To enter to win your own set of PosePrints cards: Visit PosePrints.com and tell me which background design is your favorite (there are a lot to choose from)! Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow PosePrints on Twitter or sign up for their newsletter (found in the upper right of their homepage).
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

PosePrints brings your cards to life with a personal stationary #giveaway @thxmailcarrier from @PosePrints! ARV $40! http://bit.ly/6Z3ReD

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and PosePrints. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you make a purchase from PosePrints during this giveaway! What great holiday cards! Let me know what cute item(s) you chose.

Giveaway will end on December 7th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

A big thank you to PosePrints for providing me with the thank you cards I designed and a sample of their other cards for review as well as 20 cards for one lucky giveaway winner. Forget boring cards, your site is such a great way to personalize stationary! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Mail Delivery: Fresh Organics Review

Am I the only person who finds showering boring? Sure, I love the feel of the hot water and the fact that I actually have the time to myself (if being in the actual shower alone counts because I'm often not the only one in the bathroom) but there is something about the repetitiveness of showering that seems tedious to me. Every day I do the same thing over and over in the same order and I start to wonder if I'm ever going to break the routine.

Recently, thanks to Fresh Organics, my showers have turned into mini trips to the spa for me.

When I first looked at Fresh Organics' Body Polish in the Pomegranate Fig scent, I wondered not only what body polish was, but what the pomegranate fig combination would smell like (as I couldn't tell you the aroma of either a pomegranate or a fig). I don't like products that are too scented, as it seems like they overpower the actual effectiveness of the item itself.

I was pleasantly surprised at the answers to both of my questions. Made with ingredients such as sea salts, honey and certified organic green tea oil, Fresh Organics' Body Polish refines, renews and replenishes your skin by removing dirt and oil while providing antioxidants to leave your skin soft and toned. I loved the way it felt a little like wet sand when I dipped my hand into the jar and how the texture of the polish is somehow both gritty and smooth as I massaged it into my skin. As for the smell, the combination of pomegranate fig was both sweet-smelling and natural, not like those flowery bath products that are found in stores.

As I dried off, my skin felt young and soft but without any greasy residue, plus when I put my nose to my arm I could smell just enough of the fresh scent without feeling as though I was drowning in it. Later on in the day, I still felt as though my skin was less dry or rough as it usually is at this time of year.

Part of keeping skin feeling smooth and young, however, is getting rid of the dead skin cells so that the new, healthy cells can surface. For that, I love using Fresh Organics' Exfoliating Scrub (available in their Pomegranate Fig or Lavender Vanilla scents).


Loaded with vitamins, oils and fruit enzymes and seeds, I felt as though the Exfoliating Scrub was filled with small beads that were gently rubbing the old skin off so that what remained was younger and healthier-looking. As with the Body Polish, the Exfoliating Scrub also left my skin with a light, sweet smell that slowly faded throughout the day.


Beginning in 2008 with their great Organic Baby products, Fresh Organics carries a variety of items for men and women. Following their high standards for using only safe, organic ingredients, these items are not only good for your body but safe for the environment. They contain no harmful chemicals, preservatives or artificial ingredients and the packaging is made with recycled and recyclable materials.

Products from the women's line include Castile Soap, Hydrating Lotion and Body Butter and cute gifts such as Bubble Bath Roses in Heart Box and the Instant Spa gift set (which sounds like a wonderful relaxing treat). The men's line consists of Cleanse-All (used for hair and body), Smooth Shave and Moisturizer, as well as a Travel Kit with a small-sized bottle of all three.

With almost all of their prices ranging between $7.99 and $12.99 (for a large amount - both of the products I tried were over 14 oz), Fresh Organics is a great site to shop for the entire family because there is something for everyone (my daughters loved their Calming Bubble Bath that we previous reviewed so much that we've run out)! For more information on their company, to purchase items from any of their great lines (or a gift certificate) or to read testimonials from more satisfied customers, visit the Fresh Organics website.

Thanks, Fresh Organics, for breaking the monotony of my shower routine with products that are good for me and the environment. And, for telling me to have a good day when you brought this box to my door (even though you're the one who brightens mine), thanks, Mail Carrier.

(Other than the Body Polish and Exfoliating Scrub that I was sent by Fresh Organics, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company, their products and way they make my daily shower more spa-like. Okay, maybe I don't get a shower in daily, but who's counting?)

Boogie Winning!

Big Sister E has taken to scrunching up her face and blowing out of her nose in attempts to make it run even when it isn't. Why? Just so that I'll get a Boogie Wipe out to wipe it. That should tell you how much she loves having them around the house! The lucky person who will now get to experience the same boogie-wiping pleasure is...


Congratulations, one4earth! I hope the nose-wiping at your house goes just as well!

Thanks to everyone who entered, be sure to get those entries in for the great giveaways that are up and running and to keep an eye out for new ones that will be appearing soon...

Crane {Review & Giveaway} Adorable Animal Humidifiers

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

Cough, cough, hack... sniffle... cough, COUGH.... sneeze, hack, cough...

I'm ready for cold and flu season to end and it's not even technically winter yet. Every year moms around the world keep their fingers crossed that their child won't catch the flu and this year it's even more worrisome with H1N1 going around and causing the fear level to be even higher than usual. Aside from barricading your children in at home and avoiding all interaction, you do all you can to prevent them from catching a cold... but if it happens, what can you do to help provide relief to cold symptoms in hopes that they won't turn into the flu?

Thankfully, Big Sister E and Little Sister B got over the last round of colds that they had and have been relatively healthy ever since. However, now that we have Peter Penguin around, our chances of staying well are even higher.

The level of cuteness in our house is quite a bit higher, too.
Although sorry about the unoriginal name, Peter. That's what happens when a 3-year-old decides.

Upon opening the box, the first thing we found out about our Crane Penguin Cool Mist Humidifier was that all it needed was water and it was ready to use. No screwdrivers, no pliers, no assembly required - definitely a plus. After setting the base in her room, I told Big Sister E that we were going to fill Peter up and he would be ready to protect her from the dry, scratchy air that has been hanging around lately.

I loved the convenient handle at the top of the water tank that makes it very easy to insert and remove it, as well as carry it back and forth to the sink. As for filling the tank, I was very happy to find that it fit right in the sink and the hole is plenty large enough that the faucet can be turned up high to quickly fill Peter. Filters? Not necessary, which is one less thing to worry about.

After putting the tank on the base and putting Peter's head on top, one flick of the switch (which is very smartly located on the back so little hands aren't tempted to turn it on and off) and the cool mist came flowing out of his beak. Crane stated that their Penguin Humidifier "Runs Whisper Quiet" and I was amazed at how accurate that is. I couldn't even hear the motor or fan over the other sounds going on in the background of our house.

As for Big Sister E? She is slightly a big Peter Penguin fan.

What? Maybe your humidifier needs a hug, too. Ever thought of that?

Crane's humidifiers have a long list of great features, starting with the most obvious: the delightful styles. Almost as much as she loved Peter Penguin, Big Sister E was infatuated with the card that came with him showing pictures of the whole line of the Adorable Animals. No matter what the design of your child's room, there is an animal that will surely fit in perfectly. Not your thing? Crane also offers humidifiers in Traditional, Sports and Licensed themes and is coming out with a Nursery Style line in pink, yellow or blue (see one option at right) to match any new baby's room.

As well as the eye-catching design, I love the automatic shut-off function of our Penguin Humidifier, meaning I never have to worry about it running while it is out of water. That really doesn't tend to happen anyway, as the one gallon water tank runs for up to 11 hours (more or less depending on the output level you determine with the dial).

Leaks? Not Peter. No water comes out from the tank when filling or moving it and we haven't had a single leak come from anywhere since trying it out. There are no need for towels with Crane (they recommend not using them underneath their humidifiers to prevent overheating) and I don't have to worry that the wooden shelf ours is placed on will get wet. As with any humidifier, as long as you don't have the moisture level on too high of a setting, the mist will go up into the air and not down to condense onto any surfaces.

Best of all, however, the moisture our Crane Penguin Cool Mist Humidifier provides allows Big Sister E relief from nasal congestion, dry cough, sinus irritation and dry skin and allows her to breathe easier and get a good night's sleep. And that just makes EVERYONE happy.

During this cold and flu season, pediatricians are highly recommending cool mist humidifiers to help moisten the air and keep children breathing comfortably. For one person, it will be easy to take this advice as, due to the generosity of Crane...

One lucky person will win their choice of Penguin, Cow, Dragon, Duck or Pig Adorable Animal Humidifier from Crane!

To enter to win your choice of Crane Adorable Animal Humidifier: Visit Crane and tell me which of their products is your favorite. Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winner.
Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted. For example, if you subscribe, leave one comment saying "I subscribe #1" and a separate comment saying "I subscribe #2")

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Don't let colds or dry air get you down! Crane Humidifier #giveaway @thxmailcarrier! Penguin, Cow, Dragon, Duck or Pig! http://bit.ly/4A2MHY

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Giveaway will end on December 3rd at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

A big thank you to Crane for providing me with a Penguin Cool Mist Humidifer for review as well as their choice of Penguin, Cow, Dragon, Duck or Pig for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.