GlassesUSA {Review & Giveaway and Coupon Code} Affordable and Stylish Glasses Online

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

Recently I had the opportunity to write a post on my thoughts about eyeglasses. It was great to sit back and think about what it was like to wear glasses when I was young and the way that society's perception of them has changed over the years and how glasses are now a cool accessory.

In fact, when I was younger I never would have thought about owning more than one pair of prescription glasses - why would I? As well as not really wanting to be seen in them, that would have cost a fortune! Even now when I go into eyeglass stores and browse the selection, when you add in the cost of the lenses a pair of glasses is definitely not cheap.

I know that getting the correct prescription lenses into the eyeglass frames isn't something just anyone can do, but hundreds of dollars? Really? Isn't there a way for me to get a stylish, hip pair of glasses without breaking the bank?


I fell in love with the First Lady frames the moment I saw them online and was amazed that they retail for $125 but cost only $54.95 (including lenses!) on GlassesUSA. The sharp rectangular shape combined with the wide arms and the slightly retro look are exactly the type of style that I always find myself admiring on other people. But how would I know if they would look good on me, as I was ordering them online?

Along with the three angles shown (and the ability to zoom in close) for each pair of glasses on GlassesUSA, a feature I really appreciated was the list of dimensions and a link to a diagram (shown at right) demonstrating where each one was located. I was easily able to look at the numbers printed on the frames that I was currently wearing to see how the First Lady was going to compare and know that they were going to fit me just fine.

In fact, they do fit. And, better than that, they look fantastic.

Having needed glasses since childhood, I've gone through a variety of different styles over the years but the First Lady are by far my favorite pair. Even though I've liked some that I've worn in the past, I still found myself putting in my contact lenses before leaving the house just from force of habit. With these, I don't hesitate to leave them on and show them off - and I receive compliments all the time.

As well as the huge savings off of the retail price of these glasses, ordering from GlassesUSA is both easy and risk-free. By owning their own optic laboratories, they are not only able to keep the costs extremely low, they have complete control of the quality of the frames that they send out. If they don't meet the high standards of GlassesUSA, the glasses just aren't shipped. And if by chance you aren't completely satisfied when your frames arrive, send them back for a full refund or a replacement.

A testament to how much GlassesUSA actually cares about society and believes that all people should have access to vision care, if glasses do get returned they are donated to various organizations around the country. From there, the glasses are sanitized and redistributed to people all over the world who would otherwise not be able to afford them - a much more honorable thing to do than just restocking the frames.

Whether you're shopping for eyeglasses for men or women, full frames or rimless, classic or artsy, GlassesUSA has a pair for everyone. Starting at just $18, you receive the frames, lenses (with polished edges that I've otherwise paid extra for), a solid black case and a cleaning cloth. And don't forget a complete 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Is it time for a new style of glasses for you? Enter the coupon code Mommy5 at checkout and you will receive 5% off of your final order at GlassesUSA. Or, thanks to their generosity, one person will get a way to update their look while helping them see clearly, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of single vision glasses from GlassesUSA! ARV $95!

To enter to win your choice of single vision* glasses from GlassesUSA:Visit GlassesUSA and tell me which frames you would choose if you win. 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 if you tell me about the current pair of glasses you are wearing and why you would love a new pair from GlassesUSA.
1 Extra Entry if you subscribe to one (or more) of the RSS feeds for GlassesUSA.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
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!

Win your choice of glasses from GlassesUSA! Hip, stylish and high quality at low prices! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/bLzkrV #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. I've moved! Please update your blog code! Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and GlassesUSA. Please leave an address where it can be found.

*Single vision glasses are for either distance or reading correction, but not both (for example, bifocals or progressive lenses).

Giveaway will end on February 18th 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 residents of Canada and the U.S. only.

A huge thank you to GlassesUSA for providing me a pair of glasses to review as well as a pair of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. I was given this review and giveaway opportunity due to my membership at The Product Review Place and the opinions shared are my own, but if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Franklin Goose Amazing Eco-Friendly Items for Babies and Children {Way Basics Review & $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

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

A few nights ago, my husband took Big Sister E and went to the store to buy some birthday presents for his sister and her husband. When they got home, my husband was laughing and telling me about a couple that they saw who were aimlessly wandering around trying to select items for their baby registry. Who can't relate to that?

Can you really blame parents and soon-to-be parents for being a little bewildered these days when it comes to making decisions about what to choose to have around their children? Not only are store shelves stocked with a huge variety of a single item, I feel like every other day there is a new major recall alert and all of a sudden everyone has to check their strollers or cribs or toys or sippy cups to make sure they aren't risking their child's health or safety.

Wouldn't it be so much easier to find a place to shop from that has done all of the research for you already? Somewhere that sells natural, organic, eco-conscious products that are not only gorgeous and amazing but good for the planet and your family as well?


Franklin Goose takes their commitment to not exposing your family to unnecessary chemicals or ingredients seriously, while still managing to carry a huge variety of incredible products for children, adults and the home. Diapers, high chairs, adorable clothing, potty seats, luxury strollers and toys galore? That's just the tiniest tip of the iceberg.

Each time I clicked to a new category or the next page, I found even more items that I loved at Franklin Goose. With their $5 flat rate shipping (for items under 25 pounds) I could see myself filling up my cart with so many things...


A true testament to how much Franklin Goose cares about the environment, right now they are spotlighting the furniture designed by an amazing company, Way Basics. More than a typical furniture company, Way Basics provides recycled and recyclable products out of something so simple - paper. Sustainably made, water resistant and just plain cool to look at, they have found a way to make it easy and fun to build furniture while improving the planet at the same time.

And when Way Basics cares about people and the planet, they really care. They donate 5% of their profits, work with furniture banks to provide help for families in need, promote environmentally friendly practices and offset their company carbon emissions by planting trees at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge. Is it any wonder that Franklin Goose is proud of carrying their line?

Building off of one simple Cube, Way Basics offers a variety of shelving options (and one really cute Modular Table) that come in your choice of a multitude of great colors. Even though their products are half the weight of particle board, pressed wood or plywood furniture this unique line is still be just as strong. Go ahead, use a cube as a footstool, it'll hold!

I wasn't sure what to expect when the box containing our Way Basics Spin Cube - Three Cube (in pink!) arrived because, after all, how sturdy could a shelf made out of recycled paper really be? What I found as I pulled the pieces out was that I couldn't stop examining each one, as I was amazed that they weren't pressed wood because they definitely felt just as durable and heavy-duty.

I've constructed furniture in the past that claimed to be fast and easy, only to find that keeping track of which size screw went where and whether or not I was supposed to use a screwdriver or that tiny L-shaped thing seemed to mean that their idea of fast was an hour or two. But with Way Basics, when they say "Peel, Stick, Done!" they aren't kidding! Simply peel and stick the cubes together and your furniture is instantly complete.

In minutes, we had turned a small pile of pieces into something REALLY fantastic.


Way Basics didn't just stack three of their cubes to make a standard shelving unit, they include two revolving plates so that the top cubes smoothly glide around in a full circle. Just over three feet tall, this shelf can be used for so many things and will easily be moved around in our house for years to come. For now, it seems to be alternating between being a spinning grocery store or pantry for Big Sister E's endless fascination with her play food. Who knows what it will be next?

As well as being a wonderful site to browse and shop, Franklin Goose also makes it incredibly easy to sign up for a baby registry or wishlist (standard or birthday) so that you can rest assured that gifts for your child will be natural, organic or eco-friendly. Why not start now in supporting Franklin Goose's mission to help us all raise our children with better toys, clothing and gear?

After having made a purchase, be sure to upload pictures of your little one enjoying their new products to Franklin Goose's Flickr accounts (People and Photos) and who knows, you may even end up on their website! You'll also want to become a fan of Franklin Goose on Facebook because they really have a wonderful community going on there filled with information, tips and special events.

Edited 2/17 to add: I mentioned the other fun things that Franklin Goose has going on, now here's one more... they're giving away a 32GB iPod Touch! Entering couldn't be easier - all you have to do is send one tweet! Read the full details here on their blog but hurry, this fun bonus giveaway ends on 2/28/10.

So, ready to do some shopping? I hope you don't have somewhere to be, because I guarantee you're going to want to stay and browse all of the products available at Franklin Goose for quite a while. Thanks to their generosity, one person will get to do a little shopping courtesy of the folks at Franklin Goose because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift certificate to Franklin Goose!

To enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Franklin Goose: Head over to Franklin Goose and browse their amazing selection of items. It's going to be hard to narrow down your favorites, but tell me one which one(s) you love most. 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 Franklin Goose on Twitter and/or subscribe to the RSS feed for the Franklin Goose 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.
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!

Win a $25 gift certificate to Franklin Goose! SO MANY amazing items @franklingoose! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/cPpCMk #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. I've moved! Please update your button code! Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Franklin Goose. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries if you make a purchase from Franklin Goose before this giveaway ends. Let me know which adorable item(s) you chose!


Giveaway will end on February 18th 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. residents only.

A huge thank you to Franklin Goose for providing a Way Basics Spin Cube - Three Cube for me to review as well as a $25 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. Natural, organic and eco-friendly - Franklin Goose is amazing! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

This Little Piggy's House Amazing Cardboard Playhouses {Review & Giveaway}

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

If there is an age that children reach when they stop being overly amazed by cardboard boxes, my girls haven't gotten there yet. Every time that a new box appears in our house, they have to fully examine it, push it around, climb inside and attempt to come up with new ways to play with it.

However, the excitement is always fairly short-lived. After a little while of playing, the cardboard has gotten bent or torn, someone complains that someone else is taking up all the room (it's not like we're getting refrigerators delivered here or anything, the boxes aren't that big) and, with the creativity disappearing, the box goes back to being just a box.

The lack of excitement radiates from this picture.
Look at us. In a box. Whoop-de-doo.

But what happens when architects, digital artists and graphic designers look at kids playing in a cardboard box? They take their skills and ingenuity and make the most original, detailed and cutest cardboard playhouses that have ever been created and form This Little Piggy's House. And then, fortunately, they decide to share their handiwork with the rest of the world so that all children can have the chance to enjoy an environmentally-friendly place of their own that will delight and entertain them for years to come.


Available in kraft, white or beautifully hand-painted, This Little Piggy's House Cardboard Playhouses combine all the features that form a perfect toy. Made from recycled 275 pound corrugated cardboard, the playhouses themselves are also 100% recyclable, meaning that after your child has outgrown all possible uses (playing in the house themselves, using it as a stuffed animal house or as storage, etc) this house will never end up in a landfill.

As well as being incredibly eco-friendly, a playhouse from This Little Piggy's House isn't just a cardboard box with a few holes cut in it. Cute, stylish, contemporary - these are houses that not only delight children, but amaze adults with their intricate details and unique design. How many cardboard playhouses have you seen that have mailboxes, chimneys or RAFTERS? I sure can't list a single one.

Any attempt I previously had at converting anything cardboard into something interesting was significantly shown-up when this house arrived for my girls. It was only minutes from the time I opened the long, flat box to when it was clear that this house was going to be special.

I appreciated the illustrated step-by-step directions (there is also an assembly video available online) but I found that it was fairly intuitive as to which pieces went where as Big Sister E and I watched a house come together before our eyes without using a single tool. It's not often that a 3-year-old gets to be an architect, so she was pretty excited to be able to help.

As I can't escape my need to pretend that I'm a creative and/or artistic person, I took our playhouse one step further during Little Sister B's nap time and (with Big Sister E's explicit instructions that it must look "like a house! Like a HOUSE!" and her help with some painting) decorated it a little...

Plus they can still color all they want on the inside as well. Bonus!

Both girls love their special house. They play in it together (having a door at each end is a definite lifesaver) and they play in it separately, maybe bringing in a small stack of books to read in peace. Little Sister B is slightly too rough on the doors and often has to be reminded to not bend them while she is going in and out, but that hasn't affected the use at all. And, even though glue isn't really necessary, between the climbing in and out and the all the playing, I could see how a few drops here and there would help hold things together.

This Little Piggy's House playhouses really are an ongoing arts-and-crafts project for children (and adults like me) of all ages. What a great way to engage in an activity together that will stimulate a child's imagination and creativity... and result in something that provides hours of fun, both loud and boisterous or quiet and calm at the same time.

As well as their amazing playhouses, This Little Piggy's House also carries beautifully constructed paper goods and gorgeous little dresses. Everything on the site is fully designed and made in America and, to top it off, This Little Piggy's House believes that no child should go hungry and donates 5% of all of their profits to organizations that feed hungry children around the world. What a great sign of commitment and caring from an original company that strives to help us encourage our children and be environmentally-friendly at the same time.

What else is left to ask for? An amazing Little Playhouse of your own? Well, thanks to the generosity of This Little Piggy's House...

One lucky person will win their own Little Playhouse from This Little Piggy's House (in kraft or white)! ARV $59.99!

To enter to win a Little Playhouse from This Little Piggy's House: Visit This Little Piggy's House and tell me something that you learned or another item there that you like. 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 if you tell me about a playhouse you had or your child has now. (Did you love to make forts out of furniture and sheets? Does your child dream of having their own space to imagine and play in?)
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
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!

This Little Piggy's House amazing eco-friendly playhouse (ARV $60)! SO FUN! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/azGwQD #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. I've moved! Please update your button code! Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and This Little Piggy's House. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries if you make a purchase from This Little Piggy's House before this giveaway ends. Let me know which amazing item(s) you chose!


Giveaway will end on February 18th 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 continental U.S. residents only.

A huge thank you to Waibun at This Little Piggy's House for providing an amazing little playhouse for me to review as well as a kraft or white playhouse for one lucky giveaway winner. Endless creative fun that won't ever go in a landfill - we love it! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Party Planning Winners!

With Big Sister E's birthday in October and Little Sister B's birthday in December, I'm usually fairly partied-out by the time January rolls around. The idea of having someone do a large portion of the planning work for me sounds pretty nice!

Random.org drew #16 as the winner of this giveaway, but that is an anonymous comment with no email address, so I'm sorry to the person that has a 50th Anniversary Party coming up and would like help with it! You had to leave some sort of identifying information!

Therefore, the lucky person who will get to select a Choose 3 Party Package from Jessica at Atlanta Mom's Guide to Party Planning is...


Congratulations, Barbara! I hope your granddaughter has a fantastic birthday party!

Jessica was also generous enough to offer a Complete Party Planning Package (worth $400!) as a grand prize for all of the entrants to this giveaway, as it was held on various blogs last week. She compiled all of the comments and the extremely lucky big winner came from their single entry right here on Thanks, Mail Carrier! Congratulations to purango! Your entire next party is going to be planned for you!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Winners!

My girls continue to get compliments wherever we go on their adorable custom shirts from My Emmy Baby. And why wouldn't they? The shirts are not only cute but they're personalized to show off their status as sisters - how could they go wrong?

The first number that random.org chose as the winner of this fun giveaway belongs to a comment saying that person subscribes to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email. Unfortunately, Feedburner and I have gone over the list of email subscribers twice and that address is nowhere to be found. Sorry, no dice.

Therefore, the lucky person who gets to customize their own great shirt (and left a legitimate comment) is...


Congratulations, crystalf! I hope you enjoy selecting a wonderful shirt for your daughter!

My husband made a comment again the other day about my teeth looking white and all I could do was think how nice it was to use something as simple as EvoraPlus to have garnered such unprompted reactions. Who doesn't want fresh breath, whiter teeth and a healthier mouth just by letting a tasty mint dissolve on their tongue?

The two lucky people who get to try these out are...


Congratulations, Annie1 and remarker/fcffollower! Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who entered these giveaways, as well as the other great ones that are up and running right now!

GIVEAWAY: Flowerz In Her Hair $25 Gift Certificate (and Coupon Code)

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

When Big Sister E was 19 months old, I finally gave in to the pestering from family and friends (namely my husband) and allowed her to get a haircut. Her bangs were far too long and always in her face and, enticed by the fact that my brother claimed to be a good hairdresser, I allowed him to give her what was supposed to be a trim.

Years later and I still can't help but cringe looking at the before and after pictures.


From that day on, Big Sister E has only had one haircut and it was pretty much just a trim. She desperately needs another one and now Little Sister B's hair is also partway down her face and covering her eyes. However, instead of sending either of them under the scissors, I always keep a lookout for alternatives and places to get great hair clips and accessories at affordable prices. My newest favorite? None other than Flowerz In Her Hair.


From Simply Clippies, a collection of 34 colorful stripes, dots and other cute patterns to every size, shape and color of Bow, at FlowerzInHerHair.com you can find a huge array of gorgeous accessories for girls of all ages. Whether your little one loves Beanies or Flower Clips or needs a beautiful Flower Girl Halo for an upcoming wedding, this site has it all.

Not only is there a vast and impressive selection at Flowerz In Her Hair, but owner and creator, Amy Jackson, ensures that each item is of the highest quality and still manages to keep them inexpensively priced. I've come across sites that sell far fewer (and not as pretty) clips for at least twice the price of those here. In the end, all that matters is how they look though, right? In this case, you will not be disappointed!

Big Sister E, Little Sister B and I weren't sure where to begin in trying out the amazing variety of items that came professionally packaged from Flowerz In Her Hair. As soon as we began admiring one beautiful clip, our eyes were pulled to the colors of a different flower or the workmanship on something as simple as a ponytail holder. Even though the pictures on the website look cute, seeing the quality, details and charm in person is entirely something different.

Due to being older (and less likely to eat the accessories), Big Sister E had first choice at what she wanted to wear. Not surprisingly, she selected the Ribbon Flower I had picked in fuchsia in the medium size, one that I knew would be perfect both for her and her sister.

Everything about this hair clip is adorable. The alligator clip is well lined, the ribbon is perfectly sewn so that each petal curves upward, the flower is securely attached so that if it can withstand being tugged on and the non-slip grip holds it tight in place in my daughters' fine hair. The first time Big Sister E wore it out, she immediately received compliments.

As well as being worn directly in the hair, this Ribbon Flower looks great clipped right on one of the two Super Stretch Headbands that Amy included for us. For both of my girls, these nylon headbands slipped right on and stayed in place, an easy and effective way to keep their hair from falling into their eyes.

Being able to switch the clip attached to the headband really is handy, as now depending on the outfit or occasion, these will always be an option for style and function. Not one to be left out, Little Sister B was extremely pleased to try on the second headband with the incredible pink Funky Flower that she was happily admiring.

Is there anything cuter than a happy little girl with an adorable flower? If so, I haven't found it.

Featuring the same high quality features as the Ribbon Flower, I counted eight layers of petals that make up the Funky Flower clip we received. Eight! The top has a great iridescent shine that catches the light and the hint of polka dots (we're huge polka dot fans around here) is just the right finishing touch. If you're not looking for more pink, don't worry, there are 30 different Funky Flowers available to choose from in almost any color combination!

Although it was hard to top what we had already seen, Big Sister E and Little Sister B were willing to part with their flowers to see what else was waiting for them. What we found were great examples of the Cute as a Button collection from Flowerz In Her Hair.

Instead of using the cheap, plastic ponytail holders that we're used to for Big Sister E, we now have two great Cute as a Button Ponytail Holders with buttons that are covered beautifully with fabric and strong holders that match. The Cute as a Button Flower Clip (in medium) is just as high quality, from the sturdy, lined clip to the perfect combination of colors that I was able to pick from for both the petals and the button. I love that each item is personalized and different depending on what you choose!

For some reason if you can't find just the right item that you're looking for in all that Flowerz In Her Hair offers, remember that Amy will also create a custom piece just for you - and send you a picture proof before shipment to make sure it's exactly how you would like! What service!

An added bonus that I think is a wonderful feature for shopping at Flowerz In Her Hair is Amy's addition of a FREE Clip Holder with every purchase. Even though these are such a simple solution, I'm really excited to now have a way to hang clips for both of my girls instead of the previous throw-them-haphazardly-int0-a-box method that we were using.

Not only that, Amy would like to offer a discount to get you started shopping at Flowerz In Her Hair. Simply enter the coupon code mailcarrier to receive 10% off of any order over $10... and since all orders of $10 or more receive free shipping from Flowerz In Her Hair, you'll get that, too! Amy's generosity doesn't stop there, however, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift certificate to Flowerz In Her Hair!

To enter to win a $25 gift certificate to FlowerzInHerHair.com: $25 will buy so many gorgeous items at Flowerz In Her Hair! Head over and check them out and tell me one which one(s) are your favorite. 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 Flowerz In Her Hair on Twitter and/or follow the Flowerz In Her Hair blog with Google Friend Connect.
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!

Win a Flowerz In Her Hair $25 gift certificate! SO MANY gorgeous choices @amysflowerz! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/6iDZrB #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 Flowerz In Her Hair. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries (leave 5 separate comments) if you make a purchase from Flowerz In Her Hair before this giveaway ends. Let me know which adorable item(s) you chose!

Giveaway will end on February 11th 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 residents of U.S. and Canada only.

A huge thank you to Amy at FlowerzInHerHair for providing a beautiful selection of items for me to review as well as a $25 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. No need to ever look elsewhere for hair accessories again! I was given the opportunity to review these items due to my membership at The Product Review Place but the opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Handbag Heaven {Review & Giveaway - Choice of Gorgeous Bag!}

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

When you go out, what is the first item that you notice on other women that you encounter? Is it their shoes? I love seeing cute shoes, but I'm usually happy with the comfort I'm getting in my tennis shoes over the stylishness they are showing in their heels. How about hairstyles? I like seeing those as well, but they just remind me that I would have to do something more than pull my hair directly into a ponytail - something that requires too much time and effort on most days.

Then there's the purses.

Is it possible to NOT take an extra-long glance at a really great bag? In that short moment, your eyes have to check out the size, the color, the design, as many features as possible... and, from all that, you're left wondering the most important thing:

How much?

I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I just don't understand why a purse can cost hundreds of dollars (if not more). Is it made out of the last piece of leather on the planet? Hand-stitched with unicorn hairs? Whatever causes it to be that expensive, I'm not someone who can justify spending a small fortune on a bag when there are so many other things that the money could go towards for my family.

Does that mean that I'm destined to spend my days watching beautiful purses go by but never owning one? The answer is no. Definitely not with HandbagHeaven.com around.


Did you see that logo? "Handbags starting at $15. All under $75." If you're thinking that it must mean there is a tiny selection of poorly-made, out-of-date, ugly purses there, I can't stress how COMPLETELY MISTAKEN you really are.

Handbag Heaven is stocked full of the trendiest purses and hottest handbags, all at extremely affordable prices (they even come with a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase). You can now achieve the fashionable look of a celebrity without breaking your budget, no matter what style of bag you are dreaming about.

Looking for a handbag that combines the right combination of delicate features with a touch of rock star appeal? The Janelle Zipper Hobo (at right) shows off a soft flower to contrast its flat studs and exposed zippers for an accent to your wardrobe that will definitely turn heads.

How about adding a little kick to your next evening out with the amazingly bright Caitlin Clutch (at left)? I love the polished silver hardware, magnetic snaps and that it comes with two lengths of silver chain straps that can be attached for alternate carrying possibilities. If electric blue isn't your color, take a look at the lime green option for a colorful splash that won't be forgotten!

Overwhelmed with all of the beautiful choices, I wasn't sure where to start browsing at Handbag Heaven. Fortunately, for those of us who aren't completely handbag-savvy (what's the difference between a tote and a hobo bag anyway? And don't even ask me to try to tell you what a demi or a bowler are) Handbag Heaven has a great Handbag Glossary to help you become well-versed on all of the definitions and terminology of bags.


To work for me, I knew I wanted a shoulder bag large enough to hold items for both of my girls as well as myself and it needed to zip closed so that if it was tipped it wouldn't spill everything out all over. On top of that, I wanted it to be... unique.

Immediately, the Andi Ruffled Satchel (available in grey or mustard yellow) caught my eye because it met my criteria and managed to be beautiful and just a little different at the same time. When it arrived, my team of fashion specialists went right to work checking it out.

Big Sister E is in charge of style while Little Sister B is all about function. Soft lining? Check. Two open top pockets and one zippered pocket for storage? Absolutely. Plus, wide opening for me to fully get inside to empty it!

This bag really is just the right size that I can fill it with our necessities and have it look trendy without being too bulky. The handles are just the right length that it fits comfortably over my shoulder (leaving both hands free for child-wrangling) and the softness of both the inside and outside of this satchel make it a pleasure to touch. Just because I'm a mom doesn't mean I have to always carry a traditional diaper bag and, thanks to Handbag Heaven, there are affordable, stylish options out there for everyone!

On top of already selling over 500 high-quality, fashionable handbags in all colors, shapes, sizes and styles at really low prices, Handbag Heaven is continually adding great new designs and offering sales to lower their prices even further. Keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter, their blog and their newsletter so that you won't miss an exclusive discount or hot new addition! Thanks to the generosity of HandbagHeaven.com, one person's purse will be the envy of the neighborhood because...

One lucky person will win their choice of bag from Handbag Heaven!

To enter to win your choice of bag from Handbag Heaven: There are so many gorgeous bags at HandbagHeaven.com! Head over and check them out and tell me which one(s) you would love to own. 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 Handbag Heaven on Twitter, subscribe to the HandbagHeaven.com/blog and/or sign up to receive exclusive sales and new arrivals with the Handbag Heaven e-newsletter (sign up box found on the center top or bottom 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!

Handbag Heaven bag of choice! Hot, hot, hot fashion & style @thxmailcarrier from @handbagheaven! http://bit.ly/8eat72 #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 Handbag Heaven. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 11th 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 residents of U.S. and Canada only.

A huge thank you to Handbag Heaven for providing an Andi Ruffled Satchel for me to review as well as the bag of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. This is THE place for great style at affordable prices! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

A Squeaky Winner!

Big Sister E's squeaky shoes from Wee Squeak are win-win for all of us! She loves the comfort, fun colors and the unique squeak, of course. I love that they go with everything, are high quality and that the squeaker can be removed if needed. There are just some places that shoes need to be quiet, right? The lucky person who will get to choose their favorite pair of fun shoes from Wee Squeak is...


Congratulations, MommaWad09! I hope your little girl loves her shoes as well!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Have you gotten your comments in for the great giveaways that are running right now? There are more fun ones on their way, as well!

GIVEAWAY: Personal Party Planning Services from Atlanta Mom's Guide to Party Planning (ARV $50)

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

For Big Sister E's first birthday party, we had to celebrate. In fact, her cousin (my brother's son) was born five days after Big Sister E, so the whole family was really ready to party to commemorate the birthdays of everyone's favorite babies-turned-toddlers.

Invitations were sent, the house was scrubbed clean, decorations were hung, multiple cakes were made... and good times were had by all. Big Sister E and her cousin had fun in all the attention, received thoughtful gifts and made a mess out of their individual cakes (of course).

When it came time for her second birthday, Big Sister E was in the middle of being a huge fan of monkeys, so the theme for the party was easy. Again, I spent forever on the invitations, food, decorations and more so that my vision of a fun monkey party could be realized. Being that I was seven months pregnant at the time, I was a little extra-tired when this one was over.

At the big third birthday last fall, Big Sister E was a pretty cute rock star. We sent out themed invitations, she wore a gorgeous tutu and even the cupcakes were outfitted for the occasion. The guests even took home inflatable guitars of their own so that they could continue being a rock star long after the party had ended.

The common thread between all three of the parties? Fun, of course. But, along with the good times during the actual celebrations, each birthday required a ton of work in preparation. The amount of time and effort put in to the planning far exceeded the amount of time spent enjoying the event itself. But if I wasn't going to do it... then who was?


Atlanta mom, Jessica Jones, is here to save you from the stresses of planning your next party and let you relax and enjoy yourself. Whether you hire her to take care of a small or large portion of preparing your next birthday party, bridal or baby shower, anniversary party, graduation party, etc, she'll do the legwork while you still set the budget and make the final decisions.

There are nine aspects of party planning that Atlanta Mom's Guide to Party Planning covers: invitations, location, food, entertainment, decorations, crafts, games, pictures and goodie bags. You can choose the number of aspects you would like planned as well as which particular ones, which is great. From there, tell her the theme of the party (and any other important information, for example the birthday boy's age or the expectant mother's favorite colors) and Jessica will get down to business.

Instead of me having spent far too long trying to find the right monkey birthday invitations last year, Jessica would have scoured the stores and the internet to find an array of designs at the best prices for me to choose from. I also spent many afternoons searching various stores for just the right items to go in monkey goodie bags for Big Sister E's friends to take home - and I would have loved to have a professional do that for me!

Due to Jessica's generosity, for your next special occasion you can sit back, put your feet up and let the creative ideas come right to your inbox because...

One lucky person will win a Choose 3 Party Planning Package of their own! ARV $50!

But wait, there's more! This giveaway is being held at multiple different blogs (listed below) and, at the completion of this short giveaway, Jessica will compile the entries from all of the participating blogs and draw one grand prize winner (announced on January 25). That person will win a Complete Party Planning Package worth $400!

To enter to win your Choose 3 Party Planning Package: Follow Jessica's blog, Atlanta Mother's Guide, with Google Friend Connect. 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 if you tell me for which upcoming event you would love to have the help of a party planner.
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Jessica's party planning blog, Atlanta Party Planning, with Google Friend Connect and/or follow Jessica on Twitter.
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!

Throwing a party? Have a party planner do the work for you! ARV $50! @thxmailcarrier from @atlmomguide http://bit.ly/7SB9Pl #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 Atlanta Mom's Guide to Party Planning. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 22nd 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. residents only.

The blogs participating in this great giveaway (and yes, you can enter at any or all of them!) are:
3 P's in a Pod
Elle Squared
Fairytales and Puppy Dog Tails
Musings from Me
Mommy's Online Garage Sale
The Ahotaeiloa Family
Let's Just Give It Away
Chaotic Mommy Reviews
MNMSpecial Giveaways
Thanks, Mail Carrier (I highly recommend this one)

I was given the opportunity to host this giveaway due to my membership at The Product Review Place. I was not provided anything for this review but the opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.