Oneida Culinaria Dinnerware {Review}

Like a lot of young couples, when my husband and I were planning our wedding, we selected a few of our favorite stores and created gift registries. Wandering up and down the aisles, we toted that handy scanner and zapped the towels, silverware and throw pillows that we liked best.

And, thanks to the generosity of our family and friends, we received all sorts of beautiful gifts that, in the 7 1/2 years that we've been married, have been put to good use. True, there were some that maybe spent more time in the cupboard than others (the salad spinner seemed like a good idea at the time, really it did) but those that have really been utilized are starting to show a little wear and tear after all that time.

One such item is our dinnerware. The plates, bowls, platters and more have been through a lot, from daily meals to multiple parties, and have just gotten a little... old. When we have people over to our house, do I really want to serve them food on a scratched (or possibly chipped) plate? No, I want to pull out something not only strong and durable but beautiful as well.

Which isn't a problem now that I can serve my meals proudly on my Blue Sage Culinaria dinnerware from Oneida.

Available in eight different, make-a-statement colors, Oneida's Culinaria line caught my eye from the moment I first saw it. I really liked Pound Cake (a creamy yellow) and Chili (a bright, vivid red) but my husband and I agreed that the Blue Sage was the perfect complement to our kitchen and dining room decor.

When the 16-piece set arrived, I opened the box and prepared for at least one chip or crack as, after all, this was dinnerware that had been sent through the mail. But no, every dinner plate, salad plate, soup bowl and mug was perfect. It was all I could do to stop running my hands over the circular banding and stylish rolled edge to put them into the dishwasher so that they would be clean and ready to use.

The twice-fired, glass-like finish to this ceramic stoneware makes them not only attractive but high quality and being able to use them in both the dishwasher and microwave is a must for busy families. They have held up perfectly to our daily use and I have no doubt that the classic look yet modern, unique color will be a staple in our household for years to come.

Even better, I love the way that Oneida offers limitless possibilities for extending your dinnerware set to make it your own. I could just as easily complete my set with these:
Or, for a great mix-and-match way to add in some pops of color, I could stick with the Culinaria collection but choose to include some of these that would go really great with the Blue Sage:

Whether you prefer bold or soft shades, Oneida has made it possible to show your personality with the high quality, durable, visually appealing dinnerware in their Culinaria line. I love that their pieces are made for everyday use but are still beautiful enough to be pulled out for special occasions and look great.

The 16-piece sets come in round or square but you can also purchase a 4-piece set of just one item or individual items on their own. Go ahead and browse the great options on Oneida's website and then be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter as well. No matter what you choose, the wonderful colors will bring everyone to the table!

(Other than the 16-piece set of Culinaria dinnerware in Blue Sage that I was provided by Oneida, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this company and their products.)

Bing: Our School Needs {Contest} It's time to vote!

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of learning about Bing's Our School Needs campaign and I couldn't have been happier to write about this great contest. For a reminder, you can visit my earlier post and here is a brief recap: Bing believes in supporting kids' education and wants to help teachers and students by providing them with supplies and the financial support needed to ensure a successful learning experience.

How are they doing that? By awarding a quarter-million dollars in prize money divided among four schools in need.

Yowza, right?

Entrants have been submitting photos, essays and videos on behalf of their school and now it's time to pick the winners! 15 finalists have been selected, so all you have to do it head over and vote. The school with the most overall votes will win the $100,000 grand prize and the school with the most votes in each of the three categories (grades K-6, 7-9 and 10-12) will each win $50,000.

Voting began Friday, October 29 and runs through Sunday, November 7 and the lucky winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 9. Can you imagine the excitement that is going to go through the winning schools? What an amazing day that will be for them!

But wait, there's more. Bing is also giving away up to $900,000 to schools in need through DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit website where public school teachers can post classroom projects that need funding. If you are one of the first 30,000 to vote for your favorite finalists each day, you will receive a $3 donation code to redeem for the classroom project of your choice!

So, go vote! I may be a sap, but watching the finalist videos made me a little teary-eyed. These kids need everything from buses to books to computers and it is clear that they spent a lot of time and put a lot of heart into making their entries... and now they need our help to make their dreams come true.

In the end, no matter who wins, I still have to tip my hat to Bing for holding the Our School Needs contest, as it is such a great campaign. Education and schooling makes a huge difference in the lives of all of our children and the results that budgets (and budget cuts) have make a major effect in the experiences that kids have in school. Thanks, Bing, for making an impact!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bing and received a gift card and DonorsChoose.org giving code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Wild Creations {Tandem Space Hopper Review & Choice of Product Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jen @ Frugal Mommy Tips!}

Back in June we were introduced to Wild Creations, the innovative and inventive company behind the two adorable African Dwarf Frogs that are still happily living in our living room in their EcoAquarium.

Still the only living review that we've done, both Big Sister E and Little Sister B have just as much love for the little guys as they did months ago. And, I have to admit, I'm still a big fan of the fact that pretty much all you ever have to do is toss a tiny bit of food in there twice a week and everyone's happy. These "gogs" (Little Sister B's name for them) are definitely the easiest pet I've ever encountered.

So what has Wild Creations done now? Not only have they allowed us tiny family members that are both educational and entertaining, but they have found a way for my kids to exercise and burn off energy while having an impromtu science lesson every time we set foot outside. And it's all thanks to the bright orange goodness of their Tandem Space Hopper.

With the introduction of more than 40 new products in 2010, Wild Creations now offers a collection of gadgets, gizmos and eye-opening toys from Europe that are sure to make kids and adults stop and take notice.

I mean, really. Is it possible to not take a second (or third or fourth) look when you see a giant double ball with two sets of horns, a crazy face and a drawn-on tail?

Having arrived neatly packed into a pretty small box, it took only a few minutes to unpack the Tandem Space Hopper and the provided foot pump and get it fully inflated.

The resulting 21.5" high rubber contraption was then ready for my kids to hop on, grab hold of the horn handles and start bouncing... and more bouncing... and more bouncing. And even though Big Sister E and Little Sister B are actually quite a bit younger than the recommended ages for this ball (ages 10+), they clearly had a great time getting it moving as much as they could.

In fact, I really couldn't see a reason why younger kids shouldn't play with the Tandem Space Hopper, unless maybe there was a worry of them falling off easily or knocking into each other. But, since that actually seems to be part of the fun, I just made sure to supervise my girls closely to ensure their safety.

Since they are smaller, their weight didn't provide as much force (therefore providing the equal and opposite reaction to really get them bouncing), but I have to admit that when I gave things a shot, I could easily see why Big Sister E and Little Sister B spent so much time laughing and giggling - this sure is fun! Getting two adults or big kids on there (the weight limit is an astonishing 440 lbs) and you can really get the Tandem Space Hopper moving!

From creating a human-sized bubble with the Mega Bubble to being amazed at the beauty of the Jellyfish Lampquarium, Wild Creations has a unique, award-winning product that everyone will enjoy. No matter which one you choose, their commitment to encouraging the pursuit of adventure and knowledge is found in each new innovation!

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to bring home the fun and learning that Wild Creations provides, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Wild Creations' new products*!

To enter to win: Visit Wild Creations and tell me the name of your favorite product from the new Fall 2010 collection (anything non-frog).

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).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you subscribe to the Wild Creations YouTube feed, follow the Wild Creations Frog Blog with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to the RSS feed of the Wild Creations Frog Blog and/or Like Wild Creations on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you fill in the blank and leave the following message on their wall: Wild Creations has so many innovative products! My favorite is the ________ and I entered to win one at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/dijBsm
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 fun and innovative new Fall products from Wild Creations ($40)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dijBsm #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. 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 Wild Creations. Please leave an address where it can be found.

*Choices include the Solar Airship, Mega Bubble, Jellyfish Lamquarium, RC Rattlesnake, Giant Retro Space Hopper, Tandem Space Hopper, Unpredictaball, Pocket Monocular, Hydrophobic Sand, Science Putty CDU and Buzz Wire Bomb.

Giveaway will end on November 26th at 11:59pm CST. 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. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Wild Creations for providing a Tandem Space Hopper for me to review as well as the item of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Winners!

Too many great things to choose from at RedEnvelope, aren't there? When it comes to gift-giving, they have pretty much anyone and everyone covered! The lucky person who will be able to go on a little shopping spree with their $50 gift certificate is...
Congratulations, Addison K.A.T.!

There are big steps and there are small steps when it comes to going green. But one great site to help you along the way is definitely My Baby's Green and all of their stylish, convenient, top-of-the-line products. The lucky person who will shop with a $50 gift certificate of their own is...

Congratulations, michtuck!

My only problem with browsing over at My Baby Clothes Boutique is that it makes me wish my girls were still small enough to fit into more of the cute apparel and accessories that they sell there! The lucky person who will get to choose their favorite adorable outfit is...

Congratulations, Erika!

I think we all need a little help with time management once in a while, right? The idea of getting kids started off on the right foot with TimeBuddy and how it helps them understand the concept of having to wait or move on to the next activity is something that everyone can use. The lucky person who will get to try out this innovative device is...

Congratulations, hmb!

Did you enter the Glade Design & Shine Contest? There are so many artistic submissions over there that I don't know how they're going to decide on the winners... but the contest ends tomorrow so soon there will be two people who made $10,000 just by designing a Decorative Glass Holder! Even though this is slightly less exciting than that, the lucky person who will receive a Glade Scented Oil Candle and Holder is...

Congratulations, Renee!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered these great giveaways! I've been going giveaway-crazy lately and posting them left and right, but that's really just the beginning! Be back here and over at A Mom's Balancing Act on Monday morning for day 1 of the Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010}... this next month is going to be BIG!

Pear Tree Greetings Christmas Cards {Review}

Every year I tell myself that we're going to get out more of our holiday decorations and spruce our house up for the season. I'll pull out the bins and bins of indoor and outdoor decor and display them around, putting us all in the mood for winter. My husband even intends to put up all of the outdoor lights before the snow falls so that we'll be completely prepared to begin turning them on after Thanksgiving.

And what happens? Every year we manage to get a Christmas tree and that's about it. I used to make my own wreath for the front door... but that hasn't happened in a while. No cute penguin salt and pepper shakers, no fa la la embroidered napkins for the table. It's the thought that counts, right?

But, wait. The Christmas spirit does always show through from the time the first Christmas Cards begin to appear in the mailbox. I've used various ways to display them in the past, but most recently I've enjoyed using small red clothespins to clip each card onto hanging ribbons over a large set of windows in the dining room.

I love looking up at the bright colors, images and smiling faces all through December - holiday cards are such a great way to send out warm wishes to everyone you know! And one site that knows all about that is none other than Pear Tree Greetings.

Having had the pleasure to review multiple items from Pear Tree Greetings in the past, I had no doubt that their Christmas Cards would be stylish, high quality and designed so that it would be difficult to choose a favorite. When a sample arrived and I was able to see them in person, I discovered that indeed I was right.

With everything from innovative Magnet Cards to unique Timeline/Letter Cards to Christmas Thank You Cards, Pear Tree Greetings is commited to helping you find the unique design to match your style - and with hundreds of brand new designs for 2010, you just have to start browsing to see just how great these cards truly are!

I have always been really impressed with the 100 lb Matte Card Stock that Pear Tree Greetings uses, it really gives their products a higher quality feel without an inflated price tag to go with it. Plus, as these are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, you can feel good about sending out fun Christmas Party Invitations that are also eco-friendly.

All in all, I really liked the Photo Christmas Cards that we were able to sample and the way that the designs highlighted the pictures without overpowering them. Whether whimsical, modern or classic, these would be great to send out (or receive, of course) for this time of year.

And, even though I am a big fan of cards with photos for the holidays, I actually really liked the Love Birds Christmas Card that came as well. The cute birds and trendy colors made this a fun little folded card to have on hand!

With their great selection of stylish and affordable cards, I don't know anyone that couldn't find one to perfectly express their holiday spirit at Pear Tree Greetings. Plus, with orders arriving within 4 - 9 business days (that includes two days for processing) there is still plenty of time to select and customize your favorite.

So, do you decorate for the holidays? Do you like to display the cards that you receive?

(Other than a sample of Christmas cards and a choice of address labels from Pear Tree Greetings, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this website and its products.)

1-800-FLOWERS.COM {Review & Giveaway} The Deliver Birthday Smiles Campaign

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, wildcat32!}

Earlier this month I wrote about 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and their Deliver Birthday Smiles Campaign, which was a lot of fun to learn about. With more newborns arriving during late summer and early fall than any other time of year, why not celebrate with a beautiful bouquet of flowers?

In my family we celebrated birthdays in October for both Big Sister E and my mom, two people that are obviously very important to me. But the festivities won't stop there as November brings along the birthdays of my husband and his mom, two more that deserve to be recognized.

Unfortunately for my husband, his mom's birthday is coming up first, so she was the lucky recipient of the bright, cheery Bucket of Birthday Wishes from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.
Exclusive to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, this colorful bouquet combines roses, carnations, daisy poms and more all in a cute lime green tin bucket and topped off with a decorative felt birthday wish. Who wouldn't like to celebrate their birth with something sweet-smelling and fun like that?

I was happy to see the variety of flowers and greenery included in the Bucket of Birthday Wishes and the way that they complemented each other in such an eye-catching way. Makes you want to go in for a closer look, doesn't it?

With so many fall birthdays out there, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has an arrangement, gift basket, plant and more for every style and budget. It makes no difference if your recipient is traditional or modern or young or old, they'll be sure to love the surprise and beauty of your selection.

For an added dose of unique whimsy, why not send the Birthday Flower Cake or the Cupcake in Bloom? What a great centerpiece these would make for a party!

Browsing through the collection of birthday gifts at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, I love how they are separated into easy categories (e.g. For Her, For Co-Worker, Elegant, Romantic, etc.) so that shopping is fast and easy. There is even a whole section on Birth Flowers so that you can see which flower is designated for each month, the meaning behind it and how to take care of it. What a fun addition!

Who do you know with a birthday coming up? Thanks to the generosity of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, one person will also be able to give them an extra surprise this year because...

One lucky person will win a $40 gift card to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM!

To enter to win: Visit the Birthday Gift Center at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and tell me which gorgeous arrangement or gift you would like to send. I'd love to know who you would like to send it to as well!

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).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow 1-800-FLOWERS.COM on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you fill in the blank and leave the following message on their wall: My favorite arrangement from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is the _____! I just entered to win a $40 gift card to celebrate with flowers at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/dcFngG
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 $40 gift card to 1-800-FLOWERS and surprise someone with a beautiful bouquet! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dcFngG #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. 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 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 19th at 11:59pm CST. 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. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for providing a Bucket of Birthday Wishes for my mother-in-law as well as a $40 gift card for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Tips for Planning a Bridal Shower with PurpleTrail

There is something about bridal (and baby) showers that seem to make people simultaneously warm and fuzzy while also causing them to cringe. We love the idea of celebrating a happy couple's upcoming nuptials or a mom-to-be's joy, but do the majority of people really enjoy being forced to play party games or embarrass themselves in front of a group of people? Probably not.

I think that the bridal showers that most people enjoy center around the bride-to-be relaxing and surrounding herself with good friends and family. Casual, laid-back, chic... just a time for everyone to have some fun and laughter. So, what are some ideas for the steps to take to throw a great bridal shower? Here are 10 tips to keep in mind from a complete and utter non-expert (me):

1. Start with the budget. Yes, that's a boring one, but no one wants to go completely broke when planning any sort of party and it will help determine many of the details (location, food, etc). Think of the bride, her personality and what sort of get-together she would enjoy. Then, sit down with her (or her mother, best friend or fiance if the shower is a surprise) and plan the guest list - not too big, not too small. Again, the budget will help determine how many people to invite.

2. Pick a theme. I'm all for themes, they just make any party fun. It doesn't have to be an elaborate theme (unless you want it to be), it can be something as simple as the bride's favorite color or using polka dots in the decorations. When my brother was getting married, I helped throw his wife-to-be a surprise Hawaiian-themed bridal shower and easily incorporated palm trees, Hawaiian leis and flip flops into just about every aspect of the party. We even pulled out our flowered shirts to wear!

3. Set the mood with fun invitations. The invitations set the tone of the party and don't just give guests the facts of when and where, but give them an insight as to the whole affair itself. Whether you make them extravagant or straight to the point, you want them to get people excited about the upcoming shower.

One great site to design and fully customize your creations is PurpleTrail. Founded with the goal of allowing their customers to love their invitations and cards, PurpleTrail makes it possible to craft a truly unique item for every occasion. With no limit on the number of photos you can upload or the embellishments and text you can add to your design, you can be sure that the finished product is always going to be exactly what you envisioned.

When it comes to bridal shower invites, PurpleTrail has a great selection of pre-made designs to choose from. However, with their online design studio and all of its options and possibilities, each style can be personalized or changed - whether only a word or two or a complete overhaul. Or, for the creative type, pick the Make Your Own Custom Design option and start from scratch.

Having designed and printed custom invitations for various events over the years, I like how PurpleTrail makes everything so easy to use. With so many ways to format their cards and all of the effects and changes that can be made, it's hardly possible to not come up with a fun finished look. In about two minutes, I turned this:

Into this:
Not my best work ever, but for my first try for a Hawaiian-themed bridal shower invitation, I didn't think it was too bad. My next attempt would be to upload my own picture (maybe of the bride and groom?) and use the Opacity tool to set it as the background. How cute!

4. Decorate! Most bridal showers that I have attended have been in the hostess' home (versus a restaurant or banquet hall) so extend the chosen theme through the tablecloths, plates, napkins, flowers, music etc. For my sister-in-law's Hawaiian bridal shower, we found inexpensive dishes, knick knacks and more to keep the tropical feeling throughout the room.

5. The food is another great way to continue the theme. You don't have to go all out with fancy food just to have a fancy shower, but it does help. Finger foods are always great and just make sure there is enough of a variety and that you have provided for any guests that have specific diets or allergies.

6. The games are usually the source of what makes people cringe at a shower. On the plus side, they break up the awkwardness and take away from people just sitting around feeling out of place. On the minus side, not everyone wants to get up in front of a bunch of people that they don't know and be wrapped in toilet paper to resemble a bride, so just keep that in mind. Usually activities or games that involve knowing the bride and groom are fun and the internet is a great source for all sorts of bridal shower games that can be used to break up the time during the party and keep things moving.

7. Gifts are, of course, the whole point of a shower. However, it seems to have gotten more common to not open up all of the gifts during the party as then the guests don't have much to do during that time (and the recipient feels a little weird doing it on display).

On the other hand, I always like to see the reaction from the people that I give gifts to (and hope that it's a good one), as well as being interested in all of the other fun items she is receiving. A good idea might be to sit down with the bride before the shower and get her thoughts on whether or not she would like to involve gift-opening during her party.

8. Favors aren't a requirement, of course, but it's nice to show appreciation to guests for coming and bringing a gift... plus, who likes to go home from a party empty-handed? Edible favors are always a crowd favorite and can be store-bought or homemade, depending on the budget, time and talents you might have. It's hard to remember, but I believe that we found cute flip flop-shaped containers and filled them with candy for my sister-in-law's shower. Yum!

9. The schedule doesn't have to be set in stone, but it's nice to give people an idea of how much time is remaining during a game or how much longer until it is time to eat. Be sure to have some indication as to when the party is over as well so that guests won't feel obligated to stay if they have somewhere else to be.

10. The main thing to remember is to have fun! All that matters is that the bride is able to thoroughly enjoy herself and this special occasion and that you have done your best to make sure the guests are comfortable. Otherwise, no need to stress! Just go with the flow and savor the laughter and friendship and how much the bride appreciates all that you're doing for her!

So, what do you think about bridal/baby showers? Do you like them or do you avoid them like the plague?

(Other than a gift certificate to PurpleTrail that I was provided in conjunction with Brandfluential, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this website and its products.)

Guidecraft All In One Play Kitchen {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Chelyeah!}

Did you know that kitchen remodeling is the single most popular home renovation? If you look up any information about it online you'll find a wealth of tips and suggestions that are centered around two important facts: kitchen remodeling is the home improvement job that adds the most value to your house and, without a doubt, is one of the best investments a homeowner can make.

Recently I discovered that when it comes to play kitchens, the exact same things apply. Because what kid would rather imagine and pretend with something flimsy and plastic when they could have the opportunity to enjoy hours of fun with something gorgeous, wooden and much more high quality? Don't little cooks deserve a great kitchen as much as adults do, even when their food isn't actually edible?

Guidecraft certainly thinks so. And they have taken dramatic kitchen play to an entirely different level of amazing with their All In One Play Kitchen.

Beautiful, isn't it? This isn't just a play kitchen like every other play kitchen out there, this is the most detailed, accessorized, just plain cool place to pretend to cook, bake, wash, store food and so much more. (Is it weird that I'm a little jealous that my kids now have a nicer kitchen than I do? When can I have a remodel like this done?)

Arriving in two long, heavy boxes (this kitchen weighs in at 100 lbs), the All In One Play Kitchen does take quite a bit of assembly simply considering all of the intricate parts and pieces that it includes. Fortunately, Guidecraft makes things incredibly easy by having everything well-labeled and including clear, concise instructions.

With only a screwdriver, I started at the beginning and followed along to each step in the manual. What at first somewhat seemed like an insurmountable task began to come together right before my eyes.

The only somewhat difficult part I encountered when putting together this kitchen came at the end with the tiny screws that hold on all of the various doors. Just because of their miniature size, it took me a few tries to get some of them to screw in while trying to balance the doors at the same time.

However, before I knew it (around two hours later) I was putting away my screwdriver and standing back to admire the finished product... which was immediately taken over by two chefs that had been oh-so-patiently waiting.

The features included in the All In One Kitchen are vast and, for lack of a more technical word, very cute. Instead of stickers or painted-on parts, these knobs really turn, the hands on the clock can be moved and there's even a write-on message board for scribbles, notes and maybe a grocery list or two. Hey, even dramatic play kitchens run low on milk sometimes.

Each appliance has its own door that is held in place by magnets when they are closed and right away both Big Sister E and Little Sister B liked the act of opening and shutting them to put items inside. The addition of the movable shelves (there is even a slide-out rack in the oven) make each location throughout the kitchen that much more entertaining and realistic.

This kitchen also has modern amenities such a dishwasher, storage cabinets and cordless phone. And what chef could be without a proper prep area? The All In One Play Kitchen has plenty of counter space for cooking (I love that it has a sort of marbled look like a real counter top) and lots of room to hold food, dishes or cooking supplies throughout.

From the soft green backsplash to the red cabinet hardware to the realistic burners on the stovetop, everything from the looks to the quality and functionality of this kitchen are top-notch. All but a few pieces are wood and with everything being so interactive, there is no way for kids to lose interest. Plus, with the longer length of the All In One (40" h x 50" w x 16" l) there is plenty of room for multiple children to play and not be on top of one another.

It goes without saying that this kitchen is pretty amazing. Retailing for $240, it is more of an investment piece than "just another toy" but the amount of time playing, pretending and learning about the way the world works is going to be so much more valuable.

Plus, as with all of Guidecraft's educational toys, arts & crafts and furniture, the level of craftsmanship and quality means that the All In One Play Kitchen will last for years to come - and could even be passed down to the next generation. The joy, creativity and laughter is exactly what Guidecraft stands for: smart, well-crafted products which allow children's minds and imaginations room to truly wonder and grow.

With everything from developmental toys to building blocks that encourage open-ended educational play, the Guidecraft name is simultaneous with only the very best! And, thanks to their extreme generosity, one person will get to experience that for themselves, because...

One VERY lucky person will win an All In One Play Kitchen
from Guidecraft!

To enter to win: Visit Guidecraft and tell me another of their amazing products that you love.

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).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Guidecraft on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed of the Guidecraft blog and/or become their Friend on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Guidecraft's All In One Play Kitchen is amazing! I just entered to win it at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/ddKVIP
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!

I want to WIN a Guidecraft All In One Play Kitchen ($240) for amazing pretend play! http://bit.ly/ddKVIP #thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. 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 Guidecraft.

Giveaway will end on November 19th at 11:59pm CST. 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. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A massively large thank you to Guidecraft for providing an All In One Play Kitchen for me to review as well as for one very lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.