Wordless Wednesday: A Birthday Surprise

I woke up this morning (really yesterday, 9/29) to find this setting on my desk from hubby! What a great birthday surprise!

Fall into Fashion - For Baby: PerryWinkles Kids Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
Sometimes when my mom and grandma see Princess P they tell me that I dress her too modern. They say that a little girl needs to be in frills and lace and not jeans and a tee shirt all the time. I have no problems with frilly clothes but it can sometimes be hard for me to find outfits that I like that are also feminine. So I was pleasantly surprised when I found a feminine yet stylish line of hand-smocked dresses from PerryWinkles Kids.

Graciela and Maria are a Canadian-based mother-daughter team who draw inspiration for their designs from their grand-daughters and daughters. Being moms themselves they understand and appreciate good quality clothing that is easy to care for. With that in mind they created most of their dresses and cardigans to be machine-washable. All of their dresses are hand-smocked and hand-embroidered and their cardigans and jumpers are all hand-embroidered as well.


We had the opportunity to review the very beautiful Beatrice Viyella Smocked Dress from PerryWinkles Kids. The floral print is the epitome of everything feminine and girly. The hand-smocking at the top of the dress is so incredible and it has a unique hand-embroidery pattern in a pink and green combination. The collar, cuffs and the back of the dress also feature wonderful hand-embroidery detail. The dress has button closures and a tie back that completes the look. The way the dress looks on Princess P is as equally adorable. It has a more full effect at the bottom and it falls at just the right length. I even threw it in the washing machine with her other clothes and it came out perfect. I did hang it up to dry though. I cannot wait to get Princess P's pictures made in the Beatrice Viyella Smocked Dress and I have already deemed it her "Thanksgiving" dress. And in cause you are wondering what my mom and grandma think of the dress, they absolutely love it!

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky reader will win any item of their choice from PerryWinkles Kids!

To Enter: You must visit PerryWinkles Kids and tell me which item AND size you would choose if you were the lucky winner.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to put @PieceOfMeBlog in your tweet so I can see it. You can tweet once daily for an extra entry each day.
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 13th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US and Canada.

A big thank you to PerryWinkles Kids for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. PerryWinkles Kids provided the dress and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

GX Racers Review: Extreme Stunts, Speed and Tricks. What more could a boy want?

I can picture the sheer joy on kids faces when they go to rip into that time-consuming, thoughtful, neatly wrapped package on Christmas morning. Only to be let down by a pair of socks or underwear that Auntie Jane thought would be more practical than that toy they wanted. But I can guarantee if they had ripped into that package and found the GX Racers 360 Spinway from JAKKS Pacific their reaction would have been polar opposite.



JAKKS Pacific just unveiled the all new GX Racers line of vehicles and skateboards capable of producing unheard of speed and stunts. All of this is powered by GX GYROS which can race up to 600 scale MPH! Christmas morning (or any morning for that matter) will never be the same again.

With the 360 Spinway from JAKKS Pacific in hand I set out to find what made the track set so fun. Looking at the pieces I thought "Oh, I can do this", looking at the instructions I thought "Um, I might need some help." Assembly proved to not be that hard, it is a childs toy after all. After getting the hang of the platform height (High=Faster Low=More Control) I was ready to launch my GX Racers Vehicle through the twists and turns. I was amazed at all of the side-spinning action that took place followed by a super cool launch.



GX Racers offers many more products. They have a super cool GX Turbo Launcher for even faster speeds, the GX Super Jump with over 7 ft of track and the GX Skate toys that allows kids to easily perform real skate tricks! They also have the GX Racers Speed Assortment that includes one car, a speed gyro and a rip cord for only $5.99! Talk about a great stocking stuffer!



This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the products listed above. JAKKS Pacific provided the GX Racers 360 Spinway and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Protector Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
I have to admit that our mattress belonged to C before we got married. It is a queen size pillow top mattress that he spent a pretty penny on and we figured we would just use it for a few years and then get a new one. Well, fast forward to a few years later and we are still using it. Combine that with the fact that Princess P sleeps in it with us and you could only imagine how dirty our mattress is. I do change our sheets frequently but I still cringe when I think what we could be sleeping on every night. Thank goodness we had the opportunity to review a Premium Mattress Protector from Protect-A-Bed.

About Protect-A-Bed

Protect-A-Bed being a health product, was produced with care to ensure that the materials used were safe and free of harmful substances like cadmium. The product has been tested to be flame-resistant to a greater extent than the law requires and, with reasonable care, can be used safely in all domestic environments. Our company takes pride in the fact that we receive thousands of unsolicited testimonials from satisfied users in all our markets worldwide. The Protect-A-Bed® promise to consumers is our assurance that we will not compromise on quality. Our focus and dedication is to provide complete customer satisfaction by producing a product that has no equal in the marketplace.

When the Premium Mattress Protector arrived I immediately threw it in the washing machine so we could use it that night. I got it out of the dryer and headed toward the bed then the realization that we have a pillow top mattress hit me. Much to my relief it fit our mattress perfectly! I love the fact that it is breathable yet waterproof. We can sleep comfortably but still be protected. Anyone who has little one's knows that diapers sometimes leak during the night so the fact that it absorbs liquids is awesome for us. Another reason the Premium Mattress Protector is so great for us is because our bedroom is super dusty and C has to have a fan on at all times. The fact that it creates a dust mite barrier and provides allergy protection is great. I was also surprised at how well it stays on the bed. It does not move at all and you cannot tell you are sleeping on anything other than your mattress.

Giveaway Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a Premium Mattress Protector from Protect-A-Bed!

To Enter: You must visit Protect-A-Bed and tell me the specific name of another product that would benefit you or your family.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway with the text below. You can tweet once daily for an extra entry each day.
Win a @Protect_A_Bed Premium Mattress Protector @PieceOfMeBlog! http://bit.ly/1kBr1y
6. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 12th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents.

A big thank you to Protect-A-Bed for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Protect-A-Bed provided the mattress protector and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

Fall into Fashion - For Baby: Kumquat Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
For some reason I get really excited when the seasons change and Princess P gets a fresh new set of clothing to wear. Maybe it is because I get board of her wearing the same clothes or maybe it is because her new fashions are just too irresistible! I got that excited feeling when I saw the clothing lines from Kumquat and I knew P had to add some of their adorable pieces to her fall wardrobe.

Angela de la Garza had worked for several childrenswear companies before she launched Kumquat in the fall of 2001. When her daughter Lucia was born in January of 2007, Angela had a new vision for her line. Soft, modern and comfortable are what Kumquat's designs are made of. With each season a new line of original prints are released that reflect babyhood but also stay fashion conscious.

Keeping to Princess P's favorite theme we got to review the Pink Puppy Love Double Tee with Screenprint and the matching Raspberry Brown Striped Ruffle Pants from Kumquat. I instantly fell in love with the bold colors and the striped pattern. P instantly fell in love with the "puppies!" on the front of the double tee. The 100% cotton pants are super soft and to me they fell a little more thick than some of her other pants. Which is a great thing on those chilly fall days. The ruffled bottom also adds a bit of innocence to the pants. The double tee is also made from 100% cotton and features a snap neck for easy dressing. Another thing I like, which may sound totally weird to you, is that the long-sleeve portion of the tee actually goes all the way up under the short sleeves. Other shirts that I have seen are made where the long sleeve just stops and the short sleeve starts. Weird, I know. Because the items are 100% cotton you will need wash on the gentle cycle and line dry to prevent any shrinkage. I think the reason I like Kumquat's designs so much is that you can mix and match the items within the lines, creating endless fashion possibilities.

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky person will win a Kumquat outfit of their choice!

To Enter: You must visit Kumquat and tell me which outfit AND the size you would choose if you were the lucky winner!
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see your tweet!
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 11th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Outfit and size subject to availability. Giveaway open to US and Canada.

A big thank you to Kumquat for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the products listed above. Kumquat provided the clothes and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

Winners

The winner of The Pretty Peacock Giveaway is (414 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

151 

Timestamp: 2009-09-26 16:16:50 UTC

bridget3420 said... 151

4 Blogged

http://freebies4meandu.blogspot.com/2009/09/911-giveaway-list.html

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

September 11, 2009 12:25 AM

The winner of the speesees giveaway is (450 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

355 

Timestamp: 2009-09-26 16:33:49 UTC

Anne said... 355

I entered the great wolf lodge giveaway

September 21, 2009 6:05 PM

The winner of the Kenneth Brown Baby Giveaway is (607 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

148 

Timestamp: 2009-09-26 16:54:16 UTC

Janell said... 148

I love the Monkey Vine set. We are foster parents for infants so I would use this in the babies room we have set up. We have an 8 month old baby girl right now.

September 11, 2009 1:55 PM

Janell I do not have an email address for you. I left you a comment on your blog so please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize!


The winner of the Livie & Luca Giveaway is (733 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

535 

Timestamp: 2009-09-26 17:21:59 UTC

yyeres said... 535

I would pick Emilio's Navy and Tan Loafer size 4. yyeres(at)gmail(dot)com

September 22, 2009 6:40 AM

Congratulations! I have sent you all emails, besides Janell, and you have 48 hours to contact me.

Style Six Review - A Must Have For Today's It Girls

When I was younger an "It" girl had to have at least one babydoll dress in her closet complete with matching scrunchies. And she definitely had to know the lyrics to every Spice Girl song. Today, the "It" girls have cell phones, iPods and custom wardrobes.

The popularity of clothing lines designed by young Hollywood have inspired young fashionistas everywhere to express their sense of style. Thanks to the creative designers at Jakks Pacific any "It" girl can create a customized wardrobe straight from home with the help of Style Six fashion activity kits.



Style Six offers several different kits to customize any item in your childs wardrobe just the way they want it. If your fashionista is looking to embellish anything with vibrant colors than the Style Six Airbrush kit is just the kit for her.

The Style Six Airbrush kit comes with a Motorized Airbrush, fabric Blopens (purple, black, red and yellow) and 3 fun stencil sheets. The only things you need are 4 C batteries and a garment to work your magic on. After set-up is complete, select the shapes that will be used (my favorites are the flower stencils) and place them on the garment. Then you can place your Blopen of choice in the holder and press the button to spray. I recommend practicing on a piece of cardboard until you get the hang of it. When you feel comfortable with the Motorized Airbrush you can spray over your stencil. Let the garment dry and then you can remove the shapes. If you desire a layered look just repeat the steps until you get the customized design you are looking for.

I love that this kit is so fun and easy to use. It allows your child to express their creativity and really be proud of their creation. The Airbrush kit is also really compact because the Motorized Airbrush device holds all 4 Blopens neatly inside. I do recommend that you cover the surface you are working on with newspaper and wear older clothes while working with this kit.

Another wonderful product in the Style Six line is the Silk Screener. It allows girls to add cool and trendy printed graphics onto almost and fabric garment. The Silk Screener kit comes with a large and small silkscreen devices, large and small stencils (4 of each), a masking board, separator, sponge roller, sponge blogger, roller tray, fabric paints (blue, magenta, black and red) and a supply tray to keep everything organized.

To get started you will need to select which size silk screener base you are going to use depending on what size garment you will be designing. Then you need to choose which stencil design and paint color you will be using. After placing the separator inside of the garment (to keep colors from bleeding through) you put it the on the base and then place the silk screener frame over the garment and and lock the hinges to keep it in place. The place the stencil on the pegs of the frame. The pegs keep the stencil secure to prevent it from moving. Next, you can place the paint in the roller tray and dip your roller brush in it. Be sure to wipe the excess paint on the side of the tray. Roll the brush over the stencil and coat evenly. If you are having problems getting into the corners use the blotter to help out. After you are finished you can remove the stencil from the garment and then remove the garment from the frame. But be sure to leave the separator inside until it dries to prevent colors from bledding through.

The Silk Screener is great for combining designs and colors for a truly unique creation. But be advised that since you are dealing with paint it can get a bit messy. Young girls also may need help getting the garment on the base so that it is even. The supply tray is great for keeping the tools and paint organized but be sure to wash the tools right away after use so the paint does not dry on them.

Some of the other products offered from Style Six are the Foil Applicator, Gem Decorator, Attaching Machine and Felting Machine. Style Six style pack refills are also available and every 4 months 4 different styles are released so girls can keep up with the latest trends. All kits are recommended for ages 8+ and can be found at retailers nationwide.

Fall into Fashion - For Baby: RuffleButts Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
A couple of days ago I posted on how much we loved our Turquoise Knit RuffleButt. But we are not the only one's who love RuffleButts. They have been featured in major publications, top online blogs and they have even been caught on some hip celebrity babies. Now you have a chance to win a pair of your very own!

What we thought

Princess P was sent the Turquoise Knit RuffleButt to review. I love how soft and stretchy it is! This diaper cover can add instant cuteness to any shirt and it is equally adorable worn alone over a diaper. And when we lived in the sunny south, P was often caught with just her diaper on so this would have been perfect.

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a Turquoise Knit RuffleButt in your choice of size!

To Enter: You must visit RuffleButts and tell me another item, color and style, that you would love to have.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see your tweet!
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. Subscribe to the RuffleButts Newsletter and/or become a RuffleClub Member.
8. Follow RuffleButts on Twitter.
9. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 9th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents.

A big thank you to RuffleButts for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the products listed above.

Bissell Little Green Challenge

Does everyone remember the nasty Spaghetti O stain that I posted in a past Wordless Wednesday and begged you all for help? Yeah, that one. Well, I read all of your comments and tried everything that was listed and nothing got the stain out! I was beginning to think that we were going to have to live with that nasty orange stain right in front of our couch forever. That was until I put the Bissell Little Green to the ultimate challenge.


Meet the Machine:
The Bissell Little Green is a compact deep cleaner with the earth on it's mind. Made from a minimum of 50% post consumer recycled plastic the Little Green packs a punch with its strong spray and Tough Stain Brush. Its Collection/Dirty Tank, Solution/Clean Tank, and Vacuum Flex Hose are all PVC free and it has a sustainable design and packaging.

Set up:
The assembly process on the Little Green was minimal and even I could complete the task, by myself! When that was finished we moved on to filling the Solution/Clean Tank. We added the entire bottle of Bissell Little Green formula to the fill line and filled with hot water. After replacing the tank we attached the tough stain brush to the spray trigger.

Pre-treating:
To aide in this big task we pre-treated the stain with OxyPro Carpet Spot and Stain Remover 10 minutes before using the Bissell Little Green.



The Challenge:
After anxiously waiting on the 10 minutes to tick by C and I fought over who was going to get to use the Little Green first. Being the nice wife I obliged and he proceeded to press the spray trigger. After applying the cleaning solution to the wonderful orange stain he used the brush to gently scrub. Then he suctioned the dirt and solution up by using pressure and pulling the brush toward him. After he had his fun I got to take over. I continued the same process on the rest of the stain.



The Results:
After I finished cleaning the stain we both stepped back to survey the results. The stain had significantly faded but it was not completely gone. So we repeated the cleaning process. When that process was finished you could hardly tell that there had been a massive orange stain on the carpet.



Conclusion:
I absolutely love how compact and small the Bissell Little Green is. While it is small, it has strong spray and suction as well as a long cord. It is also a lot lighter than I thought it would be. The Little Green works instantly on small stains but larger, heavier soiled stains need to be treated beforehand for best results. I do have a warning though, it gets additive! After I finished on the Spaghetti O stain I found myself going around the room on my hands and knees looking for spots to clean.
A big thank you to Bissell for this review opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above.

Anytime Costumes Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*

We all know what is right around the corner and this year I am more excited than ever! Since Princess P was a mere four and a half months old last year she was far too young to go trick-or-treating. So we dressed her as a pumpkin and she helped us handy out candy at home. Shortly after that I planned out her outfit for the following year and even purchased a key piece of the costume. I had it all ready to go for this year until I came across Anytime Costumes and my mind suddenly changed!

AnytimeCostumes.com is a year-round source for everything costumes. They offer Adult, Child and Plus-Size Costumes as well as Costume Accessories, Masks and Wigs. Anytime Costumes is family owned and operated company that started in 1975 as a retail party and costume store. As business grew Anytime Costumes expanded to the internet 1999. Today, they have an inventory of over 5000 products and are constantly adding new things.

Since every other word of out Princess P's mouth these days is "Puppy" I knew she had to have the Deluxe Precious Puppy costume. When it arrived I think I was more anxious than she was to open it and get it on. The Deluxe Precious Puppy costume comes with a lined, zippered jumpsuit that has leg snaps for easy diaper changes, booties with skid resistant paw prints and a puppy dog hood with big floppy ears. Not only is this costume absolutely adorable but it is WARM too. Halloween night in this area can be very, very cold and no one wants to wear a coat over their costume so this makes a wonderful alternative. The costume is a perfect fit and she looks so cute in it! The only problem is she will not keep the puppy dog hood on for very long but I guess that is to be expected with a 16 month old. I have a feeling that this will not only be a Halloween costume but a dress up costume for months to come. Now all we have to work on is getting her to say saying "trick-or-treat".

You can get Free Ground Shipping on all orders over $45 at AnytimeCostumes.com with the code SEPT9A!

Giveaway Giveaway

One lucky reader will win their choice of ANY Infant, Toddler, Child or Teen Costume from Anytime Costumes!

To Enter: You must visit AnytimeCostumes.com and tell me which costume you would choose if you were the lucky winner.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see the tweet!
6. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 8th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents.

A big thank you to Anytime Costumes for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above.

Jennifer Garner is the new Celebrity Ambassador for Frigidaire!

I just received the breaking news that Jennifer Garner has become the new "SpokesMom" for Frigidaire. And in my opinion they could not have chosen anyone better. Today, Jennifer introduced Frigidaire's new line of appliances designed to help moms save time in their busy schedules. She also made another big announcement, more like a challenge. She challenged us to pledge a little bit of our own time to help children in need.

Frigidaire has a new campaign, "Make Time for CHANGE", that supports Save the Children's U.S. Programs, dedicated to making a difference in children's lives. Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are asking moms to think ahead to November 1st (the day we fall back an hour) and pledge that time we gain to help make a difference. The CHANGE Program, created by Save the Children, stands for Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments. The program helps promote healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty by providing nutritious snacks and regular opportunities for them to be physically active.

Starting today, everyone who goes to Frigidaire.com and pledges to make time for a child, will commit Frigidaire to donate $1 to support the CHANGE. As an added bonus, everyone who pledges their time will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Professional Double Wall Oven.

It is easy to head over to the Frigidaire website and make a pledge (it is fun too!). Just think you could devote that hour that you usually spend watching t.v. or browsing the internet to make a change in a child's life.

Mom Central also has a Frigidaire Professional Double Wall Oven to giveaway! To enter to win, simply go to Mom Central and tell them about your pledge and how you would give back your time to children in need.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Give-It-Away Thursday

Its that time of the week! Link your giveaways here and spread the word.

Giveaways at Piece Of Me:

Crib Bedding from Kenneth Brown Baby (Ends Tonight!)

$20 Gift Certificate to The Brown Bow Gift Co.

Free One Night Stay at Great Wolf Lodge (Valid in VA and NC only)

Livie & Luca Shoes

Splish Splash Rain Jacket from Kushies

Laurel Shoulder Bag from Sherpani

Short Sleeve Lounge Dress from Kate Quinn Organics

$25 Gift Certificate to Kiwi Industries

$50 worth of Kendall Kollection products from Carolina Pad

Now it is your turn. You can link up as many giveaways as you would like. Just remember to leave your site name, giveaway prize and ending date. Be sure to spread the word!

RuffleButts Review

Ever since I was little I knew I was going to have two daughters. I just had that feeling deep down inside. So when we found out we were expecting, I knew it was a little girl. After an ultrasound confirmed my suspicions, visions of frilly pink things filled my head. I rushed home to scour the internet for girly apparel. Luckily, that days search results did not yield RuffleButts. Because if it had, I would still be in the doghouse for spending a fortune on their site!

With a simple goal, to create a cute and modern version of the diaper cover, RuffleButts was born. The line is made 100% cotton and is quality constructed. Each design is made to be fun and hip, and with a variety of colors and products to choose from RuffleButts achieved just that. RuffleButts also makes it a priority to give back to multiple charitable organizations, specifically those focusing on children. You can even nominate a national organization for consideration.

Princess P was sent the Turquoise Knit RuffleButt to review. I love how soft and stretchy it is! This diaper cover can add instant cuteness to any shirt and it is equally adorable worn alone over a diaper. And when we lived in the sunny south, P was often caught with just her diaper on so this would have been perfect.

RuffleButts are not just for summer fashion either. They offer RuffleButt Jeans, Knit and Woven Crawlers, Long-Sleeve Tees and Ruffled Hoodies for the cooler months. They also have a wonderful On Sale section where you can snag some really great deals.

Watch for a Fall into Fashion RuffleButt giveaway coming up soon!

Dear Google,

Why do you hate me so?

I am a regular blogger. I post almost daily. I know I have several incoming links. And I have many different pages. You send people to my site daily, no make that hourly. 23% of my site traffic comes from you! So why will you not give me PageRank? I had it once, as you well know. My blog was a mere three months old and you gave me the gift of PageRank. Then you did the unthinkable and took it away. Why? I have no idea. Now, my blog is over a year old and it has expanded in ways that I cannot imagine and you will not give it back! Is it because I am still using Blogger? Or do you feel that I don't deserve it? Please let me know what I am doing wrong.

Sincerely,
Jessica
(Mom behind the blog Piece Of Me located at http://makingmyamericandream.blogspot.com in case you forgot!)

P.S. PageRank would make a wonderful Christmas present if you were wondering!

Wordless Wednesday: Who needs a chair when you have a...

Bowl!

Fall into Fashion - For Mom: Carolina Pad Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
Who says fashion pertains only to apparel and accessories? I like to be stylish in other ways as well. Heck, most of my days are spent in sweatpants and a tee shirt so something around me has to look good. But if you look around my messy desk, where I spend most of my day, you will find a very stylin' collection of notebooks and folders courtesy of Carolina Pad.

The Carolina Pad journey dates back to 1945 when Joesph K. Hall Jr. and several business men scrapped up enough money to start a school supply manufacturing company. With more and more products to sell Joe sold products to schools in the Carolinas and Virginia right out of the bed of his truck! When Carolina Pad got a foothold in the market place Joe retired the truck and started selling products at the national level. Today, Carolina Pad stays strong by offering stylish and trendy designs. In fact, Carolina Pad's products are so hip and trendy that you can catch a glimpse of them on hit shows such as 90210, Greek and Gossip Girl!


To help keep my blogging madness more organized Carolina Pad sent me several products from the Kendall Kollection. Yes, the Kendall Kollection looks super cool but it also has a very special story behind it.

The Kendall Kollection Story

Carolina Pad Signature designer Jacqueline Savage McFee dedicated this fashion collection in honor of her small cousin Kendall Sierens, who is fighting Leukemia. This disease causes more deaths of children and young adults under the age of 20 than any other form of cancer.

Thanks to this partnership of Jackie, Carolina Pad, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Kendall Kollection notebooks, folders, binders, pencils and other supplies are now at stores across the U.S. A portion of each sale goes to support LLS’s blood cancer research and patient education and support services.

Diagnosed when she was two, Kendall is now four and doing well. Although her fight is far from over, she is slowly battling her way back to health. Her courage serves as a beacon of hope to all leukemia sufferers and their families.

To help keep track of all the wonderful companies I work with the Kendall Kollection 1 Subject Notebook, the 3 Subject Notebook and the Composition Book come in very handy. The 1 Subject Notebook has 80 sheets and has a durable front and back cover. On the front it has super cute flower design (one of the three designs available) with a little bit of glitter for an extra pop. The 3 Subject Notebook has 120 sheets and comes with two tab dividers. Both notebooks has a snag-resistant coil and perforated pages. The Composition Book has spelling and grammar tips on the inside cover and has 100 sheets. All three come in different, but coordinating designs.

All of the press releases I receive can sometimes "mysteriously" disappear so the Kendall Kollection Folders come in useful. Each folder fits into a 3-ring binder, has two pockets and has a coordinating print on the inside. I also received the Kendall Kollection Journal to jot down notes and contacts. The adorable journal has 100 sheets, a snag-resistant coil and a coordinating interior design. And for even more note taking Carolina Pad sent the Kendall Kollection Personal Book. It has 80 perforated sheets, 1-interior pocket and a snag-resistant coil.Each item from Carolina Pad is beautiful but this collection is beautiful and meaningful.

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky reader will win $50 worth of Kendall Kollection Products from Carolina Pad!

To Enter: You must visit Carolina Pad and tell me another item, besides the ones reviewed above, that you would love to have.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see your tweet!
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 6th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Products sent will be decided by Carolina Pad and not necessarily the products pictured. Giveaway open to US residents.

A big thank you to Carolina Pad for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the products listed above.

Fall into Fashion - For Baby: Kiwi Industries Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
Comfy sweaters, warm hats and cozy jackets are what come to mind when I think of fall fashion. I think of the same thing when I imagine babies and childrens fall fashion only with brighter colors, fun prints and softer fabrics. And that is just what Kiwi Industries has to offer with their line of organic apparel.

Kiwi Industries clothing and gift line are about capturing time. They use natural and organic fibers to create classic designs with a modern flare. Through the use of high quality fabrics, Kiwi Industries' creations will not only stand the test of time but get softer and softer after each use. Perfect for passing down from child to child.



Princess P received several items from Kiwi Industries to keep her cozy and warm this fall. The first thing we pulled out was the Organic Jacket in pink and the matching Organic Karate Pants in pink. The Organic Jacket is lightweight but warm, perfect for those chilly fall days. It boasts a pointy hood (which I love) with a contrasting inside lining that matches Kiwi Industries Lotus & Vine Collection. The jacket also has a snap-front closure and a contrasting color binding. The Organic Karate Pants are super cute with their wide leg fit and embroiderer Kiwi logo at the bottom. The pants feature a twill tie at the front and double seemed stitching for extra strength. They look so cute and comfy on, especially paired with the matching Organic Jacket. And the Organic Karate Pants are available in 7 different colors and prints to match everything! Both laundered beautifully, no shrinkage or piling found.

We also received the Organic Natural Tee and the Worldly Animal Toddler Long-Sleeve Tee with the Butterfly Print. Both tees look adorable under the Organic Jacket and with the matching Karate Pants. The Organic Natural Tee is perfect for layering or just wearing alone. Its natural color allows it to match almost anything. The Worldly Animal Butterfly Tee is beautifully colored and features the animals name in English, Spanish and French. Who says you can't look stylish and be educated at the same time?

My readers can take 20% off everything at Kiwi Industries with the coupon code 20PIECE! Valid through 10/1/09.

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a $25 Gift Certificate to Kiwi Industries!

To Enter: You must visit Kiwi Industries and tell me what you would spend the gift certificate on if you were the lucky winner.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see your tweet!
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 5th at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to everyone.

A big thank you to Kiwi Industries for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the products listed above.

Winners

The winner of the Reli On Temple Touch Thermometer Giveaway is (477 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

66 

Timestamp: 2009-09-21 14:07:20 UTC

plb8156 said... 66

I entered the elle macpherson giveaway
plb8156@aol.com

September 3, 2009 9:32 PM

The winner of the Urban Bratz Giveaway is (353 entries)...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

238 

Timestamp: 2009-09-21 14:16:24 UTC

alwayshopeful said... 238

i follow u publically
alwayshopeful

September 12, 2009 10:32 PM

Congratulations! I have sent you both an email and you have 48 hours to contact me.

Fall into Fashion - For Baby: kate quinn organics Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed.*
To me fall is just another reason to shop. I mean, you have to have warm clothes to wear. So one of the first places I head to peruse is kate quinn organics. I love the combination of soft materials and modern styles. Another thing I love is that they offer baby, kids and womens clothing. It is like killing two birds with one stone really.

kate quinn organics began as Earth Organics Baby Basics in 2005 with designer, Kate McIntosh Quinn, designing her first line of baby wear. In 2006 it evolved into kate quinn organics and featured a stylish apparel line made from 100% certified organic fabrics. Each kate quinn organics baby design is made in nature-inspired colors and highlight your baby's natural beauty with its clean, simple lines. Their creations are made to be both fashionable and environmentally friendly.


We were sent the Short Sleeve Lounge Dress in violet from kate quinn organics to review. I think this dress is perfect for fall because even though it is titled "Short Sleeve" its sleeves are a little longer which makes it perfect for fall weather. The design of this dress is simply adorable. I love the neck with the coconut buttons, the puff sleeves and the round pockets. The 100% organic cotton did not shrink a bit when washed and it did not loose its shape either. The Short Sleeve Lounge Dress is adorable by itself but it is also cute paired with leggings or pants. That way your little one could wear it all fall. If they made this dress 20 sizes bigger I would probably buy it! Oh wait, they do make it as a Lounge Sweatshirt for women!

Fall into Fashion Giveaway

One lucky person will win a Short Sleeve Lounge Dress from kate quinn organics in their choice of color and size!

To Enter: You must visit kate quinn organics and tell me another item you absolutely love.
Please leave an email address. I have to have a way to contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Grab my button. Leave an address where it can be found.
2. Subscribe to my feed. Must be verified to count.
3. Follow me on blogger or twitter. Or both!
4. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave a comment on which one(s).
5. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @PieceOfMeBlog so I can see your tweet!
6. Grab the Fall into Fashion event button!
7. 5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you blog about this giveaway please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will end on October 3rd at 11:59pm ET. 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 a new winner will be chosen. Color choice subject to availability. Giveaway open to US residents.

A big thank you to kate quinn organics for this review and giveaway opportunity.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above.