Easy Canvas Prints

I have such a difficult time finding the right gift for people.I don't really like to give those impersonal gifts that can be for anyone.Don't get me wrong,it is always handy to have a few "just in case" gifts that can be given on short notice.For the most part,If I am going to spend my money on something,I want it to be something that is remembered and liked.Thanks to my sponsors at Easy Canvas Prints,I can do just that.


To get started, I just had to select a photo I wanted to use,choose the size and wrap style and submit it for printing.Using the site is a snap and very user friendly.In just a few minutes,anyone can create a beautiful canvas print that will be treasured forever.

I decided to use a photo of my grandmother with my daughter and niece.I chose not to have the color altered,but they do offer that option.You can select sepia,black and white or retouching to get just the look you want.They offer the wrap or frame option too.I liked the standard wrap style that is included in the cost of your print,but you can also get the gallery wrap or framed print for just a little more.It took me about 5 minutes to design my print from start to finish and I received an email confirmation right away.I also received an email when it was shipped so I would know to be expecting it.The package arrived  nicely wrapped, with no damage, in just a few days.

Canvas Art Prints are perfect for gift giving too.A beautiful canvas print of the children for grandma and grandpa or to send to that loved one far away.This would be perfect for hanging in a dorm room or office as well.A family photo for the fireplace or living room would be nice too.There are so many different things you could use a custom canvas print for and that is why I love them!

Overall I loved my experience with Easy Canvas Prints.I do think I chose a picture that was a little bit too dark.I wondered if the poor lighting would make it dark,but it seemed OK when I previewed it.The print is a little darker than I expected,but that was my fault for using a dark photo.


If you are looking for other print options,try their main site for a variety of Sign choices.
You can also find them on Facebook or Twitter



***All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I received the sample item in order to write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving a product***

Heelys Revamps Shoe Line with Radical New Styles

If you have kids,you probably know all about Heelys,but you may not know about the cool new styles just released.

Swift Style

Socialite Style

" After much anticipation, U.S.-based Heelys, Inc. (NASDAQ: HLYS) has released its fall 2012 line, officially debuting its new styles. Customers can purchase them through Heelys' online shophttp://shop.heelys.com/, as well as through popular online retailers, such as Zappos and Amazon. The fall line includes two new designs that are drastically different from previous Heelys models: an athletic design that is the lightest Heelys yet and a lifestyle design tailored specifically to girls.


"We're excited to add these revolutionary new styles to the Heelys product line," said Tom Hansen, Heelys CEO. "For fall 2012, we wanted to create new designs that add greater diversity to our current offerings, while updating our classic designs that our Heelys customers know and love."

The new athletic design -- Swift -- was created with a compression molded EVA midsole, as opposed to the rubber cup sole with which Heelys are typically made. This allows the shoe to be incredibly lightweight, while allowing for greater flexibility with choosing the color and the shape of the midsole. Strategically placed rubber tread enhances the design while allowing for maximum grip. MSRP is $64.99 and up.

"Swift is one of my new favorite athletic designs. It's a lightweight, cool-looking shoe with serious skating capability. It also features a multi-layered synthetic mesh that really lets the shoe breathe, as well as our classic FATS style wheel for smooth skating," said Rick Groesch, Heelys chief commercial officer.

The new lifestyle-based designs were created specifically with girls in mind. These shoes feature a raised heel, providing a little extra height for the wearer and giving a versatile look that goes great with skirts, shorts or jeans. MSRP for the new Heelys lifestyle products is $64.99 and up.

"One of the new lifestyle designs we're most proud of is Socialite. We based our inspiration on the classic Mary Jane look, adding in some nice finishing touches like flower-shaped buckles, contrast stitching and patent leather accents," said Groesch. "It's the first shoe we've designed exclusively for girls from the ground up."

The new styles are all single-wheeled Heelys, which are ideal for more experienced skaters, such as tweens, teens and adults. For the younger crowd, the fall line also will include several new HX2 designs, the double-wheeled Heelys that are ideal for beginners.

Each HX2 shoe has two removable wheels for better balance and control, making it an ideal choice for less experienced skaters. In addition, the HX2 models do not require as much leg strength, which allows younger users to lift their toes more easily and skate more comfortably. Like one-wheeled Heelys, the wheels in the HX2 models are completely removable. After wearers become more accustomed to skating, HX2 models can be converted into a regular pair of Heelys by removing one of the wheels. Pop out both wheels and the HX2 becomes a regular street shoe.

Heelys, Inc. is a company founded on innovation. It designs, markets and distributes its action sports-oriented products to the youth market under the Heelys(R) brand. The company's primary product, Heelys wheeled footwear, is a patented dual-purpose skate shoe that incorporates a stealth, removable wheel in the heel. The company also offers Heelys HX2, which uses two wheels for better balance and control, making it ideal for younger users. Heelys' third offering, Nano, ramps up the Heelys experience by giving skaters a board that links into the patented Heelys shoe bracket. This allows them to skate farther, faster and longer than ever before. Connect with Heelys on Facebook, www.facebook.com/Heelys, YouTube, www.youtube.com/Heelysworldwide, orhttp://twitter.com/Heelysworldwide"

I will be reviewing a pair of one of the new styles soon,so check back to see our opinion of them!

*This information was provided to me as a Heelys reviewer.No compensation was received for this post.

Happy Birthday Gage

I am not sure how I managed to do this.but I forgot to post when my oldest turned 11 a few weeks ago.
Gage is my first born and the first one to give me trouble,but he is also the most artistic and protective of the bunch as well.

 This year for his birthday Gage went with a zombie theme.He asked for all zombie related gifts,especially things from the show The Walking Dead.He also selected a picture of the Marvel characters as zombies for his cake.

While he didn't get all zombie stuff,he did get some, like the Walking Dead board game and the Resident Evil wall decals.

He also received art supplies,books,magnets,pens,plain tee shirts and fabric markers that he wanted so he could design his own shirts and about $70 in cash.

All in all I think he had a great day.He used his money to buy himself a Wii game and the first book of the Walking Dead compendium,which made it even better.


Happy Birthday Gagey!

Blue Bunny Caramello Raspberry Mousse Bars Recipe

This is another recipe from the Cadbury Tea Party booklet.I haven't tried it yet,but it sounds great!

Ingredients-
11 Cadbury Caramello Bars
2-6oz containers of fresh raspberries.divided
4 packets zero calorie sweetener
1-6oz container non-fat Greek yogurt
2 cups frozen whipped topping,thawed
Chocolate Syrup

Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with heavy duty foil,extending foil over sides.

Remove sticks from Caramello bars and arrange in lined pan,cutting bars to fit.Place pan in freezer.

Reserve 18 raspberries for garnish and place the remaining raspberries in medium bowl and mash with fork.Stir in sweetener and yogurt.Fold in whipped topping and spread over Caramello bars.Return to freezer until solid,at least 4 hours.

To serve,remove from freezer 5 to 10 minutes before serving,cut into 9 squares.Garnish each square with 2 raspberries and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Visiting Old Mans Cave and Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills

Sunday we took the kids for a day trip to Old Mans Cave in Hocking Hills.I love going out there and spending time in the woods listening to nature.I forgot how little nature you can actually hear with 3 noisy children at your side,but we still had a great day.

 Hanging out on the rocks

We ended up walking two trails,all the way to Rose Lake and did a total of 5 hours and 6 miles in the woods.The kids loved seeing trees grow out of the sides of the cliffs and roots grown down over huge rocks

 The entrance to one of the underground sections of the trails

Standing under the falls..which were dry that day of course.The kids really wanted to play in the falls but that didn't work out so well.Maybe we will get enough rain before winter to go back and try again!

Princess Reagan is 6

My princess is growing up on me.On the 13th she turned 6 years old.I am happy to see her growing,but sad that my baby isn't a baby anymore.



We had a party for her on Saturday and I made her a Barbie Princess cake.

She was thrilled to get the Wuggle Pets toy she asked for and a Discovery Channel laptop too.

Reagan had a princess pinata that was filled with rings,bracelets,necklaces,candy and more

We served grilled hamburgers and hot dogs,potato salad,coleslaw,macaroni and cheese,green beans and corn and chips as well as her Funfetti cake and French Vanilla and Strawberry Swirl ice cream.She loved her day and has enjoyed all her new gifts.Now she is ready to start spending her birthday cash!

Summer Recipes from Cadbury Tea Party-Tea Sandwiches

One of the best light foods to serve at a summer gathering are Tea Sandwiches.Perfect for nibbling,they can be made in a variety of flavors and styles to suit everyone.These work best as small sandwiches so I stick with something about the size of a credit card or smaller.The recipes came from Cadbury with my ideas thrown in after.

Cucumber Cream Cheese-
Spread softened cream cheese on cut white bread.Add thin slices of cucumber to taste and top with another slice of bread. (These also work on sourdough or wheat)

Apple,Chicken and Cheese-
Cover one slice of bread with spreadable cheese.Top with thinly sliced apple and pieces of chicken. (Cheddar or Swiss work well with this recipe)

Ham and Cheese-
Spread a light layer of mayonnaise on one slice of bread.Add slices of ham and cheese as desired.Top with thinly sliced tomatoes.(Baked ham and Colby cheese or chopped ham and American.Top with a couple of slices of bacon for an extra treat)

Hummus-
Spread hummus on both slices of bread.Top one slice with veggies like shredded carrots and lettuce.(Flavored hummus add extra zing to these.Tofu is another topping choice)

Cadbury suggests trimming crusts and cutting sandwiches diagonally twice to create 4 triangles from each 2 slice sandwich.(Not all bread is in square slices so I just get as close to that size as I can)

This was shared with me as a host of the Cadbury High Tea Party.The information was provided by the sponsor.I was not compensated for this post in any way.

Our Cadbury Ice Cream High Tea Party

My daughter is a princess to the core.She loves to do girly things and dress in pretty clothes.You can imagine when I saw the opportunity to host a Cadbury Ice Cream High Tea Party,I just knew she would love it.

I received a fabulous party pack from my sponsors at Cadbury that included an adorable tea set and a variety of cute headband hats for the little ladies to wear.They loved looking like adults and having tea and treats.Some of the girls weren't used to headbands and didn't keep them on for long though.

I included a variety of juices for the girls to drink and made some finger food too.They enjoyed taking turns serving one another and acting like proper ladies.Being girls,they had to make time for a little nail painting too.

Of course, we also served the new Cadbury Ice Cream flavors we were sent to try.I think the favorite among everyone was the Double Chocolate followed by the Caramello.The Vanilla Chocolate and Chocolate Almond were great as well,so great in fact that we don't have any left.

While the children played,the adults took a little time to relax.We enjoyed the chance to talk and eat the delicious treats while the little ladies had tea.I think we all indulged a little too much,but it was well worth it.




Cadbury has always been a favorite in our house,and now with the new ice cream products,we love them even more.The treats taste delicious and the variety makes it easy to find something for everyone.I also liked the size of them.They are large enough to feel satisfied after,but not too big for little hands.You can easily serve these to the little ones without worrying over waste or that they won't be able to hold them.The chocolate outer shell keeps them from melting as fast as other products I have tried too.I would love to see Cadbury add even more flavors in the future.I suggest possibly a strawberry or peanut butter next..**hint hint**

*I enjoyed this party pack and want to say thanks to Cadbury and MomSelect for sponsoring this event.
**All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I received the mentioned items in order to host the party and write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving sample items***

Our 4th of July Gathering

My kids love fireworks and the 4th so I try to do something special for them every year.This year we went to my husbands parents house for a BBQ and fireworks.

The kids played outside until dark

Getting impatient for sparklers

One of the fountains called Monkey Farts..the kids thought that was hilarious

Strobe lights..the kids love these flashing things

All in all we had a good day.I wanted to go see Red,White and Boom in Columbus this year,but after a long day of driving at work,the husband didn't feel like doing that too, so we stayed home and watched it on television instead.

How was your 4th? Did you go to see fireworks or do some yourself?

Cooling Off with EdenFantasys-Adult Post

There is no doubt that summer is here,and it is hot.It seems like even being outside for 5 minutes is too much in this heat.After spending all day sweltering,I can think of nothing better than a little "cooling off"  in the bedroom.EdenFantasys offers a variety of great sex toys to help you cool down all summer long.

One of my favorite cooling products is the Wet Synergy cool tingle lube.I find this useful as a stimulant more than a lube.A small dab applied to the clitoral area add a little extra zing and the cooling peppermint makes it nice for those hot days.Of course it works great for lubrication too,but if you apply too much,the sensation can be overbearing.It is a fabulous product as long as you remember that a little goes a long way!

A great way to cool down alone or together is the Mint Tree Bathing Gel.This cooling gel is great for taking a nice bath or a tandem shower.You can use it on yourself to get some relief from the heat,or allow the cooling effect to get things started by using it with a partner.

For those that want something a little more subtle,I suggest trying the Cooling O Lip Balm.This is a great product for beginners who want to try something new.Apply a small amount to the lips for a nice refreshing kiss,or get a little wild and try it on other places.The Cooling O is great for foreplay too.Use it before pleasuring your partner,or dab some on the nipples for a little more fun.

No matter which item you choose,EdenFantasys will deliver quickly and in packages that don't scream out what is inside.The ordering process is simple,the site is easy to use and the products speak for themselves.Stop by and see what you can find to cool down with today!

***All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I will receive a gift card for posting a fair and honest review.A positive review is not required.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving compensation***

Hamburger helper Community Tips-Making More Than One Box

In case I haven't mentioned it yet,I was selected to be a member of the Hamburger Helper Community through MyInsite.This is a product we use in our home and something I keep on hand as a quick and easy meal for busy days or just those lazy ones.I was sent a cute puppet and boxes of the new flavors to try too!

Twice as nice! Here are some tips for making double portions of Hamburger Helper so you have enough for leftovers the next day!
Big batch tips:
Directions for making two boxes at one time. For safety and best results, we recommend making only 2 boxes at once and no more than that.

For TWO BOXES, you will need:
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 3/4 cups hot water
3 3/4 cups milk
1. Brown ground beef in 12-inch skillet or 5-quart saucepan. Remove from heat; drain.
2. Stir in 2 pouches Sauce Mix and hot water until dissolved. Stir in milk and 2 pouches uncooked Pasta. Return to heat; heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
3. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat. If serving immediately, uncover (sauce will thicken). If you need to hold the Hamburger Helper for your MyGetTogether to start, continue to the next direction.
4. To keep Hamburger Helper warm for your MyGetTogether, transfer the double batches into a chafing dish or roasting pan that can accommodate 5 batches. Place covered pan in oven at 140°F or slightly higher. You also could use a large electric skillet, set on “Warm” or slightly higher, to keep the Hamburger Helper warm for your get-together.
Refrigerate leftovers

Notes:
-We recommend cooking only 2 batches at a time.
-We suggest when holding the Hamburger Helper, keep the pan covered to help it stay at a more even temperature and that it doesn’t dry out.

*This information was provided to me as a member of the Hamburger Helper Community.No compensation was received

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Have You Tried Motts Medleys?

My kids love fruit snacks and always ask for them at the store.I usually try to get the brand or style they want,but sometimes I grab a more healthy option instead.I like them to have snacks but like it even better when those snacks contains at least a little bit of healthy ingredients.

Now,thanks to the new Mott's Medley fruit snacks.I don't have to worry about this.Made from real fruit and vegetable juice,these new snacks are the perfect solution to my needs.The kids get something they want,and I get a healthier option for snacks.

When my samples arrived,I opened the packages to try each flavor.I usually do not eat fruit snacks because they have such a gummy consistency.I am not a fan of gummies and always end up opening a pack of fruit snacks only to discover they are gummy..yuck! You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that these were not only tasty.but they were soft and chewy instead of gummy.I was thrilled!

Mott's Medley fruit snacks also contain Box Tops for Education.This fabulous program helps ensure our kids have the supplies and equipment they need at school. I try to support my kids schools by clipping box tops to send to their teachers.It may not seem like much,but all those tops throughout the year can really add up to some great savings for the school.


You can go here to download a coupon for 60 cents off a package so you can try them for yourself!

**I received the mentioned sample items thanks to General Mills and MyInsite.
***All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I receive sample items in order to write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving sample items***

Crayola Does It Again With Giveaway

The entire world is a canvas-especially when you´re a kid! Now, little ones can let their creativity shine as they capture their summer vacation in works of art. Crayola is helping young artists take their imagination on the road this summer with products that are designed to be entertaining and inspiring

If you have kids,you probably know a little bit about Crayola products.If you have multiple kids,like me,your house probably has Crayola in every room somewhere.The variety of available products covers so many options from basic coloring and drawing to crafts,projects and kits galore.

One of my favorite Crayola products are the Color Wonder items.I love that they won't draw on anything except the specially designed paper,so no messes or accidents to worry about.I have used Color Wonder products with all of my children,and my nieces and nephews too.In fact,I will be giving some as a gift in just a few days.

• With over 10 feet of coloring, the compact Color Wonder On the Go Tiny Tube lets kids tear off a perforated activity page for magical coloring fun at home or on the road.  The tube fits in the cup holder of a car and can store the included markers inside, making it a perfect on-the-go activity. Adhesive-backing allows paper to stay in place while coloring so kids can easily create anything imaginable.

• Bring your friends on the road with the Disney and Barbie Crayola Color Wonder Mini Coloring Pad and Markers. With more pages than ever, kids will enjoy coloring a variety of pictures featuring some of their favorite characters. These fun coloring pads are also available in mini sizes that are perfect for tucking into a bag and bring them with you wherever you go.
  
• Get back to basics and allow kids to draw what they see outside their car window or daydream and draw whatever they imagine with the Color Wonder Coloring Pad. Kids will be entertained in the back seat with 5 sheets of Color Wonder paper and 2 Color Wonder Markers that only leave a mark on special Color Wonder paper.

Create, erase, and create again with Crayola Dry Erase products that allow kids to unleash their inner artist over and over without carrying around hundreds of sheets of paper.

• You’ll be all packed up and ready to go with the Crayola Dry Erase Travel Pack that features a dry erase surface, along with dry erase crayons, an eraser and a sharpener to help sustain hours of fun. Take out the game and activity templates and let kids challenge each other to different games using vibrant, washable markers.
  
• Everyone can get in the game with the Crayola Dry Erase Zany Play that comes with four bullet tip dry erase markers and boards that your family can use to play games like tic-tac-toe, the dot game and mazes.

Thanks to my wonderful sponsors at Crayoila and My Blog Spark,one of my readers will have the chance to win their own prize pack-

• Crayola Color Wonder On the Go Tiny Tubes
• Color Wonder Coloring Pad
• Color Wonder Barbie Mini Coloring Pad and Markers
• Color Wonder Drawing Pad and Markers
• Dry Erase Travel Pack
• Dry Erase Zany Play
• Princess and the Frog Mess Free Color Wonder Activity Sets

a Rafflecopter giveaway





The information, products and additional Crayola Summer Fun gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark.All opinions are my own and not influenced by receiving review products.

My KLUTCHclub Box Was a Nice Surprise

A few weeks ago I was sent a KLUTCHclub box to review.If you are like me,you are asking yourself..what exactly that is.I admit I didn't know too much about them before,only that they contained a mix of healthy food and other items for customers to try.

I soon learned there was much more to it.Each month you receive a mix of items that can include healthy snacks and drinks,supplements,skincare products,workouts and more.The items change each month and you get a new box full of different items.You can even check the site each month to see what will be in that months box.

The box I received contained a great mix of items like the Zico coconut water and a great workout video.One of the most interesting things was the big bottle of Omega Swirl Mango Peach Fish Oil.I thought there was no way my kids would want to take that,so I told them if they didn't like it,they didn't have to take it again.Needless to say,I was shocked when they started asking to have their Fish Oil dose each day.

I received a sample of Rose Hips Black Soap.This facial cleanser had a nice scent and left my skin feeling soft too.The bottle had enough for multiple applications so I was able to use it a few times after my initial use.

I also received a full size Seed and Fruit mix that the kids loved,and a Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate protein bar that tasted amazing.If I hadn't known it was healthy before trying it,I would never have believed it.

This is a great way to get introduced to a variety of new items without having to go out and buy them all individually.There are probably even items you have never heard of before like some of the ones in my box.This is super for finding new items to add to your daily routine.

Each KLUTCHclub box has a value of at least $50 but you pay only $18 or less each time.For example,the July box contains over $70 worth of products including a mix of teas,fermented soda,vegetable oil,Truvia sweetener,a $15 gift card and more!

You can also sign up and give the boxes to someone else as a gift.A one month subscription costs $18.If you extend it to 3 months,you get them for $17 a box,or go for the year subscription and get each box for only $16.If you opt for the one month service,it will renew each month until you decide to cancel.The other options don't renew unless you sign up again.With those options you are in control of how few or many boxes you will receive.

ALL MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE FREE SHIPPING IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES!!


***All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I received the mentioned sample items in order to write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving sample items***

Design Your Own Eco Ditty Snack Bags

My daughter will be going to public school for the first time this year.She is so excited to be able to go and meet new kids and make friends.This will be the first time all of my kids are in school at the same time,so I am starting on the shopping early!

 One of the things I know we will use are lunch and snack bags.My kids are super picky eaters,so we usually keep plenty of food on hand for them to take for their lunches.As soon as I was given the option to review an Eco Ditty Reusable Snack Bag,I knew it had to be for the Princess.

The bag is just the right size for storing a sandwich or snack and the 100% organic cotton means it is safe for her to use all the time.The bag also features an long velcro closure so you can make it bigger or smaller depending on what is inside.This means we can use the same bag for a for multiple items instead of having to use an individual snack or sandwich box each day.For me this means less dishes, and for her,no worries about losing containers or lids.

Of course,her favorite part was getting to design her own bag.She loved that it came with markers for her to use,but she did say she wished it had more girly colors or just more colors to choose from.She did combine the yellow and blue to make the green eyes and.although I wasn't sure if they would blend on the bag,it seemed to work out well for her.

We haven't had a chance to put this through too many tests since she isn't in school right now,but she did try it out going to the pool and on road trips and it worked just fine.Now I just need to grab some for my boys as well!

***All opinions on my blog are my own and may not be the same as anyone else..that's why they are mine.I received the mentioned sample item in order to write a fair and honest review.No other compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by receiving sample items***