Some great giveaways from Tenille over at Feisty Frugal & Fabulous!
Win adorable bamboo Leg Huggers, contest closes June 8th!
Win your choice of shirt from UV Skins (for yourself, your kids, or spouse!), giveaway closes June 8th!
Win Hemp & Omega 3 Conditioning Shampoo and Deep Penetrating Conditioner from Bonita Botanicals. Giveaway closes June 6th!
Win a Child’s Artwork Stationary Bundle with free Bucket from Ruva Cards. Giveaway closes June 6th!
A great giveaway for an absolutely beautiful purse courtesy of Vera Bradley at the Seeryus Mama Blog. Giveaway closes tomorrow (June 1st @ 11:59 pm cst). Good luck!
One lucky Optimistic Beauty reader will be bringing home their very own Creative Individuals Monkey Pop-Ups Set! The girls absolutely adore theirs and I’m sure that your little one will too!
Congrats to amb22!
I will be in contact with you shortly, after which you will have 48 hours to respond confirming acceptance of this awesome prize. If I haven’t heard from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.
Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of baking with Rice Krispies? The obvious first (and one of only 2) for me are rice krispie squares. Who would have thunk that there actually 279 recipes for Rice Krispies on the Kellogg’s website!
My new personal favourite? Cheese Sticks coated in Rice Krispies. I would never in a million years have even thought it possible. Being that both girls are huge cheese fans I can see these becoming a family fave!
So get out there, pick up the wholesome goodness of Rice Krispies and get experimenting!
An added bonus the recipes come complete with Nutrition Guide.
One thing that I value above all else is a website that saves my valuable time. One of the most frustrating things for me to head onto a website that you have to literally go on a wild goose hunt trying to find exactly what you’re looking for on. Mobilefun takes the guess work out of finding what you need, and even some items that you might not have needed in the first place!
Mobilefun offers a large assortment of cellphones, and accessories for all the hot names, including Apple iPhone, Nokia, and Motorola. In fact Mobilefun features such a large assortment of products that I'm willing to wager that if they don't have it on their site, odds are good that it probably doesn't exist ;O)
One thing that stands out to me on Mobilefun’s website is the amazing assortment of products that they feature, and how exceptionally well organized things are. Looking for iphone accessories? They’re all laid out for you in an easy to navigate format. Finding that iphone charger, or iphone cases is a breeze.
My number one pick on the site?
My cellphone is constantly on the lamb, lost deep within the dark abyss that is my purse. This amazingly adorable, punk inspired case would be the perfect solution to that, but also a great way to carry my cellphone with me when I’m not carting my purse around! I have never been one for going with the ordinary, plain cases that are available on the market. Why blend in the with the crowd when you have all the choices that mobilefun has made available?
My only frustration with mobilefun? The fact that now that I’ve discovered such an amazing shop for all my mobile needs that they don’t currently offer delivery out side of the European Union. So this one my European friends is strictly for you (hopefully for the time being only!).
Huge kudos to the webmaster of mobilefun for creating such a wonderfully well organized, easy to navigate site I have had the pleasure of visiting, and to the buyers for accumulating a most impressive collection!
A quick post to let you guys know that July 1st will mark the launch of my newest event, the Optimistic Beauty’s Back to School Shopping Guide. The Guide will feature must have products for your little ones heading back to school, or to school for the first time in September!
Besure to check back for the fun of a select group of amazing sponsors, and some great tips on getting ready.
My little one is heading off to her first day of Kindergarten in the fall and boy oh boy is she excited! I’ve booked off her first 2 days of school from work as I'd like those first couple days to be as easy on her as possible. I cannot believe my baby is growing up so fast!
There is still very limited room for a select group of sponsors, so if you have a product that you would like to promote, or have a product you would be interested in seeing featured in this promotion please contact Jaime @ bargainhuntingmommyblog (at) gmail (d0t) com
While Malie’s official 3rd birthday was on Wednesday this last week we celebrated today with a grand total of 10 kiddos running around the house (literally towards the end of the party when they actually started running in circles around the outside of the house!). It was a lot of fun, and Malie had an absolute blast which was of course the point.
This year I decided to try something different and set forth to bake a cake instead of shelling out top dollar to have someone do it for me. It was an interesting adventure with a fairly good result. I ordered a cake topper through ebay in April to facilitate this goal. I was super impressed with the ease of applying the cake topper, and how gosh darn great it looked! There is no way a marginal cook like myself could have created something so beautiful on my own!
The cake topper is actually really super neat, and you can pick from so many designs. Tala picked out an absolutely gorgeous Alice in Wonderland one for her birthday!
The cake was a little bit of a salvage mission though! Malie had requested fruit filling and try as I did it was a huge disaster. As soon as I added the top layer the berries went sploosh and oozed out of all sides. And then on top of that the actual top of the cake kept sliding in all directions. Its a miracle that I managed to save the cake and have it look half way presentable. I had already applied the cake topper and everything to boot… so I had to tediously remove the top layer of the cake without it breaking it in half. Then I scooped all the berry topping off the 1st layer. Cut the bottom layer into 4 pieces for easier handling and moved them to a new tray. I cut the berry stained edges off the bottom layer and went to work again without the added layer. Cooking with Jaime is always an adventure! What else can I say? Either way I was up till 1am baking the silly thing!
In addition to sugaring the kids up on cake we also had a pancake brunch complete with heart shaped pancakes, whipped topping, raspberry & strawberry compote, gummy worms, chocolate m&m’s and heart sprinkles. A definite feast made for princesses & princes!
Total cost for the party including fruit, cake topper, decorations and goody bags for 11? $40 which is not too shabby! In previous years I’ve spent that much just on the cake (blush!).
Sleepy Head Malie-Cat at the end of the day! Played herself right out.
All Canadian Kiddos out there are eligible to take part in an amazing program brought to us by the wonderful folks at Chapman’s.
Kidsclub.ca is chalked full of games suitable for children of all ages. Every day that they log onto the site they get 35 points, and then they also receive up to 565 points per day just for playing games (daily maximum 600 points). The games are easy and include titles such as Memory, Jigsaw Puzzles, Ice Cream Picasso, Geography, and Word Search. They even have a section for the Lil Ones to have Lil’ Fun. Also once a month you can answer the monthly quiz for a quick 200 points.
Both girls are huge fans of the Lil’ Fun Jigsaw Puzzles and Memory. I am amazed at how well they remember where the different flavours are hidden!!
Now I already mentioned the fact that kiddos can earn points just for playing games… and you may be wondering what the significance is. Chapman’s offers a full line up of prizes ranging from markers (500 points), to Youth & Adult Tshirts (3000 points), to Youth Aprons (4000 points), and Adult Aprons (4000 points). You can also redeem 7000 points to bring home a $3 Chapman’s Ice Cream Coupon!
Check out www.kidsclub.ca today!
2 Super Lucky Optimistic Beauty Readers will be revealed today! I am so jealous of both of you btw :O)
Congrats Nelsby! You will be receiving your choice of Frankie & Johnny Pajamas & Robe courtesy of the wonderful folks at Sleepheads.com!
Congrats pish! You will receive your choice of S.H.O.P. Tote Set from Calypso Studios Inc!
I will be in contact with the winners shortly via email. You will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.
Congrats girls!
Calling all busy parents! As a super busy Mommy I am always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to brighten up both my home, but also the girls’ room. Stimulating their imaginations is of the utmost importance to me. But how to accomplish this when you’re short on time? Enter the Creative Individual.
If you’re looking for fun designs, that are high quality then the Creative Individual is for you. When I first came across the Creative Individuals product line I was enthralled with the possibilities. You can literally create a whole new world in any room of your house.
Have a little super hero in training?
Wouldn’t this mural be the perfect addition to their room? Absolutely perfect for pretending that you’re a Superman or Spiderman in training as you soar above the city below.
My girls received the Monkey Pop-Ups for their reviewing pleasure. These little guys are absolutely adorable!!!
They are perfectly designed for placement in strategic places. This little guy shown above has taken up residence underneath the window in Tala & Malie’s room. The little guy shown below has moved in above the closet.
They truly are the perfect way to spruce up a room. They were super easy to apply, and with the unique fronting that comes with them it applying them to the wall is super easy. They are high quality, durable material, with thankfully no offensive smell.
The girls absolutely adore these little cuties and I am sure that your little one will too!
The wonderful folks at the Creative Individual have generously offered one lucky Optimistic Beauty reader the chance to bring home their very own set of 2 Monkey’s Pop-Ups!
To enter head on over to the Creative Individual and have a look around. Then come back here and let me know what other design you (or your little one) would enjoy. It’s that easy!
Looking for more chances to win? Your wish is my command. Additional entries will be granted for each of the following that you complete. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each one that you complete!
*~* Blog about this giveaway with a direct link back to this post
*~* Post the Optimistic Beauty Button on your blog/webpage
*~* Follow me on twitter (bargain hunting)
*~* Subscribe to Optimistic Beauty Email Updates
*~* Follow this blog!
That's right, you can receive up to 6 entries into this amazing giveaway!
This giveaway will end on May 22, 2009 and is open to Canadian & US residents Only.
Good luck!
In celebration of Mother’s Day I have made breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, and gotten started on the mountain of laundry that always seems to be looming.
But I also wanted to do something that I love. Entering oodles of great Blog Giveaways!
Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous is giving her readers the chance to bring home 2 amazing products from Aromatic Health. Hurry hurry though as this giveaway ends today (May10th!)
Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous is also giving her readers the chance to bring home their choice of Lid from Eli’s Lids. Giveaway ends May 11th!
Win a swimsuit for you from Lime Ricki at Blessings Abound. Contest ends May11th!
Win a Bubble Planner & Grocery Planner from the Giveaway! Contest ends May 12th!
Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous has a great giveaway on the go for a gift set from Piggy Paint! Ends may 13th!
Win a $75 Fancy Fortune Cookies Gift Certificate from Feisty Frugal & Fabulous! Giveaway ends may 13th!
5 lucky winners can win a Personalized Name Your Tune CD at the Giveaway! Contest ends May 16th!
Win 100 Fancy Fortune Cookies in your choice of flavour with up to 5 fortunes at the Giveaway. Contest ends May 16th!
Win a $50 gift certificate for Layers Clothing also at Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous! Giveaway ends May 17th!
Win one of 4 Zodiac Dog Tag Necklaces from Searcey Designs at the Giveaway. Contest ends May 23rd!
Win a Swimsuit from kidsswimwear.com or a lovely rainjacket from kidscoats.com at Pretty In Pink. Giveaway ends May 24th!
Living on a tight budget, as we do, I rely heavily on menu planning to make ends meet.
While I dislike the actual menu planning process I find it is such a money saver, and time saver from day to day. Heading into the supermarket with a clear idea on what exactly I need to pick up is a huge blessing. Instead of wandering aimlessly around the supermarket loading up on convenience foods I grab what we need and make it from scratch.
I plan our menu based on the sales in the flyers, make sure I pack our leftovers, and use as many coupons as possible. Quite frequently you can pick up name brand items for less than the generic items when you combine sales and coupons together. Just yesterday I picked up 3 boxes of Eggo Waffles (16 count) for $0.49 after $2 coupon. Hooray! Add into that the scanning code of practice that I scored on with them and you have some very happy breakfast tummies!
The Dairy Farmers of Canada are currently offering Canadian residents of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces the chance to order a free reusable (hooray for eco-friendly products) menu planner! Check it out today:
http://www.dairygoodness.ca/resourcecenter/Province-selection.aspx?NavID=424&CultureCode=en
Residents not included in the above deal can order a nifty little tool called the Plate Mate which helps you determine the daily recommended intake for all ages. You can also order your free measuring tape.
Sandier Pastures is giving her readers the chance to win any item of their choice from Etsy shop Ellembee. Giveaway ends May 8th!
Life Starring Ellie & Eve is giving her readers the chance to bring home a $50 gift certificate to Birth Designs. Giveaway ends May 13th!
Ice Fairy’s Treasure Chest is giving her readers the chance to win a $75 Jumeau gift certificate. On the lookout for an amazing purse? Then this giveaway is for you! Giveaway ends May 14th!
I am always on the lookout for adorable shoes to outfit my girls in. Our climate up North here is different than the one we moved from. Its a whole lot colder, and the mornings especially lend to cold feet. The local shops have an abundance of mass produced, plastic shoes that while economical, aren't always the best thing for the environment.
That is why I was so happy to find Bobux USA. They make a full line of gorgeous soft soled leather shoes for babies and toddlers. The size XL fits my almost 5 year old perfectly.
I love the fact that Bobux Shoes are made in New Zealand, from eco-leather. I also love the extra thought that goes into the design of these shoes. They are premium quality, well made, and absolutely adorable!
Want to know what I love, love, love about Bobux shoes? Its a seemingly minor detail, but have a look at this picture of the shoes Tala received:
Do you notice anything special about the placement of the kittens? That's right, unlike other soft soled baby shoes on the market the placement of the design keeps the wearer in mind.
Not only that but Bobux USA currently has 81 designs available in their soft soled baby shoes. That's impressive!
All three of us have fallen in love with one pair of shoes on the Bobux website that will a definite must have for the fall as the weather starts to cool down again. I'm sure that you'll agree that these Cowboy Boot Inspired I-Walk shoes are the most adorable pair of shoes in the history of ever!
A definite must have for all aspiring Fashionistas!
Check out Bobux's awesome clearance/sale section here or make your own deal with this 15% coupon code! BLG0815 - this code will not expire - hooray! Bobux also offers free shipping on orders over $55, and even without free shipping the shipping rates are super reasonable.
Happy shopping!
One super lucky reader is bringing home her very own 8x10 print from Kristiana's Shop, krisblues!
Congrats AmandaSue! I will contact you via email shortly, if I haven't heard back from you within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.
Hey guys! Moving day has arrived and we are busy busy busy getting everything done.
I will be without a “real” (as in not borrowed) internet connection until April 7th, so just a heads up that if I disappear for a couple of days its not intentional!
Have a great weekend everyone!
