Dyson: Mom’s Best Friend {Review}

Dyson DC 24 Makes Teenagers Enjoy Vacuuming

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and dogs are man’s best friend, but no one ever talks about what Mom’s Best Friend is.  In case you’ve ever wondered, I’m here to tell you that I’m pretty sure it’s a Dyson vacuum.

My teenagers like to lay on the floor to watch movies and play video games.  To add to that, my husband has both allergies and asthma and our house is a constant construction zone.  We’ve been working on projects in our house since we moved in 3 years ago and many of these are drywall projects.  If you’ve ever worked with drywall, I’m sure you’re aware that it can lead to a fine dust that gets on every single item in your house!  It’s horrible.  It wreaks havoc on my husband’s lungs and leaves dust all over the girls clothes…especially if they lay on the floor. It used to seem like we would vacuum daily, but still be left with dust everywhere.

Thankfully, we now have a Dyson DC24 Ball Multi Floor Vacuum Cleaner.  It’s perfect for keeping the dust (and crumbs and dirt from soccer cleats) at bay!

When our Dyson Vacuum arrived, my girls actually fought over who got to vacuum first {I’m pretty sure that’s a first…teenagers fighting over who gets to vacuum}.  My youngest daughter vacuumed our entire house every day for the first week we had it.  The novelty has since worn off and the Dyson D24 does such a good job that she’s down to vacuuming the whole house only twice a week now.

The Dyson DC24Multi Floor is lightweight and bagless.  It weighs less than 12 pounds so lugging it between the 1st and 2nd floors at our house is pretty painless.

One of my favorite features (and my husband’s) is the lifetime washable HEPA filter that traps microscopic allergens.  I love knowing that we’re doing everything we can to keep asthma attacks and allergy flare-ups to a minimum.

If you asked my kids what their favorite feature is, they’d most likely mention the ball technology or the reversible wand.  Those 2 features allow you to easily steer in tight places, vacuum crumbs up from under the kitchen counters, and get the cobwebs out of the corners.  {What?  You don’t have cobwebs?  Oh…me either…}.

It also has a motorized brush bar which makes it easy to ground in dirt and pet hair from carpets.  The motorized brush bar switches off for hard floors.

I thought that after a few uses, I would find things that I didn’t care for about this vacuum, but I honestly can’t come up with a single thing I don’t like and I’ve been using this vacuum for months!  I never thought I’d ever love a household appliance or cleaning item, but this is the one.  I’m completely smitten!  Not only has it transformed our house (way less dusty and dirty), but it has also transformed my children’s personalities (they’re now willing to vacuum any time I ask.)  They even vacuum without me asking!

To purchase your very own Dyson DC 24 Vacuum, click here!

Disclosure:  Dyson provided me with the Dyson DC 24 Multi Floor Vacuum in order to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are my own and are true and honest! {This is seriously the best vacuum I’ve ever owned or used!}

Father’s Day Gift Idea: Custom Photo Cufflinks

Father's Day Gift Idea: Photo Cufflinks

Father’s Day is just around the corner!  Even though I’ve been talking about it for weeks here on the blog, it snuck on me…just like it usually does.  Our family is on vacation in Tennessee this week and I just haven’t been in my normal routine.

Thankfully, I’ve already taken care of the hardest person on my Father’s Day shopping list.  My dad is super hard to shop for.  He’s always appreciative of whatever we get him, but I always stress out trying to find him something he doesn’t already have.  The man has everything!  He has lots of cool gadgets, tons of books and more ties than anyone I know.  Seriously…and he dresses well too.  This year, we’ve decided to capitalize on his sense of style and his love for his grandkids by making custom photo cufflinks for him.

They’re super easy to make thanks to PhotoJewelryMaking.com. The Easy Change Photo Cufflinks are super cool looking before you even begin to customize them.  They look good enough to wear as they are, but it’s super easy to add a photo to customize the cufflinks!

All you need to do is use the handy-dandy EZ Photo Resizer Software to crop the photo you want to use to the right size.  Print off your photo and cut it out. Then unscrew the  cufflink top, insert the photo, cover the photo with the included plastic cover and screw the top back on your cufflinks.  Wasn’t that easy?

You can also use fabric swatches or scrabook paper to customize your cufflinks.  These would also look great with a monogram (another thing that is super easy to do with the EZ Photo Resizer Software).

We used one photo of each of our daughters on the cufflinks.  I let my girls each choose the photo they wanted to use.  The best part is that as they get older and become too cool for the photos in the cufflinks  (something that teenagers regularly do), we can choose new photos and easily change out the cufflink photos.  {I’ll post pictures of my finished product soon.  I’m on vacation and my computer is being quirky about uploading the pictures.  I’m sure you’ll be impressed when you see them because they turned out super cute!}

If you’re looking for a fun and unusual gift for your dad, I highly recommend the Easy Change Photo Cufflinks from PhotoJewelryMaking.com.  {Quite honestly, PhotoJewelryMaking.com has cool gifts for most of the people on your gift list this year.  I love the necklace I made with their necklace kit.}

Click here to check out PhotoJewelryMaking.com!

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are true, honest, and my own!

Cube Dog: The Perfect Family Pet

Thank you to Cube Dog for sponsoring this review. For more information about Cube Dog please visit the Facebook page or download it on iTunes.

I love dogs, but with the amount of time my family spends traveling, it’s not very practical to own a dog.  Throw in all the extracurricular activities my kids are involved in and it would be downright irresponsible of me to get a dog!

But that doesn’t stop my girls from asking…every. single. day!  It can really start to wear on a mom!  When I found out about the Cube Dog app for my iphone, I thought that it might mollify my girls, but instead of being excited, I got a whole lot of eye rolling!

Not to be deterred, I went about creating my cube dog.  She’s pink with a cute little mouth and adorable ears!  I can’t believe how smitten I was.  My new pet was funny and fun!

I brought Kiki, my cube dog into my daughter Khrystyna’s room and let her play on the bed.  I even took a picture!

Kiki the Cube Dog

Once Khrystyna saw how cute the little pup was, she wanted in on the action and immediately began the task of creating her own cube dog.  She named her cube dog Krissy and enjoyed watching her sleep as well as transforming her into a ninja dog!  It’s amazing how many tricks these dogs can do!

Krissy the Ninja Cube Dog

My oldest daughter is creating her Cube Dog as I type.  This has definitely been a huge hit with our family!

The Cube Dog is extremely easy to create and fun to play with plus it’s FREE…which is always a bonus in my book.  You can choose to buy upgrades if you’d like, but in my opinion,  it’s not necessary.

Wanna see for yourself just how fun and fabulous these new Cube Dogs are? Check out this video!

Now that you’ve seen just how fabulous the Cube Dog is, you’ll want to keep your eye on the Cube Dog Facebook Page.  They’ll be having a fun contest from June 13th-17th.

While Cube Dog provided me with the app to review, the opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Cube Dog, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

It’s National Swimsuit Confidence Week

Lands' End National Swimsuit Confidence WeekIf you’d have told me 2 years ago that I’d be participating in National Swimsuit Confidence Week, I would have laughed out loud.  When you’re 95 pounds overweight, the idea of wearing your bathing suit in front of people you know is daunting enough.  Posting a picture in a bathing suit on the internet…out of the question.

As moms, I think we let body image issues stop us from enjoying life to the fullest.  We miss out on enjoying life with our kids and our kids miss out on things because we’re unwilling to put on a bathing suit and strut our stuff in front of the world.

A few summers ago, I took our girls to a water park.  I was absolutely mortified to have to walk around the park in a bathing suit with a cover up.  It was even worse when they wanted me to hit the slides with them.  I had to walk up a gazillion steps in just my bathing suit.  Although it wasn’t the idea situation, my girls thought it was one of the best days ever.  When they look back on that day, they don’t remember my thighs jiggling or my cellulite, they remember a mom who was willing to go down the slides with them…even the big scary ones.

And so in an effort to get all you moms out there to participate fully in your kids’ lives and to motivate myself to lose the next 45 pounds (I’ve lost 50 pounds so far), I’m participating in National Swimsuit Confidence with Lands’ End and I’m posting a picture of myself in a bathing suit.

National Swimsuit Confidence Week photo - Lisa from http://simplifiedsaving.com

I absolutely love the swimsuit I’m wearing.  Lands’ End sent me the Women’s Beach Living Dot Scoop Tankini Swimsuit Top in Bright Coral Bloom and the  Women’s Beach Living Swimsuit Bottom with Tummy Control.  Not only was I able to choose a bathing suit size, but I was also able to choose a cup size, so my top fits well.  The straps can be crisscrossed in the back for a totally different look or cinched at the armhole to change the look of the front of the suit.

Lands’ End is a great choice for bathing suits that fit any body type.  The National Swimsuit Confidence movement was created to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes and inspire them to have fun this summer.  And you can join in on the celebration too!

Here’s how you can participate:

Participate in a Week of Tweets – Mark your calendar  each day May 23 – 27, 2011 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDST so you can join in the series of National Swimsuit Confidence Week events on Twitter.

Follow @LandsEndPR and tweet at #landsend.

They will be announcing exclusive swimwear promotions, giving away great prizes and inspiring women to embrace their swimsuit beauty.

Get the Twibbon – Go to http://twibbon.com/join/I-Have-Swimsuit-Confidence-2 and display the “I have swimsuit confidence!” Twibbon on your Twitter profile photo. Send a tweet to @LandsEndPR proclaiming “I have swimsuit confidence!” #landsend for a chance to be entered to win a $500 Lands’ End gift card. The  winner will be announced May 27.

Disclosure: I was provided with the Lands’ End swimsuit I am wearing in a picture. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I wholeheartedly support the National Swimsuit Confidence campaign or I would never agreed to post a picture in my swimsuit! :-)

Cardi Wrap: Scarf, Shawl, Cardigan & Wrap

It’s that time of year where the weather should be warm and sunny, but unfortunately, the weather is being a little uncooperative.  Our daily high temps have varied from the mid 40s to the mid 70s (and that’s just in the last few weeks). It makes it a little trickier to get dressed when you don’t know if the sun is going to make an appearance and warm up the day or if the temperature is going to drop.

I recently had the opportunity to try the Cardi Wrap…a lightweight scarf, shawl, cardigan and wrap in one.  I figured it would be the perfect transition piece between the seasons (and I am still holding out hope that spring will eventually get here and stay for a while).  I chose my Cardi Wrap in red since I tend to wear black every day and I knew the pop of color would be a nice change.

When it arrived, I immediately began playing with all the options available.  You can wear it over 50 different ways!  I tried a whole bunch of different options, but my favorite was to wear it as a cardigan either with or without a belt.

Please excuse my unpainted steps. My husband just built them for us. Also, don't mind my squinty eyes. I probably should have had my sunglasses on my face instead of holding back my hair.

It also came with an accessory kit to help create the wide variety of styles.  There were bangles in gold, silver, and black and  cute flower and bow pins that were the color of the Cardi Wrap.  I attached the flower pin to a ribbon and wore it as a headband and it was adorable!

If you’re thinking of ordering a Cardi Wrap, keep in mind that in my opinion, it runs small.  You can choose from 2 sizes…Misses or Plus.  I ordered the Plus (I’m a size 16) and I couldn’t pull off some of the options because the Cardi Wrap was too small.

The Cardi Wrap is great to throw on over jeans and a black tee shirt and it’s the perfect weight for this crazy time of year, but it’s not quite as versatile a piece as I had hoped it would be.

To learn more about Cardi Wrap, click here.

Disclosure: This post was written for Family Review Network & Cardi Wrap who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Dr. Bizer’s VisionWorld Review

Great Prices on Glasses
For YEARS, my husband has been needing glasses.  He knows that he has an astigmatism, which gives everything he sees a shadow.  I also have an astigmatism and periodically he would try on my glasses, only to be amazed at how CLEAR the world could be!  But as I mentioned, for years he has neglected going to the eye doctor and actually getting a pair of glasses.  He is a youth pastor and father of 3 with a very busy schedule.  His days are generally packed full of meetings, sermon preparation and time with volunteers and students.  His schedule is also different every day, so planning appointments is quite difficult.

Thankfully, we have a Dr. Bizer’s VisionWorld nearby.  I had noticed Dr. Bizer’s many times at West Town Mall in Knoxville, Tennessee but had never stopped in until I recently went in with my husband.  The whole experience was very positive. The staff at Dr. Bizer’s was very friendly and they took Brian back quickly.  The best part is that no appointment was required.  And while he had his eye appointment and chose glasses, my girls and I walked through the mall, played on the playground and went to the Disney store .  He was actually done before we were even ready to go!

I was also impressed with the selection of glasses.  I always choose lower priced glasses because my children like to bend and break them.  Unfortunately, most eye doctor’s offices carry very few inexpensive glasses and TONS of high cost glasses.  This was not the case with Dr. Bizer’s.  There were plenty of lower priced glasses to chose from, in addition to designer frames like Nine West, AX and Candies.  My husband, of course, chose a pair of GUESS frames that cost a bit more.  He takes better care of his stuff, so spending a bit more for him is not a waste at all.

He also chose Polarized lenses and UV Protection.  Adding these options meant waiting a bit longer for the lenses to be special ordered.  But since he’s waited YEARS for glasses in the first place, he really didn’t mind a few extra days.  And look at how handsome he looks! You and yours can look this great too with Dr. Bizer’s, so be sure to check out their coupons & specials, as well as offers & contests on Facebook.  Also, if you have a Dr. Bizer’s location near you, make sure to print this coupon while it’s available!

Disclosure: Dr. Bizer’s VisionWorld provided my husband with an eye exam and glasses in order to facilitate this review.

Share Videos: Check out KinKast

KinKast

I am a complete iPhone addict.  My iPhone is never far from my side during the day.  I am constantly checking my email, moderating comments, taking pictures, and shooting videos.  Since my hubby frequently travels, I regularly take videos of my daughter’s basketball games so that he doesn’t miss out on any of the big moments!

I recently discovered a new app that makes sharing videos so much easier.  I can share them with multiple people AND my videos are all backed up on a server!  It’s called KinKast.

Check out the KinKast Demo video here!

The KinKast app is the easiest way to privately share video clips.  Record a moment and share it with only two taps!

  • No waiting (video uploads in the background)
  • Easily share with friends (they receive a private link with no login required)
  • No size or length limits
  • Safely back up your important memories KinKast servers
  • Can also post on Facebook
  • Last but not least: It’s a free download from iTunes.

How cool is that?

The KinKast App is free, but if you want more features, you can sign up for the Premium Plan which gives you:

  • Unlimited storage on KinKast servers
  • Access to ALL videos, ALL the time
  • Videos safely backed up
  • No Ads
  • Peace of mind

All for only $4.99/month or $49.99/year.

I’ve only used the free version of KinKast and I have been extremely happy with it.  KinKast was super easy to download and extremely easy to use.  It’s easy to post your videos on Facebook too!  As an added bonus, I can also upload the videos I’ve taken with my Flip or digital camera to the KinKast site.  They automatically upload to my KinKast app the next time I open it!  It’s a great way to keep all my video content in one place and to be able to share it easily.

The only thing that was a little tricky was remembering to use the KinKast app rather than my regular camera app to take my videos.  Once I remembered to do that it was totally easy peasy.

If you have an iPhone or an iPad touch, I highly recommend the KinKast app!  You’ll wonder how you shared videos before you had it!

Visit the iTunes store to download KinKast Video Sharing – KinKast, Inc.

Disclosure:  This post was brought to you by Zooka Creative.  The KinKast app I used was free, but I was compensated for sharing my thoughts on it.  As usual, all thoughts are my own.  I was not required to write a positive review.

MiniMonos: An EcoFabulous Virtual World for Kids That Gives Back {Review}

My youngest daughter loves online games.  She’s always asking to go online to play games, so when I heard about MiniMonos, a virtual world for good green kids, I was excited to check it out…and so was she.

The first thing that caught my eyes was their dedication to providing clean water for those in India.  I was a P&G Changent (Change Agent) for their Clean Water program this year and believe strongly in the importance of clean water in developing countries.  MiniMonos donates 1 day of clean water for each one month Gold Membership purchased on their site and if you purchase a one year Gold Membership, a child in India gets 2 weeks of clean water.

As I began to explore the site, I was immediately drawn to how safe it was for kids.  There weren’t any of those crazy ads that take you to other sites.  MiniMonos is also all about sustainability and green living.  If you don’t clean your lagoon, the fish don’t come back.  If you don’t recycle, your tree house gets messy.  When you’re dressing your monkey, you can even choose from recycled tees!

As a mom, I was definitely impressed.  My daughter was also impressed.  Here’s what she had to say:

The MiniMonos game is so much fun.  You get to discover new people and new places.  You also get to make your own house.  IN the beginning of the game, you start off with the monkey that they give you, but then you can change your monkey’s hair color and style.  You can choose your color of your shirt and everything like that.  You can earn points by playing the games and get banana chips when you’re a gold member.

While you are in the game, you can chat with people or if you have friends you can send them an invitation  and ask them to play with you.  Also, there are a lot of places that you can go to and play games at.

I didn’t like how you had to figure out how to play the game, but I did like the when you’re in the game, you can be different things or wear different things. This is my view of MiniMonos and how fun it is.

If you’re looking for a fun, safe, and green online game, you’ll definitely want to check out MiniMonos.

Disclosure:  I received a free Gold Membership to MiniMonos in order to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are my own and those of my daughter.  This review was made possible by FRN.

Rothschild Coat A Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

Growing up, there were two gifts we always knew we could count on from Grandma: our yearly Easter dresses and our winter coats. Grandma always lived on a modest budget (she was a pastor’s wife, as I am), but she believed in buying quality items that would last. One of the brands she purchased time and time again was Rothschild Coats. This company has been making quality children’s coats in the US for 125 years. Many of you probably grew up wearing their classic wool coats, which I LOVE.

When I went to their website recently, I thought that’s all I would find…but OH NO! In addition to their beautiful wool coats, I also found adorable everyday jackets, to-die-for faux fur coats, trendy little bomber jackets and more! My sis and I were on the phone ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all of the different coats.

You see I have 3 little girls under the age of 5, so high-quality, beautiful items get me very excited. I have purchased coats in the past that have torn or came apart in one season. Poor quality like that just isn’t acceptable when I need a coat to last 3 children. Let me tell you, the Rothschild coat that Ella will be wearing this season will definitely stand the test of time. It’s called the Sporty Snowflake Jacket in cocoa.

When it arrived, I found it much cuter than it even appeared on the website. It’s the perfect weight jacket, warm but not bulky or heavy. My daughter hates to wear anything restricting, and you can see from the pics that she feels free to pose and play in this coat.

It also comes with a matching hat and scarf (a big money saver). Plus, the hood is removable, which is a huge help when you have little ones in car-seats and boosters…those of you who have been there know what I’m talking about!

This coat is such a hit at my house and it could be at yours too…  One lucky reader of Simplified Saving will win a Sporty Snowflake coat in a size 5/6.

Want to Win? One lucky reader of Simplified Saving will win a Sporty Snowflake Coat in cocoa in a size 5/6.

Ways to Enter:

  1. Subscribe to Simplified Saving by Email
  2. Subscribe to Simplified Saving in a Reader
  3. “Like” Simplified Saving on Facebook
  4. Follow Simplified Saving (@SimplifiedSavin) on Twitter
  5. Follow Simplified Saving on Google Friend Connect (found in the footer…scroll all the way down to the bottom of the blog)
  6. “Like” Rothschild Kids on Facebook

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on November 15, 2010 at 8 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above.  Winner will be chosen at random.

Disclosure:  Rothschild generously provided me with a coat to review as well as the coat for the giveaway.  No other compensation was received.

Brilliant Lenses Cleaner Giveaway {CLOSED}

I always have gunk on my sunglasses.  I’m not sure if it’s the bad habit I have of eating in the car (and then adjusting my sunglasses with food covered fingers) or if it’s tiny little elves who dance around in syrup and other sticky stuff and then dance on my glasses.  All I know is that I’m constantly working to get them clean.  And don’t even get me started on how bad the screen of my iPhone can get!  I recently found something that works to keep both my sunglasses and my iPhone sparkling:  Brilliant Lenses Cleaner and optical microfiber cloth.  Brilliant Lenses is a premium eyeglass cleaner with SR-8 that adds a protective barrier to lenses to resist scratches and soiling from water, sweat, dust and dirt. For ALL types of lenses. And it comes in a little pouch that you can keep in your purse.  I love that I can pull it out and wipe down my phone anytime I accidentally get a little of my lunch on it.

Want to Win?

One lucky winner of Simplified Saving will win a Brilliant Lenses cleaner and optical microfiber cloth!

Mandatory Entry: Like Brilliant Lenses on Facebook or follow Brilliant Lenses on Twitter.

Bonus Entries:

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Monday, November 8th at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above.  Winner will be chosen at random.

Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Suave Naturals Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

I am a bath and beauty product junkie and I’ve passed this trait on to my daughters (which would make me believe that nurture may truly triumph over nature, but that’s a-whole-nother post for a different day).  While we do use separate skin care products for our faces (I swear by Terralina and they use Oxy), my girls think it’s totally OK to share my bodywash and lotion (and by share I mean take it up to their bathroom never to be seen again).

After one too many showers where I had to use my husband’s manly smelling body wash, I came up with a solution.  The girls get their own “scents” and I get my own “scent”.  If you’re looking for a great bodywash on a budget, you’ll definitely want to check out the new Suave Naturals line.  With scents like Mango Mandarin, Wild Cherry Blossom, and my girls’ favorite Lavender Vanilla, you’ll find that you can get a spa experience in the presence of your own home.

Not only do the girls love the scent of the Lavender Vanilla, but they also love the feeling of it on their skin.  K said that the bodywash was relaxing and that the lotion made her skin feel really soft and smooth.  A told me the body wash calmed her down and the lotion kept her legs from being dry and itchy.

What do I love about Suave Naturals?  I love that it’s given me back my bathroom.  The prices are so affordable that I can afford to buy plenty of body wash and lotion to go around.  I can buy multiple bottles for the girls so that when the run out, they don’t come and steal mine! And there is even a coupon for $1 off Suave Naturals Lotion!

Want to Win?

One lucky winner of Simplified Saving will win a Suave Naturals Body Wash and a Suave Naturals Body Lotion in their choice of one of three scents:

  • Mango Mandarin
  • Wild Cherry Blossom
  • Lavender Vanilla

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling me which scent you’d like to try most!

Bonus Entries:

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Tuesday, November 9th at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above.  Winner will be chosen at random.

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Suave in conjunction with Mom Spark Media.  I was provided with free product in order to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed were my own and those of my daughters. No other compensation was received.

The Simple Stencil Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

Our house is a perpetual work in progress…and it’s finally starting to come together!  Over the last 2 years, it seems like we’ve worked on our house non-stop.  We’ve replaced plumbing, we’ve added a bathroom, we’ve redone all the flooring, we’ve changed out light fixtures, we poured a cement floor in the basement, we’ve redone the porches and we completely remodeled the kitchen.

We’re now at the point where we only have a few items left on our to do-list and one of those things is decorating!  As I’m sure most of you are aware, decorating can be quite expensive.  Finding pictures and mirrors to hang on the wall can be difficult and when you do find something you like, lots of times the cost is prohibitive.  It can be quite frustrating!

Fortunately, I’ve figured out a way to take my walls from drab to fab…The Simple Stencil! The Simple Stencil features vinyl wall transfers and lettering that you can use to spruce up the walls in your home office.  They’re easy to apply, look as if they’re custom painted and are also removable.

Check out my video below to see just how easy it is to use.  {Warning:  I am not wearing a stitch of makeup in this video and didn’t realize how scary I looked til I was finished applying the wall transfer to the wall at which point it was too late to go back and re-do the video.}

See how easy that is!

Want to Win?

One lucky reader is going to win a wall transfer from The Simple Stencil (with a value up to $30).

Ways to Enter:

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following.  Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each!

  • Tweet about this giveaway.  You can use this message if you’d like:  Take your walls from drab to fab! Enter to #win this great #giveaway from @SimpleStencils & @SimplifiedSavin: http://bit.ly/aZnTW5
  • Share this giveaway on your Facebook page
  • Blog about this giveaway
  • Add my button to the sidebar of your blog.  Just copy this code and add it to your sidebar: <a href=”http://simplifiedsaving.com/”> <img border=”0″ alt=”Simplified Saving” src=” http://simplifiedsaving.com/img/simplifiedButton.png”/></a>

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Thursday, November 4th at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above. Winner will be drawn using Random.org.

Disclosure: The Simple Stencil provided the wall transfer that took my wall from drab to fab and they are kind enough to provide a wall stencil for one of you as well! All opinions expressed here are my own and I truly am “wowed” by what a difference a wall transfer can make on a boring wall! No other compensation was received.
This Product Was a Free Giveaway

StriaFade {Review}

I’ve written quite a bit this year about my quest to get fit and lose weight, but I’ve never really talked about some of the issues that go hand-in-hand with weight loss (or weight gain)…one of which is stretch marks.  To be quite honest, it’s probably because my stretch marks don’t bother me very much.

When my daughter told me earlier this year that she wanted me to buy her something to remove stretch marks, I told her that she didn’t need stretch mark cream and she was perfect just the way she was…and she is!  She continued to tell me that she felt self-conscious every time the subject of stretch marks came up with her friends…and apparently it’s come up quite a few times.

When I was offered the chance to review StriaFade, I didn’t think much about it initially because my stretch marks don’t bother me, but I realized this was exactly what my daughter was looking for.  She was elated to have the opportunity to try StriaFade.  Watch this video to hear her thoughts on StriaFade.

Here are a few more tidbits on the benefits of StriaFade:

StriaFade was formulated to both prevent and remove the appearance of existing stretch marks. The reason StriaFade is so effective is because it combines all the ingredients used in the most popular creams into one bottle. Comparing StriaFade to other top creams, such as Mederma, StriVectin, TriLastin, and Tummy Honey, you can see that StriaFade combines all of the ingredients in their formulas into one product.

Mederma – Onion Bulb Extract
StriVectin – Peptides
TriLastin – Marine Collagen
Tummy Honey – Shea Butter
StriaFade – Peptides, Onion Bulb Extract, Shea Butter, Antarcticine, Skinmimics, Retinol Molecular Film, Marine Collagen

If you’d like to know what others are saying about StriaFade, check out their Success Stories page.

StriaFade is currently on sale for only $59 a bottle and they offer a 30 day money back guarantee!

Head on over to the StriaFade website to purchase a bottle for yourself or to get more details!

Disclosure: This product was provided by StriaFade in conjunction with Mama Buzz.  All thoughts and opinions expressed were my own and those of my daughter.  No other compensation was received.


Trifle Recipe Cards Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

Click here to see if you’re the winner!

Pink Zebra Recipe Cards

What do you get when you combine beautiful colors, a little bit of whimsy, and a love for cooking? Absolutely fabulous personalized recipe cards from Trifle Recipe Cards.  Trifle Recipe Cards feature over 100 choices of fun, funky, whimsical, and classic recipe cards.

I love to cook and try new recipes, however, more often than not, I jot down a recipe on a scrap piece of paper and then tack it to the fridge in hopes I’ll remember to make it.  I usually go on a cleaning frenzy long before the recipe gets made and the scrap of paper ends up in the trash.  With these adorable recipe cards, I’ve enjoyed jotting down new recipes and gazing admiringly at them while I cook!

Not only do they offer great everyday recipe cards, but they also offer recipe exchange invitations!  How cute are these???

Or how about some stock the pantry bridal shower invitations?  You could possibly be deemed the best bridesmaid ever if you threw this kind of shower!

Most new brides (and new grooms) would be thrilled to have dozens of tried and true easy-to-make recipes that were given to them by friends and family!

As we head into the holiday season, you’ll definitely want to consider giving Trifle Recipe Cards to the domestic divas (or those who could use a little help in the kitchen) in your life!  The recipe cards are reasonably priced and you can also purchase accessories like recipe boxes and recipe stands as well as fabulously frilly aprons. The Gia apron is totally on my Christmas wish list this year!

Want to Win?

One reader will win a personalized set of Trifle Recipe Cards.

Ways to Enter:

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following.  Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each!

  • Visit Trifle Recipe Cards and the leave me a comment with your favorite recipe cards!
  • Tweet about this giveaway.  You can use this message if you’d like:  Win your very own personalized recipe cards from @SimplifiedSavin: http://bit.ly/br1gcp
  • Share this giveaway on your Facebook page
  • Blog about this giveaway
  • Add my button to the sidebar of your blog.  Just copy this code and add it to your sidebar: <a href=”http://simplifiedsaving.com/”> <img border=”0″ alt=”Simplified Saving” src=” http://simplifiedsaving.com/img/simplifiedButton.png”/></a>

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Tuesday, October 26th at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above. Winner will be drawn using Random.org.

Disclosure: Trifle Recipe Cards provided me with beautiful recipe cards to review and have been kind enough to provide recipe cards for the winner as well!  All opinions expressed were my own and I truly believe that Trifle Recipe cards are amazing! Thanks Addie and Candace!

Jockey No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

Today I’m mentioning unmentionables, so if you’re a guy, I suggest you stop reading.

OK…now that we’ve taken care of that, I’m sure you’re wondering why I decided to share a close up of my backside with you today. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you in suspense! I was recently named a Jockey Brand Ambassador by Mom Spark Media and I figured that the best way to share the No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection was to show you my lack of panty lines.

Watch my video below to hear more of my thoughts on the new Jockey No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection:

Look how great my cami looks under a jacket!

Jockey has a great sweepstakes going on now through October 31st and the winner will receive a 4 night spa vacation for 2 to renowned Canyon Ranch (locations in Tuscon, AZ and Lenox, MA).

To enter this sweepstakes, simply click on the image above and fill out your entry form.  And if you win, please consider taking me.  I’ve always dreamed of going to Canyon Ranch!

But wait…there’s more! {Wouldn’t I be great on an infomercial?} Jockey is giving one of my readers the entire No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection!

Want to Win?

One reader will win the entire Jockey No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection which includes 1 camisole and 3 pairs of panties.

Ways to Enter:

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following.  If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well!  Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each!

  • Leave a comment telling me what you look for in a pair of panties
  • Tweet, Stumble or Facebook about this giveaway. (Each may be done once.)  You can use this message if you’d like:  Enter to win the complete Jockey No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection from @SimplifiedSavin & @Jockey. It’s fabulous! http://bit.ly/9fDj4m

The Fine Print: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Thursday, October 14th at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only  18 years old and above. Winner will be drawn using Random.org.

Disclosure: As a Jockey Brand Ambassador, I received the entire No Panty Line Promise Luxe Collection to review.   Jockey was also extremely generous and kind in providing one reader with the entire Luxe Collection! This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Smelly Washer Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}


I live in an old home with no laundry room.  When we bought our house, my husband and I thought long and hard about where we would put our washer and dryer.  We didn’t have any closets large enough to accommodate a washer and dryer and our basement floor was dirt, so the idea of doing laundry down there seemed a little impractical (especially when you consider how many things fall out of my arms as I move clothes from the washer to the dryer).  After much deliberation, we decided to put a stackable washer and dryer in our master bathroom.

After having our washer for only a year, we noticed that our towels didn’t smell very fresh when they came out of the laundry.  I’m extra sensitive about smells so this drove me absolutely crazy.  If I used a towel that smelled slightly mildewy, the smell stayed with me all day long! YUCK!

I tried running bleach through the washing machine…it helped a little, but some of it must have stayed in the washing machine because I noticed a few of my black tee shirts had bleach spots on them a few loads later! Grrr!  I googled various solutions and while they helped a little, none of them seemed to do the trick.

Enter Smelly Washer, a product designed to rid your washer of the nasty smell AND get rid of the smell in your towels.  I have to admit, I was pretty desperate by the time I heard about Smelly Washer.  I was willing to try just about anything, so when I was given the opportunity to try Smelly Washer, I figured it was worth trying.   When the Smelly Washer arrived in the mail, it sat on the counter for a few weeks before I actually tried it.  When I finally got around to using it, I didn’t have high hopes, but I couldn’t stand the thought of using one of those less-than-fresh smelling towels for even another day.

I added a capful of Smelly Washer to my stinky washing machine, ran the machine for 2 minutes with hot water, turned it off and let it soak over night and VOILA, the nasty smell went away.  What’s even more impressive is that I was able to get the smell out of my towels by adding some Smelly Washer to the machine while washing my towels.  This product is absolutely amazing! And it’s a whole lot cheaper than new towels!

Here’s all the info you’ve been waiting for!

Want to Buy It: You can buy Smelly Washer Washing Machine Cleaner for only $16.99.  They also make Smelly Towel which is designed specifically for getting that gross mildew smell out of your towels!

Want to Win It? One reader of Simplified Saving will receive their very own bottle of Smelly Washer.

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just make sure you leave a separate comment for each.

The Fine Print: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Thursday, October 14 at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only. Winner will be drawn usingRandom.org.

Disclosure: The products I received as well as the products for the giveaway were provided free of charge by the kind and generous folks at Smelly Washer in conjunction with Mama Buzz.  All opinions expressed here were my own!  No other compensation was received!