One Haute Mommy

@ShowUsYourShoes...the real story!

2012-02-14T00:16:00.000-05:00

How many of my lovely readers love shoes? I'm quite certain that most of you are saying "I do, I do", needless to say you are not alone. I am a shoe lover myself which was why I was stoked when I saw this @ reply to me on Twitter.

Yay, I won a $25 Aldo gift card to go shoe shopping with...or so I thought. After a few weeks, I contacted @ShowUsYourShoes on Twitter to let them know that I had not received the gift card and see if it had been shipped. I received a DM (direct message) from @ShowUsYourShoes saying that it had and to wait until the end of the week and see if it arrived.

On January 17th I received another DM:

I politely let them know that I had not yet received the gift card. And on January 24th I received another DM:

Once again, I politely let them know that I still had not received the gift card. I received a response via DM the next day:

So at this point I assumed the first was lost in the mail and the sponsor of the giveaway was replacing and reshipping. I was excited and began looking at Aldo's website trying to decide which shoes I was going to purchase!

After waiting another week I contacted @ShowUsYourShoes on February 3rd via public reply instead of DM and I received a public reply as well as a "fishy" DM from them:

Why fishy? Most honest companies or sponsors have no problem being asked questions in public because they know that they are going to redeem the prize.

One February 10th I contacted @ShowUsYourShoes and asked where my gift card was. I informed them that I contacted my local post office and they told me that nothing was sent to me via certified mail. I asked them to please scan the receipt from the certified mail or give me the tracking number so I can contact the post office to try and locate it. @ShowUsYourShoes did not reply or DM...they blocked me and posted the following tweets:

I did not harass them...I politely asked for tracking information so that I could verify what was going on with the package.

So why write this post? To educate my readers that although 99% of sponsors are good, occasionally you have that one bad one. This is a clear example of that. Me? I'm bummed, I just got a job (I was unemployed for two years) so I was looking forward to getting some closed toe pumps for my new position. In all honesty, I am hoping that @ShowUsYourShows honors their giveaways and does not do the same thing that they did to me to the next winner.

To @ShowUsYourShoes, I entered your giveaway fairly. I helped you reach your goal on 350 followers and you chose me as your winner. I was really looking forward to this prize as I am a shoe lover myself. I followed your blog and Twitter account before I even knew that you had a giveaway. You know that you did not send me the gift card that I won. Please have the decency and integrity to make right what you have made wrong.

To all of my readers, be aware of this company and do not follow them on Twitter, Facebook or their blog. Yes, they host giveaways, but they do not honor them. There are plenty of other shoe lovers to follow on Twitter who are honest.

Eden Fantasys Loves Bloggers!

2012-01-18T13:49:00.002-05:00

Are you a blogger looking to earn gift cards? If so, Eden Fantasys has you covered. Valentines Day is right around the corner and I cannot think of a better way to spice it up than by posting for Eden Fantasys to earn gift cards to make Valentines Day even better!

I know what you are thinking..."I cannot possibly write about sex or sex toys on my blog." Yes you can, but you don't have to. The Eden Fantasys blogger program is very open-minded. You can post about the Eden Fantasy blogger program, lingerie, how to save money when shopping at Eden Fantasys, the current promotions that Eden Fantasys is offering and really anything that you want.

How does the program work? It's quite simple, you write a post about one of the topics listed above or one of your own pertaining to Eden Fantasys, submit it, and then you receive a gift card. You can write a new post every two weeks and earn additional gift cards. The gift cards do not expire so you can save them or use them immediately, your choice. It really cannot get any easier than that.

If you would like additional information regarding the Eden Fantasys blogging program please click here and if you have any questions leave a comment below with your email address and I will email you the details. If you have shopped at Eden Fantasys, tell me what you bought or what you would like to buy.

Purex Crystals and Jockey Sports Bra Review & Giveaway!

2012-01-16T00:45:00.002-05:00

Purex and Jockey have teamed up to show that you can use fabric softener on your athletic wear without damaging it. Yay! Why is this so exciting? Well, normally you should now use fabric softener on performance sportswear because the oil content prevents the wicking process.

However, the 2012 Purex Crystals do not contain oil, so it can safely be used on all clothing including:
*Athletic wear
*Towels
*Children's sleepwear
*& everything else

The innovative Purex Crystals formula does not impact the sweat wicking formula so it can be used on your Jockey sports bra!

I personally love the smell of the Purex Crystals. They smell a bit strong when you add them to the wash cycle, but once dried, they smell fabulous and the scent lasts. When I washed my Jockey sports bra with Purex Crystals, it was a perfect match. The Jockey sports bra smelled fresh and clean. No sweat, no problems with the wicking process!

Jockey and Purex have generously offered to give one lucky One Haute Mommy reader a full-size bottle of Purex Crystals and a Jockey sports bra! How cool is that? Can't wait? Buy it now! You can purchase Purex Crystals at your local Wal-Mart, Target, or other grocery stores. You can purchase your own Jockey sports bra here .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:

I am a Purex Insider. While I do receive complimentary sample products from the Purex® brand, my opinions are my own.

Free $10 Vitacost.com credit, no strings attached!

2012-01-13T12:49:00.000-05:00

Vitacost is a discount online store that offers vitamins, supplements, natural food, diet products and sports nutrition. They also offer a wide variety of organic and gluten free products. I recently learned that if you sign up and register for the referral program, you receive a coupon via e-mail for $10 off ANY purchase. You are responsible for shipping and handling, but you can get $10 worth of products for free.

I purchased banana chips, a bag of trail mix, and a box of Back to Nature peanut butter creme cookies (these are delicious) for $5.15 (shipping cost) out of pocket. The items arrived very quickly.

Why shop at Vitacost.com?

Vitacost.com is the best place for all of your health and wellness needs!
We offer:

* A huge selection of over 30,000 health & wellness products, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, personal care products, organic foods and so much more

*Savings up to 70% off retail every day

*Free shipping on any order over $49*

*Award-winning customer service

Check it out here! Make sure you see the $10 credit on the page. The coupon code is sent within a few hours of registering.

Walgreens and Express Scripts split, but Walgreens is still helping their customers!

2012-01-12T16:02:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Express Scripts acts as a middleman between pharmacies providing the health care service and employers and health care plans that pay for the medications. Employers value having Walgreens as a pharmacy option for their employees, but Express Scripts wants to take that option away.

For the past year, Walgreens and Express Scripts have tried to negotiate their contract. On December 31st, the contract expired with no renewal. Express Scripts Inc has decided that Walgreens will no longer be in it's network, doing so has upset thousands of customers.

What does this mean for current Walgreens prescription customers?

Walgreens will still continue to offer customers their competitive pricing, discounts with generic drugs, and bigger discounts for 90 day supplies of medication, instead of three 30 day supplies.

They are also offering special savings on their Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens for the month of January. Individuals can get the savings plan for $5, and families can get the plan for only $10! This savings plan gives discounts on more then 8,000 brand name and generic prescription medications. More than 400 generic medications are available with a three-month supply for as little as $1 a week. The regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family so this is a huge savings!

Walgreens wants to let all it's customers know that they no longer will work with a middle man, and that they care about their communities. Walgreens is a great place to get prescriptions filled, especially in emergency situations.

They are also a great place to get your annual flu shot. Sometimes getting to the doctors office just doesn't work with your busy schedule. However, with Walgreens convenient hours, you can walk-in, get your flu-shot and get on with your day without the hassle or cost of visiting your doctors office.

To keep up on all Walgreens news, specials, and information be sure to follow Walgreens on Twitter and "like" Walgreens on Facebook

The truth hurts...but it's good to be honest!

2012-01-11T11:19:00.001-05:00

I am a married, 27 year old mother of two beautiful children and often I feel that I do not know my own self-worth. I take really good care of my children and my husband. I maintain a clean house. I am also a College student. My grades could be higher and I am going to give it my all this coming semester. I slacked the past two semesters. I am very critical of myself, more critical that I let on. Most people that know me and I mean really know me do not know how critical I am of myself. I am hard on myself. In a sense, it drives me to be and do better…but it is also a curse. I am crying as I type this.

I was raised my loving parents. My father was an alcoholic. After "x" amount of drinks he would become mean. In my early teenage years (13), I would defend my family when he was mean to them. This made me a target. At 13 I had bad acne…really bad acne. I saw several dermatologists and tried several different medications and treatments. I was very self-conscious due to my acne. My father and brothers would tease me about it. When my father reached his “x” amount of drinks, he would say very cruel things to me. “You’re never going to be good enough.” “No one will ever want to marry you.” “You’re ugly.” “You have pimples.” These are just a few examples of the cut-downs I grew up hearing. Needless to say, I grew up not knowing my own self-worth. I always felt like I was never going to be good enough. I spent a lot of time crying. I did not really get close to anyone, because every time I made a close friend, they would move away. Eventually my father got help and detoxed. He became a much nicer person and made amends. He did start drinking again, but was not mean like he used to be. I love him; I lived with him after he went to rehab. He cried and apologized to me and I forgave him. He passed away in 2004 due to his alcohol addiction. I miss him very much.

Although I miss him and forgave him, it is hard to forget the things that were said. My skin eventually cleared up, but the scars remain. Some are in fact acne scars and others are deep scars inside me. I grew up much faster that I was supposed to. I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks which I attribute to my childhood. I have researched the disorder extensively and found that many people with the disorder had childhoods similar to mine. I finally gave it last year and started taking medication and it has helped a lot.

I recently got married to my love. We have been together for five years and have two beautiful children together. We got married in October. He has been depressed for a while now, before our marriage. He is unhappy with his job and financially stressed. I have been looking for work and have an interview this Friday, yay! His depression is beginning to take a toll on me though. I miss him, the real him and I do not know how to get him back. He constantly complains about his job, but does not actively look for a new job. When I find jobs, he says “that will not pay enough”…even though the salary is not listed. He is constantly complaining about everything and anything. Our sex life has completely deteriorated which makes me feel horrible. It’s not just about the sex, it’s affection in general. I miss it and I need it. I have tried to talk to him about it and I feel that it is always an excuse. When I was a smoker, he would say well when you quit smoking. I quit two years ago. Well when you get on birth control…I have been on birth control for three months now. I have been very supportive of him through this tough time. I have tried to find him a counselor, but he needs to call the insurance company to get a list of them (the website is not accurate) and I cannot do it for him…but he won’t. He went to his Dr. and they prescribed him anti-depressants which he took for a week and did not like the way they made him feel. He stopped taking them, but does not do the natural things that help reduce stress like exercise. It is hard being with someone who is sad all the time, especially when there is nothing that I can do about it. I understand that these things take time, but it has been going on for over six months now. We are newly-weds! I want affection and sex and to feel like I am loved…but I do not.

I am sad. I do not feel like I am attractive. I feel like there is something wrong with me. Yes, I wear pajamas a lot because I am at the house with the kids, but also because I do not have many jeans. I cannot afford to go shopping right now. I was a size 0 pre-pregnancy (I was too skinny and was always trying to gain weight). After I had my daughter (my second child) I suddenly had a butt (I do like having a butt). I am now a size 7, which I do not consider large. I am about 5 pounds heavier than what I should weigh based on my height. Yes, I need to work-out and I know it will help me feel better about myself. However, I cannot afford a gym membership right now and I do not have anyone to work out with and I need some motivation. I am still crying as I type.

I just wonder if things will ever return to “normal”. I miss feeling good about myself. I miss feeling like I actually matter to someone. I miss feeling loved. I miss affection. I miss sex. I miss my other half. Truth be told, I miss me.

Simply Orange review and Flash Giveaway (4 winners)

2011-12-27T20:48:00.000-05:00

I love having a cup of orange juice in the mornings with my breakfast. I do not drink artificially flavored beverage which is one of the many reasons I prefer Simply Orange. I love the fact that it is natural juice. It tastes like fresh squeezed orange juice.

Simply beverages are naturally delicious, the way nature intended. The gently pasteurized, not-from-concentrate orange juice never has water, sugar or preservatives added.

In addition to Simply Orange Juice (my personal favorite), they also offer Simply Apple, Simply Grapefruit, Simply Lemonade and Simply Limeade.

For more information on the Simply products please visit SimplyOrangeJuice.com and via like them on Facebook.

The generous folks at Simply Orange have given me four free product coupons for my blog readers. The coupons are for one free 59 oz. Simply Orange, Simply Apple, or Simply Grapefruit juice. The coupons expire on 12/31/2011 therefore this is a flash giveaway. This giveaway will end at midnight EST tonight. The winners will be drawn and notified and have one day to send me their mailing addresses so that I can get the coupons in the mail ASAP.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:

The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Gift Card Weekend and a chance to win a $20 Sephora Gift Card!

2011-12-20T06:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey ladies - Want a chance to win a $20 gift card to Sephora?!? You're in luck!

'Gilbert the Gift Card Machine' is giving away more than 100 gift cards a week leading up to Gift Card Weekend.

What is Gift Card Weekend? Gift Card Weekend is a once-a-year event where participating retail partners give featured offers for gift cards purchased during the Holiday season and redeemed from January 6 - January 8, 2012.

That $20 Sephora gift card we mentioned? We're giving those away daily to Facebook fans from December 19-23.

All you need to do is 'like' Gift Card Weekend on Facebook. Share with your Facebook friends and you can receive an extra chance to win for every 'like' you influence. Then stick around through the month for more giveaways! Yes, it's that simple! "Like" and share!

After you like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook take a chance to familiarize yourself with them. Gift Card Weekend is a once-a-year event where participating retail partners give featured offers for gift cards purchased during the Holiday season and redeemed from January 6 - January 8, 2012.

Participating stores and restaurants:
-JCPenny
-Regal Cinema
-Subway
-Sephora
-Applebee's
-Bass Pro Shops
-Adidas
-Buca di Beppo
-Lowe's
-Spa Finder
-Marriot
-Giant Eagle

So, if you're a gift-giver, increase the value of your gift by purchasing gift cards from participating retail partners. These featured offers will be available to your gift recipient for redemption during Gift Card Weekend, January 6 - January 8, 2012. Basically, you will be giving them more without spending more! Be sure to let them know about Gift Card Weekend so they understand it and wait until January 6th thru January 8th of 2012 to spend their gift cards! Who wouldn't want to start off the New Year with extra cash? Good luck and remember to "like" and share! Be sure to check the page often because they will be giving away gift cards all month!

The LG DoublePlay...amazing phone...amazing capabilities!

2011-12-17T19:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you looking for an amazing top of the line phone? If you answered yes, look no further because the LG DoublePlay™ is now available exclusively at T-mobile.

Features of the LG DoublePlay include:

The LG Doubleplay™ is equipped with dual customizable touch screens, the first is a ¾ a 3.5-inch main display and the second is a 2.0-inch sub display ¾ that operate independently or in tandem.

The LG DoublePlay also features a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Swype® for easy text input.

The LG DoublePlay™ allows users to perform multiple tasks at once such as updating their Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the Web, texting or checking email. How cool is that?

o The LG DoublePlay™ also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recorder, allowing users to capture and share pictures and videos via messaging, email or Facebook.

o The device also offers multiple messaging options, including Cloud Text™ and Group Text™, giving users the ability to send and receive texts from a PC or tablet or create group chats on-the-go for faster, more efficient content sharing.

o LG DoublePlay™ features Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) with access to Android Market™ and delivers complete user customization with seven home screens and up to nine touchscreen shortcuts for one-touch navigation. Now that's convenient!

Now that you know a few of the amazing features of the LG DoublePlay, lets talk about what you can do with this amazing device. Since it has two keyboards and two touch screens you can do multiple activities at one time. Talk about multi-tasking. You can check your email while updating your Facebook status.

I personally send around 200 text messages a month and spend a few hours a week updating my Facebook status and checking my Twitter account so this phone would be amazing for me. I would love to be able to check Facebook and Twitter at the same time or read multiple text messages at the same time. I would use the LG DoublePlay all the time especially while cruising around (as a passenger, not driving).

How would you use this phone? What features do you love about the phone? How many hours do you typically spend texting or on Social Media networks like Facebook and Twitter? Please comment below!

Head over to your local T-Mobile store and check out the LG DoublePlay for yourselves and let me know what you think of it. Remember the LG DoublePlay is only available at T-Mobile!

Spring 3-Day Sale 12/12-12/14

2011-12-14T03:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sprint is having a huge 3-day sale! From now until 12/14 you can score great deals at Sprint. You can get the HTC EVO 4G or EVO Shift for free here! These phones are incredibly fast (4G) and are Android powered (so you know they are reliable). They are both rated between 4 and 5 stars (out of 5 stars). And if that is not enough you get your activation fee waived for new lines of services as well as free shipping. These are huge savings! Visit Sprint now and complete your Christmas shopping. Better yet, pick one up for yourself, you know you deserve it!

Sprint offers a wide range of Android™ powered EVO 4G devices and has plans that will meet and exceed all of your needs as well as your budget. Sprint also offers early nights (starting at 7 PM verses the normal 9 PM on other networks) so you do not have to worry about going over your minutes and they also have truly unlimited plans which include unlimited minutes, messaging, and data (on their network) for one flat rate. Sprint offers individual and family plans. Hurry this offer expires soon! Visit Sprint today and take advantage of this mega sale!

FREE $10 Target Gift Card w/ $50 purchase (Printable Coupon)

2011-11-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hurry, Hurry! This hot coupon will not last long. Head over to the Target Facebook page to print your coupon. With Christmas right around the corner this deal is sure to save you some money! Print your coupon to receive a $10 Target gift card with a $50 Target purchase! Remember to use it by December 3rd (this coming Saturday).

Tips for de-cluttering and organizing toys in your kids' playroom

2011-09-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

I have been re-organizing my kids' rooms during the past week. I have noticed a lot of mishaps on my behalf. It really should not take me a week to organize two bedrooms, however, it has and to be honest, I am still organizing. During this time, I have realized that a lot of this re-organizing could have easily been completed in steps or stages so I am going to share ten tips for de-cluttering and organizing toys in my kids' bedrooms.

1. First of all, get rid of toys when your child has outgrown them. Do not hold onto them (unless you are expecting or planning to have another child). Donate the old toys to any charity of your choice or a less fortunate family. One persons trash is another persons treasure.

2. Bins, bins, bins! Purchase colorful bins to sort smaller toys. This is a great way to introduce your child to colors and to have a clean play area for your child. I sort items in bins. My son has a bin for his crayons and markers, a bin for his Hot Wheels, a bin for his blocks, a bin for his flash cars, and many more bins. Bins are a great way to organize a room and they are very affordable, many dollar stores sell them.

3. Make a fun cleaning song to encourage your child to help clean and organize his or her play area. You can find numerous clean up sons online or on kids' television shows. My son loves the "Dora the Explorer" clean up song. This make children enjoy cleaning up and will give Mom some much needed help.

4. Toy boxes with book shelves are another great way to keep a kids' room organized. We have one made by One Step that we picked up at a yard sale for $5. We place the larger toys in the toy box and the books on the book shelves.

5. Prior to Christmas and Birthdays look through your child's toys. Both of my children are November babies so they get tons of toys for their birthdays and then a bunch more on Christmas. I have started to go through the toys prior to their birthday and the holidays to make room for the new toys that I know they will receive. This has really helped me to be more organized and get the rooms clutter free beforehand. It is much easier to go through the old toys without the new toys in the room.

6. Another major tip is to clean out the toy boxes when your children are not home. Children become attached to their toys even if they do not play with them. At least my children do. If you clean out the toys when they are not around, you do not have the child crying about keeping the toys and it allows you to focus.

7. Purchase a stuffed animal hammock. You can pick one of these bad boys up at your local Kmart and Wal-Mart for a few bucks. These are great. They hang from the ceiling so you have less toys on the floor. Your child can see all of their toys and if they want one, you can simply take it down for them.

8. Shelves are another great way to de-clutter a room. Shelves provide extra space that you may not have on the floor and are a classy way to organize. Shelves are also great for toys that may be collectible or are more fragile than others. Shelves are also fairly easy to install.

9. Under the bed storage is another great alternative for organizing a room if you do not have a lot of room. Under the bed storage is great because the room looks clean and neat and still provides adequate space for your child to play.

10. Last but not least, teach your children to pick up their toys and start from a young age. If you can make organizing fun, it will really help both you and your child in the long run. We sing and play games when we clean up and organize. We have races, I will tell my kids that I can clean up the room faster than they can and they love it and the room gets organized and cleaned in a jiffy.

Organizing a kids' play area is a chore, but if you use some of these tips it may become less of a chore. Cleaning and organizing is necessary, but shouldn't be an all day event. If you organize in baby steps, it will give you a lot more time to run around and play with your kids' rather than be cleaning their rooms all day. I hope that my tips help a few of you. Happy organizing!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

2011-09-21T22:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TRESemmé for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

TRESemme has done it again. They have created yet another line of incredibly hair care products. This time it's line of dry shampoos. A complete line of dry shampoos that revive your style’s look and feel on days you skip a shampoo. Uniquely formulated to absorb excess oil and remove odor, the full line of dry shampoos rejuvenates hair without a drop of water. With a renewing burst of citrus extracts infused into every product, it leaves hair with a clean, fresh scent.

Dry shampoos are all the rage now. I have to admit that I love dry shampoos. I have incredibly curly hair that I like to straighten and I hate how the next day it needs to be washed. Now, I just use my dry shampoo and magically my hair looks like first day hair! I have always been a huge fan of Tresemme so I was very excited to see that they have came out with a full line or dry shampoos for every hair type.

The full line of TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo includes:

o Strengthening Dry Shampoo: The formula, with B12 vitamins and keratin, helps strengthen hair and leaves it full of healthy body.

o Volumizing Dry Shampoo: The formula, with mineral clay and citrus, removes oil while injecting hair with salon-gorgeous volume.

o Smoothing Dry Shampoo: The formula, with Vitamin H & Silk Proteins, refreshes your straight style by removing excess oil, impurities and odor to ensure your smooth look lasts.

o Moisturizing Waterless Foam Shampoo: The formula, with Witch Hazel, Citrus, and Aloe Vera, refreshes your hair by removing excess oil, impurities and odor while moisturizing hair.

Being the awesome company that TRESemme is, they have included a few tips so that you get the best results from their amazing new line of dry shampoos. Yes, TRESemme is thoughtful!

Are you ready to try the new line of TRESemme dry shampoo? I am! TRESemme has shared a few tips on how to get the best results from TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

- Do shake vigorously before use and in between spray bursts for best results.

- Do lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots

- Do spray in short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head

- Don’t spray it like hair spray (all over and continuously)

- Do leave in for 1-2 minutes.

- Do use fingertips or a brush to distribute product evenly

- If clogging occurs, remove nozzle and rinse the nozzle under warm water, then reattach.

TRESemme has even included videos so that you can see how to rock their new products. Be sure to check out the videos and get the most out of your hair.

YouTube Celebrity Elle Fowler (http://www.youtube.com/allthat…) has teamed up with TRESemmé and created a tutorial to teach people how to use TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo properly. I highly suggest that you check out these videos:

Top Hair Products for School

TRESemme has always been my "go to" brand for hair products. I highly suggest that you check out their new and existing lines of products. Salon hair at a fraction of the cost!

Work It! Express Business Suits

2011-09-19T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Just because you are at work does not mean that fashion and style do not matter. First impressions are everything especially when in the workforce. A first impression can either get you the job not get the job. What you are wearing is a major part of a first impression. Don't worry though, Express has got you covered! From the Executive to the Professional and even the Creative Professional, Express has the suits that every man/woman needs!

Express women's suits are incredibly stylish and also incredibly affordable. The suits are very flattering and do not look like your typical bland and boring suits that we all despise so much. These women's suits are amazing, you have to check them out for yourselves.

My personal favorite suit is the Women's Tweed jacket and Tweed pants. I love how flattering this suit is. I love the material. This suit just screams "hire me!" I would definitely rock this suit to my job interviews.

And just when you think it can't get any better, Express does it again! You can enter to win a $500 suiting makeover from Express in the new Express sweepstakes You can enter daily so make sure to bookmark the page or set a reminder on your phone.

So now I must know, what are your favorite suits and why do you love them? What would you use the suits for? Word, networking events, job interviews? Please comment and let me know! I love hearing from you!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-09-07T00:01:00.001-04:00

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins (very late)

2011-09-01T00:58:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past few weeks.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* A Sidral Mundet gift package ( @SidralMundet )
* $10 gift card to Mick Lite Sports ( @MickLiteSports )
* $100 Bealls gift card ( @Bealls )
* $75 Linen Table Cloth gift card ( @LinenTableclth )
* 2 pairs of False Lashes ( @EyelureUSA )
* Vendetta Shape wear ( Carrie's Rambles )
* $50 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card ( Klout Perks )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

My message-in-a- bottle wedding invitations!

2011-08-22T00:52:00.000-04:00

I know that I haven't been posting much, but I have been incredibly busy planning my wedding! I want to show you my invitations. Yes, I made each and every one of these and I am very proud of them and I have been receiving tons of compliments on them.

I am not the most crafty person. When I saw message-in-a-bottle wedding invites, I wanted them immediately. I started looking at companies that sell them pre-made and they were way to pricey. Then, I began looking at do-it-yourself kits and these were rather pricey too. I happened to find a friend of my fiance's whose band drank beer that was in clear bottles. He started saving all the bottles for me. I love the bottles too because they are engraved and say "The one and only" and it completely fit. I removed the labels and the adhesive residue and then started washing the bottles by hand. After hand-washing the bottles, I put them in the dishwasher for a cycle. I allowed the bottles to dry for a few days and places a few drops of ocean breeze scented oil in each. I purchase parchment paper from Office Depot and printed my invitations at home. My fiance and I hand-burnt the edges of each invitation to give them an antique look. We had to let the invitations sit out for a few days so the smoke smell would go away.

After the invitations we smoke-free, we rolled them up and tied them with raffia and left extra raffia hanging. My son was my little helper. He began putting sand in each bottle and then the shells. After the shells, I put the rolled up invitations in the bottle, left a little extra raffia hanging inside the bottle, sealed them with a cork and used the excess raffia to tie around the bottle and make a bow. We tied them so when guests open the invitation, they are able to easily remove the invite by pulling the excess raffia. I purchased adorable labels from zazzle.com and placed those on the bottles, added an extra dot of ocean breeze oil on the corks, and they were complete!

We had a lot of fun as a family putting these together. The project went much smoother than I had presumed and I am very happy with the way they turned out. So what do you think? Comment! I love to hear from my readers!

Wedding Wednesday: Prepping for my Wedding with YBF Skincare

2011-08-17T00:58:00.000-04:00

75 days to go until I walk down the aisle to marry my love! Yes, I am incredibly excited! We are having a beach wedding in October. I am excited about this as well. However, beach wedding = natural light, which means that I need my skin in tip-top shape because too much makeup in natural light is a big no-no! Which is why I am prepping for my wedding with YBF Skincare.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love YBF Skincare. Their products are truly amazing. Their products actually do what they say they do.

The YBF products that I own and have been using are Prep, Correct, Define, Antioxidants, and Balance. I received a sample of Hydrate B from YBF and I have been using that as well.

Hydrate B helps your skin seal in moisture which is a big plus in my book because I have dry skin. I actually used Hydrate B instead of my normal foundation primer and wow what a difference it made. Usually after I remove my makeup my skin is dull but with Hydrate B, my skin was vibrant. I am very impressed with this product and will definitely be purchasing a full size bottle as soon as I am done with my wedding budget. Yes, I have had to spend a little less in some areas to make up for it in other areas.

The next product that I love and use daily is Balance. I use Balance at least twice a day, sometimes I use it three times. Balance rocks because it helps fight breakouts and blemishes, who need those suckers anyway? Balance also calms my skin and makes it look radiant. I love this product and highly recommend it!

Prep, we simply cannot forget about Prep. I use Prep 2-3 times a week depending on my skins dryness. Prep is a microdermabrasion treatment that totally rocks and leaves your skin feeling healthy. I have seen a huge difference in the amount of blackheads on my face since using Prep. Prep is infused with botanicals, vitamins, and antioxidants that leave your skin glowing. It is a definite must-have.

Correct, you are correct. Correct is another fabulous product from YBF that I use daily. Correct has decreased the dark circles under my eyes dramatically. It is also a double agent, it helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area.

Each and every night I apply a nice coat on Antioxidants to my face. Antioxidant is a great and refreshing product for your skin. You can combine in with pretty much any other product you have to increase its effectiveness. Hands a little dry? Use Antioxidants with your lotion. Does your face need a little extra moisture? Add antioxidants to your facial moisturizer and you will see and feel the difference.

Do you want your lips to be more defined? If you answered yes, then you need to get Define. Define targets the lip area to create a smoother, firmer contour and brighter, fuller lips. Yes, we all want our lips to be fuller! I apply Define nightly and use it as a lip mask overnight. I am a mommy so I need soft kissable lips and this product does the trick. Plus I need super soft lips for when my fiance and I seal our vows with a kiss. Thanks Define, you rock!

Restore, Boost, and Defend are on my wish list for now. So if anyone would like to get me a wedding gift...just kidding! What YBF Skincare products do you love? Which products are on your wish list? Please share, I love reading your comments! Be sure to follow YBF Skincare on Twitter and "like" them on Facebook to stay in the know.

Disclosure:

I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Baked Classics Review & Giveaway

2011-08-12T00:52:00.003-04:00

Recently, I was contacted by Baked Classics to review their savory snacks. I jumped at the opportunity, who wouldn't want to try a new snack?!

When the package arrived it was loaded with Baked Classics Vanilla Frosting Multigrain Crisps as well as a package of Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper and Mesquite BBQ Potato Crisps. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about trying the Vanilla Frosting Multigrain Crisps, but much to my surprise they were delicious. They are a light, yet filling snack that completely took care of my sweet tooth. And the package is only 120 calories! Another thing that I love about Baked Classics is the packaging, it is tough. Each bag that I opened had very little broken crisps, if any.

Here are a few reason to try Baked Classics Popped Crisps:
* Popping processes produce a crisp, crunchy, and delicious snack.
* An alternative snack choice for those who want a healthier snacking experience.
* Savory popped potato crisp flavors and sweet popped multigrain crisp flavors.
* Made with only the finest, all-natural ingredients.
* Orders are made fresh to ensure top quality product with maximum shelf life.
* Competitive pricing.
* Practical and satisfying portion sizes.

I bet that as you are reading this review your mouth is watering and you cannot wait to try this delicious low calorie, no cholesterol, no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup, no trans fat, no MSG, no artificial flavors or colors delicious treat. Well you are in luck because the generous folks at Baked Classics are giving one lucky One Haute Mommy reader a 10 pack of Basked Classics Vanilla Frosting Multigrain crisps! Can't wait? Buy it now, right here!

Disclosure:

Prepping for my Wedding with Luster Premium White!

2011-08-07T23:38:00.002-04:00

As you all now, I am getting married this coming October! Yes, I am excited, my fiance is too. As I was planning my wedding, I realized that my teeth are not nearly as white as I want them to be. I also realized that I simply cannot afford to get them professionally whitened and was a bit bummed. I didn't want to walk down the aisle with a white dress and not-so-white teeth. Then, I found Luster Premium White and I got excited again!

Luster Premium White was generous enough to me send me their 1 hour white kit, Weekend White, and their amazing Luster Now Instant Whitening Toothpaste.

About 1 Hour White:

Luster 1 Hour White puts the perfect tooth whitening experience into the palm of your hand. The dentist-invented system contains three components that work in conjunction to revitalize your smile in the comfort of your home. Independently Clinically Proven to be Safe and Effective.

Contents: System includes everything you need to get up to 6 shades whiter in 1 hour. -Activating Whitening Light: Similar light technology as used in dental -Accelerator Mouth Rinse (8 fl oz./236 ml): Enhances efficacy of the professional strength whitening gel. -Super Whitening Gel (.34 fl oz./10 ml): Same whitening agent used by dentists. -4 AAA Batteries. -Custom stand for storage of light when not in use. -Shade Guide to measure results. -Instructional Guide.

Product Features:
*Whitens Up to 6 Shades in 1 Hour
*Similar Technology to Dentist Light Treatments
*Zero Tooth Sensitivity
*FDA Cleared
*100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

About Luster Now!

Luster NOW! contains Bluverite, a unique formulation that delivers the optical effect of whiter teeth after only one brushing, providing safe and instant whitening results that last for hours. Will help remove stains and daily use. Delivers super fresh breath. Gentle on teeth and safe for dental restorations, use restorations, use whenever your smile needs a boost.

Luster NOW! comes in 3 convenient tubes, so you can always have one handy when your smile needs an instant whitening fix. Keep one in your bathroom, one if your purse or desk and one ready for travel so you can have an instantly whiter smile whenever you want. After brushing with Luster NOW!, you may notice a slight blue tone to teeth and gums which disappears in a few minutes to reveal a brighter, whiter smile!

Luster NOW! features:

*Contains Bluverite technology that instantly whitens teeth with just one brushing that lasts for hours
*Provides intense stain removal with daily use
*Safe for daily use.
*Dentist developed

About Weekend White:

Weekend White is independtly clinically proven to whiten teeth 6 shades in only 3 days without causing any
tooth sensitivity. The zero tooth sensitivity formula was invented by dentines and uses the same whitening agent as used in the dental office.

Contents: Accelerator Mouth Rinse (6 fl oz/177 ml), Super Whitening Gel (.25 fl oz/7 ml)

Weekend White Features:
•Whitens Teeth 6 Shades in 3 Days
•Clinically proven to not cause tooth sensitivity
•Can be used as a refill for Luster 1 Hour White

My thoughts:
These products rock! They whiten your teeth and are easy to use. I have used several other store bought whitening products before and these truly top them. The prices are well within reason and these products actually do that they say they do. They definitely beat all my expectations and have rid the stress of having white teeth on my wedding day, because I do.

If you are looking to whiten your teeth, I highly suggest that you visit Luster Premium White and take a look. The prices are reasonable and you can buy your products straight from their website.

Want to see pictures? Well you will have to wait until after my Wedding. I will be posting a second review of Luster Premium filled with my wedding pictures so you can see Luster Premium in action!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-08-04T00:16:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* @HunterMahan H EVO sunglasses ( @sundogeyewear )
* A coupon for a free box of ice cream ( @SnickersIceCream )
* A beauty bag (not sure what's inside) ( @TargetStyle )
* Gourmet Popcorn ( @PopcornPalace )
* $10 Subway Gift Card ( Klout Perks )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

Tropical Tradition Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Review & Giveaway

2011-08-02T23:57:00.002-04:00

As you know, I love trying new items so when Tropical Traditions offered to send me some of their coconut oil to review, I jumped on the opportunity. I have heard many good things about Tropical Traditions coconut oil, but had not tried it before this review.

Things I love about Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

* It is certified organic according to USDA standards.
* It is a versatile product, you can use it for cooking and also as a beauty treatment (excellent product for dry scalp)
* It smells great!
* It has a long shelf life due to the high antioxidant properties.
* It is rich in lauric acid, a nutrient that supports the body’s immune system.

From the website:

How We Discovered this Unique Oil

When I first read about the wonderful benefits of coconut oil, I asked my wife Marianita, who grew up on a coconut plantation in the Philippines, if there was a more natural way to extract the oil from the coconut, so that we didn’t have to buy the refined coconut oils found in all the stores in the Philippines. She said there was a method the older generation used to extract the oil by grating the fresh coconut, extracting the coconut milk, and then letting the coconut milk stand in a covered container for about 24 hours. After about 24 hours, the oil naturally separates from the water producing a crystal clear oil that retains the full scent and taste of coconuts. So we started making our coconut oil that way and using it for our cooking needs with our three children. We couldn’t believe how wonderful it tasted, and how great we felt. We had been living on Mt. Banahaw in the Philippines for almost two years by that time, and in the year 2000 telephone service was provided to our rural farming community, allowing me to put up a website about our Philippine Herbs. I decided to also put our Virgin Coconut Oil up on the website, not really expecting people to order it because it was a bit expensive since we had to hire people to make the oil, and shipping cost a lot because of the weight. We were so surprised when people started ordering, and then re-ordering it because they felt so great after using it! They told us there was no other coconut oil like it on the market. (See a sample of testimonies below.)

Before long we had businesses contacting us asking how to order it in bulk. So we discussed how we could mass produce this kind of oil, and almost abandoned the product because we didn’t want to lose the traditional way of making it. In the end, we decided to just keep making it the same way, by having others in our coconut community also make the oil the traditional way. Many of our producers are in areas so remote, that if they did not use their coconuts to produce Virgin Coconut oil for us, no one would buy their coconuts because it would cost too much to transport them to manufacturing plants. In these areas, the coconuts generally just fell to the ground unused until we started training people to make our Virgin Coconut Oil. We were the first ones to export Virgin Coconut Oil from the Philippines to the US market. The success overwhelmed us.

Today, more than 9 years later, there are other companies now selling coconut oil again in the US, most of them mass-produced by machines from dried coconut. But we are committed to time-honored traditional practices that have produced healthy coconut oil for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Our Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is still produced by hand, using the wet-milling process of extracting the oil from fresh coconuts. Our producers have learned a lot of things over the years, since most of them have been producing this oil for over 9 years now. They have learned how to pick out the best coconuts from each harvest that produce the best quality oil, for example. Independent laboratory analysis shows this to be one of the highest quality coconut oils on the market, having the highest levels of antioxidants. This enhanced Virgin Coconut Oil is now in the US market under the Tropical Traditions Gold Label brand. It meets our strictest standards to earn this designation. Today when you buy Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, you are buying the highest quality coconut oil we have to offer, and it is still made by hand and benefiting families in the rural areas of the Philippines where the coconuts grow.

Brian Shilhavy, Founder, Tropical Traditions, Inc.

How is This Oil Used?

Virgin Coconut Oil is a food, and is one of the best cooking oils you can use. It has been a staple cooking oil for thousands of years in tropical climates. As a cooking oil, its chemical structure is kept in tact and therefore is resistant to mutations of fatty acid chains even when used in higher cooking temperatures, unlike most vegetable oils. Research shows that the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil boosts the body’s metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss. For hundreds of tasty recipes from people who use coconut oil, visit FreeCoconutRecipes.com.

The generous folks at Tropical Traditions have offered to give one lucky One Haute Mommy readers the chance to win their very own jar of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. Can't wait? Get it now, visit Tropical Traditions and order a quart for $29.50 (usually $40.00).

Disclosure: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Women's Express Jeans: Born to Rock the Sidewalk, Bred to be Epic

2011-08-01T00:02:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you checked out the hot jeans from Express recently? If not, you need to. They totally rock!

From boot cut to flare jeans and even the ever so popular jean leggings, Express has the denim essentials you need! Express has recently added colored jeans (available in red, gray or white) which is one of the hottest denim trends for women right now. And of course Express has jean leggings and wide leg jeans too.

My favorite women's jeans are the dark wash flare jeans. I love the thick waist band and how they can flatter any figure. These jeans can be dressed up or down which is also a huge plus. I love jeans that are versatile. I also love the whisk wash patter under the front pockets.

And just when you think that things could not get any better, you find out about the Express giveaway. Yes, you read correctly. For a limited time Express will be giving away 50 free, yes I said free, Express jeans So what are you waiting for? Go and enter now and you could be one of the lucky winners chosen. You could be rockin' a hot pair of express jeans.

After you enter the Express giveaway please come back and comment below telling me your fave Express jeans and why you love them?

Want to save money? Switch to STRAIGHT TALK

2011-07-31T21:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the current economic status, many families are trying to save money. With modern technology, pretty much everyone has a cell-phone or needs one. So why not save money and stay current with technology by switching to Straight Talk?

hook, line and sinker

Why switch?

• I love the idea that I feel richer with Straight Talk because I cut my cell phone bill in half. You have to be crazy to be on a contract these days when you can get everything you need without one.

• Imagine the amount of money you could save switching to Straight Talk.

• What would you buy with the extra money you save?

• There are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. Great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Finally, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.

call a friend

Monthly Plans:

• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.

• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.

• Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!

• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.

• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees

International Long Distance:

• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

everything you need

Phone Selection:

• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!

• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®

mom knows best

For more information on what these phones offer, please check out these YouTube videos:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-07-26T23:51:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past two weeks.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past two weeks I have won:

* Free product coupons for Mom Made Foods ( Saving U Green blog )
* Richard Solo 1800 Battery ( @richard_solo )
* The I <3 iCarly Collection DVD ( @NickelodeonDVD )
* $20 Linen Table Cloth GC ( @LinenTableclth )
* Green Tea Glee Recharging Bath Salts ( Joyful Bath Co. )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

Winners!

2011-07-26T23:05:00.001-04:00

All of the winners have been posted on the "Winners" page. I am now using Rafflecopter for my giveaways and they post the winner on the entry form once the giveaway is closed.

I have a lot of reviews and giveaways coming up. I am working on a food month...yes a month loaded with food giveaways. Yay! I take no responsibility if you gain weight, haha! I am also working on a Wedding review and giveaway event. As you all know I am planning my wedding! Yes, I am super excited. I have a few sponsors that are working with me for this event so keep checking back and read the reviews and enter the giveaways!

I'm back after a well need mini vacation from blogging!

2011-07-24T23:40:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm back! I took 10 days off from blogging! Did you miss me? LOL! Anyways, I have been working on tons of wedding ideas and decor. I am trying to get everything planned out and get my projects in order. My fiance had to leave for 3 to 4 weeks for work so I wanted to get some family time in before he left. But I am back now. I will be announcing winners of the giveaways listed either tonight or tomorrow morning. I also have quite a few reviews and giveaways that will be published this week. Also I was wondering how you like the Rafflecopter giveaway system versus the original? Pros? Cons? Let me know! I hope that you all have a fabulous week!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-07-13T23:59:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Corrector ( @CVSBeautyClub )
* Set of Crackle nail polishes ( @TownleyGirl )
* A bunch of Woolite products ( Dry Cleaner's Secret )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers Review & Giveaway

2011-07-07T23:11:00.006-04:00

Seventh Generation wants to offer you an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek at their newly re-launched Free & Clear diapers. With the same great performance that parents have come to expect from Seventh Generation, Free & Clear diapers have a brand new look that makes it ‘clear’ what makes them so special.

What Seventh Generation leaves out is just as important as what they put in. Free & Clear diapers do not include chlorine processing, fragrances, latex and petroleum based lotions. In an effort to contribute less overall landfill waste and continue to ensure a premium standard of absorbency, the new Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with a lighter-weight core. With processed chlorine-free wood pulp in Free & Clear diapers, Seventh Generation also makes certain that no chlorine is released into the environment during the totally chlorine-free (TCF) whitening process of the diapers and training pants.

Seventh Generation has also reduced the size of the diapers’ plastic packaging, meaning that each pack now contributes even less overall landfill waste than before. In fact, Seventh Generation Free & Clear diaper packaging can now be recycled at local supermarkets where plastic bag recycling collection boxes are available.

My review:
I used the Seventh Generation Free & Clears diapers on my 20 month old daughter Brianna and I love them. They are very soft and durable. They hold up very well and we did not have any leakage. They are a plain manila color with no design so they are gender neutral. This is definitely a product that I would purchase and recommend to my friends.

You can go here and receive a $2 off coupon!

Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark are giving one lucky One Haute Mommy reader a package of the new and improved Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers!

Disclosure: Seventh Generation provided me with the free product, information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Riley's Rambles

2011-07-07T22:58:00.003-04:00

My 3 year old son has been saying and making some hilarious comments lately so I thought I would share a few with you.

Riley: Mom, I hurt my wee-wee
Me: How?
Riley: The toilet fell on it.
Me: Well it looks okay, so I think you are going to be fine.
Riley: Don't put a band-aid on it
Me: I won't

My fiance and I are planning our wedding and I asked Riley if he would like to be the ring bearer. He continued to tell me no each and every time I ask him. Finally he comes to me and says "Mama, we need to get me a bear costume so I can be the ring bear." I thought that was really cute.

About a week ago:
Riley came in our (my fiance and I's) bedroom and excitedly says "I'm growing", I reply that's awesome! He says "yeah, my wee-wee is getting bigger". I could not stop laughing!

My fiance occasionally has to go out of state for his job. While he was out of state I called Riley "babe". He turned around, looked at me and replied "I'm not babe, I'm Riley, babes in Alamabama". Yes, I spelled it as he pronounced it, I can spell!

Certain Dri Review & Giveaway

2011-07-06T23:27:00.003-04:00

I hadn't ever had a problem with excessive perspiration until I got pregnant. From then on, I have been testing each and every deodorant and antiperspirant that is available and none of them worked. They would cover up the odor for about an hour and then I would have to reapply again. This got old really quick.

However, when I was asked to review Certain Dri, I was stoked because it was a product that I hadn't tried before. Much to my surprise, it works like a charm! I started using the Certain Dri and noticed a huge improvement in my body odor and amount of perspiration. I went and purchased the Certain Dri AM refresher and since using both products, I have not had body odor or excessive perspiration since. These products are amazing and I highly recommend them to anyone who has a problem with perspiration.

From the website:

* Created specifically to complete the line of Certain Dri antiperspirant products for those who want the same 72-hour protection from excessive underarm perspiration in a solid application.

* The product is specially-formulated to provide everyday, all-day dryness for those who suffer from excessive underarm perspiration.

* Certain Dri® Solid Anti-Perspirant contains 25% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (Anhydrous). It is the only over-the-counter antiperspirant with this ingredient, which is more effective than the aluminum zirconium formula found in over-the-counter solid antiperspirants that are labeled “clinical strength.”

Certain Dri has also launched a giveaway on their Facebook page called "100-Days of Summer" and will be giving away free products each day.

Celebrate the season of fun in the sun every day this summer! For the 100 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Certain Dri is giving away one Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant every day. One random entrant will be chosen to receive a Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant (roll-on or solid) each day from May 27, 2011 to September 3, 2011. Every Friday at noon E.T., all seven winners from that week will be announced on the Certain Dri Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/certaindri

The generous folks at Certain Dri have offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win their very own Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant. Can't wait? Buy it now! Certain Dri products are available at retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Walgreens, to name a few.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Certain Dri and tell me why you would like to win this giveaway?
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" Certain Dri on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries per giveaway entered)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per post)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

Enter to win Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant and say goodbye to excessive perspiration via @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/nkA5aW

Thank you Certain Dri!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end July 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. The sponsor is responsible for shipping the prizes. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-07-06T00:01:00.002-04:00

O.N.E. Kids Coconut Water Review and Giveaway (3 winners

2011-07-05T22:40:00.003-04:00

My son is a juice drinker. He always wants juice. I have to refuse to give him juice and make him drink water so I was excited when I learned that O.N.E. had a line of products especially for kids. My fiance and I absolutely love O.N.E. coconut water and know the benefits of it so we were excited to give it to our son. When the package arrived, my son was all excited because they look like juice boxes. When he tried them, he loved them. He would offer them to all of his friends that came over. What a polite boy!

O.N.E. KIDS is available in four delicious flavors:

From the website:

O.N.E. Kids is a great tasting, super hydrating and nutritious beverage with less sugar than typical fruit juices, and the five essential electrolytes naturally present in coconut water. It’s O.N.E. huge step for kids and parents who care about their health.

Why is Hydration Especially Important for Kids?

According to the Mayo Clinic staff, children produce more heat and sweat less than adults, and are less likely to drink enough fluids — all of which increase the risk of dehydration, especially when they exercise in hot weather. So by the time your kids are thirsty, they are already past the point of being adequately hydrated.

Our bodies depend on water for survival. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to function correctly. It makes up more than half our body weight. Our bodies use water to maintain temperature, remove waste and lubricate joints. Hydration is essential for good health. And healthy hydration requires the right combination of minerals, called electrolytes, for water to efficiently enter the cells in every fiber of our bodies.

Loaded with the natural hydrating benefits of coconut water, O.N.E. Kids Coconut Water with Fruit Juice is a great way to prevent dehydration.

The very generous folks at O.N.E. have offered to give THREE lucky One Haute Mommy readers a case of their very own delicious O.N.E. kids coconut water. Can't wait? Buy it now! You can purchase O.N.E. products from Amazon.com or click here to find a store selling O.N.E. Drinks near you.

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I'm keeping my kids hydrated this summer by winning a case of @onecoconut KIDS via @OneHauteMommy 3 winners #giveaway http://bit.ly/ph1Y2Z

Thank you O.N.E. drinks!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end July 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. The sponsor is responsible for shipping the prizes. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-06-29T23:53:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* A pair of Anthropologie earrning ( @WeddingWire )
* 12 free product coupons for Voskos Greek Yogurt ( @GoVoskos )
* Dove hair care samples ( @Dove )
* Prize (not sure what it is yet) ( @BeautyBlitz )
* $30 Amazon GC ( @TalkShoes )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I love to hear about your wins!

Planning my Wedding!

2011-06-25T23:23:00.002-04:00

My fiance and I have been engaged since July 4, 2009 and we have set a date. Actually, we set the date a few months ago. It was really sweet how it happened. He was out of town for work and was planning a surf trip to Costa Rica and he called me and told me that he missed me and wanted to skip the surf trip and use the money so we can get married. I cried, happy tears!

Now we are set to marry on October 29th on the beach and I am realizing how much work is involved with planning a wedding. I finally chose my colors, beige and baby blue (for sand and water). I am currently collecting clear beer bottles to make my own personalized message in a bottle wedding invitations. I am very excited about these, they will be awesome. I have been looking at cute, beachy centerpieces and I think I am going to make these:

I won a beautiful wedding dress on Facebook. The dress is by Alfred Angelo and it is beautiful. I tried it on today and it fits great. It needs a few alterations, but nothing to dramatic. Here is my dress!!

Photo Credits: AlfredAngelo.com

I still have so many details to work out, but we are slowly getting there. If you have any cool ideas, let me know! I love to hear from my readers!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-06-22T22:27:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* A Diesel USA watch ( @essenceonline )
* A Free Product coupon for a PFChangs Home Entree (@PFChangs )
* A T-Shirt from Time to Play ( @TimetoPlay )
* A case of ONE Active coconut water and a yoga mat ( @onecoconut )

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

T Shirt Printing.net Monkey T Shirt Review

2011-06-21T00:05:00.002-04:00

T Shirt Printing.net is a Canada based t shirt printing company. They are your number one destination for screen printing your personalized t shirts.

From the website:

T shirt printing specialists - welcome to the number one destination for screen printing your personalised T shirts, hooded tops, sweatshirts and workwear.

* Highly competitive pricing
* Huge selection of garments and colours
* High Quality Silk Screen Printing
* Quantities from 12 to 100,000
* Fast turnaround times

I received one of their funky (that's my term) Monkey T's and I thought it was adorable. The quality was incredible even after machine washing the t shirt. I gave the shirt to my twelve year old niece because she loved it and she put it on right away and wore it all day. She continued to tell me throughout the day how much she loved it! I would definitely recommend this company if you are looking to get a personalized printed t shirt.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com Review & Giveaway

2011-06-15T23:46:00.003-04:00

I honestly couldn't think of a better gift to send a family member or friend than one of GourmetGiftBaskets.com beautifully arranged gift baskets and care packages!

GourmetGiftBaskets.com sent me their fabulous Midnight Snack Care Package. The treats inside were just too tempting! As soon as I opened the box, my family was digging inside and pulling out treats left and right. This is a care package that you simply cannot go wrong with!

From the website:
We have all been there. It's 12 a.m. and your stomach is growling for something to satisfy you. After a trip to the cupboards you find there's nothing there, so you run to the local convenience store and pick out your favorite junk food. Now that gas is fluctuating and very expensive, we wanted to put something together that would save you that expense and fill those cupboards with endless midnight snacks at the same time. That's why we came up with this amazing selection of the most craved midnight snacks for our care package! The Midnight Snack Care Package is full of quick eats and full meals to indulge every last yearning. As with all of our care packages this one is guaranteed to cure any midnight snack craving! Everything from Chef Boyardee meals, to Easy Mac, to Oreos and animal crackers are included in this mega assortment. Send a care package that makes their tummy dance, especially when they need it most!

What inside?
· Chef Boyardee Microwavable Bowls by Con Agra Foods - 7.5 oz. - Perfect for that late night meal, these microwavable bowls are ready in seconds.
· Easy Mac Microwavable Macaroni and Cheese Dinner by Kraft - 2.05 oz. - Is there anything better than a warm bowl of Mac N' Cheese....at Midnight? We didn't think so!
· Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop by Con Agra Foods - 2.9 oz. - Your always just a few pops away from a great snack, and no one does it better than Orville Redenbacher.
· Rice Krispies Treats by Kellogg's - 1.3 oz. - A classic treat that is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner...And those Midnight snacks!
· Oreo's by Nabisco - 2 oz. - Add a glass of milk to this classic sandwich cookie and the fireworks instantly go off in your head!
· Dorito's Nacho Cheese Flavor by Frito Lay - 1 oz. - Cheesy, crunchy and great for that late night snack.
· Cheddar and Bacon Potato Skins by T.G.I.Friday's - 1 oz. - It's hard to provide fresh baked potatoes, cheese and bacon but T.G.I. Friday's has certainly done a amazing job of capturing the flavor with these snacks.
· Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter filling by Austin - 1.38 oz. - Is there a better fit for our Midnight Snack care package? Peanut butter crackers are always yummy.
· Cheddar Cheese Pretzel Combos by Mars - 1.8 oz. - Crunchy oven baked pretzels with a creamy cheddar cheese flavored filling!
· Cheez-Its by Sunshine - 1.5 oz. - Grabbing a handful at a time at midnight is somewhat the norm...so we just had to make it a part of our Midnight Snack care package!
· Traditional Chex Mix by General Mills - 1.75 oz. - An unbeatable snack combination that has been around for years. Everyone has their own recipe but this is what started it all!
· Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink by Yoo-Hoo - 6.5 oz. - You definitely need a drink option with all these great snacks, and a chocolate drink with this type of flavor was the best fit.
· Pringles Snack Stacks by Procter & Gamble - .74 oz. - Pringles have long been the snack that you just can't stop eating, so we thought it was a great addition to this and other college care packages in our collection.
· Snyder's Pretzels by Snyder's of Hanover - 1.5 oz. - When you send a care package it's important to include pretzels and Snyder's pretzels are known for their superior taste and crunch.
· Lifesavers Gummies by Wrigley's - 2 oz. - If you have that sweet craving, these Lifesavers Gummies will provide just what you need.
· Welch's Fruit Snacks by Welch's - 2.25 oz. - Fruit snacks are something we have long loved, and no matter what your age there's always a time that you enjoy these snacks.
· Ritz Crackers and Cheese Dip by Kraft - .95 oz. - Traditional cheese and crackers done by two of the most famous manufacturers...Ritz & Kraft.
· Minute Maid Juice Box by Coca Cola Co - 6.75 oz. - Minute Maid juice has been around for over 60 years and everyone just loves this great drink option.
· Planters Nuts on the Go by Kraft - 1 oz. - The peanuts are just as famous as the little peanut mascot!
· Cereal Box Individual Size by Kellogg - 1.09 oz. - A bowl of cereal always cures that hunger, and a midnight is technically the morning hours so breakfast is very appropriate!
· Del Monte Lite Fruit Cup by Del Monte Foods - 4 oz. - A healthy snack for that midnight craving, this Del Monte Lite Fruit cup was a must have in our midnight snack custom care package.
· Original Slim Jim's by Con Agra Foods - .28 oz. - Cue the Macho Man's voice...now SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM!
· Fig Newton's by Nabisco - 2.1 oz. - Fig Newtons are the quirky, fig-filled cookie with fig all wrapped up.
· Animal Crackers by Austin - 2 oz. - Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY. Well really more lions, tigers and elephants. Why no love for the bears?
· Kudo's by Mars - .78 to .85 oz. - Kudo's go out to Mars for making such a great snack.
· Chewy Granola Bars by Quaker Oats Co. - .84 oz. - Granola bars come in many different shapes and flavors but regardless of the type they always taste fantastic!
· Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars by General Mills - 1.2 oz. - They just sound like a healthy snack, but we promise they taste even better than they sound.
· Mento's Fruit Variety by Perfetti Van Melle - 1.32 oz. - Known as the fresh maker, these chewy fruit candies provide the a blast of refreshment everywhere they go.
· Swiss Miss Premium Milk Chocolate Cocoa by Con Agra Foods - 1 oz. - A warm drink that is as classic as the marshmallows that you put with it.
· Healthy Choice Microwavable Bowl of Soup by Con Agra Foods - 14 oz. - Another warm, meal option for this Midnight Snack military care package. Nothing beats a hot bowl of soup!
· Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers Freshly Prepared Meals by Con Agra Foods - 6.95 oz. - If your looking for a full meal during those early morning hours than this is it.
· Chow Mein Teriyaki Beef by Nissin Foods - 4 oz. - No need for the midnight run to the Chinese food restaurant, just pop this in the microwave and the authentic Chinese flavors come to life.
· Instant Lunch Ramen Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables by Maruchan - 2.26 oz. - Ramen noodles were all the rage when they became available and to this day they are still a fan favorite!
· Quaker Oatmeal to Go Breakfast Bars by The Quaker Oats Company - 3.15 oz. - Breakfast at midnight? Yup, that's right! This Quaker Oatmeal to Go is a snack full of flavor and is healthy too.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com offers a wide variety of Gift Baskets for all occasions. Some of the most popular gift baskets include: Italian Gift Baskets, Snack Gift Baskets, Healthy Gift Baskets, Wine Gift Baskets and Cheesecake Gift Baskets, to name a few. They also offer a wide variety of Holiday gift baskets to accommodate any budget, style or taste.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com has generously offered to give one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the Midnight Snack Care Package (valued at $34.99)! Can't wait?! Get it now!

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Thank you GourmetGiftBaskets.com!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end June 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-06-15T00:20:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fantastic week loaded with wins! Here is my list for the past week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:

* YMI Jeans of my choice (from YMI Jeans on Facebook)
* Whole Foods Gift Card (@crunchyliving)
* 3 months of free Huggies diapers ( Dada Rocks blog )
* Creepy Crawlies gift package ( Life On Print blog )
* a Gourmet Gift Basket ( Carrie's Rambles blog )
* Whole Soy & Company free product coupons ( Saving U Green blog )
* My choice of 1 of 20 Wedding dresses (Afloral on Facebook)

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Pregnant? Get Fit for Motherhood

2011-06-13T19:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you an expecting mom that has been debating whether or not to bank of babies cord blood? Do other family member suffer from Diabetes or heart disease? Well I'm here to let you know that these conditions and diseases can be cured with your babies cord blood.

Did you know that your baby's cord blood is rich in stem cells and that these stem cells can be used to treat numerous diseases and conditions? Did you know that your baby's cord blood stem cells have a 1-in-4 chance of matching their siblings? Did you know that cord blood stem cells are easily extracted and cause no pain or risk for both the mother and baby?

Now you are probably wondering what stem cells are and I am going to answer that for you! Stem cells are special cells normally found in bone marrow and they are the cells responsible for producing all of the mature cells in our blood and immune system. They form the white cells which fight infection, the red cells which carry oxygen, the platelets that promote clotting as well as the cells of our immune systems.

Stem cell treatments and transplants have been used for numerous diseases and conditions such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, sickle cell disease, severe anemia's and severe combined immunodeficiency. Research is currently being conducted on the use of stem cells for the treatment of cardiac and neurological diseases, just to name a few.

Cryo-Cell is pioneering the way in research, to find more solutions to preserve stem cells in a noncontroversial way. Cord blood is just the first step in new medical advancements.

Why choose Cryo-Cell? Well, here are 10 great reasons to choose Cryo-Cell:

Cryo-Cell boasts the industry’s highest levels of quality certifications and accreditations.
Their U-Cord® Service provides our clients superior value and unique features.
Cryo-Cell is one of the world’s largest and most established family cord blood banks with over 230,000 clients worldwide. We are proud of the high levels of satisfaction our clients report.
They are a category-exclusive Upromise® partner and contribute 2% to client’s established Upromise accounts.
There is no extra charge for personal bedside courier service in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
They provide a $50,000 Product Quality Guarantee.
They provide a $10,000 Cryo-Cell Cares™ payment to our client families to offset personal expenses during transplant procedures.
Their Client for Life™ program locks in today's pricing for future children.
There is no enrollment fee!
They offer a variety of payment plans and financing options to meet almost any budget.

Cryo-Cell understands that as a new mommy, it's hard to find time to exercise (I know that for fact). They believe that Cryo-Cell moms really understand the importance of protecting the future health and well-being for both their newborns as well as themselves. With the award-winning Baby Jogger City Mini stroller, new moms can work out as they enjoy time in the beautiful outdoors with their new baby. Isn't that great? I think it is!

Can you think of a better way to celebrate the birth of your newborn and get back in shape at the same time? I can't, so enroll today in Cryo-Cell's signature U-Cord service and for a limited-time receive a free Baby Jogger City Mini.

You only have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve your baby's cord blood, so trust it to the experts at Cryo-Cell Cord Blood Bank

Baby Goes Pro Discover Sports DVD Review

2011-06-09T23:26:00.004-04:00

First of all, my son absolutely loves this DVD. It is a very calm movie that teaches children the basic fundamentals involved in five sports:
1. Soccer
2. Basketball
3. Golf
4. Tennis
5. Baseball

I love it is because it the motto is "inspiring a generation to move." I feel that this is very important in this day and age. Teaching children the importance of physical fitness at an early age is important. This DVD teaches the basic fundamentals of sports and puts children in the mood to play. My son runs and grabs his soccer ball after he watches this movie. I love it.

From the website:

The Discover Sports DVD introduces children to five of the most popular sports in the world; baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, and soccer. This 25 minute movie is set to a mix of original music and sing-a-long songs, featuring vivid colorful imagery and our 3D animated character Emkei the Monkey as coach. It emphasizes the first two elements of the building blocks of sports, Equipment and Movement. The movements are demonstrated by elite athletes in a technically correct manner. Interactive flash cards along with Emkei, introduce young viewers to the equipment for each sport and the movements performed by the athletes. The goal of this first DVD is to introduce young children to sports because sports are fun! Remember, "it's never too early to start developing athletic talent". Get your child into sports while young and ensure a lifetime of health and fun!

If you are interested in the Baby Goes Pro products, visit here for more information.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-06-08T00:01:00.002-04:00

I didn't get a chance to post my "Weekly Wins" last week so this post included my wins for the past two weeks.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* Skin MD moisturizing lotion (Army Wife Life & Reviews Blog)
* Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil For Hair Treatment (Precisely Mine Blog)
* Item of my choice from the Boutique To You Swag-bag (@boutiquetoyou)
* $100 gift card to Temptu (@TEMPTU & @OneWed)
* Children's hat (@Snug_As_A_Bug)
* Linen Table Cloth gift card (@LinenTableclth)
* Surpise item(s) (@HookedOnBeauty)
* Dr. Perricone Cold Plasma ( True Queen Blog )
* Free product coupon for Snickers Ice Cream (@SnickersIceCrm)
* Prize from BBMCHAT (not sure what it is yet) (@BBMCHAT)
* Oscillococcinum ( Frugal Wife Blog )
* Case of ONE Kids ( One Coconut on Facebook)

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Monday, Monday

2011-06-06T23:15:00.002-04:00

I haven't been writing nearly as much as I want to so I am touching base with my lovely readers. I have been busy. I just finished my Spring semester at College and it did not goes as well as I would have liked. I am taking the Summer semester off because I am planning my wedding! Yay! I am incredibly excited! We are getting married on the beach at the end of October and having a beautiful backyard reception. We are having a huge tent set up with chandelier lighting, round tables with beautiful linen and we are having a beach theme. I have been looking at many centerpieces and trying to pick out the perfect one.

We (my fiance and I) have also been completing many projects around the house that we have put off for too long! My fiance installed our Delta faucet on Saturday and it is wonderful, I will be posting that review this week. I will also be posting another review and giveaway for One Coconut. This time it is for their incredibly coconut water for kids and once again their will be 3 winners! One Coconut rocks!

I plan on writing a lot more so be on the lookout for my posts. I have some wonderful reviews and giveaways planned for my lovely readers! Hope you all are having a great day!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month & $100 GNC Gift Card Giveaway

2011-05-30T22:20:00.003-04:00

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 to raise awareness of mental health conditions and mental wellness for all.

Did you know that 1 in every 4 American adults live with a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition? Did you know that these people affected with a mental health condition can go on to live full and productive lives? I do, personally. At age 18, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks. Just this year, I sought help and received medication. The medication has helped tremendously and I feel like myself again, for the first time in years.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health concerns affect 1 in 10 Americans today, but fewer than 25 percent of people with a diagnosable mental disorder seek treatment. Mental Health Awareness Month hopes to help increase the number of people who will talk to their doctor or a mental health professional about their concern.

My biggest suggestion on how to stay healthy mentally is to reduce stress. Stress is extremely common and can lead to other mental health issues. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. It is recommended that you exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes a day. Getting enough sleep (at least 7 hours a night) is also extremely helpful in reducing stress. Another tip is to eat a well-balanced diet. Taking a good multi-vitamin will help you reach the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals that you may not be receiving through your diet alone. GNC has a great supplement to help with stress called Peter Gillham's Natural Vitality Natural Calm. This supplement (also called The Anti-Stress Drink) helps to reduce stress by balancing your calcium intake and restores healthy magnesium levels.

To learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month please visit these links:
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20110527/NEWS/110529886
http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/05/14/may-is-mental-health-month/26193.html

The generous folks at GNC have offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a $100 GNC gift card.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Become a fan of GNC on Facebook and follow @GNCLiveWell and @jeffhennion on Twitter. Leave ONE comment for your mandatory entry and include your name on Facebook (first name, last initial as well as your twitter name)

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow One Haute Mommy via GFC! (2 extra entries)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter ID)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook ID -first name, last initial)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet, you are welcome to use this tweet below)
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! #WIN A $100 Gift Card to GNC via @OneHauteMommy & @GNCLiveWell http://bit.ly/iA4pZ5 #giveaway
Share this giveaway on Facebook (Can be shared daily for 1 extra entry)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries for each giveaway entered)

Thank you GNC!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end June 13th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Past 2011 winners of GNC Gift Cards are not eligible to win again in 2011. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-05-25T23:24:00.002-04:00

I hope you all have had a fantastic week. I just finished finals and decided to take the summer semester off so I will be blogging more now. I will be posting lots of winners tomorrow so if you have entered my giveaways be sure to check the winners page!

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* A gift bag valued at $500 from @GBK_Productions (full of beauty products, candles, and revita lash)
* A t-shirt from @CCS_Skate_Shop (for answering their trivia question)
* Hair care samples from @HairRules

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Five Summer Getaways Every Kid Should Experience

2011-05-23T18:16:00.003-04:00

Summer is here, well almost. Here in Florida the temperatures have been in the 90's so it really feels like Summer is here. School will be ending soon and summer vacation will begin for the children. This means we need to begin planning our Summer vacations! SocialMoms and Alamo are hosting a campaign to find out what everyone's five Summer getaways are and here are mine.

Number 1: The beach is a great and enjoyable vacation for my family. We live about 10 minutes from the beach and go their often. It is great for children because they can play in the sand and cool off in the water. There are so many activities that can be done at the beach, the options are truly endless. From building a sand castle to learning how to surf, the beach is a perfect place for a Summer vacation.

Number 2: This Summer we are planning on taking our children to Nickelodeon Suites and Resorts. They have Nickelodeon theme hotel rooms, two water parks, a mall, a kids spa, as well as a 4-D experience. I cannot wait to take my children there. This is a great Summer vacation idea because it is fun for the entire family. They have a teen "hangout" area and parents can rent their own cabanas. The rates are also extremely reasonable considering the amenities.

Number 3: We cannot forget Disney World! Disney is a great place to visit for a Summer vacation. Disney offers amazing rides and entertainment. Disney is a place that the entire family can enjoy. They have great rides for young children and fast paces rides for the parents and older children. And who doesn't love the characters? They are always walking around the park and you are sure to snap pictures of them and get their autographs.

Number 4: The springs is one of my favorite places to visit during the Summer. Here in Florida, we have numerous springs. The springs offer a nice cool place to cool down on a hot summer day. Most springs are extremely affordable at under $10 a car load. Most springs all have paddle boats and canoes that you can rent and visit the natural areas of the springs. If you are looking for a budget-friendly Summer vacation, definitely look online and see if you have a springs nearby, your family is sure to have a great time.

Number 5: Camping is definitely a Summer vacation that every kid should experience and is another budget friendly vacation idea. There are so many places to camp that you are sure to find one nearby if you cannot afford to travel far. The activities are great and can include fishing, kayaking, and hiking to name a few. Camping is also a great way to get your family to wind down from all the hustle and bustle and a great way to connect with nature.

I hope that these ideas will help you plan a Summer vacation if you haven't planned one already. If you have planned one please comment below and let me know what you are planning. I love hearing from my readers!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Prefense Review & Giveaway

2011-05-21T13:05:00.004-04:00

As a mother of two, I am constantly washing my hands. My poor little hands get so dry, but washing them is a neccessity. Traditional hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which adds to the problem...then I met Prefense and my hands fell in love!

Prefense is amazing, it is the "Cadillac" of all hand sanitizers! Why?

*Prefense is ALCOHOL FREE!

*Prefense protects hands for 24 hours or 10 hand washings!

*Prefense is made of all-natural ingredients

*Prefense is silica based which means it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional sanitizers. It actually smooths and softens your hands.

*Prefense protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more.

Since using this sanitizer, I really do not see my family going back to traditional hand sanitizers. Prefense has definitely changed my opinions on hand sanitizers and really blows the competition (if you can call them that) out of the water. AND, here is the kicker:

Because “one spray lasts all day” 1.5 oz Prefense Foaming Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers.

Oh and it gets even better! Prefense has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win their own bottle of Prefense! Can't wait? Buy it now, your hands will thank you! Prefense can be here.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Tell me what you dislike most about traditional hand sanitizers?

EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow One Haute Mommy via GFC! (2 extra entries)
Follow @prefense on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Prefense on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet, you are welcome to use this tweet below)
#Win @prefense, the "Cadillac" of all hand sanitizers via @OneHauteMommy #giveaway ends 6/4 http://bit.ly/kcDiOi
Share this giveaway on Facebook (Can be shared daily for 1 extra entry)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries for each giveaway entered)
Leave a valid comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per comment)

Thank you Prefense!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end June 4th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-05-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

I hope you all have had a fantastic week. I just finished finals and decided to take the summer semester off so I will be blogging more now. I am just posting my weekly wins this week without any tips. I will have more tips next week.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* Massage oil by lather skin from @BryceGruber
* Sleep sensations prize pack (Blog giveaway)

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-05-10T23:55:00.002-04:00

As you all know, I love entering giveaways and contests. This week I am going to discuss blog giveaways. You can find many blog giveaways throughout the web. If you have a tough time locating blog giveaways. You can find many sites that post giveaway linkys. A giveaway linky is a list where bloggers come and post their giveaways. You can search "giveaway linky" on any search engine and usually find a few blogs that have linkys posted.

How to enter blog giveaways:

1. Most blogs have a mandatory entry that you must complete in order for your entry to be counted. Complete the mandatory entry first.

2. Additional entries are typically posted underneath the mandatory entry. These additional entries can include following on Twitter, liking on Facebook, following the blog via Google Friend Connect and many others.

3. Do as many additional entries as you can to increase your chances of winning. The more entries you have, the better your odds.

4. As always follow the rules and contest fairly.

I have a few giveaways going on right now, be sure to look under the giveaway tab!

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* A $150 gift card to Gemvara
* An anti-aging Defy package from @Tahitian_Noni and @GiveawayNow
* Two RoseArt craft kits from @RoseArtFun
* A ConAgra Foods prize pack from @ReadySetEat

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Chili's Margarita Madness and $20 Dinner for Two Review & Giveaway

2011-05-10T00:15:00.003-04:00

Chili's is definitely one of my families favorite places to go out to eat. We enjoy the laid back atmosphere, the variety of entrees and prices, as well at the service. I love that they have coloring activities to keep my children busy and that the staff is always friendly and courteous.

Chili's offers a $20 dinner for two deal which is absolutely amazing. You share an appetizer and get two full-size entrees. This is a deal that cannot be beat!

If you need to relax a bit, Chili's has promotion going on called Margarita Madness. Just visit Chili's, take a picture of you and you friends and family having a good time at Chili's and upload it. You can win a $20 Chili's gift card or one of three trips to the Caribbean! Wouldn't that be awesome? Going out to eat at a place you love, taking a pic and winning a trip to the Caribbean or a $2o Chili's gift card so you can go and do it again!

I would have taken pictures of our recent trip to Chili's, but my children hid my digital camera. I found it a few days later in a baby wipes box. LOL! Next time, I will take some pictures though!

Chili's has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader a $20 gift card of their own.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Chili's and tell me what you would order if you won this gift card.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @chilis on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Chili's Grill & Bar on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet, can use tweet button above or this tweet below)
#Win a $20 @chilis gift card via @OneHauteMommy #giveaway ends 5/24 http://bit.ly/mAK51c
Share this giveaway on Facebook (Can be shared daily for 1 extra entry)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries for each giveaway entered)
Leave a valid comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per comment)

Thank you Chili's Grill & Bar!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end May 24th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-05-04T00:07:00.006-04:00

As you know, I love entering contests and have won quite a few items. This week along with my weekly wins list, I am including a few tips to help keep you organized with your contest wins.

Contests are awesome and you can win a lot, but you need to keep proof that you won. Here's why? Just say, you do not receive an item that you won and you contact the sponsor of the giveaway. If they do not have you listed as a winner you will need to prove that you won. Believe me, I recently had this happen to me!

Here are a few pointers:

* Take screen shots of Twitter winning message, Facebook messages and even instant win games.
* Save all emails containing information regarding your win.
* Make a list of the items you won, the date you won them, and who you won them through.

Keep in mind, most contests are legit, but sometimes people hold fake contests. Always try to communication nicely with the sponsor, if you do not get a reply, keep trying.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* A Chuggington DVD (Blog win)
* A Mavea Water Pitcher from @inspiredwater
* A t-shirt from @DirtyShirtyTees
* A pair of shades from @nyscollection
* A pair of jeans from @CharlotteRusse
* A $2oo gift basket loaded with Pixi Beauty cosmetics from @stylehivebuzz
* A prize from @3LABSkincare (for being their 1000th Twitter follower)
* A Brita Prize pack which includes a Grand Pitcher, Brita Bottle, and 3-pack replacement filters (from @GiveawayNow)

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Purex Complete with Zout Review & Giveaway (2 Winners)

2011-05-02T22:38:00.003-04:00

As many of you know, I am a Purex Insider! This means I get to try out all of their amazing products and offer you, my lovely readers, a chance to win their amazing products.

I have always been a fan of Purex products: they are affordable and they work. I have been very happy with Purex Complete with Zout. It has a very pleasant scent and cleans even the toughest stains on my little ones clothes.

From the website:

What is Purex Complete with Zout?
Purex Complete with Zout combines the proven performance of Purex detergent with the triple-enzyme stain-fighting power of Zout stain remover.

How does Purex Complete with Zout fight stains?
Purex Complete with Zout contains three powerful stain-fighting enzymes. Each enzyme targets a different type of stain.

* Protese: Works against protein based stains.
* Amylase: Works against starchy stains.
* Mannasse: Works against guar (a thicken in many products).

Purex Complete with Zout is available is two fragrances:
* Free Morning Burst which gives your laundry a light fresh scent.
* Free & Clear which is fragrance free and has a hypoallergenic formula for sensitive skin.

Purex Complete with Zout is the first Free & Clear detergent to call out an added stain fighter.

Price and Retailers:
Purex Complete with Zout is affordably priced between $3.99 to $7.99 depending on size and retailer. It is available at Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Publix.

The very generous folks at Purex have offered to give two lucky One Haute Mommy readers the chance to win their very own bottle of Purex Complete with Zout (in the form of free product coupons).

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Purex and tell me which scent of Purex Complete with Zout you would like to try.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @Purex on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Purex on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries for each giveaway entered)

#Win a bottle of @Purex Complete with Zout from @OneHauteMommy (2 winners) http://bit.ly/mnYwAW #contest #giveaway

Thank you Purex!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end May 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

CSN Stores Makes Shopping a Breeze!

2011-04-28T23:24:00.002-04:00

I love shopping! I really enjoy shopping online, but my biggest issue is that most shopping sites search features are just not up to par or the prices are outrageous. That's why I love CSN Stores, finding exactly what you are looking for is easy and the prices are very affordable. They also have a huge selection since they have over 200 online stores in one easy location.

We have been remodeling our home. We painted the interior of the house, gave our counter-tops and back splash a make over and we are now decorating and furnishing our home to match the new paint.

This is how I ended up looking at office desks. Since remodeling, I realized how much of a mess my home office is. My fiance and I run our own lawn service and I need to keep everything organized. Instead, I pile everything up and then end up searching for hours for one paper or document. I started looking at desks on CSN Stores and found quite a few that I love. I want a desk that is simple, but has storage space. This desk pictured below is my personal favorite at the moment.

What about you? Are you looking for any office furniture? What is your favorite desk?

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-04-27T00:01:00.003-04:00

As you know, I love entering contests and have won quite a few items. This week along with my weekly wins list, I am including a few tips to help my readers enter Facebook contests properly and fairly!

Facebook contests are fun. I have won a Mavea water pitcher, a few gift cards, an Munchkin baby gate and many others things by entering contests on Facebook. The difference is that unlike most Twitter contests, Facebook contests are typically one time entries. Generally the sponsor or company will require you to leave a comment and they will randomly select a winner or choose a winner based on creativity of the answer. Many Facebook contests require you to get votes or likes on your post. Here are a few pointers:

1. When you first sign up for Facebook, become a fan of companies and brands that you like.

2. If friends ask you for votes, vote for them. This way if you need votes, they will return the favor. I cannot stand when people ask me for votes and do not return the favor. I stop voting for them.

3. Look through your feed carefully, it is very easy to miss a contest simply by looking over it.

4. Do not copy other peoples unique answers/comments. This will get you disqualified.

5. Read all rules before entering a contest. Many people are disqualified from contests because they failed to read the rules thoroughly.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* The Couponizer (Blog win)
* A $10 Dots Gift Card from @dotsFashions
* A Golden Ticket which enters me into the drawing for a trip to Jamaica!

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

O.N.E. Coconut Water Review and Giveaway (3 winners)

2011-04-26T23:22:00.003-04:00

I drink water and milk. Every now and again, I will have a glass of juice. I have tried several different brands of coconut water and haven't really care for any of them, until I tried O.N.E. I was sent a case of O.N.E. Coconut water with a splash of passion fruit and I am in love with it! It is so refreshing, hydrating and delicious. Best of all, it is nutritious and 100% natural! I just ordered 3 cases for my family and 3 cases for a friend from Amazon (for real).

We brought O.N.E. to the beach with us and it was a hit! Like I previously stated, a friend of ours asked me to purchase 3 cases for their family. It is incredibly hydrating, I seriously cannot find the words to describe it, you just have to try it for yourself.

From the website:
O.N.E. Coconut Water with a Splash…of fruit juice

Just as the name suggests, O.N.E. Coconut Water with a Splash starts with our pure coconut water and we add a splash of fruit juice to offer tropical flavors like Mango, Pineapple and Pink Guava. Containing more than 85 percent coconut water, Splash offers tasty selections that still provide all the health benefits of drinking plain coconut water. Splash is packaged at the source to ensure the highest quality and freshness.

O.N.E. Coconut Water with a Splash
* Is the water from inside of a young green coconut with a splash of natural fruit juice
* Excellent for replacing lost electrolytes due to exercise, illness and/or excessive dehydration
* 15 times more potassium than traditional sports drinks, as well as lower acidity

The very generous folks at O.N.E. have offered to give THREE lucky One Haute Mommy readers a case of their very own delicious O.N.E. coconut water. Can't wait? Buy it now! You can purchase O.N.E. products from Amazon.com or click here to find a store selling O.N.E. Drinks near you.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit O.N.E. drinks and tell me which product and flavor you would like to try most?
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @onecoconut on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" ONE Coconut Water on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries per giveaway entered)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per post)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

I'm going to stay hydrated this summer by winning a case of @onecoconut water via @OneHauteMommy 3 winners #giveaway http://bit.ly/fGjE94

Thank you O.N.E. drinks!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end May 10th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. The sponsor is responsible for shipping the prizes. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Voda Swim Review & Giveaway

2011-04-20T23:42:00.008-04:00

After I had my first child, I dropped two cup sizes. This took a major toll on my self confidence. I was really uncomfortable with my body and very self conscious when I was at the beach or at the pool. I live in Florida so my family is constantly at the beach or the pool, so this was a big issue to me. Since having my second child, my bust has increased, but I am still not where I originally was. I was very excited when I heard about Voda swimwear.

Voda Swim’s Envy Push Up Bikinis are designed to visually increase bust size by one to two cup sizes. In addition, that patent-pending Envy Push Up pad retains less than a tablespoon of water, helping the tops to retain their extraordinary fit, even when wet.

I chose the Midnight Envy Push Up® Hoop Halter & Scoop which retails for $127.00 and I LOVE it. The design is so sexy and doesn't look or fit like traditional padded bikinis which often times look like you are wearing a padded bra. When I go to the beach, I want to wear a bikini not a bra! This swimsuit is very comfortable and definitely increases bust size. I was pleasantly surprised with how much "umph" this padded swimsuit gave my girls and how comfortable this brazilian bikini is.

About VODA SWIM (From the website)

Voda Swim is a new concept in bikini design. The magic is in a new patent pending Envy Push Up bikini top created by international model Yulia. Where ordinary bikini cups sag and wrinkle, Voda Swim bikini tops create perfect bikini breasts! Finding a bikini top that fits is a frustrating, disappointing experience. That's why a young fashion model and avid beach lover decided it was time to rethink that whole bikini thing. "I spend a lot of time at the beach, but I was always self-conscious about my swimsuit. Whenever I put on a bikini, it looked baggy and I looked shapeless. The bikini tops didn't provide any lift or contouring, and made my breasts look non-existent."

Taking it as a personal challenge, Yulia and her husband Dustin spent many long nights working on high-fashion bikini designs that would make the most of the smallest assets. The secret is in the fit and a little hidden magic in the form of a soft and pliant enhancer that cups the breast, giving a full, rounded contour, with a natural bouncy movement. The cup shape insures a perfect fit providing support and shaping. The Envy Push Up top visually increases the bust size by up to two cup sizes and provides great lift and support! The curves and contours are utterly natural, the lift and cleavage are flawless.

The Envy Push Up line by Voda Swim, the first swim suit line designed especially to flatter small-breasted women or to shape breasts by providing lift and support, has the kind of cutting edge style that satisfies the most demanding fashionista. Beyond their good looks, Voda Swim suits are designed to take on any beachside activity from sunbathing to surfing to volleyball.

Whether you are looking for a one piece, two piece or a brazilian swimsuit, Voda Swim has a suit that will fit your style and needs. Voda Swim push up swimsuits retail between $100-$132 and can be purchased here. Voda Swim has generously offered my readers a 10% discount code. Use the code HauteMom at checkout and receive 10% off your purchase.

The generous folks at Voda Swim have also offered one lucky One Haute Mommy readers the Voda Swim swimsuit of their choice!

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Voda Swim and tell me which swimsuit is your favorite?
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @VodaSwim on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" Voda Swim on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Give me permission to share your email address with Voda Swim for special discounts and updates on new products (if you don't agree, I won't give them your email) (5 extra entries)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries per giveaway entered)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per post)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

#win @vodaswim swimsuit of your choice ARV $132 @OneHauteMommy #giveaway http://bit.ly/gIhaMP

Thank you Voda Swim!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end May 5th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Wordless Wednesday: Spring has Sprung

2011-04-20T10:56:00.002-04:00

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-04-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

As you know, I love entering contests and have won quite a few items. This week along with my weekly wins list, I am including a few tips to help my readers enter Twitter contests properly and fairly!

Twitter contests are fun and definitely my favorite to enter. I have won an Apple iPad, a stove, an LED TV and many others things by entering contests on Twitter. The problem that I see is that many people "try" to enter and do not enter correctly or fairly. Here are a few pointers:

1. When you first sign up for Twitter, follow companies and brands that you like.

2. If you see a contest you are interested in entering, check back with the sponsors page and READ THE RULES! (Many people get disqualified from contests because they do not read the rules).

3. Do not go on Twitter and his the Retweet button on fellow contesters contest tweets (this is not fair and will get you blocked and reported).

4. Do not copy and paste other contesters contest tweets (some contests require you to make up your own tweet, by copying someone you are plagiarizing.

5. Make friends! This is huge because if you make friends on Twitter you will both learn different contests from one another and it gives you a chance to socialize with people all over the world.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

With that said, in the past week I have won:
* A $20 GC to DonkeyTs from @DonkeyTs
* A Backpack from @PriceGrabber
* A Prom Dress from @CharlotteRusse
* Item of my choice (out of these) I'm choosing the Hudson Jeans! from @MomLife & @thisnext
* A Quiznos GC from @Quiznos
* Elizabeth Grant Collagen Diamond Night Creme (Blog win)
* Wow Wow Wuzzby Be Mine DVD (Blog win)
* A $100 Amazon GC from @BBMCHAT --> I highly recommend that you follow him on Twitter and sign up for his website because he has contest on their as well. He is very generous and always has contest going on. I have won from him before and he is legitimate and honest fellow.

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

TempleTouch Premium Thermometer Giveaway & Review

2011-04-19T23:37:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, my entire family (except me) came down with the stomach flu. It was awful! Since I was the only one who wasn't sick, I was the one taking care of everyone. My fiance, 3 year old son, and 17 month old daughter were all running fevers. At the time, all we had was a traditional thermometer. It was very hard for me to get an accurate temperature on my children, they keep moving and the thermometer would give an inaccurate temperature.

When TempleTouch offered to send me one of there TempleTouch Premium thermometers, I was ecstatic. This thermometer is easy to use and gives an accurate temperature. I used it on both of my children and no one complained and I received accurate temperatures.

From the website:
Award-winning, economical, reliable, accurate, and non-invasive, the TempleTouch™ Premium is the world’s only combined thermometer for both temple & underarm measurement in a new innovative design. Another breakthrough in thermometers, its unique design & technical capabilities, which enable parents to receive quick and accurate temperature measurement by just touching the infant’s temple or open armpit. The temple area is a comfortable and easy measurement site, accessible when child or patient is awake or asleep.

The TempleTouch Premium thermometer feautures:

Measurement locations – temple and underarm
Instant measurement, 6 – 8 seconds
Room Temperature display.
Large and easy to read back-lighted LCD
ODPT® – Over Dose Protective Timer.
Recalls last reading recorded
Celsius/Fahrenheit scale readouts
Simple to operate, no scanning required
Family friendly, safe and gentle enough for newborns
Meets ASTM Accuracy requirements

The TempleTouch Premium thermometer can be purchased online for only $29.99.

The generous folks at TempleTouch have offered to give one lucky One Haute Mommy reader a TempleTouch Premium thermometer of their own.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND tell me why you want to win the TempleTouch Premium thermometer?
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @TempleTouchMom on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Visit TempleTouch and share their website on Facebook (Located on their website underneath sharing is caring) (3 extra entries)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries per giveaway entered)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per post)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

Tired of fighting with your children just to take their temp? #win a @templetouchmom thermometer via @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/he7W8l

Thank you TempleTouch!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end May 5th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush Review & Giveaway

2011-04-14T15:03:00.003-04:00

I am a full-time college student and stay-at-home mom of two beautiful children. Before motherhood, I was always dressed up (hair done, makeup done, nails done...the works). Now I am lucky if I get the chance to get all dolled up. I find that it is critical for my self-esteem to try and take the time to get dressed up even if I am staying home with the kids. I am always on the lookout for products that make getting ready in the mornings easier...then I met the new Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Brush and I fell in love.

From the website:
Shaped like a typical round hair brush you’d use to do a blow-out, the Spin Air brush combines two tools in one by blowing air through the rotating brush to volumize and add shine as you dry. Simply brush through wet or damp hair for instant drying power. The Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush feautures tangle-free anti-static bristles that allow you to customize your volume with or without the spin function. The powerful ceramic heat distributes heat evenly for less damage, and an ionic generator releases 100x more ions than typical tourmaline ceramic motors. With 100x more ions, your hair will have maximum conditioning and shine! Choose from 3 heat settings and 2 speeds, and the multi-directional rotation (right/left) makes it easy for both right and left-handed users.

The Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush is available nationwide at mass market and drug store retailers, as well as at www.conair-store.com for an average retail price of $59.99.

I thought that this device worked perfectly. It took me a few times to get the hang of it, but once did it was easy to use and left my hair feeling silky, smooth and straightened. I also have very fine hair and it did not tangle or damage my hair. It did give my hair some much needed volume.
I also received Conair's new and innovative You Style 2in1 brush. This brush is great because like the name says it does two things and you only need this one brush. It eliminates having to switch from paddle brush to rounded brush and ultimately saves time.

From the website:
Are you tired of having to search for and juggle brushes with one hand while holding your hair dryer in another? Do your hair styling tools warrant a separate piece of luggage when you travel? Conair invites you to simplify your styling routine with its new Conair® You Style™ 2in1 Brush. With an easy push of a button, it converts from a flat to a rounded brush that’s great to achieve a variety of hairstyles on almost any hair length or texture.

Start with the flat brush setting for everyday brushing and use for blow dry straightening and smoothing. Slide the button and collapse the sides to convert it to a rounded brush. Once sides are in place, release the button to lock it into position. The rounded brush allows you to add lift and volume at the roots, create soft waves, or finish ends to curl under or flip up. To return to the flat brush, slide button up and position sides back to original position and release button back into locked position.

The combination of bristles helps to distribute hair’s own natural oils for added shine. The vents allow airflow to reach hair for faster drying and styling. The ball tip bristles gently glide through hair for stress-free brushing.

To top if all off, I also received the scunci bendini. The clips are amazing and incredibly easy to use. They come in a wide variety of designs so you will be sure to find one that you love.

From the website:
Perfect for prom, wedding, communion or just to add a bit of sparkle to hair any day, we are introducing the new scünci® bendini™ clips! This high fashion hair jewelry adds instant glam in two easy steps, and works on almost any hair length and texture. The scünci bendini is available in three different sizes and a variety of styles, including jeweled crystals, colorful beads and metallics. It’s also available in the special scünci “girl” line designed especially for the little beauties in your life.
To use the scünci bendini clip, start with gathering your hair in the desired style. Slide the bendini comb into the hair, and bend and snap it securely in place for an all-day hold. To see how it works, visit http://www.scunci.com/bendini.html.
The bendini clip are now hitting shelves at drug, mass and grocery stores nationwide starting in at a suggested retail price of about $4.99 per pack.

You can also find out more great information and take part in scünci giveaways at the scünci Facebook page (www.facebook.com/scuncihair) or following scünci on Twitter (www.twitter.com/scunciHair).

The very generous folks at Conair have offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win the same package that I received (the Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush, the You Style 2in1 brush, and a package of the Scunci Bendini hair clips).

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND tell me why you want to win this fabulous package?
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @scunciHair on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Conair on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" Scunci on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Enter any of my current giveaways (2 extra entries per giveaway entered)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 extra entry per post)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

Put a new spin on your hair routine #win Conair Pro Spin Air brush, @scunciHair bendini & 2in1 brush @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/hurnuT

Thank you Conair and Scunci!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end April 28th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-04-13T14:06:00.002-04:00

I began entering contests last year and I have been hooked ever since. Why? Well, I am a stay-at-home Mom and full-time College student so money is tight. By entering contests, I am able to win products and items that my family otherwise would be unable to afford. I have also been introduced to countless brands that I hadn't heard of before. I now purchase many products that I have won before because I was able to try them out without taking the risk of paying for something that I may or may not be happy with.

I have won numerous items in the past year including: a $500 Floor and Decor Gift Card, a Westinghouse LED TV, an Apple iPad, an Apple iPod touch, a guitar, and many beauty products and gift cards, just to name a few.

I have started the "Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

So to get things started, in the past week I have won:
* A $5 Target Gift Card from itsthoughtful.com
* A beauty prize back from @eastcoastsalon
* A promo code from @lazyshoutout
* A prize from @2ndfloorgenius for being one of their first 100 followers
* Prize Package from @TrueLemon (not sure what it will be)
* A pair of shoes (of my choice) from @rocketdogbrands
* A Propel Zero gift pack that includes two 20 oz bottles of Propel Zero, a Propel Zero t-shirt, and 3 coupons for a free single-serve Propel Zero in a drawstring backpack. (Blog Win)

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins

2011-04-06T22:50:00.004-04:00

I began entering contests last year and I have been hooked ever since. Why? Well, I am a stay-at-home Mom and full-time College student so money is tight. By entering contests, I am able to win products and items that my family otherwise would be unable to afford. I have also been introduced to countless brands that I hadn't heard of before. I now purchase many products that I have won before because I was able to try them out without taking the risk of paying for something that I may or may not be happy with.

I have won numerous items in the past year including: a $500 Floor and Decor Gift Card, a Westinghouse LED TV, an Apple iPad, an Apple iPod touch, a guitar, and many beauty products and gift cards, just to name a few.

I have started the ""Win It Wednesday: Weekly Wins" post and will post a new one each and every Wednesday. I will post the items that I have won in the past week and hopefully hear of items that you have won.

So to get things started, in the past week I have won:
* A $50 Gas Gift Card from @driversselect
* A case of One Active from @OneCoconut
* A baby gate from Munchkin on Facebook
* A tutu and headband (Blog win)
* Prize Package from @Arnicare (not sure what it will be)
* A personalized growth chart (Blog win)
* $100 cash from @Bandromeda

That is my list for the past week. What have you won lately? Please comment below, I would love to hear about your wins!

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Review & Giveaway

2011-04-04T23:13:00.005-04:00

I am constantly on the hunt for an effective lotion/moisturizer. However, after reviewing Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, I am no longer searching. This product is incredible, skin care at its finest! I had visible results in just a few days and will definitely continue to purchase this product. My skin is dry, especially around my nose and cheeks. I have used countless moisturizers and lotions. Some are too greasy and other just simply didn't work or irritated my skin. Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion has just the right consistency, is hypoallergenic, fragrance and colorant free so it will not irritate your skin, and shows results in just a few days.

After just a few days, I noticed a huge difference in my skin. My face was soft and felt moisturized. The dry patches around my nose and cheeks were gone. This lotion is not greasy and is very light. My skin feels rejuvenated each and every time I apply the product. Like I said before, I will continue to purchase this lotion. It is absolutely amazing!

Full product description:

A shielding lotion does the real work to prevent dry skin in two ways:

First, it assists the inner layers of skin to absorb moisture. The humectant (an ingredient that attracts moisture) used in Skin MD Natural is unique to it and has been laboratory tested to be 6 times more effective than any other you will find in common creams.

Second, a shielding lotion enhances the power of the top layer of the skin to resist environmental irritants while protecting the inner natural moisture.

You can view hundreds of dermatologist and user reviews on the manufacturer's website www.skinmdnatural.com, including many addressing severe skin care problems such as eczema and psoriasis. People with sensitive skin -- and those of us who like to live as naturally as possible -- will appreciate that Skin MD Natural is hypoallergenic, free of fragrances, parabens and colorants. It is made with more than 90% natural ingredients and 100% food-grade ingredients that are on the FDA's "most safe" list.

The generous folks at Skin MD have offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a bottle of their fabulous Natural Shielding Lotion of their own. Can't wait? Buy it now. Skin MD skin care products can be purchased here.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Skin MD and tell me another product you would like to try or something that you learned about them.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @Skinmdnatural on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" Skin MD Natural on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

Get rid of dry skin! #Win a full size bottle of SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion via @OneHauteMommy & @Skinmdnatural http://bit.ly/fZr4nn

Thank you Skin MD!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end April 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Smiles for everyone! How do you keep your family happy?

2011-03-30T21:00:00.003-04:00

Raising a family is hard enough in this tough economy, keeping everyone happy can be tougher. So how do you keep your family happy? Do you spoil them? Do you give them lots of attention? In my family, its the little things that keep everyone happy.

I have a 3 year old son, his name is Riley. He is my "wild" child. He is constantly moving and does not stop. He can be very sweet, yet very temper-mental (it's the age). I keep him happy by keeping him busy. He enjoys running around outside, so we will go outside and play tag. I walk with him while he rides his bicycle or scooter. He also loved playing hide & seek, so out of nowhere I will start counting and tell him to hide. He laughs when I am looking for him so I always know where he is hiding, but I pretend that I do not see him. I keep "looking" around and he will start laughing and say "Mama, here I am!" It's always great to hear him laughing and smiling.

I also have a 16 month old daughter, Brianna. She is my "cuddle bug". She loves attention and loves to cuddle and kiss. She has a very calm personality. I keep her happy by cuddling and kissing her all the time. She is my little explorer, always saying "that" and pointing. I tell her what it is and she moves on to the next thing.

My fiance is definitely the hardest person to keep happy. He works a lot, which can make him cranky. He is a "jack of all trades". He seriously can do anything that he puts his mind to. He loved to surf, ride his dirt bike and also loves music (he is a drummer at heart but also loves playing all types of guitars). I keep him happy by making his laugh at my corny jokes. I strongly feel that laughter is the key to the heart and making someone laugh can really make their day. I also encourage him to play his drums or check the surf report, pushing him to keep up with his hobbies, keeps him happy.

I also have to make myself happy. Keeping myself happy, keeps my family happy. I always make sure to have a little "me" time. "Me" time includes giving myself a manicure and pedicure, doing a little shopping, and taking time to the things that I enjoy (like blogging). I also get happy from making everyone else happy.

Happiness doesn't cost a dime, it just takes a little time and effort. Wikipedia's definition of happiness is "a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy." Happiness to me is seeing my family smile, watching my children learn and develop, and laughing so hard, I cry. So what do you do to keep your family happy?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Roundabouts Cupcake Sleeves Review & Giveaway

2011-03-27T23:09:00.005-04:00

Dive into the season’s sexiest swimwear.

2011-03-24T10:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you checked out the new swimwear collection? Why not?! Express has the hottest women's swimwear collection on the market this season. Express has everything from two piece swimwear, bikinis, swim suits, to string bikini's (if you dare).

Shop Our Newest Arrivals in the Express Spring 2011 Swim Collection!

* Available in our always-popular monokini, sexiest string bikini and must-have strapless and halter bikini styles.
* Shop bright solids, on-trend graphic prints, the essential reversible style, nautical-inspired striped and sleek metallic styles.
* Designer details include flirty ruffles, sexy self-tie sides, glam beaded embellishments and polished metal hardware.
* Removable padding in tops.
* Bottoms fit smaller to size for moderate back coverage.
* Swim shorts available for men.
* Accessorize with Express spring essentials including sandals, tote bags, sunglasses and hats For Him and For Her.

I was browsing through the Express swimwear collection and I found this sexy, yet simple, bandeau top and bottom that I absolutely love. I love the price even more!

What could be better than a hot and affordable swimwear collection? How about the chance to win one of ten $200 Express gift cards! If you sign up for Express e-mail you will be automatically entered to win one of ten $200 Express gift cards. Hurry and sign up and remember to view the sweepstakes rules.

Giani Granite Countertop Paint Review & Giveaway

2011-03-18T23:15:00.004-04:00

My kitchen is hideous. Yes, it is. The countertops and back-splash are white and stained, the cabinet doors are spray painted black, and the kitchen itself is a really dull yellow. The kitchen was like this when we bought the house. My family cannot afford to do a full remodel our kitchen, so we decided to give it a makeover.

Giani granite countertop paint is a wallet-friendly way to re-do your countertops and back-splashes. When they contacted me to do a review, I was thrilled. We chose the Bombay Black color and painted our countertop and back-splash in our kitchen.

Features
* Unique blend of polymers and minerals create a countertop that locks out moisture - while showing off the beauty of exotic black granite!
* Great for upgrading Formica*laminate, Corian*ceramic tile, butcher block, cultured marble and traditional granite countertops and vanities
* Covers 35 square feet or 16 running feet of standard 24" wide counters
* Quick, fun and easy 'paint-by-number' process for beginning painters
* Project time - 4 hours of painting and 16 hours of drying
* Water-based safe and low odor
* Hides any existing stains, scratches or burns
* Granite color is adjustable to your decor
* Durable automotive grade clear polyurethane topcoat
* 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
* Complete Kit -
-12 Oz. of IronCoreTM Primer-Base Coat
- 6 Oz. of Pearl Mica Mineral
- 6 Oz. of Black Onyx Mineral
- 4 Oz. of Bronze Mineral
- 16 Oz. of Automotive Polyurethane Topcoat
- 6" GIANITM roller arm and two roller pads
- 4" GIANITM granite paint sponge
- 2" Foam Brush
- Black Practice Poster Board
- 'Paint-by-Number' DVD for beginners
- Illustrated Instructions

How does the product work?
Before starting you will need to:
*clean your countertops (about 3 times) with a degreaser.
*tape off the edges (painter tape is recommended)

Step 1: Apply a thin coat of the primer to the entire area and allow to dry for a minimum of four hours (we let it dry overnight)

Step 2: Cut your sponge and begin sponging on the colors in two feet sections. All of the products are labeled which makes the project go very smooth. You will sponge on three colors, one at a time. Continue this process until you receive your desired look.

Step 3: Apply the sealer. We applied two coats of the sealer (you can do a maximum of three coats).

Giani Granite offers countertop painting kits in a wide variety of colors:
*Sicilian Sand
*Chocolate Brown
*Bombay Black
*Roma Red
*Sapphire Blue
*Emerald Green

We thought the Giani granite paint worked great, we didn't have any issues with the application process. I have had it on my countertops for a month now and have not had any problems whatsoever. Next, we will be painting our cabinets and cabinet doors. Then we will paint the kitchen! I love the new countertops and have received compliments from everyone who comes over.

The generous folks at Giani Granite have offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a Giani Granite countertop painting kit in their choice of color. Can't wait? Buy it now. Giani Granite countertop painting kits sell for $69.95 and can be purchased here.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND tell me what you dislike about your kitchen the most.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @GianiGranite101 on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Giani Granite on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Visit Giani Granite and tell me the color you would choose if you won.
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

Can't afford Granite Countertops? #Win the next best thing from @GianiGranite101 & @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/gm093I #contest #giveaway

Thank you Giani Granite!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end April 2nd at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Luvs Heavy Dooty Protection Diapers Review & Giveaway

2011-03-16T00:05:00.003-04:00

Luvs has recently changed the design of their diapers. They now have an adorable monkey design! After surveying current users of Luvs diapers, P&G is releasing a new, adorable monkey design – a look that is preferred three-to-one by those surveyed – enhancing the diaper-changing experience for parents. There will also be a diaper packaging upgrade that will consist of new, updated photography and an added back package panel that will provide parents and caretakers with additional product information.

For all you Luvs lovers, don't worry, because while the look may be new, the diapers will still be comprised of the same trusted and safe materials used in all previous versions of the product – and will still have the same performance, quality and value parents have come to expect from the Luvs brand. Find out more at http://luvsdiapers.com

I received a box of the newly-designed Luvs diapers and love them. My daughter Brianna is 16 months old and crawls, walks and climbs everywhere and these diapers allow her to move comfortably and still provide superior leak protection. We finished the box that I received for this review and my fiance picked up another because we thought they were great and the price is right! Plus, I happen to love the new design!

As always, Luvs still offers ultraguard money-back guarantee: If Luvs doesn’t meet your leakage performance, they will refund your money.

Luvs has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader their very own pack of size 4 Luvs. Can't wait? Luvs are available at Wal-Mart and many other well-known stores.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND tell me a cute/funny story about your little one(s).
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @Luvs on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
Follow @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter handle)
"Like" Luvs on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
"Like" One Haute Mommy on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook handle)
Subscribe via email (2 extra entries)
Subscribe via RSS (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway (5 extra entries)
Grab my button and post link so I can verify (2 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry per tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

#Win a pack of @Luvs Heavy Dooty Diapers from @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/gH60cF #contest #giveaway

Thank you Luvs!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end March 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Have fun & make it a movie night with Redbox tonight!

2011-03-10T13:02:00.004-05:00

The only thing better than $1 a night movies – free movies! Lucky for you, redbox, America’s destination for movie rentals, is giving everyone the chance to score free movie credits now through St. Patrick’s Day, during the Lucky to Have Friends Like You promotion. Rental credits are valid for ten (10) days after they’ve been deposited into your account.

Follow these steps to score free redbox movies from now until Thursday, March 17th.

* Sign-up for a redbox online account at www.redbox.com/luckymoms
Why? By signing up for an online account, you can see what movies are currently in redbox kiosks near you and reserve your picks to guarantee they’ll still be waiting for you when you get there (until 9 p.m. the next day).
* Redbox will email you a personal web address link
* Share the link with your friends
* Every time someone reserves a movie online through your personal web address, you’ll receive a credit in your online account for a free one-night DVD rental
* If it is your friend’s first time reserving online, they’ll also receive a credit for a free one night rental
* Spread the luck! Email it, post it to Facebook, Tweet about it

“HAVE FUN AND MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT WITH REDBOX TONIGHT!”

Disclosure - This post enters me for a chance to win free redbox movies and movie snack packs as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

Earthen Instantpeel Review

2011-03-08T23:12:00.002-05:00

I am always on the look out for new skin products and when I was sent Earthen's Instantpeel to review, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. It just sounded too good to be true, but it wasn't. This is actually a skin products that does what it says it does.

I used the Instantpeel while taking a shower. I followed the directions and applied the product to a small area on my face and firmly massaged it back and forth. It was amazing how much dead skin cells, this product removed. After using this product, my complexion is brighter and my skin feels fantastic! I have been looking for a product like this for years!

From the website:

InstantPeelTM naturally and gently peels away dead skin cells, debris and impurities to reveal skin's true vibrancy. InstantPeel isn't a facial scrub. The gentle action comes from InstantPeel's unique combination of proteins and enzymes, and is proven safe for even the most sensitive skin. InstantPeel is a natural exfoliator and an effective alternative to facial scrubs, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, which can cause irritation. You can't overuse InstantPeel. Once the dead skin and debris are peeled away, InstantPeel stops working, revealing a youthful glow.

Use Earthen's InstantPeel:

* For naturally glowing skin — Clinical results show highly significant improvement in skin's radiance and facial rejuvenation following a single application. The elimination of dead skin cells speeds up new skin cell production for noticeably younger-looking skin.
* To dramatically improve skin texture — Studies show InstantPeel's natural exfoliators significantly decrease flakiness. As we get older, the shedding of older skin cells slows down. InstantPeel removes the uneven outer layer of skin cells.
* To avoid the irritation of microdermabrasion and chemical peels — InstantPeel is sensitization-tested for all skin types. Natural proteins bond with dead skin cells to gently lift and peel away instantly.

You can purchase the Instantpeel for $50 (includes 6 single use packages) here and it is definitely worth the money!

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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Purex Complete Crystals Review and Giveaway (3 winners)

2011-03-01T21:31:00.005-05:00

I am constantly trying out new fabric softeners because I want it all. I want a fabric softener that smells great, leaves my clothes feeling soft and is easy to use. I thought that I was asking for to much until I tried Purex Complete Crystals, yes it is that good.

Purex Complete Crystals are a purer way to get laundry that smells clean and fresh for weeks. 92% natural, this product’s unique crystal form works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue, because it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance. In addition, since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.

How to Use It: Simply add Purex Complete Crystals Softener directly with your laundry at the beginning of every wash cycle to infuse fabrics with long lasting freshness.

When I first opened the bottle and saw the crystals, I didn't know what to think. It was different than any other laundry softener I had ever used. The dispenser is great, the product dispenses with ease. No residue was left behind (like some powdered laundry detergents do). The clothes came out smelling incredibly fresh and soft. A big plus is that Purex Complete Crystals are 92% natural. I will definitely continue to purchase this product.

A little bit more about this amazing product:
Do ALL of your laundry—worry free! Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for
all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners.
Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. Unlike other softeners, Crystals will:

• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes

• Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body

• Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water

• Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying vs. using traditional softeners

The product won’t harm your clothes, is safe and convenient for the entire family and comes in three scents! Purex Complete Crystals are available in food, drug stores, and mass retailers nationwide starting at $3.99.

Purex has generously offered 3 lucky One Haute Mommy readers the chance to win a free bottle of Purex Complete Crystals.

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#Win a bottle of @Purex Complete Crystals Softener from @OneHauteMommy (3 winners) http://bit.ly/etTSfl #contest #giveaway

Thank you Purex!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end March 15th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Sharing happiness with others is easy and feels great

2011-02-16T17:19:00.003-05:00

Sharing happiness is a great way to spread joy, but how do you do it? Well there are simple and free ways that you can share happiness each day.

Be Polite:
In these days, it is rather uncommon for people to be polite to one another. A simple way of sharing happiness with others is to simply be polite. Remember to say please, thank you, and you're welcome to others. When someone sneezes, says "Bless you". Teach your children to be polite to others, it really goes a long way.

Smile:
Sharing happiness with others can be as simple as a smile. When you pass a co-worker in the hallway acknowledge them with a smile or a nice "hello". Even smiling as complete strangers on the street can make their day. I know I have had tough days and when someone smiles at me or says "hello" to me it really brings a sense of happiness to me.

Donate:
We all have extra clothes and other miscellaneous items that we really do not need and that are taking space up in our homes. A great way to share happiness with others is to donate your old and unwanted items to other charities or people who can use them. This is actually a win-win situation because not only are you giving to those in need, but you are also creating a more organized and clutter free home for yourself.

Listen:
A great way to share happiness it to be a good listener. Sometimes when a friend or family member calls, they just want someone to listen. Everyone needs to vent sometimes.

Appreciation:
Telling someone you appreciate them is a great way to share and spread happiness. Everyone need and wants to feel appreciated. Next time you're significant other has a tough day at work, tell them how much your appreciate how hard they work.

Volunteer:
Volunteering is a great way to share happiness and really helps others out. I know that not everyone has the time to volunteer, but if you do it will make you feel great knowing that you are helping a cause. You can volunteer at your local hospital, animal shelter, or food bank to name a few.

Sharing happiness is a great way to make others happy and in doing so, you will make yourself happy as well. If we each can do one nice thing for another person each day, the world would really be a much happier place. Believe it or not, happiness is contagious!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hershey's blogging program, for a gift card worth $25 and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Enjoy Lighting Flameless Candles Review & Giveaway

2011-02-10T17:20:00.003-05:00

I love candles, they create such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. However, I am the person who lays in bed wondering if I remembered to blow the candles out and if they went out. Of course, that leads to me getting out of bed and double checking. When Enjoy Lighting offered to send me some of their flameless candles to review, I jumped on the opportunity.

Enjoy Lighting sent me two of their Mottled Texture flameless candles (Bayberry fragrance). The color and texture is absolutely beautiful. The fragrance smells fantastic. The candles have a very realistic look, they even flicker. The look and feel like regular candles, but are flameless. I am in love with them and cannot wait to purchase more.

From the website:

Features & Benefits
• Available in 3x4, 3x6, & 4x8”
• Astonishingly realistic 100,000 hour Triple-LED flickering light source
• Available with Multi-Hour Timer Mode
• 300+ Hour Battery Life
• Requires 4 ‘AA’ Batteries
• Realistic Melted Edge
• Distinct Fragrances

Why Flameless Candles?

Safety – Traditional wicked candles cause over 15,000 house fires each year. With flameless candles, there is no fire risk if a candle is knocked over or placed too close to a curtains or furniture. Flameless candles are 100% safe around children and pets.

Décor – Use flameless candles in areas where wicked candles can’t go – in a floral arrangement or centerpiece, near curtains or drapes, on shelving or book shelves, in children’s bedrooms, and more.

Convenience – Candles won’t blow out when used outdoors. Some models include a built-in timer allowing the candle to turn on and off when you want it to, every day, at the same time. Set it once and your candle will automatically turn on and provide ambiance every day – without any effort on your part. Set it and forget it!

Cleanliness – no soot build up on your walls or ceilings. No melting wax on your furniture or carpet.

Cost Savings – while a traditional wicked candle can burn out in hours or days, Enjoy Lighting flameless candles will last for years. The LED lamp will operate for up to 10 years or 100,000 hours and a set of batteries can provide at least 300 hours of battery life.* With just the minimal cost of replacing batteries, flameless candles offer a 75% annual savings when compared to purchasing traditional wicked candles.

Enjoy Lighting has offered to give one lucky One Haute Mommy reader two of their beautiful flameless candles. Can't wait? Buy it now! Visit here to view all of stores that currently sell Enjoy Lighting products. Enjoy Lighting will not give or send candles to winners of past Enjoy Lighting blog reviews and giveaways.

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#Win 2 Flameless Candles From @EnjoyFlameless and @OneHauteMommy Ends 2/24 http://bit.ly/gSIwGP #contest #giveaway

Thank you Enjoy Lighting!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end February 24th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Enjoy Lighting will not give or send candles to winners of past Enjoy Lighting blog reviews and giveaways. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Powermat Wireless Charging Review

2011-02-09T10:43:00.003-05:00

When Powermat offered to send me the Powermat to review, I was ecstatic. I have heard many wonderful things about the Powermat and couldn't wait to try it out.

The Powermat is an amazing device that can charge up to 3 devices at one time wirelessly. I received the Powermat 3X Mat (retails for $79.99), the Powermat Powercube (retails for $39.99), and the Powermat Receiver Case for Ipod Touch (retails for $39.99). These products are wonderful and Powermat offers bundled solutions so you can save money! Visit here to view the bundled solutions!

I absolutely love the Powermat! It has eliminated the mass of chords that used to clutter my bedroom. I now just use the Powermat to charge my cell phone, my fiances cell phone, and our iPods. The Powermat charges just as fast (if not faster) than typical chargers. The Powermat not only eliminated chords, but it also conserves energy. It automatically stops charging once the device is fully charged, unlike typical phone and iPod chargers. The Powermat also has different adapters for almost every cell phone!

How does it work? (from the website)
The Powermat Wireless Charging System provides a simple, fast and efficient way to keep all of your favorite personal electronic devices charged. Enabling your devices with Powermat Receivers allows you to Drop and Charge them on any Powermat Mat to experience wireless charging. A magnetic attraction between every Receiver and each access point on every Mat assures that alignment is precise and the most efficient charging will occur. Communication between the Mat and the Receiver allows the mat to deliver an exact amount of power for the proper length of time so that the transfer of power is safe and efficient and no energy is ever wasted. A unique sound tells you that a solid connection has been made and your device is charging. A second, similar sound is heard when the device is removed. Each access point has a corresponding light indicator that informs you that wireless charging is occurring. When a device reaches full charge, power is shut off to that device. This not only saves energy, but it also prevents overcharging of the device's battery, which can shorten battery life. Once full power is achieved and the Auto Shut Off has occurred to save energy and avoid overcharging the device's battery, the system will monitor the status of the battery.

Pick up your very own Powermat here and eliminate mass quantities of chords and save energy!

White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Spray Review

2011-02-08T20:41:00.002-05:00

I have natural curly hair and when I say curly, I mean super curly. I enjoy wearing my hair naturally and also straightening it to mix things up a bit so I am always on the look out for new products. I live in Florida so the humidity causes a lot of frizz! I received the White Sands liquid texture spray in medium hold and I love it! To begin with, it is a thermal spray which is great when using using flat irons or hair dryers. The product also gave my hair an incredible shine without looking greasy which is a major plus.
I used this product with my flat iron and it left my hair soft and shiny (not greasy). The hold was perfect and lasted for a long time and my hair did not frizz even with the lovely Florida humidity.

Product features from the White Sands website:
* Thermal Spray
* Great for round brush styling
* The more heat applied, the shinier the hair becomes
* Moisture resistant
* Color enhancers
* Unlimited styling options
* Can comb through
* Apply hot irons on wet or dry product
* No flaking or residue on hot tools

Purchase White Sands Liquid Texture Thermal Spray here and view all the other incredible White Sands products here!

Simple Changes for the New Year

2011-01-19T16:36:00.003-05:00

Each year, most of us make New Years resolutions. Most of the time, we fail to achieve them. This year instead of making a New Years resolutions, I am making simple changes. Personally, I feel that making simple changes is much easier than making a resolution and is a more realistic approach.

My first simple change for the New Year is to become more organized. Organizing my household will make it much easier for me to find things and stay on track with what needs to be done. I plan on achieving this change by slowing organizing my household, piece by piece or area by area. If I look at organizing as a big picture, it becomes a huge task. However, by organizing one small piece/area a day or week, it becomes a much smaller and achievable task. It is also more rewarding because I feel a sense of achievement with each area that I organize.

Another simple change that I am working on this year is to eat healthier. I am doing this by slowing trying new vegetables and fruits. I am also looking up new recipes and making one new meal a week. I am slowly replacing unhealthy foods with healthy and nutritious foods. This is a simple, but big change for my family because I want to set a healthy example for my children. I feel that when they see my fiance and I eating healthy meals, they will want to eat healthy meals.

My final (for the time being) simple change this year is to take a little time out for myself. As a mother, I find that we (mothers) often neglect to take time out for ourselves. We do not mean to, but we put our families first, which is a great thing. However, mommies need a little mommy time as well. We need a bit of pampering! We need a bit of quiet time! I plan on achieving this goal by doing something for myself each day, whether it be take a relaxing bath or even painting my nails.

Once I complete these simple changes, I will add more to the list. Each simple change will help myself and family in the long run. So how about you? What simple changes are you going to make this New Year and why? How will you achieve them? Please leave a comment and share with me!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece.

CSN Stores Giveaway

2011-01-11T23:21:00.004-05:00

If you haven't read my CSN Stores post, please visit here first!

CSN Stores has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a $35 gift certificate to their stores!

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit CSN Stores and tell what you would purchase if you won this gift certificate.
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#Win a $35 CSN Stores e-certificate via @OneHauteMommy and @CSNstores http://bit.ly/hQRhWX #contest #giveaway

Thank you CSN stores!

Open to residents of US and Canada only. Giveaway begins now and will end January 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

A different side of me: Anxiety 411

2011-01-11T10:06:00.007-05:00

This is me: I am a 26 year old mother of two beautiful children and I am engaged to a great guy. I love to laugh. I love to smile. I love cuddling with my fiance on the couch. I love tickling my children and hearing them laugh. I love the smell of fresh air. I love the sound of the waves crashing at the beach. I love when the night sky is loaded with beautiful sparkling stars. I love watching the sunset.

What you don't know about me is that I constantly worry. I suffer from a disorder called Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. It sucks and its debilitating. I was diagnosed with GAD and panic attacks at 19 years old. I had no clue what was going on with me and went to the hospital twice. I cried and cried because this was foreign to me. Finally, I went to a regular doctor and they diagnosed and explained the condition to me.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a pattern of frequent, constant worry and anxiety over many different activities and events. Generalized anxiety disorder has the following symptoms:
* Difficulty concentrating
* Difficulty controlling worry
* Excess anxiety and worry that is out of proportion to the situation most of the time
* Excessive sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath, and stomach/intestinal symptoms
* Fatigue
* Irritability
* Muscle tension -- shakiness, headaches
* Restlessness or feeling keyed up or "on the edge"
* Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep; or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Panic attacks or Panic Disorder is defined as an anxiety disorder that causes repeated, unexpected attacks of intense fear. These attacks may last from minutes to hours.
Panic Disorder has the following symptoms:
With panic disorder, at least four of the following symptoms suddenly occur within 10 minutes. Attacks may be followed by at least 1 month of persistent fear of having another attack.
* Chest pain or discomfort
* Dizziness or faintness
* Fear of dying
* Fear of losing control
* Feeling of choking
* Feelings of detachment
* Feelings of unreality
* Nausea or upset stomach
* Numbness or tingling
* Palpitations or pounding heart
* Sensation of shortness of breath
* Sweating, chills, or hot flashes
* Trembling or shaking

I haven't ever been able to write about this disorder, mainly because of embarrassment. I do not drive because I am afraid that I will have a panic attack and be in a car by myself and freak out. I can drive if accompanied by someone else. It sucks because things that people without this disorder do on a regular basis (driving and going shopping for example) are things that a person with this disorder dreads or worries about. I personally worry about having a panic attack most of the time when going out. Granted, if I did, you probably wouldn't be able to tell. But I feel like you can tell.

I wanted to post this because I want people to understand and I want to finally accept my condition without being embarrassed about it. This is not something that I wanted or asked for. It sucks when people say "just get over it" or tell me that I am over-reacting. If I could "just get over it", I would have gotten over it a long time ago...it's just not that easy.

I had gone quite a while without having a panic attack. A few weeks ago, during exams, my anxiety kicked it and I had a few panic attacks. I am currently taking natural supplements to deal with the anxiety and I also have the generic form of Ativan that I can take on an as needed basis. I am going to talk to my doctor about going back on prescription medication. I think for the longest time, I didn't want to admit that I needed a prescription to cope with the disorder. I am finally trying to accept it for what it is, a disorder. I go to counseling and take action to help myself get better, but sometimes medication is needed to prevent future panic attacks.

My problem is that I will take a treatment (medication or therapy) and it will work and then I just stop because I think I am better. Then months later, its back and I basically start at square one all over again. I am finally accepting that I may have to be on medication to cope with the disorder. Many times, anxiety disorders are from a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by to too much or too little serotonin. That is where the medication helps.

Writing about this is very personal to me as I said before I have a difficult time discussing this disorder with friends and family so posting about it on my blog is a big step for me. I would love to hear your opinions, just please be nice!

CSN Stores

2011-01-10T14:24:00.003-05:00

We have been remodeling our home and I am so excited! We just finished painting the inside our house and I am getting ready to paint an accent wall in the next few weeks. Because of the color changes, I have been looking for new decor and furniture. I have been looking at CSN stores daily. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be modern dining furniture, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware! I have found plenty items that are on my "wish list" from CSN stores and cannot wait to start shopping.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-06T16:05:00.003-05:00

I know I haven't been posting much lately but I took a few weeks off. I am currently getting my blog edited and will begin to post regularly in a few days! I have quite a few upcoming reviews and giveaways so be sure to sign up via email to be updated!

WooLoot Watches, you have to check them out!

2010-12-24T00:40:00.002-05:00

I love accessories and I think that watches make beautiful accessories. I also like uniqueness in accessories and that is why I love WooLoot watches! WooLoot produces unique, colorful watches (as well as headphones, headwear and bags). The best thing about WooLoot is that their watches are designed to be both fashionable and sporty! A combination that you absolutely cannot go wrong with. When I head to the gym, I always take my watch off. With WooLoot, there is no need to take your watch off. They are durable and meant for both the athlete and fashionista. The price is unbeatable as well, starting at $19.99 and reaching a high of $39.99 which is a great price for a watch in my opinion. So head over to WooLoot and check out their products, you won't be disappointed!

$100 JCPenney Gift Card Giveaway on Simple Being Mommy's Blog!

2010-12-23T22:44:00.002-05:00

I love shopping so I was stoked when I saw that Simple Being Mommy is giving two of her readers the chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card. I entered and you should too. Enter here!

Holiday Cards 2010

2010-12-12T21:23:00.002-05:00

Family Memories Christmas Card

For hundreds of Christmas card designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

I just finished our Holiday cards! Let me know what you think!

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ Overall Beauty Mineral Eyeshadows Review & Giveaway

2010-12-11T22:00:00.003-05:00

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love mineral makeup. I have used many different brands and tried many different shades and I am extremely impressed with Overall Beauty mineral eye-shadows. I was given the opportunity to chose four mineral eyeshadows from Overall Beauty which were nicely packed in a handcrafted cosmetic bag (cosmetic bags are made by Little Worm). I chose:
Basic Black ~ Eyeliner

Matte White

Silver

Storm

I used the shades to create a beautiful smokey eye! The basic black is used as an eyeliner and is the best product ever, seriously! I highly recommend that you purchase this product. This was the first mineral eyeliner that I have ever used. The application was so easy (I applied it with a medium angle brush to my upper and lower lash line) and I was able to get a perfect line on my first try. This generally is time consuming for me, but with the basic black eyeliner, it took about a minute. The silver and storm shades look very similar in the color samples, but they are not. The storm shade is darker and has a more glittery effect. I am in love with this color. I used the silver as my base shade, applied storm to the crease and blended it in the outer corner of my eyelids, I used the basic black as an eyeliner on both my lower and upper lashes and applied the matte white above my brow bone up to my eyebrows.

I love the fact that you only need a very small amount of each shade to create the ultimate look. Rule of thumb, always start with a small amount and apply more as needed. A little bit goes a long way, especially when you are working with mineral makeup.
If you haven't worked with mineral eye shadows before, Overall Beauty has a great
article with a video to help you out.
http://www.overallbeauty.com/catalog/apply-mineral-shadow-beginners-a-188.html

Overall Beauty has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a set of four mineral eyeshadows (winner chooses the shades). Can't wait? Get it now. Overall Beauty mineral eyeshadows can be purchased at OverallBeauty.com. The prices are: Sample $1.50, 3 Gram $4.99, 5 Gram $7.99, 10 Gram $11.99.

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❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ #Win Choice of 4 mineral eyeshadows via @overallbeauty & @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/ghpQa2

Enter any of my other giveaways! (2 extra entries for each additional giveaway that you enter--leave a separate comment for each and must tell me which giveaway(s) you entered)

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Thank you Overall Beauty for sponsoring this giveaway and supporting Santa's Little Bloggers!

Open to residents of US only. Giveaway begins now and will end December 21st at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ Okabashi Casual Sandals Review

2010-12-07T22:54:00.002-05:00

Going green or have someone on your Christmas list that is? Well I have the perfect gift for you. Okabashi shoes! Okabashi recycles shoes to create new ones. Amazing!
How does Okabashi shoe recycling work?

Okabashi recycling starts with the raw material that we use to make the shoes. It's a specially formulated, patented, recyclable blend of plastics called Microplast. The material is unique in that it can be softened and remolded. It is also far more durable than the plastics used in other similar sandals and shoes, so your shoes should last at least 2 years. Okabashi also refrains from using adhesives to glue shoes together. Adhesives cause contamination, which makes recycling very difficult.

When the Okabashis finally do show enough wear that they need to be recycled, just send them to us. After they arrive, our team will inspect them for contaminants. If the shoes are contamination-free, we grind them up and blend the little pieces of previously molded Okabashis into the mixture for new Okabashis. The plastics are softened at temperatures that do not release any unhealthy chemicals into the environment, and then remolded into new, beautiful Okabashi shoes.

All Okabashi shoes and sandals are also made in the US. Okabashi employs 250 full time workers in Georgia. Because Okabashis are produced here in the US, there is a lot less travel involved in shipping them (compared to other brands). This means a huge reduction in the carbon footprint of the product - which is good for the planet.

I was sent the Maui Flip-Flops to review and I think they are fabulous. They are very stylish and chic. They are incredibly comfortable and durable. The Maui Flip-Flops have massage beads that focus on the arch and midfoot making these flip-flops extremely comfortable. You can purchase the Maui Flip-Flops here for only $14.99.

But wait! As if Okabashi shoes couldn't get any better, they have an amazing deal going on right now. You can get 12, yes 12 pairs of Okabashis, for $100. That is $8.34 a pair! It gets even better because orders over $40 get free shipping. Click here to get "the deal" (you have to call in your order to get the deal).

Follow Okabashi on Twitter by clicking here and fan Okabashi on Facebook here.

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ Hard Candy Review

2010-12-07T22:20:00.002-05:00

I am a makeup fanatic! I love experimenting with new colors and new products to create new looks. Hard Candy offers a wide variety of cosmetics at wallet-friendly prices. These products make great Christmas presents and stocking stuffers. Hard Candy even offers a wide variety of gift sets fit for any and every beauty junkie. Here are a few of my favorite products from the Hard Candy line:
Take Me Out Liner - Glitter

Hide & Glow Cheek

Mini Nail Polish & Nail File

1,000 Lashes Fiberized Lash Weave Mascara

I was sent the 1,000 Lashes Fiberized Lash Weave Mascara in underground brown and I love it. It separates and defines lashes while giving them a very full and voluminous appearance. I was also send the Hide & Glow Cheek and thought it worked very well. You can use each shade separate or combine the two. It gives a just blushed look and looks very natural.

Hard Candy products are sold exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com so head over to your local Walmart and get your loved ones some Hard Candy.

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ Carmex Lip Tints Review & Giveaway

2010-12-07T00:10:00.003-05:00

Carmex is an amazing company with amazing products, thus the reason they have been around for over 70 years! Carmex has added a bunch of new products to their already amazing product line including lip tints. Lip tints are derived from the Carmex Mositure Plus products, but have a tint added. Just enough to add a little touch of color/shimmer to your lips. Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Tints are available is two fabulous shades: sheer pink and sheer peach.

I am not a lip stick user so I really like the Lip Tints. They are not to bold, but noticeable. The consistency is great, not to sticky and not to dry. Plus, they last a while which is a major plus. These would be a great stocking stuffer for your loved ones!

Carmex has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader the chance to win a set of the new Moisture Plus Lip Tints. Can't wait? Get it now. Carmex Lip Tints can be purchased at your local Walgreens or online at Walgreens.com for only $2.99 each.

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Carmex and tell me another product you would love to try.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @CarmexLipBalm on Twitter. Leave your twitter handle.

Follow my blog @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. Leave your twitter handle.

Like Carmex on Facebook. Leave your Facebook handle.

Fan One Haute Mommy
on Facebook. Leave your Facebook handle. (5 entries)

Subscribe to my feed (right side bar)

Subscribe via e-mail (must confirm subscription, 5 entries)

Enter any of Army Wife Life and Reviews Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (2 entries per giveaway and must tell me which giveaway(s) you entered)

Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry for each tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ #Win Carmex Lip Tints via @CarmexLipBalm & @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/hxnfCS

Enter any of my other giveaways! (2 extra entries for each additional giveaway that you enter--leave a separate comment for each and must tell me which giveaway(s) you entered)

Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries (leave a seperate comment for each, must include link to post)
Thank you Carmex for sponsoring this giveaway and supporting Santa's Little Bloggers!

Open to residents of US and Canada only. Giveaway begins now and will end December 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ Charm Factory Review & Giveaway

2010-12-04T22:30:00.003-05:00

This holiday season you cannot go wrong with a beautiful charm bracelet from Charm Factory. Charm Factory offers unique, high quality, sterling silver charms, charm bracelets and more. Products from Charm Factory are lead free and made in the USA. Charm Factory also offers free shipping on orders over $25.00.

I was sent the Silver Star bracelet and it is gorgeous. This bracelet (and all others from Charm Factory) are made from .925 sterling silver. The first thing I noticed about the bracelet was the quality. It is sturdy which is great because I have two children who love to pull on my jewelry. The bracelet is incredibly shiny and I received quite a few compliments on it. What's even better is the price, only $27.99 and it includes a free gift box.

Charm Factory offers a wide variety of finished charm bracelets. All bracelets are reasonably priced and there is one for every style. Click here to see the entire collection of finished charm bracelets from Charm Factory.

Charm Factory has generously offered one lucky One Haute Mommy reader one of there beautiful finished charmed bracelets. Can't wait? Get it now!

MANATORY ENTRY: (Must be completed first or other entries with be void)
Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect AND visit Charm Factory and tell me which bracelet is your favorite.
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
Follow @Charm_Factory on Twitter. Leave your twitter handle.

Follow my blog @OneHauteMommy on Twitter. Leave your twitter handle.

Like Charm Factory on Facebook. Leave your Facebook handle.

Fan One Haute Mommy
on Facebook. Leave your Facebook handle.

Subscribe to my feed (right side bar)

Subscribe via e-mail (must confirm subscription, 5 entries)

Enter any of Army Wife Life and Reviews Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (2 entries per giveaway and must tell me which giveaway(s) you entered)

Tweet about this giveaway (Can be tweeted 3x a day, 1 extra entry for each tweet, must leave permalink to each tweet)

❄Holiday Gift Guide 2010❄ #Win a Beautiful Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet via @Charm_Factory & @OneHauteMommy http://bit.ly/fFtL2x

Enter any of my other giveaways! (2 extra entries for each additional giveaway that you enter--leave a separate comment for each and must tell me which giveaway(s) you entered)

Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries (leave a seperate comment for each, must include link to post)
Thank you Charm Factory for sponsoring this giveaway and supporting Santa's Little Bloggers!

Open to residents of US and Canada only. Giveaway begins now and will end December 18th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to the winning email notification before another winner is chosen. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!