Burt's Bees Review

Have you heard of Burt's Bees products?  They are definitely one of my favorite skin care brands.  After I discovered their diaper rash ointment, I never went back to the other name brands.  Partly because of all the wonderful natural ingredients, but mostly because it worked so much better.  The only bummer?  The price tag!  Ack.....why does Burt's Bees have to be so expensive!

When I was contacted to do a review on their Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin line, I jumped at the chance.  Here is what I received:

One container of facial cleanser and one container of daily moisturizing cream.  I started using them right away.  I have VERY sensitive skin.  Most products I have tried end up making me break out and turning my face blotchy and red.  Even the products that promise to be so clean and pure.....those mess up my face.  So, I was very curious to see how Burt's Bees would perform.  At first the cleanser did what all other cleansers have done - made me break out.  But my skin is stupid and finicky - it does that whenever I try ANYTHING new.  *sigh*  I stuck with it and it's now working great.  The cleanser itself is very thick, white and creamy.  It had very little scent whatsoever.  I like that in a product.  I can't stand nasty chemical fragrance.  Yuck.  The daily moisturizing cream is great, too.  It made my face feel smooth without feeling like I had a heavy cream on my face.  I don't normally need facial lotion during the summer months (because of the humidity), but I definitely need it in the winter (it gets really dry here).  This stuff is working great for me.  Yay!

I am a Bzzagent and received these products for free in return for an honest opinion.

Shutterfly Giveaway!

Remember last year when you helped me choose my Christmas card?  Well, this year I have something even better!  Shutterfly has generously offered 25 free holiday cards for 3 of my readers!  How cool is that!?

Like I said before, I'm not one to go all out on Christmas cards.  I don't like spending lots of money on something that people will look at once or twice and then throw away.  I'd rather pay just a couple dollars for some generic box of cards in the clearance bin.  But after my experience last year with Shutterfly, I just might be changing my tune.  It was so fun to design the card on their website.  It was very user-friendly, and I'm one of those that can get easily distracted and lost on a webpage.  Shhhh....don't tell anyone that I said that.  Their prices were very affordable and so many of my family and friends loved them!  My mom STILL has the one we sent to her on display in her living room.  That never happened with my old, cheesy, generic Christmas cards.

If you haven't been over to Shutterfly yet, they have lots of fun things to offer.  They have their holiday cards, of course.  But they also have lots of fun photo items that make great Christmas gifts.  Not to mention the photo books that are great for gift giving!

Ok, so on to the giveaway!!!

Mandatory entry:

All you have to do for this giveaway is leave a comment about Christmas cards.  Do you send them out?  Do you do letters and/or cards?  Do you not do anything?  Tell me what you think about sending/receiving holiday cards!

Additional entries:

"Like" Household Cents on Facebook.

Follow Household Cents on Twitter.

Follow Household Cents on Google Friend Connect.

Follow Household Cents on Networked Blogs.

Grab the Household Cents Button.

Share about this giveaway on your Facebook wall.

Blog about this giveaway.


There you have it, EIGHT different ways to enter this contest.  Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Remember, this contest will have 3 winners, so you have a great chance of winning!  I'll use random.org to choose the winners and announce them on my Facebook page on November 14, 2011.  Good luck!

Chunky Bling Swarovski Ring Giveaway!

Have you heard of Chunky Bling?

When I first heard of them, I have to admit that I wasn't that interested.  Just another jewelry website.  Or so I thought....

When I actually looked into them, I was quite surprised at what I found.  Some of the jewelry was very pretty and appealing to me, and some of it wasn't quite my style.  But....the price was VERY much my style.  I couldn't believe that I had found handmade jewelry that was affordable.  I must admit, though, that I was skeptical.  I take pride in my frugality, but when I find something like jewelry that is actually affordable, I just assume it must be junk.  Once again, Chunky Bling proved me wrong.  I have been the proud owner of one of their Swarovski Pearl Rings for almost a year now and I am impressed.  It's very beautiful, high quality and I get compliments whenever I wear it.  The thing I like the most about it is that it fits over my big knuckles but still fits nice and snug on my small finger.

Another fun thing they offer is their online jewelry party.  They say to "Think of it as a Tupperware party, but without the hassle of vacuuming, dusting and preparing food before guests arrive.  Because you can do everything right from your computer!"

COUPON CODE!!


The generous people at Chunky Bling are offering an exclusive coupon code for all of you.  You can use it to get any watch set for only $24.95.  Use the code:  TANYA234    This coupon code is good through November 21, 2011.  I can think of at least two people on my Christmas list that would love one of these watches.


GIVEAWAY!!


Chunky Bling is also offering to give away one Swarovski Ring of any color and style to one of you!  How great is that?!?  Here are the details:

Mandatory Entry:

All you have to do is visit Chunky Bling's Build Your Own Watch page and come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite watch band and face combination.

Additional Entries:

For more entries, feel free to do any or all of the following (leave a comment for each thing you do):

~ Like Chunky Bling on Facebook
~ Participate in the Name That Bling contest
~ Follow me on GFC
~ Follow me on Network Blogs
~ Like me on Facebook
~ Follow me on Twitter
~ Grab my Button
~ Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall/page
~ Blog about this giveaway

That makes a total of 10 possible entries!  I will be using random.org to choose a winner and announce it on my Facebook page on November 14, 2011.  (This giveaway if for US and Canadian residents only.)


Good luck!

"The Magic Warble" Giveaway - Winner!

Thank you to all who entered this giveaway!  I used random.org to choose the winner from the comments and she is.....

Amy W.

Congratulations!  The author will be in contact with you soon.

Thanks again to all who participated!

Garden of Weed'n Update

It's been awhile since the last garden update.  I have been able to get a lot more tomatoes and peppers since the weather stayed so warm.  It seems to be cooling off for good now, so soon the only thing left in my garden will be some cooler weather veggies.

Lots of tomatoes.

Gobs of cherry tomatoes.

Lots of green peppers and jalapenos.

Tomatillo - it looks like I'll have a pretty big harvest of these babies.  Salsa Verde here I come.

"The Magic Warble" Review and Giveaway

I love a good book.  Do you?  My kids are definitely following in my footsteps as they love to read, too.  When I was contacted to do a review of a fantasy novel for children ages 9-13, I jumped at the chance.

The book is called, The Magic Warble, written by Victoria Simcox.

It's a story of a 12-year old misfit girl who is mysteriously transported to another world full of dwarfs, fairies, talking animals and an enchanted ball referred to as the "magic warble".  As it turns out, this misfit girl is instrumental in the mission of returning the warble to it's rightful home and ridding the land of the evil queen.  The girl makes wonderful friends along the journey and learns plenty of lessons, including ones that have to do with perseverance and sacrifice.

When this book first arrived, I started reading it out loud to my kids.  My 11 year old daughter and 8 year old son loved it.  Even my 5 year old daughter would listen in and seemed to enjoy it.  It's full of adventure, excitement, twists and turns.  It also reads at a fast pace and the chapters are short - this is great for those kids who get bored quickly (like mine).

The author has generously offered to give one of you a signed copy of The Magic Warble!  This could be a great Christmas present for the middle-school aged child in your life!  And there are plenty of ways to enter this giveaway - so there are plenty of chances to win!


Enter to win:

Mandatory Entry:  Leave a comment telling me who you would give this book to if you were to win.


Other ways to win:

(Please leave a comment for each entry)

- Follow Victoria Simcox on Google Friend Connect on her blog

- "Like" The Magic Warble on Facebook

- Follow Victoria Simcox on Twitter

- Grab The Magic Warble button

- Follow Household Cents on Google Friend Connect

- Follow Household Cents on Twitter

- "Like" Household Cents on Facebook

- Grab my button

- Blog about this giveaway


Woohoo!  That's a total of ten possible entries!  Knock yourself out.

I will be announcing a winner on Tuesday October 18th, 2011, using random.org.  This giveaway is for US only.

Of course, if you don't want to wait for the giveaway to end, you can just purchase the book at The Magic Warble website.




***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.***