Distinct Papers Review & Giveaway!

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by Distinct Papers for the review & giveaway free of charge.****

The holidays are coming which means it is time to start getting Holiday cards together, the kids will be starting their Christmas wish lists and holiday event invites will go out. During the holidays I enjoy sending my greeting cards in colored envelopes, I typically just stick with the traditional red and green but depending on who I want to send it to I may go with another color. Distinct Papers is a company who sells a large assortment of paper and envelopes in various sizes and colors, they also offer packing supplies. 





I recently received a sample set that included a selection of papers and envelopes for me to check out. Everything was wrapped in a ribbon with a paper flower attached, it was a very lovely way to receive the samples and I kept the paper flower by hanging it on my fridge. The paper and envelope samples I received ranged in weight from 20lb paper to 80lbs paper and I also received two different sized papers with various sized envelopes. I really like how smooth the paper and the envelopes are, your pen (or pencil) will glide across the paper with ease while the paper soaks up the ink. I use a lot of gel based ink pens so it was nice that the ink didn't smear off onto my hand if I accidentally touched it while writing, as you can see from my sloppy Christmas wishlist above the ink is un-smeared. The colors of everything I received are vibrant and bright it is sure to be eye catching while being sent through the mail, used for party invites, corporate newsletters or while being used for any of your paper needs. The thicker card stock would be great for crafting or card making.

I love the selection of colors and sizes of both products they offer, the only thing I wished they offered more of was self sealing envelopes it seems like the only color they have for them is white or a brown kraft. Their packing supplies selection is pretty great as well, they offer mailing envelopes, corrugated boxes, mailing tubes, tape and more. New customers can receive a coupon code for 20% off if you look in their "Special offers" section.


PRIZE ALERT:

One lucky winner is going to win a $25 Gift card to Distinct Papers to buy the paper or envelopes of your choice.

This is open to US Residents ages 18+, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: What color paper or envelope would you like to buy from their site?

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MacDonald's Ranch Review!

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. The products mentioned below have been provided by MacDonald's Ranch for the review free of charge.****

 Halloween isn't the same if you don't visit at least one pumpkin patch or fall festival, one of our favorite places is MacDonald's Ranch located in Scottsdale,Arizona. MacDonald's Ranch is located at 26540 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale,Az 85255. They are open year round for trail riding on horses, Stagecoach rides, and Cookouts they are also open seasonally from October 1st to October 31st offering a fun pumpkin patch for families.


 
The pumpkin patch is a great place to spend family time and it is perfect for young kids because of everything they offer. They have cow milking, duck races, conk the crow, pedal car races, horse rides, face paintings and more! All of their games were in working order and everyone playing them seemed to be enjoying themselves. Their petting zoo is the best kept petting zoo I've ever visited, you can really tell they care about their animals and the experience you have at the ranch. To get back to where you can select a pumpkin to take home you get onto a hay ride which takes you back to where there is a lovely display of pumpkins set up for you to look through for that perfect pumpkin. Pumpkins are $4-$12 depending on the size, they have a handy plywood board that you can try to fit the pumpkins through to see how much they cost. Hungry? They have a Blazing BBQ pit where you can grab lunch, a Kettle corn stand. Over all the ranch is highly enjoyable, I do suggest going early though because the parking spots will fill up fast. It is $10 per person to get in an worth every penny for building memories with your family.

Jamberry Nail Decal Set #1 Giveaway!

Every Holiday it is fun to do some themed nails to celebrate the occasion, Pintrest holds a few hundred fun options for nail designs for every holiday there is. My only problem is I am not talented what so ever when it comes to nail art so I rely on nail decals/wraps and stickers. Such as this great spider web design (not jamberry brand):

One company that sells a large assortment of nail wraps is Jamberry and I know there are nail decal lovers everywhere who go nuts over their products. So I figured why not giveaway a set of nail wraps?





One lucky winner is going to receive a full set of Dem Bones ($15) and two sets of sample wraps which you can use for accent nails. Time has slipped away from me a bit this month so I know you won't be able to use the bones set in time for this Halloween but you could always save them or say heck to it and have a spider web manicure anyways!

This is open World Wide, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: Which company makes your favorite nail decals/wraps?

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Easy & Cheap Halloween crafts to do with your kids!

I love being able to do crafts that suit each holiday with my kids, and to be able to make several different crafts we like to look for low cost kid friendly crafts. My kids had a blast with these Halloween crafts this year so I thought I would share them here with you!

                                           Bonus photo of our pumpkins from this year!

1. Spider Egg Sacks!

For 2 sacks You will need;
A pair of sheer panty hose Adult sized [$2 at Walmart] (the photo shows toddler but that was a trial run and it didn't work out, we needed the adult size), 1 bag Spider webbing [$1 at Dollar store], fake spiders [$1 at Dollar store],scissors & a hot glue gun.

You simply need to cut the panty hose right where the legs start, then stuff some spider webbing and spiders inside. Shape the webbing into an egg shape or which ever shape you prefer, glue several spiders all over the outside and include some webbing on the outside if you wish, then they are ready to be hung.



2. Glowing Monster Eyes! 

You will need; Toilet paper/Paper towel empty rolls, small glow sticks [$1 per pack at Dollar store], scissors.

Once you run out of toilet paper or paper towels keep the empty cardboard roll. Pick an eye shape you would like an cut the pattern out of the paper towel roll then when you are ready to display them grab a glow stick and head outside. Placing these in the bushes or similar areas will give you the best results because it will make it look like eyes are watching you, crack the glow stick then insert it into the tube and place it where you would like. Below it is just sitting on my dresser so you can see a little glow coming out of the sides but if you place it into a bush you won't see that.



3. Hanging Bats!

You will need; Black cardstock or construction paper [I found a pack of 50 papers on sale for $2.49,it will make 25 bats], scissors, clear tape, hole punch, a print out of a half bat wing template & string.

We used the template to cut out half bats from all of the black paper then we used clear tape to connect two halves together to make a whole bat. After they were taped together we used a hole punch to make a hole at the top for tying string onto then we hung them up! When the wind is blowing slightly they really do look like they are flying.




4. Fairy Skeletons! 

You will need;  A pack of small hanging skeletons [$1 per string at The Dollar Tree], 4 butterflies per string [Depending on the color you want you can find 2 packs or 4 packs of butterflies for $1 at the dollar store], scissors & a hot glue gun.

Use the scissors to carefully remove the body from the butterflies to detach the wings, the body for the butterflies I bought at the dollar store easily split in two and I was able to get the wings off without issue. After the wings are removed glue them to the back of the skeletons shoulder blades, once all four are completed you can hang them up. The strings are kind of small so they are best for in the house vs outside.



What are some of your favorite Halloween crafts?

MacDonald's Ranch in Scottsdale,AZ 4-pack tickets Giveaway!

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. The products mentioned below have been provided by MacDonald's Ranch for the giveaway free of charge.****

 When I was a kid I loved attending seasonal and holiday themed events such as October carnivals, corn mazes, haunted houses and more. Now that I am a parent I like taking my own children to do fun family activities together and one of  our favorite things is visiting Pumpkin patches because they usually have a lot to offer. MacDonald's Ranch is one of the best pumpkin patches in Arizona and if you live in the area you should stop by before the patch is closed for the season. They are open October 1st to October 31st,2015 from 9AM to 6PM and admission is $10 per person Mon-Fri and $12 on the weekends.

This Saturday my family and I plan on visiting MacDonald's Ranch out in Scottsdale,Arizona for a day of family fun! MacDonald's offers a petting zoo, various games for kids, a kids hay maze, horse rides, a wagon ride that takes you out to the pumpkin patch & more. Kids and adults of all ages are sure to have a good time and leave with some great memories of spending time at this little wild west ranch! I want to give one of you a chance at visiting the ranch to enjoy everything they have to offer, so I am giving away a family four pack of tickets!

The giveaway will end this Friday 10/28, Tickets will be good for Saturday 10/29, Sunday 10/30 or Monday 10/31 they will be emailed to you and you can print them off to bring them in. I would suggest arriving early so you can get a parking spot up front. MacDonald's Ranch located at 26540 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ look for the Horse and Pumpkin Patch sign located on the North-West side of Scottsdale Road. 

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Treat Yourself SpaFinder Giveaway!

Whether you are just buying yourself a small candy bar while checking out at the grocery store or taking yourself out for a movie and dinner I think everyone should take time out of their daily lives to treat themselves from time to time. Being worried about bills, medical issues, car issues, etc. can be stressful and a real drag for your mental health. The same goes for people who put everyone else's needs before their own, sometimes it is nice to do something for yourself and no it isn't being selfish.

Breaking out of your daily routine and treating yourself to something special at least once a month can be very beneficial so get out there and do something for You! I want to help treat one of you to a nice time out so I am giving away a $25 SpaFinder gift card which can be used at a number of establishments in exchange for a manicure, pedicure, massage, a yoga class or even a hair cut depending on what your local establishments offer.

* Please be sure to check Spafinder.com to make sure there are establishments in the area who participate in the Spafinder program.

Prize Alert:

One lucky winner is going to win a $25 SpaFinder Gift Card!

This is open to US Residents ages 18+, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: What kind of service are you looking forward to getting with this gift card? (Manicure, massage, etc.)

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I See Me! Holiday Book Review!

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided by I See Me! for the review free of charge.***

Every year for Christmas I  get a ornament made for my kids that has their name on it because it is one of our traditions to celebrate the holidays, this year I will have something extra special to share with them during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Growing up I was a big book worm and now my kids are big readers as well, they like reading by themselves but they also like when we all read together so when I received the chance to review a customizable book called "My 12 Days of Christmas (Family Edition)" by I See Me! I was very excited. The book I received is just one of many Christmas themed customizable books they offer, you can see their whole line by clicking Here, the books range from $29.99-$39.99.



The book covers the whole twelve days of Christmas from start to finish the only difference from the version you know and this book is that it can be customized with your families last name and it can include any first names you would like. The cover, dedication page and a few spots inside will have your last name. With the names you provide they each get added onto each page for example if you have two children the first page will have "One the first day of Christmas Mickey Mouse..." and the next will have Donald Duck and back and forth until the last few pages which will have both names, the names are also added on various places on the actual illustrations in the book, my fingers are covering up the names below but you can see how beautiful the colors and illustrations in the book look.

My kids love seeing and reading their names in this book, it is sure to be a family favorite for many years to come. The book is thin but seems like it will be able to last for several years before you see any real wear and tear on it, the cover and the pages have a gloss finish to them which looks quite lovely. Each page is whimsical and eye catching, they manage to sneak the names you provide them onto every page and no two pages are the same each one will have the name in a different spot in a different font. I am very happy with this book and I am so glad there are companies out there like I See Me! who offer products that can be customized like this. They also offer books for other occasions, puzzles, stickers and more that can all be custom printed.


Connect with I See Me! on: Twitter - Pintrest - Instagram & Facebook.

Halloween Goodie Bag Giveaway!

The holiday season is officially here, Fall festivals are open all over and pumpkin displays are in the front of all the stores while Christmas decor and products are starting to be stocked in the isles. There is a mixture of pumpkin spice and cinnamon in various parts of the store and the kids are starting their Christmas lists. My kids are beyond excited for Halloween to get here so they can show off their Pokemon costumes and visit a few trunk or treat spots, If you've never attended one with your kids you should look into them! Our yard is almost completely decorated for Halloween we just have a few more minor details to add to it then we will be ready for Halloween, our house is one of the only two on the block that decorates so it really stands out.




Aside from going out with the kids adults don't really get a chance to go out trick or treating to collect candy while showing off their costumes so I put together a little goodie bag to giveaway to one of you in celebration of my excitement of Halloween and the coming Christmas season.



Prize Alert:

One lucky winner is going to win a goodie bag in celebration of the Halloween season, the goodie bag includes an assortment of sample beauty products, an eye shadow, a cute daisy choker necklace, and two Tusm Tusm polishes!

This is open to Worldwide to ages 18+, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: What is your favorite part of the Holiday season (Answer can be related to any holiday)?

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TownleyGirl Review & Giveaway!

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.The products mentioned below have been provided TownleyGirl by for the review & giveaway free of charge.***

My daughter is like many other little girls out there and she loves to paint her nails and when I search for polish for her I want something that is child friendly and still durable enough for her to use. I recently found a great company that makes kid friendly nail polish that fits all of my wants in a kids nail polish. We were both excited to receive the chance to work with a company called Townleygirl who creates and sells an assortment of Disney and DreamWorks Licensed products for girls. We received five products to review, you can see each of them below along with information on that product.



 Disney Tusm Tusm Nail Polish Set - No link available yet this product is being added to their site soon.

Out of the products we received this is my favorite because I love Disney Tusm Tusms and I've never seen beauty products featuring the Tusm characters. This set came with twelve polishes of various shades, two toe separators and a nail file. The toe separators work well and fit both little girl toes and adult toes, the nail file is almost too adorable to use but thankfully the scratchy file side is on the under side of the cute characters. The polish do not have a harsh scent and the formula they used works pretty well, it goes on smoothly and pretty even. Our favorite part of the polish is that the colors are true to how they look in the bottles without having to add more than one layer. This set gets 5/5 stars from us. Note; The three Tusm Tusm figures shown are not included, they are from my son's collection.This set is not only great for kids but it can also be used by adults.



Frozen My Beauty Spa Kit; Retail Value $14.99

This spa set has everything included for creating a wonderful pedicure and the presentation is lovely however this set only receives a 3 out of 5 stars from us. The biggest issue we had with this spa set was the sandals included, the package does not say what size the sandals are and on their website it looks like you can only select a "Medium" kit but it still lacks the information on the sandal sizing. The sandals were too small for both my seven year old daughter and my three year old son, even holding them in my hands I could tell they were small. The sandals also had foam dust as shown in the photo above and they had a slight chemical smell. Aside from the sandals the rest of the set is great, all of the polishes are thick but go on smoothly and they all smell like bubble gum but not in a overwhelming way. The toe separators,nail file and nail buff block not only look great but they work well and get the job done, note; the buff block does not have a smooth side to smooth out and shine the nail is just has rough nail file type sides. Polish colors may vary, the polish colors I received are not what is shown on their website.



Finding Dory 4 Pack Nail Polish and Sticker Set; Retail Value $6.99

I haven't seen the movie yet but seeing the adorable otter nail stickers in this set really makes it to where I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. This set comes with four polishes, 40+ nail stickers and a carrying case. This set gets a 4 out of 5 stars, while the nail stickers are highly desirable due to their cute designs the stickers themselves are too thick to properly stay on the nails for more than a few hours because they are easily ripped off. If the stickers weren't as puffy I think they would work and look a lot better when applied. The polish does not have a scent, formula wise the polishes are a thick clear substance with glitter we found they do better as a glitter topper with another polish as a base coat. Both the carrying case and the polish have little plastic 'bubbles' that are filled with glitter and feature at least on character form the movie, when you shake them the glitter moves around.



Trolls 4 Pack Lip Stick With Mirror; Retail Value $8.99

This little set is adorable and gets a 5/5 stars from the two of us. The set comes with a heart shaped mirror and four heart shaped lip sticks. The lipstick is more just a lip balm then a lipstick, yes it is tinted various shades but it won't turn your little girls lips green or blue instead it will just add a little shimmer. The lip stick applies smoothly and evenly, each stick is scented/flavored differently the one I tried out was the grape and it smells pleasant. The package says the lip sticks are flavored but I could not taste anything at all which is good in my opinion because even regular lip balms can have a nasty wax taste so I am glad this product geared towards children does not have that. The protective film that was on the mirror was a slight pain to get off otherwise the mirror is made well, looks good and is big enough you can see your whole face in it. I can't wait to see this movie when it comes out!



Avengers 8 Pack Lip Balm; Retail Value $8.99

This is a fun set that I enjoy and is another product that gets 5/5 stars from my daughter and I. I like that each character has it's own color and flavor because it makes putting on lip balm more exciting than making it seem like a chore. The lip balms are a little glittery in the tube but it won't make your lips look like a disco ball. The lip balm applies smoothly and sits evenly without leaving your lips with a waxy or oily feeling. This set is a great way to help keep your kids lips moisturized through out the year, and they would make a great stocking stuffer during the holidays.

Prize Alert: Two lucky winners are each going to receive a Trolls 4 Pack Lip Stick With Mirror like shown in the images above.
  
This is open to Worldwide to ages 18+, please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email!

Giveaway winners are announced on FACEBOOK, If you would like to see who won my latest giveaways please visit and like my facebook page.

 Giveaway entry question: What is another product from their site that you would want to own?

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