mmm...Bake Me a Wish {Review & Giveaway}

Bake Me a Wish delivers gourmet birthday cakes nationwide and is run from a award-winning family bakery in New York. They pride themselves on only using the finest ingredients and yet can offer this service at a very reasonable price!

When I was asked to review a Bake Me a Wish cake, how could I possibly refuse? Normally I'm not a big cake eater. I have particular tastes for baked goods. I can only handle a small piece of traditional cake with buttercream frosting because it gets too sweet. I do however love decadent desserts like cheesecake and brownies so when I saw the description of the two Singular Sensation cakes to choose from, I knew I'd enjoy either of them!
I decided on the Double Fudge Crunch and was not disappointed. It tasted truly like a big brownie and was super sinful and delicious. My almost three ear old son devoured the chocolate name plaque that had the words "Thank You" on it and asked for more! While this is listed for someone singly, it would be a lot for one person to eat in a single sitting. It could be perfectly divided into three or four pieces.

My only complaint would be that the top was a little bit melted but I'm sure that is because the package sat outside my door for at least an hour in the sun. It certainly didn't affect the taste, it only made the message less clear.

I cut it in half so you could get a feel for what the inside is like! Doesn't it look scrumptious?

Product Description: Good things come in small packages! Our moist & fudgy brownie cake is topped with mouth-watering chocolate chip-cinnamon-oat streusel and ribbons of dark chocolate glaze, in a size just right for the individual. AS SEEN ON RACHEL RAY!

At only $15 plus $4.99 for shipping, a Singular Sensations would be a wonderful and affordable way to wish someone happy birthday, say thank you, congratulations, I miss you... the possibilities are endless. It is a nice alternative to traditional flowers! The larger cakes would also be perfect for your next celebration. Wow your guests with this Tiramisu Classico Cake, Vanilla Bean Cake, Carmel Apple Crumb Cake or the Peanut Butter Mousse Cake shown below. There are so many great choices!
A GREAT CAUSE & SOMETHING SWEET FOR OUR TROOPS “Operation: Birthday Cake”

5% of any cake order goes to Bake Me A Wish!’s Operation: Birthday Cake, which, together with their partner Soldiers’ Angels donates birthday cakes each month to soldiers overseas who are having a birthday. See more on this cause here. What a fabulous way to build our troops morale!

Bake Me a Wish would like to give one of my readers a Singular Sensations cake in their choice of Double Fudge Crunch or Cookies 'n Cream!

Win it: Visit Bake Me a Wish and tell me what cake are you dying to try!

Want more entries? (Don't deny your chocolate impulses!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Become a fan of Bake Me a Wish on Facebook
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
-Fave me on Technorati
-Add my current button to your blog
-Add my Let's Hear It for the Boys event button to your blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Bake Me a Wish (3 entries)

This contest will end on 7/19/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted the next day. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

Yummy! Suzie's Confections {Giveaway}

Are you in for some serious eye candy? Just browse through Suzie's Confections, an Etsy shop specializing in all kinds of yummy goodness. I'm craving a glass of milk just looking at all the pictures!

Want to learn a little more about the woman behind these sinful but decadent treats? According to her profile: I am 29 years young, married to a wonderful man and we have a 20 month old daughter — the cutie in my banner! She is the light of my life! I am fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom and watch her grow each and every day. I decided it was time to put my creative energy into my confections and sharing them with you! I have been making these ‘candies’ for well over a decade now. Friends and family that have received them year after year, without complaint, LOL, said that I should sell them! So here I am!

I'm certain they have received them without complaint. Judging by the pictures, glowing reviews and this feature on Good Morning America, it is no wonder!

Suzie's Confections will also do custom orders and work with you to make any occasion special. Any of goodies from this shop would make fabulous wedding favors. How about these graduation pretzel rods for an upcoming graduation party? I'm sure they would be a huge hit!But what I'm dying to try are these jumbo peanut butter cups. P-e-a-n-u-t B-u-t-t-e-r and chocolate. MMMMM...

Want to to pick out some treats from the vast selection available? Suzie's Confections would like to offer one of my readers a $20 gift certificate to do just that!

Win it: Visit Suzie's Confections and choose at least one item that you would purchase if you won the gift certificate.

Update: I've been informed (by your wonderful comments) that Suzie's Confections etsy shop is currently closed. To enter simply tell me an item that another commenter has mentioned that sounds good to you or tell my why you'd like to win!

Want more entries? (Please don't deny yourself!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Follow me or subscribe to my feed.
-Add my Let's Hear It for the Boys event button to your blog.
-Add the Suzie's Confection button to your blog.
-Subscribe to Suzi Confections blog (via RSS or follow).
-Follow Suzi Confections on twitter AND tweet about the giveaway.
-Become a fan of Suzi's Confections on FaceBook AND writing a note about Suzie's Confections or posting a link about the giveaway.
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Suzie's Confections. (3 entries)
-Make a purchase from Suzie's Confections and comment with a link! (5 entries)

This contest will end on 6/27/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted via email. The gift certificate must be redeemed within two weeks of the end of the giveaway. Shipping is not included but the gift certificate can be used towards shipping costs. You must login to Etsy in order to redeem your gift certificate. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

So Cute! CurlyQ Cuties {Review}

Have you heard of CurlyQ Cuties? If not, I'm excited to be the first to tell you about their wonderful custom made monsters! CurlyQ Cuties Monster-Maker allows you to choose exactly what features you would like your fleece plush monster have.

The company was started by Stephanie, a mom who wanted her own children to have safe toys that encouraged imaginative play and created the monsters from her own children's descriptions and drawings. Before long she was selling them on Etsy premade and after many requests for custom orders, she decided to focus on those and created CurlyQ Cuties as a made-to-order plush business. Aren't they adorable, colorful and just plain fun?

With 427,904,400 unique possibilities in the CurlyQ Cuties Monster-Maker it is easy to see why when I created a monster with my two year old son Lucian it wasn't the easiest task. At any given time he would change his mind from the different features like body type, belly shape and mouth. The few things he knew he wanted for sure were an orange monster with a dark blue cyclops eye with an oval on the belly. The other options changed constantly and it did take three different sit down sessions with him to finally decide exactly what to get. He loved playing with the monster maker and checking out all the different options.
When his monster arrived in the mail Lucian was very excited. He took to it immediately which was a bit of a surprise for me since he hasn't been attached to any stuffed animals like his younger brother Warren. It is fun for me as a mom to have him ask to take it places and to cuddle with at night. It has a firm, sturdy feel and works great as a little pillow. The quality is really fantastic. Even his little brother has taken to it and when he gets a little older I'll let him design his own monster too!
The next day Lucian was sharing his box of raisins with his monster! I've never seen him interact with stuffed animals before so it is exciting to see his imagination at work!
A custom made monster is $25 while the smaller fairy-tooth plush is only $15. You can even get a premade Maddie Monster that was created by her parents in memory of Maddie Spohr to help benefit March of Dimes.
I also highly recommend following CurlyQ Cuties on twitter. They have the most original and fun tweets! I have also seen discounts on these adorable monsters so follow them so you don't miss out!

If you have bought a monster in the past or do so from my post, please come back to tell me what you picked out and what you thought of their service! I'd love to hear your experience!

MellyRoo Designs {Review & Giveaway}

MellyRoo Designs is a wonderful mom owned etsy shop that features personalized gifts for all ages! I got the chance to pick out a personalized sippy for Warren from any of her many designs. He loves it and I enjoy that it special just for him. There is certainly no mistaking which sippy is his so this would be perfect for daycare and play groups! You can choose to buy only the inserts to save on costs and have variety for only $3.

MellyRoo also has many other delightful items available like melamine plates, bowls and trays! Any kid would love to have their own personalized plate. The trays would make a perfect gift for the entertainer/cook in your life or a unique and special wedding gift.
Can't figure out what to get for that hard to buy for friend or relative? How about a fun checkbook cover and pen combo or a personalized travel mug? If you are still looking for an inexpensive and useful gift for Father's Day, how about a travel mug that says, #1 Dad? The possibilities are endless!

MellyRoo Designs would like to give one of my readers their choice of personalized sippy cup!

Win it: Vist MellyRoo Designs and tell me which sippy design you'd pick if you won!

Want more entries? (Come on, you know you want 'em!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Tell me your favorite item on MellyRoo Designs or something you'd like to see added!
-Follow the MellyRoo Designs blog
-Become a fan of MellyRoo Designs on Facebook
-Follow MellyRoo Designs on twitter & tweet about this giveaway
-Follow my blog publicly or subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
-Add my current button to your blog
-Add my Let's Hear It for the Boys! button to your blog
-Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to MellyRoo Designs at Two of a Kind Working on a Full House (don't forget to come back to tell me!)

-Blog about this contest and link back here & to MellyRoo Designs (3 entries)
-Make a purchase from MellyRoo Designs and come back here to tell me what you bought! (10 entries)

This contest will end on 6/16/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted via email. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

Using Your Heads {Review & Giveaway}

Using Your Heads is a company started by mom with a background in elementary education that personalizes in both coloring books and address labels. What makes her company different? Not only do they personalize with names, they also use images. For addresses labels that might mean your family photo or child's artwork is in the background. For the coloring books, Using Your Heads will make a cartoon character out of your child! The results are truly amazing. They are also very customer service orientated and therefore flexible and willing to accommodate special requests such as multiple children. We received the Alphabet Adventure coloring book, personalized for Lucian. When I saw his face as a cartoon I could help but beam. I don't know why but seeing him in that way instead of a photo made it extra special. He looks so cute as a cartoon! Lucian knew immediately it was him and enjoyed looking through the coloring book like it was a regular book. He would get excited about what he was doing on the pages such as, "Look, Lucian is upside down. Oh, it's a egg, it's an egg. I squeeze it! Lucian is in the choo choo train!". There were also personalized touches added throughout such as his name on his lab coat in on the D is for Doctor page.
Using Your Heads recommends making copies of the coloring book so you can lengthen the enjoyment. At only $13.95 I think it it is a great value for such a special and fun gift! I definitely want to get one for my nephew.
We also got a set of 30 personalized addresses labels that included Lucian's head and his name and address. This will be perfect for invitations, thank you cards, you name it! They would also be great to put on some of belongings. Using Your Heads even surprised me by including a column with Warren too! I know some Grandmas who are going to love to find them on their cards. They just make me smile!

Using Your Heads would like to give one of my readers their choice of coloring book and 30 address labels for one lucky child!

Win it: Visit Using Your Heads and tell me a coloring book theme you'd like to see added.

Want more entries? (You know you do, silly!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Visit Using Your Heads and tell me what coloring book you would pick and who it would be for.
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
-Fave me on Technorati
-Add my current button to your blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here (3 entries)
-Make any purchase from Using Your Heads and tell me what you bought! (10 entries)

This contest will end on 5/26/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S and Canada residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted the next day. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

Feeling Green with Calypso Studios {Review}

Last week I introduced you to Calypso Studios for the wonderful Earth Day Event. This past week I had the opportunity to review one of the fabulous totes that were part of the giveaway. The spacious bags are 17" x 19" when opened and easily roll up into a 2" x 3" size. Three bags are conveniently stored in an 8" x 6" wristlet carrying case.

I love the variety of designs offered and appreciate that they go beyond the standard plain tote. I also can appreciate their generous size and the fact they can hold 20lbs and yet they fit easily in my purse. I got the veggy one from the "Grocery" line by Lori Siebert. Now I have no excuse to use so many plastic bags! Don't they make grocery shopping almost look fun? You can buy all three of these bags for only $20 and that includes the carrying case.
I also received this wonderful Copper Arabian Nights necklace. At first glance I thought it was going to be super heavy and uncomfortable but the necklace is surprisingly lightweight without feeling cheap. My favorite part of this piece is its versatility. It will go with just about anything! It is really a steal at only $15 and there are lots of other colors available.
Check out Calyspo Studios and all of their wonderful offerings. Any of their practical yet fashionable totes and unique jewelry would make a thoughtful gift for Mother's Day!

Thank you to Mom Fuse for the opportunity to review this product!

Update 4/29: Tonight while checking out at The Children's Place the associate commented on this necklace and asked where I got it. She was very careful to repeat back to me the company information so I know she was truly interested! This necklace really does get noticed!

Oh So Charming! Things Remembered {Charm Story} Mother's Day Giveaway!

I'm must admit that I haven't yet gotten a Mother's Day gift that has made me get overwhelmed with emotion. It isn't because I'm not a sentimental because I really am, especially since becoming a mom. I guess my husband just hasn't been "inspired" yet. (hint, hint honey!)

One way to make me melt would be an engraved gift from Things Remembered such as the new Charm Story collection which is making its debut in perfect timing for Mother's Day. This is a unique collection of more than 50 exclusive silver-plated engravable charms with personalization at their center. Each charm can be added to a bracelet or necklace and adds to her own special story with such charms as a baby carriage, baby footprint (a favorite of mine), angel, heart, and many different options to include photos. Each charm has space for engraving a date, name or message that makes this an extremely personal and thoughtful gift. This is a gift that can be added to for years to come!

You can buy a charm or necklace or bracelet for $20 each (engraving is another small fee) or you can also buy as a "First Chapter" starter set which includes a bracelet or necklace with a starter charm for $30. Another option is the “Charm Gift Sets” which come with a charm bracelet or necklace and three charms that are personalized for particular themes, including Mother’s Day retailing for $70.

Things Remembered wants to give one of my readers a Charm Story bracelet or necklace with their choice of charm and personalized engraving. ($50.00 Value!)Win it: Visit Things Remembered and tell me what charm you would choose if you won.

Want more entries? (How could you not?) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Tell me what you would have engraved on the charm
-Follow Things Remembered on twitter and DM them that you are following thanks to Baby Loving Mama (you must do both!)
-Sign up for the Things Remembered newsletter
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
-Fave me on Technorati
-Add my current button to your blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here (3 entries)
-Make any purchase from Things Remembered & come back tell me what you bought! (5 entries)

This contest will end on 5/7/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted the next day. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

Not Your Typical Greeting! Sock Grams {Review}

Finding that perfect way to say thank you, happy birthday, congratulations or simply that I'm thinking of you can be difficult. While flowers are fabulous, they are expensive and don't last. Candy is thoughtful but it isn't appropriate for everyone and can also be costly. (Tell that to my mother who loaded me up with Easter candy and I can't keep my hands off the stuff! So much for losing that baby weight. Sigh...)
That is the very reason Sock Grams came to be. This is a company that has recognized a need for something different, something that can give that same warm and fuzzy feeling to its recipient and yet is lasting and affordable. When you get a Sock Gram you will be reminded of the special person who gave it to you every time you put your socks on!

There are a wide variety of adult and kids socks to choose from on Sock Grams ranging from downright silly to traditional to pretty. You can pick a pair that fits a personality, holiday, occupation or choose one that expresses how you feel such as Thanks a Latte! I chose the kids train socks from my 2 1/2 year old son Lucian. He is currently obsessed with Thomas the Tank and it was a perfect fit.

The package arrived priority mail in this eye catching blue metallic envelope along with a card and tissue wrapped socks. Cute stickers were also included. Lucian immediately was drawn to the socks and exclaimed, "Oh, trains!" He wanted to put them on right away. I thought the socks might be low quality but I was surprised that they had some weight to them. I think this would be extra special for a child who just loves getting mail! Overall he was thrilled with his new socks and was happy to model them for a picture.

With Mother's Day fast approaching now is the time to start thinking of a way to let that special Mother in your life know that you are thinking of her. These socks would be a fun and different option that is very reasonably priced, ranging from $9.95 to $11.95 depending upon style. Included in that is a pair of socks, personalized card, spa foot balm for adults, stickers for children and the cost of shipping. Check out Sock Grams and browse the vast selection. You're sure to find that perfect pair for that special someone!

Thank you to Mom Fuse for the opportunity to review this product!

Bebe au Lait Mother's Day Promotion!

Have you heard? Bebe au Lait is having a huge promotion for Mother's Day! They are offering two free burp cloths with purchase of a nursing cover, bib, hooded towel, or gift set. That is a $14 value! Just enter "4mom2009" at checkout. While supplies last. If that wasn't enough they are also giving free domestic ground shipping on every order!
The promotion starts today and ends on May 11th. They seriously have the most gorgeous prints and just I love the look of their hooded towels and reversible bibs!

This is the biggest promotion of the year so don't miss out!

Mom Rocks! Tiny Tots with Style Review and Giveaway!

Last month you may remember I featured a fabulous giveaway for a Tiny Tots with Style gift certificate. Angie at Tiny Tots was thrilled with all your wonderful feedback and would love to reward my readers again with the opportunity to win something to celebrate the most rewarding and most difficult job there is, being a mom. With Mother's Day fast approaching it is time to think of how to honor that special mom in your life or hint at your hubby or other loved one with ideas for this special day.

How wonderful would it be to wake up on Mother's Day morning and find your children dressed in this adorable tee that states, MY MOM ROCKS. (Which is true, you totally do!) Angie sent me one of these awesome tees to check out and I love it on my little man. Wouldn't this look adorable on your tiny tot? They are available in many different sizes and colors ranging from 3-6 months to child size 6. You could also plan ahead and get a MY DAD ROCKS shirt for Father's Day! The colors are great and the fabric is super soft. I'm used to the standard cotton t-shirts and these are extra nice. Lucian really liked it too. For whatever reason he didn't want to take it off at bedtime and since he'd only had it on for about an hour I let him sleep with it on. I think he appreciated the softness as well!

Tiny Tots with Style has some other great mommy products like these colorful and fun diaper bags that can be monogrammed. You can also find a wonderful selection of nursing covers and slings, just take a look at her Mother's Day gift selection. You can save 10% by using the discount code "mother" at checkout from April 26th through May 10th!

Tiny Tots with Style is giving one of you your very own MY MOM ROCKS tee or one-piece in your choice of size!

Win it:

Visit Tiny Tots with Style and browse the wide variety of items available. Come back here tell me which MY MOM ROCKS tee or one-piece you would choose. (You must do this. Entries like "I want this" or "Enter me" will not count.)

Want more entries? (You know you do!)

After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.
-Browse Tiny Tots with Style and tell me another item not mentioned you like! (1 entry)
-Make a suggestion for making Tiny Tots with Style even better in terms of product and the overall website. (1 entry)

-Follow my blog publicly (1 entry)

-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email (1 entry)
-Follow me on twitter & tweet this giveaway (1 entry)
-Fave me on Technorati (1 entry)

-Follow Tiny Tots with Style's blog publicly (1 entry)

-Sign up for Tiny Tots with Style's newsletter (1 entry)

-Add my current button to your blog (2 entries)

-Blog about this contest and link back here (2 entries)

-Make any purchase from Tiny Tots with Style & come back tell me what you bought! (10 entries)

This contest will end on 5/4/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S and Canada residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted the next day. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.

The Priceless Gift! Frecklebox Review and Giveaway!

I love gifts that are special and unique, don't you? There is nothing like giving a thoughtful gift to a child. Something that you know they don't already have. Something that shows you thought of them and only them when you picked it out. Something they can keep forever. Frecklebox can help you achieve that with their wide selection of personalized gifts.

Frecklebox has books and from my previous post you know that I am a bit addicted to buying books for my boys. I especially love personalized books and while I may get lucky and find something in a store for Warren, you can bet I won’t be finding anything with Lucian unless I custom order.

The books at Frecklebox have such bright and vivid colors and the child’s name literally jumps off the page. The quality is amazing and you would think they mass produced each creation.

My favorite part of the ordering process was being able to see exactly what the book would look like with my son’s name. I don’t have to guess how the letters will display on the page, I can see it for myself before making my purchase.

We chose the My Name is... book for both of the boys. I just love all colorful images and since Lucian and I loved making letters in the snow this winter it seemed like the perfect fit for him. Lucian knows all of his letters by sight and is just now learning what letters make up his name. This will be a fun learning tool!

When I read this story for the first time to Lucian he was immediately drawn to the bright park picture. He was also thrilled about the moon! While we spelled out the letters of his name on the the pages, he was very excited that it was his name in the clouds, stones in sand, flowers in dirt, etc. He really got into the story and when we got to the park I said, L-U-C-I-A-N spells? His answer? PARK! While we still have some work to do, I know that he will get lots of practice with this book.

Frecklebox also has some amazing choices for other great gift ideas, perfect for any budget. I also received a puzzle sample and I was very much impressed by the quality. At only $12.95 and with lots of great designs choose from, I think I have another gift for Lucian's 3rd birthday later this summer. Yep, you guessed it. A park puzzle! Frecklebox also has personalized stickers, coloring books, growth charts, posters and more!

Frecklebox wants to give one of my readers their choice of any item from their site!

Win it: Visit Frecklebox and tell me what personalized gift you would choose if you won. Who would it be for?

Want more entries? (Trust me, you really, really do!)

After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.
-Make a suggestion of another design or product you'd like to see on Frecklebox (1 entry)

- Subscribe to Frecklebox's blog! (1 entry)

-Follow my blog publicly (1 entry)

-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email (1 entry)
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (1 entry)
-Fave me on Technorati (1 entry)

-Add my current button to your blog (2 entries)

-Blog about this contest and link back here (3 entries)

-Make any purchase from Frecklebox & come back tell me what you bought! (10 entries)

This contest will end on 4/30/09 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S and Canada residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted the next day. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you if it is not available in your profile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond before I draw another winner.