Toads n Tiaras Review & GIVEAWAY!!!

I simply adore personalized hand embroidered clothes for kids! It's also nice to support other Mom's who run businesses. Elizabeth LaBarbera is a mother of two and founder/creator of Toads n Tiaras, an adorable online shop filled with amazing and one of a kind hand embroidered children's clothing! If you are looking for a special outfit for your little one, take a peek at what she has to offer in her shop. Everything from embroidered hearts, sports, characters, bugs, to holiday and name shirts. Looking for a special birthday shirt? Have a custom shirt made with your child's name and age on it. Don't forget that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Check out Toads n Tiara's "heart" and "heart breaker" shirts....they would make the perfect personalized Valentine's gift! Oh and her prices are pretty amazing and very affordable!

Elizabeth made not only one, but both my kids a custom Toads n Tiaras shirt! She sent my son a cool short sleeved shirt with the word Heartbreaker hand embroidered and a broken heart in the middle. Believe me when I say my son thinks it's the coolest shirt ever and has wore it to school twice so far! My daughter received a sweet red long sleeve shirt with an adorable hand embroidered heart and her name stitched underneath. I could really tell Elizabeth took her time with each stitch, the embroidery stitching is near flawless! Very professional in my opinion. I can't wait for my daughters birthday so I can order her a custom shirt from Toads n Tiaras!!!

Win It!

Thanks to Elizabeth my readers have a chance to win there very own hand embroidered personalized shirt of their choice from Toads n Tiaras! Sizes go up to 6.

Main Entry:

Head on over to Toads n Tiaras and let me know which shirt you think is just too cute :)

Extra Entries:

-Follow Toads n Tiara's on Twitter @ToadsnTiaras

-Become a fan of Toads n Tiara's on Facebook
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this: " Win a personalized @ToadsnTiaras shirt!!! @Shopaholic_Mama http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/2010/01/i-simply-adore-personalized-hand.html "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 2/10/10 at 11:59pm and is open to US and Canada addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked. Thank you to Toads n Tiara's for the shirts to review...no other compensation was received.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!!!

Adventure Of Meno Review!

Thanks to The Classy Closet I was introduced to a fun collection of books called "Adventure of Meno" written by Tony and Angela Diterlizzi. This 6 book series introduces us to Meno, a throw back to the 50's space elf who finds himself an adventure with every story. The wording in the books are unique and silly, making reading time with kids fun. Follow Meno as he explores Earth and finds exciting adventures!

"Award-winning author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating books with Simon & Schuster for over a decade. From his fanciful picture books like, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure, G is for One Gzonk! andThe Spider & The Fly (2003 Caldecott Honor), to young chapter books like the New York Times best-seller, Kenny and The Dragon, Tony always imbues his stories with a rich imagination. His middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles (co-created with Holly Black), has sold millions of copies and has been adapted into a feature film. Tony grew up in South Florida, and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with his wife, Angela, and their daughter. Visit Tony at www.diterlizzi.com."

I first want to start of my saying how much my kids enjoyed reading Adventure Of Meno books. Especially my 5 year old son who is starting to read. The words are simple yet silly and unique, which always make my kiddies chuckle! The illustration is colorful and quirky....kind of reminds me of Dennis the Menace meets The Jetsons :) We got to review 2 of the 6 book collection. Book One: Big Fun and Book Two: Wet Friend. I love that at the end there is a Pronounce Menu that helps to decipher what Meno and his friends are talking about! There is also a song to sing with your kids at the end. I give Adventure Of Meno two thumbs up! I can't wait to buy the other books for my kids.

Make sure to head on over to Planet Meno and discover more. The website introduces you to Meno and all his friends, take a sneak peak at one of the books and there is even downloadable print outs for your kids! And check out this video the writers did. Make sure you keep an eye out for the two latest books UH-OH SICK and YUMMY TRIP due out April 6, 2010 :) Check out The Classy Closets Mega Review on Adventure of Meno!

Win It! Head over to Catch The Drift With Mama Snow and enter to win!!!

NYC & The Martha Show Highlights

My mom and I took the train into NYC for a girls getaway! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 26th St. The hotel was recently redone and was super chic! The beds were so comfy, pillows like a cloud and a staff that was very accommodating. I actually forgot to pack my tooth brush and the front desk provided me with a complimentary one. I was impressed! Plus the hotel was about a block away from the Martha Stewart Show (the main reason we made our way into the city) so that was an added bonus!

We got all dressed up and headed to The 21 Club on 52nd street. We sat in the Bar Room which has walls and ceiling adorned with antique toys and sports memorabilia. There were about 5 gentleman waiting on us and it seemed they each had a job. Here was what we had for dinner....everything was shared :)

Mixed Greenhouse Greens, herbed goat cheese, roasted marinated beets, fig-balsamic vinaigrette

Panko-Crusted Crab Cake, roasted sweet corn purée, chipotle sauce, pickled fennel, violet tatsoi

Grilled Dry Aged Sirloin,roasted fingerling potatoes, baby vegetables, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, bordelaise sauce

Pommes Soufflées

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûléewith espresso biscotti

Grand Marnier Soufflé, crème chantilly, fresh berries

The next day we woke up at 6:00 am got ready, ate breakfast at the restaurant next door to the hotel then walked down the street to stand in line for the Martha Stewart Show. We got there pretty early and when we got our seating tickets were #15 and #16 in line. It was nice to finally meet some of the bloggers whom I had only known from twitter and surfing blogs. Everyone was super sweet! We were finally seated in the studio and awaited the start of the show! We had a blast, Martha was amazing in person and it was really neat being a part of the taping. My husband tapped the show for us and we were hoping to be seen a couple of times since we were right in the front row. No go! I think there were a couple side profile shots....we were sitting on the wrong side. In front of us was the staff and cameras. Oh well, it was an experience and we had a blast! Plus we walked away with a cookbook from one of the guests. Now I was hoping for a laptop or ipod, but the cookbook will do :)

The rest of the time was spent navigating through the city, shopping, trying different restaurants and eateries. We did walk all the way down to Chelsea Market, a indoor market place filled with divine shops. My mom got a lobster roll that was so fresh....and we even got 5 pieces of chocolate for $9! That was a rip off but still yummy. I know my Mom wanted to do more sight seeing but I get home sick so fast and could not wait to get home to my hubby and kids. Thanks Mom for the memorable trip!

Martha Stewart Here I Come!

I am headed to the Martha Stewart show in New York City! The taping is thursday, but we are making a girls getaway of it and staying over night. My mom is coming with me and she has made reservations at Club 21, a well known restaurant they she and I can't wait to try out. I am sure some shopping will be on the itinerary at some point. Should be fun! I will be blogging about it during the show. Everyone in the audience will have their laptops, blackberry's and iPhone's. So stay tuned!

I will be tweeting about my NYC experience...so make sure to follow me @Shopaholic_Mama

Anyone else attending the show?

Izzy B Designs Review & GIVEAWAY!!!

Izzy B Designs is a custom boutique that carries the most amazing handmade children's clothes! Jerica Rossi, owner and designer, takes pride in each one of her pieces. I love, love, love all her creations! The fabrics and styles are super cute with just the right touch of originality. She makes adorable pillow case dresses (which are all the rage!), appliqued dresses, birthday outfits for boys and girls, jon jons, big sister/brother shirts, holiday, character, baby gifts, bows and flip flops are just some of the things you can purchase at Izzy B Designs. You can also personalize outfits for that special touch! Can't find what you are looking for? Just let Jerica know and she can do custom orders.

Are you a mom headed to the Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World? Izzy B Designs has the perfect Disney outfit for your little girl or boy! She is also offering matching doll clothes....how cute is that?!?!

Jerica made the sweetest Minnie Mouse pillow case dress for my daughter! Oh it looks sooo cute on her :) The red and white polka dot material is high quality, the dress was definitely stitched with care. Black adjustable bows adorn the shoulders and give the dress an extra touch of adorable. The Minnie Mouse applique tops off the look with a sweet little bow attached. I love how she personalized the dress with my daughters name too! I put her in the dress to take pictures and she was thrilled!!! She actually wakes up every morning asking to wear her "Mouse Dress".

Buy It!

Head on over and check out the adorable outfits at amazing prices! She even has some great sales going on too.

Win It!

Thanks to Jerica my readers have the chance to win the same Minnie Mouse Pillow Case dress that my daughter received!!!! Winner can choose up to size 6.

Main Entry:

Head on over to Izzy B Designs and let me know what outfit you just love!

Extra Entries:

-Become a fan of Izzy B Designs on Facebook

-Follow Izzy B Designs Blog
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this: " Win a Minnie Mouse Dress from Izzy B. Designs! http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/2010/01/izzy-b-designs-review-giveaway.html @Shopaholic_Mama "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 1/28/10 at 11:59pm and is open to US and Canada addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked.

Thank you to Izzy B Designs for the review and giveaway item. I was not compensated in any other way. This is my opinion only

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

I'm Still Here....Barely!

So these past couple weeks have been so hectic and crazy! Besides all the holiday mumbo jumbo, I have been busy with work, the kids and life in general. To top it all off I was so sick the week of Christmas...it was probably the sickest I have ever been. So slowly but surely I am picking up the pieces and attempting to return to normal. I also started up a jewelry business and have been devoting a lot of my extra time to that. So please hang in there....I have some great review/giveaways coming up. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!

2 Feet of Snow!!!

We got hit hard by the blizzard here in New Jersey! Our cars were buried, the patio set is barely visible.....it's going to be a white Christmas!!! The kids had fantastic time playing in the snow, and it was hilarious watching them try to walk in it. It came up to my son's hips and my daughters shoulders! After about 2 hours of playing outside, everyone came in for chicken noodle soup and yummy hot chocolate :)

Did you get snow this weekend too? What are some of the things you make or do on a snow day?

Andrea's Beau Review & GIVEAWAY!

Yes...another girly giveaway!!!!

Started by a women with a vision for beautiful and creative things, Andrea's Beau is a sweet website that carries the most amazing hair accessories imaginable! There is something for both girls and women, with a wonderful variety of styles and colors to choose from. The ribbons, beads, flowers and fabrics are high quality and made from only the best materials. Headbands, clips, bows, pony tail holders, gloves and purses are just some of the things you can find while browsing the website. Andrea's Beau's have been sold at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstom's, and can now be found in over 500 stores around the world!

We received the most beautiful Silk Poppy Headband from Andrea's Beau! I am such a girly girl so that headband is right up my ally! The silk poppy flower is so delicate and feminine, the organdy headband is simple and stylish. It's definitely something that can be worn with a fancy dress, or just jeans and shirt. I also love that my daughter and I can share the headband too :) So head on over and check out the exquisite collection that Andrea's Beau carries.

Buy It!

Shop Andrea's Beau now and receive 15% OFF orders of $30 or more (not including shipping) please use the name of my website (shopaholicmommy) to receive your discount. Now get shopping!!!

Win It!

Thanks to Andrea from Andrea's Beau my readers have a chance to win a $25 shopping spree!

Main Entry:

Head on over to Andrea's Beau and let me know which hair accessory you just love

Extra Entries:

-Follow Andrea's Beau on Twitter

-Become a fan of Andrea's Beau on Facebook
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this: " Win a $25 shopping spree to Andrea's Beau @Shopaholic_Mama http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/2009/12/andreas-beau-review-giveaway.html "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 1/3/10 at 11:59pm and is open to US and Canada addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked. Thank you to Andrea's Beau for sending me a headband to review. I was not compensated in any other way and this is my opinion only.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

Great Gift Idea!

Thanks to The Handmade Experiment I recently won a set of amazing handmade coasters from House of Six Cats. If you are looking for a last minute holiday gift then check out the one of a kind selection they carry. The products are literally works of art! I was blown away when I received my coaster set, they are truly a masterpiece.

"By putting the fun back into functional fine art, House of Six Cats Photography will illuminate every corner of your world with their fanciful creations: stunning framed prints for your walls, beautiful coasters and trivets to protect your tables, extraordinary night lights, and miniature masterpieces to adorn your neckline."

OUCH POUCH First Aid Kit GIVEAWAY!!!

Can I just say I love the OUCH POUCH! Why didn't I think of something like this? It's a stylish original first aid boo boo fixer for families on the go! Handmade and double stitched using quality fabrics and 16 gauge clear ply vinyl, they have a colorful snap closure to top the adorable look off. You can purchase the bag filled or not. The fabrics are amazing and you can choose from over 60 designs. They make a perfect gift for mom's, grandmothers, aunts, teachers and babysitters. Handy to have in your car, golf bag, diaper bag, purse, desk, backpack, suitcase, garage or beach bag. Purchase a couple! That way you know you always will have a Ouch Pouch around just in case. They also make the perfect gift; tocking stuffers, door prizes and baby shower gifts.

The Ouch Pouch can fit a whole slew of things. Bandaids, hand sanitizer, wipes, tweezers, medicine, travel size sunblock, tampons, chapstick, thermometer and bug repellent...just to name a few :)

Karen sent me a fully loaded Ouch Pouch filled with sun block, Tylenol extra strength, bandaids, wipes, tweezers, Neosporin and of course a lollipop to help the boo boo feel better faster! I absolutely love the pouch, the designs are fantastic and you can tell they are high quality and made to last. I keep two in my purse at all times. One is filled with first aid supply's and the other I keep my tampons and pills in. I like the the front part is clear so you know exactly where the specific thing you are looking for is. They are super cute and easy to clean too. Hand wash in cold water and lay flat in between towels to retain shape.

Buy It!

Ouch Pouch retails for under $6 and has a couple specials going on right now. So head over and check it out. If you do purchase something before the contests ends and you are the winner picked, Karen will gladly refund you.

Win It!

Thanks to Karen my readers have a chance to win a fully loaded Ouch Pouch!!!

Main Entry:

Head on over and let me know which Ouch Pouch Design you just love!

Extra Entries:
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this: " Win a Ouch Pouch First Aid Kit @Shopaholic_Mama http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/2009/12/ouch-pouch-first-aid-kit-giveaway.html "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 12/27/09 at 11:59pm and is open to US and International Addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked. Thank you to Ouch Pouch for sending me 5 pouches to review and one for the giveaway. I was not compensated in any other way.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

A Personal Message From Santa!

My sister-in-law shared this with me and it's just so neat and I could not keep it all to myself! It's called PNP Portable North Pole. Click on the link bellow and you can personalize a message from Santa. It's really easy to set up. Just click START HERE and it takes you through the steps. At the end you will have a cute little video just for that special person in your life. And it's free! Click HERE to take a peek at the one I set up for my son. Have fun!

Then He Turned 5

Five years ago at 1:09am someone decided to make their way on our lives almost a month early! With Mommy, Daddy, G-Mom and Nonna there to welcome him into the world, he arrived and my life was changed forever. He was a serious little soul from day one, always thinking and taking in his surroundings. Last night was the last time I kissed my sweet 4 year old. His fourth year of life was wonderful, so many new experiences and adventures. He really is a smart fun loving boy who brings so much joy to our family! Happy 5th Birthday Nicholas!!! Mommy loves you more then you will ever know.

365 Cards Review & Holiday GIVEAWAY!!!

CLOSED

Congrats to.....

#43 Tricia

365 Cards is the place to find the perfect holiday cards this year! With a huge selection of photo and non photo cards, you will definitely find what you are looking for. You can also customize your card by adding a special greeting and picture. The design process is simple: choose your favorite card, pick how many cards you want, upload a photo (if you choose a photo card), pick a greeting, edit your card and that's it! It's so easy and in the end you have beautiful personalized cards that everyone will love.

You will find thank you notes, birth announcements, new house announcements and wedding stationary. The wedding section is great! 365 Cards carries every invite you will need for engagement, save the date, rehearsal, wedding, reception and thank you cards. Also a huge assortment of invites including kids birthdays, baptism, bar/bat mitzvah, baby shower, engagement and many more! The selection is unbeatable. 365 Cards takes their business very seriously and brings their customers only the best in designs and customer service.

Thanks to 365 Cards my family was able to review the Sweetly Trimmed Grey holiday photo cards. I had a great time browsing through the abundant selection of holiday cards. The designs and colors are amazing, something for everyone's taste and liking. When I finally decided on a card I went through the whole design process which was simple and fast. The photo cards are made from high quality card stock and look amazing in person! I love the cards and can not can't wait to send them out to all our friends and family!!

Free! 365 Cards are offering my readers 25 FREE cards with every order!!! No coupon needed, the FREE cards will be sent automatically with your order. So head on over and check out what I've been raving about.

Win It!

Thanks to 365 Cards my readers have a chance to win 25 holiday cards of their choice (photo or non photo cards) Just in time for the holidays!!!

Main Entry:

Head on over to 365 Cards and let me know what holiday card you love!

Extra Entries:

-Follow 365 Cards on Twitter

-Subscribe to 365 Cards Blog

-Subscribe to 365 Cards Newsletter
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this:

" Win!! 25 FREE holiday cards @365cards & @Shopaholic_Mama http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/2009/12/365-cards-review-holiday-giveaway.html "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 12/12/09 at 11:59pm and is open to US and Canada addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked.

Thank you to 365 Cards for the review and giveaway items. I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for so many wonderful things.......

A handsome and sweet Hubby

A Son who brightens my day

A daughter who melts my heart

A Mother and Father who are always there

Family and Friends

Stable job and a roof over our heads

Health and happiness!

I am also thankful to all my readers who take the

time to stop by, say hello and enter giveaways!

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Try not to eat too much :)

What are your plans for the holiday?

Toys and Games Online Discount!

Toys and Games Online is the perfect website to get all your holiday shopping done for that special little person in your life. They carry every toy imaginable for both boys and girls. Bikes, ride on vehicles, dolls, games, outdoor toys, building blocks, crafts and so much more! Almost every toy brand is available too. Melissa & Doug, Step 2, Leap Frog, Fisher Price, Lego, Little Tikes and Radio Flyer are just some of the brands you will find at Toys and Games Online. The website is super easy to navigate through, making your shopping experience easy and productive.

Starting today Toys and Games online is offering 20% OFF The Young Scientists Club Kits using this coupon code (YSC20)! These fun interactive kits help children to learn more about science while having a great playing too. Here are some of the categories you can choose from:

More Cool Products

Nature Series

Young Scientist

Adventure Science

Magic School Bus

Make sure you head over to Online Games and see for yourself the amazing selection of toys and games. Happy Shopping!!!

PersonalizedFree.com Ornament GIVEAWAY!!!!

ClCCL

CLOSED

Congrats to #131

Terra H. said...131

I follow you on Twitter, partymix25
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

When Cinde from PersonalizedFree.com contacted me to do a review and giveaway for my readers I was so excited! Giving personalized holiday ornaments is one of my favorite gifts to give. It's a present that is so personal and it lets the person know that you took extra time to pick out something special just for them! PersonalizedFree.com carries a huge selection of unique heirloom quality ornaments for every taste and liking. There are just so many different ornaments to choose from! Family, occupations, sports, newlyweds, hobbies and 1st Christmas are just some of the ornaments you will find. Started 10 years ago by and stay at home Mom and Dad team, every single ornament is personalized by hand with precision and care.

I choose to receive this adorable family of snowmen personalized ornament. It's simply adorable and I love that it has me, my husband, son and daughter's name with our last name and the year 2009 displayed on the front. It's definitely high quality, so I am confident it will last through many holidays! What I really liked was that you could have a family ornament done with up to 12 names! You can't find that in stores :)

Looking for a gift for that person on your list that is so hard to buy for? Head on over to PersonalizeFree.com and check out the amazing selection of one of a kind ornaments. There is something for everyone!

Buy It!

Receive 10% OFF your order using this discount code blogtree10. Also get FREE shipping on orders of $60 or more!

Win It!

Cinde from PersonalizedFree.com is offering my readers the chance to win a personalized ornament of there choice!!! Just in time for the holidays!!!

Main Entry:

Head on over to PersonalizedFree.com and let me know which ornament you would pick if you won, then come back here and let me know! Make sure you take your time, whatever ornament you leave in the comment is the one you will receive.

Extra Entries:

-Follow PersonalizedFree.com on Twitter

-Follow PersonalizedFree.com Blog

-Sign up for PersonalizedFree.com Newsletter

-Become a fan of PersonalizedFree.com on Facebook
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my blog via email
-Grab my button!
-Blog about this giveaway (5 extra comments!)
-Follow me on Twitter @Shopaholic_Mama
-Tweet copy & paste this: " Enter to win a personalized holiday ornament!!! From @pfreeornaments & @Shopaholic_Mama www.shopaholicmommy.com ends 11/29 "

**You may tweet about this giveaway twice a day...don't forget to leave the extra comments!**

Contest ends 11/29/09 at 11:59pm and is open to US addresses. Non bloggers welcome! If email address is not visible in your profile, please leave one in comment area. Winner will be picked using Random.org and will have 72 hours to contact me after initial email is sent. If not another commenter will be picked.

Thank you to FreePersonlized.com for supplying me with a review item. I was not compensated in any other way. This review is only my opinion and yours may differ.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!