The Perfect Halloween Host Gift - Ghost Pines Wine

Why not bring the perfect Halloween wine to the celebration?!?!
Ghost Pines Chardonnay....it even sounds spooky :0

Wine is quite a different take on Halloween, I know, but what better way to say THANKS! to your party host than presenting them with this decadent bottle of wine, truly fit for the holiday?!

I was lucky to be asked to sample the Ghost Pines 2007 Chardonnay. Who says no to that?!?!

Ghost Pines wines represents the “rich, wine making heritage of Napa, Sonoma and Monterey counties.” The 2007 Chardonnay is described as having "pronounced fruit signatures using only premium fruits."

While I'm not a huge wine drinker, nor a wine connoisseur by any means, I found this wine to be quite lovely for an "after dinner, kids in bed, let's relax and enjoy the quiet" choice of beverage.

If you aren't a fan of white wine, don't fret! Ghost Pines also makes a Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet to tantalize your taste buds. Ghost Pines wines can be purchased online and at most wine stores.

Party Lite Mini Pumpkin Jar Set

Fall is in the air! Can’t you smell it? Well if not, let me suggest the Party Lite Mini Pumpkin Jar Set. These 2 ½ inch candles with definitely have you feeling like fall with their awesome scents wafting through your home! These petite little jars are also perfect for the office…of course then everyone will be stopping by to find out what that delicious smell is!

The Mini Pumpkin Jar Set contains three candles, each with a different fall scent: Leaves of Fun, Apple Orchard and Spiced Cider. My favor scent was the Spiced Cider! YUM! Reminds me of all the fabulous scents in my Nana’s kitchen each holiday season!

The Mini Pumpkin Jar Set can be purchased from your local Party Lite consultant for $29.95 for the set of 3. To find a consultant near you, click here.

If fall scents aren’t your thing, don’t worry- Party Lite offers a scent for every nose- they have tons of different scents for candles, fragrances, bath & body and much more.

Right Now, you can enter the Party Lite “Lite Up Your Holidays” Instant Win game & Sweepstakes. Five gift certificates are awarded daily and a grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 room makeover! To enter, click here.

Milano Supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure with 'Milano Moments'

This month, Pepperidge Farm is turning their Milano cookie packaging pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. They have also launched a Facebook initiative, "Milano Moments" to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

How can You Help? Well, anytime someone posts a personal Milano Moment (a moment in which you realized 'life is sweet') on Milano's Facebook Page in October, Pepperidge Farm will donate $.50 per Moment up to $50,000.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit the Milano Moment facebook page and start posting!

Review of EmSeeQ by EmFinders

If you’ve ever had a family member with Alzheimer’s or Autism, then you know that their personal safety and secure is always a concern. Sad, but true, there are several news stories per year regarding Alzheimer’s patients who have wondered off and can't remember who or where they are and how to get home. So, what to do?


“One night after dinner, I was watching TV when a tragic event made me really stop and think. On the news was a story about a young woman who had gone missing; she had a cell phone but was unable to call for help. Which raised the question, ‘Why can’t you use technology to help people like that who are lost and can’t help themselves?’” —Jim Nalley, Co-Founder, EmFinders



Along with Chris Buehler, Jim Nalley founded EmFinders and worked tirelessly to create the EmSeeQ, a device that is worn around the wrist of “at-risk” person and transmits a wireless signal to E-911 systems. Once a person is discovered missing, their location can be determined immediately and reported to the 911 operator who can dispatch emergency responders to the location. Basically, the missing person can be recovered within minutes. For more details on exactly how the EmSeeQ works, click here. For video about this product, click here.



The EmSeeQ is an affordable alternative to personal safety and security. The device runs between $185 - $225 per unit and includes a charging station. The band fits onto the wrist much like a watch and currently comes in black only. There is also a monthly service charge for the connection fee of $25 per month. While this may seem like a lot, I think it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.


The EmSeeQ comes in two versions, Standard Band and Secure Band. I was loaned an EmSeeQ Secure Band device to review.

One thing that I noticed about the EmSeeQ Secure Band (cannot be removed without assistance) is that it is very heavy. This device would probably be better served on an medium to large adult wrist than a child or smaller-frame adult.
While I like the idea of a device such as this for “special needs” children who may be prone to wandering, I do feel like this particular version is more suited to adults. I have no doubt that EmFinders will continue to improve upon this device and hoefully come out with something more suitable for children in the very near future!


Join EmFinders on facebook and twitter!

Disclosure: I was loaned a EmSeeQ unit for review of this product. All opinions are my own.

Think Pink & Treasure Your Chest

Moms, it's time to bond with your breasts!


And the good news is, you can do so alongside other great women who are dedicated to spreading this proactive message. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, E! News host Giuliana Rancic and Lindsay Avner, founder of the national breast and ovarian cancer non-profit Bright Pink, "felt themselves up" during 'Treasure Your Chest' a live webcast to fight breast cancer hosted by Orbit White Bubblemint gum.


Watch as Giuliana and Lindsay share (and show) tips for how young women can be proactive about their breast health, including bonding with their breasts regularly.

I know it can be hard to add just one more thing to our to-do list, but let's pledge together to take the time to perform regular self breast exams.

Have You Tried This Yet? - P&G Coupon Booklet

P&G is proud to introduce Have You Tried This Yet?, an initiative which showcases innovative products that deliver great performance and allows for shoppers to make wise purchasing decisions for all their everyday needs - from hygiene and beauty care to home goods and snacks - while adding value to their lives.


To support Have You Tried This Yet?, P&G will distribute a brandSAVER coupon booklet on October 31st that features more than $113 in savings on the campaign's featured products in local newspapers throughout the country.

Boogie Wipes Review

You’ve probably seen them in the store. You’ve probably even snickered at the name. I know I did, the first time I saw them, as I was pushing my impatient 3 year old through the rows and rows of surplus goods in my local Sam’s Club.

Boggie Wipes. It is a funny name for a children’s product. An appropriate name as well, since that’s exactly what these saline wipes are made for. And let me tell you something else too…THEY WORK! Boogie Wipes were developed in 2007 Mindee Doney and Julie Pickens, great friends who just so happen to be moms as well.

What I love about Boogie Wipes is that they are alcohol free, meaning they don’t dry out your skin, and we all know that little noses get highly irritated by all the blowing and wiping we mommies do!

My husband is quick to take a regular alcohol wipe to my daughter’s nose to clean all the dried crusty boogies there. NEWSFLASH! That doesn’t work! You’re just left with more pronounced dried, crusty boogies. Boogies Wipes, on the other hand, actually clean the boogies off, not just mask them until the area dries and they reappear again.

The other great thing about Boogie Wipes is that they contain saline. Yeah, that stuff the doctor gives you to shoot up your nose when you’re all congested. I promise you, this is much easier and much less of a battle than holding down a screaming kid to shoot saline up their nose!

Here's a list of all the point that make Boogie Wipes awesome:

• Made with natural saline to dissolve mucus
• Hypoallergenic
• Alcohol Free
• Moisturize with Vitamin E, Aloe and Chamomile
• Gentle enough for all ages
• Phthalate and Paraben Free

Boogie Wipes can be purchased at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, WalMart, Sam’s Club, Rite Aid, Rexall, Target, and Walgreens as well as online at http://www.boogiewipes.com/

Before I send you off to purchase your own pack of Boogie Wipes, let me say again…they work!

And really, everyone is happier when you use them for that simple fact.

Okay, now go. Get some. You can thank me later.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned items from Boogie Wipes for agreeing to do this review. All opinions are my own.

Feelin' GREAT!

Because my husband is so great...and thinks that I am so great... for Christmas this past year, he got me a new sewing machine! Isn't that great?!?!


Okay, enough with the greatness. He did get me an awesome new sewing machine. Really.


I went to this from this:


See the difference? Trust me, it's huge..and I don't just mean size. From 10 stitches to over 150. Manual everything to automatic everything. EVERYTHING. Really. I don't even have to use the presser foot if I don't want to. Yeah, I know. Impressive. Or lazy. Depends on how you look at it.


So, I got this awesome new sewing machine on December 25th. Which was exactly 8 months ago. Do you know what I have sewn on it in that entire 8 month period? Burp cloths. Impressive right? Hardly.


Five months ago, I cut out a pattern for a cute little outfit for my little girl. FIVE MONTHS! [Shameful, I know!] So this month, I decided to make a conscious effort to change that..and sew the outfit before she outgrew it! And by some small miracle... I am almost finished!


I'd forgotten how rewarding it is to sew something just because you want to. And to try something new [I made my first pair of pants!] I still have to add the finishing touches, but I am so proud of myself!



I was going to set a goal to sew at least one "fun" project per month now. But then if I don't reach my goal I'll stress myself out...or I'll stress myself out trying to keep up with my goal, so I decided instead to make it a point to sew for fun whenever it feels right, which is the whole point anyway, I think...

etsy bitsy Sunday - August 22

Today’s etsy bitsy Sunday comes from the Cottage Carries store on etsy. This store features adorable totes, clutches and coin purses created by Rachel, a stay-at-home mom to Cayden and Tucker. (He’s a Chihuahua.)


Here’s what Rachel has to say about how she made the transition from graphic designer to handbag creator:
I had been searching for a hobby that I love for a while. Being an art major in college, of course, I started with painting. I love it, but it was not something that I was passionate about. Still searching, handbags popped into my head. I don’t know where it came from but, I started making bags by buying old vintage bags and restoring them. I got inspired from another blog to start making clutches. And now I want to share them with everyone. Every women deserves a handmade handbag!



I think Rachel’s stuff is fabulous. I love the vintage look of it and I am gaga over her fabric choices! Here are my two favorite items from Cottage Carries:
Key Lime Lady Clutch
I love this. It’s such a timeless piece. I love the lime green and black and the big white flower adds just the right touch! Wouldn’t this be perfect for a little black dress at a summer wedding?!


Polka Dot Flower Pot Tote
This one made my favorites list because of the fabric. I truly believe that I was born in the wrong decade and am a flower child at heart. I love the boho design of the bag, the adorable polkadot lining and, most of all the very bohemian fabric design and colors.


I can’t wait to see what else Rachel comes up with for some more fabulous Cottage Carries!

my apologies

I missed the etsy bitsy Sunday feature for the 15th. I do apologize for that, but it may happen from time to time as the weekends are devoted to my family, and I do most of my weekend blogging at 645 when my daughter wakes me up and refuses to go turn the tv on by herself. There is the (very) rare occassion that she does allow me to sleep in, and let's face it...when it comes to sleeping in or blogging..well ,you saw who won!


Don't worry though, I'll be back next week. In the meantime, if you or someone who know has a cool etsy product that you think would appeal to me, please click the "etsy bitsy" button on the top left of my blog!