Swimsuitsforall.com Review + {Giveaway} (CLOSED)

We are smack dab in the middle of swimsuit season right now. As women, wives, and mothers most of us aren't too enthusiastic about swimsuits. (I know I'm not.) But in order to enjoy the full effect of summer, we must give in, find the best suit we can, and just go for it.

I recently discovered the website Swimsuitsforall.com. Do you want to know what drew me to them? They carry (and specialize in) swimsuits for the REAL woman. All their swimsuits are for sizes 8+, and they have a great variety of plus-size suits.



I am a plus-sized momma, and I know how hard it can be to find a great swimsuit…especially one in the size I need. And when I can find my size, choices are usually limited. It was a pleasant surprise to check out Swimsuitsforall.com and see that I can get plus-sized suits in all sorts of areas. They carry one piece, tankinis, separates, athletic, specialty, maternity, and cover-ups. These are all available in their smaller sizes AND plus sizes. A plus-sized tankini? That I actually like? Wow! Crazy, but true!

Choosing just one swimsuit to review was a very tough job. I literally poured over their suits for days. There were so many favorites of mine. I was able to narrow it down to a halter-top suit with a skirt in their plus-sizes. But I finally settled on the Beach Belle Sophia Blue Plus Size Sweetheart Twist Front Halter Swimdress Swimsuit --



I tried my new swimsuit on as soon as it arrived. I loved the way it fit and couldn't wait to put it to use. It fits just like it looks on the model on their website. That's the refreshing thing about companies using plus-sized models. The swimsuit is comfortable, easy to adjust, covers nice, and fits me all over. And I love the cute blue pattern.

The first chance I got to wear it was to swim at my parents' house. My mom noticed right away that I had a new swimsuit. (The swimsuits I have from before we ones that didn't fit my mom right, so she gave them to me. They were a few sizes too small but stretchy still, and I was still squeezing into one of them. Believe me, I was due for a new suit.)



I told my mom where I got my new swimsuit, and she was excited to check it out too. No kidding…the next day I got an e-mail from my mom. She looked up the website and ordered 2 new swimsuits. But she was even more excited that she was able to sign up for their $100 GC weekly drawing, got free flipflops, free shipping, and got other discounts. They were offering 10% off special, plus she got 10% off for new customers and free shipping too! And in her words, "Two suits - $89 – about the price of one from Lands End!" You can't beat that!

So all in all, I am thrilled with my experience with Swimsuitsforall.com. I've been trying to decide when to order another suit from their myself. (Probably soon if I can manage.) I think that you will be pleased with the selection and quality of their products. Go take a look for yourself!




Buy It: Check out Swimsuitsforall.com for all their selection.

Win It: The wonderfully generous people from Swimsuitsforall.com have given me a $100 gift certificate for one lucky reader to spend on their website.

To Enter: Tell me what swimsuit you like best (BE SPECIFIC) on their website. Be sure to include your e-mail address, so I can contact you when you win. (If I can't find an e-mail address in your profile or don't already have it, I will draw a new number for the winner.)

Extra Entries: If you'd like to, you may earn extra entries for doing each of the following. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each. You must do the above (main) entry first, and then you can do these others.

*Post about the giveaway on your blog and leave the link here. (2 entries)
*Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or feed reader.
*Subscribe to this blog by e-mail.
*Become a Google Friend Connect Follower (or you already are). (2 entries)
*Grab my new button (on the right side of my blog) and post if on your blog. (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*"Like" my new fan page on Facebook. (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*Follow me with Networked Blogs (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*Enter one of my other giveaways, then come back here and let me know which on you entered. You may do this for one extra entry.
*Follow me on Twitter. (I'll follow back.)
*Post about this giveaway on Twitter and leave the link here. You may do this once a day until the giveaway ends. I've made it easy, just Cut & Paste:

Need a new swimsuit? Enter to win a $100 GC for Swimsuitsforall.com from @psmomreviews – http://tinyurl.com/2bk7d58

This giveaway is open now through Sunday, August 1st. I will post a winner on Monday, August 2nd.

>Open to USA & Canada only!<



*Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, but a product was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

A Hot Thursday Here

It's going to be pretty hot and steamy here in Ohio today. We're under a heat advisory. It definitely makes me thankful for central air conditioning in my house. Here are some things I'm up to this Thursday...






Twitter Hop Thursday @ Simply Stacie


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Making My Tuesday Rounds...

I hope that you're having a great week. It's been mostly sunny and pleasant here. We're just looking forward to our upcoming vacation.  Summer is always a great time to go visit somewhere new, go swimming, and enjoy being with family. We're taking advantage of that.  So have a great (rest of) Tuesday, and here's to a pleasant rest of the week!

As always be on the lookout for new giveaways. Plus you won't want to miss out on the giveaways I have open right now:
   $80 CSNstores.com gift certificate
   BRUGO Travel Mug
   Silk Pure Almond Milk

Silk Pure Almond Milk Review + {Giveaway} (CLOSED)

My family is pretty adventurous and will try new things often. (You should have heard the recent discussion with our 4 year old about eating bugs- crickets, grasshoppers, slugs, etc. Funny stuff!) Anyway, when we got the chance to try Silk Pure Almond Milk, I figured my boys would at least give it a go.

I was given coupons for 2 half-gallons of Silk Pure Almond Milk, so I used them to get one of the Original and one Vanilla. That way we could try both varieties and see what we thought. I'm glad that I chose both kinds, because they are quite different in their flavor. The Vanilla Silk Pure Almond is a lot sweeter than the Original. To just drink a glass of milk, though, I would choose the Vanilla one. We also tried using it in our cooking and noticed that you don't need to use as much as the recipe calls for.



Here are some benefits of Almond Milk from Silk:

For starters, it's the almonds. Every little nut is a perfectly packaged powerhouse of natural antioxidants and more. In fact, we like to think of almonds as Nature's Perfect Nutrition – and that's where our almondmilk begins.

Almonds are recognized by health professionals as a nutritious addition to a healthy diet. A serving of almonds provides an excellent source of vitamin E (a natural antioxidant), and a good source of protein and fiber. In fact, almonds are higher in protein and fiber than any other tree nut. Plus, they're naturally low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free.

It doesn't take much to get from whole, natural almonds to Silk Pure Almond™ almondmilk. Each glass provides an excellent source of natural antioxidants* and as much calcium and vitamin D as dairy milk, with absolutely no cholesterol, saturated fat, dairy or soy. And, best of all, a serving of Silk Pure Almond Original almondmilk is only 60 calories, and a delicious glass of Vanilla is just 90.

Like every product in the Silk® family, Silk Pure Almond almondmilk treats your body to perfectly delicious nutrition, just as Nature intended.

*Fortified with natural antioxidant Vitamin E

We liked the Silk Pure Almond Milk, but it is a little different. I think as a dairy alternative, it's a great thing. But in general I think I'll stick with regular milk. Would you like to try it for yourself, see how below.

Buy It: Check their product locator to see where you can get Silk Pure Almond Milk in a store near you. And you can go get a $0.75 off coupon from their website.

Win It: I have something for two lucky winners. One winner will receive a Silk Pure Almond coupon for a free half gallon and also a Silk Pure Almond branded ChicoBag. The second winner will received a Silk Pure Almond coupon for a free half gallon.

To Enter: Tell me where you can get Silk Pure Almond Milk near you using their Product Locator. Be sure to include your e-mail address, so I can contact you when you win. (If I can't find an e-mail address in your profile or don't already have it, I will draw a new number for the winner.)

Extra Entries: If you'd like to, you may earn extra entries for doing each of the following. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each. You must do the above (main) entry first, and then you can do these others.

*Post about the giveaway on your blog and leave the link here. (2 entries)
*Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or feed reader.
*Subscribe to this blog by e-mail.
*Become a Google Friend Connect Follower (or you already are). (2 entries)
*Grab my new button (on the right side of my blog) and post if on your blog. (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*"Like" my new fan page on Facebook. (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*Follow me with Networked Blogs (5 entries- leave a separate comment for each entry)
*Enter one of my other giveaways, then come back here and let me know which one you entered. You may do this for only one extra entry.
*Follow me on Twitter. (I'll follow back.)
*Post about this giveaway on Twitter and leave the link here. You may do this once a day until the giveaway ends. I've made it easy, just Cut & Paste:

Enter to win Silk Pure Almond Milk prizes from @psmomreviews – http://tinyurl.com/2d9dq3w

This giveaway is open now through Sunday, July 25th. I will post a winner on Monday, July 26th.

>Open to USA only!<



*Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, but a product was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

A Surprise Package Delivery!

When we were getting ready to leave our house this evening, I noticed there was a package sitting by our door. We were not aware of anyone stopping to deliver a package. (That's one complaint I have about delivery people, they don't usually ring the doorbell or knock here. Many times they leave the package on our doorstep and leave.)

I was pleased to see that the mystery package was addressed to me. We opened it up right away (I say we because Matt was more excited to see what was in it than I was), and I was surprised at what I saw. I had no idea what it was from. I often get things from companies for review, but I'm aware they are coming and what. And I win a lot of prizes from giveaways that I enter, but that's the same I always know what I win and that it's coming. This I didn't know.

Once I pulled everything out and pulled the papers and things out, I started to see where it came from. I am a member of MomSelect by Maria Bailey and BSM Media. I often take surveys, make blog posts about events and contests for them, and other things. Apparently (I don't specifically remember) I signed up through them to receive a free Mom magazine.

In the package was a Mom magazine and a letter from them as well. The box was full of goodies from their sponsors.  It was a ton of stuff! Really awesome stuff too!  Here are some photos I got of what was in there.

Can you believe that stuff? There is a Puddle Jumper Life jacket (just in time too for summer swimming), Boogie wipes, a stamp, bottle, sippy cup, Gender predictor kit, Wiki sticks, Mam pacifier, cradle cream (for cradle cap...wish I'd had that when my son was a baby), a Bummis cloth diaper and more!! All the papers that are propped up in the last photo have gift certificates with them, like Mabel's Labels, Lisa Leonard designs, and more.

I'll try to blog a little more about the products as I get the chance to go through things more and use the gift certificates.  What a way to make a girl's day. :D Thanks MomSelect and Mom magazine for the wonderful goodies!

“Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge Review

We all know that men are different than women. What sets them apart? What is at the core of what makes men "men"? Author John Eldredge explores those questions in his book "Wild at Heart". God has equipped men to be different than women. He has made them the provider, the head of the household, and the desire to be the hero.

I have read several books by John Eldredge. One of my favorites is "Waking the Dead". I have participated in several small group studies through our church using this book. And I've also read "Captivating" by John & Stasi Eldredge. Where "Captivating" is about discovering the "woman's soul", "Waking the Dead" is about discovering the "secret of a man's soul". I enjoy Eldredge's style of writing. He uses many examples of films and books that are well-known in our culture. He definitely keeps your attention by providing many descriptions and stories.

"Wild at Heart" was a good book. I read hoping I could discover something new about my husband (or men in general). He discusses men needing to be a hero and a pursuer or dreams, which is so true. I think men and women alike will enjoy this book. You will learn more about what God has created us each to be.



Buy It: "Wild at Heart" the revised & expanded edition by John Eldredge is available online and at bookstores everywhere.





*Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, but the book from Thomas Nelson was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

Brugo Mug Review + {Giveaway} (CLOSED)

As coffee drinkers all know, burning your lips and tongue is easy to do. The same goes for anyone who has ever tasted a hot liquid. No matter how careful you are, if you take that first sip before it's cooled off a bit, you'll burn your mouth. Ouch! No one likes doing that.



Then enters the BRUGO Travel Mug with the answers. The BRUGO Mug is designed with a cooled chamber, so that your sips of coffee (tea, hot chocolate, etc) will be the right temperature for you to drink. But it keeps the rest of the liquid below hot like it should be to optimize flavor. It also keeps the bottom part insulated, so it will stay hot for a while for you to enjoy your drink.

More about the BRUGO Mug:

BRUGO is an elegant, patented technology that allows coffee and tea enthusiasts to enjoy every sip of their hot beverage in the "Perfect Temperature Zone", while eliminating the spills, spatters and burned lips that are a familiar part of the "to-go" coffee experience. At the same time, BRUGO offers consumer the answer to optimal flavor and unsurpassed convenience.

Fresh coffee is brewed at 205 degrees, but its vibrant flavors are most distinguishable and pleasing at around 150 to 170 degrees. By using a simple "tip and sip" motion, BRUGO users transfer sip-sized amounts (one fluid ounce) of their hot beverage to the temperature control chamber, where it immediately reaches this Perfect Temperature Zone. Only the liquid in the chamber is cooled and only this liquid exits the sip opening. A tight seal keeps the remaining coffee at its hottest and more aromatic. This inventive system eliminated the need for coffee drinkers to blow on their beverage, add ice to it, or wait for it to cool. Instead, they have immediate access to their hot beverage, and they can enjoy it longer at its peak freshness and flavor.

The BRUGO lid has three options; LOCK, TIP & COOL, and SIP. The LOCK setting seals the mug and is perfect for transporting the beverage without spilling. TIP & COOL gives the consumer the full benefits of the temperature control chamber. Once the beverage in the mug has cooled to a palatable temperature, users simply turn the dial to SIP and drink the beverage directly.

I should just go ahead and admit now that I am NOT a coffee drinker. Never have been, never will be much of one. And I was a barista for a year (a good one too!). (I didn't mind making coffee, smelling coffee, or even tasting different things, but it still didn't bring me over to the dark side.) Anyway, I'm just telling you that, so you know that I did not try this with coffee. I did, however, make some hot HOT cider for myself. Then I poured it into the BRUGO Mug. To drink it straight from the "sip" function, which is like a traditional travel mug opening, it was way too hot. But when I tried the "tip & cool" function with the lid, it worked perfectly. You tip the cup back to get a little liquid in the top, and then you can sip out the front. It did take me a little while to get used to tipping it backwards in order for this to work, but once I figured it out it was easy. Then the "lock" function makes the lid spill-proof.




I think this mug is above and beyond other travel mugs for hot drinks. I really like mine. I'm afraid to let my husband use it, because then my hot chocolate and cider will always smell a bit like coffee (sorry honey!). I haven't tested this theory, but I know with most travel mugs the coffee smell sticks with them.



The BRUGO Travel Mug has many great features. It is a 16-ounce capacity with double-wall insulation. The 3-position drink mode selector makes it easy to use in the appropriate way. And it has a stainless steel finish with a variety of stylish colors. It's also slim enough to fit most cup holders. The no-slip bottom is a great feature to enjoy as well as the ergonomic grip. And it comes with a limited warranty too.






Buy It: The BRUGO Travel Mug is available for purchase on their website- www.brugomug.com or on Amazon.com.

Win It: One person will win a BRUGO Mug of their own.



To Enter:
Tell me something that you found interesting or your favorite mug color from their website. Be sure to include your e-mail address, so I can contact you when you win. (If I can't find an e-mail address in your profile or don't already have it, I will draw a new number for the winner.)

Extra Entries: If you'd like to, you may earn extra entries for doing each of the following. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each. You must do the above (main) entry first, and then you can do these others.

*Post about the giveaway on your blog and leave the link here. (2 entries)
*Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or feed reader.
*Subscribe to this blog by e-mail.
*Become a Google Friend Connect Follower (or you already are). (2 entries)
*Grab my new button (on the right side of my blog) and post if on your blog. (2 entries)
*"Like" my new fan page on Facebook. (2 entries)
*Follow me with Networked Blogs (2 entries)
*Enter one of my other giveaways, then come back here and let me know which on you entered. You may do this for only one extra entry, more than that will disqualify your entry.
*Follow me on Twitter. (I'll follow back.)
*Post about this giveaway on Twitter and leave the link here. You may do this once a day until the giveaway ends. I've made it easy, just Cut & Paste:

Enter to win a BRUGO Travel Mug from @psmomreviews – http://tinyurl.com/2urmvln

This giveaway is open now through Sunday, July 25th. I will post a winner on Monday, July 26th.

>Open to USA & Canada only!<



*Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, but a product was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

WAT-AHH! Review + Contest

Do your children get enough water and other liquids to keep them hydrated throughout the day? I know my son has good days and bad days. He drinks a glass of milk or juice with breakfast, water or juice (only if he didn't have it for breakfast) with lunch, milk with supper, and I only offer him water the rest of the day and between meals. But many times it's tough to get him to drink enough water. Am I the only mother who struggles with this?

Well, I know I'm not alone. Rose Cameron thought of this solution when her son, Jack, told her how boring he thought water was. She created WAT-AHH! as an answer to that. It's for kids. Fun! Cool! Exciting! This is a new way for kids to drink water. It will get them interested in it. It's definitely not boring.

About the company:

 After one year in the market, Rose and Jack proved that WAT-AHH!'s screaming boy, his big mouth, the neon colors, the slick bottle, the eye-catching advertising, and of course, the brand name were enough to convince kids to choose water over sodas. Yes… water over soda!!! In fact, in a recent study, WAT-AHH! was chosen and consumed by 9 out of 10 kids (out of 1900+ participants) over sodas and juices. Kids described WAT-AAH! as "the coolest water every [sic] created!" WAT-AAH!'s website and viral efforts have accumulated over 1.5 million hits to date. Over 450 mom bloggers nationwide have positively reviewed or commented on WAT-AAH's healthy offering, its cool/contemporary design and its ability to convince children to switch away from sodas. Trendhunter magazine named WAT-AAH! One of the top 10 products for kids for two consecutive years (2009 & 2010)…makes sense!

With 1 in 3 children in the US considered overweight or obese, WAT-AAH!'s mission is very clear: to reverse children's dependency on sodas and other sugary drinks and participate in the fight against the biggest health threat facing the country today… childhood obesity.

I love this product! I think that anything that can get children drinking more water is fantastic. My son loved the name and the bottles. He also loved that it was water just for him. We received 4 bottles of WAT-AAH!, one of each variety. They did not last long in our house. And since we ran out and don't have more yet, I've been refilling them with tap water and using the bottles again. I don't think that kids should have lots of sugary, caffeinated drinks, so getting them used to drinking lots of water is such a great practice.

WAT-AAH! is running a summer challenge. It's going on now through September 30, 2010. It's called the Show Me WAT-YOU-GOT! Web-Based Kid Talent and Skills Challenge. Go check out the website wat-you-got.com and enter your kids' talents. Kids ages 5-17 are able to participate and show off their talents in music, soccer, dance, art, and other things. Entries will be judged on creativity, skills and expertise, memorability, and overall impact. All winning kids will receive a cash prize, and the winner of the soccer challenge will win a trip for two to Italy to watch the 2010 European Champions, InterMilan, play, and the winner of the music challenge will have the chance to professionally record and mix their song in NYC, and present to Al Branch—a chief talent scout for Def Jam Records and manager of well known artists such as Kanye West and Drake. So, let your kids show off their talents now!



Buy It: Go check their website to see where you can purchase WAT-AAH! near you or order it on Amazon.com.



*Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, but a product was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

Wednesday Follows 7/7/10

Tuesday already...

Today seems like a Monday, but without being Monday. Hey, having a Monday holiday works out great. :D

I hope that you all enjoyed your holiday weekend. We celebrated the 4th of July at my parents' house. Nothing to exciting, there were lots of people there. We spent the afternoon indoors, because it was so HOT outside. And we ordered pizza for dinner. Monday, I spent a lot of time swimming in the pond with my family, and we cooked out for lunch. So much fun with summer days like that.

It's going to be a really hot week here. We're hoping to get to the pool a few times. Enjoy your week!

As always be on the lookout for new giveaways. Plus you won't want to miss out on the giveaways I have open right now:
   $80 CSNstores.com gift certificate
   Let's Grow: Safety First DVD










I'm also participating in Twitter Hop Tuesday with www.mynewlifeasmom.com.

Sarah McLachlan CD Review

Sarah McLachlan is a musician who has been around for a while. And her music has been able to stand the test of time. I still sigh when I hear her songs come on the radio or TV. So I was very excited to be able to try out her newest CD Laws of Illusion.

Laws of Illusion by Sarah McLachlan was just released on June 15^th. The album's first single "Loving You is Easy" has already been on the Top Ten on Adult Alternative radio. And this is Sarah's first album in 7 years. I think it was worth the wait if you're a Sarah McLachlan fan.

The album is full of fun, easy listening music. It has several slow ballads as well as a few upbeat tunes. I really enjoyed the song "Loving You is Easy." The other songs on the album include: "Awakenings," "Illusions of Bliss," "Loving You is Easy," "Changes," "Forgiveness," "Rivers of Love," "Love Come," "Out of Tune," "Heartbreak," "Don't Give up on Us," "U Want Me 2," and "Bring on the Wonder."

Sarah will be performing at the historic all-female Lilith Fair festival that is returning this summer. So, be sure to check her out at her other scheduled events this summer:

Jul 3                 Seattle/George, WA                 The Gorge Amphitheatre
Jul 5                 San Francisco, CA                   Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
Jul 7                 San Diego, CA                         Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Jul 8                 Phoenix, AZ                             Cricket Wireless Pavilion
Jul 9                 Las Vegas, NV                         Mandalay Bay Events Center
Jul 10               Los Angeles, CA                      Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul 12               Salt Lake City, UT                    USANA Amphitheatre
Jul 13               Denver, CO                              Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Jul 15               Kansas City, MO                      Capitol Federal Park @ Sandstone
Jul 16               St. Louis, MO                           Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul 17               Chicago, IL                               First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jul 18               Minneapolis, MN                      Canterbury Park
Jul 20               Indianapolis, IN                        Verizon Wireless Music Center Indianapolis
Jul 21               Detroit, MI                                DTE Energy Music Theatre
Jul 23               Montreal, QC                           Parc Jean Drapaeu
Jul 24               Toronto, ON                             Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Jul 27               Cleveland, OH                         Blossom Music Center
Jul 28               Philadelphia, PA                      Susquehanna Bank Center
Jul 30               Boston, MA                              Comcast Center
Jul 31               New York, NY                          PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 1               Hartford, CT                             Comcast Theatre
Aug 3               Washington, DC                       TBA
Aug 4               Raleigh, NC                             Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Aug 6               Charlotte, NC                           Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
Aug 7               Nashville, TN                           Bridgestone Arena
Aug 8               Atlanta, GA                              Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Aug 10             West Palm Beach, FL              Cruzan Amphitheatre
Aug 11             Tampa, FL                                Ford Amphitheatre
Aug 12             Birmingham, AL                       Verizon Wireless Music Center
Aug 14             Austin, TX                                TBA
Aug 15             Houston, TX                            Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Aug 16             Dallas, TX                                Superpages.com Center



Here are some other places to find Sarah McLachlan and her new album. Check out her personal website or Facebook page. You can also find her on Twitter.



Buy It: The Laws of Illusion CD by Sarah McLachlan is available in stores now; you can download it on iTunes, or buy it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.



*Disclaimer: I was not paid to post this, but a product was provided to me for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.*

Happy Friday!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes yesterday! I had a great birthday, and so far I think 30 will be great!

I hope that you all enjoy your holiday weekend.  My plans include seeing my little nephew, sending my son to his grandparents for some spoiling, then finishing the weekend at my parents' place. Maybe we'll get in some fishing (not me though) and swimming if the weather is good. How about you? What are your holiday weekend plans?

Don't miss out on my $80 CSNstores.com gift certificate giveaway!