The Gift Closet

Novica Review & Giveaway

2011-04-05T09:16:00.007-04:00

There is a nation of artists throughout the world. village of carvers in Bali;
a family of ceramists in Brazil who have handed down their craft
from generation to generation;
a farmer in the Andes who hand-weaves alpaca sweaters.

It is a community of artists who have been isolated
for centuries by distance, time, and geography --
isolated from the very community of collectors seeking
their unique, inspired, and undiscovered arts and crafts.

Now, finally, there is a bridge connecting our separate
communities into one worldwide nation --
this is The NOVICA Nation.

A nation of people inspired by the arts and
empowered by the Internet.

Novica offers everything from Sterling Silver Jewelry to Earrings to necklaces, unique gifts, and much more!

I received these to review:

Sterling silver half hoop earrings, 'Moon in the Forest'

Round as the full moon, silver hoops reveal the intricate elegance of leaves and tendrils. Wadarat Supasirisuk creates the motifs in low relief, bringing a new look to a classic style.

.925 rating silver.

Made by:
Wadarat Supasirisuk

"Sawadee kha! My name is Wadarat Supasirisuk and I was born on April 19, 1941 in the southern province of Nakorn Sri Thamarat. I am married and we have two children. After graduating from university, I had the opportunity to work in a company that manufactured jewelry. I chose that company because not only did the products interest me, but also because I could tell there was a growing demand for Thai jewelry.

I began to save my earnings and eventually opened my own workshop. I believe that opportunities are everywhere, that is, for those who can anticipate and make the risky decision to invest time and money.

I purchased some materials and started marketing the products myself. It was then that I traveled abroad, to Europe and Australia. When I was in Bangkok I became aware of the potential for silver jewelry. I looked at the northern region of Chiang Mai and decided to expand my scope of products.

Earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets – I design all these products myself, sometimes adapting patterns I see in magazines and catalogues, sometimes simply through asking clients and professionals about the current trends. However, most of the times my clients already have in mind what it is they want and just ask me to actually make it.

My products are nice and of good quality. I feel confident that, regardless where you are from, you will like them."

What I like about these earrings and Novica:
1. I love the whole concept of this company!
2. I really enjoyed reading and seeing a picture of the woman who created earrings.
3. My experience w/ this company was unique!
4. Came w/ a handwritten postcard from Thailand thanking me for my purchase written in their language and English. Pretty cool!
5. Even the jewelry box was cool in that it is made from Sea Paper, a handmade mulberry bark paper that has been made in Thailand for over 700 years.
6. Quick shipping.
7. These Sterling Silver earrings were very pretty and delicate.

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing!

Want It? Click here to visit Novica.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win a $50 Gift Card to Novica:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Leave a seperate comment for each entry~
1. Like Novica on Facebook by clicking here.
2. Follow Novica on Twitter by clicking here.

Giveaway ends Monday April 11 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. I received the earrings to review from Novica. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Organic Antioxidant Supplements

2011-04-01T02:03:00.002-04:00

I'm all about trying to go natural, not over medicate, etc. when possible. I've got a couple of products and a new company to introduce you today and a little giveaway for ya too!

ResVitale is a line of health and beauty supplements infused with Resveratrol, the age-defying antioxidant recommended by Dr. Oz. ResVitale is committed to providing premium supplements to consumers through certified organic sourcing, innovative research and unrivaled dedication to quality. Harvesting from biodynamic vineyards in southern France, ResVitale boosts the bioavailability of Resveratrol through a patent-pending ‘Vine-to-Capsule’ extraction process, producing nutritional supplements unsurpassed in purity, potency and freshness. ResVitale is sold exclusively at GNC's fine retail locations both in the U.S. and international markets.

ResVitale sent me these 2 products to review and giveaway!

Keratin Enhance

A must have for beautiful hair, nails and skin, Keratin Enhance is our latest innovation in "beauty from within" supplementation. Combining Cynatine® HNS Keratin, the world’s first ‘soluble Keratin’, with Biotin and Resveratrol, this innovative formula provides a nourishing blend of science-backed ingredients for supporting and maintaining healthy and youthful hair, nails and skin. A clinical study demonstrated that hair loss from washing was reduced by 30% over a 90-day period, and hair strength was improved by 12% with a marked improvement in the shine and brightness of hair. Keratin Enhance is your new beauty secret to getting gorgeous hair, strong nails and firm skin.

$39.99

ResVitále 125 mg

Improve your health and reserve your youth with only the finest rejuvenating blend that boasts the health benefits from 400 glasses of wine in each serving.

ResVitále 125 mg supplies the nourishment needed to activate and restore youthful cellular activity. This powerful blend is exclusively created by combining succulent French red wine grapes, organic growing techniques and patent pending vine-to-capsule technology. Our elite antioxidant, French trans-Resveratrol, works to stimulate longevity genes to promote healthy aging and a long, active life. ResVitále 125 mg protects, enriches and enhances youth by restoring cellular activity and protecting cells from free radical damage. Just one capsule per day contains the Resveratrol equivalent of 400 glasses of red wine.

$23.99

What I like about these products:
1. Do not hurt my stomach. My tummy can be sensitive at times. I already take a multivitamin & probiotics, so adding more can be a little much at times. These had no negative effects.
2. I have only been using these for 1 week so I can't truly attest to the full benefits yet.
3. I like that they have different levels available of the Resveratrol according to your age.
4. The Resveratrol slows the aging process? Bring it on! Can I get an Amen to that? ~wink~
5. Antioxidants, gotta love that!
6. Made w/ certified organic red wine grapes.
7. Does not contain corn, soy, wheat, or lactose. Allergen free of yeast. Gluten free.
8. 100% vegetarian. No artificial colors or flavors.

What I didn't like:
1. Couldn't find a thing! :)

Want It?Click here to visit ReVitale. In March/April, there is a "Buy One Get One 50%" on all of their products at GNC. ~wink~

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email addy if it is no on your profile.

Giveaway ends Thursday April 7 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. I received the above mentioned products to review from ResVitale. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Did you take your vitamins today? {Giveaway}

2011-03-31T01:09:00.002-04:00

I did, I did! Courtesy of Vitamma! Vitamma isn't just your regular Vitamin company. Check out their cause: Vitamma's mission is to improve child health worldwide by fighting vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among children under five. An estimated 190 million children suffer from VAD worldwide, putting them at greater risk of illness and death. An additional 350,000 children go blind each year from VAD. With each Vitamma Multi purchased you provide three children with two year's worth of Vitamin A enabling their young immune systems to fight infection and allowing them to lead meaningful and productive lives.

Is that a fabulous idea or what? You can support this great cause by easily purchasing your vitamins through Vitamma!

I received this Women's Multi-Vitamin to try out.
What I like about it:
1. Other than the fabulous cause!.....
2. Didn't upset my stomach. I've had several vitamins do that and this one did not.
3. No artificial flavor, wheat, gluten, milk, lactose, yeast, or shellfish.
4. Has all the daily nutrients I need.

What I didn't like:
1. Priced at $14.99 for a 90 tablets, the price may be a deterrent. But you have to look at it as a donation for a wonderful cause!

Want It? Click here to learn more about Vitamma. Save 15% by using code “MOMS”!

WIN IT!
Vitamma is giving one Gift Closet reader their choice of a Multivitamin!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Like Vitamma on Facebook by clicking here.

2. Follow Vitamma on Twitter by clicking here.

This product review was made possible by the Double Duty Divas. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by Vitamma. All opinions are 100% mine. Winner will be selected using random.org and have 48 hours to respond via email. I am not responsible for delivery of the prize. Giveaway ends Wednesday April 6, 2011.

Tasteful Bites

2011-03-30T09:53:00.003-04:00

I started working outside the home and that's why you haven't seen as much of me lately. Funny thing cuz a few weeks ago I was working w/ a girl and she had only known me for 2 days. She turned to me and said, "One thing I've learned about you is that you love to eat!" Did she peg me or what? ~wink~ One of my fave things to eat is ChOcOlAtE! So when I was asked to review some tasties from Tasteful Bites you know what my response was!

Yvonne Janowski is the Cake Goddess behind Tasteful Bites. She makes Cake Truffles and Cake Pops in assorted flavors. This is the inspiration behind Tasteful Bites:
"I grew up in Houston Texas, went to college there studying art and art history. When I graduated I went to live in Paris, where I studied fashion design and got into fashion photography. I also learned to appreciate food and where it comes from.
I came back to the US to further my career in photography and worked as a freelance fashion photographer in NYC, where I met my husband. We moved to London for his career and well long story short- I was pregnant. I became a stay at home mom for the next 9 years or so. Really having the itch to do something fulfilling outside of the house , but I had to wait until the kids grew up a bit. While they were young it was really important to me that I be there to guide and nurture them. We moved back to the states after about 10 years in London and I decided to go to culinary school and pursue my passion for delicious, healthy food. After graduating, I started my own personal chef business, but found the hours it entailed were not the best for my family. I tried to figure out something I could do for my own fulfillment, yet still be there for my family's needs. I happened upon cake pops and truffles purely by accident. I was trying to find something fun for Andrew's birthday and saw the Bakerella site. Cake pops looked so fun and less messy than cupcakes, so I decided to try them. The only thing that really bothered me was that the recipes called for boxed cake mix and canned frosting. Just the thought of all these processed sugars and chemicals really turned my stomach, so I decided to make my own cake from scratch and my own Italian buttercream, then follow her directions for assembly. They turned out so delicious and everyone was telling me I should make these for grownups to as they were not a sweet, so I decided to give it a try. I went through alot of trial and error finding the right suppliers, since I try and source everything local and organic. The presence of red food coloring for the red velvet cake really bothered me, so I had to develop a natural way to get the color, but not use the food coloring. I really want to deliver a product that not only looks elegant, but tastes incredible and have people know that they are eating only the most pure and natural ingredients as god intended. That is why each cake pop is made by hand with no added chemicals. "Respect the food"

Here are the flavors I received to try:

Death by chocolate - if you are going to go this is the way to do it! Chocolate cake blended with chocolate ganache, enrobed in dark chocolate and garnished with milk chocolate vermicelli.

Salty dawg - perfect balance of sweet and salty. Vanilla cake blended with caramel buttercream, enrobed in milk chocolate and garnished with sea salt.

Midnight soiree - sophisticated and elegant. Chocolate cake blended with chocolate orange ganache, enrobed in dark chocolate and garnished with candied orange peel and gold sugar.

24 Carrot - chunks of real carrots and raisins. Carrot cake blended with cream cheese frosting, enrobed in white chocolate and garnished with gold and orange sugar.

What I like about these cake pops:

1. I was impressed that they all arrived in great shape! Not crushed or melted in any way!!

2. Packing is cute and simple tied w/ a pretty ribbon around each pop and labeled w/ a sticker to tell you the flavor.

3. Gorgeous and fun! I have always loved the look of the cake pops!!

4. Not too sweet. Actually, the Salty Dawg was one of my faves. A cool combo of salty and chocolate.

I LOVE that Yvonne strives to use only pure and natural ingredients. So rare, especially in sweets!

What I didnt' like:

1. I like things super sweet & rich. These are not too sweet, so if that's your preference, then these babies are sure to satisfy!

Want It? Click here to visit Tasteful Bites. Yvonne is generously offering this "sweet deal" to Gift Closet readers: With every dozen you buy- she will include 3 extra in assorted flavors for you to try! Enjoy!

Congrats!

2011-03-24T15:29:00.002-04:00

The winner of the Yoplait giveaway is #3 Even Andy. The winner of the Calypso Studios giveaway is #5Lesli.

Calypso Studios Review & Giveaway

2011-03-15T01:41:00.007-04:00

Calypso Studios is a new company that has taken inspiration from mother nature and created products that encompass a relaxed and vibrant lifestyle. They are constantly moving forward with new designs and accessories, & creating beautiful pieces that everyone can enjoy.

At Calypso Studios you will find unique jewelry, keyfobs, wrap bracelets, & comfort crosses.

Calypso Studios debuted in January 2007 with a line of jewelry and accessories created from the earth's natural elements: clay, shell, and glass. The new line was immediately embraced and praised for its unique designs and mediums.Calypso Studios' designs are on-trend, spanning the ages in both technique and those choosing these distinctive and exclusive designs. More than just a conversation piece, Calypso Studios jewelry symbolizes good taste for an independent spirit.

Calypso Studios would like to give once lucky Gift Closet reader a necklace of their choice!

I had the opportunity to review this Comfort Cross Ring $8

this White Cocoa Wrap Bracelet $7.50 {24in.wrappable bracelet with cocoa beads and waxed linen cording}

and this Long Blue & Yellow Sundance Necklace $15

What I like about these products:
1. Handcrafted!
2. Reasonably priced.
3. Lots of gorgeous colors!
4. Unique!
5. Created using the earth's natural elements....too cool!

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing!

Want It? Click here to visit Calypso Studios.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win the necklace of your choice:

1. Click here to join Calypso Studios Facebook Fan Page. Leave a comment telling them your fave necklace and that you are from The Gift Closet for an EXTRA ENTRY while you are there. :)

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to the post here.

2. Become a follower on The Gift Closet on my Left sidebar.

Giveaway ends Monday March 21 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. I received the above mentioned products to review from Calypso Studios. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. Interested in hosting a giveaway on The Gift Closet? Email me at heatherldt@bellsouth dot net to reserve your spot!

Healthy Snack Ideas {Yoplait Yogurt Review & Giveaway}

2011-03-14T09:13:00.006-04:00

My oldest daughter is one of the pickiest eaters I have ever seen. She is 8 now and just this past year has finally started eating normal "kid" foods such as pizza, tacos, hot dogs, etc. She has also ventured out into eating raw carrots! Getting her to eat has always been a challenge. And getting her to eat healthy? Even more of a challenge. My 2 younger boys are hard to get veggies into as well!

Are you also struggling in getting your kids to eat healthy? What do you do to get those veggies or other healthy foods down?

One thing my kids have always loved, thankfully, is yogurt! Yoplait Kids Yogurt has an excellent source of both calcium and vitamin D, a good source of protein and my kids love the taste as well. It also contains 25% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt, and has no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

I like that it has calcium, vitamin D and protein to help build strong bones. A great value at just $2.00 for a pack of four, this yogurt comes in three delicious flavors, including Strawberry, Strawberry Banana and Vanilla. My kids love finding their favorite friends, like Dora the Explorer, Lightning McQueen from the movie “Cars” and the Disney Princesses, on every cup.

I received a coupon* for any variety of the Yoplait Kids yogurt products, along with a Yoplait Kids prize pack. Perfect for accompanying this fun everyday snack, the Yoplait Kids prize pack includes a coupon for Yoplait Kids yogurt, a foldable travel cooler (to take your yogurt on-the-go), a cool four-piece spoon set, a power magnet picture frame, trendy alphabet-shaped “Kiddie Bands”, a great bounce ball and a “My First Scavenger Hunt” card game for some after-snack fun. Yoplait has offered one lucky Gift Closet reader the very same Prize Pack that we got!

My kids have always liked Yoplait yogurt. It makes a great snack and is a great addition to any meal of the day for my kids. My son loved the cooler in this prize pack and wants it to be his new lunch box. The magnet calenders come in handy, my daughter loved the Kiddie Bands, and the ball has been fought over a lot this week!

Want It? You can visit http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/76ee/ to download a printable coupon* for $0.50 off the purchase of one (1) four-pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt today!*This coupon offer for a free four pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile. Not a blogger? Email me at heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net and I will enter you in. Put "Yoplait Giveaway" in the subject line.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. Visit Yoplait on Facebook to “Like” the brand.

2. “Follow” Yoplait on Twitter to keep up with the latest news from Yoplait.

3. Snag my Blog Bling below for your site. Be willing to post about your win if you are the lucky one! :)

Grab this button:

4. Tweet this giveaway daily and include the Twitter hash tag #myblogspark and handle name @YoplaitYogurt in your tweets.

Giveaway ends Sunday March 20 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. I received a coupon, prize pack, information, and prize pack to review from Yoplait through Blog Spark. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. See you tomorrow for a review & giveaway from Calypso Studios!

Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Review & Giveaway

2011-03-10T01:12:00.003-05:00

I'm always up for trying out new hair accessories, how 'bout you? I got the chance to try out a Lilla Rose Flexi Clip and would like to introduce you to Lilla Rose today!

Lilla Rose offers unique, comfortable, & strong hair accessories such as the Flexi Clip, bobby pins, hair badges, headbands, hair bands, sticks, earrings, & much more! Jennifer Allen is the independent consultant hosting this giveaway today & here is her inspiration for becoming a consultant w/ Lilla Rose:

"Lilla Rose has the most awesome hair product I have ever used, the Flexi Clip! No more headaches, no more pins, no more plastic claws! Our Clip is different from other hair accessories because of the following features: Our clip is ornate: beautifully designed in a multitude of colors; it is amazingly flexible which most items of it’s kind are not; it is one-piece so you do not have to worry about losing a piece of it; the Flexi Clip is also very durable and finally, it locks so the pin does not slip out. Our flexible clip will fit in just about any thickness of hair. We have six sizes: mini’s, extra small, small, medium, large, and extra large.

My hair is silky and of medium thickness. Pony tails can give me headaches. Barrettes would end up falling down leaving me constantly re-doing my hair. Unless my hair was wet it would slide out of most claws or droop. Again leaving me needing to re-do the hair throughout the day. The Flexi Clip’s provide stylish pain free hair do's for everyday, and elegance for special occasions.

Visit the website for instructional videos that show eight beautiful hairstyles, and explain what Flexi clip you could need for your hair. It’s simple. It’s beautiful. It’s affordable. I love it!"

What I like about it:
1. It is pretty & sturdy. So nice to use instead of a rubber band!
2. They come in different sizes. It depends on your hair texture and length. You can click here for sizing info and styling options!
3. SO comfortable! It felt like nothing was in my hair, yet it was holding it back quite well!
4. Easy to use.
5. Many styles to choose from.
6. Reasonably priced.

What I didn't like about it:
1. Nothing!

Want It? Click here to visit Jennifer's Lilla Rose site.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win a Flexi Clip up to $15 of your choice:

1. Click here to visit Lilla Rose and tell what style you like best. Be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile in your comment.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Follow Lilla Rose on Facebook by clicking here.

2. Follow Lilla Rose on Twitter by clicking here.

1. Vote for my newest blog, A Real Housewife in Georgia, in the Mom Central Grant Program by clicking here.

1. Snag my blog bling for your site!Grab this button:

Giveaway ends Monday March 14 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents. I received a Flexi Clip for the purpose of review only. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Win It Wednesday

2011-03-09T06:07:00.005-05:00

The winner of the Kaskey Kids giveaway is #3 April @ Polka Dots n Pinky Swears . Congrats!

Today I'm excited to introduce you to my friend, Samantha Harris. She is a fellow Mom-prenuer & has recently started a career w/ Thirty One Gifts. She is giving one lucky Gift Closet reader a 31 Gifts Picnic Thermal Tote. Valued at $28.00. The fabric is impressionist dot and the monogramming reads, "PICNIC TREATS". This tote is thermal insulated and can hold up to 3 liters of soda. It is collapsable for packing. Perfect for the spring & summer just ahead!!!

Thirty-One Gifts has some of the most adorable & sassy personalized items I have seen. I have purchased their products as gifts & have loved everything I have received!
Here is Samantha's inspiration to start her career w/ Thirty-One Gifts:

"Bills, vacations, shopping, eating, water, heat, it all costs money! I am thankful that my husband has a job in today's economy, I know that a lot of people struggle much more than we do. However, I have always been the type person who likes a challenge and loves earning money by doing something creative. I have dabbled in many different jobs in my life, 28 to be exact. I have tried working for the man, going out on my own, creating a product, selling my choreography skills, painting houses, cleaning houses, you name it! Now that my daughter is getting older, I have a bit more time on my hands to do something productive. So, I thought the best way to do that and make money and work around my own schedule was to join an established company that offers wonderful opportunities for both myself and my customers. 31 does just that! 31 Gifts takes it name from the scripture Proverbs 31. Their vision is celebrate, reward and honor the virtuous woman that is described in this passage. They do this in a variety of ways. For their consultants, they offer incentives, rewards for selling and wonderful moral support. For their customers they offer a chance to win free products by becoming a hostess! They also offer a quality, stylish and useful product at a very reasonable price. They offer women a girls night out with friends, food and shopping! 31 has been a wonderful gift to my family as it is helping us pay off debt, take vacations and just earn some extra income on a monthly basis.

To see more 31 Products you can visit my website at www.mythirtyone.com/samharris

I would love to host a party with you if you live in the Atlanta area. Hosting is as easy as inviting a few friends and setting out a snack or two. I do the rest! We'll play games, have door prizes and you can earn free products!"

Want It? Click here to visit Samantha's Thirty-One site.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to leave your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Snag my blog bling for your site:

Grab this button:

2. Visit Thirty-one by clicking here. Come back & tell me your fave item.

Giveaway ends Tuesday March 15 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Fun Baby Shower Gifts

2011-03-05T10:21:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all 325 who entered the $100 Gift Card to GNC giveaway! The lucky winner selected by random.org is #118 Ms. Cindy. Congrats!!

I want to introduce you to my newest sponsor, Myador.

Myador specializes in developing unique and fun baby shower favor kits. They offer designs that you would not find anywhere else. Customer service is their highest priority and your satisfaction is always guaranteed.

The product line includes two designs: Calypso Baby Boy and Calypso Baby Girl shower favor kits.

This special set comes in a beautifully designed Calypso Baby hardcover box. Inside, you will find a custom designed wooden box, complete with dual hinged doors, which will make a great centerpiece for your party. This beautifully painted wooden box contains two bars for hanging miniature baby boy jumpsuits/baby girl dresses, with attached note tags. The set also includes “It’s a boy” /”it’s a girl” Hershey’s kisses, miniature wooden hangers and blank invitation/Thank you cards with envelopes for party guests.

The Calypso Baby shower set is available as 20, 30 or 40 piece set. The number of pieces refers to the number of jumpsuits/dresses, note tags, cards, hangers and chocolates.

Calypso baby shower set offers you a special and elegant way of appreciating and honoring your guests in celebrating one of the happiest moments in a lifetime. Each and every part of this set has been exclusively custom designed by Myador.

Want It? Click here to visit Myador. They also are offering free shipping for a limited time! You can visit/like their Facebook page by clicking here and join the Fan Club. Click on this link for the Myador twitter profile.

Friday's Feature-Chalk Talk Glass

2011-03-04T07:12:00.001-05:00

Came across this fab idea and thought I'd share it w/ ya!

When we have large groups over I always have a sharpie next to the plastic cups. That way everyone can write their names on the cups since there are, I don't know, 40 matching red cups and no one remembers where they set theirs last. Well....Chalk Talk Glass has taken that to the next level!Throw out your wine charms - write on wipe off wine glasses make a great gift!

With Chalk Talk wine glasses (www.ChalkTalkGlass.com) you don't need wine charms for your next gathering - guests simply write their name on their glass with chalk. At the end of the party simply wipe off the chalk, wash the glasses (top rack in your dishwasher or by hand) and you're ready for the next party!

The inspiration behind Chalk Talk Glass:

"Chalk Talk Glass started with my sister Sharon and a simple DIY project for an upcoming cocktail party. The chalkboard wineglasses were an instant hit; everyone loved them and wanted to have some for their next party" says Trish Babb, co-owner. In January 2011 the two sisters officially launched ChalkTalkGlass.com and have been overwhelmed by the great response to their unique product.

Chalk Talk wine glasses feature several designs to accent the chalkboard area on each glass; including Grapes, seasonal designs (Holly Berries, Hearts, Shamrocks), and of course custom designs upon request. While their biggest seller is Simple Sally the design they are most proud of is the "Paws off" charity glasses which features dog paw prints. A portion of sales from this design are donated to a local dog rescue program."

Want It? Click here to visit Chalk Talk Glass. Gift Closet readers can enjoy 10% off their purchase at ChalkTalkGlass using coupon code: fan 10 at checkout. Cheers!

P.S. Visit me at A Real Housewife in Georgia for my "Is Your Attitude Stuck in a Rut?" post!

Moisturing Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer

2011-03-03T02:04:00.001-05:00

Having a family of 5 and being on the go there prolly isn't a day that goes by that we don't use hand sanitizer. Most of them dry your skin out, are sticky, and reek of alcohol. I had the opportunity to try a new Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer and want to let you in on the scoop!

Veripur is the new non-drying, alcohol-free hand sanitizer that kills 99.9% of germs on contact & continues to protect your hands for up to 4 hours after application! You can find Veripur at Walgreens online or in-store.

What I like about Veripur:
1. I love that it is safe for my entire family & all ages!
2. It feels like you are just applying lotion instead of a hand sanitizer.
3. Makes my hands super soft.
4. Not greasy.
5. Pleasant fresh smell. Comes in a "fresh" scent or unscented.
6. Comes in 2 sizes. A 13 oz pump bottle for $ 10.99 or 3 oz tube for $5.99.
7. Protects you 4 hours after application. Now that is the bomb!!
8. Veripur is tested & proven effective against 20 commonly found strains of bacteria & 4 viruses.

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing! I'm really excited to have learned about this product! I def will be using this product from now on & HIGHLY recommend it!! :)

Want It? Click here to visit Veripur.

Win It Wednesday-For the Sports Fans!

2011-03-02T01:41:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the original Win It Wednesday! Congrats to the winner of the Customizing Kiddos giveaway #13@nola727 .

Stop over at my new site, A Real Housewife in Georgia, today and say hello!

Today I am pleased to be able to give one lucky Gift Closet reader your choice of a Full Set of College Football, Baseball, Football, Hockey or Soccer Sports Toys from Kaskey Kids!!

What is Kaskey Kids?

The concept for Kaskey Kids came together in 2002. Christy Kaskey blended her desire to find the perfect toy for her sports loving kids, with the memory she had of her brothers entertaining themselves for hours on end with the classic action figures of their childhood; Army Men, Super Heroes and Cowboys and Indians. Christy wanted to retain the value behind these classic toys and the benefits they gave of open-ended, child-driven, fun and imaginary play, but wanted the action figures for her children to focus on the sports they loved.

Here is a sample of what you will find in your set...

HOCKEY ACTION FIGURES
Hockey Guys: Blue vs. Yellow

Simply slide together your rink walls and place your mat inside the boards and your hockey game can begin! With a slick surface, goals, and an oversize puck, kids will have lots of fun passing and scoring goals!

Set includes:

14 2 1/2" players
1 referee
2 goals
1" puck
10 rink wall pieces that slide together to form the rink
26" x 18" shiny, slick plastic mat that resembles "ice"
10" x 6" x 5" stackable container with attached lid and handle

A note to help you enjoy Hockey Guys: The hockey mat you will receive will have some creases when you take it out of the box. As it sits out on a hard, flat surface, the creases will smooth out. If you prefer to keep your mat smooth and do not want to fold it back up after each use to avoid any creasing, just roll up the mat lengthwise and slide it under the handle of the box.

$24.99

I know my5 year old son would love these! What a fun idea!!

Want It? Click here to visit Kaskey Kids.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win a full set of your choice:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. Post this giveaway on Facebook for an extra entry. You can do that easily by clicking on the "Facebook" tab at the top of this post. Come back here & leave a link to it.

2. How did you hear about this giveaway?

3. Give me your honest opinion of The Gift Closet in this short survey.

Giveaway ends Tuesday March 8 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Clingy in a Good Way ... A No Slip Bra

2011-03-01T09:01:00.004-05:00

Ever had bra straps slide off your shoulder or a bra that just won't stay put? I have and it can be quite annoying. I jumped on the chance to try out the new Barely There No Slip Fit Bra and here is the scoop on it!

It's a simple concept. A Bra that stays put! Here is what I like about it:
1. It really does stay put!
2. Wonderful fit. I must say it holds everything in place much better than some more $$ brands I currently own.
3. Available in underwire, wirefree, & a lift underwire.
4. Line-free look, smooth all over.
5. No irritating tags....yay!
6. Underwire is super comfortable.
7. Reasonably priced at $33 and available at Kohls and other department stores.

What I didn't like:
1. It was a little "squeaky". When I moved I could hear little noises from the straps or closures or something. Does that make sense? Maybe that will go away after it has been washed a few times.

Want It? Visit Barely There by clicking here. Here's a coupon code for $5 off your No Slip Fit Bra! SHARE5 Enjoy!

I received this bra for the purpose of review only. All opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. The winner of the Kiddie Catch All Giveaway is #14 Rachel. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you subscribe below to receive my posts via email.

Drumroll please!

2011-02-28T07:56:00.006-05:00

I'm so stinkin' excited today! I have been working on a new site and am so happy to be able to finally share it with you today! I am not a patient person and when I get an idea I want to make it happen....yesterday. So without further adue, here is my new addition!

Don't worry, The Gift Closet isn't going anywhere and nothing will change here. My new site, A Real Housewife in Georgia, is a place where I can really connect more with you as we "do life" together. I’ll be writing mostly about…

Food~Yum!
Faces ~Beauty Girlie girl stuff!
Favorites~What I’m into right now
Photos~My personal photos w/ a story
Faith~ A Journey in Faith
And much much more!

On each of the posts above I will offer you a chance to link up your own post about that subject of the day, whether it be your favorite food, photo, your current favorites, etc. You don’t have to link up, you can just come & read, but if you do decide to play along, I promise tons of fun! ~Giddy~

Here is a schedule of the Upcoming Posts:

These are the posts you can plan ahead to link up to!

~March 1 Food
{What is your fave recipe right now?)

~March 2 Faces
{What is your fave beauty product of the moment?}

~March 3 Photos
{Share your favorite photo & the story behind it}

~March 4 Faith
{List 25 things you are thankful for/pics are good too!}

So I hope you have a fabulous day and come see me at A Real Housewife in Georgia! ~wink~

P.S. The winner of the Raisels giveaway is #38 Debi Jackson. Congrats!

Natural Cold Remedies/$100 GNC Gift Card Giveaway

2011-02-25T16:05:00.005-05:00

February can be an awfully cold, dreary, and sickly month for some. In my house we have, unfortunately, had our share of sickness this winter. From tummy bugs, to colds, to the flu & pneumonia...we are ready for the Spring!

I read on MSN not long ago that this has been one of the worst cold & flu seasons. If you are one of those unlucky folks that's fighting a cold, here are a few ways to hopefully get over it quicker and some great products you can find to help you out at GNC.

1. Probiotics! We are a firm believer of probiotics here in our house.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics work to keep a healthy balance of intestinal flora. They reduce the amount of harmful bacteria by replenishing and maintaining the “friendly” bacteria.*The depletion of “good” bacteriacan occur as a result of poor diet,taking certain antibiotics, stress,food poisoning, travelers' diarrhea or poor overall digestive health.

The cultures in GNC's Ultra ProbioticComplex 50 have been clinically shown to replenish healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. Each capsule provides 50 billion live and active cultures of Lactobacillusacidophilus and Bifidobacterium.

2. Remember colds can last 10-14 days. I know, a real bummer. Antibiotics will not help cuz it's viral.

3. Alkalol! We LOVE alkalol in our house! Alkalol is an alkaline saline solution specially formulated to clean and moisturize the nasal passages, dissolve mucus, kill germs and bacteria, and provide natural relief from the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies. GNC offers Netipots, which serves the same purpose, as well here.

4. Cool Mist Humidifier. Another great natural relief for stuffy noses & congestion. Especially for kids!

5. Mentholatum or Vicks Vapo Rub for kids.

6. Saline Solution is a great natural nasal spray to use 3 times a day if needed for stuffy noses.

7. Vitamin C as well as other natural supplements can boost your overall immune health. You can find a wide variety of supplements at GNC by clicking here.Want It? Click here to visit GNC's home page. They are currently offering free shipping on orders over $100 and BOGO 50% off sports, vitamins, supplements, & herbs!

WIN IT!

GNC has generously offered to give one lucky Gift Closet reader a $100 Gift Card!

Required Entries:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

2. "Like" GNC on Facebook by clicking here.

3. Follow GNC on Twitter by clicking here.

4. Follow the marketing director (Jeff Hinnion) of GNC on Twitter by clicking here.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry.~

1. Tell me your favorite Winter sport.

2. Daily tweets of this giveaway. One extra entry per tweet.

Giveaway ends Thursday March 3 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is openworldwide. I received a GNC gift card. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. Interested in having your product reviewed on The Gift Closet? Email me today at heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net.

All Things Red

2011-02-25T15:24:00.009-05:00

I wrote earlier this month about February being Heart Awareness month. I recently had a young friend who had a mild heart attack and was reminded again of why we need to take care of ourselves ladies & watch for signs. Please remember to watch your cholesterol, blood pressure, etc...and take care of your little heart. To wrap up Heart Awareness month here are a few of my favorite red things.

Sparkly.....Ruby rings!Sassy.....Red pumps!Sweet.....Red Velvet Cupcakes!
What's your favorite Red stuff? Any helpful heart tips you have to share?

Friday's Feature

2011-02-25T14:16:00.007-05:00

The winner of the Belli Skin Care giveaway (selected using random.org)is #58 Anash. Congrats!

My feature today is Mom-preneur, Maria, of Bijou Baby Boutique. Baby Bijou Boutique has the most adorable tutus and matching accessories!

Maria's inspiration:
"It was created around Christmas of last year, which also happened to be when my daughter was three months old. I was torn between being a SAHM and a working outside the home. The idea literally came to me while I was searching for photo props for my daughters portraits and realizing how expensive they could be. I've always been big into crafts, so I figured I could make tutus and hair clips for my daughter instead of buying them. My husband suggested I give a few tutus as Christmas gifts and then it sort of took off from there. My little business gives me the best of both worlds, being a full time SAHM to a beautiful little girl and being able to work from home."

Want It? Click here to visit Bijou Baby Bouytique on Etsy. Discount code for Gift Closet readers : giftcloset10 Expires 3/31/11 10% off ~Yay!~

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you sign up here to receive my posts via email. Super convenient cuz they come right to your inbox! ~wink~

A Nice Refreshing Glass of.....Pool Water.

2011-02-24T02:30:00.001-05:00

"Mommy! This tastes like swimming pool water!", gleefully shouts my 5 year old son. Why is this odd? Because it is the dead of winter and we are in my kitchen. I have my back turned fixing the baby's lunch (child #3). We don't even own a pool nor have I recently poured him a nice tall glass of....swimming pool water. I turn to see just what this wonderful liquid is.

Nothing to fear, it is only a glass of water I had served him this morning that was left sitting out all day and he had decided to finally drink it. I don't know about you, but water that has set out for hours isn't too tasty to me.

"That's been sitting out all day", I say to him as he gulps down the last drop as though we live in a desert and that is the last bit of water he'll have for days. "MMMM.....can I have some more of that yummy swimming pool water Mommy?"

At least he isn't sticking beans up his nose during nap time at school.

But that's another story for another day. :)

Here's my little Dennis the Menace

Win It Wednesday

2011-02-23T08:38:00.004-05:00

Welcome to Win It Wednesday! The winner of the Sunshine Pillows giveways is #16 Nan. Congrats!

Today I'm giving away a $25.00 gift certificate for personalized items to Customizing Kiddos!

At Customizing Kiddos you will find personalized piggy banks wipes cases magnets, car decals, sippy cupsand much more!How cute!!

Want It? Click here to visit Customizing Kiddos.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. Click here to become a follower of The Gift Closet on Twitter.

2. 5 extra entries if you make a purchase from Customizing Kiddos!

3. "Like" The Gift Closet on Facebook by clicking here.

Giveaway ends Tuesday March 1 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only.Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

CSN Stores

2011-02-23T02:28:00.000-05:00

One of my fave places to shop online is CSN Stores. CSN Stores has over 200 online store where you can find anything you need whether it be swingsets, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware! The shipping is quick, you can find pretty much anything you are looking for. I also love that there are honest reviews and ratings on their products. Check it out for yourself! :)

Kiddie Catch All Review & Giveaway

2011-02-22T05:34:00.001-05:00

Do you ever get tired of your kids throwing toys, food, cups, you name it...in the floor of the car as you are driving? And then you are trying to precariously steer the caravan while trying to pick up said pacifier, toy that your child is screaming for? If you can relate to that, then you need to check this out...

Kiddie Catch All is the perfect accessory for your car,truck, or minivan! Fill it with books, toys, games, snacks, sippy cups, pacifiers, etc. Your child will have what he needs right at his disposal and you don't have to worry about trying to drive and hand them things! Which...none of us ever do, right? ~wink~ Fab idea by Mom Ally Arnold!

Here is her inspiration:
"My 1 yr old daughter was the inspiration as I began to experience the stress and strain of driving and meeting her needs at the same time. The dangers while doing this concerned me greatly and that led to Kiddie Catch-All being designed and marketed within a year. We debuted January 31, 2011. Presently, we can only fulfill orders within the U.S."

What I like about the Kiddie Catch All:
1. I love that this attaches to the side of their seat. In the past I have given them small bags or things to carry in the car and played the whole game of trying to retrieve their stuff off the floor while driving. What a great invention!
2. It fits on almost any car seat.
3. Comes w/ a free bonus CD for your kiddos to listen in the car as well. These songs are original, moral teaching, great sing-a-long songs!
4. Also comes w/ a handy print out of teaching your child how to use their new Kiddie Catch All!

What I didn't like:
1. I would love it if they came in bigger sizes as well. Seems like the older my kids get sometimes the bigger the toys get! :)

Want It? Click here to visit Kiddie Catch All. There is a limited time $5 discount now posted on their website making the BOGO's only $12.95!

WIN IT!
One lucky Gift Closet reader will receive 2 Kiddie Catch Alls and the cd! :)

How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email addy if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Email 3 people about this contest & cc me on it.

2. Visit one of my sponsors on the Right or Left sidebar & tell me your favorite product.

3. Become a fan of The Gift Closet on Networked Blogs by clicking here.

Giveaway ends Monday February 28 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. I received these products for the purpose of review only. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Healthy Alternative to Candy

2011-02-21T07:12:00.004-05:00

Happy Monday ya'll! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Me? Not too great. 2 kids w/ a tummy bug. But the gorgeous weather made it survivable. ~wink~

I would like to share a review & giveaway for a healthy alternative to candy w/ you today. What is this new alternative you say? Raisels!

Raisels are fruity flavored raisins that taste like candy, but aren't! They come in 4 fab flavors. Sour Apple, Sour Orange, Sour Lemon, & Sour Peach. Not a sour fan? Don't worry, they didn't taste too sour to us! They come in good sized portion boxes, just like you would find a box of raisins.

I am going to share our family's thoughts on these tasties and give one Gift Closet reader the chance to win a Big Box of Raisels with a variety of flavors!

What we like about Raisels:
1. Truly tasty! While some of our family liked some of the flavors better than others, I can attest to the fact that none of them are lacking in flavor!
2. They are rich in antioxidants, fat free, cholesterol free, and 100% US RDA for Vitamin C.
3. The box sizes are perfect for a snack in their lunch, afternoon snacks, etc.
4. No sodium, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners.
5. Kosher certified.

What we didn't like:
1. Some of the flavors didn't appeal to us or were a little too sweet. And then, some we loved.
2. Some Moms may take issue w/ the amount of sugar in Raisels, but keep in mind raisins naturally contain 21 g of sugar per 35 g serving. There is 5 times more sugar in sweetened dried cranberries. 19 times more in a bag of skittles. 17 times more in a 12 oz can of Coke!

Want It? Click here to visit Raisels.

Win It!
How to enter to win a Big Box of Raisels w/ a variety of flavors:
1. Leave a comment here. Be sure to include your email addy if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. "Like" Raisels on Facebook by clicking here.

2. Follow Raisels on Twitter by clicking here.

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post here.

4. Become a follower of The Gift Closet on my Left sidebar.

Giveaway ends Sunday February 27 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only. I received these products for the purpose of review only. No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. The winner of the Cover Your Hair giveaway is #40 Sam. Congrats!

Belli Skin Care Review & Giveaway

2011-02-18T01:47:00.008-05:00

I get to talk about one of my favorite things today....skin care! I used to own my own Soy Bath & body company till I sold it when my 2nd child came along due to lack of time to invest. So, I have a little bit of knowledge about skin care products and especially can appreciate those that truly do offer natural benefits to your skin without all the harsh chemicals.

I would like to introduce you to a company called Belli Skin Care. Most of my dealings w/ companies are done via email. Which is so convenient being a stay-at-home mom. However, Monica from Belli wanted to speak w/ me by phone to educate me on their company a bit. That was impressive! That they care enough about their products, and that we, as consumers, understand what we are putting on our bodies...that speaks volumes about what kind of company this is!

Now for those who are wringing their hands in delight to see what Belli Skin Care is going to give away, let me relieve you of your hand-wringing so you can really focus on all the fabulous things I learned about Belli and their products that I am about to share with you. Belli Skin care has offered to give one lucky Gift Closet reader the Complexion Protection Set (Acne Cleansing Facial Wash & Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen)!! Value $46.00

Get maximum protection from breakouts and uneven skin tone with Belli's Acne Clearing Facial Wash and Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen. These breakthrough formulations safely address acne and dark splotches on face caused by hormones. Get the #1 OB-Gyn Recommended skincare and enjoy flawless skin!

If you have ever been pregnant then I am sure you remember your Dr telling you to limit or not eat hot dogs & certain lunch meats due to the nitrates. Or not to inhale certain fumes, etc. while expecting. The founders of Belli Skin care are actually a husband & wife team, Jason & Annette Rubin. When Annette was expecting her 1st child she received those same orders from her Dr and also began to wonder, what about skin care? What about the things I put on my body? What kind of harmful effects can those products have on my baby?

Her hubby, Jason, being a board-certified family practitioner with broad experience in obstetrics, pediatrics, dermatology, and emergency medicine...decided to start researching this for his wife & unborn child. Concerned about the risk of chemicals absorbing through the skin and into the bloodstream during pregnancy, he developed Belli's exclusive teratology screening process, which searches through millions of published medical research studies to help women avoid ingredients even remotely linked to birth defects. Dr. Rubin's higher pregnancy safety standards are recommended by OB-Gyn physicians across the country. In 2006, the Rubins created the Belli Motherhood collection with LACT-MED database screening to help women avoid ingredients linked to harmful effects while breastfeeding. And in 2007, they introduced the beloved Belli Baby collection which avoids xenoestrogens, and features only the purest ingredients for delicate skin.

As Belli's medical director, Dr. Rubin oversees all safety screening and efficacy claims. Working together with a team of other experts (obstetrician, dermatologist, teratologist), he guides Belli's chemists in the creation of each unique product. He also writes a series of educational articles that teach women about the skin care changes of pregnancy/motherhood, and the best care and cleansing routines for their babies.

I had the pleasure of receiving & reviewing these 4 fabulous products:
Stretchmark Minimizing Cream

Stretchmark Minimizing Cream is an advanced skin restorative formulated to decrease the appearance of existing stretchmarks. Reduces stretchmark length and irregular surface area by up to 52% and stretchmark depth by up to 72%. Features darutoside and registril, which are ingredients shown in independent clinical trials to be effective on stretchmarks of any age or from any cause. $49 Directions: Apply to stretchmarks morning and night for 4 weeks and then once daily until desired results are achieved.

Eye Brightening Cream

Eye Brightening Cream revives and illuminates tired eyes. This advanced eye brightener hydrates delicate skin, lightens dark circles and minimizes the appearance of fine lines. Vitamin K enhances circulation and is shown in research to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Saccharomyces Cerevisia extract makes the area around the eye look restored, with a more uniform complexion. Rice and Soybean protein improve hydration and also aid in reducing dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. $37. Directions: Use daily to keep the eye area looking refreshed and well rested.

Belli Baby Calm Me Hair & Body Wash

Calm Me Hair & Body Wash is a blend of ingredients that cleanse and moisturize baby's hair and skin. Features the essential oil of marigold and chamomile, which softens and refreshes. This product is pH-balanced for baby's skin and tear free. 14.35 oz. $12 FREE OF PHTHALATES AND OTHER XENOESTROGENS.

Belli Baby Nourish Me Enriched Body Lotion

Nourish Me Enriched Body Lotion is pure and gentle hydration for baby's delicate skin. Features the essential oil of chamomile to soften, refresh and soothe. Belli Baby Enriched Body Lotion also works well as a pampering massage cream for your baby. 12 oz $15 FREE OF PHTHALATES AND OTHER XENOESTROGENS

Sensitive to fragrance?

These products have no scent to them:
-Anti-Chloasma Sunscreen
-Eye Brightening Cream
-Body Firming Serum
-Diaper Rash Cream
-Pure Comfort Nursing Cream
The only products that have a "fragrance" in them are Calm Me Hair & Body Wash and Nourish Me Lotion in the Belli Baby collection. The other products have the essential oils that you smell like Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon/citrus.

What I like about these products:
1. My favorite thing is all the facts I presented to you above. Every ingredient has been thorough rigorous R&D & screening before ever hitting your sweet skin! :)

2. I can't vouch for the validity of whether or not the Stretch Mark Minimizing Cream works. I will be trying this out for the required 4 weeks to see results....and I do hope to see these "battle scars" on my stomach, as I affectionately call them, minimize in size! ~wink~

3. The Eye Brightening Cream didn't make my dark circles much lighter, but then again nothing I have ever tried has worked. Over time the Vitamin K may work on them, though. Did this product minimize fine lines? Absolutely! And it def is moisturizing!

4. The baby hair & body wash is super soft & gentle and has a wonderfully clean scent to it.

5. Ditto on the baby body lotion. It almost has a light honey smell to it. So clean & fresh. Not too greasy, I have it on my hands as we speak just to try it out for myself. Absorbs quickly but leaves the skin feeling moisturized and oh so soft for hours!!! LOVE this product!!

6. The packaging is very clean and pretty. To some, not a big deal. But if you are giving these products as a gift set (which is a great idea), then appearance will certainly matter in that little gift basket you are creating.

7. I like that you can find products for both mom & baby in this line.

8. I also love that these are safe for nursing Moms as well. I nursed all 3 of my kids for 1 year each, so kudos to Belli for thinking of nursing Mommas too! :)

10. Ingredients are listed right on the product page on the site. No having to fish around to find out what's in their products.

What I didn't like:
1. I really loved all of these products! The only thing that may deter some would be some of the pricing. I am sure you are getting what you pay for this in case though, which is quality products.

Want It? Click here to visit Belli Skin Care. Gift Closet readers can enjoy 15% off, good until Dec 31, 2011, using the code VIPMOM.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here. *Be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.*

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Tell me how Belli Skin Care got started. Hint: read what I wrote above. ~wink~

2. Not a blogger? Email me your entry & I will enter you! Be sure to let me know what giveaway you are entering in your comment. heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Giveaway ends Thursday February 24 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open worldwide. I received these products for the purpose of review only from Belli Skin Care . No monetary compensation was received and these opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. The winner of the Hot Wheels & Big G Cereals giveaway is lucky #114 amied027. The winner of the Sunshine Pillows giveaway is #41 Teresa.

Thoughts for Thursday - Be Kind to Someone Today

2011-02-17T08:01:00.003-05:00

When was the last time you told your child what you liked best about them? Sometimes if we're having a really bad day it definitely lightens the mood if I look my sweet child straight in the eye, and tell him/her specific things I like about them. You should see the smiles that ensue. Their faces literally light up. It's priceless! For example...You are very creative, I like the way you draw, I like the way you try really hard at soccer, I am proud of you for being so sweet to your friends...and the list could go on & on.

For Valentine's Day I gave my hubby a deck of cards that said, "52 Things I like About You". We got it from our MOPS group. You might think it would be hard to come up w/ 52 things you like about someone, but it was actually kind of easy! Who doesn't like to be given a compliment? We all need one sometimes, don't we? It's like the quote I put on my Facebook page the other day.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I find that if we have been jaded by others, or gotten your feelings hurt one time too many, it's easy to become hard-hearted. It's easy to be grouchy toward others and guarded. If you go through the day and instead of thinking, "Look at that person who took up 2 parking spots, how selfish!"...you might think, "Maybe they were in a hurry due to an emergency and that was the last thing they were thinking about". Or..."I need to get in line first because I am in a hurry"....let someone else go first. Cuz what you are actually saying is, "I am more important than anyone else". What a better world we would all live in if we really treated others how we want to be treated.

Just wanted to share this cuz it was on my heart and I am guilty of these things myself. I hope you have a great day. Now get out there and share some love. Not only will you brighten someone else's day, but I promise....you can't help but feel better when you are blessing someone else!

The Gift Closet Feedback Form

2011-02-16T11:22:00.000-05:00

Online Childrens Place Coupons!

2011-02-16T08:25:00.007-05:00

Now is a great time to shop for winter clearance items! Everyone is drastically marking down their clothing, accessories, shoes, etc to make way for Spring lines. I wanted to let you know about some great online ChildrensPlace coupons that I found over at Coupon Mountain.You will find deals such as 25% off $60 and 20% off, plus $5 shipping on all US orders! I love to shop and even more I love a good deal. And combining a coupon code with a sale item....makes me slap giddy! ~wink~ So, hop on over and check out these coupons today!

Who Has The Time?

2011-02-15T09:43:00.001-05:00

Amen to this!!!! Especially today. I was up half the night w/ a sick baby. Had to get up at the crack of dawn to take the kids to school & drop off the Valentine's Day Party stuff. I am the Room Mom for my daughter's class and seeing as how my 14 month old has a tummy bug, I had to get a couple of other Mom's to take over the party for me today. :(

I feel like what Julia Robert's said is so true. Not just today, but for most days. Can I get an amen to that? ~wink~

And speaking of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...love it!!! I can't wait for Orange County to start and am also looking forward to the drama I am sure the new Miami one will bring! Any other Housewives fans out there? What is your fave to watch? New York, OC, Beverly Hills? or Atlanta? Yay for reality tv! ~Cheers~

Cover Your Hair Review & Giveaway

2011-02-14T02:42:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day yall!!! I heart my Gift Closet readers & wish you all a blessed day. :)

Cover your Hair is a "one-stop" kind of site for almost any kind of hair accessory. You will find hair accessories, bandanas, headbands, hats, baby caps, berets, tichels, snoods, turbans, hair clips, and more!

They sent me 2 headbands to review & a $25 box of surprise hair accessories to giveway!

What I like about the headbands:
1. They are elastic which means no hard plastic poking into your head!
2. One size fits all.
3. Very comfortable.
4. Lots of styles and colors to choose from. They have regular headbands, headbands w/ tails, baby headbands, un-tied headbands, and hard hair headbands.
5. Shipping is super fast.
6. Prices are reasonable.

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing! :)

Want It? Click here to visit Cover Your Hair.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~
1. Visit Cover Your Hair by clicking here. Come back to this post & leave a comment telling me which items you would love to have.

2. Join Cover Your Hair on Google Friend Connect: Go to Cover Your Hair, Click "Join This Site" in the Google Friend Connect box.

3. Subscribe to Cover Your Hair on Stumble Upon by clicking here.

4. Follow Cover Your Hair on twitter by clicking here.

5. Subscribe to Cover Your Hair's Blog feed by clicking here.

6. Add http://www.coveryourhair.com to your blog roll

7. Follow Cover Your Hair on Networked Blogs. Go to http://www.coveryourhair.com/blog/ and click "Follow This Blog" on the Networked Blog box.

8. Bookmark Cover Your Hair on Delicious http://delicious.com/save?url=http://www.coveryourhair.com

9. Fan Cover Your Hair on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/coveryourhaircom

10. Subscribe to Cover Your Hair on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/coveryourhaircom

11. Snag my button for your site and be willing to post about your winnings on your blog (if you have one).Grab this button:

Giveaway ends Sunday February 20 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open worldwide. I received 2 headbands for the purpose of review only from Cover Your Hair . No monetary compensation was received. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. Become a fan of The Gift Closet on Facebook by clicking here! :)

Protect-A-Bed Giveaway on Facebook

2011-02-12T13:48:00.001-05:00

Protect-A-Bed® Launches Potty Training Contest
Families Encouraged to Share Proven Tips, Funny Stories and Photos

Chicago–Protect-A-Bed®, a leading provider of bedding protection products, is searching for the best and proven potty training tactics. The company is hosting a contest on its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/ProtectABed)to capture and share potty training stories. Participants are encouraged to post their proven potty training tips – or blunders – for a chance to win mattress protection products.

One lucky grand prize winner will win a mattress protection prize pack for their entire household (up to four beds) along with a potty training protection kit. The grand prize winner will also be featured on Protect-A-Bed’s website (www.protectabed.com).

Twelve lucky winners (three per week through the duration of the contest) will each receive one potty training protection kit, a system designed to waterproof and keep a child’s mattress free of stains while reducing the amount of time and embarrassment associated with bedwetting. The winners will be randomly selected each week from the pool of contest participants and will be named on Protect-A-Bed’s Facebook wall.

The contest begins Jan. 26 and runs through Feb. 21, 2011 and is open to all United States residents 18 years of age and older. Three weekly winners of the potty training protection kits will be randomly selected and announced each Friday during the contest (Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 11 and 18). The grand prize winner will be chosen by Feb. 25, 2011. Fans of Protect-A-Bed’s Facebook page are able to view and “like” their favorite submissions, though a jury of Protect-A-Bed judges will ultimately make the final selection of the grand prize winner based on the uniqueness of their entry.

“We know potty training is one of the most stressful things parents have to do in their lifetime,” said Protect-A-Bed CEO James Bell. “We also know every family has great potty training tips and funny stories to share. We want to hear it all – including what didn’t work so well for them.”
Bellsays the best tips will be showcased on the Facebook page to help families as they begin the potty training process. “We hope the information and encouragement will help families who are facing the challenge of potty training.”

Protect-A-Bed is based in Northbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. To enter the Facebook contest, or to learn more about Protect-A-Bed and its products, visit www.facebook.com/protectabedor www.protectabed.com.

Protect-A-Bed® “Potty Pro Contest. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States or D.C. who are 18 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules, visit www.facebook.com/protectabed. Contest begins at 12:01 AM CT on 1/26/11 and ends at 11:59:59 PM CT on 2/21/11. Sponsor: JAB Distributors LLC dba Protect-A-Bed, 3600 Woodhead Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062

The Gift Closet Media Kit

2011-02-12T10:03:00.001-05:00

Thank you for your interest in The Gift Closet! I am a Christian, Wife, and Mother who is passionate about helping others! I strive to promote Female and Mom-Prenuers, wonderful products, recipes, helpful tips, fun giveaways, and reviews. I am involved in my community, at my church, my children’s school, and the local MOPS group.

By promoting your site with one of the fastest growing blogs, your company and products will be welcomed into over 5,000 reader’s homes each month. My readers come from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences. I have worked with companies such as Hasbro, Frigidaire, Hallmark, CSN Stores, Vistaprint, Beyond Bedding, Café Press, Coupon Chief, Glasses USA, and many others.

Statistics:

Page Loads Per Month 5,100

Monthly Unique Visits 3,500

Google Page Rank: 3

Twitter followers 341
Facebook followers 242

The Gift Closet Blog Followers 750
For Search Engine Optimization purposes, all of my links are Dofollow.

Demographics:

Age: 26-42

Married Women: 98%

Children in Household: 98%

Editorial Calendar:

Monday: Make It Monday (Recipes, Crafts)

Tuesday: Tuesday’s Tip (Helpful tips on a variety of subjects)

Wednesday: Win It Wednesday (Giveaways)

Thursday: Thoughts for Thursday (Inspirational or Funny Stories)

Friday: Friday’s Feature (Each Friday I feature a different company for free)

Annual Events @ The Gift Closet: Christmas @ The Gift Closet & The Twelve Days of Christmas

There are several ways I can help promote your company or brand. They include but are not limited to:

Giveaways (Must be at least $20 value)
Reviews
Spokesperson
Brand Ambassador
Friday’s Feature
Sponsored Posts
Twitter
Facebook
Advertising Space -These ads will appear on the Left sidebar of The Gift Closet. The day your ad starts I will do a post introducing my readers to your company.

All sponsorship and campaigns can be tailored to specifically meet your needs and priced accordingly. Feel free to email me at heatherldt at bellsouth dot net for pricing or with any questions you may have.

The Gift Closet is growing by leaps and bounds, and I would love to help you grow your business as well!

Heather Thompson

Owner of The Gift Closet

Friday's Feature - Stella & Dot

2011-02-11T12:52:00.005-05:00

I would like to introduce you to Lynn Danchuk, a Stella & Dot stylist!

Stella & Dot is the modern home-based career your mother never had. This company offers irresistible, boutique style jewelry that is sold exclusively through in-home trunk shows and can be found in Lynn's eboutique. Simply sign-up to be an independent Stylist, sell the celebrity coveted jewelry and earn on your personal sales immediately. Think getting together with girlfriends, Lucky Magazine, Facebook, and no glass ceiling in sight. Recognized in the New York Times and the Today Show, it’s not only a big idea, it’s a smart business that actually works.
A few years ago, Stella & Dot founder and mother of two, Jessica Herrin, had a vision to create a new kind of company that would help today's busy woman thrive. As a successful entrepreneur, who co-founded WeddingChannel.com (yes, you saw her on Oprah!), Jessica wanted to use her talents to help solve the modern woman's dilemma. To help women find a successful career they were passionate about and could balance with a bustling life and family.

Lynn's inspiration to become a Stella & Dot stylist:
"Even though I work a full time job, I longed for something more FUN and stylish than my 'real job', something that was truly my own. I wanted a business that I was proud of, and if I worked hard I could enjoy the rewards of my own effort. Like lots of people, I dreamt about being an entrepreneur, but didn't know if I had the money to make it happen! When I discovered Stella & Dot, and realized how affordable it was to start a profitable and high potential business, I knew I could stop dreaming and start living! I didn't need to open my own boutique and worry about leases, inventory, websites, and employees! I was thrilled that I could launch this business RIGHT AWAY and work it right alongside my current job! No risk at all."

Want It? Click here to shop.
Stella & Dot Blog is http://stylistlynn.blogspot.com/
FB fan page http://www.facebook.com/stelladotlynn1

And...Lynn would like to make the following offers: ~Giddy!~

-To send anyone who would like a Look Book one! They can email me their contact info and I will drop our adorable Look Book in the mail to them.

-Anyone who signs up to hostess a Tote Show will receive $25 in additional hostess rewards - most hostess's earn $250 in Free jewelry and several half price items. A tote show is this, I will take one of our super cute jewelry totes, load it up with jewelry, order forms and Look Books. The hostess "totes" it around for a 3-4 days, collects orders and ships it all back to me. No muss, no fuss ~ just great jewelry! They must email me before the end of the week with the dates they would like to hold the trunk show.

-If you email me your order within the next week I will give a 10% discount.

So, let's give a great big, "Nice to meet you" to Lynn! :)

P.S. If you're a man or woman of fewer words - say 140 characters - follow The Gift Closet on Twitter by clicking here. Tweet ya later! ~wink~

For The Love of Green

2011-02-10T03:28:00.001-05:00

No, not the love of money.

Not the love of collard greens (eewwww).

But for the love of the color Green!

I am in the process of re-decorating my Dining Room. And I am in love right now w/ the color Green! My hubby & a friend of mine painted it green and below the chair rail is a cream color. I'll post pics when it's done, but I'm loving it so far. I went w/ a green & white centerpiece of gorgeous flowers & pitchers. ~Giddy~

Now this is 1 Green kitchen! I LOVE the ceiling on this one from Slumber Designs.
One of my fave catalogs that I am wearing out right now is the current Willow House catalog. LOVE it! I love the look of these plates against the Green napkins. These napkins are about the color of my new dining room. :)
A few Pottery Barn finds....

And I just had to throw this one in. Yeah, the green pillows are so pretty. But the view? Um, yeah. I could live here.
What are you in love with right now?

Win It Wednesday

2011-02-09T14:26:00.009-05:00

Congrats to the following winners of the 4 Sterling Silver Necklaces from My Obsession!
#58 Artsy Chaos - Make Miracles Happen Pendant
#39 David, Samantha, & Kaori - Grandmother Pendant
#29 Alicia - Double Heart Pendant
#32 Jocelyn - Mother's Heart Pendant

Today I am excited to giveaway this Lavender Shoulder Heating Pad from Sunshine Pillows!

This Lavender scented Heating Pad is for aromatherapy and stress reduction purpose. It contains 1 cup of local premium all natural Washington lavender and 3 cups of flaxseed.The flaxseed is for the best heat retention and soft feel. Ideal for shoulder pain and upper back pain. Treats shoulder and upper back muscle groups.You stick it in the microwave for 1 minute & the heat lasts for half an hour! Ahhh....sounds wonderful to me!!!
Free shipping and it weighs only 1.2 lbs.

Sunshine Pillows offers several types of Neck Pillows and Heating Pads.

Sharon is the owner of Bio-Med DB Design & Sunshine Pillows and here is the inspiration for her company:
" I started to offer things that can help myself to others, thinking there are people just like me who also need these items. Then some of them got popular. BioMed DB Design is dedicated to promote healthy living through innovative products. Sunshine Pillow is one of our creations that reflect many users requests and feedback. After its introduction in
the fall of 2007, Sunshine Pillows quickly became a favorite among our
users.BioMed DB Design is committed to provide quality products and
services. We are the best at observing and listening to our users needs. We are the specialists in customizing personal healthcare devices, such as neck pillows.

The Result of Necessity

Long distance travel has become part of our lives. We visit family members, visit national and state parks, go fishing, camping, hiking, boating, and have a lot of fun. However, everywhere we go, our shoulder and neck pain start to remind us that even priceless memories come at a price. To relief our pain, we tried many traditional U-shaped pillows; none of them completely fit our needs. They were often too small, too large, too ridged, or too soft. They didn't provide the support where we needed it the most. Designing and making our own pillow was the result of necessity. After months of design and
redesign, testing, collecting feedback, and making bags of different style pillows, Sunshine Pillow was born. Our family cannot live without our lovely pillows. We use them all the time, watching TV, reading a book, and riding the car or traveling on airplanes. We even
rest on our pillows while lying on beaches. Surprisingly, Sunshine Pillow quickly became a favorite among our friends, and is a delightful gift."

Want It? Click here to visit Sunshine Pillows.

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & BE SURE to include your email address if it is not on your profile!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. Tell me how you heard about this giveaway.

2. Get an extra entry by having the Gift Closet button on your site or blog:

Grab this button:

3. Like Sunshine Pillows on Facebook by clicking here.

4. Follow Sunshine Pillows on Twitter by clicking here.

Giveaway ends Tuesday February 15, , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only.Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

P.S. Interested in promoting your blog? Let's exchange links & promote each other for free! Email me today for a link swap! :) Heatherldt@bellsouth dot net

Big G HotWheels Gift Pack Giveaway

2011-02-08T07:21:00.008-05:00

If you, or anyone in your family, likes cereal and/or Hot Wheels then you are reading the correct post today! My family of 5 is a cereal eating machine! I actually just counted the number of cereal boxes in my cabinets and.....drum roll please....we currently have NINETEEN boxes of cereal in our cabinets! When I told my hubby this statistic, he tried to justify it. "Well, they are not all full", he said. Still.....

Yup. 19 boxes of cereal in my cabinets. I think we need an intervention.

My hubby eats Bran Flakes each morning and a huge mixing bowl of cereal each night. Not just a regular sized bowl...an actual large mixing bowl! My kiddos and I enjoy cereal on occasion for breakfast as well.

So now you know why I was excited to have the opportunity to review & giveaway a Big G Hotwheels Gift Pack!This gift pack includes large boxes of some of our very favorite cereals. Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Reese’s Puffs, and Cookie Crisp. You’ll be able to “gas and go” with one of four custom-designed collectable Hot Wheels pullback racers that are in each box! Each car contains a code to unlock an exciting online racing game.

When it comes to meals, breakfast is important in helping kids fuel up for the day and Big G cereals provides a healthy breakfast choice for parents to offer their families. You can feel good about giving your kids a bowl of Big G cereal and they’ll be thanking you for a breakfast that is as tasty as it is fun!

Now we love each of those cereals and purchase them regularly. But my 5 year old son in particular was super excited to bust open those boxes and start racing those Hot Wheels! In fact, he wanted to open each box right then & there just to dig out the Hot Wheels! He, and my toddler, are both enjoying playing w/ the cars. :)

So, how would you like to win the Big G Hot Wheels Gift Pack?

WIN IT!
How to enter to win:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.I will only contact winners whose email is visible either in their comment or on their profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry~

1. Tell me what your favorite Big G Cereal is!

2. Do you have a memory about Hot Wheels? Please share!

3. Tweet this for an extra entry: "Win a Big G HotWheels Gift Pack! http://thegiftcloset.blogspot.com/2011/02/big-g-hotwheels-gift-pack-giveaway.html #myblogspark"

4.If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you subscribe below to my regular email updates! :)

Giveaway ends Monday February 14, , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only.I received this Gift Pack for the purpose of review only from General Mills and Hot Wheels through Blog Spark . No monetary compensation was received. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Storkie Invitations

2011-02-07T03:02:00.000-05:00

A big welcome to my newest sponsor, Storkie!

Storkie is a great place to find Communion invitations , Baptism invitations, baby shower invitations, wedding invitations graduation invitations, and more!

Storkie has been in business over 20 years. They have a great selection of assorted styles for almost any occasion you can think of. Their site is easy and quick to navigate. Click here to visit Storkie today! :)

Grab this button:

Friday's Feature

2011-02-04T01:44:00.000-05:00

A big hello to one of newest sponsors, My Obsession! My Obsession offers Sterling Silver Jewelry. They have a huge selection of inspirational jewelry, rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces, & bracelets! Their products are 100% guaranteed to be pure .925 sterling silver. New items arriving daily. I received FOUR necklaces from them to review & giveaway the other day! They come packaged in a nice black box and each necklace was in a little black velvet bag in the box. Shipping was super fast and best of all the prices are very reasonable. This site would make a great place to get a Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Birthday Gift!
Click here to visit My Obsession.
Click here to check out the 4 necklaces I am currently giving away from My Obsession!

Thoughts for Thursday - Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women

2011-02-03T02:05:00.000-05:00

Did you know Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women? Did you know more women die of cardiovascular disease and stroke than the next 4 diseases combined, including all forms of cancer? I don't know about you, but when I first heard those statistics, I was shocked.

My Dad & Grandfather both had heart disease and my Grandmother has had heart bypass surgery as well. It obviously runs in my family and that is why I try to eat healthy, exercise, & watch my cholesterol. One of my goals in life is to be able to live long enough to meet all of my future grandchildren!

The American Heart Association is encouraging everyone to wear red this Friday, February 4^{th (}National Wear Red Day), as part of their Go Red For Women movement. By wearing red, you are showing support for the campaign, which aims to raise awareness in the fight against heart disease.

One of my favorite pages on the site is the Heart Healthy At Any Age. Check it out for tips for living healthy...at any age!

Sterling Silver Jewelry Giveaway from My Obsession

2011-02-02T02:10:00.002-05:00

What girl doesn't love jewelry? Whether it be for Valentine's Day, birthday, Mother's Day. I have a great website I found called My Obsession. They offer Sterling Silver Inspirational Jewelry....rings, pendants, necklaces, earrings, & much more!

My Obsession sent me 4 necklaces to review & giveaway! ~Giddy~

They all are sterling Silver and come on 18" chains. They are reasonably priced and come in a nice black box, w/ a little velvet bag inside holding the pendant. A very nice touch that makes you feel like you are opening up something really special! The shipping was super fast as well.

My fave one is the Mother's Heart Pendant:

Beautifully designed twist heart inscribed with a sweet message. A mother holds her child's hands for a short while but their hearts forever. A great mothers day gift! Comes on an 18" sterling silver chain.

$24.99

Double Heart CZ Pendant Sterling Silver 18" necklace $19.99
So pretty!
Make Miracles Happen Pendant 'The heart can do anything."
$19.99

Grandmother...A Wonderful Mom W/ Lots Of Practice

And just as practice makes perfect, a Grandmother's love touches our souls and makes perfect the heart. $19.99

Want It? Click here to shop.

Giveaway ends Tuesday February 8 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

P. S. Did you know You can email this post to a friend or family member by clicking on the small white envelope below? ~wink~

P.S.S. The winner of the Elite Sheet giveaway is #6 Carol . Congrats!

Applebee's New "Under 550 Calorie" Entrees

2011-02-01T10:57:00.003-05:00

I was delighted to have the opportunity to try out an entree from Applebee's new Under 550 Calorie menu yesterday! If you are watching your calorie intake, but still seeking flavorful meals that will fill you up, then you need to try this menu out! There are 5 yummy entrees to choose from. They include the Teriyaki Shrimp Pasta, Grilled Shrimp and Island Rice, Grilled Dijon Chicken and Portobellos, Asiago Peppercorn Steak, and the Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp. Mmmm....I'm getting hungry just looking at those!

The one I chose to try was the Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp. They all sounded really tasty, but I am a shrimp lover so this is what I chose. It is a 7 oz sirloin grilled and topped with succulent shrimp in a light cream sauce served w/ herb potatoes, seasonal vegetables, fresh bruschetta, sliced almonds, and chopped parsley.

I don't know about you but when I think low-calorie a lot of times I think the flavor is going to be sacrificed. Not so with this dish. I was pleasantly surprised with the great flavors. I especially liked the cream Sauce and sliced almonds on the steak.
The portion size was great too. It takes a lot to fill me up and this held me over all afternoon.
There really was nothing I didn't like about this entree.

They also have a line of Skinny Bee cocktails (which I could not try cuz I had my baby in tow and was driving!), including a Margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, and Mojito-each of which is less than 120 calories!

Click here to view more information about Applebee's in greater Atlanta area and the new menu items.
Click here to visit ApplebeesAtlanta on Facebook.

Thank you for stopping by The Gift Closet today! :)

Make It Monday -Nacho Recipe using Homemade Chips!

2011-01-31T08:45:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I shared a yummy & easy idea for serving large crowds...nachos! In that post I shared a good recipe for Shredded Chicken as well. Today I want to share w/ you another Nachos recipe...this time using homemade chips!

You will need a package of flour tortillas. Each tortilla will make 4 nachos, so purchase accordingly. I know my kids will each eat 2-3 nachos and I can eat....8. Yeah...I said eight! They are too tasty!!

Anywho-first you fry 1 tortilla at a time in a little bit of oil in a pan. Fry each tortilla for just a few minutes on each side. Enough to harden it a little bit. Then drain it on a paper towel. After they are all cooked you will fold each tortilla in half, tear it, fold that half and tear it down the middle again. In other words, you're going to have 4 little "chips". Make sense?

Then, place the "chips" on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Put whatever topping you would like on your "chips". For some kids oyu may just put shredded Mexican cheese. My kids like it w/ taco meat (you can use leftover hamburger meat) and cheese. I personally like refried or black beans , sliced avocados, tomatoes, sliced black olives....you can top them w/ whatever floats your boat! Just don't forget the shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese on top. Pop them in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese, and you are ready to eat! Watch them under that broiler though cuz they will burn quickly!

Disclaimer...I do not have the best camera in the world, nor am I a photographer. So...here is my best shot of these little nachos as they came out of the oven....yumo!

Friday's Feature - reFinds

2011-01-28T15:39:00.006-05:00

My feature today is Amy Bonney w/ reFinds. Her etsy shop boasts some pretty original and fun items!

I love these Vintage Tiny Crystal Salt & Pepper Shakers!

And these Capacitor Earrings? Huh!?

Cute dangle earrings made from upcycled black capacitors (electronic components) and shiny silver-tone seed beads. The perfect geek girl gift, but so darling and unusual that folks who've never poked around inside a computer will adore them too.

Now that is unique folks!!

Here is Amy's inspiration:
"I have a passion for things that were built to last and have stood the test of time. I also love to make stuff and believe in protecting our environment, so it just felt natural to start a business that involved recycling, refurbishing and upcycling items to give them new life. reFinds combines all my loves into one really fun venture. My shop features handmade upcycled jewelry, home décor and vintage treasures. A percentage of the profits are donated to the World Wildlife Fund.

The inspiration for reFinds comes from my family. My grandparents taught me to value quality and encouraged my creativity. My dad’s “ham shack” was crammed with cool old second-hand industrial and electronic stuff that was like a playroom for me as a kid. Turning old resistors and hardware into jewelry transports me back to the fun I had exploring drawers and shelves in Dad’s office. My husband has a second sense when it comes to spotting hidden treasures and seeing potential underneath decades of dirt. His mad photography skills help bring my Etsy shop to life."

Want It? Click here to shop.Gift Closet readers will get a 20% discount off anything in her shop between now and Feb 14th (Happy Valentine’s Day!) by entering coupon code “GIFTCLOSET01” when you check out. ~Yay!~
Visit the blog www.re-finds.blogspot.com or her facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Refinds/181135765242082 to learn about new items and upcoming promotions.

P.S. Click here to enter my current giveaway - A Twin or Queen Elite Sheet! ($69-89 value)

Thoughts for Thursday

2011-01-27T11:47:00.001-05:00

I didn't have any deep thoughts for ya this week, and this made me laugh, so I thought I'd share this cute little quip!
Come back tomorrow to check out my Friday's Feature. Every Friday I feature a Mom-prenuer or female entrepreneur. Would you like to be featured for free on Friday? Email me! :) heatherldt@bellsouth dot net

RePlay Sports of Atlanta

2011-01-26T14:15:00.003-05:00

I am all about promote Mom-owned businesses! My friend, Jessica, had the great idea to start a consignment sale for gently used sports and recreation equipment for both new and seasoned athletes and enthusiasts! What a great idea! Here is the scoop...

REplay Sports Atlanta is Atlanta's premiere twice-yearly consignment sale for gently used sports and recreation equipment for both new and seasoned athletes and enthusiasts. My husband and I were brainstorming different ideas and realized how much we were already spending on sports for our children. Our two boys are only 7 and 5, and they are already interested in just about every sport under the sun. By the time you add up registration fees, uniforms, travel expenses and equipment, you are talking about a pretty sizable investment. We figured there have to be a lot of people like us that have great gently used equipment -- either because they are trading up to something better or their kids are outgrowing their stuff or have changed their minds and are switching sports.

Consignors can turn their gently used sports stuff into cash in one weekend - - you make more than in a garage sale, and it's easier than Craig's List, and E-Bay.

Shoppers for both new and seasoned athletes will find a great selection of gently used sports and recreation gear for the whole family at bargain prices.

The upcoming sale will take place on Saturday, February 5th at Home Plate in Peachtree City. Consigning is easy and takes just minutes. You price and tag your items online, bring them to us the day before the sale and we sell them! You receive a check for 70% of the price of the sold items within 10 days. It's that easy!

For more information or to register to consign, please visit www.replaysportsatlanta.com or call 404-457-3559.

Click here to visit RePlay on Facebook.

Win It Wednesday

2011-01-25T18:44:00.008-05:00

Is it Wednesday already? Good grief. The winner of the Art Gifted giveaway is #12 Mitch McFadden. Congrats!

This week I am giving away an Elite Sheet – choice of a twin or queen size! ($69-$89 value)

Elite sheet is the first and only fitted bed sheet that was designed to make moving in bed easier. The fabrics work with you to change positions easily. This sheet is great for anyone in pain, overweight, or pregnant. It is also great for someone who has just had surgery. Anyone in pain or who has trouble being “stuck” to their sheet will love the change that Elite Sheet brings. No more lifting a heavy, hurting or unbalanced body – just glide to change positions. You don’t have to be in pain to love the sheet. It is very luxurious.

Peggy Mills is the owner of Elite Sheet & this is her inspiration:

3. I " I started this business due to my own Fibromyalgia (widespread debilitating muscle pain). I had such a hard time changing positions on cotton sheets, and lifting my sore body was too painful, yet the pain made it impossible to stay in one position. By accident, while making water bed sheets a hundred years ago, I found the right fabric, positioned it properly, perfected it over the years, and Elite Sheet was born. Now the sheets are finally ready and available for everyone who has difficulty with movement, bringing great relief."

Want It? Our website is www.elitesheetcomfort.com. Our blog is http://bodypainsolutions.blogspot.com.

Win It!

How to enter to win an Elite Sheet:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

~Please leave a seperate comment for each entry~

1. Leave a comment letting me know how you heard about this giveaway.

2. Earn an extra entry by placing this button on your site or blog:

Grab this button:

Giveaway ends Tuesday February 1 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US or international resident.

Interested in hosting a giveaway on The Gift Closet & getting your product in front of thousands of readers? Email me today to reserve your spot! :) heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Tuesday's Tip - Yummy Valentine's Treats!

2011-01-25T02:13:00.004-05:00

I am a foodie. I especially love sweets and chocolate. And even more so....Raspberry Chocolate! YUM!! One of my favorite desserts at Disney World is the Raspberry Chocolate Milkshake at Le Celliers. MMMM....So when I came across these little lovelies I had to share!!

Raspberry Chocolate Meringue Kisses from Whatever DeeDee Wants....

And they are so pretty too!!

Check out these cute Rice Krispy Valentine Treats at Skip to My Lou.

My daughter would have a fit over these! What lies inside these little goodies? Oreo cookies! Found these yummies at Bakingdom.

Thank God for women who create stuff like this, huh? ~tee-hee-hee~

See you tomorrow for Win It Wednesday! :)

Make It Monday - Valentine's Day Class Party Ideas

2011-01-24T01:57:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. It's still a few weeks away. I'm trying to be on top of the game this year and get started early. I am Room Mom for my daughter's class and need to get organized! For her class party I found some cute, inexpensive, and fun ideas for the kids!

First, we are going to let the kids decorate heart shaped sugar cookies. You can buy fun Valentine's sprinkles, etc. Put them in bowls in the center of the table w/ a spoon in it. They made need some adult help, but if they use the spoons for dipping it will eliminate having the kids put their hands in the food.

We also will be playing Valentine's Bingo. I got the idea for this at Tip Junkie's Valentine Blog.

I already purchased my Candy Hearts for the class to use for this. If you are trying to save money (who isn't these days?) you can print off a copy on white card stock and make copies of it. Cute and fun, huh?

Last but not least we'll have lots of yummy food and drinks for the kiddos!

Got any Valentines Party Ideas? Please email me so I can share your ideas w/ fellow Gift Closet readers! :)

Psssttt.....If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you subscribe to my email updates! ~wink~

Super Bowl XLV: The Ultimate Man Date

2011-01-21T14:20:00.001-05:00

Each year we look forward to watching the Superbowl w/ other friends and lots of yummy food. This year it is being held in my hometown...Arlington, Texas! There is so much to see and do there...read below for the scoop. ~wink~

Guest post by Beth Feldman

Ask any football loving fan what their dream date would be and nine times out of 10 he'll say tickets to the Super Bowl. As my father-in-law always says, "you can't put a price on a good time," so if you're considering biting the bullet and treating your significant other to the ultimate "Man Date," follow this game plan and you'll come up a winner:

Super Bowl Tickets - You can reserve seats for the big game on StubHub - Ticket prices start at $2200 all the way up to nearly $400,000 for a coveted spot in the Hall of Fame Suite. If you've just won Powerball, then the Super Bowl Hall of Fame option is definitely for you. The best thing about Stub Hub is that fans are constantly buying and selling tickets on the site so you should keep checking back to see what's available or hedge your bets, and lock in right now!

Flights - While you can always hit the websites for your favorite airlines, my suggestion is to head over to Trip Advisor where you can select whether you'd like to take a non-stop or connecting flight and they arrange everything by price. Plus, there are ratings by customers on which flights they prefer.

Hotel Reservations - Head on over to the Arlington, Texas website which has detailed information on hotels in the area. You can aim for the Ritz Carlton, Hilton or a motel (if you've blown all your cash on the Super Bowl tix.)

Rental Car - If you're flying into Dallas/Ft. Worth airport, then head on over to RentalCars.com for a breakdown of all the rental car facilities near the airport. That way, you can choose from a diverse array of options and price points.

Parking - Finding parking at a football game is never easy, and the Super Bowl is no different. Luckily, ParkWhiz.com has the scoop on Cowboys Stadium parking with over 40 Super Bowl parking locations for you to choose from. The site is super easy to use, and you can print you parking pass instantly - no worrying if the Postal Service will deliver your ticket on time.

You can even win free parking for the Super Bowl by entering ParkWhiz's Twitter contest. Follow @ParkWhiz on Twitter, re-tweet this link http://bit.ly/gBPrxv and be entered to win. One winner randomly selected.

Things to Do While in Arlington - If you're in town for the weekend, visit the NFL Super Bowl website for details about some great charity events taking place throughout the weekend that feature appearances by NFL players. Plus, the City of Arlington's official website also offers suggestions for attractions and dining options in the area.

So there you have it - treat your significant other to the ultimate "Man Date" and by the time Valentine's Day hits, you should be on the receiving end of something big and sparkly.

Disclosure: The post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer's Network.

Latest Proflower Promo Codes

2011-01-21T09:17:00.003-05:00

You can send flowers, gourmet gifts, & plants for all occasions using ProFlowers. I saw some gorgeous bouquets starting at just $19.99. Perfect to keep in mind for Valentine's Day...only a few weeks away! New customers only-20% off your order! Enjoy! :)

Friday's Feature

2011-01-21T02:22:00.002-05:00

My feature today is Mom-prenuer Sharisse Lopez. She is the creator of Cuteasaurus Creations. She makes dinosaur hoodies for children & has also craft up crocheted goodies such as hats and household love.

Want It? Click here to shop.

P.S. Click here to "like" The Gift Closet on Facebook! :)

Thoughts for Thursday - The Only Thing Constant is Change

2011-01-20T01:34:00.009-05:00

I usually handle change pretty well. In fact, I welcome it.

I get bored easily. Bored with my hair style. Bored with my hair color. Bored with life. Ready for a change.

At the beginning of 2009 I was ready for big changes. Told God I was ready for change in my life, just didn't know what. Little did I know what I was asking for because that year brought huge life changes for us. An unexpected miscarriage, followed by an unplanned pregnancy, and later in the year the birth of our precious 3rd child. We left the church my hubby had attended for over 20 years. My daughter was re-districted to a new school and my middle child started preschool that year. Whew. What. A. Year. 2010 was a year of adjusting to all our new additions and changes. I don't regret any of them and believe God has a plan and had His hand in each and every one of those changes.

And so we see Him working again. This time God has orchestrated a big change for a family that we have become very close to. My sweet friend and I have "done life" together for the past 7 years. Doesn't sound like a long time, but we have been through a lot together during that time. We have went through 3 pregnancies at the same time & a miscarriage at the same time. 3 kids all roughly the same age.

We laugh about the day I went to the Emergency Room for what we thought to be a kidney stone & turned out to be a ovarian cyst rupturing. Later that same day, she was in the ER with a kidney stone herself!

And then there was the time I was trying to purchase a pregnancy test incognito, not wanting to see anyone I knew, trying to get in & out of there as quickly as possible. And who do I run into that was also discreetly trying to purchase a pregnancy test at the same time? My sweet friend!

The long, hot, summers we have spent trying to entertain all 6 kids at the pool....at the movies....out to lunch...playdates, etc.

What wonderful memories we have made!

But this week I am sad. I know God has a plan. His ways are higher than ours. He knows what is best for us. He knows what we need before we even know it. Those truths bring me comfort. But I, and my family, are sad because these dear friends of ours are moving 2,200 miles away to California this week.

2,200 miles away.

Why couldn't it be 20, or 200 miles away? 2200 miles? Seriously??

~Sigh~

One thing I have learned is that the only constant in life....is change.

If you don't like something, hang on.... cuz it will change. 100% guaranteed.

Even though we are sad, I am praying God will bring them a smooth transition. I know they are excited for this new adventure and I would be too. I know we will still see them. Thank God for things like Skype, right? So, when I think about how sad we are to see them go, I need to remind myself of what I have learned.

Just hang on tight....cuz change is a'comin! :)

Win It Wednesday

2011-01-19T11:19:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the original Win It Wednesday! The winner of the Charlie Brown shirt from Prank Place is #27 Heather. Congrats!

This week I am giving away a $30 Gift Certificate from Art Gifted!This is a new site that is an art gift website which will donate half of its profits to projects for educating children in the arts...love it!!!

Aida is the 23 year old Entrepreneur behind this new venture.
The story behind Art Gifted:

"I am nothing but an art lover and a meaningful gift giver.I grew up with my father being a painter but I wasn’t lucky enough to inherit his talent. However,I always felt like art and gifts are of the best ways to express one’s feelings. I am still hoping that one day an eighth form of art will be discovered and I will prove to be talent in that. Until then, even since my father passed away, I started to cherish his glimpse of memories as reflected in his paintings and decided that one day I will be facilitating education in the arts for children. For the art loving and caring givers, ArtGifted is providing the talent one needs to wrap feelings into a
meaningful gift. For the children interested in the arts and the associations supporting them,
ArtGifted is providing learning opportunities by sponsoring programs that facilitate their education in the arts. By creating a community of artists and art lovers and matching the art works of the first group with the feelings of the second group."

Here is how it works:
1. A person interested in offering an art gift (buyer) gets to the website.
2. The buyer responds to some questions about the gift receiver, including what feeling is the
gift supposed to express and a range of prices that work for him/her. In this way an order is
placed.
3. Art Gifted receives the responses and contact the artist(s) that would be a good match for the project.
4. The artist either provides one of his/her previous artwork that expresses that
feeling or creates a new one, inspired by the responses provided by the buyer.
5. The artist ships the artwork to the buyer and receives the money for the delivered artwork.
6. Art Gifted receives 10% for each sale, half of which goes directly to projects made by art associations for educating children in the arts.

Want It? Click here to visit Art Gifted. Aida would love to hear from Gift Closet readers about their best or funniest experiences when choosing a gift. She will gladly provide a 15 percent gift value bonus to the first 15 Gift Closet readers that mention The Gift
Closet while placing an order! Yay!

Win It!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1. Become a fan of The Gift Closet on Facebook by clicking here.

2. Make a purchase from Art Gifted for 5 extra entries! Leave 5 extra comments for this one.

3. Follow Art Gifted on Twitter by clicking here.

4. Tweet this giveaway for an extra entry.

5. Blog about this giveaway.

6. "Like" Art Gifted on Facebook by clicking here.

Giveaway ends Tuesday January 25 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to US or international residents - open to international residents, only that for those the art gift will be limited
to a poem, song or photography that can be sent online.

P.S. Interested in getting your product in front of thousands of new readers? I can review your product within 1 week of receiving it here on The Gift Closet! Email me today if you are interested! ~wink~ heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Tuesday's Tip-Make Your Own Wood Stain

2011-01-18T08:30:00.002-05:00

Make your own wood stain instead of using commercial wood stain. Commercial stains are used for a dark wood look or faux effects, but I read that by mixing old brewed coffee and black tea, you can create your own homemade stain. Let home brewed coffee and a tea bag sit for about a day or two in a full coffee pot. The stain won't cost you more than $3. Lemme know if you give it a try!

P.S. If you're a man or woman of fewer words - say 140 characters - follow The Gift Closet on Twitter by clicking here. Tweet ya later! ~wink~

Make It Monday - Nachos!

2011-01-17T03:59:00.000-05:00

I have discovered a great, quick, easy meal to make when serving large crowds...Nachos! A friend of ours hosted our Small Group at church a couple of months ago and that's what we ate. It's been such a hit our family had it for New Year's Eve & we are serving them up tonight for about 25 friends. I'm not good about taking pics of my food. When I'm hungry I aint thinking about pictures, I'm thinking about eating! Here's the scoop on this easy meal to serve a crowd!

What you need: (This is a suggested list. You can edit this list according to what you and your crowd likes to eat.)

-Chips...and lots of them! We like to go to our fave Mexican restaurant and grab a few large bags of chips, salsa, and queso.
-Taco Meat. Cook about 1 pound or more depending on how many you are serving and flavor w/ taco seasoning. Easy!
-Chicken. For about 30 people I cooked 6 chicken breasts. I cleaned & trimmed the fat off the chicken. Brown them on each side for about 3 minutes in some oil in a pan. Drain on paper towels. Place them in a crockpot and cover w/ water. Put 1 1/2 packets of fajita seasoning in crockpot & stir. Cover w/ lid and cook for about 6 hours. Every couple of hours or so I'll stir them & shred them a little w/ the fork. Around the last hour I started to drain off some of the water by scooping it out w/ a cup. You don't want them to be soupy, but you don't want the chicken to burn either. By the end of the 6 hours you have a wonderful pot of shredded, flavorful, tender chicken!
-Sliced Black Olives
-Shredded Mexican Cheese (2 bags should be plenty.)
-Sour cream
-Guacamole
-Black Beans
-Refried Beans
-Chopped Tomatoes
-Shredded Lettuce
-Various Mexican Dips

Mmmmm......Can't wait to eat tonight! Enjoy!! :)

Friday's Feature

2011-01-14T09:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday! Well, for some. ~wink~ Let's just say I'm going a little crazy, as most Moms here in the Atlanta area are right now! We have been iced in since Sunday night. People were finally able to get out yesterday, but most of us have been cooped up in the house w/ kids all week! That's right, they have been out of school all week cuz of the ice and are out again Monday. I was explaining to my daughter this has never happened before here, and prolly will not happen again! At least I hope not! LOL....I enjoyed the first few days, but now I'm ready to get out of here! And still can't really cuz it's so darn cold and my 13 month old is getting over the flu! Well, enough of my venting. And onto my Fridays' Feature for today! :)

Rachel is the Mom-prenuer behind this adorable little shop called Jonah Brooke on Etsy. She makes pillowcase, jumper, and peasant dresses, burp cloths, hats, bags, and aprons. Here are a few samples of her creations:

Here is the inspiration behind her biz:
"I spent the summer I turned 20 with my grandparents. While there my grandmother taught me to sew properly. Since that time I have made quilts, purses, blankets, aprons, and more dresses than I can count including my bridesmaids dresses. Over the years I have had many ideas to make money using my skills, but no platform to turn those ideas into a reality. When I first heard of Etsy, I thought maybe I could someday start a shop, but I didn't act on it until last summer.

Currently most of my items revolve around things I would like for my son and daughter including dresses and birthday hats. I love using fabrics that are unique and I love custom orders! You can find pictures of many of my custom orders on my Facebook page, Facebook.com/JonahBrooke. Many of my orders come from people asking me if I can make a certain dress in certain colors, those projects are a lot of fun."

Want It? Click here to shop. Gift Closet readers can enjoy 15% off all orders through Friday 1/21/11 by using the Coupon code: GIFTCLOSET15 . Enjoy!! :)

Got a site you'd like to have featured? Email me! :)

Thoughts for Thursday - The Simple Life

2011-01-13T09:14:00.000-05:00

Can't believe we have been iced in here in Atlanta for 3 days now! I know some people are going stir crazy. I, on the other hand.....am loving it! My hubby, 3 kids, and I...pajamas for 3 days....nowhere to go for 3 days.....no schedule to keep....no alarm clocks to wake up to. It has made me very thankful for food, heat, and a roof over my head! We have played cards, snuggled on the couch, danced like a bunch of goofballs, and just chilled out.

Last night I watched, "Eat, Pray, Love"...the movie that just recently came out w/ Julia Roberts. Several people had told me it wasn't that great, especially compared to the book. Well I loved it! I could so do something like that in a heartbeat! In fact, ever since I saw it, I have been trying to figure out a way to do that w/ my fam. Just move to Bali, home school the kids, and live the simple life! Makes me want to disconnect from it all. Remove myself from Facebook, Blogging, school and all the demands that brings, sports and ball practices during the week, etc.

But then reality sets in. Can't move away from the hubby's stable job....can't take the kids out of school....and would I miss everyone and everything after a while?

Anyone else ever feel like getting away from it all and living the simple life? Or is it just me?

Win It Wednesday

2011-01-12T02:45:00.005-05:00

Congrats to #18 kylie8cake the winner of the Bella Cupcake Couture giveaway!

Today I am giving away this Charlie Brown t-shirt from Prank Place!

Good Grief! Dress like everyone's favorite blockhead in this authentic looking Charlie Brown t shirt. This t shirt comes in bright yellow and bears the infamous black zig zag pattern!

Prank Place offers all kinds of fun stuff such as gag lottery tickets (never heard of), funny t-shirts, funny toilet paper, etc.

Want It? T-shirts with funny sayings can be found here!

Win It!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile. Not a blogger? Email me w/ the name of the giveaway in the subject line and I will enter you in. :)
Heatherldt at bellsouth dot net

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~
1. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to the post in your comment here.

2. Become a follower of The Gift Closet on my Left sidebar.

Giveaway ends Tuesday January 18 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to
US readers only.

P.S. Interested in a free link exchange w/ me? Email me today! :)

Tuesday's Tip~Fun Things to do Inside w/ the Kids!

2011-01-11T01:49:00.000-05:00

We are having a snow/ice day here in Georgia. It's 11am and the kids are already bored! So...here are some fun things you can do if you're stuck in the house w/ kids:

1. Flashlight Tag! You'll need a dark room for this one. My kids love it! You shine the flashlight in different places on the wall or floor and they chase it. Too fun!
2. Board Games.
3. Card Games...Uno, Go Fish, War, etc.
4. Movie time! Bust out the popcorn, candy, etc. and enjoy some relaxing family time.
5. Make some hot chocolate and read a book to your child.
6. Crafts! You can do something as simple as cutting snowflakes out of white paper. You can also google all kinds of craft ideas online.
7. Bake cookies together.
8. Call a loved one & tell them you love them!
9. Get moving! Dance or exercise together.
10. And last but not least, if you're going stir crazy, bundle everyone up and get outside to play in the snow. :)
Grab this button:

Make It Monday

2011-01-09T13:35:00.007-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted "Make It Monday" and shared a recipe with you. I live in Georgia and in case you haven't heard on the news, we are iced in down here. The entire Atlanta area is pretty much shut down, flights are canceled, schools and businesses are closed. We are enjoying a day inside, except for the fact that my baby has the flu....despite getting the stupid flu shot. :( It's days like today that comfort food is always nice. And for me, that includes....chocolate!! :) I would like to share a recipe with you for a yummy dessert. A friend sent it to me w/ no title of what it is. I guess the best description would be to tell you it's like a Chocolate Chip Brownie. A really moist one at that! I have made it a couple of times over the past few weeks, it makes a big pan, and everyone loves it! Here is the recipe for this "mystery dessert". :)

2 small boxes chocolate pudding
2 cups milk
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix (no pudding in mix)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix pudding and milk together w/ spoon. Add cake mix, oil, and vanilla. Mix until lumps are gone. Pour into 9x13 dish. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

P.S. Want to share this recipe w/ a friend? You can click on the small white envelope below to email it to them! :)

Friday's Feature

2011-01-07T13:57:00.004-05:00

If you are new to The Gift Closet I love to help out and promote other Mom-prenuers and Female Entrepreneurs! So, each Friday, at no cost to the company, I like to introduce you to a new company that has contacted me or that I came across myself.

My feature today is Art Gifted. This is a new site that is an art gift website which will donate half of its profits to projects for educating children in the arts...love it!!!

Aida is the 23 year old Entrepreneur behind this new venture.
The story behind Art Gifted:

"I am nothing but an art lover and a meaningful gift giver.I grew up with my father being a painter but I wasn’t lucky enough to inherit his talent. However,I always felt like art and gifts are of the best ways to express one’s feelings. I am still hoping that one day an eighth form of art will be discovered and I will prove to be talent in that. Until then, even since my father passed away, I started to cherish his glimpse of memories as reflected in his paintings and decided that one day I will be facilitating education in the arts for children. For the art loving and caring givers, ArtGifted is providing the talent one needs to wrap feelings into a
meaningful gift. For the children interested in the arts and the associations supporting them,
ArtGifted is providing learning opportunities by sponsoring programs that facilitate their education in the arts. By creating a community of artists and art lovers and matching the art works of the first group with the feelings of the second group."

Here is how it works:
1. A person interested in offering an art gift (buyer) gets to the website.
2. The buyer responds to some questions about the gift receiver, including what feeling is the
gift supposed to express and a range of prices that work for him/her. In this way an order is
placed.
3. Art Gifted receives the responses and contact the artist(s) that would be a good match for the project.
4. The artist either provides one of his/her previous artwork that expresses that
feeling or creates a new one, inspired by the responses provided by the buyer.
5. The artist ships the artwork to the buyer and receives the money for the delivered artwork.
6. Art Gifted receives 10% for each sale, half of which goes directly to projects made by art associations for educating children in the arts.

Click here to visit Art Gifted.

P.S. I am offering a New Year Special for advertising on my main page. Email me today for the scoop! Heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Have a great weekend! :)

Do you have one of these?

2011-01-06T01:40:00.001-05:00

I always love to support and promote other Business Owners, especially Mom-prenuers and Female Entrepreneurs! And I really love it when ya'll support me back! ~wink~ Hence, my "Buttons" tab at the top of the page, and my shameless bribes in asking you to "proudly display The Gift Closet button" as part of extra entries on some of my giveaways. If you have a blog or site, I would love love love for you to snag my button and post it on your sidebar or anywhere on your site. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours! tee-hee-hee :)

Grab this button:

Have you been a Friday's Feature, mentioned on The gift Closet, or hosted a giveaway here? Please feel free to snag this button for your site/blog:

Grab this button:

Have you won something on The gift Closet before? Please post this button on your site or blog:
Grab this button:

Thanks so much for the support! I really appreciate it and would love to support your business as well! :)

Win It Wednesday

2011-01-05T01:22:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the original Win It Wednesday! Every Wednesday I offer a giveaway that runs through the following Wednesday. Last week's winners are Kathy & Erin. Congrats!

I LOVE food and am a big foodie. I would be in the food biz if I wasn't in the raising-3-kids biz right now. ~wink~ I came across this site called Bella Cupcake Couture. I was drooling instantly! Not only over the yummy cupcakes pictured here, but the gorgeous couture (aka wrappers) the cupcakes are wearing! What a genius idea! You heard me, this site is all about the cupcake wrappers folks! Just check out these beauties....

Drooling yet? Well Bella Cupcake Couture has offered to give one lucky Gift Closet reader a Two 12pk of standard size cupcake wrappers of their choice!

Here is the inspiration behind this yummy concoction of a business:

"Partly by necessity but mostly passion. I had been working at WaMu for many years and was laid off after it’s collapse and buy out by Chase Bank. However I had been daydreaming about cupcakes. I loved to host parties and wanted something stylish to hide the crinkly, translucent paper cupcakes are baked in. So although it was a sad time with the banks failure, it inspired me to start my business and move on to being my own boss. Now it has been nearly 2 years and it brings such joy to help mothers, brides, hostesses to create the perfect dessert buffet that surprise and delight their guests. You may say I went from Pink Slip to Pink Frosting!"

Want it? Click here to visit Bella Cupcake Couture.

Win It!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here and be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.~

1. Subscribe to the Bella Cupcake Couture Newsletter by clicking here. Leave me a comment letting me know you did so.

2. Click here to visit the Bella Cupcake Couture Blog. Mention The Gift Closet somewhere in your comment. Come back here & leave a comment letting me know you did so.

Giveaway ends Tuesday January 11 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to
US readers only.

Thank you for stopping by The Gift Closet today! ~wink~

Tuesday's Tip

2011-01-04T08:55:00.001-05:00

I read this in a magazine and thought it would be a good tip to share. My kids love to eat pancakes, toast, etc. Especially my 13 month old. Instead of using a fork and knife to cut their breakfast into pieces, use a pizza cutter! It's easier and faster!

P.S. I am now booking Friday Features for 2011! Every Friday I feature a new company or Mom-prenuer for free! Email me to get your free feature today! ~wink~
heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Word for 2011

2011-01-03T02:04:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Most people have their decorations put away and are officially "done" w/ the Holidays. I felt like we finally wrapped ours up this weekend. We had relatives in town and did our last gift exchanges. We had a really great Christmas this year, but super busy!

For the last 3 years I have shared with you the tradition of choosing a word, or theme, for the year. I have never been into making New Year's Resolutions. So, when a friend of mine shared this idea with me a few years ago, I loved it.

In case you haven't heard of this before, here's the scoop. Instead of making New Year's Resolutions (which no one seems to keep anyway), why not have a "word" or theme for the year for yourself?

For example, in 2008, my word was "Balance". I wanted to strive to balance all my roles....Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and the list goes on. Another friend chose "Open". She wanted to open her ears, her home, and be open to new opportunities.In 2009 I chose the word "Imitate". I wanted to focus on Imitating Christ first and foremost. My 2010 word was "Focus". Focus on my relationship w/ God in the midst of having had a newborn and 2 other kiddos.

This year my word is "Glorify". When I am trying to make a decision, I want to remember to choose those things that will Glorify God. Especially this past month with the craziness of the Holidays, I have really neglected spending time w/ God. I need to get back on the wagon. Most of all, I simply want to strive to live a life that glorifies God! :)

What is your word for 2011?

Thoughts for Thursday

2010-12-30T02:19:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday! For many of us, we are still celebrating! I have family coming in town this weekend to celebrate Christmas & New Year's. The kids and hubby are still here so it definitely still feels like vacation! I'm really enjoying sleeping in and not having a schedule. How about you? Still celebrating? What kinds of traditions do you have for New Year's?

Win It Wednesday

2010-12-29T09:50:00.003-05:00

The Geothermal Genius winner from last week is #28 hiann88 . Congrats!

This week I am excited to give away 22 TICKETS to the Southern Women's Show in Savannah, GA Friday February 4-Sunday February 6, 2011!!

Want It? Click here to visit the site for more info.

Win It!
How to enter to win:

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry.~

1. Post my button on your site.
Grab this button:

2. Be willing to write a post about your win if you are one of the lucky winners! :)

Giveaway ends Tuesday January 4 , 2011 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to
US readers only.

P.S. Interested in hosting a giveaway and getting your product in front of thousands of readers? I am now booking giveaways for 2011! Email me today for your spot. heatherldt @ bellsouth dot net

Hand & Foot Warmers

2010-12-27T17:09:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks ago we took the family to Disney World for Christmas. Warm temps, right? Nah....not for us! It was record-breaking low temps...in the 30's!! I received these goodies to review just a week or 2 too late because these would have been perfect for those cold windy days at Disney!

Hot Hands, Body Warmers and Foot Warmers!

Foot Warm-Up® foot warmers are perfect for those sitting still and not generating much body heat. Specially designed to work in low oxygen environments like shoes, our warm-ups are ideal for watching outdoor sporting events, fishing, or just to keep warm when the nights get cold.

Super HotHands® are larger (4” x 5”) air-activated hand and body warmers designed to last up to 18 hours providing safe, comfortable warmth in the coldest of temperatures. When placed in pockets or between layers of clothing, these warmers will help you enjoy cold weather activities longer, whether it’s hunting, fishing, working or just being a spectator.
Toasti Toes® are air-activated toe warmers with full adhesive on one side that sticks to your socks to provide up to 5 hours of warmth. Best used by the active sportsman who will be walking or moving continuously while outdoors in the cold. Not recommended for those who will be stationary for long periods of time.

Designed for skiers, hunters, fishermen, golfers, or people who work or play in the cold for long hours. HotHands-2® hand warmers are air-activated and will provide up to 10 hours of soothing warmth inside gloves, pockets or wherever you feel a chill.
What I like about these products:
1. They work! Never having heard of these I was unsure of how well they would work.
2. The particular hand warmers I used lasted longer than 10 hours. If they started to cool in the least I exposed them to air, shook them up a little, and they heated right back up. That only happened once in the 10 hours + that I tested them.
3. I love that these products offer safe and natural heat.
4. No odor.
5. Air-activated so you can use anywhere anytime!
6. You can purchase them in individual packs or by the case. Individuals are only $.75-what a deal!

What I didn't like:
1. Nothing! I would just say if you have little ones around like me remember not to let them eat these little heat packets! ~wink~

I received product for the purpose of this review only. All opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was received. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

See you tomorrow for Win It Wednesday!

PishPosh Carryall Review

2010-12-27T08:46:00.002-05:00

A few years back I had what I thought to be an original and creative genius idea. I thought, how wonderful would it be to have a "bag" that you could put all your contents in for your purse, then simply pick up the bag and move it from purse to purse when you want to carry a different one. So, I presented the idea to a friend and she burst my bubble when she said someone had already invented it! And some smart Momma has taken it a step further now and created this awesome carryall for your diaper bag! Genius!!

I received this PishPosh Quick Zip Carryall from Pish Posh Mommy to review:

It has a Savvy gray pattern on white background with bright yellow water resistant lining.
Outer fabric is 100% cotton and inner lining is nylon taslon. Carryall is washable.
10W x 9H x 5D
Retails for $44.99

What I like about it:
1. I love that it zips. No worries about stuff falling out in the bag or purse.
2. Outside pockets: 7 pockets of varying sizes around perimeter of bag with a zipper to close Inner Pockets: 1 large pocket for diapers and wipes, 2 smaller pockets, 1 secure zipped pocket and 2 elastic pockets to hold bottles/cups. It will hold a TON of stuff ladies!!
3. They offer lots of really cute designs and colors.
4. The have different styles to choose from as well. There is a tote, a pull string, and the Quick Zip.
5. They also have diaper clutches and pads to match the carryalls!

What I didn't like about it:
1. It didn't fit my particular diaper bag very well, so make sure you measure before you buy. Not really a dislike, just something to think about before you buy. ~wink~

Want It? Click here to visit PishPosh Mommy! Gift Closet readers can use the code HOLIDAY25 for 25% off their purchase between now and 12/31/10! Yippee!!

I received product for the purpose of this review only. All opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was received. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Time to shop again?

2010-12-26T08:37:00.002-05:00

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Here in Georgia we had a white Christmas! I think it was the 1st one since the 1800's! It is gorgeous! The day after Christmas can be a good time to hit the stores for great post-Christmas sales. Especially for wrapping paper, ornaments, and Holiday decor. Or...if you have money to spend, there are also great deals to be found in general! If you are looking for one-stop shopping CSN Stores is the place where you can find anything you need whether it be a chic leather briefcase, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware!

Links brought to you by CSN Stores, however all content & opinions are 100% my own. Click here to view my Full Disclosure.

Thoughts for Thursday-The Reason for the Season

2010-12-23T01:25:00.000-05:00

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas to all from my family to yours!! {{Hugs}}

Win It Wednesday

2010-12-22T00:35:00.009-05:00

Just a couple of days till Christmas, can you believe it? It was an exciting last day of school for my kids and is cloudy and very "wintery" looking outside as we speak. Speaking of weather, we had to get a new a/c unit/heat pump last year so we tried to get an "eco-friendly" version. This summer we couldn't tell much of a difference, but this Winter we can see a big drop in the bill. YAY! I'm pleased to giveaway a tool that will tell you what devices cost you to run! Plug it in to your fan, or computer or anything, and see what it costs to run that each day/month/year. The Kill A Watt EZ electricity monitor retails for $60 and I am giving away one today! If you want to learn about geoexchange, geothermal heat, then Geothermal Genius is the place to go!

Want It? Click here to shop and learn.

Grab this button:

2. Click here to visit Geothermal Genius. Come back and tell me something you learned.

Giveaway ends Tuesday December 29 , 2010 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to
US & international readers.

I'm back!

2010-12-20T08:57:00.005-05:00

Back from a fabulous week w/ the fam,my friend, & her mom at Disney World! I was nervous about how it would be w/ a 1 year old as well as 2 older kiddos, but they all did great! Strangely enough, I'm actually more relaxed than I would be this time of year after having a fun week off. But....it's back to reality. Back to the craziness of Christmas. Do you ever wish the Holidays were more simple? I love Christmas, don't get me wrong. But it just gets overwhelming w/ all the school activities, programs, breakfasts, gift exchanges, & parties. Then throw in the family & Church get-togethers and it really is a crazy time of year. I just want to simplify, don't you? Anywho...a week from now it will all be over.

We heard a great sermon a few weeks ago about remembering to focus on Christ this Holiday season. With all the stress and stuff to do, try to remember to just focus on the reason for the season....Jesus Christ's birth. He was born so that He could die for our sins so that we could have life eternal with him in Heaven.

Tomorrow will mark the 5 year anniversary of the day we buried my Dad. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one at Christmas. My heart is always heavy this time of year for those who have lost loved ones throughout the year and are facing their first Christmas without that person. So, please remember to pray for those who have lost loved ones this year as well.

Sorry for all the random ramblings today! I hope you call can relax and truly savor the moments this week w/ your children and your families! Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Isaiah 9:6b, "...And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

P.S. The winner of the Fairy Wonderful giveaway is #46 Linda R.

Taking a Vacay

2010-12-10T01:02:00.000-05:00

The winner of the N-Fini giveaway is #14 Jennifer R. and the winner of the A Touch of Whimsey giveaway is #7 emc . Congrats!

I'm off to Disney World w/ the fam. I'll be back next week. Don't forget to check out the Fairy Wonderful review & giveaway I have going on now. You can click on the "giveaways" tab at the top of this page. Have a great week & God Bless! :)

Fogless Shower Mirror Review

2010-12-09T03:48:00.005-05:00

A while back we purchased a small mirror to hang in the shower for the hubby to use for shaving. It fogs up often and is quite small. So, when I received the opportunity to review this Fogless Shower Mirror from Toilet Tree Products, I was quite excited!

What we like about it:
1. This product has been designed for both men and women to use in the shower and it is perfect for the upcoming holiday season.
2. It will not fall off the wall as you actually use a soft silicone adhesive to attach it to the wall. I am not sure how easily it removes as I did not attempt that.
3. It will adhere to tiles, slate, and fiberglass.
4. Currently the number one selling product in the beauty products on Amazon.com!
5. Love the fact that it is adjustable!
6. We also like that it has a handy shelf just big enough for your razor, tweezers, sponge, etc.
7. Squeegee included to wipe away water drops. How nice is that?
8. Mirror is acrylic, therefore shatterproof!

What we didn't like:
4. You fill a reservoir w/ water to keep it from fogging up. I'm not sure if that will get old after a while, however, you will not a have a foggy mirror, that's for sure!

Want It? Click here to shop.

Toilet Tree on Amazon.

P.S.The winner of the Lora Elizabeth Giveaway is #85 Atreau. The winner of the Star Kids Products giveaway is #6 Angelene. Congrats!

Fairy Wonderful Review & Giveaway

2010-12-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I posted the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas giveaways, but there are still some open. Simply click on the "giveaways" tab at the top of the page to view all of my ongoing giveaways. I'm leaving town in a couple of days, but I'm also leaving you w/ some giveaways while I'm gone! ~giddy~

I'm pleased to introduce you to a company I came across with the most adorable tutus, pettiskirts, fairy wings and things, and more!

Fairy Wonderful is the place to find these goodies and Shanna is the Mom-prenuer behind this biz. Here is her inspiration for starting this "Fairy Wonderful" online boutique:

"Fairy Wonderful started after having my 3rd child and only girl at 28 weeks gestation.... desperate to find a way to make money so that I could stay home with a very tiny fragile baby I began making hair bows etc to sell locally and it quickly blossomed into what we have now.. all things "fairy" wonderful!! I know it sounds silly but its true.. she's my fairy wonderful miracle baby and the reason behind all this creativity..."

She sent me this adorable tutu to review and a $25 Gift Card to Fairy Wonderful to giveaway as well!!

It is very well made, even the pom poms that are glued on it are on very well. I think it would be very durable for a little girl to play in. It is very full and looks really cute. I really don’t not like anything about it. It also came with an adorable matching headband. You can also order the tutus with a matching wand and shirt! This particular one comes in pink as well.

Here is some more of what you will find at Fairy Wonderful...

I LOVE this for the holidays!!!
Gorgeous!
How about this luxurious feather wedding skirt?
Want It? Click here to shop.

Win It!
How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
~Please leave a separate comment for each entry~

1.Post my Christmas @ The Gift Closet button on your site or blog for an extra entry:

<><a href="http://thegiftcloset.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20at%20The%20Gift%20Closet"></a>

2. Click here to visit Fairy Wonderful. Come back and tell me your fave item there!

Giveaway ends Thursday December 16 , 2010 @ midnight. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. This blog bares no responsibility for the delivery of this prize. Giveaway is open to
US & international readers!

P.S. Congrats to #30 Kerrie Mayans, the winner of the Vinyl Gifts & More giveaway and #56 Ms. Autumn the winner of the Scentsy giveaway! :)

Andean Collection Review

2010-12-08T01:07:00.000-05:00

I love eco-friendly jewelry & companies, don't you? Andean Collection is one of the sponsors in Christmas @ The Gift Closet & they sent me this gorgeous bracelet to review:This is their classic Tagua Bracelet. It retails for $24.00 and is a best selling item!

These tagua bracelets are strikingly beautiful, with a natural irregularity that makes each one truly unique. Available in a variety of shapes and vivid colors, they add flair to any outfit. Wear them alone or mix and match for an unforgettable look. I love that is an eco-friendly prodcut, natural, and so pretty to wear as well! They truly have an huge variety of colors to choose from as well!

Amanda Judge founded The Andean Collection in the fall of 2008 while she was in Ecuador researching rural women’s survival strategies in the face of extreme poverty for her master thesis. The point of her research was to settle on a few tangible projects that an outside agency could do in order to help the community make long lasting improvements in their own standards of living. As it turns out, instead of just writing about these possibilities, Amanda decided to put her own ideas into action.

After discovering the amazing natural materials that were used in native jewelry making, Amanda knew that finding a market for jewelry made out of these natural seeds would be more beneficial than any academic paper could ever be. Amanda then extended her stay in Ecuador to lay the groundwork for The Andean Collection. The first task was to find disadvantaged artisans who had a drive to create a better life for themselves and their families. Next was training the artisans on order production and of course, showing them how to use email. Since the beginning, The Andean Collection has been training the artisans is jewelry design, helping them fortify their supply chains, and let’s not forget the endless cross-continent goose chases to find the highest quality raw materials in South America.

Artisans handcraft their designs from natural seeds that have been sustainably harvested from the rainforests and lowlands of South America. The commercialization of these seeds helps to ensure the survival of the world’s rainforests by providing an alternative income for its inhabitants rather than logging or selling their land to destructive industries. Through a very manual process, seeds are transformed into beads with gorgeous natural irregularities, both in color and form, which truly makes each piece one of a kind.

Want It? Click here to visit Andean Collection.

The Gift Closet

Novica Review & Giveaway

Sterling silver half hoop earrings, 'Moon in the Forest'

Organic Antioxidant Supplements

Keratin Enhance

ResVitále 125 mg

Did you take your vitamins today? {Giveaway}

Tasteful Bites

Congrats!

Calypso Studios Review & Giveaway

Healthy Snack Ideas {Yoplait Yogurt Review & Giveaway}

Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Review & Giveaway

Win It Wednesday

Fun Baby Shower Gifts

Friday's Feature-Chalk Talk Glass

Moisturing Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer

Win It Wednesday-For the Sports Fans!

HOCKEY ACTION FIGURESHockey Guys: Blue vs. Yellow

$24.99

Clingy in a Good Way ... A No Slip Bra

Drumroll please!

Natural Cold Remedies/$100 GNC Gift Card Giveaway

All Things Red

Friday's Feature

A Nice Refreshing Glass of.....Pool Water.

Win It Wednesday

CSN Stores

Kiddie Catch All Review & Giveaway

Healthy Alternative to Candy

Belli Skin Care Review & Giveaway

Thoughts for Thursday - Be Kind to Someone Today

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

The Gift Closet Feedback Form

Online Childrens Place Coupons!

Who Has The Time?

Cover Your Hair Review & Giveaway

Protect-A-Bed Giveaway on Facebook

The Gift Closet Media Kit

Friday's Feature - Stella & Dot

For The Love of Green

Win It Wednesday

Big G HotWheels Gift Pack Giveaway

Storkie Invitations

Friday's Feature

Thoughts for Thursday - Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women

Sterling Silver Jewelry Giveaway from My Obsession

Applebee's New "Under 550 Calorie" Entrees

Make It Monday -Nacho Recipe using Homemade Chips!

Friday's Feature - reFinds

Thoughts for Thursday

RePlay Sports of Atlanta

Win It Wednesday

Tuesday's Tip - Yummy Valentine's Treats!

Make It Monday - Valentine's Day Class Party Ideas

Super Bowl XLV: The Ultimate Man Date

Latest Proflower Promo Codes

Friday's Feature

Thoughts for Thursday - The Only Thing Constant is Change

Win It Wednesday

Tuesday's Tip-Make Your Own Wood Stain

Make It Monday - Nachos!

Friday's Feature

Thoughts for Thursday - The Simple Life

Win It Wednesday

Tuesday's Tip~Fun Things to do Inside w/ the Kids!

Make It Monday

Friday's Feature

Do you have one of these?

Win It Wednesday

Tuesday's Tip

Word for 2011

Thoughts for Thursday

Win It Wednesday

Hand & Foot Warmers

PishPosh Carryall Review

Time to shop again?

Thoughts for Thursday-The Reason for the Season

Win It Wednesday

I'm back!

Isaiah 9:6b, "...And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

HOCKEY ACTION FIGURES
Hockey Guys: Blue vs. Yellow