Holiday Gift Guide: Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D Electric Shaver {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Katie S!}

I don't know about the rest of the male population, but my husband is fairly difficult when it comes to shopping for a gift. If there is ever anything that he actually needs, he just goes out and buys it. And forget about getting something that might be novel and unique, he'll just politely thank me, all the while thinking that something more practical would have been better.

What's a girl to do?

This year I've realized that the answer comes in combining form, function, quality, convenience, and style all into one portable product with the SenseoTouch 1250XCC 3D Electric Shaver from Philips Norelco.

When it comes to men's shaving and grooming products, Philips Norelco has a collection that makes it possible for guys to look their best from a clean shave to a good trim. Considering how much a shaver gets used (daily!) and the prominence of the area it is working on (face!) it just makes sense to invest in one that is going to give superior results.

And when it comes to those results, the SenseoTouch 3D Shaver is able to provide a clean, smooth shave in minutes. Whether used wet with foam or dry without, this cordless, powerful shaver can do the job at home or while traveling quickly and easily.

When the Philips Norelco box arrived, right away I was admiring all of the features that this shaver comes with - and I hadn't even unpacked it yet!

Removing the pieces, I was happy to find that Philips had included everything possible that a high quality, easy-to-use shaver should come with. From an innovative cleaning station to a convenient carrying case to a compact charging stand to a shave head protector, there wasn't much more that I could think of that a man would need.

The included instruction manual had every detail and instruction for this shaver, but I also liked that it came with a Quick Start Guide that includes information about charging, shaving, cleaning and more by simply glancing at the pictures.

As I checked out the shaver itself, I was impressed with the GyroFlex 3D system that it includes, as the three individual parts are able to effortlessly independently of one another. Considering all of the bends and curves of a man's face (or a woman's legs if, ahem, she were to borrow this), you definitely want something that can pivot and tilt to follow those contours.

Plus, the inclusion of the precision trimmer right on the top works well for protecting skin from unnecessary contact when shaping up any mustaches or sideburns.

When it came time for my husband to shave, we were both looking forward to seeing how well the SenseoTouch 3D could provide a clean, close finish. After letting it charge (which only takes a very short amount of time), it was time to put it to the test.

Success! The ergonomic grip on the base made it very easy to hold this shaver and the GyroFlex 3D system allowed each piece to slide smoothly along his skin. I was impressed with the way that it truly could bend and adapt to conform to his face and we both commented on just how quiet it was while in use. Usually I can hear him shaving from the other side of the house, so having the SenseoTouch not be nearly as noisy was a big benefit!

As well as the flexible head being able to reach all of the tough spots relatively easily, it also has three specialized tracks: slots for normal hair; channels for long or flat laying hair; and holes for the shortest stubble on your face. Combine that with the lift and cut action of the dual blade and it's no wonder that it can provide such a smooth shave.

For easy cleaning, the three GyroFlex 3D shave heads pop right open so that rinsing out and removing any hair debris is no problem. However, for a deep cleaning, the included Jet Clean system is a machine all in its own.

Seeing it clean, lubricate, and charge the shaver, it's pretty entertaining to watch the cleaning process as it goes through each step automatically. As the shaver is raised and lowered into the cleaning solution, it is also turned on and off, and eventually left to dry. The result is that the whole thing is left like new once again!

From the large accessories to the small touches, Philips Norelco thought of everything for the SenseoTouch 3D 1250XCC. The amount of battery life is easy to tell from the gauge on the front (it can provide up to 50 minutes of shave time after only being charged for an hour), it doesn't leave bits and pieces of hair everywhere, there are suction cups on the bottom of the stand to ensure it doesn't slip and slide, and the travel pouch means that any man can get a smooth, clean shave at home or on-the-go. What more is there?

This holiday season, provide the man in your life with something that is going to last him for years and years to come. With a retail price of $249.99 (or found at quite a discount on Amazon!) the Philips Norelco SenseoTouch 3D Electric Shaver isn't a small purchase by any means, but it is something that is sure to make any man thrilled.

And, thanks to the generosity of Philips, one person is going to be able to provide the guy they know with the ability to have a high quality shave wherever, however, and whenever he wants, because...

One lucky person will win a SenseoTouch 3D Electric Shaver from Philips Norelco!

To enter to win: Tell me why the man in your life would love the Philips Norelco SenseoTouch 3D OR what feature it contains that you like best.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you enter the Philips Norelco giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry if you follow Philips Norelco on Twitter.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Great gift idea! WIN a Philips Norelco SenseoTouch 3D Electric Shaver (ARV $250)! http://bit.ly/v85iDG @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 14th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Philips Norelco for providing a SenseoTouch 3D Shaver for me for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Wind & Weather Holiday Gifts {Collegiate Doormat Review & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Ann!}

When it comes to decorating around our house, we've had some ups and downs in terms of the decisions that we've made.

Bright green kitchen? In my defense, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

As my husband and I tend to have somewhat similar tastes and manage to agree on most of our selections (or else he just gives in because it doesn't really matter to him), I wasn't surprised when he pointed out recently what a dismal first impression our doormat was making when guests arrived at our house.

Strange thing to be pointing out? You didn't see our previous doormat.

Instead, you can now see the stylish, high quality, unique and fun way that we welcome visitors to our home with a Collegiate Doormat from Wind & Weather.

For all of the weather instruments, gear and gadgets and yard and garden objects and decor you could ask for, Wind & Weather has a large collection of items for the home that would make wonderful gifts this holiday season. Their passion for the outdoors combined with their line of distinctive art pieces and great customer service makes them perfect for finding just the right item for you or the lucky people on your shopping list.

As for us, this University of Wisconsin Collegiate Doormat couldn't have been a better combination of the best features that we wanted in something eye-catching and fun at our door. The 24"H x 39"W generous size is just right (not too big but definitely not too small) and the durable, high quality of both the top and bottom is evident just from a glance.

The sturdy coir fiber top is thick and strong and is ready to take foot wiping after foot wiping, while the skid-resistant, pressed-rubber base stays firmly in place no matter how much traffic this gets.

I really like the depth and dimension around the W and the way that the fibers are cleanly cut so that the letter as well as the swirled edge designs don't start to look smeared after a while. We've had this outside from the day it arrived and it still looks great!

Retailing for $69.95, there are 30 different colleges and universities available in Collegiate Doormat form from Wind & Weather. Although this might not be the typical holiday gift, we're thrilled with it and know that other fans of their Alma mater or local school would be just as excited to have a way to show that off. This isn't going to be an item that will get used up or discarded, this is one gift that would continue to bring a smile for years to come!

With such a wide variety of gift options available from Wind & Weather, you're sure to find some to satisfy multiple names on your shopping list this year. Plus, if you need a little help with selecting the perfect one, their Gift Guide is conveniently broken down by interest, price, recipient, and more to make it easy to find just what will work best.

Whether you're looking for an item for indoors or out, decorative or functional, Wind & Weather has the selection that you and your recipient are sure to appreciate this holiday season.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to select a stylish, high quality gift for themselves or someone on their list as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $50 gift certificate to Wind & Weather!

To enter to win: Visit Wind & Weather and tell me another of their great products that you would like to own or give as a gift.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over and enter the Plow & Hearth giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Wind & Weather on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $50 gift certificate to Wind & Weather for stylish items for indoors or out! http://bit.ly/voiARl @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook, and/or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 14th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Wind & Weather for providing a Collegiate Doormat for me to review as well as a $50 gift certificate as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Topsy's Gourmet Popcorn {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Mariee!}

As the holidays get another day closer... and then another... and another... the stress just continues to feel like it's weighing even more heavily down on you, doesn't it? Is that just me?

But in between all of the hustle and bustle of the shopping and the cooking and the traveling, it's important to take the time to sit and relax and truly enjoy your time spent with family. After all, that's what the season centers around, doesn't it?

This year it's even easier to change the meaning of "holiday crunch time" from something taxing to something restful thanks to Topsy's Popcorn and their delicious gourmet popcorn.

Since 1929, Topsy's has used an original recipe that gives its popcorn an old-fashioned great taste. In fact, Topsy's was the first company to sell its popcorn in the circular tins that we're used to seeing popcorn in now. Today, more than 75 years after that first kernel was popped, Topsy's provides the same quality taste online — making it easy to select a convenient and affordable gift for the variety of people on your ever-growing gift list.

Browsing Topsy's website, right away I appreciated the way that they make it quick and easy to find exactly what you're looking for. With four flavors to choose from — butter, cheddar cheese, caramel, and cinnamon — not only is there bound to be a flavor that will delight everyone's taste buds, but you have the option of searching specifically by your flavor of choice.

Or, if you're a fan of multiple of their yummy popcorn options, you can also search by their stylish tin designs to select the one you like best for the holidays, winter, birthdays and more. Once you've picked a cute tin and added your savory gourmet popcorn, you're ready to purchase for anyone from family members to co-workers, a child's teacher, neighbor, friend, or all of the above!

When a 3.5 Gallon Tin in the Snowflake design arrived here, it was just the thing to satisfy our family (particularly my popcorn-loving husband) while we captured a few moments together during this busy time of year.

Arriving boxed and securely taped to ensure that there wouldn't be any spills, the kids were excited about this colorful container and couldn't wait to dig in!

Love the handles!

Popping off the top, the huge amount of delicious popcorn stuffed inside this festive tin was making our mouths water right away.

The combination of the caramel, cheese, and cinnamon popcorn provided such a great mix, as it allowed us to customize our snacking from sweet and sugary to zingy and spicy depending on our mood.

I had assumed that my family would end up with favorite flavors and one of the three would end up left behind... but that wasn't the case. Everyone sampled all three and became fans of each variety, and choosing just one favorite is really hard! I've always been a fan of caramel popcorn but the cheese was very delicious as well.

I'm not one who eats cinnamon candies regularly, so my taste buds weren't as fond of the cinnamon flavor. But my husband is a big fan (so much so that he burnt his mouth eating them once), so he had no problem enjoying this unique flavor.

From grabbing a bite after coming home from shopping to sitting down with the tin to enjoy a football game, this wintery tin has kept our popcorn fresh and the 3.5-pound size has been perfect for ensuring that there is plenty to go around. What a great way to share this delicious popcorn with family at home or while visiting relatives, not to mention making a unique and much-appreciated gift that is sure to be asked for year after year.

Retailing for $34.95 for the 3.5-gallon tin of three flavors, I can see how easy it would be to make Topsy's an annual holiday tradition! But, wait! Topsy's wants to spread the cheer a little further this year with a coupon, and who doesn't love a discount? Simply enter the promo code Topsy23 at checkout and you'll receive $3 off per popcorn canister... but hurry! This coupon is only good until December 12, 2011.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person is going to be able to experience Topsy's version of "holiday crunch time" as well, because...

One lucky person will receive a 3.5-gallon tin of cheese, caramel and cinnamon popcorn from Topsy's!

To enter to win: Check out the full selection of flavors of Topsy's popcorn and tell me which one is your favorite OR which you would most like to try.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you enter the Topsy's giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry if you Like Topsy's on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Yum, popcorn! WIN a 3.5-gallon tin of 3 flavors of delicious popcorn from Topsy's! http://bit.ly/uKo7Rj @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 14th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Topsy's for providing a 3.5-gallon tin of popcorn for me for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Energizer 10 Watt USB Chargers {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Matt Ferrell!}

Common conversations my husband and I have had around here go something like this:

I can't find my phone, can I use yours? You can... but I'm pretty sure it's dead.

Or:

Where's the iPad? I need it today. It's over there on the shelf, but the battery is probably dead.

Are you picking up on the pattern? I don't know how many times I've reached for one of our electronics and found it without a charged battery or realized I was going to be leaving the house soon and tried to quickly plug in my phone to give it a tiny bit of juice before grabbing it and heading out. It's all fairly frustrating because with our continued dependency on technology, having them uncharged is clearly not helpful.

Instead, Energizer has now made it completely easy to keep all of our devices charged and ready to go with the introduction of their new Energizer 10 Watt USB Chargers.

Whether you need to charge your gadgets at home or on-the-go, the new Energizer 10 watt USB chargers will keep your favorite Apple devices (including the iPod, iPhone and iPad) all charged with one small charger.

Even better, these chargers will power other USB-charged devices including smartphones, MP3 Players, and GPS devices with the addition of an existing USB cable or one of the new Energizer Micro and Mini USB Cables. It really couldn't be much easier... or more convenient!

When the 10W USB Car Charger and Cable arrived with a set of the Micro and Mini USB Charging Cables, I was thrilled just thinking about not having to worry about heading out on the road with an uncharged device again.

Pulling the Car Charger out of the box, I was shocked to find that it was much smaller than I had expected.

Around the size of a tube of lip balm, I marveled at the way that Energizer had made it possible to turn any auto DC outlet into a charging station with something quite so small and unobtrusive.

What a great charger! I love the way that the slim design sits nearly flush with my van's DC outlet because who wants a large, bulky charger that has to be pushed out of the way? This can either stay put or get tossed in the glove compartment with no problem!

When it comes to putting this compact charger to use, it is completely foolproof! Either plug in the included Apple certified dock connector USB cable and attach one of your Apple products...

...or use the Micro and Mini USB Charging Cables (one is Mini USB to USB and the other is Micro USB to USB) to power up your phone, tablet, camera or more while you're driving.

Whether you're taking a short jaunt around town and want to make sure you'll be able to access your phone or whether you're taking a cross-country road trip and you want to hand over the iPad so that your child can entertain themselves, now you won't have to worry about running out of battery!

Retailing for $24.99 (or less on Amazon), the Energizer 10W USB Car Charger and Cable has proven to be convenient and extremely portable. Due to its small size, you can easily stick it in a pocket, purse or bag so that you have it whenever and wherever you need it.

Or, if you'd rather charge by USB right from home or while traveling, the 10W USB Wall Charger and Cable (which also retails for $24.99... or less on Amazon) has the same easy-to-use principles but in a compact, fold-down design so that you can always have it ready when you need it.

For anyone who is on-the-go in your life, either of these chargers would make the perfect stocking stuffers! Just add in the Micro and Mini USB Charging Cables (retailing for $9.99) and your recipient will be set with an innovative solution to keeping all of their devices charged and ready to go.

And, thanks to the generosity of Energizer, one person will be able to harness the power of the USB themselves, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Energizer 10W USB Car
or Wall Charger as well as the Micro/Mini USB Cables
to charge their other devices!

To enter to win: Tell me why one of these versatile chargers would come in handy for you OR who you would give this to if you win.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you enter the Energizer giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Energizer on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

No more dead batteries in your devices - WIN an Energizer Car or Wall USB Charger! http://bit.ly/srV5Ua @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 13th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Energizer for providing a 10W USB Car Charger and micro/mini USB cable set for me for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: GourmetGiftBaskets.com Classic Christmas Gift Basket {Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Karen Propes!}

When it comes to gift-buying for the holidays, every year I'm met with the same problem of having my creativity run out after my second or third purchase. I'm not sure what happens, but my ideas seem to stop coming and people end up with the same boring things that they always do. Gift card, anyone?

It would be nice to surprise someone with something unique though, wouldn't it? Just to see the look on their face or receive the happy phone call later from a good friend or a co-worker or anyone, really, who had the pleasure of receiving something different and delicious. Something like an award-winning gift basket of goodies from GourmetGiftBaskets.com.

With gift and fruit baskets for every occasion, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has a handmade item filled with critically acclaimed gourmet foods that will suit everyone's tastes. These aren't the same prepackaged gift baskets that have been sitting in a warehouse somewhere that other companies use, instead GourmetGiftBaskets.com only uses the freshest fruits and the highest quality snacks or products that have each been individually chosen for each particular grouping.

The result? GourmetGiftBaskets.com is so sure that you will love their products that their gift baskets are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you aren't completely happy or the recipient of your gesture isn't raving, GourmetGiftBaskets.com will work to make things right or give you your money back. They're just that sure that you're going to love their gift baskets!

After knowing all that, the hardest part about shopping here is picking your favorite gift. Personally, I wouldn't be all that disappointed if the Deluxe Christmas Chocolates Gift Basket arrived on my doorstep... although my family probably would be, considering that I might not share with them.

Or maybe you have a beer connoisseur in your life? I'm sure they'd be thrilled to receive the Around The World Beer Bucket filled with beers (and complementing snack foods) from across the globe!

On the other end of the spectrum, maybe appealing to your recipient's sweet tooth would be more appropriate? In that case, my mouth is watering looking at the Classic Candy Crate just thinking about those tasty gummy fish...

Arriving well-packaged and perfect for gift-giving, the variety of options available at GourmetGiftBaskets.com is sure to be a hit. From chocolate covered cherries to raspberry honey mustard pretzel dip to cheese biscuits to wine or champagne, you'll find something suitable for an individual gift or for an office or family to share.

Whether you choose to browse by price, occasion, theme, gourmet food or more, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has an option to meet your needs and your recipient's tastes. Instead of a fruitcake or plant this holiday season, one of these gift baskets is plenty versatile enough that just about anyone would enjoy one.

Thanks to the generosity of GourmetGiftBaskets.com, one person will have the opportunity to send a great basket of yummy goodies to someone they know, because...

One lucky person will win a Classic Christmas Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com! ARV $59.99!

To enter to win:
1 Entry if you follow GourmetGiftBaskets.com on Twitter.
1 Entry if you Like GourmetGiftBaskets.com on Facebook.
1 Entry if you visit GourmetGiftBaskets.com and click the Google +1 button on the page of your favorite item and then return and tell me which one you chose.
1 Extra Entry if you enter the GourmetGiftBaskets.com giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a GourmetGiftBaskets.com Christmas Gift Basket (ARV $60), a fun and tasty gift! http://bit.ly/tYveUa @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 13th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to GourmetGiftBaskets.com for providing a Classic Christmas Gift Basket for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Lindt Chocolate Bear Gift Baskets {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jaclyn!}

There's something special about enjoying chocolate all year long, but when the holidays roll around, it just doesn't seem right to let the season pass without enjoying something a little extra special. It's just tradition, you know?

Although there is no shortage of chocolate found in the stores, I always find it to be a little risky to pick something up because I never know how good it is going to taste. Whether I'm purchasing a sweet treat for myself or crossing a name off of my holiday gift list, the last thing I want is to be dealing with is cheap chocolate - the horrors!

Instead, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I always know that I can turn to the brand of chocolate that is in a category all its own when it comes to being delicious and luscious: Lindt.

First created in 1845 when a father and son manufactured solid chocolate in their small confectionery, Lindt's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for making chocolate is still strong today. In the past 160+ years, it has become known as one of the most innovative and creative companies making premium chocolate, with six production sites in Europe, two in the USA and distribution and sales companies on four continents.

For 2011, Lindt has introduced a wide variety of festive gifts and indulgent treats to their holiday collection, making it easy to celebrate the season with something delicious. The cutest of the bunch? The new Lindt Bear. Look at this sweet guy!

Bringing excitement, joy and a heartwarming smile to the holiday season, the Lindt Bear is made with premium Lindt milk chocolate, dressed in gold foil, and finished with a red ribbon. When he arrived at our house, I could tell right away that this hollow, 3½ oz bear would be great for decorating a table or topping off a stocking.

Although I felt a little guilty eating him, the Lindt Bear is another example of their chocolate expertise - he's delicious! I love milk chocolate and this happy fella was smooth and rich from his ears down to his toes. Retailing for $4.50, this is a great way to surprise just about anyone on your list. Standing 5" tall, this isn't a tiny bear, he's just right!

So what are you waiting for? This holiday season and New Year, don't show up empty-handed at your next social occasion, head to your nearest Lindt retail location and become the hit of the party when you arrive with something tasty. Featuring premium chocolate products to satisfy every holiday need – gift giving, stocking stuffers, entertaining, personal indulgence, and home décor – the Lindt holiday collection has something for everyone!

Whether you need something small like a Truffle-filled ornament or something large like a gift box, chocolate is a gift that will always be well-received! And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be prepared to celebrate with something mouth-watering and sweet, because...

One lucky person will win a Lindt Bear Gift Basket*!

*Gift basket will contain a 3.5 oz Lindt Bear, a 5-pack of milk chocolate Mini Bears,

and a package of Lindt Bear & Friends

To enter to win: Visit Lindt and tell me another of their delicious items that you would like to give or receive as a gift.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you enter the Lindt giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Lindt on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

YUM! I want to WIN a Lindt Chocolate Bear Gift Basket, the tastiest holiday gift! http://bit.ly/uFmNG5 @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 12th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Lindt for providing a Lindt Bear for me to review as well as a Lindt Bear Gift Basket for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Hallmark Recordable Storybooks {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, sherylssg!}

When asked for gift ideas for my kids, I'm usually at a loss.

Well, what do they like? Is typically the follow-up question... which tends to be met with a shrug.

My problem isn't that they are so particular that it's difficult to come up with something, it's more that they tend to like pretty much everything. Makes it a bit hard to shop, doesn't it?

However, when I'm stuck coming up with something to suggest, the go-to category that I mention time and time again is always books. Both girls have adored books from infancy and there's almost nothing that they enjoy more than having one read to them or flipping through the pages on their own to get lost in the adventure.

The only thing that can make that better? Hallmark's Recordable Storybooks and the way that they provide the experience of having a wonderful book read no matter how large the distance between loved ones.

Having spent the last 100 years helping people stay connected and best express their feelings, there is so much more available from Hallmark than just the greeting cards that are most commonly associated with this brand.

Whether you're stepping foot inside a Hallmark Gold Crown Store or searching their easy-to-browse website, finding the next gift, wrapping paper, Keepsake Ornament, album, card and more couldn't be easier and you know that you're going to find a gift to help make the holidays a special occasion.

This year, Hallmark has introduced Holiday Recordable Storybooks that not only record a reader's voice directly into the book; they now feature music! People can read or sing one of six holiday classics — including three new titles —and participate in holiday story time with loved ones, even if distance causes them to be apart.

As soon as All the Ways I Love You and Santa Claus is Coming to Town arrived in Recordable Storybook form, I knew that they were going to be the perfect gifts for my daughters to share with those that we love.

From the outside, these appear to be beautiful hardcover copies of children's books that we've all known and loved for years. But one look inside the front or back cover, and there are simple step-by-step instructions as to how to turn them into something that can be cherished for a lifetime.

Recording each page really couldn't be much easier. With only two buttons (record and stop) you simply turn to the chosen page, press record and wait for it to verbally cue you to begin, read the page through slowly and clearly, and press stop. After a quick pause, your words begin to repeat back, allowing you to decide if you approve or would like to give that page another try.

After you've repeated the steps throughout the rest of the book, voilà! To be sure that little fingers don't accidentally press the record button and negate your work, there is even a switch inside the battery compartment that can be moved to the locked position to keep your words safe for the future.

Both Big Sister E and Little Sister B adore the fact that they have a way to hear the voices of Daddy or Grandma read them a book even when they aren't here and I continually find them flipping the pages over and over to listen to the story.

Plus, as the Holiday Recordable Storybooks also feature music in the background, they not only are thrilled to listen to the words, but they get into the head-nodding and toe-tapping that goes along with the holiday tune as well!

I have loved the concept of these Recordable Storybooks from the beginning and can't wait to add more to our collection. By taking a list of great "any day" literary favorites as well as original Hallmark stories and including the recordable aspect, these books are just such a great gift idea to be enjoyed all year long.

From family members living far away to a parent being deployed to a token of affection perfect for the holidays, these high quality, colorful and unique Recordable Storybooks are found in your nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store with a retail price of $29.95. Although you may live hundreds of miles away, you can still be "together" for the holidays with your loved ones and stay connected - your reading lasts even if the batteries are changed!

Thanks to the generosity of Hallmark, one person will be able to give a gift that will keep on giving any day of the year, because...

One lucky person will win one Holiday Recordable Storybook AND one Any Day Recordable Storybook from Hallmark!

To enter to win: Visit Hallmark and tell me which of their Recordable Storybooks you think the child in your life would love the most.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you enter the Hallmark Recordable Storybook giveaway at A Nut in a Nutshell!
1 Extra Entry if you follow Hallmark on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN 2 Hallmark Recordable Storybooks (total ARV $60) to hear the voice and love in person! http://bit.ly/ufz1xw @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
2 Extra Entries if you have our Holiday Gift Guide button posted on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 12th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Hallmark for providing two Recordable Storybooks for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.