Never Be Left Out of the Photo Again with Looq {Review}

 

This past fall my daughters had a few days off from school, so my husband and I scooped them up and took a vacation to Washington D.C. We saw all the sights, rode the Metro, walked miles upon miles, had a great time, and went home with memories to last a lifetime.

However, as I look back through the photos, it's apparent that there are mainly two types. One, my kids participating in some sort of activity or posing diligently. Or two, the kids with one parent documenting that we were at a particular location.

Pretty standard vacation pictures, right?

We do have approximately three pictures where all four of us were included, due to me sucking it up and overcoming the awkwardness of asking a complete stranger to stop whatever they were doing and photograph us instead.

Would I have liked to have more pictures of us standing only feet away from the White House so that there might have been one with less forced facial expressions or at a better angle? Sure. But it's hard enough to get people to stop to take one photo, so I wasn't about to tell the nice man to take a dozen more.

So, aside from traveling with a personal photographer everywhere we go, getting more family photos didn't really seem possible... until I was introduced to Looq.

The first of its kind battery-free shutter pole, Looq is compatible with iPhones and Androids and was made for taking vacation photos and selfies to new heights. Simply place your phone, open the app and extend the pole anywhere between 5.5" and 24" and you're able to get more faces in the frame, include a scenic background, and more.

When a Looq arrived here, I was pleased to find that it truly was just as quick and easy as Looq Systems had declared it to be.

After taking a minute to download the free Looq app, I simply connected the two Looq pieces (the adjustable holder and the shutter pole) together and I was ready to snap away.

I had my phone out of its case in these pictures, but the Looq also fits it just fine with the case in place.

Right away I appreciated that the holder felt extremely strong (meaning my phone wouldn't accidentally fall out) and that the pole's sturdy design also eased my safety worries. In fact, the Looq has been proven capable of holding up to a dozen iPhone 5 phones at once, so I felt quite positive that my single one would be secure!

Then, by opening the app (which has an appearance extremely similar to the iPhone's classic camera app), I was able to use the front- or rear-facing camera to set up my shot. There is even a convenient little mirror to help frame photos when the rear-facing camera is used — no more wondering if everyone's face is making it into the frame!

At the same time, the Looq eliminates any of the reaching, tilting, bending or "selfie arm" that is typically involved when taking self-portraits. Just aim, smile and use the included Selfie Button on the handle of the Looq (the pole even gives a little vibration to let you know that it has taken the photo) and your result turns out great!

As well as taking family pictures much more often, my unplanned, fun photo times with my kids are now much easier as well. Instead of a typical picture that is up close and includes my arm...

...we're able to sit back and relax and end up with a shot that looks like it was taken by a third person.

Looq couldn't be much easier!

Whether you're taking vacation photos and want to include the whole gang or just want a way to perfect your selfies, the Looq is an extremely simple way to improve your photographs. You'll no longer feel embarrassed asking strangers to take your pictures (or worry that they will run off with your phone!) and your awkward "selfie arm" won't have to make any more appearances.

Instead, this small, portable devices sets up in seconds and can change the way that your personal photographs turn out for years to come. Want to find out more? The Looq is compatible with a long list of iPhone and Android phones and can be purchased at LooqSystems.com for $69.99.

You can also connect with this innovative company on Facebook and Twitter so that you won't miss the latest and greatest unique inventions that they continue to debut!

Other than the Looq that I was provided by Looq Systems in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion on this product.

Energizer 2011 Ultimate Photo Contest {Mini Digital Photo Frame Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Daniel Thornton!}

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words.

However, thanks to the fact that Energizer has teamed up with the National Geographic Society for the fourth annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest, a picture can now also be worth a dream opportunity to be published in an ad in the acclaimed pages of National Geographic magazine.

Not to mention a little thing known as the choice between three inspiring trips to different amazing locations across the globe. Not too shabby just for having snapped that one incredible photograph, right? Well, if you or someone you know can take pictures like last year's winner, then be sure to enter:

In order to enter, photo enthusiasts simply need to submit their best shots by June 30 in order to be eligible. There are six thematic categories and an entry can be made in each one: animals/wildlife, nature/weather, travel/cultures, family/community, arts/music and action/energy.

Entries will be judged and narrowed down to two finalists per category, then to one winner per category and ultimately to one Grand Prize winner. Last year's lucky winner went on a National Geographic Expedition for two to the Greek Isles accompanied by a National Geographic expert, which sounds fantastic, but I do like that this year the Grand Prize winner gets to play a role in selecting what part of the world's beauty they want to enjoy.

The three options include an Alaskan cruise of the state’s remote wilderness, a Moroccan odyssey spanning the sea to the Sahara or a 12-day journey into the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

Wow!

Although there will be only one lucky Grand Prize Winner, he or she won't be the only one to walk away with a great prize. There will also be six first prize winners (one in each category) that will receive a prize pack valued at approximately $1,000 that will include things such as a Nikon digital camera, a Litepanels Micro camera light, an Energizer Lithium Headlight, an EPIC Action Video Cam, and, of course, an assortment of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.

So be sure to check out the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest to see what talented submissions continue to pour in... and submit your own as well to have a chance at any of these great prizes!

In the meantime, thanks to the generosity of Energizer, one lucky person will be able to enjoy their favorite pictures as well, because...

One lucky person will win a battery-powered desktop mini digital
photo frame powered by two Energizer Ultimate
Lithium AAA batteries (ARV $45)!

To enter to win: Tell me where you would go on your dream vacation.

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 (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!

I want to WIN a Battery-powered Desktop Mini Digital Photo Frame from Energizer! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/jShMcQ #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (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.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on June 23rd at 11:59pm CST. 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. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Energizer for providing a gift card for me as well as a mini digital photo frame 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.

Inspired Gifts Custom Calendar {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, manthas24 and polly!}

Around this time every year I always seem to find myself halfway glancing at those stands that appear in the mall that carry calendars in every theme and category possible. I keep a main calendar magnetically hung on my refrigerator that does the majority of my family organization for me, so it's important that I find one that I like enough to want to look at pretty much every day for the next year.

But, even with all of my browsing, what ends up happening is that even though the calendars with puppies or flowers or beaches can be cute, they're just not what I want to see prominently displayed for 365 days. Instead, I find myself heading to the craft store at the last minute and buying a cheap clearance calendar that manages to fulfill the job, albeit not very attractively.

Well, 2011 is going to be different. This January 1st I'll be thrilled and excited to hang up my Inspired Gifts Custom Calendar and smile every day when I see the colorful, beautiful pages each month.

I was fortunate to write an Inspired Gifts review last July and not only loved the finished product (the cutest Day Planner around) but finding out more about Inspired Gifts and their wonderful company made me love it even a little more.

More than just standard photo gifts, this mom-owned company cares about each one of their customers, is eco-friendly (in everything from the paper to the ink to their print-on-demand technology) and, to top it all off, gives back a portion of their profits to the largest humanitarian organization out there that works to fight global hunger.

All that and I end up with a gorgeous calendar that inspires me both with my favorite photos and wonderfully moving words?

With nine different themes available (Sisters, Someone Special, Inspirational, Mothers & Daughters, Brother, Father, Friends, Grandparents, Mind, Body & Soul), creating a Custom Calendar from Inspired Gifts gives you creative options from the very beginning. You end up with a completely custom order created at no extra charge!

Deciding on the Inspirational Wall Calendar (since I knew I was going to keep this great gift for myself), this calendar can be ordered immediately without any personalization or, for a custom work of art, fill out the easy to follow order form right on the Inspired Gifts website.

After choosing the size (either 6" x 4.4" or 11" x 8"), whether I wanted 12 or 18 months and the month I wanted my calendar to begin, right away I loved that Inspired Gifts allows you to select which designs will appear in your calendar if you order the 12 month option.

As they have 18 beautiful illustrations and inspirational quotes, I was able to go through and read all of them, see the colors and select my favorites. Or, for people more creative than myself, you can even submit your own favorite words of inspiration and Inspired Gifts will incorporate them into their designs and put them into your calendar. How much more personal can you get than that?

Through photographs and names, of course. Right on the cover, Inspired Gifts makes their Custom Calendars perfect for gift-giving by allowing you to fill in and display "Created With Love for [Gift Recipient's Name] from [Your Name(s)]. Then, after choosing your favorite photos for the cover and up to two per month (meaning a 12-month calendar will hold between 1 and 25 photos and an 18-month calendar holds between 1 and 37 photos), you're ready to go.

A short while later, a well-packed box arrived at my door. Removing the packing, I looked in and found a reason to smile:

Flipping through each month, I couldn't be happier about the finished product and how much I'm going to enjoy displaying it for all of next year. The thick, durable pages and the strong binding have already proven themselves by the number of times that Big Sister E and Little Sister B have sat and looked through the pages and the bright, vivid colors make each month pop and grab your eye.

Did I mention that I love this calendar? I can't wait for 2011 to hurry up and arrive so that I can display it right up on the refrigerator and see it every day! Retailing for $19.99 for 12 months (and $24.97 for 18 months) this is the gift of monthly inspiration that would be a moving, cherished gift for anyone on your list.

Or, considering that Inspired Gifts has a wide variety of things like photo notebooks, canvas prints, memory books and so much more at affordable prices, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy. In fact, their amazing personalized posters, normally only $4.99, can be purchased for 50% off ($2.50!) if you enter the coupon code Thanks50 at checkout. Now that's a deal!

Thanks to their generosity, Inspired Gifts will provide two people with a year's worth of custom, beautiful months (and they can choose whatever month they would like to start with!), because...

Two lucky people will win 11" x 8" Custom Calendars from Inspired Gifts! ARV $19.99!

To enter to win: Visit Inspired Gifts and tell me which of their products you would like to order and who it would be for.

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 (per method) if you follow Inspired Gifts on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or follow the Inspired Gifts blog with Google Friend Connect.
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!

2 winners! #WIN a Custom Calendar from @InspiredGifts - personalized & beautiful for 2011! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/hIqOXY #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Inspired Gifts. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 7th at 11:59pm CST. 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 winners. The winners 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. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Inspired Gifts for providing a Custom Calendar for me to review as well as two for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Checking Our List #8: Epson PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, peg42!}

Sometimes I wonder if the days before digital cameras are just a figment of my imagination. Did I really have to buy and load film into my camera? And then have to be stingy about what pictures I took because I was limited to the 24 on there? Or, better yet, that I'd take the photos and then have to wait with baited breath to see if they turned out okay?

Times have definitely changed for the better when it comes to taking pictures. Now I happily click away when I want to capture my kids' childhood and never have to worry about their eyes being closed or if one of them has turned away at the last minute.

However, for me the thing that I still need help with is sharing and printing the photographs that I take. I transfer them off of my camera onto my computer... and that's where they stay. I guess the positive thing about developing film from back in the day was that at least I would put pictures into albums and then they could be seen once in a while.

Well, Epson has found a way to change all that. Taking the modern display of a digital picture frame and combining it with the ultra convenience of a photo printer, the Epson PictureMate Show Digital Frame/Compact Photo Printer makes it possible to print and share all of my favorite pictures at the touch of a button.

Is it weird to call a photo printer cute? Because this one is.

Arriving in its own manageable little box, I unpacked the PictureMate Show and was right away amazed at how portable this really is. The combination of the handle right on top and the light weight means this isn't a clunky printer that you're not going to want to move around or use, rather it's one that you can easily transport and set up anywhere.

With hardly any set up required (no computer necessary!), I simply plugged the PictureMate Show in and pressed the power button. Right away the instructions for installing the ink cartridge showed up on the screen and I had no problem inserting it into the back and letting it charge for a minute or two.

And then? Well then you're ready to go, it's as easy as that. I popped my camera's memory card right into the side (you can also connect your PC or camera with a USB cord) and a green light appeared to let me know that my photographs were being uploaded.
Seconds later, my pictures appeared and I was faced with the hard part of deciding which of the large number of options I wanted to choose first. Using the remote control (don't lose it! You'll need the remote to use this machine!), I opted to start with the 12 Slide Show possibilities to customize how I wanted the PictureMate Show to display my photographs.

As a high-resolution, 7", widescreen digital photo frame, this machine does much more than just flip from one photo to the next. From traditional ways of moving between pictures such as Spin, Cross Fade, Zoom In and Fade In, to elaborate and unique transitions, viewing photos on the PictureMate Show can turn into much more than just seeing the next smiling face.

In fact, many of the Slide Show options were entertaining to watch all by themselves, let alone with any pictures involved. In the Book style, an actual closed book appears on the screen that slowly opens to reveal your photograph. Flipping through more pages, it's almost as if you are looking through a photo book right on the screen. After the last picture, the book closes and fades away for a few seconds and then the entire thing starts again.

Or, in Museum, you feel as if you're in a video game walking through a lit hallway. Every few feet you turn to see the art on the walls, which are framed in antique gold, and discover that each one is another of your photos. Or for an extra sassy touch, the Fashion Show style has each picture walking down the runway (yes, they each have legs) and unrolling at the end. I'm not sure how Epson came up with some of these, but they sure are entertaining!

As well as the various display options, I also appreciated the three clock settings and the calendar setting, which do a great job showing my photographs but have the practical applications right alongside them.

Moving on to the photo printer side of the Epson PictureMate Show, I was impressed with all of the abilities that the Layout section provides. As well as printing a standard 4" x 6" photo, you can select your own custom size (from as small as 0.3" x 0.3" up to 4" x 6") and print pictures for your wallet. I liked that I could set a page to print four smaller pictures and have them be four of the same or four different ones depending on what I wanted.

Having the ability to enhance and fix your photos right on the screen was also incredibly convenient - everything from black & white or sepia tones to cropping, zooming and moving the image around to make it completely custom. When you've got it just how you want it, just press OK once or twice more on the remote per its instructions and printing begins.

Or, if you aren't looking to change the layout or pictures, the Print Photos tab can have your pictures from the screen onto the paper in less than a minute. Simply insert the paper into the holder on the top, choose to print specific photos or all and you're almost done.

As one last added feature, you can include a border and/or date stamp on your photo before pressing print and watching this small machine give big results.

In as fast as 37 seconds, the PictureMate Show prints 4" x 6" photos that have amazing quality, detail and true-to-life tones. I especially liked that the picture was dry to the touch as soon as it was done, meaning no waving it around in the air or being afraid to pick it up due to smudging. Instead, your perfect photo is vibrant and bright and ready to be enjoyed!

With its innovative 2-in-1 design, the Epson PictureMate Show changes the way that you print and share photographs in a clear, easy to use, portable package. You can edit and print high quality photos all without a PC as well as display your favorites on the 7" screen in a wide variety of creative ways. The screen even moves up and down with the touch of the top and can be angled for easier viewing from any room in the house.

With 270 MB of internal memory, you're able to store as many pictures as you need and then, whenever the mood strikes you, print them off almost immediately. The PictureMate Show comes with a starter cartridge and 20 sheets of paper to get you started, so by purchasing something like the PictureMate 200 Series Print Pack, you'll be set for an extended period of time with 150 more pictures!

The Epson PictureMate Show truly is the gift for just about anyone on your list this season. There is no computer or technology experience needed, so everyone from photography enthusiasts who want a quick way to display and print their art to retirees who would like to have an easy way to see their favorite photos of their grandkids can use and enjoy this for years to come.

And, thanks to the generosity of Epson, one such person will have the opportunity to put this convenient machine under their tree, because...

One lucky person will win an Epson PictureMate Show! ARV $299.99!

To enter to win: Visit Epson and tell me another of their high quality products that you would like to own.

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 to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win an amazing Epson PictureMate Show over there, too!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Epson on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: The Epson PictureMate Show does it all! I entered to win this innovative Digital Frame/Photo Printer at Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/dgIz1i
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) 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!

Checking Our List 8: WIN an Epson PictureMate Show ($300) digital frame/photo printer! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dgIz1i #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Epson. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 3rd at 11:59pm CST. 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. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Epson for providing a PictureMate Show and PictureMate 200 Series Print Pack for me to review as well as a PictureMate Show 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.

Checking Our List #3: RCA Small Wonder HD Digital Camcorder {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Mrs.Smitty!}

When I was a kid, I did gymnastics. I can remember my mom faithfully coming to my meets to watch me tumble through my floor exercise or cringe while I wobbled on the balance beam. Ah, those were the days.

I can also recall the time that she lugged a massive video camera to one meet in an attempt to preserve some of my young athleticism on record. I'm pretty sure the camcorder itself weighed as much as she did... and I seem to remember some sort of mishap connected with it being up on a tripod. Needless to say, I don't think I ever saw that tape.

Times sure have changed now, haven't they? As a mom I don't want to miss a single highlight of my kids' lives and pretty much want to be ready at a moment's notice to record everything from their laughter and joy while playing to the smiles of pride of their new accomplishments. Fortunately, Audiovox and their high quality, well-known brand, RCA, make that completely possible with their EZ209HD Small Wonder High Definition Digital Camcorder.

Arriving in a modern, simple box, right away I liked that I could flip open the front and see not only the camcorder itself but a great deal of information about it was listed right inside the flap.

Taking the camcorder, cords, carrying case and wrist strap out of the packaging, all that was needed to do in order to start recording was plug the Small Wonder in to ensure it was fully charged.

Accessing the USB port on the side was easy, I simply flipped up the rubber cover and plugged the charger right in. When I returned to look at it later, the camcorder had a full battery and was ready to go.

Heading outside to play with the kids, I tossed the Small Wonder in my pocket (it measures 4.3" x 2.5" x 0.9" and only weighs 11.2 ounces, so the slim design fits great into pretty much anywhere you want to carry it) and waited until they were happily immersed in a patch of sand and dirt to examine things further.

Without having looked at the directions, the clear labels and simple point-and-shoot capabilities of the Small Wonder made it straightforward and easy to aim and record without having to do more than push one button.

By sliding the power switch (you sort of pull it down and hold it for a second), all of the information that I needed to know was right there on the 2" screen. One glance and I could see the mode (video, camera or playback), the recording quality (there are 3 levels of resolution) and how much battery and time was remaining.

I was surprised to see that I only had about 5½ minutes of time, but, after checking the manual, found that the EZ209HD Small Wonder features 256MB of internal memory on its own and has a Micro SD card slot on the top that can expand the memory up to 16 GB. Once that card is in place, you actually have 8 hours of HD recording and even more in the lower resolution sizes.

As I'm one of those people that takes video and then just leaves it sitting on the camera, having eight hours of space is great! That means I still have 7 hours and 59 minutes to fill up with more of this, right?


But that wasn't all. One of the features that I especially like about the Small Wonder is that as well as a camcorder, it takes photographs. By pressing the Photo button once, it told me that it was "Preparing for photo mode" and then a second later it was ready. As there is no option for a flash, of course, I probably wouldn't use this in low lighting situations...

But the fact that we were outside and I had it in my hand made it possible to catch one of my new favorite pictures of Fall:

What a great way to have both action and still shots available all in one small device! Plus, with the possibility of moving the micro SD card out to a phone or other camera, this camcorder becomes conveniently cross-compatible.

When I was done recording the fun outside, I came back in to find multiple options of how to view my video. I could watch it right on the large LCD screen in playback mode, connect the Small Wonder to my television with the provided cable or download onto my computer using the USB cord.

There is even Memory Manager software built right into this camcorder so, depending on your computer and its processing system, any downloading and editing to be done is just as easy as the recording. Then just pop this back into your pocket or purse or diaper bag and never miss a moment!

Although I had a few slight issues with the RCA Small Wonder High Definition Digital Camcorder (mainly that I felt the zoom was choppy, that there is no way to stand it up on its own due to the rounded bottom and that when I first uploaded my videos they had odd spots that seemed to be in fast-forward), it really is extremely portable and very handy to take along to capture events that you otherwise wouldn't with a traditional video camera.

With a retail price of $149.99 (but found much lower on various websites, including RCA itself at a steal for $89.99), this camcorder would make an amazing gift for pretty much anyone on your list. Do you know someone who might like to take great HD videos anytime, anywhere? Thanks to the generosity of Audiovox, one person will be able to make their holiday wishes come true, because...

One lucky person will win an RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder High Definition Digital Camcorder from Audiovox!

To enter to win: Visit Audiovox and tell me another of their innovative items that you would love to own.

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 to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win an awesome 7" Portable DVD Player from Audiovox!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you sign up for news and offers from RCA, follow them on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: I just entered to win an RCA Small Wonder High Definition Camcorder at Thanks, Mail Carrier - what a perfect holiday gift! http://bit.ly/bBZJ1d
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) 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!

Checking Our List 3: WIN an RCA Small Wonder High Definition Digital Camcorder ($150)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/bBZJ1d #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Audiovox. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 26th at 11:59pm CST. 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. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Audiovox for providing an RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder High Definition Digital Camcorder 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.

Gift-Giving with RedEnvelope {Hall Gallery Frame Set Review & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Addison K.A.T.!}

Do you sometimes feel like you're always searching for just the right gift? Between birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, new babies, bridal showers, to thank someone, to just show appreciation... I sometimes wish there was a standard list or site to go to in order to find just the perfect gift for each and every occasion.

Fortunately, RedEnvelope feels the same way. Their unique and wide-ranging collection of gifts for adults, babies, kids and the home are carefully selected so that the moment when your recipient opens their package will be just as touching and heartfelt as you could hope for. From wedding gifts to Christmas gifts, the hardest part about shopping at RedEnvelope is deciding between all of the options available.

I am constantly on the lookout for home decorating ideas because, well, I'm just never satisfied with the decor that we have. Over the years I've made my poor husband move art from one room to another... or replace one with a different purchase... or, and this is the most common, take it down completely so that I can put up more pictures of our daughters. I can't help it, they're cute!

So when I saw the Hall Gallery Frame Set on RedEnvelope.com, I knew that it would combine just the right amount of style and quality into an easily-changeable, unique-looking piece.

I love gallery displays of photographs, there is something about having them clustered together that always makes each one more meaningful. However, the amount of time that goes into trying to line up individual frames and get them hung on the wall so that they are level and spaced correctly can oftentimes start to drive me a little crazy. This Set is the solution!

As soon as the RedEnvelope box arrived, I knew that I was going to like the finished look. Even the box itself was modern and clean and each frame and piece was individually wrapped and protected to prevent any sort of damage or scratches.

As I laid out all of the parts, I pretty much didn't need the included instructions because RedEnvelope made installing this Frame Set so straightforward and easy. However, after a minute or two with a tape measure and a level, I had the paper template taped on the wall and was ready to mark the holes for drilling.

By marking three sets of two holes, I took down the template and proceeded to put up the nickel-plated hanging bar without any problem - it was even labeled to show me which was the right side and which was the left.

As each of the 11 frames were labeled A through G, it only took a second to hook them to their designated spot on the bar or to each other and have the finished product beautifully ready to display my photographs.

The only hard part for me is deciding which 11 pictures I want to show off in this amazing display! I love the formal look and how well the symmetry works to make this a perfect fit in our home or with just about any style (this Set also comes in an espresso finish if the black isn't your thing).

All of the hardware is high quality and strong and changing out the photographs is even easier than with traditional frames because there is no fiddling with getting them on and off of the wall and making sure they aren't crooked. This will surely be one piece of decor that stays up for years to come!

When it comes to gift-giving, RedEnvelope makes it simple and fun. Their apparel, jewelry, accessories, plants, gourmet treats, gadgets and items for babies, kids and the home are sure to impress for your next event or occasion. Many of their products can even be personalized with a monogram or custom message to make them even more special and come in their signature red box with grosgrain ribbon - what more can you ask for?

How about a discount? Enter the promo code 10OFFRED now and receive 10% off of your next purchase at RedEnvelope.com! But wait, that's not all. Thanks to their generosity one person will be able to have their next high quality, unique gift picked out and delivered, because...

One lucky person will win a $50 gift certificate to RedEnvelope!

To enter to win: Visit RedEnvelope and tell me which of their great products you might purchase with this gift certificate.

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 (per method) if you follow RedEnvelope on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: I love RedEnvelope's amazing gifts! I just entered to win a $50 gift certificate to shop there at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/b9FMPB
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 RedEnvelope for great gift-giving from @redenvelope & @thxmailcarrier! http://bit.ly/b9FMPB #giveaway #win

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3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
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Giveaway will end on October 29th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, as 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. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

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