The Walmart Ice Cream Social at home: Sundae Bar (#theicecreamsocial)

Last month my family attended The Walmart Ice Cream Social, an in-store demo event at Walmart that was fun. And tasty. And involved yummy Edy's ice cream.

Did I mention it was tasty?

And did I also mention that Walmart is holding another event this upcoming July 2 that is going to involve Nestlé Drumstick Lil' Drums Sundae Cones? Um... yes, please!

So, after thoroughly enjoying our treats at The Walmart Ice Cream Social, we made sure to check out the options that Walmart had to offer for our own sundae bar. We drooled over the large variety of Edy's ice cream...

...including all of their unique flavors...

Yum! After picking out a few ice creams, we went straight for the toppings. As well as typical toppings, we like to include our favorite candies as well. Because if candy bars are good on their own, then they're even better with ice cream, of course!

With so many choices, the hardest part is deciding which ones to bring home!

As we were having a small family reunion at our house, it was the perfect time to have a sundae bar for all of the kids and adults. We would have had it outdoors, but with the cool summer weather we've been having, we moved it indoors to enjoy everything. Did that take away from the excitement and the fun?

With a spread like that, how could it?

Little Sister B pretty much sums it up with this look:

But here's really how the party turned out...

Even after forgetting to get out the ice cream cones and the sprinkles (dang it!) and that we didn't have any cherries to put on top (what was I thinking?) the sundae bar still turned out delicious and fun! Walmart had everything we needed and with so many yummy Nestlé options to build our sundaes our way, there was no way to go wrong.

I know that we'll be sure to have more sundae bars this summer... after all, with so many flavors of ice cream still left to try, we can't just stop now, right? Next time I'm going to make sure to have all of my ingredients set out beforehand, though.

Now, can someone please pass the Edy's Slow Churned? I need a second scoop!

This shop/project has been compensated as part of a campaign for Nestlé but all views and opinions are my own.

Health and Safety: Bike Helmets

The list of things that are different for my children versus my own childhood seems to continue to get longer and longer.

Things like cell phones at age 8, being able to pause live television, and keeping busy during long car trips by watching movies or playing a handheld video game (versus the good old standbys of the Alphabet Game or the License Plate Game).

I wouldn't say those are negative changes, they're just a more... advanced way of life for kids these days.

However, there are definitely positive changes that have been made from decades ago, many of which are in the form of safety measures that are now in place.

For instance, we know so much more now about harmful ingredients in plastics or chemicals on foods that the next generation is already being raised with much less of a chance of damaging effects from them.

Also, I don't remember ever sitting in a car seat when I was a kid. Whereas now kids are recommended to stay in the backseat until they are over 12, I have a clear recollection of it being a big deal for my brother and I to take turns riding in the front when we went places throughout my entire childhood.

Then there's helmets. Considering that biking isn't one of the activities that we do now, I have still never once owned a bicycle helmet. In fact, they're not even something that I feel like I even notice in the stores... to be honest, I really only give helmets a second glance when they show up on my own kids.

As I'm not planning on taking up biking as a hobby any time soon (possibly when the girls are older, I suppose), I have a feeling that browsing sites like Helmet City now would result in completely different and more futuristic helmets by the time I was actually ready to purchase one. Not to mention that if I feel confused now, what might the advancements of five more years bring?

Bell helmet? Giro helmet? Aerodynamic? Full coverage? Special shoes to go with them?

I think I'm in over my head. Literally.

For now, I'm sticking with walking. It just seems less complicated.

Do you enjoying riding a bicycle (with or without your family)? Do you wear a helmet 100% of the time?

Organize Your Finances Safely and Easily with Manilla

When it comes to pretty much all levels of organization around my house, I need all the help I can get. Whether searching for a pair of jeans that just have to be here somewhere, a scribbled phone number that I know I just had or digging through piles looking for a library book that didn't we return that a long time ago? I'm actually surprised sometimes that there isn't more chaos in our lives.

Although my husband is in charge of doing the down-and-dirty money management for us, I'm actually the one who takes care of making sure each and every monthly bill somehow gets paid on time. Considering that our method for "filing" them when they arrive is to toss them into the messy pile on the kitchen counter next to the toaster... well, let's just say that something better was definitely needed.

Fortunately, in a stroke of perfect timing, I was recently introduced to Manilla, a new household account organization site, that works to get things in order for you and help you easily keep them that way.

Manilla is a free web based service that helps consumers better manage all of their household accounts, including financial, utilities, subscriptions and travel rewards programs, in one secure place online. Simply choose a single password and Manilla will provide you with an automated, organized view of all of your account information, text and/or email reminders to pay bills, and unlimited storage of account documents.

Getting started with Manilla is easy, as once you have chosen your providers (credit cards, banks, cell phone, cable, phone, utility, and more) you enter in your name and password for each one, essentially linking all of the accounts together.

Wondering about security? No worries necessary, Manilla takes the issue very seriously and actually has the same level of security as online banks. A comprehensive security and privacy policy has been an important aspect from day one and is regularly tested to make sure it is always safe, secure and private for every user. So rest assured, all of your information on Manilla is completely and utterly safe.

When it comes to using Manilla, your homepage will tell you all of the information that you need to know right at a glance. As all of your accounts are together in one place, there is no need to sort through papers or dig up past check stubs, instead all of your due dates and balances are quickly and easily accessed together.

Manilla will remind you when bills are due (the statements are detailed and thorough) and all of the information for each account is archived for current or future reference. Find out about your last payment, the next payment due, amount, your balance, and more.

You have the option of downloading and printing any of your information and, when it is time to pay your bill, you are brought right to your homepage to make the payment quickly (Manilla will direct you straight to the correct company or website location).

There is no limit to the amount of information that Manilla can hold for you and you'll no longer have to remember 25 different passwords to check in at various locations across the internet each month. Instead, this is one site that is secure, user-friendly, and easy to understand. You can either deal with this...

...and hope to not miss due dates and deal with late charges, or you can get your finances organized and under control... and save yourself headaches while gaining extra spare time. Best of all, Manilla is FREE!

Manilla not only wants to help you get organized, but one lucky new user will win $1,000 cash to pay their bills!

How to Enter:

1. Sign up with Manilla

2. Link one or more household, financial, subscription or rewards account within Manilla

3. Come back and leave a comment telling me you signed up and how Manilla can save you time!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Manilla. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs June 7-30, 2011. Winner must be signed up with Manilla with at least one account linked to win. A random winner will be selected by July 1, 2011. Official Contest Rules
(Comments turned off. I'd love to hear what you would do with an extra hour in the day - just answer right in the box above!)

L'Occitane Natural Skincare Products

When it comes to taking care of my skin, I just never know where to start. With so many different varieties of anti-aging skincare or products that claim to work miracles, how in the world do people choose between them?

Fortunately, there are well-known, trusted sites that are leaders in body, face, and home products that can be depended on time and again for being experts in essential oils and natural ingredients. One such company: L'Occitane.

Founded in 1976 and based in Manosque, France, L'Occitane (pronounced LOX-EE-TAN) prides itself on its ability to create innovative products. What started as a company producing only essential oil shampoos, L'Occitane now includes skin care, fragrances, bath and body products, makeup, men’s products, hair care, soaps, and a remarkably extensive home collection.

With everything from shea butter to Eau de Toilette, you'll find ingredients from nature that are based on the principles of phytotherapy (treatment through plants) and aromatherapy (treatment through scents). Each and every one of their products (and stores) reflect the company’s core values of authenticity, simplicity, sensory pleasure, and respect for people and the planet.

I appreciate that L'Occitane not only has an impressive mission and offers such high quality items, but that their website is filled with all of the information that you could want in order to fully learn about them. Everything from their history to their formulation principles to their packaging guidelines to their commitment to their values to their sustainability... and that's just scratching the surface.

If you're looking for an amazing product for your face, hair, body, a fragrance, men, or a gift that is sure to be well-appreciated (belated Father's Day? A friend who really needs some pampering? A gift card to let your recipient choose for themselves?), L'Occitane has it all.

You can even receive complimentary samples with your order to discover new and different products so you'll always have the opportunity to find a new favorite! Visit L'Occitane online at http://usa.loccitane.com or in one of their many boutiques today and bring the fragrances and textures of Provence to your life.

(This is a sponsored post)

Redbox Wants To Know: What Are Your Kids' Favorite Movies?

There's something about hanging out together as a family to all watch a movie that ends up being fun for everyone.

Whether that has to do with the fact that my husband is a popcorn fanatic (and therefore my kids seem to be, as well) or just the way that we all can manage to find a comfortable spot on the couch to cuddle up, it generally results in a good time for all.

As long as you find a spot so that you can see the television...

...then that's all that matters, right?

It seems like no matter what happened during the day and how hot, tired or cranky anyone might have been, after curling up close and enjoying our snacks, the end of the movie usually brings about a happy ending for us as well.

Recently we've been introduced to an even easier way to watch our movies thanks to Redbox. Yes, I know we're late to the game in trying out these simple, convenient self-serve kiosks, and I'm actually not sure why. With more than 27,000 locations nationwide, picking up a DVD or Blu-Ray Disc rental truly is fast and easy. We love it!

This summer Redbox wants to have a little more fun by asking moms, "What are your kids' favorite movies?" Plus, they are rewarding 2 lucky people with a chance to win $10,000 as part of the Redbox Summer of Fun & Games Sweepstakes!

My kids enjoy most anything that is animated, but topping the list right now is probably still the Toy Story movies - they just can't get enough of the fun that Woody, Buzz, and the gang have. However, with the upcoming release of Cars 2, I have a feeling that a certain cowboy might be taking a backseat to racetracks and speeding cars awfully soon...

Now, as for that sweepstakes...

Redbox is celebrating summer family time with a great line up of family-friendly titles, awesome savings and two chances to win $10,000 as part of the Redbox Summer of Fun & Games Sweepstakes.*

4 Easy Ways to Enter:

1. Enter your email address at www.redbox.com/summer

2. Rent a movie or game at a redbox kiosk (and provide a valid email address at checkout)

3. Reserve a rental online at redbox.com

4. Text 'SUMMER' to 727272

Enter to win today!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Redbox. The opinions and text are all mine.

*Each item rented earns one entry, regardless of how long it is rented, up to three entries per day. Limit 3 entries per day, regardless of entry method. The sweepstakes begins May 27, 2011 at 12:00 a.m. CT and ends on August 1, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CT. No purchase necessary. See official rules at www.redbox.com/summer.



(Comments turned off. I'd love to hear what your kids' favorites movies are - just answer right in the box above!)

Allergy Sufferer? Don't Let Them Keep You From Enjoying Summer!

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.

Now that it's time to head outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, I consider myself extremely lucky that I don't have any allergies (or at least any that I know of). Even better than that, neither does my husband or, so far, either of our children. I just couldn't imagine our time spent playing in the yard or at the park being marred by sneezing, watery eyes, and worse.

Of course now by having written this, I'll wake up tomorrow and find that I can't go outside due to nonstop wheezing... but I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that it won't happen.

Unfortunately for many, many adults and children out there, allergies are a way of life and the conditions that they have to deal with as a result (anything from chest tightening to coughing or more) are frustrating and can be harmful if left untreated.

With the air full of pollen and other allergens (there were so many things floating around yesterday that Big Sister E said it looked like it was snowing) that just trying to go outside can easily turn into a nightmare for allergy sufferers.

So what is there to do? Hide out in your home and not enjoy the beautiful weather? No one wants to do that... not to mention that there are plenty of allergy-causing aspects found indoors that can leave eyes itching just as much.

Instead there are a number of great tips and ideas to follow that can make your indoor and outdoor spaces stylish, functional, and allergy-friendly and these are just a tiny sampling of them:

Indoors:

• Opt for hardwood floors instead of carpeting.
• Utilize an air purifier to ensure that you have the cleanest indoor air possible.
• Always wash all bedding and towels in hot water and choose hypoallergenic fabrics for your bedding.
• Keep areas as clean and dust-free as possible.

Outdoors:

• As peak pollen production happens early in the morning, spend your time outside later in the day to minimize exposure to allergens.
• Some plants are more "low-allergy" than others, so be sure to do your research before choosing your options.
• Plant both flowering trees and bold greenery instead of pollen-producing plants in your garden.

But keeping your home clean and your yard allergen-free doesn't mean that you have to forgive style. Don't forget to include things like a new coat of paint, updated throw pillows, or decorative rugs or slipcovers (both easily washable!) to add your personal touch to brighten up your living spaces this spring.

For tips on making your home and garden more beautiful, functional and allergy-friendly visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Dreaming of Costa Rica Vacations

I complain about my husband's job fairly often, grumbling about everything from the huge workload that he constantly has to the large number of trips out of town that he has to take. He is usually only gone for a day or two, but even that is too much for me when it happens every week.

On the flip side, however, his company does work to spoil their employees - pretty much as an acknowledgment that they're extremely demanding. One of the really great perks? Every five years they send employees on sabbaticals, just making them go on an all-expenses paid vacation anywhere they want so as long as it is out of the country (cutting down on the likelihood that they'll still be contacted about work).

That part? Not so difficult to deal with, let me tell you.

Even though we have had thoughts of heading to somewhere far like New Zealand, the combination of my dislike of flying and that we had one and then two children with us has resulted in us sticking closer and heading to the Caribbean. We've been to the Cayman Islands...

Aruba...

And, most recently, a year ago we enjoyed the beauty of the Bahamas:

With our next trip on the horizon for this winter, it's time to begin planning, or at least narrowing down the options. Even though the islands we've visited have been amazing, we've turned our sights in a different direction this time and are looking at Central and South America.

And one location that has made it to the short list is Costa Rica.

While we're covered in snow here in the winter, Costa Rica is just north of the equator and averages around 80° highs and 65° lows... and I know I sure would trade in snow pants and shovels for a little tropical weather.

Listed as a popular family vacation destination -Costa Rica Honeymoons are raved about as well- the abundance of things to do there that are kid-friendly sound awfully nice. From the animal life to the volcanoes to the rain forests, how could Big Sister E and Little Sister B not be occupied and happy with the adventures that we could have?

Already on my agenda include visiting the waterfall gardens, frog ponds, national parks and hot springs and taking the family snorkeling, horseback riding, birding and river rafting. And then we can't miss going on a dolphin encounter or a guided hike, on the rain forest aerial tram, seeing giant turtles building their nests, taking surfing lessons...

Aside from all that there is to do, according to some research that I've found, Costa Rica is actually the "greenest" country in the world in terms of being environmentally-friendly. Who knew?

From the exotic animals to the amazingly beautiful scenery to the warm, friendly locals, how can we go wrong? Costa Rica sounds like the perfect place for us to spend quality time together enjoying all of the possibilities that this incredible trip can provide... now we've just got to see how the rest of our destination finalists compare!

What about you? If you were getting on an airplane tomorrow (either alone, with your significant other, or with your entire family), where would you choose to go?

The Walmart Ice Cream Social In-Store Demo Event {Yum!}

Usually when you think of Memorial Day and the 4th of July, you think of America and patriotism and celebrating with barbecues and picnics and fireworks.

But this year? Keep this image in mind as well:

This Saturday, May 28th as well as Saturday, July 2nd, participating Walmart stores across the country are hosting an event known as The Walmart Ice Cream Social and you, my friend, are invited.

Just stop by the Bright Ideas Station when you get to your local store for your cool treat between 5 pm and 9 pm. You'll already receive the everyday low prices that you're used to, but at the event you'll also be able to pick up a FREE sample of Edy's ice cream (brand varies by location) topped with Reddi-wip and Nesquik while supplies last.

So be sure to check the calendar of events at the Walmart near you and then head over there this weekend or in July for this tasty occasion. We've already got our day planned for this Saturday and it includes The Walmart Ice Cream Social!

This shop/project has been compensated as part of a campaign for Nestlé but all views and opinions are my own.

Buying a New Computer: What's the Best Laptop?

My laptop and I have a love - hate relationship.

I love that it allows me to do this. Every day I can turn it on and email and blog and stay connected to people all over the world. Technology is an amazing thing, isn't it?

As for the hate... well, I hate pretty much everything else about it.

When we purchased this computer, I knew it wasn't going to be the top-of-the-line, but I had assumed that would be okay. I spend most of my time opening up a window and typing in a box, right? It's not like I'm doing web design or playing interactive games or running a photo editor that would slow things down (okay, that's not completely true, I do dabble in photo editing programs now and again, but they're very basic)...

But the point is this: My. Laptop. Sucks.

I've been trying to make do with it and cut it some slack, but the end is near. Very near. I can't take the amount of time that is wasted sitting waiting while it turns on (literally nearly 15 minutes) or that it takes eons to think about loading or, even worse, the continuing freezes and crashes.

It's time to draw the line.

But here's where I need your help. Clearly we didn't do a very good job picking this computer out and in answer to my increasing complaints, my husband's response is for me to turn to the experts of the internet to see which brands get high ratings from other people that are online as much as I am.

So, tell me Internet Geniuses. What laptop do you recommend? Do you have one that consistently performs well? Do tell!

Online Love: My Favorite Fabulous Bloggers

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

When asked to name five fabulous bloggers, I jumped at the chance! I have met so many amazing women (and some men, too) through blogging that being able to name off five of them and tell just why I think they're fabulous wouldn't be a problem at all!

But then... wait.

How in the world was I going to limit it to only five?

I tried. Really I did. And I felt bad that there are SO many other fantastic bloggers out there that, for one reason or another, impress me every day that I would love to write about. I just hope that, even if their name isn't mentioned here, they know who they are.

But I couldn't list every one of them and, when I managed to get my list down to seven, that's as far as I could go.

Without further ado, these are seven of the bloggers (in alphabetical order by blog) that I deem fabulous. I absolutely know that I could count on for not only a wonderful post to appear in my Reader, but that they would be there for me to laugh, cry, commiserate, complain, or just plain be a friend. What more could a girl need?

A Mom's Balancing Act: I know, you're completely shocked, right? I visited a ton of blogs back before I started my own and Jenna's is one of the very few that I continued to read afterward as well. Now having teamed up with her for multiple blog events, I've gotten to know her even better and she is just as thoughtful and sweet as her writing.

It takes a lot to impress me with a product review and I don't know if I could find a single one of Jenna's that I don't find thorough and detailed and fun to read. Not to mention the adorable pictures of her kids that are always included - even though we have never met in person, I feel like I have seen her daughter and son grow up right before my eyes as if I know them!

A Nut in a Nutshell: If you're a blogger, the chances of you not also thinking Liz is fabulous are pretty slim. There's the fact that her blog is incredibly entertaining and leaves you giggling throughout anything from a personal post to a review to, well, what can only be called nonsense...

And then there's the way that she manages to be everywhere in the blogosphere, leaving comments left and right. It's not too often that I go to leave a comment somewhere and find that Liz hasn't already left one. On top of all that...

I've been fortunate to hang out with Liz in person a few times now and I can tell you honestly that she really is as caring and funny and amazing in person as she is online, which just makes her even that much more fabulous.

An Island Life: I consider Kailani everything from a friend to a mentor and credit some of where I am today due to the fact that she brought me on as a writer on her blog back in September of 2009 when I was still pretty new at it all (I still have the email that she sent welcoming me. I was so excited that she deemed me worthy of being a part of her review team)!

I honestly have no clue how Kailani keeps up with her family, her job, her blog, running the Family Review Network, and more. She's like a rock star of blogging! I was also fortunate to meet this tiny little dynamo in person at BlogHer last year and she is adorable and sweet and I was so excited to get to hang out, have dinner, and even have pedicures done together. The next time I'm in Hawaii (I wish!) she's going to have to kick me out of her house to get me to leave because she's just so awesome.

KiddiesCorner Deals: Nichol is also on the extremely short list of sites that I continued to read even after I started blogging, but now I'm so thrilled that we've become even better friends. Nichol puts her heart and soul into her posts and whether they're about a deal, a review, or a recipe that makes my mouth water, this mama's passion and honesty is never a question and I admire that completely.

I know for a fact that Nichol would be there for me online or in person and there have been more times that I can count that we've spent chatting about everything and nothing and all that's in between. I couldn't have been happier to meet her and her adorable family just this month at Reviewer's Retreat...

...and I went away from the conference wishing I could move all four of them into a house on my block so that we could hang out all the time. Why must people always live so far away?

Mommy Is Green: There are some people that are just experts at what they know and Victoria has always amazed me at her commitment to being eco-friendly in every aspect of her life. So many of her posts introduce me to companies and products that I've never heard of before and her knowledge on all things green manages to impress me each and every day.

Victoria and I managed to meet up last year at BlogHer as well and I loved even the small amount of time that we were able to spend together. She's warm and friendly and whether in person or through email, I always feel like she genuinely cares about what's going on in my life even when hers is incredibly busy. Now that's a great friend!

Sippy Cup Mom: I am just this close to meeting Melissa in person and I can't wait! Even though I haven't known her for as long as some of the other bloggers that I have mentioned, she is still counted among the friends and writers that I think are fabulous.

Melissa has just about the biggest heart possible and I'm continually inspired by the way that she wants to help people online and off. Her blog has such a positive feel to it and whether she is writing about travel or a review or her adorable son, there is such a personal feel to each word that I feel like she is talking directly to me. I can't wait to give her a big hug at all of the upcoming events that we're both going to be at this summer and beyond!

The Life of Rylie... & Bryce, Too!: Pillow Pets will always have a soft spot in my heart for introducing me to LeeAnn. She won one of my giveaways for them quite a while back and we slowly started emailing after that... only to turn into a friendship that I love.

LeeAnn manages to combine moving personal posts in with her reviews and giveaways and I have spent quite a bit of time laughing at pictures of her cute kids or crying over the heartbreaking ups and downs life has put her through this past year. I always know I'm in for something good when I see her name pop up in my inbox and knowing that I could tell LeeAnn just about anything about life or blogging and have her understand means a lot to me.

So there you have it, seven of my favorite fabulous bloggers. Each of these ladies has her own wonderful qualities that I enjoy and admire and, in their own way, make me happy to be a part of the blogging community. I love knowing that, no matter what the future holds for my blog, their friendships will have been worth it all.

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Decorating a Nursery? Try Baby Bedding Zone {Site Review}

Is it strange that although I have no plans for any future children that I still love to browse through nursery decor? There is something about crib bedding and matching decor and the possibility of stylish yet cute rooms that are somehow just satisfying to see.

But when it comes to places that offer a variety of options, it is sometimes hard to find items like bedding in fashionable choices that you can really love. For something other than what is mass-produced in stores, who has time to go search out boutiques for more?

Instead, find everything you need to bring together a beautiful nursery all in one place by people who know everything about baby bedding: BabyBeddingZone.com.

An e-tailer of beautiful baby bedding and nursery decor, BabyBeddingZone.com has just about every style of bedding for cribs, toddler beds, and big kid beds that I've ever seen. Everything from monkey baby bedding to vintage baby bedding to everything in between to fit your style and taste is there and easy to browse.

Never having gotten the opportunity to decorate for a baby boy, I love seeing all of the cute options that would be perfect for any sweet little guy. I've always been a fan of the Alphabet Theme and I think this one is especially cute...

I like this one as well, although I wouldn't go quite as overboard with all of the matching accessories...

And even though I am completely happy with the way that Big Sister E and Little Sister B's rooms turned out (thanks to my mom and her sewing talent), room ideas like this one still catch my eye as something that I definitely would have considered...

...but I guess that's partially due to my polka dot obsession.

Baby Bedding Zone really does make it easy to browse their selection, as once you've picked your age category you can break it down into price, gender, color, theme, pattern, style, and many more! Whether you already have a clear picture in mind about what you're shopping for or you just want to browse to get ideas, their website will have it all there and accessible with a few clicks.

As well as appreciating the wide range of designs and styles available, I also think it's great that Baby Bedding Zone has such a large price range so that it is possible to find something for your budget - whether your pocketbook calls for something lavish and luxurious or something smaller and more practical (still being as equally beautiful).

With everything you need to create a beautiful nursery all in one place, Baby Bedding Zone has all of the options that you need to end up with an adorable environment for your little one... as well as great products for toddlers and older children as well. Your decor will never be the same!

This post was made possible by the Double Duty Divas. I was compensated for my energy and time in writing this article, however all opinions are 100% mine.

Lost Luggage? Never Again With YourBagTag {Review & Giveaway}

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

Last month when Big Sister E and I took our vacation, all of the aspects of the flights to get there went smoothly. Planes were on time, people were friendly, and we even ended up with better seats than expected for our second leg of the trip when we had to be moved in order to have two that were next to each other.

I offered to let someone else sit with and entertain my 4-year-old but apparently that wasn't something that the airline wanted to pursue.

However, the biggest disappointment of the trip? Standing at Baggage Claim.

Not only did it seem to take forever for the bags to begin to be spit out and ride the conveyor belt around and around, when it finally happened it appeared that nearly all of them were exactly the same. Either black or red, each suitcase that came by looked an awful lot like the one prior to it and, after a few minutes of not seeing ours, I started to wonder if I just wasn't looking close enough.

Had I missed them? Was I just being impatient? Did someone else accidentally mistake our bags for their own and were now driving away with them? I hadn't taken the two minutes to fill out those cheap, flimsy luggage tags at the gate before we left, so I wasn't sure if there was any identification on the suitcases to begin with...

In the end, our bags finally appeared on the carousel but I'm not exaggerating in saying that one of them was the absolute last bag to arrive. Considering how much I had worked myself into a worry by that point, there is no doubt in my mind that I will never hand over my luggage again without first making certain that they are easily and clearly labeled as our own with my YourBagTag™ luggage tags.

The highest quality, most unique, and completely customizable luggage tags that I've ever seen, YourBagTag ensures that you will never have to spend another minute wondering which backpack is which, whether or not you child's lunch bag will make it back home or standing there like me watching suitcase after suitcase get taken away that look awfully similar to your own.

As I began to browse YourBagTag, I was immediately amazed that they had so many options of bright, colorful tags and ways that you can personalize them. Spanning the entire rainbow, it actually took me a while to decide on the colors (I know Big Sister E's favorite color is dark blue, but what about Little Sister B? Yellow? Pink? Green? She likes them all!) as well as which pattern coordinating ribbon would go with them. Stripes? Polka dots? They were just so cute!

After finally picking our colors, I had the choice between having our names, monograms, or something completely different embroidered right onto the tags so that there would never be any confusion as to who the owner was. The font could be in Block or Script style and I had up to 9 characters to write whatever I chose.

Upon placing my order, I barely had to wait more than a day or two before finding the finished products waiting in my mailbox.

Adorable! The substantial size of these tags ensures that they will never be overlooked and the sturdy durability means that they will last for years and years to come.

As well as our initials on the front, I love the hidden pocket on the back of the YourBagTag luggage tags that holds a card for filling in your name, address, phone number and email address just in case your bag is ever separated from you.

Instead of scribbling out the paper tags at the last minute while you're trying to get your luggage checked, you can have your suitcases safely labeled and ready to go when you arrive at the airport. The card is made out of a durable cardstock and the Velcro closure on the pocket means that your information will always be there when you need it.

Popping the tags on and off of bags is a cinch, so no matter if you are labeling a large suitcase or a small duffel bag, YourBagTag has you covered. The embroidery is stitched out very well and the fact that there is a HUGE selection of styles and colors means that you can make them as bright or as neutral as you would like.

Match your team colors, your heritage or select the Create Your Own tag and put your artistic skills to work being really creative. Whatever you pick, you can attach your tag to your gym bag, as a gift tag on a birthday present or housewarming gift, to your child's daycare bag, on laundry baskets, to your suitcase or many more!

In addition to the tags that attach with ribbon like I chose, YourBagTag also offers options with a metal cable ring or a caribeaner clip to snap on and off in seconds. Retailing for $12 each, these luggage tags have nearly limitless possibilities and will surely help keep your belongings organized, safe, and secure at home, around town or across the country.

As well as luggage tags, you will also find afforably priced luggage scales, SCUBA products, personalized travel accessories and travel blankets, as well as wetsuit zipper pulls available from YourBagTag. For an even better deal, however, enter the discount promo code BR2011 at checkout and receive 10% off of your entire order! Hurry, this coupon is only good until May 31, 2011!

Thanks to the generosity of YourBagTag, one person will no longer have to wait or wonder if their contact information is with their luggage and will instead travel fashionably and easily, because...

One lucky person will win three personalized luggage tags from YourBagTag!

To enter to win: Visit the YourBagTag online store and tell me which style and color tag is your favorite.

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 YourBagTag 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 3 custom luggage tags (ARV $36) from #YourBagTag and be prepared for easy travel! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/kKeSGK #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly 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 this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on May 30th 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 YourBagTag for providing three luggage tags for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. I was compensated for this review but the opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.