Justice Juels {Review & Giveaway} Handmade Jewelry with a Cause

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

Sometimes when I'm watching my daughters play, I am amazed by how lucky we all are. They are both healthy, intelligent, beautiful girls that live in a society where we take for granted that we are safe and cared for... and I'm often struck by the fact that I am the one who gets to raise them and see them grow from babies into adulthood.

What's really hard though, is to think about the girls that aren't so lucky. What about the ones that are taken from their family and forced into lives of pain and abuse? The average age of a sex-trafficking victim is 14 years old and they are often commanded into having sex up to 20 times a day. There are an estimated 1.2 million children trafficked each year and approximately 27 million people enslaved all over the world today.

Are those statistics staggering to you? They sure are to me. And they definitely are to Chelsea Dischinger, a stay-at-home mom who decided to make a difference with her life and raise money to help abolish human trafficking worldwide. This impressive mom uses her talent to accomplish this by creating the gorgeous handmade jewelry of Justice Juels.


Prior to seeing Justice Juels jewelry in person, I was already impressed by it. The gorgeous collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories reflect not only Chelsea's skills but the feelings and emotions that go into each piece. From simple tiered earrings to custom hand-stamped necklaces, every purchase from Justice Juels is personalized, unique and the majority of the profit from each sale goes to non-profit organizations that fight human trafficking.

However, when I actually was able to see Justice Juels for myself, I realized that impressed wasn't a strong enough word. I held my Mother's Charm Bracelet in my hand and was beyond amazed and astonished at just how beautiful it really was.


Being a poor decision-maker, I supplied Chelsea with my daughters' names and birthdates and then left her in creative control over what the completed bracelet would look like. Even though it is hard to tell from the picture, the finished product is really beyond what I would have come up with myself. There is a 5/8 inch disc hand-stamped with each name hanging with their birthstone and cute star, little girl, double heart and adorable feet charms attached evenly around the chain.

I get so much joy each and every time I wear my Mother's Charm Bracelet and I love the delicate twinkling sound that it makes as the sterling silver lightly clinks on my wrist. It truly is personalized perfectly and really meaningful to me. What mom wouldn't appreciate receiving a beautiful present like this for Mother's Day?

Even better, giving this great bracelet as a gift is extremely affordable as it comes standard with 3 discs for only $26! I've seen similar jewelry online or in shops that start at 2 or 3 times as much and then to add any extra discs is another $15 or $18... at Justice Juels, each add-on is only $2! Even a mom of 4 can own a custom charm bracelet for less than $30 AND rest assured that so much of the cost is going to such a good cause.

The Mother's Charm Bracelet isn't the only item that would make a great Mother's Day gift. The Mother Means Love Necklace (shown at left) is simple and unique and would be a classic addition to any mom's wardrobe for casual or dressy outfits. If the words aren't exactly what you were looking for, that's no problem! This can be stamped however you would like - there's even a great Engraving Suggestions page to give you ideas.

For something with a little extra eye-catching charm, the Family Tree Necklace (shown at right) features an intricate tree charm surrounded by a sterling silver washer with each family member's name hand-stamped in a stunning circle. I have never seen a necklace quite like this one and I know it would easily be a keepsake to be worn and cherished for years to come.

If all of the beautiful jewelry available on Justice Juels isn't a wide enough selection for you, Chelsea also creates specialized jewelry for weddings and special events. Simply explain your design or send a picture of what you would like and she will customize an amazing piece just for you - at a fraction of the price that you would find elsewhere.

Working toward the goal of raising $1 million to end human trafficking, making a purchase from Justice Juels is helping to give a voice to the women and children around the world who need to be freed from this horrible business. As a national ambassador for Stop Child Trafficking Now (who not only rescue victims but actually go after the people who are buying and selling children) Chelsea truly is dedicated to this effort.

So, the next time you plan on buying a piece of beautiful, handmade, completely personalized jewelry, why not save money while supporting an extremely admirable cause? What a great combination! Also, thanks to the generosity of Chelsea at Justice Juels, one person will have the perfect handmade piece for themselves or just in time for Mother's Day, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of any piece from Justice Juels! ARV $56!

To enter to win an item of choice from Justice Juels: Visit Justice Juels and tell me which gorgeous piece(s) are 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 become Chelsea's friend on Facebook and/or join the Justice Juels Facebook group, where you'll find information on great sales and giveaways!
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!

Justice Juels hand-stamped jewelry for Mother's Day! WIN an item of choice (ARV $56) @thxmailcarrier! http://bit.ly/bCy6sA #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
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 Justice Juels. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on April 15th 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 worldwide! If you're reading this, you can enter!

A giant thank you to Chelsea at Justice Juels for providing a Mother's Charm Bracelet for me to review as well as an item of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. Beautiful jewelry that benefits a great cause, what a perfect and inspiring combination! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Delta Faucet Company {Review & Giveaway} faucet or fixture of choice ARV $300

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

When we moved into our home six and a half years ago, my husband and I knew what we were looking for and what we wanted... and were sure that we found it the first time we toured through this house. In fact, as we were pulling up at the curb, I turned to my husband and said, "This is going to be the one. I can feel it." And when we were back in the car afterward, he turned to me and asked, "Well, was that it?" and I nodded. The rest is house-buying history.

Even after visiting again, bringing family, having an inspection, etc, what seemed to go unnoticed were a few of the small details. The important aspects are fine - solid roof, no leaks in the basement, the whole thing hasn't crumbled down, stuff like that - but now that we've been here a while, the little things have started to bother me.

For instance, I could live without the hollow doors. And the strange tube/tunnel in the wall of the basement that apparently has to do with the passive solar original design of the house. Or the large pull in the carpeting in one of the bedrooms that managed to stay hidden behind a curtain every time we came over.

And then there are the faucets. In one bathroom, the previous owners put in the cheapest faucet they could find and it was so short that you banged your hands on the back of the sink when you washed them. In the kitchen, the faucet was old, generic and worked, but not all that great. In fact, up until recently, it looked like this:

I guess the dirtiness isn't really the faucet's fault. But since it wasn't pretty, why should I scrub the rest of the sink?

My heart can barely contain its joy over the fact that it now looks like this:

Beautiful, isn't it? Simply beautiful.

Delta's Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Soap Dispenser is the best thing that has happened to our kitchen since I invented a way to lock our corner cabinets to keep Little Sister B from destroying the place. And boy, is this faucet much more attractive.

Founded more than 55 years ago, Delta Faucet Company believes in something great: that there is a better way to live with water. Their innovative technology, inspiring designs, high-quality products and commitment to both their employees and customers has made Delta one of the world's leading manufacturers of faucets and accessories in the industry.

So, what features does our new Leland Faucet have that make me fully believe in Delta? Aside from the unmistakable improvement in appearance and the high-arc design, the pull-down spray wand uses MagnaTite docking, a powerful integrated magnet that holds the wand precisely in place and keeps it from ever drooping down. I love the way the wand comes free with a gentle tug and when I'm done, it pops right back and holds firm in its place.

When attached, the high-arc of this faucet has more than enough clearance to fit any size dish or pot underneath and I no longer have to try to cram things down into the sink to fill them. While pulled out, however, the reach of this spray wand is really amazing! The hose reaches 20", letting me spray all corners of the sink, well over to Big Sister E's outstretched hands and anywhere in between.

Plus, with an easy switch of the toggle button, I have my choice between an aerated spray of water (seen at left) or a steady stream (shown at right). Perfect for cleaning off vegetables or little hands with the aerated spray and then moving back to the stream to fill up a pot of water or rinse out a glass.

Unique to Delta, the Leland Faucet is also equipped with their Touch Clean rubber tips on the end so that dealing with calcium or lime build-up is a thing of the past... and I'm always a big fan of anything that makes cleaning easier.

And even though I can't see it, this faucet also has DIAMOND Seal Technology, meaning the valve inside will help keep the entire thing running for up to 5 million uses. 5 million! That's 10 times longer than the industry standard. Doesn't it just make sense to get the best from the beginning and not settle for anything that is going to have to be replaced somewhere down the road?

Having the Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Soap Dispenser (no more sticky bottles of soap sitting around!) has not only made cooking, cleaning and washing both of my daughters' hands so much easier, it has given the entire kitchen a more updated look. In fact, we were so pleased with the quality and performance, we went right out and purchased a second Leland Faucet from Delta to replace the horrible one in the bathroom from the previous owners.

To say that I am a complete Delta Faucet Company fan might be somewhat of an understatement. They truly are the top name in faucets and fixtures and I am confident that the two Delta items we own (and the third that is in the works for yet another of our bathrooms) perform well, are great looking and are technologically advanced.

When it comes to your house, my view (particularly after finding more and more short-cuts that were taken around here) is to go with the best. It is easy to see why more and more homeowners trust in Delta for their high levels of design, innovation, performance and aesthetics. Is it time to make an upgrade in your kitchen or bathroom? Thanks to the generosity of Delta Faucet Company one person will get to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of faucet or fixture (up to $300) from Delta!

To enter to win your choice of Delta faucet or fixture (up to $300): Visit Delta and tell me which of their quality products you might choose if you are the winner.

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 Delta Faucet Company on Twitter and/or become a fan 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 your choice of high-quality Delta faucet or fixture (ARV $300) to update your home @thxmailcarrier! http://bit.ly/b7NEWd #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
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 Delta Faucet Company. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on April 15th 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 huge thank you to Delta Faucet Company for providing me with a Leland faucet to review as well as an item of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. My kitchen has never looked or performed better! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Misikko Hana Professional Flat Iron Review

Sometimes I find it funny to think about the amount of time I used to spend getting my hair ready before leaving the house. My hair is thick, coarse and stubborn and leaving it naturally curly would have been the easy route... but no, I would stand there with my cheap flat iron (after making sure every strand was completely dry) and go over and over until everything was smooth.

That wasn't the end though, of course not. Then I had to use my curling iron to get some ends to flip out and some to flip under and the shorter, bang-like pieces to be placed just right... ahh, those were the days.

Now? Now I have somewhere in the range of 10 to 15 minutes to get showered, dressed and ready to go from start to finish before the natives get too restless around here. Just the time it takes for my flat iron to heat up would be too long, not to mention the actual straightening.

Until, of course, I tried a REAL flat iron. Until I tried the Hana Professional Flat Iron 1" - Pink Edition from Misikko.


If you've never visited Misikko, you're missing out on an amazing collection of professional styling tools and beauty products available from the top names in the business. From hair dryers to curling irons to makeup, everything you need is in one place to help you find the right salon tools and products at the right prices.

But, back to flat irons. Where to go for CHI flat irons for sale? Misikko has them and they're even on sale. How about a BaByliss Flat Iron? Misikko has those too, from ultra-thin to Titanium. Don't worry if you're not a flat iron connoisseur though, they also have a Best Flat Iron page with recommendations broken down into sections so that you can find the right one for your hair texture, length and needs.

As for the Hana Professional Flat Iron 1" - Pink Edition, I knew that my hair would really put it to the test. Just unpacking the box was fun, as Misikko includes a large amount of extras along with the flat iron - a bottle of Hana ShineShield Thermal Protectant, a heat-proof silicone mat and storage pouch (perfect for travel) and many more small goodies!

At first glance, the features that I loved about this Hana Flat Iron before I had even touched it to my hair were the adjustable temperature dial, no-slip handle and that it could be used on damp hair. No more making sure to wash my hair hours before straightening it or attempting to avoid frizz with a hair dryer, I was now able to go from damp to dry with one great item!

With my thick hair, I need a flat iron that really heats up in order to have any results and the Hana Professional does just that. In the past I've found that my flat irons either can't flatten out my curls and I have to go over each section multiple times or they feel as though they are sizzling my locks and burning off the ends.

However, even with my hair being a little damp, the Hana Professional glided right over each section and left it smooth and shiny. It was easy to start with the bottom layers and, with a twist of my wrist, give them a little flip out and then move on to the top layers and turn them under. In only a few short minutes, I was finished and could put the flat iron down on the heat-proof mat and not worry that my counter would be damaged.

After using this flat iron, I am so happy with how my hair looks and feels that I have a hard time not continually running my fingers through it! The ceramic-tourmaline plates self-adjust to my hair and really smooth each follicle to leave it looking sleek and conditioned for the rest of the day.

After years of using cheap flat irons that never really did the job, I can understand why just going with a professional one makes much more sense. The Hana Professional Flat Iron 1" - Pink Edition is truly a luxury styling tool and the difference is huge. Retailing for $204.99, this flat iron is on sale at Misikko for $119.99... which is probably LESS than the total amount I've spent replacing junky flat irons over the years.

Whether you are looking for a high-quality hair dryer, curling iron or flat iron, Misikko carries the brands and styles that will far out-perform the competition. Considering the amount of use that these items get, it's worth having the best!

Thanks, Misikko, for giving me a way to combine 3 steps (blow drying, straightening and curling) all into 1 and leave my hair glossy and smooth. And, for always looking professional and styled in your little truck, thanks, Mail Carrier.

(Other than the flat iron and bonus goodies that I was sent from Misikko, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this great product and the difference it can make for your hair)

UPrinting 16x20 Rolled Canvas Print {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

I love design magazines and online sites that show beautiful homes, aren't they fun to look through? The pristine living rooms and accessorized bedrooms make me long for a time that my house won't be covered in toys, picture books and socks (Big Sister E seems to put multiple pairs on and off throughout the day).

But even when my kids are grown and we can have decorative accents back on shelves and tables again, the things that won't change will be the art. Yes, we probably won't have finger paintings and cotton ball + glue creations displayed, however, my treasured canvas prints from UPrinting will definitely remain.


My husband makes fun of the print of Little Sister B that I chose (on the right) because of the funny, overly-happy face that she was making, but I love it. I wanted images of both girls around the same age and these are from when they were each 9 months old and, in my mind, show off their beauty and the joy of childhood. Having them printed on canvas has converted them from a simple photograph into a work of art.

Even better, it was so easy to create and display these images with UPrinting, as they are definitely the company that makes it easy and fast to print online. After uploading your picture and choosing any of their standard or custom sizes, and option I really appreciate is being able to add a 2-inch border to the canvas so that no part of my pictures were lost during framing (which I did myself with cheap frames from Michael's that end up looking expensive and classic when paired with great canvases).

No matter if you are looking to add artwork to your home, produce something professional for your business or are searching for ideas for a perfect Mother's Day gift, UPrinting does it all. From business cards to postcards to vinyl banners, they'll print it quickly and even have live operators standing by 24 hours a day during the week to answer any questions.

Plus, due to the generosity of UPrinting, one person will have the opportunity to turn their favorite picture into a work of art, because...

One lucky person will win a 16" x 20" rolled canvas from UPrinting of their own - including 1 business day turnaround and free UPS ground shipping! ARV $25!

To enter to win your own 16" x 20" rolled canvas: Tell me about your favorite piece of art in your home. Is it a photograph, painting or child's creation? Why do you love it?

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 UPrinting on Twitter and/or become a fan 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 UPrinting 16x20 rolled canvas for beautiful art @thxmailcarrier from @uprinting! http://bit.ly/dn26er #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
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 UPrinting. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on March 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 UPrinting.com for providing me with a 16x20" rolled canvas of my own, as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. I love personalized art! The opinions shared are my own and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.