CardsDirect {$50 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jennifer T!}

Of the many things that I used to do before I had children (sleep in, comb my hair, have peace and quiet while I shower, etc) one of them was creating my own photo greeting cards. I used to spend an endless amount of time online perfecting our holiday cards with just the right picture, words, design and more until I was happy with what was going to be sent out to everyone we knew.

I did manage to keep it up a little bit in the past few years after having had Big Sister E and Little Sister B, because the thought of sending out beautiful custom-made birth announcements was one that I couldn't let go. However, the time-consuming aspect, combined with my obsessiveness to get every detail perfect, has all but made my at-home photo cards endeavor a thing of the past.

Fortunately, there are great sites like CardsDirect.com that can give me the personalized look that I want without having to spend too much time or money on amazing, top-quality results.

Offering a wide variety of customized greeting cards for business or personal use (over 2,000 card designs!), the selection available at CardsDirect ensures that there are options to fit your style and need. With categories including birthday cards, thank you cards, Christmas cards, baby shower invitations, birth announcements and more, the hardest part about shopping at CardsDirect is narrowing down your favorites.

With Big Sister E's fourth birthday coming up in less than two months, I'm already thinking about the invitations. However, getting a three-year-old to decide on what theme she would like has proven to be difficult, as every time I ask I seem to receive a different answer.

She has gone from wanting a Dinosaur Party to a Giraffe Party to a Car Party... and just about everything in between. From the looks of it, my best bet will be a classic, colorful, fun invitation that will work for any theme that we end up choosing.

Or, with the holiday season rapidly approaching (even though I'm not sure how that is possible), I really like the collection of stylish Christmas Photo Cards that CardsDirect offers. With so many timeless, elegant options that allow you to not only add your favorite picture, but customize the text, alignment and more, your final card will be a one-of-a-kind that fits your family perfectly.

Combine the great selection of greeting cards for business or personal use, the free personalization inside and out, great customer service and competitive low pricing and you've got CardsDirect. They make it effortless to browse, create and order the cards you need for almost any occasion. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, thanks to the generosity of CardsDirect.com, it will be even a little easier for one person, because...

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

To enter to win: Visit CardsDirect.com and tell me the name of one of your favorite card designs.

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 CardsDirect on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: I want to order my next cards or invitations from CardsDirect! I just entered to win a $50 gift certificate at Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/asZEON
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 CardsDirect gift card for your next cards or invitations from @CardsDirect! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/asZEON #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 Thanks, Mail Carrier and CardsDirect. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on September 17th 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 CardsDirect for providing a $50 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner as well as for me as a thank you. This review was made possible due to my membership in Global Influence. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Moon Dough {Review} Create and mold with the dough that never dries out

A few years ago, while strolling through the store, I picked up a brightly-colored container on clearance of something I had never heard of before: Moon Sand. After bringing it home and opening it up, Big Sister E and I stuck our fingers inside and... what in the world was it?

With the texture of regular sand but the ability to be molded and stuck together, neither of us were exactly sure what to do with this strange new find, but we did have a good time smooshing it together and watching it crumble apart as we pulled on it.

So, when I heard that Spin Master, the creators of Moon Sand, had come out with an innovative new version made out of dough, I knew that we had to give Moon Dough a chance.

Hypo-allergenic, wheat-free, non-stick and non-stain, Moon Dough is a modeling dough recommended for ages 2 - 4 that is unlike any other. Describing the feel and texture is a little difficult, as this is truly something that you have to feel for yourself in order to really understand, but it is light and soft and feels almost like a cross between a marshmallow and cotton candy.

Best of all, however, is the fact that Moon Dough NEVER DRIES OUT. Ever. The days of opening the lid and finding rock-solid modeling dough inside the container are over - this dough can be used again and again and again. Available in a variety of colors and fun kits, all it needs is a little imagination and creativity to let the fun begin.
As soon as Big Sister E caught a glimpse of the Moon Dough Barn, the "Can we play with it? Can we play with it now? Now can we open it?" began. We pulled out the included pieces, snapped a few together and it was time to open the bags (three) of moon dough to give it a try.

Big Sister E quickly grasped the concept of squishing the Moon Dough into the top of the barn, pulling the handle back and forth and watching for the pig, chicken, sheep or cow to come sliding out the front. The crank does have to be pulled pretty hard to each side (until it clicks) but she really liked being able to do the process by herself to see which animal would pop out each time.

We discovered pretty quickly that the dough does need to be packed into the mold pretty tightly in order to create the full animal (otherwise you end up with a cow missing its head), but that didn't stop Big Sister E from having a great time anyway. I did really appreciate the addition of the silo on the end of the barn, so that when the crank was turned the excess Moon Dough slid right in instead of down onto the table.

Also included in this kit were two plastic molds to create hay bales or fence pieces, which made for a little more fun. By pressing the dough into the mold and then twisting it to loosen, these molds made for a fun way to fence off an area for our farm animals or to make hay bales that were then popped in the top and turned into even more animals.

In all, we did have a good time with the Moon Dough and the Barn kit. The unique texture and capabilities of this dough do make it different and I love that it will never dry out and have to be re-bought over and over. However, it does crumble quite a bit and by the time we were done playing it ended up pretty much anywhere and everywhere.
Clean-up wasn't too difficult, as using one small piece to dab up the others worked fairly well and the dough was able to be brushed off of the chair or carpet easily. It would have been nice if the Moon Dough Barn came with some sort of container to put it in after you're done playing, as it didn't fit back in the box once the barn was put together.

I was also slightly concerned as to what the ingredients are for Moon Dough (I haven't been able to find them anywhere) in that there is a strong warning label to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when finished playing with it and to be sure to keep it away from your child's eyes and mouth. For now, this is an item that only comes out when Little Sister B is not around because I don't want to risk her taking a taste.

For a once-in-a-while activity, Moon Dough proved to be a lot of fun and a unique toy to play with. I'd like to see a few changes made (easier for kids to operate, carrying case, change in the formula so that it crumbles less and is more safe), but for kids that are allergic to wheat this would be a great stand-in for traditional modeling dough. For out-of-this-world entertainment, you've never played with anything like Moon Dough before!

(Other than the Moon Dough Barn kit that I was sent from Spin Master in conjunction with my membership to Team Mom, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this product.)

Box Tops for Education at Target {$25 Gift Card and Prize Package Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, CindyWindy2003!}

I mentioned it already, but I truly am the one who is nervous about Big Sister E's first day of school this year. I was worried about her starting off at preschool for the first time last September, but now, with the beginning of yet another year, I can't help but fret about how it will go for her. That's what moms do, right?

However, as kids of all ages prepare to head back to school this fall, it is important to remember to not only support them but their schools and education by collecting Box Tops. There has already been over $300 million raised and turned into much-needed supplies for over 90,000 schools across the country since 1996 - wow!

General Mills sent over a prize pack of all sorts of goodies that are a part of the Box Tops for Education program that the family could enjoy:

Both Big Sister E and Little Sister B crowded around as item after item came out of this box and they clamored to get a taste of a few of them. Awaiting us, we found:

• $25 Target gift card
• 25 Bonus Box Tops
• Avery Binder
• Betty Crocker Fruit Gushers Variety Pack
• Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Hefty CinchSak Trash Bags
• Honey Nut Cheerios
• Juicy Juice 8-Pack Juice Boxes
• Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Welch's Concord Grape Jelly

Big Sister E went straight for the Juicy Juice and Little Sister B, in her never-ending quest for "Cookies! Cookies!" was happy with sharing a granola bar with her sister.

Shh, don't tell them that Mommy has eaten all but one pack of the Fruit Gushers already. Yum!

Target has made it even easier to collect Box Tops for Education while you're already there shopping for back-to-school items for your children. From August 15 - 28, you will receive double Bonus Box Tops instantly when you buy five or more participating General Mills, Avery, Hefty, Juicy Juice and Welch's Box Tops for Education products and earn even more for the participating school of your choice.

With so many products to choose from, your family's favorites are sure to be on the list! You can also visit GrocerySavvy.com for more details and great back to school savings offers. Who doesn't like a great deal?

Plus, to celebrate this great promotion at Target, General Mills wants to make sure one person can also shop for a good cause, because...

One lucky person will win a Box Tops for Education Prize Pack
including a $25 Target gift card!

To enter to win: Tell me what items you might stock up on at Target to earn Bonus Box Tops.

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 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 $25 Target Gift Card & prize pack for Box Tops for Education from #myblogspark! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dxbzIc #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 September 17th 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 General Mills for providing information, a gift card and a prize pack for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. This review was made possible due to my membership at MyBlogSpark. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Shout Stain Remover and Color Catcher {Review} Go Play Initiative and Sweepstakes

Before I had children of my own, the images that came to mind when I thought of outdoor play were always calm, yet fun: picnics, relaxing on a bench watching ducks, sitting outside in a hammock with a glass of lemonade, barbecues with family, etc.

Now that I have kids, I do still think of those things... however, my thoughts also include grass stains, splattered mud, sticky hands and chalky fingerprints. Even when my daughters and I are only outside for a short time, it's like they are magnets for all dirt within a 20-mile radius.

However, I don't let that stop us from heading out in the fresh air to enjoy all of the benefits that being outdoors can bring. My girls love playing and discovering with their sand and water table, running around in the yard or running and hopping up and down the block. Who am I to deny their joy simply because the idea of a stain makes my heart race a little bit (it does. It really does)?

Plus, there is even less of a reason to avoid going outdoors now that I have an arsenal of Shout stain-fighting tools at my disposal.

Unless they start doing the spraying and scrubbing on their own (which, now that I think about it, might be sort of nice), using Shout's products couldn't get much easier.

The Shout Trigger Laundry Stain Remover is formulated with powerful stain-fighting ingredients and enzymes to quickly penetrate, break up and remove tough stains. There's no reason not to have a versatile spray like this one in your laundry room, particularly with kids. Spray it on, let the item sit anywhere from a few minutes to overnight and then wash like normal. Voilà!

I have also used the Shout Advanced Ultra Gel (or its predecessor) for quite a few years as well. Cover tough stains with the gel and use the convenient stain-lifting brush for through pre-treating and you'll be amazed at the results. You can even let treated stains sit for up to a week and still have the clothing wash clean, which is great for busy moms.

Recently we went to my husband's annual work picnic and, having left Daddy in charge of keeping track of the girls not making a huge mess while eating lunch, Little Sister B walked away from the table with this:

Ketchup. A big red glob of it right on the front of her cute summer dress. I wiped as much off as I could with a napkin and then knew there wasn't much I could do until I got it home. Fortunately I had my Shout Advanced Ultra Gel there waiting and, after a scrub and a wash, I crossed my fingers as I pulled the dress out of the dryer:

Now that is what I want a stain remover to do.

Lastly, I love the idea of the Shout Color Catcher sheets. Instead of having to wait for a full load of whites or colors, you can mix them all together without worrying about the colors running together. By trapping the loose dyes and dirt, the sheets come out dirty or tinted while your clothes are left clean and intact. No more pink undershirts if a red sock goes into the washing machine with them!

Growing Tree Toys (for a refresher on this great site, visit my Growing Tree Toys giveaway from last month) has teamed up with SC Johnson's Shout to promote their new Go Play Initiative and Sweepstakes.

The Go Play Initiative is all about encouraging kids and parents to get outside and play. A fundamental aspect of positive cognitive development, play is how kids solve problems, develop coping skills and master the art of conflict resolution. In short, it is how they become happy, healthy adults.

Together, Growing Tree Toys and Shout are currently running the incredible Go Play Sweepstakes in which each week (for four weeks) a winner will be awarded a $200 Growing Tree Toys gift card just for entering. Ending on September 14, 2010, one grand prize winner will also take home an amazing brand new play set from Rainbow Play Systems Inc. No complicated entry for this great contest, simply head over to Shout's Facebook page, Like them and sign up!

To tackle your tough stains, Shout has the products to treat them whenever and wherever they happen. There is even a great Stain Solver right on their website that has tips and solutions to removing a huge list of common stains. And if that doesn't help you, the phone number to call the Shout Stain Professionals is right there as well. There's no reason to hold back - it's time to Go Play!

(Other than the stain-fighting products I was provided from Shout in conjunction with my membership at Growing Tree Toys, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of these products and their uses and benefits.)