Tuesday Hops!

Building Your Daughter's Self-Esteem with "Be Your Own You" Products

My anxiety races when I hear my daughter speak ill of herself in any way because she is only seven years old. No parent wants to hear their child put themselves down or second guess themselves to the point where they won’t try activities. My daughter has shown signs of taking after me and at times that makes me proud, but then there are other times when it downright frightens me. I am a firm believer that having a strong sense of self-esteem is crucial in making your way in our society today, particularly in managing adolescence. Children with strong self-esteem are not as at risk for problem behaviors, which has definitely been proven by research.

BYOU or Be Your Own You is a company, created by Deborah Gano, to educate and support girls in developing and maintaining their self-esteem. “Our goal is to diminish the need for girls to seek external validation and approval, and rather rely on their own inner strength in full awareness of their worth and inner beauty. Through our products and education, we empower girls to make positive choices for their health, safety, well-being, personal happiness, and contribution to community”.

BYOU has a fabulous website, including online games for girls, a free online club for girls, as well as a shop containing awesome merchandise. Clothing, earrings, lunchbags, backpacks, and a book, “Beauty’s Secret” are available.

My daughter and I were able to review the Be Your Own You – Believe in You! shirt, the pink lunchbag, as well as “, “Beauty’s Secret”, which was written by Deborah Gano herself. I was impressed with the quality of the products. The shirt is made with 100% quality cotton and has an adorable colorful design. The pink lunchtote is made of a sturdy canvas and has a lined inside for cold items. This is perfect for the lunchroom or the beach!



 
Lastly, we reviewed “Beauty’s Secret”. Beauty’s Secret is about a girl named Beauty “whose enthusiasm for life lights up the world around her. However, her light dims as she becomes overly focused on her external appearance”. Beauty learns an important secret in this story that I believe every girl nowadays needs to hear! This is Book One of the Heartlight Series and has won numerous awards, including Mom's Choice Award, USA Book News National Best Books, and the Moonbeam Award.  My daughter and I read this book over the course of a week, chapter by chapter at night. My daughter, although seven, is a strong reader and was able to read it herself. The book was beautifully illustrated by Dawn Pitre.






If you would like to read more about the Heartlight Girls, visit the following sites:

http://www.heartlightgirls.com/

http://www.deborahgano.com/

www.facebook.com/HeartlightGirls

www.twitter.com/HeartlightGirls

Beauty's Secret may be purchased at HERE!

Guest Post: Five Tips for Choosing a Wedding Guest Outfit

Family events and special occasions are a great time to show your style credentials but first you need to find that all important outfit. Luckily today there is plenty of advice on how best to dress for your shape, size and skin tone to get the right ingredients for a real show stopper. A-list star spangled gowns and red carpet maxi dresses are a must for night time glamour, for daytime it’s a completely different ball game. There’s lots to consider such as location, time of year and colour theme. Here are some tips on how to look and feel great in the perfect wedding outfit.

1. Choose an outfit befitting the location
2. Take a change of shoes
3. Check out the colour theme
4. Shop for your shape
5. Dress for the season

Location - Where is the Venue?

Choose an outfit to suit the location. This is essential if you want to feel comfortable and confident in your choice of clothes. In addition to traditional church weddings, ceremonies are often performed in unusual locations and magical places such as castles, country houses, abbeys and popular attractions such as theme parks and sports stadiums.

These alternative wedding venues can have a more relaxed dress code giving you greater flexibility in colour and style. Beach weddings in particular are fun and less formal than a church or register office so shopping for an outfit will be like looking for some chic cruise-wear fashion more suitable for the Captain’s table.

Footwear - Glam Heels to Fabulous Flats

You may have found the perfect outfit for an outdoor wedding but give a little thought to your feet. Beach weddings are a growing trend where friends and family can enjoy the event as well as a vacation.  But how will you feel walking on a beach or on grass in high heels?  Be street wise and make sure you have a pair of designer flats or ballerina pumps handy for a quick change into something comfy yet just as stylish.

Colour Confidence - Is there a Theme?

Whether you are part of the wedding party, the mother of the bride (or groom) or an invited guest it is vital to find out if there is a particular theme for the wedding. The season’s penchant for colour clashing may work on the catwalk but it’s not recommended for weddings. Keep everyone happy including the bride and check out colour themes and the overall style and tone of the event.

Shop for your Shape

Experiment with different shades and colour tones that compliment you. You’ll be amazed how getting this right can transform the way you look and feel. Self help books and in store style advisors can help you find the colour groupings and the style of clothes that best suit your shape. This might be a dress that shows off an hourglass figure or two piece suits and shift styles for less curvaceous and petite ladies.

Occasion Dressing - Summer Through to Winter

The timing of the wedding will often determine the style of garment so the earlier you start looking the more likely you’ll find designs suitable for the season. Light floaty chiffon, lace and silk, pastels, florals and prints look lovely in spring and summer while velvet, brocade and thick satin look great in autumn and winter.
Rich warm shades, shawls and fur stoles tap into the winter scene too with the dress and matching coat a popular royal combination. Summertime dressing is more versatile with a myriad of colours and style options that can be worn not only to weddings but to a day at the races, christenings, black tie events and exotic holiday destinations.

Complete the Look

You have your outfit now its time for the fun bit. Finishing touches such as fancy feather fascinators is a favourite for many but the hat is making a comeback. Try out different types of hats and headbands to see what suits you but make sure you don’t disappear under a high crown of a small brimmed hat. If you’re going to wear a hat invest in a truly a spectacular one that you will enjoy wearing to other occasions. The next step is to buy some killer heels and a dainty clutch to complete the look.

After hours of shopping trips and trying on outfit after outfit you’ve finally found the look you feel happy and comfortable in. The great thing about shopping for a special occasion outfit is you get to explore the many ways clothing can be used to enhance or conceal to your advantage. Your choice of clothes and how you wear them shows your style, personality and will have a stunning impact. Everyone remembers a well dressed women so discovering what suits your body lines, shape and colouring will be time well spent.

Looking for inspiration when buying Mother of the Bride Outfits? We aim to find the best seasonal fashion for ladies throughout the year and are currently highlighting summer wedding outfits

UPrinting.com Giveaway: 50 Free Brochures!

There are a couple of professional tools that are essential to any business. Business cards are the most obvious for people. They are definitely a must-have. However, brochures are just as important. They communicate more information in a brief manner. Given the right brochure template design and the right content, your business can really stand out to customers.

UPrinting.com is an online printing company that can help you create a professional brochure for your business. There are several paper and size choices, as well as numerous ways the brochure can be folded, including Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, and Accordion Fold. UPrinting.com allows you to create your entire brochure on their website or you can upload your file if you used other software. I played around with the website a bit to see what I could create and I loved the images available!

UPrinting has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for 50 free brochures with free shipping!  One winner will receive brochures that are 8.5" x 11", 100lb Paper Gloss, With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, or Accordion Fold), with Outside and Inside printing.

Please use Rafflecopter form for all entries!

Friday Hops!

Book Review: Think, Act, Love, Lose Weight - The 10 Secrets to Forever Weight Loss

 
I have been addicted to reading health-related books and cookbooks lately. I do not need to lose weight, just tone up a little, and improve my overall health. I attempt to cook healthy meals, but I think my family still has a bit further to go. I recently read "Think, Act, Love, Lose Weight: The 10 Secrets to Forever Weight Loss" by Shane Jeremy James. Shane Jeremy James lost 65 pounds and believes that others can easily shed weight by following his advice.

Think, Act, Love, Lose Weight discusses the need for people to alter their frame of mind in losing weight and gaining control over their health. The mind is a very powerful thing. If we don't have the right mindset, we won't be successful. Shane Jeremy James suggests closing your eyes and envisioning how you would like to look. He then discusses the need and process of forming clear goals and objectives as well as creating new habits.

This book is a wealth of information about the food we consume and how it negatively affects our bodies. Frankly, it scared me a bit. For example, the book discusses how meat and dairy, and protein overall, can be harmful to the body when too much is consumed. Uhhh...I had always been educated to eat protein, protein, protein, and limit carbs. The book provides all the information about healthy alternatives and recipes, including most foods I had never heard of (hemp milk, for example) and the benefits they have to the body. I can certainly see how people would shed weight by following his example!

Lastly, the book provides examples of exercises that can be done in conjunction with the diet. These are basic exercises that most of us know about and can be easily done at home. This is nice - no need for a gym membership!

I would love to see this book in action and even try some of the food suggestions. I do not envision my children being willing to eat the food discussed, but certainly many of the suggestions can be followed. For example, we rarely let our daughter drink soda, but we could improve on how much dairy we allow her. We could also snack more on sunflower and pumpkin seeds. I am going to be giving this book to my husband to read now and see what his thoughts are. Maybe the book will scare him into wanting to eat better as well!

You can read more about Shane Jeremy James and his diet at http://www.thinkactloveloseweight.com/.

Sunday Hops!

Saturday Hops!

Guest Post: Do Acai Berry Weight Loss Supplements Really Work?

The Acai Berry is, if its fans are to be believed, a cure for almost everything. Whether you're feeling down, tired, or just a few pounds over-weight, the Acai Berry can apparently help you. You can even get an Acai Berry weight loss supplement that will help you to get in shape for the summer.  The question is, how many of the touted claims of this super-fruit are real, and how many are just ways to make you part with your cash.

How Does Acai Berry Weight Loss Weight Loss Supplement Work?
The Acai Berry is rich in anti-oxidants, and proponents of Acai Berry weight loss say that these anti-oxidants can help to protect cells from damage. Those anti-oxidants can help prevent a number of diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Many Acai Berry diet promoters suggest that these anti-oxidants can also help you to "de-tox", essentially flushing out all the bad stuff in your system. Another thing that Acai Berry weight loss supporters believe is that the Mono-Unsaturated-Fatty-Acids (MUFAS) in the Acai Berry help to make you feel fuller for longer, preventing over-eating, and promoting weight loss.

Acai Berry Weight Loss - Fact or Fiction?
It's certainly true that the Acai Berry is a really healthy food, and it does contain a small amount of healthy fats in the form of MUFAS. The anti-oxidants are real too - although there isn't much in the form of evidence from clinical trials to support some of the grander claims as to the powers of those anti-oxidants. The question remains, though, how real are the Acai Berry weight loss claims?

Well, there is no quick fix for healthy, sustainable weight loss. Any person claiming otherwise is at best, misguided, and at worst, trying to scam people. With that said, the Acai Berry is a great food. It's tasty, it's healthy, and a serving has just 100 calories. It's hard to beat that. In conjunction with a healthy diet, Acai Berry weight loss supplements could be helpful. The health benefits of the berry in general are a big plus, and anything that is healthy and tasty is going to be a great help towards weight loss. If you're choosing berries over chocolate because the berries taste really good then you probably will lose weight. Not because the berries are magic, but because you end up consuming fewer calories.

If you do decide to try Acai products, be sure to read the label carefully. Many companies are trying to take advantage of the current super-foods trend by putting miniscule amounts of said foods into their processed and sugar-laden products, then selling their stuff as health food, for a massive mark-up. The health-food market is full of scammers, but if you take your time, do lots of research, and look for Acai Berry products that have a good reputation, you should be able to enjoy Acai Berry weight loss supplements as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Hopefully the extra energy from your new favourite smoothies will help you to get more exercise too.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Which Acai Berry? Amy writes on many topics including acai berry weight loss supplements and other issues related to diet and slimming.

24 Free Notelettes from Pear Tree Greetings!

I think I have mentioned on here several times about my love of stationery. I love pretty paper, cute cards, etc. In a world filled to the brim with technology, very few people write notes anymore. I think that is sad. I love writing notes to people and of course, receiving them in return. They are more meaningful overall, in my little opinion. I tend to be a very sentimental person and I keep treasured notes and cards in scrapbooks for my daughter and myself.

Pear Tree Greetings has a new line of Notelettes that are great for sending little messages! They are approximately the size of a business card – so cute! You can tuck them into your child’s lunchbox, your spouse’s computer bag before work, or leave one on your co-worker’s desk. I began writing little notes in my daughter’s lunchbox every once and a while this year. With the hustle and bustle of working full-time, taking care of the home, taking care of a new infant, managing a small business, and taking care of my daughter, I think my daughter was feeling lost in the shuffle. I started writing little notes to try and connect with her and send a quick “I love you”. Pear Tree Greetings’ Notelettes are a perfect size for this!

The notelettes available include “Congrats”, “I love you”, and “Hello” messages, as well as monogrammed cards. I am partial to these "I love you" cards.








Pear Tree Greetings is offering 15% off their personalized stationery this month! There is no minimum purchase for this coupon and it expires on June 30th. Simply use the coupon code CONNECT15 at checkout.

Pear Tree Greetings is generously offering one of my readers 24 Free Notelettes! That’s quite a few messages you can send!

Mandatory Entry: Please leave me a comment and let me who you would like to use these notelettes with – your child, spouse, coworker? Please leave me your email address as well.

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow Tidbits From A Mom publicly on Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway reviews on my blog and leave a comment and let me know which review you commented on. (2 entries)
3. Follow Pear Tree Greetings on Twitter. (1 entry)
4. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. (1 entry each)
4. Grab my button and let me know where you placed it (3 entries)

6. Subscribe to Tidbits From A Mom through RSS feed or email (3 entries)

This giveaway ends on July 5, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST.  *Giveaway is open to residents in the U.S. only.  The winner will be chosen through Random.org. The winner will be notified through email and will have 48 hours to respond.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Homebars & Wine Racks from Homebarselect.com: A Division of Cymax

I believe home bars and wine racks add class to a room.  They dress up the room overall.  I have a beautiful wine/liquor cabinet that my husband bought me, but I would love to have a home bar with bar stools as well (once my husband finishes the basement of course!).  We intend to make part of the basement a game room and I think a bar would look nice down there. The picture below is one that I think is absolutely beautiful and caught my eye instantly.  It's classy....and the dark tone matches my other furniture perfectly. This is the Hooker Furniture Glenhill Bar w/Polyurethane Top.






Within the vast number of home bars Cymax has to offer, by approximately sixteen brands, they also have contemporary home bars. These contemporary home bars are a more modern style. Although this contemporary home bar does not match the kind of fuurniture in my family room, I really like the glass tops on this home bar!  No need for a coaster!!  This is the Steven Home Mobile Cherry Bar Cabinet with Glass Top by Global Furniture USA.

In addition to home bars, homebarselect.com has beautiful wine racks. As an alternative to the home bar in our finished basement, I could use a wine rack instead. This would save room and still provide a place for glasses and wine bottles. These same wine racks would also look so nice in my kitchen as well! The first piece is the Howard Miller Classic Cognac Hide A Home Bar in Hampton Cherry and the second piece is the Howard Miller Merlot Valley Wine and Spirits Console Home Bar.

Homebarselect.com also provides buying guides, such as "How to Buy a Wine Rack for your Home", to assist buyers in their decorating.  I love this feature because I definitely need their help.  Please visit www.homebarselect.com to view the numerous different choices that Cymay offers in home bars and wine racks! 

FlipFlop Wines Review

My husband and I are not wine connoisseurs by any means, but we do enjoy having a glass after a long day or inviting our friends over for wine and appetizers.  Although we have a couple of different favorite brands, we like trying different brands and varieties.  We recently had the opportunity to review flipflop wines, including the Pinot Grigio, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.  We invited our friends over from across the street and we had ourselves a great time!!

I know this is superficial, but I just love the bottles.  The flip flops are such a cute design with pretty shades of purple, green, and yellow.  In addition to presentation, I love that flipflop wines provides suggestions as to what foods will go well with the wines.  This has never been my strong suit. 

My favorite was the Pinot Grigio – not too sweet, not too dry.  I believe this was the favorite for the whole group as well.  We are accustomed to drinking this kind of wine and it compared nicely to other brands we have purchased. 

 
The price for these wines cannot be beat - $7.00 per bottle!!  Like most families, we are certainly trying to keep our grocery bill under control.  Typically, I purchase one bottle of wine for our meals with our friends because wine can be so expensive.  I love knowing that my husband won’t object to me spending money on flipflop wines!   

In addition to making tasty wine, flipflop wines has partnered with Soles4Souls.  The goal is to put shoes on the feet of 11 million people in 2011.  I had not given much thought to the fact that lack of shoes contributes to the spread of parasitic diseases.  “In addition to infections brought on by external injuries, a child’s bare foot is particularly at risk of infection by hookworm.  Especially at risk are children living in African and Southeast Asian countries, where hookworm infections are about 60 times more common.”  This is such a wonderful cause, one that I believe needs to be publicized more.  I would rather purchase from a company that is contributing so much to helping others. 

Thank you very much to flipflop wines for allowing me the opportunity to review your wines.  I am a new fan!

Book Review: Give Food A Chance - A new view on childhood eating disorders

 

I have always been obsessed about my weight...Always.  I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t.  I remember reading food labels as a child to look at calorie and fat content.  I remember comparing the width of my thighs to those of my friends and wishing I looked more like them.  The problem with all of this was that I was never overweight.  Yes, I should have eaten healthier at times and grabbed an apple instead of a brownie, but I was perfectly proportioned to my body.  Even now, I obsess with a passion about my weight and I know in my heart that I should be so proud of my body.  I don’t know what my label would be (it’s the therapist in me to diagnose myself) – is it body dysmorphic disorder?...Or a form of anorexia?  I don’t know…but, I have always wondered why I am the way that I am.  I have a couple of theories, but I won’t get into them here. 

Eating disorders have typically been characterized as a disorder that is a result of family issues, oppressive parenting, the effect of the media, etc.  However, in “Give Food A Chance”, Dr. Julie O’Toole presents an alternative view.  Dr. O'Toole suggests that eating disorders are the result of a hereditary, biological brain disorder.  As Dr. O'Toole discusses, this was not a very popular theory initially, which is something of which I was never aware.  I believe it is a very intriguing explanation for a crippling problem.  Certainly many people develop eating disorders that come from in-tact, well-adjusted families. 

"Give Food A Chance" is a book that is an amazing resource.  Dr. O'Toole educates others about the facts of eating disorders and their treatment.  I thought that I had been well-educated about eating disorders in graduate school, but honestly, I had no idea about the extent of the disorder. 

As I read this book, I felt a bit of anxiety because of the whole idea that it is a heriditary, brain disorder.  Did I pass along my obsession to my daughter?  Only time will tell I guess...

About the author:
Dr. Julie O'Toole is the founder of the Kartini Clinic in Portland, Oregon.  Dr. O'Toole works with a multidisciplinary team to diagnose eating disorders and attempt to manage/control the environmental factors that could impede progress.  "The Kartini Clinic helps its patients achieve lasting physiological and psychological remission as well as personal healing and growth. The clinic was named after a 19th century Javanese princess who dedicated her short life to fighting for the education and betterment of women."

I HIGHLY recommend reading "Give Food A Chance".  Regardless of your theory, it is so informative. 

Tuesday Hops!

Monday Hops!

Book Review: The Medium Next Door: Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer

I have always been intrigued with books, movies, and discussions regarding the afterlife.  Yes, I am definitely a believer that our time on Earth is not the end all be all of our existence.  I have visited with a medium/psychic before, but I was not able to confirm what this person told me and therefore, was not as meaningful.  After my grandfather died, I feel as though I am constantly searching for signs that he is alright and watching over us.

Maureen Hancock is a medium, living in Massachusetts.  As the author of "The Medium Next Door", she discusses her childhood and how she discovered her gift at the age of five.  She discusses how she uses her talent to help others cope with their lives and how her own life was impacted by the spirit world. In addition to her stories, each chapter has suggestions for readers based upon that chapter; for example, tips for being more aware of a spirit communicating a message to you. 

I was really struck by not only how funny she is, but also how she maintains a normal family life while balancing her work and charitable causes.  She is truly inspirational to say the least.  Some of the comments she made really hit home for me.  Maureen discusses how to pay attention to the signs and messages that are being sent by our loved ones. I have found myself smiling at times over the past week - wondering if I had in fact experienced a sign and realized it.  She also discusses the fact that our loved ones want us to live a normal, happy life.  Understanding the fact that everyone needs to grieve, it is also important for us to live our lives to the fullest and not be stuck in that grief.  This, in particular, was meaningful for me.  After the loss of my first baby and my grandfather in the same week, I shut out the world and grieved (of course), but it took me a long time to move forward. 

I was excited to learn that Maureen is also scheduled to have a reality television series this year.  I look forward to watching and hearing more about her work!

I recommend The Medium Next Door for believers as well as skeptics! Maureen Hancock's stories are funny, interesting, and remarkable! 

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  I received a free copy of this book for the purposes of the review.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Cryo Cell Cord Banking - Receive a free Baby Jogger City Stroller Mini!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cryo-Cell is a company that banks umbilical cord blood for new parents.  They have assisted over 230,000 parents do this since 1992.  There has been much controversy over the years regarding stem cell research and Cryo cell is working hard to develop ways to preserve stem cells in a noncontroversial way.  Stem cell research is stating that preserving cord blood could save lives in the future for people with numerous different diseases and cancer.

I have always wished that I had done this with my children’s cord blood.  Imagine being able to turn to the cord bank and save your life, your child’s life, etc.  It is worth every penny of the investment.
Cryo Cell also understands the fact that most women gain quite a bit if weight when they are pregnant and then have difficulty finding time to exercise once they have the baby.  I gained fifty pounds with both of my pregnancies.  The first time I was pregnant seven years ago, the weight really didn’t bother me because I was simply so elated to be pregnant after having lost two babies previously.  I ate and ate.  I loved being pregnant and the weight came off pretty quickly.  The second pregnancy was a totally different story.  I had loved my body.  I was in shape and my stomach was my most favorite feature.  The weight depressed me.  I couldn’t wait for my pregnancy to be over so that I could lose the weight and frankly, I had a miserable pregnancy because of this.  I have had trouble ever since my son’s birth with finding time to exercise because he refuses to sleep like a regular child!  I rely on going for a brief walks with him.  Walking him in his stroller is my only real exercise time.  Cryo Cell is having a special right now!  If you sign up for their signature U-cord service, you will receive a free Baby Jogger City Stroller Mini.  You can exercise and have the reassurance that you have taken steps to ensure your family’s future health.  That is peace of mind.

If you are interested, enroll today!

Saturday Hops!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Prize Pack Giveaway!

 

I cannot wait to see Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides! I have been such a fan of all of the movies.  Johnny Depp is an amazing actor (in my opinion) and the special effects are always awesome to say the least.  This movie is in 3D, which is always so fun to watch!

New characters are being introduced in this film, including Blackbeard (Ian McShane), the ultimate pirate villain; Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a con-artist from Jack Sparrow’s past; Syrena( Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), the mystical mermaid; and Philip (Sam Claflin), the young mysterious missionary.

I have been offered the opportunity to host a giveaway for a Pirates of the Caribbean Prize Pack that includes the following:

• A Pirates of the Caribbean t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L, or XL
• A Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides bandana in black
• Two Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides temporary tattoos

 

Here are the details of the giveaway:

Mandatory Entry: Please leave me a comment telling me who you are trying to win this giveaway for and please leave me your email address.
Bonus Entries:
1. Follow Tidbits From A Mom publicly on Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway reviews on my blog and leave a comment and let me know which review you commented on. (2 entries)
3. Enter another one of my giveaways. (1 entry each)
4. Follow me on Facebook. (1 entry each)
5. Grab my button and let me know where you placed it (3 entries)

6. Subscribe to Tidbits From A Mom through RSS feed or email (3 entries)

This giveaway ends on June 10, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST.  *Giveaway is open to residents in the U.S. and Canada only.  The winner will be chosen through Random.org. The winner will be notified through email and will have 48 hours to respond.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are my own.