Book review: Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge

Book Title: Twelve by Twelve
Subtitle: The International Art Quilt Challenge
Author: Various
Genre: Crafts, Quilting
ISBN: 978-1-60059-666-7
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
Suggested Retail Price: $22.95

From the book:

While the idea of a challenge group is not new to online crafting, the Twelves are a special group because they are so diverse artistically, geographically, politically and chronologically.  Twelve quilters participated in a two year long international virtual collaboration.  Each created a 12x2 inch art quilt every two months based upon a particular theme, such as "dandelion" or "shelter."
********************
This is a truly gorgeous book of quilts that is ideal for inspiration.  Each of the twelve themes is broken down into a separate section of the book.   You will see each of the twelve quilts created for each theme by each artist. One of these twelve quilts is featured in each section by a particular artist. She shares a bit of her inspiration and tells you about her history as a quilter.  She walks you through the steps she goes through for inspiration and creation of each quilt block.  You also get to see a brief blurb from each artist for each theme but the featured quilt is really the most in depth discussion.  Each of the artists is the featured quilter once during the book.

Throughout the book are helpful pages with information on how to start your own challenge group, creating time and space for art, finding inspiration online, reasons to blog, and a variety of other topics and thoughts related to quilting with themes and challenge groups.  I loved looking at all the photographs of not only the quilt squares and finished quilts but also of the work spaces of the various quilters.  It was very inspirational and gave me tons of ideas for how to create my own workspace.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Have you tried the Playtex Sport Body Wipes? #playtexsportbodywipes

Playtex Sport brand introduced a new Sport Body Wipe that's tough enough to remove dirt and sweat but gentle enough to use on your entire body. Playtex Sport Body Wipes are easy to use after a workout or any time you want to freshen up. I keep a few in my handbag to use on really humid days.

Each Playtex Sport Body Wipe is individually packaged so you can toss one in your handbag or workout bag. It has a very fresh clean cucumber scent that I loved. Playtex Sport Body Wipes are also alcohol free so it doesn't dry out my skin.

Playtex Sport Body Wipes can be purchased in most Walmarts now.  Connect with Playtex Sport on Twitter and Facebook.

My thanks to the sponsor and Crowdtap for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  All opinions remain mine and mine alone.

DVD Review: Gas Hole

I don't know about you but the last time I filled my gas tank up, I nearly had a coronary. If you're like some Americans, you may thank that the gas prices are going up, up, up because gasoline is in short supply. Gas Hole is an eye opening documentary that will explain the real reasons gas prices are climbing higher and higher each day.

Gas Hole examines the effects of the ongoing crises in the Middle East along with the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan as it notes that oil prices are on the rise again after a short lull. These factors are tied to the coalition-led attack on Libya as well.

Gas Hole is narrated by Peter Gallagner (Covert Affairs, Californication) and features Joshua Jackson (Fringe). The movie gives a historic look at the oil prices and oil companies since the days of John D Rockefeller. It takes a look at how the oil companies have controlled the market by buying up patents, buying out the competition, and manipulating the supply and demand of oil.

The documentary also takes a look at our continued reliance on foreign oil as well as a variety of other alternative fuel options. The hosts discuss how the oil companies have stopped technology that would allow us to get a thousand miles per gallon from our cars. It also offers information on bureaucratic roadblocks that the government has placed to stop these alternative fuels from being developed.

The documentary shows a wide range of opinions from officials at the US Department of Energy, Democrat and Republican Congressional members, alternative fuel producers, alternative fuel consumers, professors of economics and psychology and more.

This movie is an eye opening look at what the real reason is that the oil prices are skyrocketing. It really has nothing to do with the weather, the Middle East or the amount of oil available. I had no idea that the government and the oil companies were tied so closely together. Gas Hole is written in a very easy to understand way and shows real excerpts from Congressional meetings to back up what it's saying. I recommend everyone watches this movie. Oil prices are going to continue to go up and we need to understand why.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as DVD Review: Gas Hole on Blogcritics.

Earn 5 extra entries into the Blog POP! Spring Fling

Blog POP Spring Fling will be starting on May 5th and running through May 8th. I have some amazing prizes lined up during the event. How would you like to earn 5 extra entries into every single Blog POP Spring Fling giveaway on this blog?  Here's how!

SkincareRX.com (one of my amazing sponsors) has launched a special contest for Mother's Day where you could win a $250 gift certificate to their site! Here is some info on their contest:

Win a $250 SkinCareRx Gift Card and give your mom the products she's been wishing for (and get a little something for yourself as well). All you have to do to enter is post a comment on their page explaining why your mom deserves the $250 Gift Card.

How did you give her gray hairs or what sacrifices has she made for you over the years? Be sure to fill out your email when posting the comment so that we can contact you with your prize! The deadline for entries is May 5th. The winner will be announced May 6th.

Enter the Beautiful Mom SkinCareRX Gift Card giveaway & tell them that I sent you (Confessions of an Overworked Mom).

So here's the extra entries part.  Click where it says Beautiful Mom & leave a comment to enter their contest. You need to follow the rules to enter.  Tell them Confessions of an Overworked Mom sent you. Then come back here to this post & let me know you left a comment there and what name you used to comment.

Each person that does this will receive 5 extra entries into every single Blog POP! Spring Fling giveaway post on this blog.  Sound good?

Winner Announcement - Check for your name!

Flirty Apron winner:

Erin G said...
GFC follower (greenup06). I like the Sugar N' Spice apron.
erroneous02(at)yahoo(dot)com

Freschetta winner:

Turning the Clock Back said...
your button is on my blog!

EO Gift set:

Suzy said...
I like EO on facebook and told them you sent me!
#2
http://www.facebook.com/EOProducts?ref=ts#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150168398736938&id=100001160114220
suzy_darling@hellokitty.com

I am emailing the winners now. They have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. Thanks, everyone, for entering & please enter my other contests!

http://confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com/search/label/giveaway

Day #9 ~ Silk to Milk Challenge

Well today is Day #9 of my Silk to Milk 10 Day Challenge. I decided to stay with the Silk Light Vanilla Soy Milk and use some in my scrambled eggs.

 

They were light and fluffy and I like knowing that they are lower in fat than with traditional milk.

Get your coupon & take the challenge with me!

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Save $1/2 Ortega products & try out their whole grain products!

My family loves Mexican food. We eat it at least once a week and sometimes more. How we eat it changes depending on what we're in the mood for. Sometimes we have a breakfast burrito for a breakfast for dinner kind of meal. Sometimes we do quick and easy nachos for the kids when I'm pressed for time. Sometimes we do taco night and let everyone pile on their own toppings. When I have time to make something more complicated, we do fajitas baked in the oven. Mexican food can really be just about anything you want it to be - easy or complicated - sit down or take out.

Ortega offers a line of high quality, great tasting Mexican food products that make it easy to create a festive meal in minutes for your hungry family. Ortega offers taco shells, tortillas, seasoning mixes, taco sauce, salsa and a variety of meal kits that make cooking Mexican food a simple thing.

I really appreciate that Ortega offers whole wheat options. I recently had a chance to sample their whole wheat tortillas and their whole grain corn taco shells. I love that they're offering products that are healthier for you. I always grab whole grain products when I can because I like to stay away from the overly processed white flours as much as possible. The whole wheat tortillas were really good and even my picky husband enjoyed the taste. I really didn't notice a taste difference at all with the whole grain corn tortillas. They were crunchy and delicious just like always!

Ortega offers a ton of recipes on their site so if you're not sure how to cook Mexican food or you want to try something different, you can look through their list of recipes.  You can also sign up for their Taco Club for a chance to win a FREE Taco Night Party Kit! Or enter to win a Cinco de Mayo party kit!  Don't forget to print out your Save $1/2 Ortega products coupon!

My thanks to Family Review Network and Ortega for allowing me to review these products.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Win Zents solid perfume, eau de toilette & lotion from Cosmetique $98 value!

Mother's Day is only a few days away and my mind is still spinning over what to get my Mom for this special day. It doesn't help that her birthday is only a few days away from Mother's Day so I am stuck trying to get two amazing gifts in a short period of time.

I generally look for websites that offer more than one item or brand when I shop. One stop shopping is a huge time saver. I don't have to worry about running all over the place trying to find the perfect gift. I don't have to pay postage on several different orders. I don't have to fill in all my account information on several different sites. One website. One order. Much easier.

Cosmetique offers over 20 different beauty brands on their site and you can shop for makeup, body and fragrance all in one place. They have favorites like eyeliners, eyeshadows, mascara, foundations, lipsticks, and lip glosses. You can even find a great new fragrance or body lotion! There are some seriously amazing gift items for mom (or yourself) at Cosmetique.

I was really impressed with the brands I found at Cosmetique. I really prefer to stick with a few trusted brands for my cosmetics. I found names like Murad, Too Faced, Arabella Stuart and Princess Livia. These are names that I trust to be high quality and I love being able to buy them all in one place.

I recently came across a new brand at Cosmetique. Zents offers lotions, fragrances and bath salts that really impressed me. For me luxury brands are not only about the quality of the item. They're about the presentation. I want to be wowed the moment I open the packaging. I was definitely wowed by the Zents items I received from Cosmetique.

I received a eau de toilette in the Water fragrance from Zents. It arrived in an attractive gift box. Once I opened it, the bottle itself included a little stone tray to stand it on. If that wasn't enough to impress me, a gentle spray of the scent on my wrist definitely was. Water is a fresh, clean scent that contains notes of linden blossom, coriander, lemon, and mint. It's a very delicate fragrance and softly romantic but has great staying power.  I am really loving this scent.  Overall it's very energizing and refreshing. Great first thing in the morning scent.

I also received a Zents Concreta Shea Butter Balm in the Petal scent.  This solid perfume balm was hand poured into this square stone pot. It contains aromatherapeutic, floral extracts and essential oils in a conditioning, alcohol-free shea butter & beeswax formula.   As the name leads you to believe, Petal is a very light floral with notes of lily of the valley, freesia, lemon, fresh rain accord. This is absolutely gorgeous!  It's very moisturizing and works wonderfully on your feet, knees and elbows. The little tray holding the balm lifts out so when you're done with it, the box can be used as a little trinket box!

Cosmetique also offers Zents lotion for hands and body.  I received the Sun scent which is a warm, sensual scent of vanilla, blood orange and amber.  It's very rich and moisturizing but not at all greasy feeling. It contains a combination of Vitamins A & E, soothing chamomile, sage and antioxidant green tea.  Zents lotion is free from parabens, phthlates and propylene glycol.  Very yummy smelling and I love that it can be layered with Zents perfumes in the same scents.

Connect with Cosmetique on Facebook & Twitter for all the latest product news.

One of my lucky winners is going to win these three products in the scents as described!  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win a Zents perfume & lotion prize package value $98 from Cosmetique @scentednights #giveaway #win @cosmetiqueUS http://tinyurl.com/4y5t3n9

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/7/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

She Speaks & Biolage Kiss Dry Goodby Program for select states #SSBiolage

SheSpeaks and Biolage have teamed up on the exciting new Kiss Dry Goodbye Salon Program that will send women to the salon to receive special hair care product and salon service offers. Better yet, they can bring their friends with them and get even bigger discounts on salon services.

Just in time for the summer, participating members will receive complimentary products (valued at over $30) from the Biolage hydrathérapie line that’s been newly reformulated to include aloe vera and passion fruit.

Please note that this program requires that participants visit a participating salon. Go to bit.ly/iJcOcY to see the full list of participating salons.

About the Biolage hydrathérapie line: 

Taking inspiration from the Rainforest’s ever-replenishing Moisture Cycle, Biolage new technology hydrathérapie continuously moisturizes hair to help stop the dehydration cycle with the Anti-Dry Care of Aloe + Passion Fruit.

Members will receive…

• Two complimentary products (shampoo and masque) from the Biolage hydrathérapie line on their first visit (valued at over $30)
• Discounts off salon services for up to four visits during the program
• Discounts on the purchase of any two Biolage hair care products for up to four visits during the program

When Members head to the salon with their friends…they’ll all receive a bigger discount on salon services!

This is an amazing opportunity that I wish was available here in Vermont.  It's not unfortunately so I'm sharing it with you in hopes that you can take advantage of it.

I will receive a product sample to thank me for sharing this with you.  All opinions remain mine and mine alone.

Win 3 Cookie Mixes from May Cookie

One of my fondest memories of when I was a child was coming home from school and smelling the scent of fresh baked cookies coming from the kitchen. I never knew what type of cookie Mom was making. It might have been oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, ginger cookies or the most coveted chocolate chip cookie. I just knew they'd be waiting for me with a big glass of milk when I got home.

I still love the taste of fresh baked cookies but I don't have as much time as my mom did when I was little to bake. Some days I'm lucky to have enough time to make sure my house doesn't look like a hurricane just whipped through it (or a UPS hub drop off point). On those crazy days, I turn to healthy mixes as the base for my cookie creations.

Not all cookie mixes are created equal. I want a cookie that's as close to homemade as possible. I want something with the ingredients in it that I'd use if I had the time. I don't want to look at the ingredients and find weird sounding chemicals and artificial ingredients in there.


The cookies from May Cookie have exactly the same ingredients in them that I'd use. That doesn't surprise me since they're made from a Mother/Daughter team.  They use raw sugar and a combination of whole wheat and white flours. They're all natural and delicious and they're made in the USA. You can buy three different types of cookie mixes Oatmeal Cranberry, Triple Chocolate Chip Oatmeal and Chocolate Chocolate Chip.

In each mix, there are pre-measured packets to keep everything as fresh as can be and make it very easy to prepare.  Packet 1 is natural raw sugar.  Packet two is the flour mixture.  Packet three is the additions (chcocolate chips, cranberries, etc.).   If you'd like to see exactly what's in each one, you can check out the ingredients for each product on their website.


These mixes are so easy to use.  I whipped up a batch of Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies first thing in the morning so I could enjoy the aroma of fresh baked cookies all day.  All I needed to add was butter, egg and vanilla.  They took only a few minutes to prepare and pop in the oven.  The box says that you can get 24-30 cookies from the mix but using my Pampered Chef cookie scoop, I got 33.    I love that they use raw sugar & use less sugar than many mixes.  They have a real homemade taste not that sickly sweet taste that some cookies have. Marty smelled the cookies baking and was in the kitchen in a few seconds waiting to sample them.  He said to tell you they're delicious and wants to know when I'm making more.

You can purchase May Cookie mixes from a variety of stores.  Check their store locator to find one near you.  Connect with them on Facebook & Twitter for all the latest product news.

One of my lucky readers is going to win these three mixes from May Cookie.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win 3 cookie mixes from May Cookie @scentednights #giveaway #win @maycookieco http://tinyurl.com/69hogbn

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/6/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

Winner Announcement - Check for your name!

Paper Shower winner:

kolpin said...
email subscriber
kolpin4680 at gmail dot com

Go Picnic winner:

peripatetic33 said...
peripatetic33
peripatetic33 at hot mail dot com
GFC subscriber

Derm Exclusive winners:

mmbear said...
Posted on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/find-friends/browser/?ref=tn#!/mary.bearden1/posts/110306019053109
mmbear_us@yahoo.com

kellyr78 said...
I like Allsop on FB(kelly D)
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom
1

Allsop tea lantern winner:

mlynnw83 said...
I follow on GFC as Michelle W. I learned that Allsop Home & Garden is a small family business.
mlynnw83 at gmail dot com

I am emailing the winners now. They have 48 hours to respond or I will choose another winner. Thanks, everyone, for entering & please enter my other contests!

http://confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com/search/label/giveaway

Make mom light & fluffy Kinnikinnick pancakes for breakfast this Mother's Day!

Gluten intolerance or sensitivity is something that affects many Americans. Gluten is a protein composite that appears in foods processed from wheat and related species like oatmeal, rye and barley. It makes dough elastic and helps it rise and hold its shape. People who are sensitive or intolerant to gluten cannot eat traditional baked goods, pastas or many other foods you find in the grocery store.

Finding gluten free foods can be quite difficult. There are limited selections in most grocery stores but even when you find a gluten free alternative, they often do not taste anything like their gluten containing counterpart. Gluten free products use alternative flours like rice flour, tapioca flour, and soy flours which not only bake differently but often taste differently.

Kinnikinnick or Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) is an important plant for
both wildlife and humans alike. This bush grows low to the ground and has berries that often last through the winter, long after others are gone. They are especially important to black bears in the early spring when food is scarce. The leaves from the kinnikinnick bush were made into a tea used to treat urinary tract diseases. The leaves have also been powdered and applied to sores and the berries were made into a tea that was used to ward off obesity. The berries which are very high in vitamin C, were used during the winter months as a supplement to the Native American's diet. They were also fried or dried and used in pemmican.

Kinnikinnick Foods offers a wide variety of ready made gluten free foods including breads, donuts, cookies, waffles, cakes and other products. Kinnikinnick now offers a pancake and waffle mix that is gluten free so people can now prepare their own gluten free products at home. Kinnikinnick operates dedicated gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free and tree nut free facilities and equipment so there is no worry of cross contamination from foods that do contain gluten or other allergens.

The pancake and waffle mix comes in a 16 ounce package and is also dairy free and nut free. It can be used not only for pancakes and waffles but also for crepes. Preparation involves adding egg, vegetable oil and water. The ingredients include alternative flours like pea starch, white rice flour, corn starch, and tapioca starch.

I found the Kinnikinnick pancakes to be as easy to make as any other mixed pancake. They came out light, fluffy and absolutely delicious. I wouldn't have guessed they were allergy free from eating them. They were easily enjoyed by everyone in my family - even those who were not gluten intolerant. I love being able to have one mix that is well liked by everyone and is gluten free for my daughter.

Kinnikinnick products can be found at many grocery and health food stores but they can also be purchased online from the kinnikinnick.com website. Select products can also be purchased from Amazon. Suggested retail price for the pancake and waffle mix is $4.99.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as Kinnikinnick Pancake & Waffle Mix on Blogcritics.

He is We CD Review

I'm always looking for a good new group to listen to when I need a little bit of bounce in my life. Music can change my entire focus and light up my day or bring me down. Because of this, I always look for music with an up beat, peppy lyrics and a little bit of attitude. When I came across He is We, I was immediately drawn to the bounce. Here's a bit about the group:

Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly both worked at Ted Brown Music together in Tacoma, Washington. Aside from the Tacoma aroma (local joke!), there was something else in the air. Trevor thinks it was destiny… Rachel still thinks it was the aroma.

After countless days of passing each other at work, they eventually started to jam together in the back room. While Rachel influenced her past years growing up and Trevor continued to listen to hardcore music, something interesting, creative and original came out. This was the start of He Is We; the idea that someone who you pass by everyday can influence the rest of your life… and you would never know. It’s the thought and power one person can have over their surroundings.

I'm definitely enjoying the music from He is We.  The songs remind me of ballads because of the soft melodies but they definitely have up beat I like in my music as well as a little bit of attitude.  It reminds me of pop music in a way except that it has more depth and feeling to it than your typical pop song.  I really hope I hear more from this group.  Check out their website to learn more about them.  Take a look at their tour schedule to catch a live performance.  Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest news.

Check out the video on YouTube to get a feel for their music.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this CD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Win dulash - Dual Acting Eyelash Gel

When my daughter was born, the first thing I noticed were her gorgeous, long dark eyelashes. They framed her brown eyes perfectly and I couldn't help but be a bit jealous of their length and thickness. I wasn't blessed with gorgeous, thick eyelashes. My eyelashes are short, sparse and practically invisible.

As I grew to be a teenager, I envied the models in the make up advertisements. Their eyes just seemed to pop from the page and their eyelashes were beautiful, long and thick. They looked more glamorous and attractive than I ever saw myself looking in my mirror. I was resigned to enhancing my eyelashes with mascara for the rest of my life to try to capture that super model look I envied in magazines.

dulash is a dual acting eyelash gel that use an all natural formula to stimulate eyelash growth and condition your lashes so they don't become brittle and break. It is an all in one product that has been tested and proven to increase eyelash growth by up to 64% in four weeks.

dulash has a two part brush. The eyeliner brush is used to apply a growth stimulating coat of dulash directly to the edge of your eyelid at the eyelash root juncture. This is applied with a small eyeliner type brush. The other end of the brush contains a brush resembling a mascara brush which is used to apply a conditioning coat of dulash directly to your eyelashes.

dulash is all natural and does not contain prostaglandin. It won't change the color of blue or hazel eyes or discolor your skin. It is never tested on animals and the packaging is made from recycled paer and can itself be recycled. dulash also comes with a 90 day money back guarantee so you really can't loose anything by trying this system. It's also very affordable compared to many competitor brands.

dulash definitely does increase the length of my eyelashes. Improving eyelash growth is a process that takes a while to see. You aren't going to brush it on once or twice and have thick, long lashes. But, I do see an improvement after about three weeks. The brushes are very easy to use and I like having both the eyeliner brush and the mascara brush to apply the dulash.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to give up mascara but it is nice to see an improvement in the length of my eyelashses naturally.

Connect with dulash on Facebook for all the latest product news.

One of my lucky readers is going to win their own tube of dulash!  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win dulash Dual Acting Eyelash Gel @scentednights #giveaway #win http://tinyurl.com/6cjhkjd

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Sign up for dulash newsletter. +1

4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

10.  Add the link false eyelashes (using http://www.dulash.com/false-eyelashes) to your site or blog CODE (if needed): false eyelashes
11. Suggest to all your Facebook Friends to become a Fan of Dúlash
 

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/4/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

Homemade Haunting by Rob Stennett

Book Title: Homemade Haunting

Author: Rob Stennett
Genre: Fiction, Christian, Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-310-32192-7
Publisher: Zondervan
Suggested Retail Price: 978-0-310-32192-7

From the book:

Charlie Walker is living his dream: he is finally writing his horror novel. But when he dabbles in the supernatural to get ideas for his book, strange things happen to him and his family. To take back his home from evil forces, he turns to God and becomes an unlikely hero in a supernatural battle.
*****************
Charlie doesn't believe in God.  He lost his mother at a young age to cancer and is convinced that there is no God because God didn't save his mother from dying.  He has a good job as an English teacher and his wife and two children live in a nice neighborhood in a nice house.  His dream is to write a successful horror novel but he just can't seem to get it scary enough so that someone wants to publish it. He quits his job & moves his family to a rental house that is cheaper so he can write full time.

He decides that in order to write a scary story he needs to experience some of the things he's writing about so he goes out and buys a ouija board and starts experimenting.  All of a sudden strange things start happening in his house and to his family. He's so into writing his book that he doesn't realize what his obsession is doing to his family.  It finally gets so bad that his guardian angel steps in to warn him but he ignores his advice.  In the end he sees that he needs God to save his family but he's not sure if he's in time or not.

I have to say that I normally don't read books about the occult.  When I saw this offered by Zondervan I was intrigued because it had a Christian spin.  Part way through the book I was convinced that they had sent me the wrong book and instead of a Christian book had sent me a true occult book.   Thankfully, then the guardian angel stepped into the story and I was reassured.  This is a truly amazing book. I had a really hard time putting it down because I kept wanting to see how God was going to turn this around.  Charlie is convinced that he knows what the problem is and is doing his best to try to take care of it when that isn't really what the problem is at all. I don't want to tell you what the real problem is or how he fixes it but I can tell you that as soon as I read the quote in the book, a light bulb went off in my head.  Not only did it tell me what Charlie was doing wrong in his life but it really made me think about how that same statement applied to me too.  It's really more than a suspense story. It's an allegory that applies to just about all of us.  Don't be put off by the genre.  This truly is a Christian book and it has a much greater purpose than to be scary.

My thanks to the publicist for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Win a skoopz Natural Sweetener Prize Pack

I'm a huge believer in being in shape. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your chance of health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Sadly, obesity and diseases like this are becoming more and more common not only in adults but in children as well.

One of the ways I try to keep my weight in check is by watching what I eat and the amount of sugar and high fructose corn syrup my family and I consume. You will almost never find me bringing something with high fructose corn syrup into the house for us to eat. It's not healthy for those watching their weight or for diabetics. I certainly don't want my kids eating it either.

There are lots of alternative sweeteners out there. We don't use the artificial sweeteners because I don't think sweetening my food with chemicals is a good thing. We look for natural sweeteners especially those that use stevia. Sometimes stevia has an aftertaste so I try to be careful which products I purchase.

I recently learned about a new all natural sweetener call skoopz. Skoopz is a blend of natural ingredients including erythritol (found naturally in melons, grape, soy and wines), Xylitol (found naturally in fruits and veggies), Malitol (a naturally occurring sugar substitute), Stevia (an all natural herb) and Maltodextrin that gives skoopz the natural feel of sugar. skoopz can be used by the whole family, including people with diabetes and children of all ages.

skoopz has zero calories and no aftertaste. It has a low glycemic index so it's diabetic friendly. It's tooth friendly and sweetens all naturally. It even tastes like sugar and is gluten free!  I've been using skoopz in my coffee and on my cereal for about a week now.  I'm really loving it.  It's granulated not powdered like some sweeteners.  There really is no aftertaste to it and I like the taste.  You can use it to sweeten just about anything including coffee, oatmeal, fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, lemonade, iced tea, etc.

It's currently available in packet form but they are working on a baking alternative that will be able to be used cup for cup the same way that sugar is used now.  They have a section with recipes that will give you more ideas of how to use skoopz.  You can check out their store locator to find a store near you that carries it or you can purchase it directly from their website.  In Vermont, I can find it at Price Chopper.

MySkoopz, Inc. is heavily involved in fighting for a cure against diabetes. In fact, they are sponsors of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and are involved in fundraisers and events with them. I love companies that give back!  You can connect with skoopz on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news.

One of my lucky readers is going to win a skoopz Natural Sweetener Prize Pack containing skoopz, a skoopz organic cotton tee, skoopz mug, and skoopz usb drive.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win a skoopz Natural Sweetener Prize Pack @scentednights #giveaway #win @myskoopz http://tinyurl.com/6ahhy4j

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/3/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.