Pinterest Fanatic | Ultimate Fan Club for Recipes and Giveaways: December 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Bringing the Best in Toys from Babalu

Babalu believes that child's play is important business. They strive to produce the best toys capable of captivating a child's attention and stimulating their imagination. Babalu recently acquired WJ Fantasy adding building blocks, advent calendars and children's books to their own Felt Tales line. My family has been enjoying several of their high quality toys and we are excited to share the experience with you.

I am a huge fan of monthly subscription boxes that are a great value and provide you with a fun surprise assortment of goodies. I recently received the December La Bella Box. I really loved the Holiday theme and the adorable packaging. It arrived in the cute kraft box above decorated with a white emblem. Lifting the silver tissue paper revealed 4 fun boutique goodies from entrepreneurs across the U.S.

Find the Perfect Gift for your Student at Dormco

Dormco is your College Dorm Supplies Superstore! If you're a student or the relative of one, then this is the place to find the perfect Christmas gift for the student in your life. They offer an incredible selection of dorm room essentials at excellent prices. From trendy rugs and extra long sheets to stick on mirrors and closet organizers, you can find everything you need to furnish your dorm here.

My kids are not out of high school yet, but they love all the products Dormco offers. My daughter even made a wish list of all the items she wants from Dormco as soon as she graduates high school, not to mention the wish list of items she wants from there right now. Dormco has an impressive selection of electronics including those geared specifically towards college students like the Shake N' Wake Vibrating Alarm Clock which straps on to your arm and vibrates to assist in waking up the deep sleeper and Clocky, the alarm clock that rolls around on the floor forcing you to hop up and catch it to turn it off. My son is a very deep sleeper and requires these special types of alarm clock to assist in waking him up, so I was thrilled to find so many in one place.

Cariloha is the world’s only retail brand with stores that carry only items made of ultra-soft and luxurious bamboo. They offer dozens of clothing styles, bed and bath sets, home décor, hand bags, jewelry and so much more. Bamboo is an eco-friendly renewable resource which provides material that is twice as soft and 3 degrees cooler than cotton, wicks away moisture and is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. I am the proud owner of several luxurious bamboo clothing items from Cariloha and I couldn't be more satisfied. Once you've experienced the exquisite luxury and softness of bamboo... plain old cotton just won't feel the same. I am honored to include Cariloha in my 2012 Christmas Gift Guide and I have some terrific gift ideas certain to bring joy and delight this Holiday Season.

Throw Blankets are perfect for everyone on your list. From grandma to your child away at college, to the newlyweds just settling into their new home and even babies first Christmas. Cariloha offers two luxurious Bamboo Throw Blankets. One in a beautiful silver - blue and a gorgeous taupe. These dreamy throw blankets are absolutely perfect for snuggling up on a cold day or for just cuddling up with your loved one year round. I've owned many throw blankets over the years and this throw blanket surpasses them all. I love the blissful softness of the plush-pile fabric and how the breathable bamboo helps to keep me perfectly warm and not too hot. At 50" x 70" the size is fantastic and just perfect for snuggling up with my sweetheart. I do have to fight the cats for it, but the good news is that it's large enough for all of us to share. I truly believe that this is a gift you or those you care about will love and cherish for years to come.

Del Sol, Color Changing, Apparel, Sunglasses, T-Shirts, Jewelry

Del Sol is the world’s leading brand of color-changing apparel and accessories. It is also the number-one promoted merchant onboard Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. The secret behind Del Sol’s color changing items is their exclusive Spectrachrome® crystals which open and unfold upon exposure to sunlight revealing their hidden colors. They offer a full range of really fun apparel and accessories from T-Shirts to Flip Flops, Nail Polish to Jewelry and so much more!

Del Sol offers over 30 color changing nail polishes that provide twice the fun! In honor of Christmas, I chose two fabulous nail colors just perfect for getting you into the Holiday spirit. The first color below is called, "Flirt." It's a gorgeous frosted pink-purple hue that magically turns into a bright Christmas Red as soon as you step outdoors. The second color is called, "Electrik!" This fabulous frosted blue hue transforms into a mistletoe green in the sunlight making these two complimentary colors just perfect for alternating on your fingers or toes. The really awesome part about these nail polishes is that the color changing crystals react to the sun whether it's warm outside or freezing cold. I love that you can enjoy the color changing fun year round!

Guitar Pick Punch for the Musician on Your Christmas List

Pick Punch is your one stop shop for all your guitar pick needs. They carry any and every product you could possibly think of to assist in creating your very own custom guitar picks like a pro. In addition to being your ultimate guitar pick headquarters, they offer tutorials explaining how to use each of their fine products.

My sweet son Easton has dreamed of playing the guitar for years. He is so talented and although he's had no formal training, he can play a melody on just about any instrument he touches. He doesn't know it yet... but I had a talk with Santa and his dream of receiving his first acoustic guitar is coming true this Christmas. So, he hasn't had the chance to make his own guitar picks yet, but when he does... I will make a second post about Pick Punch and let him show them off.

TaunUSA launched almost a year ago in an effort to fill a void in the high-end men's grooming market. Creators Thomas and Andrew worked alongside specialized chemists and experts to develop the Small Batch Men's Skin Care line. These premium men products work to repair and prevent the signs of premature aging without the need for a prescription. Throughout the development their focus remained to create a formulation that was as natural, sustainable and responsible as possible.

Twas the week before Christmas and what did this good little girl receive from Starlooks?
A $99 professional 15 shadow eye palette Starbox!
Not one, not two nor three or four...
But 15 vibrant hues of color galore!
What a wonderful surprise to receive...
All the bright, vivid colors you would find on a Tree.

It's hard to believe that with only a $15 per month subscription, you could be rewarded with such a glamorous and expensive gift! Thank you Starlooks, I love my Christmas Surprise!

I am so excited and honored to include Jewels For Hope in my 2012 Christmas Gift Guide. This fantastic company is run by a Mother and Daughter team who create beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry. Sandy founded Jewels For Hope after spending a decade as the caregiver for her Mother who was afflicted with Parkinson's Disease. She is a self-taught jewelry designer who believes that "giving back" is most important and together they donate a portion of every sale to major organizations throughout the country. They have a really neat color coded chart on their donation page showing which organization will receive monies according to the color of the jewelry purchased.

Here are a few photos from the Jewels For Hope website showing off some of the gorgeous jewelry they create. Above is the bracelet designed exclusively for The 2012 MTV Movie Awards swag bags. It is made with a gorgeous light purple Swarovski Pearl and pink, clear and teal Swarovski Crystals. A portion of the profits from sales of this bracelet are donated to an organization close to my heart, The Alzheimer's Association. My great grandfather suffered from Alzheimers before he passed away and it just makes me feel good knowing that Jewels For Hope is helping to fund research for this fabulous organization.

Flat Iron Experts is Your Holiday Beauty Headquarters

I just LOVE how my hair looks after I leave the Beauty Salon. I've always wondered where they find the products that make my hair look SO fabulous and perfect. Then I found Flat Iron Experts. It's your ultimate source for purchasing professional styling products at incredibly low prices. Now we all have the chance to own the same quality products your beauty stylist uses at affordable prices. They even offer a lowest price guarantee so you know you are getting the very best deal out there. I own a fabulous KQC Flat Iron from Flat Iron Experts and it's the most incredible flat iron I've ever used. So, I had no doubt that the Macadamia Natural Oil products I received from them would be just as amazing.

The Earring of the Month Club by www.divadangler.com is the perfect Holiday gift for any teen or woman with pierced ears. It's a fun way to send a fabulous surprise each month and is a gift that keeps on giving long after the Holidays. For only $9.95/month, the Divas at Diva Dangler will ship a gorgeous pair of earrings right to her home, office, sorority or dorm room. The Earring of the Month Club is a great way for her to stay up to date with the latest in earring fashion because the Divas follow all the latest trends. The earrings are shipped in a cute leopard silk gift pouch. There is no minimum number of months and customers can cancel at any time. They also have a 100% LOVE IT guarantee!

Use code BELINDA and you'll get free shipping for the life of the Club plus 2 free pairs of earrings. That's 3 pairs of earrings for only $9.95! Order at www.divadangler.com or call 802-233-2431.

One of the first things that attracted me to Yala Designs were all their Organic Cottons and Bamboo fashion. I am a lover of eco-friendly clothing and enjoy the luxurious feel and softness they provide. I love that as a company they believe in more than "fair" trade, they believe in "exceptional" trade. They have a strong relationship with all their partners in China where their factories and bamboo groves are located. Yala Designs offers gorgeous fashion including tunics, skirts, leggings and nightwear. They also carry beautiful accessories, men's attire and the travel bedding that started it all, the Dreamsack.

I really wanted to find a great source for the 2012 Christmas Gift Guide for pajamas and Yala Designs turned out to be the ultimate source! I am completely in love with my Organic Cotton Shanti PJ Set from Yala Designs in the Gold Fleur Pattern. Not only is this pajama set beautiful, it is by far the most comfortable set of pajamas I own. The pattern is simply exquisite and the texture is unbelievably soft. I love that the top buttons easily and the bottoms are simple to slip in to. It seems my husband and I throw on our pajamas earlier and earlier each night, especially since I received these. I'm gonna admit it... I have gone an entire day lounging in it. Yes, it's that comfy! Shop the pajamas at Yala Designs and give the gift certain to be enjoyed nightly. They will love the soft, comfy night's sleep it provides.

Although I was specifically sourcing a company for pajamas that I felt would make perfect gifts for your loved ones, I ran across something exciting that touched my heart. Yala Designs has a very special partnership with Nest, a U.S. based nonprofit organization that assists female artisans around the world to create successful small businesses through education and training. I love companies that give back and those which empower others to be able to provide a fair living to support themselves and their families. I can't wait to share this with you.

Crayons are a timeless gift that everyone is sure to love, but not all crayons are created equally. When it comes to crayons, there is one in particular that my children and I just love to use. Crayon Rocks are made in America from natural soy wax using American-grown soy beans and colored with mineral pigments. These non-toxic crayons were invented by a teacher who taught special needs children for over 23 years. The shape of these crayons are designed to strengthen the tripod grip muscles, preparing fingers and hands for handwriting. They are also used by occupational therapists to develop fine motor skills. Your child is sure to enjoy coloring with these fun rock shaped crayons.

A Beautiful Christmas with Barefoot Venus

Every Goddess deserves to be pampered and Barefoot Venus is ready to indulge your senses and provide you with all the essentials you need for the bath and body. Here you will find the finest collections infused with luxurious qualities to nourish and moisturize your skin. I love a beautiful fragrant bath & body product and Barefoot Venus is your ultimate source for all your beauty needs.

I'm addicted to beautifully scented shower gels and lotions. Luckily, Barefoot Venus has so many wonderful collections to choose from like Lemon Freckle, Razz My Berries and Pear Amour. I've tried several of them and I'm excited to share my experience with you!

Coconut Kiss is a refreshing summery scent meant to bring tropical bliss to your surroundings. This Creamy Cleansing Wash lathers well and leaves a gentle coconut scent as it washes away clean. The Macadamia Oil Hand Cream makes my hands feel satin smooth without leaving them feeling greasy at all. It's the perfect hand cream and it also leaves a gentle trace of exotic coconut.

Lilly Pilly combines a flirty mix of lush fruits & sweet florals along with a touch of powder. I really love this clean, classic lightly floral scented Green Tea Cleanser. It provides luxurious moisturizing suds and I love that it includes Aloe. The Shea Butter Hand Cream is fortified with vitamins and drenches your skin in moisture. This collection is perfect for those who love a soft, feminine and pretty scent.

I still remember the very first teddy bear I was given as a gift. It all started with my last day of preschool. A five year old Belinda decided she could fly across the monkey bars just like some of the other kids. I climbed the ladder, grabbed the first bar, the second bar and then *kaboom* - *snap* - I landed on my left side and fractured my elbow. It was a lot of pain to deal with, but I was more saddened that I had to go to the hospital and didn't get to finish the pre-k graduation party. Then the next day I received a sweet teddy bear from my pre-k teacher. It had a little tear sewn beneath it's eye, a band-aid on it's head and a cast on it's arm along with a "Get Well Soon" t-shirt. I remember how hard I smiled when I saw it. It was the first time I had smiled since before I took my fall. My boo-boo bear brightened my day and even stuck with me as a wonderful memory so many years down the road. It is these types of memories the creators behind Huggable Teddy Bears aim to achieve.

Bananagrams® grew out of a families love of playing word games together. Three generations of the Nathanson family poured their hearts and thoughts into creating a game that was competitive and fun that ALL AGES of the family could enjoy playing together. After marathon sessions playing, experimenting and perfecting their word game, Bananagrams® was born! The eldest of the Nathansons Abe declared, “This anagram game will drive you bananas!” – hence the name Bananagrams®! Since the creation of Bananagrams®, they have added several other games including – Appletters®, PAIRSinPEARS®, ZIP- IT® and Fruitominoes®. My family had the pleasure of playing both Appletters® and PAIRSinPEARS® and I am excited to share our experience with all of you!

Holiday Hand Blown Glass Straws from Moxie Glass at The Glass Straw Store

I am so excited to show off my fabulous find for this year's Christmas Gift Guide. I contacted designer, Melissa Boyle of Moxie Glass and told her I would love to show my sweet followers some of her fabulous glass straws in a Holiday Theme. I anticipated she might send some plain red or green festive straws. Instead she custom made these absolutely adorable hand blown glass straws accented with Holiday Candy Canes, Snow Flakes, Reindeer and a Snowman!!! Look real close at the photo below and you will see that not only did she create gorgeous decorated glass straws, the festive decorations are made out of glass, too!!! I am so impressed and so in love with them!!!

The Spice Lab is your ultimate source for Gourmet Sea Salts which includes over 180 varieties from 30 different countries. This is the largest collection available from a single source. Their offerings include over 180 jarred sea salts, their award-winning Gourmet Sea Salt Collections, salt plates, lamps, bath salts, spice mixes and so much more. These products can be found in gourmet and specialty gift shops, museums, select retail locations and online. Thanks to The Spice Lab, professional chefs and home cooks alike can use these gourmet sea salts to enhance their culinary creations.

There is one thing everyone in my family can count on getting for Christmas from our Grandma each year and that's a new pair of socks. Gifting a pair of socks at Christmas time has become a tradition in so many families and they make the perfect gift. But, then comes the question of where to purchase those socks and I have the answer for you! Goodhew/Sockwell offers socks produced on the most modern equipment in the world providing you with some of the finest socks available.

The Orb Factory is your source for activities and crafts that allow your children to show off their creative talents as they make beautiful and useful toys, stickers, pillows and so much more! These easy to use products promote hand-and-eye coordination as well as number and pattern recognition providing your child with a valuable learning experience as they have fun! Their large selection of kits are mess free, high quality and are designed to stimulate a child’s mind, promote creativity and provide a rewarding experience.

SparkleUps® Owls provide children over 5 years of age with 8 adorable reusable stickers including flowers and owls that you decorate with over 550 jewels. Each sticker provides a guide to applying your jewels so you know exactly where to apply each color to create your sparkling owls. You can then stick your creations on binders, water bottles, mirrors, lockers anywhere you want to add some owl bling.

Sticky Mosaics® Curse of the Treasure Chest will have your child over 4 years of age creating their very own pirate room decor. This fun kit includes a chest, jewels, a flipmotion surprise inside and a short story book. The chest is numbered so your child will know exactly where to apply the grey, black, green and yellow jewels. Your child will feel so accomplished after creating their very own functional treasure chest.