BlackBerry Style Review and Give Away

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and BlackBerry.

The contest has now ended. Thank you so much to all who entered. Winners will be notified by a BlogHer employee via email.
THANK YOU!

This is a compensated post. I was given a BlackBerry Style (with free service for 2 months) and paid for my time to test the phone and write a review.

I really like my job. Everyday I pinch myself that I get to stay home with my children and earn money (in my pajamas!) by writing about things I want to write about.

It's pretty sweet. I'd highly recommend it.

Because I do my work on the internet, I try to stay away from it when I'm not at home. I haven't purchased a Smart Phone, and truly enjoy the time I have outside of the house--- when I'm not plugged in.

I don't want to be reminded that I have 158 unread email when I'm at the park, or at gymnastics, or on a run, or while folding laundry during a Real Housewives of NY marathon.

But *everyone* has a Smart Phone these days, and I can't lie: I sort of wanted to give the whole thing a try.

Because of this, I quickly agreed to test out the new BlackBerry Style when BlogHer asked if I was interested. When the box came, I unpacked it and plugged it in to charge up high, away from the baby. When the light alerted me the phone was fully charged, I began pushing buttons to try and figure out my new number and place a call. Now this is where I need to come clean: I HATE READING INSTRUCTION MANUALS.

hate hate hate hate hate instruction manuals.

This is why I like my crockpot(s) so much. I plug them in, push a button or two, then walk away. I don't want to download a manual, or watch a DVD or YouTube video in order to figure something out. I get it that I'm pigheaded. I get it that manuals are written for a reason, not everything is as easy as a crockpot, etc etc etc. I get it.

But it's who I am, and Dr. Phil says that I should embrace who I am. so there you go. It took me a while to find the instruction manual, and when I did, it was straightforward and I figured all the features and bells and whistles out. And there are a lot!
I can make calls (and the calls don't drop! and I'm in the Bay Area and I'm constantly being hung up on by my friends who have that other phone). I can access all 4 of my email accounts. I can go on twitter, I can finally text people, and I can google things. super cool.

I do find the buttons a bit small for my liking, but maybe I have abnormally large fingers. I'm not sure.

I love the feel of the touchpad button for navigation. It works really well for moving from one application to another. The picture-taking feature works wonderfully. I've never been able to take photos from my phone before---this is great for sending pictures of the kids to Adam when he's at work. I always worry he's missing out on things.

As much as I liked all the bells and whistles, I'm just not sure I’m ready to be a SmartPhone girl. Maybe I was born in the wrong decade, I don't know. I hate seeing people walk the streets with their heads down because they're too busy playing with their phones. I don't want to be that person.

I'm scared that the need to "just check one thing" when out and about would get out of control. For right now, my job just isn't that important---if someone really needs to get ahold of me, they can by calling my (terribly outdated and archaic) cell.

BUT!

That doesn't mean that YOU aren’t ready for a SmartPhone! You might desperately need or want a new BlackBerry Style (it's very pretty).

good news! I've got 2 brand-new factory-sealed BlackBerry Styles on the Sprint Network to give away via a random draw.

Interested? You should be! HOW DO YOU WIN?

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry.


This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be
selected.

The Official Rules are available Here


For more information, please Visit the Official site

THERE ARE MORE CHANCES TO WIN! Visit the Exclusive Offers section


good luck!!!

week 4 (out of 4) $100 Olay Visa Gift Card Give Away

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

The contest is now over. Thank you so much to all who entered. A rep from BlogHer will select a winner randomly and contact via email.
Have a fantastic New Year!

Good Morning! It's the week before Christmas, and all through the house:

eh. I'm too tired to rhyme.

Today is the first day of Winter Break, and I'm so happy to have the kids home with me. I hate how much time they're away during a typical school day. Today we're staying in pajamas, watching a Santa Claus(e) movie marathon, and doing puzzles. It'll be lovely.

Right around 2:15 everyone will start shouting and I'll threaten to cancel Christmas.

because we're completely normal.

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It's the 4th week in a row I'm giving out a $100 Visa gift card thanks to the generosity of Olay. I've been using the Total Effects for over a month now, and I'm actually surprised that the bottle hasn't run out. It's not even sneezing yet!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I recently shared on the Totally Together site my daily morning routine. I cram a lot into my mornings, because I seem to have the most energy before 11 am, and like to accomplish a bunch before slacking off the rest of the day.

On a typical weekday, my mornings look something like this:

somewhere between 4 and 5, I’m up with the baby. I always always always have a mental battle about getting up for the day or climbing back into bed. 96% of the time I climb back in bed.

6am alarm goes off for Adam; I usually get up about 6:15 and make the bed quickly so I don’t get back in. :-) I do a quick master bathroom wipedown and gather laundry to start.

6:25 baby usually up by now, so I change and feed her. Big kids usually get up around now, too

6:30 Adam starts coffee and empties dishwasher. Big kids get breakfast—usually yogurt and fruit, rice cake with PB or cream cheese, or cereal

6:45 big kids get dressed, make beds, tidy rooms. I help if need-be, or stick to baby-wrangling

7:00 I put baby in highchair, feed her something and usually have a ricecake with peanut butter or something similar with my coffee

7:15 sometimes I get dressed now, or I start on big kid lunches

7:30 my grandma arrives to help with the baby. I use this time to finish getting dressed, clean the kitchen dishes, finish kid lunches. I’ll flip the laundry if it’s done with the wash cycle

the halfhour between 7:30 and 8 are a blur—the kids let the guinea pigs out (they have an outdoor run) and feed them, the baby poops around now and needs changing, I feed her again. If I’m waiting for an important email I’ll quickly scan the subject lines, otherwise I try hard to not succumb to the temptation to get online.

Grandma listens to the kids read outloud, play instruments, or something along those lines. I’m not really “in charge” right now, Grandma is.

8:00 leave to take big kids to school; Grandma stays with the baby

8:25 I’m back, feed baby, change her and get her ready for a nap. I have coffee with Grandma

9:00 Baby goes down for AM nap, and Grandma leaves. I start work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 2008, when I did my yearlong crockpot challenge, I was working full time from home. I ran the calendar section for Bay Area Parent, and worked 4-5 hours a day for BlogHerads.com. In order to get my professional work done, and still juggle the demands of cooking and posting daily on the crockpot site, along with keeping the kids and Adam happy, I got up every day at 4am. It was nutty, but I found I treasured the alone time I had in a quiet house. It was me and the coffee pot from 4-6am, and I got into a fun little rhythm each day.

Sometimes I did what I called a “split-shift” and went to bed at 8pm, then got up to work from midnight to 4am. I found this middle of the night work really exhilarating---my brain was buzzed and I had a heightened state of awareness.

I am not sure how I made it.

I find it fascinating how your body responds when it’s pushed to it’s limit. Although I know I was tired during this time, I physically felt great, and even trained and completed a half-marathon. I’m sure I LOOKED tired though. I wish Olay Total Effects had been invented!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

stuff I have to include:

Feel like your moisturizer’s fresh feeling can’t last all day? New Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration instantly cools and leaves skin with a moisturized fresh feeling that lasts from morning to night. The lightweight formula also fights 7 signs of aging for younger looking skin. For more information visit https://www.olay.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you go. I try really hard to cram a lot in during those wee morning hours. What’s your morning look like? Are you more active in the early morning, or late at night?

Write your answer below and I’ll enter you in a $100 Visa Gift Card giveaway (pretty much the same as CASH! woo hoo!)

Leave a valid email address so I can contact you. I’m not farming your email addresses, nor am I sharing them with BlogHer or Olay. When the contest ends, I’ll delete them all. I promise.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) Read the official rules for an alternate form of entry.

This contest will end on Monday, December 27 at 5pm pacific. Good luck to all and have a very Merry Christmas!

Week 3! of reading about my skin! and about Olay! and a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card! (3 out of 4)

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

(public domain clipart image)

The contest has now ended. Thank you to all who entered! The winner will be notified via email from a BlogHer representative.

This is the third week that I’ve been using the Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti Aging Moisturizer.

I feel pretty good! I’m happy with the way my skin looks and my friend Georgia, NO LIE, said I looked really healthy yesterday.

she then swore at me, but that’s okay. That’s what good friends do.

I just had my birthday, right before Thanksgiving. I turned 34 this year. My children have decided that I am now officially : Medium.

Which is better than Old.? Right?

I’ll take it.

According to the kids, MEDIUM extends all the way until 60.

I’m sorry mom.

The one thing I’m definitely noticing about having a baby in my almost-mid-thirties instead of my twenties, is that I’m SO MUCH MORE TIRED. As I wrote in my first post, I don’t really have an excuse for this. The baby sleeps fine, I just seem to jerk awake willy-nilly throughout the night.

I exercise (pretty much. 3 out of 5 days? 2 1/2 out of 6 days?) daily, I’ve cut out excess alcohol and sugar (except for this past weekend because it's Christmas party season, and it wouldn't be polite to just sit there. and I'm an awfully polite person), and for the LOVE OF MOTHER NATURE I will not give up caffeine, so I’m just going to have to suck it up.

The good thing is my skin looks pretty gosh darn good, if I do say so myself.

And I do!

(public domain clipart image)

stuff I have to include:

Feel like your moisturizer’s fresh feeling can’t last all day? New Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration instantly cools and leaves skin with a moisturized fresh feeling that lasts from morning to night. The lightweight formula also fights 7 signs of aging for younger looking skin. For more information visit https://www.olay.com

What about you? On a normal day do you wake up feeling refreshed? Do you need caffeine to get started in your day? Have you tried cutting out sugar or alcohol? Are you ready to take drastic measures and eat only raw foods?

Write your answer below and I’ll enter you in a $100 Visa Gift Card giveaway (pretty much the same as CASH! woo hoo!)

Leave a valid email address so I can contact you. I’m not farming your email addresses, nor am I sharing them with BlogHer or Olay. When the contest ends, I’ll delete them all. I promise.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

This contest will end Monday, December 20 at 5pm Pacific.

good luck! oxox

Olay 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer and Visa Gift Card giveaway (post 2 of 4)

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay.

This contest is now over. Thank you to all who entered. The winner will be contacted via email from BlogHer. Happy Holidays! xoox

I am not a very girly girl. I really wish I was sometimes, just so I could bond with my friends when they begin talking about the newest and greatest product, or where to get the best facial or massage in town.

I get haircuts about twice a year. I do like manicures and pedicures, but usually only get them if I’m doing a big event—so less than six times a year.

I do most of my clothes shopping online, or at the mall at a store that rhymes with Darget.

I usually don’t try clothes on first. I just bring them home.

I’m not very picky—I figure if things fit okay and I’m somewhat presentable, I’m good to go.

I seem to have pretty normal skin. Before having kids I’d get breakouts here and there, but nothing to be terribly upset about. I did order that sort-of-famous skin stuff off the TV when it was popular to do so, but found it dried my skin terribly and I canceled the subscription (and the subscription thing seemed like a big scam).

I do wear a bit of daily makeup. I rarely leave the house without a touch of concealer under my eyes, some mascara, and a bit of lip gloss. And while I promise I brush my hair daily, I only blow-dry it about once a month (if that).

I don’t really have a reason for the way I am. I’m definitely frugal, but I think it really stems from an overall lack of interest. I’m just not interested (right now) in taking the time to indulge in a beauty routine. I like the way I look. Adam seems happy, the kids don’t appear embarrassed, and I stopped biting my nails (mostly. I still spread DNA throughout the house when I’m on a tight deadline and feel nervous) so now my mom is happy.

So when Olay sent me their new 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer, it was kind of neat. I think (scratch that. I KNOW) I wouldn’t have taken the time to go to a store, or even order it online unless they sent me it to try.

But I’m glad it’s here. I like it. I think I’m going to continue to use it, and I’m thrilled that I can just order it through Amazon, because to me shopping in my jammies is the ultimate in luxury.

I really liked reading your comments last week about what you do to keep your skin looking fresh. Most (practically all!) of you credit younger looking skin to drinking water (I need to up that, most definitely), exercise, proper diet, and sleep.

That's fantastic. I can do that! WE can do that!

stuff I have to include:

Feel like your moisturizer’s fresh feeling can’t last all day? New Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration instantly cools and leaves skin with a moisturized fresh feeling that lasts from morning to night. The lightweight formula also fights 7 signs of aging for younger looking skin. For more information visit olay.com

What about you? What’s your daily beauty routine like? Are you a girly girl? Answer in the comment section for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card (pretty much the same as CASH, woo hoo!).

Leave a valid email address so I can contact you. I’m not farming your email addresses, nor am I sharing them with BlogHer or Olay. When the contest ends, I’ll delete them all. I promise.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

d) Please see BlogHer.com for a complete list of rules

You have 1 week to win this particular gift card, but I have 2 more in the weeks to come. Please visit BlogHer.com for the complete list of bloggers giving away giftcards---there are so many chances to win! Lots of Visa $$ for everyone!

This contest ends on Monday, December 13 at 5pm pacific

good luck!

Olay 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer review and Visa Gift Card giveaway (post 1 of 4)

This contest is now over. Thank you to all 509 entries. The winner has been selected and will be contacted by BlogHer. There are 3 more Visa giftcards on the way, though!

Thank you. oxox

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Olay. I was given a product sample, and paid for my time to write and conduct the giveaway.

I have three children, ages nine, six, and almost-eleven months. They are all girls.

On a regular night I’m up between three and five times. I don’t mean this to happen---the baby sleeps really well---it’s not her, it’s me. She usually goes down at 7 pm, gets up at 4 am to eat, then sleeps again until 6 am. I have NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

This post isn’t about complaining. Or whining.

It’s about not feeling quite as young as I used to. And that my birthday was last week, and for about a month leading towards my birthday I feel terribly old.

O. L. D.

So when Yvonne asked if I’d like to make a bit of money writing about a new Olay product that was supposed to help me to look and feel younger, I said ohyespleasethankyouverymuch.

Also. One of the dads at school told me I looked tired a few weeks ago. I’m sure he was trying to make conversation, but dude.

STICK TO THE WEATHER.

Seriously.

Anyhow, I opened the FedEx package for the Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer, and I’m not going to lie.

I was kind of a tiny bit disappointed.

I wanted more. I wanted a whole slew of bottles and tubes to play with and I wanted velvet boxes or ribbons or something. Something more.

(I know. I was raised correctly, I promise. I should have been immediately thankful and grateful and I wasn’t. It was not my finest three minutes.)

due to this initial twinge of entitlement, it took me a few hours to test it out. After my evening run, I washed my face well (just with hand soap and a washcloth) and smoothed a tiny bit on.

No tingling, no stickiness, no gloppiness, no needing-to-wash-my-hands-afterwards feeling.

I kind of liked it.

It’s only been 3 days that I’ve used the moisturizer regularly, and I while I don’t think I look surprisingly different, I do feel sort of refreshed. My skin looks glowy and kind of moist and dewy (total dweeby thing to say, sorry)—enough so that I’m intrigued to keep it up to see what else might happen.

I also like the price, and since I’m a terrible cheapskate, that’s kind of important to me. I don’t normally put much glop on my face, but if you do, the package says that this one bottle (retailing between $16-20) will do the following:

1. line minimization
2. cooling moisturizer
3. energizes appearance (I see this one right away)
4. gentle exfoliation
5. pore refinement
6. free radical defense
7. subtle lifting

which is great, because you can clean out your medicine cabinet! I do like things decluttered…

stuff I have to include:

Feel like your moisturizer’s fresh feeling can’t last all day? New Olay Total Effects Cooling Hydration instantly cools and leaves skin with a moisturized fresh feeling that lasts from morning to night. The lightweight formula also fights 7 signs of aging for younger looking skin. For more information visit https://www.olay.com

Thanks to Olay, I have a $100 Visa giftcard (pretty much CASH, woo hoo!) to give away to a random commenter.

I’ve got 4 in all, which means you get to hear about my skin for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS!

You are so totally lucky!

To enter the giveaway, write in the comment section your #1 favorite anti-aging secret (for me. I'm taking notes.) Please leave a valid email address so I can contact you. I'm not farming your email addresses, nor am I sharing them with BlogHer or Olay. When the contest ends, I'll delete them all. I promise.

RULES:

1) No duplicate comments, please

2) You may receive 2 total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

-- leaving a comment below

-- blogging about this contest, and leaving a URL in the comment section

-- tweeting about this contest, and leaving a URL to the tweet in the comment section

3) Please read the official rules for an alternate form of entry

4) This contest is for US residents only (I'm sorry. not my rules.), ages 18 and older. 5) The winner will be notified by email, and selected by a random drawing. Please respond within 72 hours, or a new winner will be chosen.

5) Click here for additional blogger Olay reviews---and MORE chances to win!

This contest will end at 5pm Pacific, on DECEMBER 6 (that's a Monday).

Uncommon Goods Giveaway!

This contest is now over. Thank you to all (308) who entered. Three winners will be chosen randomly and contacted via email.
THANK YOU!!!! xoxo steph

(this is a paid-in-product review. I am going to receive 4 bubble vases from Uncommon Goods for hosting this giveaway. I am going to use these vases for teacher presents.)


I'm done with my Holiday shopping.

Don't get mad. It was REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY easy this year, because not only did I order everything online (except stocking stuff. I did go to the Dollar Tree for that, because where else are you going to get stocking stuff?) I ordered pretty much everything from the same place.

Uncommon Goods.

I found Uncommon Goods through Amazon. I was searching for Fred and Friends products, and was redirected to Uncommon Goods for shipping. I ordered what I wanted (this was back in September), and asked for a catalog.

And then I fell in love.

They have neat things. REALLY neat things. I got pretty much everybody on our list recycled glass items. I bought beer steins, wine goblets, the super-cool bubble glass vase (shown above), and cheese and cracker plates made from a recycled wine bottle (totally cute).

I also bought a soup and sandwich tray because I just couldn't resist. I might have to keep that one.

After bragging about my shopping being complete on twitter, Uncommon Goods contacted me. They asked if I'd like to host a giveaway.

SO HERE YOU GO!

I have 3 of the totally awesome recycled windshield bubble vases to give away to you!

To enter, leave a comment below about your holiday shopping habits. Are you a black friday person? or do you wait for the last minute? Do you have a bunch of people on your list, or are you whittling it down this year?

Please leave a valid email address so I can contact you. I'm not saving email addresses, nor am I sharing them with anyone from Uncommon Goods. When the contest ends, I'll delete them all. I promise.

I will choose winners this Friday, December 3rd at 5pm pacific.

HAPPY CYBER MONDAY! Now get shopping!!

:-)

A Great Big Huge Thanksgiving Giveaway!

(super cute Turkey found at Viking Quest)

This contest is now over. Winners have now been notified. Thank you SO much to all who entered! More fun stuff is on the way!
have a fantastic Thanksgiving,
steph

Hello there! If I did the math correctly (and that's always questionable, since I was an English major) it looks like we have sixteen days until Thanksgiving.

SIXTEEN!

Raise your hand if you're cooking.

Me! I am!

it looks like I'm cooking for 33. That's the most our teeny-tiny house has ever had for a sit-down meal, but I'm not in complete freak out mode (yet).

Mostly because I'm in denial but also because I've got an arsenal of great help thanks to my friends. I've got some books to give away FOR FREE(!) to help you with your Thanksgiving plans.

I'm going to hold one contest for all the books, and will raffle them off one at a time by picking numbers from the random number picker thingamajig. This means that by leaving a comment you are entering to win any one of the following awesome and spectacular books. You may garner additional entries by tweeting/facebooking/emailing/or blogging about this contest.

(LOL. I used the word "garner" in a sentence..."

anyhow...


FIRST UP: My friend Tricia at Once a Month Mom has compiled an awesome Thanksgiving/Holiday Planner e-book, and has generously supplied THREE for this giveaway. This is an awesome planner. Tricia has worked it out so you can shop, prep, and cook for your holiday meal---for up to 18 people! This isn't a gluten-free meal guide, but is easily adaptable for those adhering to a gluten free diet.

SECOND: Gluten Free Girl and The Chef by Shauna and Daniel Ahern. The Aherns are rockstars in the gluten free community, and revolutionaries for everybody else. Gluten free does not mean boring. Gluten free does not mean bland and tasteless. Shauna and Daniel have produced a beautiful book with extraordinary recipes---1 part memoir, and 2 parts cookbook: this is a must-have for all gluten free folks, and for anyone else who just likes darn good food.

THIRD: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Ali and Tom Segersten. I met Ali and Tom in October at BlogHer Food, and was immediately impressed at how low-key and REAL they were. I appreciate how their back-to-basics approach to nutrition and whole-food philosophy is vital for both your body and the planet. Every single one of the 200 recipes are ALL gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. SCORE!

FOURTH: The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam. I've given away Elana's book before, and I'm happy to do so again. Elana has perfected the art of using almond flour for her baked goods---this results in VERY moist and decadent desserts---and they're packed with protein and good for you! Elana also demystifies cooking with agave nectar, something I was scared to try before reading her words.



Okay!

This contest will be open until Monday, November 15 at 5pm pacific.

Please leave a valid email address, or sign into Blogger or OpenID or whatever account you have so I can contact you. I am not collecting these email addresses, and I'll delete all the comments once the winners have been selected and identified.

Happy Cooking!