Do More Knowing Your Child Is Safe

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

I am a worry wart when it comes to my kids.  I pretty much worry about anything and everything.  When they are awake I worry about all the things that can happy to them during the day.... when they are sleeping I worry about them too... Are they breathing?  I know I have issues... I am working in it!

One thing that has given me peace of mind is a Video Monitor.  Watching my kids sleep is one of the best parts of my day!  We got a Levana video monitor when my son was born, you know because of SIDS! We loved it!  When I got a chance to upgrade to the Ovia 2 Camera Video Monitor, I was totally on board since we knew we already loved 

We recently moved the 2 year old in with the 7 year old and got them bunk beds.  They were so excited... however the 2 year old had been sleeping in his crib and now we had to train him on how to sleep in a big boy bed.

  The Levana monitor lets us keep an eye on all the shenanigans that the boys do at night. It also has a microphone feature that let me talk to them through the camera... so when a baby who should be sleeping, gets out of bed I can tell him to go back to bed.  It is so fun to see his eye get all wide and wonder where Mommy is! 

I love this monitor!  I love that it has 2 cameras... I do daycare a few days a week for a 1 year old girl and she sleeps in a different room then my son- this way I can keep track of both of them at the same time! Here is a video to show you! 

Levana is a brand you can trust.  They are dedicated to the safety of children - they know what is important because they ask real moms (like me!) to help them develop their product!  They are also pioneers in high-tech monitors!  They know what mom's want and put in all the important features! 

Now I can relax after the kids go to bed... I could do some work on the blog or watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix or have a meaningful conversation with my husband... Let face it I am mostly watching Gilmore Girls! 

Wanna have peace of mind?  Check out these deals from Levana  or Visit their Facebook page! 

OR Join in on the GIVEAWAY!!  Yep - you could win one for yourself!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

Washi Tape Giveaway with Downtown Tape!

We all love Washi tape right?!  I mean who can get enough of the stuff!  So much fun stuff you can do... you want to always have at least 3 or 4 rolls on hand at all times!  

I am so excited to introduce you to a new site that sells Washi Tape for only $1.99 a roll!

(and flat rate shipping for 1 -100 rolls for only 2.95!)    

Downtown Tape has all the Washi Tape your heart can desire and more... seriously you will lose an hour drooling over the tape on this site! 

The Great news is that they are giving away 

10 rolls of washi tape + 25 tags!  

Woo Hoo!

Check out all the washi goodness:

Need some fun ideas?  

Here are just a few:

You know you wanna win some!  

All entries will be done through Raffecopter
Mandatory entry:

You must leave a comment answering this question:

What is your favorite way to use Washi tape?

Extra entries (optional)

Like Downtown Tape on Facebook

Sign up for their news letter 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fine print:
Giveaway is open 10/18/12 - 10/21/12.
Giveaway is open to anyone world wide!
Winner will be contacted through email and announced here on this post in the rafflecopter widget. 

SOYS # 124 and Pick Your Plum Giveaway and Our Birthdays!

Jeannine and I have our Birthdays 1 day apart!  It was always so fun celebrating our birthdays together growing up!  Jeannine's was yesterday (4/24) and mine is today (4/25)!

To celebrate we are having a SUPER fun giveaway from the fabulous Pick your Plum and combining it with our Show off Your Stuff Party!  It is a Party day!

Pick Your Plum has awesome Daily deals!  

They have crafty goodness everyday for teeny tiny prices for you!

I love it when they have the vinyl deals... oh- how I love vinyl!

Pick your Plum is giving away a goodie box worth $75!  

 You know you want to win it!  

Rules to enter:
You must do one of the following and leave me a comment:
1. Sign up for the Pick your Plum newletter (or already be signed up!)
2. Like PYP on Facebook!

Extra Entry:
1. Enter a link to our Show Off Your Stuff Party!

*** All winners must follow F&J (or like us on FB) and have a US address***
Giveaway ends Sunday April 29th!

And now the Show off Your Stuff Party!

Here is the run down:

1. Pay attention! There are 4 categories to link up:

Crafts and Sewing

DIY and Home Decor

Recipes
Inspirational/Creative Writing

pick one and go with it!

{If you pick the wrong one... you can delete your own and add it to the right one! :) }

2. Add a link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.

3. Please do not link up to something that you are just trying to sell.

4. Link to this party from your post so everyone can get in on the fun. You can just grab my button!

 

Do you want to make some money blogging?

  One site that I have found helpful in finding sponsors is Social Spark
I wrote a whole post on how I make money blogging HERE
and another post on how to use Social Spark to make money HERE!

They match bloggers with advertisers. You get to choose who you promote and how you promote it! It really is a win-win! 

Whimsy Couture Review and Giveaway!

***This giveaway is closed!***

I have always admired Denise from Whimsy Couture.  I love her designs and her style.  Her patterns are always just the right amount of cute + Sassy!  So, I was thrilled when she asked me to do a review for one of her patterns!!

The hard part was picking which pattern to choose... she has so many amazing patterns to choose from.   After much deliberation I finally settled on the Retro Romper.  I love  that you could do it in 3 lengths (Shorts, Capri and Pants) 

Here is my version.  I picked up this green embroidered fabric for 60% off at an outlet store and it is perfect for this project!  I made the pants version first because it is still a little chilly here for spring.  But, I cannot wait to make some shorts versions for this summer!

Here it is on my sweetie of a girl!   I made the legs long since she seems to be growing out of everything I get for her. 

The pattern is easy to follow with step-by-step pictures the whole way through.  It also comes with instructions for different variations you could add (all with pictures).   It comes with a sizing chart for nb - girls 10!  The directions are very clear.  I had no problems following along and I love the end products!  I cannot wait to make more!

Whimsy Couture is also giving away a 3 pack of patterns of your choice!   There are so many pattens to choose from I know that you will find several that you will like! 

Here are some of my favorites: 

Ruffled Neckline Rompers

Twirl Knot Dress

Bubble Skirt

To enter just like Whimsy Couture on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me that you did!

Giveaway ends Friday 4/20 and is open to everyone! 

You can also save 30% off your total with the code SAVE30 in the pattern shop

Charlie's Soap Review and Giveaway!

These days most of us would probably say that we would prefer to use cleaning products that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. But let's face it, most of that stuff is quite expensive, and during this tough recession, we've all had to make budget cuts.

That's why I was so excited to have the opportunity to try and review Charlie's Soap. I have been making my own laundry detergent for several years because of the high cost of natural cleaning products. But not only is Charlie's Soap environmentally friendly, but the laundry detergent is actually cheaper per load than the stuff I make (as little as $0.13 per load for the 1000 load bucket)! I did the math over and over again just to make sure. And there's no need for softeners, which means even more savings! Besides the amazing price, my favorite thing about CS laundry detergent is the smell of my clean clothes. They call it unscented, but I call it "a hint of fresh." I don't like strong scents (another reason I prefer to make my own detergent), but I am in LOVE with how my clothes smell after being washed in Charlie's Soap. Also, it's excellent for cloth diapers. I am potty training 2 toddlers, and after a couple washes all the pee-smell was gone from my boys' pants and underwear. Not only did it get my clothes clean and fresh, but the inside of my washing machine was also cleaner. I was bummed when I ran out, I had to go buy more right away. And as a bonus, Charlie's Soap laundry detergent can also be used in the dishwasher! How cool is that? (For best results, Charlie's Soap recommends using their Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment if you have hard water).

 In addition to the laundry detergent, I also tried Charlie's Soap Kitchen and Bath cleaner. Let me just say: AMAZING. This stuff works so well at cleaning up messes and grime. I have been using it on my counter tops and appliances, and everything is sparkling clean. I also cleaned the bathroom with it, and it works great there too. As with everything they make, the Kitchen/Bath cleaner is environmentally safe, which I love. It is not only for kitchens and bathrooms though. It can be used on virtually anything. I have sprayed it on pans that have crusted-on food, and within 5 minutes the food wipes out as easily as if it had been soaking for hours. It also cleans walls, floors, hands, machine parts (yep!), and much more. When I cleaned my kitchen floor with CS, my rinse bucket was dirtier than it's ever been, which is a good thing because it means Charlie's does a BETTER job of cleaning than what I was previously using. I am one of Charlie's Soap's newest customer's. I love it.

To enter to win FREE samples of Charlies Soap visit Charlie's Soap's website and come back to tell us your favorite product.  

Want another entry?  Like them on their  Facebook page and come back to tell us!

***Giveaway ends on Sunday Feb 5th at Midnight.  Winner will be notified by email***
US RESIDENTS ONLY

This post sponsored by :

myDealCompass. No Frills Just Deals!

Come back on Friday for an AWESOME map/compass project contest hosted by myDealCompass!

Double Wine Tote Pattern Release!

I am so excited to release my next Pattern into my shop: Funky Joy.

The double wine tote is the perfect way to carry your wine safely anywhere you want to go. Whether you are going to a party or an evening with close friends and family, you are sure to look stylish with this chic wine tote!

It would make a great hostess gift or wedding present!

**This pattern also comes with a license to sell what you make!**

It has been tested by several sewing bloggers, and I got some great feed back!

1. Greta (personal blog)
2. Tanya at Sew Many Dreams
3. Caroline at Artfully Caroline
4. Terri at A Creative Princess
5. Susan at Fruitful Words
6. Jenn at A Jennuine Life

Here is what they have to say about it: 

 I made the wine tote and love it! The directions were awesome and easy to follow. (Terri)

I have never sewed with felt before and I was surprised at how easy it was to use and how smart the final product looks.  As far as the pattern goes, I was thrilled with all the photos. They added clarity to the written directions which is something needed for us visual learners. (Susan)

The pattern instructions were clear and simple.  I don't drink wine, so that's balsamic vinegar and rice wine vinegar on board! For other non-drinkers, you could also market this as for balsamic-and-olive-oil hostess gifts, etc. (Tanya)

To celebrate I am giving away 1 pattern to a lucky F&J follower!   Just leave a comment on this post and you are entered!

**Giveaway ends at midnight tonight and I will email the winner. **

Be sure to check out the Double Wine Tote Pattern in my shop: Funky Joy! 

Use the Code: FIREFLIES at checkout and get 20% off ! 

DailyScoup deals Giveaway! Amazon Gift card!

We all love a great deal right!  

Anyway we can save a buck or two is awesome!  

I am so excited to introduce you to a new daily deal site: DailyScoup!

DailyScoup offers daily deals for 50-90% off! Sounds great right!?

I know that most of you are thinking... "oh, so it is just like Groupon or LivingSocial." Not exactly. Although all these site offer great deals, DailyScoup is able to offer a verity of deals that the others are not.

DailyScoup does not charge the merchant for featuring a deal. This makes DailyScoup merchant friendly and are able to offer deals that Groupon and LivingSocial are not. More verity for you!

Here is how it works: Each sCoupon is $1. Every deal is going to be for 50 -90% off so you will get a GREAT saving for your $1. For example, if a business is offering a 60% off coupon, you pay just $1 for the sCoupon. You will then be able to redeem it at the business paying only 40% for the service.

Now here is how you get in on the giveaway!

DailyScoup is offering 2 Amazon gift cards for $25 each to F&J followers!

To enter go HERE and register at DailyScoup. Come back and tell me you did so {also make sure your e-mail is in your profile or your comment}! That is it!
{*Must be an F&J follower in order to win}

This is a SUPER fast giveaway! So be sure to get your scoup on!
It will only be open for 2 days {until January 12th at midnight}.
The winners will be notified my email on Friday.

Must be over 18 to enter. US resident/mailing addresses only

Good Luck! 

PartyLite Giveaway!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Now that all the Christmas decorations are down, it feels a little empty in my house.  I love having my house look festive for the season.  An easy way to redecorate is by changing out your candles and candle holders.  PartyLite candles and decor are a great way to "redecorate and refresh" every season at no or nearly no cost by earning scented candles, candle warmers, home decor accessories, reed diffusers and more!  

PartyLite is the world's #1 direct seller of premium candles and home-fragrance products. PartyLite has always offered customers Platinum Quality - the very best candles you can buy anywhere! They sell products in over 17 counties and there’s a PartyLite party going on somewhere in the world every 18 seconds! That is a lot of partying... If you haven't been to one, don't you want to see what you are missing out on?! By hosting a party you get all kinds of FREE products!

I am loving all their ScentGlow warmers. With little ones around it is nice not to have an open flame.

PartyLite's Winter/Spring Catalog came out on Dec 16th and includes all the ScentGlow Warmers pictured here!

Party Lite is also giving you a change to shop for Free!  They are offering 1 F&J follower a $15 gift Credit to their online store! 

To enter you have to Like the PartyLite Facebook page and come back and leave a comment.  {Must be an F&J follower to win}

The Fine Print:

Limit one redemption. Valid thru Feb. 15, 2012.
Sorry, this offer is not available for online orders attached to Parties. Discount can be applied to merchandise total only. Cannot be applied to tax or shipping and handling charges.

Airplane Shelf with Elmers Craft Products {Tutorial and Giveaway!} #LooksforLess

***Giveaway Closed!!!***

I was so excited when I got contacted by Elmer's  to join in their Looks For Less contest. I wanted to create something cool for my son's room and this was the motivation I needed. Check out Elmer's Looks for Less Guide for some awesome ideas!     So, me and hubby brain-stormed what we could make that would be AWESOME. Our son's room is travel themed, so we came up with this fabulous Air-Plane Shelf:

Here is our inspiration:

Pottery Barn Kids Airplane shelf (out of stock but sold for $90) Great Little Trading Co. Bi-Plane Wall Shelf (56 pounds, the company is located in the UK)   Supples: 2 White 20x30 Foam Boards Black 20x30 Foam Board CraftBond Extra-Strength Glue Stick   X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster Knife Elmer's Paint Pens Wooden Dowels (not pictured) Hot Glue Gun with Glue (not pictured) Spray Paint and Primer (not pictured)

1. Glue two white foam boards together 2. Use a ruler to mark off how wide you want your shelves to be (mine are 6 inches X 30 inches) and use the ruler as a guide to cut the foam board with the X-Acto Knife. 3. Cut all the way through both layers of foam board. 4. Repeat for the second shelf.

5. Cut out the other shapes needed out of the single black foam board.  I cut out a big circle for the front, a propeller shape, 2 little circles for the wheels and 2 triangles for the wheel bases 6. I used my Circle cutter (from creative memories) to make the Circle template and then used my X-Acto Knife to cut through the foam.

  7. To make the wheels I hot glued a small circle to a triangle.

  8. To round off the corners of the wings I use a circle as a template.

  9. We (my hubby helped!) cut out the fuselage out of the leftover double-width white foam board.  We cut out two fuselage shapes.  Once all the shapes were cut out we sanded the edges to make everything smooth. 

  10. We cut our 4 dowels.  Hubby measured where we wanted everything to be placed.  We also used a small chisel to make tabs for the dowels and fuselage to fit into.

11. We glued everything together with hot glue.  Then we primed it with spray primer. 

  12. To cover the edges I decided to use paper mache`... I would recommend doing this before you prime.   To make the glue for the paper mache` use a 1/2 water and 1/2 elmer's glue solution.

  13. We found a picture of the Sop-with Snipe for inspiration for the paint job.  We spray painted the whole shelf with Camouflage green and added details with the Elmer's Paint Pens.  We also added our Son's first initial with vinyl to the side of the plane.

  14.  For the propeller I added a couple of buttons for a cute detail {of course, using hot glue}.

We hung it up in my son's room and found some cute things to put on it.

The foam board holds up well.  I am not going to put my fine china on it, but it holds the small toys and books great!

I love the 3-d effect it has coming out of the wall! 

I only had to buy the spray paint (everything else was on hand!) so, it cost me $9 total... 1/10 the cost of the Pottery Barn one and this one is personalized! 
Wanna win some Elmer's crating supplies to make your own Look for Less?!  Here is what you can win: Black 20x30 Foam Board·         White 20x30 Foam Board
·         CraftBond All-Purpose Glue Stick
·         CraftBond Repositionable Glue Stick
·         CraftBond Extra-Strength Glue Stick
·         X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster Knife
·         Painters Assorted Colors Set

2 winners will be selected!  

Just leave a comment below to enter.
{Winners MUST be F&J followers!}  Giveaway open until Dec. 12th at Midnight.

***I was supplied with materials from Elmer's to make this project... however my opinion is always 100% honest***

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