Fashion Week: Joey Junior Review and Giveaway **ENDED**

Joey Junior sells products to help organize your purse as well as a cool product to help keep your purse off the floor. I was given three products to review. You can read the review for the Mini Ultra Suede Purse Organizer and Foldable Purse Hanger here.

About the Joey Junior Original Classic Purse Organizer:
- Classic Fabric available in 9 popular fashion colors and patterns.
- Organize any standard or over-size handbag. (5"W x 26"L)
- Keep everything visible and accessible.
- Velcro keeps the Organizer upright. Changing handbags is easier!
- Items slip easily in and out of pockets.
- 6 pockets hold cell, PDA, small items. Pocket for business cards!
- Secure keys with the handy key clip and tether.
- Soft fabrics protect eyeglasses against scratches



Nothing is worse than standing at a store check out counter and you can find your wallet, but your phone, kid's toys, and tampons are flying out all over the place while a bunch of inpatient customers angrily wait for you to get your act together. This happens to me more than I would like to admit. This is why I was thrilled to review the Joey Junior Original Classic Purse Organizer in Pink. Not only is it great for organizing all the products in my purse, but it makes changing purses a cinch!

Review:

The size of the organizer was perfect. It fit into most of my mid-large size bags and held all of my essentials. It definitely helped me organize better and everything was easily viewable so I could easily reach in my purse and grab what I needed without having to dig. I found that the product worked well for handbags which were more compact in size as shown in the pictures below.  I tried it with a larger shoulder bag and a hobo bag and the organizer would not stay in place and the contents ended up spilling out thereby defeating the purpose of the organizer.


What my purse looked like (on a good day):

With the Joey Junior Purse Organizer:

Buy it here: You can purchase Joey Junior products from their website and the original purse organizer is also available at Amazon.

Win it here: Joey Junior is offering one lucky Cake Mom reader a Purse Organizer!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what color of the classic organizer you would like if you win. Choose carefully, because this will be the product you will receive if you win!

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me  and Joey Junior on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.
7. Buy something from Joey Junior between now and the close of this contest and receive 10 extra entries.

The winner will be selected on 7/9 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was provide with the mentioned product. The views expressed here are my own. No other compensation was received.

Fashion Week: Alexa's Angels Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Alexa's Angels is a fashion-forward accessories company and their products are wearable, giftable, and meaningful. The products are referred to as "inspired designs" because each and every one is thoughtfully made to inspire heartfelt emotion.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review two accessories from this fantastic company. It was so hard to choose among their large selection of clothing, jewelry, pins, purses, and sashes!

The first product, the Ribbon Necklace, is a beautiful piece of jewelry made with black beads, some satin covered, and a satin bow tie closure. The necklace is truly stunning and like nothing else I have in my jewelry box. Because it is larger than a typical necklace, it becomes so much more than just an accessory, but rather helps shape the outfit I am wearing that day. It is a bit heavy, which I don't mind because the weight helps keep the necklace in place and I do not have to worry about the ribbon twisting out of place.  It looks really fantastic with any top and goes well with both plain tops or patterned ones.

The second product I chose was the Gray/Floral Satin Hobo Bag. The bag has faux leather handles, has a button and tie closure, and a beautiful satin print. I have never owned a hobo bag before, but have always admired their look. I really think this is one of the most fashionable purses that I have owned. I have received compliments on it almost every day that I have carried it. It is not the most functional design and I often have problems finding things inside, but sometimes functionality has to suffer for fashion, something I can live with for sure. The purse is quite large as you can see from the picture below. The size is perfect to suite my needs (with two kids, I am constantly lugging around toys and snacks in my bag).

Buy it here: You can purchase Alexa's Angel's amazing products from their website.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win their choice of either the Ribbon Necklace or the Hobo Bag!!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what other product you love from Alexa's Angels!

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me and Alexa's Angels on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.
7. Like Alexa's Angels on Facebook.
8.  Buy something from Alexa's Angels between now and the end of this giveaway and receive 10 extra entries!!

The winner will be selected on 7/8 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was provide with the mentioned product. The views expressed here are my own. No other compensation was received

Product Review Monday: Simple Green Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

My dream someday would be to own a bakery and have one staff member solely dedicated to following me around the kitchen while he/she cleans up after me. I am probably the messiest baker I know and my husband would agree. Somehow I have even managed to get cake filling stuck on the ceiling of a room I was not even mixing it in! I have been looking for good quality cleaning products that can help make the clean up chore a little easier. Enter Simple Green Naturals.

Simple Green's Naturals line is made from 100% natural ingredient sources, non toxic, and made with biodegradable formulations. The non toxic claim was especially appealing to me because I have terrible allergies that can product asthma-like attacks when I smell toxic substances.

I was given the following Simple Green Naturals products to review: Multisurface Care, Glass and Surface Care, Floor Care, and Liquid Hand Soap.

The Multisurface Care was my favorite of the products. It cleaned quickly and required little scrubbing. It easily cleaned all of my kitchen surfaces! In fact, it required such little scrubbing effort, that my 4 year-old daughter was able to clean a door and it looked great when she was done. Plus, I felt comfortable letting her use the product because it is nontoxic. (By the way, she asked. I am not a child labor monster). Here is a before and after picture of the handles on my fridge.

The Window Care required a bit more effort on my part when there were tougher spots. It cleaned the surface and left it streak free. If I needed something stronger, I reached for the all purpose cleaner to help get the tough spots and then finished off with the glass cleaner. Here is a before and after of the microwave door. There were grease stains so I had to use both products on this one.

The floor cleaner also worked great. It easily removed smudges, spots, paw prints, etc and also required very little effort. Here is a before and after of my kitchen floor. Notice the shine on the after pic!:

I also really like the hand soap. It was herb scented which was unexpected. The smell was pleasant but not overpowering and it did a good job on cleaning my hands without leaving a residue.

I must say that I was very happy with each and every one of these products. When I was using them, I had no problems with my allergies or breathing. The smells were pleasant and subtle and the cleaning power was good. Now, if they would just come out with a ceiling cleaner that could remove cake filling....

Buy it here: You can buy Simple Green products from their website, select retailers, and from Amazon.

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

Fashion Week: Ming Wang Knits Review

I am not only a full-time mom and a part-time blogger, I also work full time in a position that requires a professional attire. I often struggle with finding the perfect work clothes. I want clothes that are comfortable, are wrinkle resistant, fashionable, and flattering. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a pair of paints from Ming Wang Knits that offered a great combination of style and functionality.

Ming Wang Knits is a company that creates business attire for the on-the-go woman. Their clothing is wrinkle-free, machine washable, color guarded, and travel friendly. I was able to review a pair of black pants from their current collection. When I opened my package and realized they were a small, I was saddened that I would not even be able to try them on (I have not been a small since pre-children). So, I was surprised when I was able to fit in them (yippee) and even more surprised by how thin they made me look (double yippee!!)

I wore them to work the next day and I received at least half a dozen comments on my "weight loss". Although I have lost a significant amount of weight over the past year, I certainly did not lose any since the day prior when I received no such comments. The secret to the slimming look is a sewn in girdle that truly sucks everything in! The shape of the pants was also quite flattering and made my legs look very thin. I was also very happy that there were no wrinkles at the end of the day.  I went to my mother's for dinner the same day and usually I leave with a pound of white cat hair stuck to my black clothing. About half way through the visit, my mother realized that there was no cat hair on the pants and was completely amazed (and I was grateful).

Although the pants are more expensive than I would typically pay for clothing (suggested retail is $174), I can guess that these pants will last my entire career (and I have a LONG way to go before retirement) so they are worth the investment. The pants kind of remind me of the credit card commercial. You know the one: "Shoes: $25, Shirt: $35, a pair of pants that are wrinkle resistant, cat hair resistant, and convince people that you lost 20 pounds overnight....priceless!"

Buy it here: You can buy Ming Wang Knits at Nordstrom, Von Maur, and specialty boutiques.

Connect here: You can connect with Ming Wang Knits through their email list, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Fashion Week: Delicate Soles Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Women just look better in high heels. But, let's face it ladies...they HURT!! They hurt your feet, they hurt your back, and they hurt your ankles. I cannot tell you how many times I have put on a pair of heels and then regretted it about 2 hours into my 9 hour workday.

If you find yourself suffering for fashion, then let Delicate Soles come to your rescue. Delicate Soles are rollable and portable ballet flats that can be easily carried in your purse. When your feet start to ache and you just can't take it anymore, you can easily exchange your heels for these fashionable and comfy flats!

Each set comes with a pair of ballet flats, a carrying pouch for the flats and a carrying pouch for your painful heels. They are available in small (6-7), medium (7.5-8.5), and large (9-10) and in the following colors: Onyx, Pixie Dust, Lipstick Red, and Starlight Silver. The sets retail for $19.99.

Review: I was provided with a pair of Onyx Delicate Soles to review. I got them in a size medium (my shoe size is between 8 and 8.5) and they fit perfectly. I loved how small they rolled and I can easily fit them in my work bag without worrying about it taking up too much room. The pouch that holds your regular shoes was generously sized and easily fit my clunkiest pair of shoes. I found Delicate Soles to be quite comfortable and my aching feet really welcomed the change. The only complaint that I have is that the seam in one of the shoes was rubbing on the back of my foot causing a mark and making it uncomfortable to wear after a longer period of time. The seam on the other shoe did not do this, so I wondered if there was a small irregularity in the one that was causing this to occur. The discomfort is not enough to dissuade me from wearing them and they go with me to work every day now. I really like knowing that I have a stylish alternative to heels and that I will not be a slave to the uncomfortable pair I choose in the morning. They go well with any outfit and your feet will thank you!

Here is a demonstration of how small the shoes are in the carrying pouch

The set also comes with a bag for your no-so-comfy shoes. It is large enough to fit standard size shoes, to include high heels

Here is a picture of the Delicate Soles on my feet. Totally cute, right!

Buy it here: You can purchase Delicate Soles from their website.

Win it here: Delicate Soles is giving one lucky Cake Mom reader a pair of their choosing!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me which size and color you would like to receive if you win. Please choose carefully as this will be the ones you receive if you win!

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me and Delicate Soles on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.
7. Like Delicate Soles on Facebook
8.  Buy a pair of Delicate Soles from their website between now and the end of this contest and receive 10 extra entries!!

The winner will be selected on 7/6 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

It's Summer Fashion Week on Cake Mom!

Since I love to blog about things that I love, I have decided that every season I will host a fashion themed week! This week I will feature some really great clothing and accessory companies. Plus, there will be a few fun giveaways for you as well!

Artistic Sensations Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Artistic Sensations sells high quality children's furniture, bedding products, decor accessories and specialty gift items.  They offer products for children of all ages and sell products by type and theme.

I was given the opportunity to review this adorable ceramic cross. The small cross is painted with polka dots and hangs with a sheer white ribbon. On the front is painted in black, "Thank Heaven for little girls".  

The cross is really adorable. It is light weight and well constructed. I really like the way the pastel dots look against the solid yellow wall in the picture. The ribbon was well cut and there were no frayed edges. This would make a really great gift for a baby or a small child and will make an instant keepsake! A similar plaid cross is sold on the site and can be customized with a name or saying as desired. There are also numerous color options.

Buy it here: You can purchase Artistic Sensations products from their website.

Win it here: Artistic Sensations is giving one lucky Cake Mom reader a polka dot cross in their choice of pink "Thank Heaven for little girls" or blue "Thank Heaven for little boys"

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what other product you love from Artistic Sensations!

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me and Artistic Sensations on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.
7. Like Artistic Sensations on Facebook

8.  Buy something from Artistic Sensations between now and the end of this giveaway and receive 10 extra entries!! 

The winner will be selected on 7/5 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was provide with the mentioned product. The views expressed here are my own. No other compensation was received

Bridal Shower Week: The Games/Activities

Games. You either love them or hate them at showers. Whether you decide to do a game or not is totally up to the shower planners and the bride, but I would suggest that you have some sort of activity (such as a Chinese Auction) if you do not do games.

For the bridal shower I threw, we only did one quick game and then also did a gift basket Chinese Auction. The game, Who Knows the Bride Best, was printed on themed paper and handed out to the guests. They had 5 minutes to fill in as many answers as they could and the person who guessed the most answers received a $20 gas card!

Here is a list of the questions that were asked:
1. How old is the bride?
2. What is the bride's show size?
3. What is her favorite color?
4. What is her favorite soft drink?
5. What is her favorite TV show?
6. What is the bride's favorite author?
7. What is her favorite dessert?
8. What was the bride's favorite childhood toy?
9. What is her favorite restaurant?
10. What is her favorite perfume?
11. What are the names of her siblings?
12. Who is her favorite actor?
13. If the bride could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
14. What is her favorite band or solo artist?
15. What was the bride's first job?
16. Where does she work?
17. What is the date of the wedding?
18. What is the wedding color scheme?
19. What is the bride's fiance's name (first and last)?
20. What does the bride usually sleep in?

For the Chinese Auction, each bridesmaid was asked to create a themed basket. Each guest was given a numbered envelope with tickets that corresponded to the number on the envelope. They could place the 10 tickets in any jar they wanted. At the end of the shower, the tickets were drawn and the prizes awarded. Although there are less winners with this method, the winners tend to get a much larger prize and it is something that they want since they only put tickets in for the baskets they want to receive!

Looking for more bridal shower games? I found a ton of great ones at this site.

Bridal Shower Week: 1-800-FLOWERS.COM

1-800-FLOWERS.COM is a family-run business that prides itself in making people smile through beautiful floral arrangements. Through coordination with local florists, they are able to deliver flowers for every occasion you can imagine. 

If you have been reading my Bridal Shower Week posts, then you know I am a huge fan of using floral arrangements as centerpieces.Using a beautiful and professionally arranged live bouquet at the tables sets a tone for an elegant occasion. Since their arrangements range so widely, you can easily find a bouquet that will match the theme of your shower.

Floral arrangements can also make a great gift to a bride, particularly if you wish to congratulate her on her upcoming nuptials but are unable to attend her shower. Using flowers at the shower can also help inspire the bride to make final decision about her wedding day flowers.

They have arrangements that show evidence for the company thinking outside of the box. I absolutely adore this Flower Cake!

I was given the opportunity to review the "It's Your Sunny Day" arrangement. Retailing for $49.99, this arrangement is made with a combination of white, cream, and yellow roses, carnations, and lilies. A smiley face foam sun sets a light and fun feel to the arrangement. Flowers can certainly elicit emotions in individuals, and this one certainly makes me smile. The website description indicates that the arrangement is contained in a cubed vase, however mine is round. I had no issue with the change in shape and it was likely due to the vases the local florist had in stock. There is also a great fragrance to these flowers. This arrangement would be great for a variety of occasions and will certainly bring a smile to the recipient's face.





Buy it here: You can order from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM using their customer-friendly website.

I was provided with the above mentioned arrangement for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Bridal Shower Week: The Cake!!

Here is the cake I made for the butterfly-themed bridal shower. I was so happy with how this cake turned out! The bottom tier is chocolate cake with raspberry mousse and the top layer is yellow cake with almond custard.  The flowers on the top were arranged using a Cake Vase and the edible butterflies can be purchased at ChefTools.com.

Need ideas for bridal shower cakes? Cake Central and Wilton are two of the greatest resources for finding cake inspiration!

Bridal Shower Gift Idea: Scandle Review and GIVEAWAY!! *ENDED*

Scandle is not your average candle. Scandle Body Massage Candles are hand-poured candles that, when burned, melt to create a massage oil that is both healthy for your skin and environmentally friendly. It works as a moisturizer, so can be used on hands. For more fun, this can be given to a bride for some honeymoon fun!

Scandle can be purchased in sample packs, refillable ceramic jars, and as a travel tin. They also offer other products to include a Sea Salt Soak and Scrub.

I was given a travel candle and a sample of the Seal Salt Soak and Scrub to review. The lavender scented candle smelled so good! I let it burn for 45 minutes and then tried the wax on my hands. It was really neat how the wax turned into an oil that rubbed smoothly onto my skin! The moisturizing effect was not only immediate, but lasting. My hands felt like I had rubbed baby oil on them, though they did not have the greasy residue that may occur if I used actual oil. The smell was also great on my hands and that lasted hours after I applied the oil. I can certainly guess that this would work great for a massage! Between the smells and the sensations, it can make for a sensual and intimate experience for a couple.

The Scandle Sea Salt Soak and Scrub was fantastic as well. I used the sea salt as a body scrub in the shower and it had a great exfoliating effect. It reminded me of a loofah while I was using it and then later I was thrilled with how soft and smooth my skin felt.

Both products were high in quality, great smelling, and worked as the company promised.

Buy it here: You can purchase Scandle products from their website and from select retailers. 


Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader will win a Scandle Essentials Travel Candle in their choice of scent!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me which scent of Scandle you will choose if you win. Choose carefully, because this will be the one you will receive if you win!

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.

7.  Buy something from Scandle between now and the end of this giveaway and receive 10 extra entries!! 

The winner will be selected on 7/2 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was provide with the mentioned product. The views expressed here are my own. No other compensation was received

Bridal Shower Week: The Centerpieces

The mother of the bride made two styles of centerpieces. They fit in great with the butterfly and flower theme.  Since she had no interest in taking all of these home, they were given away as door prizes. At every table, a sticker was placed under one favor. The person who had the sticker under their favor box got to take the centerpiece home!

Not sure how to get started with centerpieces? Check out my review for The Flower Duet Flower Arranging instructional video!

Bridal Shower Centerpieces: Flower Duet DVD Review

Centerpieces are very important and can really help complete the bridal shower theme. Flowers make great centerpieces, but preparing a fresh flower arrangement is completely intimidating to someone with little to no experience doing so. This is why Flower Duet, 2 florist sisters, decided to create and instructional DVD that take viewers through the arrangement process from start to finish.


The DVD, "How to Create a European Wrap Bouquet", teaches you everything you need to know to make beautiful fresh flower bouquets and centerpieces.  They start by taking you right to the flower market and show you how to pick the perfect flowers. They talk about not only color, but how to pick flowers based on their blooming stage and feel. After coming home with your flowers, they show you how to clean and condition them. Then, they take you step by step and create several centerpieces and a beautiful bouquet. 



After watching this DVD, I really feel that I could easily create a beautiful flower arrangement! They made it look so simple. The speed of instruction was great and I really liked how they took you through each step.

The Flower Duet website has a great gallery that provides a ton of ideas for flower arrangements and I would highly recommend checking it out. I loved the tips that were placed throughout the DVD. An example is, keep all greenery cut above the water line to extend the life of your bouquet. The Flower Duet ladies are lovely, articulate, and are great instructors.They have definitely inspired me to create an arrangement the next opportunity I get!

If you are someone that prefers to learn by visual and audio instruction, then this is a great product!  This is my preferred way of learning; however, I tend to remember things much better when I can read something. The combination of the two would be perfect, so the only recommendation I would have for these great ladies is to also sell or include a small booklet or pamphlet that reviews some of the key points.

Buy it here: You can purchase the Flower Duet instructional video for $29.95 (a small price to pay for something that can save you a ton of money on flower arrangements in the future!) from their website.

I was provided with the above mentioned DVD for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Bridal Shower Week: Pear Tree Greeting Address Labels GIVEAWAY!! 5 WINNERS! (ended)

Every invitation you send will need a return address on the envelope, so why not make it easier by using address labels! Pear Tree Greetings is a great online store where you can customize invitations, purchase stationary, and find some great return address labels that coordinate with your bridal shower theme!

Cool idea:  Address labels can also make a really cute bridal shower gift. The bride-to-be will be so excited when she opens something with her married name on it!

Buy it here: You can purchase Pear Tree Greeting products from their website. You can receive 10% off all orders over $19 during the month of June by using the case PEARJUN10 at checkout!

Win it here: Five (5) lucky Cake Mom readers will each receive a set of address labels from Pear Tree Greetings!!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US residents only. You must complete the mandatory entry before completing optional entries. Each optional entry needs to be added as a separate comment. Comments that do not follow the rules will not count and will be deleted. PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry:  What else could you do with an address label? Think outside the box, what are other ways to use these fabulously stylish stickers?

Optional entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry. For example, if you blog about this contest, leave 3 separate comments!

1. Follow my blog (publicly)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email and confirm the subscription
3. Grab my button and post a link to your blog
4. Blog about this contest (with a link to my blog) and post a link to your blog (3 entries)
5. Follow me on twitter and tweet about this contest (can be done daily). You must place a link to your tweet.
6. Enter another one of my contests. Enter as many as you like, but this method is only worth 1 entry regardless of how many you enter.

7.  Buy a product from Pear Tree Greetings between now and the end of this contest and receive 10 extra entries! Don't forget to use the coupon code listed above for 10% off!

The winners will be selected on 6/30 via random.org and will be emailed. The winners will have 48 hours to respond.

I was given the opportunity to host this giveaway as  Pearista. As a Pearista, I receive samples and products. No other compensation is received and all views expressed are my own.

Bridal Shower Gift Idea: FOXY Fusions

While I always believe it is  best to shop off the bride's registry for bridal shower and wedding gifts, I also encourage invitees to add a small gift that coordinates with the registered one for a nice surprise. For example, if the bride registers for a baking dish, buy the dish but then also include your favorite recipe and the necessary ingredients with the gift. If the bride registers for wine glasses, then I would recommend including FOXY Fusion Wine Charms!

FOXY Fusions sells beautiful fused glass wearable art. The designer, Kerri Lawnsby, is an American mother who creates her beautiful pieces as inspired by current fashion trends, paintings, fine arts, and people watching.  I was given the opportunity to review FOXY Charms which makes a great gift for the bride who loves art and wine, likes to entertain, and seems to have everything already. They are a great way to dress up your wine glass and have fun while entertaining.

 Sets includes 6 charms. They come in an array of colors and designs, and each boxed is unique! The boxes come in three different color schemes: colorful, sedate, and mixed. One box of charms retails for $35.

Review: I am always annoyed at parties when I lose my glass (and yes, this happens all the time). So, the concept of wine charms alone is very appealing. All you have to do is remember your color. I found the look of FOXY Charms to be very attractive. The amount of detail that went in to these tiny glass decorations is very impressive. I also really enjoyed the color combinations. The charms were very easy to attach to the glass. The wire is flexible, so if it loses its shape and you have difficulty keeping it clasped, you can simply apply a little pressure and slightly reshape the wire so it clasps again. I am glad to have a set of these and will absolutely use these at my next party. I think any bride would be thrilled to receive this bonus gift!

Buy it here: You can buy these amazing wine charms FOXY Fusion's other fabulous products on their website.

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

You Are Invited to Bridal Shower Week!!

I LOVE throwing parties. In fact, my love of party planning is what attracted me to cake decorating. I go a bit overboard with my children's birthday parties every year, but I love every minute of it. So, when my friend became engaged, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to plan a bridal shower for her. This week, I am going to share some hosting tips, show pictures of the actual shower, and share a couple of product reviews and host a few giveaways!

The very first step to throwing an unforgettable bridal shower is to pick a theme and/or color scheme. You can choose the bride's favorite colors, go with a fun and playful theme, or go with a seasonal theme.  For my friend's shower, I shared with her a couple of ideas and asked that she pick her favorite. One of the ideas was a chocolate themed bright pink and brown theme and the other theme was butterflies.  The Knot has some really nice ideas if you are looking for some inspiration.  Nicole chose the butterflies which really excited me!

Since I decided to throw her the shower and had many months to plan, I knew that I had a lot of time to get creative and coordinate everything. This week, I will show you the invitations, centerpieces, favors, game, and the cake! I will also have some great product reviews and a couple of giveaways!

So, I would love to know if any of you have thrown bridal showers. If so, what tips do you have for the readers on throwing a great bridal bash?