Pick and Draw Review and GIVEAWAY!! 2 winners! **ENDED**

Are you looking for a new way to overcome cabin fever with your kids? Pick and Draw is a fun and simple family game that allows your kids the opportunity ti improve their drawing skills while allowing the whole family to spend time together and have a good time.

From the company:

Created by artist and teacher Rich Davis, Pick and Draw is a one-of-a-kind drawing game that teaches you how to draw by making funny, creative cartoon faces.  The game is simple and uses a deck of cards that can be played by one or more people.  It takes five minutes or less to learn the game.  Using mainly simple shapes everyone already knows, there are 60,000 different possibilities to draw your very own cartoon face.  Pick and Draw makes “success” possible, providing the confidence to encourage continued learning and endless hours of fun.  It’s an excellent way to engage in creative and imaginative thinking!

The game is simple to play. There is a color designated for each facial feature and the players choose one card of each color and then put the simple shapes and features to create a silly face. To make it even more fun, when the drawing is complete each player is encouraged to answer the following three questions about the character they created:

What is his/her name?

What does he/she like to do or is good at?

What's his/her favorite king of music?

My 5 year-old daughter, who loves to draw, and I played Pick and Draw and had a really good time. She challenged herself to draw features she thought were too difficult for her and it was great to see the sense of accomplishment on her face when she was able to succeed. We got really silly and creative with the answers to our questions and it was great seeing Bella use her imagination this way. We played the game, the first time, for well over an hour and she and I both gave the game a big thumbs up!

Buy it here: Pick and Draw can be purchased for $10 here.

Win it here: Two lucky Cake Mom reader are going to win Pick and Draw!!

**Please read the rules**

This giveaway is open to US Residents. 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. If you email is not on your public profile, then PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry:  Check out Pick and Draw's website and tell me something you learned!

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 enter7

7. Order Pick and Draw and receive 10 EXTRA entries!!  
8. Watch the Glee video at this link (3 entries)

The winner will be selected on 2/10 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.

Congrats to Traci and MRWriter! You have been emailed.

Crossing the Heart of Africa Review

If you are in the mood to read romantic books around Valentine's Day, but would like a bit more substance than the steamy romance novels can offer, then let me introduce you to Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure by Julian Smith.  The book follows the real events of two men on a journey across Africa, one in 1898 and one in 2007. The motives? Love.

In 1898, British explorer Ewart Grogan set out to be the first person to cross the length of Africa in order to prove his love and dedication to his beloved, Gertrude.  His intent was to prove to her skeptical step-father that he was deserving of his daughter's love.  Inspired by this adventure, Julian Smith (author of the book) set out to retrace Grogan's steps across Africa, chronicle his experiences, and also prove his love for his fiance', Laura.

The book alternates between telling Grogan's story and telling Julian's. Julian often refers to Grogan's writings throughout his journey and attempts to take the same course.  Not knowing much about African culture, I found the book to be quite fascinating. Reading about run-ins with wild life never seen in America except in a zoo and watching the characters become stricken with diseases we are lucky enough to be free from here kept me very interested in the book.  It was very interesting to read the differences between Africa in 1898 and 2007, and even more interesting to realize that not a lot has changed. 

The love story of Julian and Laura was intermingled throughout the book, but it was Ewan's passion to prove his love to Gertrude which was the true love story.  Nowadays, an "I Love You" card and some flowers are enough to win over a lot of women, it is hard to imagine a time when making a commitment to go where no man has gone before was the only acceptable way to prove your love!

The mixture of adventure and love made this a very interesting read. Because there is a nice balance between the two, the book would likely be enjoyed by both men and women.

Buy it here: Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure can be purchased for $14.99 and is available from Amazon.

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

Just Paper Roses Review and GIVEAWAY!!

It is time to shop for Valentine's Day and if you are looking for fun and unique gifts, then let me introduce you to Just Paper Roses.  The company is run by and features American crafters. Their two most popular products are whimsical toilet paper and a fabulous line of roses made from everything from paper to steel wool. This Valentine's Day why not make your loved one smile and give them a present they will never forget!

I was given two fun products to review. The Valentine's Day toilet paper can make a fun and festive surprise this holiday. Printed among hearts are the words, "I Love You from Top to Bottom". Each roll sells for $14.95. It is really a cute idea and my kids got a kick out of it. The toilet paper is quite thin so if you are used to two-ply, quilted, ultra-soft toilet paper than you may not be thrilled with the texture and quality of this paper. However, the benefit of a thoughtful loving statement is worth it from my perspective. 

I also received a really great JustDeskRoses Aluminum to review. This upcoming year will be my 10 year anniversary, so I really loved this beautiful display. Aluminum is considered the traditional gift for a 10 year anniversary. The rose was nicely constructed and is stood on a wooden base with "Happy Aluminum Anniversary" engraved in the front. This display was really stunning and would be a great way to remember anniversaries!  JustDeskRoses looks great on my bookshelf and is a great deal at $19.95.

Buy it here: You can shop for great Valentine's Day gifts from the Just Paper Roses website.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win a $50 gift code to Just Paper Roses!! 

**Please read the rules**

This giveaway is open to US Residents. 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. If you email is not on your public profile, then PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me what your favorite Just Paper Roses item is in the Valentine's category.

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. Like Just Paper Roses on Facebook.

The winner will be selected on 2/7  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.

The Best End to the I Love Dogs Event!!

I have to say that I have the BEST husband EVER!!! Today he stopped at my work and brought me my early Valentine's Day present.

Meet Princess Buttercup! She is an 8 week old English Bulldog. I can't get over how adorable she is. She looks like a furry pot-bellied pig. What a great end to my event and a nice segue into the next event...Valentine's Day!

JoJo: A Dog's Tale Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

 

I look at my dog, who is so full of personality, and often wonder what he is thinking. Do dog's have complex thoughts like humans? Do they experience emotions like humans?  JoJo: A Dog's Tale: an Autobiography takes you inside the mind of a Yorkie Poo while he "tells" you the story of his life. You meet JoJo in a pet store and follow him through his life to include many ups (such as meeting his mate, Lily, and having a baby, Coconut) and downs (to include being abused and abandoned). 

The book is written as an autobiography and is published by Banbury Publishing. Sande Donahue, a free-lance writer, adopted JoJo. She contacted Dr. Kim Ogden, a nationally renowned animal communicator, and together, the three of them were able to develop JoJo's autobiography

The book is a light read and is mildly entertaining,  yet not for someone who enjoys being intellectually stimulated. It would be a good book for a young reader or even to be read to younger children. It can help children understand how important it is to treat your pets right and how much responsibility it is to have a dog. The message of the book is that dogs are not emotionless and thoughtless beings, they are very similar to humans.

It was interesting to consider how a dog views the world and does make me think more about the way my dog tries to communicate with me using barking and body language. I did find that as I was reading the book that I wanted to be closer to my own dog.   There were parts of the book I could have done without, like JoJo's telepathic conversations with "Big Dog" who was physically nowhere near JoJo.  There was a problem with the editing of the book as the gender of JoJo's puppy alternated between being female to being male.  Despite these issue, I did find that I cared enough about JoJo, Lily, and Coconut to keep reading in order to make sure that they got the happy ending they deserved.

Buy it here: You can purchase JoJo: A Dog's Tale from the book's website or from Amazon for $12.95.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win a copy of "JoJo: A Dog's Tale"

**Please read the rules**

This giveaway is open to US Residents. 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. If you email is not on your public profile, then PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENT!

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me in what ways your dog communicates to you! Don't have a dog? Then tell me why you want to win this book.

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

The winner will be selected on 2/7  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.

Congrats to Niecey! You have been emailed.

Serena Says Treats Review and GIVEAWAY!! (3 winners) **ENDED**

If you like to spoil your dog as much as I do, then you probably have a constant supply of doggie treats on hand.  If you are going to spoil your dog, then you might as well do so with fresh and healthy ingredients! Serena Says is a small family business with a goal of creating the best treats for your best friend. How do they know they are the best? Because all of their treats are taste-tested and approved by Serena, the family's 10 year old Lab/Bordie Collie mix dog.  All of their treats are free from corn, soy and gluten. They grind their own rice flour and nut meal, buy their own vegetables at local markets and cook everything by hand.

I was provided with three varieties of Serena Says treats to review:

Squash - squash, rice, tapioca flour & oatmeal

Molasses & Nuts - molasses, mixed nuts, rice, tapioca flour, oatmeal

Squash & Nuts - squash, mixed nuts, rice, tapioca flour, oatmeal

Squash & Flax Seed  -squash, flax seed, rice, tapioca flour & oatmeal

Butch seemed to really enjoy these treats.  Very rarely does he beg for dog treats (he prefers dog food and human leftovers); however, it was a different story with the Serena Says treats. He would perk up when he say me reaching for the wrapped treats. In fact, he keeps coming over to me as I am typing this post wanting more as I have them right in front of me.  They come hand-wrapped in foil and clearly labeled with the type of treat and ingredient. They are thin and hard and adorably shaped as dog bones!  If Butch had thumbs, he would probably give these treats a big thumbs up. 

Buy it here: Serena Says treats are available for $2.50 a dozen (5 dozen order minimum) and can be purchased from their website.

Win it here: Three (3) lucky winners are going to each win a sample pack of Serena Says Treats which contain 5 dozen treats!!

**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 unless your email is visible in your public profile!

Mandatory Entry:   Tell me which Serena Says treat you think your dog would enjoy the most.

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 Serena Says between now and the end of this contest and receive 10 EXTRA entries!

8. Like Serena Says on Facebook 

The winner will be selected on 2/6 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.

Congrats to s8r8133, Stacy, and Esluka! You have been emailed!

Foodie Friday: The Frugal Foodie Cookbook Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook is a great little cookbook that shows you how you can cook for yourself, your kids, or your family as a whole on a budget. Healthier than popping frozen foods in the oven, the recipes in this book look easy to make (I love casserole and soup recipes) and are appealing to people of all ages. 

In addition to tons of great recipe ideas, the book is filled with other helpful frugal hints and "cents-able solutions".  My favorite tip was to put leftover salad in a tortilla wrap the next day for a snack. There are tips for saving money throughout the whole book and I liked the information on ingredient substitutions. There were even some fun ideas for getting kids to eat healthier such as using food coloring in milk.

The only thing that was missing were pictures (there were cute drawings scattered throughout the book just not actual photos of completed meals). Typically, I browse through pictures to see what is mouthwatering when going through a cookbook so I had to change my approach with this book. Since it was organized by meals I did not have to go through it page by page and could, instead, flip to the section and find a recipe that way.

Buy it here: The frugal Foodie retails for $14.95 or  is available from Amazon for a discounted price.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win The Frugal Foodie! 

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US & Canadian 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 unless your email is visible in your public profile!

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me how you save money when it comes to grocery shopping and/or cooking.

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

The winner will be selected on 2/6 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.

Congrats to Debby M! You have been emailed.

Kona's Chips Review

Kona's Chips are jerky dog treats made from premium 100% USDA inspected sliced chicken breasts.  They are produced, processed, packaged and sold in the USA.  The product was developed when the company's beloved dog became very ill after eating dried chicken breasts imported from China. After nursing their dog, Kona, back to health they dedicated themselves to creating healthy all-American treats. As a result, the pet owners developed Kona's Chips and became the first manufacturer of pet treats to earn a Made in USA Certification.

I was given two packs of treats for Butch to sample, the classic Kona's Chips and Liver Licks. The original Kona's Chips is a 6 oz pack of chicken jerky and is 100% all natural. Because of the nature of the treat, they require refrigeration. I was impressed by the size of the treats (size of a chicken breast). Since Butch is quite large, a small dainty treat is just not enough for him and these were right up his alley. I would love to tell you how the dining experience was for him, but he strangely would run off and hide while he ate these. This is something he has never done with another treat, perhaps he did not want to share! The bag of treats sells for $9.49.

The Liver Licks also comes in a 6oz package. They are made from human-grade USDA approved chicken liver, barley and molasses. Chicken liver is known to be rich in amino acids, protein, phosphorous, potassium, copper, and Vitamin A & B-complex. Butch enjoyed these bite-sized treats as well. Much smaller than the Kona's Chips, it took a few more of these to satisfy my Boxer but he seemed happy none-the-less. This bag of treats sells for $8.79.

Buy it Here: You can purchase Kona's Chips products from their website.

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.

2011 Canine Calendar for a Cause Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

The 2011 Canine Calendar for a Cause features more than 100 dogs with a missions - "to cure Multiple Sclerosis as quickly as possible by determining its causes".  The calendar is is an 8 1/2x 11 inch spiral-bound book filled with black and white photos of adorable dogs.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of the calendars are donated to the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) for Multiple Sclerosis. 

About Multiple Sclerosis (MS):

MS is a chronic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system affecting over 400,000 people in the US and 2 million individuals worldwide. MS often results in severe disability including inability to walk, impaired vision or in some cases blindness, cognitive dysfunction, bladder and bowl problems, extreme fatigue and other serious symptoms. Unfortunately, no one knows what causes MS, there is no known cure,and the treatments are modest at best.

This product holds a special place in my heart not only because I love dogs but because I had an aunt who died from complications of MS.  Seeing her deteriorate slowly over 15 years was one of the most difficult things I have experienced, and I can only begin to imagine how awful the experience must have been for her.  I fully support any initiative that supports MS research.

The calendar itself is absolutely fantastic. The pages are made of  high quality and sturdy paper. I love the spiral binding and the calendar is definitely designed to last through the whole year. In addition to monthly calendar pages, there are heart-warming stories about some of the dogs featured in the calendar as well as pages in between each month to create a to-do list and keep important notes. I love the black and white photos and there is a really nice assortment of different kinds of dogs. There are fun quotes and astrological information for your dog! 

Because of the high quality of the calendar and the fabulous cause, I give this calendar and project the Cake Mom Seal of Approval!

Buy it here: You can purchase the Canine Calendar from Calendar For a Cause website for $25 which includes shipping.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win a 2011 Canine Calendar for a Cause!!

**Please read the rules**

Open to US 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: Do you know, or have you ever known, someone with MS?

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. Purchase a Canine Calendar for a Cause calendar from Amazon and receive 10 EXTRA entries!!

The winner will be selected on 2/5 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

 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. 

Congrats to Melissa! You have been emailed. 

Painting the Family Dog GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

"M Theresa Brown brings to you her secrets of painting and selling portraits of dogs. Regardless of whether or not you are looking to sell commissioned paintings, or just getting an understanding of working with and painting animals, this DVD is for you."

If you made a New Year's resolution to try something new this year, then this may be perfect for you! Why not learn how to paint and immortalize your beloved pet while you are at it. Painting Portraits - the Family Dog will teach you how to get animals to pose for you. In addition you will learn how to create life-like eyes and fur. This DVD looks amazing and I am jealous that one of you are going to have the opportunity to own it!

About the artist: M Therese Brown raised four children as a single mom entirely on sales of her art. She is a popular motivational guest speaker as well as instructor of many art painting workshops. Now married to artist Stephen Filarsky, together they continue to pay their bills entirely through the sales of their art.

Buy it here: You can purchase Painting Portraits -the Family Dog for  $24.95 from the Art Career Experts website.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win Painting Portraits - the Family Dog! 

**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 type of dog you own and whether or not you have ever tried to draw/paint him or her before.

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 Cake Mom  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.

The winner will be selected on 2/4 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

No compensation was received and information provided is from the sponsor.

Congrats to Debbie! You have been emailed.

Reader Cakes and Recipe: Mom Vs. The Boys

Jennifer, the talented cake decorator and blogger behind Mom vs. the Boys, created these beauties! She has got some great giveaways and her blog is a lot of fun so check it out!

This cake looks fabulous and the recipe looks super easy!

Too Much Chocolate Cake

1 package devils food cake mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(I forgot to buy them, but I did happen to have 2 milk chocolate bars on hand and chopped these up to toss in. I would imagine mini chocolate chips would be best if you are using them though)

Preheat own to 350 degrees
In a large bowl mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 50-60 min, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean (with all that melted chocolate in there, it actually never did come out clean).
Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate.
Dust cake with icing sugar or pour on a glaze or ganache.


If you have a recipe or cake you would like featured on Cake Mom, please email me at jamielz@verizon.net.

Teddy's Pride Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Teddy's Pride is the first-ever all-natural probiotic breath freshener and teeth whitener created especially for dogs and cats. Daily use of Teddy's Pride Pet Oral Care provides a quick, simple, and effective way to naturally promote fresher breath and whiter teeth without the hassle, stress, and poor results of trying to brush your teeth or investing in costly and potentially dangerous cleaning procedures requiring anesthesia at the veterinarian's office.

Last year I was given the opportunity to review Teddy's Pride Pet Oral Care and used it on my dachshund, Hoss, who had really bad teeth.  He had a lot of dental problems and could not tolerate having his teeth brushed. The product made his breath smell better in a couple of days and after a few weeks, they started to look better as well.  Unfortunately, Hoss is no longer with us.  I promised myself that I would be much better about oral hygiene with Butch and was looking forward to trying the product again with a healthy mouth.  It is very simple to use. You simply sprinkle one scoopful on your pet's food once a day. It is 100% natural, odorless and tasteless. Butch did not notice there was anything added to his food and ate it as he normally would.  His teeth remain white and his breath is fresh! Since brushing his teeth is difficult (he just wants to play and bite the brush) this is a nice alternative. 

Buy it here: You can purchase a 60 day supply of Teddy's Pride Pet Oral Care for $24.95 on Teddy's Pride website.

Win it here: Teddy's Pride is giving one lucky Cake Mom reader a jar of Pet Oral Care!

**Please read the rules**
This is open to US and Canadian 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 why you want to win this product! 

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 Cake Mom and Teddy's Pride 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 Teddy's Pride on Facebook

8. Buy Teddy's Pride Oral Care between now and the close of this post for 10 EXTRA ENTRIES!!


The winner will be selected on 2/3 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.

Congrats to Niurka! You have been emailed.

Turn to CSN Stores With Your Tax Return!

Now that the holidays are over, you can breathe a breath of fresh air and start thinking about how you are going to spend that tax return this year! Every year, we try to do one home improvement project with our return.  

CSN Stores has anything you can think of for your home. From outdoor playsets to dining room furniture, you can find it all!  I rely on my tax return to pay for my children's private school tuition, but if there is a little left I really hope I can start to update my very old and ugly bathroom!

What are you planning on doing with your tax return this year?

This post precedes a review post which will occur for CSN within a month. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Clean + Green Review and GIVEAWAY!! (3 winners) **ENDED**

Pets can be pretty messy. Whether it is the occasional accident or running through the house with muddy paws, I can see the effects on our carpets and furniture of having dogs. Clean + Green sells product that will permanently clean pet stains on a variety of surfaces while eliminating odors. Their eco-friendly aerosol products  are non-toxic, non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and will not damage the ozone layer. Their products are made with all-natural,100% biodegradable ingredients and their containers are recyclable.

I was given two products to review: Carpet & Upholstery cleaner and Furniture Refresher.  The Carpet & Upholstery cleaner is a cleaner, odor eliminator, and stain remover all in one. It is really easy to use, you simply spray and let dry. Any product that works without needing scrubbing is a winner!  We used this when Butch got a bit too excited while playing and peed on the floor. I followed the directions and after only one application of the spray, the spot was gone! It took a little bit to dry but it really worked. It was also odor-free, which I really appreciate since I have asthma.  

The Furniture Refresher cleans and eliminates pet odors on fabric and leather.  It works just like the Carpet & Upholstery cleaner. This product is nice to use on Butch's bed. It freshens it quickly and is odor-free.  It sprays evenly and widely so you can easily spray over your furniture and neutralize any scents.

I am very happy with both of these products and love that they are pet and Earth friendly!

Buy it here: You can purchase Clean + Green products from their website. They have products for other animal smells as well. You can also purchase their products at various retail locations.

Win it here: Three (3) lucky Cake Mom readers are going to win their choice of products from Clean + Green!!

**Please read the rules**

This contest 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 unless your email is visible in your public profile!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me which Clean + Green product you want to try the most. Choose wisely because this will be the product 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 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.

The winner will be selected on 2/2 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.

Congrats to pmj, msrodeobrat and cricketsaunders! You have all been emailed!

Care4Hire GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Trying to find a babysitter or petsitter can be very anxiety provoking. You want to make sure you are leaving your pet or loved on in good hands, but how can you know you are making the right choice?

Care4hire.com is an online database for families and caregivers. Not only can you find babysitters, but you can also search for housekeepers, tutor, pet sitters, companion/eldercare, personal assistance, gardeners and other miscellaneous help. You can take advantage of a free preview of caregivers prior to registration. Once you are a registered member, you will have access to contact the thousands of caregivers in the database. Whether you are needing someone for 1 day or a permanent basis, you can find it at Care4hire.com.

Buy it here: Care4Hire has a free 7 day preview available. You can choose a $9.99 a month plan (with $25 sign up fee) or a $79.99 annual plan.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win a free 1 month membership to Care4hire!!

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US & Canadian 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 unless your email is visible in your public profile!

Mandatory Entry: Check out the Tips & Advice for Family and Caregivers section of the Care4hire website and tell me something you learned.

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

The winner will be selected on 2/1 via random.org and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

I was not provided with compensation for this post. 

Congrats to Lua, you have been emailed!

Girlfriends are Lifesavers Review and GIVEAWAY!! **ENDED**

Friendships can be as important to women as their families and jobs. There are some friends who may have been a part of your life longer than you can remember. Why not show your appreciation to your best friend(s) by giving them a little thank you present!  Reeda Joseph's "Girlfriends Are Lifesavers" from Viva Editions is a cute little hardcover book that captures the true essence of friendship in this very short read.  The book is filled with fun vintage-style pictures from the 1950s era and features witty captions that make you laugh out loud. My favorite is one of a family portrait with the caption "American Dream....on Prozac".  I can really relate to most of the themes to this book and I am sure that any girlfriend would love to receive this fun little book!

Buy it here: Girlfriends are Lifesavers retails for $14.95 or  is available from Amazon for a discounted price.

Win it here: One lucky Cake Mom reader is going to win Girlfriends are Lifesavers! 

**Please read the rules**

This is open to US & Canadian 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 unless your email is visible in your public profile!

Mandatory Entry:  How long have you been friends with your BFF (best friend forever)? 

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

The winner will be selected on 2/1 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.

Congrats to Benita! You have been emailed.