Ellie Bellie's Giveaway

Welcome to all who are here from Bloggy Giveaways! I always have fun, weekly contests going on, so be sure to subscribe using the form in my sidebar if you haven't already.

This contest is open to everyone, not just those from Bloggy Giveaways, so regular readers....feel free to enter as well.
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I received an absolutely fun and adorable personalized mug from Ellie Bellies that I now use all the time.

First of all, it was wrapped up in a gorgeous package (I always love gorgeous wrapping):



And the mug inside was just as gorgeous:



Isn't it gorgeous? I've received so many compliments on it!

And picking out your own personalized design is a blast. You simply choose:

1. The background
2. Your art choice
3. Personalization (initials, first name, etc. and your choice of font style)

Fun and easy!

Want to win your own personalized Ellie Bellie mug?

To enter:

Simply click here (for "other" goodies) or here (for paper goodies), then leave a comment here letting me know what your favorite product is and why.

For a bonus entry, blog about this contest on your site, then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

Deadline to enter is August 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winner has two weeks to claim prize after notification or the prize is forfeited.

Good luck!

Doodlebag Winner

Congratulations to Keri from The Redhead in the Corner!

She has won a personalized Doodlebag from Princess Linens!

Thanks to all who entered and thanks to Princess Linens for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway.

Remember, even if you didn't win, you can save 15% off your ENTIRE purchase at Princess Linens! Simply enter the code "Blonde" (without the quotes) when checking out to receive your discount. Enjoy!

Office Supermarket

In need of Home Office Furniture? Office Supermarket is the UK's leading Office Furniture store, with quality products, fast service, and a wide variety of furniture to choose from.

From classic to contemporary to executive, you're bound to find something that suits your style and needs. They offer traditional desks, computer desks, bookcases, drawers and pedestals, filing cabinets, meeting tables, conference tables, cupboards, printer storage and more.

You'll be amazed at how much their is to choose from. For instance, are you in the market for a new office chair? There are executive, operator, visitor, cantilever, reception, conference, big & tall, bistro, folding, stacking, designer and ergonomic chairs galore! And if you need it fast, click on "48hr Delivery Chairs" to have it shipped to you as soon as possible.

Not sure which chair is right for you? There's a handy step-by-step guide on the site to help you make the right decision. Their explanations of the key features and aspects of their office chairs should help you make your decision, ensuring maximum comfort and maximum productivity in your daily working life.

The guide explains the benefits of each style of chair and even tells you about the materials: fabric, leather, mesh, laminate and wicker. There are important icons that explain the features a chair may have including chair adjustment, tilting mechanism and the length of time for which you can safely use the chairs.

There's also a guide for buying Office Desks. The guide explains how the importance of measuring space properly, and explains the benefits of each type of desk: glass, wooden, computer, hideaways, corner, wave, and ergonomic desks.

It also covers desk features such as cable management, cd storage, cpu storage, integrated drawers, keyboard shelf, monitor shelf, printer/fax storage, stationery shelf, and tambour doors.

You can order online or, if you'd rather see and feel the furniture up close and in person, you can visit one of their showrooms in London, Liverpool or Lutterworth. There is over 2,000 square foot of furniture on display so you won't be disappointed! It's advisable to call the showroom you wish to visit to ensure the furniture you're interested in is available, though, since each showroom only features select desk, office furniture, and chair ranges. Visits are by appointment only, as well, so be sure to set up an appointment before you arrive.

If you prefer to shop online and have any questions that aren't covered on the site, you can get expert advice over the phone. Live help is available Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (UK time).

Office Supermarket offers amazing deals on all of their furniture. Their furniture is up to 60% off RRP. With easy payment options too, it shouldn't put too much of a pinch in your budget to get the office of your dreams. And if you order in bulk, you can receive further discounts.

ALL of their furniture comes with a five-year guarantee, so you know that you can trust that what you buy will last.

Quality AND quantity makes for a good combination! Especially when it's so affordable. Head over to Office Supermarket today and check it out.

Poised for Triumph

I've blogged before about my many problems with bladder control. If my daughter and I are out somewhere, it's bound to happen because she always makes me laugh so hard.

But even though one in four moms suffer from light bladder leakage, it's still considered a taboo topic. Recent research found that 80% of women who suffer from light bladder leakage are hesitant to talk to their peers about this sensitive issue for fear of embarrassment.

Kimberly-Clark's Poise brand has teamed with the Women's Health Foundation (WHF) to help break the silence on this important topic and to create awareness.

The Foundation held a "Below the Belt" benefit for the cause. At the event, Poise presented the first-ever Passion Award to Linda Michael of Portage, Indiana whose courage and willingness to share her story of triumph over pelvic pain and bladder control issues has been an inspiration to women and doctors alike. Because she has spoken out, others feel more comfortable to share their stories as well.

Click here for Linda's Story.



(Passion Award Recipient Linda Michael with the Indigo Girls)

Head over to Poise to learn more about this important topic, enter two different sweepstakes (including a Dream Destination Shopping Trip!), and sign up for valuable coupon offers.

Then go spread the word and help break the silence on this issue by talking among your friends!

Princess Linens Doodlebag Giveaway and Discount

My little girl Natalie recently had the privilege of reviewing an adorable, personalized Doodlebag from Princess Linens. Princess Linens is now officially a licensee of Crayola, so Doodlebagz include fine Crayola crayons and chalks.





As soon as Natalie's Doodlebag arrived, personalized at that, she was beyond excited. She went to the chalkboard section first (yes, the bag has a chalkboard!), and after drawing on the board, she then stored each piece of chalk into the individual slots and the eraser into its holder:



Then, she tried out the doodle pad in the crayon section and loved it just as much. She stored each of her crayons in their individual slots, zipped up her bag, and ran outside to show all her friends:



This bag is SO adorable! Even the front (where her name is) is a pocket with Velcro that can store items and opens and closes easily with Velcro:



Natalie now has a trendy bag to carry with her wherever we go. Long wait at the doctor's office? She has all she needs to keep her occupied, all in one bag.

Crayons? Check. Paper? Check. Chalk? Check. Chalkboard? Check. She brings it along with her everywhere now and loves to create her own "masterpieces."



I myself have fallen in love with Princess Linens. The company designs and manufactures clothing and art accessories for children. In addition to the Doodlebag, they have a line of personalized Crayon Keepers that are just as adorable:



As for their clothing, well you need only take KATIE HOLMES word for how good it is. Here she is featured in People magazine with her daughter Suri wearing Princess Linen's Camelia Pink and Baby's Breath Trim Garden Princess Dress.



The photo also appeared in OK Magazine. And that's not all. Click here to see the numerous press attention Princess Linens has received (including Parents Magazine and Parenting.com).

Take a look at a close-up of this gorgeous dress:



You can even order a diaper cover to match:



Is it any wonder there's such a buzz with such adorable clothing? My favorite is their line of personalized scrubs:



Your child can play doctor in style with the "Dr. (your child's name) on the shirt. I love it!

And there's so much more! Like luxury baby clothes, big brother gifts, big sister gifts, personalized bibs, personalized burp pads, crayon aprons, and chalkboard placemats.

Thanks to the generosity of Princess Linens, readers of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review can save 15% off their entire purchase! Simply enter the code "Blonde" (without the quotes) when checking out to receive your discount.

Princess Linens is also giving away a personalized Doodlebag to one lucky reader!!

To enter, simply visit Princess Linens, then leave a comment here letting me know what your favorite product is and why. For a bonus entry, blog about this contest on your site and leave a separate comment here with your link.

Deadline to enter is Monday, July 28 at 11:59 EST. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Winner has two weeks from the time of notification to claim prize, or the prize will be forfeited.

Good luck!

Fresh Air Fund In Need of Host Families

The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to New York City children from disadvantaged communities since 1877. The end of July is growing closer and they still have 200 children who need to be placed with host families for this August.

Unless all prospective host families are screened and vetted by the end of July these 200 children may miss out on an invaluable experience. They are really in need of families who want to extend an invitation to a 9-12 year old, especially boys.

To host a child or help get the word out, click here, call 1-800-367-0003, or email the addresses found on the website.

Template Problems

Please forgive the standard template. It's temporary while I try to fix my regular one. My blog designer went out of business and my template went haywire. Fortunately, I had saved the photos and was able to fix my regular blog, but something isn't working right on this one.

If you are or know of a blog designer who can help me, I would be very grateful if you could email me. Thanks, and thank you for your patience!

40% of One Item at Borders.com

I have a coupon code valid at Borders.com (online only) for 40% off any item. I can't use it so I figured I'd share it with you.

The code is good until July 22 and is only good for one use, so it's first come, first served. Here's the code:

BC4777

Here's the fine print on the code:

"One Coupon per transaction. Valid only at Borders.com. Not valid in stores. Excludes previous purchases, gift cards, eBooks, digital downloads, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the ZuneTM. Promotion code good for single-use only during valid period. Void where prohibited by law. May not be combined with other discounts or sale pricing. Any other use constitutes fraud. Not redeemable for cash. Valid through 7/22/08."

Enjoy!

High Speed Internet

Still on dial-up? I feel your pain. Our family recently made the switch to high speed Internet (or as some people call it, "normal speed") and I honestly don't know how we ever managed before. Those endless load times were beyond frustrating and forget about downloads.

When I won an iPod in a contest, it literally took me all day to download iTunes. Then, each song took hours. Now, when I purchase a song, it's loaded in less than a minute. HUGE difference!

One of the nation's premiere high-speed providers is Hughes: Net, which is America's #1 choice for high-speed satellite Internet service.

Their broadband service is available everywhere! The beauty of Satellite Internet is that the only thing required is a clear view of the Southern sky.

No more annoying dial-up sound. No more wait times. No logging on. Just fast, always-connected, Internet service.

Because Hughesnet delivers high-speed Internet over satellite rather than over your telephone line, you can be on the Internet and talk on your phone at the same time.

On installation, a certified HughesNet professional will connect your computer to a satellite modem and link it to a satellite dish (antenna) that's usually mounted on the roof of your home. The satellite dish sends and receives information such as email over the Internet and delivers it to your computer almost instantly!

And you can trust HughesNet. They have over 30 years experience delivering satellite products and services around the world, with more than 1.2 million systems ordered or shipped to customers in over 100 countries. And they pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet services. That says a lot!

Here’s a summary of the benefits you get with HughesNet Satellite Internet service:

• Service that's available everywhere... even in areas where cable and DSL don't reach
• Instant Internet access with an always-on connection
• It's fast-just sit down at your computer and start surfing
• Flip through Web pages like turning the pages of a book
• Download large files in minutes, not hours
• Enjoy fast Internet music and video downloads
• Compatible with Windows® and Macintosh® operating systems
• Frees up your phone—no missed calls, no dialing in, no extra phone line needed

Want to make the switch? HughesNet is offering fabulous deals right now, so head on over and check them out!

Right now, you can get the lowest price ever and $0 up front costs! There is also a $100 mail-in rebate, $100 nationwide referral rewards, and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Hurry so you don't miss out!

HPV Awareness Gift Pack Winners

Before I announce the winners, I want to once again clarify that this giveaway was about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. I tried my best to clarify that in the post, but there was still much confusion in the comments section. I am aware of the controversy surrounding the vaccine and therefore did not want to state a position one way or the other on that.

The HPV test is NOT controversial and is a simple test performed with a pap smear to see if a patient has the virus. If you were one of the readers who mistook the post as one about the HPV vaccine, I kindly ask that you reread the post so that you can gain awareness about this important test. Thank you very much!

Now on to the winners. Congratulations to Sharon from Middle-Aged Mama, Nora (non-blogger), and Blue Violet (non-blogger)! They have each won an HPV Awareness gift pack giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways coming soon!

Scrumptious Summer Strawberries

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to go strawberry picking with my kids. Here's a few photos of a recent trip we took with our homeschool group:




Don't those look delish! And they were! They were so moist and didn't have any tartness to them whatsoever.



We live in Virginia, but did you know that California provides 88% of the nation's strawberries?! And the harvest is particularly bountiful this year, lucky for us.

There are over 35,000 acres of fields across California and nearly 6 million crates of fresh, scrumptious strawberries will be picked just this week and delivered to grocery stores nationwide.

Here are some fun strawberry facts to share with your kids:

• If you lined up all of the strawberries grown in California in one straight line, they would wrap around the entire Earth 15 times.
• Guessing game! There are about 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.
• California harvests over a billion pounds of strawberries annually.
• One acre of land (about the size of one football field) grows about 50,000 pounds of strawberries - that's the same weight as 4 elephants!

And for us moms:

• Strawberries contain powerful antioxidants and rank second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity: one serving of strawberries contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
• Strawberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight some types of cancer and lower blood pressure. Not bad for a little red berry!
• Don't forget! The antioxidants in strawberries also aid in memory performance and may help prevent Alzheimer's disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, two key factors that can cause age-related diminished brain function.

Now that you know that strawberries are both delicious AND good for you, head on over to the California Strawberry Commission and find hundreds of ways to serve them with all of the delicious recipes on the site. Check out this recipe for Chocolate Mousse with Strawberry Cream. *drool*

And for the kids, visit California Strawberry Kids, where there are tons of activities, games, facts and interactive fun!

Happy eating!

iPhone 3G Giveaway from CouponChief

With gas and food prices higher than ever, more and more families are feeling a pinch in their budgets. CouponChief can help ease the burden with fabulous deals, coupons, and discount codes, and they are partnered with a variety of retailers (including Toys R Us and Target) so the savings are wide-spread.

CouponChief has relaunched with new features and an easy-to-use design. To celebrate they are giving away an Apple iPhone 3G every other day from July 11 through September 1. Click here for complete rules/details and to enter the contest.

Some of the new features of the site's redesign include:

• Rank a coupon – users can provide feedback on whether a coupon is working or not by simply clicking a small icon.
• Comment on a coupon – allows users to share special instructions or insight with other members in the comments section for each coupon.
• Tag based categories – new tag based system allows for a more specific niche search on the site.
• Submit a coupon – consumers can upload a coupon or promotion code they have that they do not see on the site – share the savings!
• Coupon Chief blog – provides updates and news on the site; users are also allowed to give feedback and provide

Head over to CouponChief today to start saving, and maybe even win an iPhone, today! Good luck!

Summer Affair

It's that time of year again. My favorite time of year, actually. Summer. And anyone who has read here for awhile, knows that I love a good summer read!

Just how enticing is this cover for beach/poolside reading:



I know, right? That alone had me hooked. And I promise you, the inside of Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand (published by Little, Brown and Company), is just as intriguing.

The weird thing for me was the fact that the main character, Claire Danner Crispin, is a professional glass blower. How many main characters have you read with that job? None? Yeah, me too.

Well, it just so happens that my sister is an art major in college and is studying glass blowing. It's what she wants to do when she's finished college, and she just made me a gorgeous, glass vase for my birthday this past May. So I felt closer to my sister as I read all about the ins and outs of this amazing art.

There are so many interesting characters in Summer Affair, and that was another aspect I really enjoyed. Each one was well-developed and I couldn't wait to hear how each one's life was progressing throughout the story.

The entire story takes place on the island of Nantucket, and Hilderbrand will make you feel like you are right on the island with all of the characters, enmeshed in the goings on of everyday life there.

The main character, Claire, was someone I couldn't quite figure out. She was a mystery to me. And I think that was the author's intent.

She is study in contrasts. Yin and Yang. Fire and Ice. On one hand she is a loving wife and mother, and on the other, she is abandoning her family night after night to enjoy a fling with the head of a charity event (of which she is the co-chair). At times, she is a devoted friend to her sister-in-law, Siobhan, and at other times, she is keeping secrets from her and lying to her.

I think Claire herself is on a journey to find out exactly who she is, and that was the reason for her affair. She is rebelling against all of the labels that have been put on her and takes this dangerous journey to discovering herself.

Click here to get your hands on a copy of this fun read. And after you've read it at the beach or poolside (and into the wee hours of the morning by a nightlight on your nightstand...*ahem*), come let me know what you thought about it.

HPV Awareness and Giveaway

Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you!

UPDATE: THIS POST IS NOT ABOUT THE VACCINE! IT IS ABOUT THE HPV TEST. I am going to have to put the above line throughout the post, I suppose, since this is getting missed judging from the majority of comments.

As women, we know that yearly pap smears are vital for protecting our health. But did you know that now there is a test that, when combined with a pap smear, is virtually 100% accurate in identifying women at risk for cervical cancer? The HPV test is a crucial advancement because women who test positive can be monitored and treated well before cancer has a chance to develop.

Cervical cancer is the only cancer with a single-known cause-- the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of the sexually transmitted infection, HPV. Of these, about 15 high-risk types are known to cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer. Two of these types (16 and 18) are believed to cause 70 percent of these cases.

Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you!

Unfortunately, the pap alone is not foolproof in detecting HPV...it can miss up to half the time. Seeing that about 80% of women will get one or more types of HPV by age 50, and that cervical cancer kills 288,000 women annually worldwide, it is imperative that women over 30 now make sure their doctor is doing the HPV test in conjunction with their regular pap. (Women under 30 do not need the HPV test unless their pap results are abnormal).

The test can be done at the same time as the pap, so women don’t need to do anything more than ask for it. Use of HPV testing for routine screening is recognized in guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Women’s Association and the majority of insurance companies cover the HPV test for routine screening.

Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you!

I myself have had the test twice now and insurance covered it both times...and fortunately I tested negative, which means I will not need another test for three more years.

To learn more about the HPV test, click the HPV test. You can also watch this YouTube video:



...and click here to watch many other stories of those who have benefited from the HPV test.

To help spread the word about HPV testing and awareness, I have a prize pack to give away to THREE winners! Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you! Each "Choose to Know" pack consists of:

• bracelet
• purse mirror
• lip balm
• HPV Test fact sheet
• pledge card

To enter, (Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you!)simply leave a comment here on this post. For a double entry, link to this post on your site and leave a separate comment here letting me know you've done so with the link to your post.

Deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 16, 11:59 P.M., EST. Winners have two weeks to claim prize from the date of notification or the prize is forfeited.

Please note: This review is about the HPV TEST, not the vaccine. There was some confusion about that in comments so I wanted to clarify this. Thank you!

Thanks for entering, and be healthy!

WonderFALL is WonderFULL

There is one place in the world that I have always dreamt of going, but have yet to go. The Caribbean.

Now, there is one resort that is making that dream so much more appealing, and that is Beaches All-inclusive Resorts. And if I need any more incentive than their gorgeous views, luxurious rooms, varied restaurants, or the multitude of fun activities, now there's yet another reason why Beaches is a prime destination.



From September 1 to November 4 of this year, Beaches is hosting WonderFALL, at four fabulous tropical locations: Beaches Boscobel, Beaches Sandy Bay, Beaches Negril, and Beaches Turks and Caicos.

Part of the WonderFALL special is WonderFULL savings! Stay five or six nights and get one night free, or stay seven nights or longer and get two nights free! Plus, enjoy up to 45% off on your trip.

The list of activities to enjoy is endless, but during WonderFALL, families will have even more to choose from. Beaches is a proud sponsor of Sesame Street, so your children will be able to delight in stage performances, appearances and more from their favorite Sesame Street characters.

There's also gift bags (filled with goodies from Sesame Street®, New Balance®, Earth’s Best®, StrollerFit®, Crayola®, GRAND Magazine and Kiwi Magazine), pool-side Dive-In Movies, a ColorFall Birthday Bash celebrating Crayola 64 Box's 50th birthday, and a "Baby You're a Star" contest with free photo shoot! *swoon*



This is all in addition to the regular activities and perks you get with a regular Beaches trip, which include:

• unlimited dining from a variety of gourmet and specialty cuisine restaurants serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner (standard meals included in package, plus there is access to "anytime snacks")
• tennis
• golf
• state-of-the art fitness centers
• snorkeling and scuba diving with all equipment and instruction included (lessons are extra but equipment is free to use)
• wading pools
• Pirate's Island Waterparks
• swim-up bars
• nightly entertainment and stage shows
• nannies for the kids
• a piano bar
• supervised kid camps
• Xbox 360® Game Garage

....I could go on and on.

One thing you will not be at a Beach's resort is bored! Then of course there are the gorgeous, white-sand beaches.

The resorts themselves are a tropical oasis and I could just stare at them all day on my computer (I even made one of them my screensaver). You'll get first-class accommodations in an ocean view or beachfront room, or you can choose a lavish one or two bedroom suite, some of which include personalized butler service. Better yet, packages include round trip airport transfers, hotel taxes and all gratuities!



Need I say more? Beaches is truly Heaven on earth. Click here for more information or to book your Beaches WonderFALL trip today! Hurry, as you must book by July 17 to enjoy your WonderFALL celebration!

Suave Winner

Congratulations to JMarie! She has won a bundle of Beauty Best goodies from Suave!

Thanks to all who entered as well as Suave and Weber Shandwick for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway.

Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways...coming soon!