I'm Tackling a Mountain (of Laundry, that is) **Giveaway**

If there is one domestic chore I am terrible at staying on top of it's laundry. If I told you how many times I had to dig for clean clothes for every member of our family you would be horrified. Truly.

In fact, just this morning my husband scoured the house for a clean pair of khakis because I'd apparently forgotten to wash anything but dark clothes for the last, oh, 4 loads. True story.

And if you saw the mountain of clean clothes on top of the washer and dryer? Yeah, you'd probably think I'm the worst housewife ever. (And, I'm not sure you'd be too far from the truth.)

The thing is, I don't actually mind doing laundry. In fact, I like the actual process of washing/drying. But the putting away? That is the part that throws me off every time. And I end up dreading the putting away process so much that I avoid laundry altogether.

I'm trying to get better. Really. And today I'm tackling the laundry. All day. I'm not stopping until it's under control. But, I'm wondering if maybe you can help a girl out?

I just recently got a chance to try a bottle of Sun Burst Laundry Detergent to help me out in my laundry endeavors. And they want you to have a chance to try it, too!

First, though, I'll tell you a little bit about what I thought about it. My favorite thing about it? It's cheap. I mean, inexpensive. Because I totally hate spending money on soap. I mean, after all, isn't that literally throwing money down the drain? But I also hate clothes that don't smell/feel clean. So, when I discovered that this stuff did a great job, smelled good, and was super cheap? I was sold on it. It's even HE compatible which is awesome.

So, if you'd like to give it a try here's your chance. I've got 5 coupons good for one FREE 45.4 oz bottle of liquid detergent or one 49 oz box of powder detergent in any scent. And all you have to do to enter to win is help me with my laundry. No, really.

Leave me a comment below with your favorite and most helpful tip for getting laundry done or staying on top of laundry and you'll be entered to win!

So, go ahead, give me your best tips for controlling the laundry monster.

For more great projects, head over to Tackle it Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom!

***This giveaway (and all comments) will close Friday, July 10th at 2 p.m.***

The Skinny Nut. **Giveaway!**

Back in October, the folks at Everybody's Nuts sent me a sampler of their Pistachios. I am a big fan of pistachios and an even bigger fan of freebies, so I accepted their sampler box and expected to be no more or less impressed with Pistachios than I was before I tried them. Though, I was grateful nonetheless for the chance to give new flavors a try.

But, just like there is a big difference in gas station coffee and a Grande cup of Starbuck's Daily Blend, there is a huge difference in quality flavored Pistachios and the sticky red kind you find in the aisle of your local convenience store. I was immediately a fan and started buying their nuts from that point on. (Once you've had their Salt & Vinegar Pistachios you'll never go back to the gas station variety!)

So, when I got another chance to try Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios samples I jumped at the chance to do so and turn it into a giveaway for my readers as well.

Here's what you may not know about Pistachios. These little nuts pack quite the nutritional punch. Among snack nuts, they have the highest content of phytosterols. I know, I know. Phyto-what? Basically, they have a lot of this really good stuff that has been shown to reduce cholesterol absorption and basically make them super heart healthy. Guess they aren't called the "skinny nut" for nothing.

Geez, what I wouldn't give to have that nickname.

Anyways, here's where the giveaways come in. Because they know that once you try these nuts you'll be so convinced that a snack can be healthy and delicious, they are offering to send 10 of you a sampler of Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios.

And here's what you have to do to enter. Head over to the Pistachio Health site and check out the facts, then come back leave a comment with one interesting Pistachio fact you learned while you were over there. I'll be shutting down comments at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 1st and drawing 10 lucky winners.

**This giveaway is open to all U.S. addresses (sorry, no international folks this time.) Be sure to leave an email address or blog link in your comment so I can get in touch with you and get an address to have your sampler sent out ASAP!**

Head back to Bloggy Giveaways to register for more cool giveaways!

How Mobistories saved my day. (GIVEAWAY!)

I got the opportunity a couple weeks ago to check out and review Mobistories. Mobistories are virtual books for kids that you can buy and have stored on your computer, iPod, or iPhone. I kept meaning to try them, but was behind so much on everything that I forgot. Not exactly a shining endorsement of my reviewing skills, but I'm just keeping it real, people. That's the way it goes in this mommy's life sometimes.

Anyways, this week we were refinancing our house and had no one to watch the girls when we went to the closing. So, guess what distraction my scattered mind came up with? You've got it, Mobistories.

Okay, so truthfully, I was a bit skeptical. I wasn't sure a "virtual" book would be able to hold their attention for long enough. My girls do seem to have the attention span of one of those cute little spider monkeys that come dance for pennies with that organ grinder at the mall. You know what I'm talking about, right?

But, I downloaded 4 of the Mobistories books and had them to keep the girls occupied. And, amazingly, they loved them so much they kept asking all day to watch different ones.

They are pretty cool, too, because they come up full screen on your computer and have the printed words (just like a book) but with narration and music. I love the subject matter, too, because I was able to get one about "stranger danger," one about jazz, and even one about conservation. In case you're curious which ones I got, I dowloaded Ella Elephant (all about jazz and learning to scat), Stranger Danger (informative and not scary for kids), Salsa for Kittens & Puppies (a latin themed book), and All The Way to the Ocean (teaching kids about why littering is bad).

I actually really loved that they have lots of different books with varied cultural origins and even different narrators' accents.

And the best thing? Mobistories is offering each reader a chance to try $10 worth of books for free! Head over there, pick out some books, and then just enter the coupon code 211A at checkout for your free books. This isn't a free trial either. It is a full-fledged giveaway so you have nothing to lose by doing it. They even have a free book available for download, too, so be sure and add that to your order! Do it soon, though, because the offer expires December 31st, 2008.

If you end up going over and getting some, come let me know what you think. I'm definitely planning on getting a couple more to add to my iPod to have on hand for those days I'm sitting in the doctor's office with two unruly bored preschoolers and I'd love to know what other books you've tried!

Everybody's Nuts (Giveaway!)

I suppose it's only appropriate that my first real product review is for a company called "Everybody's Nuts" seeing as how that is very nearly my family's motto. Welcome to the Land of Lovings where everybody's nuts. It just seems to fit us, right?

Still, when the folks over at Everybody's Nuts offered to have me try their Pistachios and give my honest unbiased opinion I couldn't resist. I mean, when was the last time someone actually asked for your opinion and offered to give you free food for it?

Plus, I really, really love Pistachios. I mean, second only to a bag of hot boiled peanuts they are hands down my favorite nut of all time. But, I'm not really a Pistachio snob and I always pretty much assumed a Pistachio is a Pistachio. Which is probably why I used to buy those packages of red Pistachios at the gas station and never tried any other kind.

But, people, I was missing out. For real. I got to try all four of their flavors and, um, yeah...a Pistachio as it turns out can be quite delicious. They have Unsalted & Roasted for the ultra healthy folks, Salted & Roasted for the traditionalists, Salt & Pepper for the adventurous, and European flavor (Salt & Vinegar) for our continental friends.

These were hands down the best Pistachios I've ever had and, best of all, my kids loved them. When I was trying to sample them one afternoon during a controlled taste test (which really means: keep them to myself while watching Dr. Phil) I was constantly interrupted by chants of "Nuts! Nuts!" from my girls - which was just weird on its own, but also because I've never been successful in getting them to eat any other kind of healthy snack without bribing, threatening, or trickery so I was pretty stoked that they actually showed an interest in something other than Cheeto's and chocolate chip cookies...

So, now, here's where you get the chance to benefit from a freebie (and who doesn't love one of those?). I will be drawing two lucky winners from the comments off this post and each one will receive a package of Everybody's Nuts Pistachios in the flavor of their choice (in case you're curious, European is my personal favorite!).

Just leave a comment with the flavor you'd most like to try and I'll draw the 2 winners on Wednesday at 12:00 am E.T. Good luck!

Another Bloggy Giveaway!

Okay, ladies. Here's my second bloggy giveaway this week.

As many of you know, I love me some creative decorating ideas. I like turning funky things into unusual decor and coming up with ideas that are far from traditional. Since I think I'm probably not the only one, I'm offering up a year's subscription to Creative Home magazine.

Here are the rules for this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment with a way to get in touch with you and tell me your favorite creative decorating idea.

2. You get a bonus entry if you link to my giveaway on your own blog and let me know in your comments.

3. U.S. addresses only. (I love my international readers, but the magazine limits my options on this.)

4. One entry per person please.

I'll be closing comments and drawing names on Saturday night and will post the winner's name here Sunday. I'll also send an email letting you know you've won. You have two days to respond or I will pick a winner from my favorite creative decorating idea.

Good Luck! Be sure and check out the HUNDREDS of awesome giveaways going on at the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival!

Bloggy Giveaways #1

Welcome to the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival! Check out Don't Try This At Home to see hundreds more blogs with cool giveaways!

So, ladies, remember when I reviewed the new Matt Maher CD a few weeks ago? Well, now's your chance to own it! I'm giving away a new pre-release copy of the CD. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below and I will close comments Wednesday at midnight eastern time and draw names and contact the winner Thursday.

The only rules are as follows:
1. No anonymous comments ('cause I gotta email you to tell you that you won!)
2. Please don't enter more than once. You'll only get one entry per person so don't try to cheat!

Check back throughout the week 'cause I'll have a couple more cool giveaways during the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival!

Good Luck!

**okay, comments are closed and I'll be drawing the random winner tonight and contacting them tomorrow. In the meantime, check out my other giveaway and look for a new giveaway to be posted tomorrow afternoon!**

Who doesn't love a giveaway?

Kelsey over at My Sweet Life is giving away a cool multicultural kid's CD so head over and leave a comment for a chance to win the drawing.

She's got some awesome photography and some really interesting things to say about the world so be sure and check it out!

Get Ready, Get Set...

It's coming soon! The Great Summer Bloggy Giveaway Carnival and this year I am participating. I've got some great ideas planned for a fun giveaway and may even end up doing more than one. So, check back here the week of April 21st for your chance to enter into a drawing to win a totally kick-a** prize from yours truly.

And visit Don't Try This At Home the week of April 21st-25th for chance to enter into all the blogs that are planning on giving away free cool stuff. Last year the blogs who participated gave some really awesome stuff away and since all you have to do to enter is leave a comment saying "Hey, enter me so I can win this free stuff, okay?" or your own version of that it's pretty much a no brainer right? Right.