Bye-Bye Blogspot

Well, I haven't been entirely honest with my readers recently. I'm sorry. However, it's good news! I'm moving to Wordpress! That's right, Laughing Lindsay is getting its own domain! Please standby as we work through this transition! I hope to be back up and running in a few minutes! Thanks for understanding! : )

Duncan Hines Cupcakes and July 4th Recipe

 

Well, this is a yummy post dealing with one of my favorite brands for baking - Duncan Hines!  I recently made some good cupcakes using Duncan Hines with my boyfriend!  We bought their Strawberry cake mix and used their Whipped Fluffy White Frosting.  We simply baked the cupcakes according to the box’s directions, let them cool, and added the frosting!  That was super easy!  Here is a picture of some of the yumminess!

Then, my boyfriend had the great idea to add slices of real strawberries to the cupcakes!  Granted, it may not look like one of those pretty cupcakes on tv or in a bakery.  However, they were really really good!  The strawberries on top added some moisture, texture, and color to the cupcake!

I also want to tell my readers about an exciting contest from Duncan Hines!  It’s the Red Carpet Cupcake Challenge!  Simply submit your best cupcake recipe with a photo and you will have a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles!  Your cupcakes maybe presented to stars going to the Emmy Awards and you may get a ticket to the pre-Emmy Fans in the Stands!  If you think you have some awesome cupcakes, be sure to enter the contest!  You have until July 21st to submit your recipe.  There will then be a voting phase until July 28th!  So, all of my readers may go and vote for your favorite, even if you don’t submit an entry!  This voting narrows the crowd down to the top 10 and then a judging committee will pick the winner!  You can find more info about this lovely contest at the link above!  If you do enter, please let me know!  : )

Also, I know that many people are getting together for the 4th of July this weekend and maybe baking.  So, I wanted to point out a great recipe on the Duncan Hines website!  How about a great Flag Cake that has some blueberries and strawberries?  Doesn’t this look awesome?  I didn’t try it, but I think it looks great!

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!

Disclaimer:  I did receive 3 coupons for Duncan Hines products for this post.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

New Aveeno Positively Nourishing Body Products Review

Thanks to my Lucky Alpha Shopper status, I received some wonderful new products from Aveeno!  I got the Positively Nourishing Hydrating Body Wash and the Positively Nourishing 24-hour Ultra Hydrating Whipped Souffle!  Both products are of that high quality we have all come to expect from Aveeno with their ultra-moisturizing properties.  As part of the Active Naturals of Aveeno, both products contain oats, soy, shiitake, and feverfew!  These new products provide 24 hour moisturizing benefits while being refreshing and calming. 

The Body Wash is creamy and goes on nicely.  It smells really nice and creates a whole shower experience that is truly relaxing and wonderful!  It’s nice to take a couple of minutes from my day, apply it and smell it.  It has a calming effect that is great for a night shower!  It has shea butter and fig in it which makes my skin feel really nice and hydrated.  It leaves my skin feeling better and smoother.  

The Souffle is like a lotion, but better.  You apply it as you would a normal body moisturizer, but it works better.  You notice the difference in this souffle when you first touch it.  It’s thicker, yet creamier than a regular lotion.  It also comes in a container, not a pump bottle.  This souffle is packed with natural shea and cocoa butters to give skin a pick me up that is ultra moisturizing!  It also has antioxidants that makes skin look younger!  The souffle makes skin soft and smooth, not greasy like many lotions or other products like this.  It doesn’t feel oily either.  I like how the scent is nice and not over-powering.  It smells natural and beautiful.  It would be nice before bed to get you relaxed. 

Both products have made my skin nice and soft.  I really like them.  Then again, it’s Aveeno.  I mean I’ve never tried an Aveeno product that I didn’t like.  I use Aveeno regularly on my legs because of it’s moisturizing benefits.  Thanks Aveeno and Lucky!

Disclaimer:  I received some body wash and souffle for free for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Kroger Pound for Pound Giveaway Winner

The lucky winner of the Kroger Pound for Pound gift card giveaway is comment...

# 129

Congratulations! The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond. Thanks to everyone who entered - I had 238 comments! Yay!

Real Women of Philadelphia

I wanted to share something with my readers that I think will be entertaining and unique.  Paula Deen has teamed up with Kraft's Philadelphia Cream Cheese to bring us the Real Women of Philadelphia!  This is a contest where women submitted their own dish/recipe for a chance to be 1 of 16 finalists to win a trip to Savannah, GA to bake their dish in front of a live audience.  Then, 4 of these lucky ladies will win $25,000 and get to create a cookbook!  How awesome is that?

Now, for the interesting part, for you and me.  We can watch this final showdown between the 16 women online!  Simply go to this site and discover the Real Women of Philadelphia at 8 pm EST tonight!  That’s right, tonight, June 30th!  I hope to tune-in.  Will you be watching it?  If you decide to watch it, let me know what you think about it.

Disclaimer:  I received nothing for posting this.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own. 

Summer Quotes

I realize that it’s been sometime since my last quotes post and you've been seeing tons of awesome product reviews and giveaways in the last month.  So, I thought it was time to take a breather from all of the products and write a quote post.  Since it’s been sooo hot/humid here, I thought it was a great time to dig up some summer quotes!  Yay! 

James Dent once said, “a perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken” and Erma Bombeck said, “being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you.”

Oh, I love lazy summer days, for the most part.  I like being able to sleep in as late as I please and stay up all hours of the night.  Haha!  What about you?  What do you enjoy/dislike about summer? 

Playful Threads Review and Coupon

*Please do not read or click through to website if you are easily offended.*

As you may have noticed, I get especially excited when I find a company or website the features sizing for all body types.  Well, I’ve come across another one!  This one, Playful Threads, carries plus-size lingerie!  When I was contacted to do a review I was surprised to see their assortment of sexy lingerie!  They carry many things in various styles and colors.

They let me pick which item I’d like to review, so I decided to get this plus-size camisole and underwear set:

Doesn’t it look nice?  I picked it because it looked like it might be comfy and possibly cover more than most items on the site.  lol  They have it in only black now, but I thought that would be better.  Before I go onto the actual product review, I must comment on their speed of delivery!  I got it in a few days time!  It was really quick service!  Also, the people at Playful Threads are really nice!  : )

Now, I’m sure you want to know about the set.  Well, I was more or less pleased with the sizing.  The fabric is really stretchy so, the fit is not an issue.  I was hoping the straps would be adjustable, but they are not.  I was slightly surprised by how thin the material of the set was though.  The site’s description says it’s lacey, but I consider it to be more of a mesh fabric (maybe it’s just me).  I debated taking a picture of it because of the nature of the product.  However, I decided that the picture on the site does not fully demonstrate what you receive.  So, here is a picture of the cami but I am NOT actually wearing it.  It is simply placed on my leg to show you how thin the material is.  ; )

Granted the flowers in the fabric are very nice, but overall I think it looks a little different than I expected.  The underwear is pretty nice.  It is a bit less material than I was expecting, but not bad.  The material is pretty comfortable.  I suppose it’s an ok deal for $18.94.

So, overall, great website, awesome people, very fast shipment.  My advice, just pay attention to the site’s description of things.  : )

Also, Playful Threads is giving my readers a special coupon code to use on their site for FREE SHIPPING!  Simply use the code “FREELL”.  You can find Playful Threads on Twitter, visit the Playful Threads blog, or like the Playful Threads Facebook Page.

Disclaimer:  I received this set for free for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Something Every Woman Needs

If you are easily offended, you may skip this review.  However, I see no problem with featuring this website because they offer a great selection of something everyone needs – underwear.  That’s right eUndies carries cute panties!  I’m a believer that you can never have too many pairs of underwear!  So, when I had the chance to work with the newly re-designed/launched eUndies.com, I was happy. 

I like eUndies not only for their adorable underwear at great prices, but because they carry sizes that fit more than the average woman.  That’s right, they have plus size underwear and cute ones at that!  eUndies  was generous enough to send me 3 pairs for this review.  Wow!  One of these pairs was the Darling Diamonds Bikini, pictured below in brown.  Mine actually was brown and it’s very nice.  The inside is soft and comfy while the outside is cute and sort of shiny.  The brown has some diamond print on it with a cute little bow on the top of them.  This is a really nice pair of underwear!  I have worn them several times now and have enjoyed wearing them each time.  They don’t bunch up or give me any wedgie issues.  ; )  Also, they are only $2.99 and they come in navy blue as well!  How is that for a deal?

The other 2 pairs were of the same style, but in different colors.  I can’t find the exact ones on the site and I’m not taking a picture.  lol  However, they are similar to the ones pictured below.  I got a white pair and a black pair.  They are sort of lacey and have a pretty design.  The fabric is of good quality and not something your finger would accidentally go through (that has had happened to me with some really poorly made underwear) when you put them on.  I also liked the elastic waistband on these, they aren’t underwear that falls down through the day.  They did however, give me wedgies.  Haha!  I think that might because I have a big butt!  : )  Either way, they are nice and I’ll continue to wear them.  This pair is only $2.99, too!  Wow!  What a great value!   

eUndies has recently been re-done to include some awesome new features, which add to the whole experience!  For starters, there is a “soft add to cart” feature that allows you to add items to your cart without being redirected away from your current page – how handy!  They also have an “Add this” button, so you can share what you want with your family and friends.  You can also now review items! 

eUndies is a really great site owned by some awesome people.  I want to thank Shauna for being so nice through this whole review and re-launch time!  Since the date for the launch kept being pushed back, she even provided me with a nice $10 giftcard which I just used to buy 2 more pairs of underwear! Yay!  Thanks, Shauna!  : )

The next time you need some new and cute underwear, check out eUndies!  Also, if you decide to purchase something, you should be able to use the code:  PCM3 to get $3 off a $15 purchase!  For a $20 purchase, you can save $4 with the code:  PCM4.  Also, if you plan on stocking up and spending $25, use the code PCM5 for $5 off!  Or, if you are in a spending mood and spending $50, use PC10 for $10 off!  Wow!  Talk about a wonderful site!  I hope you check them out!

Disclosure:  I received 3 pairs of underwear for review purposes and a gift card.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

I.D. Me Labels

 

I want to introduce to a good-looking company for some labels.  It’s called I.D. Me Labels.  By visiting their blog you can win some labels (as described above).  Here is a video for them.

I.D. Me Labels

I think these labels look unique because you get to design the labels!  You pick the colors, font, and image!  How awesome is that?  I think I would put their labels for my stuff for college (binders and such).  It would help me differentiate my stuff from my roomie’s. 

Disclaimer:  I’m receiving some labels for free for posting this.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Lovable Labels Giveaway Winner

Well, I ended up with 84 comments for the Lovable Labels Giveaway, so without further ado, the lucky winner is...

comment #17

Congratulations! The winner has been emailed! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Didn't win? Be sure to check out Lovable Label's Facebook Page to enter other contests! They have just started a new incentive program for their Facebook page and they are now doing a contest on the last Tuesday of the month (the next one will be July 29th)!

Need A Cool Mug?

Don’t you hate when you pour yourself a nice, hot cup of coffee and then burn your tongue while trying to drink it?  Gosh, I can’t count how many times this has happened to me.  I guess I’m too impatient to wait for the coffee to cool.  I just don’t have time to sit and wait on it.  If I wait I will forget about it and then it gets too cool.  Well, my problems are solved with the Brugo Mug! 

Yes, this handy mug is good for more than just holding your favorite coffee!    It has the ability to cool your hot beverage with 3 setting on its lid!  All you have to do is tip the mug forward to allow the beverage to enter the cup’s special chamber (while on “Tip & Cool” setting) and then sip it!  Here are some images to show you what I mean!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, the mug cools your hot beverage to a more tolerable level for sipping!  I tried mine with some hot chocolate I made with my Tassimo brewer!  I was pleased with the mug’s ability to cool my hot beverage right after it was made.  I would have liked it to be just a touch cooler, but I was surprised by how quickly it made my hot chocolate sip-able!  I also liked how you can control how much comes out of the cup!  Using the “Tip & Cool” setting on the mug’s top, the beverage has to enter the chamber before you drink it.  This means that you the longer you swirl the mug, the more beverage enters it!  So, if you want to drink more, just tip it longer! 

Now, you may be worrying about the mug making your drink cold.  Well, I can say the mug passes that test, too.  2 hours after I first poured my hot chocolate, my drink was still sort of warm!  It wasn’t hot mind you, but it definitely wasn’t as cold as it would have been if I’d left it in a regular mug!  I was able to change the setting on my mug to “Sip” at this point and just drink it! 

I also liked that the mug has a third setting, “Locked” that doesn’t allow your liquid to come pouring out of it!  This is a really nice mug that any college student, coffee/hot chocolate drinker would be proud to own!  Not to mention, the mugs come in a wide array of colors – there’s something for everyone!  I can’t wait to use mine this semester when I have my 8 am Teaching of Math class!  Haha! 

WIN!

Brugo Mug is giving one reader a mug of their own! 

To enter:  Go to Brugo Mug and then tell me which mug and color you like best!

(Make sure your email address is in the comment or is easily accessible via your blog profile or blog itself. I need to be able to contact you!)
This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the "extra" entries. Comments like "enter me" will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1. Follow Laughing Lindsay on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it). You get one extra entry for each thing done.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.)

Giveaway ends on July 12 at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don't hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I'll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!
*Open to US residents only

Disclaimer: I received a mug for free for this review. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

Want better tasting water?

I recently received a ZeroWater water filter pitcher to review which comes with a TDS meter to test the water with!  For this review, I started out by testing the water that comes out of the faucet at my house.  Here are the results:

It is a 142!  According to ZeroWater, that is in the “Typical Range” for water in the US as most water falls into this category.  However, that still means that there is dissolved solids in the water!  Yuck!  So, then I tried the ZeroWater Pitcher and…

Yep!  All 0’s!  Can you believe it?  A range of 000-001 meets the FDA requirement for purified bottled water!  ZeroWater is the first and only pitcher that gives you standard bottled drinking water!  Wow!  Isn’t that awesome? 

Given the range of my usual faucet water, I should be able to use the pitcher for 25 to 40 Gallons.  I know this because ZeroWater also provides you with a chart that tells what each reading means and how many gallons you can expect from a filter.  Isn’t that nice?  It lets you know ahead of time.  You aren’t forced to guess how many times.  I was also impressed to learn that they list a number (1-800-503-2939) to call if you find your faucet water is extremely high so they can help you find an economical solution!  Wow!  Talk about customer service!

I also must point out the handy dandy spout on the bottom of the pitcher!  See, here is a picture of the wonderful pitcher and its spout.  This makes it easier to get water out if it is too heavy for you!

This is a very nice pitcher!  The handle is nice and feels pretty good in your hand.  The pitcher has a little thingy that moves when your pour the water, so that it covers the pitcher when you aren’t using it.  I think this should keep the pitcher and water cleaner because it won’t let particles fall into it!  Overall, a really good pitcher and I’d recommend it!

Disclaimer:  I received a free pitcher for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own. 

Creative Containers – Buckhead Betties Review

When I was looking through yet another magazine, I came across another really cute brand - Buckhead Betties!  They make adorable bags, towels and other awesome accessories!  They even carry stuff for guys!  Here is just a sampling of what the offer!  Isn’t it cute?  I really like the looks of their bags and would love to get one of those next! 

So, just in time for summer, I was sent a lovely item from them to review!  I got the nap pack which is a really cool item!  It comes rolled up, like so:

Then, you undo the Velcro straps and it rolls out to be something awesome to lay on!  Here is a picture of it when it is rolled out! 
See, it even comes with a cute little pillow for your head!  Now, I don’t think many full grown adults could use this pillow.  However, it might be nice to take to the beach or to the pool for a day to lay on because it is thicker and more comfortable than a towel.  Plus, it can easily be rolled back up and fit into your bag and it doesn’t take up much room at all!

This is the perfect item for a child during the summer!  Heck, even I like it!  I also wanted to point out that Buckhead Betties has a classic line and also comes out with new items seasonally to match the current trends!  How awesome is that? 

I also liked the fact that Creative Containers who designs and manufactures Buckhead Betties is based in Greensboro, NC!  That means they are a somewhat local business for me!  I mean as local as you can get with a nice company like this on the internet that I just happened to stumble upon! 

The next time you are looking for a unique gift or awesome accessory, be sure and check out Buckhead Betties! 

Disclaimer:  I received the nap pack for free for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own. 

If you Whish for a better shave cream…

I don’t know about you, but I read a ton of magazines.  While browsing through a couple one day I saw an article on getting smooth legs for the summer.  I thought this was interesting because it featured a brand I had never heard of.  It’s a natural bath and body product line called Whish!  Whish was created by two brothers in January of 2006 when one of the brother’s wife’s wished for a better shaving experience.  I was particularly interested in Whish because Whish products are manufactured in a wind powered facility and free of Paraben, Sulfate, TEA, DEA and Petrochemicals!  This means Whish is the first bath and body company of this kind!

I was lucky enough to be sent the Whish Shave Crave in Pomegranate!  Whish’s Shave Creams are put into a airless pump so that they are free of stuff like propane (!) and butane!  The cream is made with organic shea butter, organic green tea, organic coconut oil and organic jojoba seed oil!   I have used this non-foaming shave cream a couple of times now and am pretty impressed with it.  Since it’s non-foaming you do have to work a little harder to apply it and it does get caught up in the razor a little more than the out of the can shave cream.  However, once you figure this out, it works really well. 

I usually have to put lotion on my legs every day or else they get really dry.  However, when I use this shave cream, if I skip a day or two, my legs still feel really nice.  This shave cream keeps the skin moisturized!  I really like how my skin feels!  Maybe, it’s because I got used to using it, but I saw more results after using it on the second time than the first.  Either way, I’m really digging how my legs feel since it’s summer and I’m living in shorts and capris.  I wish I had this earlier in the summer, but at least I have some now! 

They say that if you shave once a day, the can should last you a whole month!  I don’t shave every single day and I think this will last me a while!  Although, at $24 a can, it’s a bit pricey for a college student’s budge.  Depending on how long it lasts though, I will definitely consider continuing its usage. 

I  also Whish :) I could try their wonderful looking Shave Savour hair inhibiting gel that slows the growth of hair while moisturizing your skin or the Flawless Ingrown Hair Serum to help with those annoying bumps you get after shaving.  It seems that Whish has you covered for all of your shaving and bathing needs! 

Disclaimer:  I received a free bottle of Whish Shave Cream for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Got2B Smooth Operator

Thanks to BzzAgent, I received some samples of Got2b Smooth Operator smoothing lustre lotion to try.  This lotion can be applied to dry or wet hair and it protects your hair!  I’ve been using it when I straighten my hair to guard against heat damage.  The lotion also has UV protection, which is great for summer! 

What I really like is how soft and manageable it makes my hair.  It makes hair soft because it has a cashmere infusion.  The BzzKit had a great quote to describe the softening effects of it, “Imagine a baby chic, draped in velvet, on a silky down pillow in the middle of a cloud and you’re almost there”.  Isn’t that funny?  Haha!  Really though, I was impressed with how it makes my hair feel.  Usually a hair product that protects your hair leaves the hair sort of crunchy like a hair spray would (which I hate) or it will make the hair sort of sticky (and clumps together and causes tangles).  However, this didn’t do that.  It made my hair soft and silky!

Another issue I usually have with these sort of products is the scent.  Most hair products with protection have a funky smell.  This lotion makes my hair smell really good, even my boyfriend liked it!  : )

I also must comment on the adorable packaging of the entire Smooth Operator line.   I like how they use the color pink since the line is meant for goddesses! I also LOVE the charms on the bottles!   There is a heart with lock and key that represents you unlocking your inner goddess.  There is also a glittering heart that symbolizes you expressing yourself and letting your heart shine.  Finally, there is a “charm me” shield that is supposed to symbolize the strength and power of self-expression to create beauty!  Isn’t that awesome?  I think Got2B is a really creative brand that is making new and awesome hair products for everyone (they do make some men’s products).  I would love to try more of their products.

Thanks BzzAgent!

Disclaimer:  I received samples of got2b smooth operator lotion for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Arm and Hammer Whitening Booster Review

  As you may have noticed, I’m really into oral care.  My parents have spent a considerable amount of money on my teeth through the years with braces and a few cavities!  I appreciate everything they have done for my smile and because of this, I’m always on the lookout for something new and better for my teeth.  I love trying a new toothbrush and toothpaste from time to time.  Well, I recently received some Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster to try.  Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster 3X is clinically proven to get teeth up to four shades whiter in six weeks (when used as directed).   What is different about this product is the ease of using it!  You simply place the booster over your regular toothpaste and brush with it!  Isn’t that easy?  This product is just in time for summer vacations, no need to pack your whitening strips or having to schedule time for them!

You can use the booster up to 3 times a day!  However, I wear retainers at night and didn’t want to take a chance of using a whitening product at night with them on.  So, I’ve only been using it several times a week for a couple of weeks now (I admit, I sometimes forget to apply the booster).  I was really surprised by the results!  The first time I used the booster I didn’t notice much of a difference. 

After a few times using the booster though, I started to see whiter and brighter teeth!  That’s because the whitening booster has 3 times more whitening agent than leading whitening strips!  I must admit the booster does taste a little different than my usual toothpaste and it changes the taste of it.  However, it’s not a bad taste and I think the results are worth it.  Here is a picture of my teeth after these first few weeks of usage (and not everyday).   Please be nice, I think my teeth look a little weird because I seem to have tilted my head or the camera, which makes them look less straight to me.

Either way, I think they look really white and clean!  I also want to point out that my teeth even feel cleaner when I use it.  My teeth had the slippery/glossy clean feeling even after the first usage!  What do you think; are they white enough?  Hehe!  I really like the booster.  I wonder if my dentist will notice how white they are when I go in July? 

If you are looking for a quick and economically sound way to whiten your teeth, check out this booster!  I really like it!  You can also check out Arm & Hammer’s Savings Center for coupons to save on Arm & Hammer products! 

Disclaimer:  I received a free bottle of booster for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

1 Year Blog Anniversary and H&M Giveaway

 

It’s hard to believe that my first blog entry was a year ago today!  It was very short and to the point.  My 2nd post didn’t come until almost a month later and was only one sentence long!  I didn’t know anything about hyperlinking or HTML coding.  I didn’t know how to find products to review or giveaway.  I also didn’t know the difference between Wordpress and Blogger!  Haha!  I actually started with Blogspot because that’s what I noticed everyone else was using and just figured that they knew what was best.  lol  It’s hard to believe that I’ve learned so much and done so much in just one year.  Thank you to everyone who has helped me this past year!  I appreciate everything everyone has done. 

In just a year, this blog has gotten over 500 Google Friend Connect followers.  I remember starting out and thinking that I would never get 100 followers.  I didn’t believe that anyone would actually want to subscribe/follow my blog and read what I had to say.  I also never dreamed that I would get over 900 followers on Twitter!  Wow!  I’m still amazed! 

Without my readers, none of this would have been possible.  I want to thank you wonderful people by having a giveaway where I’m actually giving away some prizes that I already have and that isn’t sponsored by anyone.  I received a $25 H&M gift card sometime ago.  However, there’s not one near me and you can’t order online (for some unknown reason).  I also have 2 $25 gift cards for Safeway grocery stores!  There’s also not a Safeway store near me.  So…

WIN!

I’m giving:

one reader a $25 H&M gift card and

2 readers a $25 Safeway gift card

I’ve noticed that one of the biggest complaints on sweeps forums about blog giveaways is all of the extra entries.  So, I’m going to try something different with this giveaway since I don’t have to have a high turn out of entries for a sponsor.

To enter:  Tell me which of the gift cards you would like to win.

That’s it!  No extra entries, but you can follow me on Twitter or the blog to catch more giveaways!  : )  You can also like Laughing Lindsay on Facebook for updates!

Giveaway closes July 7th at 11:59 PM EST.
Good luck!

*Since I am shipping the cards, this giveaway is open only to US residents.

Disclaimer:  I received nothing for posting this giveaway.  This is in celebration of my 1 year blogging anniversary. 

The Knight Life Giveaway Winners

The lucky winners of the Knight Life Giveaway are comments...

#9
#18

Congratulations! The winners have been contacted and have 48 hours to respond. Thanks to everyone who entered! Look out for a special giveaway later today!

Busy Bees at Work and Play Book Review

I recently received a copy of Busy Bees at Work and Play by M. Maitland DeLand to review.  Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why I agreed to review a children’s book.  Well, for starters it just looked so cute!  Secondly, I just had a Literature for Children and Young Adults class this spring and have since gained a greater appreciation for this literature.   This book helps a little one understand why grown ups have to work by showing various members of the community.  It portrays these members of the community doing their job and them in their free time.

Busy Bees at Work and Play has very good illustrations, something that is crucial for a good children’s book.  I thought it was cute how throughout the book there was little things that would only make sense if a character was a bee (for instance, a boat is named the “Bee Line”).  The illustrator incorporates hexagonal shapes and honey combs when possible.  I also liked that the pictures were interactive with readers.  While the young bee first encounters every adult while they are working, there are clues in the background that allow children to figure out what that bee does at the end of the day.  I do think that it’s interesting that the bees “wear” shirts but not pants.  Haha! 

I also appreciated how the main bee’s mother is a teacher!  I guess that goes to show that teachers are typically good parents.  ; ) 

Anyways, this is a very cute book for children.  I enjoyed it and so did my boyfriend.  Haha!  You can find it on Amazon.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Busy Bees at Work and Play for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Kit Giveaway Winner

The lucky winner of the Auntie Anne's Pretzel Kit Giveaway is comment...

#150

Congratulations! The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond. Thank you to everyone who responded!

Giveaways Reminder

Since I have a couple of giveaways ending soon, I wanted to post a reminder of them so that you don’t miss any good ones!

Win an Auntie Anne's Pretzel Kit – ends tonight at 11:59 PM EST!

Enter the Knight Life Giveaway which ends tomorrow and has very few comments!

The Lovable Labels Giveaway ends June 28th.

The newest, Kroger $30 gift card giveaway ends June 30th.

Win a Krispy Kreme Doughnut Gift card in the giveaway that ends July 4th.

The first Alight Plus Size Top Giveaway ends July 9th.

SeaPak Popcorn Shrimp Review

I recently got to try some SeaPak popcorn shrimp for review.  My dad is a big seafood fan and I am pretty picky about what seafood I will eat.  We decided to try the popcorn shrimp because that is something that is seafood that I will usually eat.  One night my mom fixed it for us for dinner. 

I found the popcorn shrimp to be tasty and delicious.  I thought it had a nice texture to it.  Here is a more close-up picture of the popcorn shrimp.Doesn’t it look pretty good?  I thought the popcorn shrimp was good.  It didn’t smell real “fishy” if you know what I mean.  It smelled fresh and yummy.  My dad liked it as well.  This is something that is truly easy to fix (we just baked it in the oven) and it pleases the whole family.  I think we will probably be eating this again.  SeaPak provides families with an easy way to eat something that is part of a healthy diet if eaten twice per week.  That’s right, fish can be good for you.  My dad actually wishes I would eat fish more often.  This is a great way to do that. 

SeaPak is a crowd pleaser.  My mom likes it because it is so quick and easy (a requirement for food in our house).  My dad likes it because it’s fish.  I like it because it tastes good. 

Disclaimer:  I received a coupon for a free SeaPak product for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own. 

Kroger Pound for Pound Giveaway

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I am able to do another giveaway for Kroger!  This time it’s for their Pound for Pound Challenge!  They are urging people to be healthier by pledging to lose weight!  For every pound you pledge to lose thru June 30th, 14 cents will be donated to Feeding America!  This means that you can help people that are local by giving local food banks food! 

They are doing this because they are a sponsor for the show “the Biggest Loser”.  By shopping at Kroger, you can buy the brands and products you see featured on the hit tv series and shed the weight, too!  To correspond with the Challenge and to help someone out, MyBlogSpark is allowing me to host another wonderful giveaway for a Kroger giftcard!

Just so you know, The Kroger Family of Stores includes Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillon's, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy.   Hopefully, you have one of those great stores near you and could use a gift card! 

WIN! THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED!

MyBlogSpark and Kroger Stores are giving one lucky reader a $30 gift card! 

To enter:   Tell me something you would buy with the gift card. 

(Make sure your email address is in the comment or is easily accessible via your blog profile or blog itself. I need to be able to contact you!)
This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the "extra" entries. Comments like "enter me" will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1.  Follow Laughing Lindsay on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it). You get one extra entry for each thing done.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.)

Giveaway ends on June 30th at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don't hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I'll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!

*Open to US residents only

Disclaimer: I received a gift card for free for this post. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion CD Review

Thanks to the One2One Network, I received a copy of Sarah McLachlan’s newest cd, Laws of Illusion to review which just came out on June 15th!  I was excited to receive this cd because this is her first studio album in 7 years and because EVERY ONE of Sarah’s albums has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA!  Not to mention, before the release of this cd, she had made 20 million career sales!  As you can see, Sarah is well-established for good music.

Laws of Illusion, to me, has the same feeling of Sarah’s usual music.  It’s a nice cd that I might listen to on a Saturday morning.  Sarah has a beautiful voice and it really comes through on this album.  Her first single for this album, "Loving You is Easy", is up-beat and happy.  It’s one of my favorite songs from the album and it’s also already a Top Ten hit on Adult Alternative radio.  I also really like “Changes” and “Awakenings”. 

This is a some-what relaxing cd that I could listen to while working on some homework or a blog post (like I am doing now).  I could also see myself cleaning the house or doing some errands on a Saturday with this on.  I don’t know if I would actually just sit down and listen to it, but it’s nice to have on while doing other things.

You can check out Sarah's Facebook Page for updates on her work or follow Sarah on Twitter!  You can also check out Sarah for yourself at one of the many stops on the Lilith Fair Tour!  Lilith Fair was founded my McLachlan and is an all women touring festival! 

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of Laws of Illusion for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  I am also receiving a contest entry for posting this review.  The opinions expressed are my own. 

Delta Faucet Review – 1st Vlog

When I was offered the chance to receive a Delta Faucet to review, I was really excited.  In my household, money is always tight.  We hardly ever replace stuff unless it’s broke.  The kitchen faucet in our house was 10 years old or more!  No one remembers exactly how old it was, but we know it was there a long time.  I mean I don’t remember it being changed out!  Here is our old kitchen faucet.  As you can tell, we like simple styled things.  My dad also likes the two handles.  Because of all of this, my parents decided that we should get the Orleans Two Handled Kitchen Faucet with Sprayer.  We also liked that it came with a sprayer.  My mom liked this one because of its tall/high arc.  The old one would get in the way if you had a tall stack of dishes or had a big pot or something.  She was really excited to get this one! 

For various reasons, we hired our usual hometown handy man to install our new faucet.  He had some trouble getting the old one out, I think it was sort of stuck.  However, he had no trouble installing the new one.  Here is a picture of our new faucet!  Isn’t it a beauty?  We really like it!  My mom’s only complaint is that it’s a little slow to turn off.  It’s not a nuisance or anything, just noticeable.  This is why I decided to do my first video on this blog!  Yes, I hate my voice on recordings, but I thought it was worth it for my readers!  It’s a very short video, only 27 seconds!  In the video I turn it on, use the sprayer and turn it off!  If you have any interest in buying one, I recommend you watch it.

Delta Kitchen Faucet

While we had someone else install our faucet, there is short clip on YouTube that instructs you on how to install a kitchen faucet!  Also, you can find Delta Faucet on Twitter where they tweet the newest Delta faucet reviews and giveaways!  Delta Faucet is also on Facebook! 

Disclaimer:  I received a Delta Faucet free for review purposes.  No compensation was received.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway

When I received the chance to do a review for Lovable Labels I was pretty excited.  They wanted me to review their new camp pack labels which is meant for these summer months when children go off to summer camp.  It allows parents to label their children’s belongings with their name so they don’t get mixed up with other children’s stuff.  Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why a college student would be excited about something like that.  Well, I’m supposed to have a roomie  next year at college!  This means that there is the possibility of us getting our stuff mixed up.  With these cute labels, I shouldn’t have that problem.

I picked the Polka Dot stickers set because they are colorful and happy.  These camp packs come with a tons of labels!  You can label almost everything you own with this set!  It comes with 15 of these sticker labels!  I think they are adorable!  It also comes with 40 slimline sticker labels.  Here is a picture of the ones in my set!   You can label a lot with these!   Then, I also got 12 shoe labels!  Haha!  I never thought of labeling my shoes!  I guess, now I can!  I think they would go great with my rain boots!  I’m hoping that I don’t wear the same size in anything as my future roomie.  If we do, I will do def put these to use!  I might also need to use one of the many, many clothing dots I was sent.  I got 18 large, 18 medium, and 36 small clothing dots!  That means there’s a perfect size for every article of clothing!  Yay!   Here is a picture of the different clothing dots.  Aren’t they awesome?

In this pack, you also get 12 square labels which are perfect for things like books or other school-like things!  I will probably put one of these on my planner since it doesn’t have a place for my info.  I could also place it on my external hard-drive or things like that. 

Last, but not least, I also got 2 round metal tags!  I really like these!  They will be perfect for luggage or other bags!      The tags have the label on both sides of it!  That means you don’t have to turn it over to find out who it belongs to!  I think these are just great! 

Overall, Lovable Labels are terrific and I can’t wait to use mine.  If I take anymore trips this summer, I will be sure to use them.  These labels are of high quality.  They aren’t those flimsy little things that you might find elsewhere.  They are really nice and they have designs for everyone.  They have a pack for the sporty one, the girly one, the diva, the moving and grooving one, and even the outdoorsy one!  I’m not kidding, there is a pack for everyone!

WIN! THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED!

Lovable Labels is offering one lucky reader a Camp Pack of Labels! 

To enter:  Check out the Lovable Labels Camp Packs and tell me what your favorite design  is.

(Make sure your email address is in the comment or is easily accessible via your blog profile or blog itself. I need to be able to contact you!)
This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the "extra" entries. Comments like "enter me" will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1.  Follow 89linz on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it). You get one extra entry for each thing done.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.)

7.  Like the Lovable Labels Official Fan Page on Facebook and come back here and tell me.

9.  Follow MyLovableLabels on Twitter.

Giveaway ends on June 28 at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don't hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I'll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!
*Open to US and Canada residents only

Disclaimer: I received a Camp Pack for free for this review. No other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.