Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Taking a Small Break
Hi everyone, I am taking a week off from this blog to relax during the holidays. I have a few giveaways going on so make sure you enter them!! I also have a giveaway for an autographed Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives cookbook over at my personal blog Carolyn in Carolina!!If you want to help out the needy please donate to our LATISM (Latinos in Social Media) toy drive. You can see the Chip-In button to the left. We are raising money and collecting toys. For more info, you can visit latism.org. Any amount is a wonderful thing. I also want to thank TimeToPlayMag.com for donating a whole bunch of new toys to the drive. They rock and the donation was greatly appreciated!!
I hope everyone had a great holiday and I will see you in the New Year. I already have a few great reviews and giveaways lined up. WOOHOO!! There are some great items up for grabs.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
L'Bel & Blogher Giveaways 1/6
Jenny on the Spot
Wishbone Clover
Metalia
BooMama
I am Style-Ish
Nothing but Bonfires

Kisses Dahlings!! 12/31

Quadville
Fiddledeedee
Fluid Pudding
Swistle
Life With The Boys
Oh The Joys
Salsa in China
Big Momma
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA! EXPO Markers & Learning Board Review
At my last job, I had a huge Dry Erase board in my office where I could track events I was coordinating and meetings I had to attend and it was the best thing. I love Expo Dry Erase products because you can write stuff down and then erase it when it's not needed. Then you can start all over again!
So when I received the opportunity to review EXPO Dry Erase products, I was thrilled. I received a pack of the Expo Bright Sticks Fluorescent Markers, a pack of the Expo Click Low Odor Chisel Dry Erase Markers and a Expo Learning Board.
I love the board because it is small so I can take it from the office to the the front of the house where I do a lot of my blogging and reviews as well. It is handy when I need to walk around the kitchen and write down the groceries I need. I also leave Tom messages on the board in places where he will see them. The Retractable Markers are fantastic. These are great for me because
I am forever and day leaving my Expo markers with the caps off and they dry out.
They are so handy and easy to use. I know it sounds weird to say this would make a great holiday gift but if you know someone like me who goes nuts at the site of office supplies, this would be perfect. You can make a great basket of Expo products for teachers, co-workers or even kids. The products are inexpensive and functional. I know if someone gave me a basket full of Expo products, I would be one happy camper!!
In addition, for every package of EXPO markers sold in the U.S. this November and December, EXPO will donate one marker to the Kids In Need Foundation up to a maximum of 100,000 EXPO markers. That's pretty cool.
So if you need a quick, cool gift that anyone can use, you should consider giving them some EXPO products!! I think they will thank you. I know I would!!

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the products I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
Blogher and Tassimo
Retro Food
Xiaolin Mama
Megan’s Minute
Southern Hospitality
A Year of Slow Cooking
Petroville
More Women

Blogher and Sprint - 12/31
Muses of Megret
Sweet as Punkin Pie
Slice of Pink
Busy Mom
Honest & Truly
Long Hollow
CookinCanuck
Stepford Stories

Blogher, Arbor Mist and more chances to win!!
Joy Unexpected
Oh! How Lovely
Slice of Pink
Megan’s Minute
Wishbone Clover
Your Style Star

Monday, December 21, 2009
CLOSED ~ HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS: Staples OXO Review and Giveaway - 3 Winners
I know this will sound weird but I love office supplies. Yes, I love them. Any type, any kind. There is something about having new pens or a cool stapler and don't get me started on Post-It notes.So when Staples contacted me to review some OXO Good Grip office products I was very excited. Staples and OXO have teamed up and now have a great line of Good Grip office products for sale at Staples. I have used OXO products before but in the kitchen. I have quite a few OXO Good Grip kitchen gadgets and love them. They work well and last long.
OXO's design philosophy is to create each product to be convenient and easy for everyone to use. As they say: It's where advanced function meets comfortable usage. And they succeed. OXO products are comfortable and functional. Plus they are so cute!!
I received a few of the new OXO Good Grips retractable ballpoint pens in blue and black ink and some large magnetic clips to try out. After writing a few checks and Christmas cards, I realized that these pens are really nice. I like that you just twist and they are ready to use and then twist again and they retract. This is especially good since I am known to leave pens all over the house and sometimes they leak and it's a mess. The non-slip grip makes them easy to use and to hold. The ballpoint makes writing smooth and easy. Plus, the pens are refillable.
The OXO Collection at Staples includes tons of cool office supplies and I am definitely eyeballing a few I looked at. I love the pushpin dispenser and I also really like the retractable highlighters. Now you are probably saying why does she say this is a good holiday gift idea. Well, if you know someone like me who goes gaga over office supplies what better gift can there be but a basketful of these cool supplies, right? Not only is it a fun gift but totally functional!!

Staples has a gift for three of my cool readers!! They are offering me some supplies to give to you. WOO!! Three of you will win a set of the Good Grip retractable pens, a pushpin dispenser (so jealous because this is the cutest thing) and a one hole punch! YAY! Thank you Staples!So read the entry rules and enter! Start your New Year with some cool office supplies!!
Mandatory Entry
Visit the Staples-OXO website and come back and tell me which OXO products you would love to have in your office!
Extra Entries
* Follow the Staples on Twitter
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)
Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Monday, January 11 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the products I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Blogher and Intel Giveaway
Another Blogher set of contests. This time for a UMID mbook from Intel. Hit these giveaways for you chance to win. These end 12/30I am Style-ish
Michelle Woo
This Full House
Fluid Pudding
Show Me the Curry
Megan's Minute
Nothing but Bonfires

Blogher and LOFT
Sassafrass
Zip n Tizzy
Gen Pink
Steece’s Pieces
A Girl and A Boy
The Karianna Spectrum
Caleigh's Corner
Honest and Truly
Xiaolin Mama
The Calm Before The Stork
Slynnro
Mocha Momma
Mom’s Happy Handful
Oh! How Lovely

Friday, December 18, 2009
WOW TONS OF WINNERS!!
Okay not tons but 6 winners. So here they are: Drumroll please. The winners of the Tom Petty, GCDSpa and Cook's Ham giveaways chosen by Random.org are:Liz D
GCDSpa.com
Bleatham
CMC
Little Bird
Cook's Ham
Imurley2000
Carolsue
Congrats! Two of these giveaways had lots of entries so y'all lucked out!! WOO! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.
I want to thank Total Assault, Cook's Ham and GCDSpa.com for these great prizes and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for upcoming giveaways! So enter and win!!
I also want to thank everyone who participates in my giveaways! I appreciate the support!!
WOO-HOO!! CONGRATS AGAIN!!
TJ Maxx and Marshalls Secret Santa Shopping and Carol-Oke

I love T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. I always find some cute stuff at great prices. They have the everything from toys, MP3 accessories, electric razors, golf accessories, electronics gourmet food ingredients (my favorites), chocolates, coffees, books, beauty products, fashion and winter accessories. Plus my T.J. Maxx is a Homes Good store which rocks!!
So I went shopping for my Secret Santa and found some cute stuff. The best thing is that I was able to use my Marshalls cards at T.J. Maxx. I was thrilled that I could do that and it comes in handy since the Marshalls was miles away.
What I found was a cute apron (she has cats), beautiful kitchen towels, some funky potholders, a cute recyclable bag and some Lindt truffles. All this for just under $30!! Woo-hoo. I really hope she likes it. I didn't have much info so I played it by ear. I had fun. I need to go back and shop for myself next time!!
You have a chance for a little Holiday cheer by entering a new contest. Marshalls and T.J. Maxx have joined together for a "Carol-oke" contest. One lucky person will win a $5,000 holiday shopping spree - just for singing their favorite holiday tune! You can visit the YouTube's specially-created "Caroling Channel". There, you can select from one of three carols, create their own "Carol-oke" video and upload for entry into the contest. For each video $1 will be donated toward Toys for Tots, to purchase gifts for a child in need.
So go upload a video and possible make some Holiday cash. Plus, you are helping out a great charity! Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received 2 $25 Marshalls cards. One for me and one to purchase gifts. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA ~ HP PhotoSmart Premium with TouchSmart Web Printer Review
I first saw the HP PhotoSmart Premium with TouchSmart Web Printer at the Type-A-Mom Conference I attended in August. HP had set up a suite and recharging station for the attendees. I decided to venture in and look around. You can read about my adventure here. Giovanni from HP was so helpful that day as I walked around and asked 101 questions. I also got to meet Angela from HP and she was equally as nice and helpful. As I walked around, I immediately noticed the HP Mini which I love and covet. I was really lucky I got to play HP Touchsmart 600 PC as well. Giovanni was patient enough to demonstrate all the cool features of the HP Photosmart Premium Touchsmart Web Printer. I loved it. I remember going home and hinting to Tom we needed the Touchsmart PC and PhotoSmart printer and that I needed a Mini as well. He ignored me.So when HP contacted me to do a review of the HP Photosmart Premium Web Printer how could I say no. I was thrilled because I already knew what to expect. When the printer arrived I was so excited to set it up and start printing.
First of all, the printer was easy to set up. Though Tom was the one who set it up, I could have easily done it myself but I hate doing these techy things. The only issue I encountered was when I tried to network the printer and my laptop but that was a problem on the laptop's end because when Tom tried on his Mac, it worked immediately.
Before I get into the cool features of this fabulous printer, I want to talk about the biggest plus this printer offers our household. I am a PC and Tom is a Mac. When he bought a wireless printer last year, we assumed that he was going to be able to use it as well. It wasn't until we set it up that we realized that the printer we bought was not compatible with a Mac. So for about a year, he has been printerless here at home. He has had to take his laptop to work to print anything or have me print it from my laptop. It wasn't a good thing. But now our problem has been solved with this HP printer. It is compatible with both operating systems and now he can do his own printing. You don't know how exciting that is for Tom. I am so glad HP offers printers that are compatible with both operating systems.
I have to say that I loved that the printer came ready to go. We took it out of the box, plugged it in and it was ready to use. As we looked around for the instruction manual, we realized that the printer itself takes you though the instructions right on the touch screen so you don't even need a manual. That's how easy it is. All you do is turn it on and it walks you through the set up. It was fantastically easy to follow along and set up the printer. The printer cartiridges were easy to load and you can replace them individually as they run out! Sometimes loading ink
In the box we found a really cute pouch that had all the cords and cables we needed. This is fantastic because usually we just have this big giant box full of cables and cords and have no idea where they belong. Now we can keep all the printer cords in one place. The printer itself came in a huge bag. Although I know this is the printer bag, I am taking this baby to the beach next time I go. It would fit all my beach towels and beach accessories! Nice touch HP!
Once we got the printer online, it was a breeze to get it to connect with our wireless service. All we needed was our password and it went online quickly. Now we can print from anywhere in the house. That is so handy. The touchscreen is the best thing because it is easy to use and the screen is a good size so it is easy to read.
That was all it took to get set up. It took less than 15 minutes to get it up and running and once we got our laptops to recognize the printer we were in business. It printed out the regular test pages and I tried a few pages from my computer and we had no problems. I even decided to print a picture and the printer automatically knew which tray it needed to be routed to for printing. The quality of the photo was fantastic. I love this because I am the keeper of our Family Album and now I can scan and print out copies for my mom and dad. I am sending this family photo I printed out to my sister for Christmas. After printing pictures, files, web pages we both came to the conclusion that the printer quality on everything we printed was excellent. The printer also has automatic two sided printing which is a wonderful feature.
This printer is also connected to the Internet which makes it so wonderful. And even if you are offline on the computer you can still access the applications that come with the printer without having to turn on the computer. It comes with several programs that you can connect to at anytime. The programs include Fandango, Disney, Google Calendar, Coupons, USA Today, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Google Maps and Recipes. I am sure I missed one or two but you get the picture.
We don't have kids but I know many of my readers do. This printer is so kid friendly. If I can figure it out I am sure a child can as well. Plus, the web applications accessible through the printer are fantastic. I went on Disney, Nickelodeon and DreamWorks. What is fabulous about these programs is that your kids can go on the sites and print out the content they like. Disney had coloring pages and crafts. Plus they had a featured movie button. The featured movie was A Christmas Carol and I was ab
Nickelodeon was really cool. They featured many of their characters including iCarly, Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go and my favorite Spongebob Squarepants. They had a lot of content. Besides coloring pages, they had puzzles, mazes, spot the difference games, word search and many more. DreamWorks had great content for the kids as well. They also featured their movies including Madagascar 2, Shrek 3 and Kung Fu Panda. They had coloring pages, games and crafts. As a test, I printed out the Shrek door hanger. Not only do you get the printout to work with but they also include a page with instructions.
I also loved the other applications you can access. My favorites include the Recipe program where you search and print out recipes of all kinds. I would love to have the room in my kitchen to place the printer there so I can print and cook all at once. The Coupon program allows you to search for coupons by zip code. If you use coupons like I do, this is a really handy application to have.
If you have a Snapfish account you can easily log into your account and print your pictures. This is very convenient since there are many times I download pictures on my Snapfish account. Friends also share photos with me so I can always print out those pictures as well. If you love movies, you can access the Fandango application and buy and print up tickets from home.
The other programs were equally as good. I loved the Google Map application because I am forever getting lost. The best thing is that I can access the program directly from the printer and not have to log into my laptop. The Google Calendar is handy for keeping track of your appointments and you can print out the pages. I am printing out my schedule and tacking it on the refrigerator.
I can't tell you how easy it is to use this printer. I also have to mention that it isn't only a web connected printer. It also copies, scans and faxes. It is truly an all-in-one printer. I suspect that we will never ever buy another printer for a long time. I don't want another printer because I really love this one. Tom was equally impressed.
So if you are looking for a new printer, you have to consider the HP PhotoSmart Premium. It has everything you need and then some. The cost is reasonable for all the great things it does. The retail price of the printer is $399 and it is well worth it. I would recommend this printer to everyone.
Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
WINNERS!!! Truvia Giveaway
Drumroll please. The winners of the Truvia giveaway chosen by Random.org are:Barbarwr
Congrats! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.
I want to thank Truvia for this great prize and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! There are some really good ones!! So enter and win!!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
WINNER!! $20 Amazon Gift Certificate from Savespro
Drumroll please. The winner of the $20 Amazon Gift Certificate chosen by Random.org is:BunnyB
Congrats! I have sent you all an email. You have 48 hours to get back to me. After 48 hours, I will choose a new winners. So send me your info!! Once I get all the info, I will send it our wonderful sponsor.
I want to thank Savespro for this great prize and the opportunity for one of my readers to win. I also want to thank everyone who participated. I appreciate your continued support! If you didn't win this one, there are a few more giveaways going on. Look on my sidebar for the current list! There are some really good ones!! So enter and win!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
CLOSED ~ HOLIDAY GIFT ALERT: Village Tea Company Review and Giveaway
I am a tea lover. I love tea and one of my dreams is to one day open a little tea house where I could serve tea and those little tiny tea sandwiches. I love the idea of serving tea. It's so civilized. Plus, I am a fiend for those little tea sandwiches and scones!!
To me there is nothing better than a cup of tea on a cold afternoon. And it's been cold around here! So when I received the opportunity to try some new tea, I couldn't say no.
The tea I got to sample was Simply Earl Grey Tea from the Village Tea Company. The Village Tea Company sells a whole line of wonderful loose teas. Flavors include the Simply Earl Grey tea I received as well as Classic White Tea, Smooth Jasmine Green tea, Sassy Green Tea with Acai and many more.
Luckily, I have my very own tea steeper since this is loose leaf tea. It is a wonderful tool that allows you to have fresh tea anytime. I love it. But if you don't have your very own steeper, Village Tea Co. teas also come with little bags to place the loose tea and you can use to steep it. I thought this was such a nice touch because you don't have to go out and buy a special tool. This little detail made the tea experience so much lovelier.
Overall, I really enjoyed this tea and it is very good. The taste was so nice and it made for a wonderful morning and afternoon treat. I would certainly buy it for myself. I know I would love to try more of the flavors they sell. I think it would make a fantastic gift for the tea lover on your X-mas list. The teas are also reasonably priced as well. You can visit the Village Tea Co. site fot more information or follow them on Twitter or fan them Facebook.
And now one lucky reader will be able to try 3 flavors of this tasty tea for themselves. I want to thank the Village Tea Company for providing this opportunity for one of you. If you are a tea lover, then this is the giveaway for you. Remember to follow the rules and enter for your chance to win.
Mandatory Entry
Visit the Village Tea Company website and come back and tell me which three flavors you would choose if you are the winner.
Extra Entries
* Follow the Village Tea Co. on Twitter
* Subscribe to my blog through email (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter @carogonza (1 entry)
* Tweet this giveaway. Leave the link to the tweet in your post. (1 entry/tweet per day)
* Follow my blog (1 entry)
* Subscribe to to my feed (1 entry)
* Add my button to your site (2 entries)
* Add this Giveaway to a Sweepstakes site, Mr. Linky,your giveaway list etc. Leave the link!! (2 entries per submission)
* Fave me on Technorati (leave your username - 1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway leave the link (3 entries)
* Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry - see right sidebar for widget)
Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!
Deadline: Wednesday, January 6 at 11:59 pm EST. I will use random.org to pick the winners so everyone has a chance to win. **PLEASE leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.
Monday, December 14, 2009
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: Ultra Dental Water Jet WP-100 Review

A few years ago my dentist suggested I buy a WaterPik in order to prevent plaque from building up around my teeth and gums. I didn't do it. Then the last time I got my teeth cleaned the dental hygienist also suggested I get a WaterPik because I had some plaque buildup. I told her that I floss everyday. She said flossing is great but the WaterPik would do a better job. But again, I never got one.
So when I had the opportunity to review an Ultra Water Jet WP-100, I finally gave in. I wasn't sure what to expect from it. I know a few people who use it and love them but I wasn't sure if I wanted to use one myself.A little background on the benefits of the WaterPik:
•Improves dental hygiene and is clinically proven to be up to 93% more effective than dental floss at improving gum health
•Removes bacteria deep between teeth and below the gum line where brushing and flossing will not reach
•Massages and stimulates gums to help prevent gingivitis and improve oral health
•Works with water or your favorite mouthwash
•Leaves a clean, fresh sensation
The water jet technology the WaterPik uses gets right in between teeth and the gum line. These are areas where regular toothbrushes and floss just can't reach. But the WaterPik does.
The first thing I noticed is how cool the WaterPik is. It is compact enough to fit on any vanity near the sink. The lid of the water reservoir hold the attachments so they are all in one place. The handle and cord fit nicely into the unit so there is no messy cords all over. The WaterPik Ultra comes with 6 different tips: 2 Standard Jet Tips, 1 Pik Pocket, 1 Orthodontic Tip, 1 Tongue Cleaner and 1 Toothbrush Tip. This is fantastic because you can use the tip that best suits your dental needs. It comes with lots of settings as well. I started out on the lowest setting when I tried out the WaterPik but was able to go up to 8 setting. I tried the highest setting and found it to be a little strong. Hubby's teeth and gums are sensitive so he uses a lower setting. It's all about finding what level is good for you.
At first it is a little weird to use it. And when I didn't remember to keep my lips partially closed, it splattered all over. But after a few tries, I got the hang of it. I now know why my dentist told me to get one of these. It works and works well. When I rinsed and looked in the mirror, I could tell how clean the WaterPik had gotten my teeth and gums. I could see that the plaque that was there before was gone. I love the brush attachment as well. The Tongue Cleaner attachment is a little strange but it works and I use it all the time. Hubby has taken to using the WaterPik too and he likes it as well. The only complaint I have is the noise and vibration the unit itself makes but for clean gums and teeth, I don't care.
I know my dentist will be thrilled next time I go into his office. He will be surprised that I have little or no plaque. I would recommend this product if you are interested in good dental health. As I get older, I am definitely taking better care of myself and I really believe that dental hygiene is part of that effort to strive for better health.
If you are interested in purchasing one a WaterPik, it is available on their site for $59.99 and at other retailers around the country. These would make a fantastic holiday gift! If you do want to buy one go to their site and print out a $5 off coupon. You can also follow WaterPik on twitter.
For good dental care, this is one fantastic tool!!

Disclosure: As part of my review, I received the product I discussed in this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. My opinions have not been influenced by the product given.















