Christmas Wishes - Blast Zone Misty Kingdom Review & GIVEAWAY!!

The holidays are almost here, it's time to jump in. Does jumping seem a bit overzealous? Perhaps you're more laid back and would prefer to slide into the holidays instead. Or maybe you are even more enthusiastic an would rather take things by the balls...in the Blast Zone Misty Kingdom ball bit that is.

You see, no matter what your personality, the Misty Kingdom Inflatable Bouncer has you covered. If you prefer jumping, then the bouncer section has you covered. If you like to be surrounded by balls(who doesn't really?), the ball pit are is perfect for you. If you like sliding, there is fabulous slide for you. If you like it wet, the Misty Kingdom can get wet. This wet/dry inflatable combo does it all.

If you like to have the happiest kids you have ever seen, the Misty Kingdom can deliver. Any kid who wakes up to the Misty Kingdom on Christmas morning(or any other day), will probably wake any neighbor within ten miles with their cheers of joy, excitement and gratitude.

I know first had how much kids love Blast Zone inflatables. My kids have owned several, and even though they are not new to them anymore, they are still just as exciting as the very first day they played in one. I got the Misty Kingdom for my kiddos for Christmas this year. I know they are going to be thrilled.

I am upgrading from the Magic Castle Bounce House, which is incredible, it just does not have a slide or ball bit. My kids still love their Magic Castle though. It's their favorite outdoor activity. It leaves their trampoline in the dust.

As you can see, it is a blast.

I know that the Misty Kingdom will be an even bigger hit with the kids, and I cannot wait to see their faces when they go outside to find it waiting for them on Christmas morning. In fact, I bet my face will be pretty priceless too, as I watch them with a mixture of joy for their excitement and jealousy that I m too big to join the fun.

The novelty aspect of Blast Zone inflatables is pretty apparent. Obviously having your own person bouncer to make every day feel like a party is fantastic. However, if that was all it was, it would not make for a good product. Blast Zone products are not just bouncers, they are high quality bouncers, made by a company that truly cares for it's customers and firmly stands behind their products to guarantee your satisfaction.

With Blast Zone, you never have to worry that you will have a problem and be out of luck and have to take a loss. If anything should come up, Blast Zone has you covered. To me, that peace of mind is a gift in itself. My opinion has always been that a product is only as good as the service of the company who makes/sells it. By that logic, Blast Zone is still an incredible company.

If you are looking for an extravagant gift that is sure to be a dream come true to every child in your home(and all of their friends even), then the Misty Kingdom is the quintessential choice. It is the complete package. Boasting a bouncer, ball bit and slide(dry or water slide) and a splash pool.

The Misty Kingdom is made with commercial grade vinyl so the bounce and slide surfaces are built to last. The massive splash area along with climbing, bouncer, and slide structure can accommodate up to 6 children at one time with room to spare.

The Misty Kingdom inflates easily in only seconds with the included UL listed blower. Only your own hose and the water tube included are needed to get the splashing started, and the Misty Kingdom even minimizes water use with a built in flow restrictor. It even comes with the stakes, a carrying case and a patch kit, plus an instructional DVD.

While this is big fun for even the biggest of kids, it is created to be safe for even young children. The stay closed "door" on the bouncer ensures that a child will not fall through the opening. The small slide leading to the bounce area ensures easy entry and exit from the bouncer, for children of any size. Children can easily navigate from the bounce area to the bigger(water) slide safely.

There is no need to exit the bouncer area or climb from the ground. That not only keeps the bouncer cleaner since no dirt or grass will be tracked in, but it is safer because even if someone should take a little fall, the will land on the soft, bouncer surface instead of the ground.

Everything about the Misty Kingdom is designed to be fun and smart. I can't get enough of Blast Zone's inflatables, and neither can my kids. We are going to have the best, bounciest holiday yet thanks to the Misty Kingdom. If you are still shopping for a gift, you could make someones entire year by choosing the Misty Kingdom.

And speaking of making someone's year. Blast Zone has been so generous to offer a giveaway for a Misty Kingdom inflatable as well. One lucky reader will win this amazing all in one bounce extravaganza. Enter below for your chance to own this incredible item. Don't forget to enter all the other Christmas Wishes giveaways HERE as well. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Wishes - Teleflora Review and GIVEAWAY!

The holiday season is upon us. We are all shopping, planning, decorating, baking, volunteering, entertaining and so much more. It certainly is a beautifully hectic season. In fact, sometimes we can forget to stop and "smell the roses" so to speak. 

I am guilty of that all too often. I get caught up in looking ahead and forget to enjoy all the wonderful moments along the way. This week, however, I have quite literally stopped to smell the roses (and the chrysanthemums and the carnations.) I received a stunning Snoopy's Cookie Jar arrangement from Teleflora. 

It is actually sitting beside me on the table, and it smells divine. The colors are so pretty and are perfect for Christmas. I don't have a  lot of space in my house. In fact, currently, there is almost none. I have not even put up our tree due to the fact that I have no suitable spot for it. I have not decorated at all actually.

This arrangment just makes my home look so much more beautiful, it is so festive and fun while still being elegant. It just fills me with holiday spirit, which is something I really needed. The flowers are still just as fresh and gorgeous as the day they arrived and I wouldn't be surprised if they lasted another week.

Best of all, even when the flowers are gone, I will always have the adorable Snoopy cookie jar. I love Peanuts and Snoopy has been one of my favorite characters since I was very young. I love having such a sweet reminder of the simpler times of my childhood and to be able to share Peanuts with my children. 

I think it is so wonderful that Teleflora has partnered with Peanuts to create these fantastic arrangements. If there is anything better than fresh, fragrant, beautiful flowers it is flowers presented in a Peanuts Christmas arrangement. What a special gift.

What makes Teleflora arrangements stand out is their amazing quality, freshness and beauty. With unique themes and incredible vases and pieces(like this cookie jar or the peanuts mug, or ornament jar.) A gift from Teleflora is something that can always be cherished, in memory and in the wonderful keepsake that comes with it.

Our Snoopy cookie jar will now adorn our table every year. Every time we bring it out, it will be like the official start to the holidays. Holiday traditions are so important to us, and this cookie jar is so much more than a thing, it is an idea. It is joy and excitement, it is holiday spirit, it is family tradition.

I feel all that with just having received this arrangement for review. Imagine how special it will be coming from you to someone you love. While gifts can be an amazing gesture and it is always nice to pick out something meaningful, the true meaning comes from the heart of the giver. They will cherish the arrangement because it is from you and they will love it because it is from Teleflora. 

Best of all, Teleflora gifts can be ordered right from your home and sent to anyone in the US. It is so much more personal to be handed a lovely bouquet of fresh, beautiful flowers that to receive a cardboard box with a gift in it. Teleflora arrangements also make a fantastic hostess gift. And they are also a great way to make your home look stunning for any entertaining you may be doing.

There are not many gifts more versatile than an arrangement from Teleflora. Your loved ones are incredibly special, they deserve a gift that is just as unique, beautiful and full of life as they are. Teleflora has the perfect arrangement for everyone.

I wish I could give all of you one of these amazing arrangements. While I cannot do that, Teleflora has been generous enough to provide one lucky winner with their choice of any arrangement up to $69. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win this incredible prize.

And don't  forget to enter all the other incredible giveaways in the Christmas Wishes event HERE. Remember there are 10 of us and we will be listing new giveaways throughout the day through December 7th. There are thousands of dollars in prizes to be won. Good luck!

*Although I received this arrangement at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Wishes Blog Pop!

With the holidays on the horizon, many exciting things are happening. One of those things, of course, is the Christmas Wishes Blog Pop! Not only will we be rolling out tons of fabulous gift ideas, but you will also have the chance to win them all.

Keep an eye on this page, as the linky will automatically update to include all the new giveaways from myself and all the other amazing bloggers in this event. You can also visit my Christmas Wishes Blog Pop tab. There are thousands of dollars in prizes to be won and you won't want to miss any.

Christmas Wishes - PicturesOnGold.com Review & Giveaway!!

Christmas will be here in flash. I have been shopping like a madwoman for weeks, and I have gotten a bunch of great stuff for my kids and my husband, and most everyone else on my list. However there was one name I just could not cross off. I could not find anything to get my Mother-in-law.

Unlike a lot of people, I actually adore my mother-in-law, and she really likes me. We are not super close though, since she lives in New Jersey and has only visit Florida a few times. I mean, we are close in how we care for one another, but I do not know her well enough to knew her taste in gifts very well.

I wanted to get her something classy and elegant since his family has much more money than we do or I ever had. She already has nice things, I certainly don't want to get her something cheap, or that presents as a cheap gift. I don't want something impersonal and thoughtless like a gift card. I did not want to get her something she would hate because it would seem as if I don't care enough to know what to get.

It is actually quite stressful, and I was so worried I would have to settle for a fragrance or something of that nature, when I thought of the perfect thing. I got her a photo canvas for Mother's Day, and she loved it. I figured photo gifts are personal and tasteful, and it would be nice to do another.

I did not want to get another canvas though, and photo books require way too many photos, photo mugs and shirts and such are nice, but they just didn't feel special enough to me. So what is left? Well, I happened to discover PictureOnGold.com.

PictureOnGold.com is an online retailer that offers custom made jewelry, namely lockets and such. A locket on it's own is a lovely gift, and an engraved locket seemed incredibly special. A piece of jewelry created just for her, that seemed like a slam dunk.

Specifically, I chose the Build Your Own Sterling Silver 2-Picture Heart Locket. That locket is available in three sizes, and I chose the largest, which is 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". As the name states, it is made of stunning sterling silver.

It is so easy to add a personal message to the locket. You can choose a monogram, clipart or text. I decided to make this as if it was from our kids, her grand kids, because she loves them to pieces, and they adore her. I had it engraved it with "We love you grandma". You can even choose between block letters or script, I chose the script because I think it looks more sophisticated.

The personalization does not end there, however. Not even close. The next step is to choose the inside. You can leave it empty so the recipient can add their own photos or add a paper photo by uploading, emailing or mailing a photo. PicturesOnGold.com will print the photo to size and place it in the locket for you.

That alone would be pretty great, but you also have the option to engrave the inside, or to have your photo(s) laser etched into the metal. They can even still be done in color, which was astounding to me. Laser etched photos cannot fall out, fade or be effected by water, plus they are incredibly clear and crisp.

I added a photo of our son and one of our daughter, and I could tell the locket would be stunning as soon as I previewed it on the website. It was so stunning that I wanted one for myself as well.

I left the back blank because I did not want it to be too ornate and end up looking tacky, but you can have the back engraved as well if you wish.

As beautiful as this necklace looks online, I never imagined that it would be even more impressive in person. I literally gasped when I opened the box, because it was so breathtaking.

I know that she will love that gift, which is what matters most to me. I love it too though. I love that it is unique - one of a kind, in fact. I love that it is incredibly high quality. I love that the color laser photos are waterproof AND scratch-proof. I love the way it shines. I love the chain, I love everything about this locket.

If you are looking for a gift that is truly special, something that will not only be liked, but cherished, then the Build Your Own Sterling Silver 2-Picture Heart Locket is perfect!! I actually plan to get one for my daughter with pictures of her grandma and grandpa(hubby's side) in it. Of course I cannot exclude my son from such a special family keepsake. Thankfully, PicturesOnGold.com has Dog Tag Lockets too, so I will make him one with the same photos.

Of course they are both too young to treat them properly at present time, but I still plan to get them soon for the to see and know they own. My grandmother did that for me with a necklace when I was young. She told me I would get it when I was old enough, and they day she finally gave it to me, it was more special than it ever would have been had she given it to be that first time I saw it.

I can think of no more special gift than giving someone a piece of your heart, shaped like a hear to wear near their heart. I am so glad that I was able to find this incredible gift from PicturesOnGold.com, and I am more excited than my kids are for Christmas now, because the stress of finding the perfect gift is gone, and the anticipation of seeing her open this beautiful locket is building every day.

I hope you were able to find such a special gift for everyone on your list, but if you are still looking, you cannot go wrong with a locket(or other gift) from PicturesOnGold.com. As a gift to all of you, PicturesOnGold.com has generously offered to give away a Build Your Own Sterling Silver 2-Picture Heart Locket to one very lucky winner. Enter below for your chance to win this fabulous prize.

Be sure to enter all the other Christmas Wishes giveaways HERE.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fine print: All entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Please read each giveaway 's directions carefully as entry methods differ, and giveaways may be open to different world areas. Please make sure you leave a way (valid email address in form or comment) with your entries to be contacted if you win. Please note that Momma Told Me, Blog POP! or the Blog POP! bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner we will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly and prizes will likely not arrive in time for the holidays due to event and giveaway timing. We will make every effort to help.

Christmas Wishes - Zipz Shoes Review & GIVEAWAY!!

Everyone likes to put their best foot forward, especially during the holidays where seems to be so much more going on. Luckily, there is one company that makes it insanely easy to always do just that. Zipz are a one of a kind line of footwear that takes fashion to the next step(pun intended).

It's always said that shoes are a girl's best friend, and of course that is usually true, but I know so many men that saying would apply to as well. In fact, my husband is a shoe connoisseur. He owns easily double the amount of shoes that I do, and I have quite a few.

Having a large selection of shoes is wonderful. It ensures that we will always have the perfect pair for any look and any occasion. It allows us to express ourselves with our favorite colors, styles and patterns. It just makes us happy. There is a downside though.

First, buying a new pair of shoes all the time can get expensive. Second, shoes need a place to be stored, and in our home, there is practically nowhere to keep them without it looking tacky. Our TV stand in our bedroom is actually housing shoes instead of the movies we previously kept there.

Amazing, Zipz solves both of those problems. If the name did not already give it away, Zipz shoes are just that zip-able. Still don't understand? The tops of the shoes zip off from the soles, so that you can use another top to create the look of a whole new pair.

I really love that I can change up the whole look in a quick Zip. I really love that since the soles stay the same and the tops are the same size/fit that I can actually wear 2 different tops at the same time if I want to. I have a bit of a crazy sense of style at times. I have always wanted to wear two different shoes at once, but since shoes are different heaths and such I was not able to wothout it effecting how I would walk.

Also, instead of paying for a whole new pair of shoes, you just have to buy the tops. That saves a lot of money. It makes a lot of sense too, because I find that the top of my shoes begins to look distressed and the soles are perfectly good. Now I don't have to throw out the whole pair just because the tops look rough.

The tops are much more compact that a full pair of shoes, so you can easily store 5 pairs of tops(or more) in the same amount of space as 1 pair of shoes. Space is a huge issue for us, so that really makes me happy, especially since I love to indulge my husband's shoe obsession, and always want to get him new pairs, like these amazing Zipz.

He loves his Zipz. Not only does he like the space saving and style changing features. He really loves the look of all of Zipz styles in general as more stylish than average shoes. He especially likes how the zipper looks like and embellishment to give the shoes more personality.

When either of us wear our Zipz, we always get tons of compliments and people asking us what kind of shoes we are and where we got them. Not that we base our fashion choices on the opinions of others, but it is really nice when people compliment you on something that you already love.

That's one of the best thing about Zipz, yeah they are practical, but they are also fun and incredibly unique, but like those that wear them, which is why they make such a wonderful gift. Zipz are all about all things fun and exciting, which is why there are hosting this fabulous giveaway.

One very lucky winner will receive a pair of Zipz of their very own. What better way to show their unique style? If you want to win this fantastic prize, enter below. Be sure to enter all the other Christmas Wishes giveaways HERE for other amazing prizes. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway THE FINE PRINT: All entrants must be 18 years of age or older. Please read each giveaway 's directions carefully as entry methods differ, and giveaways may be open to different world areas. Please make sure you leave a way (valid email address in form or comment) with your entries to be contacted if you win. Please note that Momma Told Me, Blog POP! or the Blog POP! bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner we will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly and prizes will likely not arrive in time for the holidays due to event and giveaway timing. We will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize should concerns arise after winner's notification. If there is an issue with a sponsor please notify the blog owner no sooner than 14 days from prize notification and no more than 6 weeks, for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.

Christmas Wishes - Casio CGP-700 Compact Grand Piano Giveaway!

I get to share a lot of great products with you all during the Christmas Wishes event, but this very well may be the best yet. This is an item that the whole family will love. It is fun, practical, stylish and, in a way, educational.

Introducing the Casio CGP-700 Compact Grand Piano. The name says it all, this is truly a Grand Piano, but Casio's amazing CGP-700 is compact and digital, so you save money, save space and get so much more than just a premium quality piano.

The CGP-700 boasts a 9-foot concert grand piano sound.  A meticulous recording session, with over two dozen microphones, ensured a dynamic and expressive concert grand piano that can be used in stereo or mono, and even includes damper resonance simulation.

Just like a grand piano, the keys have a heavier feel in the lower register, and a lighter feel up top, thanks to Casio's famous Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard. Even the surface of the keys feels natural, with the reproduced textures of both ebony and ivory.

The CGP-700 goes far beyond piano, with 550 different instrument tones. You'll find a variety of guitars, strings, basses, drums, synths, and more. There is also a powerful effects system with reverbs, delays, and other essentials.

The centerpiece of the CGP-700 is a beautiful 5.3" Color Touch Interface. This hi-res display is bright and clear. Everything is at your fingertips so you stay in control. You can simply swipe and tap your way to the perfect tone or rhythm. There is even a Grand Piano button that puts it back into Grand Piano mode in one press of a button.

Whether you are playing as a Grand Piano or a veritable orchestra of other instruments or even listening to your MP3 player(phone) via the stereo aux input, the unique 3-way speaker system will easily fill the entire room with rich, true sound.

With the CGP-700 you get all the amazing sound of a Grand Piano. Unlike a traditional Grand Piano, you also get the bonus of other rhythms and instruments. You also get the portability that a traditional Grand Piano could never provide. The CGP-700 can easily be removed from the stand. It weighs only 26 pounds, so you can have premium sound anywhere.

The CGP-700 also connects to your computer, mac, iPad or other device with no drivers needed. Its 1/4" outputs mean you can easily connect to a mixer, amplifier, or PA system. It uses both MIDI and USB audio recorders, so it is so easy to transfer your music to a computer to save it and share it with the world.

The CGP-700 is also perfect for a student and teacher to play/learn together.  There is a Duet Mode, which splits the keyboard into two equal ranges, so teachers and students can play side by side. It offers dual headphone jacks as well.

The Duet Mode is a huge asset for me. Our entire family loves music, but none of us are talented or even taught musicians. I would love my children to learn to play for real, and I wish I could teach them, but that will never happen. I can however get them a piano teacher, and I love that they can play side by side with my kids. My son especially(who has autism) is a visual and hands on learner. Spoken lessons would not be effective for him at all.

Also, Duet Mode will make it much easier for my children to share this piano. They can split the keyboard and each wear their own headphones, they can create their own music without having to fight or wait their turn. That feature alone is a selling point for me. Anything to keep the peace. Every single thing about Casio's CGP-700 Compact Grand Piano is completely incredible.

If you are a skilled pianist or a beginner or even someone who has never played, the Casio CGP-700 would be the perfect piano. Its amazing sound quality, style, space saving design and host of other sounds make it a true do-it-all instrument that anyone can enjoy.

If you are as impressed by the CGP-700 as I am and want to own one yourself, it is your lucky day. Casio has been generous enough to offer a CGP-700 Compact Grand Piano to one very lucky giveaway winner. Enter below for your chance to win this incredible prize.

Be sure to also enter the other giveaways in this Christmas Wishes event. There are thousands of dollars in prizes to be won. You can find the other giveaways via the School Rules tab on my site, or by clicking HERE.

*I received this product at no cost to facilitate my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.* a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hoiday Gift Guide: Mikarose Review & GIVEAWAY!!

With the holidays coming up, there is lots of talk about the best gifts, and while that is very important, it is also essential to have certain things before the holidays so that you are ready to celebrate.

I recently found a company that will fit both of these needs, and I am very excited.

Mikarose is a company that specializes in modest, elegant and fashionable dresses, skirts and tops.

Nowadays, it is so difficult to find a modest dress. If you are able to find one, they are the kind that are styled for 90 year olds. Just because you want to be demure, does not mean you should have to look frumpy.

Mikarose has such gorgeous, classic, retro styles that are classy and flattering. They remind me of simpler times. Back when looking beautiful and sexy did not mean dressing like a stripper.

As a mother, I need to look modest and respectful. Prior to finding Mikarose, I found that very challenging. Usually I just wear jeans and T shirts. I may not look elegant, but at least I am not on display.

Usually on Mother's Day though, hubby takes me (and the kids) to dinner. It is always so sweet and I love being able to go out, but I hate not being able to dress properly. No matter how wonderful it is, in the back of my mind, the way I am dressed(under-dressed in jeans or over exposed in a different dress) bothers me and makes the evening less enjoyable.

One's clothing should never have to be the reason that that a person has a bad time.

Thankfully this year, I am so covered for our dinner. I got the most gorgeous dress from Mikarose and I am so in love.

MaryAnn, Striped Top Dress:

I love this dress. It is so gorgeous. It is timelessly beautiful and is flattering without being revealing. It is the perfect length to slow a little leg, and the neckline is low enough to look modern without showing cleavage.

The high belted waist gives it shape without being too curve hugging(aside from modestly, I also have body image issues so I don't want my lumps hugged).

This is probably my favorite dress ever. It is just so me. They style, fit, comfort, quality-everything. It's just exactly what I have been wishing for.

Although, Mikarose has so many other stunning dresses, so I am sure I will soon have a tie for my favorite. I can't wait to get my next dress from them.

Mikarose would be the best choice(in my opinion) to help you step out in style this holiday season. If you are looking for the perfect outfit, you will find it at Mikarose.

If you are shopping for a perfect holiday gift, Makarose to the rescue again. Any of these lovely dresses would make a fabulous gift. Or if you are not the kind to chose someones clothing, you can get them a gift certificate. Either way, you will be giving the gift of style and class, and the recipient will LOVE it.

In fact, I am so certain, Mikarose and I are giving away a $50 Mikarose Gift Certificate. One lucky winner will get to get(or give) the gift of elegant style thanks to Mikarose. Enter below. Good luck.

*Although I received this dress at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*