I remember being a little girl, finishing with my bath, and my mom using the Q-tips to get the wax out of my ears.  I remember getting ready for Winter Formal in high school and dipping a Q-tips in nail polish remover to fix a tiny smudge on my finger.  I remember when I had my first baby boy and I used the Q-tips to apply rubbing alcohol to his umbilical cord in his belly button.  Q-tips have been with me throughout my life.  Until recently, I had no idea just how many uses for Q-tips they’re really are until participating in this campaign!  Check out the many uses of Q-tips below:

ART & CRAFTS

Paintbrushes for Small Hands - Q-tips cotton swabs are the perfect-sized paintbrushes for children’s small hands.  For the brightest pictures and the easiest clean-up, use a different one for every color.

Remove Dirt and Grim Easily - Remove the grime from hard-to-reach places on model train gearboxes, drive axles and bearings with Q-tips cotton swabs.

Extra Glue for Arts & Crafts - Q-tips cotton swabs and Q-tips Precision Tips are great for applying glue to models and arts and crafts projects. Use one tip to apply the glue and the other to remove any excess before it dries.

Precision Tools for Pottery - Carving designs into pottery is made simple with Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precison Tips.  Use these precision tools to put the finishing touches on sculptures.

Easy Touch-Ups with Fresh Paint - Q-tips cotton swabs are the perfect tool to touch-up hard-to-reach areas on freshly painted model airplanes and cars – or even dollhouses.

Fun Face Paint for Halloween! - For Halloween, use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to paint images – like daisies, rainbows, hearts and stars – on the face using different colors of liquid eyeliner and shadows.

BABY

A Gentler Clean for Baby - Moisten Q-tips cotton swabs with warm water to clean your baby’s outer ear, folds of the neck or between toes, nostrils and eyes.

Taking Care of a Newborn’s Needs - Dip a Q-tips cotton swab in rubbing alcohol to clean around your newborn’s umbilical cord.

Medicine Application for Active Tots - Q-tips cotton swabs are great for applying medications and ointments to minor cuts and bruises – they are convenient, clean and disposable.

BEAUTY

A Fantastic Alternative to the Makeup Brush - Q-tips cotton swabs and Q-tips Precision Tips are an excellent alternative to using a makeup brush or sponge. They provide precise makeup application, are great for softening the bright colors, and safe for delicate skin around the eyes.

Disposable Eye Shadow Brushes - Q-tips cotton swabs and Q-tips Precision Tips are great for eye shadow application because they are disposable so you can use a new one for each color to ensure hues stay true.  No need to worry about washing brushes while layering colors…they are a cleaner alternative!

Fix the Makeup “Oops”! - To fix makeup mistakes, just dip a dot of makeup remover on a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip – to erase it!  Perfect for fixing a smudge without having to re-do your whole look.

Keep Makeup In Place on Your Face! - Dip Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips under a little water to pick up any makeup particles that have fallen under the eye or on your cheeks.

Highlight Brows and Cheekbones - As a great way to highlight and brighten the cheekbones and eyes, apply a natural shade of shimmer powder using Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to the upper brow area and apple of the cheekbone.

Rosy Up Those Cheeks - Rosy up those cheeks with a hint of pink shimmer. Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply your shimmering powder to the apples of cheeks to get glowing in no time.

A Healthy Glow – Year Round - Keep up a healthy glow all year by adding bronzer or shimmer to your cheeks using Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips.

The Ultimate Smokey Eye Look - To achieve a quick smokey eye, draw a thick line close to your lash line using your eyeliner and smudge upwards with a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to create a “smokey” effect.

Day to Night Glamour in Shades of Gray - To instantly take your look from daytime to date night use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips and a small eye shadow compact with shades of gray.  Use one to layer and blend multiple hues for a softer, updated version of the “smokey eye.”

Dab Three Dots to Hide Under Eye Circles - Hide under eye circles by using one end of a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to dab on three dots of concealer and the other end to blend in for a seamless finish.

Keep Your Perfect Pout in Place - Keep lip color from bleeding by using Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply loose translucent powder along the outer edge of the lips.

A Quick Fix for Eye Shadow Creases - Smooth eye shadow creases on the lids with Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips.

Create a Shimmering Glow - Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply concealer or shimmer cream along the center of nose for a longer, thinner look. To further enhance the long, thin look, apply two dots of taupe shadow to either side of the bridge of your nose.

For Longer Lasting Mascara - To dramatize eyes and keep mascara lasting all night long, apply extra coats of mascara. First apply one coat of mascara, then dip a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip in translucent powder and sweep over lashes. Finally, cover with a second coat of mascara.

Define Cheeks with Cream Blush - To define cheeks, use a Q-tips cotton swab to apply cream blush to hollows of cheeks and blend it up and out into skin with clean fingers toward the hairline.

Achieve a Softer Lip Color - To achieve a softer lip color, use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to line lips with blush.

Dot Dot Dash for Softer Lip Liner - To soften your lip liner look, make a dot dot dash pattern with lip liner and use a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to blend and soften.

Ready, Set, Go (out)! - To set your make-up before a party, apply a loose translucent powder with Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips.

Fill In Brows for a Softer Look - After tweezing eyebrows, fill in brows with an eye pencil or shadow. Wipe off any excess with a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to create a softer look.

Precision Powdering - Rather than applying powder on the entire face, use your Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to dab loose powder only where you need it – for example, the center of the forehead, the sides of the nose and the chin.

Come In for a Gorgeous Landing - “Roll” Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips in your favorite eye shadow and store in a plastic wrap – re-apply after flight.

Apply Fake Lashes - Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to help apply fake lashes! Start by applying a dab of lash adhesive to a Q-tips cotton swab. Keep the tip as close to the lash line and use it to guide the application of the faux lash strip.

Simplify Your Beauty Routine - Simplify your beauty routine and space – stick to five beauty essentials: tinted moisturizer, a multi-purpose makeup stick for eyes, cheeks and lips, concealer, one tube of mascara and one of Q-tips cotton swabs’ four new beautifully designed Vanity Packs help apply your makeup.

Create a Glossy Pout - Use Q-tips cotton swabs to apply lip-gloss from a pot.

A Disposable Wand For Concealer - Use Q-tips cotton swabs to apply concealer from a container without a wand.

Apply Eye Shadow - Use Q-tips cotton swabs to apply darker eye shadow color at the edges or along the lash line.

Maximize The Life of Your Lipstick - Use Q-tips cotton swabs to get every last bit of color from a lipstick.

Help Treat Blemishes - To help quickly heal blemishes, apply a small dollop of an acne spot treatment with salicylic acid to the end of a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip. They will help you treat blemishes without adding additional oils from your fingers.

Mask a Blemish - To quickly hide a blemish, simply moisten one end of your Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip with an astringent that contains salicylic acid and lightly dab on to the blemish.  Use the other end as a makeup applicator to apply an oil-free concealer to mask the blemish.

Apply Moisturizer with an SPF - To help ensure even sun protection, use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply a light moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher.  Place a dot on your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose, and blend with clean fingers for even coverage.

Remove Puffiness and Soothe Skin - Help remove puffiness under the eyes with Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips. Place in the freezer a small bag of Q-tips cotton swabs that have been dampened with water.  Once chilled, roll under the eyes to alleviate any puffiness and soothe swollen skin.

Carry-on Eye Cream for Long Flights - Instead of carrying eye cream on the plane – dip Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips in eye cream and store in plastic wrap. Dab on eye area after takeoff and put on eye mask. Go to sleep and wake up with gorgeous, moist skin.

Anti-Wrinkle Spot-On Applicator - Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply your anti-wrinkle cream directly to lines and creases.

Ensure a Long-Lasting Fragrance - To ensure a long-lasting fragrance, dip a Q-tips cotton swab into your favorite perfume and apply somewhere on the skin where it will stay put – such as on the neck or behind the ears.

Keep Summer Highlights Glowing - Keep your summer highlights glowing – use Q-tips cotton swabs to apply just the right amount of highlighter to your hair for streaks or for precision when touching up roots.

The At-Home Manicure - Give yourself an at-home manicure and pedicure with Q-tips Precision Tips by lightly moistening the end with nail polish remover to create your own “magic wand” that instantly erases unwanted mistakes.

Self-Tan Flawlessly - Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to apply self tanning lotion around your eyes and nose for a flawless sun-kissed look.

Flawless Hair Removal - When using hair-removal wax, use a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to gently apply the wax to ensure precise application.

Control Crazy Eyebrows - Control unruly brows by applying a small amount of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly using Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips.

Cleaner Brow Tweezing - Before tweezing brows, use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips soaked in alcohol or an astringent to clean the brow area.

Create a Festive Shimmer! - Add a fun, festive glow by using Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to “dot” shimmer lotion around the collarbone area or on the shoulders and blend.

For Every Beauty Occasion - Occasions to have Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips on hand for beauty purposes include Prom, High School reunions, weddings, first day on the job, Halloween, and holidays.

HOME

Furniture and Floors Like New! - Use Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips to touch-up paint on cabinets or walls. Apply  wood stain to cover scratches in furniture or floors.

Make Your Silver Shine - When you bring out the good silver for a special occasion, Q-tips cotton swabs or Q-tips Precision Tips are ideal for applying polish to small crevices.

The Perfect Tiny Duster - Remove dust from picture frames, scroll-work and statues with a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tips.

Keep Your Computer Spotless - Keep your home office in good condition. Use a moist Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip to clean the edges of the computer screen and between the keys on your keyboard.

Clean Lenses and Mirrors Carefully - Dip a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip in alcohol for the perfect tool to clean classic camera lenses, mirrors or seals.

Soft and Gentle on Cuts and Scrapes - Q-tips cotton swabs are soft and gentle enough to put antiseptic or ointment to cuts and scrapes.

Cleaning Your Ears Safely - To clean your ears, stroke Q-tips cotton swabs gently around the outer surface of your ear, without entering the ear canal.

PET CARE

A Cute AND Clean Face! - Use Q-tips cotton swabs for cleaning small crevices of your dog or cat’s face.

Soft and Gentle for Furry Friends - Use Q-tips cotton swabs for applying ointments to cuts and scrapes on pets.

BONUS TIPS

Keep a Better Cell Phone Charge - Help your cordless phone keep its charge.  Clean the battery contacts of your cordless phone with a Q-tips cotton swab or Q-tips Precision Tip dipped in alcohol.  This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the cordless device.

A Relaxing Way to Travel - If you’re traveling, dip Q-tips cotton swabs in lavender oil and lightly dab under nostrils for a relaxing flight or train ride.

Sweet Smelling Pick-Me-Up - Moisten the swab portion of a Q-tips cotton swab with a calming essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus.  Dab the oil on to pressure points for a quick and soothing pick-me-up.

________________________________________________________________

Who knew there were so many uses for the Q-tips cotton swab, right?  So, how do you use your Q-tips cotton swab?  Be sure to follow Q-tips on Facebook for the latest updates!

This is a compensated post from Q-tips.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

“On the road again!  I can’t wait to get on the road again!”  I love roadtrips!  I love road trips even more when I know where I’m going and what my trip plans are for the most part.  The Roadtrip-a-Matic offers dozens of ready-to-ride roadtrips to for visitors to Pennsylvania looking for outdoor experiences, small town charm, historic landmarks and so much more!  Whatever a visitor is looking for, the Roadtrip-a-Matic has a roadtrip for everyone.

When you go on a vacation, do you like to plan out your daily activities and be in the know of what is special about the place you are visiting?  Do you want your searching to be consolidated in one easy-to-use site?  Are you planning a trip to Pennsylvania any time in the near future?  If so, you’ll definitely want to consider checking out the Roadtrip-a-Matic with visitPA.com!

The Roadtrip-a-Matic helps ease the stress in planning a road trip.  For example, it addresses some of the biggest headaches associated with planning a vacation, including what sights/attractions you should see or where to eat and stay.  With the Roadtrip-a-Matic, it does the planning and all you have to do is the packing!  How sweet is that?

I don’t know about you, but I definitely have add to my bucket list to at some point experience some pa-roadtrips using Roadtrip-a-Matic at visitPA.com!

Where do you want to go on a trip?

There were different sizes and prices to choose from.  At first, it was kind of hard to read the packaging, but then I figured it out.  For instance, the package I bought says “60 REPLACEMENT” in the upper right-hand corner.  This particular bulb replaces the normal 60-watt bulb and only takes up 13 watts of energy.  WOW!  What a huge difference, right?  On the package, it reads, “Saves $47 in energy per bulb.  Lasts 6 years.”  I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t mind changing a bulb every 6 years!

I went through my home and replaced the bulb in our family room, where we work on homework, visit with one another, and watch television.  I replaced the bulb near our front entry way, where light greets our guests as they enter our home.  I also replaced the bulb next to my bed, where I work on my laptop and relax.  I can’t wait to see the savings pile up with my new light bulb switch!

ABOUT THE ENERGY SMART BULBS

GE Energy Bright from the Start Light Bulbs achieve full brightness and use less energy each time you flip the switch.  Unlike traditional CFLs, hybrid halogen technology inside the bulb quickly illuminates.  These bulbs last 8 times longer and use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs – an easy change to make for the earth.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ONE BULB AT A TIME

1 – Switch your bulbs throughout your home to the GE Energy Smart Bulbs.

2- Purchase the Energy Smart Bulbs in a multi-pack (buying multiples at a discount).

3 – Turn off the light when you leave a room.

4 – Minimize using the light bulbs by taking advantage of natural light during the day.

5 – Calculate your savings HERE by seeing what you would save if you were to replace the bulbs throughout your home with the GE Energy Smart Light Bulbs.  I calculated mine and if I were to replace five 60-watt bulbs inside my home and two 90-watt bulbs on the outside of my home, I would save $51.54 a year ($282.40 over the life span of the light bulb).  How much would you save?

Be sure to follow GE on Twitter and Facebook!  You can follow the conversation on Twitter also by checking out #GELighting.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

I am so excited to take my boys to see Disney’s newest movie, coming out on June 22nd – Brave.  I attend the Disney/Pixar Blogging Event in San Francisco in April and it was amazing!  We had the opportunity to watch part of the movie and it left us wanting more!

In addition to watching part of the movie, we had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and learn more about how the team put Brave together.

FROM PAGE TO SCREEN

After viewing the movie, we had an opportunity to learn about the time and effort it requires to go “from page to screen.”  It is a lengthy process that requires both creativity and patience.  I learned some pretty interesting things from our time with the Pixar team member.  For instance, did you know that ONE frame is 1/24th of a second?  Just think about that for a second and then try to figure out how many frames are in a movie.  A LOT!!!  Did you know that when team members are creating a story, they look at three things – story, world, and character?  Story is king!  Did you also know that all stories come from “in-house?”  There are no ideas taken from outside of the company.

We had the opportunity to view a presentation by Pixar team member and story artist, Louis Gonzales.  He was really entertaining….and he even sang to us!  Yep, that’s right!  Not only does he draw, but he sings too!  He visited Scotland with the Brave team and used his experiences while there to create some fabulous scenes for the movie.  He not only looked at architecture and the landscape, but he also looked at the people and their interactions with one another.  He incorporated those into the movie.  I now really appreciate how much work goes into taking an animated movie from page to screen!

DRESSING THE ROYAL FAMILY

I loved this portion of the event.  I had no idea how much time and experimenting it took to make the characters in the movie look perfect!  When you watch the movie this June, you’ll come to understand why everyone loves Merida’s hair.  Like anything that’s worth while, it took the Pixar team a long time to get it to look perfect!  They created a virtual curling iron to curl each individual hair on Merida’s head.  And that girl has 111,000 curves on her head!  Talk about taking a long time to do one’s hair!  Shew!  Merida had one groomer for her hair on her head and then one groomer for her eyebrows and eyelashes.

EXPLORING SCOTLAND

Have you ever wanted to visit Scotland?  I definitely have added it to my bucket list of places I’d like to visit in my lifetime.  To really bring Brave to life, the Pixar team headed to Scotland for a first hand look and experience into the land featured in the movie.  After visiting Scotland and touring various sites and places, the art team was inspired and created an amazing world for Brave.  During this portion of the event, we had the opportunity to look at an amazing model of the castle on the hill.  Talk about details!  It was amazing!

Brave comes to theaters on June 22nd.  Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!

Disney/Pixar is providing me with an all-expenses paid trip to screen “Brave,” “Chimpanzee,” and “La Luna,” as well as visit the Walt Disney Family Museum.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

Remember,

It’s that time of week again! Time to post your giveaways!

Feel free to link up your giveaway below or click on the giveaway you are interested in entering! Have a great week everyone!

1. MDS: Entenmann's Giveaway ( 3 Winners) 5/30 2. Putting on the Glitz makeup set from mark by Rita! US/CAN Ends 5/25 3. MH-$200 Amazon GC-WW-CookieCoo Dancing Star-Ends 5/31 4. MH-Nintendo Wii Giveaway-$250 Value - Ends 6/15 5. MH-My Name is Handel-Childrens CD $ 25 GC-Ends 5/26 6. MH-$50 PP OR Apple Ipod Shuffle Giveaway - Ends 6/15 7. MH-The Happy Student-3 Book Giveaway-Ends 6/1 8. MH-$10 Amazon GC plus more-A Chance of Fate-Ends 6/6 9. MH-Eclipse Spa & Grand Prize!Summer Splash - Ends 5/27 10. MH-$250 Cash-TMR B'Day Bash-WW-5/20 11. Giveaway, $100 Gourmet Confections Gift Basket, 6/15 12. MH-$50 Amazon GC and 5 Autographed Books-"Choices"-5/28 13. MH-EZ Stringer Giveaway-5/25 14. Louis Vuitton Purse Giveaway, ends 6/12 15. Dad's Backyard Oasis Father's Day giveaway, 6/3 16. iPad 3 Giveaway, ends 5/31 17. FREE Cook'n Organizer Giveaway, 5/31 18. $150 Paypal Cash Giveaway,WW,5/30 19. May Day Giveaway – $1200 in prizes, 5/29 20. Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway! 5/28 21. $25 Chili’s Gift Card Giveaway! 2 winners, 5/27 22. Ergo or Pikkolo baby carrier, US/Can, 5/26 23. What Women Want Giveaway,US, 5/25 24. 24 x 36 Poster from PrintRunner LOW ENTRRIES (5/21) 25. Flowerchild Post-Card Seres Giveaway - 5/28 26. Greased Lightning Household Cleaner 5/25

27. Pinterest For Dummies 5/31 28. Wii, Kindle & Cash Free eBook for Every Entry (ends 06/23) 29. $280 Leather Messenger Bag (ends 06/10/12) 30. Amazon Kindle Touch 3G with Springbok Casino (ends 06/15) 31. $25 Amazon Gift Card (ends 05/31) 32. Win an Amazon Kindle Touch 3G, Rafflecopter (ends 05/31) 33. Amazon Kindle Giveaway, Rafflecopter (ends 05/31) 34. POAB! Win a $75 Girl in Progress Gift Pack 5/20 35. POAB! Win $74 worth of Business Cards from Uprinting 5/20 36. Ramsign Giveaway 5/23 37. POAB! Win $100 to Bloomingdales! 6/3 38. $25.00 LOWE’S GIFT CARD 5/21 39. PREMAMA PRENATAL VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT MIX (FOR NURSING BABY PRENGANCY) 5/27 40. MAMA CLOTH PADS PRIZE PACK! 5/21 41. BELLA CUPCAKE COUTURE (CUPCAKE WRAPPERS) WINNER’S CHOICE 5/31 42. ***** LIFETIME 10 FT SWING SET GIVEAWAY $600 RV 5/27 ***** 43. TOMEE TIPEE EXPLORA 2 PACK (9 OZ.) DRINKING CUPS FOR KIDS 5/28 44. WOMEN’S DOVE CLEARTONE RENEW DEODORANT PRIZE PACK 5/30 45. HUGE WOMEN PRIZE PACK (HANDBAG, JEWELRY, PERFUME MORE) 5/25 46. $500 Bounce Houses Now GC For BOUNCE HOUSE of choice 6/4 US/CAN/EVERYONE 47. Fisher-Price Rock n' Play Snuggabunny sleeper ($75 ARV) 5/21 48. HABA Moover Toy Of Choice{up to $162 ARV} 5/21 49. Seagate GoFlex Satellite Device {$200 ARV} 6/4 50. Two Pack of Charter Club Pillow Protectors - 5/29 51. The Mom Reviews-Shabby Apple $75 GC 5/31 52. The Mom Reviews-Maui Jim Sunglasses ($299 value) 5/27

53. The Mom Reviews-iPad ($520 value) 5/22 54. Pamper Yourself 5/21 55. The Mom Reviews-Kindle Fire ($199 value) 5/22 56. $100.00 Kohl's gift card--That Went Well, 5.24 57. Perfectly Posh with Laura, Sugar Fix Body Scrub Giveaway! 58. Vault Denim: FREE Pair of Jeans (rafflecopter) 59. COFM~Swimtrainer Classic 5/27 60. Bone Silicone Baking Pan End 6/7 61. $10 Walmart Card 5/24 US 62. $50 Ecolissa.com Gift Certificate - 6/4 63. $50 Ecolissa.com Gift Certificate - 5/244 64. Fly Far. Fly Free. - $50 Shabby Apple 6/7 65. Kindle Fire Giveaway 5/31 66. Byaccessorise Crochet Pattern Giveaway 5/20 67. Bright Starts 5 Piece Baby Collection 5/28 68. UT - Rock Band Summer Camp Scholarship (5/22) 69. Gloria's Bits and Pieces- Sogno Coffe Giveaway 5/31 70. Just Grin and Wear It Boutique-$30 Store Credit (5/25) 71. Handmade Wallets by Two Bees Creations($25)6/2 72. DOTTO Vintage Dress Giveaway 5/27 73. Food info book what God says 6/8 74. 60$ Silver handcrafted earrings giveaway- WW-5/28 75. Iris and the Dragonflies Book (6/1) 76. You're next!

LS Men’s Clothing & Custom Suits of New York, NY has been serving customers since 1954.  Thousands of customized suits have been custom tailored and styled to the body, taste, and personality of their clientele.  Their custom suits are made in America, by custom tailors, using old world techniques with an emphasis on contemporary styling.

The clientele of LS Men’s Clothing includes CEO’s of fortune 500 companies, Nobel prize laureates, leaders in national and local governments, and federal judges.  LS Men’s Clothing provides an expert staff who is always available to advise and guide you in the selection process.

LS Men’s Clothing offers two week delivery on custom made-to-measure suits with prices starting at $645.  You can feel confident knowing that your suit will be made with decades of experience and personalized service.  You will find the best custom suits New York has to offer!

At LS Men’s Clothing of New York, you’ll find custom made suits, custom dress shirts, custom pants, custom sport coats, custom tuxedos, and ready to wear clothing.  You’ll experience the three phases of the creation process: Fabric Choices, Measurement and Fit, and Style.

This is a sponsored guest post from our friends at LS Men’s Clothing.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

There is something unique about a mother and daughter – the way they look and act alike, their common interests, their mutual respect and admiration – and these 101 stories celebrate that loving relationship.  You will be inspired and entertained by these stories about:

- mothers and daughters of all ages
- the bond between mothers and daughters
- how mothers and daughters become best friends
- the changing roles of mothers and daughters as they move through the stages of life
- the magical, mysterious similarities between them
- becoming mothers through adoption and step-parenting
- the lessons mothers and daughters learn from each other

CONTENTS:

- A Daughter’s Love
- Rites of Passage
- A Mother’s Love
- The Face in the Mirror
- Family by Choice
- Away We Go!
- Learning from Each Other
- Healing and Second Chances
- What Goes Around Comes Around
- Dreams Fulfilled

MY THOUGHTS

If you’re looking for a book that talks about the bond shared between mothers and daughters, then this is the book for you!  It’s a great book for either a mother to give to her daughter or for a daughter to give to her mother.  My favorite sections of the book were “A Mother’s Love” and “The Face in the Mirror.”  A big thanks goes to Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing for another great book in the series!

GIVEAWAY

3 lucky readers on The Mommy-Files will win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers & Daughters!!!

WIN IT!!! (MANDATORY ENTRY)

- Tell me in a comment a special moment you shared with your mother or a mom-figure in your life….or tell me how you are like your own mom!

EXTRA ENTRIES

- Follow The Mommy-Files on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Follow Chicken Soup for the Soul on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Tweet about the giveaway – 1 ENTRY DAILY
- Become a Fan of The Mommy-Files on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
- Become a Fan of Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
- Follow me through Google Connect (on the right side of the blog) – 1 ENTRY
- Subscribe to my blog (email subscription) – 1 ENTRY
- Add my Mommy-Files button to your blog and include the URL – 1 ENTRY
- Comment on any Non-Giveaway post on The Mommy-Files – 1 ENTRY per post comment (no limit)
- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 ENTRIES

RULES

- Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, May 27th, 2012! Any entries after this time will be deleted!
- Contest open to U.S. residents only.

I received a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love” from Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

101 Stories of Food, Love, and Special Times…and great recipes too!  Our best memories often revolve around food.  And so do our best stories!  We’ve put together a heartwarming and mouthwatering collection of stories that will make you laugh, make you cry, and inspire you inside and outside the kitchen.  Whether you are reading about funny cooking disasters, holiday traditions, life lessons, or revealing personal anecdotes, you’ll want to try the special recipes inside this book and you’ll be inspired to spend some quality time with family and friends….in the kitchen!

“Food and love are inextricably intertwined.  These wonderful stories – and recipes – will warm your heart and nourish your soul.” – Amy Newmark

CONTENTS:

1 – Learning to Cook
2 – Just Like Mom’s
3 – Table for Two
4 – Comfort Food
5 – Little Helpers
6 – In Memory of….
7 – A Bite of Fun
8 – The Taste of Tradition
9 – Life Lessons in the Kitchen
10 – Always Room for Dessert

Be sure to pick up a copy at your local bookstore or order online today!

MY THOUGHTS

I think this book is one of my favorites of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series!  My favorite sections were “Little Helpers” and “The Taste of Tradition.”  This is a heartfelt book with fun stories and yummy recipes.  Thanks again for a great addition to the series!

GIVEAWAY

3 lucky readers on The Mommy-Files will win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love!!!

WIN IT!!! (MANDATORY ENTRY)

- Tell me in a comment one of your favorite memories involving food.

EXTRA ENTRIES

- Follow The Mommy-Files on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Follow Chicken Soup for the Soul on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Tweet about the giveaway – 1 ENTRY DAILY
- Become a Fan of The Mommy-Files on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
- Become a Fan of Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
- Follow me through Google Connect (on the right side of the blog) – 1 ENTRY
- Subscribe to my blog (email subscription) – 1 ENTRY
- Add my Mommy-Files button to your blog and include the URL – 1 ENTRY
- Comment on any Non-Giveaway post on The Mommy-Files – 1 ENTRY per post comment (no limit)
- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 ENTRIES

RULES

- Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, May 27th, 2012! Any entries after this time will be deleted!
- Contest open to U.S. residents only.

I received a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love” from Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

In her book, Heather talks about how you can “Win the weight loss battle by taking control of your diet demons.”

Do You Suffer From:

The Free-Style Devil?  Do you “diet” without a plan, a set of recovery strategies, and a real achievable goal?

The Plunge?  Do you slip from your diet and just keep on slipping?

The Late-Night Devil?  Do you just have to check what’s in the fridge before you retire for the night?

Emotional Eating?  Do your feelings trigger your eating habit?

Little Devils?  Do you find yourself eating your little kids’ leftovers?

Boredom Bingeing?  Do you eat when your bored?

The Sloth?  Do you prefer to sit on your couch rather than go to the gym?

The Celebrations, Vacations! Devils?  Do your diet goals take a hike while you’re at a party or on vacation?

Road Hogging?  Are there temptations every step of the way to your destination?

The Dine-Out Devil?  Do you fill up on breadsticks and feel like you have to eat everything on your plate?

If you’ve experienced any of these Diet Devils, don’t worry – forgive yourself.  And read this book.

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Nutritionist Heather Bauer can count on the fingers of one hand the number of her clients who don’t already know what they should eat to lose weight.  So why can’t they (and their best friend and their neighbor) lose weight?  Because Bread is the Devil!  Yes, that’s Bauer’s shorthand for the inevitable, demonic pull that certain bad habits exert on people who try to change their eating routines to drop  the pounds.  Many of us have been there: You had a sensible, healthy breakfast, high in protein with complex carbs.  Ditto for lunch – soup and a salad with a warm rush of accomplishment and self-control for dessert.  But now it’s dinnertime and you’re out with friends: enter a large basket of warm, sliced, crusty sourdough bread with a little tub of chive butter.  Suddenly, you’re in the seventh circle of hell – the one reserved for gluttons.  Bread’s not your devil?  How about ice cream or chips or that big slab of buttercream-frosted birthday cake?

Bread is the Devil will help you fight those hellish cravings that stop you from losing the weight you want.  By identifying how certain factors promote overeating, Heather will:

- Identify the top-ten Diet Devils that challenge healthy eating.

- Provide specific, proven strategies that free you from these devils once and for all.

- Offer up a simple, flexible guide that will help you reach your goal in twenty-one days and make eating fun again.

- Suggest an easy, affordable, and doable shopping list for eating at home as well as great meal choices when eating out.

Bread is the Devil will help you say good-bye to your devils, for good.

HEATHER BAUER, R.D., C.D.N.

Heather is a nationally recognized nutritionist and mother of three (18-month old twin boys and a 4 year old girl).  She has taught thousands of people how to safely lose weight and keep it off through her nutrition counseling company, Nu-Train.  Her first book was called The Wall Street Diet.  She has been featured in The New York Times, People, Shape, and Ladies Home Journal, and has appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, CNN, and the CBS Early Show.

KATHY MATTHEWS

Kathy lives and writes on Shelter Island and in Westchester, New York.

CONVERSING WITH HEATHER BAUER

Not only did I have a chance to check out Heather’s newest book, but I also had the chance to talk with her on a phone call.  It was a great call and I really enjoyed talking with her.  I could definitely see how she inspires individuals around the country to lose and keep off weight.  Here are a few tidbits of the conversation I had with Heather:

“You have to be a role model for your children.  Get out there and exercise with them.  Cook with them in the kitchen.  Have a healthy household from within.”

“Get your kids involved.  Have them go shopping with you, involve them, have them help you make their lunches.  The more you get involved with them in their younger age, the easier it will be for them as they grow older.”

“Moms are notorious for taking care of everyone else but themselves.  Eating well doesn’t take any extra time out of your day.  Simply write it down and give yourself the structure to eat well.”

“Small change can make a huge difference.  Think of one small thing you can change instead of everything you want to change at once.  For example, make it your mission to sit down and have dinner with your family instead of having another dinner after your kids go to bed.  Make it an effort to drink a set amount of water a day, and so on.”

_______________________________

Would you like to own a copy of Bread is the Devil?  Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win!  5 winners will be chosen!

GIVEAWAY

5 lucky readers on The Mommy-Files will win a copy of Bread is the Devil!!!

WIN IT!!! (MANDATORY ENTRY)

- Tell me in a comment what your diet devil is or why you would like to own this book.

EXTRA ENTRIES

- Follow The Mommy-Files on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Follow Heather Bauer on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
- Tweet about the giveaway – 1 ENTRY DAILY
- Become a Fan of The Mommy-Files on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
- Become a Fan of Heather Bauer on Facebook - 1 ENTRY
- Follow me through Google Connect (on the right side of the blog) – 1 ENTRY
- Subscribe to my blog (email subscription) – 1 ENTRY
- Add my Mommy-Files button to your blog and include the URL – 1 ENTRY
- Comment on any Non-Giveaway post on The Mommy-Files – 1 ENTRY per post comment (no limit)
- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 ENTRIES

RULES

- Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, May 27th, 2012! Any entries after this time will be deleted!
- Contest open to U.S. residents only.

I received a Lumia 710 Phone from Nokia to facilitate my review for this campaign.  The giveaway was sponsored by Nokia.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.