Thinking About a Gift Card for Mom? Think Etsy!

 Still need a last-minute gift for that special mom in your life?  Lots of people steer away from gift cards because they think they are impersonal, but those people probably have never received an Etsy gift card.  Etsy gift cards can be printed or emailed directly to the recipient, which will open up a magical world of endless possibilities for her.  Not only can she shop for just about anything handmade or vintage on Etsy, she can have something custom made just for her.  I'm totally going to use myself as an example . . .

I shop on Etsy A LOT.  The sellers are always wonderful, and a lot of them will customize items to fit your needs and your tastes.  One of my favorite Etsy sellers is Trish, the owner of CaliCatBoutique.  She sells handmade handbags, totes, clutches, backpacks, wallets, and more.  Everything you see pictured here, Trish has made just for me.  How awesome is that?!!

These are coordinating mother-daughter Mabel tote bags.  My daughter and I could not agree on a fabric, so we decided that having coordinating bags is just as good as having matching ones.  Trish also created matching accessories according to our specific needs.  I cannot wait for the weather to warm up, so we can start carrying these babies!

Both of the bags above and the ones shown below were not bags the CaliCatBoutique offered in its shop.  Do not assume what you see in any Etsy shop is all there is to offer.  Many sellers will create something just for you.  That is something you cannot get at the mall or your local department store.  I should also add that these custom bags cost a fraction of what designer bags cost.

The two bags shown above are mother-daughter Disney Princess-inspired Marianne clutches.  I fell in love with this fabric, but thought it would suit a smaller bag because it was so colorful.  My daughter wanted glitter on her bag and I wanted something purple.  I love how these turned out, and they are perfect for when we want to travel lightly.

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A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Jul 2, 2018 at 10:43am PDT

Above you'll find a larger version of the Denver Backpack and custom Clematis Clutch. Both accompanied me to Utah last year, where my oldest competed at the USA Taekwondo National Championships in Salt Lake City.

These two are the very first custom handbags I ordered from the CaliCatBoutique.  Above is a custom Star Wars Rey-Inspired Sublime Bag.  Below is a custom Disney Princess-inspired Everyday Tote Bag.

Am I stopping there?  NO WAY!!!  I currently have a Disney Mulan-inspired bag and clutch in the works with the CaliCatBoutique.  As you can see, the possibilities are endless on Etsy.  Give mom what she wants, which we all know is to have things her way. Am I right?

What are your favorite Etsy finds for Mom?

Tell us in a comment here.

12 Disney FROZEN Gift Ideas for Girls at Kohl's (#KohlsGiveaway #Sponsored #MC)

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Kohl's. I received Kohl's gift cards to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Can you believe that Christmas is now less than two months away?  I'm an early shopper and am usually mostly done by Halloween.  This year, however, I seem to be having trouble staying on top of everything.  How about you?  Have you started your Holiday shopping?  Well, if you're shopping for a Disney FROZEN fan, then you could probably be done with just one shopping trip to your local Kohl's department store.  Kohl's has everything FROZEN from fashion to home furnishings to toys and electronics.

Need to get in the winter wonderland mood before you can start your shopping?  Remember when I shared about the FROZEN Sing Your Heart Out Contest in September?  Well, the video submission period has come to a close, but the voting period will begin on November 10th, when you will be able to vote for your favorite of the 10 ten finalists to help determine who will appear in the Kohl's Holiday ad scheduled to air during the 2014 American Music Awards.

My daughter and I watched countless videos of entrants singing their hearts out to Let It Go.  There were so many talented people of all ages, including adorable children with lots of charisma.  I have to say that I hope Jaclyn, Olivia, and Makena make it to the top 10.  This trio would certainly get my vote for their amazing performance!  If you haven't yet, be sure to view their video and let me know if you agree.  (Be warned:  You may be singing Let It Go for the rest of the day.)

Now that you're in a wintry mood, let's talk Holiday shopping!  Of the vast assortment of Disney FROZEN gifts available at Kohl's, here are my top 12 picks . . . 

12 Disney FROZEN Gift Ideas for Girls:

1.  Disney Frozen 2-pc. Fragrance Gift Set

2.  Disney Frozen World of Creativity Kit

3.  Disney Frozen Elsa Nightgown

4.  Disney Frozen Elsa & Anna Travel Trunk Dress-Up Set

5.  Disney Frozen Talking Olaf Pull-A-Part Plush

6.  Disney Frozen Elsa Snowflake Sparkle Dress by Jumping Beans (a Kohl's Exclusive)

7.  Disney Frozen Elsa & Anna Karaoke Machine

8.  Disney Frozen Anna, Elsa & Olaf Kids' Digital Watch

9.  Disney Frozen Elsa & Anna Color & Style Purse Set

10.  Disney Frozen Elsa & Anna "Sisters Forever" Hoodie by Jumping Beans (a Kohl's Exclusive)

11.  Disney Frozen Elsa & Anna Fold-Out Sofa (Coming Soon)

12.  Disney FROZEN:  Olaf's Quest Nintendo DS or 3DS Game

Out of all these cool FROZEN gift ideas, the one my daughter chose as her top pick is #5, the Talking Olaf Pull-A-Part Plush, with #5, the World of Creativity art set, coming in second.  Which gift idea would your little FROZEN fan like the best?

To view these and the other 750+ FROZEN items offered by Kohl's, visit www.kohls.com/frozen.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Join Me for the Hillshire #StartYourGrill Twitter Party + $550 in Prizes on Weds (4/30) at 3pm EST! #shop #cbias

Now that it finally feels like spring and summer, we can finally start grilling! American Craft Sausage from Hillshire has some awesome new flavors that you have to try while you are tailgating at the ballpark or grilling out in your backyard. These links are handcrafted and smoked in small batches using a natural hardwood blend for premium flavor and quality. They start with the best cuts of 100% pork and contain no MSG. This American Craft process ensures that all you taste is exceptional sausage. The must-grill flavors include: Jalapeno & Cheddar, Garlic & Onion, and Smoky Bourbon.

The Jalapeno & Cheddar sausage would go perfect with a toasted brioche (egg) roll with a side of Tex Mex Red Cabbage Slaw, while the Garlic & Onion sausage on a toasted seed roll with thick cut pub fries would be excellent or try the Smoky Bourbon sausage on a toasted hoagie roll with thick cut sweet potato chips would be divine. Are you hungry yet? If so, you can go check out a demo at one of your local Walmart store! There is nothing better than trying a product first and realizing you love all of the flavors!

Here in Massachusetts, the spring weather is just getting started.  We look forward to grilling more this spring and summer, and Hillshire American Craft Sausage links will make it so much easier!  Just grill them, serve them on a bun, and pair with your favorite sides, like potato, pasta, or chickpea salad.  Personally, I love my sausages topped with grilled onions and red peppers.  How do you like yours?


Join me at the #StartYourGrill Twitter Party on SoFabChats!

DATE: April 30, 2014

TIME: 3:00 PM ET

PRIZES: 5 – $100 Walmart Gift Cards

EARLY BIRD: 1 – $50 Walmart Gift Cards

RSVP: #StartYourGrill Party Page

LOCATION: SoFabChats Tweet Grid

HOST: @blm03

CO HOSTS: @WisconsinMommy, @_Karen, @MsMissy62

PARTY RULES: #StartYourGrill Official Party Rules


Tweet to Share:

Join #StartYourGrill Twitter Party 4/30 3pm ET. Grilling #Recipes! Prizes $550! RSVP/Rules http://t.co/LWOybOOcEw #shop
— Karen Coutu (@_Karen) April 25, 2014

Love Twitter Parties? New to Twitter Parties and want to learn more!

Stay in the loop with the SoFabChats Twitter Party Schedule, RSVP for individual Twitter parties, find SoFabChats Twitter Party Tips and sign up for SoFabChats Twitter Party email alerts!


RSVP today and learn how you can enter to win our special Early Bird gift card prize!

Join Me for the #FamilyMobile #MaxYourTax Twitter Party plus $1200 in Prizes on Monday (3/10) at 8pm EST! #shop #cbias

Image Credit: ProfessorJosh.com

It’s tax season and that has a lot of us considering how to spend our refunds. Perhaps it’s time to tech yourself with a shiny new smartphone? Maybe it’s the perfect time to invest your refund into a new mobile plan with unlimited talk, text and data/web to save all year. Join us as we chat about the lowest priced unlimited plans and how you can save more monthly without getting locked into a contract. Which new smartphone would you “tech yourself” with from all those savings?

I've had the chance to try the Walmart #FamilyMobile plan for myself and I have two pieces of advice . . . First, don't let the concept of a cheap wireless plan fool you!  The top wireless phones are available with this plan, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 (not the Nokia phone pictured) being given away as the Grand Prize on Monday!  Second, take the time to find out how much money you can save on your monthly wireless bill to learn how you can #MaxYourTax refund and still treat yourself to a new phone.


Join Me at the #FamilyMobile #MaxYourTax Twitter Party on SoFabChats!

DATE: March 10, 2014

TIME: 8:00 – 9:00pm ET

PRIZES: 5 – $100 Walmart Gift Cards

GRAND PRIZE: Galaxy S4 Prize Pack (ARV $654)

EARLY BIRD: 1 – $50 Walmart Gift Card

RSVP: #FamilyMobile #MaxYourTax

LOCATION: SoFabChats Tweet Grid

HOST: @SweepTight

CO HOSTS: @dodomesticdad, @_Karen, @mausekindmom

PARTY RULES: #FamilyMobile #MaxYourTax Official Rules


Tweet to Share!

RSVP for #FamilyMobile #MaxYourTax Twitter Party 3/10 8pm ET. "Tech" yourself! BIG Prizes! Rules http://cbi.as/ejsx2 #shop

Love Twitter Parties? New to Twitter Parties and want to learn more?

Stay in the loop with the SoFabChats Twitter Party Schedule, RSVP for individual Twitter parties, find SoFabChats Twitter Party Tips and sign up for SoFabChats Twitter Party email alerts!

RSVP today and learn how you can enter to win our special Early Bird gift card prize!

Join Me for the Crayola #ColorfulCreations Twitter Party & $550 in Gift Cards - Weds (2/26) 2pm EST! #shop #cbias

When the winter weather keeps you and your children home and indoors, it’s time to pull out your colorful Crayola art supplies! With the wide variety of Crayola products, you can nurture your child’s creativity and have fun doing it! Something for all ages, Crayola can provide indoor fun on the snowiest and coldest of days. From basic ever-popular coloring, to drawing with washable markers on all different mediums, construction paper crafts and indoor chalkboard art can entertain for hours on end.

Here in Massachusetts, it has snowed 9 times over the past 16 days.  Even if the temperatures decide to stay above freezing, it would likely take until April for all the piles of snow to melt.  I know snow has affected so many parts of the country.  Luckily, we can help our children battle Spring fever with some cheerful Crayola colors!  If you need to replenish your stash of art supplies, you'll be happy to know that there's a Rollback on Crayola markers at Walmart.  They are currently only $.97 per box (Reg. $2.97).  At this price, you could donate a few boxes to your child's classroom too!  I bet they could use it after so many months of indoor recess.


Join me at the #ColorfulCreations Twitter Party on SoFabChats!

DATE: Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

TIME: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET

PRIZES: 5 – $100 Walmart gift cards

EARLY BIRD: 1 – $50 Walmart gift card

RSVP: #ColorfulCreations Party Page

LOCATION: SoFabChats Tweet Grid

HOST: @KellysLuckyYou

CO HOSTS: @LaughWithUsBlog, @7onashoestring, @_Karen, and @JManMillerBug

SPECIAL GUEST: @Crayola

PARTY RULES: #ColorfulCreations Official Rules

TWEET TO SHARE!

Join #ColorfulCreations Twitter Party 2/26 2pm ET. Kid’s craft ideas! Prizes $550! Rules http://cbi.as/-su8q #shop #cbias

Love Twitter Parties? New to Twitter Parties and want to learn more?

Stay in the loop with the SoFabChats Twitter Party Schedule, RSVP for individual Twitter parties, find SoFabChats Twitter Party Tips and sign up for SoFabChats Twitter Party email alerts!


RSVP today (follow this link to the SoFabChats page) and learn how you can enter to win our special Early Bird gift card prize!

5 Ways Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers & Mango Fruit Cups Make Healthy Snacking Easy

The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte for the purpose of a product review and for a reader giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.

Del Monte is a trusted company because they produce quality products that families have loved for over a century. Their newest products, Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Del Monte Mango and Mango Pineapple Fruit Cups, are delicious, nutritious, and make my life much easier for many reasons . . .

1. They are a healthy, natural snack that I am happy to see my kids eating. With high-fructose corn syrup being a prominent substance in most packaged foods, it makes me happy that these Del Monte foods are free of that.

2. They are tasty and therefore, we like to eat them. It’s rare for my kids to like anything that is healthy, so I love that they not only eat these, but also ask for them and actually crave them. This is a craving I am happy to indulge.

3. They are not messy. The Fruit Burst Squeezers come in a handy pouch so there is absolutely no mess to eating them and the Fruit Cups just require removing the plastic covering and then they are ready to eat. I like to drain some of the juice from them before giving to the kids so we don’t end up with the occasional spilled fruit juice.

4. They are convenient! Even if we are rushing out of the house, I can tell my boys to grab a Fruit Squeezer pouch to eat in the car. I know they won’t end up sticky and they will get a precise 1-1/2 servings of pureed fruit filled with Vitamins A and C. The Fruit Cups are slightly less convenient for eating on the go, but it’s still easier for them to pack the snack cup and a spoon to enjoy a snack away from home (at the park, on a field trip, etc . . . ) than it is to cut and store fresh fruit and to keep it chilled. And the convenience of the pre-portioned sizes cannot be overlooked either.

5. Some varieties of Fruit Squeezers have vegetables in them too. You can’t taste the veggies at all, but it’s great that my children are getting those vital nutrients without all the complaining about not liking vegetables.

We are really happy with these yummy Del Monte products. You can purchase Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Del Monte Mango Fruit Cups at Walmart. To learn more about these and other Del Monte products, visit www.delmonte.com.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Join Me for the #HealthcareClinic Twitter Party & $550 in Prizes on Tuesday (2/18) at 1pm EST! #shop #cbias

Join the #HealthcareClinic Twitter Party!

Walgreens Healthcare Clinics provide convenient and personalized care for patients seeking relief from illness. The clinics offer a variety of sick visit services including treatment of strep throat, bronchitis, sinus, and ear infections. You can schedule appointments online for yourself or a family member to treat a current illness or for routine health screenings!

I am patiently waiting for at least one of our local Walgreens locations to open a Healthcare Clinic.  I cannot count how many trips to the emergency room we've taken simply because we needed to see a medical professional during off hours.  A Walgreens Healthcare Clinic would have taken care of everything from our minor cuts to our fevers and flu symptoms without the long wait in the ER.

Join me at the #HealthcareClinic Twitter Party on SoFabChats!

• DATE: Tuesday, February 18th
• TIME: 1-2pm ET
• PRIZES: 5 – $100 Walgreens gift cards
• EARLY BIRD: 1 – $50 Walgreens gift card
• RSVP: #HealthcareClinic Party Page
• LOCATION: SoFabChats Tweet Grid
• HOST: @formulamom
• CO HOSTS: @blueviolet, @MudpiesandTiara, & @_Karen
• PARTY RULES: #HealthcareClinic Official Rules

Tweet to Share!

Join #HealthcareClinic Twitter Party 2/18 1pm ET. Care made easy! Prizes $550! http://cbi.as/8007a #shop #cbias

Love Twitter Parties? New to Twitter Parties and want to learn more?

Stay in the loop with the SoFabChats Twitter Party Schedule, RSVP for individual Twitter parties, find SoFabChats Twitter Party Tips and sign up for SoFabChats Twitter Party email alerts!

RSVP today and learn how you can enter to win our special Early Bird gift card prize!

A Sunoco Gift Card is More Than Just a Gas Card . . . Get #FueledBySunoco!

Thank you to Sunoco for providing Sunoco gift card for our contest prize and for sending me a gift card as a thank you for taking the time to share this information with 3G2S readers.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Versatility and convenience are two features our family looks for in . . . well, just about everything we purchase.  If you are buying a gift for someone who leads a busy lifestyle, you should consider a Sunoco gift card.  These cards are not only good for filling up your gas tank, you can also use them to pay for maintenance on your car (oil changes, brake work, tire replacements, and more) and for fresh food, snacks, beverages, and groceries at the APlus Convenience Store locations.  I can totally see my husband filling his gas tank up in the morning, while grabbing a breakfast sandwich and a hot cup of gourmet coffee (or a couple of Nathan's Hot Dog along with an ice tea at lunchtime).

Who do you know who would love the time-saving benefits and convenience of carrying a Sunoco gift card?  They really would be the perfect gift for anyone who is always on-the-go, drives an older car that requires a lot of maintenance, has a long commute, or even someone young who just managed to buy their very first car.  You can purchase these gift cards online or at your local Sunoco station.  Before you purchase, be sure to check if there is a Sunoco location near where the gift recipient resides, works, or goes to school.  You can learn more about these gift cards and other Sunoco services, but visiting www.gosunoco.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Join Me for the #AmericasTea Twitter Party & $500 in Prizes (January 21st at 1pm EST)! #shop #cbias

I hope everyone is having a wonderful year so far....I can't believe we are already half way through January! How are you doing on your New Year's resolutions? Getting healthy, losing weight, and cutting back on caffeine are all popular resolutions to make and including more Bigelow Tea in your day is a great way to get started. Whether it is a glass of refreshing homemade iced tea, a soothing herbal blend or an invigorating mug of green tea, picking up some Bigelow Tea on your next trip to Walmart will help you achieve your goals for a healthier you!

All 3G2S readers are cordially invited to join me at the #AmericasTea Twitter Party where we’ll discover together how easy it can be to incorporate tea into your daily routine for a healthier you in 2014 simply by replacing soda, juice and coffee with a mug of Bigelow tea!

Join me at the #AmericasTea Twitter Party on SoFabChats!

DATE: Tuesday, January 21st

TIME: 1-2pm ET

PRIZES: $500 in Walmart Gift Cards

RSVP: #AmericasTea Party Page

LOCATION: SoFabChats Tweet Grid

HOST: @turningclockbac

CO HOSTS: @ruralmoms, @blueviolet, and @_Karen

SPECIAL GUEST: @bigelowtea

PARTY RULES: #AmericasTea Official Rules

TWEET TO SHARE:

Let your friends know about this fun party by sending out a tweet . . . 

Join #AmericasTea Twitter Party 1/21 1pm ET. Make the switch! $500 in prizes! Rules http://t.co/ri2FKQNjGX #shop #cbias

Love Twitter Parties? New to Twitter Parties and want to learn more? 

Stay in the loop with the SoFabChats Twitter Party Schedule, RSVP for individual Twitter parties, find SoFabChats Twitter Party Tips and sign up for SoFabChats Twitter Party email alerts! RSVP today and learn how you can enter to win our special Early Bird gift card prize!

Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway: Get Fresh Holiday Looks for Girls and Boys at RUUM American Kid's Wear ($25 GC)

Thank you to RUUM American Kid's Wear for inviting me to visit my local store and for providing a gift card for me and one reader to shop for Holiday kids fashions.  All opinions expressed are my own.

One of my favorite places to shop for my children is RUUM American Kid's Wear.  The clothes are always on-trend, cute but not cutesie, well-made, and reasonably priced.  With sizes spanning from newborn all the way up to a boys and girls 14, RUUM will have all your children looking stylish for the Holidays in no time!

Whether you are looking for something preppy or skater style for your boys, RUUM has you covered.  For girls, you will find everything from preppy to girly to edgy styles and everything in between.

Although RUUM had a few cute accessories for boys, like fedoras and sunglasses, the girls' accessories stole the show.  Our daughter was in love with the girl's infinity scarf I found for her.

Sparkle is the dominant trend for the girls this Holiday.  You'll see it in nearly everything, including dresses, skirts, scarves, handbags, headbands, footwear, and more.

Bracelets, hair accessories, and belts from RUUM make fun, but practical stocking stuffers

My favorite Holiday look for girls is pairing a sparkling tulle skirt with a denim shirt or moto jacket.  Then finish the look with sparkling flats or combat boots, depending on your little girl's personal style.

Layering is the theme for the Holidays when it comes to boys' fashion.  A crew neck tee under a button down woven topped with a sweater, corduroy, or dressy vest creates a finished look paired with jeans or khakis.

For a casual look, layer a vest with a long-sleeved knit or top it with a plaid woven instead.

Even though my children love the clothes at RUUM, they only agree to stick around while I browse because of the unique shopping experience RUUM offers.  There is actually a bar full of candy by the registers, but my children did not even notice it because they were too mesmerized by the interactive touchscreen displays in the middle of the store.

One of the displays takes your photograph and puts it on the screen.  Then your child can decorate it and have a copy printed out.  Just pick up the photo at the register when you checkout.

The other display allows you to scan any RUUM merchandise price tag to show the item styled into an outfit up on the screen.  Then, using the built-in camera, you can add your face to the outfit to see what the outfit would look like on you.

Both these displays are extremely entertaining and make a wonderful diversion for children (um . . . and spouses) while you shop.

Checkout my favorite RUUM items on our 2013 Holiday Fashion Gift Guide!  To shop online or to find a RUUM American Kid's Wear store near you, visit www.RUUM.com.  You can also find RUUM on Facebook, Twiter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Good luck in the drawing!

***Please Note: We cannot guarantee that the prize will be delivered by 12/24/13.*** This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

'pick UR gift' Reinvents How to Give the Perfect Holiday Gift with the Reverse Wish List! #pickURgift

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Those Media Girls and pick UR gift. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For me, gift shopping for children is one of the most enjoyable things I get to do in life.  Shopping for adults, however, is not quite as fun for me.  The fact of the matter is that adults are not as easy to please as children and they usually have their own opinions and may have begun to be set in their ways (even if they refuse to admit it).  I would say shopping for gifts for adults is on the top of my list of stressful things about the Holidays.  Just coming out and asking the person what he or she needs takes all the fun out of Holiday shopping.  Well, pick UR gift has come up with a solution that makes everyone happy . . . the reverse wish list!

What's a reverse wish list?  Simply put, it's a list you create of things that you think would make awesome gifts.  Then your friends and family get to choose which gift they would like to receive from the reverse wish list.

Creating a reverse wish list could not be any easier.  All you need to do is take two seconds to register on the free website, www.pickURgift.com. Then just drag the blue 'UR Button' to your browser's toolbar.  This button works similarly to the Amazon Universal Wish List button.

While shopping online, when you see an item that you think would make the perfect gift for someone, just click the button and a little box will open on the right side of the window.  Within this box, you can specify if this item is for a particular person, choose on which Gift Page you would like this item to appear, select the best image to represent your gift, and enter a description of the item.  In my case, I made a list of items that I already own, whole-heartedly love, and can afford to purchase as a gift.  In the gift descriptions, I made sure I included why I love each item.

After you have created your Gift Page, you can choose to make it public or keep it private.  You can also share the page with your friends and family by entering their emails in the available fields or by simply sharing the link to your Gift Page with them directly.  If you would like to maintain the element of surprise somewhat, you can ask each person to choose 2 or 3 of their favorite items and then you can choose which one they will receive.

With pick UR gift everyone wins.  You get the enjoyment of picking out gifts.  The gift recipient will never be disappointed with their present.  You will not need to deal with gift receipts or returning unwanted items.

You may also want to know that you can create a wish list for yourself and add to that list while you are shopping online for other people.  To learn more about pick UR gift, visit Eight MPH Mom (and enter to win a $200 Visa gift card while you're there), plus follow pick UR gift on Facebook, Twitter, and the #pickURgift hashtag.

Explore the pick UR gift website and be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift code . . . 

1. Sign up on pick UR gift (simply provide your name and email) and add the 'UR button' to your toolbar (just drag and drop it onto your toolbar and you're done).

2. Create a wish list page and and assign it to someone (a friend, a family member, etc.)

3. Add at least two gifts to that wish list/gift page.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18+ years only and ends on November 25th, 2013.  This is a multi-blog giveaway.  3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires is not the administrator of this giveaway.

Bring Good Moments to the Dinner Table with McCain Potatoes

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for McCain Foods. I received a sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. All opinions expressed are my own.

One of my biggest complaints about my life is how busy and hectic our household is.  We are pretty much always in a rush and that includes getting dinner on the table.  We have 3 children with 3 different levels of pickiness when it comes to food.  Our 9 year old son is most open to eating almost everything we serve him.  Our 6 year old daughter is open to trying everything at least once, but her list of foods she likes is definitely shorter than her big brother's.  Her twin brother is reluctant to try anything new and randomly moves foods from his 'likes' list to his 'does not like' list.  All of the above is true, even when it comes to the most kid-friendly food in the world . . . french fries.

Luckily for us, McCain potatoes makes it easy for us to please everybody.  Every member of the family has his or her own favorite.  It's so easy for us to make more than one variety of french fries.  The three types of fries we usually serve are McCain 5 Minute Fries, Seasoned Spirals, and Smiles.  Also, somehow our children seem much more willing to eat their veggies when they are served next to a generous serving of fries.  Bottom line is that, thanks to McCain Potato products, at least some of our family dinners can be less stressful and even fun, bringing good moments and memories to the dinner table!

Recently, we served the children a dinner consisting of 3 types of McCain french fries, freshly made hamburgers (with optional bacon, mushrooms, and Swiss or American cheese), and a tiny bit of spinach salad.  If you can believe it, our 6 year old son complained about having to eat his bacon cheeseburger.  He did end up eating it though!  Why? . . . because we also gave the children empty plates to use as canvases to make food art.  Yes, we told them they could play with their food as long as they were eating it too.  Well, they didn't dare eat all their fries first because that would end their play all too quickly, so they gobbled up their burgers and salad.

After I showed them a few things I could make using my food, the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly making their own creations while they ate.  Here are some examples of what they came up with . . .

Here's another one of mine (yes, I had fun playing with my food too!) . . .

McCain wants you to have plenty of chances to bring good moments to your dinner table!  Through November 4th, McCain will randomly draw one winner every week to receive a $500 grocery gift card.  Be sure to enter by visiting McCain on Facebook.  After you enter, remember to grab your coupon for $1 off any one bag of McCain Potato products.

“Load up on groceries your family loves, and bring naturally good moments to the dinner table every time you serve McCain Potatoes."

To learn about how McCain has reformulated its potato product lines to be more natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives when possible, visit www.McCain.com.