MckLinky Blog Hop ~ Giveaways

It's Friday, so time to giveaway blog hop! Be sure to go over to my right sidebar ---->
and enter all my current giveaways as you hop around. Have fun and I hope you win something great!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Butter Bell Review & Giveaway

One product that I was given the chance to review this holiday season has been a hit with everyone who has seen it. Which item is that? The Butter Bell. This handy addition to the kitchen was the topic of much conversation over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is one of those items that you wonder how you ever got along without.


What is a Butter Bell and how does it work? It is a crock that keeps soft, spreadable butter on hand at all times. You pour 1/3 cup cold water into the crock, pack a stick of softened butter into the bell shaped lid, then put the lid back on. The bell shaped butter container goes into the water, creating an airtight seal. My crock sits on my counter top. I love it so much! Buttering anything is so much easier now that I don't have to battle cold sticks of butter. You can use it for plain butter, or mix up a gourmet butter for your holiday entertaining. So far I've done both with excellent results. In my mind there is nothing better than spreading a sweet butter on a hot biscuit. Yum!

These wonderful crocks would make excellent Christmas gifts. I urge you to check out the Butter Bell website where you will find crocks to fit every decor. They currently have their holiday crocks on sale at a great price. Plus, if you buy any 2 Butter Bell crocks, you will receive a Santa Butter Bell and matching spreader free. That is a really great deal! Any foodie would be thrilled to find one of these nifty crocks under the tree.

Want a Butter Bell of your own? One lucky reader will win the rustic brown antique crock pictured above. To enter simply visit the Butter Bell website, then come back and tell me about which crock you like best or a recipe that caught your eye. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

*Become a fan of The original Butterbell Crock here. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/17/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Wiseman House Review & Giveaway

Today I am so excited to share with you about one of my favorite things in the whole world, Wiseman House fine handmade chocolates. These scrumptious morsels are made in the small town of Hico, Texas which is not that far from where I live. I was first introduced to these chocolates by some friends a few months ago. I can honestly say they are the most delicious chocolates I've ever put in my mouth.


I was sent an assortment of truffles to review. I do not know how to adequately put into words how wonderful these truffles are. The are rich, smooth, and creamy. If I had to choose one word to describe them it would be luxurious. I think what makes these chocolates so special is they are made from the highest quality ingredients by a truly amazing chocolatier. Those two things make an out of this world chocolate! Everyone of them offers a unique taste sensation. You can read about each of the chocolates here. They are all amazing but my personal favorites are Love Potion, southern Hospitality, and Seville Orange.


I was also sent almond toffee to review. Oh my, this stuff is rich, creamy, and oh so buttery. I am normally not a big toffee fan, but found myself not wanting to share this. Covered with chocolate and an almost crust, this is a seriously rich indulgence. A little goes a long way! This is the best toffee I've ever eaten. You really need to try some.



It blows my mind that Kevin Wenzel makes all these chocolates by hand, in Hico of all places. Check out the Wiseman House story to find out more about the couple behind these yummy delights. In my opinion, these are some of the finest chocolates and confections in the world and the fact that they are made locally makes me very happy.

Obviously, I think any of the products I reviewed would make excellent holiday gifts. I am very picky about my chocolate and can be perfectly happy eating nothing but Wiseman House products for the rest of my life! In fact, when asked what I wanted for Christmas, Wiseman House was my simple reply. Your family and friends will be extremely impressed if you get them gifts from Wiseman House. I have my fingers crossed that my husband gets me what I asked for.

So, now to share with you. Wiseman House is giving a 1lb. box of their delectable Sipping Chocolate to one lucky reader. Go explore their site and come back leaving me a comment on what you would most love to try. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/16/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Merry SITSMAS!

Lovely shot, isn't it? I was trying so hard to find a great Christmas pic to use and came across this one. Little Miss is so into her gifts she didn't notice Mom taking pictures of her rear.

Anyway, I want to wish all my SITS friends a joy filled holiday season. Enjoy your loved ones during this magical time of the year! Here is one of my favorite Christmas songs for you to enjoy!



Thanks for stopping by to visit. You might want to check out my current giveaways over in my right sidebar and look around some. I look forward to meeting some more great bloggers through this SITSMAS card exchange.

You can get in on the fun too, by heading over to SITS. It's a great group of wonderful gals!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Bamboo Pet Products Review & Giveaway

During the holidays, don't forget about our four legged family members. Our "furbabies" are like our children to us. Just like kids they can be rowdy, silly, make a mess, and smell up the house, but we love them all the same. So, they all get Christmas gifts every year, just like the rest of the family.

Bamboo sent us some of their wonderful pet products to try. Bamboo says "Smarter, Safer And Just Plain Better! Bamboo celebrates pets by taking a fresh look at everything from nail clippers to feeding bowls. Our products are designed to make pet parenting easier and more fun!" I think they certainly succede in that. They offer high quality products at reasonable price, that truly make pet parenting easier and more fun. Their website is full of wonderful information and resources, such as pet information, e-cards, and pet gift guides. They also help you find where to buy their products, either locally or online. I am very impressed with Bamboo.

DogToids and CatToids:


These are breath mints for your furry friends. I am happy to report that they work really well and the animals love them. Cookie spends a great deal of time knocking the CatToids container off the shelf and trying to open it by batting it around the kitchen. I am guessing that means she really likes them.

WonkyBonkers:

Of all the dog toys we've ever owned, this one is Shelby's absolute favorite. These are basically balls that look like cats with legs and a tail. You get all the tossing, bouncing, chasing action of a ball along with the bonus of having multiple places to grab it. Shelby does not get tired of chasing her Wonky Bonkers, our arm gives out way before she does. So, if you have a dog that loves to fetch and chase, I highly suggest adding Wonky Bonkers to your toy arsenal.

Rubber Neckers:


We have big dogs that are quite hard on toys. Finding toys that are safe for them to have can be quite challenging. I am absolutely thrilled with Rubber Neckers because my rowdy bunch has put them to the test and they stand up beautifully. The girls have played tug of war with them, chewed on them, tried to bury it, and even slept with it. This is Dixie's favorite toy and the only problem we've had is that she does not like to share it. So, if you have big dogs that are tough on their toys, Rubber Neckers might be a good option for you.

ShowGulls:

I cannot say enough good things about Show Gulls. First of all, they are really cute and I just love the name! But, what really impressed me was they are the first toy that Annabelle has shown any interest in. Ever. That says something to me. She loves to bat it about, carry ti around, and even chase it across the room. Yes, we now have a cat that wants you to play fetch with her. It has kept both the cats entertained for hours at a time. Cats can be so finicky, it's nice to have a toy they really enjoy. This one is a hit with our two.

I so wish I had pics of the girls playing with their toys. Unfortunately, the dogs tend to be so rambuncous when playing that all my pictures ended up being blurs of fur. As for the cats, Annabelle is under the recliner with her Show Gull and refuses to come out. So, I guess you can say they are too busy enjoying themselves to be photographed. These toys would make great gifts or stocking stuffers for the pets, or even pet lovers in your like. I know I am always excited when I get a gift for the girls. So, keep them in mind when you are doing your shopping this year.

Want some of these great toys for your own pet kids? I have one Wonky Bonkers and one Show Gull to give to my readers. To win, simply leave me a comment telling me which one you'd like to have. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/15/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Men of a Certain Age

There is a fantastic new comedy premiering on TNT tonight. Men of a Certain age stars Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher. This funny show follows the lives of three friends as, much to their dismay, they are growing older. You are sure to catch a glimpse of someone you love in these great characters, I know I sure did. Check out this overview.



The show is funny and entertaining. The actors are some of my favorites. And the soundtrack is tremendous! It really adds to the show and works well with the premise of the show. My favorite thing about the show is how close of a friendship these men have. We often see close women friends on television, but real, loving friendship in men are not too often depicted. I give Men of a Certain Age two big thumbs up!

So, tune in and check it out for yourself. I bet it gives you a good chuckle and leaves you with a smile. If you watch it, let me know what you think.

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation for this post. I received an advance sneak peek copy of this television show to review. All the opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

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Holiday Gift Guide: The Ultimate Shortcut Cookie Book Giveaway

Do you remember my review of The Ultimate Shortcut Cookie Book by Camilla V. Saulsbury? Go check it out if you don't. It would make a perfect holiday gift for all the aspiring chefs in your life. Then come back here because I have one copy to give to a lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday cookie. This is mandatory for entry.

For Bonus Entries:

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/14/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Reader Mama...Reader Daughter

Today I bring you a guest post by author Kristin Bair O'Keeffe. She shares with us about the joy of reading with her daughter. Be sure to check out her new novel Thirsty. I've only read part of it so far, but the story really draws you in. I look forward to finishing it. Thanks for sharing with my readers, Kristin! You are welcome back anytime!


Kristin Bair O’Keeffe is the author of Thirsty and an American who lives in Shanghai, China. She is also a happy mom, a voracious reader, an engaging teacher who believes in “telling the best story you can…believing in your writing…and working your arse off,” a fierce advocate for the end of domestic violence, and a writer who spends as much time as possible in writerhead. To find out more, visit www.thirstythenovel.com or Kristin’s blog at www.kristinbairokeeffeblog.com.

Reader Mama…Reader Daughter

Earlier today, around noon, I fixed my daughter’s lunch and lifted her into the highchair. Before I could snap the straps and click the tray into place, she started chanting, “Book, Mama! Book!”
“I know, Sweetiebugs,” I said. “We’re going to read, but first we have to get you situated.”
“Book!” she hollered.
At twenty-two months old, patience is not Tully’s strong suit, but really, if she’s hollering about wanting to read, who am I to complain?
“Okay,” I said. “All set.” And I placed a plate of ham, cheese, and green beans on her tray. “What should we read first today?” I held up our three current favorites: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, The Family Book by Todd Parr, and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
“Max! Max!” she yelled, stuffing two green beans into her mouth at the same time.
“Max it is,” I said and set The Family Book and The Very Hungry Caterpillar on the table within easy reach.
With ham hanging out of her mouth and a green bean seed stuck to her cheek, Tully curled her hands into Wild Thing claws and roared. (It is the sweetest little roar in the world.)
“Okay,” I said, “who’s the author?”
Tully leaned forward.
“Maurice…” I prompted.
“Sendak!” she hollered (which admittedly sounded a little more like Ssndk).
“Yep, you got it! Sendak.”
“And who’s the main character?” (I know, I know…always the writer.)
“Max.”
I turned to the first page and we began. “The night Max wore his wolf suit….”
For the next twenty or so minutes, Tully and I read our three favorites. As we did, we discussed the nuances of each book: who was chasing whom, how hungry is VERY hungry, and the pros and cons of being a messy family. Tully pointed to objects she hadn’t noticed before (like the horns on the Wild Things), and I named them. I pointed to objects she knew well, and she named them. As I read the last sentence of each book, she shouted, “The end!”
Finally—between bites—Tully requested our nursery rhyme book.
“Twinkle, Twinkle,” she said, closing and opening her hands like twinkling stars. We usually wrap up lunch this way, singing our favorites like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Little Boy Blue,” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” By the time we’d sung/read four or five rhymes (including the very wacky “Goosey, Goosey Gander”…just what the heck is that old man doing in the lady’s chamber?), Tully had cleaned her plate. Lunch was over.
“Down!” she hollered, suddenly frantic to be free.
And as I wiped her hands and mouth, I thought about what we’re both getting out of our lunchtime read-a-thons.
Me?
I get a chance to practice patience and mindfulness….being in the moment. I get to read out loud in kooky voices. I get to share one of my greatest loves—reading—with my daughter.
Her?
Well, I know she’s learning lots more than just the text of the stories we’re reading. She’s learning about sequence (beginnings, middles, and endings), authors and illustrators, relationships between pictures and text, letters, counting, and sounds. She’s also learning about emotions—Max’s loneliness, sadness when you lose someone you love, how it feels after you’ve eaten way too much. Most importantly, she is learning to love books. Like her mama.
Now…as Tully says…“The end!”

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Holiday Gift Guide: Zehn Naturals Review & Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review a wonderful tee from Zehn Naturals. They sell a wonderful variety of cute, Organic Cotton T- Shirts. These tees feature original imagery printed with earth friendly inks. Zehn Naturals makes it easy to go green, simply by wearing their wonderful creations.

Zehn Naturals offer something for men, women, kids, and have a onesie line coming soon. You can truly find a great tee for everyone in the family! The shirts are soft and very comfortable, like you favorite "broken in" tee you've been wearing for years. I love that they are so comfortable right from the time you put it on, most shirts take a lot of washing before I declare them comfy.

The Earth Friendly images on Zehn Naturals tees are too cute. You can "Live Green Or Die", promote "Peace", encourage others to "Give a Hoot" and so much more. I was sent this adorable tee to review. I love that it is made for a woman, so it's not like wearing a ballooning unisex shirt. It is snug in the places it should be, but doesn't fit too tightly. It washes well and has not shrunk at all, something I am really impressed by.

I urge you to check them out for yourself and consider giving eco-friendly sustainable apparel this holiday season. These tees would make great gifts for anyone. I am considering buying some of the adorable children's tees for my niece and nephews. To help you out with your holiday shopping, Zehn Naturals is offering my readers 25% off by using coupon code blog25. And they are offering free shipping on all orders! That is a deal that can't be beat!

And, Zehn Naturals is giving one lucky reader their tee of choice. To enter all you have to do is sign up for their newsletter or join them on Facebook. You must do one of these for any bonus entries to count.

For Bonus Entries:

*Tell me which shirt you would love to have!

*Follow on Networked Blogs. This is worth 5 entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Subscribe to my blog.

* Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

* Follow me on Twitter & tweet this giveaway.

* Blog about this giveaway. It doesn't have to be a whole post, you can just mention it when you are posting about other giveaways if you wish. Just be sure to include a link back to here.

* Add my holiday gift guide button to your blog. This is worth three bonus entries, so leave 3 comments.

*Add my normal button to your blog. This is worth 5 bonus entries, so leave 5 comments.

* Stumble this post. Please leave your username.

Deadline to enter is 11:59pm CST on 12/18/09. Good luck!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

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Thank You for Making a Difference

Self esteem has been a big topic around here lately. I have dealt with low self esteem since childhood. I was too short, too fat, not pretty enough, didn't have the right clothes, I could go on and on. It is not as bad now that I'm an adult, but I still have to work on it.

Now, Ashley is at the age that self esteem is becoming a big thing for her. I think it is harder for her, because of her hemifacial microsomia, her face doesn't look like everyone else. We don't notice it so much, but other people sure do. When you look at her in a mirror, that is when you see it the most. About two weeks ago is when Ashley realized how pronounced it looks in her reflection. That, combined with a little boy who will not sit near her in reading class who calls her a monster, have really shock her self esteem. Between cruel kids, peer pressure, and the media, our girls get attacked from all sides with what being beautiful means.




So, as Mom, I need to help build her up and help her to be strong, teach her about real beauty, and empower her to love herself. But, how do I do that?

Thanks goodness for Dove and their awesome Campaign for Real Beauty. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund was established to inspire and educate girls about a wider definition of beauty and is committed to reaching 5 million girls globally by 2010 with self-esteem programming. Thanks to the support of influential women globally, Dove has already reached 2 million girls and conducted nearly 2,700 educational self-esteem workshops since 2006. This fall Dove launched the "Thank you for Making a Difference" program to thank supporters for building girl's self esteem and to invite everyone to share their stories about making a difference in self esteem. Check out this video for more information on Dove's fantastic self esteem workshops.



Their website is chock full of information to help you talk to and empower the girls in your life. I was very impressed with the amount of resources they offer. I am also very impressed with Dove's commitment to this issue, how many beauty companies tell us we are already beautiful? You can help support the Dove Self-Esteem Fund by simply purchasing Dove products, then entering the UPC here, and select a charity. You can choose from Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc.

Thank you, Dove. Thank you for helping us empower our girls and thank you for trying to broaden everyone's definition of beauty.

The thoughts and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I will be receiving Dove product and True You! Workbooks from Dove. These items have in no way influenced this post.

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