Category Archives: Uncategorized

January 18, 2012 · 2:07 am

Equmen Precision Underwear Review and Giveaway!!!

Alright ladies, this one is for the men! In 2007, a 40-year old man had a bold ambition – to feel and look ten years younger so as to perform better in his daily life. As an intensely stressed businessman, ex-sportsman and regular golfer, he worked hard and played hard, but was starting to see the effects of time – including back pain, muscle soreness, fatigue and loss in muscle tone. After frequent visits to the physiotherapist and trainer he thought: why can’t there be something that helps me with these issues every day?

Inspiration came from the sport category – specifically, the new compression garments designed for elite athletes.

Technically advanced compression garments had been developed to help athletes perform at their peak. Such garments were scientifically designed to increase blood flow to and from the muscles in order to improve performance, reduce the risk of injury, and accelerate muscle recovery.

Just as in sport, modern men are subject to physical wear and tear – except on an everyday basis.

EQUMEN™ found that by incorporating athletic technologies into undergarments that could be worn under a business suit, casual wear or for sport, the average guy could benefit from such engineering.

I was recently sent a core-precision v-neck undershirt, precision underwear trunks and a pair of precision socks to review. My husband is a world champion, drug-free USAPL Powerlifter. Please don’t confuse this with body builder. Powerlifters need to bench, squat and dead lift in competition to achieve the highest weight total for their division. My husband has been competing for many years and is a world and national champion. Now, we are familiar with some of the gear that these lifters wear, like bench shirts and squat suits that are so tight they often need 2 other guys to help them get them on. So when I told him about this precision underwear, he was very interested in trying them out. When I took the undershirt out of the box, it looked so tiny, that I laughed. To say these garments have a lot of stretch is a understatement.

Developed in conjunction with physiotherapists, ergonomic consultants and athletic garment engineers, EQUMEN™ HELIX-MAPPING™ is a unique body-mapping system that builds physio taping techniques into every garment to reinforce and support the body’s natural structure from the core. Crisscrossing the upper and lower back, compression on the shirt gently pulls the shoulders back to support an upright posture.

The HELIX-MAPPING™ system is built-in using seamless manufacturing technology. This allows for a more comfortable, better fitting garment that will adjust to your unique body shape without rubbing or chafing.

He was very impressed with the way the shirt felt. He could see wearing it under clothing and it was comfortable but very supportive in the core area and enhanced good posture. You can see and feel the quality of this undershirt which comes in three styles, the singlet, the v neck and the long sleeve.

The trunks work with the same principle and have areas of compression for the gluteal, quadriceps, and hamstrings while also providing ventilation. He liked these trunks very much, as they were comfortable, even though they were supportive. He really liked the socks because they have a nice uniform precise fit that really felt good. These precision undergarments have many benefits such as; easing back pain, improving posture, healthy circulation, temperature control and core stability. Wearing the undershirt, trunks and socks, his posture was never better and that helps his alignment which is great.

Good news, Equmen is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win the Equmen V-Neck Undershirt and Performance Trunk. Thank you Equmen for the review products and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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January 16, 2012 · 9:32 pm

Dale and Thomas, Traditional Twelve-Bag Sampler Popcorn Giveaway!!!

Thursday, January 19^th is National Popcorn Day!!!

Mommy Ramblings is celebrating National Popcorn Day with our great sponsor Dale and Thomas Popcorn. One lucky Mommy Rambling’s reader will win a Traditional Twelve-Bag Sampler (Retail value is $49.95). Thank you Dale and Thomas Popcorn for sponsoring this high pop of a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents!

The Twelve Bag Sampler is their number one best seller, probably because it contains twelve delicious flavors of our gourmet popcorn. Each bag is one foot long and serves 2-3 people. And that’s the great thing about our 12 pack samplers of popcorn, they’re great to share and their delicious popcorn makes people happy. Hand-crafted in a kitchen with only the finest ingredients, you’ll find more crunchy and decadent flavors at Dale and Thomas Popcorn than just about anywhere else! All of their popcorn is gluten-free and kosher OU-D.

Dale and Thomas Traditional Twelve-Bag Sampler Popcorn Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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· 12:24 am

Epson Stylus NX430, Small-in-One Printer Review!!!

You will probably remember the review and giveaway we did for the Epson Artisan 835 Printer. Well, we love that printer and that was our first Epson printer, but I can tell you it is now the first brand we think of, because it has impressed us so much. Recently, I was asked to do a review of the Epson Stylus NX430, a wireless all in one printer that does all you need it to and more while taking up very little space. As soon as I accepted, I knew this printer would be perfect for my daughter, a soon to be graduate student, sharing an apartment with two roommates. Space is a precious thing in that apartment, but she does not want to sacrifice quality for size and now she doesn’t have to.

The Epson Stylus NX430 packs quality and performance into one space-saving printer. Part of the new line of Epson Small-in-One printers, it fits perfectly in virtually any setting. And, it features Epson Connect, so you can enjoy instant wireless printing from popular mobile devices. It’s easy to share your Small-in-One with Easy Epson Wireless setup and the latest in wireless technology. Use the 2.5″ LCD, smart touch panel and built-in card slots to print brilliant photos — PC-free. Whatever you’re printing, you can focus on what’s important thanks to whisper quiet operation. You even can scan and archive important documents, quickly produce color copies, and use the image enhancement tools to get perfect photos.

This printer is a breeze to set up right out of the box and with a few easy steps, she was ready to print, scan and fax to her heart’s content. You have heard that dynamite comes in small packages and this printer proves that. Loaded with features like; performance printing on the go, she can use Epson’s Email Print, an advanced print technology that allows her to use her laptop or smart phone to print to her printer whether she is across town or across the world. With several print modes it gives her a selection of quality and speed settings based on what she is printing from draft copies to best photo. Epson delivers high print quality with their DURABrite Ultra all-pigment ink. The ink will not smudge or run even if it gets wet, and is ideal for printing photos, documents and creative projects. When printing photos she can use the Auto Photo Correction that automatically corrects lighting in poorly exposed images to produce perfect prints. The Epson Stylus NX430 even lets her restore old, faded, discolored photos back to their original brilliance using the Epson Scan software. Four scanner modes adds to the versatility, with automated scanning, letting her scan documents simply, while allowing her to have more control with advanced settings for scanning photos and graphics and complete control of scan settings in the Professional Mode.

Epson has hit a home run for us again. Now my daughter does not have to sacrifice quality and features in an all in one printer because she is short on space. The Epson Stylus NX430 delivers everything she needs to make school, work and personal projects stand out with a brilliance you expect from Epson.

Buy One: Right now you can get this great all-in-one printer on sale for $30 off the regular price. Click Here to buy.

Front Product Image

Angled Product Image

ISO Print Speeds

ISO print speeds of 6.2 ISO ppm (black) and 3.2 ISO ppm (color)¹
Mobile Printing

Wirelessly print documents, photos, calendars, contacts and more; charge your cell phone or MP3 Player using the USB port.
Wireless Network Ready

Print, scan, and access memory card slots from any room in the house, using a wireless network.
2.5″ LCD

Use the 2.5″ LCD to preview, edit and print photos, without turning on your computer.
Instant-Drying Inks

Print documents that are highlighter friendly as well as smudge, scratch, fade and water resistant.
Replace Only the Color You Need

Four individual ink cartridges are available in different capacities, so you can replace only the color you need.
Small-in-One — space-saving design; great performance
Print and share from anywhere — get instant wireless printing from iPads, tablets, smartphones and more; supports Email Print and Epson iPrint app, plus Apple® AirPrint™ and Google Cloud Print™
Easy Epson Wireless — connect to your wireless network in seconds
Quiet operation — focus on what’s important
Truly touchable photos and documents — instant-dry ink for smudge, fade and water-resistant prints; even highlighter friendly
Easy setup and control — smart touch panel gives you everything you need, right at your fingertips
Wireless printing and scanning — share one Small-in-One at home, now with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ n
Print photos, PC-free — built-in card slots; smart touch panel and large, 2.5″ color LCD
Replace only the color you need — individual ink cartridges, available in different sizes to suit your needs¹
Better images automatically — red-eye removal, photo restoration and correction of over / underexposed photos¹
Quick, high-quality scanning up to 2400 dpi — scan important papers, recipes, bills, photos and more
Manual two-sided printing — a great way to save paper
Product protection you can count on — one-year limited warranty and quick product exchange
Eco Features
- ENERGY STAR® qualified
- RoHS compliant
- Designed to be recycled
- Smaller product and package than previous models — uses less natural resources
- Epson America, Inc. is a SmartWay^SM Transport Partner

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January 15, 2012 · 6:19 pm

Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair & Baby Set, Review and Giveaway!!!

Tripp Trapp®

I am so excited to tell you about this review and giveaway. When I connected with Stokke a few months ago, and they suggested sending me 2 of their Tripp Trapp High Chairs to review, I was stoked. We choose rich cherry for both chairs, but they are available in several stains and many bright colors. When they were delivered we removed the pieces from the boxes and my husband easily assembled both chairs in very little time. We were very impressed with the quality and beautiful finish on the wood. The chairs are easy to adjust and when the little guys saw them they were so excited to give them a try.

Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair

I took a lot of time with this review, just about 2 months because it is hard to evaluate a product in a week or even 2. I wanted to really give these chairs a thorough review and I am so glad that I took the time because I have so much insight on these chairs now that I would never have gathered from just spending a couple of weeks on the review. We were sent the Baby Set which is for use with children 6-36 months. It is so easy to attach and detach from the chair, no tools needed, and so even when your child outgrows it, it is a compact 2 pieces that you can keep in a closet and if you have company or friends who come over that have a younger child, you can just get it and put it on the chair in seconds. It is easy to clean by just wiping it down and as an added bonus it is dishwasher safe. There is also a harness strap system that is on the chair but it can be removed if you feel your child no longer needs it. When it is removed the chair looks like a great piece of high-end furniture and it will not need to be put away when you child is ready to move on from a high chair because this chair will keep growing with your child, right up to adulthood and then be ready for the next generation.

One of the first things I noticed was that prior to the Stokke Tripp Trapp, my kids were using those Space Saver High Chairs, that sit on a regular chair (not the little booster but the full size with the big tray). Anyway, we have a large eat in kitchen but those two high chairs were always in the way, I mean with the large tray they did not fit under the table and so the two of them were often put between the center island and the kitchen table when the kids were eating and after the would get pushed against one of the walls but they stood out like sore thumbs, especially having 2. Since we have a large family and could not sacrifice two of our chairs from the table, to put the high chairs on we put them on our large matching counter stool height chairs. This made them as high as a high chair so they were even more awkward and so many times I just wanted to push those chairs right out the sliding doors onto the deck, to get them out-of-the-way. After bringing the Tripp Trapp chairs in the kitchen we removed with relish those clumsy, awkward, large high chairs. We were thrilled to now have 2 of 3 island counter chairs back and for the first day or so the kitchen appeared 5 times larger than usual. There was so much empty space now between the island and the table that it kept amazing me every time I went in the kitchen.

The Tripp Trapps are able to slide right under the table and they are sleek even with the baby set attached. In time we removed the baby set, because Luke liked to be able to get on and off the chair by himself. He did great and they were so happy to have a place at the table like the big kids. The high chairs had never let them get very close to the table no matter how close we pulled them, with the large tray in the way. We found we did not use the harness straps and my husband easily removed them and the chairs looked great. Since these chairs can accommodate adults up to 300 lbs they are able to be used by everyone. In fact my 6 foot 4 inch cousin came to visit over the holidays and he immediately pulled out the Stokke Tripp Trapp and sat for about an hour talking with us around the table and then when we told him he was sitting in a “high chair” he laughed, and told us how much he really like them and how comfortable they were. I find myself reaching for one all the time. They are easy to move around and their height is perfect for so many tasks, like when I was decorating my son’s birthday cake. they also make a great step stool for adults and kids and I can slide them right in front of the sink and they are the perfect height for my kids to reach everything and wash their hands. Since having these chairs my kids do a lot of activities and crafts on the kitchen table.

I love the finish on these chairs and all I do is just wipe them down with the activated water in my activeion spray bottle and a towel and they clean up beautifully. I know some people feel that these chairs are too expensive for a high chair, but they are so much more than a high chair. When you consider that fact that some conventional high chairs can cost just as much and have to be retired when you child grows out of them and even if you do save them for your grandchildren, chances are they will be obsolete and out of style by that time. With the Tripp Trapp you are buying a chair for a lifetime and then some. With their beautiful styling they will look great for generation after generation and the quality ensures they will handle all the use you can dish out. If you do the math and think of all the years that you can and will use this chair, it makes it the best value for your money in the long run.

So do I have anything bad to say or anything I don’t like? Honestly, no I don’t, I wish someone would have clued me in on these chairs long ago. I am so happy with them, and can’t think of a thing I would change. If you think you would miss a tray they have an available table top transparent tray with interchangeable templates that grow with your child. Cushions are also available, but my opinion is these chairs are comfortable as is and are so easy to clean, that I really don’t think they are necessary. I do like the idea of the table top trays because since I have messy eaters it is a great wipeable surface that can go right over my table linens and protect them while allowing the kids to be kids. Also, they provide a nice surface for crafts, games and writing. So to sum it up for you, we love these chairs!!! I feel so blessed to have connected with such a wonderful company like Stokke, their support through all of this has been phenomenal, they have excellent customer service and they truly care about your satisfaction.

So now I am thrilled to let you know that Stokke is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their color choice of the Stokke Tripp Trap High Chair (excluding signature collection) complete with the Baby Set (ARV $330). Thank you Stokke for beautiful review chairs and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian Residents.

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· 1:32 am

Go Max Go Foods, Vegan, Dairy Free, Candy Bars Review & Giveaway!!!

If you love the taste of milk chocolate candy bars but are looking for a vegan, dairy free alternative then you should check out Go Max Go Candy Bars.

Go Max Go Foods, set out to create extraordinarily delicious candy bars. They craved candy bars that were chocolatey, nougaty, caramely, peanutty, almondy, coconutty crazy indulgences! They wanted a variety of bars that popped with all the luscious flavor of the traditional treats. What they didn’t want in their candy bars was dairy, eggs, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial ingredients, or cholesterol. They had a hunch your sweet tooth might be feeling the same way, and so they went to work on the concept. Happily, their efforts paid off and now even your inner angel (you know, the one who reminds you it’s gotta be vegan, or you’re dairy intolerant, or you need to kick those hydrogenated oils to the curb, etc.) can enjoy real candy bars again.

Combine great taste, good sense, sweeten with compassion, and what have you got? A Go Max Go candy bar! Their journey, over a year in the making, has finally brought to life the best tasting natural candy bars ever! We are pleased to offer to you the finest vegan versions of the candy bars you grew up with. Make room for the NEW classics.

Go Max Go Foods. Your taste buds will never know the difference.

I was sent 6 Go Max Food Candy Bars for review but when I went to review them, one was missing. Apparently my oldest son did not know they were for review. Likely story, but I heard no complaints so we are going to have to give that sixth bar a thumbs up. The five bars I did get to review were:

SNAP!™-Toasty, crunchy, crisped rice POW! jammed into a hunk of rice-milk chocolatey BAM!

Buccaneer™-Rich, fluffy, chocolatey nougat covered in a creamy chocolatey coating. sound right about now?

Cleo’s™– Rice-milk chocolatey coating cuddles the creamiest, dreamiest, peanut butter filling ever! So, if this combo makes you want to walk like an Egyptian, Cleo’s peanut butter cups are for you!

Twilight™ – rich, fluffy, chocolatey nougat topped with a layer of thick, buttery-tasting caramel all wrapped up in their very own creamy, rice-milk chocolatey coating.

Jokerz™-layers of dry roasted peanuts, buttery-tasting caramel, and rich peanut nougat, sweetly wrapped in a delicious chocolatey coating.

The missing bar is the Mahalo™ – a gently sweetened coconut candy bar topped with three whole dry roasted almonds and covered in a luscious chocolatey coating.

All of the candy bars tasted decadent and delicious. My favorites were Twilight, Snap and Buccaneer. If you are looking for Vegan or Dairy-Free alternatives to milk chocolate candy bars but think you would be giving up taste, think again. These bars are packed with the chocolate taste you’re looking for and nothing you’re not.

Go Max Go Foods is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win all 6 delicious candy bars. Thank you Go Max Go Foods for the delicious review bars and for sponsoring this scrumptious giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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January 14, 2012 · 2:40 pm

Pet Peeves!!!

Okay, I thought it would be fun to talk about our Pet Peeves today. It is funny to think that some of the things that make us bonkers, other people don’t even notice. So let’s play a game of: I’ll tell you some of my top Pet Peeves, and you tell me yours. I am a little bit of a germophobe, so I am sure some of my pet peeves have to do with that personality trait of mine. Okay here we go, I am going to list 5 of my top pet peeves below.

1. Bag Lickers

It seems no matter what checkout lane I choose, 8 out of 10 cashiers are bag lickers. If you do not know what I am talking about, let me explain. If you are like me and have lots of reusable shopping bags but always seem to be without them in the store, then you have probably encountered a bag licker or two. Maybe, you have never even noticed and I am on the opposite end because I am hyper aware. So since plastic grocery bags tend to stick together, it is sometimes difficult for cashiers to open them to bag your items. So while I have seen some that keep a moist paper towel to wet their fingers, most just stick their fingers in their mouth to wet them and then take their saliva covered fingers to open you plastic bag and handle all the items going in that bag. This grosses me out to no end and I wish I had the courage to tell them exactly what I am thinking; “Why don’t you just lick all my food before I bring it home? Don’t you realize what is on your hands? You are handling money, didn’t your mother ever tell you that money is the dirtiest thing in the world? Do you know where some of that money has been?” I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. So I do appreciate self checkout when they have them and appreciate those cashiers that use moist towels to wet their finger tips.

2. Finger Lickers

No, I don’t mean Kentucky Fried Chicken lovers, I mean have you ever shown someone a magazine article or circular ad and they take your magazine and start turning pages and for some reason they need to lick their fingers to turn the pages. It is at that point, I tell them just to keep the magazine and read it at their leisure. I mean really, I asked you to look at something, not lick it. I have issues here people and I don’t put my saliva all over my reading materials and I certainly don’t want anyone elses. Probably why I no longer read the magazines in doctor’s offices or hospitals, anywhere for that matter. One of the best things about my iPad 2 is that I have my own saliva free reading material wherever I go.

3. Money Lips:

Well, referring back to pet peeve one, I was raised instilled with the fact that money, was the dirtiest thing in the world. I just cannot handle when I see people put money in their mouth, to hold it while they do something. Literally if I see that, I am dry heaving. Along those lines are people who count their money and lick their fingers which I have seen by people and bank tellers everywhere. Yuck!!! As I would tell my little ones, “Dirty, Caca, Yuck!!!”

4. Tissue Holders:

No not the ones in your bathroom that hold your toilet tissue, but those people who walk around with tissues in their hand. Now I have nothing against the fact that they are carrying a tissue, but my peeve is that it is often these tissue holders that always want to touch you and shake your hand with the hand holding the tissue. I am not big on shaking hands without tissues but please don’t touch me or my baby with a tissue in your hand. Along these lines, I also cringe when a person that you see touching, wiping their nose and lips with their hands then immediately reaches out to shake your hand. That’s okay lets just bow like the Japanese to show respect.

5. Serving Utensil Snubbers:

You know when you are having a big dinner with family and or friends and the food is served family style on the table, and then someone goes for a second helping, and even though the serving utensil is in the bowl or plate, they stick their fork in to serve themselves. I know if one of my brothers is reading this, he is laughing with me, because this is a pet peeve of both of ours and one of the offending people is one of our other 2 brothers. Even my kids are aware of Uncle Blank and his less than hygienic table manners. It is often after these people dig around in the serving bowl with their utensil, that they enjoy telling you how sick they have been.

6. Double Dippers:

The reason I don’t eat dips at parties is due to the double dipper. When I entertain and if I am serving something like a platter of shrimp with cocktail sauce I will often serve the cocktail sauce with individual sauce cups so everyone can have their own and dip as much as they want.

7. Aisle Hogs:

You know those people in the grocery store or any store with carts, that walk in the middle of the aisle and have no idea they are not the only ones in the store. Even worse they like to stop turn their cart just enough so it is across the aisle and zone out looking across the aisle at the condiments. Some are pleasant when you have to mutter, “excuse me” but others look at you as though you should just wait or turn around. Along these lines are people on the escalator who just stand there when it gets to the top or bottom after they step off. Not a good idea.

Okay, so I went a couple over the top 5 that I told you I would share, but I couldn’t help myself, and it felt good to get that all out. I know it’s my germophobiness (my own word) that make the first 6 bother me so much. So now that I have let you in on mine, please feel free to tell me yours.

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January 13, 2012 · 8:30 pm

New Kidorable Dragon Knight Collection, Raincoat Review and Umbrella Giveaway!!!

I am really excited to let you know that Kidorable has recently introduced a new collection called Dragon Knight and it is on FIRE!!!

The Dragon Knight collection is steel grey with dark green as accent color, perfect for strong and brave boys. Some pieces accentuate the Knight, others the Dragon, but there is a nice interplay between both characters throughout the set. The umbrella has protruding dragon horns and wings, with a knight, fire, and a castle motif along the bottom. The helmet on the matching raincoat is Kidorable’s coolest hood so far.

The child who wears it can imagine himself as a valiant knight fighting the dragon. The backpack is shaped like a shield for extra play value. It comes with a little stuffed toy sword. The coat is a new material, PU (polyurethane). It’s softer and lighter than PVC.

I was recently sent the Dragon Knight raincoat and dragon hanger to review. I love Kidorable products so I was not surprised that the quality is great. My son loves all the detail and that with the hood up, he really looks like he has a knight’s helmet on. The fun designs of Kidorable rain gear means never having to fight with my kids to wear it. The dragon hanger makes it really fun for my son to hang his coat up when he comes in. Kidorable hangers are so nicely painted, smooth and never any rough edges or sharp corners on them. Take a look at the new Dragon Knight Collection, it’s a big hit with little boys and parents alike.

Kidorable is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win the new Dragon Knight Umbrella. Thank you Kidorable for the review items and for sponsoring this HOT giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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January 12, 2012 · 8:45 pm

Ugglebo Urban Collection Clog Review & Giveaway!!!

Coco Chanel once said, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”Ugglebo can’t agree more! They have designed their clogs with Coco Chanel’s girl in mind. A little 70s retro chic with traditional Swedish style, they have sculpted a clog brand that reinvents the traditional notion of clogs as comfort shoes. When a woman slips an Ugglebo Urban on her feet, they want her to feel sexy (yes sexy!) and fabulous because an Ugglebo Urban woman is a trend-setter who dares the world to watch her.

Recently, I had the opportunity to review Ugglebo’s Urban Collection of Clogs. I knew my daughter would love these, so I let her pick a pair out. The funny thing is that she picked a pair that was almost exactly like I had in very late 70’s. She picked the Etna in Dexter Tan. The Etna is a sleek and sexy traditional style Swedish clog. With its oxford-style lacing, it creates a retro-chic look for any occasion, and it can be worn as a casual or professional style clog. It features a high-heel Pine wood base and rich Nubuc leather, which is fastened with staples for a timeless look, and the laces on the wood clog can also be adjusted for a personalized fit. The Etna is available in four colors.

When this clog arrived it was love at first sight. The pictures cannot convey the beauty of these clogs. Quality craftsmanship shines through and they definitely look classy and sexy. One touch of the super soft, Nubuc leather will never be enough. My daughter loved them and can dress them up or down depending on what she is doing or where she is going. Comfortable, attractive, classy and sexy, really what more can a girl ask for? Hmmm, maybe another pair? If you are looking for stylish clogs that will give you a variety of wearing options, then take a look at Ugglebo’s Urban Collection of clogs and get ready to fall in love.

I am thrilled, and I am sure you will be too, to tell you Ugglebo is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their choice of clog from the Ugglebo Urban Collection (subject to availability/size). Thank you Ugglebo for the review clogs and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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January 11, 2012 · 11:43 pm

Simply Colors Personalized Shirt Review & Giveaway!!!

Recently, I connected with Simply Colors and had the privilege of designing a personalized shirt to review from their site. Their site was very easy to navigate and I had a lot of fun designing a shirt to celebrate Luke’s birthday. They have great graphics, high quality materials and lots of color. I chose a long sleeve red t-shirt which is a really great weight and so soft. Then off to the fun part, where I picked out a birthday cake with a number 3 and his name on the bottom all in apple green. It arrived quickly and I was very impressed with the quality of the shirt and printing. It looked really sharp and Luke loves it. It is warm and soft and will hold up nicely to my active little guy. It washes great and I could not be happier. They have a large selection of clothing and accessories you can have personalized for kids and adults. I am definitely going to be shopping there a lot. If you are looking for a special way to celebrate a birthday or for a unique gift, take a look at Simply Colors because they have it all!

Simply Colors is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will have the opportunity to choose and design a shirt similar to the one above but with their choice of personalization and colors. Thank you Simply Colors for the review shirt and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian Residents.

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· 10:19 pm

American Girl, FedEx SmartPost and USPS, Star in a Tale of Bait & Switch; Today on Mommy Ramblings!!!

I consider myself a pretty savvy business person. I mean, I work for major companies, I receive packages with review products delivered daily by UPS and FedEx, FedEx twice a day. So when I ordered an American Girl doll last weekend for a special little girl in North Carolina, I chose ground shipping, there was nothing saying that it was not the normal ground carriers and I know that from WI to NC with FedEx or UPS she would have it by Friday. Well, today I called as I had not been sent a tracking number and this is when I learned about how a sneaky little bait and switch game is played on customers without them knowing.

Now if you are not familiar with American Girl, let me fill you in a little bit. I used to be a regular customer when they were the original Pleasant Company, and my daughter was very into collecting the dolls. I will tell you everything was sent to me in 3 days or less through ground shipping. Now Mattel owns American Girl, and I have not placed an order in the recent past, because I have all boys except for my daughter who is now past that stage. Anyway, some of the things that irk me a bit about the company are that there was no free shipping option, even though any doll and just the basic accessories are going to cost well over $100 and upwards of $200 without adding very much. Also, for every little item you add, such as the hairbrush the shipping increases by a significant amount. Now, most companies offer free shipping on amounts over $50, not American Girl, they offer free shipping once a year in November and if you missed it, well they think there is always next year. I guess American Girl feels if you can afford their products, you can afford the shipping. So, I accepted it for what it was, and placed my order. Told a very excited little girl that her doll would be there this week. Today, I decided to check and I was given a FedEx tracking number, that I was not emailed as I should have been according to their website. When I called FedEx, I spoke to a very nice representative who explained to me what FedEx Smart Post was.

FedEx SmartPost is when your package starts out FedEx but is shipped to the post office to then be delivered by the US Postal Service. She also explained that it is well within the Post Office’s discretion to hold the package for up to 3 days before attempting delivery. So now this doll which could have been shipped Priority Mail in 3 days or less for what I paid or sent UPS or FedEx in that time frame as well can end up in transit for 12 days or more. Wow, you would think I paid some economy shipping rate for times like that? What is even more aggravating to me is I see nothing about the details of the “ground carrier” shipping they offer. If they think this is such a great service why not put down in print what it actually is. Even going to the FedEx site I cannot find much at all on it. The FedEx rep even shared with me how many companies are doing this without informing the customers of the shipping process. She also told me UPS has a similar service. Well, to say I was upset did not even begin to cover it. I had an excited little girl messaging me while I was on the phone, to see if the doll was coming today or tomorrow. Now, I was left to burst her bubble and let her know, it could be Monday if the Post Office doesn’t exercise its right to take 3 days before delivering the package.

I called American Girl after the FedEx rep told me that there is a way they could reroute the package. I was first given a standard rep who could provide me very little and then I was transferred to a more seasoned rep but she could also not offer anything for me. When I asked to speak to someone else I was put on hold for a long time and then told there was nothing else they could do. She told me I was the first one that ever complained about FedEx SmartPost and that she would note my comments. I highly doubt I am the first to call with a complaint about SmartPost and I asked her right out why it was not on the website? She had no answer, except to say it says ground shipping and the time frame. When I explained to her that I was a seasoned member of the media and when I see ground shipping from WI to NC I do not think 10-12 days. I also do not think ground shipping is some snail mail version of FedEx especially when I am paying enough that the package could have been shipped Priority Mail or FedEx Ground to begin with and arrived in 3 days or less. She did not have much to say about that either and hastily told me there was not much that could be done and goodbye. I fired off some strongly worded emails to AG Public Relations and Mattel Corporate.

Well, a half hour later the same woman who I spoke to called me back. This time she had a little more empathy with my situation and she offered that I could buy the doll and all the accessories again and pay rush shipping and then do a call tag on the original doll. It was then, that in my mind the voice of Dana Carvey as the church lady came through loud and clear, “Isn’t that special?” Was she kidding? This is what she offered me! When I asked her about contacting FedEx and getting the package sent by FedEx all the way to its destination (I cannot believe I even have to say that.) she replied, that was not possible. Nor was any other solution except me buying everything over and this time paying rush shipping charges for FedEx real ground delivery. As I was on the phone with her I had posted a tad about this on my personal FB page and in minutes my friends were telling me similar stories and how they got the old bait and switch from other companies. Then I thought, if someone had alerted me, I would have made sure that I was getting “real” ground service or “real” priority mail. So, I kindly told her that I planned to take this to my blog and let other people learn from this, so that there does not need to be disappointed girls, boys, or anyone who is used to dealing with one shipping service and is aware of their delivery times. She also told me that shipping rates were going to go up in 2012 and went on and on about the fuel costs and when I explained to her that the amount to ship the package priority in the first place was much cheaper than what I paid, she once again showed empathy for my situation.

FedEx and UPS had their share of bad press over the holidays by hurling packages over gates and flipping off security cameras and while I love my delivery guys this is just another slap in the face. However, this time, I think it is the companies using these SmartPost services that need to step up and take their licks. Come on American Girl, stop the craziness, if you are going to ship our package through two different carriers so that a package that could be delivered in 3 days now takes 12, how about letting us know? Maybe put something like: Times are tough, we can’t lower prices or cut shipping rates, but we can keep our shipping rates high and cut the services. We are now shipping FedEx SmartPost when it says Ground and that is not FedEx Ground. Try and scour up some information of the service on Google and then if I were you I would probably upgrade to rush shipping which is the old FedEx Ground.

So this is my rant. My rant on companies that don’t really care about customer service anymore, companies that really don’t care if you buy from them or not. Companies that think it is fine to keep customers in the dark about shipping services and companies that just don’t get it. I just want to do my part to educate my readers that there is some shady stuff going on in shipping and I wish I had known prior to placing my order. Hopefully my words will enlighten others and one less little girl will go to bed in tears. Thanks American Girl!!!

Oh and just to let you know the little girl I purchased this for, has never had an American Girl doll, she is not a spoiled brat with 12 dolls on the shelf, stamping her foot for another. She was over the moon when I told her I was getting this doll for her and has had her share of hard times so this was something very special to her.

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Tagged as American Girl, Bait & Switch, FedEx Smart Post, Mommy Ramblings, USPS