If You Cannot Say Thank You? You Cannot Be A Winner! #NewGiveawayRule

I have mentioned this before, but will make it official now. If I contact you to let you know that you have won a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings and you respond without  a “thanks” or “thank you”,  you will be disqualified and I will draw a new winner.

Why?

  • Because I put my time and effort in to run great giveaways.
  • I thank you for being a Mommy Ramblings’ reader and tell you to enjoy your prize in my email.
  • I don’t appreciate ungrateful attitudes.

Sorry guys, I just cannot deal with this anymore. It is so rude. It takes a moment to say thank you. For the record, the majority of giveaway winners are polite, grateful and thoughtful. Many go above and beyond a simple thank you. Others even email when they receive their prize to let me know it arrived and how they like it. I really appreciate all of you who do this.

Thank you again to all of Mommy Ramblings’ loyal readers. To those that cannot be bothered with things like common courtesy and basic manners, I say:

 

I will be updating the giveaway rules to reflect:

If you cannot say Thank You or some equivalent of it when you email me your address, expect an email back with a link to this post and the giveaway rules. Thank you all for reading. 


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Cook, Eat & Bake Healthier With Coco Treasure Coconut Products #Giveaway

I like to eat healthy and in doing so I use things like extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil. You might remember a recipe for the most decadent and delicious chocolate chip cookies I made with extra virgin coconut oil. We love those and anyone that tries them, asks for the recipe. If you missed that post you can find it HERE.

Recently, I was contacted by Coco-Treasure asking if I would like to try some of their coconut products. I agreed and below you can watch an unboxing video of what they sent me.

I received 2 bags of Coco-Treasure  coconut sugar, 2 bottles of coconut nectar syrup and 2 jars of extra virgin coconut oil. Coco Treasure is committed to producing products using the best that Mother Nature has to offer. These products are USDA Organic, Non-GMO, contain no chemicals and are ethically sourced. Coco Treasure Organic Coconut Sugar and Organic Coconut Nectar Syrup has a low glycemic index and helps to prevent blood sugar spikes.

Their Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is Unrefined, Non-GMO, Vegan & Gluten Free, contains no chemicals and is ethically sourced. All products are made from coconuts that have not been treated with any pesticides or chemicals and are hand-picked at their peak quality. Use Coconut Oil for cooking, baking as a dietary supplements and for your pets.

I will be doing some cooking and baking with this in the upcoming weeks and posting about that so stay tuned. You can buy these products right on Amazon. If you would like to enter for a chance to win one of each of these Coco Treasure Products, enter below.

 

Giveaway:

 

 

Coco-Treasure is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a bag of Coco- Treasure Coconut Sugar, a bottle of Coconut Nectar Syrup and a jar of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil! Thank you to Coco Treasures for the review products and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Coco Treasure Coconut Products Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Kitchen Update and Quartz Countertop Dilemma

I am back with an update on our new kitchen. I am happy to say, that 2 weeks ago we signed on the dotted line and our cabinets went into manufacturing. Since they are custom cabinets, they will be made to order and take at least 8 weeks.

We ended up going with a brand new Wood-Mode finish called Vintage Bright White. The Vintage finish is a distinctive glaze that is applied over the base color and adds a brushed appearance to the surface while highlighting the details of the door style and architectural elements. It also tones done the bright white and is just beautiful. The cabinets below are in Vintage Bright White. This is not the door I picked but I wanted to share the color with you.

We are also really excited about the integrated Häfele LED lighting matched to custom-fabricated Wood-Mode cabinetry. This lighting is brand new and we are the first kitchen that has it. I cannot wait because, I love light and I was forever saying I needed better lighting in the kitchen. This lighting will be in every cabinet and every drawer.

An industry-first, the Wood-Mode Integrated Lighting Program featuring Häfele LED solutions is a collaboration between two industry leaders to meet and drive the growing demand for integrated lighting design. The program utilizes the very best 12 volt, 3rd generation Loox LED options from Hafele. LED lighting is specified in 80% of kitchen projects overall (according to the NKBA) and offers energy-efficient, controllable, and discrete illumination with unlimited creative possibilities. You can read more about it HERE.

Beyond that, I have all the tile at the house and ready to be installed. I still need to pick the tile for the backsplash and that is where I am conflicted. The kitchen designer I am working with told me that it did not matter if I was having second thoughts on the color/pattern of the quartz now, because we have a lot of time. She said they will not  be coming to do the template until the cabinets are installed. That made me breathe a bit easier because I have been going back and forth with my choice. I selected Cambria Quartz in Nevern. I have a very large sample piece and I love it!

The problem is that Cambria Quartz does not photograph well. At least the Nevern does not. In almost every photo I see of it online, it looks like a dull, flat, ugly laminate countertop. The picture below is the one I hate the most, it does nothing to sell this countertop.

That frightens me beyond belief. I know, I like Cambria Quartz, because I had it in my kitchen for almost 10 years. It is just that they need to do a better job in showing the beauty I see in this sample. I have heard other people complain about the same thing. Most said that they had second thoughts based on photos, but were happy in the end when it was installed. They said that the photos did not do it justice at all.

So I was thinking, I should play it safe and go with something like Ella.

On my way to sign the contracts, I kept thinking about it, but my heart and my head were not sold on it at all. I was so glad that when I told my kitchen designer  I was thinking about Ella, she said, “Oh no, you do not want to go with Ella. You want something to make things pop!” I thanked her so much! It was the advice I needed! So Ella got kicked to the curb but I still am second guessing my choice.

I went on the Cambria Facebook page and asked them about my dilemma, but received as Verizon would say, a “half fast” answer. It was like they did not even read my question because they responded that I should look for a larger sample. I guess they missed what I wrote about having a large sample and the photos not looking at all like what I see in front of me.

I don’t know, I know I have time, but until I decide on the countertop, it halts the selection of the backsplash tile. Speaking of being halted, we have been halted for weeks with the demo crew. They should have completed everything by now. We have been held up for over 3 months, but let’s not even go there. Hopefully, work is going to begin next week. I feel like we are behind the 8-ball in getting everything done before the cabinets are ready.

Anyway, I guess this is not much of an update, but I wanted to let you know that things are still moving along slowly. The bathroom renovation has been halted a bit by this whole situation as well. I will have a post up about the faucet we chose for the bathroom in the next few days.

If you made it this far, thank you. If you would like to add any insight on the countertops, please do so in the comments. I would like to hear your thoughts. I will tell you one thing, if I do go for the Nevern and I love it, I will do everything in my power to get great photos of what it really looks like. I don’t want anyone else to have this uncertainty due to poor photos.


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Filed under Curb Appeal, Home & Garden, Home Improvement

8 of My Favorite Bird Feeders

I love watching the birds at my feeders during the day, at night we have the pleasure of seeing southern flying squirrels, which is really cool! I have used a lot of bird feeders over the years. I want to share some of my favorites that have stood the test of time and can be found all around my yard.

Watching the birds brings me a lot of joy and provides me with thousands of photo opportunities which is something this hobby photographer loves. These are my 8 favorite bird feeders:

The No/No Red Ball Feeder by Perky Pet

This fun-shaped feeder comes in red and green. I use the red but red and green would be perfect for Christmas since they look like ornaments. They are low maintenance and supposed to be squirrel and small animal proof. They are better, but not foolproof. I have some pretty smart squirrels and frankly, as long as they do not break the feeders, I don’t mind them coming in for a snack. Even if they do manage the tough task of removing the top,  this feeder has not broken. That is a huge plus as plastic feeders don’t stand a chance!

It is easy to fill and holds 6 cups of black oiled sunflowers very well. I have a few of these and they are out all year-long in the frigid, snowy winters of Upstate New York and hold up well. The birds really like them and they are one of my most flocked to feeders in my yard. I just noticed Amazon has the green feeder on a super sale now  for only $5.98. I am picking up a few more because I like color and I can always find more places to use them on my property. I think they would make a nice gift for teachers at the end of the school year. I guess I should get a few more.

 

Ladybug Mesh No/No Feeder by Perky Pet

This feeder is one I bought when shopping with my young sons in our local garden center. It adds a whimsical touch to our yard. It does not hold as much as the ball feeders and it is a little harder to fill, but not terrible. The birds really like this feeder and I think it might be the contrasting colors that make it stand out. The little legs add a perching area for the birds coming in for a snack.

No/No Bronze Tray Bird Feeder by Perky Pet

This is a feeder with a huge capacity of 2.5 lbs. I like this feeder because of its large capacity, if I have to be away for a day or two, I know the birds can count on this feeder. It can feed many birds at once which is great, because we have many birds that dine at our house.

Perky Pet Metal Tube Feeders

I love these metal feeders almost as much as the birds do. I like the colors, they remind of colorful houses in the Caribbean. I hang them off my porch which may occur for my only issue. The squirrels can, with a lot of work, pop out the plastic seed guard and perch. They are very tough and I have been able to pop them right back, but I think if they were not in such an easy area for the squirrels to reach them, it would not be an issue.

They are so easy to fill,  the red and blue hold a nice amount of seed. I just love the look of the bright colors among my home and gardens. Red is the largest, then blue and yellow is the smallest.

 

Wildbird Care Vertical Cedar Bird Feeder

I like this feeder because the seed guards and perches are screwed in Even though we have squirrels dropping or flying by for a treat, they cannot remove them and happily snack from the tray on the bottom. It is very attractive and is a beautiful addition to our yard. This is another feeder I will be buying a few more of.

Droll Yankees New Generation Finch Flocker

Along with black oiled sunflower seeds, I like to put out Nyjer or thistle seed and since they are so tiny, they need a special feeder. I have used sock feeders, but they are hard to refill and  can get moldy. I wanted something better. I found the Droll Yankees New Generation 8″ Finch Flocker  fit my needs.

This feeder is very well made and allows for several of our colorful finches to eat at the same time. An internal seed baffle  directs seed to an additional seed port located at the lowest level of seed to ensure that the feeder empties completely without allowing seed build-up. It is easy to fill and holds 1/2 lb. of seed. It has a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty against squirrel damage.

Kaytee Mesh Feeder

This feeder is perfect for filling with dried mealworms that our Bluebirds love!

Stokes Select Double Suet Bird Feeder with Metal Roof

If one is good, two is better, right? My birds seem to think so! The Stokes Select Double Suet Bird Feeder has a metal roof and room for two suet cakes. It looks nice and gets a lot of traffic. Stokes also makes a larger cylinder style that I may give a try. If you feed suet, check these out!

I will not get into hummingbird or oriole feeders now, I will let you know about those in an upcoming post. Let me know what your favorite bird feeders are.

 


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10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having My Breast Augmentation

The following is a guest post. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily express the reviews of Mommy Ramblings. #sp

You’ve been thinking about it and you are finally ready to go through with it. A boob job has always been something you’ve considered. However, you don’t know the first thing about the surgery and the fact that the procedure can be called a surgery already scares you.

Well, indeed there are things worth knowing before any woman decides to go forward with breast enlargement. Below are 10 things I wish I’d known before breast augmentation – and I know you do too:

1. You will probably want another surgery 

A lot of women have the first surgery and think, “I’m done,” but then go ahead and get another. First off, breast implants are not permanent, they don’t last forever. So, you might need another surgery in say 10 years, just to get new implants. Anything could happen; one of the implants could start leaking or develop a scar shell that would deform it. In both cases the only option is to get a new set.

Most women don’t like the outcome once they have the surgery. You might watch Botched and think that it’s packed with crazy women who just don’t know when to stop. On the contrary, these are genuine people who want to better their results, only they get sucked into it and turn it into an obsession.

2. You can try out various sizes before settling on one

Wouldn’t it be great if you could see how you look with different sized breasts, before actually deciding what you want? Sizers are neoprene sacks filled with beads that you can use to check different sizes.

“The bags are stuffed in the bra to get the size you want. Your implant size is determined predominantly by your existing measurements. Staying within those boundaries ensures a safe, natural result every time”, says Brisbane’s leading Breast Surgeon Dr. Ian Chinsee.

 3. It’s a lot of pain; don’t underestimate it 

If someone tells you that they didn’t feel pain after the operation, either they don’t have a nervous system or they are downright lying. The pain is stupefying; the slightest movement causes a lot of agony. The pain doesn’t stay for long though – you can push through it. By the third day, it will begin to subside but, still, get ready for the pain. The psychological preparedness is everything. I did not know just how bad it was until it hit me.

4. Ask the doctor anything you need to ask – before the surgery 

It sounds like something that should occur to you naturally, no? Here’s the deal. You should do all the research you can, then arm yourself with questions about everything to do with the procedure. The time before you get the implants is the only time you have to cast out all fear and doubt.

5. Your breasts will not feel realistic for a while

It’s like everything else new – the experience is different. Even someone who starts wearing glasses takes a while to get used to them. That’s all there is to it. So, before you think you dislike the feeling, give it time.

 

6. You will cry a lot 

It’s not necessarily because of the pain we talked about before. It’s because you will not be able to do a lot of things for yourself. This affects different women at different levels, but the good news is it doesn’t last long.

7. You will feel better about yourself in the bedroom

It has been proven by scientific studies that women who get breast implants get a confidence boost when it comes to bedroom matters. Your man will love them too. A scientific study published in the magazine Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed that women also experienced more sexual satisfaction.

8. About CC and cup size

Cubic Centimeters (cc) are the units used to measure the size of implants. One thing that will help a lot is understanding what size you want. 25cc is about equal to a teaspoon, so don’t just look through the net trying to compare cc with cup size. Your doctor should help you decide the implant size that will get you to your desired size.

9. Not all doctors do it the same

Every doctor has his way of doing things. I used to think that it was all the same but it isn’t. You might be lucky and find a professional that delivers exactly what you want. But, more often than not, there is always something off. It might be so slight that you can live with it, but I don’t need to tell you about worst-case scenarios.

10. You sleep a little different 

Want to know the hardest thing about sleeping in a position you are not used to? You’re never convinced you’re comfy enough even when you are. You will have to sleep on your back until the tissue holding the implants together has formed completely. Try any other sleeping position and you’ll have your boobs in your armpits. You might have to sleep propped up at an angle for a couple of weeks, but it’ll all be worth it.

The thing is, you never really know about something like this until you have it done. Even so, it helps to hear from people who have been through it and know exactly how it feels.

 

 


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Shop Noori Dress for Boutique, Designer Dresses and Suits For Less

It is finally spring, even if it does not feel like it now in New York. Before we know it, Easter will be upon us followed by First Holy Communions, Weddings and Summer Parties. If you are looking for Children’s Communion suits and dresses, wedding attire for ring bearers and flower girls, Christening gowns and suits and formal wear, you will love Noori Dress. When you see their gorgeous dresses, you might expect to spend a fortune but, you will be very surprised at their low prices. 

Gorgeous dresses and suits are on sale or special deals for a fraction of the price. I was literally blown away by their pricing. Maybe you are thinking, the quality can’t be good if the prices are that low but, I know first hand, the quality is terrific. I ordered one of their boys suit sets and I was very impressed. It was beautifully made, no crooked seams or loose threads. It was detailed and included everything, even the shirt and tie!

Check out these gorgeous Christening Dresses, would you believe you can get a Christening outfit for under $40! Totally unbelievable, I won’t even tell you what I paid for my daughter’s. I wish I knew about this site then.

Do you have a ring bearer who needs a tux in black or white? Noori Dress has it all!

Sweet girls dresses for communions, pageants, weddings, parties and more fill their site.

Gloves, baskets, purses,veils, shoes, petticoats and more can be found in their extensive accessories section.

Check it out and let me know what you think of the selection and pricing. At Noori you can get the look you want for less. I can’t wait to hear what you think.

 

I received a boys suit from Noori Dress to facilitate my post. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.

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We Have Some Really Super PJ Masks News To Share

PJ Masks fans it is time to rejoice! I have big news! This fall, for the first time ever, Catboy, Gekko and Owlette are hitting the stage in PJ Masks Live! This brand-new musical production based on the hit animated TV series from eOne, kicks off across North America in September 2017. More info and dates to come soon! Fans are encouraged to sign up now at www.pjmaskslive.com in order to get to the front of the line for pre-sale tickets when the tour goes on sale this spring.

That is not all, I have more super news, the PJ Masks mini-album, “Here We Come,” is now available for digital download! The new release features ten songs from the TV show and official music videos for you to enjoy with the little heroes in your life. The mini-album is available for iOS and Android platforms. Click HERE to download it in your preferred format.


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Get The Perfect Gifts For Your Little Princess This Easter

Easter is coming soon! You might not believe it, if you were slammed with the Blizzard like we were in the northeast but, it really is! If you are looking for quality, affordable gifts for girls ages 2 to 12, SmitCo LLC has a nice selection of diaries with lock and keys in Emoji and Diva themes, as well as several different nail art sets to provide hours of fun.

One of their new products, a Mermaid themed scrapbook kit is making a big splash! They also have 3 unique princess dress up sets that are very popular.

SmitCo products also include rose gold, gold or rhodium plated jewelry and sets, as well as very popular stretch sets for little girls – all packed in cute gift boxes.

Browse all their great products HERE! I am sure you will find some great gifts to put in your little girl’s Easter basket to make her feel like a princess.

Mommy Ramblings’ readers can take 20% Off Their Entire Cart Of Gifts when they use coupon code N3CQD6AE at checkout. Check them out and let me know what you think.

 


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Discover Laura Story’s New Album, “Open Hands” #FlyBy #OpenHands #Giveaway

I recently had the pleasure to listen to Laura Story’s new album, Open Hands. I like Laura’s music, so I was excited to learn more about what inspired the songs on this album and listen to the tracks. The title track, Open Hands is about worshiping God with your hands open. Instead of clenching your fists when you feel things slipping away, open your hands and let God know that it is all his. That is a very powerful message!

“We never get to a point where we can do life apart from complete and total daily dependence on Jesus,” Story admits. “The irony is the less control we have, the more peace we have and the more, I would even say, success and joy we find. It’s a contrary picture to what the world tells us, but it’s gaining through letting go.”

Open Hands is the follow-up to 2013’s critically-acclaimed God of Every Story, and in the years that have passed since her last release, Story has given birth to twins, making their brood a family of five. Now, as a mom to three kids—Josie, Benjamin and Griffin—the posture of “open hands” feels more necessary than ever before as she juggles ministry and motherhood.

Tracks on the Album:

  • Death Was Arrested
  • Open Hands
  • You Came Running
  • Give You  Faith
  • For The Love Of My King
  • Awake My Soul (A 1000 Tongues)
  • Whisper
  • Every Word You Breathe
  • Majesty
  • Extraordinary
  • Grace Abounds

A parade of A-list songwriters, including Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Mia Fieldes, Hank Bentley, Sarah Hart and Seth Mosley, among others, pepper the album’s 11 tracks. Through writing sessions both alone and with others, Story began to gradually see this common thread of surrender emerge.

Give You Faith is a favorite of mine, it talks about how the greatest thing you can give your children, is faith. It is a very sweet ballad of a mother to her child. Laura talks about how she won’t be a perfect parent, she will let them down, disappoint them but, she will earn their trust and give them faith.

Story isn’t afraid to write about grace at work in the middle of unexpected, unexplainable situations. She can only write from experience and how she’s seen God redeem the darkest chapters of her own life. “My greatest goal is always for my story to encourage listeners to believe that they, too, can live out their faith in the midst of hard circumstances,” she says. “I truly believe that the songs we sing and the songs we write act as the soundtrack for people’s faith. So I want to give people the most substantial tools that give them the clearest picture of who God is and who they are in Christ.”

Another song I really like is, Grace Abounds. It talks about times when we feel the world is broken, when it feels like hope cannot be found. Sadly these days, feelings like that creep in far too often. This song addresses that and reminds us that even in the darkest times, Grace Abounds.

“When it feels like hope can’t be found, when we don’t even know how we’re going to put one foot in front of the other,” she continues, “Scripture teaches us that’s when grace abounds.”

Giveaway

Would you like a chance to win this inspirational album? If so, enter our giveaway below.

Laura Story, Open Arms CD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Giveaway, Music, Review, Spiritual

You Can Have The Hair You Always Wanted! #Beauty

This is a sponsored post, as always my words and views are 100% my own.

Did you know that Remy human hair is the highest quality of real, human hair on the market. That is what makes it the preferred hair choice for hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces. If you are looking of for Remy wigs, weaves and extensions, you should check out Black Hairspray. They have a passion for all things hair and are authorized dealers for the top brands you love like, Milky Way, Vivica Fox Collection, Saga Remy, Janet Collection, Hollywood, It’s A Wig and more.

Are you looking for something to give you a totally new look? Do you want something for a special event? Maybe you just love to change your hair on a whim. Whatever your needs, you are sure to find what you are looking for at Black Hairspray.

Ordering is easy on their website and they have a convenient, no hassle 30 day return policy, so you can buy with confidence. They have a huge selection with all products priced competitively. Need help? No problem, Black Hairspray customer service is there for you with the best customer service in the industry! If you need something fast, they offer same day shipping on nearly every product they carry. Order before 4PM EST and your order can ship that day from their distribution center in Chicago, IL.

 

So what are you waiting for, it’s time to get the hair you always wanted. Let me know what you think.

 

 


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