Affordable Mail Order Cakes!

This year, I decided to take the easy way out and order Logan and Sam's birthday cake online. 1-800- Bakery offered to create their cake this year and all I had to do was search for artwork to grace the top of the cake. We had a pirate themed party and most of the artwork was too cartoonish and it just didn't work well with our decorations. Finally, I found a picture and Logan approved it. I sent it in and let 1-800-Bakery do the rest! Nervously, I awaited the cake's arrival. I'm the type of person that draws out a cake design and then hands it over to cake decorators and expects an exact duplicate. This wasn't easy. Our delivery day finally arrived and I carefully opened the box as soon as it was delivered. Slight damage occurred when I removed the collar that wrapped the cake. I took this picture just after I made repairs. This could have been avoided if I had taken a knife and worked it between the cake and the collar before I removed it. My fault completly! Also, during shipping, it seems that one piece of buttercream made it's way to the edible artwork. I repaired it with a little coloring. I was very pleased with the cake and Logan and Sam were too! The cake was very moist inside and the rich buttercream was very tasty. The frosting was a little firmer than my buttercream frosting and I really liked it. It wasn't too sweet (like mine can be) and the edible artwork seemed to melt into it, creating the best tasting pirate ship ever! Our party was perfect, and our traditional birthday cake exceeded my expectations. 1-800-Bakery has a large variety of mail order cakes, cookies, and more! Much, much more! Their cakes are affordable and they guarantee that you'll be satisfied. I'm already narrowing down my next order. There are so many things I want to try! Order now and save an extra 15% off any order from now until Mother's Day!
To Disclose: Logan and Sam were sent a birthday cake in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received!

"Your Day To Get Away!"

We have a private garden with a fire pit in our front yard and you can find our family around it on cool evenings. We love to toast marshmallows and on special occassions, go all out with Hershey's Chocolate and graham crackers. When I was asked to tell you all about a special promo involving S'mores, how could I resist? Hershey®’s brand and Rascal Flatts have partnered to help you celebrate summertime S’mores with the release of a free exclusive downloadable song, “Your Day to Get Away,” available for a limited time only at PureSmores.com! This download will encourage you to “…unwrap a little bit of happiness” with the delicious combination of pure Hershey®’s Milk Chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. Hershey’s brand will continue the celebration throughout the summer with a national S’mores television commercial featuring Rascal Flatts! Be sure to watch for it April 19- August 2010!

“For the first time in the band’s history, Rascal Flatts has created an off-album song available exclusively online. Specially crafted for Hershey’s, “Your Day to Get Away” celebrates the quintessential summertime treat – S’mores – and will be available as a free download to the first 350,000 fans who visit PureSmores.com,” said Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Hershey Company.

At stores nationwide, you can pick up Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Hershey®’s Special Dark® Mildly Sweet Chocolate six-packs and enter the code from the wrapper at PureSmores.com to access the free downloadable song while supplies last.

One lucky US reader will win their very own S'mores Package including all you need to make these delicious treats! You'll also receive a zippered case containing 4 telescoping skewers! A Rascal Flatts CD is included to help you celebrate summertime! To enter, leave a comment and tell me how you'd like to get away! Feel free to get creative!
Extra Entries:
Download the song and tell me what you think for two bonus entries!
Become a fan of Hershey's on Facebook for two entries!
Follow me (google friend connect/networked blogs/facebook/twitter) for one entry each! See links on sidebar!
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!
Add this giveaway link to your favorite giveaway site/linky (only if I'm not already listed) for another 5 entries! Leave name of site in comment!
Spread the word!
This giveaway ends at midnight May 15, 2010. Good Luck!

To Disclose: I was sent my very own S'mores gift pack in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received.

Golf Balls And Tornados

I love this time of year! The weather is nice and it's not too hot or humid. At least not yet. I've been looking for outdoor activities for my kids to enjoy and thanks to Fisher-Price, I've found a great one! Tornado Tee Golf will keep your children swinging (and not from the lights!) for hours! We do not play golf and Logan has only had limited experience with a club. Limited meaning, he once took a swing and made contact with my dad's head. That was the last time my dad offered his clubs to Logan for practice. However, we believe in second chances and decided since there was no iron in these clubs, Logan could swing away. Tornado Tee Golf is well made. It includes three balls, a stationary tee, and a universal club for right handers or lefties! It requires six ”D” batteries and it is recommended for children ages 3-6. To play, simply tap the golf ball pad and watch the ball float on air. Then, your child can swing the club and watch the ball fly through the air. Fun to play and maybe even more fun to watch, Tornado Tee Golf gets your children moving and helps them learn the game. Or at least part of it! Be sure to play in a large open area. These balls travel, and they can be a little hard to find. Moms and dads will enjoy the laughter and giggles, and watching children gain confidence. Afterwards, they'll enjoy sleepy children (hopefully) eager to find their beds! Swinging clubs and chasing balls all afternoon can be so tiresome! Visit Fisher-Price and get ready to watch your children play a game of golf with an exciting twist!
To Disclose: I was sent Tornado Tee Golf in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received.

Ready To Roll!

I love having boys! While stylish clothes for boys may be hard to find, cool toys are readily available! We Logan and Sam were sent this great RC Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. I said Logan and Sam because if Logan has anything cool, Sam is all over it! He has good taste! This Jeep is bright red and it's pretty tough. It's recommended for kids 8 and up, but our kids used it with supervision. It's really fun for the entire family, and after the kids are asleep, I've been known to take this baby for a spin! The scale is 1:16. Bigger is better and while I would have liked a bigger vehicle my boys never complained. This Radio Control Jeep moves very well. It's easy to steer and it turns quite well. However, with my children "driving" crashes are bound to happen. That's part of the fun, isn't it? Even the most intense crashes aren't too much for this Jeep to handle. As far as style, this Jeep is sporting great details! It really sets it apart from other Jeeps that I've seen. The side mirrors are flexible but they seem very sturdy and despite being plastic, this vehicle is seems like it was made to last. Our experience is limited, and time will tell. This is a fun toy and I would definitely purchase one.
To Disclose: I was sent this awesome Jeep in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received and my honest opinions were given!

A Little Birthday Glow, Compliments Of Fisher-Price!

Sam and Logan just celebrated their birthdays and Fisher-Price was there to help! We received a Kid Tough 2-in-1 Lantern (available 6/10) and we really put it to the test. First off, I was impressed by the lantern's durability. It's not easy to stand up to my 2 year old. He's been in his terrible twos since birth and I don't see the end in sight. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact. Our pediatrician laughs at us and tells us he's normal. Funny, we thought Logan was the normal one. Turns out, he's just really good! Anyway, Sam throws tantrums often. When he doesn't get his way, he throws things really hard. The wall across from his bedroom door is covered in battle scars. One of the most recent scars on that wall came from this lantern. It bounced off numerous times and still works perfectly! By the way, it has also bounced off floors and concrete without any problems! This cool lantern features a swiveling handle. 4 AA batteries power it up and a button can be pressed once (one beam of light) for use as a lantern or flashlight and twice (two beams of light) for use as a spotlight! Press a third time to turn the lantern off. It does create a nice glow when used in lantern mode! This lantern is recommended for children 3 and up. Logan and Sam really loved playing with this lantern and Logan is eager to take it along on his camping trip this weekend! I grew up with Fisher-Price and my kids will too. Visit Fisher-Price today and have some fun!
To Disclose: Fisher-Price sent this lantern to us for review. No monetary compensation received and honest opinions were given. This is a great toy and I could easily see it surviving Sam's childhood!

Update On My Dragonfly Bouquet And A Reminder To Enter Teleflora's Mother's Day Giveaway!

On April 14, I received my Dragonfly Bouquet from Teleflora. It was delivered by Hadden's Flowers. Here's an update! These photos were taken on Tuesday April 20. As you can see, my flowers are still quite beautiful! The roses have opened and they are much fuller. The lilies are definitely the focal point of the bouquet and they still look fresh picked. I have changed the water twice and misted my arrangement every other day.

This would be the perfect floral arrangement for moms that like classic floral bouquets, dragonflies, lilies and pink! The arrangement isn't messy, meaning there are not a lot of dropped petals, flowers, or greenery. I have been so pleased with the quality of the flowers and if I had to pick another arrangement all over again, I'd pick the same bouquet. I only wish the fragrance was more intense! The roses beg you to come closer, but aside from a very faint scent, they really only serve as beautiful accents.

Remember, there is still time to enter my Mother's Day Giveaway! Teleflora is giving one reader a bouquet for Mother's Day! You can send it to your mom or mother-in-law, or keep it for yourself! You can read all about it here! Teleflora has florists that deliver arrangements by hand. There are no boxed flowers that look pretty in the box but disappoint out of the box. I don't know about you, but when I order an arrangement, I want it arranged, not a DIY project. Order online today!
To Disclose: I was under no obligation to post this follow up. I have a long term relationship with Teleflora and I am only required to post my initial review. I thought my readers and Teleflora's present and future customers would appreciate seeing how well these arrangements age. No monetary compensation received.

Old Style Desserts

There are those that like a little frosting with their cake. And then there are others that prefer a little cake with their frosting. If you fall into the latter group, you need to listen up. I've found it. The ultimate chocolate died and gone to heaven experience. Mud Cake. Thick, rich, and oh so decadent. It's from Old Style Desserts!

Mud Cake is a 10 inch masterpiece and it weighs quite a bit! According to the site, it will serve 16. If 16 people could polish off this cake at one sitting, I'd be surprised. Moist chocolate cake is topped with chocolate Mousse. It's finished with premium imported chocolate, smothered in chocolate ganache, then surrounded by dark chocolate chips. The cake is awesome!I can usually handle rich cake without any problem. Not this time. I think I've met my match. Seriously, I cut this into 16 pieces and then I had to go back and slice each piece in half. After doing that, some of our guests still couldn't finish their slice. Before you think that those slices were wasted, I was asked by almost everyone to wrap their leftover slice to go!

We also tried the delicious Caramel Apple Cake. Surprisingly, this cake wasn't too sweet. It sure looked like it would be! Fresh sliced apples lightly enhanced by selected spices, surrounded by a shortbread crust with the most incredible topping, made with a combination of buttery home style streusel and melted caramel! Each of the flavors really stood out. You could taste each element and while this 10 inch cake serves 16, don't count on leftovers, and get your slice while you can.

This was my very first experience with Old Style Desserts. They offered to send us both of these cakes for our birthday party! They have an enormous assortment of cakes and tortes, and they even have some of the most beautiful miniature desserts and pastries! Their White Carnation Pastries are perfect for weddings and showers and their presentation is simply stunning. Check out Old Style Desserts for mail order treats fit for a king... and queen!
To Disclose: Old Style Desserts provided both of these delicious cakes in order to complete this review. No, they didn't pay me to say that. And they didn't pay me to say these cakes are better than anything I could have baked or even my grandmother, for that matter. Go ahead and add them to your wish list! They're on mine!

 

Print Candies!

I've seen ads for personalized candy before. It's a cool idea. This year, I discovered how cool it really is. Print Candies sent a pound of personalized mints for our party! I picked out red, white, and black and I personalized my candies with "Logan & Sam" and "Sam & Logan"! They arrived quickly and they were shipped with extreme care! When I opened the bag, I noticed how bright the colors were. The personalization really stood out on each of the candies. These chocolate mints have a hard outer shell and smooth minty chocolate inside. The mint is really good. It isn't too strong and if you love chocolate and mint, you will probably love these. I really loved the shell. It's crisp and thicker than other candies with shells that I've tasted before. The red was good, but I think I'd pick another color next time. There was a slight "red" taste that I think is related to the red coloring used. If you eat the candy quickly, you probably wouldn't notice it because it is so minor. I like to suck on the outer shell, and it was a little too much for me. The black and white were perfect! Print Candies is a really cool site. You can build your very own candy and preview your creation before it's made! When my order arrived, it looked as great as my preview! These personalized candies make awesome favors, or pour them into a bowl and wow your guests! Either way, your party is bound to be a success!
To Disclose: Print Candies provided a pound of personalized candy in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received and honest opinions were given.

The Best Way To Eat Fruit!

This year, we were delighted to find out that Edible Arrangements would be providing an arrangement for our Birthday Bash! I've never had the opportunity to see one of their arrangements in person and they always look so good in commercials! I couldn't wait for ours to arrive. Our closet store was in Tallahassee, so we knew we were outside of the delivery area. No problem! My husband picked up the arrangement and he called me immediately. This arrangement was huge, according to him. I was a bit worried about the size when I found out that we were getting the small Delicious Party Dipped Bananas. When you see pictures displayed on the website, they usually feature the large size.

When my husband arrived, I met him at the door. The arrangement was huge! According to him, it traveled well. The container base sits in a large cardboard tray and the arrangement was completely wrapped. It barely fit in our refrigerator! It was so tempting, but we had to wait until the next day to try it! That day arrived and we removed the cardboard and the wrap. The arrangement took up quite a bit of counter space. It was nice to offer a healthy choice at our party! All of the fruit is help in place by sharp skewers. Be careful! I tried the strawberries first. It has been years since I had a really great one. These strawberries were plump and juicy and had the most intense strawberry flavor. If they weren't the best I've ever had, they were close. The cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and pineapple were just as great. The dipped bananas were incredible! This would easily be enough for 30-40 guests if you have other party food available! I know I'll be ordering another fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements soon! Be sure to visit the FAQ page for lots of helpful advice for ordering and other great general information. I was impressed by the large selection of arrangements available! They have beautiful arrangements for kids, parties, and for that special person in your life! Order your arrangement online or call 1-877-DoFruit!

To Disclose: I was given this arrangement in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received and honest opinions were given!

A Mother's Day Giveaway From Teleflora!

I had to squeeze this post in today! I couldn't wait! I received the Dragonfly Bouquet from Teleflora! Isn't it beautiful? I love dragonflies and when I saw this arrangement, I had to have it! The glass vase features etched dragonflies. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a more detailed picture. Two golden dragonflies also have a home among the lilies!

This arrangement features fragrant pink lilies and roses in an elegant glass vase decorated with hand-etched dragonflies. The dragonfly is an ancient symbol of happiness, hope and renewal. The Dragonfly Bouquet includes pink Asiatic lilies, light pink alstroemeria, light pink roses and white waxflower accented with leatherleaf fern. The arrangement looks delicate, but these flowers are tough and it will be a while before they begin to fade!

Teleflora's Dragonfly Bouquet is gorgeous. The flowers are very pink and the white flowers really stand out. The arrangement is very softly scented. The arrangement was delivered by Hadden's Flowers, a local favorite known for their beautiful displays. My arrangement was very similar to the arrangement shown on Teleflora's site. The picture on Teleflora's site showed a bouquet that was a little more rounded. Also, the golden dragonflies seemed to have more space between them. I prefer not having an exact duplicate. It makes the arrangement a little more special!

If you want to bring a smile to your mom's face this Mother's Day, check out Teleflora! It's easy to order from their site. They offer great customer service and guarantee that you will be satisfied! They have so many arrangements and it's hard to pick just one!

Teleflora is giving one of my readers the arrangement of their choice (value of arrangement, including tax and service fees, not to exceed $100 ) You must be a US resident to enter. Please note, I have a strict deadline for this giveaway and the winner must get back to me within 48 hours of winning (I'll send you an email!) or I will pick another winner. Please make sure that you add me to your email contacts, or check your spam folder just in case!
To enter, visit Teleflora and tell me which arrangement you would pick and also tell me why you want to win! Leave your answer in a comment! Feel free to be creative!
Extra Entries:

Become a fan of Teleflora on Facebook and follow Teleflora on Twitter for two entries each!
Follow me (google friend connect/networked blogs/facebook/twitter) for one entry each! See links on sidebar!
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!
Add this giveaway link to your favorite giveaway site/linky (only if I'm not already listed) for another 5 entries! Leave name of site in comment!
Spread the word!
This giveaway ends at midnight April 27, 2010. Good Luck!

To Disclose: This Dragonfly Bouquet was sent in order to complete review. Teleflora has also generously provided the arrangement for this giveaway. No monetary compensation provided and honest opinions were given.

Wrapping Things Up!

I've never shopped for wrapping paper online. This year, I decided to see what's out there. I found a lot of sites with the same prints and the same prices. When I found Earth Presents, I found something totally different. While they don't have typical "birthday" or "baby" themed papers, they do have beautiful inspiring prints! Earth Presents produces 100% recycled and recyclable wrapping paper, which means you can feel really great about using it! Their designs are inspired by the artwork of students with special needs at WVSA, a unique nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the sale of these products benefit WVSA's School for Arts in Learning. The available prints are colorful and unique. The paper itself has a nice weight and it is easy to cut. After wrapping a present, the corners are perfect and my gift is smooth and perfectly presentable! I was sent matching gift cards and bows to use. I loved the satin bows! They were very simple, but they completely stood out from the rest of the packages topped with ordinary bows. I was sent several prints and I used two for our bash. I am saving the others for a party later this year. I'll post pictures closer to that date! I really loved working with this paper. Visit Earth Presents and make your gift special! Be on the lookout for new designs. I can't wait to see what's next!

Adding A Personal Touch With Birthday In A Box!

I first discovered Birthday In A Box over a year ago, just after I ordered birthday supplies for my children. I love their site! If you don't have a clue about putting together the perfect party, you should definitely check them out. You can pick out a theme (and don't worry, they most likely have something that you'll LOVE!) and order a complete set. All you need to do is unpack the box and set everything up! I'm already on the lookout for next years theme and I've got my eye on the Tree Frog Party! It's so bright and I love the colors! This year, Birthday In A Box sent Logan and Sam their very own Pirates Personalized Stickers! I used one of Logan's and one of Sam's on each party favor bag and it was a nice way to say thank you! While Sam is a little too young to really understand, Logan was thrilled to thank his guests in such a unique way! The stickers were adorable and they were really nice! At only $2.99 for a sheet of 8, they are quite affordable! Plus, it's a nice, personal touch! We loved them and our guests did too! We also received a pirate party planning guide! These guides are available on their website and they will help you maximize your party's potential! Birthday In A Box makes parties more memorable and fun. Check them out!
To Disclose: Logan and Sam were each sent two sets of personalized pirate stickers and a pirate party guide in order to complete this review. No monetary compensation received and honest opinions were given.

Chocolate And Cherries. An Irresistible Combination With An Irresistible Giveaway!

Dark Chocolate has found a new love. It's not just a fling, it's the real deal. It's a match made in heaven. The flavors are so intense you can taste the fireworks between the smooth dark chocolate and dried cherries when you bite into new Cherry Raisinets!

Raisinets sent us enough treats to fill our "loot" bags, which were given to guests as they left our Birthday Party. The Cherry Raisinets made great party favors and everyone was excited to try them out! The resealable bags are generous and they contain 2.5 servings. Cherry Raisinets feature a dried cherry, perfect in every way. They certainly pack a punch. Tart cherries with a hint of sweetness dipped in velvety smooth chocolate. This is as good as it gets! With 30% less fat than leading chocolate brands, Cherry Raisinets also contain a 1/2 serving of real fruit in every 1/4 cup! Cherry Raisinets are a natural source of fruit and dark chocolate antioxidants. That's one more reason to indulge! As if I needed another reason! Did I mention that the bags are resealable? Let me point out that while this is a very nice feature, you'll probably never use it! Cherry Raisinets are great!!!

Raisinets is giving one reader (US resident) 5 bags of Cherry Raisinets! To enter, tell me why you must/want/need to win! Feel free to get creative! Leave your answer in a comment.
Extra Entries:

Follow Raisinets on Facebook for two entries each!
Enter The Raisinets Ultimate Road Trip Sweepstakes for two extra entries!
Follow me (google friend connect/networked blogs/facebook/twitter) for one entry each! See links on sidebar!
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!
Add this link to your favorite giveaway site/linky (only if I'm not already listed) for another 5 entries! Leave name of site in comment!
Spread the word!

This giveaway ends at midnight April 30, 2010. Good Luck!

To Disclose: Cherry Raisinets were sent in order to complete review. Raisinets has also generously provided the prizes for this giveaway. No monetary compensation provided and honest opinions were given.

Birthdays With Olive And Ollie...And A Great Giveaway!

Birthdays are special, and special days deserve special clothes, right? Last year I discovered Olive & Ollie. Sam was decked out in a cute matching tee and bib for his first birthday. It was the most adorable set that I've ever seen. And I see a lot sets. This year, I didn't hesitate to contact Olive & Ollie. I didn't consider anyone else. Heather took the time to create the most adorable birthday tees for Logan and Sam. Here are a few pictures! I took these several days after our party and they have already been washed. The colors didn't fade and the appliques survived a wash and a tumble. Everything is intact without any loose threads! Logan was more cooperative than Sam while I tried to get a few shots. He was a bit fussy and it was hard to pull pictures from my video when he was throwing tantrums for most of the afternoon.

We dropped the kids off with my mom and dad while we went after the pizza. I gave the tees to my mom so she could dress the kids right before the party. As soon as she saw Sam's tee, she actually kissed it! That's how sweet his tee was! I might have embarrassed her by telling you that, but I wanted to do the very same thing when I first opened my package! I love the robot and that cupcake looks good enough to eat! You should really check out Olive & Ollie! Heather has so many adorable items in her Etsy shop! Her lounge sets are on my wish list! They look so comfortable! I know my kids would love them!
The Giveaway!!!
One lucky US reader will win a $25 gift certificate to spend at Olive & Ollie!!!!
All you need to do is visit Olive & Ollie and tell me what tugs at your heart! Is it the birthday tees, peasant dresses, or lounge sets? Or is it all of the above? Leave your answer in a comment!
Extra Entries:
Follow Olive & Ollie on Facebook/Twitter for two entries each!
Follow Olive & Ollie's Blog for two entries!
Follow me (google friend connect/networked blogs/facebook/twitter) for one entry each! See links on sidebar!
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!
Add this link to your favorite giveaway site/linky (only if I'm not already listed) for another 5 entries! Leave name of site in comment!
Spread the word!

This giveaway ends at midnight April 30, 2010. Good Luck!

To Disclose: Birthday Tees were sent in order to complete review. No monetary compensation provided.

Bake Me A (Chocolate) Wish!

If you didn't love me before, you probably will now. Or at least the winner of this giveaway should will! Chocolate Mousse Torte Cake from Bake Me A Wish. That's what I had for dessert a few weeks back! I received this decadent cake to help kick off our birthday bash! When it arrived, I opened the box. For a brief moment, I considered keeping the shipment all to myself. Alas, curious children and a very curious guest kept me from carrying out my plan. As we admired the divine chocolate creation, we could already tell that this was going to be an unforgetable dessert. I got out dessert plates and forks and eagerly sliced servings. I was a bit stingy, but can you blame me?

Two moist chocolate layers filled with luscious chocolate whipped cream mousse, then covered with milk chocolate frosting and a dark chocolate glaze. The ultimate chocolate cake! This cake is garnished with fudge rosettes and dark chocolate shaves. A chocolate "Happy Birthday" was snatched by Logan and I couldn't get close enough to take a bite. With each purchase, you help send cakes to soldiers fighting for our freedom. A very tasty cake I might add! Visit Bake Me A Wish and make a birthday wish come true! Yours and a soldier overseas! One lucky US resident will receive a Chocolate Mousse Torte Cake from Bake Me A Wish! To enter, visit their site and tell me which cake sounds the most amazing to you!
Extra Entries:

Follow me (google friend connect/networked blogs/facebook/twitter) for one entry each! See links on sidebar!
Fan Bake Me A Wish on Facebook for two entries!
Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries!
Add this link to your favorite giveaway site/linky (only if I'm not already listed) for another 5 entries! Leave name of site in comment!
Tweet this giveaway for an extra entry daily! Spread the word!
This giveaway ends at midnight April 24, 2010. Good Luck!

To Disclose: Cake sent in order to complete review. No monetary compensation received.