Switch Flops: Change Your Look Not Your Sole ~ With Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***



Flips Flops are a major staple of summer fashion. Easy to wear, open toes to beat the heat, they are versatile and can make your look casual or chic depending on your choice. Since I love shoes so much (who doesn't right!?) I was SO excited when I first saw an amazing product from Lindsay Phillips called SwitchFlops!

What is a SwitchFlop? Only the coolest idea ever! It came from an idea that Lindsay came up with during a high school art project - ceramic flip flops. The response to her designs was huge, so she started to design and create functional flip flops with colorful straps. But here comes the best part...her idea evolved when she realized that if she made these design straps velcro, she could create one shoe with many straps - a look with unlimited choices & minimal effort.

With SwitchFlops, you can literally change your look in seconds. Let me tell you how it works. You choose your shoe - so far there are three styles. The Lilly, Lulu, and Taylor. Each style comes in different colors, like black, white, cork, etc. Once you pick which shoe you'd like, then you get to choose your straps!! There are tons of designs available, in all kinds of colors. You'll find solids, stripes, flowers, and nautical themes.

These velcro straps are interchangeable, making it possible to change the look of your shoes in only seconds! From day to evening, just switch velcro straps and you have a whole new look that is totally chic! Instead of buying a new color of shoes to match each of your outfits, you can just change up your straps & wear them on your SwitchFlops!

I can tell you firsthand that these shoes are comfortable, stylish, and versatile. I have a pair of Lulu's in White, with 3 different straps. Haven is a shiny & punchy pink, Shawn is a bright blue with an adorable jeweled button middle, and lastly is the Alyssa which is a creamy white with polka dots and a white button in the middle. The first thing I did when I got the shoes & straps was change the look. I wanted to test them out to see how well each strap would actually fit, and if it would look straight & aligned. I was not disappointed! The straps fit perfectly & easily and looked completely natural. I wear these shoes almost everyday, depending on what outfit I am wearing that day. I'll even switch them up throughout the day! I have had so many compliments on them, and when I show them the velcro, they flip for them! My sister, who I consider to be SO much more knowledgeable about fashion & beauty, is in love with my shoes & the idea behind it. It's great for a mom on the go who doesn't have money or space for a ton of shoes. You get one pair of shoes in the hall or closet, but tons of different convenient straps to add to them!

Here are some more of my favorite Velcro Straps!

See how cute they are? I love that there is something to match every outfit, and something for the beach or a night out! Also if you have a little girl at home who is already loving her shoes (just like mommy) Lindsay Phillips also offers a Girls Line!

One of you ladies is going to get to try your very own pair of SwitchFlops!! They are so fashionable & comfortable, I am so excited for whoever wins this one!!

GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner will win a pair of SwitchFlops!

TO ENTER: Please visit Lindsay Phillips and look around at her selection of Shoes & Straps! Leave a comment with your favorite strap style/design (have fun looking!)

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Follow my Blog
2. Add my Button to your site
3. Subscribe
4. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day - leave a new comment everyday you tweet!)
5. Blog about this giveaway - 2 extra entries
6. Follow Lindsay Phillips on Facebook

Giveaway will end on July 15th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond to this email or a new winner will be chosen. US residents only.

Dreading the Morning...

I am super nervous.

Tomorrow morning I go in to get my wisdom teeth pulled. I am honestly very scared. The dentist is bad enough but an oral surgeon! Nooooo!

I am telling myself that I gave birth...so I can do anything :) It's kinda working. Kinda not. We'll see. I am pretty worried about having to get my daughter up that early in the morning. She doesn't go to daycare so she's used to sleeping in as late as she wants & not getting up & out of the house too early.

Okay, I am going to try to get some sleep now. When I get nervous, I can't sleep or eat, and I throw up. FUN TIMES!

If you don't hear from me tomorrow, I am resting & trying to keep the pain away. Be sure to enter my giveaways so that I can feel happy to get some comments!!

Tres Sleek - Slimming Shape Wear Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

For many women, shape wear is a must have fashion accessory. It gives us the little extra help we need to feel a little more slim, a little more sleek. The best shape wear are the ones that no one even knows you are wearing...one that can disappear and looks completely natural.

Tres Sleek is a innovative company that offers a wide variety of different shape wear to fit your needs. There is something for any kind of outfit you are wearing, each concealing those common problem areas us women may have!

Slimosa^TM slims the entire body in one garment. It compresses the waist, hips, flanks, thighs, buttocks, and arms in a slenderizing body suit. All of the common problem areas for women are covered! It allows openings for your bra & undies, so you won't get that 'smushed' appearance!

The Glisper (TM) shapes from the bra line down...with Capri, Mid-Thigh, and Short leg lengths. This under garment will whittle your waist, slenderize your thighs, tuck in your tummy, and lift your rear! Like the Slimosa, the Glisper allows you to wear your own undergarments for your added comfort.

Both of these are part of the Shape Shifter Collection(TM) and are available from XS to 2X and range from $30 to $100.

The third product from The Shape Shifter Collection is called The Shrinx (TM).It is a new and improved tummy shapewear garment that smoothes those common trouble spots from beneath the breast to the upper thigh. This design eliminates back bulge, has no clasps or painful hooks, and no ill fitting shelf bra to struggle with. This waist shaper can be worn under tops, skirts, pants, and dresses...and it's long enough to be tucked into your pants or skirt to prevent rolling! The Shrinx comes in nude & black and is available in sizes S-3X for only $29.95.

The Bradigy Collection^TM is a line of bras & camis designed to maximize comfort without compromising style. The BRAdigy^TM Bra is ergonomically constructed to shape and support breasts without the use of irritating clasps, bulky cups, or intrusive wires. This shapewear bra features wider straps for comfort, and a higher cut neckline to minimize spill over of cleavage & under arm skin. The design is similar to a tank top, and can even peak out under a cardigan or sweater for an added layered look!

The latest addition to the BRAdigy Collection^TM is the Tank-Teeni^TM, a line of shaping tank tops and shaping tee shirts that are made with built in compression in the core region. These tops have a discreet design that conceals a compression panel beneath the fitted tank top or tee shirt design. Also the compression panel starts beneath the bust and extends to just past the torso, allowing women to choose their own bra. This eliminates the hassle of those built-in shelf bras that are always ill fitted and uncomfortable! These tops are available in different colors like white, black, sage, and watermelon and are perfect for summer! You will look & feel slimmer, but onlookers will not know your secret!!

These BRAdigy Collection^TMPieces are available in XS-3X and are $34.95-$35.95 each.

GIVEAWAY: Tres Sleek would like to give one reader a chance to win their choice of Shape Wear that I featured on this post!

TO ENTER: Please leave a comment telling me why you NEED one of these wonderful products!!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave an additional comment for each extra entry you complete!

1. For an extra entry, tell me which of these 4 Products you would love to win!
2. Tell me about the outfit you would wear this under...or how you would complete your Tank-Teeni outfit!
3. Spread the word about this giveaway...blog it, tweet it, email friends! Let me know what you do!

Giveaway will end on July 27th at 10pm CST. Winner will be contacted by email & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US Only.

Thanks for entering!!

Announcing Some Winners!

I have three winners to announce tonight! First up is for the Cape & Mask from Baby Pop Designs!


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:59
Timestamp: 2009-06-28 02:59:11 UTC


Congrats to Aimee! Aimee I have emailed you, please respond within 72 hours or a new winner will be chosen.



Next up is the winner of the Snorg Tee Shirt...


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4
Timestamp: 2009-06-28 03:02:50 UTC


Congrats to Ryan, Corrie, and Max! You have 72 hours to reply to my email! Thanks!


Lastly we have the winner of the Personalized Placemat from JM Designs!

Last Chance to Enter Placemat Giveaway - Ends Tonight!

Just a quick note that the Giveaway for the Personalized Placemat from JM Designs ends tonight! Hurry & get those entries in! Ends at 10pm CST :)

Enter HERE!

Tonight I am visiting my mom for a couple of hours. Then working on a couple of blog posts. I am going in for my wisdom teeth bright & early Monday so I probably won't be posting Monday. Trying to remain calm about the whole thing LOL! I don't know what's worse...being somewhere by 8:15 am or getting teeth pulled. It's definitely a close call! ;)

Great Summer Book ~ The Lace Makers of Glenmara

I had the opportunity to read a wonderful novel called The Lace Makers of Glenmara. The story follows a young woman named Kate, who having just experienced loss and heartbreak in her life, decides to travel to Ireland to fulfill a journey that she and her Mother had always wanted to do together. There she finds new friendships, new love, and a way to mend her broken heart. She joins a group of women that are lace makers, and together they find a way to change their lives and to start again.

There were a couple of things about this book that drew me in right away. First was the setting. It takes place in Glenmara, Ireland and since my family is from Ireland I immediately felt a connection to that. The author, Heather Barbieri, does an amazing job of describing the foreign land. She really makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters. I could perfectly envision the small village, the cliffs, the sea. I enjoyed escaping into this new land every night while reading the book!

The second thing I really enjoyed about this book was the female friendships that are created. The bonds between the main characters is unbreakable and strong. These ladies truly see each other through everything, and that is very inspiring. Each woman has their own side story, has their own struggles, triumphs. I honestly enjoyed reading about these ladies so much, I could feel the trust and sisterhood between them. But the other thing I loved about them is that they tell each other how it is! They weren't afraid to speak up and voice their opinions, and give each other a little rustling. I thought this was very true to 'real' friendships out there. Your best friend can tell you how it really is, even if it's not what you want to hear. And you still love them afterwards!

The third thing, of course, was the love story! Who doesn't love a love story :) It reminds us that even after loving, losing, heartbreak, betrayal...you can find love again in the most unexpected places. One thing I admire is that Kate didn't just crawl in a whole after being hurt by the person she loved. She went out into the world, found a new adventure even though she wasn't sure where she would end up or if she would be strong enough to get there.

This book was such a pleasure to read. I adore books that I can get lost in, that I look forward to reading each night when my little one is asleep. A book with characters that I am rooting for, that I get attached to, and that I miss when the story ends. This book definitely fits all of those categories for me. I could definitely see women reading this book on a weekend while relaxing on the beach...perfect summer read!

The Lace Makers of Glenmara is a brand new release and can now be purchased on Amazon! You can also check out Heather Barbieri's website for more info!

Thank you so much to MotherTalk for introducing me to this wonderful book!

Dentist Visit & Future?

I have been feeling yucky this week! It's kind of a combination of lots of things coming at me at once I think. Too many decisions to be made (I suck at making decisions!)

I went to the dentist on Tuesday for a filling. The dentist terrifies me, something about it just makes me panic. I really wanted to get some nitrous, but I didn't want to spend the extra 50-60 dollars, so I went without. Being frugal :) And I was actually fine! It was a new dentist and she was really nice, and they let me watch tv & listen to headphones. So I concentrated on E! News and zoned out. The most annoying thing was having the novacaine take FOREVER to wear off! At about 6:15 it finally went away. I was so happy to feel normal again!

The icky news is that I have to get out my wisdom teeth. I am actually going on Monday. I will have 4 teeth pulled, and probably be put to sleep. This is the scariest thing for me. I have never been put to sleep before, and I am getting so nervous & scared already just thinking about it. I am trying to focus on other things, but it's not working. I am scared of being out of control of my body, and scared of not waking up. So I am freaking about it. I also have to have someone sit in the waiting room the whole time, and the only one that can do it is my husband. But he'll have my daughter there too, which will be stressful for him.

Oh, also it's gonna cost a heck of a lot of money to do. And who has money lying around these days? Not me! So add that stress too. And I have more fillings to go in for after this, but I may hit my insurance limit. AAaaahhh! Too much, too much! I have put off the dentist for WAY too long, and it is coming back to bite me in the you-know-where.

I also want another baby. There, I said it! I want to give my daughter a sibling, I want a bigger family. So I want my dental work mostly done so that I can pregnant. But....my sister is getting married in June 2010 and I am the MOH. I don't want to be huge in the wedding, so there is pressure to get pregnant like NOW. But I have so much teeth stuff to fix, I don't know if that's possible.

Could somebody just make these decisions for me please? Really, I just need a little life coach action :)

I think my game plan is this: Get wisdom teeth out. Fill cavities. Try to get pregnant. It probably won't happen right away, and if it makes my due date in June, then so be it. Maybe I won't let a wedding dictate when I get pregnant. It's just one day, and (according to my hubby) I should not plan my life around this. I will just apologize to my sister for looking like a whale in all of her beautiful pictures :) She may forgive me when she meets her new niece/nephew :)

Winner of Medora Snacks Giveaway

I have finally drawn the winner of the Medora Snacks Giveaway! It's been a busy few days here, sorry for the delay!

From random.org...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:7
Timestamp: 2009-06-24 19:29:26 UTC

Congrats to #7...Tj and Amy! I will be emailing you shortly, please respond within 72 hours to claim your yummy prize!!

Thanks to everyone that entered! And if you didn't win, I have another healthy & delicious giveaway coming up real soon! So watch for that :)

Piggy Paint: Natural As Mud ~ With Giveaway

My little lady is all about being girlie, and all about being just like Mommy. Everything I do, she wants to do too! She likes me to do her hair, wears pretty little dresses, and cute little shoes. One thing that I have been secretly wanting to do is paint her little toenails! Especially since it's summer and she is wearing sandals that show off her cute tiny toes :)

Of course after I thought of painting her nails, the very next thought in my head was "Is that even safe?" I know what my own nail polish smells like, and that is NOT something I would want to put on my delicate daughter's nails & body. The smell is so strong & reeks of chemicals. Not to mention the nail polish remover. Yuck. So I thought my dreams of painting her nails would have to be put off for a few years.

Then I was introduced to Piggy Paint - a kid friendly, non toxic fingernail polish that would be just right for my daughter! Piggy Paint was created by a mom of two little girls, which I love! It's always great when kid products are created by real parents, it makes me feel like it really works and is made with love & care. This paint is made of natural ingredients - and is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone. It's non flammable and is made is the USA! Another great reason to support this company!

We tried the Piggy Paint in Dandelion Dance - a pretty summery yellow. Of course the first thing I did was open that bottle up & smell it! There was a light odor, but it didn't linger. It also didn't fill the room like most nail polishes will! I was only able to smell it because I stuck my nose right at it :) When I told my daughter what we were going to do, she was totally on board. We sat outside and I painted her little toenails, and then my own. It was a special mommy - daughter moment that we both enjoyed. Afterwards she proudly showed them off to Daddy!

Each bottle of Piggy Paint is only $9.95 and also comes in these great gift packs! There are plenty of pretty colors available, from pinks to blues, silver to green. They also sell the nail polish remover, which I can tell you is SO much more gentle than regular nail polish remover. It's non-toxic, odorless, and hypoallergenic.

DISCOUNT: Piggy Paint has generously offered all of my readers a 15% Discount! Just enter LADYBUG15L when checking out! Good on anything from their website including sale items! Expires July 15th 2009.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner will receive a $20.00 Gift Code to Piggy Paint!

TO ENTER: Please visit Piggy Paint and look around at their nail polish color s& gift sets. Then leave a comment telling me your favorite color!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Follow me on twitter & tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day!)
5. Blog about this giveaway - 3 extra entries

Contest will end July 9th at 10pm CST. US Residents only. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified via email & announced on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks for entering!

I made an amateur mommy move today...

You'd think I would have known better. But nope.

It was a beautiful day today, maybe a little too hot & muggy, but sunny & bright too. I wanted to take my daughter to the park, and my husband was quick to complain. He complained it was 'too hot' I thought that was stupid, sure it was hot in the sun, but we wouldn't have to stay long. So I talked (forced) him into it.

We got to the park, and it was deserted. Totally weird for Saturday afternoon right? It was fine with me though. So we ran off to play on the equiptment. My daughter followed me up the stairs, and up to the slide. I sent her down first, then me.

On the way down she says "it's hot!" Holy hell, she wasn't kidding! I swear my thighs almost burned off, and my toe got caught under me & totally fried the whole way down. The speed & weight of my body didn't give it any chance of surviving!

So I went to check out the swings. Not really hot - but my daughter wasn't having it. She cried & I got her out of it. Everything was too hot to touch.

So that's why the park was deserted! Why had'nt I been aware of this little fact? It never crossed my mind that it would be too hot to touch the stuff. Oops. I told my husband we were leaving, everything was too hot.

He then tells me "Yeah, I told you! It's too hot to play at the park because you won't be able to touch anything!"

Ummmm that's not actually what he said. He only said 'it's too hot' which really didn't explain much LOL! I guess he thought that he was warning me, but that was not the case.

So I will be going to that park again...on a nice cloudy day!

isabelt Winners Announced

The two winners have been drawn for the isabelt! Each of these ladies will recieve an isabelt - the invisible belt! I am so excited for them to get this belt, and if you didn't win I would highly recommend you picked one up!

From random.org...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:90
Timestamp: 2009-06-20 23:47:28 UTC

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:29
Timestamp: 2009-06-20 23:50:44 UTC

That makes our winners....

Deadmonkeys90

&

Stephanie

Congrats to the both of you! You both have 72 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone that entered!

Old Navy One Day Sale on Tank Tops - $2 Each!

I wanted to pass along another Old Navy Deal! This saturday (tomorrow, June 20th) Old Navy is having a sale - Ribbed Tank Tops for just $2 each! These are for women & girls only (I don't think they make ribbed tanks for men, lol!) And there is a limit of 5 tank tops per person.

I still wear my $3 graphic tees ALL the time - and I am seriously lacking tank tops this summer. Now that it is hitting 80 (with horrible, sticky humidity) tanks are a necessity! So I'll be stopping by, hopefully it won't be too crazy!

isabelt Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!

Just a quick reminder that my isabelt giveaway will end tomorrow at 10pm CST! Two winners will be drawn - so you have better chances of winning!

Enter HERE

Sooo Tired..Toddlers are Exhausting!

I am exhausted! My bones literally ache right now. It feels good to be off my feet and relaxing after a busy few days. And by busy I mean crazy - toddler chasing - tantrum enduring - cleaning house - not enough sleep madness. Really, just daily life!

My little lady through the biggest tantrum today at target. She was doing great for awhile, but lately has started resisting all things structured while in stores. She won't sit in the cart, won't hold your hand, won't even walk next to you. She might be okay for about 2.5 seconds, but then she'll just plop down on her little tush & dink around. I will admit to you it is very annoying. So then I tried to finish grabbing the things I needed, and carried her sideways to the register LOL! Hey, I do what I have to do and there was no way she was moving unless I carried her butt out of there.

The cashier looked at us like we were horrible parents, like she hasn't seen toddlers throw fits 54628264 times before. Snot. She had this toy truck she wanted to sit and play with, which you can't really do while trying to check out. I distracted her with a pop tart (yup I am that mom...I was desperate) and told the cashier we did not want that thing. She forgot about the truck - thank goodness. Plus there was some dude behind me in line that I think I went to high school with - he was with his daughter who was a little older than mine. She was perfect, and here I am with a freaking out child. Super!

This day was added on top off a weekend of errands & my sister's engagement party (more chasing of a hyper toddler in non babyproofed yard) . Throw in tons of cement stairs, whole in the yard that she always happened to find while running, older kids playing throwing games & having to keep her away from them, her not wanting to sit for more than 3 seconds, blazing heat while wearing pants, taking turns to eat so that one parent could watch the kid, a toddler who disregards everything you tell her to do, an annoying 4 year old who keeps nagging me to let my daughter go outside the fenced yard to the lake (I THINK NOT KID! AND WHERE IS YOUR MOM? FIND HER LOL)

OHH I AM TIRED!

Just a typical day in the life of a mom, right? It would be a little better if she'd listen to me, but she likes to ignore me. And it's annoying. I guess I can't expect much more from a barely two year old. I am just using my quiet time at night to recharge - until the next day of craziness starts LOL!!!

JM Designs - Fun Personalized Placemat ~ With Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Getting kids to the dinner table can be a pretty big challenge for many parents. Pulling them away from toys, a game, playing outside. It makes sense that they would put up a fight :) One way to get them more excited about joining the family for dinner is by getting them their very own placemat! These can give kids that little extra boost of fun that they may be missing from meals, and make it easier for you to get them inside & a get good meal in their bellies.

Jen is the owner of JM Designs, an Etsy shop that sells personalized placemats in all sorts of different designs. She is a stay at home mom of one girl and twin boys. Jen does Freelance design out of her home, including logo designs, party invitations, and placemats! She even loves to coordinate party packages for us busy moms. Packages include party invitations, placemat favors (SO FUN!), and matching thank you notes! I love this idea, it really makes planning birthday parties so much easier when everything is taken care of for you!

Jen started off by creating these placemats for her own children, then started giving them as gifts. From there she went on to sell over 500 placemats!! She likes that these placemats encourage her kids to set the table, and even makes a game out of it. Whoever sets the table gets to select the placemats for their dinner. Great way to get them involved!!

Jen made my daughter her own little placemat complete with her name on it. I chose for her the Flowers Placemat which i thought would be perfect for Spring, nice and cheery! I was very impressed when we received the placemat...it was perfect! The laminate is perfectly smooth, very well made. And the picture is just as pretty as what is shown on her shop site. My daughter loves to eat on it for every meal, and it makes clean up a cinch for me. I just wipe it clean, and we're set! We are also working on teaching her how to spell her name and learn all of her letters. She is quickly leaning to recognize her name, and likes to read the letters off of her placemat! In addition to eating meals, the placemat can be used for crafts like playdough, painting, and coloring. It will keep your tabletop clean...one less thing to worry about!

Jen has so many great designs to choose from in her shop. There are pretty girlie ones, trucks and baseballs, even paisley designs that would be great for an older kid or even mom & dad! Every kid is sure to find something that they will enjoy seeing on their table.

This is one of my favorites for the little boys. It's the Firetruck Placemat filled with bright colors and every boys favorite - a fire engine!
For the Moms or teens, there is the Paisley Placemat. Soft feminine colors, in a sophisticated design.

At JM Designs you can even get a photo placemat! Take any photo you'd like and Jen can turn it into a placemat for you! This would be great for out of town family members, or holidays!

All of these colroful placemats are very affordable, at only $12.00 each! Jen also has some adorable Baby Sleeping Signs that are great for new moms!

GIVEAWAY: Jen has very generously offered one reader their choice of Personalized Placemat!

TO ENTER: Simply visit JM Designs and take a look at the many different placemats available. Then leave a comment with your favorite product!



EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every additional entry you complete.

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add My Button
4. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day!)
5. For 3 extra Entries - Blog about it OR Email 3 people & CC me (ladybugsoupblog at hotmail dot com)
6. Purchase a Placemat from JM Designs - get 5 extra entries!

Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on June 26th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be contacted by email. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Do you wanna know how cute my daughter is?

She calls M & M's 'chocolate beans'

How stinkin cute is that!?

I have no clue where she picked it up. I bought a pack of them at Walgreens one day and she saw me with them after I got her in her car seat. And she started asking for 'chocolate beans' I about fell over laughing! I love her little sayings that she comes up with. She even says 'beans' with a little accent! I have to get it on video!

She is also old enough now where she gets that things are funny. She will say things wrong to try to get you to laugh. Like instead of 'apple juice' she'll say 'apple daddy!" And then laugh & laugh! We laugh right along with her!

She is such a doll :) Oh yeah...she is also doing somersaults now! I about have a heart attack every time, but I try to cheer her on & let her have some fun. But inside I freak LOL! I think about the stunts I used to pull off whenI was a little girl, and I cannot imagine letting her do that one day. Isn't that funny? Man, I used to climb my dresser all the time, and now I have ours bolted to the darn wall & don't let her play with it. How things change!

Snorg Tees ~ With Giveaway ~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Finally, a giveaway the men will appreciate!

With father's day coming up, you may be wondering what to get the man in your life. The perfect gift? A funny tee shirt from Snorg Tees! All men wear them, they all need them. These tees are witty, comfortable, and casual. They will love them!

Snorg Tees was created by a group of friends back in 2004. They brought together their creativity to bring you a great line of clothing that will make you smile. Most of the sayings you see available are things that their employees have thought of themselves. They even get new ideas directly from their customers! How cool is that?

My husband was especially excited to see Snorg Tees....he has waited for me to find a company that he enjoys just as much as me! It took him awhile to choose which shirt was his favorite (because he liked so many!) But ultimately decided on the I'm a N3rd Tee. Apparently, this has some online game meaning that he got right away. Me, not so much. But I think it's cute ;) And I think it's even cuter ON him! The fit is perfect. The sleeves are a longer cut and make his arms look nice (gotta throw him a compliment ya know!) And the material is soft and thick. You can tell it's well made and is going to stand up to his wear and tear. The color is a navy blue, which I have NEVER seen him in. Weird, I know. It's just not a color he has worn before, but he should have! It looks great on him! Even more importantly, he feels good in it. Which in my opinion, is everything!

You can find a great selection of humorous shirts at Snorg Tees. From the raunchy (but you have to admit, VERY funny!) to the cute, they have something for everyone!

I am loving this Bacon Makes Everything Better Tee! I love bacon LOL, and I would proudly display that for all to see!

This I'd Hit That Tee was one of my husbands other favorites. He loves to play cards, so it would have been a great choice for him :) Also it's pretty funny!

This Say People Tee also is very funny!

I think Snorg Tees would be the perfect gift for father's Day, birthdays, or other special occasions! Every guy likes to look good & feel good, and these tees make that real easy. And who doesn't like to laugh!?

BUY IT: You can purchase your Snorg Tees online . There are plenty of tees for men & women both! Many shirts are $18.95, and they also have some great shirts on sale you can check out!

GIVEAWAY: The awesome people at Snorg Tees have offered to give a reader their choice of any Tee Shirt! Very cool of them!

TO ENTER: Just visit Snorg Tees and take a look at their hilarious & fun tees. Then come back and leave a comment telling me which is your favorite, or which one you would love to give as a gift! Have fun looking!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a seperate comment for every additional entry you complete.

1. Follw My Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Blog about this giveaway OR email 3 friends & CC me @ ladybugsoupblog at hotmail dot com
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Giveaway is open to US & Canadian Residents. Giveaway will end on June 25th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly by me. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Please remember to leave a way for me to contact you (email in profile or in your comment)

Baby Pop Designs ~ Super Giveaway! ~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***


Children's imaginations are limitless, always dreaming up scenarios, playing make believe. Even at two, the things my daughter comes up with just amazes me. She is such a free spirit, loves to play, and has so much fun with everything she does.

One thing that she has already started to enjoy is dressing up. I used to love that to, when I was a young girl. Hard to remember now, isn't it? But watching her play reminds me of all the fun I used to have, and can now I can have that again with her.

One common thing to dress up as is a Super Hero, or Super Princess for the little girls :) Sherry from Baby Pop Designs understands that love of make believe, and expresses it through her wonderful esty shop. She is a stay at home mom (well maybe a work at home mom!) of two children. She has been sewing now for 30 years, learning the ropes from her own Mother. She has a Bachelor's in fashion, and spent 16 years in the apparel industry, which gave her the ability to travel and affects how she sees design & apparel now. While on hiatus from work, raising her children, she started Baby Pop Designs. Her site has really taken off, she was even featured on Good Morning America! How exciting!

Baby Pop Designs sells many different things for your child to play with and bring to life. Sherry has a huge selection of capes (for boys & girls!), tees, masks, gloves, tee pees, and outfits. Everything is professionally finished and made with quality and care to last.

This Princess Cape with Mask is darling! My daughter would love to fly around the yard wearing this!

For your little boy, there is a great selection of super hero capes. This is the Ultimate Superhero Pack!

I am also loving the accessories! The mask, gloves, even a crown! You can create the total package! These also make great birthday gifts...they really open up the child's imagination and are sure to create hours ( & hours!) of fun!


BUY IT: These adorable products can be purchased online through Baby Pop Designs' Esty Shop! You can customize the pieces with initials & choose colors you'd like. The possibilities are endless!

GIVEAWAY: Sherry has very generously offered one lucky reader a cape & mask for their little one!

TO ENTER: Please visit Baby Pop Designs and take a look around at her wonderful assortment or products! Then leave a comment with your favorite product, something the imaginative child in your life would love!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Follow my blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about it OR email 3 people about the giveaway (CC me at ladybugsoupblog at hotmail dot com)
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day until the contest ends - leave one comment every day you tweet!)

US Residents only. Giveaway will close on June 25th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be emailed & must respond within 72 hours to claim prize. Remember to have an email either in your Profile or in your comment so I have a way to contact you if you win!

Get 2 Extra Entries into the isabelt Giveaway!

Hey everyone!

I found out from Elise at isabelt that they have a Facebook Page!

If you become a fan of isabelt on Facebook, you get an additional entry into the giveaway!

Also, if you add Elise as a Friend, you get another entry!

So that is two possible extra entries! You can do one, or both! Just be sure to leave a comment on the giveaway post telling me what entry you completed!

3 Column Blog Design - Any Ideas?

I am trying to figure out how to go to a 3 column blog, and it is just not working. Apparently I will never be a blog designer! Because I stink at it!

Does anyone have good tutorial, or know someone that will do it for cheap?

Any recommendations, please let me know!

My Sister's Keeper - The Movie?

I LOVE to read. I love to curl up in bed with a good book, a blanket, and get lost in another world. I fall in love with the characters and the storylines, and can learn a lot from other's words.

One of my favorite authors is Jodi Picoult. Love, love, love her! The very first book I read from Jodi was My Sister's Keeper, I am sure many of you out there have read it too. If you haven't read it yet, you should! It is quite the tear jerker. This book, like many others by Jodi, raises many ethical questions and makes you question what is right and wrong, where to draw the line. How far we'd go to save our own children. She makes you love and hate the characters at the same time, giving them traits you can relate to and see in yourself, and traits you hope to never see appear.

I heard quite awhile ago that they were making it into a movie. I was actually very excited about this, I love to see characters come to life on the big screen. But then I heard who was cast as the Mom.

Cameron Diaz.

Not my first choice. Or even my 150th choice. The Mother is one of the most complex characters in this book, you really feel her desperation to save her child and see that she doesn't always make the best choices. It's a deep role. And Cameron Diaz? Ugh. Let me be honest with you. I think there were many other better options. I don't think she is right for the role. Maybe she would have been okay as the appointed ad litem. Fine, she could have done that role. But not the Mother, the matriarch of the family.

On Twitter, I read Jodi's response to a question about the casting. She wrote "Trust me - you're going to really enjoy the acting"

So I will see the movie, because the book touched my heart. I am hoping that the casting won't wreck it for me. It is still a great book, that I recommend everyone should read.

Awesome giveaway at Momma's Review!

I have found the coolest giveaway! It is over at Momma's review - and it is for....

This incredible Step2 Nature Station Playhouse!! How great would this be in your (my) backyard this summer!?

I really want to win! If you win though, feel free to have us over for a playdate ;)

Enter HERE!

Weekedn Water Fun

I am soooooooooo sore today!! Every muscle in my body hurts. I feel like I ran a marathon or something, when in reality I only went to a water park. Didn't do much there but watch the little one! Wonder why I am hurting?

We had the BEST time at the water park this weekend. We went Friday night for my nephew's 12th Birthday party, and then again on Saturday for a couple of hours.

I really thought my kiddo would be scared of the water, since she flips if I even say the word 'bath' and has never been interested in play swimming in the tub.

But she sure surprised me! She LOVED it! She splashed, kicked, & played happily the entire time! She went down kiddie water slides, and they went pretty fast :) I thought for sure when she got water in her eyes she would get upset, but she just laughed! I have never seen that side of her before, actually enjoying the water. It was so wonderful to watch, it made me so happy to see her happy!

On Saturday she did take a bump to the eye. We had just gone down a water slide together (so fun!) and she was standing next to it. She lost her footing and went to catch herself, but missed. She ended up hitting her face on the slide instead, and boy did she cry! It puffed up & we went to the First Aid Site to put ice on it. I was worried it would become a black eye, but it didn't. Thank goodness! After that we watched my nephew swim awhile, then went home.

My husband & I did manage to go on a couple of water slides just the two of us, while grandma watched the babe. They went so FAST, and I screamed the whole way down. It was exciting! It had been a longtime since we were able to go on a ride just the 2 of us like that.

I will definitely be going back to the water park this summer, especially since I have a little fishy on my hands :)

So anyways, I am completely sore. I guess carrying a toddler around a lot & walking up those -very high- stairs may have done it.

Illia Designs Swing Top Winner!

I drew the winner for the Illia Design Giveaway! This winner will recieve a beautiful handmade Swing Top!

The lucky winner is #22!

Jennifer! Congrats! I have emailed you, please respond within 72 hours to claim this prize :)

Medora Snacks ~~Delicious Review & Giveaway~~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Snacking is a total weakness of mine. Sometimes this can lead to unhealthy choices, but it doesn't have to! More and more companies are making it easier for Moms to choose healthy, tasty snacks for themselves & their families. Medora Snacks is definitely one of those companies!

Medora Snacks is owned by two Mothers, Lu and Linda. These ladies came together to bring their innovative ideas of healthy snacking to life. With natural ingredients and no trans fat, these delicious chips are a great choice for snack lovers everywhere! There have been so many times that I need a quick and easy snack during the day for myself and my daughter. Rather than eat something loaded with artificial flavoring & trans fat, we can grab some Medora Snacks and feel better about what we put into our bodies.

Medora Snacks offers 4 different kinds of snacks, in many different flavors. Here is some info from their site!

Corners -We have cornered the market on great taste! Corners™ popped corn tortillas™ are made with real corn, extra virgin olive oil, all natural ingredients and no trans fat. Corners™ unique popping process combines popped corn and tortilla chips, two of Americas favorite snacks, in one great snack. They are so delicious you can enjoy them alone or with your favorite dips and salsas. Available in Sea Salt, Zesty Ranch and Nacho Cheese Corners.

Pogos - You have never tasted a potato cheese stick like it! When you open the bag, the aroma of cheese tells you - it’s the real thing! Tons of crunchy, cheesy taste and none of the messy orange stuff left on your hands. Our unique baking process allows us to create a more wholesome product using only all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. Better-for-you has never tasted so good. Available in White Cheddar, Hickory Smoked and Jalapeño Cheddar.

Pucci - Pucci Pizza Snacks are like real pizza in a bag! Fun to eat and totally delicious. The aroma of freshly made pizza makes your mouth water as soon as you open the bag. When you crave “a slice” just pick up Pucci’s and experience the delicious taste of 100% extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella and parmesan cheese baked into every bite. Available in Tomato Basil, Classic and Garlic.






• Sotos - It is hip to be square™. Sotos Multi-Grain snacks pack highly nutritious multi-grains in each little square for a better-for-you snack you will love. Our unique baking process captures the flavor of the all-natural seasonings to give you a satisfying crunchy experience that you’ll want to try again. Available in Sea Salt, Zesty Cheese with Olive Oil & Lemon and Cinnamon Streusel.

I had a chance to sample Medora Snacks, and I am hooked! The Pucci Pizza Snacks really tasted like a little mini pizza bite. They were rich in flavor and tasted freshly baked! I tried the Pogos in White Cheddar, and they were also great! You could definitely smell & taste the yummy real cheddar baked into these sticks. The Baked Sotos in Zesty Cheese, Olive Oil, & Lemon were amazing! The flavors really popped out at you, especially the lemon!

Lastly were the Corners, my favorite one! I tried the Sea Salt & the Zesty Ranch flavors, and both were great. I would say though that I liked the Zesty Ranch the best. It tasted kind of like cool ranch Doritos. I could eat bags of these!! They were crunchy, crisp, and flavorful. My bag was only 130 Calories, with no trans fat or saturated fat. Definitely something I will buy again, and my family agrees!

With Medora Snacks, you get a healthy product without losing any of the flavor! Each one of these snacks was bursting with delicious flavor!

BUY IT: Medora Snacks can be purchased online at Amazon!

GIVEAWAY: Medora Snacks would like to give one lucky reader the chance to try some snacks! Winner will receive a Mixed 12 pack with a variety of sizes & flavors!! Yummy!

TO ENTER: Visit Medora Snacks, then tell me which Snack & what flavor you would like to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day - leave a new comment everyday you tweet! (you can use tiny url http://tinyurl.com/p6a9xq)
5. Blog about it

Contest will end on June 18th at 10pm CST. US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Please remember to leave an email (in comment or in your profile) so I have way to contact you if you win!

Winner of Storytime Felts Giveaway!

Here is the winner of the Storytime Felts Giveaway! This winner will get a $25.00 gift card for Storytime Felts!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:101
Timestamp: 2009-06-03 16:38:29 UTC

Congrats to Sue! I will be emailing you shortly! Please respond within 72 hours to claim this prize!

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway!

isabelt? It sure is!! Review & Giveaway! (2 winners)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

I have finally solved my problems.

Okay, not all of them of course, but definitely one of them. And do you know what helped me? A wonderful company called isabelt!

I will admit that I have had some serious 'pants falling down' issues in the past. You may be wondering why I didn't just get a belt. Well, I did get one. It was black, big, and bulky. It made my shirt bulge out in this really weird way that I couldn't stand. The belt actually added inches to my waistline because of that. So now it just sits in my drawer, and I thought I would never find a belt that could actually fit my needs and didn't look completely obvious.

Enter isabelt. I had read all of their great info on their website. That isabelt is a fashion 'fix it'. It is a thin, fully adjustable clear plastic belt that virtually disappears when worn. Well, it sounded wonderful so far! It also boasts that it will prevent back gap, slippage, belt bulge (yes!) and belt bulk (yes, yes!) I was thrilled to have found something actually addressed the issues I had been having, and couldn't wait to try one of my own. I knew I would put it to a good test, because I am hard to please when it comes to belts (is that weird? LOL) And I knew that I needed to find a solution to my pants problem, for the sake of my poor embarrassed husband who has to be on butt covering duty when I bend down.

So I got my isabelt. When it arrived, I read through the directions a few times to make sure I could understand how to adjust it (I am not the most mechanical person). I figured it out, put it on, sized it right, and then went on with daily life. Right away I noticed it's comfort. It was not bulky, and didn't push into my tummy when I bent over. The plastic also felt very strong and sturdy, definitely something would hold up to lots of use. That day I needed to go to the store (the ultimate test right?) so I got changed out of my over sized tee and put on a more fitted (and clean) top. Guess what? NO BELT BULK!!! Yup, none. You could not even tell I was wearing it. That right there sold me, but I knew the ultimate test would be walking & shopping. So out I went. The isabelt held my pants up perfectly. There was no tugging my pants up after I walked awhile, which is a common issue of mine. The isabelt had solved my belt problems, and for that I (and my hubby) are grateful!

Here you can see how the isabelt worked for me!

OLD BELT (BELOW)

ISABELT (ABOVE)

The isabelt is the perfect accessory for us moms. Are you between sizes right now? Trying to lose that baby weight, but not wanting to commit to a whole new wardrobe? That was my problem. I had lost a little weight but didn't want to have to spend money on new jeans. And who knows if I will keep losing or even gain a few. isabelt makes it very easy to find a belt that fits you perfectly. They offer many sizes & styles like:

• isabelt original design in S,M,L
• isabelt Plus - same design but for plus sized women
• isabelt Junior cute designs for those teens!
• isabelt Wide - a wider 1" version of the isabelt - the wider belt means added support
• isabelt Breast Cancer Awareness Belt - a portion of these sales go to the Susan G. Komen foundation!
• isastrips - this is their body & apparel tape! Can be used with isabelt products. If your pants don't have loops for a belt, just use your isastrips! Also works great to keep tees in place, bra straps in place, and so much more!
• isabelt is now available in black! This can be the perfect accessory to any outfit!

BUY IT: isabelt makes it real easy to purchase these belts! You can order right from their website! You can also check this listing to see if isabelt is available at a store near you!

GIVEAWAY: Lucky for you, I get to share the isabelt with 2 lucky readers!! I have the:

isabelt Large (up to size 14)

-and-

isabelt wide (1" wide belt, one size fits most up to 50", unisex)

TO ENTER: Tell me why you need an isabelt! Do you have a particular problem you like fixed? Do you like accessories? Let me know :) Also please indicate which isabelt you would like to win :)

**Updated! Two extra Entries Available For Facebook users!**

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an extra comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow My Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway. You can do this once a day (you can use http://tinyurl.com/qmuztf)
5. Blog about this contest
6. Become a fan of isabelt on facebook
7. Add Elise (from isabelt) as a Friend on facebook

Contest is open to US Residents only. Giveaway will close on June 17th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.