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Review ~ Eco Bling reusable shopping tote

Posted by Professor on February 9, 2011
in Eco Friendly Products, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Shopping, Uncategorized

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

I received the Eco Bling bag featured above to review. I personally LOVE the idea of reusable bags, not only are they eco-friendly but they are cute too! One thing that sets this bag apart from other reusable bags is the cute design on the face of the bag. Even though it is a “brand” symbol on the front it is much cuter than the grocery store emblem plastered across the front of many bags I own. I feel very stylish when I pull this bag out to carry goods home! The only downfall of the facial design is the color…white…white gets dirty very easily, and although the bag can be washed I find it gets dirty very easily.

One plus to this bag is that there is a little pocket on the inside, which can fit keys, credit cards, or a wallet. The pocket is a very handy feature. The bag is also very large …the height of the bag is wonderful; it far surpasses the height of my other bags, making it very deep. It can easily hold a large cereal box or two with room to spare! However, I do have to say that the width leaves something to be desired. I personally like wide box bottom bags, but this is a personal preference …the eco bling bag is the standard width of most reusable bags …so if you have never experienced the luxury of having a wide box bottom bag…you will not miss the feature! I also wish the handles on the bag were larger so that I could throw it over my shoulder…as designed it has to be held in the hand or over the elbow.

Overall, this is a delightful bag, one that I will definitely add to my stash of reusable bags when I go on a shopping adventure! Kudos to Eco Bling for making a fashionable shopping tote!

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ProFlowers Giveaway ($50 Value)

Posted by html404 on February 5, 2011
in Faith and Family Reviews Friday Giveaway, Giveaways, Uncategorized

Congratulations to Ellen B! You won this giveaway! Winner chosen by Random.org. Thanks to all who entered and to ProFlowers for sponsoring this great giveaway!!!

We were given a $50 promo code to try out ProFlowers.com. I was rather excited, until I went through the order process. An advanced warning: the code can only be entered once. Thankfully, I thought of this before I processed my order and asked the pr rep beforehand or else I would have used my code without using the full amount. I also don’t think you can use the code on multiple items, so if you win our giveaway or decide to place an order be sure to clarify ordering multiple items with a gift code before placing your order.

Ordering

Ok, after deliberating on what to order for our family flowers or food? I chose a fruit/chocolate basket priced at $39.99 and clicked for a delivery of Saturday, February 5th for an additional $9.99, so that should only be $49.98 total, but when I clicked continue after inputing the code, it stated I owe $17.94……the other charges were added and did not show the additional charges, until AFTER I inputed my gift code and credit card information, which I did not like at all. I chose the delivery date of today because I wanted to post the review and giveaway at the same time instead of waiting like I have done in the past.

Standard Delivery $9.99
Shipping Rebate
Click Here
Saturday Delivery $9.99
Care & Handling $2.99
Tax: $4.88
TOTAL: $67.84
Promotion Code Amount Applied: $50.00
Amount Charged: $17.84

I did not like not knowing that I would pay an additional $9.99 on top of the regular delivery ($9.99), care & handling AND taxes. So I did not go back and change anything because this was after I inputed the promo code and I figured if I changed anything I would not be able to put in the code again. So I think I paid too much just so I could post sooner. I would have waited, but as I previously stated wanted all of you to have the week to enter the giveaway.

Oh and if you click the shipping rebate link, it takes you to a third party site in which you have to sign up for what they are offering (including credit card info, even for a trial) in order to receive the $15 rebate offer. This did not impress me either. I would have preferred the rebate offer to be through ProFlowers and off my next order or something.

To be honest, I had a better ordering experience through http://www.FloristExpress.net/(preferred partner of ProFlowers since I got redirected from there) ordering my mil’s flowers and even got 20% off my order there, same with an order for another family who has been having a tough time and I wanted to send them some cheer. However, I knew what to expect the second (and third) time around so as not to incur the additional charges.

Rich Romance Basket – $39.99

Here is a picture of the Rich Romance Basket from ProFlowers website:

The following photos are of our opening the package to the actual product of the basket:

Compare these photo with the one from ProFlowers:

Note the difference in the size packages of the photo from ProFlowers and what we actually received:

The Products

The products of the basket were pretty good, with the exception of the size differences in the candy packages (see photos above). The pears and apples tasted very good. However, for a gift basket we didn’t think the apples should have had soft spots/bruises on them (could have been from shipping??), nor should they have had the white powdering stuff at the bottoms. But perhaps we are expecting too much, nevertheless, this was a pricey basket for what we got so I expected a lot from it.

The heart candy was milk chocolate that melted in our mouths. The chocolate covered cranberries were very tasty, however, the sugar-free chocolate covered almonds were a disappointment. Considering we did not need or ask for the sugar-free product, regular chocolate covered almonds would have been much better.

The Basket

The basket was a lined basket that you would find at JoAnn’s or some other craft store. I think the price of the basket reflects mostly the packaging, not the product inside.

It was a treat to have this Valentine’s Day gift delivered to our door to be shared as a family, but I do not think that the value of it was worth the money. I’ll let you know next week how the two flower gifts go over with those to whom we sent irises and tulips to, that way you will receive feedback on the flowers as well.

Now here’s an opportunity for you to shop at ProFlowers, so enter to win a coupon voucher with a $50 value to ProFlowers.com!

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what you would get from ProFlowers.com if you won.

Extra Entries (Please be sure and leave a comment and link for extra entries):

1 Entry:Follow Faith and Family Reviews On Twitter1 Entry:Follow ProFlowers on twitter.

1 Entry:Like/Friend Faith and Family Reviews on Facebook.

1 Entry:Like/Friend ProFlowers on Facebook.

2 Entries: Follow Faith and Family Reviews on Google Friend Connect (on the our right side bar).

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway, but only one tweet per day please. Include your tweet url with your comment. You may write your own tweet or use this one:

Giveaway: Enter to win a $50 ProFlowers gift card @faithfamilyrevw! http://faithandfamilyreviews.com/?p=6812 Please share! Thx!

5 Entries: Blog about this giveaway and link back this post.

1 Entry: for every comment you leave anywhere else on this blog, but please leave a link with your comment!

Details:

This giveaway will run from February 5th -February 10, 2011 at midnight CST. The winner will be chosen through Random.org. ProFlowers will send one winner a ProFlowers coupon code (of a $50 value) Winner will be contacted via email on or before February 10th and will be asked for their contact and other pertinent info. Winners will have 48 hours to send me their e-mail at [ffr] [giveaways] [at] [gmail] [dot] [com] (without spaces and parenthesis). Please note: This giveaway is offered to US only.

Thanks and have fun!

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Family Works 2

Posted by html404 on January 18, 2011
in Uncategorized

We love Franklin Springs Family Media movies. Since we have been on an entrepreneurial journey these past few years, we have come to appreciate and look forward to any of the projects they produce concerning this topic. Family Works 2 is the second volume in this series, which features Mr. Wade Myers as host as he takes a look at different Christian families and their family businesses.

My husband has actually met Mr. Wade Myers (back in 2006) and has spoken to him, very briefly mind you, but enough to make a lasting impression. We appreciate what he is doing in the Christian community to help promote Christian entrepreneurship. You may want to visit New Venture Lab for recent webinars he has done. My husband has enjoyed these, I have only had the chance to listen to one or two. I missed the most recent one on Saturday on “How to Think Like an Entrepreneur”, which is not posted yet.

Here’s the trailer to Family Works 2:

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Children’s Book Review ~ Moon Dreams

Posted by Professor on January 10, 2011
in Books, Family Stuff, Uncategorized

Moon Dreams is a delightful children’s story with beautiful illustrations! The story takes the reader through the mind of “Luna” and her ponderings about where the moon “goes” to when it is daytime! I like that the book lets children think about where does the moon really go when it is daytime? Why we only see the moon at nighttime? It even lets older children realize that even during the day the moon is still there somewhere! This really is a delightful book…and although the author does not present the reader with aspects of faith. I feel that this is a good sounding board book to have a discussion (after reading) with the children. The last page quotes “ Luna knew know that the moon was always there, far away in space, watching over her…” my family had a great conversation about God and how he watches over our family. Although this is not a religious book per say I was able to incorporate thoughts of God and his loving peacefulness into a discussion after the reading of the book!

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10th Pearl Of Christmas; What’s The Best Thing About Christmas?

Posted by html404 on December 22, 2010
in Uncategorized

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom”! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL … there’s also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.

~~~

What’s the best thing about Christmas?
by Maureen Lang

The answer to that question will undoubtedly be different depending on the age and the faith of the person being asked. Most children will say it’s all about the gifts. Adults, even if they secretly still enjoy the gifts, will probably strive to sound more mature and say the holiday is all about friends and family. Still others might say it’s about tradition, or memories or the music or even the special food we connect to this time of year. The scrooges among us might say this season is just another marketing gimmick, or materialism gone awry. The faithful will say it’s all about Jesus, a reminder of why He shed the glory of Heaven to step into human skin and frailty.

I’m not here to defend or attack any answer to this question, but rather to ponder those possible answers.

Gifts: They touch us in personal ways, as tangible evidence of someone else’s thought and affection. Even if we don’t get exactly what we hoped, there’s something to be said about the thought behind a gift being the important part. Why wouldn’t gifts be an important and valid part of this holiday in which we celebrate God’s gift of salvation?

Holiday Gatherings: Parties might be a lot of work, forcing some out of their comfort zone, but at the core they’re all about human connection. Isn’t that what most people want?

Traditions and memories: They remind us of the past, of who we are, with the hope that even as we look forward to an unknown future we still hold some things worthy enough to repeat every year. We might find ourselves letting go of some traditions, or we might want to start some new ones.

The music: This is the only time of the year when even secular radio stations welcome songs about a baby born in Bethlehem. As a nation we may be getting stringent about separation of church as state, but the lines blur just a bit with old favorites that reflect this season.

Scrooges: The holiday season is probably a time to endure rather than enjoy, but even the scroogiest-scrooge might admit the lights of the season are pretty to behold. They’re free to look at, after all.

As for the food, the busyness, the expense and all the other things that make up this season: keep in mind that it’s all temporary. This, too, shall pass. Until next year, of course.

I’ll leave you with this thought: we are all made in God’s image, whether we believe that or not. Part of that image is the ability to give—and to receive. So here’s my thought for the day: stop a moment and dwell on all the gifts of the season. From the little mementos that say we haven’t forgotten someone or been forgotten by others, to the costliest gift of all: what God did for us in the form of Christ. As you enjoy the sounds, the sights, the scents and the tastes of this season, may your only trouble be in choosing just one thing among so many best things about Christmas.

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About Maureen: Maureen Lang is the author of ten books, her most recent from Tyndale House is The Great War Series which are full of romance, adventure and spiritual journeys. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons and their lovable Labrador Retriever.

For more information please visit Maureen at her website, www.maureenlang.com.

~~~

A PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS will be given away on New Year’s Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

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Product Review: Flower Bracelet From five ACCESSORIES

Posted by html404 on July 26, 2010
in Eco Friendly Products, Fashion, Giving Back/Charity, Handmade Items, Uncategorized

blueflowerbracelet

The Flower Bracelet $10

The Flower bracelet adds color and life to a neutral or dark outfit. Made of natural wood with handpainted blue and white flowers on each square block. On SALE from $15 to $10.

I liked that this bracelet was handmade and that the flowers where hand painted. I love flowers and this definitely attracted my eye. It has a nice loose fit, is very pretty and is one of my favorites out of five’s bracelets!