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Dear Santa, I Want a Gift from Sam’s Club (CLOSED)

December 2, 2009 By

Do you remember ever sending your wish list to Santa Claus?  I do.  Every year I wrote the big man my wish list and mailed it off.  I have plans to help my 5 year old write his first ever letter sometime this week.  I always thought it was a really fun thing to do.

Well now Sam’s Club has the adult version for writing your Dear Santa, letters.

If you visit the Sam’s Club Holiday website, and browse the Gift’s Galore section, you should notice a little “Gift Giving Simplified” section.  It looks something like this:

ETA:  We just realized that the little Santa’s don’t appear if you click on the “gifts for him/her/kids.”  Only on the price range categories.  I do believe they are working on fixing this.

It’s a category breakdown allowing you to browse for gifts in a certain price range or a specific type of person.  Let’s just click on $201-$300 gift range (we don’t want to be too greedy, now).  You may see some of the following must have gifts:

See that little Santa icon at the bottom?  By clicking that, it allows you to make your own wishlist.  Go ahead, browse the different categories and build your list.  I’ll wait.

……….waiting……….

Once you have all the items you would love to have on a list, you click the “View Wishlist” button.  That will then bring you to the option of mailing your list to your favorite Santa.

Isn’t that spiffy?  A very easy way to experience the thrill of mailing off a Dear Santa letter.  Never leave your loved ones guessing again.  Tell them what you want.  Show them.  Give them a link to the perfect gift at a great holiday price.  Go ahead.  Don’t be afraid!

You probably already know we are celebrating the holiday’s in a big way here and today is no different.  Sam’s Club is offering another reader the chance at a $25.00 Sam’s Club gift card.

First Mandatory Entry

Visit the Gift’s Galore holiday section at Sam’s Club and create your own wishlist.  Tell me what you want on it and who your “Santa” is.  I know my Santa is not my husband…my wishlist goes to my mom!

Click Here for my Extra Entries and Contest Rules Page

This giveaway will end on December 15th at 10:00pm Pacific Time.  Winner will be chosen at random.org from all valid entries.  Winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim their prize.  Good Luck!

The information provided in this article was shared as part of the Sam’s Club Sharing the Savings blogger campaign.  Compensation was received for participation but the views and opinions expressed are solely my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Sharing the Savings Tagged With: , ,
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GIVEAWAY/REVIEW – Hana Professional Flat Iron from Misikko (CLOSED)

December 2, 2009 By

I have naturally curly hair.  I didn’t even know this until way after puberty because I started perming my bone straight hair when I was about 10 years old.  Then one day it occurred to me that it had been a very long time since my last perm and my hair was still curly.  Imagine my surprise.  So now, day in and day out, I just wash and air dry my hair.  It generally looks pretty okay, I think (aside from the gray hairs that are sneaking in and my roots that currently need touched up).  I call it my “mom do.”  The do that I sport because I don’t generally have the time or energy to do anything fancier.

Then one day the nice people at Misikko asked me if I would like to try one of their professional flat irons.

I said, “why not?”

I received (free) to review a Hana Professional 1″ Flat Iron.

misikko_2083_29589629Some key features of the Hana are:

  • Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
  • Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color & retards fading
  • Floating 1” Plates Auto-Adjust To Glide Over Any Hair Texture
  • Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling – Curl, Flip or Straighten!
  • Adjustable Temperature Dial – 5 Settings from 140-450° F for All Hair Types
  • Flash Heats in Seconds with Instant Compensation for Heat Loss
  • Ergonomic Handle Design with No-Slip Grip
  • Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Strands Separate and Snag-Free
  • Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord Swivels 360°; Convenient Hanging Loop
  • Energy Efficient at 38 Watts
  • Independent On/Off Switch
  • Includes Luxe Heat Proof Storage Pouch, Heat Proof Silicone Mat, & Special Edition Tin Case
  • Made in Korea
  • Two Year Warranty

I think I remember using some cheap flat iron once or twice when I was younger, but this was the first time I got to use a professional grade ceramic flat iron.  I busted it out on Thanksgiving since it was a special occasion and I thought I would fancy up my “mom do.”

curlyhairThis is generally how my hair looks.  Washed, some grocery store gel slapped in it and air dried.

Thanksgiving, I took a shower (shocking!) and I put some anti-frizz serum in my hair.  I didn’t even put my normal gel product, but I think next time I will.  While my hair was still damp, I started straightening it.  I really had no idea what I was doing or how to do it right.  But trying to mimic my hair dressers moves (who always straightens my hair) I started at the roots and slowly went down to the ends.  I got even more fancy by trying to flip the ends under.

It was pretty easy going.  It dried quickly and did a great job at taming my curls.  Here is how it ended up:

straighthairOne bad thing about straight hair…you can totally see how bad your roots are!  yikes!

I think it takes a while to get the hang of the flat iron when you are not used to it.  But it was fun to get dressed up and have my hair fixed different.  I know lots of ladies that use a flat iron regularly and are good at it.  I think I need some more practice.  I plan on trying it again for our Christmas party on the 19th…I should have my roots touched up by then (I hope).

The Hana Ceramic Flat Iron certainly did it’s job quickly and left my hair feeling soft and not all fried.  It is available for purchase at Misikko.com and retails for $189.99 (currently it’s on sale for only $119.99).  I really look forward to practicing more.

giveaway titleThe super nice people at Misikko.com would like to offer one of my monkey readers their very own Hana Professional 1″ Flat Iron.

First Mandatory Entry

Visit Misikko.com and take a look around.  They offer a large variety of professional hair styling products.  Leave me a comment telling me about something else that catches your interest.

Bonus Entry for This Contest ONLY

Follow  Misikko on Twitter

Click Here for Other Extra Entries and my Contest Rules

This giveaway will end on December 15th at 10:00pm Pacific Time.  Winner will be chosen at random.org from all valid entries.  Winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim their prize.  In case it wasn’t already clear, I received a complimentary Hana Flat Iron for the purpose of reviewing and providing feedback.  The opinions expressed on mommy23monkeys.com are always my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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GIVEAWAY – Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Collection (CLOSED)

December 1, 2009 By

Some people you just love to pieces, but they literally have everything.  What do you buy these people?  They don’t need another trinket or house decoration.  They have more clothes than the highest paid model and their have enough money to buy themselves anything that they might need.

It’s for people like this, that I turn to Things Remembered.

Things Remembered specializes in beautiful personalized gifts for all occasions.  Whether it’s baby’s 1st birthday, or your parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, Things Remember has something special.

And now, Things Remembered has introduced the Custom Couture Jewelry Collection.  This is the perfect gift for the special woman in your life.  Custom Couture allows you to completely customize a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry in just 3 easy steps.

jewelry-step1

jewelry-step2

jewelry-step3I was offered the chance to create something for my mom.  I chose a freshwater pearl bracelet with two birthstone charms (green & purple) and a heart charm with the engraving:  Rhea & Eric.  I chose this for my mom to represent me and my brother.  She loved it!  It really is gorgeous and I don’t think she’s taken it off since I gave it to her.

The only teeny tiny complaint we have about our beautiful bracelet is that the birthstone charms tend to rough the surface of the engraved silver heart.  I suppose this is completely normal and I don’t really know what Things Remember should/could even do about it.  But it made me a bit sad to see my name scratched up.

giveaway titleThings Remembered is offering one lucky reader their very own Custom Couture Jewelry Collection piece.

First Mandatory Entry

Visit Things Remembered’s Custom Couture Jewelry Collection and create something unique.  In a comment, tell me how you would do it!  A bracelet with a CZ charm?  A sterling silver necklace to present to your grandmother?  Something for yourself??

Click Here for Extra Entries and my Contest Rules

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on December 15th at 10:00pm Pacific Time.  Winner will be chosen from all valid entries at random.org and notified by email.  They will have 72 hours to reply before prize is forfeit.  Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

Things Remembered provided me with a Custom Couture Jewelry piece in order to review the line.  They are also providing one for a giveaway.  My opinions are always my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,
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GIVEAWAY – The Monkey and the Engineer Book (CLOSED)

November 24, 2009 By

9780979397264

If you are a Grateful Dead fan (Deadhead, right?  I’m showing my age…or lack there of), then the title “The Monkey and the Engineer” might be familiar.  Here is a You Tube clip of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir on the David Letterman show performing the folk classic:

Well now this popular 1960′s folk song, originally written and performed by Jesse Fuller, is available in a colorful childrens book.

The Monkey and the Engineer tells of the crazy adventure that an Engineers pet monkey takes while he’s on a break.

From their Press Release:

MONKEY AND THE ENGINEER is derived from the original Jesse Fuller folk lyrics popularized as covered by the GRATEFUL DEAD in the last 20 years. The story is a tale of a mischievous but adorable pet who leaves his owner with a “worried mind” when he makes off with a big locomotive. The book includes original sheet music and a biography on Fuller (a musician and inventor who created his own instruments for his one man band). David Opie’s illustrations are funny and demonstrate a spectacular talent.

This book was also honored with high praise in the 2008 National Best Books Awards for:  Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction category.

The Monkey and the Engineer is an adorable book.  It’s very easy to read with its lyrical rhythm and easily held my boys’ attention.  My boys loved the colorful and fun illustrations.

monkeybookMy boys loved the story and really liked listening to the song, too.  It’s a fun story that appeals to my boys’ mischievous nature.

The Monkey and the Engineer is available online at www.monkeyandtheengineer.com and at Amazon.com. (ERV: $14.95)

giveaway title

The publisher of the Monkey and the Engineer is offering one of my monkey readers a copy of this book!  How perfect, a monkey blog reader winning a monkey book. :)

First Mandatory Entry

I want to know what other favorite songs that you think might make a great children’s story book.

Click Here for my Extra Entry’s and Contest Rules

This giveaway will end on December 15th at 10pm Pacific Time.  Winner will be chosen at random.org and notified by email.  They will have 72 hours to claim their prize before it’s forfeit.  Good luck!

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , ,
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GIVEAWAY – Scholastic Christmastime Storybooks (CLOSED)

November 23, 2009 By

BookCovers_Christmas

My boys love to listen to me read stories, and this time of year, the holiday books are favorites.  Mr. A. is in kindergarten and is learning to read, so it’s especially fun to read with him since he thinks he knows all the words.  I am a huge sucker for Christmas and magic and Santa, and all that the holiday’s bring.  So when Scholastic Books offered me a couple of new Christmas reads, I accepted.

9780545037730_xlgThe first book I read to the boys was the E.T.A. Hoffmann classic The Nutcracker And The Mouse King.

On Christmas Eve, Godfather Drosselmeier has arrived with gifts of marvel and enchantment for his young godchildren. Goddaughter Marie falls in love a bewitching nutcracker doll and claims him as her own. Yet when the clock strikes midnight, something terribly amazing happens to Godfather’s handcrafted toys…they come alive. Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with the Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Critically acclaimed artist Gail de Marcken’s stunning illustrations bring this spellbinding tale to life.

The Scholastic website says that this book is good for ages 4 and up, but it was a little long to hold my 5 year old’s attention.  But the pictures are gorgeous and the story is a classic and I’m sure as he get’s a little older it will become a favorite.

The Nutcracker And The Mouse King is currently on sale at Amazon.com for $12.91 (regular price is $18.99).

9780439774970_xlgThe next book we received is The Christmas Magic.

Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. He gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most. Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeers fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and warmth throughout the world–as he always has — and always will until the end of time. From best-selling author Lauren Thomas, and Caldecott Honor Artist Jon J Muth

Scholastic recommends this book for children ages 4-8.  All three of my boys sat and listened intently.  It was a simple but magical book and Mr. A. has been talking all day about how “the Christmas magic” is coming.

The Christmas Magic is currently available at Amazon.com for $9.93 (regular price of $16.99).

giveaway titleScholastic Books is offering TWO winners BOTH copies!  YAY!  Some Holiday classics to add to your children’s library.

First Mandatory Entry:

Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite holiday book/story was as a child…or even as an adult.  Mine is a book that I found last year at a craft store simply called Santa Claus. It explains all the magic of Christmas and how it’s all possible.  It’s a lot of fun to read and really helps get me and the kids into the holiday spirit.

Click Here for Extra Entries and Contest Rules

This giveaway will end December 11th at 10:00pm Pacific Time.  TWO winners will be chosen by random.org from all valid entries and notified by email.  They will then have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen.  Good Luck!

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,