Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Avery Labels Make Shipping Easy! #ShopletReview

ABCD Diaries was provided with the products in this post by Shoplet.com as a member of the Shoplet Product Review Program. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone. 


Do you do a lot of shipping?  Shoplet.com offers a variety of awesome Avery shipping labels to choose from depending on your specific needs.


These WeatherProof Labels are great for keeping the address permanently stuck to the package to guarantee safe delivery.


I love the Brown Kraft Shipping Labels.  They blend in with cardboard shipping boxes and look very professional.


The Shipping Labels with Paper Receipts are great if you do a lot of online selling.  They are a convenient way to print everything at once and don't waste as much paper as when printing labels and receipts separately. The top half has a sticky-backed label and the bottom is plain paper.  Easy peasy!


The Easy Peel Address Labels feature True Block technology and can completely cover pretty much any pre-existing type.  I love this because it allows me to reuse shipping boxes that have previous shipping labels attached.  Very eco-friendly:)

You can get this assortment of Avery shipping labels at Shoplet.com!



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Spreadshirt: Your One-Stop Shop for Spring Tees and More!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Check out this adorable tee from Spreadshirt that is perfect for Easter:


Too cute, right?  Spreadshirt is your one-stop shop for spring tees.  Whether you're looking for Easter shirts or baseball shirts, Spreadshirt has so many options to choose from!


Every design on Spreadshirt can be put on a variety of items...from apparel to accessories to home goods...over 150 items to choose from!


They have hundreds of great designs to choose from and every design can be edited and personalized until it is exactly what you are looking for.


Spreadshirt's prices are competitive and make outfitting the whole family affordable.


Spreadshirt also has a 30 day 100% money back guarantee.


Visit Spreadshirt today to find great gift ideas for Spring!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Mottos: Flip Flops that Let Kids Express Themselves! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


Mottos are flip flops for kids that feature collectible charms that can be mixed and matched to allow kids to express themselves in a healthy and positive manner.


The black flip flops come in toddler, little kid and child sizes and you can order separate packs of charms to decorate them according to theme.  They have some great ocean themed packs available, as well as some fun spring designs.


The charms are fairly easy to put on.  My 8 year old could do it herself, but my 6 year old needed help.  The flip flops come in a sturdy storage box that has a storage board for the charms as well.  Also included in the box was a drawstring shoe bag.

Mottos also has a fun coloring book featuring some of the collectible charm characters and their range of emotions.


As far as comfort goes, we have mixed reviews.  My 8 year old thought they were plenty comfortable, but my 6 year old got a blister when he wore them.  It could be that I should have order them both the same size.  His feet seem to be keeping up with his big sister's these days:)  Mottos does recommend that you go one size up when ordering for the best fit.


These flip flops are super easy to clean and dry fast which is nice for beach and pool days.  Overall, the kiddos have really enjoyed decorating their flip flops.  Mottos are a great way to let kids express themselves this flip flop season! 

You can purchase Mottos through Amazon.

One winner will receive a Mottos gift pack (ARV $76) that includes a box set of flip flops, a full set of custom charms, a 10 piece variety pack of charms, and a coloring book.  Enter below:

Monday, March 30, 2015

Adorable Pepperidge Farms Treats for Easter!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


With Easter just days away, Pepperidge Farms has some great ideas for holiday entertaining using Goldfish crackers and Milano cookies!

Fill carrot shaped treat bags with Goldfish crackers and put in Easter baskets: 

Make a centerpeice of Goldfish filled eggs or add these eggs to your egg hunt for a fun treat:

Decorate dessert with decadent Milano Double Chocolate cookies:

Pepperidge Farms makes it easy to spruce up your holiday table this Easter!  Find Pepperidge Farms products at your local supermarket and mass merchandisers nationwide.



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Hoodsbee: The Hoodie That Becomes a Friend!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


Hoodsbee offers these adorable 2 in 1 hoodies for the littles in your life.  These hoodies can be used as a plush pal while folded up or can be unfolded to make a full-size hoodie.  



Hoodsbee offers a variety of fun characters for boys and girls in sizes 2T to 7.
Check out all the cute characters of "the hoodie that becomes a friend" at Hoodsbee!

Get Social with Hoodsbee: 


Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


LADY OF THE ETERNAL CITY 
Kate Quinn

"Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and sinister Emperor; and battered warrior Vix, who is her first love. But Sabina is guardian of a deadly secret: Vix’s beautiful son Antinous has become the Emperor’s latest obsession.


Empress and Emperor, father and son will spin in a deadly dance of passion, betrayal, conspiracy, and war. As tragedy sends Hadrian spiraling into madness, Vix and Sabina form a last desperate pact to save the Empire. But ultimately, the fate of Rome lies with an untried girl, a spirited redhead who may just be the next Lady of the Eternal City . . ."

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, you will love this book!  

Enter to win a copy of Lady of the Eternal City:

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Welcome Home Brands: Oven-Safe Paper and Plastic Baking Products That are Sure to Impress! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


Welcome Home Brands offers a variety of fun and unique oven-safe paper and plastic baking products.  Just in time for Spring, they sent us some bright, patterned samples in a variety of shapes and sizes. These products make it easy to bake and serve like a pro!


We mixed up a batch of banana bread and baked them in our cute little containers.  The kiddos thought it was so much fun to eat out of these versus the standard paper muffin liner.  


These containers would also make great holders for other small snacks and the box-like containers are surprisingly sturdy.  These spring-colored containers would be great for holding jelly beans or other Easter treats.  So fun and adorable!

Welcome Home Brands makes it easy to impress your guests with beautifully presented baked goods and snacks!

Check out all of the awesome designs and styles at Welcome Home Brands!

Welcome Home Brands has generously provided a set of 50 single serve loaf pans (ARV $18.95) for one lucky reader!  
Enter below:

Mission Unboxable: Top Secret Spy Missions for Kids! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


Mission Unboxable is a subscription service that delivers top secret missions to your doorstep each month.  This subscription service was created by a mom and her kiddos and is family-owned and operated.  There are a total of 13 missions so far that cover lots of fun and engaging topics like spy gear and disguises, fingerprint analysis, decoding secret messages,target practice and much more.  Many of these topics have "hidden" lessons keeping kiddos entertained AND educated:)


Each envelope comes with everything you need to complete a full mission.  Our kit included the Mission Unboxable briefcase filled with 4 missions-

Master of Disguise:

Operation Incognito:

Whodunnit Fingerprint Analysis:

Crack the Code Decoder Set:

The kiddos really loved Mission Unboxable!  This subscription service would make a fun gift idea and would be great for keeping kiddos engaged and entertained throughout summer break.


Missions start at just $12.50 with discounts on longer subscriptions.  Visit Mission Unboxable and get started on your missions!


One lucky reader will win the same spy kit we reviewed from Mission Unboxable.  Enter below:


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Spring into Fitness with a Gaiam Yoga Mat!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Gaiam is your one-stop shop for all things yoga.  They have an extensive line of yoga mats in a variety of colors and styles.  With so many to choose from, you are sure to find a mat that helps you release your inner yogi!


We loved the Root to Rise Yoga Mat.  It is lightweight and has a non-slip surface for secure and safe practice.  I love the calming color and design on the mat.  It is indeed a stylish yoga mat!

Visit Gaiam to shop the wide selection of mats and other yoga products!
 Keep up with all of the latest fitness news by liking Gaiam on Facebook!



Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

ME Sports to Help Protect Athletes from Head Trauma

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

Got an athlete in the family?  With the increasing amount of reports of head trauma as a result of sports related injuries, ME sports can give you the peace of mind that you are doing something proactive to reduce the likelihood that your child with be affected.

 ME sports contains EHTTM, a proprietary extract that helps improve the strength of neurons that can become damaged by chronic inflammation from causes like repetitive head trauma when playing sports. 

If you have a child who plays contact sports, you should definitely check out ME sports!

Available for $60 for a 30-day supply at http://www.mesports.me/

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

GLITZ by Mottos Tattoos: Metallic Temporary Jewelry Tattoos! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**



One of the newest fashion trends is metallic temporary jewelry tattoos and GLITZ by Mottos has got you covered no matter what your style.


They come in three different collections, Forever Young, Color, and Elegant.  Each collection includes 6 sheets of tattoos featuring over 60 gorgeous temporary tattoos!


They are easy to apply and fun to wear.  They also are longer lasting than many other temporary tattoos we have used.


The variety of designs is pretty great.  GLITZ by Mottos tattoos would make great party favors or a fun addition to an Easter basket this year!

Enter to win a GLITZ by Mottos prize pack featuring all 3 collections!

Splinters of Light By Rachael Herron + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


SPLINTERS OF LIGHT 
Rachael Herron

"From the acclaimed author of Pack Up the Moon comes a poignant and beautiful novel about love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds of family—particularly those between mothers, daughters, and sisters. 


Ten years ago, Nora Glass started writing essays about being a single mother of a six-year-old daughter. Her weekly column made her a household name, and over the years, her fans have watched Ellie grow from a toddler to a teenager.


But now Nora is facing a problem that can’t be overcome. Diagnosed with a devastating disease that will eventually take away who she is, she is scared for herself, but even more frightened about what this will mean for her sixteen-year-old daughter.


Now Nora has no choice but to let go of her hard-won image as a competent, self-assured woman, and turn to the one person who has always relied on her: her twin sister, Mariana. Nora and Mariana couldn’t be more different from one another, and they’ve always had a complicated relationship. But now the two sisters will have to summon the strength to help them all get through a future none of them could have ever imagined, while uncovering the joy and beauty that was always underneath."

This is a beautiful story that shows how strong the bonds between sisters, particularly twins, and those between mothers and daughters, can be even in the toughest of situations.  As the story unfolds, you find yourself thinking about what you would do in these tough situations and rooting for the women of the book.  Splinters of Light is a great Spring read!

Enter to win a copy of Splinters of Light!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

#MANIMACS Contest featuring Manischewitz Macaroons!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review. Information for this post was provided by the sponsor.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**
Grab your favorite Manischewitz Macaroons, put your imagination to the test and join the #MANIMACS contest by submitting your own #MANIMACS character made of Manischewitz Macaroons for a chance to win an iPad Air 2 PLUS a $500 Visa Gift Card! Manischewitz wants you to tap into your DIY, creative-size and see your most inventive #MANIMACS macaroon characters!

Need some inspiration? Check out the quirky and fun Manischewitz #MANIMACS character-creation videos on MANIMACS.com that show #MANIMACS coming to life to celebrate upcoming wacky holidays, like National Fake Mustache Day and National Alien Abduction Day!

You can join the contest from February 16th through April 16, 2015 by submitting your #MANIMACS character on social media! Tweet or Instagram a photo or video of your #MANIMACS character with the hashtag #ManimacsEntry to join the contest, or post your photo or video to the Manischewitz Facebook page/timeline at facebook.com/Manischewitz with the same #ManimacsEntry hashtag to join. Valid submissions will then post to MANIMACS.com for vote casting. Track your votes and share your submission with friends on social media or email to drive additional votes for your #MANIMACS character. When sharing, include the hashtag #MANIMACS to drive additional views and engage with the contest.

Check out all of the fun videos produced by Manischewitz on MANIMACS.com that celebrate upcoming wacky holidays, and be sure to like or follow Manischewitz on social media!

Three semi-finalists will advance to Final Round:
·         Semi-Finalist #1 will be the highest voted from a pool of 5 submissions chosen by Manischewitz to be displayed LIVE at The Manischewitz Experience on March 12th, 13th and 15th at NYC’s Chelsea Market as of March 15th
·         Semi-Finalist #2 will be the highest voted on MANIMACS.com from February 16th through April 16th
·         Semi-Finalist #3 will be chosen by Manischewitz by April 16th

In the Final Round, vote for your favorite of the 3 chosen semi-finalists on MANIMACS.com from April 17ththrough April 23rd to determine the Grand Prize Winner from the highest number of votes collected over the 1-week period (3 semi-finalists restart with 0 votes in the Final Round). The #MANIMACS Contest Grand Prize Winner will be announced on April 24, 2015 and will be awarded an iPad Air 2 PLUS a $500 Visa Gift Card(est. value of $1500)!

“The #MANIMACS Contest encourages you to have fun and play with your food!” said Nora Sordillo, Sr. Associate Brand Manager for The Manischewitz Company. “Get crafty and come up with unexpected characters made from your favorite Manischewitz Macaroons. Share your creations on social media too! For our NY Metro fans, don’t forget to also see the 1st round of semi-finalists at The Manischewitz Experience at NYC’s Chelsea Market in-person.”

You must be 18 years of age or older to enter the contest, however, minors under the age of 18 can submit their entry with parental permission, using a parent or guardian’s email address. Limit of one (1) vote per entry per day per IP address. For a complete list of rules and other information, please visit our contest websiteMANIMACS.com. May the best #MANIMACS character win!

Good Luck!

 Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Cozy Up with a Nordic Beach Cover Up! + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**


Nordic Beach makes the coziest, comfiest beach cover up I've ever had!
The selection of colors they offer is great and features both patterns and solids.  I love the textured fabric.  It's so super soft!


This cover up is great to throw in the beach bag for when the sun goes down on your beach outing.  You will certainly stay warm in this super fuzzy plush jacket.  The elasticized cuffs keep in your body heat and the amazing designer cut allows for a one-size fits all hooded jacket that is so fun to cozy up in.  Luxurious, blissful comfiness!

These wraps are stylish enough to wear off the beach too.  So cozy!

Check out all of the great styles at Nordic Beach!

Enter to win your choice of cover up from Nordic Beach!

Jungle Shuffle on Blu-ray and DVD!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for out honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**



Celebrate World Water Day with World Vision!

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

"Water is a necessary resource for sustainable living, yet 748 million people lack access to clean water – the equivalent of nearly two and a half times the United States population. To address this crisis and to acknowledge water’s essential presence on the earth, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as World Water Day in 1993.
This March, World Vision is spreading awareness for people around the globe who need safe water sources by using an umbrella and beautiful, watercolor scarf to start the conversation.
The blue umbrella, sporting World Vision’s logo and a call to save lives with water, serves as a practical reminder that rainwater is considered a precious resource for people that lack established water systems.[1] From the World Vision Gift Catalog, the Royal Silk Scarf is made with luxurious silk, using Fair-Trade practices. The blend of soft colors emulates the purifying qualities of water and the vibrant life that it sustains."

Visit the World Vision Facebook page at /WorldVision and Twitter at@WorldVisionUSA using the hashtags #WaterEffect and #WaterNow. Take a look at World Vision’s YouTube channel and clean water videofor an inside look at the impact of the water crisis in one girl’s life. 

Enter to win a gift pack that includes this gorgeous scarf and umbrella from World Vision!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

"The Snow Globe" by Judith Kinghorn + Giveaway

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**



THE SNOW GLOBE 
Judith Kinghorn
NAL Trade Paperback Original / March 3, 2015

"Christmas 1926 holds bright promise for nineteen-year-old Daisy Forbes, with celebrations under way at Eden Hall, her family's country estate in Surrey, England. But when Daisy, the youngest of three daughters, discovers that her adored father, Howard, has been leading a double life, her illusions of perfection are shattered. Worse, his current mistress, introduced as a family friend, is joining them for the holidays. As Daisy wrestles with the truth, she blossoms in her own right, receiving a marriage proposal from one man, a declaration of love from another, and her first kiss from a third. Meanwhile, her mother, Mabel, manages these social complications with outward calm, while privately reviewing her life and contemplating significant changes. And among those below stairs, Nancy, the housekeeper, and Mrs. Jessops, the cook, find that their long-held secrets are slowly beginning to surface...


As the seasons unfold in the new year, and Daisy moves to London, desires, fortunes, and loyalties will shift during this tumultuous time after the Great War. The Forbes family and those who serve them will follow their hearts down unexpected paths that always return to where they began...Eden Hall."

The Snow Globe is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction.  Kinghorn does an amazing job of reproducing the setting and standards of post-war England.  Her characters are well-developed and entertaining to the very end.  Watching Daisy (and the others) grow and evolve is a real treat.


Enter to win a copy of The Snow Globe:

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.